Journey of Grace

Hope

2012-01-23T19:49:00.001-06:00

Romans 15:13 “May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

I love the word, hope.

Hope.

Every time I hear it, I feel like I’m able to exhale a little easier.

God has placed this word on my heart recently, and I have truly delighted in reflecting on it’s Biblical meaning. I’ve seen all over the blog world, people picking a “word of the year”, I’ve never done this in the past, but I think this year, if I were to pick one, Hope would be my word.

Biblical hope, unlike worldly hope, is more than just a vague optimistic expectation. Hope, for the believer, is a specific confident assurance.

Assurance that God is who he says He is.

Assurance that God will do what He said He will do.

Assurance that we our forgiven, because Jesus paid the price and bore the wrath that we could not.

Assurance that God will be faithful to complete the work He started in our lives.

There are times in each of our lives when we feel defeated, when we come to the end of our own strength and worldly “hope”. When we can’t see an ounce of good in a particular situation, time or place that God has placed us in.

When these times come, it’s easy to feel like you don’t know what to do. And, what are we to do when we don’t know what to do?

I believe the answer is hope. Hope in Him.

We can be sure and confident in Him. We may not always like the route He takes us, we may not see His plan this side of heaven. But we can have hope, assurance that He will see us through, that His ways are better than our ways, even when we don’t understand.

Hope.

What a blessed assurance.

Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way.”

Book List 2012

2012-01-16T21:31:00.001-06:00

I always look forward to posting the book list for the year. I didn’t read as many books as I had expected or wanted to in 2011, but that’s alright, there is always this year. :)

An entire bookshelf remains full of books that I have bought, or that have been given to me that I want to read, not to mention several (okay like 20) more books on my “wishlist”. Like the t-shirt that my mother-in-law got me for Christmas says “So many books, So little time” I don’t think a truer statement could describe my life :).

Books I’ve Read This Year

"Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist" by John Piper

Based on the concept that as Christians "Delight is our Duty" - it is from this that one of John Piper's more famous philosophies stem "The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever". This book is very practical and helpful in developing a mature Christian walk and relationship with God. Filled with scripture and important Biblical truths, it is God-honoring and encourages us to use our whole lives to worship God.

Books on my Nightstand

“1, 2, 3 John and Jude” by John MacArthur

I’m going through this study with some ladies from my church, a great study. MacArthur is great.

“Respectable Sins” by Jerry Bridges

I have had this book on my to-read list for 3 years now and have started it a number of times. For real, I’m going to read it this time, I’m on chapter 6!

“The Well-Behaved Child” by John Rosemond

This book gives great practical parenting tips – with a no-hold, no psychobabble “punches” Rosemond is to the point and gives no apologies for his authoritative, yet loving parental approach. There are a few of his ideas that I don’t necessarily agree with, but overall every tip of his that I’ve implemented in our home has been very effective and helpful in training.

“The Educating the Wholehearted Child” Clay and Sally Clarkson

I started this book a while ago, and I’m about halfway through. It is a great homeschooling resource giving ideas of how to educate, train and disciple the whole child, not just the mind through our homeschool and home (which in reality are one in the same). A great resource.

“The Ministry of Motherhood” by Sally Clarkson

I haven’t actually started this one but I loved the Mission of Motherhood and am loving Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson.

A Little Bit (urgh, I mean ALOT) of Christmas

2012-01-16T17:07:00.001-06:00

I do realize that we are halfway through January and I have yet to post on our Christmas or New Years.

Believe it or not, we did celebrate the holidays this year.

Schoessow Christmas

Our celebrations started on the 17th of December with the Schoessow side of the family. This year, Toni, Tim’s older sister hosted, which was nice for us, because we only live 15 minutes from her house. Aunt Tami and Audrey, snuggling.

This year we had the adults each pick a child’s name to buy a gift for. I liked this approach, simple, fun to shop for and kids still got to open gifts.

After gifts and a lasagna dinner the kids played a game with Mommer and then we headed up to Green Bay to see the Garden of Lights. I love that we have this near us – we’ve done it a few times in the past and it is a great holiday tradition. Alexa complained most of the time (it was a little cold for her blood), but Treyton really liked it. I wore Audrey in a front carrier with a blanket around her, so she was pretty warm the entire time and I didn’t hear too much from her. (Treyton’s favorite part of the Schoessow Family Christmas – Wrapping Paper War)

(Mommer and Papa with the Grandkids)

Our Family Christmas

The original holiday plan was to do Christmas Eve with my side of the family and then Christmas Day at home with our family, but my mom invited our family to join her, my step dad and uncle on Christmas Day at her house. So last minute (and by last minute I mean 4:30 on the 23rd) we decided to spend the 23rd as our family Christmas, 24th with my entire family and then the 25th at my mom’s.

Because we kind of rushed our own family Christmas, we left out some of our traditions and treats – like Jesus’ Birthday Cake and Root Beer Floats, but that was okay because we ended up spreading these things to New Years – and you know what? I think Jesus was okay with a little belated birthday cake.

The kids each got their normal 3 gifts from Tim and I, but this year they also exchanged with one another – Treyton picked out and bought with his snack stand money gifts for his sisters, mom and dad. This was his own idea which he had started thinking of back in October.

For our “Nice Dinner” we had lamb, brussel sprouts, and mashed potatoes. Treyton got another Mario DS game, Angry Birds Knock on Wood Game, and Big Box of Legos from Tim and I. From Alexa he got a pogo stick and from Audrey he got Batman Jammies. (Side Note: it is extremely difficult to get pictures of Treyton opening his gifts because he’s so fast :))Audrey got a new play kitchen, a little monkey cabbage patch doll and a baby blackberry (alphabet) toy from Tim and I, for a little lagniappe she got some dress up princess shoes (a last minute buy that ended up being her favorite gift). She got a Remote toy from Alexa and a Disney princess chair from Treyton.

Alexa got a Rapunzel doll and dress up set, a Hello Kitty DS game, and a princess snuggie from Tim and I. A Princess Dress up kit from Treyton and Trio building blocks from Audrey.

Treyton got mom a Sonic DS game (LOVE it, by the way… I used to play Sonic all the time back when Sega was cool) and Dad the Cars 2 movie. He had told Tim at one point “I know you wanted to Cars 2 movie, Dad, but I got you something else instead.” So when Tim opened the Cars 2 movie, Treyton was way excited for “tricking Dad” – if you’ve never seen Treyton’s excited face – now you have ;) It was a nice Christmas, a little rushed, but worth it in the end. We are certainly blessed beyond measure.

Rebman Christmas

Christmas Eve we headed to my sister’s house. Everyone exchanged names, which makes Christmas fairly relaxing and enjoyable but everyone still gets to open something.

My mom always goes ALL OUT on the food for Christmas Eve, we love it. It’s a lot of work for her, and we keep telling her to simplify, and maybe one day she will, but until then we will enjoy our MANY options of yummy snack foods.

I apologize for too many pictures in advance – my brother in law Aaron LOVES taking my camera and taking hundreds of pictures that I have to clean out (and I’m not even kidding in 6 hours he managed to take over 500 pictures). And be forewarned, there are more of me than anyone else, partially I think because I had a glass of wine this day, which for some reason gets my family all gitty and it’s like they want as much “proof” as possible that Amber is a wine-o…. whatever :) This is me and my brother-in-law Aaron, we give each other a really hard time, but truth be told, I have a lot of fun hanging out with him (when he’s not crabby from lack of sleep). There’s a reason why my sister Skye likes the two of us so much, we’re a lot of like. When we're together we’re usually in some type of "heavy discussion” which we both actually agree with one another on, but are saying differently. We both like to prove our point…. Tim and Skye typically just stay out of the way and let us have at it. My man and his little girl. They are so cute.

Luke and Skye

Audrey being silly.

Aaron caught a picture of me doing my “Skype face”…. big funny.

My sister, Autumn and I, getting cozy on the couch together. I LOVE hanging out with Autumn, seriously, we laugh the most when we’re together. Autumn laughs at ALL of my jokes, seriously, she makes me feel like I should be a comedian. She’s awesome.

A rare picture of little ms. Peyton, not smiling .

Madison, being a little ham ;) It was actually Madison’s birthday on Christmas… so we sang a little birthday tune for her this day.

Audrey, my little princess.

Aaron, I’m really not sure what he’s doing here…. but this is called payback. A rare (or maybe the only picture of my brother in law Marv and I), yes, I still have a glass of wine in my hands…. I savor, I don’t guzzle. My Uncle Todd got Bewitched season 1 & 2 for Christmas – Alexa was very interested.

I have no idea what my man is doing to this baby doll, but this picture cracks me up, I apologize if others find it disturbing. My Grandma had bought all of her Christmas presents before she got sick in November. She had my mom’s name this year, so this is the last present my mom will ever get from her mom. It was a hard moment, but a moment I know my mom was really grateful for. Peyton and Treyton, the rhyming cousins, wrestling. Can I make myself any more clear, Aaron? Peyton, all wrapped up. Superhero Treyton. My Grandma had also gotten all four of us girls little sock purses, my mom and uncle added in a piece of silver and a small figurine from what we refer to as the “Aunt Jemima” salt and pepper shakers she used to have all over her house from her. Uncle Todd and Alexa cuddling. My man, with his “thinking face” on :) And the moment passed :) Two preggers…. aren’t they beautiful? Okay, here’s the scoop – since I was a teenager I have tried really, really, really hard to inflict some sort of pain on my step dad, Luke. We used to wrestle around quite a bit and I would get so mad, because he would just laugh. I’ll punch him over and over in the arm, and I know it hurts him, but he refuses to admit it and he’ll just laugh…. nothing makes me “madder”. (Yes, I know this sounds twisted, but Luke’s really weird, it’s too much to try and explain :)) Anyhow, this year, Aaron tempted me to give his arm a shot…. here he’s showing his red arm.

Here are some family pictures from the day:

One goofy….

Two serious…

And of course no holiday would be complete if Luke didn’t take his holiday nap :)

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was very relaxed at my mom’s house – she made a delicious meal and I didn’t lift my finger hardly all day. We did the kid’s stockings at my mom’s but other than that, there were no gifts this day – which was also nice.

What?! Nerf Gun Bullets!! Thanks Mom and Dad!

Lexie got a princess Charm bracelet from Disney. She really wanted it at Disney, but Tim said no, he got it for her (behind her back) and gave it to her for Christmas.

A charm for her actual charm bracelet

Papa Luke and the girls.

My Uncle Todd

Time to eat!!

My mom and my Uncle T. Time for dessert. Happy Birthday to Jesus, with my mom’s pies.

What? I wasn’t eating anything.

It was a fun Christmas, I love seeing our families and celebrating with them all. We are so lucky to live close enough to spend the time with them.

Meditation in a Toolshed

2012-01-02T16:58:00.001-06:00

"I was standing today in the dark toolshed. The sun was shining outside and through the crack at the top of the door came a sunbeam. From where I stood that beam of light, with the specks of dust floating in it, was the most striking thing in the place. Everything else was almost pitch black. I was seeing the beam, not seeing things by it. Then I moved so that the beam fell on my eyes. Instantly the whole previous picture vanished. I saw no toolshed, and (above all) no beam. Instead, I saw framed in the irregular cranny at the top of the door, green leaves moving on the branches of a tree outside and beyond that, 90 odd million miles away, the sun. Looking along the beam, and looking at the beam are very different experiences".. C. S. Lewis

A Little Bit of a Scare

2011-12-30T09:54:00.001-06:00

So last night, Audrey gave me a little bit of a scare. And by a little bit, I seriously almost FREAKED OUT!

Last night the boys ran to Wal-Mart after dinner to pick up a few things. At about 7:30 I laid the girls down for bed. Alexa’s knees were hurting her, again so it took her a while to fall asleep.

At about 8:45 the boys came home. I hear Alexa start to cry so I went in to check on her.

She was laying on the ground, half under her bed with her lamby crying. I picked her up, rubbed her knees a little bit and got up to leave the room.

That’s when I glanced over at Audrey’s bed…. she wasn’t there.

