What's Taking Up Room in Your Cupboards?

Sad Little Sickies

Ok, seriously Y'all! We need some prayer. All four kiddos are sick and I am not sure I can handle the prospect of a 4th Sunday at home! They are all coughing. FaithLyn, Olivia and Judson all have fevers and it looks like Elise has an ear infection. This is how we spent most of nap time. pretty sad. They both fell asleep but Elise was woken up by her aching ear and FL woke about an hour later. Olivia was playing in her bed, but that's another story for another time........

Please pray that we will all be feeling better soon. Perhaps Judson is only teething? He has all the tell-tale symptoms; runny nose, LOTS of loose stools, fever, cranky. But Olivia has similar symptoms and there is the cough.

With four kids we are bound to have sickness run its course through our family. I just hate it when my kids are sick and I can't do anything for them. They are looking pretty pitiful.

Those are my sentiments exactly, Judson!

Now granted, I am super grateful that it's not worse. I know it could be. Thank You, Lord, for that. Besides the fact that I am about to become a shut-in by choice rather than face the world again, I mainly just want my babies to feel better! You hate to keep pumping them full of medicine. I know there are some prayer warriors out there. Would you please offer up a prayer on our behalf?

The Sick House

We are well into our third full week of confinement. The impetigo isn' t contagious anymore but now all three girls have croup! Today was the first day FaithLyn was going to get to go back to school but she has a fever. She was pretty sad. I was pretty sad, too. Today was the first day of the Women's Bible Study at church.

You know being stuck at home I found out just how selfish I really am. I *LOVE* being a mother to four kids. I admit I am frazzled, four kids five and under is harder than anything I have ever done. I often get covered up by dirty diapers, laundry, dishes, and the ever present mantra ringing in my ears, "Mommy, MOmmmmy!" But I wouldn't change it for anything. I also have to admit that there are days that I wish I could switch jobs with Dan just to get some adult interaction but if I was actually given the opportunity I would never really have the nerve to take it up. So I find myself thinking I NEED to get out. I NEED to have adult interaction. I DESERVE to leave my germ infested house. I have been putting in serious overtime.......where's my overtime pay to show for it? Know what I'm sayin'?

Last night I woke up to hear Olivia barking like a seal and I almost started crying. I knew my chances for getting out were shot. I didn't even hear Dan taking care of FaithLyn when she started barking later in the night. It's times like this that I find myself dreaming about what I want to do when the kids are grown. I would like to go back and get my Masters in Library Science.

What I remembered, or more likely God reminded me, is that the job I am doing now, no matter how absolutely draining and repetitive is the MOST important job I will ever have. I made the choice to stay home. There have been lots of times that I could have needed to work. But we CHOSE to have me stay at home. Are we suffering? Not in the least. Do we have to be careful with all that God has blessed us with? Absolutley. Just like every one else. You see, we believe that income does not determine your lifestyle. It may determine some of your choices but our happiness is not dependant on what kind of car we drive or if we have all the latest stuff that advertisers are shoving down our throats at the time. I am the first to admit that some of those things are nice, fun, and convenient but life goes on with out them.

At the same time we have been so blessed. God has provided for us in crazy amazing ways. Just ask about how we got our minivan or any of our cars for that matter. Then it's also pretty amazing how God led us to ALL of our (Dan's)jobs. Even the job Dan worked in Fort Worth.

We have never gone with out. Our needs are continually met by THE Provider. Dan works really hard too. He is a wonderful provider and an amazing father and husband. He continually puts this family first over his own "career goals." For that I am SOOO thankful.

All that said, it's easy to lose focus of the end goal. It is easy to forget why I choose to stay home. It is easy to forget how much I love changing diapers and taking care of sick kids. I know that one day when all my chicks have flown the coop I will look back on this time and wish I had cherished it more. I will NEVER look back and wish that I kept my house cleaner or that we had driven new cars or that I had spent less time with my precious children. So WHY do I so often find my self wishing I could be somewhere else; that I could finish my shower with out someone peeking in the shower curtain letting in the cold air; that I could finish at least one task with out having to rescue, change a diaper.....whatever. It must be cabin fever.

