Learning how to...

Learning how to..."Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Tuesday Thoughts

These are why I need these...


So glad I cannot get the doughnuts in Fairhope!!

I was going through pictures tonight and I love this one...
We were packing up the bookfair- Blaine and SC got in the read-a coaster (built by Mark and Mr. Larry and painted by me) and had some fun!

So Sarah Claire is getting ready for Kindergarten...
Her last day of preschool....
We sure are going to miss Mrs. Wendy- both Blaine and Sarah Claire have had her for pre-K 4 and I cannot say enough good things about her. She has LOVED my children and pushed (in a good way) my children to reach their highest potential. I only hope AB is lucky enough to have her in a few years, but we won't talk about that right now because I do not want to think about her going to k....
We have been working on handwriting, letter and number recognition...it is coming together!
I am really proud of SC, she is showing initiative by reminding me we need to be working!! Hope this is just a glimpse of her attitude when the real deal begins...but I really don't want to think about her going to K right now- I've still got a little over a month to savor her as a preschooler!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Late nights, Date nights

I am beginning to see bedtime getting later each night...the kids are just enjoying playing, it's hard to coax them to bed. Truthfully, it's allowing me to do a few more things before they go to bed like clean the kitchen or fold clothes which means when they do go to bed I can have some "me" time. Usually I am trying to read a little more of the books I have piled on my night stand! (Right now I am reading The Help thanks Camille:) I will say that if bedtime is later Blaine and Sarah Claire are going to sleep later. Anna Britten hasn't quite figured that out yet even though I am seeing little "glimpses" of sleeping in from her too!

Speaking of Anna Britten- I love seeing the world through her little eyes. She is talking away these days...the other day she carried on a complete conversation with the air beside her telling it about "time out" and "going to the mall" and "feeding her baby". I love it when she says, "I love you Mommy (or Daddy) hugs and kisses". My most recent favorite line from her I actually did not hear, but Leigh did. Leigh says she was very quiet and she went to check on her. When she did, ABs was lying on the floor looking up at a recent portrait we have hung of our family over the fireplace. Leigh asked what she was doing and she said, "I watching me". Like she was watching herself on tv...I just love the way her little mind thinks MOST of the time.
Blaine and ABS "parade" around the kitchen.
I asked Sarah Claire to get the paper for me in the front yard the other morning- she runs to the laundry room for her boots so she doesn't get her feet dirty.
She is my helper- helped me shuck corn Saturday!
I love to see their little imaginations at work...all in a boat TOGETHER and actually playing nicely!

This summer has been full of me saying over and over again..."If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all..." Of course ABS pretty much has the line down and will finish it when I begin it! We are working on encouraging words.

On another note...Kallie (our cocker spaniel) had to have 6 teeth pulled today- she was a trooper and is doing well!
Kallie was a package deal- Mark got both me and her when we began dating! I actually had just gotten Kallie right before our first date. The weather was horrible that night. When Mark walked me in the house, Kallie had "left her mark" everywhere. Didn't know if that second date would come or not... "Date" nights recently have been hard to plan with Mark working weekends (more on that in an upcoming blog). We did get to go out to eat Saturday night and enjoyed every minute of it! These days undivided attention is hard-- we take what we can get.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Reasons to Love Summer!

Besides just sleeping a little later, not having to rush out of the house every morning...here are a few things we have loved about SuMmEr this week...
Going to see Scooby Doo with cousins!
Baseball camp for Blaine!
Surprise Circus tickets for the kiddos!
Ringling Brothers put on a fantastic show- we got to enjoy being down in the "three rings" before the show! Had a BLAST!
Popcicles in the pool!!
Yes, we are lovin' summer:)

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Blessings

I just love Blessings by Laura Story. The words are comforting to me... I am not going through a storm right now (other than living with a very defiant 2 and a half year old), but I have been through hard times and I know hard times will be ahead of me. I know that the storms "grow me" so to speak...I just need to remember that in the midst of the storm!

I love the verse from Phillipians "He who started a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (It was part of my devotion today.) Just a reminder that my Spirtual Journey should never be stagnant- I should always be searching for new wisdom in God's word every day! This verse is one I believe I should impress upon my children also. I read a quote by Stormie Omartian that has stuck with me If you are not covering your children in prayer every day, you are leaving their lives to chance. In this world, I do not want to leave their lives to chance- granted some days my prayers for them are longer than others, but I do want them to have an unshakeable foundation in this world! Scriptural Blessings that I have been praying...Assurance of Salvation (Jn 3:16), Friendships( Eccl. 4:9-12), Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts(Eph. 5:18).
Praying for Godly spouses for all three of them one day
Praying for blessings bigger than my greatest dreams for them! (Eph 3:17-20)
BLessings- life is full of them, even when we don't realize it...

What we've been up to...
Splash Pad fun at Walker's Birthday...Anna Britten wasn't thrilled at first because of sunscreen in her eyes!
Baseball swim party with a house full of boys, thunderstorm, and no electricity!
a little cake baking and batter eating...
Ice Cream at Mr. Gene's Beans
and any swimming we have time for:)

Saturday, June 4, 2011

I have a new niece!

I am so excited...my brother had his first child, Ava, this past Thursday, June 2nd. She is a cutie- I think she looks a lot like Drew. He and his wife, Deepti, live in Canada so it is a little too far to make a trip. They are coming down to us at the end of this month for an extended stay. Sarah Claire and Anna Britten have asked to see Ava's pictures so many times- I love seeing their faces as they look at "Baby Aba" as Anna Britten says...
She is so alert in all these pictures!

So...in my "spare" time I have been reading a book called Divergent...highly recommend it! I really haven't been able to put it down!I loved Hunger Games and , to me, this book is even better! I never thought I would like Science Fiction, but I like this...

This morning I was up at 4:45- to run!! CrAzY, I know- it's just so hot...ran 4 miles with a group my sister-in-law, Mindy runs with. It was a lot of fun- I have a long ways to go before the 1/2 marathon in November. I am liking that I have more time to run now.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

And Summer Begins...

This is how we began the day....
And this is how we ended the day!

And all the fun things in between...
We went to Kangarooz with cousins today and had a blast!!
Then Mrs. Betty and I braved Chick Fil-A with all 7! The kids were great (I think the key was to get them really tired and hungry:)

What a great way to end the day before bathtime...
The last picture she is pointing to ants!! She has a complex over them right now after stepping into an ant bed in the backyard last week.