Random Photo Stop

Today I was visiting with a friend and looked over to find the kids like this!

It was way too cute not to stop my conversation and snap a few pics.  Later they told me it was their spaceship. I loved that they brought their monkeys, pillow pets, pillows, books and blankets into their boxes that they taped together!  PRICELESS for my heart...I love it when they are sweet and getting along...and so creative!

 Charleigh was sleeping in this really uncomfortable looking position...she's still my angel...love you boo bear!

 Jeff got back from falls creek and 6 kids got baptized. He was able to be there and be a part of it...so awesome!

 Happy Father's Day to the world's greatest Daddy! Sundays are crazy days for us but we made the most of it!  And Jeff's dad got to be in town to celebrate too, so that was a treat!

 Jeff's dad is opening up a Cherry Berry (which we LOVE) in Enid! They are excited and SO ARE WE! :) We got CB after lunch at Zios (yummy....)

 We got bunk beds and set them up!  Creighton was SO excited to sleep in them!  Jackson is NONE too happy that they are not in his room and that he doesn't get to sleep on the top bunk.  As soon as Charleigh gets out of the crib, we'll unstack them and both the girls will have a twin for awhile and then they'll probably go to Jackson and we'll come up with another plan for the girls...or buy another set...who knows!?

 My baby boy is VERY VERY VERY in to Beyblades right now. He plays them all the time and so does everyone else around here.  His party is Friday and this is the theme!  I can't believe he is turning 6!  He's one awesome little man.  It's amazing to me how fast he is getting so big....and so smart! He's really something!

 It's like 2000 degrees especially in the back with no a/c but he insists on wearing his dragon towel with the hood up/on the WHOLE car ride!  Oh man...I just love you boy!

 The girls were thrilled with the fact that we were going down a HUGE hill and when Creighton raised her arms, Charleigh's were no more than a second behind, both yelling "whhheeeeeee" it was pretty much awesome....and yes, I was driving and taking a picture, but I was safe :)

oh so random, oh so fun.  i love my kids and my family!

Love Me Through My Ugly...

I am sad.  I don't have it all together, and I know this.  I think it's just hard when others figure it out :)

No, really though, if I may be transparent (withholding details) for a moment...

I am a faithful believer in Jesus Christ.  He has pulled me from the miry pits of depression, the chains of addiction, and the toilet-bowl cycle of many other sins...and yet, here I am...still a sinner.  I have moments where I think others might be able to see Christ in me and then, I have moments where I look NOTHING like Him. I hate it when I realize I have been looking nothing like Him and realize I have SO much more room for growth in a particular area.  I will be so thankful when I finally get to see Him and just say, "I AM SORRY, and thank you for loving me anyway, for choosing me anyway, for dying for me, for covering MY MILLIONS of sins with your blood."

Today I was reminded once again (dear Jesus, why can't I just learn this blasted lesson?!) that I should just keep my mouth closed.  I guess you could say I missed that lesson and at 31 years old am still trying to learn it, as well as, teach it to my children (no wonder they haven't mastered it yet, the poor things have very bad DNA in this area).

I just wanted to also take a moment and apologize for my mouth both past and present, and I guess, for the future too.  I seem to be opinionated and unfortunately sometimes I just forget to shut up.  I am sorry if I have EVER hurt your feelings, left you with a bitter taste in your mouth about me (or anything), came across rude, or judgmental, or anything else that was un-Christlike in any way.  I strive to be like Him, but darn it, I am still learning.  I am not perfect, don't claim to be, but I try.  But I do screw up more often than not.   I hate it when I do.  And I am deeply sorry if I have ever hurt you.  Sincerely.  I would love to make it right if it needs to be.

I struggle with keeping my mouth closed and with being judgmental of others. (amongst a host of other sins, for another post).   Just being real.  Thank you for those of you who choose (also) to love me through my ugly.  (I think I'd like to coin that phrase: love me through my ugly)

Random pictures of the kids

 Charleigh in her stylin' suit and glasses...flashing that sweet smile! LOVE IT

 Making Daddy a "welcome home" art surprise....we missed him terribly!

 the final project!

 Rae! You are so beautiful and incredibly talented at art and writing!

 We love our Gator!