Even though I can't get anything done with out doing three other things at the same time I am so thankful that I get to be the one doing it. Because that also means I get to see my kids grow. I get to shape their worldview. I get to kiss their scraped knees. I get to watch them learn to play together and become friends with their siblings. That FAR outweighs the long nights and the endless chores.

I was reminded today that just because I am in a job of service doesn't mean I will have a servant's heart. But I want more than anything to enjoy this role that I am in. I want to be able to put the needs and wants of my children first with a good attitude and giving spirit. I don't want to WANT to be doing anything else. I really want to enjoy giving of myself for these precious little people even if I never hear "Thanks, Mom!" But that's the funny thing, I do hear that in a thousand ways every day! Smiles, laughter, so many things that make me know that my kids are thankful. Especially when a sad little sick girl walks into the room and says, "Mommy, I not feel good." and then reaches up for you to hold her........there's nothing better than being able to comfort a baby!

Worst Mom of the Year Award Goes Toooo.......

ME! Yep. I am officially a loser mom! I finally took my poor daughter to the doctor today to see if she was clear to go to preschool because we just couldn't seem to beat these chicken pox. Well, obviously, I knew three weeks was too long for chicken pox but I had no idea it could be anything else. She has a skin infection, impetigo. It probably started as chicken pox and then just kept going as impetigo. The only difference is hers was SUPER itchy. Oh well, she is still supposed to stay away from others because it is contagious but should clear up immediately with her atibiotic. SO, we will see won't we?

And Elise has croup and is feeling awful. But we know about this and she doesn't have it badly enough to need to see the doctor but it looks like my self imposed quarintine could have been a few weeks shorter if I had just gone to the doctor! Lesson learned!

Here is our version of Cindy Lou Who. (The Grinch, Dr. Suess)

Sweet Boy

We stayed home today from church. FaithLyn has chicken pox, we think. This is our second Sunday to miss. I think she is better and then a new bump appears.
But we took this opportunity to enjoy a quiet morning at home, just FaithLyn, Judson, and me. We also thought it might be a good opportunity to try out our new camera. And since we have some one who likes to take pictures, FaithLyn, and someone who likes to smile, Judson, it worked out pretty well.


These are the pictures I took but FL took some good ones too.

It is amazing to me how much he has grown. It happens overnight. One day he just layed and slept then the next thing you know he is smiling and crying just to get you to hold him. He has me wrapped around his finger. That smile just melts my heart. And you just better forget about me doing anything else when he starts cooing at me, especially when we are singing. I could stay right there singing to my little man FORRRRREVVVVVVVVVVVVERRRRRRRRR.

Christmas Count Down

Here is our version of the "Official" Bragdon cookie decorating contest. It's just not a contest it's a free for all!











As you can see we take it pretty seriously.......Olivia couldn't let something petty like clothing get in the way of her artistic genius.











We had so much fun at FaithLyn's school Christmas party. The little sisters think it is pretty cool to get to come to FayFay's class. They especially like that she always shares her special treats with them.









Big sis is taking her job pretty seriously!













The highlight of the party.....the concert. We have been talking about this party and singing the songs FOR WEEKS! Elise and Olivia knew the songs! It was fun to see her in action.

Merry Christmas!

COUSIN LUKE! We had so much fun with Luke. He is such a sweetie! I worked long and hard to win his affection. I love to hear him say Telli. He gave me lots of kisses and loves to be tickled and always asks you to "top, pease." He is so very polite. He and Olivia are only one month apart. It has been fun to see them develop and grow. It has also been interesting to note the differences in gender. They were lots of fun!

FaithLyn was so very good to include Luke. She made sure to try and get him involved in what ever they were doing. It was so fun to see them enjoying each other.

We had so much fun at Nana and Papa's house this Christmas. We love that we get to see Memaw Crabb every day!

Nana had some fun things for us to do. FaithLyn loved making hamburger cookies! Hmmm....

The girls are having fun with their Star Station. FaithLyn always tells us we are going to see her on one of those singing shows some day and now we can when ever she chooses! Lots of FUN!

Olivia was pretty excited to try our her big girl panties.

PawPaw Wayne had a brief moment with Judson before the little man got cranky.

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas. We miss our family already and we just got home today. But it's always good to be home. We wish we could have been with ALL of our family. And all of you that we love so dearly, we love and miss you all. May Jesus grant us all another year to cherish those that we love and learn to love better all that are in our lives. We are grateful for the only gift that really matters this Christmas........

