Par-Tay with her Peeps!

Last week Kate had a "Princess Party" with the little girls in her class at school. It was perfect because there are 5 little girls in all, and that made for a very manageable party for me!
Kate has been wanting to have her friends over to play for weeks. You see, we live on a street of all boys, seriously like 20 boys! There are 3 other little girls that live on our street, but they are all in school, so she sees that the boys are always having their friends over and has really wanted "her friends" to come over too. We sent out a cute little E-vite and the girls came over dressed as princesses and we played, danced, had "tea", and painted pumpkins. It was so clam compared to what goes down when the boys have friends over. Nobody was jumping on the furniture or running through the house at full speed, or throwing toys around for no reason.
We had a little drama--as in, who sits next to who, but other than that--they were all prefect little princesses and had a ball!

Kate hanging with her Princess peeps!

Waiting patiently to paint pumpkins!

Tea Party Time!

Sugar and Spice

Boo!

Here are the boys (in the rain), soaking wet, in a mad dash down the street! I have never seen my boys move so fast. This year was definitely a different caliber of trick or treating. We actually hit 2 neighborhoods!
Below is a picture of the Star Wars Peeps!

After a hectic Friday of Halloween and Fall parties at the kids' schools, we headed to Atlanta for Emerson's (my nieces' 2nd birthday) and for trick or treating with the "cousins" (all 12 of them!)
The kids were thrilled to be able to spend Halloween with their cousins. It is a real treat to be with them, and holidays are extra fun. Especially when it involves dressing up and eating lots and lots of candy. The boy cousins were all Star Wars characters, along with Emerson who was the cutest Yoda ever! The girls were Dorothy, Tinker belle, Ariel, and Snow White (and Yoda)!
Gray was adorable as a Dinosaur and had so much fun just hanging with everyone.

Tinker belle and Ariel

The Cousins--12 in all. Ages 1-9 with a new baby girl due in January.

Candy!

Did I mention that we ate a lot of candy?

Some Days you Just Have to Laugh!

Some days you just have to laugh. I found myself having "one of those days" today. Now, they don't come all too often, but when they do, they come on full-force. To do this story justice, let me give you some history. On Monday, my mom, (Meme) came to spend a few days with us. I took advantage of the opportunity to do a few things by myself that really were overdue. One being, take my dog, Sadie to the Vet. She has had a growth on her leg that has gotten significantly bigger over the past few months, so I wanted to get it checked out. I was not expecting good news. I had a feeling it was probably cancer, so when the Vet told me it was a Mast Cell Tumor, I was very sad, but not surprised. The fact that the end is near for Sadie makes my heart heavy. She was my first "baby". Although she has taken a back seat once we began having kids, she has always been a special part of my life. She was actually the first purchase I made when I got that first post college "real job" pay check. The Vet bandaged up the tumor and gave me orders to change it out every 3-5 days.

Now back to present day! My mom leaves this morning The day has been pretty uneventful up until the kids get home. Well, then, the Poo Poo hits the fan from 3:00 on......
I have an appointment to take Sadie back to the vet because I cannot change her bandage myself. Mind you, I will be taking all 4 kids and a dog to the Vet at 3:00. I let Sadie out to use the bathroom while I get everyone in the car (which can sometimes take 20 minutes~). When I am finally ready to load Sadie in, she is nowhere to be found! I yell, and look for her up and down the street for 15 minutes or so. Then take the car and drive around the neighborhood at 5 mph for about 30 minutes. During all this, I call the Vet to tell them I have lost my dog and then call Matt in tears! You see, this is very unlike Sadie to run away. She is really one of the smartest dogs I have ever met, and she has never ever run away. I drive home, unload everyone, make 4 signs to hang around the neighborhood. I load everyone back up, drive around to post my LOST DOG signs. Drive back home, unload the car. The kids are playing in the yard, when our neighbor drives up into his driveway, opens his garage door and out comes Sadie. Somehow she got shut inside the neighbor's garage. I call the Vet. Tell them I am on my way. Load everyone up, including Sadie this time, and head to the Clinic.

