has she really only been around for 3 years?

Today was Zoey's 3-year-old check-up and she is one heathly little girl!

20th percentile for her height. (3 feet tall exactly.)

20th percentile for her weight. (28.8 lbs.)

After the doctor was done with Zoey, she got out the Doppler so that she could hear the baby. I don't think any of my kids have been a part of that before. As soon as the doctor turned it on, Zoey asked what the baby was going to say... it was so cute. She loved hearing the heartbeat and ran in to tell daddy what it sounded like.

simplicity.

"...the simplicity that is in Christ."

2 Corinthians 11:3

Simplicity is the secret to seeing things clearly.

...when our natural power of sight is devoted and submitted in obedience to the Holy Spirit, it becomes the very power by which we perceive God’s will, and our entire life is kept in simplicity.

-Oswald Chambers

 

Read the entire entry for today's My Utmost here.

i totally have a crush on him.

This year Chris and I will have been married for 10 years.

We had big plans... plans I started making the 1st year we got married.

Then we found out we were having another baby this year.

Our plans changed.

Our life is like that.

 I love our life.

We ended up having a few days away.

It was some of the best days of my life.

Special thanks to my parents for loving on my kids so Chris and I could have some time together. It was the best anniversary gift we could have ever received!

 

Our Little Nugget

Isaac started his hockey season tonight with "Little Nuggets."

He loved it!

 

 

 

 

 

Elijah @ 11 months

• you have walking down
• you LOVE blueberries and corn
• you are never put off by obstacles of any kind
• you have the cutest laugh
• you love when people tickle your toes
• you can climb pretty much anything
• you have now mastered the "zoey-scream"
• you love dancing to music
• you can say "dada", "mama", "buba" and "done"
• your face lights up when you hear your daddy's voice
• you are one ACTIVE 11 month old!

Kaeden's Carnival

Today was cousin Kaeden's 3rd birthday party... and we were invited over for the carnival! Can I just say that I am so blessed to be related to Nate and April, they did an incredible job pulling off a birthday party everyone could enjoy! Happy Birthday Kaeden!

I didn't cry at all... take THAT pregnancy hormones!

So the day finally came... and everyone did exceptionally well.

I didn't cry, but I must have had some sort of crazy look on my face because Chris asked me if I was ok about a dozen times. When I picked him up, he told me he was happy he made a lot of new friends, but was sad they didn't go outside to play. I assured him he will have plenty of time for that. 

So here we are... parents of a Kindergartener... and so completely proud!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kindergarten 2011

A stolen idea from Nina. I love it!

feeling a little left-out

"Mom, when can I go to Kindergarten?"

Uh-oh.... I think someone was feeling a little left-out hearing all the "Isaac's-going-to-Kindergarten" talk. We decided that a special breakfast was just the cure... a little time for her to talk about herself. She loved her hot chocolate and bagel, and didn't mind the undivided attention either. We love you Zo! Just a couple more years... yikes!

Me and Jedidah

My son starts Kindergarten tomorrow.

He is all packed and ready to go.

I love his new backpack more than he does.

I don't remember my 1st day of Kindergarten.

I do remember learning to tie my shoelaces that year, though.

We read about King Josiah tonight before bed.

He was 8-years-old when he became king.

His voice had not changed yet.

My son thought that was super cool.

An 8-year-old king.

I wonder what his mother, Jedidah, thought the night before he was crowned.

She probably made him go to bed at a decent hour too.

Why is it always hot at the zoo?

Zoey had a field trip with her Preschool class and was so excited the boys and I were going to tag along.

 

Trying very hard not to be psycho mom...

The kids and I attended Isaac's Kindergarten Orientation this morning. We saw his desk, his locker, his cubby and met his very sweet teacher, Mrs. Rose. Two seconds after we were greeted by his teacher at the door, Isaac was over in the corner playing trucks with the 3 new friends he met. This kid is so adaptable! His eyes got so big when he saw the library, the gym and the cafeteria... this school is much bigger than his Preschool! 

How am I doing?

Ask me on his first day of class. 

Right now I am just trying to process the fact that my son has a locker!

Now entering the Terrific Threes!

Happy 3rd Birthday Zo-Zo!

YOU LOVE: cinderella, popsicles, hand lotion, raisins, the caboose on a train, carrying your purse on your shoulder, cuddling with daddy, upsetting your older brother, red robin, strawberry ice cream, blueberries, nail polish and anything the color pink.

THINGS YOU WANTED FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY: a cinderella cake, pink plates and napkins, a pink kid-laptop, a cinderella bed, a vanity, a cash register, and anything cinderella.

We love you so much Zo, and have seen so much growth in you this past year. You can go potty by yourself, you can memorize scriptures, you know how to get along with your brothers and are slowly learning how to manage your emotions. We couldn't love you more if we tried!!!

Love, Daddy and Mommy

Zoey's Cinderella Party

My baby girl is 3 years old!

