Sprayberry Family Blog

Twins Baptism

2011-07-03T15:04:00.004-05:00

Today was a big day for us as a family. Justin had the privilege of baptizing Caleb and Madi. Madi started asking us about 3 years ago if she could pray and ask Jesus into her heart. We were of course thrilled that she wanted to make a decision to follow Jesus- but we knew it was more than just a one-time prayer, it was a choice to have a life long relationship with God. We asked her to wait and learn more about who God was and why she wanted to follow Him. Madi and Caleb began to ask more questions and Justin and I became purposeful about teaching them who Jesus was, how much He loved them and about sin and grace. Last year Madi came to us again, this time she told us that one morning while she was in bed she felt like God wanted her to pray and start a relationship with Him, she got on her bedroom floor and prayed. Caleb and Justin were on a date at Chili's this summer and he also felt it was time to make the decision to follow Jesus. This morning at the Granbury City Beach, we had the honor of baptizing our sweet, precious kids. Justin and I feel so blessed to be a part of their lives. We are so grateful God prompted our kids to move forward with a relationship with Him and couldn't be more excited to see all God has for the twins.

The Stuggle To Be the Cool Mom

2011-06-18T11:50:00.008-05:00

I've always thought girls who are athletic, strong, fearless and love the great outdoors are totally cool. They are the first to jump in and play the game. They have a way of making things like dirt and sweat look enjoyable and even attractive. Then there are those of us who would rather be on the side lines, we run from the ball and prefer to stay clean. I fall under this category. I like frothy coffee drinks, painted toenails, nice hotels and kittens (I'm not sure if liking kittens makes me uncool- but they don't seem to help my case). So, here is my problem. Now that I'm married and have kids I'm faced with the choice to sit out, alone or play with the big (and little) dawgs. Let's face it, men love adventure and they love for us to experience it with them. When the little ones came along I had the perfect excuse. I used my "oh, I have a baby" card as much as possible and managed to avoid being asked to participate. The hard truth is, my card has expired. With my youngest being 4 yrs. old I not only lost my excuse but I have 4 little ones asking mom to join in on the fun. I guess it's time to either have another baby (not likely) or figure out a way to be the cool mom. Justin and the kids have embraced dirtbike culture. It even sounds like it's not for wimps- the first part of the word is dirt. So I too shall do my best to embrace it! I plan to stay true to my list of likes, but maybe there is room to add a few more. I may not ever achieve totally cool chick status, but I hope to at least be able to hang with the fam. I'll let you know how it goes. :)

Hello Blogger!

2011-06-09T09:42:00.014-05:00

Wow, sorry for the loooong break in blogging. Time flies when you're not blogging- but it's good to be back. Here is the quick snapshot of what we've been up to...

We added a new puppy to our long list of animals. Meet Moby Baxter.

Caleb and Madi are now 8, Elijah 6 and our baby is 4 yrs. old. We are definitely in a new season. No more diapers, everyone feeds themselves, I can take a shower and no one attempts to kill themselves or destroy the house (well usually anyway), we've even gotten rid of our last pair of training wheels. :( I'm doing my best to enjoy every minute- time is going by at lighten speed.

The prenatal vitamin business continues to grow and we're so excited to see where God is taking it. We are in the process of exploring options for a "one for one" type program to give prenatal nutrition to women in other countries who can't afford prenatal care. We are praying for vision and God's will as we move forward.

Summer is here and the lake has been our favorite place to beat the Texas heat.

We're all looking forward to our upcoming trip to San Diego. We miss our Cali peeps and it's always great to be home.

That's the short re-cap of all things new in Spray-town. Hope everyone is having an epic summer!

Football Season

2010-10-12T13:15:00.008-05:00

I have to start this post by admitting I'm not a huge football fan. I love me some San Diego Chargers (GO BOLTS), but if the Charger's aren't playing you won't find me tuned into Sports Center keeping up with the scores. Justin, on the other hand, loves watching his beloved Cowboys and the longer I live here in Texas, the more I realize he's not the minority. Being a Texan = extreme Cowboys fan. So, all that said, Justin felt it was important for the kids (who are all 4 Texas born) to experience their first Cowboys Football game. The stadium itself is worth the trip but experiencing the game live was really great- even for me. I would love to tell you how the game went or even who the Cowboys played and actually, I can't remember if they even won...(I know, such a typical lame chick), BUT, I do know we had a blast and can't wait to do it again! Our brother-in-law and his son joined us, as well as our great friend John Graves and his son and they just added to the fun! Good times...good times!

The Schedule is Back

2010-09-27T08:38:00.012-05:00

School has started and the glorious scheduled life is back. Summer is awesome in so many ways but by the end of August my life feels chaotic and even sometimes meaningless. Summer is of course, always a welcomed break filled with lots of swimming and family time, but since (I think) I could live life hanging out on the beach, with nothing to do but get a tan and watch the kids boogie board, schedules are good for me. It's now fall and life is again filled with sandwich bags of pb&j, backpacks, rushing kids in and out of the car and driving down the road going through my check list- "did you brush your teeth? (usually the answer is no...darn, we'll brush twice tonight)", "did your homework make it back into your bags?", "do you all have your shoes on?" (last week I asked this question a little too late- as we pulled into school Madi answered "I don't have my shoes", sigh...ok, note to self, be sure to ask this question in the driveway next time), and most of all...am I keeping us on schedule! So, welcome back schedule, I missed you and it's great to have you here again!

Here are a few pics from our family vacation we squeezed in the week before school started. Justin surprised us with a beach trip...my absolute favorite place to be!

Clean Fun!

2010-08-07T21:30:00.014-05:00

As summer comes to an end I seem to be running out of ways to keep the kiddos busy. Texas is hot as a firecracker (insert southern drawl) so being outside without the involvement of water isn't a good option. Sooo.....here is an activity my dad used to let us do in the summer. It was usually a fun slumber party activity but since our house seems like a slumber par-tay every night, it worked great.

SHAVING CREAM FIIIIIGHT!!!!
Justin wasn't as excited as I was about the idea (his childhood memories obviously didn't include this fun filled, soapy madness), BUT he was willing to let me run with it. So bring on the cans people!!!

Ooohhh yah baby...tell me this doesn't look like totally awesome fun!

Jelly!!!

2010-07-31T07:55:00.024-05:00

We have an incredible group of couples from our church (The Ranch House Empty Nester's) who decided to "adopted" our family and they have blessed us beyond belief this summer. Each week they send the kids a card with a special note and some type of gift. We've also received fun family stuff (movie tickets, ice cream, roller skating). Caleb looked at me the other day after receiving his card and said, "mommy we need to start doing special things for other people like they've done for us." I couldn't agree more! What a great example these people have been for our kiddos and they have made us all feel so loved!

One of the sweet couples (Dan and Regina), who we just love, invited us to their house to pick grapes for making jelly. I have to admit, I was a little intimidated about making jelly, ok actually, A LOT intimidated- making jelly is definitely out of my "range of limited cooking knowledge". But we called in the big guns- MAMAW, and she came to the rescue with her 10 cups of sugar and mad jelly making skills. Love that women. The girls were very into the entire process- the boys didn't seem to really care, but they will care when they chomp into a delicious PB and J with homemade grape jelly!

Elijah and Sarah lost interest pretty quickly and were ready to swim. This is E's basket- every little bit helps I guess.

And the final product...cute little jars of yummy grape jelly!!! So fun!

Chores

2010-07-21T09:55:00.009-05:00

I'm trying to figure out good, age appropriate chores for the kids. Justin keeps encouraging me to give them more jobs to do around the house. They need some daily responsibilities. I started having them put away their own laundry and emptying the dishwasher. Any suggestions from you moms??? Does anyone do a chore chart??? Cash for chores???

I struggle with wanting to just do it myself- even though I know I need to teach them to work. Here is a good example of why- Sarah decided to empty the dishwasher using tongs. Yes....it took twice as long and was making me crazy to watch (I finally just had to leave the kitchen. She did one utensil at a time...), but she was working hard and had the job done when I returned. I'll take the help however I can get it, even when it's slow and totally inefficient. :)

Madi Mc Phee

2010-07-15T10:30:00.009-05:00

Madison is our "funny" child. She seems to get in trouble more than the other kiddos- funny comes at a price I guess. She's usually in the center or the mastermind behind whatever "exciting" thing is going on in our home. Just when we think we can't handle any more drama, shenanigans or attitude from our sweet little 7 year old, she has us all laughing hysterically with her funny impressions or quick wit. Her latest impression is of Nanny Mc Phee. Madi lost her front tooth and the other is about to fall out. She walks around with her tooth pushed forward saying in her best British accent, "the person you need is Madi Mc Phee".

* Side note: I apologize in advance to all of her future teachers-just put her in the hall when she distracts the class. I spent much of my time in the school hallway wondering why the teacher didn't appreciate my attempts to bring joy into the classroom. I'm afraid she may have the same issue.

