The Zoo!

I am sad we didn't get a pic like last years' family monkey faces picture. But we bought a year family membership so we'll have plenty of opportunity (hopefully) to get those throughout the year...here is a brief flash back pic from last year's trip and then a recap in photos of some of our day. It was really great! We were all exhausted after a long day by the time it was over. My dad got to join us and that was a real treat!

Ready to start the day! I was so proud of myself for putting glasses, hats AND sunscreen on them. They did okay about wearing the hats most of the day, but the shades didn't last at all...oh well! Neither really did the stroller...but I guess they were in and out throughout the day...

A fun re-enactment of last year (well, kind of)

Last year....Creighton was only 7 months old! My, my, my how they change so fast!
Jeff took some really great shots of some of the animals...

The flamingos were really stunning...its amazing the way they balance...
The tiger was growling and roaring continuously and you could hear him throughout the park!

Um...yeah...he was yawning, but lets talk about scary. He was so funny just relaxing there with his leg crossed over and just playing with the rope...until he yawned and we quickly snapped it...I didn't get out of the way fast enough though and you can see my reflection...sorry. The monkeys are ALWAYS my favorite at the zoo.

Apparently Jackson agrees with me. He really enjoyed them too!
This little guy was SO cute. He was only a year old. It was the second of two babies born within a few months of one another (2 different moms) but the first monkey babies born in like 16 years at the zoo. They were precious. A.dor.a.ble! (not a great picture...the windows were so thick and very dirty and lots of finger prints)

Aren't they SOOOOO cute in their matching shirts!?!?! Love it.

I think Jackson's favorite part of the Zoo every time we go is the park...which we can go to lots of parks for free (I keep thinking this might change, but so far...no) I had a lot of fun with him though

She really liked the giraffes a lot. She kept pacing up and down the rails and would stop and stare and then move on again to another stopping spot.

This is over by the Giraffes. I like this picture....a lot!

We, of course, did the traditional ending pose on the tigers out front! They would NOT look at us at the same time for anything. This was the best one...

I don't know why I think its fun to have him kiss the tiger and then ROAR really loud while he does it...is that sick? Oh well...cheap entertainment for mom and he laughs (after he jumps)....well and I knew I wanted to get it again this year!
Isn't he so sweet, precious...kissable?! :)

I can't believe he didn't fall asleep the WHOLE way home. His eyes were rolling back in his head the whole time but he never gave it up. He did sleep for over 2 hours when we got home though!

Creighton was out before we got past the gas station around the corner! She woke up when we pulled in the garage and then I nursed her back to sleep and she slept for about another hour! So that is a good nap for her.

We took naps when we got home (Jeff played Nintendo) and then I made eating well fish sticks and twice baked potatoes...they were really yummy! Even Jackson loved them...I recommend them both! (I added bacon to my potatoes and a little more cheese to the middle, not just the top)

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Baby A Update

Today Baby A is 2 weeks and one day old. Today is also her Mama's birthday....today A is struggling. Please pray for her and for the family. Not that any time is a good time for Baby A to go, just not today Lord, please! But we know you have your perfect will and plan in mind...give her strength and give them all strength. Give them all peace and comfort and please help Baby A not to be in pain. Thank you Lord Jesus.

Spring weather is so wonderful

Umm...hello! Today was A-mazing! The weather was gorgeous! I loved every second of it. It is still nice out...not too chilly...but perfect! Jeff took a few hours off this morning to hang out with me and look for a new Bible

***side story***
On Friday my parents were coming up for lunch and to hang out with the kids...and while I was cleaning up Jackson's room and getting Creighton dressed, Jackson was in the kitchen destroying my Bible! I cried...It was the Bible I was planning to give Creighton on her 18th birthday. I was distraught. I was livid. I was sad. I was furious. I felt like I might hurt Jackson for doing this, so I smacked his hand 3 times and put him in his room and shut the door (as I was shaking). I went back to the kitchen to pick up the pieces praying it wasn't as bad as it looked. It was awful and worse than I thought. I am missing Genesis, Exodus, portions of several minor prophets (as in half pages), all of Philippians, Colossians, some of Ephesians, all of the Johns and Revelation and all of my concordance/reference/dictionary stuff in the back...not to mention ALL of my little notes and pictures and handouts, etc. from within the pages...destroyed...

He has NEVER really torn up a book in all of his life, and he choose MY BIBLE of all books to be his "masterpiece"...it was all I could do! My mom scolded him when she got here, I scolded him, Jeff scolded him, my dad scolded him...I am sure that he has gotten the picture. I just hope he gets that is important and special to me, not that he should be afraid of ever touching any bible again

***back to my original story...I just hadn't posted about it (I was too upset about it then)***

and so we went to the mall and went to Dillard's after not finding the perfect new Bible. Jeff was in need of some new nice clothes and since Dillard's is STILL having the awesome 75% off sale, we got some sweet Ralph Lauren pants and a dress shirt and a jacket. He was in a good mood and decided we needed to go try on another dress for me and I got a shirt and 2 dresses. (although one of them I am not sold on yet and might return). Anyway, we got all of this for really cheap and that is awesome. Then we went to lunch at Outlaws...which I love...and better than that, you all know my love for free food..which it was because his parents gave us a 50$ gift card there for Christmas! (we only still have it because we just got it this week...:))

Then he went to work and I went to get the kids and we went to the park for like an hour and a half and it was beautiful (a tad windy at this particular park because no trees, but awesome anyway)....the kids ate a chocolate bunny (lovely school candy sent home) and got it everywhere (and I didn't care one bit) and then ran and played and swung and slid and had a great time. Then we left and went to the duck park (I had a ton of leftover bread from the Ordination party) and they really enjoyed running around there and feeding the ducks and playing by the water and with the sticks. We left there at nearly 5pm (maybe later I don't remember).

Thankfully I convinced them we needed to shower (because I needed to look decent tonight and they were pretty dirty too). Got us all dressed and raced out the door to meet one of my small group girls at the church at 6...although I was a little late :( Then I had my regular small group and we had a new girl (a girl that we've been trying to get to come for awhile). :) It went mostly REALLY well and I hope she comes back. They all seemed really excited about the trip to Tulsa and sleepover we have planned over Spring Break...awesome! I am so so so excited. My heart was so filled with joy afterwards tonight I could barely contain it!

God is so good! I love the weather and HOPE it stays around forever!...

