Spring 11 catch up post

it's been busy.  kind-of.  i've actually taken some pictures (but am feeling too lazy to do separate posts so i'm just going to jam them all into one post.)  the following are the things that have been keeping us busy these days:


we had our backyard put in. (the day before chad left for seminary for 2 weeks)
for over 1 1/2 years we've been staring at a big pit in the backyard where there used to be an above ground pool.  the sand under the pool was packed down so hard from having a pool on it for 20ish years it was like concrete.  chad built me two long skinny raised beds for gardening. we are using this method: square foot gardening 
watering our new lawn and speaking to it kindly to encourage it to grow as well as planting the garden has taken a bit of time this spring.

soon i will post some "after" pics as the lawn has listened to my kind words and is coming in quite nicely (well aside from a couple trails of footprints where i walked across it after watering it too long... hmm those will fill in eventually right?)

next up:  SOCCER

both of the older girls chose to play soccer this year (we are lame-o parents and make them choose one sport/activity to do)

much of the season was crazy cold and was spent spectating from the warmth of the inside of the van strategically parked without an obstructed view.

and SPRING PROGRAMS: only 1 of 2 programs were photographed cause really? they looked the same both times.  though in the first program (the one that's pictured) my K kid had a one line speaking part, she may be famous someday now ya know ;)

aaaaaaannndddd a super exciting thing: POTTY TRAINING

yep. miss j is pretty much there.  i warned her that once she was 3 there would be no more diapers except for sleeping.  in about a week she had it pretty much down.  big giant sigh of relief as we cut our diaper consumption down in almost half.  her only issue:  she has no "sit" in her, so when she needs to, ya know, "sit" for a bit it doesn't happen and she goes flying in and out of the bathroom about 10 times before the deed is done. thus i tried a little "computer" time to keep her sitting.  (makes you want to let your kids over to my house to play with our toys, huh?) ;)

and lastly: FAMILY

ummmm, where's the pictures you ask? 

huh.  maybe still on my camera?  nope.

no pics.  but my mama has spent the last couple of weeks with me and my girls while chad was gone.  what an amazing blessing to have her here.  she even made me coffee every day and did my dishes.  (yep, me = spoiled) now she is at my sister's house.  just a short drive away so i can still run and see her.  AND she will be back at our house again in mid/later june to celebrate her birthday. 

we also have some extended family visiting the area and they unexpectedly ended up staying longer due to health issues (boo on health issues).  so while it is wonderful to see them a little more, we pray they can heal quickly and return to the comfort of their own home.

alrighty, all caught up!

what i hear on a daily basis

i {heart} miss J

this girl is so full of life.  her smile lights up the room and she does everything with gusto.  if i could bottle up a 10th of her energy my house would be spotless each day and all those projects on my list would be finished.  she makes me laugh every day.  happy 3rd birthday my awesome, super, cool, pretty, sweet girl (she claims that she is not any of those things... "I not awesome.  I not cool.")

at this stage in her life she loves to sing (at the top of her lungs of course).  her favorite songs: "Jesus Loves Me" and "Old McDonald" she loves her tot church class on Sundays and this past year attended "Little Lambs" class while I went to Coffee Break Bible Study and absolutely adored it. we are working on the potty training thing.  i warned her that 3 year olds do not wear diapers except for sleeping and so far we have pretty much held true to that.  we have only had 1 or 2 accident free days yet though.  she knows how to count to about 12 and can recognize numbers 1 - 10 written out.  she recognizes all the letters of the alphabet and knows all her colors.  she is still a pip squeak (cause the little bit that i do manage to get her to sit still and eat gets burned off within minutes)

her beautiful smile

perpetual motion

party guests (miss baby looks like she's takin' out g-ma D with an elbow side shot, lol)

the "f" word at our house

this sweet and sensitive girly doesn't want to say the "f" word.  so thoughtful. 

so this is her line while conversing over dinner a few nights ago:  "so you know, I don't want to use the "f" word cause that's mean, but he's kind of wiiiiddde."

yep.  the "f" word at our house?  = FAT 

;) 

Easter

we had a beautiful Easter day.  after a week of rain and cold and even some snow, Sunday was full of sunshine and warmer temps.  the sun warmed my soul and i felt such joy in my heart for an amazing Savior, who's sacrifice I will never grasp but can only have a heart of gratitude for loving me so much. 

