Father's day

Had a great father's day.  We celebrated by going to Mass and brunch with great friends.  I'm so blessed to have a husband who absolutely adores his children.  Here is a fun video we put together for him with the girls favorite songs. 





Before Brunch at Josephines.  Bailey no longer likes taking pictures.

Buffet Style.

 personalized omelets! Kinley thought this was pretty neat.

My plate, before...

Dessert was fabulous!

Bailey thought so too.

Hope is real

Today I had the opportunity to help out with the Beads of Courage program at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. The children who participate in this program receive colored beads that represent milestones, procedures, and acts of bravery. For instance, they get a yellow bead for an overnight hospital stay, a white one for chemotherapy, and a glow-in-the-dark bead for radiation treatment and so on…

As I was helping my friend Suzanne take pictures of the children wearing their beaded necklaces, I noticed some of them had at least 20 feet of beads around their neck. As a mother, I can’t even begin to comprehend the trials these parents must be going through watching their children suffer. my heart aches... But, as I looked into the eyes of these families, I also felt a sense of hope, peace and joy. It just amazes me how God has the power to bring goodness even in the darkest hours of life.

Today reminded me that whatever situations we may face in life, we should never feel hopeless or alone.  God’s love has a way of igniting flames of hope and can encourage us through any trial.  May God help these beautiful families going though such a difficult trial and continue to bless them with peace that surpasses all understanding. 



A small piece of paradise

You want to know what this world needs more of...

Summer in a glass!

Seriously.  It's impossible to be bored while you suck this down!  Throw on some Pandora Hawaiian music and you have yourself a small piece of paridise.

Dream Builders

In my past life before I started having kids, I was a director of admissions for a business school. The main purpose of my position in a nutshell was to inspire people to go back to school. I remember telling them the night of orientation that the world is divided into two types of people..."Dream killers” and “Dream builders". There are those who think the best in people and try to draw out positive qualities. And then there are those people in life who think the worst in people, push them away and look for the bad. I would then say it’s easy to pinpoint some of the dream killers in our life. However, the ones we need to watch out sometimes are those who are closest to us. They may not even realize their negativity.

For those who know me, you know I’m not perfect; in fact I’m a perfectionist at being imperfect. I’ve done some things in my life that I’m not proud to admit. Nonetheless, I’m thankful for an all forgiving God who sees my heart and knows I’m a work in progress. I’m also thankful for those who have never given up on me, especially my husband.

Often times many of us tend to push people away and exploit their bad qualities when things go wrong or when it’s not done in the way we thought it should be done. It’s so easy to do. Nonetheless, no one is perfect except our heavenly father. Without sounding to cliché or preachy, we should all inspire to be dream builders in the lives of others. We never know where that person may be on their journey with Christ but by believing and breathing life into the people in our lives, we just might get them a little closer to serving God's all mystifying plan in this life.

Trading Spaces

After months of talk, we finally switched all three of the kids rooms.  Kinley moved into the guest room after much bribing convincing we would paint it any color she wanted.  Bailey took Kinley's room and Colson is now in Bailey's room.  Geeezz, could we have made it any more difficult?  It's a small world, unless you have to paint it!  Here are some pictures!

Purple, really???  He didn't like the idea, but she's got him wrapped around her finger.

I helped too!

Final color!  Not too bad.





We made these letters with scrapbook paper and wooden letters from Hobby Lobby.  Trace and glue. We added a few embelishments for fun. 

Her first night in her new room! Good night my Purplicious! 

Bailey

Sleeping Beauty



Shopping at Target is so hard, Yo!

Don't you wish you could eat popcorn and be pushed around in a basket?

Ok, Maybe NOT!!!

Her new ride with daddy.  Life is good!

How bout' you have a lick and then I can have a lick.  And then we can go find my other shoe!

She has no idea how much I love her!

Battery Low.

The sheets haven’t been changed.  The bathrooms still need cleaning.  The dishes need to be loaded and my MOPS preparations for tomorrow still need work. The light at the end of my tunnel is growing dim. Thankfully it’s Thursday and Russell won’t be working this weekend.  From the sounds of his alarm clock resetting EVERY five minutes this morning, I’m thinking both of us need a little recharge in our battery.  Unfortunately, sometimes in the middle of my little mess I forget just how BIG I’m blessed.  Here's a picture of Colson sleeping peacfully on my chest.    

