Campout 2012!

We went camping this week in Bervard (near Asheville) with our friends the Townsends (Courtney and JT and their 4 kids Sydnie, Emma, Joshua, and Mady).  We couldn't have asked for better weather - 74 during the day and a little chilly at night.  We had a heater in the tent so we were nice and toasty.  We only went for Tuesday - Thursday, but we had a blast.  We didn't get there until 3 on Tuesday (I will explain in a post after this) so we unpacked and set up camp.   

We had foil dinners and then Joshua and I were trying out a new recipe - campfire cones (they weren't great).  But we did have banana boats and smores and enjoyed sitting around the fire.

These 3 played so hard.  We didn't see too much of them as they were exploring with Emma and Joshua.  Sydnie loved taking care of Channing - and we loved her chasing her!!!

Good morning guys!!

On Wednesday we went hiking to look at some waterfalls.  (this is Carly)

 This waterfall was super close to the road.....Finley like this hike!

 The Dads!!!  These two are a great team!  We love hanging out with them.

 The 4 big girls!  Carly and Chloe look up to these two so much.  They love hanging out with older girls!

 My love and I - with a little spunk in the back!

 Some cool rocks the kids scaled!! 

 Yes, he is cute! :)

 Hang on Carly.....don't let go!!

 Sydnie hiked the entire way with Channing on her back on the long hike.  I took her back and I was hurting.  I have no idea how she did this up the mountain!!  Channing loves her Mimi (that's Channese for Sydnie).

 The scenery was beautiful.  The kids loved hiking together.

 This was a cool waterfall that they actually went around the fence and walked behind the waterfall.  Well worth the long hike!

 Everyone in the cove!  Channing and I opted not to climb for the fear of me sliding down the rocks!

 Channing fell asleep in her back pack.  She did really well in this pack!  It was a life saver.

 Tree hugger!!  She loves being outside ~ can you tell?!

 Racing in the leaves after lunch. 

 Breakfast time with 9 sweet kids!  We will definitely be making this an annual event.  We had so much fun!

 As soon as we got home, Matt opened the garage door and this snake slithered into the garage and into the wall!!!  Matt had to leave and take a shower and I was left to unpack the car with the lockness monster lurking about!!  I had Chloe empty the car and put the stuff in the garage.  Carly was in the house bringing everything into the living room and Harper stood and watched the hole for when the snake decided to come out!  He finally started coming out and I was hoping he would just slither out and leave me alone.  But nope!  He got all the way to the open garage door and then went back into the garage!!  I couldn't have an un manned snake in the garage - my luck he would end up in the house (I have had 2 nasty lizards in the house and I couldn't hand those - of course they were there when Matt was gone).  So Harper helped make noise to make him go one direction while I tried to catch him.  He was biting the soccer goal net and everything.....yes, I think he wanted to eat me!

 

But in the end, I won!!  I think I lost my voice from screaming, but I got that sucker's head in my clippers.  My boy protected me and helped me catch him.  I HATE snakes!!  This one was even worse because I had to kill him!!  I have had my fill of being brave and killing animals around here.  I have killed a mouse in the deep freezer(it jumped on the rim of the freezer when I had it open, so I slammed the lid down and ended up squishing the mess out of that nasty thing).  A snake in the garage and 2 lizards (I caught them). 

Some Randomness

 We don't get alone time too often with our kiddos, but when we do....we soak it up!  The girls were at Grandmas and Grandpas so Harper had a special night with us.  He picked out his own ice cream and entertained us with his incessent talking!  Yes, we loved every minute of it!

 So one day I was a little late to put Channing down for a nap.  I came upstairs to get her and this is how I find her.  The stage lights were on the spot light was on, the music was blaring.  She was so cute!

Can you believe how big she is getting?  She is so sweet and is such a little wild thing.  When Finley and Channing run around together I call them my thunder and lightning.  Finley is the thunder...she is so loud and Channing the lightning - she is silent and destructive!  I hate that time has to go so quickly......

Happy 3rd Birthday Finley

 Oh my sweet Finley Claire!!  You are one precious gift!  This girl came into our lives 3 years ago and our world hasn't been the same since.  She is so full of life, full of herself, and gives us such a full heart.  She is opinionated, compassionate, and knows exactly what she wants!  She knows how to get her voice heard (often with loud, obnoxious whines).  Her smile and her hippo cheeks melt my heart.  Her hair is still just as wild as the day she was born!  She loves the color purple and is the biggest girly girl I know!  She loves Tinker Bell, Strawberry Shortcake, high heels (if you ask her what part of her body her heel is called.....it is called your high heel), dancing, crafts, bracelets, absolutely LOVES chapstick (an unnatural obsession in my book), crowns, she may rot in Carly and Chloe's old purple dance costume, and My Little Pony.  I could go on and on about this special girl.  She touches everyone she comes in contact with with her dynamic personality.  You just can't help but want to squeeze her - and she is super squishy.  She loves to take care of little kids (even her friends that are older than her).  She will hold their hands and make sure everyone is ok.  Channing is so lucky to have her as a big sister.  She was so excited for her birthday party this year with all her friends.  She had Mady, Caroline, Little Chloe, and Claira.  They decorated wands and then played in the bubble machine. 

