~Big Man!~

I can't believe that London is 2! He is getting so big and well...crazy!! I think the terrible two's have hit our house.
Since I am two, I like to do:
*Hit or use anything to hit
*Hug and give great kisses
*Throw things
*Chase the poor dog, I really just wanna snuggle, I promise!!
*Talk non-stop, I have to keep up with sissy
*Yell, whenever I see anything Cars, Toy Story, or trucks
*Climb on anything
*Jump whenever I watch a Pixar movie, the little lamp is fun to jump with
*Mom took my Bop(paci) away and I am having a hard time without it, but I get it when I sleep
*I love Grandma and Grandpa so much and yell at any white van I see, it has to be grandpa!
*I miss sissy all day and look for her everywhere I think I could find her
*I love to shop with mom, I don't know that she loves it. She always needs a Coke at the end of the trip
*I like to draw and color
*I am learning to pick up but it is going slowly
*Make silly faces
*Toot, make toot sounds and don't forget burping, I am all boy!
Some of my favorite things:
*Firetrucks, but any trucks are good
*MyQueen (McQueen) from cars
*Woody and Buzz
*Guthrie
*Sissy
*Cheese
*Bread
*Movies
*My pillow pet puppy
*Trains
*Drums, well any instrument

London has been a wonderful addition to our family, it is getting harder to remember when he wasn't here. We all love to laugh at when he is being silly and he loves to be laughed at, I see the class clown being born! I can't wait for those notes from school!! He loves his sissy so much and misses her all day long. I love my little man, although his favorite word is "NO".

Footnote: We have a picture of my little brother, Jacob, doing this same thing!

Ain't No Mountain High Enough!

12 years ago this August I packed my car with everything I could fit in it, it was a 1971 Nova so it was almost everything I owned, and drove 2 hours to college. I remember that drive and how excited I was. I did it all by myself, no parents or anything. I was so focused and ready to take the world on! I pulled into Lincoln Christian College, now Lincoln Christian University, and felt like I had won the lottery. See I was a new christian and loved the idea of learning more about my new faith and being surrounded with people who loved Jesus just as much and even more than I did. I moved all of my stuff into my new dorm room and started setting up. A couple of friends from high school, Kristina and Jennifer, were in the room across from mine, perfect!! I knew I had friends and that gave me comfort. After my room was set up I began meeting people from other rooms, that is the day that I made the best friends a girl could have!
I think about the time we had in our small dorm rooms. We loved to have a good time and even more we all loved Jesus. One of the fun things we did regularly was hold dance parties in one of our rooms or sometimes in the hallway. Sometimes we would even call boys in other dorms late at night and sing 'Heartbreaker' to them. We dressed up, turned down the lights, and turned up the music, perfect!! Why am I thinking about this you may ask? Well it is hard not to with everyone starting school and going off to college. The other reason is because of TMZ, don't judge. Nikolas Ashford passed away yesterday. He was a very famous for writing 'Ain't no mountain high enough'. This song is us Girls' song. I love hearing it on the radio, it instantly transports me back in time. We all try to keep in touch and with Facebook that is easier these days. We also try to get together a few times a year but we are all so far apart and have families of our own.
This picture is at Kristina's wedding. This isn't all of us but a good majority. L to R: Me(5 months prego with Belle), Lindsay, Amy, Kristina, Stephanie, Courtney, and Jenn(prego at the time but we didn't know). This pic was 6 years ago, I think! I love all of our times together and wish that every once in awhile we could just take a mini vacation to our times in the dorms.
This is last summer at one of our get-togethers. L to R: Jenn, Stephanie(prego with Jacob), Amy, Kristina(holding Macey), Abby, and I.

We have changed so much from names, addresses, and everything in between but I am so happy that there really 'Ain't no mountain high enough'.