These small hours



Photo Obsession

I was talking to a friend yesterday about the amount of photos that I take. I don’t really have a life that is THAT interesting. However, I think anyone who is a photographer understands my obsession.

I take a lot of throw away photos, especially with my iPhone. Sometimes I take a picture of the kiddos sleeping and send it to Mandy because...well, I guess that’s just what moms do. Many times I take a picture and post it on face book just because I thought it was a fun moment. Anyway, here are a just a few!

Last night I took this photo:

The caption in my head: My precious princess, you could search the whole world and not find a happier child than this. From the time her feet hit the floor in the morning until bedtime she is full of life and a never ending supply of energy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Bailey with her little hands underneath the bathroom door. This one is captioned: You just don’t see that everyday. Unless of course you live at my house.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes I just take pictures so I can send them to Russell. I think this would be really funny if it weren't happening to me! YUCK!!!  This is a piece of cheese Bailey dropped on the floor and Sadie threw it up! Go sell crazy somewhere else. We’re all stocked up here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caption: They say you should live in the moment. Can I pick this moment to last more than 30 seconds?!?! They do have moments of sweetess with each other.  It's a good thing I took this picture so it will last longer:)  

 

 

Sometimes I take a photo because it makes me laugh.

Sometimes I take photos that move my heart. Our trip to Midland and a wonderful visit with Gran and Grandad. 

Sometimes you've just gotta stick your neck out on a limb and go for it!  TOTALLY worth the wait!

Moral of the story. However my day goes, I can’t always promise that the pictures will be appealing, but one thing is for certain, a day in the life of a mother is like a rollercoaster, you can either scream every time you hit a bump, or you can grab your camera and enjoy the ride!

Take me all the way.

I started the day walking with my friend Tina. I peeled myself out of bed because I knew it was something that I needed both physically and emotionally. Since the arrival of baby Colson, I’ve been happy to write off getting out of bed as one of my accomplishments for the day. (This third baby has kind of thrown me for a loop) So it's about time I start taking those baby steps to get my body back into super model shape like it was before ;)

Anyway, I digress! On the drive home I was listening to a song that I've heard several times playing on the radio but for some reason, the lyrics stood out like a cherry on an ice-cream Sunday. It was about giving everything instead of going through the motions.

Here lately I've said if they made a movie of my life it would be a lot of me wiping a lot of hands, faces and butts. Some days I feel like I'm just going through the motions and mundane tasks of my day. “It might hurt, and it’s not safe but I know that I gotta make a change I don’t care if I break. At least I’ll be feeling something ‘Cause just okay is not enough help me fight through the nothingness of life.”

We are only here on this earth for a short time and I have a choice to make daily. I can put my all into serving Jesus Christ and making the very most of each day or I can simply go through the motions of what I have to do to survive. It’s time for me to start making some changes and seeing every part of my life through God's eyes. He is the only one that can help my heart defeat my mind.  He is the one who can take me all the way.

Colson's first playdate

May 18th two months:)

We made it through...

It was a great birthday celebration!!!  Despite the fact that a few days before the party we were holding our breath hoping I could make it through without delivering.  I was dialted to a 4 and 70% effaced.  My doctor was surprised to see me back on Tuesday with no baby...The girls enjoyed jumping with their friends and loved the princess and elmo cupcakes my friend Thatiany made.  Who knows, maybe I should have jumped a little, still waiting in the balance...maybe next year we will have a triple celebration.

Enduring Labor

Genesis 3:16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children.


I don’t pretend to understand what this verse means in Genesis 3:16. Perhaps it means that through this suffering and by enduring childbirth and childrearing we will fully understand what God went through when we sinned by eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thereby understanding why he did what he did, helping us to put our trust in God once again.

Kids have an uncanny way of teaching us about ourselves including our sin and disobedience and about our relationship with God our heavenly father, for what child does not disobey his parents at some point? Furthermore, childbirth may help us to identify with Christ’s suffering that brings about life.