Poor Caleb

2010-07-14T16:18:00.005-05:00

Our poor little buddy was playing at the park yesterday and was attacked by yellow jackets. He sat on a bench and his hand touched the nest. Thankfully, Justin was sitting right next to him and was able to quickly pull him away, but unfortunately, the bees had already started to sting. He was stung quite a few times on his face, neck and hands. He's pretty swollen but is feeling fine. He keeps letting me know that he will be well enough to go to Six Flags this weekend (a much anticipated trip). Those darn bees make me so mad. I think I could live without honey if God ever decided to wipe out the bee population...all bugs really, but bees are now on the top of my list!

Brothers

2010-07-12T08:51:00.003-05:00

Caleb and Elijah are really great about going along with Madi's ideas. They are often dogs and she is the master or she's the princess and they take her to the ball. One time she had them pick flowers and throw them at her as she walked into the room twirling in a princess dress. Here is a picture from her latest "playtime idea". She was again the princess and the boys were driving her around.

Save a cup

2010-07-07T09:38:00.002-05:00

The kids decided to cut out the middle man and save on dirty dishes....how thoughtful of them.

Shopping with 4 Kids

2010-06-29T06:59:00.007-05:00

It's always an adventure- sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a stressful way. But, yesterday the kids had me belly laughing in the garden area. I'm pretty immature, so it doesn't take much to get me in on the fun. Our last trip to the store I had a lady stop me and ask, "are you Catholic or something" (implying there must be some explanation for having 4 kids). Then when she passed by Justin she told him he could stop having kids now, he had enough. We usually hear "are these all yours?" or "better you than me", but the Catholic question was a first. I'm used to it, but the kids have started to ask me why people say stuff all the time. Yes, I'm sure we look like a 3 ring circus coming down the isle, but we're loving life and enjoying the ride! So, sorry Walmart shoppers if we've bothered you during your shopping experience. I am proud to say, they are ALL mine and I'm so glad it's me too!

April

2010-06-17T10:18:00.007-05:00

I have known April since high school (shout out to MCHS- go Sundevils). We were roommates a couple of times and April stood with me when I married the man of my dreams. She has been there for me in the ups and downs of life and we have laughed enough to last us two life times. April is a single mom with an incredible heart for people. When Katrina hit, she and a team (from Canyon Springs Church- great church btw- if you live in San Diego go check it out) headed to New Orleans and hit the ground running. They touched the lives of many and did things no one else wanted to do. She is now heading to Haiti to again love on people and help in anyway possible. They will be going in July and I'm posting this to ask you to be praying for her, her team, her daughter (who isn't joining her) and of course the people of Haiti. Apey- we love you so much and are praying that God uses you in unimaginable ways. Thank you for being obedient to His calling and stepping out to share the love of Jesus to the people in Haiti.

Find out more.

Dads are Cool

2010-06-13T08:09:00.005-05:00

It's been so fun to watch our boys enjoy the things Justin enjoys. He is really great about including the kids in his hobbies. Caleb really likes playing golf and tennis and Elijah loves everything about dirt biking- like how the engine works and how to make it go fast. I'm so thankful Justin has cool hobbies. I, on the other hand, have none. I like chill'in on the beach- does that count? Maybe I can dig a little deeper....ummmm.....nope, no hobbies. Dad's are just cool. :)

Diaper Ad

2010-06-09T08:54:00.010-05:00

Have you seen the new Huggies diapers campaign? I posted the ad on our Promise Prenatal Blog. It made me want to put my kids back in diapers-0k, maybe not but they look fun.

Promise Blog

Happy Birthday Caleb and Madison!

2010-06-06T08:39:00.014-05:00

7 years old today! Unbelievable!!! I still remember, like it was yesterday, driving home from the hospital (via the drive thru at Starbucks for a Vente coffee) with my two little sweet bundles of preciousness! They have been such a blessing to our family. C and M, we love you more than words can express and know, I mean absolutely know, God has an incredible plan for your lives! We are overjoyed to be your parents and play a small part in that plan. Happy Birthday Ca-bub and Madi-Pati! We are so proud of you both!

Need a Photographer??

2010-06-04T11:01:00.009-05:00

If you need a great, super hip, affordable photographer, I have an awesome recommendation! Ashley Wilkins Photography (she travels too).

Ashley's Blog

Ashley just did our family pictures and she was amazing. Super quick (which is very important with little ones) , great with the kids and worked some real magic. It was cloudy, hot, VERY buggy and she pressed on and was able to capture some great pics of the kids. So thank you Ashley! You are so sweet, talented and your heart for God shows in everything you do!

New Pets

2010-05-31T08:39:00.006-05:00

What better way to kick off the summer than with some new pets?- don't answer that :) . Save yourself the drive to the Ft. Worth Zoo and just stop by the Sprayberry's house instead. The cost is nothing and the kids will enjoy the sights and sounds (hopefully not the smells) of many (and I mean MANY) different types of animals. Here are the latest additions.

This is "baby G pig" (still not officially named and pictured on the right next to Squeaker).

This is the cute wittle turtle (also not yet named). He's not a very exciting pet, but a good option for the boys since snakes and spiders are not welcome in our house.

* And just a little update on the bird. He no longer makes the horrible noise and has really grown on us. He looks MUCH better now that he has feathers. The kids named him Coco. He's one of our faves!

Congratulations Caleb and Madi

2010-05-24T15:55:00.006-05:00

The year started out rough for Madi, but God is good and faithful and after making some changes, both kids finished strong! 1st grade here we come. We had a great teacher and amazing kids in their class- they are all great friends. Elijah will be starting Kindergarten next fall. All my babies are growing up!!!

Happy Birthday Elijah!!!

2010-05-06T16:38:00.011-05:00

The first words out of Elijah's mouth this morning were "I'm 5"!!!! Then I saw a flash run past me, heard a door slam open and a very excited Elijah telling the other kids, "today I woke up 5 years old". He is so very excited to be 5. 5 years old somehow earns the respect of the older kids (who are only 6- but think they are much bigger than Elijah and Sarah....until today). We left the house early and headed to Starbucks for some of their yummy muffins and chocolate milk. We did some early morning celebrating before the twins had to be at school. It's a b-day tradition in our house to start celebrating at breakfast.

Here are some pics of our sweet little guy. Although, the word"little" wasn't a word many people used to describe our round bundle of love!

It's just fun to be 3!

2010-05-01T10:01:00.002-05:00

Easter

2010-04-13T06:16:00.011-05:00

Well, since it's still April I thought I could squeeze in the Easter pictures on the ol' blog. Anyone know how to get 4 kids with stomachs full of Easter candy, to all look and smile nicely at the camera? Apparently I don't know the answer either. Here is how it turned out!

Missing one. Elijah ran off at the last minute. When I turned around to grab him he was using the bush behind me to relieve himself (yep, we were in the front yard- my poor neighbors).

Ok, back in business and ready to smile.

Fooocus.....stay with me here....

Close enough. The Easter Picture!!!

Spring Fun!

2010-04-04T07:46:00.009-05:00

Here are a few pics of the kids enjoying Spring! Caleb and Madi spent an afternoon with their cousins, who they love dearly. They are all great friends! Elijah went riding with Dad and Sarah and I got to be the pit crew. We followed the guys in the car and brought tools and water when needed (Sarah brought her pom-poms to cheer on her best friend and bother, Elijah). Happy Spring everyone!

Wanna hear the most annoying noise in the entire world??

2010-03-23T07:45:00.006-05:00

Yip-per, this is the noise that greets us in the early morning hours. "Pat" makes this noise before you feed him/her and even after feeding. Stops only when being held or is sleeping. Sometimes we get some tweeting (not the online kind but the bird kind), which is a nice switch. Anyone know if they outgrow this or is our sweet little bird going to have to live in the garage?

The Search Continues

2010-03-20T08:41:00.004-05:00

Spring is in the air and the sun is shining brightly! Which means it's time to bust out the shades. Sunglasses are the ultimate cool accessory. People just look cooler in their glasses, well most people. I am constantly looking for that "cool" pair of sunglasses, but haven't had much luck. I don't intentionally go shopping for glasses but if I see a rack, I'll usually give it a spinny spin to see if there is a pair just for me in the mix. All the glasses are really glam or aviator looking right now. I had a new pair on the other day and when Justin got in the car he paused for a sec, stared a moment longer then said, "Honey, we live in Granbury TX, not LA". We both laughed....I totally get want he means. It's hard not to feel like a poser in my huge, cheek covering, rhinestone, plastic glasses while driving home past the Arrow Feed Store and pastures full of cows and those hay ball things (not sure of the official name for those big round hay deals). So I will continue on with my search for some "cool" sunglasses. Luckily I have a live-in design consultant named Madi. She's small but has mad fashion skills and the guts to tell me, "Mom, those don't look very good". Happy Spring everyone!

