Pictures are Updated

Last week, I posted a few blogs with pictures that did not work. I have updated those posts so you can see the pictures.  Either scroll down a couple of posts...or click Fourth of July Parade  and Girl's Night.

A little Birdie

Yesterday, we discovered there is a bird's nest in the bougavillia tree outside our front door...and an even greater surprise are the three little birides we heard chirping away.  They just hatched yesterday (in fact, earlier in the day I only saw two...later I saw the third).  I've been watching the mommy and daddy birding quickly flying back and forth with food.  It's amazing to see those new little animal lives.

The nest is a little high for me, so I can't get a great picture (maybe Jeremy can help me out later).  But, here are shots of the the tiny beak. (if you click the picture, it will zoom in)

When I was outside near the tree...the mommy and daddy birds didn't attack me (surprisingly), but they did watch me.  One stared at me from the power lines, and one watched me from the roof, just above the tree (again, if you click the picture, you ought to be able to see the food in the bird's beak).

I'm hoping this video will work...fingers crossed!

Pictures

Hey ya'll.  I've had a few people tell me that you can't see the pictures I've posted.  We upgraded our computer recently and are using a new system...and I still don't have the hang of it yet.  Hopefully this evening while jeremy is studying, I can sit down and figure out what I did wrong:)  I promise to re-post!

Funny Sermon Notes

Yesterday, I stayed home from church with Nathan because he was a little under the weather.  Nicole said to me as she left with her daddy, "Mommy, I will make sure daddy takes notes so you can hear the gospel". 

She did not disapoint.  Apparently she would tell Jeremy to write down what the pastor just said at different parts of the sermon.  When I read it...I was crying because I was laughing so hard.  It was a guest speaker from Orlando, and Jeremy said it was a good sermon....but, the notes....well, I'll let you read them:)

2 Samuel 9
I conversation
39 days   Just go home   covenant.  God's grace is bigger. God knows we are all cripples.  We are spirtually criples.  Gad wants to do something  Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  What does God do   some kind of animal.  Sacrifice.  That's what sind does.  People in the   He likes animals.  He's been living in the woods  He put some food down.  God's beat em up.  Grace knows we're all criples.  Spiritually.  It doesn't keep us from loving us.  God has yes face   yes face and no face.  We do know we have.  A murderer.  Grace.  God has a yes face.  God's table is a buffet.  Maphibesheth  God to eat at the king's table.  Grace is more than we can imagine.  She came up to me.  What did I do wrong   Got to sit at the presdient's table.  He gets down.  Where is Maphibesheth.

And that, my friends...is a sermon through the ears of a child.  Maybe this is why I have to explain things a thousand times a day...she's only catching a word here and there and none if it ever makes sense. hehehe.

Another funny story...Jeremy had the girls at church by himself.  I put a new dress on hannah.  It had two ties on her shoulders.  He saw her playing with the ties, but didn't think about it at all.  Well, when the preacher came up to preach, he asked everyone stand in honor of God's word.  Everyone stood....and....Hannah's dress fell to her ankles!!!!!  Ahhhhh hahahahaha.  She had untied the bows over her shoulders.  Poor daddy was trying to re-dress his daughter while everyone around him was giggling.  I wish I would have seen That one!

Fourth of July Parade

Happy Birthday to Our Country!
That was the first thing Nicole said the morning of July 4th.  She had been looking forward to this day for a week or more.  The first thing she did when she woke up was grab some paper and some stickers...and make her very own flag!  I had no idea what she was doing until it was almost done.  I was so proud of her.  She wanted to take it to the parade we were going to later that morning.

At our city's  4th of July parade.  It was hot...but Not humid...and there was a nice breeze, so it was totally bareable.

This is Nicole's flag.  The other one she colored the day before in Sunday School.  Nicole was photographed by our local newspaper.  She stood in this position for quite a while as we were waiting for the parade to make it to us.

There were several color guards that passed by.  I think these are the marines. 

Nicole and Hannah loved the parade.  The stood up the entire 1 1/2 hours, grabbed candy that was thrown at them and waved to all the "floats".  They had a blast.

For some reason, Nathan sat on the curb almost the whole time.  He was funny...if a piece of candy would land next to his shoe, he would reach for it.  But, if he had to move to get it...forget about it.

Nate, just watching everything pass by.

I wish this was a video.  Hannah stood in this spot and waved her hand for several minutes.  There must have been a lull in the candy throwing or something.  She had a sort of expressionless face...just stood there, in a daze, waving.

Chick-fil-a!!!

The girls love monster trucks

One float thought it would be a good idea to pass out baloons (it wasn't).  Our kids popped lots of balloons...but people near us kept given them theirs.  Nate popped one while he was hitting it on the ground.  It scared him and he cried.

This was a fun way for us to kick off the 4th July celebration. The kids really enjoyed it and it was pretty fun for us too. 

Girl's Night

We have a tradition that when Jeremy is out of town, we always try to have a Girl's Night. Nicole decorated the door with a flag and party toys. The girls got comfy in our bed and watched the first hour of The Sound of Music. Because this movie was so long...we had three girls night. Each lasted an hour or so. One night my mom made it over and painted toe nails with the girls too.

Hannah found my tiara from my wedding and decided it was a fitting accessory

Not that we ever want daddy to go away...but when he does, I want the girls (and later Nate) to have a special time with me and something to look forward to.

Is Anybody Out There?

Hello.

It's me.

Do you remember me, or us?

