You’ll shoot your eye out...

This little girl got a B.B. gun for Christmas. We went shooting with it and she hit the target within a few shots. She may not shoot her own eye out but she might shoot yours out...

My little goose...

You’re growing up way too fast, and I wish you’d stop. What will I do when you're all grown up and I can’t see you smile and be cheery every single day? I won’t think about that or I’ll start crying...

Christmas 2017

I felt pretty darned blessed this Christmas. Halee and Jared spent 5 days with us. We did all of our usual traditions and Jared fit right in as if he’d never been absent from our family. 

Something very sad happened though....my youngest two are no longer Santa believers. We now have zero children believing in Santa. I told Halee and Jared they need to have babies soon so Christmas can be extra fun again for everyone.

I felt very blessed knowing that Chris is the head of our family. Always serving all of us and being an example. 

I was sad to see Halee go but happy seeing the happiness she’s experiencing. I couldn’t ask for a better man to take care of our daughter. She chose well and that’s probably because she had such a wonderful father to show her the way.

I love my family with all my heart.

Yes, I cried...

The kids and I witnessed something beautiful today. We were sitting in our parked car eating lunch when we looked across the street and saw a large man (who appeared to be homeless) in a brown coat. He was pulling bags and belongings that looked to be heavy and nearly unmanageable. He wanted to cross the street but the bags kept falling off the dolly he was using. My heart broke watching him. Just as I was telling my boys to get out of the car and help him, a young man in his 20’s pulls over his car, gets out and helps this man with such tenderness that tears welled up in my eyes. It didn’t help that silent night was playing in our car. We were all touched as this young man helped this older man carry his stuff....loaded it in his own car and gave this homeless man a ride to wherever he was trying to reach. I told the kids that we had just witnessed something you don’t see everyday and that we were truly privileged to have had front row seats to such a beautiful situation. I wanted to tell to that young man that his mother had done an outstanding job raising him. I wanted to thank him for being an example to my own boys. I wanted to hug him for being so Christlike. I’m so thankful to have witnessed this...

The manger scene...

The girls were asked to participate in our churches nativity and it was such a delight to watch them reenact such a splendid and sacred event. They were beautiful.

Gross but great...

I took the kids to eat Chinese today at a restaurant that I’ve tried before and never liked. The kids really like it though so I gave it another shot. Ummmm.....still gross. But you know what? That’s ok because it was fun. We laughed at how smelly the “hot and sour” soup was. “Sour” is the key word, by the way. Then we came home and played apples to apples 🍎  I had to play referee and keep the kids from getting too debatable but all in all it was a success. I love when those kind of days happen.

My sweet little orphans...

The kids had a Christmas play that they put on this past week. They played orphans that wanted a special family to bring them home. Then all did a fabulous job acting and singing. It was super cute seeing them up there outside of their comfort zone. I have said it before but I feel so blessed to have them in a school where the name “God” is spoken with reverence. We are truly blessed to belong to our small sweet school.

I think I got a date...

Every Thursday on my day off I get to spend some one on one time with Austin while the other kids are in school. It’s become our weekly tradition to get pizza, salad and of course a Pepsi for me. I look forward to it every single week. I’m going to miss him immensely when he leaves in a year.

As for turning 40...

It really wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. My husband took me to the ballet. I’ve never done that. It was worth it in every possible way. 

I was given a delicious carrot cake and when the kids asked if they could put 40 candles in it I said “no way...only 1.” I might be in denial.

The kids asked if we could do a human pyramid...and I agreed. I might be trying to prove something. 

No matter which way you look at it...I’ve lived 40 years. I can either cry and wish I were younger or I can recognize that Every smile line tells a story about all the times my husband and children and those I love have made me laugh. I’ll take that over a younger version of myself any day.

Austin made me cry today...

When I got off work today Austin told me he wanted to play me a song on the piano. His own arrangement of “what child is this.” I sat down and listened as he played his heart out. 