Jesus, the Christ, who came to the earth to live and die so that we all might live.

Merry Christmas!

Dan's Special Gift

I wish I had a picture...I will get one soon, but last night was one of those nights that makes "it all" worth it. You know what I mean? You love what you do but you wonder if you are making any difference. Sometimes you feel like anyone could do the work you are doing and it wouldn't change things much. Last night we were so blessed by our youth group. At the end of the night right after the closing prayer a few of the Seniors left the room and ALL of the Jr. High started filing back in....hmmm curious. Then a couple of theSeniors walk in with a LARGE gift wrapped in shiny silver paper.

A little background....during the month of December, Dan has been teaching a series on the gifts of God. At the beginning of each lesson before the High school and Jr. High split he got two volunteers. Each one got to pick a gift. One was usually small and the other big. They both had to promise to eat, wear, or use what ever they received. One week it was sardines or a Sonic gift card, the next it was cute reindeer head band or cool t-shirt and a CD or one of the Seniors popping out of a box to sing a song, and so on....He was trying to express that some of God's gifts are so great but you have to wait to use them or how we often take the immediate instead of taking the more useful and desirable gift that God is preparing for us.

Back to last night....When Kaleb got the big package up front he said, "Now Dan, do you promise to accept this gift no matter what it is? You HAVE to accept it."
"OK"
So Dan started to tear into it....First you see a really nice hard case for a guitar. It was signed by lots of the youth. But that wasn't all.....It was a new Alvarez acoustic guitar with hook ups for amps! Dan was so pumped! I was crying. It was just too much!

Then we found out that they "the youth" had been planning this and collecting money for months! They couldn't have thought of something more meaningful for us. Dan loves it! I love the fact that now Dan has tangible proof that all the work and time he is investing in these kids who seem so different from himself is making a difference. I was blown away by God's goodness.

I can't believe that everyone kept mum about this from us for so long! What a blessing. We truly are blessed to be ministering here with this amazing group of teenagers and families!

Eight years and FOUR kids ago........

PEACE...PRAISE be to GOD!!!

I may be counting my chickens before they hatch, but I have to say a HUGE public Thank YOU to Jesus! Judson slept through his morning nap!!!!!!

Ok, here's the background. We had two weeks of beautiful schedule mastery. He slept when he was supposed to for as long as he was supposed to. IT was BEAUTIFUL!!!!! The only problem was that he wasn't eating like he was supposed to. After two weeks I felt like it was safe to change his schedule to a four hour. That way he would only have two and a half naps and less feedings. A break for me for sure! The first few days were like a dream then the floor fell out from under us. I think it was a combination of things but this momma's heart was in distress. It is OOOOHH so hard to go back to lots of sad crying baby when you had fallen so in love with sweet smiley well rested baby. Not to mention well rested and less-tense momma who's back had finally started to feel normal again from regular peaceful not worried about being jolted from sleep by a crying baby sleep.

We have been praying for Judson to slip back into his wonder baby sleep patterns during our breakfast prayer time. I have learned over the last four months that you NEVER- NEVVVER say "oh, listen, he went to sleep!!" Because inevitably every time you do that he starts screaming as soon as your exclamation leaves your lips.

Today, at 10 when it was time for me to give sweet boy his medicine for his reflux, which has to be given 30 mins. prior to a feeding, it had been quiet ALL morning! I just finished reading a chapter of Little House on the Prairie with the girls and I dared to say those few words.....

I asked the girls if they had noticed that Judson hadn't been crying this morning and FaithLyn said, "OH, Mom, God answered your prayer!!!" And the icing on the cake is that he didn't even wake up after I gave him medicine!! WoostinkinWHO!

I realize this may just be one step in the lengthy process, but Thank You, Lord for one step!!!

Grumbling...

Today I found myself grumbling. It all started because we have a family of racoons living in our attic. Racoons are nocturnal. That means they are playing and chasing each other in the attic above my bed at 5 am. Judson hasn't been sleeping so well lately either. Then right after I FINALLY fell back asleep, the loud obnoxious alarm went off. BLAST!

