Jedidiah

Sometimes kids are just too funny. Jed has become so funny lately. First, Justin and I thought it was nerdy homeschool boy...but he really is funny.

Tonight we took a movie back that we had rented for the girls, then on to Braum's for the kids to use their "free ice cream" coupons for memorizing their verses in Sunday School. The following are bits and pieces of the car ride:

1. Jed talking on the phone to Papa..."What? Papa I can't hear you..." "mom, something is wrong, I can't hear pa...oh, maybe it's because I have the phone upside down" (he was not even trying to be funny which makes it more funny to me)

2. On our way home from Braum's had top 40 songs on from 2006. Number 1 song comes on...Sexyback by Justin Timberlake. Judson starts dancing and me and Justin start singing (even though I really don't know the words) Jed goes, "Hey, I LIKE this song!"..."I wish I could snap"
at the end of the song JT says "are you ready" Jed enthusiastically replies, "YEAH, I'm ready!"

He said a lot more funny things today--on our way to church, but I can't remember them now, I guess I was still thinking about those 10 pounds and how I couldn't breathe in my pants!

WARNING WARNING WARNING

Ok, so there is a reason I am not a nutritionist....After a week of my yummy spinach, peanut butter shakes....I weighed this morning....gained 10 pounds...yes, 10...couldn't find a thing to wear to church...

I have numerous theories about why, but probably the most important one is the fact that I failed to take in to consideration the amount of calories. I added them up this morning and one of my shakes was roughly 500 calories. Eaten 2 times a day...plus at least one meal...yup, folks..adds up quick. I was only looking at all the health benfits, not the calories. AND as Jillian and Bob say, "It all comes down to calories in and calories out."

I think Bob and Jillian should just move in with us!

Starbucks and Me

I have no idea if the title is giong to have anything to do with what I'm about to write...but oh well. I've been back in the workout groove for a few weeks now, and can honestly say that it's kinda frusterating when you work your tail off (believe me, my friend Lindsay works our tail off in BodyBlaster class 3 times a week--I mean think about it, the class is called Body Blaster for a reason). My body has not changed in any way shape or form. I have kept within my weight watcher points for 6 weeks straight and nothin' (except the 6 pounds that came off immediately when I had my IUD taken out--that's another post all together.)So, two weeks ago, during class, Lindsay was talking about a new drink at Starbucks, the Vivano has 21 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber and it is chocolate and banana. Me, being the loyal friend I am head straight to Starbucks after class and get me one of these...YUMM-O! During class she was also talking about how she had been dragging lately, so she set up some appt. to talk with a girl who does nutrition classes at our gym. She said that she was amazed at how much she didn't know about nutrtion and folks, she has been studying nutrition for the last 10 years! She is so fit and I know eats so healthy. So, as my mind is pondering all this...how if she needs to change her eating habits, then my eating habits need to be thrown out the window! So, I go through my Weight Watcher Journal and (ya'll this is embrrassing) I had not eaten a fruit or a vegetable in 3 weeks!!!! YIKES! That means my kiddos haven't eaten veggies in 3 weeks either--they love fruit and have it everyday. So, even though I was staying in my points, it was all processed Weight Watcher food--nothing natural, from the ground, grown fresh--the way we are supposed to eat. So, (I know this is a rambling entry)So, this week I've started an experiment. I'm eating a ton of fruits and veggies. I found a nutrition blog and the writer posted about shakes she makes. She said that spinach added to any shake will not alter the taste....hmmm--SPINACH??? So, I made up a shake, and I love it! It has a serving of fruit and a serving of vegetable in it, I also added a bunch of other healthy stuff. I am also drinking V8 Fusion--vegetable and fruit juice (which my kids like a lot). So, added to what little veggies I make, I'm getting a ton more than what my body has been used to. We'll see how this experiment goes. I eat 2 of these shakes a day--one for breakfast and one mid afternoon or for supper...I'm also doing BodyBlast 3 times a week and tonight am going to do a yoga class a couple of times a week off of FIT TV.
Here's my recipe if any of you dare want to try a spinach shake (I promise it's pretty good, and if you think about how healthy spinach is for you --it is labeled a "super food") it tastes all that much better! :)

Spinach, PB, Banana Shake

*1/2 cup or so of crushed ice
*1 cup of fat free milk (I have to use lactose free)
*1 banana
*1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
*1 tablespoon of Skippy Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
*1 tablespoon Hershey's Cocoa (naturally unsweetened, has antioxidents)
*2 tablespoons ground flax seed (has fiber, ALA, Omega-3's, good for heart health,beautiful hair, skin, and nails, and phytonutrients--which can have a balancing effect on your hormones--this will make hubs happy!)
*large handful of spinach leaves

Blend in a blender and enjoy! :)

Some Days...

Well, I was literally in the midst of writing a post titled: "Crypto...the Super Bug" because my kiddos have come down with this parasite that has taken over the DFW area pools the past 6 weeks...BUT THEN...

Jadyn was working on her art project (hand flowers) when she announces, "Mom, I'll be right back, I have to throw something away."

