2014 christmas letter

with the end of 2014 upon us i was looking back over all we have accomplished this year.  so here is my christmas letter that never got sent out

big brother has managed to almost perfect his ability to annoy his sisters at any given second.  a skill that he thinks is hilarious and they don't yet understand why it makes him laugh so hard.  he is also right on the verge of flushing every time now too, can i get an amen!, the aim will hopefully come in 2015

thing 2 has mastered every frozen song known to mankind and then made up some of her own.  she has also made this mama very happy by cutting her breakfast eating/getting dressed for school time down from one hour to around 35-45 minutes on a good day.  we no longer have to start waking her up at 630am for an 820am school start time.

my little tornado whirl wind is thriving in pre-school.  according to her, her teacher tells a student daily that they smell like a "tinkie diapa".  she loves frozen as much as her big sister; however elsa is NOT her favorite.  she's an anna girl all the way.  she has also become a professional ninja with the way she has perfected her ability to sneak into the middle of my bed in the middle of the night 100% undetected until she kicks you in the face when you get in her territory.

baby boy, a.k.a. gus gus, is not to be out done by his older siblings.  he is top notch in playing the big puppy dog eyes and getting picked up.  he also flashed them when he even thinks you may be eating something he might enjoy too.  everyone wants to know what he can say and we all smile and laugh about it but he is pretty much a non verbal communicator.  he relies on the older crew to take care of his ever need, and they oblige with this pretty good.  when i ask them not to do or get something for him until he says the word all i hear is, "but mommy he is a baby. he needs us!"  looks like he will be entering kindergarten with 3 assistants to color his worksheets for him.  and most important he makes a muffin top look amazing - hence the name "gus gus" as in the mouse from cinderella.

as for jason and i we have finally given up any hope at all of ever having a clean house.  i mean what is clean anyways.  so what, our house isn't as organized as all the sale items honey boo boo's mom has stocked up on......but we we haven't been called for hoarders either so i consider that a small victory.

hope 2014 was filled with as much to celebrate as we had!  small victories people with small people.

time please slow down

this week was thing #3’s first week of preschool.  now, you would think that by the third kid dropping them off at preschool would be no big deal.  well it is a big deal still, because it’s their first time. it’s the first time they go into a class with people they don’t know.  it’s the first time you wont be there to see their expression when they learn something completely new and fun.  in our case with big siblings...it’s the first time the get made because they can’t ride the bus yet. :)

then you suddenly realize it’s a bunch of first leading up to their last.  their last first day of school.  the last time they let you hug or kiss them goodbye.  the last time you rock them.  the last time you kiss their boo boo and suddenly everything is okay again.

today i am so very thankful for the time that i get to spend with my children before they are grown.  it is going by so quick.  (my baby is already 16 months) what?
 i’m thankful that my third grader stopped on the first day of school and came back to hug and kiss me goodbye just one more time before he went into his class.
i’m thankful my five six year old is happy to snuggle in my bed a few minutes in the morning when she wakes up early on saturdays before she heads in the living room to watch cartoons.
i’m thrilled that when i kiss my two year olds boo boos it magically fixes anything that may be wrong.
and i am so thankful for a 16 month old who lets me rock him to bed sometimes when he wants his momma  his momma needs him to be little for just a little bit longer.

praying i can slow down long enough to enjoy these amazing blessing God has bestowed upon me.

Children are a gift from the Lord
Psalm 127:3

off to a great start

phew!  we made it thru the first week of another school year.  it’s official both the bigs love their new teachers and classes.  big c has sub for the first 9 weeks because he teacher just had a baby but she is comfortable with that and is doing well at her new school.  as for g, well this is old hat now for him.  but third grade is no joke.  can you believe he had to do work on the first day of school?  his teaacher did win cool points however with it being a graph done with skittles that they got to eat when they where done! :)

“teach me how to live, O Lord.

Lead me along the right path...”

