Impromtu bday party

On Sunday I realized that Avery was expecting/hoping for a 'friend' birthday party.

(Traditionally, we have big family parties until the kids are in school and then we let them have a friend party...we caved this year apparently.)

So Monday, I invited the guests, bought some decorations and favors and we were set.

The party was this afternoon.

And she couldn't have been more excited.

The plan was for outdoor games followed by cupcakes.

They all arrived...Jordan rode up the driveway on his bike...and the tornado sirens went off.

I am not even kidding.

I ran upstairs, grabbed a sleeping Tess from her crib and met all the kids in the basement.

We stayed for about 15 minutes till we got the all clear from Jordan.

(Sully is holding his map. He told me before everyone arrived that he needed to draw a map so that we didn't lose anyone. ? But funny in hindsight since we ended up in the basement and I really was worried about losing someone!)

The birthday girl didn't mind the storm.

She just wanted her friends to be at her house! :)

She is my absolute favorite almost 6 year old in the world right now!

Friday

What a day!

With the weather and the running around we did I feel a bit like I've been hit by a train!

But it was also a great day...

We had plans to go to CF because Cassie and the kids were going to be there.

We wanted to have her take the kids' pictures but the weather did not cooperate for that.

Instead we hung out at Godfather's Pizza for quite sometime.

Cassie and I laughed so hard. Finally Brigg said, "What is so funny!?"

I think he thought we were totally insane.

And these two are my birthday girls...and they were so cute before we left in their

little skirts that Avery insisted they have their pictures taken together.

The SUN!!

You know how sometimes as parents we know what our kids need even before they do? We see the breakdown coming...and we know the reason...and they have no idea?

Christ is like that. I think He knew if we couldn't get outside at least one day this week...I was going to have a breakdown.

So today...Today he sent SUNSHINE. Lots of beautiful, warm sunshine. And no humidity.

Amazing day.

So after a day out in it the kids are resting and I got online and found these verses....

Ephesians 3:16-20

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at within us.

I'm not sure if I can even begin to break down all the awesome promises in that passage; He strengthens me, His love is wide and long and high and deep! and it surpasses my knowledge - I have no doubt of that! and He is able to far more than I can ask or imagine.

I think that is my new favorite passage. I love being reminded that I can never understand His love for me. And that bringing a little sunshine for me...is just one way He's shown that to me today!

Shrek

We took Tess to her first movie tonight with Trina, Aaron and Alexa.

I figured either Jordan or I would have to leave after the first 30 min to take her home (oh the beauty of our dollar movie theater).

She surprised us and sat perfectly through the first 45 minutes.

After that she played musical seats, dug around in the diaper bag and ate her weight in candy and popcorn - some off the floor...yummy.

BUT, we stayed for the entire thing!

I think Aaron and Avery are the only two actually looking at the camera....oh well!

Rewards in the Mundane

Genesis 6:9, 22 'Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God...Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.'

Do you ever look at your life and feel ordinary? and like your daily tasks are boring, mundane?

As you put in the 9th load of laundry for the week or clean that little sticky face for the 75th time that week, do you start to feel just worn down?

Wondering when God is going to turn things a bit more exciting for you?

Its easy to look at the lives of some of our heroes of the faith and think - 'now they had exciting lives! They got to follow God into the most exciting times in history! They got to make history!'

Last night I was reading in our 'Our Journey' daily devotional and it talked about this subject.

The author, Doug Helmer looked at Noah. I'll paraphrase some of what he said here...

How amazing was Noah's work? Building an enormous ark the likes of which had never been seen before, seeing a parade of animals that will never be duplicated, seeing God's mighty power unleashed on the earth and the sinful people and seeing Him restore life to that same earth.

But think about it a little deeper. Noah had no real tools, no chainsaw, he had no transportation, no hardware store around the corner, no band aids, antibiotic ointment, no tylenol!

So he starts cutting down trees, trimming off the branches, hauling back to the building site. Yes, that was probably exciting. For the first 10 trees. But what about tree 387? How could his back have felt? Do you think that started to feel mundane?

And what about those around him taunting him? Hey, Noah? What are you doing building an ark...it has NEVER rained. You are crazy.

Mundane.

Yeah.

Helmer called Noah's life the ultimate Groundhog's Day!

No kidding!

And I'm sure as that door to the ark was closed by God, Noah and his family must have all breathed a huge sigh of relief...'oh thank goodness! We are not crazy!' And when that same door finally opened they saw their reward for faith in the mundane.