I thought nothing of it...except I was proud that she was cleaning up her messes before I had to ask her to....

THEN....I throw something away and find this:




hmmm, "Jadyn, come here please"
"No thanks"
"Jadyn, what did you do?"
"......YES MOMMY IT IS MY HAIR"
"Well, WHY is it your hair?"
"I AM NOT ANSWERING THAT QUESTION!"

About 15 minutes later, "Jadyn, come here for a minute I want to hold you."
"no mom, see I don't look like a boy"
"That's fine, I just want to look at it and see where it came from."
"I AM NOT ANSWERING THAT QUESTION!"
ok....

In all reality, this is the first haircutting incident..not too bad! Maybe she can cut my hair!

Happy Friday ya'll!

A Straw and A Kiss...

So, we are driving home from the Chic-Fil-A drive thru. Jed (who now sits in the front seat with me because the air bag turns off) takes a long drink of his soda and then very excitedly exclaims, "Hey! I get it. Straws are to help you practice your kissing!"
I asked, "How so?"
"Well, see how I have to put my lips."
"Ahh, interesting."
I think I will be monitoring how often he "practices"! :)

A Dream I Once Had...

There were many things I wanted to be while growing up...a veternarian, Rodeo Queen, and in the 80's a gymnist. If you knew me or have seen pics of me growing up, this should cause your side to hurt from laughter. God did not bless me with a gymnists body! I remember Mom buying me a pair of Mary Lou Retton High-Top Sneakers at Ross after the Olympics. I was sure these would magically cause me to finally be able to do a cartwheel....nope, still have never done a cartwheel to this day. Then for a birthday present I received an exercise mat that included a baton with "streamer" (sorry I don't know the 'lingo') for a "Rhythmics" routing. My aspirations of being a "Mary Lou" shriveled up and died, however watching gymnastics this year has brought up those old feelings of wanting to fly through the air with impressive twists, turns, flips, and "sticking it" at the end. So, here I am living out this dream...enjoy! :)

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/dQBC7yBBqoMK100Y

)You will need to copy and paste into the address window)

Lessons I'm Learning

I daily read "Girl Talk" a blog by Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters, focused on Biblical Womanhood, being a Godly wife and mother--what that looks like and how to live it out day to day. This past week I have been gearing up for homeschooling. I am honestly, truly excited to be doing this. However, sometimes in the back of my mind a little voice creeps in telling me how much easier it would be to send them off to school, I'd have free time on my hands, I will go crazy with 4 kids 24/7...you know all the things people say to me when we tell them we are a homeschooling family. But then, reality comes back, I remember why we first chose this path--time and influence. Where are my children spending most of their time and who/what is influencing their lives. Will it be in a desk for 7-8 hours with a teacher who may or may not like her job, who may or probably not know Jesus, who typically won't give them the individual attention they need to do and learn the best they can. Will they spend their day in a room full of children who will influence them to talk a certain way, dress a certain way, act a certain way--absolutely. Will that time and influence be a solid foundation built on Jesus and the gospel? Not if I'm sending them to a public school. Therefore, if Justin and I desire our children's lives to be based on Christ, then who better to lay that foundation for them? Afterall, my children were specifically chosen for me...to love, care, nurture, and teach. Which brings me to today's "Girltalk" blog entry. It hit home with me, because I know that "my heart is easily captivated by the hollow and deceptive philosophies of a godless culture. (Col.2:8)" Here's the entry...enjoy :)

August 13, 2008
A Daughter's Heart for the Home
As we talk about training future homemakers, I must clarify that this isn’t all we are training our daughters to do. There are many vital aspects of our daughters’ education and character development that are important for their future. But we’re focusing exclusively on homemaking this week for two reasons: 1. It should be a priority in every daughter’s training (because it is a biblical priority) and 2. Sadly, it is an oft-neglected priority in the church today. Oh, and I almost forgot a third reason we picked this topic to discuss—because so many of you humble moms asked us to!

These thoughts from Tedd and Margy Tripp put the importance of our homemaking training in perspective:

“Life is a classroom. It truly is. Teaching and learning are in process twenty-four hours a day. Here's the danger! In the absence of biblical formative instruction, secular formative instructors take over. Our hearts are easily captivated by the hollow and deceptive philosophies of a godless culture (Col.2:8). The majority culture interprets life through unregenerate eyes and promotes its conclusions through various means, from advertising to education. It is like the air you breathe; you breathe it in without noticing it! So do our children! The formative instruction of our secular culture is a frightening reality. How can parents compete with the world for the minds and hearts of their children?” (Instructing a Child's Heart)

What an urgent question! How can we as mothers compete for the minds and hearts of our daughters with a world that shows (as one author put it) “a disdain of domesticity and a contempt for housewives”?

The answer: We must pay close attention to what captures our daughter’s heart. For, as it says in Proverbs 4:23, “from [the heart] flow the springs of life.”

We must ask “What is my daughter most excited about? What captures her imagination? What are her desires and dreams for her future? Is she more eager to be with friends than to be with family? Would she rather pursue activities outside of the home rather than endeavors in the home? Who does she admire more—faithful homemakers or worldly women?”

