Visiting the Arch

Since Billy was on vacation, we decided to visit the arch! We haven't been there in years, and Taylor never has, as a matter of fact, the last time we drove past it, she almost cried as we talked about going to the top...she claimed she was afraid of heights.  Today was no problem for her, but Blake got super nervous, especially as we stood outside, looking up!

Blake looks terrified! lol!

 

Even  on the way down, Blake looks scared! lol!

We really enjoyed the museum too!

 

An Easter to Remember, Easter Sunday 2013

At church, we have been following along with "The BIBLE Series" on the History Channel. It has been an amazing 4 week journey that has really brought us together as a family. We look forward to watching the 2 hour event each Sunday night. It concluded on Easter Sunday, so we had really been looking forward to it.

I was slow to decorate, even though, friends from church gave us the most adorable decorations. I usually make a week-long celebration out of most holidays by spreading out crafts and fun stuff for days prior, I slacked on that this year too. The day before Easter, we colored the eggs and did some fun crafts. Then we got out the traditional Easter Bunny Baskets, along with some beautifully colored eggs, for the Easter Bunny.

sticking his tongue out...just like his snakey basket!

The kids woke on Easter morning to a dining table full of goodies. Blake got a speed cup stacking set, candy, Pokemon Cards, and the Lego New Testament Brick Bible. Taylor got a diary that locks with a key, two "kissing" puppies, Pokemon Cards, and candy. They got to go out and search for their eggs in the front yard...they were filled with tiny candies and dollar bills!

Aww...the Easter Bunny even brought Sophie
a carrot and a baby hedgehog!

First one outta bed and she can hardly wait
to get "her" Easter goodies...silly dog!

He has been wanting cup stacks for months

YAY! She finally got it!! Happy Day!!!

We got ready for church and headed out. They ran to find Aunt Sissy and hugged her in the parking lot! Today was Family Service Day, so the kids stayed upstairs for the message. They got paint shirts put on over their clothes and sat on stage near Eric, who painted a masterpiece, as Pastor Kevin spoke. The message was perfect, reassuring us that God really did send his own son to die, just to save US! The pain that Jesus went through, to save us, is unimaginable, and the fact that he is RISEN... we are ever so thankful. At the end of the message, Eric showed the painting he, and the children, had been working on...amazing!

Love that this pic shows Blake's half-tucked shirt...
so so so typical, he hates tucking!

The kids ran outside to do an Easter Egg Hunt at church, they got a ton of candy! Then we headed home to eat a yummy dinner with the family.  Then we got lazy and just hung out, then went for a walk and got geared up for the conclusion of THE BIBLE.  As we were watching Paul get changed from Christian killer to missionary for Jesus, Blake told us that he really wanted to be water baptized at church, he was ready to do it.  He wants to declare that he is Christian and spread the word to help people. I cried...what a happy happy day, that your child decides, on his own, that he is ready and "wants" to do this! I am loving the fact that we have not pushed him, not even a little, to make this descision. I will schedule him for his baptism!  Also, after watching Jesus die for us and then rise, Blake let me know that the anxiety that he has been having a night has changed into a happy feeling, now that he understands what exactly Jesus did for him. This was the best Easter I have ever had!

He paid the price even though we weren't worth it

Billy passed this story on to me a few years ago and I have never forgotten it, thought I should post it as a reminder to myself....

There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England
town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty,
bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit.

Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to
speak...

"I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming
toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three
little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.

I stopped the lad and asked, "What you got there, son?"

"Just some old birds," came the reply.

"What are you gonna do with them?" I asked.

"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered.  "I'm gonna tease
'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real
good time."

"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?"

"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take
'em to them."

The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those
birds, son?"

"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister.  They're just plain
old field birds. They don't sing...  They ain't even pretty!"

"How much?" the pastor asked again.

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?"

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He
placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor
picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where
there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the
door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting
them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and
then the pastor began to tell this story:

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation.   Satan had just
come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes,
sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap,
used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got em all!"

"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.

Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to
marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to
drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and
bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"

"And what will you do when you get done with them?"   Jesus asked.

"Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.

"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.

"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take
them and they'll just hate you.  They'll spit on you, curse you and kill
you. You don't want those people!!"

