Thankful Tuesday

I have a regular thing I do on Tuesdays called "thankful Tuesday." It is where I post at least five things I am thankful for every week. They say that doing this can make you a happier person and who doesn't want to be happier? Anyway, this week I am thankful for:

1. I am thankful that we got Christmas paid for without using any credit cards and without asking for any help. That is a HUGE blessing for me. 
2. Stephen's paycheck! He got paid Friday for the first time and it will be an amazing blessing to have two incomes. We are still praying about his job. There is a lot up in the air, if you wouldn't mind praying as well, it would be appreciated. 
3. I am thankful that we have been able to teach the girls the importance of giving this season and also about how to budget their money. Over the weekend we gave them each $20 to buy each of their sisters a present. It was a fun experience. 
4. I am thankful for fun coworkers. We had a work Christmas party this weekend  and we had so much fun. It's nice to be able to dress up fancy and enjoy some adult time.  
5. I am thankful for the Williams' family. We did a gift exchange again this year for the kids and it is so fun to be able to share that time with them. We didn't get to stay long because we had a sick kid, but we loved it no less.
   

1000 Gifts: three gifts starry

• It is a gift to be able to look at the stars in the sky and know that I worship the God who created them. 
• It is a gift to have a star on the top of our tree, as a reminder of what the star over Bethlehem meant back when Jesus was born. 
• It is a gift to see "stars" in the eyes of my children when they look at a pretty light display or a beautiful Christmas tree. And to know that they know the reason for the season. 

Wordless Wednesday

This is sweet "baby" Kyrie and she is ONE YEAR OLD today! Happy birthday sweet girl!

WW: Easter Recap!

Linking up with Mama Kat again this week for writers workshop. If you want to learn more about it, click the link at the bottom of this post. The prompt I chose this week is: Easter recap!

For those who are my friends on facebook, some of these pictures will be a repeat, but I will add some more explanation so you can really feel how our day went.

Day started out at 12:30 am. Yes, 12:30. You see, my eldest decided that it would be a good idea to eat a whole ton of junk food all day Saturday. So, she was up at 12:30 sick. This is our first episode of tummy bugs since the separation, so I was a little worried about how I would handle it. You see, Jimmy was usually the one who dealt with the vomit. But, I did handle it and didn't even get sick myself. Anyway! She finally settled down and I think I got to bed by 1:30 am or so.

The other two girls decided that 7:30 was a good time to get up, I could hear them chattering about their baskets.


Then we headed to church. The girls with their empty baskets for the egg hunt. They realized just before breakfast that the baskets doubled as great hats, so I had to take a picture!


Then Liv asked me ever so sweetly to take a picture of her like this, goofball!


Then we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with our church family. I was so blessed to get to sit by these two.


This kids expressions never fail to make me smile! I was also blessed to see a couple of people I haven't seen for a few years. We had a conversation that really uplifted me.


Then we hunted eggs!

you can see Natalie in the purple jacket and M in the brown and pink one

They ended up with full baskets and happy faces. From left to right we have: Zander, Alivia, Natalie, McKayla and Jadee.


Between the egg hunt and the services we had some time so I captured a few pics of Angel and her sweet baby girl Kyrie (almost a whole year old now!)


And then I had M take a picture of Angel and I. She's become such a great friend to me.


And we had a bit more time to kill, so M and I did a few selfies. This is the picture where the goofball told me she was smiling!


Nothing quite like an altar and holiness table covered in lilies. They just remind me of the fresh white start we get from Jesus.


By the end of the service I was feeling like this. Too bad I'm not a baby and can't get away with it.


After church we had a very low key afternoon. The girls played outside with Jadee and I spent the afternoon watching episodes of How I Met Your Mother and reading some more of my book Untold. Loved having the afternoon to just chill.

For dinner we had Papa Murphy's pizza and had the girls' daddy over. They were so excited to have both their parents around for the holiday. I was glad to be able to give them that. By 8:30 everyone was in bed except mommy, who was up still watching some How I Met Your Mother and getting some blogging done.

How was your Easter?

Celebrating 2!

Yesterday was a busy day for us. We had church and then headed straight over to Josh and Angel's house for Zander's 2nd birthday celebration. Feels like just yesterday we were celebrating his first! I wish I had thought to take some pictures, but I didn't. I just sat and enjoyed the festivities.

As we enjoyed cake, ice cream and presents, I couldn't help but let my mind wander. I was thinking about how amazingly blessed I am. A year ago I would have never guessed what a support this family has been for me. Not only are they willing to watch my girls, but they have helped in so many other ways. God knows what he is doing, that much I know. When He brought Angel to the church, as a nursery worker, I would have never guessed what He had in mind for our families. I would have never even known them if she hadn't taken on a second job.

Anyway, besides the birthday party, I did a bit of reading Sunday afternoon. I am planning to join Erika tonight for a discussion about chapter two of The Normal Christian Life. This will be my first time meeting with this group of ladies, and I am a little anxious, but I know that God will let me take something from this discussion. Chapter one was all about the blood and chapter two is all about the cross. I will be sure to share some more about what I learn later.