As moms it is our job to carefully monitor our daughters’ hearts. If we sense their enthusiasm for family and home waning, we must skillfully reorient their affections back toward family and home.

There were certain seasons I observed this happening with each of my daughters during the teen years. So we talked about it. In fact we had many conversations about this topic. Long conversations.

I asked my daughters questions (like those listed above) about their hearts. Then we looked at what Scripture had to say about the importance of the home. (Books and resources were very helpful here.). Then there were more loving yet probing questions about what they learned from Scripture and how it applied to their own hearts.

Over time, with much talking, I saw each of my daughter’s heart for the home and desire to be with our family grow and flourish. But it took more than just talking. Tomorrow we’ll consider some practical steps to train our daughters to be homemakers.

Posted by Carolyn Mahaney on August 13, 2008 at 02:52 PM in Homemaking | Permalink

13 Years

Hey Babe! Hopefully you'll get this as soon as you get off the mountain. Happy 13th Anniversary! It's been an incredible 13 years, I wouldn't change a single thing, I love you with my whole heart.

Jadyn wants to watch our wedding video and see us kiss. Jed responded with "gross" and said, "the only good thing about weddings is the cake". I said," Well, I smeared cake all over your Daddy's face" in which Jed responded, "COOL!" I told him that you did not think it was very cool, especially 3 days later when you still had cake in your eye...sorry about that (again).

I love you!

D

Vacation, Cancer, and VBS

So, it's has been a couple of months since my last post. Day to day, life seems to pass so slowly, but when I read my last entry I realize that SO much has happened in two months. The first week of Summer Break, Jed ended up going to The Woodlands to spend the week with my sister and her family. He had a BLAST, however, momma was stressed out the entire week. My face broke out so bad, I looked like a pizza-faced middle schooler...not a pretty picture, mind you!
We met my sister half way and picked Jed up on a Friday, we got home then an hour later he was off with his friend from school to a church function at his friend's church. Justin and I looked at each other and realized that we have entered into a new era--our oldest is starting to "hang out" with friends---and not in a 'play-date', mommies supervising way....wierd!!!
The Next morning we left for a 23 day vacation. Yes, a 23 day Road Trip! I was prepared, each kid had an accordian folder of activities to do. We only allowed one movie per day in the car, and had read alouds, books on cds, and art projects--all in the van. It was truly really fun. I hope it is a memory at least the older ones will remember. My favorite was the foil sculptures we made of the desert as we drove from Tucson to Albuquerque. Jadyn was fascinated with all the "cacti". Our 23 days took us from home, to Jacksboro for a family reunion of my Dad's side, then to Lubbock (Justin spoke in church about his year at seminary), to Las Cruces to visit friends and eat at our all time favorite restaurants, Tuscon--more dear friends, Albuquerque for a night then to the Family Cabin in Colorado, back to Albuqerque to be "home" with family and friends, back to Lubbock to spend the 4th with friends then finally home--3,000 miles later and a whole lotta money spent on gas! :)It was a fabulous trip, but we were all glad to get home in our own beds--especially Judson--about day 15 he was DONE in a pack 'n play! Thankfully, Kristen let him sleep in Hallie's crib while we were in Lubbock--he was very grateful, I could tell :)As soon as I get our photo album of the trip done on J's mac, I'll post a link---maybe...

On a different note, our first week home was rough. My mom who has been cancer free for about 7 months, found out her cancer was back. This has totally taken me (and I think the whole family) for a whirlwind of emotions. For two straight days I was going to puke at any given moment, I threw myself a good ol' pitty party. At the drop of a hat I was either crying or angry. Of course I am sad, but I also have feelings of anger--angry that she has to go through, not only chemo again, but this time a much more aggressive path of treatments--that will include taking out stem cells, and a stay in the hospital. Angry that she was seeking to use what she had gone through to help other cancer patients by beginning a ministry at her church for cancer patients/survivors and now that will have to wait. Angry that my Dad has literally worked his tail off his whole life and knowing my Dad will keep working his tail off to pay the medical bills, when I really want him to just slow down and not have to worry. As I was telling my feelings to Justin, he reminded me, well, actually he told the kids when we were praying for mom, that God loves Mom more than we love her, and He is in control which is FAR better than us being in control. Although this was a comfort, I am still having feelings of anger and selfishness. Anyway--if you could please remember my family in your prayers, we so appreciate it. I'm sure I will continue to post on how everyone is doing.