That’s not all that strange, as we’ve found her sleeping on the floor numerous times. I looked all over the floor, even behind the door and didn’t see her. I picked up her blankets to be sure, no Audrey. I stepped out of the room, looking in the Living Room and Treyton’s room and called to Tim who was unloading the car “Tim, where’s Audrey?” Thinking he was playing some sort of evil trick on me.

“I don’t know” he said with a chuckle (like I was crazy!)

“Are you serious, or are you kidding around? Do you have AUDREY?!?!” I said with a little bit more panic.

“No, I don’t have Audrey. Come on, Amber, are you serious?”

“I can’t find her!!” I said picking up my pace towards her bedroom.

Once again I scanned the floor, checked the closed closet, behind the door, in Lexie’s bed and then I got down on my hands and knees and looked under her bed, though I don’t think she could fit all the way under her toddler bed.

Nope, not there.

Then I glanced over and looked under Alexa’s bed, which actually has a couple of totes under it. Behind one of the totes, and halfway under the bed I saw the back of her jammies!!! She was almost entirely hidden behind totes and stuffed animals at least halfway under the bed.

I could not believe it.

I nearly had a heart attack and there she slept peacefully.

I could go my whole life and not feel that way again, and I would be just fine!

Florida Vacation Day 11

2011-12-28T22:13:00.001-06:00

I haven’t spent much time on the computer the last couple of weeks so I forgot that I hadn’t posted on our last day of vacation.

We drove from Florida to Lousville, Kentucky on the 11th. We stayed over night there, and the next morning got up to go to the Lousville Slugger Museum.

This was an awesome stop – I’m so glad we did it!! Here we are in front of the museum and standing next to the biggest bat in the world. Its 120 feet tall and weighs 68,000 pounds. I had given Treyton several choices on what he wanted to do on the way to and from Florida, and this was his first choice. He was really excited about this stop. During the tour we saw how they made the bats, as well as how the Major League Baseball bats have changed over the years. Here Lexie is holding a larger, older style bat. This was one of Babe Ruth’s bat, where you can see the niche’s he carved in for each home run he hit with this bat. They also had some wax players that we got to take pictures with. I’ll be honest, the only two I recognized without reading the tags were Derek Jeter and Babe Ruth.

We had a fun tour guide, we were the only family on the tour, so it was really personal and friendly. In the picture below, Treyton is holding a billet which is what the baseball bats are actually carved out of.

The kids really enjoyed the up close and personal view throughout the entire tour. I would definitely recommend this tour to other families. We really enjoyed it and learned a lot. After our tour, Treyton and Tim were able to swing some actual bats used by different baseball players, I think this was Derek Jeter’s bat, but I can’t remember. Then we went to the kids section where there was a little batting cage, that Treyton of course ROCKED! To say he enjoyed himself would be an understatement.

Florida Vacation: Day 9

2011-12-14T23:08:00.001-06:00

Treyton’s do-over park choice was Animal Kingdom.

After going on Treyton’s favorite ride (the Everest roller coaster) a couple of times, we headed over to Alexa’s: the spinny dinosaur one. We did it four times in a row this day!! This is not a Mommer or Daddy style ride, so mom was left to hop on board with the kids, it wasn’t too bad actually, they keep it slow enough that I didn’t get dizzy at all. Audrey went on this ride too, she loved it!! She yelled at first, more out of surprise, then delight. In Africa, we took a train ride out to Rafiki’s area – where we got to pet some sheep and goats. The kids liked this – as did I, until a hungry goat stepped on my flip-flopped feet and cut my toe… ouch! Those things are heavier than they look! Audrey loved the animals so much she wanted to crawl into the pen with them :) Ohhh Audge… the animals are too much! It’s too exciting! We had wanted to do the safari ride on our fist visit, but it was shut down due to some track problems. So we went this day, instead. The coolest thing we saw on it, were hippos actually out of the water (much pinker than we had thought), but I didn’t get my camera out and aimed in time. This ride was a big hit for the whole family.

We called it an early day, and went back to the condo to enjoy the pool for the last time. There were lots of tricks this day. Mommer, Audrey and I sat happily on the sidelines, dry!

Day 10 we left early (about 6am) and drove all day to Louisville Kentucky, where we stayed in a hotel for the night.

Florida Vacation: Day 8

2011-12-14T21:54:00.001-06:00

After visiting all four of the parks we let the kids both pick one park to revisit. Alexa wanted to go back to Magic Kingdom. This time when we got to the park, we headed to frontier land, the only area that we didn’t really get to explore on Monday. We (Tim and I) went on the railroad roller coaster ride first and then did Splash Mountain with Treyton.

Afterwards we took Alexa to see the Toy Story characters and to get a picture. While we were waiting in line, Alexa fell off the rope and nailed her head on the concrete. Needless to say, she wasn’t in the mood for a picture after that, so Audrey and I took one instead. She really liked the characters. This time around, after on going on Space Mountain and the Peoplemover again, we also visited the Buzz Lightyear ride, which the whole group was able to ride. You ride through and shoot at targets… they kids really liked this one. We went on it twice. Afterward we met up with Stitch…. Lexie was able to redeem herself with this character encounter – she cuddled right up.

We went on It’s a Small World, again and then on the Winnie the Pooh ride and lastly, we went on the carousel, as a family. Good times. Alexa is all the way on the end, you can’t see her, but she’s there. At the end of the day, the girls were tired, so we put both of them in the stroller and headed out. Alexa did a great job taking care of her sister, and letting her rest. The trams in and out each of the parks were always a good time for the kids. It’s like another ride. After getting “home” and taking naps, we took another swim in the pool. A great end to a fun day.

Florida Vacation: Day 7

2011-12-14T20:35:00.001-06:00

Day four of the Disney Parks we spent at Animal Kingdom. It’s always hard to choose a “favorite” park, but this one is right up there. Tim says this one is his favorite.

It’s divided into Africa, Asia, Discovery Island, Dinoland and Camp Mickey and Mini.

This was the only day we were there that it was actually a little chilly, which actually meant fewer crowds in the morning, which was really nice. Treyton’s favorite roller coaster of the week was the Everest one, I would have to say that this one was also my favorite. It made Daddy a little woozy, so it would not be his favorite :) The roller coaster mountain is in the background, rather impressive (below).

This is a picture of us on the roller coaster (below). I am in a seat by myself, Treyton and Mommer are behind me. We’re rows 3 and 4.

Lexie’s favorite ride was a Dinosaur ride that went round and round and up and down. We went on it once this day and four times in a row on our second day at this park.

For lunch we ate at the Tucker house. It was a character buffet restaurant with Donald, Daisy, Mickey and Goofy. The kids don’t watch a lot of Disney, but they were more excited to see these characters than I thought they would be. Audrey was all about the characters this day. She liked them far more than the princesses. Mommer loves goofy. So here she is in one of her only solo pictures.

Goofy was really tall :) Mickey actually visited our table twice, and didn’t realize it. I think he may have been a little surprised we didn’t take a picture the second time around, but I think he’ll be okay. While visiting Africa we passed some drummers on the street. We stopped to watch and listen, and within a few minutes they called Mommer up to dance with them…She ended up talking Lexie and Treyton into coming up with her. It was one of the funnier moments of the trip. Lexie didn’t last that long in front of people, but Treyton did the whole show. Here are Mommer and Treyton with the lead dancer.

I don’t have a picture of it, but we also went to the live Musical Lion King show, which is so good.

We left the park at about 3:00 went back to the Condo, took naps and swam in the pool. We went out to dinner at a place called “Miller’s Ale House” – it was AMAZINGLY good and possibly the most reasonably priced restaurant I’ve ever eaten at!!

We ended up eating there three nights in a row, and I ate the same dish every night!! It was a lobster and seafood bake seasoned with a crab boil seasoning. It had corn on the cob, potatoes, mussels, clams and crab legs…. mmmm-mmmm! So good.

They also had these UNBELIEVABLY yummy desserts – called Captain Jacks – there was a chocolate one (my favorite) and a nutter butter peanut butter and chocolate one which was Donna’s favorite one. We got them every night ---- possibly the best dessert I’ve ever had. I wanted to take a picture of it, but forgot all three nights. Seriously, I was so excited when they brought them to the table I couldn’t even take a minute to snap a picture….

My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Next time we’re in Florida we will be going back here (probably more than once) FOR SURE! A highlight of the trip for me.

Florida Vacation: Day 6

2011-12-12T22:50:00.001-06:00

Our third day at Disney we went to Hollywood Studios. This was by far the most busy of all the parks while we were there.

We started out going on the Tower of Terror ride. It’s a bungee type ride…. you drop, then fly back up and drop again and again, it’s…. intense!

It was hilarious to see Treyton’s face on this ride. He couldn’t wait to take Mommer the next time and her face was just as priceless!! I wish I could have taken a picture, while they were on it, but I had to make do with taking one afterward. Mommer said that it was her favorite ride, but that she would not do it again. :) We saw two different shows while at Hollywood Studios – the Live Beauty and the Beast show

and the Lights, Motors, Actions show. Which is a car stunt show. Treyton LOVED it! He watched as closely as he could to every move.I enjoyed the shows that we saw at the park and I loved the Tower of Terror ride, but I was a little bit beyond stressed out at this park. Between the crowds and the long waits to see shows, the kids were a little less patient, and I was much less patient – so we called it an early day. When we got back to the condo, we all took naps, went swimming and Alexa called Aunt Tami to bond over her meeting with Princess Belle.

It was a relaxing ending to the day.

Florida Vacation: Day 5

2011-12-12T22:09:00.001-06:00

The second park we visited was Epcot. I was really looking forward to seeing the World Showcases, but we didn’t make it further than the second showcase by nightfall. The kids were amazed by “the ball”…. and let’s be honest, who isn’t? The weather was beautiful all week and this day was no exception it was about 78 degrees and sunny. While dad ran in to The Land building to get our fast passes for “Soarin”, Treyton wanted to take some pictures with Mommer. Then he wanted to take pictures of me and Mommer…. He took a ton of them, which made us start laughing. Seriously, we had over 10 on the camera. And then some of the two of us. He is an amazing boy and loves his Mom and Mommer so much – he warms our hearts. Audrey worked hard to get away with sucking her thumb all week, any time we took her thumb away something like this would usually happen…. One of the cutest shows at Epcot is “Talking to Crush” (the turtle from Finding Nemo). It’s an interactive show, which is super cool. Treyton was surrounded by princesses during the show, but he didn’t seem to mind. Audrey had no problem taking charge and walking around wherever she pleased until the show started. We had a picture with this shark from the last time we came to Epcot, and Treyton asked before we even arrived to the park to take a picture with the shark again, so this picture was for him. Alexa was a big helper all day, pushing her stroller rather than riding in it :) We brought it just in case her knees started bothering her (which happens a lot), but she never used it, so we only brought it this one day. I really enjoyed being at the park while they had their Christmas Decorations up. Each park had a different themed tree. As far as the world show case went, we only visited Mexico and Norway, both of them had a fun little boat ride that we went on. And we were lucky enough to meet Donald Duck while in Mexico. Audrey really warmed up to him, which was cute. Our next stop was Norway where we had reservations to have Dinner with Belle and the other princesses. Here is Lexie patiently waiting to get in. Alexa was much more friendly this time with the princesses, and even twirled around with Belle. The professional picture turned out super cute!! This is from my camera, which is also cute, but not as clear as the one we got from them as part of our dinner package.

Of course Belle wasn’t the only princess we met – we met Aurora….snow white…. … and Cinderella. Sadly, when Alexa went to get out of her chair to take a picture with Cinderella she fell and hit her head. Needless to say, she was in no mood for a picture. But kindly, Cinderella offered to come back later. And she did!! Alexa was still a little upset when Ariel came by but we still tried to take a picture anyway. Here’s one with Cinderella, the second time around…. much better. After dinner we went on a viking boat ride, we liked it so much we went twice. Afterwards we walked through the gift shop (to get out), and the kids found these Viking hats… they were so cute acting out with them. Here they are – with their funny faces.

