Changing of the bowls

This is what I'll be doing today.

My lovebug is couch bound thanks to a stomach bug she has. She keeps saying,
"Please stop. I don't want to throw up anymore."

Then she counts the amount of times she throws up and tells me how many when she's done.

Poor girl!



All three of them, Mike, Caleb and Afton, have had this cough/pneumonia/bronchitis/croup thing going on for a week and a half now. Today little miss started up with the vomiting. So, I'm thinking this will be another week at home.

So far I am the only one who hasn't gotten sick! Let's pray it stays that way.

All This Time We Said Guys Had it Easy

Now we do too!

No more lining the seats in public restrooms.

No more leaning against a tree while camping.

No more cringing at the site of a port-o-potty.

Nope.

Ladies, you have been rescued from the sometimes disgusting task of going potty in public bathrooms (or woods).

I gotta say...the person who invented this, patented it, and started selling it has guts! I admire her (boy, I hope it's a her) for doing this.

Without further ado, I give you.....

(drumroll please)

The GoGirl!

Can anyone say "stocking stuffer"?

Just kidding...kind of.

Fear Not! The Cookie Dough IS Safe

What a relief!!!

I was beginning to worry...lol



Of course, I won't fault you if you're still worried or concerned!

So this is loooooooove...

I have fallen completely in love.....

With these....


Oh, how soft and cushion-y they are! As if I were walking on clouds!

They were a steal too. Well, not literally a steal...c'mon now! However, at $4.50 I consider them a pretty darn good deal.

If you want a pair (and I highly recommend you get some...seriously. You won't regret it. Your feet will thank you forever!) you have to visit an Aeropostale store near you. They are on clearance. $16.50 down to $14.50 down to $4.50!!!! Best clearance purchase ever!

I'm gonna go walk around my house now just to enjoy the comfortable softness beneath my feet.

Our Weekend

They always seem to come and go so fast!

Thankfully we didn't have anything planned, so we could do what we wanted! That's always nice. Although, I always think a nap can be worked in and it never happens...lol. Not that I'm complaining or anything. I completely enjoyed what we did!!!!

Anyway, I took some pictures over the weekend that I absolutely love, so I thought I would share a few with you.


First, our three, gorgeous kiddos!! I absolutely love this picture. It makes me smile!!


So, does this, but for a whole other reason.


A handsome, smiling boy.


And a bare chested, boxer wearing boy


A very happy girl!



I am enjoying this beautiful face so much. I didn't even tell her she had dirt on her
nose because it was just so...perfect!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, and I would be so wrong not to tell you about our smart, inventive children.

Miya came in the house on Saturday and very excitedly asked me to come outside. She and Afton had something "really cool" to show me. So, in true mommy fashion, I brought my camera. You just never know...

Then the girls proceeded to tell me about their inventions. (Sorry for the blue looking photos. I didn't have enough warmth in my shots. It was too bright outside and they all looked good until I got them onto the computer. Then I was too lazy to edit them...hehe)


First, they made a snowplow by attaching a shovel to the front of the bike.


Then they made a basket for the front of Afton's bike because it didn't have anything she could use to carry all her important stuff.


Seriously? How cool are they?!?!

Fab Photos

I was going through some of the photos I took recently and thought I would share a few.

Just a warning, they are pretty random. No rhyme, reason or order.


My turkey on the grill...delicious!

Caleb eating cake at a birthday party. Just skip the middle man.
Who needs a fork anyway???

Afton loves cookies.

Watching Miya at her school performance.

Makeup party with my sisters!

"The Look" I know I'll get when she's a teenager...lol

Fun with Moon Sand

Afton jumping off of couches

Surprise birthday parties (do you think she knew???...lol)

More snow....ugh!

Now that you're caught up to date I can post pictures from this weekend!

I have a few favorite shots and I can't wait to post them!!

Oh, and I found something else that I absolutely love!!! Which reminds me, I think it's time for another "favorites" post. Ya know? Where I tell you all my favorite things?

That will have to wait until later on in the week.

'Til then, enjoy the photos. More to come tomorrow. Then my new fav.....

Ciao for now!

Today's Quote

"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I read that.

Then read it again.

Then thought about how it applied to me.

I'm ashamed to say I may say things one way, but my actions say something entirely different.

For instance, in my calling to be a mommy:

When I talk to the kids am I telling them they need to be kind to each other, yet I sound frustrated? Do I tell them to get along, yet I am raising my voice? Am I explaining things to them in love or impatience? Do I look at them when I speak or do I say things as I walk away?

I know my children will not learn what I am trying to teach them if I don't take the time to train them. Look at them. Speak to them at eye level, not above them.

So, here are my two challenges this week:

Laugh more

Be sincere in word and deed

1 John 3:18
"Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

Laughter, the Best Medicine

Growing up we always had Readers Digest in the house! I remember being so excited for the newest issue so I could read all the funny parts! Who knew I would actually enjoy the articles as I got older!!!

To carry on the tradition my dad has given us a subscription for the past several years! It's one of the best Christmas gifts too! It keeps giving all year long and it brings back memories for me.

