5 weeks to go and all these things to do......

Time for Tea

Here are a few pictures of Reese's Birthday Party. The kids really stepped into the role. One time Reese said...."ma'am, can I please have more tea"
Teapot Cake
can't have a tea without a fancy hat
Girl Talk

Reese Quote

"Look mom it's snowing....Maybe Santa will come again tonight!"

Mom: Spring where are you??? I miss you terribly

Happy Birthday Reeser!! We love you oh so much!

(Do you see her in the backround!)





Today our little girl is 5. I get excited and want to cry all at the same time. I am so proud of this little girl and I hope that she knows how much God and her parents love her! Oh and Dallas and Ava too! You are such a fun little lady to be around.

A forgiving God +2 Love Birds + 4 Children = 7 Years of Marriage

Happy Anniversary My Love! I couldn't of asked for a better husband and friend. You make me smile everyday! You are truely one of the most devoted men of God that I know and you inspire me. Oh and you get better looking by the year! Here are some pictures of our 7 years together.....looking forward to the 82 we have left ;0

Kids being Kids.....

The other night we were getting the kids ready for bed and Ava decided to put on Dallas' underwear! It didn't take long for the other kids to follow ;) They are such a hoot!

He's Risen!

Tagged

Carrie and Rachel Tagged me. Let's see if I can do this. :-) (Ok, this is hard. I'm not sure I can come up with 5 for all these categories!)

5 things you can't live without (well, I could live without them, but I do enjoy these) under $5:
1. Coffee
2. Steak (it is under 5 if you are only buying for yourself)
3. Tweezers
4. Lotion
5. Family and Friends

5 Favorite Movies:
1. Gladiator
2. Cinderella Man
3. Steele Magnolis
4.Anne of Green Gables
5.Shawshank Redemption

5 Baby Names you LOVE but won't use

Girls:
1. Scarlett
2. Stella
3. Tikki
4. Audrey
5. Eliahna

Boys:
1. Beau
2. Brandon
3. Pierce
4. Adian
5.

5 songs you could here over and over again:

1. Dance music
2.Ummm I am not sure
3.It is well (hymn)
4.Songs the kids Sing
5.Amazing Grace


5 People who influenced your life in a positive way:
1. Jesus
2. Collin
3. Scott Golike
4. Grace Group Gals
5. Amy Bayley

5 Things that stay in your purse at all times:
1. Chap Stick
2. my wallet
3. Buletins from church.....I need to clean it
4. toys
5. diaper (for Ava!)

5 Moments that you knew changed you forever:
1. the day I accepted Christ as my Saviour
2. Marring Collin
3. Having kids
4. Getting Baptized
5. My mom passing away

5 Obsessions you have right now:
1. Blogging
2. Praying
3. getting rid of things
4. American Idol (I can only think of 3 so i am going to just fill in the blanks)
5. All American Chocolate cake (why why did I not give it away)

5 Places you would really like to go:
1. Thailand
2. Mexico
3. Europe
4. Hawaii
5. Lake Chelan
Pretty much anywhere that the sun is and I can just lay at the beach with no responsibility

5 People you would love to see their top 5: (in no order for me)
1. Heather
2. Amber M
3. Sara
4. Abbey
5. Collin oh and I would say Kyle too!

Bridget you are a such a treasure...

So I came home today with a little surprise on my door. I open up a card and Bridget left me a birthday surprise. You made my day, my dear. You touched my heart so deeply. I can't wait to plant the Lillys and see them bloom year after year. Thank you Bridget!

Good Bye 27

.......it was nice knowing ya, but 28 rhymes with GREAT!! So as I leave you I will say there were some fun times. Here are a few memories from the last year

Camping with the Bayleys





Finding out I was pregnant

The Golike Wedding...Amazing it was!

Hanging out with good friends

Seeing the Light

So I started my job at the Outback this last weekend. It was very weird getting back into the grove of working. I have to be honest and say that I don't really miss it. I like my other job way better (being a mommy). It is not a very difficult job, so that is nice. I would have to say the hardest part is not reaching to someones plate and eating there Bloomin Onion!! The smell kills me every time. Anyway, on Saturday there was a wait for about 40-50 minutes. I saw this couple and they just had joy in there eyes and contentment. Others around them were annoyed and just wanting to get to there table. Never talking to them I felt that we had a connection some how....they did look familiar, but I just felt connected. Anyway....once I got around to seating them I did my thing and ask how they were doing blah blah and she said "great, but how about you?" I replied and they stated there were on there 4th kid as well (she overheard me say it to someone else) So I went on to my duties, but I just wanted to talk to them more...young fun hip couple....so as I was going to the restroom I asked them how there "date night was going?" they said great and I then continued to ask if they new Aaron Spiro (I was like maybe that is why I have seen them before) they said, no...why? I told them they look familiar and just wondering if that is the connection. They said they just moved here and started a church in Kirkland called Journey. I was like oh....I go to Grace. I said Aaron goes to Soma in Tacoma (was that intended to rhyme?). So apparently we are all part of the Acts 29 network and he knows our pastor from a conference. Anyway long story short. I saw Jesus in them. I new the connection we had was Him and that just excites me so much. Questioning them was just my way of confirming it I guess. My hope and prayer is that when I am out people will recognize my lamp and see the light burning like I did in them.