Tomorrow we are going to the Zoo as a family and I am way excited about that...my dad is coming too! Should be lots of fun and I will get pics there...today I didn't think to bring my camera and I was by myself. I got some (not so great) pics on my phone, but I have NO idea how to do anything but look at them on my phone...

A few Ordination Day Pictures

Jeff's Ordination Sunday Pictures
Sweet family picture! Love it. Everyone was so cute that day! :) (And I really like my self tanning lotion...although my face does look really dark...hope I didn't look orange)

I am not sure if you can see what the cake says, Joshua 24:15 (just the latter part of the verse)

These are a few of his guys that waited around at the reception! They are all so close, it's awesome!

Brittany was invited as a guest to the lunch with our family and she ended up being the babysitter for a little while, self-imposed, but at the kid table nonetheless...I really appreciated that...and I love the look on Jackson's face--and Rae's too :)

Green, Rashes, Little Sleep, Fire in the Kitchen, Friends, and Chili

I changed my color to white with green because Jeff said it was hard to read and then if you read most of the comments on Jen's new site (which is lime green) it is evident that green is NOT a favorite of many readers. Since I am not nearly as talented of a writer and she, and certainly not as entertaining, I decided if I ever wanted people to read my blog again, I should change it immediately :). I do like doing a "theme of the month" color scheme which is why it is still St. Patrick's Day Green :)

Anyway, I am totally exhausted today. Yesterday was quite the day...Rae Rae's bumper (that's what we call the butt around here) has an absolutely positively horrible rash from the new antibiotic we are on (2nd in a row). Her little legs were trembling yesterday from the pain. She cried pretty much all day it felt like. The ONLY time I was able to comfort her was with DOMEBORO which I highly recommend if you or any of your kids EVER have any kind of rash (although it is pricey, its worth it). It is a miracle "drug"---literally within 2 seconds of her screaming her head off I applied a compress to her bumper area and she was calm. It was amazing. Anyway, as soon as that was over it was back to the screaming. I bet her little legs were so tired from not sitting down EVER all day. She couldn't. I couldn't even hold her like normal. I had to hold her back with one arm and her feet in my cupped hand with the other and her head on my shoulder to bear some weight...and that is how we looked most of the day. She didn't want to do anything. Every time I would change her diaper it was just torture for us both. Wails...really...it was heart breaking but I knew I couldn't let it wet/dirty or it'd make it worse.

I was so sad last night as I was praying for her because I was praying specifically for her rash and as I was nursing her she was just like have mini convulsions/spasms in her lower body because of the pain...it made me so sad and part of me was getting frustrated with God for not fixing it right away...a much needed reminder that there are so many people praying the same "heal her now" prayers for MUCH worse issues...but yet, the morning, although still not great, she looks and is acting MUCH better. Thank you, Lord!

Anyway, I stayed out with my small group girls till 2 in the morning, which because of silly time change (that I hate) it was really 3. Creighton then proceeded to get up 3 or 4 times between then and 8:45 (7:45) this morning...so needless to say I didn't get much sleep last night. And this morning I got Jackson up and dressed and then got showered and dressed myself and then fixed lunch minus the baking part and then got Creighton up and dressed and almost on time to church. I worked the desk and then went to a meeting after service and then rushed home to finish preparing lunch with both kids while Jeff was in another meeting and I had two kampers on their way to my home in minutes. Besides totally catching the oven on fire :0 and Jeff being 30 minutes late (making our food cold) it was a REALLY great visit with my girls and a nice lunch...I was impressed with myself as I made Chicken Cordon Bleu for the first time and Tortellini with Basil/Pesto sauce that was ALL fabulous...:)

I got the kids down for naps and chatted away with the girls until Creighton woke up and they had to leave. I have been on and off working on this post for 3 hours now :) So it might be really long...

Hopefully my exhaustion will carry into a great night's sleep for me as the night is hardly over...off to church again for a Chili cook-off/Talent show

Life Lessons from A Chicken...

Tonight as I was preparing Peanut Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables the Lord showed me something neat. ANYtime I cook chicken--ever--I ALWAYS cut all the "yuck" off of it. Jeff always complains that I waste so much chicken, because I am very thorough and make sure that there is NO room for any gristle or fat or skin or anything but WHITE meat nice and neat chicken ends up in our food.

As I was doing this again tonight I realized I am hypocritical, that most of us are, when it comes to things like me with chicken (maybe in your life it is something else) and me with sin. The Lord tells us to flee from sin, remove it all, to hate sin...however, I don't know about you, but I am usually trying to see how close I can get to the line without having to actually be "sinning" in that area. Like some of my youth are constantly asking "how far is too far" or questions similar--always wanting to push the limit, push the envelope.

I think God wishes I was like my cooking-chicken -self when it comes to my sin in my life. I certainly will go to all measures to get rid of all of the yucky on the chicken, even if it means giving up some of the good chicken...but how often do I do this in my personal life? Why do I just scrape the surface if at all instead of getting rid of it all, and being confident in that?

So, tonight as we were eating the dinner, and I had no worries of any yucky chicken, I was challenged to do the same in my spiritual life. To really do a heart check, a sin check, and evaluate where I need to cut deeper and really flee from the sin, instead of just letting it keep me in bondage.

A Re-Spark: Relational Ministry

Several years ago before I had kids I really enjoyed spending one-on-one time with teens...one of my passions! Which is why I spent four summers at Kanakuk as a counselor, why I went into youth ministry, why I applied and was accepted into the Kanakuk Institute, why I lead small groups, and why marrying a youth minister is awesome! :)

However, since I have had kids, this passion of mine was sort of smothered out by the demands of motherhood. My flame has has been re-sparked if you will! I have within the last 36 hours spent awesome quality time of no less than 8 face-to-face hours (and multiple phone/text/email/facebook) with 4 different girls on SEVERAL different occasions for very different reasons. It has been amazing!

It just so happened that one of my small group girls had surgery this week and is at home all week, one of my girls' boyfriends broke up with her (after a long time exclusive relationship), one of them has finally decided she'd like to spend time with me (after a long time of trying to convince her and having given up she called me out of the blue).

I hate that bad things had to happen to my sweet girls in order for these opportunities to arise to a) allow them to see me in this role in their lives, b) allow me the opportunity (and to jump on it), c) re-spark in me this undeniable calling in my life

God is good. I have slowly been sinking back out of my faithfulness to do my quiet time each day, to be on my knees in prayer in general (but especially for them), and just to have a deep soul relationship with my Father... He wasn't gonna let that happen this time...oh, He's been whispering, and I have heard and have chosen to ignore or half-heartedly approach the throne, but this time, I just couldn't say no...couldn't pass it up...and I am so thankful I listened, so thankful that He chose me in this moment in time to love on these girls. So thankful for my past hurts and hang-ups that I can share with them during their hurting so that maybe, just maybe, they won't have to walk the same roads I've walked to get to where I am today (which really, folks, it isn't that far, but I do know that I am changed and renewed and freed!)