 Rae, you dressed yourself.  You wanted to look nice because Eli was coming over ;) Thankfully somehow you pull off even the craziest of concoctions.

Crazy hair and gorgeous eyes.  I love that cheeseball smile of yours

My friend Sharla came over and Creighton couldn't get enough of holding Amelia! :) So sweet (even though Amelia didn't like Creighton holding her as much as Creighton did!)

This is Charleigh's fave spot!  She loves to climb up there and just sit.  She'll sit there and watch and smile for a long time...especially for a one year old!

A very random June

Charleigh is gaining all kinds of personality and charm.  :)

She is getting so big.

Charleigh had blueberries and loved them. Jackson and Creighton both loved them when they were little too (and still do as long as they are frozen)

Jackson started karate! He absolutely loves it.

Creighton did something on the computer (which she's not suppose to be on) and she blamed it on the baby doll in her hands. All 1.25 inches. We are working on storytelling

Daddy was getting creative with the pancake mix :) The kids really liked them. (Mickey, Snowman, and a flower)

We had a few too many storms this month.  This one was when Jeff was out of town.  The grill was all out of whack, the chairs were messed up and the canopy was obviously out of commission...although I managed to fix it a little enough to do it's job....till the next storm came and now not so much.

But the storms brought us some cute friends...

RUN...

This might seem strange outside my thoughts within my head, but I thought I'd give it a shot!

When I run my life it turns into RUIN ("I" in "run")

But when I let God run my life it turns to GROUND ("GOD" in "RUN")

I think of the "GROUND" as like being grounded in faith, in love, in security and protection, in HIM

With the "I" it is also stuck in the middle, stuck in the present and can't see past it. With "GOD" He is before it, in the middle of it, and in the end, and also in that order...just like HE is, the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!

COOL, HUH?! :)

I am weird I know...but I had to share!

Random Pictures

Jackson jams out hard!

Creighton is IN LOVE with the Bruin Bear at the HS football games, good thing 'she' is one of our youth...she 'knows her name' and Creighton feels so special!

Oh man...I don't know if I have words for this pic

Creighton is IN LOVE with this hideous dog at the pet store.  I thought she looked pretty cute too

Way random, and quite stupid...but I went to Jenks the other day to pick up some adoption stuff and we ran by the gym to see the picture and Jeff snapped a shot on his iphone of me next to it...but wow...

7 Random things

I've been tagged (finally) to tell 7 Random Things about me...

1. I played an instrument in the Sydney Opera House (any guesses for which one?)

2. I have had 11 different surgeries since 1996

3. I held (not sure if I still hold) the record for most dips (a tricep workout) for all female athletes at TU my freshmen year (51).

4. I didn't lose my first tooth till I was almost 8 years old.

5. I really like cooking and baking, but not at all when anyone else is home!

6. I sleep (cannot sleep without) every night with a black SQUISH pillow that I call Squish and use the pronoun "he" and "him" for all the time. (weird I know)

7. I LOVE (geekily so) excel spreadsheets (and most administrative stuff)

Thanks Becky for tagging me. I tag Sarah, April, and Kathryn

Summertime

I feel so behind in the blogging world...well, not with reading, but with posting. I always get excited about summer coming so we can relax and breathe (another year down)...and EVERY summer while in the midst of it, I wonder why I was so excited about it. I think I am going to be able to relax and things will go slower than the normal pace. Well, the normal pace is off dramatically. In the other direction. Summer life around here is just insane.

Our house is like a revolving door with teens and interns and anyone and everyone else...I love it, but it is tiring. We have such late late nights like every.night.of.the.week. It just gets exhausting but we love it too much to stop. It's crazy like the time is running out and we see the end (of summer) so we press on and play hard.

Whew...breather. I love days like today. I had it packed to the brink with activities to do while the kids are in school. But its raining and gross out, so awesomely timed by God...He knew I needed a day inside to do things around here that desperately need to be done...and things that don't...like blog, relax, read. It feels good...

I do love the relationships that summer brings and when summer is over it is always sad because the interns go home, the kids start school and all their activities....and then things quiet down a bit...at least for a few days :)

We are blessed

Today Jeff was preaching at church! It is a neat opportunity that he gets more often now that he is ordained! It was suppose to be an eventful day during second service because of some people wanting to cause a scene, but after much prayer--specific prayer--thankfully nothing out of the ordinary happened. That was a VERY good thing. I was so distracted the entire time thinking about what was going to happen that I really don't know how his sermon went, but I am sure he did a good job.

