Friday, January 27, 2012

Puzzle workers

There is a disclaimer that goes along with this post...well not so much of a disclaimer but a confession maybe? I have quite a few posts that I've started but are still waiting to be posted. This was one of those posts, I don't know what I was waiting for, or if I just got interrupted before I hit post, whatever happened I wouldn't have remembered this moment if it hadn't been already in the archives of this blog. So I will post it now, it was from the middle of October, Taylor still had long hair, this feels like an eternity ago!

Actual post:
Do you ever have those moments where you think to yourself, 'when they are grown this will be so much fun!'?

I had one just yesterday.

Taylor is obsessed with puzzles, she loves to work them and have help for the first couple of times and then she is set, she will work the same puzzle over and over again, and over and over again!



I love thinking about working a giant puzzle with her one day, Jer's not so much of a puzzle person, but my TayTay? She'll hang with me, I just know it!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Christmas Catch Up Part 1

I know it's nearing the end of January but I want to remember this Christmas when I look back in the years to come. It was a special one. Kyle and Gina and Jack were here, so first Christmas with a cousin for the kids. My Grandma lives here so it was my first Christmas with her since I was a little bitty girl. It was just really wonderful. We did an advent calendar again, I didn't do a great job capturing our experiences in picture but here is what I did happen to get.



Making home-made marshmallow's 

Very focused tree decoration

Super helpful as they get older.

Settling in to watch our Christmas movie and sleep out in the living room the first night of having the tree decorated.

Payden growing up before our very eyes

Hot chocolate with home-made mallows is an exciting thing

Aware that we are going to not get the best sleep but looking like crazy tired people anyways.

We watched 'The Santa Clause' and Lincoln was so funny, he got anxious part way through and Gina noticed that he stood up and was clutching is rear end to deal with the stress. He usually leaves the room when he knows he'll be scared but the first time watching a movie how can you anticipate when that will be? 

Helping make treats for the neighbors

The perfect combo of sweet and salty

Zoo lights  with Grandma Tammi and Uncle Kyle, Aunt Gina and Jack

Hey cousin

Hi Jack!

Taylor loves her daddy!

So much excitement on the train


And the family, a little uncooperative...it was FREEZING!

What's better than holding hands with your best friend while getting a shoulder ride looking through lights in the neighborhood?

Using part of their money to get a hot chocolate from the coffee shop

And the other was getting gifts for each other from the Dollar Tree. 

Payden had Taylor

serious wrapping business

Taylor had Hailey

Hailey had Lincoln

And Lincoln had Payden.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Hailey's Party

Hailey turned 4 in December and we celebrated. Our little monkey is already 4, how did that happen. We had a little party with friends and cake. This was the spread...I put the pictures of her in all her monkeyness on the table with the cake

The monkey cake I made

Hailey is 4 cupcakes

A wall of 4 years of Hailey memories...the problem, I still haven't put them away and it's been over a month!

Coffee but not for the 4 year old

A quick dinner before the party

Hailey's best friend Skylar

My beautiful growing girl!


And some gifts. Celebrating life is always fun...especially with how much we are blessed with having her as a daughter and getting to know the person God has created her to be. What we have is a great dancer, generous, smart, observant, funny, thoughtful, strong willed, strong, sometimes sneaky, silly, wonderful little girl!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Oh Hailey

There is an ongoing saga that is told to the kids by Jer, 'Harry the Hot Dog'. The stories always start the same way 'This is a story about Harry the Hot Dog, he's wiggly and jiggly and oh so fun...' and then Jer goes off to explain some shenanigans that Harry has been into lately. The kids love it, and Jer is a great storyteller.

Well Harry has been on hiatus, or hibernating, or something cause there hasn't been a 'Harry the Hot Dog' story in a long time.

Today we were walking  back to the house after Payden and Lincoln got on the bus and Hailey was walking a little slower behind me. Then quietly and mostly to herself she goes 'my bottom is wiggling, wiggly...my bottom is wiggly...and...jiggly...hehehe...and oh so fun'. It was my favorite part of today!

