Choir Performance

Emily had her first choir performance the week of the big sale. I didn't plan it that way, it just happened. It worked out okay too. However, it was also a crazy time for weather. Spring really never seems to get the memo that it should take over and we had a snow storm. So of course the power went out for her performance. It came on at the very end, but most of the pictures didn't turn out. They were supposed to be dressed like the 60's-70's in theme with a lot of their songs like Catch a Falling Star and Here Comes the Sun. Emily had a great time and did very well.

I painted the peace sign on her shirt and then at the sale I found these capri's that were cheap enough I had to get them that were covered in peace signs.


It was a lot of fun and we were so glad that two Grandma's were able to make it. And we were also disappointed that we missed the second performance since I once again got horribly sick. Flu wasn't fun, stomach flu was even worse. I am just hoping that is the last my poor body will have to endure this year.

THE SALE and Much More!

If you have read about it before, I love this sale. It is how I get clothes for my kids every year. I spend about $250-300 for the whole year and they have everything they need. It is every spring and fall held at a local Methodist church. I volunteer AND I sell, which I didn't used to do. Now I practically clothe my kids for free. It's so awesome. But it is a lot of hard work. The last couple weeks of March are spent getting ready, tagging, hanging, etc. all of the clothes, toys, books to sell. I had over 200 items. It was another great event and I was super excited because I actually didn't need a lot of clothing for the girls this time. I ended up stocking up the past 6 months and a lot of Emily's clothes still fit- for now. But it doesn't mean I didn't end up buying anything.

I probably got all of this here for $50. The jeans right up front were $2 each with no wear in them. The dresses were about $4 each. I love the blue jacket that is for next year. It's hard to see, but it's pretty stylin'.



Summer shoes are much harder to come by. Let's face it, kids RUIN their sandals. But this was a good year. I was pretty impressed. I love the sketcher's Emily got and the gorgeous Gymboree blue mary jane's were $4.50 with not a scratch on them. Willis got 5 ties for $4.


One of the best parts about volunteering is the pre-sale. All of the volunteers get first picks of all the good stuff. And because I didn't need as many items of clothing for the kids I was finally able to try the toy section. I hear in the fall before Christmas it's amazing! I wish I had two of me and I would love to do both clothes and toys. I should have saved the toys for Easter, but I was so exhausted and I knew Robert was taking the day off to be with them and I thought they would be extra pleasant with new toys. Turns out I was right. They had a blast with them. I found Magnetix
...these amazing magnetic toys provide hours of imaginative play and building. My girls loved them. Course they have to "live" up high in a closet because one lost magnetic ball could be doom for a little baby. There was a giant bag of plastic + velcro middle play food for $2. A Leap Frog cash register for $5, a bag of My Little Ponies $1 and a few more odds and ends. Those were the big ones I found and they are still a huge hit.


Another amazing sale. However, I wore myself down to the last wire. What we crazy parents won't do to clothe our kids and in my case clothe, save money, sell AND let's face it I love to shop. To me this is so much more fun than retail. I love a good deal and I love feeling like I saved money on something so I can spend it on something else- like decorating and remodeling my house. Unfortunately this time I was so worn down that I got sick right after this crazy event. Good thing it was after and not before.

He is So BIG!

My little boy is growing up before my eyes! And so are his big sisters. They love him, they are in his face and even fight over him. We really can't get enough of this little guy. He definitely makes it harder to get to blogging and takes all of my time. But he is so worth it!







The girls have been busy with their physics connector set. Emily has built cars and ramps and now she wanted to try building one for their stuffed dog. She did a great job I'd say.

My Family

Flying Willis! Don't you just love those chubby fat legs? I just want to munch on them all the time.


The love of a daddy for his little boy is so precious I can hardly capture it.


So beautiful. His sweet face makes me think of this Mindy Gledhill song. I think of this song a lot when I look at my kids.



He is really loved in our home.

He's one cool dude and his sisters make sure of that!









Emily lost her two front teeth. She is very cute and big. She is so awesome and helps everyone in the family so much. I am so lucky to have such a good friend as my daughter.

What a sweet smile. How can she pull off beautiful so effortlessly?

I am one blessed Mom to be given such amazing kids and loving husband. We sure don't have much, but we really do have it all.

Lindsey is 4!

My sweet little girl is so big. She turned 4 last month and we went out to eat and saw Despicable Me in 3D. She is adorable. Lindsey is very compassionate, very huggy and just loves everyone. She is a wonderful friend to everyone in her family. She is really funny and very smart. I am grateful every day that God sent this amazing sweetheart to our family.

Willis waiting with his daddy for the food to come.

Cousin Sienna came too. She and Lindsey are 2 weeks apart and have been best buddies since they were babies.

Family party with grandmas, cousins, aunts and uncles.



Lots of pet shop presents. She just loved them!

Happy Birthday my little girl!

Craft Room

My craft room is a work in progress, but it is a lot of fun to see it coming along.

I still have another wall shelf to put up, but I am missing one of the brackets. I put up the pink peg board not too long ago. Right now I also have some cans with pink and black mod podged scrapbook paper over them for pens and pencils.

Ribbon organizer, pink curtains. Robert is a little worried about so much pink.

I Am a Mother

Recently I have been dealing with some interesting internal conversations. The kind of conversations I never used to have. They all have something to do with myself as a mother and they are all NEGATIVE. I have always wanted to be a mom. I have vowed to be a good mom and there are things I knew I wanted to do AS a mom. I felt it was important for me to be home with my kids. Not everyone is able to do that or wants to, but for me, I felt it was important. I also knew I wanted to homeschool my kids. We love learning together and we have a great time. My kids are learning and thriving and so am I.

But these conversations have been going something like this: "Why am I even staying home with my kids it's not even making a difference in their lives" and "I am not able to be the person I really want to be." or "I am not contributing to society." and "I should just go get a job since financially we are tight and I can't provide for my kids like I want to." and "I should just send them to school since I am probably not doing a good job anyway." I have been listening to these thoughts for awhile and sadly I have been believing them. And what has been the result of listening to all of this? I have been very unhappy as a mom and as a person. So I needed to take this matter to the Lord. Why am I losing my convictions as a mother? What is wrong with me? Am I following what is right for us and for my kids? The answers have come a little at a time.

First, the conversations are not the truth and they come not from me but from Satan. He wants me to devalue myself and my important roles as wife and mother. Understanding this has been huge. Second, what I am doing is not unimportant. It is not trivial. I am not JUST a mom. And I have needed some reminders about this. One of those reminders have been in reading the book I Am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson. It is a wonderful book that reminds me what is important. Reminding me that mothers don't just cook and clean and wipe messy faces. They are bringing souls to Christ.

One of the things that people say, that the world says and that even those I know have said is that motherhood and even marriage mean that you lose your "identity". Nothing can be further from the truth. Selfishness leads to a loss of identity. Because only through the service of others will we truly find ourselves. As Luke 9:24 says: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." When we serve others we are serving God. I am so grateful to be a mom. I am SO far from being perfect and I make so many mistakes and resolve every day to be better. But I love serving my kids. One day I will wake up to a clean house and a quiet car ride and I know I will miss it.