Halloween

 Halloween....my most disliked "holiday" or event.  I would like it more if there wasn't so many skulls, tombstones and scary things!  Since I dislike pouring money into this pointless event, we had to get creative with costumes.  So we have:  Channing as the gnome, Finley as the owl, Carly as the dryer, Chloe as the washer and Harper as the dirty laundry.  We went to a neighborhood little party thing and then the kids decided that they wanted to go trick or treating for the first time.  Since they don't eat candy, they decided they wanted to go collecting candy for their shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child...genius...why didn't I think of that before.  So they did one street in the neighborhood before they got cold and were done - yes, this holiday is overrated in their eyes too! 

 Channing wouldn't leave without her Bible.  I guess she wanted to preach it while she was hitting the streets!  She was a super cute gnome!

 For some reason my pictures are not loading right and this one ended up in the middle and there are several that wouldn't download.  Oh well, I just need to post something to catch this blog up!  We also carved pumpkins...our Aldi $1.99 pumpkins!!!  They love doing this...check out Channing in the background.  She is so cute!  She had fun fishing through the pumpkin guts and eating raw pumpkin!

 The washer and dryer - we had fun making these!!

 They were a walking testimony!  I loved seeing everyone reading their backs as we walked away!  Harper had one too on his back, but that is one of those pics that didn't download. 

 

And the owl!  My hand had blisters cutting out all those feathers.....but it was worth it seeing how cute she is!

Soccer

Another soccer season has come and gone.  Harper did soooo good this season.  I didn't get to see too many of his games, because Channing was just all over the place so I opted to stay home with her.  But that made it ever so special for Harper and Matt to get to spend some boy time together.  Harper loves to ride in Daddy's car!  He did make sure that Matt kept me up to date during the games so I knew how many goals he had made.  His coach was really good this time around and he learned alot of new skills.  He was constantly asking me what day it was, because he was just so excited for the weekend.  Great job Harper Banks!  We are proud of you!

Repentence

I love when God uses our children to teach US something.  This pretty much happens to me daily.  Half of the time when I am talking to my kids about their behavior and trying to teach them how to deal with their sins, I am left laughing at myself at how I do the EXACT same thing!  I love how the Holy Spirit fills you with words that you think you are delivering to your kids when He is speaking to you at the same time!  Tonight was one of those nights.  Last night Matt sent us all in a tail spin as he sent out the mayday call that he was in lots of pain and needed to go to the ER.  With this family, it takes a small army to juggle everything.  In the end, I took Matt to the ER and my parents were at home with all the kids.  (Oh and he is fine now, he had sever pains in his chest and couldn't walk - don't know what it was, but it wasn't anything bad).  My Mom told me that they were getting ready for story time before bed, when Finley decided to bite Chloe on the arm (not a horrible bite- didn't even leave a mark, but regardless, she did it).  So tonight I called Finley to me and asked her what had happened the night before which resulted in her not being able to hear the story.  She refused to tell me.  She broke down in tears.  I reassured her she wasn't getting into trouble, but she needed to admit to what she had done so that we can talk to her about it.  No luck.  I sent her to her room to calm down and told her I would come and ask her again.  I asked again.  The child said, "I....I ..... I...." and then she said something in some sort of crazy tongue language.  She was not budging on this - she was not going to admit what she had done.  She wouldn't even make eye contact!  We went at it for over an hour....it was a long hour of tears.   (When it was over, Harper looked at her and said, "Finley you look like you have been to the beach!"  - her little eyes were that red)  I explained to her that God knows what she did.  He saw it.  He knows every sin that she does.  All He asks of her is to repent and ask for forgiveness.  Finally she decided it was time to take the plunge and say the words......."I bit her!"  The relief that flowed through her face was priceless.  She looked straight at her sister and said, "I'm sorry for biting you."  There were lots of hugs and smiles and then we dove straight into the word:  Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.  If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times come back to you and says. "I repent." forgive him." 
How many times do we do this ourselves?  We won't look God in the eye and admit what we have done.  We won't say the words because it hurts so much to verbally relive that sin.  How we can't handle the disappointment of our OWN actions!  But the relief that one receives after they ask for that forgiveness is amazing.  You have been given forgiveness, it's up to us to go get it!  Repentance is so important.  That is why I won't let anyone in this house apologize with just an I'm sorry.  It must be backed with what you are sorry for.  By the end of the night, Finley was able to tell me that "repentance is saying sorry for what you did."  I love watching how my daughter does exactly to me what I do to God.  Her stubbornness is from me, but I am loving how God uses her to teach me.
I don't think I have mentioned this before, but I have a tool that I use in these situatuions that goes directly into my Bible.  It is called the Child Training Bible.  This is AMAZING!!!  I can't stress how important this is in my family now.  Taking my children straight to the word when things go wrong, takes everyone's emotions to a different level as we talk and discuss how God wants us to handle each situation.  I more than highly recommend this.  In fact, you need one even if you don't have kids.  I use it so many times it's not even funny!  I will sit and talk to the kids and then I turn over and say, "and Mommy needs to work on this....."  It is the best $10 investment you will make (well more like $25 when you get the highlighters and tabs and a little more if you get a separate Bible, but you will not be disappointed!)  Check it out....order it.....great Christmas gifts!!
http://www.childtrainingbible.com/

My Whoot Owl!