So Ugly It's Cute...

2010-03-15T20:48:00.015-05:00

We told the kids they could get a parakeet and today was the day. We all took a trip to the local pet store in search of 2 new additions to our growing zoo. The pet store owner was there and as we were choosing our parakeets she told us they didn't make very good pets- especially for our four, overzealous, soon to be bird owners. She went on to tell us about her 3 week old Cockatiels and how perfect they would be for our family. She told us how if we hand fed them, they would learn to trust us and would be tame. So, about an hour later, we were driving home like scared new parents with our featherless baby bird. The kids are all very excited! Justin and I had to do our first feeding so we Googled how to feed our new arrival and it basically said you shouldn't attempt it unless you're an avian vet or experienced breeder. Alrighty then! Since I have zero bird knowledge I didn't realize you can get food in the birds lungs, air in it's crop (pouch above stomach) or burn their crop or esophagus if the food isn't between 104-106 degrees. You have to sterilize the syringes and use glass bowls since the birdy has no immune system. We had a thermometer out testing the temp while trying to get the texture right. We couldn't tell if the bird was getting the food down and we were passing the syringe back and forth trying to get it right. I guess I thought being a mother of 4 would give me some kind of instinctual ability to care for the bird- I was wrong. At bedtime the kids all prayed such genuine prayers for their bird, surely God will answer the sweet prayers of four hopeful new bird owners. Here are some pics of our new guy or girl (we won't know gender until "Pat" gets some feathers).

We love his/her smile.

Kinda Back to Blogging

2010-03-01T10:04:00.013-06:00

Sorry I've been out of the blog world for awhile. Life required me to spend more time away from the computer and with the kiddos- which is never a bad thing. Here is a quick update:

-went to visit my parents in San Diego right after the holidays. Had an amazing trip and my friends parent's generously let us use their house for the entire stay (they were out of town- love you Sims family). Saw incredible friends and family. Miss them already.
-pulled the twins out of their school and changed to a new one- teacher and school wasn't a fit for our family (we'll just leave it at that...). We love the new school and teacher. This week I was able to leave Madi without fear or tears. She's a different little girl since the switch. Caleb is flourishing too. So huge- thank you Jesus!
- Justin is doing great and Biotegrity continues to grow. We have a new admin who is perfect for the job. She keeps things going and in order up at the office.
- I started homeschooling Elijah (just kindergarten). He's only 4 but he's really starting to get it. He much rather be riding a dirtbike or taking things apart but he does actually sit at the table for 30 min. or so which is surprising to all of us.
- Sarah is growing and turning into a big girl at the speed of light. Why does it have to go so fast?
- I'm gearing up for Ignite2010 in April. I love, love, love being a part of this event. So many great women come together and get encouraged and pumped up to make our homes, neighborhoods and communities better.
- StoneWater Church continues to grow and Justin feels blessed to be a part of reaching the lost. He does a fanominal job of being executive pastor. I'm so proud of him!
- we've had tons of snow...fun, fun, fun.
- animals are all good and we haven't had any additions. Still just 1-dog, 2-cats and 1- guinea pig.

That' s all I can think of at the moment. Here are a few pics...since posting is no fun without pictures. :)

Checkers

2009-12-04T15:28:00.004-06:00

I wish our guinea pig could talk. He would have so much to say about all of his adventures since coming home from the pet store. Most g. pigs just sit around in a cage full of cedar chips eating alfalfa. Not our Checkers....he plays playstation, homeschools with the kids, often joins us at the dinner table (without my knowledge, usually tucked away on someone's lap) and the other day arrived at WalMart with us. He's never caused a bit of trouble. Even when left on the bed or under the couch he just chills until someone returns. He's a sweet little dude and I highly recommend g. pigs as pets.

Kid Update

2009-11-08T08:15:00.009-06:00

Thank you all so much for your prayers and advice on the Madi situation. There has been some improvement. Justin's mom Earnestine, who is an incredible, selfless women, has helped us tremendously. Madi is ok as long as she knows we are somewhere in the building. She has also been able to verbalize some of her fears and tell us that part of her is excited to go places and part of her is scared. She tells me she wants to be like the other big kids but she feels scared sometimes. We continue to pray and push her little by little to be independent.

Caleb is doing great in school. He loves it! He craves structure and order so school has brought that to his life. He is very helpful around the house and has such a sweet , servants heart. We are really proud of who he is becoming.

Elijah is still our wild man. He loves his drums and anything related to speed. I still find him with Justin's tools taking things apart. I frequently find screws on the floor and have to figure out what they go to. He and Justin are great buddies. Elijah is a mini-Justin.

Sarah is getting so big. :( We are still trying to figure out her personality but she seems to be a lot like Caleb (likes to follow the rules and keep things in order). She LOVES makeup (but she's not very good at staying inside the lines of her lips- we'll work on that). She and Elijah have become good buddies since the twins started school.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! So much to be thankful for.

Madison

2009-10-02T06:20:00.006-05:00

Sorry I've been out of the blog world for a bit. Justin and I have been dealing with some issues with our little Madison. About 2 weeks ago she started crying during the day at school and her only explanation was that she missed her mom. She wouldn't eat her lunch and when she's home she constantly ask how many hours until she has to go back to school. At first Justin and I thought she was just being rebellious and trying to get out of school so we went the discipline route but there was zero change in her behavior. We thought maybe some isolated situation had happened to make her feel so insecure but we haven't been able to find one. She's a dramatic little girl anyway, so as a parent trying to look past the emotion and get to the root hasn't been easy. We just continue to pray for wisdom and are trying everything we know to make her feel extra loved and of course safe at school. Since it's a private school they have the option to ask her to leave if she doesn't improve. She cries and acts out in class and it disrupts the rest of the kids. Caleb is in her class and he's doing great. Please pray for her and us. We really need wisdom.

Sarah's B-day Party

2009-09-19T20:44:00.007-05:00

Here are a few pictures from Sarah's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl

2009-09-15T08:52:00.011-05:00

Today is Sarah's 3rd Birthday! No more babies in our house. :( Sarah brings so much life and joy to our home! She's full of energy and has lots to say. We haven't totally figured out her personality yet but whatever it is, it's strong. She has held her own since she was tiny (she had to with Elijah as her older brother). She loves playing with her brothers and sister and our animals (especially the kittens). We call her the hug bug because her favorite thing to do is give hugs and we never get enough of them.

We love you deeply sweetheart! You are an amazing little girl and we can't wait to see all God has planned for your life. You are such a gift!

(big sister put tattoos on her face in this pic....)

We have a little Sprayberry tradition and on your Birthday you get to eat cake (or chocolate chip muffins) for breakfast. This is Sarah this morning blowing out her b-day candle.

Good things come to those who wait!

2009-09-06T10:56:00.011-05:00

Justin and I had the pleasure of going to my good friend Stephanie's wedding last week. Stephanie has an extremely electric, hysterical personality. Justin calls her "the includer" since she's great at making everyone feel included and part of the fun. She is beautiful inside and out. We have had many, many great times together in side splitting laughter (Steph and I met in San Diego through our good friend April and she now lives in Colorado). She has patiently been waiting on God to bring her a life partner and her prayers were answered this year. She met the man of her dreams and we are all so excited for her. Both she and her husband have never been married before and they know without a doubt that God brought them together in His perfect timing! I've never seen her happier and it was so amazing to be able to be there on her special day. And as icing on the cake we got to see our dear, dear friends April and Caylin! We love you Steph and Jay and couldn't be happier for you both! "Got a mexi-melt in my left hand.....and I'm trying to parallel park........" :)

The Creativity Never Stops....

2009-08-30T09:41:00.004-05:00

Elijah came out of the bathtub the other day with some new chest enhancements. He took the suction cups off of the toy holder and got creative! :)

1st Day of School

2009-08-25T16:24:00.007-05:00

Today was the first day of school! The twins were pretty nervous (especially Madi) but they did great. Madison cried when we got to the parking lot but Daddy was able to talk her out of the car. I was no help- I cried every time I saw her cry so I just walked off with the other 2 and let Daddy do his magic. Caleb was super brave and just walked in and found his seat. The kids will go to school 3 days a week and I will homeschool the other two. We love our new school and are really looking forward to this school year.

Caleb slept with his alarm clock. He was worried he wouldn't wake up in time for school.

Poor Madi crying in her class.

Brave little Caleb in his seat!

We were all sad to say good-bye (although Sarah doesn't look so sad in this picture but I'm sure she was deep down :) ).

RIP

2009-08-15T08:37:00.004-05:00

Well, the time has come to say boo-bye to my trusty camera (which turned out to not be so trusty). It was an awesome camera- fast, great pics, super easy to use, but it has decided to no longer take pictures (small problem when you're a camera!). The LCD has gone out and only green smeary lines appear on the pictures. I have missed the past couple of months of taking photos (which is why I haven't blogged much. Blogging without photos just doesn't "feel right"). We plan to have a replacement by next week so I'll be back in action. We decided to go with Canon this time. Can't wait to play with it!!!