A Lot

There is a lot going on right now. I know that God is big and  in Isaiah 9:6  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He is the Holy One, Emanuel (God with us), and with all of those names I feel the specific characteristic represented. Life feels heavy, but light at the same time if that makes any sense. I have hope in the Prince of Peace and that His work on the cross saved us from our sins and we are saved by grace through faith. We are redeemed. We are His.
There is so much in the lives around us that are full of; loss, hurt, change, fear, the unexpected, illness, death, lack of control, fear of man, but at the same time in this wonky life God has us living together there is; salvation, life, rejoicing, laughter, praise, excitement, beauty, needs being met, celebration, and redemption it is the Gospel and it is so freeing.
I am hopeful in the midst of unknown. I am trusting and letting Him carry the worries that I want to take as my own. And I pray.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Snow?

Last Sunday we had some snow, and I say that with a smile on my face because based on the kids reaction you'd think we live at the top on Mt Hood. Jer and I woke up abruptly at 7 to screaming from somewhere in the belly of our house. It sounded like there were 50 kids in the house and the sound was getting louder and closer really fast. The things that go through your mind when you hear a noise like that are along the lines of 'there must be a limb detached from a body somewhere and I'm about to find out who it belongs to', that kind of noise. Well they spilled into our room (just the four of them) and Hailey was the first one we heard scream 'IT'S SNOWING'. And there was much dancing and singing and throwing back the curtains to get to see the white dusting over the school field behind the house. And then they discovered the kids 4-wheeler that we got for them the night before off craigslist. So we bundled them up and off they went to play. You know I don't think I even realized how little snow there was because it was quite exciting.




















 I did happen to get a video of the ensuing little snowball fight.



 They were such good sports, Payden gracefully received her cleaned off glasses with a smile. And they did not want to leave for church. Let me just say it is a good thing we got that play time in because by the time we got home the rain had started and the snow was gone!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Again

I would say I'm definitely ready for the sneaky hair incidences to be over. Yes, I said incidenceS! I would also say I don't handle haircuts very well. It's not like I freak out or get super nervous whenever it happens, I guess I just get attached to things, and my little girls hair...along with my own...is something I evidently get attached to. Who knew? Well the other day I was vacuuming and Payden came running into the dining room yelling, 'MOM THERE'S HAIR IN THE BATHROOM'. Seriously? SERIOUSLY! It was Hailey again...to herself this time. Now I couldn't tell exactly where and I didn't take pictures right away cause I honestly didn't really want to remember any more moments like this. I ended up getting my haircutting scissors and cut some blunt bangs on her. The problem? Payden and Lincoln were ecstatic by her new look and as usual cracked me up with their constant commentary on life. First Lincoln exclaimed 'Wow she's bursting with style', and then Payden giggling to herself said 'She looks kind of like a rock star!' And I instantly new I needed to blog about it so I wouldn't forget the way their minds work. And okay here is a picture of  my cutie. This was in the bathtub last night she got her hair wet but her bangs were the only thing that stayed dry, oh and they love the color tablets that made the water super blue.


And the two newly inseparable sisters...no really they are crazy together and LOVE playing together!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Happy birthday to my honey!

Another year has come and gone. My love is now 31...that's just crazy! We started off the celebrations with bacon roses! I first saw the idea on pinterest and filed it away for a special occasion! And let me just tell you they were a hit! Don't mind the spiderman gloves in the background it's just a day in the life I guess. And I don't claim to be a professional photographer so I'm okay with it.

Payden was super excited for the whole process and wanted to be the one to carry them to daddy

Surprise...

Stop and smell the...roses?

If this isn't a picture that captures a thousand words I don't know what is...bacon roses, mimosa, one year Bible, and stack of birthday cards from the littles, oh and a dino clad jammie guy running through the picture!

Breakfast is served!

Later that day after shopping with the kiddos and lounging with my birthday guy it was time for the fire hazard...I mean birthday cake! He fell asleep on the couch and Payden wanted to wake him up by singing to him with the candles lit, and they loved it. Look at him, he's such a good dad!

Those lungs, blew them out in one big breath!

Then the kids got to hang out with Grandma Tammi while we got to go out to dinner and a movie. It was a great day.

Happy Birthday to Jeremy John, I'm so glad that you were born!