This passage came at a good time for me. The time has come for me to endure labor and the unknown once again. I'm down to the last days of this pregnancy and the anticipation is now at its defining turning point. All we can do is wait…The pain and suffering ahead of me is once again a bit frightening, and yet I am trusting God to help me through. I’m also trusting in him to prepare me and my family for the challenges and joys that this new baby boy will bring.

John 16:21 says A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.  What a comforting scripture during this time. Thank you Lord for this beautiful moment in my life, please give me comfort and perseverance to get me through.

Psalm 56:3: What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

The Greeter

Last night while I was roaming the isles of Wal-Mart, I overheard someone singing in the background.  I thought to myself what a beautiful voice as I waddled on my pregnant way. As I finished up my shopping and prepared to walk out the door, I came across this amazing greeter singing his heart out as people were leaving.  I couldn’t help but stop and smile.  It brought joy to my heart to see him sing and I knew he enjoyed every minute.  Wow, what a great reminder to know that no job is unimportant when you put your love and heart into itJ He certainly made my evening!

Man vs Woman preparing for bed

“A man and a woman were watching TV when the mum said, I’m tired and it’s getting late. I think I’ll go to bed.

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day’s lunches, took meat out of the freezer for dinner the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the wash, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table and watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.
She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher and counted out some cash for the field trip.  The mum then washed her face, put on moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and trimmed her nails.

She put some water into the dog’s dish and called the cat in, then made sure the doors were locked. She looked in on each of the kids, turned out a bedside lamp, hung up a shirt and threw some dirty socks into the hamper.
About that time, the dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular, I’m going to bed… and he did.

Greet the Troops!

We had such a wonderful time yesterday greeting the troops at the DFW airport. It was so neat to watch as Kinley and Bailey thanked them and waved their signs and flags. I know Bailey is too young to understand what was really happening but she clapped like it was the most amazing thing she had ever seen.

I will have to say it was a pretty early start to our morning but well worth the rewards watching these soldiers faces light up when they saw the support of everyone there. Even though I know we have men and women serving this country and protecting our freedom, it become more of a reality when I saw them in person. It reminds me to thank God for their selfless service in protecting our country and our freedom. To check out more about this wonderful program you can click on this link, its well worth the effort!

http://www.dfwairport.com/heroes/index.php

A Double Celebration

I just completed the invitations to the girl’s birthday party. Wow, where has the time gone? My sweet Kinley is turning 5!!! It seemed like it was just yesterday that I was holding her in my arms for the first time. Having her was one of the most amazing life changing moments in my life. I never thought something so small could have so much impact on my life.

And then, three years later on the exact same day, I felt this miracle happen again when I had Bailey. They both have added so much joy to my life. But, as any mom would agree, having children also means A LOT of work… No one can ever really prepare you for the load you carry with raising them. The seemingly unending responsibilities that go with parenting and knowing you are responsible for every phase of their lives overwhelms me at times. I do find that sometimes the task God has given me can be daunting and hard to enjoy.

Psalm 113 says that God give children to mothers, and when he does the mother IS happy. I look at this and struggle sometimes because I feel like I need to find fulfillment in other “things” rather than in my call as a mother.  Maybe it's the go out and conquer the world attitude I've always had?  But, I can honestly say during these last five years, I’ve come along way in this way of thinking. I am learning that when I thank God for what he has given me, and look at the unending blessings as a mother, there is nothing more important.

I know the only way to achieve true happiness in my life is by accepting this role. If my focus is on raising my children with all the love and dedication I possess, and not on an endless quest to find fulfillment in other places, He WILL give me that satisfaction. When those negatives start to arise (and they do), my focus should be directed on appreciating God for the gift of motherhood and find comfort in knowing there is nothing in this world more important than nurturing and loving my children.

So as I seal these invitations and prepare for this wonderful occasion, I am reminded to enjoy these moments they wont last long and learn to let God fill me with the endless joys of being a HAPPY mother in all circumstances.

The BIG 7!!!

The BIG 7!!! Wow, what a wonderful ride we've had over the last seven years. Who would have ever imagined 16 years ago we would be living this life? Although it hasn't always been easy, dancing in the minefields and sailing in the storms with you has made me a better woman. Thank you for never giving up on me and encouraging me when my world seems daunting. I am a truly blessed woman. I love you forever ;)

One of my favorite lines from Goodwill Hunting!