Summer...

2009-07-22T14:02:00.010-05:00

Here is a short snap shot of our summer so far. The twins and I continue to work hard on school (homeschool plus two days a week of tutoring). We think we may do kinder again- but still trying to make the right decision. The school we're putting them in next year has some pretty intense academic requirements and I don't know if they are ready to take on first grade. We will evaluate them at the end of summer and make a decision then. We had cousins come visit for a few days, which was a wonderful break from school and we of course always love having them here. We took a little family vacation down to Austin and relaxed in our friends beautiful home (they were on vacation and opened their home to us). Then last week Justin was gone in Mexico visiting some orphanages. He had a great trip and just loved being with the kids. This week the kids and I have been helping with a Backyard Bible Camp. It's been a good opportunity to serve our neighborhood. Our little summer adventures have been fun but on most days after a bit of school we play around the house, ride the 4-wheeler in the backyard, play with kittens (who still need a home) or swim. Hope everyone is having an awesome summer too!

New Season

2009-07-09T19:09:00.008-05:00

So for the last 6 years (basically since I've had the twins) there were certain thing I just didn't do (like go by myself to a restaurant or to the mall or swimming, etc.). It was always such a risk- like if someone had to use the restroom I had to drag all 4 with me. I usually had at least one in a carseat, of course a giant diaper bag in tote and sometimes a stroller. Well last week I decided to take the kids all to a Mexican restaurant, and ya know what.....it was great! They sat and ate their food, no one melted down or had a messy diaper (since they are now all potty trained, woo-hoo), it was actually really fun. I feel like little by little life is getting easier. Everyone but Sarah dresses themselves, they can get their own snacks and the big ones can help the little ones do most things. Just think, next year I will have 3 school aged kids. Amazing. What will I do with all of my free time! Maybe adopt a few more. :)

Just one of the gals

2009-06-27T13:52:00.003-05:00

Elijah likes to play with the girls sometimes. He's so rough and tough so when he walked out of the girls room in a pink ballet dress it seemed really out of character. Sorry Justin- he didn't wear it long. :)

Kittens

2009-06-21T21:49:00.007-05:00

A neighborhood cat decided our house would be a nice place to have her kittens. She must not be very smart since we have 4 small children who can't wait to get their hands on her little, sweet babies and a lab who wouldn't think twice about eating them. She did move them from the backyard to the front so the kids don't have such easy access anymore. There were 7 but 2 have died :( . Anyone need a kitty??? Free to a good home!

Day out at the barn!

2009-06-11T20:08:00.009-05:00

We have the most incredible babysitter in the world. Kayla is so precious to our family. She took the kids to ride her horse today. Her sister Amanda, who is also darling, came to help. The kids had an incredible time! Kayla taught them some of the commands and showed them how to get the horse ready to ride. Her horse Peyton is beautiful and was really gentle with the little ones. Here are a few pics from our day.

Twins B-day

2009-06-08T12:02:00.017-05:00

The twins turned 6 years old on Saturday! They are such a blessing to our family and we can't wait to see all God has planned for them in the years to come. Justin's sister Stacey and her husband Alex are so awesome to our family. For the twins Birthday each year they take them to their house for a couple of days and just spoil them! This year they swam in their pool, went to a water park, had a picnic, ate at The Magic Time Machine (in Dallas), opened presents and played with their most favorite people in the world- their cousins Megan and Colin. We picked the kids up on Saturday and just did a little family party at our house with Papaw and Mamaw.

Life Today Show

2009-05-30T21:26:00.005-05:00

My dear friend Jenni and I went the to hear a potential speaker for Ignite 2010. We went to the Life Today Show taping and it was a hoot! Some elements were pretty cheesy, but I assume that's just part of being in a live audience. Jenni and I had a blast (thanks hubbies for letting us go)! Lysa Terkeurst was incredible and we are really praying about her being our main speaker for the event (still waiting to hear a couple others). Those of you who plan on coming next year....we'll keep you posted. We are already soooo excited about what God's going to do!

School

2009-05-26T07:04:00.003-05:00

Here is a shot of what school sometimes looks like- on the couch, while holding guinea pigs. I just know we have the smartest guineas around since they are at school almost everyday!

Our little super hero

2009-05-23T09:00:00.004-05:00

Elijah got a batman cape and mask from his good friend Spencer for his Birthday. He wears it all the time- even right out of the bath! He is really enjoying being 4 years old. He tells everyone how big he is now that he's 4. The twins are always telling him he can't do things because he's not big enough. Well, he's finally feels like one of the big kids!

Dinosaur World!

2009-05-16T18:41:00.006-05:00

We took the kids to Dinosaur World yesterday. It is the coolest place! We walked along the trail and looked at all of the huge dinosaurs hiding in the bushes. Justin read all of the signs explaining each dinosaur and what their origin was (Caleb especially liked hearing the names and facts). There is a fossil dig for the kids to dig up some neat stuff (that now lives in the bottom of my purse). If you live in the DFW area you need to check this place out. Here are a few pics.

Congratulations Grads!

2009-05-07T21:03:00.009-05:00

My younger brother Dan graduated from Le Tourneau University last weekend with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. I'm so proud of him! He's such a great guy and incredibly smart. My family came in from Cali and my older brother from Philadelphia. It was great to all be together and celebrate Dan's accomplishment.

Also wanted to give a little congrats shout out to my dear friend Ashley. She's beautiful inside and out and I'm so proud of all she's done.

Happy Birthday Big E!

2009-05-06T08:19:00.012-05:00

Elijah turned 4 years old today! I can't believe he's already 4. He was my sweetest, easiest baby. He was soooo round and squeezable (I'm sure some of you remember). He is our roughest, toughest child but also our most tender and compassionate. He's always making us laugh with his made up words and fearless endeavors. He keeps me on my toes. Whenever I hear something crash or fall the first word out of my mouth is automatically "Elijah???". He has taken the cupboard doors off (among other things) when I wasn't looking, driven the golf cart (alone), lost frogs in the house, hung onto the garage door as it opened and dangled from the top, run down our street totally naked, drank gasoline, climbed to the top of our archway, rides on the back of our lab like a bull rider....I really could go on but I can't because I've left him alone while typing this and need to check on him. We love him dearly and are so thankful that God is a much better parent than us and He keeps a watchful eye on our precious little guy. Happy Birthday sweet boy!

Ignite 09

2009-04-30T07:57:00.013-05:00

This past weekend I had the privilege of being a part of Ignite 09. God showed up HUGE!!! Our speakers were amazing (Wendy Pope and Jeremy White). Ashely Wilkins and the StoneWater Band blew the roof off! Amy Coffey did an incredible job with all the graphic design and the programs. I just felt like God was in every detail and brought incredibly talented women to help. Yesterday I spoke to the conference center about booking next years event and the first thing the events manager said to me was "wow Jennifer, the women at the conference seemed different, they were full of life and had so much joy, they were all so sweet to all of us! They were so very different from other groups we've had in the past." I had just read this verse the day before the retreat- "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13". Those women were overflowing!

My dear, dear friend Melissa Terry spoke to our sweet youth girls. It was so great to have them join us this year. She connected with them instantly and just loved on them- something every teenage girl needs. She has such an amazing heart for Jesus and for people. It was an honor to have her with us.

I have started praying about my involvement next year but it was such a joy and an honor to sever this year!

Happy Birthday Honey

2009-04-18T23:21:00.004-05:00

I just want to give a Birthday shout out to the most wonderful husband and father in the world. I feel so incredibly blessed to have him in my life. If you have ever had the chance to hang out with Justin you know he has the coolest laugh- when you hear it you can't help but to join in. He has an amazing mind for business and a HUGE heart for people. He is a man of great integrity and compassion. His relationship with Jesus is authentic and deep- he's the real deal! What a gift I've been given to have him as my husband. Happy Birthday Justin!

2 down

2009-04-10T08:19:00.005-05:00

I have 2 down with the stomach flu. The last few days have been very "messy" to say the least. I am so thankful for our washing machine- it's saved the day this week. We are praying the boys don't get it- it's a bad one. Easter may be a little different this year- eggs filled with pepto and sani-wipes. We may have to dress the kids up in their Easter duds next week and reenact Easter.

Doesn't Sarah have the most awesome bedhead! Love it!

Pink Impact

2009-04-04T15:44:00.009-05:00

Last weekend my sweet husband let me get away for a bit fun with my girlfriends at Pink Impact. If you live in the DFW area and haven't ever been I highly recommend it! I feel rejuvenated spiritually and ready to take on life again. Here are a few pics. Thank you for a great weekend my sweet friends! Love you all.