All she wanted was a "Cinderella" party, so we did our best to oblige. She was incredibly blessed by all her wonderful family members and had so much fun swimming with her cousins. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone for making her day so special!

  

 

 

 

 

My Annual Favorite Sunday Service.

 

 

 

 

 

cousins

Maddy went "Kung-Fu Panda" on Isaac.

 

S'Mores

Our August CONNECT was a S'Mores Bar after Friday night prayer.

Thanks to the huge crowd who stuck around afterward!

Loving the Little Years

I read the most incredible book today.

Seriously... it was a game-changer.

It's called "Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches" by Rachel Jankovic

Unfortunately, I don't have much time for reading, so this 100 page book was perfect for the few hours I had to myself today. It was a book given to me by one of the women in my life who I consider a spiritual mentor and it was an incredible read... super easy too. Each chapter is only a few pages long, so you can pick it up and put it down as needed.

If you are a mom of young children, PLEASE consider picking this book and reading it. I laughed, I cried and I changed my entire perspective. Here are a couple of the things the author said that I had to close the book to ponder more.

"I can no longer be overwhelmed...

it's time to adjust to the work load God has given me."

"The state of your heart is the state of your home."

.. and then the entire chapter entitled "Know Your Sheep" messed me up pretty good. She talked about the fact that Christian child-rearing is a pastoral pursuit, not a organizational challenge. Wow! I definitely needed to hear that today!

Anyway, just wanted to share my newest find and the fact that it gave me the encouragement I needed during a very hectic time. Plus, I am happy to say that I was able to try the award winning "Coconut Lemongrass Latte" from Espresso Elevado.. and yes, it tastes just like it sounds.

being insecure about my insecurities

I think pregnancy is a breeding ground for insecurity.

Other than looking different, in the natural nothing has changed: my kids have bad days and good days, there is always work to be done at church, I always need something from the grocery store, and God is still on the throne... but sometimes, for some reason (usually when pregnant), things get overwhelming and I feel like I am dropping all the balls. Am I doing enough? Am I even a "fun" mom anymore? Does God still see me? Does anyone care? Am I a nightmare to be around? Am I alone?

I know the answers to all of these questions.... well, most of them.... but I still deal with them, more so on physically challenging days. This morning as I was getting ready to throw myself a pity party, I thought of my mom- mostly because I miss her (she is overseas). Growing up, I never saw my mom deal with insecurities. I know now over tear filled lunches at Panera (my tears, not hers) that she dealt with them, but she always resorted to the truth. By truth, I mean that God is in control, that we only need to worry about what He thinks and He gives us the strength to be all that we are required to be.

So, my conclusion for today is that no matter how I feel... THE TRUTH STILL REMAINS. My insecurities don't change God... He is the same yesterday, today and forever (which is good to know, because I am NOT the same... especially with these extra hormones). Thanks mom for always reminding me that our emotions change, but truth does not.

Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

brother and sister

1/2 the time they are best friends.

The other 1/2 they are fighting tooth and nail.

I'll take it.

we have a walker

Well, it's not quite official, because he isn't doing it more than once a day... but our little man has taken his 1st steps! I think the farthest he has gone is 8 steps.

Yay Elijah!!!! The craziest part is jumping up and down is his favorite past-time.

Summer REACH

I was challenged tonight.

So challenged that I can't think about anything else.

Let me explain:

We are in the middle of a series in youth called "Summer REACH" and every week we leave our church building and do something in the community. Last week was "SERVE the City" and our group passed out free bottles of water to everyone at a local park. This week was "PRAY for the City" and we headed out to our local high school and middle school to pray. I drove some of our Junior Highers to our local middle school and we spent about 1/2 hour walking around and praying for the students that would be attending there in a couple weeks. Seeing my students lay hands on the bike racks and entrance doors completely rocked my world. I have been praying intensely for our students as they are heading back to school in the fall... but have never prayed specifically for their schools. At that moment I was challenged to do something I've never done before: I committed to all of my students that I would visit their schools in the next 3 weeks to pray. I have a list of 15 schools and a burden for all of them. (Well, 16 actually... I'm adding my son's school to that as well). My prayer is that God would use this generation to change this generation. Will you join with me in prayer?

"Prayer is our most formidable weapon, the thing which makes all else we do efficient."

- E. M. Bounds

check-ups

Yesterday was check-up day, and boy was it a trip.

Imagine, if you will, being pregnant and taking 3 kids to the DR by yourself... trying to squat down to help your eldest son with his urine sample, while holding your 10 month old and telling your 2-yr-old daughter not to touch anything. It was hilarious.... for everyone else. However, I am happy to report that we have very healthy children.... even if they have a very tired mother.

Isaac: 45 lbs. and 3ft. 7in.

Zoey: 28 lbs. (didn't get her height)

Elijah: 20 lbs. and 29 inches

Baby in Belly: approx. 1.5 lbs. and 13 inches