just some pictures

Sofia just went out one morning and started dancing around in her boots!

Moses my happy boy!
It just melts my heart when the kids love on each other!
Easter Sunday
Zeke and his cousins, the boys love to wrestle every time they get together! Sofia tries to get in on the wrestling as much as possible!

They say it's your birthday!

Yesterday I didn't get a chance to post another blog, but I really wanted to in honor of my amazing husband!!
He turned 33!!!!
We started dating when I was 16 and he was almost 18. He was the cool older guy in the youth group and I couldn't believe he asked me out!!!
It is amazing to me that we have been together for almost half of my life.
He is my true partner in every sense of the word. He is the one who makes me laugh harder than anyone, who understands me and all of my crazy quirks, who knows what I am going to say before I do. When I think about all the things we have been through together and how he has been my voice of reason, my positive outlook, the only one who can make me smile in the worst situation, I am so grateful for his partnership.
Dan can make me laugh harder than anyone I know, I love that we have so much fun together, that he is still the one I can't wait to see at the end of the day. That we can still lay in bed and laugh so hard that we can't breathe and might pee our pants!
We will be married 10 years next month and I love that we have this amazing history together.
Dan you complete me... j/k
I love you Dan happy birthday I hope when you turn 43 you will still want the same birthday present!

We made it home!

Some highlights from my day of travel alone with my three crazy kids!

*Getting to the airport 2 hours early and keeping my 3 kids contained in one area.
*Sofia getting into EVERYTHING, she handed an old lady a chip off the ground and Carol's wallet.
*Boarding the plane and Zeke insisting on carrying an open bowl of rice, because the 2 hours he had to eat it before boarding were not enough time. He refused to carry his backpack, he thought since I had Moses, a diaper bag and Sofia to manage that I should also be fine carrying his backpack.
*Moses falling asleep after take off (that was amazing!)
*The guy next to me across the aisle being bald and covered in tattoos! Moses stared and smiled his big tooth grin at him the ENTIRE time!!
*My kids actually sitting and behaving well on the plane!!!
*Getting off the plane, forgetting Sofia's lovey, trying to keep Sofia from going into each row as the annoyed people behind us wait for me to try to steer her, while carrying Mo and 2 bags.
* Sofia going into the cockpit!
*Nice strangers helping me put Sofia in her stroller, and helping me carrying my luggage.
* Taking 3 kids and bags into a bathroom stall, and holding Moses in my baby hawk while trying to pee. Did I mention Zeke opened the stall door while this was happening?
* Getting my kids contained in the car and finally driving home!

We made it and it really went so smooth compared to what could have happened!
Thanks for praying for us, and thank goodness for the kindness of strangers!

I think my kids are funny

Some conversations lately...

Setting:
Zeke is mad about something, having to go to bed, or doing homework, I can't remember.
Zeke: I don't want to, I am not doing it mama!
Me: Zeke please be a good listener
Zeke: No! I'm just gonna put Sofia to bed with no dinner!

Setting:
Zeke is mad about something
Me: Zeke you need to do _____ or you are going to loose privileges
Zeke: Well I'm just gonna put Moses back in your tummy!!
Me: I don't think he would fit anymore, he is too big!!

Setting:
Driving in the car after school
Zeke: we watched a video about Jesus dying on the cross today
Me: oh what did you think?
Zeke: when I have to be nailed to the cross I think it is gonna hurt!

Lately when we go and check on the kids before we go to bed we have been finding Sofia in her bed surrounded by Zeke's most precious items. She has been waiting for him to fall asleep then she sneaks in his bed and steals things like his favorite stuffed animals, the cat immojean, the dog snow doggie, his hummer, his lego creations!
She takes apart his lego creations and is surrounded by the pieces!
Zeke is very protective of these things so we find it quite funny to see her with them asleep!
If Zeke only knew!
I can't wait to see what kind of things Moses is going to do!
Last night we were getting in the car to go to winco and it was just chaos, it is raining, everyone is getting wet, someone is crying, someone dropped their apple slices, Sofia has boogers everywhere, her shoes are falling off etc. I have the tendency to get flustered and aggravated, but then I have to laugh and try to embrace the constant chaos, I would miss the craziness that is our life right now!

dirty kids

This is what my kids are going to look like everyday from now until October when it starts to get cold!
I love living outside!!

Hangin with the ladies

Went up to Weaverville this weekend for Women's retreat.
First of all never been to Weaverville, thought it was so cute and quaint, antique stores and historic town, i love places like this.
I loved just being with the girls, so many friends and new friends it was awesome to just be together.
We did a Beth Moore video series, and I had never heard her before. She cracks me up and the series we picked, Loving Well was perfect for our ladies, I think anyway!
I had some really great times of prayer with a couple of girls and I was so thankful I could be a part of the process that God is taking them through.
I am so so so proud of Rebecca, she did an awesome job planning and pulling the whole thing off. I know she spent a lot of time in prayer for the weekend and the ladies going, it was so sweet to see what God did through the weekend.
It is cool to think back at last years retreat where there were 40 of us in a cabin, now 72 of us got to come together and just love and encourage each other through in this crazy life. So thankful for friendships that a year ago were non-existent! I remember feeling like I was never going to feel at home here, never going to have deep friendships, I am so thankful for The Stirring!
Anyway love all you girls and can't wait to see what next year will look like!!

Battles

It has been such a long day. It seems lately everything is a battle with Zeke. He is our strong energentic boy, who loves to have his own opinion and is not afraid to tell you what he thinks and how he feels.
All day today was a fight, getting dressed, what to eat for breakfast, what shoes to wear, doing homework, wanting to play in the water outside (he seems to think 60 degree weather means bathing suits and the hose being on).
We had battle after battle today, and it is like that every single day. I can't just ask him to do something easy, it always turns into a fight.
I just get discouraged and tired sometimes.
I don't like how impatient I get, how frustrated I become.

Just a minute ago Zeke came out of his room, I was laying on the couch he came and kissed my forehead and said he loved me. As he was walking back to his room he turned around and said mama you know God is always with you, and you can talk to him anytime, he hears you.
Moments like those make the rest of the chaotic day melt away and I see a little piece of Jesus coming out in him. What a gift.
I am pretty sure God knew I needed a little something.