“Sean: My wife used to fart when she was nervous. She had all sorts
of wonderful little idiosyncrasies. She used to fart in her sleep. I
thought I’d share that with you. One night it was so loud it woke the
dog up. She woke up and went ‘ah was that you?’ And I didn’t have
the heart to tell her. Oh!
Will: She woke herself up?
Sean: Ah...! But Will, she’s been dead for 2 years, and that's the
shit I remember: wonderful stuff you know? Little things like that.
Those are the things I miss the most. The little idiosyncrasies that
only I know about: that's what made her my wife. Oh she had the goods
on me too, she knew all my little peccadilloes. People call these
things imperfections, but there not. Ah, that's the good stuff.

~ Robin Williams as Sean Maguire, Matt Damon as Will Hunting.”

Anniversary Chicken

This is one of my favorite recipes.  I use this a lot when I'm taking a friend a meal because it's easy and tasty.  I normally make a strawberry salad and mashed potatoes to go with it.  I think the combination of teriyaki sauce, ranch and bacon make it so moist and flavorful! If you make it I'm most certain it will be one of your favorites too!

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
6 Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce ( I use World Harbor Maui Mountin)
1/2 cup ranch-style salad dressing
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 (3 oz. ) can bacon bits (I fried my own bacon)
Garnish: chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
Preheat oven at 350.  In a large skillet, heat oil over medium - high heat.  add chicken breast and saute 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.  Place browned chicken breasts in a 9"X13" baking dish.  Brush with teriyaki sauce and cover with salad dressing.  Sprinkle with cheese, green onions, and bacon bits.  Bake in the preheated oven for 25-35 minutes or until chicken is not longer pink and juices run clear.  Serves 6

For Better Or For Worst

What kind of guy would I be if I walked out when she needed me the most?

As with every year, Russell and I enjoy watching American Idol. Even though I vow at the end of every season not to get sucked into the show, it never seems to fail we get hooked. As we were watching one of the auditions for this upcoming season, I couldn’t help but cry at the story of Chris Medina. He had more than just an amazing voice.

As shown in the above video, just over a year ago Chris was due to marry the love of his life when she had a tragic accident and suffered a brain injury. He had faith that she would wake up from the comma and she did, but not without many physical and mental challenges as a result of the accident. Understandably many would have thought nothing of him if he chose to walk away and live his own life. But, instead he says, "I was just about to make vows just two months from the accident: Through thick and thin, ‘Til death do us part, In sickness and in health, For better or for worst. What kind of guy would I be if I walked out when she needed me most?" Now that is incredible commitment, Integrity, and loyalty. Kind of makes me wonder how many men out there would do the same thing.

He held through during the darkest hour. For any of us, it’s easy to be loyal when the going is good and you are reaping the benefits. But the fact is, true loyalty and love is sticking around even after you stop gaining the rewards. Ouch!!! So totally against what the self seeking world would say. I look at this story and thank the Lord for his promise to never leave me even in my darkest hour. Even when I must hurt and frustrate him he is always loyal. What an amazing "real world" story of Love and faithfulness.

Moist Chocolate Chip Cake

This Chocolate Chip Cake recipe is just for you Holli! It's easy and delish. I hope your enjoying the sun today:)

Melting Crayons

Day 5 inside! Kinely and I decided to make homemade crayons.  It was lots of fun and it took a couple of hours to complete the process.  We had some good bonding moments and we both thought it was so funny to cool them off in the snow!  And... another chance for snow tomorrow!  Texas where did you go?!?!

Character Building Moments

"We can resist or change many things according to our wishes; but basically we must accept what comes and is given to us.  To understand this and act accordingly is patience.  Anyone who is unwilling to do this is in constant conflict with it's own existence."  Romano Guardini

After almost a full week at home trapped inside with the girls, I'm happy to say I've developed many character building moments with my little ones. I thought this video was something we could all relate to and also give us a bit of humor to take with us on this winter wonderland journey.

One of the most wonderful pieces of advice I’m learning as a mother is, "our children need love the most when they deserve it the least". So for tomorrow and another snow day inside, I’m going to take advantage of these moments with my little munchkins and remember nothing in this life is ever permanent. especially this time when they need me the most.