It was another full day, but we only spent one day at Epcot, and we were able to do everything that we wanted. The kids did well and above everything else we got to eat with the princesses AGAIN!!

Florida Vacation: Day 4

2011-12-10T16:17:00.001-06:00

Our first full day in Orlando we woke up early and headed to the Magic Kingdom. The kids watched cartoons in the morning while Mom got ready.

We really love the condo we got, it’s spacious, well decorated and comfortable. It’s homey feeling… Alexa tells us “she likes our new house”. I have been looking forward to taking Alexa, in particular, to the Magic Kingdom. I wanted to see her face when she saw the castle and the princesses…. I mean, how priceless to see our little princess in the Magic Kingdom surrounded by so many Disney princesses and a CASTLE!! This is us, moments after walking into the park. Alexa was a little overwhelmed, but in a good way. And here is our family in front of the castle. We first headed to Tomorrowland, where the entire crew boarded the peoplemover train. I really like the rides we can do all together.

There are quite a few dark spots on this ride (and I mean DARK). At first I was worried but for no reason it seems, the kids loved it!! Lexie kept saying “Where am I? Where am I?!” and after Tim said “I can’t even see my hands” Lexie kept saying “I can’t see my own hands! I can’t see my own hands! Where am my hands?!” It was really cute. Our little man, did a great job walking the entire day, which I was a little concerned about, but he never even complained of being tired. ne of the first rides of the day, he rode his first “real” roller coaster – Space Mountain. First with Tim and I and then with Mommer! He LOVED, LOVED LOVED it! Lexie’s main request was to go inside of the castle. Little did she know, we were not only going to in the castle but we were going to eat in the castle! Treyton wasn’t as interested in the amazing art on the wall as he was the metal knight! For lunch, we ate at Cinderella’s Royal Table – where we met Cinderella, and all of the other princesses. It was MAGICAL! I wish I could do it every day. Oh yeah, and the kids loved it too. Snow White was truly delightful, and was not even the least bit bothered by Audrey’s grumpiness for having her lunch interrupted, in fact she was used to “grumpy” :) Alexa was pretty shy when we met Cinderella, she wouldn’t go up by herself, and barely put on a smile, but by the time Aurora came around she was hugging and cuddling up to them!! Here we are (below) having a typical Schoessow dinner – Treyton is somewhere under the table, Alexa’s mouth is beyond full (not very lady like), and Audrey is so busy stuffing food in her mouth she can’t even turn around…. oh yeah, and you’ll notice mom’s been so busy running around that she hasn’t even touched her food!!

Just another day with our family!! I get super excited about seeing the princesses! It is THE highlight of the trip for me. Yes, I am aware of the fact that I am 28 years old, but I can’t help myself… I guess I’ll always be a princesses at heart. By the time Belle came around, Alexa was her comfortable, little princesses self and didn’t hesitate at all giving Belle the biggest hug she could. For dessert the kids got cupcakes that they could decorate themselves with three different toppings: marshmallows, chocolate chips and sprinkles. Treyton used all of ALL three of them. He didn’t quite finish it (thankfully!) All of the princesses get wands with their lunch, while the princes get swords. Treyton LOVED his sword and has had it by his side the entire trip. He thought he was cool stuff, storing it in his belt loops while he walked around.

After lunch, Mommer and Treyton went back and used their fast passes on Space Mountain, while Dad took both the girls on the Dumbo ride.

Something we did this time, that we didn’t do last time we were here was Tom Sawyer Island. It was really cool. Lots of neat things to walk through and see. The cute set up inspired us to take lots of pictures. And of course, the kids needed to do some goofy ones too… The Island had a wobbly bridge that we went over a couple of times, because it was so much fun… Dad makes these kind of things seem dangerous (and rather difficult) to walk across while he’s JUMPING.

Lexie wore her Minnie Mouse dress the entire day. Everyone called her princess and she loved it!! During the parade Minnie Mouse pointed her out and motioned that they were wearing the same dress…. It was really special. It was such a memorable day. We spent the entire day in the park from 9:30-8:00. We missed the fireworks, which would have been nice, but we were all getting a little tired and wanted to end on a good note, knowing this was the first day of six in the parks, we didn’t want to over do it. We did see them as we walked to our car, which kind of counts, right? This picture deserves a little explanation (below) Treyton wanted a “serious” picture… here is our best attempt :), I’m not sure, but I think that’s Audrey’s attempt at flexing. The girls had the best time swinging the rope back and forth here… after all those rides and all the money spent, it remains the simple things in life that make the kids the happiest. There were two parades on Main Street while we were there. First a dancing float one with singing and dancing at 5:30 or 6:00. Alexa really liked this one. And then there was the lights parade at 7:00, where all the floats were lit up with Christmas lights. The picture doesn’t do it justice, but it was WAY cool!

It was a great first day, this was the longest that we spent at any park, and it was busier than it was the last time we were here, but we rode all the rides we had on our wish list, ate great food, saw two parades, one 3D movie and met four of the princesses – it was a great day!!

Florida Vacation: Day 3 & A Family Loss

2011-12-08T20:05:00.001-06:00

We arrived in Florida on Sunday after driving 5.5 hours from Macon, Georgia where we stayed the night before.

On the way down from Georgia, I received a sad call from my family regarding my Grandma who had been in the hospital with some serious, yet partially undiagnosed lung/breathing problems. She had been in the hospital over a week on different breathing machines (not a respirator) to help keep her oxygen levels up. Whenever she was off of a machine, her oxygen level would go down. Even to take her off the machines to feed her, her levels would go down. They were treating her aggressively with antibiotics and steroids, to try to knock out whatever it was that she had, and to make her lungs stronger. She ended up being diagnosed with three major lung issues: pulmonary fibrosis, Scleroderma and an undiagnosed lung problem.

On Sunday, my Grandma said “enough” and she asked to be taken off of the breathing machines, knowing that without them she would die. So Sunday afternoon our family all gathered around her (excluding my family who was driving to Florida and my brother-in-law, Mitch who chose not to join them), and they were able to say their final goodbyes and to be with her to her last moment.

It was a tough decision, but in the end, my Grandma was not going to get better and it was her own choice not to prolong her sickness but to go home to be with Jesus. As much as we will miss her I think she made a great choice, and I’m glad that she was able to be surrounded by family as she went.

I truly wish that I could have been there, with my Grandma when she passed, my mother and I had discussed previously whether or not we should cancel our vacation or not, and we saw no reason, at that time to do so. The doctors were optimistic, and at the very least we thought we had more time. I’m grateful that I was able to say goodbye to her on Tuesday before I left and that I got to spend some good time with her then. It breaks my heart to have missed her final time here on earth, it’s something that I don’t think I’ll ever fully get over, but I look forward to remembering my Grandmother, and honoring her through the very long process my family has in front of us, while we go through her many treasured belongings and family heirlooms.

I wanted to include all that we were going through on that day as we arrived in Florida, because sadly that’s what was on our hearts as we arrived to our Day 3 destination.

Celebration Florida, is a cute little town designed by Disney to represent an ideal small town. It has several shops, restaurants and lots of fun things to see and do.

We arrived in town at around 3:00 pm. We walked around for a while, looking in a couple shops, checking out their Christmas decorations and then going to eat at the Celebration Town Tavern.

At 6:00pm the town had a scheduled “snow fall”. Too funny for us “Wisconsinites” as it was basically soapy/sudsy bubble machines shooting soap out from above, onto a suds-covered ground. The kids thought it was a little weird at first, but soon followed the crowd around them in the “snow fun”. Celebration has a cute little water play area, that Treyton remembered from the last time we were here (3 years ago!!). The kids played in it for a little while on our way out of time. Treyton tried to outrun the water, he was really fast and did a surprisingly good job, but the water won a couple of times. :) Lexie had her own type of water fun…. running around in circles. As did Audrey…. she couldn’t stop watching and pointing to all the water. After leaving Celebration we drove the 5 minutes to the condo we rented for the week. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, private pool and Jacuzzi tub (both heated). While it was tough knowing what was going on back home, it made me even more grateful now for the time we have to spend with family and enjoy our vacation and travels together.

Florida Vacation: Day 2

2011-12-06T23:08:00.001-06:00

Day 2 of our vacation we made it to Chattanooga, TN, or I guess it’s Lookout Mountain, GA. I always say it’s Tennessee, but it’s technically Georgia I guess.

We did this three years ago when we came to Florida, and it was one of the highlights for me. It was fun retaking some of the same pictures we took back then, now. I’m going to include some of the older pictures in this post, but I’ll put a border around them so you can tell the difference (though you should be able to figure it out). This is near the gift shops before you ever get on the trail, but I think it’s pretty so we stopped and took a picture…. both times we were here.

It’s nice to have someone along with you on trips to help take all those priceless family photos --- thanks Mommer!!

And a partial family picture with Mommer on the trails.

I kept trying to take a picture of just Treyton, but Lexie just pulled herself up next to him and looked so cute cuddled up to her big brother, I decided to get some together and some separate.

Daddy-O and Audrey compared to Alexa and Daddy-O. I wonder who was heavier… Alexa at 7 months or Audrey at 2o months? Alexa was our little chunk and Audrey our peanut, I bet you it would be closer than we think.

And I don’t know this for sure, but Tim may be wearing the same exact sunglasses from 3 years ago…. how have we not lost them yet? It’s a small miracle!

Yes I know, kind of weird having a picture of JUST me…. but it’s time… it’s been a while!

Our family…. I love that we have one more this trip.

Time . What a funny thing …. it seems so long ago …. yet, it seems like it was just yesterday.

This superhero makes me laugh every day – he is so awesome!

Have you ever seen such a tough little princess? I think not.

Yea!! A picture of our whole group!

This bridge was a lot scarrier in my memories. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I remember…. at least when Tim would stop jumping on it, that is. The kids are fearless. They weren’t frightened at all…. just like walking on solid ground I suppose.

Mommer was brave too, she’s such a trooper!!

Two princesses, enjoying God’s beautiful creation, and the blessing to see it.

Audrey got to get out of the carrier for a while when we were at the lookout, I’d say she’s more than a little bit excited.

Oh my word, this never happens, are they all looking at the camera without a single one of them closing their eyes OR crying!! I never thought this day would come! Here’s a second copy, for your viewing pleasure!

Love this picture, though it was like pulling teeth to get it ;)

Literally a “fat man squeeze” as Tim would say.

These two make me smile. My two cuties.

The rainbow windows… oooohhhh, awwwww!

This ledge actually shook when you walked on it. A little scary, but not as frightening as the bridge.

Family Photo with the falls in the background.

We got special starbucks treats after our walk on the mountain, to make sure that we replenished any lost calories… wouldn’t want to come home lighter than we left now would we?

(It’s a little bit tougher to hold my little man these days, even if it’s just for a second).

It was a great stop. I love it here. I’m sure we will be back again someday!

Florida Vacation: Day 1

2011-12-06T22:06:00.001-06:00

We decided to take a family vacation trip to Florida this year. We’ve been wanting to go back to Disney World with the kids since the last time we were here (almost 3 years ago). I had been planning it for a while, and knew we wanted to do it December, January or February, though we didn’t finalize it until last minute.

We left early on Friday morning, our first stop was in Indianapolis at the Children’s Museum there. This was a HUGE museum… so huge in fact, we didn’t even see all of it.

The kids had a lot of hands-on fun…. Here are Treyton and Alexa building the walls of a mine, to keep it sturdy, in the archaeological section.

Audrey, learning all she can about fish.

Assembling the easy and medium level statue puzzles (also in the archaeological section). This was to illustrate to the kids that archaeologists learn how things are made by putting them together.

Observing the trains station from the “inside”

All About Frogs, a temporary set-up they had lots of different species of live frogs for the kids to look at (even a super huge bullfrog).

Then the kids got to dress up as frogs and jump around trying to catch bugs (a.k.a. bug shaped lights moving on the floor). Are these not the cutest frogs you’ve ever seen (and graceful too I might add)? ;)

They had a dinosaur section that Treyton really enjoyed. I couldn’t believe that some of their dinosaur fossils were actual fossils and not just casts. I thought that was pretty cool.