We arrive at the Vet and the real fun begins. Very rarely do I feel like I have a lot of kids until you put me in an extremely small waiting room at a Vet or Dr.'s office. Upon arrival, Owen decides to wrestle Gray to the floor, which I can only imagine has had quite a few "accidents" happen on it over the years. I threaten everyone with their life to stay off the floor and keep their fingers out of their mouths. 4 kids + 1 big dog+ 1 mom = CHAOS!
The Vet actually peeked his head out at one point to see who brought in the rabid pit bulls.
When it was finally Sadie's turn to go back to a room the size of a refrigerator box, the sweet lady at the desk offers to watch the kids while I take Sadie back. I took this as, they didn't want my kids anywhere around any sort of expensive equipment, so I happily obliged.
I had to take Gray with me because he is a tad bit of a mama's boy lately and was not about to let some stranger with cats all over her outfit hold him!
I take Sadie back, they lift her on the table, and begin to take off the bandage. Now Gray is on my hip and is getting a little wiggly. I don't see anything in the room that he can really mess up, so I set him down to make it easier for me to hold Sadie. As the Vet is finishing up, I see that Gray is gnawing on something. My hands are tied, so I say, "Gray Gray, what's in your mouth?" He pulls it out and throws it on the ground and the Vet tells me that he was chewing on a dog's toenail. Yes, you read it right. All I could do was laugh because the look on the Doctor's face was such a look of disgust, that I really thought he might vomit. I saw a bottle of rubbing alcohol that I actually contemplated pouring on Gray's tongue, but thought it would be best to collect my children and leave as quick as possible. "No charge for the visit", he said....well, thank you much Doc!

Things are looking up at this point. I realize it is now 5:30 and Nana will be here in a short 15 minutes to take the kids to a Halloween party at the nearby Baptist church. I tell the kids to run up to the playroom and quickly pick out a costume to wear to the festival. Kate did well. A sweet little ladybug, but the boys decide to pick out an assortment of scary things to wear. To be honest, I am too tired to care.

Here are the boys in star wars costumes, but Wills has on a Spiderman mask and slippers while Owen is sporting a green hockey mask. Wills tried to make a sign to put on him that said EVIL, but I refused to spell it for him. He ended up wearing a sign that said, IVL. Just hoping he doesn't go around saying "EEEEEVVVVVIIIILLLL" like he was at home.

Finally, here is sweet Gray, complete with his big boy haircut that he got today! He is my adorable little toenail eating Dinosaur. Thank you, God for moments like those, that really put a little more laughter in my heart and soul!

Carving Station

This weekend we carved our pumpkins. We took it outside and the kids helped by cleaning out the seeds. I had big plans to toast them, but...well you know how it is. Next year! lol.

Wills is picking out what he wants his pumpkin to look like! Sorry to tell him that we will be doing good old fashion pumpkins this year. I have made the mistake in the past to try and go all out with the carving and it is way too much!

The kids helped out by running around the yard while I did all the work! Matt had Gray duty because he was fascinated with the knife.

Wills "Vampire" pumpkin

Tonight we lit our pumpkins!~ We will be in Atlanta for Halloween, so it was fun to see our glowing pumpkins a little early.

3 X/day?

okay, real quick...my nails are getting long, well long for me! I actually see a little white growing. My hands are far from pretty to look at yet, but I did it. I went a full week without biting them. I have never done that before. I noticed that I seemed to want to bite them when I am driving!? A few times I caught myself with my fingers in my mouth while driving down the road.
On another note, the nail strengthening polish is so over rated. What was I thinking? It is not too often that I have time to sit and paint my nails and then wait 10 minutes while they dry...much less do it 3 times a day. Whoever made this stuff must not have had kids or a job or a life. Who can paint their nails 3 X a day? Not me!

1 little, 2 little , 3 little, 4 little pumpkins!

We headed out to the pumpkin patch today. We hit it at a great time. In fact, we were the only ones there and the kids took advantage of running free through the pumpkins and playing hide n seek. I'm pretty sure that the lady who was working was ready for us to leave, but they were having so much fun and we did spend $22 on pumpkins. These pictures show just how much fun a child can have at a pumpkin patch (and mommy too)!

This is what happens when I try to get a picture of everyone!

Kate took the longest trying to find the "perfect pumpkin"--one that was not dirty!

My Boys---well, one is my neighbor, but I kinda feel like he is one of mine too!

Notice Gray straddling the pumpkin. This was the only way I could get him to stay in one place.

Gray trying to pick up his pumpkin

Of all the pumpkins, this is the one Owen chose. Can you see it?--he found the smallest pumpkin in the patch!

Wills' White pumpkin

FINALLY--she found one! (but she changed her mind a few more times before we left)

The kids all picked very small pumpkins this year, so we decided to paint our pumpkins, instead of carving them. I bought a larger pumpkin for carving next week.