Ice Skating

2009-03-25T16:23:00.008-05:00

Last week we had a little family outing with some friends to The Parks Mall to do some ice skating. I haven't been ice skating in years and it was a blast. The kids picked it up pretty quickly and they loved it (and when I say "they" I mean all except Sarah). They didn't want to stop. Justin kept the older 3 while I took Sarah to the merri-go-round- which was much more her thing. It was a fun day with the fam! Here are a few pics.

Spring Break!

2009-03-18T07:54:00.004-05:00

We went and visited some of our close friends in East Texas this weekend. Longview, TX is where Justin lived when we first met and we spent our first year of marriage there. It was fun to walk down memory lane. We visited our old church (which is special for both of us since it had such a powerful influence on our lives before we got married). We love visiting Eriik and Kristen, they are just extremely easy people to be around. Justin and I always say how comfortable and stress free it is to be with them and their sweet little kiddos. Eriik was in our wedding and Justin was in his. They were accountability partners for 7 years and have quite a history together. His wife Kristen is awesome- she is a stay at home mom too so we have tons in common. Elijah and their son Alec were insta-buddies and it was a hoot watching them play. It was a great way to start our sping break.

Just Help Yourself!

2009-03-13T08:09:00.004-05:00

That seems to be the rule around here if anyone would like a snack or a drink. Even Sarah learned how to operate the water dispenser on the fridge at about 20 months. Elijah, our "good eater" to say the least, tends to help himself more often than the others. I'll be in the other room and hear movement in the kitchen and most of the time it's him. Unfortunately he's not always good at picking out his snacks. One time I found him eating raw ground beef (so gross but apparently it won't kill you- good to know). Most of the time he gets things like left over spaghetti or whatever was for dinner the night before and usually tries to serve it to one of the other kids. If any of you have every been to our house with your kiddos you probably have experienced Elijah feeding one of your children. Maybe he'll grow up to be a chef- or just a good host. The other morning he had decided to serve Sarah and himself some cereal. It's never without mess and his portion control isn't so great but I like his ambition. The boy just likes to eat (with his "crunchers"- his new word for teeth) and wants others to share in his joy.

2009-03-06T07:48:00.007-06:00

Last night was the award ceremony for the twins basketball and cheer. Elijah and Sarah were of course there and Elijah was in heaven. He absolutely loooooved being with those cheerleaders! I couldn't get him to sit with Mamaw- he insisted on sitting with his new friends. I think he's too little to know what it is to "like" a girl but he sure enjoyed hanging out with them. He didn't come home with any phone numbers so I think we are still good for a few more years. The twins were very excited and Madi's squad did a little dance for the crowd. It was a great season and I highly recommend Upwards Basketball if there is one in your town.

Nail Salon - Anjelah Johnson - Comedy Time

2009-03-04T08:45:00.004-06:00

I'm not sure if this PC, ok I'm pretty sure it's not but it's stinkin' funny. My good friend Ashley and I went for a pedicure a couple of weeks ago and I kept thinking of this clip while we were being worked on.

FISH!!!

2009-02-18T20:08:00.008-06:00

Well we just ended another round of sickness (hopefully that will be the last one for the season) and it was a bit warm today so when daddy got home we headed for the river. We all piled onto the golf cart (yes, all 6 of us on a normal size golf cart- quite a sight), put the fishing poles in the back and down the road we went. I'm not particularly "outdoorsy" so Justin usually takes the kids to the river when I'm off doing other things but I went this time and grabbed my camera. Each of the kids caught a fish, even Sarah. Daddy of course helped but it was a great experience for them. I was a bit freaked about the dead fish but I tried not to let on to the kids that I was totally grossed out (I'm such a sissy- I know I need to toughen up, especially with two boys and a husband who LOVES the great outdoors). The hook deal worries me too but it's all part of the adventure. It ended up being a really fun little outing. OK, there, I said it, fishing was fun. :)

What they are really thinking...

2009-02-13T20:18:00.003-06:00

This shirt was a hand-me-down but I think it's perfect. This is what my 2 year old is really thinking- she just hasn't put it to words yet. :)

*sorry the picture quality is bad- my camera is having problems :(

Simply Romantic Nights

2009-02-12T09:44:00.005-06:00

Since Valentines Day is just around the corner I thought I would give a little plug for something that has added some flare to our marriage. Simply Romantic Nights is a box full of fun, cool stuff to bring excitement to your marriage. Inside there are cards for him and her. Each month you each pick a card and schedule a date to do what your card says. The cards have specific instructions for the evening. I highly recommend it! May make a cool Valentines gift (I promise it will put a smile on his face).

I love honesty

2009-02-10T21:08:00.005-06:00

If you have a second I would love for you to read a post from a good friend of mine. Her name is Michawn and she and her family are about to head back to Brazil to continue their missionary work. Michawns blog.

I love you my friend and know we are committed to praying for you and your sweet family.

Hair, glorious hair!

2009-02-04T11:48:00.006-06:00

Sarah is now 2 1/2 years old and she is finally getting some hair. She doesn't have enough to pull back into cute little pigtails but it's getting there. In the past people (usually men) would comment on what a cute little boy Sarah was. I probably would have gone home and cried if someone had said that about the first two but by kid #4 that kind of stuff doesn't bother me much. I guess we can no longer sing the "No hair for my hairbrush" song since she does have enough to bush now. Everyday I feel like we get further and further away from the baby stage. I guess I can stop nursing her now- JUST KIDDING! However, I really am trying to keep this one little as long as possible but it's not working. She's growing up and I can't do anything about it.

Mani-Pedi Anyone???

2009-01-29T15:33:00.007-06:00

I was sitting in our bedroom while Madison was doing her nails in our bathroom not knowing what was taking place in the very next room. I could see her but not Elijah who was sitting right next to her. I assumed (first mistake) that he was just watching her. I could hear them having some cute little conversation about something and didn't have any reason to think he was up to no good. Elijah is our "busy" kid (which is just a nice way to say NAUGHTY LITTLE STINKER). He is probably my sweetest kid but always manages to find his way to some trouble. When I went into the bathroom to check out Madison's nails I realized he had painted the entire tops of his feet, his hands and parts of his face with white nail polish. He took french manicure to the next level. White tips? Shoot, that's for lame chicks- why not paint your entire foot! His toe nails are still white and he did get it all over our brown bath rug (insert big sigh here....). So once again I grab my air microphone and say "clean up on isle 3" and get to work. :)

Weekend

2009-01-24T21:23:00.011-06:00

Our good friends Joel and Michawn were in town this weekend from Brazil where they are missionaries. The Graves had a little get together and it was so great to see everyone! Three of us are married now and together we have 13 children (Graves-5, Ebersoles-4 and us-4) ranging in age from 10 yrs. old down to 10 months old. It was such a blast to watch them all play! We even forced them all to pose for group pictures (I'll post them later) at 10:30pm and didn't have even one melt down. Yes, I do believe in miracles.

Us girls went out for a long lunch and a bit of shopping at Town Square. It was so wonderful hanging with my girlies. There is nothing more comfortable than spending time with old friends. (We were missing one- Melissa Terry. We missed you Mel and thought of you tons). Each one of these women have played a key role in my life. They loved me, prayed for me and always cheered me on when I needed it most. I am forever grateful for their boldness and obedience to God when it really counted. Love you all!!!

For School Today...

2009-01-20T20:50:00.007-06:00

We spent part of our school day in front of the TV. I felt like it was important for the kids to watch the inauguration today. I love that I had to explain racism to my kids because they have never experienced it. I love that I had to explained how in the past foolish, ignorant people didn't like other people because of the color of their skin. I love that my kids couldn't see a difference in the color of Obama's skin and their own. I also love that my kids watched a peaceful, non-violent exchange of power between two leaders- something so many countries will never experience. I didn't vote for Obama and my convictions don't line up with many of his, but like most people, I am celebrating what his presidency means to our country. I thank God I have the opportunity to raise my kids in this great country. In God We Trust!

Basketball and Cheer

2009-01-18T08:30:00.008-06:00

Caleb and Madi are doing basketball and cheer this year. I have to say, it's about the cutest darn thing I've ever seen! The kids are actually pretty good at shooting the ball and making baskets. The hoop is of course lowered but I was impressed with their hoop'in skills. Justin is the coach and is so great with the kids. He's always smiling (if you know Justin this isn't a surprise). He really encourages them instead of screaming at them to make a basket (he leaves that job to the parents). Madi loves cheerleading and her new friends. All the girls look so cute doing their cheers. At halftime they go out to mid court and do a little deal. The crowd of course eats it up and the girls are just glowing after. Madi's squad cheered for Caleb's team this week and she kept yelling his name. It was really sweet. They are such good buddies.