I think about this and my life and how sometimes it might feel ordinary.

How I could be doing something more exciting, glamorous for Christ.

And then I think about the little prayers I hear my kids saying and how sometimes they are so kind to each other and they tell each other and perfect strangers about Jesus...

and I see my rewards are so great...even in the mundane.

Or perhaps, especially in the mundane.

a new dimension

we have entered into a new dimension of parenting.

last night avery was invited to her first sleepover at a friend's house and sully stayed at grandma barb's.

since two of the kids were gone and we felt lonely (ha) we let lauren have a friend over for the night.

at 9:30 they wanted to watch part of a movie before bed so essentially jordan and i were kicked out of the living room.

so now our kids are old enough to sleep at other people's houses for fun and to say 'uh, mom and dad, can we have the living room?'

i dont like it.

and when they were born i dont ever remember saying they could grow up.

kind of feel like throwing a temper tantrum over it.

or at least crying for a bit.

ick. :(

Wedding bells

A couple of weeks ago Rosanna and Isaiah shared with us that they had gotten engaged!

We are so happy for them.

Then on Saturday night when they were watching our kids during our small group

they asked Lauren, Avery and Sullivan to be flower girls and the ring bearer in their wedding.

I am told there was some squealing involved!

Truly, Rosanna has been an amazing blessing to our family.

Our kids love her like family and we feel honored that she and Isaiah want them involved in their special day.

She hadn't been in our house for more than 5 minutes when Tess had her right where she wanted her!

And Sullivan had Isaiah right where he wanted him!

Darth Vader mask and all.

Congratulations again to you both!

Weekend...gone???

Somehow another weekend has flown by...

Saturday we spent the day at the golf course - a month ago I was asked to come back and

coordinate the annual hospital tournament and so I did that and Jordan played in it.

Then that night we had our last small group session before our summer break.

Today we attended Alex's 4th birthday party!

She's so sweet. And Mandy did an awesome job on that cake!

Tess pretty much loves anything with water so she had a blast.

She also loves monkeys! She really wanted this blow up one.

I rarely get genuine smiles on camera of Sully.

And this one I just love.

Winning team for one of the water games.

The dad's were good sports about being part of the water fun.

Then the kids started in on the real fun...drenching the dad's.

Then things got a little crazy with a full out water fight.

Seriously, mostly Mandy's fault!

Busy, fun weekend...now if we just had one more day.

More Summer Fun!

I tell you what, this staying home full time is something I can get used to!

This summer is rocking.

Now, I must also add that today my body seems to be saying, 'uh, you are pregnant, remember?'

But I am going to focus on the fun part of today not that part that

had me wanting to cry at the tball game tonight.

We started the day with a play date at Freed's. The kids played, mom's talked and laughed,

we sang 'happy birthday' to Klayton and Alex.

Laughed at Jen while she chased chickens and ducks.

And I for one was just totally ready to eat Jocelyn up.

Seriously, she loved showing off her chicks and ducks and could anything be cute?!?

After a quick lunch and naps we went to the library for a Summer Reading program show.

Today was a magician.

It was very exciting! :)

And she is SO cute!

Sullivan totally loved every bit.

Although when the magician said he was going to bring out his pet alligator Sullivan turned to me with a look of terror on his face and said, "I want to go home!"

I was laughing so hard. Sully calmed back down when he discovered it was a puppet.

Tess got bored so we looked at books during part of the program.

(Mom, does this picture remind you of the one of me in the newspaper at the same age?!)

Next we hurried home and got supper ready.

We had corn on the cob for the first time and it was everything we remembered!

Then we were off to Lauren's first tball game.

Where Sully and Jalen fought with rocks and sticks.

And Lauren did great. She had a really nice hit and some nice fielding and as always

this age is just hysterical to watch.

ahhh, summer!

Wonderful Day

Today was a fantastic day.

My mom kept the little two while I took Lauren and Avery with me to my prenatal appointment.

Lauren was so excited to hear the heartbeat.

However I think she is forever scarred by my peeing in a cup!

Sorry, honey...welcome to being a female!

After the appointment we did some shopping and I found my 'bullet blender' for $20!

I love taking these two for grown up girl time. We have so many fun years ahead of us.

Now Lauren and Avery are staying the night at my mom's,

Tess is in bed and we are having a movie night with Sullivan.

He was as excited as I was about having smoothies tonight.

Jordan says I am now a 'complete woman',

I have my Kitchenaid mixer and my blender.