Which leads me to this week. The kids are going to Vacation Bible School. The theme is "Power Lab--focusing on God's Amazing Power". It is a science based--experiments....anwyay, the focus on "God's Amazing Power". Well, at home we have been teaching the kids how to pray these last 2 weeks--using the ACTS acronym--adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. We go through each letter and the kids take turns praying that letter. Last night I was praying with Jed by himself and we got to supplication. Here is what he said (all on his very own): "Dear God, You have such amazing power. Please, Please use all the power you have to heal Grandma. Amen." Can you see the tears that were streaming down my face? The prayers of a child...need we say anymore--

Counting Down

We have officially began counting down! Today was the LAST MONDAY I may ever have to drag Jed out of bed (not literally his bed, because he always ends up on the floor in our bedroom by morning) to go to school. YEAH! What is sad to me though is that he will only be a 1st grader for 2 more days. He will then be a second grader. Somehow, second grade seems much older to me. My boy is growing up and there is nothing I can do about it, but enjoy the time I have right now. I have purposely been trying to enjoy the kids these past few weeks. Honestly, it makes parenting so rewarding to slow down and really, truely enjoy them. We've had some good times! :)

I officially ordered our homeschool curriculum this morning! Not turning back now! And I even ordered Jed curriculum, yes we are officially a Home School Family! We are all excited about this, I feel so relieved making this decision and not going back and forth anymore. This is it, this is who we are and what we are about. Family. Molding, shaping, influencing, teaching.

One more piece of good news---we caught the mouse in our house! :) YIPEE! I found him on the stickey pad under our kitchen sink, that little stinker lived for 3 weeks as an unwelcomed guest in our house. I am crossing my fingers that we will have no more furry guests...

If you get a chance, head over to Justin's blog and library to check out recent pics of the kiddos and what we are doing. He wrote a recent post on what we are using and doing for discipleship with our kids. Of course, I am biased, but it's good stuff ! :) Here's the link:

http://web.mac.com/jedgar11/iWeb/Site%202/Blog/Blog.html

http://web.mac.com/jedgar11/iWeb/Site/Library.html


Happy last week of school folks!

I Was Country...

"Just goes to show you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl."

That is what Justin just said to me about 5 minutes ago, when I finished watching the American Country Music Awards, and exclaimed, "that is why I love country music".

How awesome was that? I missed the first hour because of Jed's birthday party, but the last 2 hours were so entertaining. Here's my highlights:

*Taylor Swift--how cool was that?!? She started off in a black hoodie and jeans then 2 guys pulled these strings and viola she was in a black dress, THEN she sang under "rain" and was soaking wet--way cool!

*Sugarland--at the end of their performance they "nestea" plunged backwards off the stage--very cool!
*Trace Atkins--yes, I cried about his song on "your gonna miss this"
*Keith Urban--that girl in the the back doing the "music" with her mouth--crazy, I was out of breath just watching her.
*Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley's tribute to what's his name. She looked beautiful.
*Leeann Rhimes--I couldn't understand a word she sang but I'm a fan, so I thought it was great, she looks all grown up, which makes me sound really old!
*Reba--a great host
*Kelly Pickler--she seems so fun! Justin saw her in the airport awhile back.
*Many shots of George--worth watching just for that. Even my husband commented that he is way too handsome to be as old as he is! He's classic, Love him!
*Love Rascal Flatts and Kenny. Sara Evans looked good.
I know--not a very entertaining post, but I love the awards shows and had to share my enthusiasm.

I will soon have a post about Jed's birthday--he turned 7--unbeleivable. I remember being 7, so this is really crazy for me. He had a 2 week long celebration--Grandma was here 2 weeks ago, so we celebrated with her, then with just us on his real b-day last Monday and tonight we had his friends party at Peter Piper Pizza. All had a great time and he had a blast with all his friends.

Some quick updates:
Justin will be done with his semester officially on Wed! YEAH!!!
Justin shaved both boys heads today--they look like twins--Judson is looking like a big boy!
I am officially going to homeschool the girls in the fall--I'm really excited about this. I spent a day with friends at a Homeschool Convention and have all my curriculum picked out. I just need to get it ordered. We are still praying through Jed for next year. I could go either way with him....Hopefully it will be clear where he should go soon.
Jed, Blakley, and Jadyn are in swim lessons--they are doing well. Jadyn LOVES it! She smiles from ear to ear the whole lesson!
Jed finished his spring football season. He was an amazing player (I'm just a bit biased) but he really did do well. He got several "best defense" awards. He even got to play quarterback the last two games. He LOVES football.
Blakley finished soccer last week. She really is a talented soccer player. She is really learning how to move the ball around and cut and weave. She scored 6-7 goals most games. By the end of the season, Coach was making her pass the ball so that other girls could get a chance to score.
Jadyn is loving summer time, she loves to play in the backyard, and helps me water flowers everyday. She is really excited to start school in the fall and is doing excellent in the "Manners" book we are going through right now.
Judson is running, dancing, and laughing a lot! He is starting to talk in sentences and it is adorable. He is also loving "coo-coo's" which are cookies, he would eat them all day long if we'd let him.
Well, that is a quick update on us Edgar's. I have many pics to post of Jed's b-day, swim lessons, and such...if I could find that cord I need....maybe tomorrow!

Happy Country Music Awards night ya'll!