Update

2009-01-16T13:43:00.002-06:00

The kid's antibiotics are working great. They all look a bit thinner but are feeling much better. Madi is still pretty weak but is up and around. Justin is doing fine now too. We hired a babysitter for tonight and are heading out for a date. We both need a bit of down time. :) Thank you all for your sweet comments and prayers.

My poor little pumpkins!

2009-01-14T21:51:00.008-06:00

The only thing worse than a sick kiddo is three sick kiddos. I took the kids to the pediatrician today and they have the flu and as if that wasn't enough, a secondary infection in their ears (and in Madi's lungs- we got to make a special trip to the hospital after the ped office for some chest x-rays, still waiting to hear back). I think they are almost over the flu portion but we are now treating the other yucky stuff. They have been such little troopers even though they look and feel terrible. Elijah had it first and is back to running at his 150% energy level (or maybe he just seems crazier since the other 3 have zero energy). Justin started feeling bad last night- pray it's not the flu but I assume there is a pretty good chance. So far I'm still good (knock, knock), must be all those great vitamins I take (thank you Biotegrity- I know, bad place for a plug but I just couldn't resist). I am ready for well kids and a good night of sleep. With three sick kids it seems there is always someone up. Sweet dreams all. I'm off to get some rest. I leave you with these pics of my sleeping sweetpeas.

Family fun

2009-01-10T15:54:00.007-06:00

I'm not from a big family so I'm really enjoying watching the kids learn to function with three other siblings. They of course have to share everything and we have a rule that people are more important than our stuff (this is a tough lesson for the little ones). Then there is mealtime...always fun with six people. Madi has learned some sneaky tricks to get more treats from her brothers and sister. Here is a sample conversation, "hey let's both cut up our cookies and combine them and then share one plate" (of course she always has less than the person she is trying to "share" with). Elijah takes his meal with him to the restroom if he has to go and isn't done eating. Just this morning I found him sitting on the potty finishing his pancakes (totally wish I had my camera). Elijah has also found if he waits until the other kids have left the table he can move from plate to plate and finish up their left overs (he is by far our biggest eater). I find it especially funny since we always have more than enough food to go around but there is some natural instinct to make sure no one gets more than their fair share. It will be even more fun when we have 4 teens in the house- Costco here we come! I know some of you have more than 4 kiddos so lets hear your big fam fun.

Elijah exiting the restroom with his dinner plate.

San Diego Pics

2009-01-07T23:46:00.002-06:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Cali Trip

2009-01-07T20:43:00.008-06:00

We just got back yesterday from 10 days in San Diego. We had a wonderful time- it just gwent way too fast. We drove(23 hours one way) and the kids did great in the car- thank the Lord for DVD's. The weather was nice enough to hit the beach almost every day (we had to skip 2 days because of rain). My good girlfriend's parents were staying at their 2nd home so they gave us their house while we were in town- it was such a blessing to have our own place (Thank you Bud and Judy!). We saw lots of friends and visited my parents and brothers quite a bit. Here are a few pics- more to come.

2008-12-26T14:47:00.001-06:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Birthday Jesus Party

2008-12-23T09:55:00.012-06:00

Every year for the past 3 years we've had a Birthday party for Jesus and then at the end of the party Santa (aka Papaw) shows up and delivers some gifts to the kids. It's one of my favorite parts of Christmas each year. I just love taking time to share an evening with close friends during the holiday and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas (and of course having Santa here is a blast too).

I hope and pray everyone has an amazing holiday week! Merry Christmas all!

Helpers

2008-12-15T20:34:00.005-06:00

The kids helped me put together our Christmas cards this year. It was the twin's job to stick the return labels and stamps on and then Elijah would put them back in the box. At first I wasn't letting them help and then I decided it was ok if the label wasn't on just right- it was the effort that counted, not the perfect looking envelope. The kids want to help with so many things and I hate to always tell them no (even though it would be just soooo much easier to crank through stuff). I am trying to make an effort to say "yes" more often. I know there will be a day when I am begging them to hang out with their old, uncool mom. So if you receive a card with the label upside down or it looks like it's been taken off and re-stuck, it probably was, but know it was put together by sweet little hands.

Christmas Time

2008-12-12T08:35:00.008-06:00

The most awesome time of the year! It seems a little rushed this year for some reason (...only 13 more days until Christmas, yikes). I keep hearing people say, "I'm done with my shopping and ready for Christmas". WHATEVER! I haven't even made my list much less finished shopping. To be honest, it makes me a smidge anxious, but it always gets done and this year won't be any different. Here are a few pics from the family outing to get our tree. Having all four kids in Walmart on a Saturday in December is always a special treat. But no one was lost or licked the cart or broke anything or melted down or hit by a car in the parking lot AND we purchased our tree- so I consider it a successful trip.

Playgroup Visit

2008-12-04T20:51:00.006-06:00

Today for playgroup we visited a retirement home. We did this last year and it was so awesome. I had to fight back the tears the entire time. There is just something so beautiful about the joy a little child can bring to someone who is hurting or lonely. The kids passed out stickers and wished the residents a Merry Christmas. One lady followed us down the hall in her wheelchair and when she caught up to the group she asked if she could hold Sarah's hand. She reached out and held Sarah's hand for a few minutes and just smiled and talked sweet to her (I know....so cool- sniff, sniff). Elijah was great about hugging those who asked for a hug. I was proud of all the kids. We talked about the experience a lot and how today wasn't about us or what WE wanted to do but it was about making others feel loved. I wish I did more things like this. It really is a powerful lesson- for me too. I love how God uses little children to bring joy to others. What a gift and a blessing children are.

Update

2008-12-04T20:49:00.003-06:00

All the pipes are working again- both human and house. Shwoo, I'm glad that's behind us.

Back to life

2008-12-01T21:24:00.014-06:00

Thanksgiving was great. I really enjoyed having it here. The kids played great with the cousins (Megan and Colin) and the adults got to chill and hang out (and pig out). My little bro Dan surprised us and came in Wednesday night. He's a senior at LeTourneau University and we don't get to see him much so it was awesome to have him here. Justin's sister Stacey, her hubby Alex, Alex's dad Buddy and Justin's brother Todd and of course Mamaw and Papaw all joined us. I just love his family. Here are a few pics from the day.

Well, we are back to school and our life. 3 of the kids have the big "D" and to spice things up even more something is bad wrong with our drainage system. If I run the washing machine (which is a must with 3 sick kids) or take a shower (don't actually do that much) the toilets fill to the top with water making it very interesting to use them. We had a guy come out before Thanksgiving but clearly the problem didn't get fixed and is now worse. On a brighter note, Sarah got into my purse and ate an entire pack of gum (not a small pack but a big pack) so her diapers smell like mint. This is actually a treat compared to the other two kids. May need to start feeding the other kids gum for dinner.

Almost ready

2008-11-25T21:23:00.009-06:00

Thank you all for the awesome Thanksgiving ideas!!! I think we're almost ready. We've cleaned and organized and cleaned some more and I'm ready to have some peeps in our house. We haven't done school this week (mostly because I've been one track mind on the Thanksgiving stuff) but it's been a nice break and the kids and I have been having some fun. I think sometimes I get so focused on school and behavior I forget to just enjoy the kids. This week in between scrubbing baseboards, cleaning windows and other fun jobs I've taken some time to just enjoy the kids. Caleb and Madi just learned to ride their bikes without training wheels and then tonight Madi learned to tie her shoes. Ummm.....does anyone know when the twins grew up? I seemed to have missed it. I remember people always telling me not to miss a thing because my kids will grow up fast. I honestly would think to myself, "maybe it went fast for you pal, but my life is in sloooow mooootion. I have 2 year old twins and a newborn. Life isn't going by fast enough." I'm sure I was half delusional most of the time, but now I finally understand what those people were talking about. It seems like just yesterday I was holding two tiny little wrapped up bundles wondering how I would feed both of them at the same time. And now, well, take a look.

Thanksgiving 411

2008-11-21T08:15:00.011-06:00

Or maybe I should say 911! We're having Thanksgiving at our house this year and it's a first for me. Since most Thanksgiving menus don't include fish stick and mac and cheese I'm in need of some suggestions. I think Justin's mom is going to handle the turkey (did I mention she's a very wise women) and Justin's sister is an amazing hostess and very helpful, however it kind of raises the bar that much more to have a nice dinner. So if any of you sweet friends have any suggestions I would love to hear them. I know many of you have the gift of "Martha Stewart" (minus the shady, money hungry, jailbird side). If you have any good tips please do tell!!! Even cool table ideas or fun stuff for the kids. Thank you, thank you, thank you and I can't wait to read your comments!!!!!

I want to give a Birthday shout out to my long time friend Alessondra! We were BFF's in college and went to Dental Assisting school together (many, many years ago). She's a dental hygienist in San Diego (but still manages to clean my kids teeth when she's in town) and one of the most generous people I know. Happy Birthday dear friend! We love and miss you!!!