Pulling His Weight

Gray went to town with the lawnmower this afternoon. It was so cute to see him so determined to "cut our grass". He was so focused and I can only imagine, 12 years from now, seeing him do this again....for real though...not with a pink lawn mower!

All work and no play!

Attitude Adjustment

I'm starting to get a little attitude from some of my children...(okay, Kate and Owen) lately. I'm talking about full on teenage-like attitude, complete with inflection of their tone of voice at the right time! I really want to say that they are learning this from friends at school, but regardless, I need to nip this one in the bud. There is nothing more cringing to me than to hear my children speak to me or other adults (or kids) in a disrespectful way and I refuse to tolerate it. So, after the beginning of a wonderful day at the park, both of my kids started giving me some lip. Although I really wanted to handle it right then and there with a quick pop on the face (lol), I chose to very calmly pack up our stuff and leave/ I quietly told the kids we were leaving because I did not like the ugly way they were talking to me (at which O responded, "Good, let's leave" complete with sarcasm). Now I was really mad!
I decided that once we got home, they would both just go on up in their beds and "take a nap". Mind you, my 5 year old hasn't taken a nap since he was 3!
I know that both kids are trying to voice their independence and test the waters, so to speak, on how I will react to that kind of talk. Once we got home, I put Gray to bed and had them sit on the couch so we could talk about the whole situation. They should be praising God that we had the long ride home for me to cool down a bit. Kate told me she was sorry right away and told me she loved me, but Owen really had no clue what he was in trouble for. He tried to pull the "I'm sorry" card and when I asked what for? He said...."because I wanted more chips?" HUH!!!!????
Lord help this child. I sent Kate up to her room and Owen and I had a heart to heart talk about his attitude, tone of voice and being respectful. It was a good talk, a much needed talk for us both. I have said in previous posts, that Owen is my most challenging child thus far, but also my most tenderhearted. He requires the majority of my attention (negative or positive), but also is my most affectionate. He is never middle of the road...always a high or a low, but is passionate.
The qualities I see are qualities that God will use for His glory. I believe this with all my heart. That God will use this child in a unique way to change generations to come. I need to focus on nurturing his spirit, shaping the attitude of his heart (of all my children). I know I cannot do this alone, but God can use me as a vessel to do this. I feel so honored and blessed to be a mom to all 4 of my kids, I admit that it is no easy feat. I am thankful that I do not have to do it alone, that Christ empowers me.
Here are a few passages from a great book that I love! It had helped me to put into action how I want to raise my kids.
Shepherding a Child's Heart
You must not be embarrassed to be authorities for your children
You must direct your children on God's behalf for their good.
God calls you,by His word and His example to be authorities who are truly kind. God calls you to exercise authority, not in making your children do what YOU want, but in being true servants --authorities who lay down their lives.
Parenting is shepherding the hearts of your children in the ways of God's wisdom

2 things....

I have decided that it is high time to stop doing 2 things. This is just a personal thing for me. I feel that the first vice is just that simple fact that I really need to stop--cold turkey, just quit! The second vice is just something that I have been convicted of lately.

I will start with #1 Don't get too grossed out, but below is a picture of my fingernails. Yes, I have chewed my fingernails for almost 30 years. I am not sure when I actually started, but I have no memory of ever not biting them, so I am guessing I was very young when I first started. When I was younger, it was a nervous habit. Something I did before ball games or tests or in school; anything that made me feel anxious. But, over the years it has become a habit that I don't even realize that I do! I honestly don't know, during a given day, when I actually bite my nails, but I know that I do because just look at them!
Well, I have decided that I am 33 years old. It is time for me to stop this gross habit. I have always been embarrassed of my nails. Believe me, I have tried to stop, but it has been so hard!
One of my kids is very oral and always has his fingers in his mouth, and I think to myself, that is me! How hypocritical of me to tell him to stop when I still bite my own nails! So, the bite stops here! I am done! Cold Turkey. I bought some nail strengthening clear polish because I know my nails will be so brittle and it will probably take an entire gallon of that stuff to get them strong enough to start growing, but it's a start. So here we go, I will post updates of my stubs as they progress. I wonder what my hands will look like? Any helpful hints you might have on making this easier are welcome.