All morning I have been grumbling. Why isn't Judson sleeping. . .why are racoons living in our attic. . .why can't we make continuous progress on our savings. . .why won't my two year old obey me(? Uh..because she's two, genius!). . . why did my space heater have to die right when it got really cold. . .
You know, grumbling.

Then while I was grumbling God laid on my heart the memory of a family who had a baby right around the same time as we had Judson. Their little girl is going to have heart surgery soon, and she just recovered from lung surgery. I realized it could be so much worse. That prompted to me look at all the areas that are causing me to grumble and I was able to see all of the progress we have made. Not only COULD it be worse......it was. Not that long ago. No matter how painful it is to move in the wrong direction at least we have been making progress in the right direction. Despite our backsliding we are still making forward progress.

BUT it is so easy for me to get my eyes set on the END goal and become totally disatisfied until I reach it. And unfortunately the joy and satisfaction that comes from that success is way too short lived.

Maybe the answer is to focus on the principles, the process, not the end goal. I mean, it is important to know where you are headed. Goals are good. But the principles and discipline and motivation for setting the goals are usually more important than the goals themselves.

We usually set goals to help us reach some bigger ideal. Like, we choose not to buy what ever we want whenever we want it so that we can pay the bills at the end of the month. We believe it is important to pay the bills every month because we want to be trustworthy. We want to be trustworthy so that our lives will reflect the glory of our Lord. I get it all mixed up and start thinking, "if only (first mistake!) we made more money, then we could afford to eat out when ever we want....or insert any fleeting, unsatisfying desire."

Instead I should be thanking the Lord that my son still sleeps through the night! It really wasn't so long ago that he wasn't. I just totally take for granted how hard we worked to make it that far! Now I am belly aching because he won't sleep during the day like I want! Really the truth is, I just want it all to be fixed. I want the drive-thru version! My way, right away.

I am realizing that the reason we have to take two steps forward and then one step back is so that we will keep working towards that goal. Most things that happen easily are not cherished. Sometimes we fall back a step because we got comfortable where we were. I know that in this house....there will always be some goal to work towards. I will never be satisfied with myself in this sinful state. At least I pray that is the case.

Christmas Goings On

My new favorite Christmas tradition is celebrating Advent. Since our Sundays are pretty full already we decided to do our advent readings and candle lighting on Monday. Maybe some day we will make it to the everyday readings and candle lighting but once a week is just right for us now. Everyone loves to help light the candles. Tonight we lit the candle that represents peace.

Last night FaithLyn sang in her preschool choir Christmas musical. It was strangely absent any actual Christmas music but cute none the less. Then she had her acting debut as Mary in the manger scene of the Children's Choir musical. She was pretty pumped to get to be in the big kids show!

Here's what our front porch looks like these days.

Here's what our four month old looks like these days. Some of my favorite pictures of all the girls are taken in this very Johnny-Jump-Up.

The doctor told us to work on upper body strength so we pulled this old faithful friend out.

HAPPY JUMPING!

Christmas picture...@#$%!

WHAT WAS I THINKING?? That is only half of the pictures taken! I can't reveal the actual Christmas card picture....

I'm Still Holding My Breath....

But I think my sweet baby boy may have mastered this whole sleeping thing!! Mimi and PopPop and Aunt Judy got a taste of the chaos that was naptime and it might not have worn them out but it sure did wear me out! It was nice having four more adults around to deal with the issue and comfort the cranky boy.

After Dan's days at home he understood why I was still so frazzled. A baby that cries all day in a very unpredictable pattern is so very wearing on your nerves. I was a mess! But, this week we have made a blissful break through. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and hopefully today, we have made it through morning nap and afternoon nap undisturbed!! I can handle the other naps being shaky as long as I get a little bit of time that I can count on quiet. Sweet undisturbed, calm, tranquil, QUIET!! You don't miss it until it's gone and it has been gone for almost 4 months now. It is time that we have a healthy, regular dose of quiet. It makes THIS mommy more peaceful and easy to deal with. I am still a little back logged so don't expect me to be patient. But I am definitely more sane! Not to mention a sweeter and smileyer little man!

Today he was fussing every time I walked out of his line of vision. As soon as I returned he started to coo and smile. It was almost like he was showing off for me. I felt wooed. But he must not know that he already has my heart and I fall all to pieces every time he smiles!