Oh yeah, AND we caught 5 baby mice in the garage in one afternoon--it was sad and disturbing at the same time...that's a whole post in itself--I have pics of them. Blakley cried and cried, Jed lectured Justin about killing God's creation....it was quite an event around here....no, we never caught the one in the house, but I also haven't seen any "signs" (poop) anywhere either...I'm hoping it is gone far far away...I'll let you know :)

A Tale from the Shoe

My story tonight is why my blog name is what it is, for tonight we have quite a tale. I guess I should start from the beginning. Bear with me, it's kinda long. Last week Justin was in Kentucky all week for a Together For the Gospel Conference. Usually, by week's end I am at my end, but the week went rather smooth--I completely cleaned out the kids closets and dressers, got totally caught up on laundry--not even a pile to be hung up, which is quite a feat at my house. And I read through and pretty successfully, might I add (at least at the moment), implemented some discipline structure from Growing Kids God's Way. I also... had to take 2 kids to the doctor for regular visits, take dinner to a friend who just moved in our neighborhood, Community Group, a soccer practice, Jed's 1st Grade performance, Bible Study, laundry...Thursday we are leaving to go to soccer practice and Jed's performance when I have Blakley run to the side of our house to get a football that went over the fence. As she's coming back our neighbor challenges her to a race. Blakley cannot say no to a race (just ask her, that is exactly what she told the nurses at the doctor's office)and totally biffs it on the driveway. Her knee and whole right side of her face are completely raw. You would have thought she broke every bone in her body. We FINALLY leave for practice, go to Jed's performance, then to get Frosty's at Wendy's for a treat--by this time we all needed one!

On Friday morning my husband emailed me that he had just been in earthquake. Then Jed was sent home sick by lunchtime. I decided it best if I went ahead and took him in to get a strep test since it was Friday and didn't want to get stuck taking him to a clinic on Saturday. I got him in right after lunch, and asked if they could go ahead and test Judson because they share a room and last time Jed had strep, Judson had it as well. So, they do a flu and strep test. Judson's came back positive for the flu and Jed's came back positive for strep. This was totally wierd because Judson had NO symptoms--we had to stay there for 2 hours because Jed fell asleep twice on the examining table and the doctor was waiting for the Tylenol to take effect before swabbing his throat. He was a pitiful site. We finally get home 2 and a half hours later and Justin finally drives up after us--he was supposed to get in at 8:15 that morning, but an earthquake and mechanical problems on his American Airline flight delayed him.

Saturday, Justin takes Blakley to her game, then came and took snacks to Jed's football game. He then decided to go to Lowe's and buy me my Mother's Day present--screen doors! I want these for a couple of reasons. One, many people come knock on our door, and it will give me a bit more protection to have a locked screen door, and two, when the back door and front door is open a nice breeze goes through the house....well, J gets home with them and they go straight into the garage. He's not sure that he can install them.

So, that leads me to today. Of course, I was stuck home with sick kids, and it was a beautiful day outside, so I put of the baby gates in the front and back doors. We had a nice breeze going through all day. This evening, we are getting ready to go to the grocery store and I walk out of the kitchen and through the corner of my eye I see this ball of grey run under the door of the coat closet from the entry way. I SCREAM, Justin questions if it is a mouse or a giant spider, I assure him whatever it is is BIG. So, my manly husband gives Jed a broom and tells Blakley to start taking stuff out of the coat closet, they start and all of a sudden the mouse runs across Blakley's foot and into a corner behind Jed's backpack. We are all SCREAMING including Judson, Justin runs inside from the garage, I tell him it's behind the backpack and he starts beating the backpack with the broom, the mouse runs down the hall into the girls room....the kids literally tear apart the room (remember I had just cleaned it all up) looking for this mouse. Blakley has the broom ready to punce on it, Jdayn dancing around screaming, and Jed has the dustbuster. I guess he thought he could suck it up! (Davedda, doesn't this remind you of the ONE time we got to stay home while mom and dad were out of town and we thought someone was breking in so we locked ourselves in the bathroom and one of us had the aerosol hairspray and the other had the curling iron cord--we were going to spray his eyes then strangle him....my kids are brave like we were! :) )We can't find him, so we call our Landlord...he offers to come sometime this week (I pray it is tomorrow) and put out some bait and also volunteers to help Justin install the screen doors. We head to the grocery store and get home--(Meanwhile Jed and Blakley start having tummy problems--a sign the dr. told me to look for in case they get the flu too...) I have the kids start cleaning the girls room assuring them the mouse is in the kitchen or Mommy and Daddy's room and no the mouse cannot climb into beds I assure them....please don't comment otherwise. I go into the girls room and see the mouse leap over a toy...I SCREAM again slam the door shut and jump up and down, shouting for Justin to bring me something to put under the door so he could not get out. He just stands there staring at me with a huge grin on his face. He finally gets me a blanket that I cram into the opening as tight as I can make it, HOPING it will stay in that room. The girls are now sleeping on our floor in our room--yes, that mouse better stay in that room and not run all over my girls tonight. The ONE time I have all the laundry done and actually put away, BUT we are not going in there to get anything! Looks like the girls will be having pajama day tomorrow...don't ask me what we are going to do now, I have no idea.
I've said it before there is never a dull moment around the Edgar household! I'll keep you posted on our mouse hunt!

