An Epiphany of Sorts

Be still my heart...

Looking at these pictures makes me so happy. I've been blogging/stalking other bloggers/trying to figure out technology for about 4 years now. Recently, I've been looking back at old pictures and posts and realized I've changed things up in years past. Once, there was lots of writing. Next, some writing with pics mixed in. Now, it seems like there are more pics than text. I really enjoyed going back and reading what was going on in our lives. I have a journal I keep for the kiddos but this is really the faster/easier way to go! Quick - isn't that what we're all striving for these days?

Our family has definitely been going through some changes. We are home a lot more. This is due to restaurants not accepting 18 month old wiggle worms! We are working on Bible verses a lot more than before and it's really neat to see Lillee and Bax remember and recite them so well. Right now we're working on 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come! We got a cool book of devotions for children and I love for Lillee to read them to us. I have also been reading some great books myself. The Sabbath and One Thousand Gifts are terrific reads and I believe they may just be the only books you'll need to get through the rest of life! If you can live the way they suggest, it should help you, your marriage, your children. These books pretty much encompass a life worth living, full of grace and a love for Jesus.

This is Ash Wednesday and I've been thinking of something to "give up" and it's been tough. I was thinking about the internet but I find so much encouragement and friendship through these sweet blogs I stalk on the computer. And I have to admit that since we got this Mac I use the computer less so that is not a vice for me. Food? Can't think of anything I overindulge in, especially since I'm trying to shred a good 20+ lbs. Kids? Can't get rid of one of them! Unless they're on an overnight campout! I think for the next 40 days plus Sundays I'll try to focus more on writing and remembering to thank God for his abundant grace in our life right now.

February 20=Lillee March 14=Bax

Can someone tell me how to get re-energized in three weeks!

We just finished all of the 7th birthday celebrations and now it's on to the 5th birthday bash! What can I say about this boy? He is our baby! Well, technically he's the middle child but until Ben can talk to us Baxter is still the tiny infant. Scott and I were just talking about when he was a baby and we would go out at night that we would come home and get him out of his crib to put him in the bed with us! Wow! What were we thinking? And we were surprised when he had his horrific temper tantrums that lasted for HOURS! We were surprised when he would scream, "NOTHING" at the top of his lungs when we ask him a question? He is just a super sweet kid when he wants to be. He is very sensitive and pretty easy to read/understand. His love language comes much easier to the naked eye than Lillee's. It's hard to believe he's five. After Lillee's big birthday production he just said he wanted a Pirates of the Caribbean Black Pearl ship and to go to Leaping Lizards. That's it. Oh, and chocolate cupcakes for school! Wow - what a difference in children.

Here they are camping here with nana and papa. They had a fun time roasting s'mores, playing putt putt, riding bikes, playing on the playgrounds and hanging at the festival!

Nana produced this awesome strawberry cake. Mmmmmm...that woman can cook.
Lots of thank you notes for some very kind friends.

Lillee is 7

Our sweet Lillee turned seven February 20. Wow! I really cannot believe it has been that long. Seven years ago we strapped her into her carseat (incorrectly) and drove 5 mph home from the hospital with my dad following us with flashers on! I'm really not exaggerating. She is so smart, beautiful and independent. She is doing so well in school and has lots of wonderful, close girlfriends already! There is a little pack of girls that are great friends and it’s so cute to see them all together.

Lillee is very into reading now. She has been getting up after we’ve put her to bed to read more! She’s also learned the game of rummy which she tries to play all day long!

Lillee and Elizabeth have birthdays 5 days apart so we try to do birthdays together. This year was no exception. Joy booked us two rooms at the Holiday Inn and we were set. We took 12 girls to swim and have pizza by the pool. Then we ended up with 8 spending the night, beading, coloring and staying up WAY too late! Thank goodness for adjoining rooms so Joy and I could rest peacefully! They were very sweet and I think it was a birthday to remember!

I'm not sure what we would've done without Bethany there to help us out? She had those girls crafting, playing dolls and behaving very well. What a great role model for these two girls to look up to!

Their sweet teacher came with their student teacher too! It is so awesome these four awesome girls get to share such a spectacular teacher.
Our tshirts turned out pretty darned cute.

We had a great time but Joy and I sure were pooped! Thank goodness for Winter Break! We had a great time playing at the park with friends and sleeping late. We went to my parents for a few days and ended up leaving Lillee for the weekend. Hence, her rummy skills were sharpened as well as her mini golf game. She and nana went to see Gnomeo and Juliet for the 2nd time and shopping for shorts. Baxter, Ben and I came home just in time for me to pack my bags again and head here for a nice relaxing time with some very sweet girlfriends. We all had spa treatments, a long enjoyable lunch on the lake and a fun night away. Thank goodness for those friends and for husbands to help with kids!