The Christmas Rush!

Well, it's here. The good times and all the stress it can bring!

Mimi and PopPop and Aunt Judy helped alleviate some of that stress while they were here. They took the girls out shopping for gifts for each other. It was a great idea I had not thought of before. Each child had a budget and they had so much fun finding gifts for each other. Then they came home and wrapped them up right away. I hope this can be a tradition. I also read somewhere about a Mom who started Mom's Store. She would collect small gifts throughout the year for each child and then set up shop for all the kids. She would change the gifts for each child and they would pay for them with their money just like at any store. The great thing is you get to decide the price, the gifts and the kids still get to have some autonomy in gift giving.


SO this year we got our decorations up quickly because the girls were itching to get their gifts under the tree. Since we had help this last week we decided to try and get all our Christmas shopping done. I am officially D-O-N-E!

We are continually blessed by our Lord, the Provider. We received a Christmas bonus from the church this year. PRAISE THE LORD!! It was totally unexpected and so much appreciated. I was determined to make it work and then God just laid a blessing in our laps! So, I wanted to be diligent to use the money wisely and not use all of it. We talked and decided exaclty what to spend, we set a price limit for each person and stuck to it! Because of the bonus we decided we could make gifts for our Youth workers and Volunteers. The girls and I are going to do LOTS of baking this Christmas. I guess for the amount of gifts we are giving we did it pretty frugally but darn if I didn't spend almost all of that money!

Besides the small gifts for the youth workers we spent less on our gifts than ever before. Perhaps it's because I added it all up so I could see exactly how much I spent but I was discouraged. Dan and I love to give gifts. We find such joy in it. I guess I need to do some more work on how to do it even more frugally.

I guess the real issue is money. The more I try to be a good steward of our money the more tight fisted I become. I hate that! IT'S NOT MY MONEY ANYWAY! How do I balance frugality without squishing out the attitude of giving? It's a struggle for me. The more we budget the more I stress about the money. I am sure that it will get easier. Some parts are freeing for me. I can budget things in and not worry if I am being irresponsible. But at the same time, there is no way to budget everything and when something comes up I panic or get stressed and worry about how to make it work with my precious budget. I know it is worth it.....I am by no means giving up. But I see an attitude emerging that I am not pleased with. The more I think about the money we are given, the more I make it my own. The harder it is to let go.

Every time I turn up the heater I see dollar signs flying away from me. Why am I struggling with this now? Dan and I have always been blessed with what we need when we need it. We have always given freely and found such joy in it. It is time for me to do a deep heart examination! What happened to me? What changed?

All that said, we are still giving freely this Christmas. We are trying to focus more on Christ so our gifts are not the focus. But giving is a BIG part of how we want our children to remember this holiday. I want them to know that it IS more blessed to give than to receive. We are moving one step closer to that this year and hopefully my struggle with frugality will not become their struggle as well. Most gifts take a little bit of money, even gifts that you make. I wish that I could take my eyes off of how much is being spent and enjoy the fact that we are able to give at all!

Somewhere I got the idea that it was important for us to get ahead. Not just financially, but in other ways as well. Saving money and using it responsibly became my way of getting ahead. Instead of blessing God by using my money wisely I got focused on the money. Money is only the means to the end and I am so sick of having the wrong focus.

I would rather spend every cent we have every month and allow our children to grow up in a family that focuses on others rather than have tons of money saved away and grow children that think the dollar amount in the bank is what brings happiness.

But don't worry......I am still going to try and teach them how to make sure that there is some waiting in the bank. I just forgot for a moment that the purpose of budgeting isn't to have more. It is simply to be more responsible with what you have, whether it's a little or a lot. Some of us just have to be a little more creative in how we give to others. I can handle that. As long as I don't stop wanting to give to others.

I pray that in the HURRY, HURRY, rush of Christmas time, and all the joy and stress that it can bring that you will take time to actually enjoy all the things that we decide are so imporant to fit in. And if for some reason you find yourself begrudging the gifts you have to give; office parties, church parties, school parties, school friends, teachers, Sunday School teachers, well, then just don't! No one said you HAVE to give gifts. If you want to and can, do but don't give yourself an ulcer trying to do what you think is expected. It probably isn't. A simple homemade card or heartfelt note of thanks might mean more than that box of candy anyway!