"Mommy says I frustrate......but I not....I not frustrate!"

Yes, this is what my 3 year old told her Sunday school teacher!  And yes, I am not embarrassed one bit that my girl ratted me out and told someone that she frustrates me.  Truth is - she does :)  This girl is so dynamic and full of life.  She has a personality that is huge.  She has a whine that is worse than nails on a chalkboard.  Why??  Because God gave me someone EXACTLY like myself so that I can see what I do to others and so that I can seek Him in helping me change.  I read once that what bothers us the most about our kids is when they are doing the things that are the most like us.  Isn't that the truth!!  Everyday I am challenged by Finley (not that the child is horrible - she isn't!!!  But she whines and cries all the time!  So she isn't being bad, she just isn't being quiet!  Hmmmmm - insert myself!)  There are days when my patience was chewed up and swallowed at breakfast.  Why?  So that I can depend on God to give me what I need.  There are days when I am sitting with my children trying to talk to them about their behavior, looking it up in the Bible, and explaining how they should repent, and then I end up apologizing, looking things up in the Bible for myself and seeking forgiveness!  I am learning so much from my little "frustrate" child and I thank God for giving her to me and all her loudness.  I heard on a podcast this morning that she is my heavenly sandpaper.  She rubs me in order to smooth me out.  He is using her in mighty ways to break me and shape me so that I can show my children that we all struggle with imperfection, but the only way to control our selves is to ask the Lord for help!  

Flashback

We go into our sweet 7 year old girls' room last night and we find them sleeping the exact same way, with the exact same tissue balled up on the night stand, with the same book out and we just smile.  We look at those big girls and we flash back to our precious newborn infants.  We see how that instant bond and love they have had from the start is still there, strong after 7 years.  They have always slept like this.  Always facing each other.  Twins absolutely fascinate me.  I am amazed at how close they are and how in sync they are.  They are so compatable.  Everytime I look at them playing with each other and interacting, I see Matt and myself.  Carly is my mini me and Chloe is mini Matt.  They just jive.  That is why God put us together.  Matt and I are so compatable and click in all the right places.  Where I am weak, he is strong and vice versa.  Same goes for the girls.  Carly is so strong willed and Chloe is not.  When Carly won't budge, Chloe folds with a smile on her face.  It is amazing to see the best friend bond that they have.  I am so glad they get to stay at home for school and get to work with each other.  When we were moving I actually called all the elementary schools in the districts of houses we liked to see their policy on twins.  MOST of them said they separate them.  They said they are individuals and shouldn't be kept together.  Some said if I put up enough fuss they would let me keep them together, but not in the upper grades.  Really?!  Why must they be punished for being best friends.  Yes, I do think they need alone time, and they do get that sometimes, but you are only young once and then you are forced to grow up.  Life will tear them apart eventually, but having a sister bond that is this thick is a treasure.  Not many get to have a twin, not many twins have a super tight bond, so I will foster this relationship as long as I can!

Finley's Trip to the Dr.

Last Sunday night Finley started complaining about her knee.  She started to say that it hurt and then she started saying she couldn't walk.  I gave her some Tylenol and put her to bed.  The next morning she woke up and slithered to our room crying because it hurt so bad.  She wouldn't go to the bathroom because she wouldn't put her foot down.  It was a lot of pain for her!  She was pitiful.  Now usually I don't run and take them to the Dr., but we were supposed to be going camping the next day and I wanted to make sure she was ok.  Well, she had an infection in her knee!  They had to rule out a bacterial infection that is stemmed from the hips so they took 2 tubes of blood.  She cried at first but she toughened up.  I couldn't believe how tough she was!  Then we had to go across the street to the hospital to get 4 xrays.  They hurt her poor knee, but she got through it and the technician said she was the toughest little 3 yr. old he has had in a long time.  Well, she got through the day and her infection was just viral, so Motrin was the miracle cure.  The Dr. said we would have to cancel the camping trip.....so of course we bought another backpack and said she could just ride on the back of someone because we were going!  By the next morning, she was feeling better and the Dr. said that I guess we could go (I told her we were already packed).  She did great and the knee healed by itself.  I hate seeing my babies in pain, especially when you have no clue why they are in pain!  But I did enjoy spending the day with her and carrying her around.  She is so sweet.  And now today I have hurt my back and she is taking such good care of me.  She rubs my back and gets me medicine and says prayers for me.  She is simply irresistible!

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).