They had a Jolly Winter set up for the season, which was pretty cute, not to mention festive.

Alexa loved the snow castle as any true princess would.

Audrey found her home among the sand pit, water table and digger machine! She loved this thing, I think it made her feel really “big” to pull all of the gadgets and push the buttons without being told “no”.

There was the big slide in the middle of the museum going from the second floor to the first floor all decked out in winter wonderland theme that the kids, Mommer and Daddy went on.

Treyton may have gotten a little carried away near the glass fire work ceiling section, but like any good parent I took a picture before asking him to get off of the rotating chair.

It was a really fun museum with TONS to do. I wish we would have had time to explore them all. They offered a great diversity of ages, which means we didn’t even do/look at half of the museum, and we still had plenty to do. And I guess that’s fine, cause there is always next time!

Here is a picture of Treyton in the entrance with the biggest transformer we’ve ever seen…. totally awesome…. and this is just day 1!! Tomorrow is all about Rock City in Tennessee (or is it Georgia?!?!?)

Goofy Family

2011-11-25T17:56:00.001-06:00

I love my family! Maybe because they are silly.... Just like me!

We hope you had a happy Thanksgiving and are enjoying your long weekend.
I know we sure are!

Tot School for Audrey: Coloring & Thumb Sucking

2011-11-14T22:27:00.001-06:00

Audrey is slowly learning how to appreciate the art of coloring…. I can’t believe she’s old enough for this.

She loves to be around during school and is always climbing up onto the table, the desks, and couch to be a part of it.

We are also in the process of trying to break her thumb sucking habit. We decided to try the “sock route” so far it’s kind of working. She doesn’t take the sock off, but when it’s off (when it gets too wet or dirty we will take it off) she easily reverts to sucking her thumb. And I’m not talking the “occasional” thumb suck. She’s a compulsive thumb sucker and it’s already starting to effect her teeth --- it was time to do something.

Though it was a surprisingly tough decision, because as much as I didn’t want her to be a 6 year old thumb sucker, I also think it’s kind of cute.

She does pretty well with it, considering. She actually willingly comes over and lifts up her hand for us to put the sock on and sometimes she even smiles and laughs about it.

If we catch her sucking her thumb (without the sock) we tell her “No, Audrey, take out your thumb.” and we make the motion, and she takes her thumb out, smiles and goes “Ahhhhhhhhh!”

The only time she seems upset about it is when she is trying to sleep. Please pray for us, that we can break this habit fast.

Dead to the Flesh, Alive in the Spirit

2011-11-11T21:15:00.001-06:00

I am currently in a Bible Study on the book of 1 John. Going in, I was familiar enough with this book to fear it, but now that I’ve gotten to know it a little better, it has become a comforting friend.

If you’ve read 1 John, you know that the apostle John is not known for his “mincing words” ability. He’s hard core. He writes in absolutes. Forget grey areas – this book is filled with black-and-white, light-and-dark, child of God or child of Satan kind of talk.

Take a look at a section of the third chapter with me:

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”

I don’t know about you, but when I read that my heart shuddered a little bit.

I mean, what does this mean? “no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him”…. um, say what?

After studying this portion of scripture, and talking with some of the ladies in my study I feel like I understand it a little better, and it’s really been helpful in my walk.

It’s clear from the text and the original greek tense used throughout 1 John, that John is referring to habitual, unbroken sin in the life of a person, and not the occasional “fall from grace” type sin we all manage to stumble (and admittedly, jump) into on a daily basis. While this is somewhat of a relief to me, it is still somewhat frightening as well.

Because the truth is, I have this…. thing…. this area of my life that seems to consistently trip me up. Now, I don’t want to go into details here, but let me be clear in this “thing” is a sin, it is something I really enjoy, and something I’ve struggled with for --- a while (a long while… like over a year).

There are times when I am able to resist, run and seemingly defeat this thing. And then there are times that I decide, I don’t want to defeat it, I want to enjoy it. So….. when I read something like 1 John 3, it starts me thinking.

In my heart of hearts I know that I want to desire God more than this (stupid) thing. But oftentimes when faced with an actual choice…. I fail. I know that it’s sin, I know that I should resist, and yet I don’t – I choose not to. So what does this mean?

What does it mean (Biblically) when a believer struggles with a particular sin, over an extended period of time, a thing that trips him/her up and is just an over all “weakness” in their life (my pastor has called it a believer’s “Achilles heel”)? Is this even possible, for a believer to struggle with a long-time stronghold?

I’ve learned a lot in the past year, as I’ve struggled with some of my own flesh and strongholds. And I have realized for the first time what resisting temptation means, and how it should look. Prior to this particular struggle I never really had a sin that I couldn’t master with just a little resolve and self-control (of my own). It left me highly independent, when what I really needed was dependence on the One that could actually change my heart.

When we actually struggle in the flesh the way that I have been in the past year, we’re forced to come face-to-face with our sinfulness, and let me tell you, it isn’t pretty or easy to experience BUT it is humbling and life-altering (if you allow it to be). I have learned that some things are worth giving up, some relationships and habits are worth breaking, and sometimes our own resolve just isn’t enough.

Lest you think I’ve mastered this all and am speaking from some “higher place” let me put your mind at ease by saying, I’m still struggling, I still fail and I still do the thing that I don’t want to do. But I haven’t given up and I haven’t given in because He hasn’t given up on me, and praise God He never will!!

Throughout this process and studying different portions of scriptures, there have been times that I have actually walked away with more questions than I had answers. Like:

What does it mean to be “dead to sin”? And why don’t I feel dead to sin?
What does it mean when the Bible says “walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”? (Galatians 5:16)
OR how about all of 1 John? How am I to understand ANY of that?
Am I saved? Can I desire my sin the way I do and still be a Christian?
“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7) Which part of me is my “old self” and why is it still talking if it’s dead?
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17) What does the new creation mean, and if I am a new creation, why do I still have old desires?

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve asked those questions!! More than once.

In the past week the Lord has been showing me in several different places and ways some encouraging revelation (and clarification) of His word:

When we confess Christ as Lord of our life and experience the new birth, we are in fact a new creation, the old is gone, the new has come. We receive a new-birthed spirit – we are a new being in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:5-6) However, we don’t lose our old flesh, it still wages a war within us - which is what sanctification is really all about (Romans 6:22). Our flesh will always be at work against the Spirit (big S) Galatians 5:17 “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Once the Spirit comes to live in us, this creates an internal battle within us. (Romans 7:14-25)

But praise God, this isn’t the end, in the very next verse you will find Romans 8:1-11 which offers us the hope we are looking for

1. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

This is how we are able to overcome, this is the confirmation we’re looking for.

We are no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit, and in Christ. The struggle is real, it will exist in us as long as we have our flesh, but we are dead to it, in the sense that it is no longer the part of us that controls our destiny and future. It is no longer the only part of us that we listen to or care about – we have been given a new life with a new purpose and a true Lord to serve which brings an entirely different perspective.

This changes everything.

This means it doesn’t always come naturally for us. It isn’t always going to be easy, and at times, when we allow our guard to drop and the flesh to creep back in it doesn’t even feel like a reality – but what we feel and what really is, can be two different things. When we’re feeling defeated we can know that God is greater than our feelings (1 John 3:20). He has defeated what we could not, and in Him, we can overcome our flesh.

Please Vote for My Home School Blog

2011-11-07T10:20:00.001-06:00

Our Homeschooling Blog – Refined Metals Academy got nominated in the 2011 Homeschool Blog Awards – please take the time to vote for my blog!!

Head on over to Refined Metals for the details.

Louisiana Vacation 2011

2011-10-30T22:54:00.001-05:00

The kids and I just got back from a vacation to Louisiana with my sister and her daughter, to visit our family that lives there. I was born in Louisiana, and while I have lived in Wisconsin since I was 9, I was raised with a strong appreciation for all things Cajun!

It was a good trip. A little tough, without Tim, but for the most part it was worth the extra work.

It’s an 18 hour drive from our house to my Dad’s in Baton Rouge. One the way down we split up the trip, doing 12 hours the first day, getting a hotel in Memphis, TN and driving the following 6 hours the next day, arriving to my dad’s early in the afternoon.

On the way home, we decided to try to get it home in one day. We ended up making the trip in 17 hours and 10 minutes, with two stops – drive through and potty break for lunch, and an hour dinner break in Springfield, IL. We were home in our beds by 11:30pm.

Sunday

We left Sunday open to relax with my Dad after the long drive there. Treyton saw his first “real gun” and “real sword” at my dad’s place, which come to find out, were two of the things that made his vacation “cool” (his own words).

We had lots of visits with family planned, but we also scheduled in some fun daytime activities to see and experience as much as we could of the Louisiana area.

Monday

The first full day there, we went on a swamp tour in Lafayette (which is about an hour from Baton Rouge). This was THE highlight of the trip for Treyton.

We were pretty lucky to be on a tour with only one other couple, an older couple that didn’t seem to mind the kids too much. It was a 2-hour tour, which I thought was just long enough but the three girls thought it was a little long :)

We saw at least a dozen alligators, two of which were between 10-12 feet long and actually touched the boat we were in. (Yes, we were holding on to the children pretty tightly at that point!!) I knew we were going to enjoy the tour and learn a lot about the area, but I was actually surprised by how pretty the swamp was.

I also knew it was a habitat crawling with life, but I will say it was a whole other thing to experience it, we never went more than a minute or two without seeing a new creature, plant or tree. We saw LOTS of different birds in the swamp, but my favorite one was the blue heron, which we got pretty close to. Treyton really enjoyed the entire tour, asking the tour guide lots of questions, and moving around to see everything Butch pointed out.

Peyton, did not enjoy sitting on her mama’s lap the entire time, but she managed to make it through the tour without upsetting her mama too much :)

I’m so grateful that the weather was so nice while we were there, high 70s and sunny, not too humid.

Alexa did pretty well for the first hour, and complained quite a bit the second hour, but she said she enjoyed it. Our swamp guide’s name was Butch, and he was very informative of the swamp plant/tree life as well as the wildlife (birds, alligators, frogs, spiders, etc.)

Tuesday

We visited the Baton Rouge Zoo on Tuesday.

We took lots of pictures going in to the zoo, because the kids each had a different place they wanted to take a picture at.

When we were going into the Zoo Treyton had specifically asked to see the Tigers, and Alexa asked to see the flamingos.

Alexa is now saying that flamingos are her favorite (I’m pretty sure it’s because they’re pink :))

We took the train around the zoo, the same train my sisters and I took when we were little.

Peyton and Audrey (born 7 weeks apart) were not able to ride in the same stroller with one another, due to their incessant need to fight with one another, the entire trip!! I have never seen two children at this age actually “fight” the way that these two did, I have no idea what their deal was. Treyton was in charge of the map, he did a great job keeping us on track to see all of the animals we wanted to. After looking at the animals, we made a trip to the gift shop to get our keychain (we get a keychain for every attraction we visit) I let the kids each get a huge sucker, which they ended up only eating a few bites of :)

On Tuesday night we had the chance to visit with our three half-sisters and their beautiful families.

Here are all of our kids.

Wednesday

Wednesday we headed to New Orleans with my Dad.

New Orleans, is a city so full of culture, I loved just walking around, hearing the street musicians play, and visiting a few of the shops.

Because it was a Wendesday, it really wasn’t crowded at all, which was nice having 4 young children to keep up with.

We went down to Jackson Square and walked around.

We walked around the French Quarter and down Bourbon Street a few blocks.

I was a little worried, with what the kids might see but gracefully, God protected them, and it was thankfully an uneventful trip.

I used our visit down there as a teaching opportunity to talk to Treyton about Katrina. A week or so ago we got a library book about hurricane Katrina, which Tim read to the kids, so Treyton was somewhat familiar with what had happened. I told him how Hurrican Katrina happened days after he was born, how hard it was on the people who lived in New Orleans and how long it has taken to rebuild the parts of the city that they have. This was easy for him to understand because he only needed to think about how old he is.