We are that crazy family of five that is always on the go.

Seriously...I am sorry I have not updated my blog in SUCH a long time.  I am sorry to YOU, my readers, and I am sorry to my family because I know how precious this blog has been to us over the years.

As the children have gotten older, I find myself with less and less time to do "my" things.  Like blogging.  This was something I would often do at nap times...but, I don't get full nap times anymore, because Nicole is up and needs constant entertainment or chores (which I do with her).  My breaks during the day have become non-existant (doesn't that violate some sort of  employee law?).  So, my blogging has taken a major hit from that.

It has also taken a big hit from my new business.  You HAVE heard of my new business...right?  I have been an Avon rep for about 6 weeks now, and it's going great!  The first few weeks, I spent a lot of time figuring out my organation system and learning all of the products. Lately, I've been thrown into leadership roles and so now I'm learning how to train and recruit new reps.  Yikes!  I have had great campaigns and have actually been making money:)  So...when/if I get computer time...it's been spent working on Avon, not blogging :( sad, I know.

So...Here's a recap...and hopefully I can post some pictures tomorrow of different events.

Jeremy went to Canada for several days, my in-laws went on a mission trip in Central America, and my mom and dad were all gone...at the same time.  Kind of.  My mom hung around for me at least until Jeremy got back from Canada (I'm pretty sure I begged her to...thanks mom!)

The kids are growing really fast.  Nicole is learning how to ride a bike with no training wheels.  At first she wanted to be a dentist, then a missionary...and now she wants to be a scientist (and a mommy).  Hannah is funny and always makes us laugh.  Nathan is growing way to fast.  He is saying more and more words and really has a cute sense of humor.

Life is crazy and stressful a lot of the time....but we are thankful for each other and our families.  I know I have the best husband in the world.  I appreciate his support and love and need him more than ever. 

Pictures to come soon.

Big Boy Bed

One of our neighbors recently moved.  In her move, there were several pieces of furnture she was trying to sell.  One was a perfect twin size mattress. I walked across the street several times to look at the mattress...all the while thinking of the top bunk in the kids' room that has been empty. 

We bought a bunk bed just before Nathan was born.  The girls share the bottom full size bed.  The top bunk has been on the bed with no mattress.  It has been a source of hours of imagination and entertainment for Nicole...and one really bad boo for Hannah. 

However, I just couldn't pass up this mattress.  For the few dollars it cost us, I knew I wouldn't be able to find a nicer mattress.  So, we bought it, and changed the entire room around for the kids. 

Now, my sweet little baby boy sleeps in a Big Boy Bed.  We went to Target and picked out some linens and decorations...sports themed of course.  He loves his bed.  Nate must use a step stool to get on it, but I catch him just sitting in bed smiling several times a day.  It's adorable.

He has done really well sleep in it too. We have had just a few times of him testing his limits, getting out of bed and playing or exploring his room when he really should be laying down. 

It hit me the other day though.  I went to check on him and I saw this very tiny little boy, stretched out in this "huge" bed.  I imagined him growing through the years, as a five year old, a ten year old...an 18 year old with his large strong legs hanging off the end.  This may very well be his bed for the rest of his life living at home.  It's such a sweet site to see this little boy, curled up with his blanket, sleeping soundly in the corner of the bed and imagine him growing into it, until one day, the bed will be to small for him.

The crib is gone, make way for the Big Boy.  Just like the girls, he is growing up and Not slowing down. Capture these moments, remember and hide them away as sweet memories to take out treasure in the coming years

I pretty much....

....have the CUTEST Kids around!

No words can describe how cute this little guy is.

This was so cute...they just sat down next to each other and hung out for a while.

Love Love Love these three.

Two peas in a pod right here.

Stuck in a Rut

Stuck in a rut.  How do those words make you feel?  When someone says they are "stuck in a rut" what are they trying to say? 

I have always taken that  phrase in the negative sense.  The person is stuck doing the same thing over and over and can't seem to get away from it.  But, maybe...just maybe it can be positive too. 

The other day, I started describing myself (in my own head, to myself) as being "Stuck in rut".  I was getting bummed about the way my every day life goes.  I wake up at the same time, have the same conversations, complete the same tasks and duties, make the same dinners, have the same routine day, noon and night.  I feel like I'm stuck in a rut...and this rut is growing deeper and deeper and it is long long road.

But, maybe it's not a bad thing.  A rut means it is a road well traveled.  It is a rut that (hopefully) has a destination.  Maybe the fact that I am "stuck in a rut" means whatever I'm doing is important, is working...and is leading me to my destination.

However, You must choose your ruts carefully, right?  Because you could get stuck in a rut that leads to destruction. A rut of self-pity, pride, selfishness.  These kind of ruts can grow deeper and deeper so that when danger or difficulties come....you truly are stuck and you can't go anywhere else.

A good rut has a well worn groove, but when that danger comes, you are able to get out of it. It might be difficult and take some time, but the rut does not define YOU, you define it. 

I'm stuck in a rut....this is good and/or bad.  It's good if my rut has been made from daily activities that are important, however mundane.  It's good if the rut has created a routine that my kids can anticipate. 

It is bad if it leads to self pity.  When I notice my rut taking me from where I should go, I need to get out, as soon as possible.  It might be hard.  I might break a wheel....but a wheel can be replaced.  A drowned wagon can not.  It is important that my ruts do not create me...but that I create them, and diverge from then when necessary.

What kind of rut are you in today?