 They loved catching bubbles!

 This girl tests my patience on a regular basis but I wouldn't want her any other way.  She cracks me up and makes me smile every day! 

 She did a very good job singing Happy Birthday to herself!!  Of course she would sing the loudest at her own birthday party!

 All the little Tinker Bells!

 She was very into her gifts!

 When she woke up in the morning, the girls and I had decorated the kitchen.  She was so excited to see the decorations! 

Grandpa Eddie and Grandma Kay got her a car to drive around.  She is actually getting pretty good behind the wheel!  This car fits her and her personality perfectly!



School year 2012-2013

I can't believe the school year is here and we are starting 2nd grade for Carly and Chloe!!!  (Chloe is on the left and Carly is on the right)  I am so proud of all their hard work at school.  Homeschool is pretty tough when there are so many other little ones running around, but they are hard workers and they manage to get everything done!  I am ready for another year of fun and school with my girls!

 I'm bias, but they are pretty cute!

 Now my big boy gets to join the school crew!  He is more than ready to get this fun going.  He kind of already started school, but I always have to have an official first day of school!

 Yes, I make them all wear backpacks and get dressed up for the first day!  They get so excited for this day and join in on all my excitement.  I just don't want to deprive them of the first day excitement.  I asked Harper what he had in his back pack - he said his laptop and his Bible - a boy has got to be prepared.

 And.....I make them go down the street and run back to school!  They love going out and coming in knowing they are starting a new year. 

 I hope Carly always has this much excitement when she goes to school!

 And of course the Most Visited At (the) Principals would be Finley!  She was already starting off her school year with a bang!

 Preschool!!

 Harper has been dying to start school just so that he could get his cone!  He was so ready to get all his treats and prizes out.

 Carly's favorite part of back to school!

 Reading their notes from Mom and Dad.  We are so proud of them and love to show them!  We pray this school year blesses all of us!

 Harper and his teacher

The girls and their teacher - Mrs. Rifflay (I couldn't do that cute accent mark over the e, so I had to spell it phonetically)  I told them they were having a new teacher this year!!

The Dance Team

 Finley has finally joined the dance team!!  She has been waiting and waiting for this day to get here!  She was more than excited for dance class to start.  She was so cute!  This is the girls 6th year dancing and they were thrilled to have her start too.  I lucked out this year because they all go at the same time (different classes).  Only traveling to dance class once a week is great!  The girls aren't doing hip hop this year because I just didn't want to go more than once! 

 They are getting so big! 

Everyone in the house was so excited to see this big girl with her leotard on.  She makes us all so happy and her love for dance makes it all worth while!  I can't wait to see her on stage!

Sometimes........I just need a reminder :)

This was sent to me from a friend........Some days get wild here, but knowing that I can ask for help is so comforting!

Prayer Points: When They're Out of Control and I am Too

Posted: 26 Jul 2012 04:30 AM PDT

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that Iand that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

Ezekiel 36:26-28

 

Sovereign God,

They have been out of control lately. We try to consistently correct and each correction only sends them on a downward spiral of tantrum throwing fits. Then we correct that. And the screaming only intensifies. The bottom line? We can’t makethem do what we want them to. And it’s infuriating. I lose my temper. I willthem to stop and they continue to disobey.

Now I’m out of control and it feels as if they win if I walk away. My young child really is in control in a sense because I’ve responded in anger to their disobedience. I so easily forget to point them to You because I'm tired, frazzled, worn down... I'm so glad my Savior didn't use those excuses when He went to the cross... though every single one of them would have been "valid excuses" to sin according to my unspoken definitions.

Father, I know that ultimately YOU are the one in control. Even with the most consistent parenting and using the most effective tactics and a compliant child, my precious little ones can go astray. I might be able to raise a “moral” child, but unless You step in and change their heart of stone to a heart of flesh like You did for me, then the deepest longing of my heart for them will go unmet. So Lord I beg You, do a work in my child’s heart. Soften them to You and Your Word. Give them a desire to not only honor their parents but You.

And O God, help me. Help me to keep perspective in the midst of these chaotic meltdowns. Help me to be slow to speak and slow to become angry. Help me to weigh my words carefully. Help me be consistent and address the sin, but have wisdom as to how and when to stop and leave them to calm down. Give me words from You that will sink into their little hearts. Help me to sympathize with them and recognize myself in them and then show them the better Way.

And Lord, please always give me the humility to apologize when I’ve blown it and need to ask them for forgiveness for my response to their sin. I am the adult. Help me set the example and not add sin to the already sinful situation. Please forgive me when I fail and help me to redeem even those failures of situations by pointing them (and me) to Christ for the forgiveness He offers all of us in the midst of this mess.

Oh Jesus, thank you for the cross!

Spirit, I ask that you would empower me to walk in Your statutes and obey.

Father, I want my whole family to be “Your people” and for You to be “our God.” Draw us to Your Son through Your Holy Spirit.

Amen.