Kindergarten Kid

Belle is getting to be so stinkin big I can hardly see the baby that we brought home that December in 2005. She is losing teeth, picking out her own outfits with only a bit of help from me, and she is now taking showers all on her own. I don't know how we are supposed to grow them to move out, it just gets better every day.
So today she was off to Kindergarten. I was so excited for her and wanted to go with her! I remember how much I loved school in the beginning, wish I could say that it was always like that. Arabella is going to the very same school that Matthew went to when he was in elementary. That is one of the benefits of living in a small town.
We went to Open house last night and met her teacher and took her school supplies. Her room looks so fun and her teacher is so friendly, I know Belle will love her! Here is Belle with her very first desk. She loved that her name was on it and she organized her supplies in it, I sure don't know where she gets that from!! haha
This is Belle in from of her first locker, she had a cubby before but now she shares a locker. We had to practice the handle before she was excited.

Belle in the hallway with the list of all her classmates and her.

Belle with her teacher, Mrs. Briscoe. She knew our family and Belle thought it was fun that she knew Grandpa Dan.

The first day has come. She had this outfit picked out as soon as we bought it. She loves horses still and so she has a horse shirt, unicorn earrings, and a horse bracelet on. London wants to be Belle so he does whatever she does!

This is her backpack, Rupunzel. Do you see London doing the same thing, haha!! Love it!

I am going to school with some sass!! She is perfect!! Her and her backpack. Mattea, her cousin, has the same one. It is almost a tradition know, this is the second year that they have!! She also has a matching lunchbox too!

Going to my first day... Wish me luck!!

Her she is saying "hi" to someone from last year. Again London thought he was going to stay with her!! I feel bad because he is going to miss her!!

Belle at her desk with her neighbor, Elijah. We have known him since his momma was carrying him. They have been good friends since they could walk! She was pretty excited that she and him were sitting next to eachother!! See his ornery look, it is tell-tell, he is!! Here is a less ornery look but I bet they get into trouble for talking!!

Belle only had to go for an hour but it was so real! I knew that my life has changed and she isn't going to be here all day everyday. I snuck in for the last few minutes of class and watched from the hall. Don't worry she didn't see me, so not embarrassing! She was listening and sitting so well. I know she is going to have such a great day and learn so much!! I just can't wait for her to come home and tell me everyday!

New Bathroom...

This summer smack dab in the middle we were forced to start a home project. I guess I should start by saying we live in a house owned by my in laws and we rent it from them, not to mention it is in the backyard of their house. So when I say forced I am not kidding!!

My bathroom sink was draining slow and Drano wasn't working so I told Matthew and he talked to his dad about what we should do. I wanted to call a plumber and so did Matthew but again we don't have the authority!! So under that house my fil went and to all of our surprise the plumbing and the flooring were all in horrible state, to quote my fil "We were going to all fall through the floor.". I didn't think about it until he asked in passing "How long can you all live without a bathroom?" WHAT?!?!

So the project began...

Out went the toilet, out went the sink, and out went the floor...

We moved to my in laws. I thought it was going to be a night or two, it was a full week!!

My new flooring I got to pick out, a beautiful tan ceramic tile. We also got a new cabinet and sink, gorgeous!! I picked them out too!! So now the fun part, painting and decorating!

I was thinking a sea theme but not like shells and stuff calm and hinted nautical theme. So this is the color I was thinking, so cheery!! I love it!!





Then a cute little bathroom sign, I love it!! I don't need the other stuff but I think everyone should have a sign like this in there bathroom!

I love this little pelican. I know the kids would love him too!! I really like birds and would love to have them all over but different kinds. My grandma collected elephants and so maybe I will collect birds, who knows!!

I love having K's all over my house so imagine a K. The old yucky wood is great too!!

Matthew loved Moby Dick and this would be fun to have in there too, just for him...

I love this little tissue box, not a must have but still fun!!

Who doesn't need pebbles?? It makes me think of my grandmas huge fish tank! Love it!

I love these frames! These are so perfect, all of the different colors of the ocean. I want it to be all the different colors of it in this room!

Another cute sweet bird, maybe not a bird that lives by the ocean but that might be perfect too!!

I thought something like this would really add a different feel. I don't know a different texture!

So basically that is what I am thinking, what do you think? Any outside of the box ideas would be fun! I wish I had before pics of the floor and vanity but I don't. I will try to get some of the before it is done completely.

Oh and to top it all off my sink is still slow!! UGH!! haha

All of these photos are from Etsy.com. If you haven't been there you really should visit it!!

Bullies, a thing of the past?

Have you ever watched this movie?