Let's try and keep this Christmas a MERRY one!

Happy Thanksgiving! 2007

Pre-Turkey dancing with PopPop















Preparations with Aunt Judy
















The feast














Story time with Big Sis











Babies in the hood- chillin'












Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving and special time with family and friends!

Kids

Does this not just make your heart melt?
Well, I am obviously biased, being their mother and all. We just had a fun little picture shoot this morning. With the time change no one sleeps as late and we had a little extra time to have some fun.
FaithLyn is such a good big sister. I hope these three always value each others company like they do now. My little stair steps!



I caught a happy moment with Judson.





And then it was over.









This morning I went in to get him from a nap and he was just waiting for me contently. Those moments are rare! I went over and peered down at him smiling and he broke out in the biggest grin. We just cooed and smiled at each other for a while. Until I tried his patience too long and he got mad.
These moments are more common these days and I find that I cherish them more because of the days and days of fussy, sad, little Judson. If I stay home all day and everything goes just right he sleeps really well. So, most of the time he is sleeping great. When he is sleeping great he is a sweet, happy little boy. I guess he got that from me. Not the sweet, happy little boy part, the cranky when you don't get enough sleep part. I have been a tad bit more sane and even a bit happy these past few days.
Tonight I was putting Judson and Olivia to bed, they share a room. We were singing our goodnight song, Olivia has just started to sing with me; so cute! Then I turned the lights out and Olivia said her prayer and I prayed for them and then Judson started crying. So I leaned over him and started to sing pretty loudly to drown out the cries and he settled down and started to coo. It was like he was singing with me. He listened and watched until I stopped and then fussed a moment or two more. It is so nice to feel like he knows me now. I am not just the milk bar anymore. I am officially, Mama. He smiles when he sees me in the morning. I can calm him when he is restless and fussy. He knows me. He needs me. And even though I can't make it 5 minutes through any day with out being needed by 5 various people, it is nice to know that this little person doesn't just NEED me, he prefers me. Moments like that make all the other, "Tie my shoes, I need toilet paper, MOMMY!, She hit me, Why can't I have peanut butter and jelly", moments a little bit less taxing.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Patty!

I am blessed to share the same birthday as my sweet Aunt Patty. I tell you, I married into the greatest family! Not many girls can boast of that but I mean it wholeheartedly!

Hope you had a fabulous birthday as well! One of these days we need to celebrate together!
We sure do miss you!



Happy Birthday,

AUNT PATTY!!!

Visitors and My Last Year as a 20 Something.

What a great visit we had with Uncle David, Aunt Ellen and Cousin Seth! If you check out her post you can hear about the eventful trip home. I hope it won't deter them from visiting again.

The girls had a great time breaking Seth in to the world of big sisters. They tried very hard to take good care of him. He is such a sweet and easy going little guy! I mean we had 5 kids 5 and under in this house. We even managed to all get ready for church and make it there on time! But it was a group effort.

This was our first time to see David and Ellen in action as parents and it warmed my heart. They are everything and more than I ever imagined as parents.
Aunt Ellen is well known in our house for the Bear Hunt song. We did it several times and had a great time. We were REALLY into it! Maybe not the best way to calm down for bed but it was totally worth the memories we made.
Uncle David and Aunt Ellen are SOOO much fun!








Today was quite a day for me as well. My birthday celebrations started yesterday. We practice a birthday week in November. It always happens to fall the very week of my birthday......very convenient! ;)
My ladies bible study group suprised me with a cake yesterday. They blew me away with a gift certificate to a Spa! Then one of the dear ladies offered to babysit while I went! I was so overwhelmed, then I was just on a sugar high. Not really used to cake at 9 in the morning!

When I signed up for this study I picked the day time study as apposed to the night time study thinking all the other moms would be there. I was wrong. But I have been so blessed with this opportunity to get to know some of the older women of our church that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to spend time with. They have blessed me with their love and acceptance.

