Septmeber 19, 2010

I cannot believe it has only been a little over a week since I took this picture of Lily and her friend Madeleine during their sleep over. As I write this my kids are watching Charlotte's Web (which by the way made one of their Uncle's cry....but I won't tell who), and Cole said that Fern (Dakota Fanning) looks like a mix between Lily and Madeleine! So true! Love Wilbur, btw. Below are the pictures of the birthday party that Lily threw for Owen (NOT on his birthday) that I mentioned last week.  Notice the presents wrapped up!

 

Below are the COUSINS, Uncle Aaron and Grandpa playing at our house for last Sunday's Family dinner. So fun!                                                                                                                       

  

This week Cole started his writing class and Lily started Ballet on Monday's, and Cole & Lily both started soccer with Coach Tim (Dad) on Tuesdays. I enjoyed...no REALLY enjoyed some GOD & girlfriend time at a Bible Study on Tuesday nights at Starbucks...like my favorites all around!  

This week was probably one of the BUSIEST weeks of my life...newborn, nursing newborn, cooking meals, homeschooling, reading, cuddling, organizing, cleaning, driving, and everything else...BUT it was also an amazing week. I felt a deep sense of grace, peace and joy doing all of these things. NOT to say that I was Ms. Patient 100% of the time :)  During one of our simple breakfast devotions (that I get on my phone)...the kids and I decided to try to make it through the week without complaining or whining. It really does help me to intentionally focus on that...I have a million things to be grateful for...and even in the days of spit-up, tired-baggy eyes (Mine in picture below...no make up even, uuuhhh...it hurts to post this) and evening crying...I recognize how fleeting these days are! 

Tuesday nights I am trying to spend one on one time with my Googie (Owen). He is a Master Chef in training! So here he is...I only have the apron on him like that because he was buttering the muffin pans and I didn't want him to grease up his shirt.

I spent a lot of the previous week organizing all of my recipes into 1 book, and trying to make more things in the crock pot. I made a Chicken Stroganoff that was DELSIH! This week I will tackle yogurt, black beans, and granola in the crock-pot. Its so cost effective and I know exactly what my

kids are putting into their bodies.  

Whitney  turned 1 month on Friday! WOW! That has flown. She is making more eye-contact and likes to play under the arches. We have figured out that she prefers to sleep on her side and not her back. She will play, then do her quarter turn, roll and fall asleep. She has been eating very well and sleeping ok. Because I haven't gone back to work yet in the am, we enjoy sleeping in until 8:30 on days that we can. Love her so much! Here she is this week:

 

In the photo above we were trying to get a picture of her hands...they were perfectly in a puzzle-check position (fingers intertwined)

Valeisha brought us a YUMMY meal on Thursday...and Aaron and Owen had a blast:

I dressed the boys alike for church this morning and caught some shots of them this am: "Best Brothers" ...I like to have them say that to each other, especially after a wresteling session turned sour:

Tim and I took a walk (with Whitney) through the Forest Meadow Trails yesterday afternoon while the other kiddos played at Grandma's. It was so nice to re-connect a little. Usually I love to spend our times like that casting vision about the future for us and our family. And although I broke the no-complaining rule a few times, I realized that I truly have contentedness in this current season. I think that is attributed to the fact that 1) I know how fast this new-born phase will be over...and Whitney might be my last baby, and 2) I really feel like I am in the center of the Lord's will for me. Even though I battle like everyone else at times asking, "WHAT am I doing with my life?"  I think that I am finally batteling uncertaintinty a lot less, and enjoying life a lot more.