Independence Day

Today Judson has declared his independence....Yes, he said that little, tiny two letter word to me--3 times even--"no, no, NO!" Of course, if you know my son, you know he also said it with a twinkle in his eye and an hornery grin on his face, but never the less, he said it. Where do we go from here? You'd think him being the 4th child I'd know exactly where we go--but I guess I have blocked it out of my memory, which is fine, I'm thoroughly enjoying him and this stage of life.

I love this age. He is so much fun! He has got personality bubbling over. He sings, he dances, he flirts, he giggles, he teases, he says "hut hut" and puts his hands up as to catch a football, he calls me "mimmy" (with a short'i'), and calls J "daa daaa", he thinks every animal is a horsey or a doggy, one of his favorite things to do is sit on top of Blakley's head when she is laying on the floor watching tv, when he wants something he sounds like Curious George talking, he says 'I Love You' which sounds like I-uuuuv-UUUU! (just precious), he loves baths, and getting into the car, he pulls Buster's hair and yesterday brushed Buster's teeth with his own toothbrush, he threw his bottle into the toilette (and yes, it did have a poopy in it--thanks sissy) and he LOVES his big brother--follows him around like a shadow. Jed gives him a controller to the playstation that is not plugged in and they sit there and "play" together, every few minutes Jed will say "good job Judson"--it makes my heart melt!

Someone was talking last night at our Community Group how they questioned if they could love the 2nd child as much as the first, I had those exact same feelings. Let me just say that YES, you can love each child just as much as the first, your capacity to love grows and grows and grows, as does your appreciatin for each stage of life. I am so loving 18 months, I just hope that I will still love and appreciate it tomorrow!

My Yard and Nightstand

It is 8:07 and there is a variety of humming,cutting, and blowing noises going on outside the office window. I love it! This means that my yard will be looking good soon--as soon as the fertilizer kicks in and the sun shines to make the grass green. There is nothing like a manicured lawn to make me ready for summer. Growing up our yard was always meticulous. If Dad didn't have time to do it (my Dad's days start anywhere from 2:30am-4am) we had somebody do it. My husband doesn't have the time or desire to do it, we just like the end result--it's our one vice. We could take 6 months to pay for a good lawnmower, or we could pay someone to do it for 6 months--Justin chose the latter.

On a completely different note, my friend emailed me yesterday wanting to know if I was reading any good books, she was in the mood for a good book. Unfortunately, I couldn't give her anything stimulating. My bedtime reading has been focused on my debate to homeschool my girls next year, so my nightstand consists of "What Every Kindergartner Should Know" (a whole language approach), and "Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons". Stimulating, huh?!? So, for the 5 of you (whom I know of )who read this, what is on your nightstand? Leave a comment of your good reads! I'd love to get a great read to take me away for a little bit each day!

Easter, Ironing, Makeup, and Memories...

My in-laws are here visiting with my neice and nephew. My neice turned 14 yesterday--I can hardly believe it, it seems like yesterday that she teeter-tottered down the aisle at our wedding. She is almost all grown up with make-up and everything. Blakley and Jadyn adore her. After all, who wouldn't love a cousin who wears cool jewelry and glittery makeup. So, Blakley and Jadyn have been very attentive to Karissa this week, especially when she is putting her makeup on and Karissa (who is a GREAT cousin)happily puts some on the girls as well. Unfortunately, this morning Daddy would not allow Blakley to have makeup on as he reminded her she is a little girl and little girls do not need makeup because they are already as beautiful as God created them to be. Blakley did not buy this, she stamped her foot down, put her hands on her hips and screamed "I AM NOT A LITTLE GIRL!!!" I'm afraid we will have many more mornings in her life that this same scene will play out before church!

Last night, my father-in-law had to iron his shirt for this morning. (Yes, he has to iron his own clothes!) I took out the iron and board and he got to work. As he was ironing I was French braiding Jadyn's hair so that it would be curly this morning. She turned around and took a long look at Papa Bill and just had this perplexed look on her face. Finally, she said,"Mommy, what is that, and what is Papa doing with it?" I totally started laughing....you see, around my house, if it has to be ironed, it goes to the cleaners, so Jadyn has never been around the iron before. It was so funny!

In previous posts I have shared how my Grandpa was the worship leader at my church growing up. My foundation of worship is strongly based on what he taught me all those years growing up. Easter was always a big deal growing up, as it should be. For some reason this morning all those Easters growing up flooded my memory. You see our worship time this morning had my Grandpa's voice all over it. It didn't cross my mind that we would be singing these particular songs, because at our church we sing a lot of songs that Drue, our worship leader, has written himself, so I was so caught off guard. The first song we started with, I hung on strong because we sang it with a different melody, but as soon as the chorus came up on the screen, I felt Justin look at me through the corner of his eye, and I completely lost control. Tears flowed like they haven't flowed since I sat as my Grandpa's funeral. We began with ..."Up from the grave He arose" we then continued to sing several songs that I grew up singing every Sunday. I could even see my sister playing the piano for him. I thought I had pulled it together when we finally started singing "In Christ Alone", although it is my absolute favorite song, it was not in my Grandpa's time. So, during that song, I pulled it together, unfortunately, we then went right into "Because He Lives" and it started all over again. I was silently hoping we would conclude with a song I didn't know, but we ended with "How Great Thou Art" which is appropriate, because that was Grandpa's favorite. Today's worship was a tribute to my Grandpa, I am so thankful for him and his love for Christ. I want my kids to know these hymns, I know that they aren't the "cool" worship songs that we sing today, but they are solid and the memories that come when I sing them are so special, I hope my kids will have memories like those.