Wordless Wednesday

30 Days of Thanks Day 23

I am thankful for Final Kick Events. It's a local racing organizer in the Boise area. They have well organized and fun themed races, offer FREE race pictures and they have an amazing volunteering program. If you volunteer for one of their races, they give you a free entry for a later race. It's a wonderful thing when you are a runner on a budget. I am actually volunteering for my first race tomorrow, Struttin' for Stuffin'. I will be working at the aide station, so that should be a fun one! It's early enough that it won't interfere with my holiday plans at all. =) If you live locally, you should consider running in or volunteering (or both!) for one of their races. It is so important to support our local community.

And an unrelated, but adorable picture of two of the girls and my "rent a
baby" helping lead a song at church.

30 Days of Thanks Day 8

Zander with Mommy

I know I have said it before, but I don't think you can really hear thank you enough. I am so very thankful for our babysitters (and friends!) Josh and Angel. They came into our lives when we really needed them. Angel had sent me a text offering to watch the kids if we needed help. I don't think I could have replied faster. It was at a time we were really struggling with child care. Since then they have become one of our most regular sitters. Not only that, they have allowed us to come along side them and watch their kids. Makes me feel so much better to have it be mutually beneficial. Don't tell them I told you, but I also really like having their younger

Kyrie with Daddy

kids (21 months and 6.5 months) once in awhile. Makes me feel a bit less like having another of my own! I am also thankful for the friendship that is forming between us. Angel and Josh even invited us to be a part of their wedding which was amazing. I have another story that tells you just how amazing Angel is. Hopefully she doesn't get mad at me putting this out there, but I'm gonna risk it. Awhile back my kindle was stolen. Natalie had been playing with it in the waiting room of my office, when she left to go to the restroom someone swiped it. I was so frustrated. I couldn't be mad at Natalie, but it was definitely an expensive lesson for her to learn. I resigned myself to being kindle-less for awhile since it wasn't in the budget to replace it. But one night when she came to pick up her kiddos, she handed me a bag and told me not to open it until she was gone. Inside was a kindle that she found me on craigslist. It was such an unexpected blessing that I nearly cried. The note that accompanied it will be just for me, but know that her heart is PURE GOLD. I can't think of a time in my life that was more divinely planned. He knew that we needed Josh and Angel and put them in our lives just when we would accept the help they were offering. I am endlessly thankful for their help with our kids and also for the friendship we have formed.

My Rent-a-Babies

This is Mr Zander. He will be 2 in January and is non-stop. I think he ran the entire time we were at the harvest party. Then didn't go to sleep until after 11 pm once we got home (maybe all the sugar we fed him?)

 And this is Kyrie. She is almost six months. Last night she was just loving this seat (for about 20 minutes I think!) I would bang my hand on the tray and she would just laugh. It was fun.

Whenever I am feeling like I want another baby, I just borrow one from someone else! They fix my baby craving right up =)

365/270: Thankful Thursday

It's that time of the week again, a chance for me to really examine my life and take note of the things I am thankful for. Listing what you are thankful for is clinically proven to increase happiness (you can learn more about that here) So, I have made it my goal to list the things I am thankful for at least once a week. If you want to join in, be sure to let me know so I can read yours!

1. I am thankful for migraine medications. I had a really rough weekend and also a rough week with headaches.
2. I am thankful that the nurses in my office are willing to listen to my concerns and don't paint me as the hypochondriac that I often feel like.
3. I am thankful for my church family who is willing to step in and help with my girls.
4. I am thankful for my work family and specifically Megan who was willing and excited to watch my girls over the weekend while I was racing.
5. I am thankful for children who are finally able to entertain themselves. I would have been in a LOT more trouble if I still had babies.

As much as I LOVE watching this sweet girl and her brother, I am SO grateful
I had them Sunday and not Saturday.

365/262: Wordless Wednesday (mostly)

 Another loyal fan! Thanks to my sister, I am working my way through the seasons of Glee on netflix. While watching Mr Zander this weekend, he couldn't take his eyes off the singing. He was even dancing along! =)

365/253: Motivation Monday

My motivation: for these girls to be proud of their mommy!

365/245: Cat Napping

I am sure I've already mentioned here that I have been babysitting a friends kiddos when they need help. The kids are 19 months (boy) and 4 months (girl). But, what I didn't mention is that I also get to kitty sit. This sweet girl is Razzle and she just loves to cuddle. It's so nice to have a warm furry body snuggled up against me. I snapped this pic Friday night. What you can't see is that McKayla is also asleep the opposite end of the couch. She was pretty bummed that the kitty didn't want to sleep with her. But after I explained that she just needed to sit still a bit more.

365/222: Funny Friday!

This is Daddy, burping Kyrie and Natalie burping daddy. Made me laugh so hard when Natalie just jumped up on the couch and started doing this! lol

365/221: Thankful Thursday

 I am so very thankful that we have Josh and Angel in our lives. Because with their friendship, comes a baby we can borrow. Kyrie and her brother Zander helped me remember what the baby stage was like. Also gave me another reminder of why I am really glad we are done with the baby stage. Though I will admit, watching Jimmy with her made me really think about our decision. I do miss the cuddling and the baby sounds. =) Plus, I have the most excellent co-partner to help me raise our girls.

Happy Birthday Zander!

This week we got to celebrate the birth of a beautiful little boy. Zander is the son of one of our babysitters. We have LOVED getting to know him (and his mommy and daddy) this last year. And I am very excited to help them welcome a new baby girl into their family come May. New friends are wonderful, aren't they?!





And who doesn't love the bath after the 1st birthday cake? I just thought this was too sweet. Had to snap a picture!