Then we went to lunch at this place where Pastors get to eat free! Well, even better than that, someone from our church paid for our lunch all together! That was way awesome. Thank you Watson family! What a neat thing...and just when I was thinking there weren't good people in this world :) (see a couple posts down if you don't know what I am talking about).

Then, it gets better...

I was coming home after dropping Jeff back up at the church and found upon my driveway...

wouldn't it be cool if I said there was a new car...

there wasn't :) but that is okay, because it was the next best thing....

someone, so graciously, took our dead tree and hauled it off to goodness knows where.

Y'all...really!? That is unbelievable. I have been begging Jeff for OVER A MONTH to do SOMETHING/ANYTHING with that eye sore/mess/dead tree (from the ice storm) from our front yard. It was awful in EVERYway...and now...its GONE. Poof...just like that...gone.

I can barely contain my excitement!

And the best part is, I have no idea who did it. That is good...good people, good deeds, good-ness! I love it.

Thank you whoever you are! Thank you for being nice. I will pay this forward...(let you know how I do that)

Breastfeeding Help?!

Okay, so Creighton is going to be 17 months in 3 short days and wow...that is crazy! I am still nursing her. I know that there are SOOOO many varying opinions on this topic, but I thought I'd put myself out there anyway....just to see what comes my way (I might regret this...)

I don't really have a desire to quit. I'll say that upfront. However, I will say that there are times when I wish she wasn't addicted so dependent on it. I really don't see an end in sight in her eyes. I feel as if it would completely ROCK.HER.WORLD. if I quit nursing her but certainly not because she needs it for nourishment. She needs it for emotional stability I feel. She is like white on rice when she sees me at times! I TRULY think that if I let her and produced like a cow she would nurse ALL day long and ALL night long too.

She sleeps through the night (generally) and wakes (generally) between 6-7a for a "good morning snack" and then (generally) falls back asleep till 8 or 9. This works for me. Like I said I am not wanting to quit that. I really don't even mind nursing her at nap time...not really at all...

The problem arises that when she isn't with me for nap time (ie. Mother's Day Out) she doesn't always take a bottle of breast milk. And when I was gone from her for an entire week over spring break, she did take 2-3 bottles a day (nap, nighttime, and IF she woke up at that 6-7 hour).

I used to have like some ungodly number of ounces of breast milk in our deep freezer (that we bought SOLELY for the purpose of storing my milk). **like close to 1800 ounces at one time** (insane I know) But now, I have MAYBE 4-5 bags of milk left because I had to throw most of it out because it was over a year old! That was heart breaking! Anyway, back to my story.

I don't think she needs to nurse, I just know she WANTS to. I don't mind the 2-3 times a day, but she wants to much much more than that, and so instead of weaning, I find myself either constantly saying "no, not now" and trying to refocus her attention, or just giving in because I am tired of doing the above after a million times a day. (or 10 or 20 whose counting :)?)

This is the look I get if I try the "not now"

And this is the sweet face I get to cuddle up with and see smile when I give in...you can see it in her grin...she says "tank ewe mommy" (could you resist that sweet face?)

I guess my question is this: how do I wean her down to just 2-3 times? When should I wean her completely? How on earth do I do that? What do I say to all the people who give me crazy looks because I am still nursing a 17 month old? (only sometimes does it get to me)

And one for the fun of asking even though I know the answer...will "they" ever look the same again? Because, really, its so sad...

FINANCIAL PEACE JR. FOR KIDS!

A giveaway! I love giveaways. Go here to get the information on this one!

Blogging Survey

There is a survey about blogging here. If you like participating in surveys, which I do, please take it!

Leap Year Weather INCREDIBLE

Welcome March! We had a fabulous day of Leap Year atleast in our world we did. The weather was A.MAZING! I loved it. WE played outside with Kara and the girls for 2 hours and ate lunch with them. The sun on my skin and body (albeit through clothes) was the single greatest thing for my mood yesterday. IT was unbelievable how good it felt!!!! The kids got dirty and played hard! It was fun and good! Although Creighton (and jax a little too) do NOT know how to leave the fabulous fifth alone! Creighton constantly wants to kiss her and hold her and rock her really fast....that was exhausting and I didn't even do a good job of parenting her away from it....sorry Kara!