I Love You

***I promise it is way cute, we just can't seem to get the video to download off our camer. He says "mama, I love you. Dada, I love you. Sissy, I love you. Jed, I love you. Jadyn, I love you" It is heart warming~ I promise!***


Here is our sweet boy with his new trick!
How cute is he...

Mom's Good Ol' Home Cooking

My two boys have come down with a dreadful case of strep throat. Both got sick Sunday morning. I knew immediately that Jed had strep because he always gets that "smell", and he had that "smell" stronger than ever by Sunday night. Well, sure enough, tests were positive--it seems like everyone in our town has something, as I dropped off prescriptions at 11:00am and did not get them until 6:00pm. Well, this evening Jed finally decided he could eat something other than a chocolate milk shake, he asked for mac n cheese, I happily obliged. But he thought it was too cheesy. So, then I make the girls their dinner, Jed asks for some of it, so I make him a small bowl. He scarfs it down. A little later he comes into the office, climbs his long, lanky body onto my lap and says, "Mom, can I have some more? I love your cooking." pause..."I think you should have show on the cooking channel, your cooking is so good."
"Thanks Jed, Mommy puts a lot of love into the meals I make you. I'm glad you liked it."
"yeah mom, I love your cooking."
This warms my heart. I would really love to be a great cook, I love the cooking channel! However, my children really only love my cooking when it is premade, in a can. For tonight their dinner was Spaghetti O's and Meatballs. Thanks to Chef Boyardee, my kids think I am a gourmet chef~and I wouldn't have it any other way! ;)

Bunco Craziness!

So, I just returned from our 3rd bunco group. Let me just say that I am so excited that so many women want to give up their Friday night to roll dice! Bunco was a staple in my life in Lubbock--every 1st Thursday of the month was bunco, Justin knew it and was always home or had a sitter scheduled for me to attend. He knows that I need an outlet to go and be with girls to laugh, talk, and breathe for at least 2 hours without kiddos around. I always come home refreshed. Women need women. So, when we moved here, one of the first things I wanted to do was get into a bunco group. Our church didn't have one, so I mentioned it to the women in our Community Group, talked about it to a neighbor, and started one. We have done it for 3 months. Let me tell you, word has gotten out about us girls--the first 2 months we had 12, then 10, and tonight we had 19! We had at one point 25 that wanted to come, but you know there are always those that cancel at the last minute. We ended up with 5 tables--it was so much fun! What is so great about bunco is that you are forced to rotate tables and have different partners--so you have to be social--I met women I would never have met anywhere else. We have a handful from church who bring their friends, then the rest live in our devlopment--I love meeting these women, there is such potential for us to be on mission, to develop realtionships--it just thrills me.

Anyway, I get home and a frozen pizza is on the stove (cooked of course) and the whole fam is laying on the living room floor watching Indiana Jones...so, I took the opportunity to sneak in the office and post--since I was chastised tonight for taking so long to post! :) Here's to you ladies and the fun we had tonight! Hope all your children sleep really late in the morning so you can too! :)

Doin' It

Ok, this might be way too much information for anyone who is reading this, but it was too funny to me and Justin to not get it down in writing.
Last week my mom was here, we took the kids to Bounce Town to burn off some energy. On the way there, out of no where, Jed asks, "Mom, do you know what sex is?" Grandma starts giggling, my mind races to figure out the correct way to respond, "Well, yes, what do you know about it?"
"Well, ____ talks about it to _____ at school."
"What does _____ say about it?"
"Mrs. Ivy said that we don't talk about it at school."

Ok, so mental note to tell Justin about this and give him a heads up that this particular subject is definitely his territory.

Fast forward a week. Last night we let the kids camp out on our floor (they think this is really cool) Jed also lost is front top tooth yesterday, so he was anxiously awaiting the tooth fairy to come, and therefore, had trouble falling asleep. Justin and I were fighting to stay awake, because if we fell asleep before Jed the toothfairy would certainly NOT come. So, we are watching Jay Leno and he is telling this joke about Hillary and Barrack--and shows this scene of the waist down of two people and underwear falls to the ground. All of a sudden, Jed asks, "Is that sex?"