Wild Man

2008-11-19T19:47:00.001-06:00

Elijah is the "wild man" of the family. We also have Caleb who is totally chill and calm and usually thinks things through before he does them. Elijah, on the other hand, thinks about things after they have caused injury. A few weeks back he grabbed the garage door as it was going up and held on all the way up. I ran as fast as I could to catch him but he fell before I could reach him. He cried for a few minutes but was fine. Then, about two hours later I opened the garage again and guess what Elijah did- yep, grabbed it again. This time I was there to stop him. I often find him on top of things (like the bbq the other day) or swinging from high places (like the arch thingy in front of our house). He took a ride down our driveway at mach speed on an office chair that was in our garage. I once again couldn't catch up to stop him. He finally stopped right before the street in some bushes. I keep thinking he will out grow his desire to kill himself but so far no sign of change. He tells Justin he has really big "muffles" so we should buy him a real motorcycle. Um, how about NO, NO WAY, NEVER, EVER!!!! He really is a super sweet kid, he just keeps us on our toes.

Sweet Victory

2008-11-17T19:17:00.012-06:00

There is just something so victorious at the end of the evening when all the kids have been bathed, and are ready to get jammied up and put into their beds. It doesn't matter how hard the day has been, bedtime brings amazing peace to our sometimes crazy home (OK, most of the time crazy home). As I prepare for the assembly line of brushing teeth and hair and putting on jams, Justin will sit with the kids and watch the "funny show" (better known as America's Funniest Video). Then there is about 30 minutes of kids wanting last minute drinks of water or their special blanket or webkins, and then......oh yes, sweet, sweet peace!!!!

Aggieland!

2008-11-10T19:14:00.015-06:00

A few of us girlies decided to surprise our Aggie husbands with tickets to the A&M game this past weekend. I think only one of us (and it wasn't me) was able to keep the secret under wraps (thanks to some sweet little excited kiddos who spilled the beans) but it was still an awesome surprise. We drove down Friday afternoon to College Station and had dinner at Wings and More (a very special place if you're a guy). We warmed up with some tasty joe and hot chocolate at Sweet Eugene's and then off to midnight yell (an Aggie tradition the night before the game). After yell (which is pronounced "yale" if you are from around these here parts) we walked around campus and got to hear some great stories and Aggie history from the alums in the group. Our night ended around 3am at our incredible friends, The Terry's, gi-nor-mous ranch where they so graciously let us all crash for the night. The next day we all slept in, relaxed at the ranch for a bit and then the guys went to the game while us ladies shopped. It was so cool to see where Justin spent his college years. I feel like I know him even better now. It really was an unforgettable weekend!

Why....

2008-11-06T07:39:00.012-06:00

There are so many questions I have as a mom.
Like, why do I have to wrestle you to put on your diaper only to find you've taken it off when I come back with pants?
Why does cereal become the perfect dinner when daddy is out of town?
Why do 5 year old girls change their outfits over and over throughout the day?
Why do I find our good silverware out in the backyard?
Why is our bed the most popular place to sleep at night?
Why is anything longer than 2 feet become a weapon to hit you sisters?
Why is throwing a piece of pizza in the bathwater while your sister is bathing funny? (Elijah)
Why is painting the dog with sidewalk chalk a fun game?
Why am I exhausted until 8pm (aka kids bedtime) then at 8:15pm I feel like I could stay up for hours and usually do?
Why is toothpaste considered finger paint in the mind of a two year old?
Why could I order pizza every night for dinner and never get sick of it?
Why is kick fighting and punching fun for boys?
Why on earth would I ever wear light colored pants? (Sarah just smeared peanut butter all over my leg as I'm typing)
Why does the car smell like that?
Why does chocolate make everything alright- even if it's just for a minute?

Birthday Weekend

2008-11-04T08:14:00.004-06:00

My sweet husband took me to Sundance Square (downtown Ft. Worth) for dinner and we met up with our dear friends the Graves. Nicole and I started a Birthday tradition a few years back that we get together on our Birthdays. I didn't get to see her on hers this year so this was a treat to have her join us for mine. There is nothing more fun and relaxing than hanging out with an old friend. Justin and her husband John are old buddies too so it made for a really fun night. Then, Justin gave me the day off yesterday and let me shop and get my nails done. It was awesome! Such a great Birthday. I was really blessed.

Halloween!

2008-11-02T07:50:00.010-06:00

Here are some pictures of the kids in their costumes. We had a couple of parties to attend before the actual day so by Halloween night the costumes where missing some of their elements. We went to Justin's mom's house and trick or treated on her street. Sarah hit one house, got two little bags of skittles and ran back to Mamaw's house. She was so excited to have candy in her bag she didn't need to keep going. I walked on with the other three and hit a few more houses on the street. Madi was a bit nervous and hid behind me until the candy was being dulled out then she would run up, get her loot and run off. The boys were totally brave and figured out the routine by house two. We've all been eating lots of candy- including me! Mamaw's street gave out the good chocolate candy. Nice!!!

He's gone full blown Texan!

2008-10-30T08:26:00.004-05:00

If any of my kids embrace the "Texas ways" it will be Elijah. There is just something in him that is drawn toward open spaces, shooting guns, riding horses and cows (not that he's ever done either one) and basically all things dirty and manly! I bought both the boys cowboy hats for their Halloween costumes and Elijah has not removed it from his head (except at the dinner table of course- he's not a rude cowboy- daddy gave him a lil' cowboy to cowboy talk'in to about that). He hangs his hat on his bed at night, wears it in the car and yes, even in the bathtub. I haven't bought him any boots so he's a cowboy who wears a hat, gun and Converse shoes. :)

Sweet Prayers

2008-10-22T12:25:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I was having a conversation with Madison while lacing up her shoes. I was telling her how proud of her I was for being such a good girl all day. I asked her why today she had decided to be a good girl and not fight with her younger brother:
Madison: "I prayed to God to help me and he did."
Wow, my heart was soaring! What a beautiful answer. (insert sweet background music)
Me: "Do you know what Madi, mommy prayed that I wouldn't be grumpy today and God answered my prayer too."
Madison: "Mommy, I prayed that you wouldn't be grumpy today too."
(eeeerrrrrttttt.......insert record being ripped off the record player noise).
Me: "Well, I guess God answered both of our prayers didn't he."
I just love the honesty of a child's heart.

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-19T07:26:00.015-05:00

We took a little trip to a place called Country Critters for playgroup last week. It was hours of entertainment. We pet the animals, took a train ride, bounced in the bounce house, went for a hay ride, picked pumpkins out of a pumpkin patch, decorated pumpkins and ended the event with story time and some pumpkin bread, cookies and cider. I love spending time with the moms in our group so that always adds to MY fun. A girlfriend I worked with in Salt Lake City now lives in Dallas, so she also joined us with her 3 girls. We of course had the usual "mom stuff" to deal with- like Sarah had some diaper failure issues and the back of her pants were all wet, Elijah didn't quite pull his jeans down all the way while using the restroom so he also had wet pants, Sarah cried the first half of the 2 hour drive, Caleb lost his socks after the bounce house so his shoes were hurting his feet, Elijah was convinced that the small pumpkins were balls and needed to be pitched, the kids wouldn't sit still for our pumpkin patch picture (even with the help of 4 moms who clearly felt my pain) so I had to be in the picture, but as you fellow moms know, it's just all part of the fun!!! The day ended with us spending some time with my great friend Lisa White and her sweet, sweet family. She is visiting from Cali for the weekend.

My little handy man

2008-10-13T21:57:00.007-05:00

The other day Elijah (3) produced a small electric screwdriver from daddy's tool box. My motherly instincts gave me a little check to maybe take it away from him. BUT, it was keeping him quiet and occupied (which is many times worth taking the risk) so I decided to ignore that oh so important instinct and went off to take a shower and get dressed. Caleb (my rules kids) came in and was trying desperately to tell me something about how Elijah had taken apart something in Sarah's room. Well, when I got to Sarah's room I realized he had not taken apart just one thing- on no, that would be too easy- but quite a few things. He took the top off of Sarah's wooden stepping stool, the toilet paper holder off the wall, one of the bathroom cabinet doors, the door handle to the closet and another cabinet door in the kitchen. He had even figured out how to switch the drill bit around to fit flat head or Phillips. I have a feeling this kind of behavior gets worse with age. As a female I'm not even sure what to think. Although, I do know one thing, I will be keeping him away from the lug nut wrench (or whatever the name of that tool is that removes tires)!

One for you...one for me.

2008-10-10T22:58:00.005-05:00

Ok, does anyone know the truth about a dog's mouth? Are they really cleaner than ours? I mean seriously, we've all seen how dogs clean themselves. It just doesn't seem possible that they could be cleaner. I'm having a hard time stopping my little sweet peas from "sharing" food and utensils with Bailey. So, if a dogs mouth is as filthy as it appears, I wonder what raunchy dog germs the kids put into their mouths each day. Maybe it's just better if I don't know. I guess what doesn't kill us, just makes us stronger and Bailey does love all the treats!