Thank you Jesus for this time that you have allowed for me to set aside in my life to pour out my life into these girls. I thank you for all of them. I thank you for their struggles now, knowing later they will be more like you because of them. I thank you for my struggles so that I might be able to help them with theirs. I thank you for not letting me slip through the cracks. Thank you for pursing me, when I didn't care to be pursued...thank you for teaching me that...so I can in turn not give up on my girls. Thank you for who you are and that you are my Savior, my friend, my Father, my helper, my Redeemer, my Creator, my all in all. Thank you Lord. Please give me wisdom, please give them healing, comfort, and peace. Be their all-in-all tonight and forever Lord. Use me Lord. Use me to make an everlasting difference in their world, and for Your Kingdom.

Of Course...

You know when I went to bed after my "He's listening" post below I could have told you I was doomed....and I was.

I saw EVERY single cotton-picking hour on the clock that night/morning from 9p-9a. It was awful. Neither of them slept, so of course I didn't...but my sweet and darling husband managed to sleep through it ALL! :/

Needless to say I was VERY grouchy yesterday and last night wasn't much better, but at least Jackson didn't wake up till 5a this morning but thankfully went back to sleep (with us of course) till 8:45. Today, I am still rather grouchy but a little less because they are at least at school.

I took Creighton to the doctor last Tuesday to find out she had a really bad ear infection and not so bad ear infection AND a sinus infection. She's been on antibiotics TWICE A DAY religiously since and yet last night she was so so so upset about her ears...she was pulling like mad and screaming like crazy...from 11-12:15 and then from 3-4 until I finally just brought her to bed with me, which happened to be the miracle cure...or maybe it was all the Tylenol I gave her...because she slept great till 7:15 and then I nursed her and she went back to sleep till 9.

Jackson has been talking a lot about monsters lately...and it absolutely breaks my heart because I can be immobilized at times by my fears at night and I hate it that he might have that too. He was talking with Jeff in the shower last night about his previous night's sleeplessness and he was saying there was a monster and he began describing him and says he is on his wall. I hate that for him SO much. Any advice on how to get past this with him? He has a night light on already and a fan for noise so he doesn't hear outside noises and/or Creighton's cries. It just breaks me really to think of his fears!

Anyway, I desperately need to get some rest...I decided that I absolutely could NOT get pregnant again just for the sole reason of I wouldn't make it another year without sleep...really, I wouldn't! My depths of my being just canNOT function without it. I heard a commercial that man can survive 12 days without sleep...that is a load of bull! I wouldn't make it past the 2nd day...

Sorry for my complaining...I am just severely in a funk!

I am going to have lunch with one of my small group girls though and I visited one of my other ones this morning who had surgery yesterday and so that helped and I hope my lunch helps lift my mood (and helps me feel I have purpose again)...

Good day y'all...and Baby A is a whole week old today!!! :)---when I think of this I hate that I typed any of the above with any complain in my voice because I do have healthy babies...and I do know that I am so blessed! Forgive my complaining

He's listening...

Oh praise the Lord! Jackson is finally catching on...and so quickly. His vocabulary and comprehension has grown exponentially on a minute to minute basis over the last few weeks. He is so aware of just about everything that comes out of Jeff and I's mouths--and everyone else's for that matter. He watches everything and hardly misses a thing. He listens to everything and definitely doesn't miss a thing! Its amazing how far he's come in so little time.

He has gotten SOO much better with his colors and uses them daily now and about 95% correct...there are a few he doesn't get right at times, but its usually when it isn't the BRIGHT BRILLIANT shade of that color that we use to teach with....and/or when they are alike...his grandfather and his father both are very color blind and I am a little worried about this with him, but we'll see. He is singing his ABC's and other songs now and doing so well with them. His counting is still off: won, too, for, fife, seven, for, ate, too, tin :)

I have been pretty consistent with him about his manners and wowwhee it is paying off. Today on several occasions he said with the sweetest tone please and thank you and sorry and excuse me and I love you and it just about makes me melt...because I don't have to prompt him anymore...he just does it! It is a glorious and beautiful thing! Last night we went to dinner at Luigi's and it was really good by the way, but when the waitress brought Jackson his food he looked up with hesitation and said, "thanks so much" then shined his amazing smile and I couldn't have been more proud of him and grateful for such a sweet boy!

He is a lover and a cuddler (when he slows down enough to be, because he is certainly still ALL boy)...but I love this about him. He is so sweet...with words, with actions, with thoughts...its amazing how someone so small and so young can understand enough to be this way...I love his innocence!

He is cracking us up these days with lots of funny phrases and sayings. He tells me I am pretty almost everyday and he always says "mommy pretty like _____" (ariel, belle, cinderella, etc) He loves his princesses right now and Aidan asked why he liked princesses so much and I just said because he thinks they are pretty...:)

He is incredibly helpful around the house now and for the most part will do what we say (even though sometimes we have to begin to count to three...) He is thoughtful in that on occasion he'll go get diapers for both of the kids (in separate locations) at night time without being asked...that is awesome. He hasn't mastered it yet, but he is getting decent about putting his plate and stuff in the sink and he likes to help with laundry (as does Rae Rae).

He constantly is telling me as we open the garage that "I make shooa Rae Rae no go en da stweet" Then he tells me when I forget to shut the garage door: "Mommy, sshuut the doewer!"

His smile lights up the room anywhere he goes. People are drawn to him. Those blue eyes and that light light hair and that little grin....they just can't resist him and neither can I! I am so in love with my littlest man. He makes my heart jump for joy (at least when I don't have the desire to kill him :)) and I couldn't be a happier mommy!

ps. I edited my photos on my post here and I am quite proud of my little creation

Baby A Update

Baby A is still alive today (5 days)...she is such a miracle and a blessing to her family and to all of us. From what I hear she has good days and some days she struggles. Please continue to pray for strength and wisdom for all involved! These prayers are being heard and answered and fulfilled by our mighty Savior!

Jeff's Ordained! :) ***edited

Today went really well. Jackson was up early so I sent him to church with Jeff for first service/Sunday school and I nursed Creighton around 8:45 or so and put her back to sleep so I could get ready. She did excellent and stayed asleep till 10:15, which knowing we weren't getting naps till at the earliest 3, I was happy about!