Whoa...suddenly our sleepiness goes away. Justin sits up, has Jed come up and sit with us in bed. Justin does this incredible job of telling Jed that sex is something that God created for Mommies and Daddies to share their love and ultimately glorify God.....(of course, I am fighting off the giggles)... he explains that as he gets older that Daddy will share more of what it is, and that it is not something we talk about with our friends, if he wants to talk about it or has questions about it to talk to Daddy...Jed is nodding his head quickly. Justin explains that when Mommy and Daddy's door is shut and Jed wants to come in that we are "sharing our love" and that is why Daddy gets mad at him, that he needs to wait until we are done...
It gets quiet, then Jed asks, "so what if when we move to another house and your door doesn't have a lock on it, and you and mommy are...doin' it?"
Justin and I can't hold it in..we lose it. Justin assures Jed that he does not need to worry about that. And off Jed goes back to his sleeping bag to wait for the toothfairy.
Oh my gosh, where did he learn the term "doin' it"? And, when did he get so big that we are having these conversations with him?
Wow, our little boy is growing up way too fast. Our prayer and hope is that he will come to us with any questions he has about everything and not look to his buddies for answers. I just didn't know it would happen so soon. Lord, help us to be prepared for this parenting thing!

Sweet Randomness

A few little stories I want to get written down before they are gone from my memory!

*Last week we were driving home from school and Jed says that he doesn't want to go to school tomorrow. I tell him just 2 more days then he will have a 3 day weekend. He says, "Oh, yeah, it's that King Juniors birthday." I say, "Yes, Martin Luther King Jr. Do you know what he did?" Jed replies, "Uh, he used big words and had a dream." I burst out laughing, "yes, he did." We later explained a bit more about why we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On Sunday night, he wanted to know how we were going to celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday...sorry buddy, no birthday cake at our house!

*Blakley is totally infatuated with horses, so Justin rented her "Flicka" the movie with Tim McGraw. Well, I was getting ready to go to bunco Friday night and she was watching it in the playroom when all of a sudden she comes running to me sobbing. I thought she was hurt or sick, and through her sobs she tells me that Flicka was killed by a Mountain Lion. She was SO upset. Justin walks into the kitchen and I scolded him for getting her that movie. Well, it turned out that Flicka did not die, and recovered, so Blakley was then able to finish it. I love that she is growing and maturing and able to have these emotions that she understands when something is sad.
Our best friends came to visit us from Lubbock this past weekend for Blakley's birthday. Emmy and Blakley are best friends, they played so great this weekend. Usually, they end up in some kind of argument or wrestling match on the floor. Not this weekend they played and giggled and talked...when it was time for them to leave both girls cried. It was so sweet.

*Today we were walking down an aisle at Walmart, trying to get all on my list--which is quite a task with my sweet little Jadyn roaming around in her own little world she made some intellegent comment, then said, "Am I smart?" Justin said, "yes, you are." then Blakley chimes in, "Jadyn got her talent from me" Justin and I giggled over that.

*Tomorrow my little girly girl turns 5. I can't believe it. 5 years ago tonight we had our friends Tim and Carrie King over to eat pizza and watch American Idol auditions. As I did not go into labor with Jed (just induced) she was explaining to me what it felt like to actually go into labor. When they were leaving I stood up and swear I felt a contraction.....Carrie predicted I would be going to the hospital that night. Well, I didn't. The morning came and I woke up with a terrible urge to clean out Jed's closet. So, there I am in my comfy clothes. I bend over to pick up a box of outgrown clothes and a gush comes pouring down my leg. Justin is at work. I kinda go, could this be my water breaking? I call my doctor first, asking if this indeed is my water breaking. The nurse assures me it is, and instructs me to get to the hospital. Well, I hadn't showered, I hadn't eaten any lunch (and experience from Jed told me I needed to eat before I get there, because they certainly weren't going to let me eat). I asked the nurse if I could quickly get ready. She advised against it, but I did anyway. Then I called Justin at the church office. Well, he was not as excited as I was. The staff was walking out the door to go eat lunch at PF Changs--which had JUST opened (This is a big deal for J --PF and Pei Wei are by far his favorites!) So, this is how our phone conversation went:
"Hello"
"Hey, you need to come home"
"Why"
"My water broke and we need to get to the hospital"
"Right now? Can't you wait an hour or so? I'm on my way to PF Changs"
"WHAT? NO IT CANT WAIT AN HOUR OR SO, WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY!"
"Are you sure?"
"YES, I ALREADY CALLED THE DOCTOR!"
"OK, I'll be home in a bit"
Hang up....call mom to pick up Jed...head to the hospital, mom takes Jed to my inlaws and meets us at the hospital. Later my mother in law, Justin's aunt and grandmother, my mom and dad all show up. We hang out in the room, time to push and I make everyone leave the room. One push she's out. Everyone files back in.
Blaley's birth was special in that it was the only one of our four kids that was born in Albuquerque. The only birth that we got to have our families there with us. It was a blessing. Very fitting that Blakley was born with my Dad present--he did not have any sons to pass on the family name, but this little baby girl would carry the name on.
I can't believe it's been 5 years--time has literally flown by. She's growing up, getting big girl feet,heading off to kindergarten in the fall. My, it will be soon when she will be having her own baby....wow.
Happy Birthday Blakes, I love you!