6 Good Years

2008-10-06T22:31:00.016-05:00

Justin and I just celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. It's amazing all we've shared in such a short time. For those of you who don't know our story, I'll give the short version. We met when we were both totally wasted at a country bar.....just kidding! The real story: my BFF Nicole introduced us briefly at her church one Sunday. We formally met on a mission trip in the jungles of Panama. It was really romantic, I hadn't showered in days, had no make up on and had ran out of clean clothes. Unlike girls, guys seem to get better with dirt. Unshaven, sun bronzed and rugged, Justin looked hot in his tan safari brimmed hat. I know, it's pretty lame to check out a guy while on a mission trip, but I just couldn't help myself. He TOTALLY ignored me most of the trip. We even pulled a poor man's tooth out together and managed to only say a few words during the entire procedure (I'm sure a few of those words were like, holy crap, I can't believe we're doing this!). Finally, on the last day of the trip we had a chance to hang out on the beach and talk. When the day ended I flew back to Salt Lake City and he went back to Texas. I would see him on occasion when I would travel to Dallas for business but that was about it for 2 years. Then, one cool evening during the primary election of 2002 we were holding campaign signs at the same voting location (we had a mutual friend who was running for Congress). After the polls closed we found ourselves together casually dining at a restaurant. Justin had mentioned to me in a previous conversation that he didn't think he would ever get married so I had put him into the "friend zone" and didn't think he would EVER be interested in me. Well, apparently God changed his heart that night. We dated for a short time and then had a quick engagement. It's so cool to look back and see God's fingerprints all over our relationship and the amazing people he used in our lives during that season. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have such a thoughtful, sweet, wise, loving, smoking hot husband. Thank you Jesus for your incredible gifts!

Girls Weekend

2008-10-05T18:45:00.011-05:00

Six of us did a girls trip over the weekend. Eating, shopping and more eating. It was such a treat. This is a group, that for whatever reason, I feel the freedom to "keep it real". I'm not sure how THEY all feel about it, but it was so awesome to just be myself and share crazy life stories (like mistakes with foam hair remover). And it was even more fun to hear their great stories and get to know them even better. Life has SO many funny moments it's a shame to waste them on yourself and not share them with friends.
Love you girls and can't wait to create even more funny "life moments". Hold onto your brain balls girls, it could happen again soon. You are all a blast!

Thanks Misti for trying on this shirt for us. It's awesome! Still not sure how you'll use your arms...

New cup of joe

2008-10-02T22:54:00.006-05:00

So I've been thinking I may need a new drink at Starbucks. I order the same thing almost every time (depending if I'm hot or cold). If I'm cold I drink a vanilla latte (extra shot of espresso if I'm feel'in really crazy) and if I'm hot I order a 2 pump, iced mocha with whip. I've been ordering those same drinks since the day I walked into this glorious place. I drank them while pregnant with all the kids (decaf of course) and way before the thought of kids was even a thought. But I think it's time to switch things up around here. I think I may need a new drink. When I'm standing at the counter thinking about my order, I always just default to my usual- I would just hate to waste $3.83 on a new drink that might suck. Why am I'm wasting your time blogging about this? Well here is what I need from you. Will you please tell me what you order? If you like it, I probably will too (unless it's some totally non-fat, sugar free mess). No offense, I probably should switch to a less fattening drink since I'm making a switch. Thank you sweet friends for your input. I know my new addiction is out there, I just need to find it.

What a day!

2008-09-29T21:50:00.012-05:00

Something very strange happened here today. I really can't explain it. It started with Madison and Elijah playing REALLY well together (something I rarely see). Then Caleb joined in and was equally as cool to Elijah. All four kids played in their rooms for about two hours. I kept hearing lots of laughter (which usually means water or something that will stain or take forever to clean is now involved in the fun) but there was nothing. The kids do usually play well together (I think- I don't have anything to compare them to) but I almost always have to break up a squabble over a toy or someone gets hurt. Then I got another special treat, Sarah took a 3 hour nap (normally 1.5 to 2 hrs. is her max). When it was time for dinner, they all came and actually ate their food. During the meal Madison finished her cup of water and Elijah got up and refilled it for her and then she dropped her fork and he got up again and replaced it with a new one. She thanked him sweetly and they continued to eat dinner. What in the world did I just witness- kindness to one another without being threatened with cruel punishment, could it be? Then after dinner each child (including little Sarah) cleared their plate from the table and put it into the sink. I just couldn't believe my eyes. Has all of my repetitive persistence actually paid off? I mean I pretty much say the same things over and over (eat your dinner, get off your sister, don't throw toys, no jumping on the furniture- you get the picture). But maybe it all is finally sinking in. Naahhhhh...... Whatever it was, it made for an awesome day. Oh what a wonderful place it would be if everyday were like today!

New Bed

2008-09-29T10:35:00.006-05:00

Sarah is now in a big girl bed. It's only been two nights but she's gone to bed without too much trouble. She had to be put back a few times but eventually stayed. The first night however, I found her in the middle of the night standing in the kitchen crying. I put her back into her bed and she seemed fine. Then this morning I found her sleeping on the floor half way under the bed. I guess it will take some getting used to but she is very excited about getting to sleep in a bed like her big sister. I'm a little sad about taking down the crib for the last time but also excited about the next season. Two toddlers and two five year olds- should be fun!!! If you ever find me in the corner of the room, in the fetal position rocking back and forth please gently remind me of how "fun" this is. :)

Team Work!

2008-09-24T18:06:00.010-05:00

Justin's family does this really cool thing. Whenever someone in the family moves, or needs help they plan a "work weekend". They all show up and paint, help unpack, decorate, help tile or just whatever needs to be done. And when this family says work, they mean work. Justin's brother Todd recently bought a house in Austin and it needed some paint, curtains and a few upgrades. We all showed up in Austin around 5pm and the party got started. The family painted and worked until 3am. Then got up the next morning at 8am and painted the entire day. I'm definitely the weak link of the group. I'm always pregnant or nursing or have children to tend to. I try and do a little here and there but nothing like the others. This time instead of working I took the kids to visit our good friends the Barretts. Their house is the bomb! They have THE awesome, blow up, tower of fun in their backyard so I grabbed the cousins and my kids and the seven of us hung out there all day. I even got to visit Suzanne's church on Sunday, which was incredible. If you're ever in Austin be sure to check out Austin Stone. By Sunday afternoon the entire downstairs had been painted, curtains and art hung and the place looked killer.

MOMZILLA!

2008-09-19T08:10:00.008-05:00

Yes, that is how I feel many mornings- like a monster. As a mom do you ever wake up and for no reason feel irritated and snappy? My good friend and I call it the pit. Sometimes I just wake up in the pit and I don't know why and no matter how hard I try and shake it, it just doesn't shake. The biggest bummer is my kids usually get the brunt of it. I do save some for Justin, but for the most part, the kids get it. I try and pray it away and make efforts to change my heart but so quickly I return to that bitter place. The moment I can't find the scissors or the kids break something or make a mess of something I just cleaned up, I have zero grace to give. It's selfishness, really. I think this is MY house and things should look orderly and be exactly like I want them to, but this is clearly not realistic in a house with 6 people. Justin always tells me that Satin would love to take us moms down. We greatly influence the little lives around us so if I get jacked up, there is a good chance I will jack up four other lives. I know God has lots and lots of grace for us moms, I just so badly want my kids to be all God designed them to be. So all of you moms out there who also struggle with this, you aren't alone and I will be praying for us. I will be praying for grateful, content hearts that are full of joy again!

Sarah Jewell

2008-09-16T08:21:00.026-05:00

Sweet little Sarah has brought so much joy to this family over the past two years. We never get tired of her smiles, belly laughing and giant hugs. Her independent spirit has allowed her to keep up with the "big kids" and she has a unique relationship with each one. Caleb has always been tender and sweet to her and she looks to him for protection and help when she needs it. Madi and she play together the most. Madi is great about including her and making her feel apart of whatever she is doing. Elijah, well Elijah loves, loves, loves babies. Wild horses couldn't keep Elijah away from Sarah when she was first born. I was always looking for high places where I could put Sarah so Elijah wouldn't get her. He brought Sarah to me a couple of times when she was about a week old-scary. He still tries to hold her and love on her but she's not to into it. It's so fun to watch her little personality develop and we can't wait to see all God has planned for this precious little girl. So many times I wondered how I would be able to take care of four little ones and now I can't imagine not having four to take care of. We love you Sarah and are so blessed to have you as part of this family! Happy Birthday sweetheart.

We had a small Birthday party with family over the weekend. We took the kids to the museum and did some cake at Starbucks.