I helped get Jeff and Jackson out the door and then I got showered and dressed and make-up and everything before she made a peep. It was wonderful. I actually spent time on myself this morning and I felt pretty and I.HAD.A.DRESS.ON...unbelievable to those of you who know me best...but yes its true...*(my new "fancy" dress and over-sweater I bought for this occasion...on sale and my new shoes also on sale (total outfit $72)....which after I typed that felt like a lot more than I thought...) Here is a picture of the dress and sweater. *** and now my head too for Kara :)

Here are the shoes that my MIL insisted upon calling my "barbie doll shoes" :/

Anyway, enough about me, this day certainly wasn't about me at all...

The service went well. The elders and Rod and the "interrogation" committee all surrounded both Jeff and I and prayed for about 10 minutes in front of the church. We had LOTS of family and friends in town...for the sake of remembering I am going to list them for our benefit :)

Terrie, Phillip, John, Debbie, GP, Grandma Lewis, Sherri, Randy, Jennifer, Brent, Clay, Lacy, Stephanie, Matt, Jessica, Layne, Bree, (and the 4 Bergs) for 21 *and my mom and dad were there in spirit* (more to come later on this topic)

Then Jeff's small group from the last 4 years: Hollis, Taylor, Chris, Potter, Thomas, Andy, Bradshaw and Jenky (the rest didn't make it but there were 4 more in town for the weekend)

And several friends left their "posts" of volunteering or being in a class to come during the "ceremony" part to be supportive of us! It was a really neat experience.

The reception was really nice and lots of people came by to say hi and congrats to us both...or eat the (really good) food...who knows. :)

Pastor Rod and Cindy and Brittany joined us for lunch at 1. The lunch went well. My kids were starting to get a lot little restless towards the end and VERY ready for naps but all-in-all I was proud of my little troopers (although NEITHER of them ate much or anything except for cake). Everybody had fun (some nice, some funny) stories to tell about Jeff and the conversation was pleasant--which was nice. He got some sweet cards and some gifts and money too! :)

I had my camera there today but because I was "busy" with everything I gave it over to someone to take pictures, but when I got the camera out just now, there was only one and it was of Creighton and Gramma Debbie...so I am waiting on all the pics that Debbie took and I will post those later...

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!

Jeff's Ordination

I am so excited for Jeff this weekend. He is being ordained on Sunday at church during second service. We have 21 family members coming and his small group of now freshmen in college!! It is way exciting day in the lives of the Bergs. God has blessed us immensely and this is only part of it. Thank you Lord for my husband and his calling and his passion. Thank you for allowing Grace to see what I see (and have for so long) and to gather around him in this way.

There is a reception from 12-1 following second service and then there is also a lunch for the family after that! We are all way excited. I got a new fancy dress to wear to church on Sunday too! (it was on sale)...:)

Yeah for Jeff! I am so proud of you Honey

Baby A--prayers are working, more are needed

Baby A wasn't expected to live more than an hour after birth, if that...tomorrow they are all coming home from the hospital. She will be 2 days old tomorrow morning. She is having a feeding tube inserted for nourishment and it also helps her breathing. The diagnosis hasn't changed and there are many unanswered questions and no one knows how long her life will be or what it will consist of, except for the complete love of a family. They think she is beautiful and they are loving her and holding her and spending quality family time together. Just pray for them as the days ahead will be tiring and hard and that they will have the peace and strength and comfort that only God can give. Thank you all for praying and please continue.

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

Prayers are needed....

Please pray for my friends and their new baby girl that was born this morning. She is one of the people I was talking about in my compassion post. The day has come. So far baby A is fighting, but the prognosis remains the same and they say her breathing is beginning to struggle. My heart is deeply burdened and hurting. I am praying but I feel helpless. Those that are with them say that God's grace and peace is upon their faces and hearts, which is awesome.

UPDATED: as of 10:45 tonight A was still doing okay and this is so much longer than they expected her to make it....still praying for a miracle/peace for the family

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!

three day recap

Well my days (and nights) have been much better since my last post, however, I have not had much time to be on the computer. Tuesday I went to bible study and that was good and then we went to the Family Life Center with several other moms/kids. It was fun, but near the time we were to leave anyway, Jackson disobeyed me and we had to leave promptly and it was a crazy and LONG walk to the car. It was so hard for me because I just didn't have the energy (I thought) to deal with it and be as consistent as I know I needed to be AND I didn't want to leave yet! :) But I did what I knew needed to be done and stuck to my guns...and it worked (or atleast made a difference). By the time I actually got him home he was a different kid and was sweet during lunch and took a good nap and we had a good conversation after his nap about him listening to mommy the first time (his initiation). So he definitely remembers and that is a great thing and a good first step. I had to just keep reminding myself I was doing the right thing and to stay tough and "not grow tired and weary of doing what is right." Anyway, then I had my private lessons with Kate and Taylor at the YMCA and that went well and then I headed off to ger ready for my Ladies Nite Out! It was great and there were lots of ladies there this time! Some new faces and the regulars....so fun!

I haven't been sleeping well at all lately, roughly since Thursday night Jeff left last week...so for a full week. I don't know why. But I have taken pills, bought a new pillow, changed the sheets, worked out, not worked out, eaten well, not eaten well...NOTHING seems to help me sleep. I hope tonight will work out for me a little better.

Wednesday I got a ton of errands completed and I also worked out at the Y. I love my step classes...they are such a great workout for me. You can push yourself if you want and when you need to take it down a little bit, you can do that. I love it that there are ladies of all shapes, sizes, ages, abilities, and everything in there. I just love it! I am still sore...my abs are killing me...but I love it!

Wednesday night went really well for me and the small group I love my girls and I love getting to pour into their lives as much as they allow. I look forward to it even though I am exhausted most Wednesday nights (for one reason or another). I love that time with them. It is such a different dynamic than I have been accustomed to with my previous group, but it works and it is good! We talked about influence and being role models and such. I plan to blog about it later because the Lord used it to show me some things too--I just LOVE it when He does that!

Today we have had some good quality family time! Jeff was off work today and there was ICE everywhere outside and so we were trapped inside...but it went surprisingly well. The kids slept in later than normal and I brought Creighton back to our bed at 8 something and she slept in it till past 10! Jackson was up around 9 I think and he and Jeff watched Beauty and the Beast. I stayed in the room with Creighton and caught up on some reading and played my DS (I love that thing).