If you haven't it is super cute and just heart warming! It was made in 96 so it is a bit dated but basically it is a movie about a boy who has a disease that ages you faster than normal. So at age 10 he looked 40.

Anyway Matthew and I were watching that tonight and it came to a part when Jack decided he wanted to go to public school, he was being home schooled. While at school the kids were just so mean, they wouldn't play with him and called him all kinds of horrible names! This made me think about Belle. She is going to start Kindergarten next week and bullying is my biggest fear for her. I remember being a kid and how mean kids can be. She is still a bit young for actual bullying but I know that it is coming with every year she goes. I also know her heart is going to be hurt by all of the mean things people are going to say to her and I think about it constantly, as most moms do!

When I was in elementary school I wasn't the cool kid and I still can remember being harassed and all that, it just never goes away. I have to say that I truly hate bullying!! I can't stand the ignorance of it and how some adults think that it is like a right of passage or something, it isn't!! I think it is something we have to stop and encourage loving words not such hurtful filth!! I refuse to let it be OK so I am encouraging everyone else to do the same!! So as school starts I ask you to pray for the kids who are bullied, for the bullies, and for all who are working at the schools so that they can see things and stop them!!

Thanks so much!!

This is my sign...

I decided I needed a signature. I always think that I need to sign me out of posts... Cute huh?

A better tomorrow

I have a confession...

I have been a bad mommy this summer!

I have let my kids get away with everything and it has to stop!

I have gotten a chart up and explained the rules in full so that the kids can not misunderstand!

They HATE it!!!!

So I am vowing not to let my kids be the kids that you are embarrassed to take to the store with you, or the ones that cry when you are on the phone (which means less phone time!), or the ones that scream when they don't get something, or be the person who has someone else correct my kids in the store!

I decided all of that this Monday and we have been having a hard time getting used to it but we are on track and I know the kids will feel more secure than they have been feeling!! I will do better, I will do better, I won't be perfect but I WILL DO BETTER!!!

Today I was reading a fav blog of mine and she was talking about how we need to do better with our kids and I was like YES!! I am ready and have always wanted my kids to respect and be polite. He post is about a mom and daughter and the daughter was having a temper tantrum, the girl was way to old to be screaming at her mom in public. BJG stepped in and said something, we have all been there and may or may not have done that but have definitely wanted to!! Check her blog out, LOVE HER!!

http://http//www.bjgofficial.com/2011/08/temper-temper.html?showComment=1313010807129#c4139048496989157614

I never want to be that mom with my baby yelling and disrespecting me or someone else in public, or at home, so I vow to make sure that won't happen!! Belle and London are better off if I am the mommy and they are not. Yes that will be hard but it is do-able!!

Seeking and finding...

This summer has been one of the hardest summers I have had since my grandma, whom I dearly loved, passed away. She was my best friend. This summer hasn't been one of death but of God's teaching. God has been faithful in all of the sadness and pain I have felt this summer. I am a really private person, which is hard to believe, but it is true!! So I am just going to open up and tell you what is going on....
Matthew and I are struggling, not just kind of but really struggling. Without embarrassing anyone or placing blame I am going to leave it at that. But through this I have watched God's amazing faithfulness. He is helping us through it and I truly believe that without Him we would be headed for the big D. We have both decided that there is just no way that we are going down that road. So we are searching and not giving into the 7 year curse!! I am so lucky that I have a hubby that is present and willing as much as I am!
Something else that I have been struggling with is feeling so lonely!! I struggle with this more than most know but it is real! I sometimes create this loneliness. This summer I have wanted to just curl up and go to sleep for like ever! God has really been showing me some things through all of this. He is my ultimate BFF, no matter what happens or what I do or don't do He is there for me! I need that so much !! I also know that I have to seek Him first and friends after, wow that is like a new concept for me! I always have a friend or two or three, well you get it, that I sought out first and then when I was at my whits end God was there to listen. That is so backwards!! He wants me to seek Him out first and rely on Him the most. So in all of this loneliness, bitterness, anger, and hurt I am seeing God as He wants me to see Him!!
I have to say that I am so thankful that even in my darkest of moments He is right there waiting for me!!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all of your heart."

Jeremiah 29 11-13