"How much? He asked again.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your
life."

Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.

The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the
pulpit.

How can my girl be 5?!?!

I am having a hard time accepting that my baby girl could possibly be FIVE years old!!! I seriously want to cry, she will be in Kindergarten next fall...where did the time go? I feel like I am having pre-empty nest syndrome! But that didn't stop my little gal from turning 5 today...


Blake, bless his little heart, has been planning Tay's bday since Christmas. He is proud to have a Nintendo DS that he is so graciously giving her. He even helped me pick out a new skin for it, to help make it her very own. He gave her the case and all the accessories to go along with it! He even stayed up late the night before to set it all up just perfectly, to make her birthday super special. He even made her an entire activity book by hand, he has to be the best big brother a little sis could have!

Taylor woke up to gifts, a handmade cake (thanks to Blake and I), steamers, and the whole nine yards. We always do this early in the morning, so Daddy can stay and be part of it.

Aunt Sissy and Uncle Danny came over to shower her with gift after gift. They really go too far, they brought her toy puppies, toy kitties, and so much more! Then we headed to Pizza Street for lunch together, we ate pizza and played arcade games...she won a ton of candy. She calls it "the load"! lol!

This little girl is growing up, I still watch her sleep like when she was a baby. Her lips are poochy and absolutely adorable. She always insists on hugging after we have an argument to "make up", she is a little princess that can battle to the end with her big brother and his friends, she loves pretending to be a Mommy and Waitress/store owner, but her heart lies mostly with her pet animal toys. She wants to be a Zoo Keeper when she grows up...I just want to take time to play with her, before she is all grown up...Happy Birthday, my big girl.

Heart Day

I love to shower the kids with fun little "loving" gifts on Valentine's Day! Aren't all holidays, mostly about the kids?! 

Blake got the Lego Brick Old Testament Bible!

I don't think Blake stopped reading this until he was finished...
perfect gift!

My two little Loves! 
 

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Blake is NINE!!!!

Right after Christmas, Blake started the countdown to his 9th birthday. This was a birthday that he has been looking forward to for a really long time! Probably in part, that it seems like this is one of those years that drag out a kid's bday...meaning, this year, it fell on a Sunday, #1- so the KidZone at church did special stuff for him,#2- he absolutely begged to bring snacks for his classmates at school on Friday, #3 Aunt Sissy and Uncle Danny are a huge part of his big day, so they came over to shower him with love and GIFTS, then, for some crazy reason, #4- we let him invite a few friends over for a pizza movie night...that all adds up to a Birth"week", not just a birthDAY! lol!

We always have a birthday surprise ready for him, when he first wakes up on his big day! Daddy drew him a special something, we made him a card, and then filled a candy box with dollar bills!

Aunt Sissy and Uncle Danny came later, bringing him gifts and birthday spankings. She really spoiled him this year.  Then, we took him to his fave restaurant, O'Charley's to eat dinner.

They even brought him a little cake!

He got his first tablet!

Then...along comes 7 crazy boys for pizza and pokemon battles!  It was hectic from the very first second! I "tried" to keep it low stress, but I guess nothing is "low stress" with 9 kids in the house..lol! 

the hostess!!

I can't give him too much of a hard time, though... he wants to grow up and become a "teenager" so fast, and I just want to keep him little, I can already see struggles ahead! lol! So far, he insists on having long hair, that hangs in his eyes, he wants "cool" shoes (even if they have holes in them, like his jeans), he insists of doing everything himself, getting really mad at me when I try to help...saying, "MOM!"  This little guy of mine does great in school but would much rather be playing Pokemon with his friends. He is addicted to video games on his Nintendo DS or Tablet, but does just as much writing and artwork on his own creative books! His drawing is amazing! He is also wise beyond his years when it comes to understanding the important things in life, he understands God and what He has in store for him, there have been a many occasion that he "teaches" me, just what I need to know. I love this boy and am so proud of the bigger boy that he is becoming! 

Welcome 2013

I can't believe it, but we ALL stayed up until the midnight hour and toasted as the New Year was welcomed!

We made hot onion dip, cheesy crab dip, Hawaiian ham sammies, and all kinds of other goodies! We all watched the tube, snacked and had a nice evening together! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  Welcome 2013!!!