I was reminded of my love of the funny parts this morning when I opened up an email entitled "Laughter". It's from a devotion called Homeword Devotionals I receive daily and this is what it said,

	Laughter This devotional was written by Leslie Snyder There is a time to weep and a time to laugh. — Ecclesiastes 3: 3a One of our family’s favorite songs is from the musical Mary Poppins. “I Love to Laugh” is sprinkled with laughter and often begins a contagious wave of the giggles. The lyrics give a bit of insight into this silly gift of laughter. When things strike me as funny I can't hide it inside And squeak - as the squeakelers do I've got to let go with a ho-ho-ho... And a ha-ha-ha...too! We love to laugh Loud and long and clear We love to laugh So ev'rybody can hear The more you laugh The more you fill with glee And the more the glee The more we're a merrier we! It’s getting worse every year.* Some think that Jesus was always serious, that He never laughed. It is true, that it is never recorded in the gospel accounts that Jesus laughed. Still, Jesus knew the Scriptures. He knew the passage from Ecclesiastes, that there is “a time to laugh.” In Luke, chapter 10, after Jesus has sent out 72 of His followers on a mission, and they had returned and had given their report, we read, “And he (Jesus) said to them, ‘I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning…’ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, I praise you Father…” In my own mind, I don’t see it a stretch to envision Jesus laughing. Recent statistics share that laughter peaks at the age of four, meaning that four-year-old children laugh more than they will at any other age. Statistics also reveal the healing power of laughter. Laughter decreases stress, releases natural mood-lifting endorphins, fights off depression, and strengthens the body. It is also a gift from God and music to his ears. So, whether you are four, forty or ninety-four, or whether you snicker, tee-hee or enjoy a full belly laugh, find time today to laugh. *"I Love to Laugh", lyrics by Sherman & Sherman To comment on today's devotional, click here. GOING DEEPER: 1. How is your sense of humor? When was the last time you had a really good laugh? 2. How does laughter affect your life? How can it serve to strengthen your life as a Christ-follower? FURTHER READING: Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 66:1; Isaiah 55:12; Galatians 5:22

After reading that I realized my day isn't filled with enough laughter! Oh, we have our chuckles and smiles, and our days are usually pretty good, but I want the kiddos to grow up knowing we had a happy home filled with God's love!

So, my challenge from here on out is to get out of this winter funk (or whatever this is), slap a smile on my face and let laughter be heard throughout this house!

If I weren't so tired I'd be laughing

Let me just start by saying that I need sleep. Anyone who knows me knows that if I don't get sleep I get a bit cranky. I could cry at the drop of a hat. My mind plays tricks on me. It's not fun.

So, this week was especially interesting.

Monday night I watched the finale of The Bachelor. That was a waste of 3+ hours and lost sleep I can never get back. I was so mad....anyway.

I prepared myself for a little bit of a sleep hangover.

Tuesday night was home group so, again, didn't get to bed until a bit later.

Wednesday I went to bed late because I met up with a friend. Someone I haven't seen in 13 or more years!!! Totally worth no sleep.

Thursday rolls around and I'm pretty much on automatic. I'm definitely not functioning at 100%.

So, I make sure I get to bed by 8:30 that night...ahhh...bliss. I woke up the next morning feeling slightly better.

By 7:00pm on Friday I was cooked. So, I stayed up for a bit with Mike, ate sushi (yum), then crawled into bed. That was about 9:30 so I figured I'd get a good 8 hours, maybe 9 if I slept in until 6:30. (lol...remember when sleeping in was between 9-11???)

Here is where the fun begins.

Max. Our just "fixed" boy kitty. Decides he wants to use the extra testosterone (or whatever boy kitty's have) before it fades away. So, he decides to tear up the place.

So here was my night:

11 something:
Max is tearing around the house. Too noisy. Mike is still up so I ask him to put Max in the bathroom (confined) when he goes to bed

12 something:
Max is tearing up the bathroom. I let him out in hopes he'll find a comfy bed to curl up on for the night

2 something:
Max is attacking Gracie. Gracie howls. I get up. Max hides so I have to chase him. Lock him back in the bathroom and hide everything so it doesn't end up on the floor.

2 something:
Max is playing with the toilet paper roll and is very loud. I go back in. Max gets out and start running around. I take everything movable and stuff it in the closet. I'll clean it up later. I go find Max, who is hiding under Afton's bed. I proceed to crawl on the floor and chase him.

5 something:
Max is trying to open the under the sink doors. Very loud. I hear birdies though. One, lone cardinal calling out to his friends. No answer. They haven't made it back from the south yet. I end up blocking the sink doors. Realizing I may as well stay up. Reason with myself and say, "I'll get a few more minutes of sleep." Finish barricading Max. Open my window and let the glorious breeze come in...ahhh...perfectly cool. Listen to the lone bird calling out. Sqqquuuaaawwwccckkk....

Ack!!! What is that noise?!?

Check on kids. Asleep.

Check doors and windows. Closed.

I can't figure out where this noise is coming from!! It's a horrible squawking sound. It sounds like a goose with something in it's throat. I keep hearing it, but can't figure out the source.

Quickly I realize I am NOT going back to sleep, so I start an all out hunt for this noise.

I stood in one room and waited until I heard it. Then I would get close to it. I walked by it several times and I did this for about 15 minutes.

Finally I gave up and made some coffee! I hear it again.....

So, I go into the livingroom, walk over to the side table and look to see what's on it.

You would never guess what was making that horrible, loud squawking sound??

MIKE'S CELL PHONE

It was low on batteries and was telling the whole house. Ok, so I'm the only one that heard it. I attribute that to mommy ears. They hear everything.

Now I can't even go back to sleep. Darn.

Musical Monday

I was watching and listening to worship songs on Youtube after getting an email mentioning Keith Green. It totally brought me back to when I was young and my parents would put his music on! I absolutely loved his voice and songs.

So, I thought I would post a few videos to share with you.

The first is Keith Green's "Oh Lord, you are beautiful". I just love his voice!



The second is the same song sung by Michael W. Smith. He sings it beautifully as well!