Valentine's and Birthday Craft Day

These precious two angels really are in love! It was only a little painful for her to pucker up! However, he was hesitant as he only has eyes for ......
Valentine's cards have begun! He was so proud to make his Valentine a card and this is how he wanted me to mail it! We spent one Saturday afternoon making cards for both classes and for friends around the neighborhood. Lucky for us my mom swooped in for 18 hours while her pastor's wife and son toured Shorter College! She's always willing to hitch a ride to come see us.
Again, 46 Valentine's! Someone commented when I made 47 cupcakes. No, my children are not in LARGE class sizes! 20 in PreK and 22 in 1st grade with two teachers in each class. Still, lots of repetition when making anything for either of them. I cannot even imagine what it will be like when Lillee is in 5th, Baxter in 3rd and Ben in PreK. Wow!

This sweet package arrived in time for the day of love. It was full of cards, candies and crazy music!

Dear Nana and Papa, Thank you for filling my days and nights with the tune of "Dream Lover." Sincerely, Jenn
Our sweet neighbor is gearing up for the Heart Hustle! She's going to do great in the 5K.

This past Saturday we decided it was a day for love and crafting! We started out with these not so easy lollipops. I made them last year for the tops of cupcakes but this time Joy and girls came over and we decided to add white chocolate to the middle with sticks and sprinkles.
Next up - tie dyed tshirts for the 7th birthday party next Friday. We dyed 12 big kid tshirts, 12 Preemie tshirts and 12 pairs of socks. Preemie tshirts you ask? For the American Girl dolls!

I'm not sure what we would have done without Bethany? She knew exactly what to do! That must be what 15 year old girls do for fun! She was an expert when showing the girls what to do and what NOT to do!

Hannah entertained the tiny infant while we created the crime scene! Those American Girl dolls are going to be decked out!

The product in waiting....they were each wrapped in baggies and sat overnight.
Ben hid from the dye - I can't say I blame him.
Here are the birthday girls in their crafting uniforms. They enjoyed running from "station" to "station" in their bags. I cannot believe these two will be 7!
Left child's foot = size 1 Right child's foot = size 11. You decide who is who?
These hearts are still drying. Bowl of glue + lots of yarn cut into small pieces + heart cookie cutters = a big mess! We'll see how the end result looks?
We celebrated Sandra's 40th birthday. We really tried to get her out of her funk that she said she was in. She is 40 and FABULOUS! We went to a yummy restaurant in Senoia called Founders.

Farrah, Sandy, Leslie and me

Lawson, Scotty, Corey, Don and Wes

The red velvet cupcakes were delicious. Thanks so much Eileen! What do you have coming up for Feb. 20? March 14? Sept. 10?


Farrah's cousin made this hat for Sandra. We all love love loved it! She is apparently on Facebook so I will be searching away for her!

Did I mention how much we ALL loved the hat!

Groundhog's Day and an update

It's been awhile...and I hear the groundhog did not see his shadow which means an early spring, right???? WRONG!!! We had lots of icy rain hitting the window today and sleet tonight. Ugh...I'm so tired of this cold weather. Thankfully this past weekend was warm and the kittens spent the whole day outside! I made cupcakes thanks to this blog and sent them to school. I'm guessing I can't tell you how crazy the kids have been if I had the time to cut each of these little devils out! 47 to be exact!
We enjoyed a nice picnic Saturday after Lillee's basketball game.
Monday when the kids went back to school Ben did a little potty training and celebrated Dental Health Month!

Monday night was a girl's night for our Bible study. We are reading The Sabbath and it is terrific. I started reading this book in October and one girl summed it up right on Monday when someone asked how it had changed our life??? Now we are aware of the things we are not doing enough of!!! It has some great points about resting, keeping a rhythm, finding true happiness and contentment. We should always remember that the sabbath is a commandment to obey.

Then we had this sweet guy come over and sell us some Cutco knives!!! It was quite the demonstration! Scott ended up with a HUGE block of scary kitchen tools.

Then I decided to go all Martha and cook FOUR casseroles. I didn't really have anyone in mind when I was making them but then it just so happens that one girl went into early labor, another friend has a nephew with leukemia so I thought that family could use some extra nourishment and another to a teacher, the ultimate servers!!!

Last weekend we drove up to Atlanta to see our dear friend. Poor thing her oven went out so we ended fixing pb&js. The kids were happy just hanging out!
I did a lot of entertaining with my dear friend Barney....
which made this precious angel love me more!!!
Meanwhile, these three occupied themselves in front of Spiderman. It was a fun time with great friends.