Psalm 27:11

they all live in jellystone, jellystone....

we just found the BEST camping spot.  jellystone park in north carolina!  yes, that's right we took the kids to yogi ni the smokies and got to spend the week with yogi and boo boo bear.  if you've never heard of this place you need to check it out.  go you their site right here and take a look at all the cool things for kids.  we will definitly be going back to this place soon.

hello summer

i am sooo far beyhind since my last post.  granger has turned one and is on the move evrywhere!  he is seriously into everything.  he is happy ALL the time.  no joke, he is currently cutting two bottom incissors but is still mostly cheerful all the time.   your current stats escape me at the current moment but you are off the charts to say the least.  they are worried about your weight - i am not.  they are worried about your length - i am not.  you are chugging right along.  in case they have forgotten your mother is 5’1” on a really good day.  as far as percentage you aren’t even on the charts right now.  a few months back you were in the 1% but now you have fallen off the charts totally.  such a trend setter already.  one thing is for sure you are a ham.  always smiling, always playing, always wanting in someone’s lap (mainly mine).  we love you g man.

corley paige is full of herself pretty much at all times - ha!  coco you love to dance whenever the feeling strikes you, no music required.  you do love to let other feel included but have no problem rocking it by yourself either.  you are a total mess and we love it (most of the time).  you are full of life.  we are geraing up for summer and then starting in the fall you will start school two days a week at bright beginings.  hope they are ready for the huricane known as coco.

colbie. oh sweet colbie via, last night we attended your kindergatern graduation and watched as you reached a huge milestone.  how is it even possible that you are now done with kindergarten?  it seems like grayson was just starting his kindergarten year and now you are done with yours?!  you did a fantastic job in your play.  as you walked across that stage mrs. gray read that you wanted to be a nurse when you grow up.  while you have never said that to daddy or i, i can totally see you as a nurse.  you take care of each and everyone in the house and make sure everyone has all that they need to make it through the day.  to our 1st grader (what?) - momma and daddy love to to infinity and beyond sweet girl.  we are so very proud of you!

the BEST kindergarten teacher EVER! and sweet CV

and to grayson my 3rd grader now. 3rd GRADE!  time is passing so quick now.  i can't believe that you will begin your 3rd grade year in just a few short months.  i am so thankful that you had such an amazing year with dr. hicks.  what a wonderful teacher she has been this past year.  you have grown tremendously and i have enjoyed every minute of watching you transform.  you are the very best big brother i have ever seen, always taking care of your little sisters and brother.  we are very proud of the young man you are.  i can't wait to have a great summer with you!

"children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him."

"how joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them..”

Pslam 127:3 & 5

give or take a leap year

it’s been 2,920 days since i became a momma.  all thanks to thins little guy.

my world and heart was changed forever the day thing 1 entered our world one month early.  so unexpected and unprepared (not one thing packed).  

you were (and still are) my guinea pig.  you are the beginning of our family, and the start to our learning curve.  you have put up with a lot of my ‘learning’ over the years and have continued to always be the first to forgive me when i need it most.  you are my biggest cheerleader and always in my corner.  

i love how you are always smiling and telling jokes.

you are an incredible big brother!

the best race car driver EVER!

i love the great example you set for your younger siblings.

i have loved every second since you came into my world son.  i am the luckiest mom in the world to have you as mine.  you are so kind and caring towards others.  putting them first almost always. you are my best encouragement on the days i seem to need it the most.  you are growing into such a man right before my eyes.  each day you pull away from me a little more and grow towards your daddy which i know is only growing you more into the fine young man you are become.  you love God with all your heart and are trying constantly to live by His word.  you are amazing!  i love you to infinity and beyond grayson.  you are my first born and my heart.  happy EIGHTH birthday stinky!

Free Friday

ever found yourself knowing you need to do something but not exactly sure where to start?  whew, me too - so glad i’m not alone!  parenting is by far the hardest thing i have ever done in my life.  isn’t it great to know God has given us help in His word.  sometimes i am so overwhelmed by raising kids and especially boys that i feel alone.  well y’all take heart we are not alone.  boys are a special bread and the Lord knows it.