Then we had dance/music time and it was fun and hilarious and it really wore us ALL out! The kids are hilarious when music comes on! They love to dance and Jackson will catch a few words and try singing along and I just love it! Then out of nowhere he'll say "rock out, [pause] all night" he is so funny.

Then we made pizzas and they were delicous and the kids had fun (Jackson in particular loved eating the pepperonis outof the bag instead of putting them on the pizza!). After lunch we played with cars and then all took a shower together and then went down for naps (me included). Jackson took the longest nap in history. I am not certain of what time it was by the time we went down, but he didn't wake till 10 minutes till 5 and I think it was around 2 when we went down!

After nap I started working on dinner and made a really yummy recipe called Oven Baked Chicken and also Sweet Potato casserole and green beans and pasta! I had fun and Jeff ended up taking the kids to the Y so he could work out and I could finish dinner in peace. The oven went off as they were pulling in the driveway so it was perfect timing. So LOVE the Y and the childcare!

We had dinner and everybody but Creighton loved it but she did nurse constantly all day today (she's teething and not feeling up to par I think). And then tonight she downed a whole bowl of that infant rice cereal that is SO gross...but she acted like she was eating ice cream....cracked me up!

Anyway, thanks for all my comments to my last post...that was way fun...Jeff said it was way too long and no one would ever read it...so I think it doubly funny that it had my most comments EVER! :)

Have a good night all....

What a first night!

Well, I could tell last night that my weekend had "worked" and I was refreshed and feeling like I could conquer the world...(or just two toddlers...which some days feels like the world)...this morning was great. I noticed their whines and such, but no problem, still feeling awesome...they did have school today, which obviously made it easy throughout the day because they were running wild with someone else (and loving it--they don't like leaving!).

After school we played hard for an hour at the park, which was fun...albeit much colder and windy-er than I had anticipated...but fun nonetheless. We quickly ran home and had snacks and I threw on my workout clothes from earlier in the day when I played almost 2 hours of volleyball (fun), and I threw dinner in the oven and ran out the door to go to the YMCA where I am taking a step class that I absolutely love! The kids ran around and played hard in the nursery there while Jeff and I worked out.

We came home to an amazing smelling home and a HOT dinner ready to eat. It was perfect, well besides that my floor and table are NO longer clean whatsoever. But, like I said yesterday, that is just my "normal" and to have it clean and smelling so good was just "fantasy" and certainly not reality by any stretch of the imagination.

Dinner went okay but the kids didn't eat really well, but I thought not a big deal...they did eat something and had a snack earlier...

Well, it pretty much was nuts from that point on (when Daddy left to go to Bible Study)...

We played for a little bit, and then I decided it was time for bath. Bath went decent for the first part, and Jackson was ready to get out to go finish his Veggie Tales movie so I got him out, dried and dressed and sent him on his way (so wonderful that he is so independent with so many things)...and Creighton was NOT ready at all to get out of the tub...so I let her play as the water was draining and I began taking all the toys and the mat out. Thank goodness! She was playing slippin' slide with the tub without any water and was having the time of her life! I was helping her so she wouldn't keep banging her head so hard...but she never cried, just laughed...

Then I was going to wipe her nose but decided to blow mine first (sometimes I do this so she'll be less aprehensive about me wiping hers) and my nose started GUSHING blood...everywhere. I stuck an entire kleenex up there and somehow (seriously I don't know how) it was still DRIPPING outside of the kleenex...

So all over my white bathroom that I just spent 2 days cleaning I am bleeding everywhere and I am trying to get it cleaned up and stopped, or at this point at least slowed down enough to move. As I am leaning over the sink, I hear a toot from Creighton, no big deal, much bigger things to deal with than her toot...well literally I turn around and there is POOP everywhere...she was slippin' and sliding all in it and it was now all over my tub and tub walls (not to mention Creighton) that I had just scrubbed (her too)....So I abandon my nose and I go back to her and try desperately to get her up and cleaned off as my nose is gushing blood ---bright red---everywhere all over the tub, and then she slips again, just as I get all the poop off the tub (thankfully I had all the toys and mat up and there wasn't water in the tub, made for a much easier clean up) and is covered now in poop and blood from head to toe...seriously it was so disgusting! I get her all cleaned off....I think I washed her poor body like 100 times over and over, as in I used half a bottle of Aveno baby wash!

Get her dressed, and my prayers were working as I was panicking prayers up to God for my nose to stop bleeding so I could take care of her...and it did, eventually!

Then we come play and have a good ole time with the slide and the cars. Jackson's movie is over (which by the way he was oblivious to the disaster in the bathroom...thank goodness he wanted to leave, which he NEVER usually does). So I tell them 5 minutes and its time to go read books and we need to start picking up the toys....this is where Jackson begins the torture...he doesn't help pick up ONE toy...so he is not playing with them tomorrow...he throws a fit.

I tell him its time for bed which he thought was more punishment and I tried to explain it was time for bed no matter what. So, then I had to spank him. More crying, more fits. Tell him its time to brush his teeth and more fits....finally he comes and of course I put toothpaste on the wrong toothbrush, more fits. I about choke him to death getting his teeth brushed (unwilling, of course). He throws another fit when we get in his room because I told him he didn't earn a book tonight. Then I give him his blanky and binky and put him in his bed and he proceeds to throw the binky across the room. I told him I was sorry he did that and kissed him goodnight and walked out.

I read Creighton some books all the while Jackson is literally beating his door down. There is a child door safety thing on it so he can't get out if it is closed all the way. Well, he locked his door somehow and broke the child safety thing off the door. But because he had locked the door in the process, then he really couldn't get out....more yelling and crying and screaming and fit throwing (not to mention his light was off, so he was in the dark). Finally he calms down a little bit and begins trying his best to calmly tell me he was sorry and he wanted to listen and he REALLY wanted his binky but couldn't find it. So, I went in to get his binky and calm him down a little more so he'd settle down...he was so tired (and now worn competely out). I put him in his bed and he asked for a book again, but I told him not tonight and he thought about crying but I think he was just too tired. We prayed and he was asleep before I left the room.

So I go back into Creighton's room (we had to come out to get her medicine) to nurse her to sleep and she gets a tickle in her throat and throws up ALL OVER ME and herself and the chair and the carpet ( mind you all things that were recently clean!--with the exception of me). So I take her back to the bathroom and clean her up and she starts dancing immediately...like ah I just needed to get that out! :) She is so funny...although I wasn't laughing then. Change her pajamas and nurse her for a few more minutes and lay her down. I was hoping that she'd fall right asleep but she screamed her head off. I had to go take a shower because I needed not to hear her cries and I was gross (volleyball, step class, dinner, bathtime, nose bleed, poop, and throw up....)