Little story, while walking down the street, I wanted to get a picture of Dad and Treyton, so I ran up ahead a little ways and told them to “freeze” ---- this is what they both did. What knuckleheads!!

Our last stop in New Orleans was the famous “Cafe du Monde” where we ordered as many beinets as we could. It was a messy treat, but well worth the powdered sugared clothes!!

Audrey couldn’t even keep her shirt on her tummy it was bulging so much after her treat!!

Thursday

By Thursday the kids were exhausted, we were all sleeping in the same room, which I think kept them from having decent sleep, on top of not taking their usual daily naps, meant I had children that look liked this….

We had plans to visit an outdoor rural museum on Thursday, but decided to keep our activities to the morning, and relaxing at Dad’s in the afternoon.

We went to visit Mike the Tiger on the LSU campus, where we met up with my Uncle Randy for a few minutes.

That afternoon and evening we met up with several of our other family members, my Aunt Kathy came in the afternoon and ate dinner with us.

After the kids went to bed my Uncle Tommy and Aunt Belle stopped by

as well as my cousin Chris, his wife Shea, their adorable son Darius and their 2-week old, 6 pound 6 ounce daughter Brooklyn.

Friends

Treyton met a group of boys at my Dad’s apartment building, every day that he could, he would ask to go out and play football with them. These boys only had a small plot to play football on, but they played almost every day.

They were very kind and even though they were older than Treyton, they were very gentle with him and didn’t treat him like a “little kid”.

Food

The food we ate while there was AMAZING – there is nothing like Cajun Food. The first night there my dad made us seafood gumbo, which had oysters, crawfish, shrimp, fish and sausage in it – super yummy!!

Also on the trip we ate crawfish etoufee, chicken and sausage gumbo, fried catfish topped with crawfish etoufee, a fried seafood platter and beneits. The food alone was worth the drive down!!

It was nice to see so many family members and to experience some of the Louisiana culture with my children. Because my dad allowed us to crash in on his apartment, it also ended up being a pretty cheap vacation, which doesn’t come along too often.

Review: My First Hands-On Bible

2011-10-14T19:15:00.001-05:00

Product Description

The My First Hands-On Bible is a preschool age hands-on Bible with over 85 common Bible stories kids enjoy. The Bible uses abridged New Living Translation text. Each story includes hands-on activities, discussion questions, a simple prayer, additional activities and my favorite part the Jesus Connection which helps show your children that ALL scripture points to Jesus.

Product Review

I’ll be honest, I love Bibles. Bibles of any kinds, old used crinkly page King James Bibles, Children’s Bibles, crispy new page Bibles, even Bibles that smell funny I love – all of them, I love them all!!

So pretty much any chance I’m given the chance to review a Bible, I do. Though, I’m not always impressed, particularly with Children’s Bibles – I was this time.

True to it’s name, it really was a Hands-On Bible. I have received other Bibles that claim to be hands-on but include little more than a few discussion questions, that’s not the case with this Children’s Bible.

Our Family’s Experience

The first story we read together was “Jesus is Born” from Luke 2:1-7 the hands-on activities included in this story were

Discuss what a census is. Take our own census of the people living in our home.
- This was so great for my son Treyton, who is 6. He really understood what a census was and what Mary and Joseph were going to do.
Walk around the room in different fun ways. We’ll pretend to be Mary and Joseph.
- My kids and I decided to have Treyton be the donkey and Lexie to be Mary – Treyton even had the idea of putting a baby in Lexie’s baby to make her look more like Mary (she used her little Lamby).

Look at the picture [in the book] and tell how Jesus’ bed is different from yours.
- Treyton already understood that Jesus was born in a “barn”, Lexie didn’t really, this was a simple illustration of that.

(The kids, taking care of “baby Jesus” together)

At the end of the story we sang a really cute song to the tune of “Farmer and the Dell” that went like this

Jesus went to sleep, Jesus went to sleep

Just like you and just like me, Jesus went to sleep

Jesus learned to crawl, Jesus learned to crawl.

Just like you and just like me, Jesus learned to crawl.

Treyton and Alexa ended up adding several verses to this song, including: Jesus learned to walk, Jesus learned to read, Jesus learned the pray, Jesus grew some teeth.

Lastly, we talked about things that we each had to learn, and that Audrey is learning right now, that Jesus had to learn, just like us. (We were supposed to look at the kids baby pictures, which I thought was a great idea, but we didn’t)

The kids loved this Bible story and all the activities that went with it. It really opened their eyes to details of the story that they didn’t know before. Even Treyton, who is 6, and knew this story pretty well already, didn’t realize a few of the details, like the fact that Jesus had to grow up and learn things, just like any baby has too.

This Bible is recommended for preschoolers, but it could certainly be used with most early elementary students. I plan on implementing it into our family devotions and/or school time Bible.

You can purchase My First Hands-On Bible for $11.55 at amazon.

Disclaimer: This is a MamaBuzz Media review. The product was provided by: Tyndale for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-10-08T23:56:00.001-05:00

We took advantage of the gorgeous weather we’ve been having this week and took a trip to the Pumpkin Patch to pick out some pumpkins. Aunt Toni and Ken joined us as well.

We ended up with 9 pumpkins to decorate around the house with.

Treyton and Tim took the lead on picking out most of our pumpkins. They did a fabulous job!

While we were there we also picked a few bags of apples to make an apple crisp out of and some applesauce for the kiddos.

It was a beautiful day!

Last year, we had Treyton take a picture of Tim and I, and it turned out really nice – we had him take another one this year. To be honest, this is probably one of the best pictures of Tim and I, ever!! I think Treyton might grow up to be a photographer.

Treyton is so cute when he’s taking a picture. He takes a TON, click, click, click in a matter of seconds.

Lexie stuck close to Aunt Toni and Ken for most of the time, which is pretty normal for her. She has a special place in her heart for her Aunt, I wonder if it has anything to do with how much they look alike? Audrey was a little grumpy and refused to look at the camera for most of the pumpkin patch experience, though I can’t blame her, she had a tough time just staying up on her own two feet, all those vines and uneven soil…. not an 18-month olds, play land. But she did pretty good and she liked banging on the pumpkins, I think she liked the sound.

Treyton is becoming such a little man I can’t hardly believe it!! He’s a big helper and was so busy running around selecting pumpkins and carrying them to the truck I could hardly even get a picture of him!! Alexa wasn’t just a pretty face either, she tried to help too. Though she didn’t get too far with this little pumpkin (seriously, she only took 2 steps), it was the thought that counted, right?

I love days like today, spending time together, keeping the traditions that we love as a family. It’s not that I needed a reminder of how blessed I am, but the Lord was gracious to me, and reminded me anyway.

A great day to remember!

How Blessed am I?

2011-10-05T21:29:00.001-05:00

I had the chance to snap a few pictures of the kids this evening on their way to AWANA. I couldn’t believe it but Audrey actually sat for a few as well – and she looked at the camera.

It was a little disappointing that I didn’t have time to change the ISO on my camera, so the pictures are a little too bright, but I tried to adjust them a little in photoshop.

Alexa is excited to be a part of AWANA this year. She has missed the last two weeks due to not wanting to wear her vest and then the stomach flu. But she went this week, and told us that she would wear her vest.

Alexa is in 3 Year-Old Cubbies and Treyton is in his second year of Sparks. I am so proud of all the work they are both putting into storing God’s word in their hearts.

Like I said…. How blessed am I?

Camping (August 2011)

2011-10-05T19:51:00.001-05:00

August 18th – 20th we went camping up in Peninsula State Park up in Door County with some of Tim’s family. It was a beautiful camping trip and we had a great time.

Going for a walk.

Cousins

I forget what it’s called, but on the trail we went on there were these obstacles we had to complete, it was a lot of fun and we all tried them.

Push-ups.

Cousins in a big chair at Julie’s Park Cafe’ where we ate for lunch.

Mommer and Papa…. awww… how cute.

Mommer and her Grand Babies…. we stopped on our bike ride to take some pictures on the bay.

Morning time, our children are bright and shiny!!

At the top of the tower…. a beautiful sight, but a little sunny. Treyton doesn’t handle the sun well :)

Looking over the edge.

A pretty little girl.

Mason and Audrey… looking out.

I love this picture.

Mommer and Papa

Sawyer and Lexie, playing checkers ;)

A bike trail.

A family picture by the bay – I love Lexie holding my neck.

The day we left we went out to lunch with the kids – they were particularly goofy and funny this day.

A Quick Update & Lots of Pictures

2011-09-23T20:58:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I admit, I haven’t posted pictures or a real update in… A LONG time. So tonight is going to be my best attempt at playing a little catch up.

We have had a very fun summer. We had a couple (3 or 4) camping trips, obviously 2 birthday parties, 3 weeks worth of swim lessons, Tim and I’s 8 year anniversary, one week of VBS, Treyton was in Baseball and just this past month was in a 4-week Flag Football program (that he LOVED). Oh yeah, and least I forget my awesome week away to New York City with my sister. We do school throughout the summer and are currently 11 (or 12 I can’t remember) weeks in to our school year. We also had a garden this summer and I canned peppers and beets from it as well as raspberry jam and sauce from Tim’s Aunnt’s raspberry patch.

Overall, life is going well. School is a little tougher this year trying to teach 2 and keep Audrey entertained, but it isn’t bad, merely challenging.

After several years worth of church hopping, Tim and I are praying it’s the Lord’s will to keep us at the church we are now at. This is really a post for a different time – but to put it simply, we have not been at a single church for more than a year since we’ve gotten married. Partly because we’ve moved so many times, but mostly because that was the journey God wanted us on – the process has taught us so much and we’ve met some great friends along the way – but we are really hoping and praying that we can settle down (at least for a while).

I have so much more I want to say, mostly about the kids and how cute they are, but if I try to think of everything now this post will never get posted. So here’s a little glimpse to what we’ve been up to in the last month:

8.22.2011 First time coloring for Audrey. Alexa is a WONDERFUL colorer (she is honestly, the best 3 year old colorer I’ve ever seen)

8.22.2011 A school project: He built an Indian Wigwam

8.23.2011 First Day of Flag Football. Treyton’s in the packer jersey (#12)

8.23.2011 Flag Football – ready for anything

8.23.2011 First day of Flag Football – he’s in the packer jersey #12

8.29.2011 One of Treyton’s favorite rides is the swings

8.29.2011 Lovin Bay Beach

8.29.2011 I just love her smile.

8.29.2011 Last Bay Beach trip for us this year

8.30.11 He LOVES his bow and arrow, always looking for a reason to use it.

9.1.2011 Just relaxing during story time

9.2.11 Rearranging the furniture. Check out those defined arms!! (She gets that from her Dad)

9.3.11 There is no justifiable explanation for this…. sooo…. I’m just not going to say anything :)

9.8.11 Learning to sew – his first project – a leather book cover.

9.9.11 The Kids and I took a little field trip to the zoo. Lexie wouldn’t stop picking her nose even when I told her to “stop!”… so I consider this justice. 9.9.11 Audrey LOVED the dinosaur this trip

9.9.11 Oh my WORD! They’re all looking at the camera – the best picture EVER!

9.14.2011 Our little baker

9.14.2011 Our little taste tester

9.15.2011 Making Butter

9.15.2011 Yummy Cupcakes

9.19.11 Alexa, learning about the letter S in school

The kids watching TV together one afternoon. Audrey doesn’t normally watch TV but this afternoon, she walked up to Treyton for him to pick her up – he did, and she sat there for probably 10 minutes cuddling with him. Super cute, of course, so I grabbed a picture.

Hanging outside in the backyard 9.23.11

I can’t help but add a little bit more about each of the kids. (I don’t know what my deal is I just love talking about them).

Treyton

Newly turned 6, he takes his age very seriously. Our wise, analytical child, he understands many things beyond his years. He loves sports and competition – really he likes to play ANY games of any type any time. We are slowly getting through to him the importance of encouragement, and thanks to some good examples from his friend Henry, he seems to be doing better in this area.