Brooke McGlothin has captured this in he book “Praying for Boys”.  she not only give some hilarious stories of her own two boys to reassure us we aren’t alone in this crazy boy parenting world (i am also praying of my precious girls as well boys are just different that’s all) but she also has given us a place to start praying God’s amazing and powerful word over them.

we can’t change our sons but God can change their hearts through prayer!  y’all i’m not even kidding this book is great.

sometimes my oldest struggles with things not being fair.  as in, “they get to do (or have) that so why shouldn’t i get it too.”  one of my latest prayers for my son in this area is...
     “Let not Grayson’s heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of You, Lord, all the day.”
                                                                       Proverbs 23:17
there are so so so many just like this ladies!  Brooke has nailed it with this book!  Here is a little insight into Brooke’s head.

 Q & A with author Brooke McGlothin

What led you to write your book Praying For Boys?

My husband and I have two boys who were born just 23 months apart. I probably don’t need to say much more than that, do I?? That’s enough to keep any mama on her knees! Actually, I’ve done a lot of hard things that I’m very proud of in my life, but raising my boys ranks up there as THE hardest thing I’ve ever done. In the book, I talk about how I asked God to give me boys, and that’s true, but the reality of the day to day mothering of what I like to refer to as “those boys,” (you know, the ones who are 250% boy?) often leaves me completely worn out. I realized early on in our parenting journey that I had no power to change their hearts. And while everything in me wanted to be able to snap my fingers and produce good, godly men, the Bible just doesn’t give us that parenting formula. So in an effort to just do something, I started praying verses from the Bible for my sons…verses based on things I wanted to see the Lord develop in their hearts. It was my way of crying out to God to change them, but it ended up changing me, too. After a year or so of doing that, and of constantly hearing from moms on the MOB Society, my blog for mothers of boys, who wanted to raise godly men, but felt like they were losing the battle, I decided to create a resource that helped them learn how to pray for their sons. It seemed a simple answer to me at the time, but the longer I encourage moms to pray the more convinced I become that prayer is the most overlooked part of raising godly men.

Praying for boys not only changes them, it changes moms too. How has it changed you?

Do you remember from grade school math that any time you change one part of an equation, it changes the answer? So for example, if you’re adding 2 + 3 and get 5, and then read the word problem again and realize you should’ve been adding 3 + 3, you can’t expect the answer to still be 5. Something changed. And when even just one thing changes, it affects everything else…changes everything else, even if just a little. Praying keeps me in the right place with God. Keeping my mind focused on the fact that He is God and I am not helps me put all of life in perspective, and it changes the way I live my days. Ultimately, spending time talking to God brings me closer to Him, and helps me know Him better. There’s no better way to be a better mom than to get to know God better, and listen to Him as He directs our paths. As we change, our families will change too.

and guess what?  i’m giving a copy away!  Simple share this blog on your facebook and comment that you’ve shared it with the link.  Enter everyday until Thursday February 6th at midnight.  good luck gang.

rain, rain don't go away

yesterday was nothing but a gross rainy day.  even though it was not a great day to do anything other than sit on the couch and watch movies the kids had a blast playing in the puddles and rain.  they jumped and ran, rode bikes, played basketball and so many other things.  they were so busy all day long i knew they would fall asleep as soon as they layed down last night.  once they were in bed i go ready for bed and snuggled in myself.  thing 2 was out within 5 minutes but thing one i heard more than a few times.  then boom my door slams open and he runs and jumps in my bed.  "momma can i sleep with you and hold your hand?  that lightening is awful!" 

ummmmm do i even have to think about that, "of course you can, climb up here."

i had the best time snuggling with him and talking before we went to bed.  i'll take rain anytime if i get sweet moments like that.

when did this happen?

is seems like just yesterday you were born

and changed mine and daddy’s life forever

i had never fully loved something so much

and now look at you

your first day of second grade

yes you still think we are pretty cool (wondering how long that will last)

and we think you are incredibly amazing!

we are so excited to watch you grow grayson.  you are a wonderful, sweet, compassionate, curious, SECOND grader.  wow time is flying by and you are growing so fast before our very eyes.  we love you!

"...let us enjoy ourselves with love!” Proverbs 7:18