Now I am clean and they are both asleep...whew...what a first night back into mommyhood...but I can still say, life is good, I am so blessed and I still am doing fine (thanks to my weekend away)...:)

Oh yes, and my time with my husband was so sweet last night. I cuddled up next to him and we talked for hours...it was fantastic! He was absolutely precious to me and treated me like a queen and stole my heart again...like he likes to do! He is truly wonderful!

They're baaaack!

I was very excited to see them. I got hugs all around and within 5 minutes my house looked like it did Thursday....(well it's still clean I guess, just not picked up)...

Jeff brought home ALL of his old cars from when he was little, some little people thingys, some micromachines, some big cars and just lots of junk toys....its a good thing I got rid of so many!

The kids were happy to see me and I was happy to see them. They are in their rooms now, Creighton is having a hard time falling asleep, but maybe I think she just stopped crying now...hopefully!

She was SO funny when she realized she could nurse again. We were playing like normal, and then all of a sudden she came up to me and gave this weird look and then its like it snapped! She was all about it and I knew what she wanted immediately! She was so funny and cute! She would suck and then look up at me and grin from ear to ear like she was saying, "mom, this is good, I missed this!" I loved every second of it! She nursed for a few minutes and then played and then I nursed her just a few minutes ago to sleep *well until I laid her down...

All is well...they ate dinner and got it everywhere and took EVERY SINGLE toy Jeff brought home and tossed them all over the living room....part of me was sad, but the other part of me said "welcome back home Courtney"...and I liked it. Life is good people! Life is really good!

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!

Last night alone...

The rest of my day was incredibly productive as well! I am so excited and proud of myself. For those of you who don't know me, and even those of you who might, I think tonight was the first time since we moved into the house 3 years ago that I have cleaned like I have. I mean, never, ever before has my house been clean like this...I still have to vaccuum and sweep/mop the kitchen but everything else is done.

I scrubbed the toliets and shower and bath tub and sinks.

I dusted EVERYTHING in the entire house (even the vents and fans and lights and everything)

I sorted all the clothes and socks (this took forever)

I took down ALL of my crosses and hung them in different areas. I hung several new pictures and rearranged most of the old ones. I am ready for my NEW (Christmas present just getting here) family Portrait that will come home with Jeff.
**I went to Hobby Lobby and got new frames for some SWEET pictures that we had taken of the kids over Thanksgiving...that was fun

The house smells good!

I went to the mall tonight too and I found a great sale at Dillards! I got 6 pairs of shoes (one for me, 2 for Jackson and 2 for Creighton , and a present for a baby) for only $65.22. The brands were Merrell, Stride Rite, Converse, Timberland, Kenneth Cole, and Michelle D (I have no idea what Michelle D was but my shoes were originally 70 and I got them for 17)! That was incredibly exciting!

I spent some time with one of my small group girls and that was awesome...we just chatted while she worked (at the mall)...it was good!

I talked to an old camper (Hi, Lauren) for awhile while I was eating dinner and that was great talking with her!

Today was a great day...I am thoroughly exhausted though and I never did take a nap. I purposely didn't have caffiene though today so I hope I sleep well tonight. The kids and my sweet hubby will be home tomorrow and I want to be ready for them! I have to work the nursery tomorrow during second service and since its past 1a I will probably not be making it to first service...oh well...

Ladies (and gents?) this weekend has been fabulous! I can't explain what it has done for my soul, my spirit, my life. It was so rewarding and I even worked really hard at the same time. I love being productive and achieving goals and making lists and getting them completed...I hardly ever do that on my own with the kids/Jeff at home. I hope I will take this energy and be able to do some of this when they return and make it a habit...(seriously some of my "dust bunnies" had legs and were hopping away)....

I learned a bit about myself this weekend and that is always nice too! Relfection time is so good. I didn't read at all, which I thought I was going to but that's okay. I did some studying of scripture and some prayin' and that was nice. I didn't sleep nearly as much as I thought I would...imagine that?!

Going to bed, cause I can tell I am tired...ramble ramble

Caffiene is a killer, but makes for sweet productivity!

Yesterdays 4 really big glasses of Sweet Tea from McAlisters is what helped fuel me to stay up and finish the taxes (minus the EIN numbers I am waiting for). However, I was getting really tired after my post and I laid down and could NOT fall asleep. I tossed around forever and finally at 10 I was up and got out of bed about 10:30. I was bummed, but thought..."hey, who cares, I can nap for as long as want and whenever I want today." I really thought that I would have already napped today but I haven't, instead I have been incredibly prodcuctive.

I have:
1) done tons of laundry
2) finished the dishes and realized that when EVERYTHING is clean, we don't have enough room in our cabinets :)
3) took off all of Creighton's border in her room
4) cleaned out ALL of the toys in the entire house and got rid of 2 huge bags full.
5) packed up all the clothes the kids have grown out of (3 bags full)
6) organized all the toys we ARE keeping (a whole house full)
7) talked to my mom for a while
8) washed and changed the sheets on the kids beds (still have mine to do)
9) thoroughly cleaned the highchair and put it away forever (anyone want/need one...its like brand new now) (tear, how sad, no more baby babies)
10) took out the trash
11) planned the meals for next week and bought the groceries
12) blogged and read blogs
13) checked emails
14) talked to some friends via facebook
15) pumped twice

Seriously, I have only been up 3 and a half hours and I got a heck of a lot done!!!!!! I am so proud of myself...now if I can only convince myself that I REALLY do need to clean out my bathrooms and scrub the floors and dust and vaccuum...its just not happening right now...I think I need a break... :)

I think I might call and check up on my hubby and babies...I do miss them, but I am SOOOOOO enjoying my time alone too.

ps. is anyone else having trouble with not being able to spell check...its been weeks since it has worked for me on my posts and I don't know why....

Taxes

Um...seriously...its 3:45 am....what am I thinking? I don't know....but I am 99.9% finished with my taxes and that is incredible!