He got a nintendo DS for his birthday (a handheld gaming system), which has got to be his all time favorite thing right now! Tim and I are pretty strict on how much time he can spend on it, which can be a source of strife between us (and Treyton) but I think it’s good. He’s learning responsibility, and some great lessons in self-control.

He is now in piano lessons, which I think are really great for him. Along with learning music and piano, I see him being stretched (not in a bad way) in learning how to listen. He is learning to train his ear to hear more than one command (or series of commands) in a row, which has been a tough thing for him. He enjoys practicing and showing off his new skills.

Alexa

Alexa, our free spirit, is coming to a place where she and I are a little more “balanced”. Finally she is at least able to respect authority, while I have learned how to let go of the negotiables and present things in a more favorable light.

Super funny and entertaining, she makes me laugh everyday, multiple times a day. Her laugh is contagious, loud and from the bottom of her soul – there’s nothing like it.

She loves to dance and listen to music. We call her our “worshiper”. She learns the words to songs after listening to them only a few times, and walks around singing all the time. Definitely an auditory learners, she has an incredible memory. She loves school, loves reading, both to herself (flipping through story books) and to listen to others.

Extremely dramatic, just listening to her talk is hilarious. “Oh honey” she’ll say “I just don’t even know….” Okay, so I can’t portray it here, but it really is cute.

Audrey

Audrey is almost 18 months old. She doesn’t talk, at all. Which sometimes concerns me, but I’m trying not to think about it much. She used to say “Dad” but now she doesn’t as much. She will say “ma ma” when she’s crying but that’s really all.

She waves – to anything that’s moving.

She is learning how to take a stair (just one ;))

She eats A LOT. And I mean A LOT. I have never seen a child eat as much as she does. She eats more than Lexie and Treyton combined at any given meal, and truthfully Lexie eats like a bird, but Treyton… that boy can put down some food. Rarely does Audrey stop herself when she’s eating, but Tim and I will finally decide she’s had enough and stop feeding her. After she’s done eating, walks with her gut pushed out, and I kid you not, if she didn’t I think she would tip right over.

Audrey laughs whenever anyone else in the family is laughing. Totally adorable.

She is still taking two naps (nice), her morning nap is only an hour, but her afternoon nap is between two and three hours.

I LOVE how much she cuddles. She is an amazing cuddler. Head on your shoulder, thumb in her mouth, arms around you…. love it.

Well, I guess that’s it for now…. Hopefully it won’t be as long before my next update!

Audrey’s New Bed

2011-09-16T22:40:00.001-05:00

Audrey got her very own big girl bed today. For the first time, we didn’t transition right to a twin bed, merely for the sake of space in the girls’ room, we got Audrey a toddler bed.

It’s super cute.

I didn’t get a picture of her with it all set up right before bed (we were too excited and I forgot). But I did get a picture of her (with Alexa) right after I set it up this afternoon.

I also got some pictures of the bedroom set up…. so girly, so cute.

Tim picked out some really cute sheets from Target. They are pink and green lady bug, and they match perfectly to the quilt I made her before she was born.

So as far as the transition, night one went perfectly.

We laid the girls down at their usual time. I went in one time because Audrey was laying on the floor trying to sleep. I just moved her back into her bed and she fell asleep right away.

I can’t believe that she’s so big already. Time really does fly!

Things I Heard Myself Say This Week

2011-09-11T16:46:00.001-05:00

During my daily routine, I often don’t listen closely to all the things I say to my kids. Things that, I’ll be honest, I never would have imagined myself saying 6 years ago. But this week, while on the phone with my sister, I heard myself yell out to my son “Pull your pants up, and stop mooning your sister! No, I don’t care if it’s funny.” She, of course, thought it was hilarious (I did not, at the time) but it got me thinking and I started writing down some of the other things that I heard myself saying throughout the day. Looking back over it, it makes me smile, I hope it will for you, too.

~ “No, it’s not poop, but I’m not sure what it is. (This may have been wishful thinking) But yes, you should definitely go wash your hands.”

~ “How strong is that dollhouse? Hmm… pretty strong.”

~ “No, Daddy did not carry you in his uterus, because Daddy doesn’t have a uterus.”

~ “That was really nice of you to place all of those boards in front of the bee hole. I know, it is frustrating that they can still get in.”

~ “That’s great that you brushed your teeth yesterday, but you should really brush them every day. I’m sorry, maybe I wasn’t clear – you WILL brush them every day.”

~ “No a chicken is not cow meat, it’s chicken meat.”

~ “Because sitting on Audrey’s head is never a good idea even if she likes it, and because I said so.”

~ “No, I am not pregnant. I know because I don’t have a baby in my belly. Yes, Auntie Skye has a baby in her belly – that’s what pregnant means.”

~ “No I do not think a giraffe would eat a prairie dog. I’m pretty sure. I’m not sure if giraffes like lambies. You’re right, they probably would be friends.”

~ “Yes, if you fell from the ceiling you could die. You’re right, you could just be hurt, but you probably wouldn’t want to try it to find out.”

~ “I’m not sure who would be faster, you or a dog, I think it would depend on how big the dog was and if you ate your lunch that day. Your right, I do just want you to eat your lunch.”

~ “You never, ever, need this much toilet paper for ANYTHING, ever. Ever.”

~ “Did you just wipe your nose on my leg? That’s disgusting. And rude. Please don’t do that again.”

~ “Please stop sucking your toe. Seriously, it’s gross and it’s just not a habit you want to start.”

I love being a mom!!

Treyton’s 6 Birthday - Sports Party

2011-08-28T22:29:00.001-05:00

Treyton turned 6 this past Friday. Dad had to work in the morning, but after he got home, we had Pizza for lunch (one of Treyton’s favorites) and then Treyton opened his gifts.

After Treyton opened his gifts we had plans to go to Bay Beach, but mom ended up getting a headache (in addition to the onset of a cold). So Treyton allowed mom to rest, and we decided to push Bay Beach off until next week. Instead he spent the afternoon playing with all of his new toys, including a Nintendo DS lite (a huge hit!). That night for dinner we went to Nakashima’s (as always) per Treyton’s request. It was great food, and our chef was even more fun than normal. Treyton decided on a sports theme party this year. My sister, made him a baseball cake, which Treyton had helped design ;)

As usual, we had lots of little ones, to entertain us and keep us on our toes :)

Here is my niece, Madison and Audrey, “sharing”, at least as well as 1 year olds share.

We started the party off with a fun baseball game. I was happy that almost all of the kids participated, and a lot of the adults stepped up to help coordinate the game.

The cake was not only pretty, it was delicious, too. Thank you Alana, for making it.

Treyton had a GIANT piece of cake, which he didn’t even come close to finishing, but made him feel special.

Next was a small football game for the older kids and dads.

To end the party, Treyton opened his gifts.

He got lots of legos, which is what he wanted. He has already started working on building with some of them.

Earlier this summer, Treyton’s bike met a tragic end after getting backed over, so he’s been without one for about a month or so. Aunt Toni was very generous and bought him a new one for his birthday.

Our friend, Dustin, went for a little ride on the bike as well. :)

Here’s a picture of the 4 babies from my side of the family, all at the party, born with in 5 months of each other, this is actually the first picture of all 4 of them together.

We all had a fun time. Treyton actually said he might do a sports party again next year…. he hasn’t decided yet, which I think means he had fun.

I’m so grateful for all of our family and friends that came to hang out and love on Treyton for his birthday.

Treyton’s 6 Year Old Questionnaire

2011-08-28T21:21:00.001-05:00

This past Friday was Treyton’s 6th Birthday. Like most kids his age, he looked talked about the big day for at least the past 3 months. In honor of his birthday, I thought it would be appropriate to post his 6 year old questionnaire.

What is your name: Treyton

When is your birthday: August 26th

How old are you: 5 1/2, almost 6

Who is your Mom: Amber

What does your Mom do: She plays with me, she does school with me.

Who is your Daddy: Tim

What does your Daddy do: He works and provides for us, right?

What is your favorite color: Um, Orange, and then red

What is your favorite song: Ewww…. nice trick, Boom Bop

What do you want to do when you grow up: I want to, well, I’m thinking about doing baseball

Where do you want to live when you grow up: North America

What is your favorite food: I have some: pizza, corn, tacos and snacks and special treats

What is your least favorite food: potatoes, I hate. I do not like tomatoes and I do not like mushrooms

What is your favorite animal: Puppy Dog and then a turtle

What is your favorite thing to do: play with my family and have my party, and play with my sisters

What do Mom and Dad do after you go to bed: Talk and Work

What does Daddy say: He says “Night, Night Treyton” and “I love you”

What does Mom say: “I’m sorry” and “I love you”

Who does our family love the most: Treyton

Where do we go to church: We go pretty much anywhere

Why do we go to church: Because we are Christians and we love God and we want to learn about God.

What is your favorite book: Spiderman

What is your favorite movie: The Princess (but he gave me a just kidding smile) Tangled? Yeah but…. It’s okay if you like Tangled Yeah? I guess that one then, I just don’t want to be weird to like a princess one It’s not weird to like that movie.

What is your favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate!!!!!!!

Where do you like to eat: When I’m hungry for it I like to eat at Sushi, the one where they sit in front of you (he means habachi)

Who is your favorite person: Mama

Who is your best friend: Henry

Who is your brother: zero. I don’t have a brother!! Why did you answer that?!?!?! (He meant ask) Say nothing!! (He’s getting very worked up that I’m typing saying) “what is this? what is this? take that away!” (I “cut” all the writing and paste it back in later)

Who is your sister(s): Dexa and Audrey

Where did your sister come from: Mommy and the doctor

Treyton is an incredible boy and my big helper around the house. To be honest, most days I don’t know what I would do without him. His biggest flaw would be that he tries to teach and correct his sisters too much, but I truly think most of the time it’s out of love. Just today after I corrected him for it he told me “If I don’t tell her, she won’t know, I don’t want her to be stupid, I want her to know, to understand!”

Treyton has a very wise and discerning spirit, on the flip side of that he can be very skeptical and critical as well. I am a lot like this as well. Lately we’ve both been trying to work on this, so we’ve come up with our own little daily routine of telling each other our “Happy List” we’ll pick a number usually 2-5 and we have to tell each other that many things that made us happy that day, or that we thought were good. It’s easy for us both to go through the day, and have one or two stressful moments and we forget about all the good. This has been a good practice for us.

Treyton is very practical and analytical, honest and for the most part very black-and-white when it comes to things being right or wrong. He’s inquisitive, loves to ask questions and if he doesn’t understand he’ll keep asking until he does.

I am so blessed to be his mother, and I truly do think he’s the most amazing boy in the world!! (Although he tells me “all parents think that about their boys”). Ahhh…. my realist.

Happy Birthday Little Man, I hope you had an amazing day, a great party and a blessed year!!

Treyton AND Alexaisms!

2011-08-12T09:14:00.001-05:00

This morning during Alexa’s prayer she started out with “God, thank you, help us to listen, help us to die, so that we can go to heaven.”

~~~~~

Treyton this morning ended up locking himself out of the garage, he rang the doorbell, but Lexie and I didn’t answer it (both of the other doors were wide open), he finally came around the house and said “Mom, did you forget where the door was? I was waiting out there for like 2 hours!!”

“2 hours, huh?”

“Mom, I was using…. what’s the word… sarcassing. You know what I mean. It was a long time.”

~~~~~

I had Treyton put all the shoes in order in our shoe closet, he was pretty upset because he couldn’t find one of Dad’s sandals. It took a while to assure him that this was not a big deal. Of course Treyton said “Well, whatever, Dad will never be able to wear those sandals again.”

I said “Buddy, you got to calm down, this is not a big deal at all, Audrey probably just wondered off with it. We will find it, I’m sure of it.”

To which he replied “Ugh…. I really wish Adam and Eve wouldn’t have sinned!!”

I smiled and said “Why?”