well after church, i decided Easter pictures were a must.  all of us. dressed up. at the same time.  such an occasion does not happen all that often.  i must document it.

a decent-ish  pic of all the girlies...... 

and then the not-so-great, read wildly unsuccessful attempt at a family pic:

the youngest two looking elsewhere and the second dd is pulling a "where's waldo"

hmm, another where's waldo and only 2 of the 6 of us actually looking at the camera

the last attempt... miss j can't help but point at the camera since we are telling her to look at it.
patience had worn thin and it was as good as it was gonna get. 
maybe next year.  (i wonder how many years yet i will proclaim this until we actually get a decent pic?)

5 things i {heart}

my lack of picture taking lately leaves me to trying to think of other things to post on my blog.

for prosperity sake (really? probably not) i will note the top 5 things that have my attention lately (well, aside from the everyday stuff like my kids/hubby/house,etc...)

1.)  running.  (WHA????) yep, running folks.  this from a girl who was a self-proclaimed non-runner and would intentionally slow down her pace in high school when running the mile so she would never have to run the 1 1/2 mile.  currently i am up to running 2 1/2 to 3 miles a day.  so no marathons or anything and i'm not super fast by any means but i feel pretty good about it and love the burst of energy it has been giving me. woot for running! (who knew?)

2.) fashion.  shocker to those friends and family who knew me long ago right? not really.  my mom teased me about changing my clothes ump-teen times a day as a little girl and i LOVED to shop with her (even just to the grocery store) i have always loved clothes and fashion and shopping.  having babies and one income kind of put a damper on that for awhile but recently i have rediscovered my love for fashion and clothes.  finding a personal style and feeling comfortable and confident in what i am wearing is awesome! something that fuels my fire for this (a.k.a. something i spend WAY too much time looking at each week) is this weekly blog linky party: http://thepleatedpoppy.com/2011/04/what-i-wore-wednesday-20/  and while i have no plans to participate in such things i do find myself running off to my bedroom to dig through my closet and try different outfits on. 

3.) thrifting.  this goes somewhat hand in hand with the above.  i have discovered the fun of "thrifting" (especially for fun vintage items) but it's a good thing there aren't too many "Goodwill" stores nearby.  we would only have beans to eat then since i would be using up our grocery money on all those great finds! this stems farther than just clothes though (actually the thrifting for clothing is a very new practice of mine... i've done it, umm, twice now i think? and i probably still prefer to just shop sales at regular stores) it started with looking for things for my house.  i really really really love vintage things. really. my most recent vintage find that i am in love with:
a little floral tea tin by Daher (here is a link to similar on Etsy cause i am too lazy to take a pic of it and upload it: http://www.etsy.com/listing/71953728/pretty-tin?ref=sr_gallery_34&ga_search_query=Daher&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_facet=vintage)  it's adorable and came home with me for only $1 :)

4.) Echo Park Paper Co. http://www.echoparkpaper.com/collections/
seriously cute kits for scrapbooking.  in the last few months i have gotten the "Walk in the Park" and the "Life is Good" kits but have my eye on several others. 

5.) Pretty Little Studio http://shop.prettylittlestudio.com/welcome/ 
related to scrapbooking again, i came across this company a couple months ago through another blog i follow and totally fell in love.  not a big surprise when you see that they are all about adorable vintage images and classic patterns. mmmm, lllloooovvve. and the BEST part of all this???  i entered one of their giveaways and WON! yay me! i won the entire "April Showers" collection and it should be arriving at my door next week sometime.  made. my. day.  can't wait to use it :) 

so that is all for now.  time to go hop on the treadmill before naptime is over :)

all grown up

i think it's official.

my hubby is all grown up. 

he is now the owner of a suit.  like a for real matchy pin stripe spiffy suit. 

the occasion?  he officiated his second wedding last weekend. 

side note: the first time he officiated a wedding it was an outdoor wedding and more "casual" so he got away with just a tie and white shirt... well, and pants too of course ;)

but let's be real here.  a suit does not make you a grown up.  it just gives the appearance of being a grown up.  i just played kickball with him at youth group tonight and watched him slide tackle one of the students, kick dirt on one of the students and in general just be a total fun loving freak.  I have to say, I LOVE that about him.  I also think he looks hottt in his suit.  Best of both worlds is what I've got ;)