I have several things to say....
1) I hope I did them right
2) If number 1 is correct then, yipee! we have a HUGE refund coming
3) Turbo Tax is the WORST program ever...it was so hard to understand and navigate and our refund on TurboTax was like half of what it was in TaxCut
4)TaxCut is where it is at!
5) I loved it...it was easy, smooth, idiot-friendly, and of course, it has a much much higher refund amount! :)
6)and, it is nearly 10$ cheaper than Turbo tax....
7) I have a coupon for TurboTax if you DID already pay for it, I will mail it to you and you can get a $10 cash back (you need to have your receipt (dated)) and this certificate and mail it in....first come first serve...but if you didn't already buy it, DON'T....get TaxCut

Some more of my day....

My pumping schedule has been drastically different than my nursing "schedule" with Creighton, so I hope that when she returns I actually have milk. Its so weird to pump and not get much, because I am so used to pumping and getting SO.MUCH.MILK. Oh well...

Today Brittany and I went to McAlisters for lunch and I ordered my favorite: Beef and Cheddar Spud (goodness it is SO good)...but then the manager lady came behind my cashier lady and said "there are no potatoes for 55 minutes"...I was so excited about eating my potato and that (and of course the sweet tea) were the ONLY reasons I chose to eat at McAlisters again (I had it also on Monday) this week. So, probably because of my look of panic...I have no idea about anything on the menu except that one thing...she offered to buy my meal and reimburse me for my potato that I already paid for...that was awesome...but lets just say that the McAlisters Club Sandwich holds NO candle to the potato in anyway...I was dissappointed, but how dissappointed can you be when it was free....?

Anyway, had good times there and walked around the mall for a little bit....came back home and relaxed for a few hours and worked on my itunes stuff and taxes/email/blogging for a long time. Then realized it was 10pm and I hadn't eaten dinner...so I went to grab some dinner and it was awful (Wendy's) and then I went to walmart...and now its 12:30 and I am home pumping and going to try to finish the taxes...I have to start over because I messed up and can't figure out how to fix it...so hopefully I'll get it right this time...but its looking good for now!

Goodnight everyone...I am thoroughly enjoying my time, although time is getting away from me and I am not accomplishing everything I had hoped....but then I realized I needed to relax...and so I don't care about my "agenda" anymore...its all good!

So far...

Well, my time has been great. It's just wonderful to breathe and to be able to sleep, and sleep till 11:43! :)

Last night I made some stinkin' awesome nachos that were fabulous (and I can't make right now while Jeff is on the diet) and then OF COURSE I made some cookies! They are so good and I am sure I will eat every one of them by myself (well Brittany had 2) before they get back on Sunday! I hung out with Brittany last night for a little while and had a good time with conversation and just TIME that we NEVER normally get because I am needed by my little people too often for good long conversations...it was so good for our friendship! It was good for my soul too...I loved it.

I stayed up way too late, but IT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE I COULD SLEEP AS LATE AS I NEEDED/WANTED! And I did!

I did clean up the dishes and a little bit of the kitchen last night...and I plan to finish up before Sunday hopefully with the whole house but particularly the kitchen, the bathrooms, and then the dusting and vaccumming which NEVER gets done around here...

My goal is to get the taxes done too before Jeff gets back so its one less thing to worry about! Yeah....and its weird because I am totally not even dreading it because I can have papers lying everywhere and not have to worry about them and I can do it in sections and parts and not worry! I am so excited...this is crazy what rest, and time away does for the body and soul and spirit!

Jeff should be careful, this might have to become a tradition a few times a year! :) Oh a girl can wish and dream, can't she?! However, the fact that Jeff got his first ever speeding ticket on the way there sorta stunk! But they made it safely and are all doing very well!

Valentine's Day

It is a GORGEOUS day today. I LOVE the weather. Its just perfect. I am anxiously awaiting for my luxury/fantasy weekend to begin tonight, but am enjoying my time with the kids today too. I can say that Satan has tried to nearly kill me (but instead has kept me on my knees) with thoughts of something happening to all three of the most important people in my life as they are together and I am away (here). Oh how scary, but I am trying not to get too figity about it....

Anyway, my friend Kara and her girls came over today and the kids had so much fun (and so did I) that Kara told me it was 1:45 and we hadn't had lunch yet! It was crazy....I thought itwas still like 12:30 or something...we had good times! :) We got the kids all fed and now mine are sleeping (and I hope hers too).

Happy Valentines Day!

Again, I owe my sweet husband a shout out for being so wonderful! He stayed a few extra minutes to help me pick up the house when Kara was going to come over! He is so wonderful I am so blessed and lucky! :0 Thanks baby

Excitement on a lot of levels!

I have wanted to update everyday and for one reason or 50 I haven't gotten to it. Today I was planning on it but then I tried to do our taxes...Can I tell you how much I hate doing taxes?! Ugh!

Jeff started a 90 day fitness challenge at the YMCA and his goal is to lose like over 30 pounds. I didn't pay to do it, but I am in charge of feeding him healthier meals and buying healthy food and not making cookies and such (bah hum bug). Anyway, I was excited when they did his weigh in because I got to do my testing too (helps when you know people and are in the right place at the right time). I was SO excited to hear even though there is NO way its right that I had a 25 body fat % (they gave the exact amount but I can't remember) and my "ideal" according to the test based off my height weight structure and all the other stuff was like 24% and it said I only needed to lose a few pounds to achieve this. I was very excited! :)

I was also very excited this week because I finally got rid of my old "ghetto" Oklahoma license and replaced (renewed) it with a newer one that looks 21st century instead of something I made at home. It was actually a good picture too! That rarely happens...I get to keep it for 4 years...and even better than that she didn't ask for my new weight and that is the weight from when I was 16! :) Hahahha! I was as excited as I was when I got my very first license I think! Seriously...I should get out more, huh?

The biggest news of excitement is this:
My fantasy is coming true!

Jeff is taking both children and going to Enid for the weekend. I get to stay in my bed, in my house with all of my things, ALL.BY.MYSELF. for 3 days (and 3 BLESSED nights).

I am so beside myself with excitement I don't know what to do! I love my family and love spending time with them, but I can GUARANTEE you that I will want to so much more after having this weekend to myself. Having time to myself is one thing when I am away like at a hotel, or a friends, or my parents, but the fact that I get my own bed is just....well, I am so blessed and thankful....and lucky....

My husband is so sweet! Happy Valentines Day sweetheart and thank you ahead of time!