Writers Block

So today I am stuck without words....not much to say. Except these darn kids are cute!

Reese's Favorite Things!

I thought I would feature Reese today since it is her Birthday month. I can't believe she is going to be 5!!

What is your favorite.....

Dinner: Pizza with Cheese
Sister: Reese......(honey you aren't your own sister, oh....Ava)
Brother: Dallas
Drink: Juice
Toy: Princess stuff
Candy: Suckers
Dad: My Dad
Mom: You
Teacher: Amber....Lillys mom
Cake: Chocolate
Letter: R
Number: 5 (I assume that is because she is turning 5)
Ice Cream: Chocolate
Cookie: Sprinkles and chocolate
Thing to do with daddy: Play Monster
Mommy: Play Candy Land (because she always wins!)
Dress up: Enchanted
Movie: Barbie Fairytopia
Place to go: the Park
Color: Pink
Friend: Ellie, Lilly, Audrey and Adam

The Journey Continues

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

I believe this is the first verse that I memorized when I became a Christian and the one that I remind myself of continually. I have realized along the way that trust is something that we are going to have to do daily, hour by hour as we live in this world. It is just hard when you have lived without it most of your life. I sometimes wish that I could have a peek of what life will look like when you get to relax for a moment from all the struggles that come your way. But I have confidence in this verse because it is very clear that "He will make your paths straight". I only pray that I will continue to hold his hand in the journey that is ahead of us and that I will do it without resistance. So Lord I cast all my cares upon you today and ask that you carry me because I am so weak right now and feel myself crumbling. Take away all the sin, worry and anxiety from my heart so that I can trust fully and completely in You alone.

By Request......

Meal Planning

In an effort to save money and time I have decided to start meal planning again. I find that I spend so much more money when I don't and waste so much food. The only problem with this is I feel like we are in a food rut. We eat the same thing over and over and I just don't know what to make especially when I have picky eaters. On a side note, I do think that I solved that problem with the help of my good friend Amber. The solution was: If they don't like meat give them beans as their protein. Although they still do not favor the black beans they now have a choice of their own. So if any of you out there have some meal planning menus send them my way.....

Here is our freezer stock:

Ground Hamburger

Pork Tenderlion

Chicken

9 more weeks to go!

I can't beleive in just 9 short/long weeks I will be a mother of 4! I have mixed feelings about this because I know how awesome it will be in 5 years, but I also know how hard it will be to get there. I am finally though reaching a point of excitement and looking forward to meeting this little one. Who will it look like? What will it be? All the joys of parenting come to my mind. Looking forward to meeting you little one and I am okay if you come in 7 :)

Amber's Weekly Review

So I decided to save a few pennies and buy the Kirkland Signature Diapers. Boy was that a mistake! Out of 220 couches (that is what they call them) 60 of them at least have leaked! The others probably would have done so if I let Ava pee more than twice. So if you are going to Costco to buy the diapers you may want to think twice. You are only saving pennies! I think they "might" be okay if your child is under one, but that is about it.

Fun Times!

Last night after dinner.......
Reese: "mom, I wish tonight was a family movie night"
Mom: "Sorry honey, we need to take baths tonight and it is getting late"
Collin and I stayed at the table talking a little more. I heard the kids laughing and giggling in the hall way.
Reese: "shh, shhhh! Hold on I need to count how many nakeees there are....1..2...3 nakeees Go!"
All of a sundden they come rushing out running around Singing "Nakee Nakee babies Nakee Nakee Babies!"
We clapped our hands and sang with them! It was so darn cute! I just love to laugh.....

Things to do today

Pray

make breakfast

go to MOPS

stop by the office

make lunch

wash the windows

plan out the meals for the week

laundry

laundry

laundry

fold laundry

(my list is starting to look like a tree. So I am going to add color)

go to costco

cook dinner

while taking care of 3 lively kids

Hopefully in between all this I can:

get lots of hugs and kisses

play with the kids

laugh

and have joy

What do you do?

Today Collin went to pick the kids up from Awanas and first someone came up to him and said "you know, Reese kind of has a reputation of talking like a baby" ummm okay. (this is coming from an 8 year old)
Then when he went to pick up the kids from there class a lady goes and sits down on the bench. Dallas points and her and says "Daddy...She's fat"
So my questions is....How are you supposed to respond to this? Do you have him apologize to the lady? What do you do in that very moment? What should a parents response be?
We had a long talk with him about how we are all shaped differently and that it really hurts peoples feelings when you say stuff like that. And to never use the word "fat" when you are talking about people. We told him that God wants us to tell people things that build others up not tear them down. Like "you look pretty today" Hopefully he will understand and we will not have to experience this again.