“Because, I just want us to be perfect.”

~~~~~

This morning, Alexa and I were cuddling and I said

“I love you so much.”

She said “I love you so much.”

I said “I love you more.”

She said “Yeah, you do.”

Alexa’s 3 Year Old Questionnaire

2011-08-10T16:22:00.001-05:00

What is your name: Lexa

When is your birthday: August (Her birthday is actually in July, Treyton’s is in August)

How old are you: 3!!

Who is your Mom: Mama

What does your Mom do: Read books with Treyton.

Who is your Daddy: Daddy

What does your Daddy do: Buy stuff

What is your favorite color: Pink!!

What is your favorite song: Cannot Wait

What do you want to do when you grow up: I want like a baby

Where do you want to live when you grow up: Not in Kaukauna, I will go to America

What is your favorite food: Pineapple, NO Apples or Bananas (she doesn’t like bananas), I like crackers and marshmallows. (at this point she breaks out in song and starts singing “yummy yummy marshmallows”)

What is your least favorite food: pineapple (she eats pineapple, while it’s certainly not her favorite food, it’s not like she doesn’t like it either, not sure where this answer came from), not spiders

What is your favorite animal: Train (what she calls Treyton) saw a “big big big zebra”… it was a big one. I like Lambies, not tiger, nope. Don’t you like Kitty cats?: They bite me!

What is your favorite thing to do: play with toys, sit in a time out, no, get a spanking, no. I love Daddy, I love mommy, I love Treyton, I love Audrey and Lexie I like Lexie too.

What do Mama and Daddy do after you go to bed: Pray

What does Daddy say: Love you

What does Mommy say: I love you

Who does our family love the most: Mommy and Dad… and Treyton…. and God…. and Daddy-o, and me, and Daudrey

Where do we go to church: To mine, Mommy and Daddy’s Audrey’s and Train’s and Lexie’s

Why do we go to church: Because we need to go to church Why do we need to go to church? Cause

What is your favorite book: Princess

What is your favorite movie: Princess, with long hair. (She’s referring to tangled)

What is your favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Milk

Where do you like to eat: Kaukauna

Who is your favorite person: Lamby

Who is your best friend: Treynon

Who is your brother: Treynon

Who is your sister: Daudry

Where did your sister come from: I don’t know

Where did your brother come from: I don’t know, either

Alexa is such a blessing to our family. She is a bundle of personality that we can’t get enough of! I’ll admit that she’s the one that wears me out the quickest right now, but not because she’s bad or too much, but because she’s learning a lot right now. I have to stay on my toes and remain consistent to teach her rightly. I am learning more and more with her to only say no when I HAVE to and to try to let her be who she is without trying to control her. She hates to be controlled, and so that doesn’t work well for either of us. Using a gentle approach is usually the best way to reach her, and it’s an answer to prayer to watch as she’s slowly learning to respect authority.

My favorite thing about Alexa right now is how much she loves to cuddle with me. She is a little snuggler, especially in the morning and after her naps. She is also an avid singer, commonly breaking out in song at any point during the day or conversation. It’s not unlike her to start singing an answer rather than to say it (like above when she started singing “yummy, yummy marshmallows”). She will commonly combine two or three songs together to make her own renditions. Just yesterday she combined the song “Jesus loves me” and “God Bless America” into a “Jesus loves America” style song.

Alexa is nurturing, loving and particularly fond of her siblings, having a strong yet unique bond with both her brother and sister. Being in the middle, I think she relates to both. I am so grateful to see that she has the grace, strength and the compassion to handle the middle-position of the family. She does it well.

Tim Keller on Jesus in the Old Testament

2011-08-07T19:16:00.001-05:00

“Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:27)

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us (1 Corinthians 15).
Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out for our acquittal, not our condemnation (Hebrews 12:24).
Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void “not knowing wither he went!” to create a new people of God.
Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. While God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love, from me,” now we can say to God, “Now we know that you love me, because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love, from me.”
Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.
Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.
Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant (Hebrews 3).
Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.
Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends (Job 42).
Jesus is the true and better David, whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.
Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk losing an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.
Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.
Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb – innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He is the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the Lamb, the Light, the Bread.

The Bible is not about you — it is about him.

(Tim Keller, Ockenga Preaching Series 2006)

Family Update July 2011

2011-07-31T22:42:00.001-05:00

Wow, time’s flying. I don’t know what the difference is, but for some reason, I just can not keep up with my blog the way I used to. I apologize to those of you who actually looked forward to reading it, but honestly, I’m more sad for myself than anything else. I really enjoy making my blurb books and having a record of all the “little things” I want to remember in a few years that I know I will forget. Things that the kids say or do, traditions that we have, or fun things we did… it’s fun to look back and have our memories recorded so nicely.

But I guess if one had to choose, I would certainly choose to be out living life than to be recording it. So that’s what I’m doing.

A few things that come to mind of things that are going on in life right now that I don’t want to forget:

Audrey started walking a month or so ago. And she has the most ADORABLE beginner walk I’ve ever seen. And I don’t just mean this because I’m her mom, because I have two older children and they walked completely “normally” – Audrey’s walk is far cuter than normal. Her legs are spread so wide apart and sometimes I think she lifts her knees all the way to her chin just to take a step! She wobbles through with surprisingly few tumbles, considering how ungraciously she’s clobbering around.

She still isn’t talking much. “Da-da” is the only word she’s ever said with any consistency, but sometimes if she’s really upset she says “Ma-ma” clear as day through her sobs. Other than that, we haven’t been able to make anything out, though she babbles lots and lots.

Audrey has an interesting habit of finding and carrying around Alexa’s underwear. I’m not sure why, but she thinks it’s a great time! Usually she will dig out clean underwear from her basket under the bed, but honestly, she’ll get what she can find. I’m not kidding when I say at least twice a day I’ll find her walking around with underwear in her hands…. yeah, I don’t get it either.

Alexa is in a strong, incredible independent 3-year old with a will that would frighten any set of parents. Friendly, determined, funny, smart and strong-willed, I can honestly say I am intrigued and interested to see what God has in store for her future. She is polite, considerate and nurturing of most anybody, and while she has her selfish moments, those are thankfully becoming less and less. She is super smart and asks to do school all the time. She is a great cuddler, and our favorite time during the day is after nap time when we crawl into bed together.

Treyton, will be turning 6 this month and he is becoming such a little man. He is the most inquisitive, logical and wise boy I have ever met. He asks so many questions and is so busy exploring the world that it’s common for him to forget the simplest task at hand. To be honest, we’ve kind of gotten used to this, and both Tim and I get more of a kick out of his curious nature than we do get frustrated by it. Treyton is fairly self-absorbed most of the time, and thinks more about life and what’s going on around him than he does people. I’m a lot like this as well, so I get it, but it’s something we’re certainly trying to work on with him, as well. He is our sponge, and he loves to live life and soak in as much as he can.

Tim and I celebrated our 8-year anniversary on Tuesday of this week. We went to dinner and went to a park to listen to live music. We truly are so blessed and grateful for all that the Lord has done for us, and for 8 incredible years together.

Other Stuff:

Treyton and Lexie are both in swim lessons. Lexie is actually in a class by herself, so it is just her and her teacher, they usually end up joining Treyton’s class, which she likes. For her, they are working on getting her comfortable in the water, blowing bubbles, putting her face in the water a little bit, pulling herself along the side of the pool and getting in and out.

Treyton is in too simple of a class. I wish I would have put him in the next class up, but he’s still having fun. His class is focusing mostly on going underwater, floating, kicking his legs and getting in and out of hte pool.

At the end of each class the kids get to jump off the diving board. After jumping off the short diving board, he asked if he could do the high diving board, and they said he could. I wasn’t sure if he would actually jump once he got up there but he did. I think he was a little shocked by the whole thing because he hasn’t done it since, though he says he’s going to do it again…. we’ll see.

We have just finished up our 5th week of school, and are going to do another full week before I think we take a week or two break.

I am currently looking into signing up Treyton for piano lessons and flag football. I’m still trying to decide what class to sign Alexa up for.

Life is busy and by God’s grace life is good.

Working Hard this Summer

2011-07-24T22:54:00.001-05:00

I love summer time! We have so much fun being outside, camping, doing birthday parties, playing, and just as importantly – working hard.

Tim and I always had the desire of growing a garden, and when we moved to the country three summers ago, we finally had our opportunity. We tried last year but the spot we ended up picking was low-land and it flooded, preventing any real harvest. This year we decided to do raised beds in the same place and our garden is doing really well.

We have already been able to harvest our beets and peas as well as some of our peppers and basil. I pickled and canned the beats, and the kids ate all of the fresh peas as we picked them. I also canned the peppers, dried some of the basil and made pesto from the rest.

In addition to this Tim’s Aunt graciously let us pick (twice) raspberries from her garden, so I was able to make both raspberry jam and raspberry syrup.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a home where my mother was an avid gardener and canner, so she handed down a lot of her supplies to me, making canning a natural thing for me to do.

Now being a mother myself I realize the joy of seeing your children share an interest in helping garden, harvest and can. Treyton, in particular, is a great helper. (This is what my kitchen looks like on a typical canning afternoon)

In addition to our garden, this summer we have been working on some minor landscaping – we planted two apple trees, a raspberry bush as well as pulled several (ugly) bushes from our front rock beds and planted two new bushes (a hydrangea and hibiscus).

We have a large open yard, which we feel so blessed to have, but to be honest Tim and I have no real experience with landscaping so we spend most of our time throwing around ideas, and changing our minds :)

Here are some cute pictures of my two boys working on pulling out our ugly bushes. Excuse the little underwear boy…. it was hot.

Job well done boys!!

Review: Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann

2011-07-23T21:47:00.001-05:00

Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann is the second book of hers that I have read.

This book is actually based on the same town (Redford) of the first book I read: “Indivisible”, with it’s focus on new characters. Based about a year later in time, I was glad to see the connection to a few of the characters I had already grown to love with the introduction of the new ones.

Book Description:

“In a clash of light and darkness, can courage prevail?
Rescuing a toddler from the jaws of a mountain lion, Trevor MacDaniel, a high-country outfi tter, sets in motion events he can’t foresee. His act of bravery entwines his life with gifted sculptor Natalie Reeve—and attracts a grim admirer.
Trevor’s need to guard and protect is born of tragedy, prompting his decision to become a search and rescue volunteer. Natalie’s gift of sculpting comes from an unusual disability that seeks release through her creative hands. In each other they see strength and courage as they face an incomprehensible foe.
When a troubled soul views Trevor as archangel and adversary, Redford’s peaceful mountain community is threatened. Together with Police Chief Jonah Westfall, Trevor presses his limits to combat the menace who targets the most helpless and innocent.”

Book Review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was an easy read with an emotional story-line. I actually read the entire book in 6 hours. It wasn’t as much a fist-clincher that I couldn’t put down as much as an engaging book that I didn’t want to put down.

I was intrigued by the characters and interested in how the story-line would play out. There was mystery, suspense, good and evil mixed throughout. Heitzmann does a great job at creating character depth while introducing you to the main-characters painful and un-sorted pasts in a timely manner as well as their daily gifted, heroic abilities.

If you enjoy Christian fiction, I would recommend this book for you.

Disclosure: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Review: The Treasure Principle

2011-07-22T16:42:00.001-05:00

The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving by Randy Alcorn

Book Description:

“Discover a joy more precious than gold! Priceless treasure is within your reach. And with it, liberating joy. In Randy Alcorn’s The Treasure Principle, you’ll unearth a radical teaching of Jesus – a secret wrapped up in giving. Once you discover this secret, life will never look the same. And you won’t want it to! Do it. Ask God what’s on your mind…. Open my eyes, Father. What am I holding on to that’s robbing me of present joy and future reward?”

Book Review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m a pretty big Randy Alcorn fan, so I started reading this book with a positive perspective. Financial giving is an area that God has really been working on in Tim and I’s life in the past year or so, and this book complimented and reemphasized many of the truths that God has already been teaching us.