Our nativity happens to sit on top of the piano..as Austin played this touching rendition I couldn’t help but look at Joseph...looking down on baby Jesus with a deep and abiding love. Tears filled my eyes. Tears didn’t stop until the song finished. 

I feel such gratitude for our Savior. He loves us all no matter who we are, what we are, where we’ve been...or what we’ve done. His love is in everything and everywhere. I feel so blessed to know that I’m never alone..

I know Mary loved Jesus with all her heart but after today..I’m going to remember that Jospeh loved Jesus also...

Oh Christmas tree...

Decorating the tree. Even when you’re a grown up, nothing beats the excitement. We sang carols around the tree and drank hot chocolate afterward. A good time was had by all...

A portrait of perfection...

Scarlett is such a creative artist. She can draw just about anything and give it a certain kind of zest. This is her picture of Halee and Jared. She definitely captured how they look at each other...

It’s that time...

And I could just scream with joy because this time of year brings out the screamer in me...

Oh my...

I never realized how much having dogs could affect a child’s (children’s) lives. Our children love these dogs with all of their hearts. As much trouble as it is having pets...this fact alone makes every effort involved, worth it.

Checking in...

Austin recently suggested that we start a group text (Chris, Halee, Jared, myself and Connor.) where we all “check in” after reading our scriptures for the day. What an inspired suggestion. What’s even more inspiring is the example of a child....I’m not always feeling the “scripture reading” vibe. I’m busy...I have other things I’d rather be doing. I’m tired. It’s just like my husband always says “any excuse will do if you need one to.” But this has helped us all be a little better. And in a world where doubt is literally at every corner, I have felt a sense of safety (like a warm blanket) whenever I open the scriptures. I could never do this “living” thing alone. I’m grateful I don’t have to.

Never too old...

They like to pretend they’re grown ups but once in a while they still like to play with toys (as long as their motorized) and they still like hugs and cuddles. My boys are everything good to me...

A girl and her doll...

The girls got new dolls from mamaw and Papaw for Christmas when we visited for Thanksgiving. My mamaw used to get me a doll every single Christmas when I was young. I can still smell the new plastic that I interpreted as fun...cozy...Christmas...love. I’m glad my girls are experiencing the same kind of memories...

Hot tamales...

These two improvised when they didn’t have swimsuits for the hot tub at our rental near my parents. They weren’t going to miss out...

Close up...

Sharing a bed will bring you to closer to someone than just about anything else...

Thanksgiving...

It looks as though (from the below pics) that Halee was with us this thanksgiving and I’d give just about anything to make that be true. Not so, though. Jared sent us this photo of her making pies and told us to “be jealous.” We were.

What a beautiful holiday it was. We rented a house along the river and some of my siblings and of course my parents were there. And my husband and children. Even though Halee and Jared were far away...I felt so blessed.

We drove through the “festival of lights” and there was one that replicated the manger scene. Chris stopped the car and we just stared at that manger scene for a good while, saying nothing. Tears filled my eyes because I felt such gratitude for my Savior. And to Heavenly Father for sending him to bless all of our lives.

P.S my brother David’s baby was there and when I held her I realized that I’m destined for to be a grandma and it made me want to jump for joy.

Program and pie...

I love my kids’ small school. It’s blessed our family since our oldest was only 5 years. I feel grateful to have been able to see them perform at their Thanksgiving program.

Split...

I’m not sure how they do it...but they do...

Hindsight is 20/20

My sister called me the other day after having the opportunity to watch our baby niece. She had rocked her to sleep and she reflected  on how she wished she had taken the time to just relax and live in the moment as a parent when her little boy was small. I knew exactly how she felt. They grow up so fast. This Picture of Connor reminded me of that a few days ago. He still has that same intensity and I would give anything in the world to see him singing his heart out at a school play again. 

There’s something about reading...

I stumbled upon this scene of Austin reading a book to his siblings, and let me tell you...my heart just about burst out of my chest. There are days where I wonder if my children even like each other, much less love...but then things like this happen and it’s a tender mercy that reminds me that there’s a locket of love wrapped up in each of their hearts and they’d do anything for each other...