Good day! I will welcome this weather all the time!!!! The kids and Jeff are about to go on bike ride...:)

Parent's Night Out

Last night our Mother's Day Out program had what they call Parents Night Out. They do this once a month and it is so awesome. I love it! Its for 4 hours and it is only $10 and the kids get to be with the same teachers that they are with always throughout the week and they play and run them hard! Jackson slept straight till 9:15 and Creighton is STILL sleeping! :)

Jeff and I were given a $100 gift certificate to Jarrett Farms' The Wilmington Restaurant. It was such a special treat, as we wouldn't ever be able to eat there (lets just say we still owed $10 after the certificate and I got the cheapest thing on the menu!) Either way, it was great time with my man and then we rushed to the mall to take back some stuff to Dillards and Gap and catch a movie by 8. We saw Vantage Point. I must say I was dissappointed in the rating (PG-13) because of ALL of the language (even atleast one f-bomb) and LOTS scattered throughout. There was NO sexual/skin content but there was lots of violence too...so I am appauled at what they consider PG-13 now...but seriously with the exception of the Bee Movie that I saw over Thanksgiving with my whole family, I have not been to the theater in years!...so maybe they got a lot more lenient since then. But back to the movie, it was decent but COMPLETELY unbelievable as someone can get shot (atleast once), have several vehicular accidents--one of which he gets smashed between a speeding machtruck and a stone building (in the tiniest of little european cars) and walk away at the end UNSCATHED....so either it was unrealistic or this is a HUGE advertisement for the best and safest little car in the world! :)

Then we went to get the kids straight from the movie and we had 20 minutes to spare, but got them anyway. They were happy and content and gave me HUGE hugs and we came home and went right to bed!

Child Drowning Prevention

Last summer Jackson fell in a pool at a friends house and it really really scared me half to death. I posted about it here. We still haven't put him in swim lessons and I know we need to before summer, for both of them. However, Kara sent me this email yesterday with a new "method" of teaching babies and kids to survive in water until someone comes to get them whether they can swim or not...it was incredible. The video was so crazy but that little baby knew what he was doing and it made me feel much better that the dad eventually comes to rescue him (and I pray that he was in the water the ENTIRE time). It was interesting and I wish there was a class near to us, but there isn't....but for those of you who might be in bigger cities, I thought I'd share it with you all!

Random Photo Stop

Jackson put his gloves on to throw the ball with KUK in Enid...he did it all by himself and was very proud :)

here is a picture from their Enid trip at the sheep show (that is their cousin Bree)

We start Creighton really early with Ann Graham Lotz bible studies :) She likes them atleast, or better said, MY AGL study has a lot of scribbles on it :) oh well...i like them

My kids have SO much fun on this slide. They also get more hurt on this slide than anything else (but I kinda figure that is like the rule about 90% of accidents happen within two miles of your home...um...hello...you are 90% of the time WITHIN 2 miles of your home....so that is obvious!)

Here are the fabulous 4 (*fantastic fifth is still too little)...they have lots of fun together and really like being outside...can't wait for spring/summer

One of the youth's mom took this picture at a basketball game and sent it to me! :)

Nitrous and Rascal Flatts

So, today I went to the dentist to get my temporary 3 crown bridge done and to say the least I was not excited. Most people (okay, probably not even most) ONLY go to the dentist twice a year...the fact that I have been in a dentist's office 6 times in the last 10 months and have 2 more visits to go is just absolutely devistating because I absolutely abhor going to the dentist and having ANY.THING. done to my mouth. I just can barely stand it.

To get the tooth pulled I was on vallium and that was incredible! :) But today I was completely HIGH as a kite with the nitrous gas or what I like to call "mr. funny nose" from when I was little. I don't know what the heck that stuff does to the body and certainly hope it isn't harmful to my brain or body, but quite frankly I don't care. (kinda). I was hooked up to that thing for 2 hours and it was marvelous. I had my ear buds (my hubby let me borrow his toy (iphone) for the procedure) so loud that I could only hear the drilling when it went to the next song (and that was KILLER every time!)

