Changes

Wow, it has been awhile.  So many things have happened to our family over the course of the last eight months, I do not even know where to begin or how to find the beginning!  My husband is now home full time and we are running our business.  So we have been working side by side to get all these projects done: clean out the shed, clean out the garage, work on the lot, work on the garden, reorganize the food storage, paint the house, well you get the idea.  I like things done quickly and proficiently, he likes them done perfectly and slowly.....you can see the problems here all ready.  So this unemployment thing really does have its benefits...we are learning and growing together, not too mention there is time for all the projects that I really want done! This may be a rough time for us and our children but at the end of the day I am going to keep remembering that all that really counts in the end is our family, and we have a great one! I am trying to find joy in the small things, blessings in the hard, and most importantly find an inner peace like no other!

Terrible Twos, here we come.....again!

Like I said the terrible twos are quickly approaching our house again, see he wont even let you sing him HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Our baby is two! How is this even possible, we tried for years to bring this precious life into our family, and it paid off!  He has brought us all so much joy, love, happiness and busyness I do not even know where to start!  Isaac you are a momma's boy through and through just like Brandyn used to be, before he grew up and became too cool for me (I am still going to say that it is just an act...sshh). The best way to describe you is BUSY!!! You are the only child that I have had that required me to install a lock on the door because you figured out both the dead bolt and the main lock before you were 2!!! This should not surprise us though you were scaling the gate at the bottom of the stairs at 15 moths! You make us all laugh at your hysterically, you get that from Savannah! There are times that I just want to freeze time and keep you small and then I have to remember that I am so looking forward to the man you will become, from my perspective now all I can say is......WATCH OUT WORLD!!!!

Pinata Time with your friends and your cousin!

Taylor trying to show you how to hit the pinata, though you are all ready pretty proficient in using a bat!

She is ELEVEN!!!!

Taylor is a giant goof ball, one that keeps me smiling, laughing, and some days crying (she is just too much like me)

Well Taylor turned 11, there are just no words to describe the love I feel for her!  My first born daughter, she changed me and the way I thought about things in so so many ways.  She is my mini me, but a better version...she LOVES cooking, sewing, crafting, dancing, being a social butterfly and doing nice things for everyone around her!  She is just amazing!  I can not believe that eleven years have come and gone and she is growing into a lovely young woman right before my eyes!  Taylor Rose, you have taught me to dance like no one is watching, to love my imperfections, but most importantly....you have given me the most beautiful gift of all.....the love of a mother and daughter! Happy Birthday Tater Tot!!! YOU are an amazing girl!

Brandyn and Me......

Today Brandyn and I went to lunch alone, just the two of us, IT WAS GREAT!!! See I have amazing kids, and I love them all to pieces but hanging out with my teenager and having him laugh and smile the entire time was so fun.  We are usually all together as a family, so there can be numerous interruptions but not today.  We have always been very close and as he approaches the time that he will be leaving home soon, I find myself hoping and praying that I have done right by him, taught him enough, shared with him everything he will ever need, but of course I have not, I am not a perfect mother, just a mother who loves him, loves to listen to him, loves to get beat at Halo (yes I suck at video games), loves his goofiness, loves his drive and zest for life, and most importantly love that he is my son......

He even lets me take goofy pictures of him!!

Florida

Well this time around we did Disney we went to Florida.....It was a different place.  I love Disneyland so it was bigger and lots more to do.  We had a great time.  The one thing I really wanted to do was show Brandyn Sea World, you see he fell in LOVE with Free Willy about the time he was three and actually still at 15 refuses to let me get rid of our Free Willy Set, we have replaced the VHS Tapes with the DVDS but I know he still has a heart for that whale and Jesse too.  We got to Sea World just in time for the show, and I was talked into sitting in the front row and getting soaked by these magnificent creatures.  Brandyn totally loved the show and we were feet away from the whales at one point I thought he could possibly reach out and touch one so here are some pictures of them......

What a magnificent shot

The whale waving at us

Feeding the sharks, everyone is in ponchos, because it was raining!! I know now that it can RAIN and snd still be 80 DEGREES!!!

Introducing.....

Well here she is our newest family member........Happy

We brought this little cutie home from the pound and saved her life.  I told the kids that we would go and look but NOT get a dog so don't ask, I thought the were pretty clear about us not getting a dog....hahaha! We came home with her and she is sweet.  I am NOT a dog a person they chew things, bark, dig holes, make a mess, well you get the point but Happy has found a place in my heart and she is growing on me. She loves the kids, sits in my lap when I am reading, and for the most part doesn't leave my side.  It is really fun watching the kids with her, they adore her and somehow she adores them climbing on her, picking her up, and playing with her so I guess Happy is a good dog for us.  Happy is teaching me about patience and she is teaching the kids about love and responsibility for an animal, so I guess for the next twenty years or so Happy will be here to fill our home with love, barking and her sweet self!!! Welcome aboard Happy!

What we have been doing.....

Well here I am back into the swing of things....sorta if that is possible! Brandyn will be driving in 2 weeks, Taylor is still dancing about 20 hours a week, with her spring recitial coming up in another month or so, Savannah is busy learning how to read and being my cuddle bug, and Isaac well he is 20 months old, into everything, talking up a storm and keeping us all on our feet..... life you just can't make it up!

WHAT I AM ENJOYING NOW

The kids, growing, changing and smiling every day

Crafting

Warm Weather

The Pursuit of the Lord

The Challenges of Motherhood

The Park

Running with my son

Even through all the hard times, I am trying to find greatness in everyday things that the lord is blessing me with.  I am grateful for all I have in life, even the sorrows (all though honestly, these do get the best of me some days). However, one foot in front of the other one and I can say that my best days are sure to be ahead of me!

Love this smile, and her first lost tooth.......Yes she was so very proud, and with all her sensory issues, it bothered her so terrible, she let me pull it out as long as I promised to stop when she said....Just as she said STOP, I had the tooth! What a sweetie......



To be broken....

Well I was told this week that in order for God to turn me into something wonderful and beautiful, so I can become what HE wants in my life that I am walking through this fire trying to figure it all out!  I am not sure this is what I would have chosen for myself, my family, my kids, and our future, but sadly here it is and what can I do run away from it all?  I am a fighter and a fixer, when things get tough, I resort to these inner qualities.  So I am fighting and seeking God's Will for what he wants me to do, this is proving very challenging to me but I will find it through prayer and his word. 

HERE IS A VERSE I FIND MYSELF GOING TO A LOT RIGHT NOW:

Trust in him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before him; God is a refugue us

PSALM 62:8



When Life Gets Tough.....

That would make a great title to a book don't you think?  Well we have been going through a lot of very private and personal family matters....which I WILL NOT be sharing on this blog.  I have a lot to work through with my husband and God right now, so I will be back soon.

What I am learning:

Life is not perfect, even we try to make it that way

People we love can and will hurt you

Trust is hard to gain and easily stolen

Life has a way of surprising me and keeping me on my feet

I AM ME, AN IMPERFECT WOMAN THAT IS IN SEARCH OF THAT PERFECT LIFE THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE HERE ON THIS EARTH BUT I WILL KEEP TRYIING!