Now, on to my #2 vice. I am going to stop buying and reading gossip magazines. I have decided that if I really want to live Phillipians 4:8,

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

then I need to quit reading garbage about people that I don't even know and have nothing in common with. I have read these magazines in the past because it was brainless reading. I could sit on the couch or in the tub and look at pictures and read stories about random stars and what they are up to. Why do I care, you ask? Well, I really don't care and the stories are not even something I can relate to. I cannot relate--it is a life so far from what I am living, or the kind of life I would even desire for myself or my family. I am making a commitment to not let my thoughts and eyes focus on that garbage.
(Okay, I can't promise that I won't read the occasional People magazine when at my mom's house). baby steps!
Today when I went to the grocery store I saw the magazines at the check out and I was curious as to why Tom and Katie's marriage is on the rocks or if Angelina is adopting again, or if Tori is anorexic, but what in my life could possible relate to Hollywood? How can this bring me closer to my Saviour? I will pocket my $2.99 and sit down with a good book the next time I want to relax and pass by the longing to find out who is the skinniest person in L.A.

Disney World to us!

I took the kids to the Galleria Mall today to see the new Leggo Store and the, new to us, Disney Store. Wills is really into leggos, so I thought it might be fun to go see the new attraction. When I told the kids we were going to the leggo store and the Disney Store, Owen screamed, "Yi-pee we are going to Disney WORLD". Poor guy!
I knew this outing would be a challenge because I was not going to buy anything. I handed each child, (minus Gray--he got some Daddy time) a note card and a pencil and told them that if they see something they like, they can add it to their Christmas wish list. FYI--this worked great! I highly recommend it with any kid who have the gimmes (mine!).
My kids have not been to the mall since they were old enough to remember, and their little eyes were very engaged by all the exciting people at the mall. On our way from the car into the mall, Owen told me he saw a man put a stick in his mouth, blow on it and he lit it on fire. He thought that was very cool, so I had to do a quick mini lesson on smoking and how it is NOT cool. We also saw all sorts of interesting, for lack of a better word, clothing choices. All in all, the trip was fun. The boys LOVED the leggo store and everyone thought the Disney Store really was Disney World. I kept my mouth shut. What they don't know won't hurt them. In fact, we stayed in the Disney Store most of the time. I was having so much fun that I forgot to get any pictures. They really had some cute stuff and I was making a mental list for Christmas.
The boys thought the Leggo store was awesome....Kate, not so much. She did like looking at the pink leggo pieces.
A special treat for all! The carousel ride. If you look closely, there are tears coming down Kate's face because I refused to pay $2 for her to sit in the Carriage. She is 3 1/2, she should not be scared of sitting on the carousel. I stood by her the whole time and half way through the longest carousel ride of my life, seriously...it was so long that I was getting dizzy, she finally started to have fun. If you are looking to get a nice long ride on a carousel, skip the zoo-head to the Galleria!
In this picture, Owen is riding a cat! Yes, he picked the cat with a fish in her mouth, to ride!
After we sanitized our hands for the umpteenth time, we had to try one more time to catch the Swine Flu, by playing with the ride on toys that await you as you are trying desperately to leave.

As we exited the mall, we saw a few more girls and guys lighting stick on fire with their mouths. I was praying Owen was not going to tell them they were going to get sick and die! ha!

Convicted, yet again!

Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it" I Timothy 6:6

Last night, I spoke to one of my sisters over the phone and our conversation took us both down a path that I know I struggle with....being content with my circumstances. I actually feel embarrassed to even admit that I struggle with this, but we are all of the flesh and the Lord really convicted me, especially after last night, to address this and focus on WHO I should be content in, not what things of this world or people in the world can make me content.

Jesus doesn't care about my comfort, He cares about my character! He doesn't want to make me happy, He wants to make me Holy! Oh, how I long to be more like Jesus and less like the world. How I long for holiness, not happiness (although I believe the when I have one I will have the other--in the right order!)

for I have learned to be content whatever my circumstances Phillipians 4:11--

I find myself, on a daily basis wanting more, wanting what I don't have, anticipating what is next in my life. I find comfort in knowing that I am not alone in my struggle. In fact, Jesus spoke about being content many times throughout the bible. There are so many references to contentment, that I know this struggle is not isolated to me and this generation. Adam and Eve were not content with their circumstances, and they lived in Eden!

I am not talking about being ungrateful for what I have, because I know that the Lord has poured out His blessing over me and my family. I just want to be more aware that I need Him to be Lord of every area of my life and truly believe with all my heart that Jesus is all I need.
I believe it, but I want it live it! I want it to be transparent in my everyday life. I want my kids to see it, my husband, my family, my friends. But most of all, I want the Lord to see it and one day, when I am standing in front of Him and I truly see the big picture, he will say, "Well done, my good, faithful and ever content in Me, servant."