I have been reading the Little House on the Prairie series to the girls and Dan got me the first season on DVD! We watched the first 4 or 5 episodes today. I cried in at least 3 of the 5!
My mother-in-love suprised me with a cake. Last year she was here to make me a cake, this year she ordered me one from the local bakery. What a treat! The roses were delivered this morning! (From Dan)


This afternoon at nap time I grabbed Olivia and we cuddled on the couch for a few minutes before Dan wisked her off to bed. In this picture we were saying, "Double Trouble!" This was right after we had been tickling her and she screamed, "That kickles!!"


Oh, and today while we were watching LHOTP, Pa picked up his fiddle after the girls had all gone to bed and he started to play. Then they moved the camera to a close up of the lamp. You could see the fire flickering. Elise was watching so intently and then she said, "Look, his music makes the fire dance." WOW! That floored me. I didn't even know what to say so I didn't say anything and she said, "Momma, look, his music is making the fire dance." I just grabbed her up in my lap and held her close. Isn't it amazing the things that kids can see!?

Everything about today was somewhat magical. And I am not just talking about how it was my birthday. Maybe that had something to do with it. Because it was my birthday I paid closer attention or something, but today was one of those days I would love to live over and over again. There were so many sweet memories. Like this morning when I heard the pitter patter of little feet as FaithLyn came straight to my room to tell me Happy Birthday first thing.

Then later tonight getting to have dinner with just Dan. We got talk. I realized how much I had to say. It was a good dinner. After that we went to a movie. Dan in Real Life. GREAT movie. I laughed so HARD. I think the other people in the movie theater were actually laughing at me rather than the movie. Then I cried. Hard. It was such a great movie. It had it all, laughs, drama, great music, a romance......what more could you ask for?

We came home to a quiet house, the kids were sleeping, the dishes were done..........free babysitters! My cup runneth over!

Rainy Day Tag

I was tagged by Gerlthouse to share what we do on rainy days. I want really badly to tell you all that we do something really special and meaningful....but we don't. It rained so much this past year that our house is sinking! Well just the bricks really. Let's see what are some of the things that we have done during the monsoon season. I can't think of anything that we do everytime. We usually watch a little more TV than normal. Sometimes we will pull out a game or read lots of books. Those are usually the days we might make cookies or something sweet to eat. I try to make them special somehow but rainy days always seem to become laundry days. We all sit in front of the TV together and I fold mountains of laundry. My kids like those days and I justify it because I am getting something done in close proximity to my children so I can monitor what they are watching. It eases my conscience anyway.

Personally, I am just making it through life right now. Just making it through a day, rainy or not, is a reason to rejoice in our house. I am focused on the big memories like holidays. That, I can tackle. We are also trying to figure out how to incorporate family worship into our schedule and what we want it to look like.

The girls always ask to do crafts or play with play dough. But the crafts take planning and clean up and the play dough takes monitoring and clean up. Those things I just don't have much energy for right now. Someday soon, but not yet.

But I would love to hear what you do! Someday I will be sleeping at night and I might even be able to get a nap every once in a while so I might need some back up ideas!
So, FordeFam, Shannon, and Ellen, I would love to hear how you do things!

I just found a tree like our blessing tree on the family fun website. They call it the thankful tree. I guess I am not as creative as I thought. Oh well. Some people come up with ideas and others make them happen, right? Did you see how I spinned that to make myself feel better? But the blessing tree was new to us! Happy November!!

The Kitten Litter

Here are all the kitty cats. I only made Judson wear a bib. But next year!! We had lots of fun last night at our church Trunk & Treat.

FaithLyn had her first preschool party and boy was she pumped! We got to all go and be there to see her sing the songs they had learned. Very cute and so interesting to see how she interacts with the world when we are not there all the time. She is such a sweet girl.

But in this picture she is a fierce cat! Don't get too close or you will find out just how sharp her kitty claws are!

Isn't this little guy growing so fast!? I am sure that if I mention this here it will stop but for the last three nights Jud the Stud has been sleeping through the night!!!! He is even sleeping through at least 2 naps, usually both morning, and sometimes the afternoon nap! I am not sure if I should begin to hope that we are finding some kind of normal or not. But I will definitely take what I can get and be ever so grateful!

Studley has some pretty sweet big sisters. I hope he appreciates how much they love him. FaithLyn begged us to take a picture of them all resting together for a moment while mommy got the fan going for nap time. Pretty sweet.