**as for what I will do with my time...I will for sure Sleep a lot, blog, sleep, update pics, sleep, taxes (maybe), sleep, clean the house (maybe), go to a movie (haven't got a clue what is even in the theaters)....we'll see. I truly have NO plans...I am trying to "squeeze in" a massage in all that time off (if the guy is open)*** oh did I say I was excited?! :)

Life is good

I had minor (major to me) dental surgery on Wednesday afternoon and have been a little "low" because of it the last few days. I am such a baby. Pain level is decent but my need to be "felt sorry for" and cared for is GREAT (much exceeds the normal limits). *Having said that, I will say though that my mouth is really gross looking and very uncomfortable and I am still taking much much too much ibprofen every day to be able to function.

Anyway, I am hoping this all will just go away and feel better overnight although I am not holding my breath...I just popped another 600mg of IBP.

However, we have had some really great fun and lovely family time this weekend. My kids are getting big, which on one hand and for a very small second is sad, but on the other is so wonderful! They are getting a little bit more independent each day. Creighton acts like she's 3 and Jackson acts like he's either 5 or 5 months depending on the minute :)....it is just neat.

Discipline with Jackson is so much easier when we can communicate with one another! That might not always be the case, but it is just fantastic that I know I don't let him off the hook now by making excuses for him that "oh, well, he just doesn't understand"....he craves structure and discipline and guidelines and boundaries....just like his mother, but much unlike his father (whom his very precious princess takes after). He doesn't always want consequences obviously but he is doing so much better with it. He is my little cuddle bug, full of energy though, very people pleasing type A personality. He likes order and loves things "exactly the way he wants them" at the exact time and location....we are working on this. :)

Anyway, we are just enjoying these little people and of course I absolutely ADORE watching my husband spending fun play time with them. It is truly awesome. He is such a wonderful father, Daddy, friend to them...Thanks honey...

Jackson has continued in his pursuit of praying and he prays FERVENTLY and with MUCH MUCH obvious desire for his grammy Terrie to feel better so he can go to Pop's house....it is almost too much to handle how cute he is...he squeezes his eyes so tight and grasps his little fingers around his hands so tight as if to think "if I squeeze harder maybe it'll happen faster"... I just can't get enough of it! It is my most favorite thing in the world right now.

One last funny thing, I was at Hallmark and I happened to buy 3 cards all random and they told me I could get one of these stuffed animals that makes noise for $9.95 since I bought 3 cards....I can't really stand the thought of one more stuffed animal in my house and so almost immediately said no...but the lady persisted in showing them (all 3 of them to me) anyway, the last of which was this funny little dog that had ears that flapped up and down and sings in a doggie voice "Where's my hug, where's my hug, i want a hug, give me a hug, come on come on give me a hug, oh boy oh boy oh boy ruff ruff"....I don't even like dogs but my sweet Rae LOVES them and she loves noisy toys and loves hugs, so I caved and got this silly dog. My kids couldn't love this silly thing more! If you push the paw Creighton will RUN (drop whatever she is doing and RUN) to give that thing a hug...it is priceless and precious in everyway....Jackson does it too but really only because Creighton gets so much attention from it and/or because he knows she wants it. It was a great $10 gift for her....I will get video maybe soon of it...

Jackson's 1st official prayer

We pray with Jackson every night (and at most meals) and occasionally we'll ask him to pray which up until tonight he's always declined and announces who he'd like to hear pray....however, tonight this little man absolutely MELTED this mom's heart.

Jeff told him to pray and he said "otay"

We were holding hands and he closed his eyes and said:

"ear esses, [mumble] terrie feel better to go to pops house soon [mumble] [mumble] amen"

the [mumble] parts i have NO idea what he said, but the part in the middle and the part where he said dear jesus, just gave me chills and made me so joyful. it was awesome. he was so sweet!

ps. terrie (jeff's mom) has been really really sick and so he was praying she'd feel better (so he can go visit)

Creighton's getting big!

Creighton went to the doctor today for her 15 month well-baby visit. She weighs 22 1/2 pounds and 32 inches. She is "perfect" according to the doctor and better than that she is "advanced" in her talking, much UNlike her big brother. When we finally got the kid (Jackson) healthy, then we realized he was very behind in talking...So today was a great news! She got one shot and did beautifully with it barely shedding one tear. I was so proud and she was so brave.

Its crazy how much she is growing up! Both of them, they are just getting big before my very eyes!

Some words Creighton is saying:

cheese, bye-bye, mommy, daddy, yes, no, baby, doll, ball, juice, button, where, "kisses", shoes, bubba, dog, grg "george", bottle,

Anyway, I am still nursing her and since she is currently teething like crazy and all of her molars at the same time! I am picking back up on nursing her more often than I had intended. It was seeming that she "had" to nurse and that it was like the "miracle cure" to her teething pain. It was nice to see it written in an article that Maria posted. So, much to everyone else's disgust (it seems) I am not ready, she is not ready and therefore, now I will try to build back up my milk supply. I told the doctor today that I was nursing like 6 times a day and she said she was totally fine as long as she was eating food and drinking water also. I might need to start taking my pills again though (I stopped a long time ago). I am glad though that there are lots of nutrients still there, because lately she tends to want to nurse more often than not. Oh this girl...she is a keeper! :)

Snow Day!

Jackson loved eating the ice/snow. He did that for a better part of the time we were out there. His "flavor" was gwaape (grape) and mine was strawberry :)

Jackson had a BLAST outside in the snow...he LOVED it. Every part except the freezing hands (we didn't have real gloves for him, only the little knit ones and so we went through 2 pairs and called it a day).

Creighton wasn't exactly keen on being in so many layers and the fact that she was in boots (Jacksons) that were twice too big for her feet and pants that were also Jackson's that were too big (with several layers on underneath) sent her into a rage of tantrum shortly after she fell off the sled ride with me! It was awful. But I took her inside and stripped her down to her diaper and she within seconds calmed down...I guess my girl doesn't like winter....kinda like her mommy or doesn't like being bundled like her daddy.

We have several videos but this one took almost and hour to upload so that is all for today:)

Nasty bruise

I played in a volleyball tournament on Saturday that was a ton of fun. We played okay, not great...I had decent games and horrid games, never really outstanding...kinda a bummer, but oh well. We won 3, lost 5. I am one sore and tired lady. I came away with a nice bruise too...I took a jump serve really high up on my arm and it literally exploded one of my veins...it is so ugly.



Later that night was my Dad's retirement party...that was fun and there were lots of people there to help celebrate...the kids weren't too difficult and they seemed to be enjoyed by all the adults...the food was great and the cakes were amazing! It was nice to see my brother for a few hours! We left late and I was exhausted from the day. I think my mom has pics but we didn't have the camera with us...but Congrats Dad...so excited for and proud of YOU.