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

He is my song that I sing
He is the joy that a new day brings
He is my strength when I am weak
He is my voice when I speak
He is my friend when I need a hug
He is my lover, when I need real love
He is the lawyer who pleads my case
He is the only righteous judge who forgives me, then, all my sins He erases
He is the doctor who heals my wounds
He is my redeemer, and He's coming back soon
He is my comforter when I'm feeling down
He is my angel that is ever present, always around
He is my provider always supplying when I need help
He is my water, my bread, stored up on the shelf
He is my teacher, who shows me what to do
He is my encourager, when I really don't want to
He is that fire burning deep down in my soul
He is my fortune-teller, for in his hands,
my future He holds
He is the repairman who comes to fix my stuff
He is the everlasting father, who is more than enough
He is the prince of peace, yes a peacemaker is He
He is my eyes, my light, my pathway, when I can't see
He is my mighty counselor when I need some advice
He is my debt consolidator, for He paid the
ultimate price
He is my hope for tomorrow
He is my ever flowing income, so I don't have to beg, steal, nor borrow
He is the mercy which He renews for me everyday
He is my truth, my life, the only way
He is the warden, who unlocks the chains and
sets me free
He is my role model, for I always look up to thee
He is the author, the finisher of my faith
He is the patience that always tells me to wait
Jesus is my everything, although with my natural
eyes, Him, I cannot see
Jesus is my everything, my everything, everything
I want to be
Jesus is my everything, therefore, I don't wait
until december 25th for him to hear how He is my everything, all the time, everyday of the year.

Author unknown

An Art Affair

I am trying to spend some quality one on one time with each child. At least one "date" a month with someone. This month, I took Wills on a date to An Art Affair painting party. I saw it advertised at Hobby Lobby one day and signed Wills and I up for a Mommy and Daughter painting class. I wish they would change the title because why can't boys go? Well, I called to make sure it was okay that I was bringing my son and she said they get a few boys signed up every class. Matt came home at 5:45 and Wills and I headed out the door. He was so excited, as I didn't tell him where we were going until we got in the car. When he found out we were going to be painting, he was pumped. He loves arts and crafts stuff, so I knew this would be perfect for him. Here are a few pictures from start to finish.



We had a blast and I had so much fun that I want to go back. The teacher was so sweet and good with the kids. She started this little business and I highly recommend it for birthday parties or just for fun, like we did. She is very reasonably priced and you both come home with a painting.
Because Wills was the only boy in the class, she let him turn his pumpkin into a jack o lantern. He loved that! The top picture is my finished work.
It was so good for ME to spend some one on one time that I cannot wait for my next outing. I think Owen will be next...hmmm..where to go? Any suggestions?

Living Simply

I have long known that there would be, and truly is, a big difference between raising boys and girls. Now, don't get me wrong, I am sure there are some girls out there that could hold their own with boys (namely, me when I was younger), but today my 2nd boy, Owen really took home the gold! I am not saying one is easier to raise than the other, but let's just say, this will go down in the books.
I am outside with the kids when I notice Owen is not out with us anymore. I go in and check to see where he is. "I'm in the bathroom, Mom". Great...I head back outside. About 10 minutes pass and Owen has still not come outside. I head back inside and he is still in the bathroom. I ask if he needs any help and he opens the door holding the beautiful, organic hand towel I had just purchased (for way too much money) in his hand. "Mom, it has poo poo on it," He says. Of course I ask "Well, why would it have poo poo on it" and he points to the empty roll of toilet paper staring back at us and proceeds to tell me that we are out of toilet paper. I open up the drawer under the sink and bring out one of the five new rolls and "lovingly" suggest he look here next time we are out of TP. I carry my soiled hand towel to the laundry room and it is now on it's 2nd round of washing. The ironic thing is that on my hand towel, under the dainty flower stitching is the phrase Live Simply . Ha! I think that was accomplished.

I've got the secret.....

to a relatively quiet 5 hour car ride with 4 kids......granted...we had to stop for bathroom breaks a few times, but the kids were so pumped to enjoy their first bottle of coke (20 oz. at that) and they nursed their cokes the whole way home.

Gray enjoyed his first lollipop, (He didn't get to enjoy coke in his sippy cup), but still, a very sticky but happy boy!

He couldn't believe his luck! Finally getting his own lollipop!