I was so lazy I didn't even want to have to hold my mouth open so he put in a biter block and it was perfect. I am the world's worst dental patient alive. I loathe it. I hate it. I would rather do just about anything, however, today wasn't near as bad because of the nitrous and rascal flatts...I think I may have found a viable option to get me to go to the dentist from now on....well I actually hope I won't have to go but for the regular 2 times a year from now on after the next 2 visits.

But you have to try the nitrous stuff! :) It made me happy...as in, if it isn't dangerous I just might have to figure out a way to buy some :) (kinda kidding)....I asked him about it already....I can't

Small tidbit and 2 pics

Saturday night I had a sleep over with two of my small group girls and Brittany. I (hopefully we) had SOOOO much fun. I haven't had a sleep over in a long long long time. We did facial masks, painted toenails, did parafin wax for feet and hands, played board games, watched Disney's Game Plan (a lot cheesy but cute I guess), went out to eat, went to Hastings and caused a scene in the toy isles, among taking LOTS of funny pictures and all sorts of other weird (and girly) things. I didn't sleep much but I had fun and it was so good to be with my girls.

The only down side was when I "burned up" my SIM card in my phone and didn't have a cell for about 2 days. But its fixed now and that is okay! *I might not have your number (again) but I have some of them from Jeff's old phone :)

Creighton and Jackson have both been doing and saying funny things and I have wanted to write about them but at the moment I cannot think of even one! How sad...here is a few pics (totally random) since its been awhile...

As I was waiting for the pics to upload I realized I REALLY hadn't posted many pics lately...and I have a LOT of good ones...so tomorrow or soon I will post more...

briefly...

Long weekend, not much sleep...very tired, but it's been good (and bad).

One great thing that happened today: (a conversation between Jeff and Jackson)

Jeff: is Creighton pretty?
Jackson: yes, Rae Rae pretty like Mommy

Me: melt melt melt!

I'll post tomorrow....

Oh yes and one thing: cell phones are NOT my friend and I officially have a love/hate relationship with them. I "burned" my SIM card and now no longer have a cell phone until I replace it. Lovely!

On their way...

Today I got up and went to church and it was SO hard to get up this morning. I had to make myself get out of bed! It was a good day though. Jeff and Brittany (both paid youth people) were both gone today and so I got the "job" of acting youth minister...which normallly would have not been a big deal...but I was also acting children's welcome table person! Thanks to my friend Kara for saving me and helping me as I was frantically trying to get everyone in order and what they needed. It was a little crazy, but it was good. I got to have so many conversations with so many different people and that was nice! I didn't get to go to church or to the GYM class that I wanted to poke my head into,but that is okay.

After church I ate at Taco Bueno...(Hannah, you'll have to know it wasn't amazing...but you made me hungry for it)...and then I got busy getting everything ready and finished! It is....all done!

I feel so accomplished. I swept, mopped, and vaccuumed like a mad woman! I got the rest of my clothes hung up and I got Jeff a little gift and card ready for when he walks in the door. I tried to lay down for a little nap afterward, but I just can't fall asleep, even though I am MAD tired! Oh well...I am sure I will sleep well tonight with my man lying next to me. Its crazy how many sounds I hear when he's not here and how many just dissappear because of his presence! I always sleep better with him...and I like that! :)

I miss 'em, I do! I can't wait to see all three of them! I talked to them all on the phone a while ago and they should be here by 7:30 or so. So I think I am going to go make their lunches for tomorrow, do my bible study and such so I can devote all my energy and time into the kids till bed and then to my man afterwards!

Thanks for all of you keeping tabs on me this weekend. It has been fun to share my "story"...I love blogging! And I rekindled my LOVE FOR MUSIC this weekend. It has played nonstop since I completed my itunes specialty list. It is fantastic! I think my neighbors might hate me for playing it so loud at some points...but oh well.

I was looking at my list of genre in my folder and it is very ecletic: alternative, country, hip-hop, religious, rock, soundtracks, movies, 80s, R&B, electronica/dance, and other...

I hope my husband took pictures of the kids, because I have certainly missed having the camera...pics would have been nice to accomodate my posts....but then again, that might have been scary...I bet the kids' pictures will be better!