I'm so grown up.

And this picture is from last week...me, pregnant, about 1/2 way through.

In the grand scheme...

I love how He can speak to us through any means 

He chooses. 

Today, for me, it started with a simple observation my 

husband shared with me and was followed up 

by a song. 

That reminded me that I am not that big, 

important or powerful. 

None of us are. We are small. 

Reminded me that I need to bend easier, 

love truer, give more, 

say I'm sorry more frequently, and 

count my blessings daily. 

Because in the grand scheme...

Who am I? 

'Who am I, that the Lord of the all earth

Would care to know my name

Would care to feel my hurt? 

Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star

Would chose to light the way

for my ever wandering heart? 

Not because of Who I am

But because of what You've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who You are. 

I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

a vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling

Lord, you catch me when I'm falling

And You've told me who I am

I am Yours, I am Yours' 

Birthday help

Avery's birthday is in a couple of weeks.

I have no ideas of what to get for her.

She has asked for a few Barbie things - I refuse to add to that collection anymore.

She loves art but I seriously think we have just about everything out there...

Any ideas??!??!?! Feel free to email me!

Thanks!

Summertime Blues

I'll take this kind of 'summertime blues' all day long!

Seriously...

Not sure why I love this picture so much, I think its the way her leg is extended.

That, and the pony tail and those curls...its more than I can take.

LOVE it!

Poor skinned knee...and chubby baby legs.

summer, Summer, SUMMER!!!!

Can you feel the excitement!?

We kicked off summer in our house today...

Lauren got out of school at 1:00 and she's done for the year!

Yeah!

So of course, we headed to the pool for the first time.

I realized this year could be pretty great at the pool.

Tess isn't a one year old this year.

On the other hand, this year could be pretty tough at the pool.

Tess IS a two year old.

Goodness she is cute.

She loved having Lauren carry her around, she loved the little slide and she loved trying to get as far away from me in the water as she could.

Love those spray fountains!

Sully played with the 'fireman's hoses' for literally an hour. I'm not kidding.

When he wasn't doing that he was sliding.

After daddy got home we headed up town to the first Farmer's Market, bandstand entertainment and food stands of the year.

Daddy got the food while we found a comfy spot to enjoy the music.

Then we went on a bike ride...this is Sully and I's ride.

(nice smile Sully...)

And this is how the others get around...Tess is in the Burley.

And then we REALLY kicked off summer...Jordan surprised me with 'push-ups' from the Schwan's truck. I may have jumped up and down!

And we ended the night with some friendly races...

Just a little sunshine...

These helped today too...

They just look like the sunshine.

And I love spider mums.

And I love my husband too.

And thank you to all my great friends for the texts, emails, comments and calls.

You are pretty great too.

For dad

Last night, after the kids were in bed, Jordan said we had to play cribbage...in honor of my dad.

My dad LOVED games.

And more than that, he loved beating us at games.

I remember him giving me lessons in cribbage and I vividly remember the night Jordan and I had to call back to my parents to tell them that one of us had an ALMOST perfect 29 hand! I remember his laugh over the phone that night and the excitement in his voice.

I love that I cant look at a cribbage board or a deck of cards even without thinking of him and smiling.

Good memories.

Bittersweet memories.

Memories that cut kind of deep and hurt pretty bad.

But memories that remind me over and over and over, that Jordan is so very right...

We have been so blessed.

My dad is gone...

but wow, he was the best.

'Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad.' ~Author Unknown

Anniversaries

Today is the 4th Anniversary of my dad's death.

Recounting the events of that day or the week or weeks following is

not how I want to commemorate this day.

And its not how he would want me to spend the day either.

He would remind me that we are not without hope, that we will meet again, that God is in control and that I have better things to do with my time then to feel sorry for myself.

He would tell me to read these verses.

I Thessalonians 4:13-14

'Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.'

Jordan often reminds me of how lucky we've been.

Of how we got to have my dad and the awesome things about him - even if we had to lose him early. That many people don't get relationships with their father like we had. That many times people don't get to know their dad and laugh with their dad and just enjoy family like we have.

And that helps.

A lot.

Because we are some of the lucky ones.

And that is what I want to remember today. All the wonderful memories and laughter. The things he taught us and the things he wanted for us.

Dad, we miss you. Every day.

It doesn't get easier with time. Time doesn't heal all wounds.

But we do have hope.

We love you and cannot wait to meet with you again.

Shiver me timbers!

Her sisters love to dress her up!