The primary “Treasure Principle” as Alcorn calls it is the idea that:

You can’t take it with you – but you can send it on ahead.

By giving now, treasures far beyond any sacrifice we make here are being stored and waiting for us in heaven. I think for most of us, this principle loses it’s meaning as soon as we begin to think about heaven. The “great un-known” to so many of us, but if better understood, I think we would seek it more earnestly (as we should). (By the way, Alcorn also has another incredible book called Heaven, that I highly, highly, recommend, by far the best resource I’ve found on the topic) Alcorn describes heaven as a place “of rest and relief from the burden of sin and suffering; but it will also be a place of great learning, activity, artistic expression, exploration, discovery, camaraderie and service.” If only we could grasp this and live our lives understanding the truth of money in light of eternity, materialism in relation to heavenly treasure and the earthly desire of possession as so shallow compared to what is to come. The truth is when we pursue and hoard these things for ourselves, we are wasting so much of our time, so much of our energy…. and for what?

Something that really grabbed my attention in The Treasure Principle is when Alcorn shared a few quotes and statistics (from the PBS show Affluenza) with his readers, including the fact that “the average American shops six hours a week while spending forty minutes playing with his children” and “recently, more Americans declared bankruptcy than graduated from college.”

I think Alcorn said it best when he says “we think we own our possessions, but too often they own us.”

Alcorn does a great job unpacking what the Bible actually says about giving. It’s easy to lack the joy of giving if we don’t really understand it and view it from a Biblical perspective.

The real truth is we do not own the money/possessions that we have, we are simply stewards of it. By holding on to money and things we help no one (including ourselves), but by giving we solve so many more problems than we could ever realize. By participating in God’s design we can expect nothing less than HIS joy and HIS peace to permeate our hearts and lives.

I highly recommend this book, within it’s pages is a true Biblical message explained clearly and understandably without condemnation or shame.

Disclosure: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Lazy Meme

2011-07-20T21:21:00.001-05:00

This seemed fun to me… so here it goes.

The instructions with this are to bold the ones you've done, leave the others in normal type.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (never going to happen, NEVER)

12. Visited Paris (would love to)

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (Yeah, right!)

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29 Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41 Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa

45 Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (no, but I've been drawn)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60 Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (also never going to happen)
66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67 Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter (not my favorite memory)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (unless my blog books count)

81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (it really depends on what famous means I guess)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

If you would like to join up on this meme, go here.

A Princess Party

2011-07-10T23:10:00.001-05:00

Saturday we had Alexa’s third birthday party. Months ago I had asked her what kind of party she wanted she told me “Pink and Princess” and she never changed.

I went back and forth on whether or not I was going to have everyone dress up as princesses or not, however, some of the guests took matters into their own hands, and I am so glad that they did!!

Having a group of princesses celebrate with Princess Lexie was just TOO MUCH!! I loved it, but more than that, Lexie loved it.

The party started with a tea party, one of Lexie’s favorite activities.

Next we opened gifts. One of Lexie’s favorite gifts from her party was a pink KodakShare camera. She asks to borrow Treyton camera all the time, and even the morning of the party she had asked him. She is thrilled to finally have one of her own, in fact she has taken over 250 pictures in the last 24 hours!!

She literally walked around taking pictures of everything: from shoes in my closet, her stuffed animals, laundry, wrapping paper, etc. It’s so cute to see life from Lexie’s eyes :)

Watching Lexie open gifts is always a treat she is overly enthusiastic about it. Every time she would open a gift she would say “Oh my word guys!” and then show people.

(This is her opening a card :))

We got Lexie a Princess Ice Cream cake from Dairy Queen with light-up princesses. (We love these cakes) Lexie sang Happy Birthday to herself louder than anyone else. :) I’m glad that we got it on video.

Birthday parties are always a great opportunity to take family pictures, and we took full advantage. Here are some of our family with the grandparents and then some of the 5 of us.

It was a great day! At the end of the day Lexie said to me “I had so much fun today Mommy!” My heart just melted. It made any sacrifice to pull off the day more than worth it.

A Princess Birthday

2011-07-10T22:32:00.001-05:00

On Friday, Alexa turned 3. Dad had to work in the morning, so we had a pretty low-key morning. Although Lexie got lots of phone calls from her grandparents and aunts, she LOVED all the attention and personal phone time.

After Daddy got home at noon she opened her presents. The “hit” was a princess CD player that comes with 3 plastic CDS she can change out and listen to different musical songs.

She also got a princess bike (which is what she asked for), but struggled a little the first time on it so at first she was a little leery, but Saturday night she had it down well and now if she’s outside she begs to ride it.

After presents we went to each lunch and to Bay Beach. This was Lexie’s first time this summer to be able to ride the rides (we went one other time but she had gotten in trouble and was not able to ride any rides that day).

The kids had lots of fun.

For dinner we took Lexie to Nakashima’s (a local Japanese restaurant we like) it’s a family tradition, we all eat here for our birthdays. Her Aunt Toni wasn’t able to make it, but she called in to the restaurant and had the waitress bring out a cake for Lexie. She was a little scared because 5 or 6 people came out singing to her, but she was fine as soon as she started eating it :) It was a great birthday for a little princess.

EXTRA: I took a couple of pictures of the kids at Bay Beach, I think they turned out cute.

Happy 3rd Birthday Princess

2011-07-08T11:00:00.001-05:00

3 years ago today, a princess entered our world, and it’s never been the same. We are amazed at how strong a character Alexa continues to be, and are blessed by the amount of laughter and smiles she brings into our home.

One of our biggest joys and trials, this princess knows what she wants and goes for it. I thank God every day for the miracle of this sweet, sincere and hard-headed girl. A nurturing spirit, with a tough-as-nails personality, she draws attention wherever she goes.

The word “Cute” is just not enough to describe her. She’s absolutely adorable, and knows it. It’s not uncommon to find her talking-it-up with a stranger, or smiling at anyone who will take the time to smile back.

Articulate, smart and opinionated – she doesn’t like change and she loves control. With her Daddy’s charm and her Mama’s spirit she’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s always watching and listening and looking for a chance to shine.

Dramatic and sincere, with nothing to fear, she loves to be loved and sought after. She’s vulnerable and open, raw in a sense, longing to live in the most real-way.

Challenging yet loving. Hard-headed yet soft-hearted. Brutal yet nurturing. She’s a bundle of personality and joy that we just can’t get enough of.

Alexa,

We pray that you have the happiest 3rd birthday a princes can have and that we will get to share so many more with you. We pray that the Lord will bless you with a heart-for-Him, that you will learn to serve Him and love Him whole-heartedly from a young age. Regardless of what you may face in this life, may you keep your eternal eyes set on Jesus. We pray that your heart will continue to be softened to the Spirit and that you learn to hear and recognize His voice. May you follow where He lead, even when it’s hard. We pray that you will always find your worth and value in your savior and not in yourself; that you seek the love you so desperately need from Him, your Maker and Sustainer. He is enough. May you use the gifts the Lord has blessed you with for His glory and kingdom. May you use your nurturing, kind spirit for others benefit and not your own. May you give selflessly and wholeheartedly to others to the glory of HIS name. Your ability to worship freely and your love of music is truly a gift from God, we pray that the Lord will continue to grow this appreciation and talent in your life. We love you to pieces, Princess. We will always love you and will be here for you as long as the Lord allows us. You are such a special, beautiful girl on the inside and out. You have given us far more joy and blessings than we could ever express. Thank you for being you!

Happy Birthday!! Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace”

Lexie’s Haircut

2011-07-04T22:38:00.001-05:00

For the Fourth of July the past 3 or 4 years we have done a get together with some of our youth group high school friends. This year, we were lucky enough to host it.

There were 5 families total here, so we had some tent’s out back and squeezed in who we could inside. We had the girls sleeping in Tim and I’s bedroom with me, while Treyton and Tim slept outside in the tent. On the first night, I had laid Lexie’s air mattress on the floor in front of our bed.

She has been struggling lately with getting out of bed (for any sort of reason), so I had a long talk with her about staying in bed. She told me that she would.

About 30-minutes later, Tim had needed to go into our bathroom, when he walked in, he said he noticed Lexie sitting up (with her back to him) on her air mattress. He went into the bathroom, grabbed what he needed and when he had turned back towards the door, he saw a clump of hair.

When he walked back into the bedroom, he saw Lexie, sitting on the air mattress, scissors in her hands, with hair all over the mattress.

I was outside, around the campfire with the older kids getting ready to do smores. Tim came out, with the scissors and said “Amber, come here, Lexie cut her hair!”

Of course, I ran in, and found her. I grabbed her in my arms and just stared at her for a couple of seconds before I started crying…. I never realized how attached I was to her hair; not to mention the fact that she could have seriously injured herself!

I had our friend Krystle come in and try to fix Lexie’s hair as best she could. I gathered up the hair that she had cut, and it nearly filled a quart sized baggy. Everyone keeps saying “it’s not that bad” but I don’t think they realize how far back she cut. She didn’t just cut “cute bangs” she cut back (on top of her head) as well.

I’m so grateful she didn’t hurt herself, the scissors she had grabbed out of the bathroom drawer are very sharp and it could have been much worse.

Here are before and after shots:

~sigh~

Treyton’s VBS

2011-07-04T22:18:00.001-05:00

This past week Treyton had VBS at a local church.

He really enjoyed the experience and I think it was good for him.

Sadly, on Wednesday, when I went to pick Treyton up, I couldn’t find him with the rest of the kids. Right about the time I was going to panic, I saw him come out of a side room with several adults and an ice pack on his neck. I guess while playing a game outside, he ran into a wire (with his neck) that was supporting a newly planted tree.

Poor guy! Luckily there was a nurse there, and she had checked him for swelling. He was able to drink and breath easily and the pain was mostly gone by the time I even got him in the car.

Thursday I think was his favorite day because he was able to bring his cousin, Emma, who came up with her dad to work.

On the last day, Friday, the church had a 30-minute recap and performance planned for the parents and siblings to watch. Lexie sat in the crowd doing the motions right along with Treyton (too cute)! I loved the fact that the pastor got up and shared the gospel message with the parents and siblings who did not attend the VBS program, what a great idea and something I have never seen done at a VBS.

All-in-all it was a great week for Treyton, and for Lexie and I, as we got to spend some good 1-on-1 time together in the mornings while Audrey napped. Great memories.

Treyton, Reading Scripture

2011-06-29T00:02:00.001-05:00

This week Treyton attended a local churches VBS in the mornings. After the first day he came home to tell me about how one of the boys read right out of the Bible all by himself and how he was “like my age, like 6 or 7 or something!”

I informed him that, he too, could read right out of a real Bible if he wanted too.

We got his Bible and the first thing we did was learn how to find a verse. I had him pick ANY verse he knew, he picked John 3:16, which was a great choice because it’s actually one of the books of the Bible that he knows where it is at. (He’s currently learning the books of the New Testament).

We worked through finding the verse – first the book, then the chapter then the verse. It was so precious to watch him, and he didn’t want any help (of course)!

I didn’t have him read that verse because I know he would just quote it for me. So instead I had him turn to Psalm 139 which is the chapter of scripture his VBS is focusing on. I had him read verse 1.

After he read the verse, he was so FLOORED!! You would not even believe it. I wish I could have taken a picture of his face.

Next he asked me “Can I just pick any verse I want to read?”

I said “Sure”

Wouldn’t you know it, he flipped his Bible to Song of Solomon. For some reason the only words I saw on the page were lover, breast and conceive!! I started praying “please keep going, please keep going” I was praying that this was NOT the day that I sound out the word “lover” with my 6 year old!! He stayed on the page for what seemed like an eternity until he finally flipped on to a verse in Isaiah…..

Sigh.

It is such a blessing to see such a young man of God hunger more and more for the Word. There is no doubt in my mind that Treyton is gifted with wisdom and knowledge of the Word and that God will use His hunger and love of the Word to teach Him much about Himself.

First Day of School 2011-2012

2011-06-20T23:47:00.001-05:00

First day of First Grade – June 20th, 2011

Treyton will be 6 years old at the end of the summer.

I couldn’t decide which picture to post – so here are both of my favorites of the three kids together.

Our Blessings: Treyton, Audrey and Alexa

Audrey – 15 months

Lexie’s First Day of Preschool

Our Little Princess, is almost 3.