Pictures are a little out of order...but they show what a

busy

fun

eventful

week we had

Heading into the weekend

time to slow down a little

and enjoy

Bo and baylen dancing at the swim meet

 Baylen spots a frog at the pool

 He is a little unsure if it is real

 Got a close up!

Sam is in the pool in this  picture

 Fooling around with my focus on the camera...pretty neat

Went to earthfare last night to pick up dinner

and there was a man making super cool balloon things

Here is Ariel really neat!

Then off to the farm

baylen only cared about mooing at the cows

Bo was pretty excited about picking tomatoes and beans

 baylen perfered the squash

Sam acted as if she did this all the time,

gettin right in there an picking those beans and cucumbers

Now if we only had a plant that made ranch...

Baylen learnin the ropes

Here is a loot

 before we added the beans, cucumbers and zucinii

Very fun week at bible school

I kinda felt lik this was baylens first day of school!

Bo wanted to get in the picture with his little brother

He is carrying a pen to do "art work"

Baylen insisted on wearing socks and wearing his

backpack around

all day!

I caught a photo from upstairs

I got such a kick out of watching him from inside when he was on the playground

He seemed to be such a big boy

and I loved watching him when he did not know i was watching!

 Bo getting ready to do free style

 So proud of him

he worked sooo hard

Sam loves to get in this stance

Her "jump dive"

 Breast stoke...first place in her heat!

Sam and Bo with Repp and Carolina...our friends kids from sunday school

 thought this would be a cool shot1

Baylen was so perfect, for three whole hours....

 Ending the night with some backstroke!

Fresh Veggies

Got fresh beans from the garden

they were so good

I have to say

I made a very yummy dinner

Daddy: "Best mash potatoes I have ever made"

Sam went back for thirds

Baylen said mmmm the whole time

and Bo

my sweet Bo

said this is the best dinner ever mommy

Fresh green beans with titch of olive oil

mash taters

biscuits

watermelon

lemon garlic chicken (recipie aka pintrest)

Love summer dinners with my ever so growing family

We are all spent today

first day of Bible School

Baylen took his backpack in...

his first day of school...he had never done this before

He melted my heart....

Sam was so tired today and crashed early

Bo slept in his bed all night and got to pick from the big boy bag!

Hebrews 10:35-36

Do not throw away your confidence,

it will be rewarded.

Persevere so you will do the will of God,

you will recieve what He has promised.

-Give me a confident heart, take me beyond believing in You

to truly believing You.

A Confidnet Heart



summer weekend

Summer Weekend

I noticed that it is staying light until nine

and I wake at 6:30 thinking it is 8:30

because it is so light

I love these extra long days

Gives me even more time to soak up the goodness of the day

Pretty close to perfect weekend....

Started with the picture below...pizza night!

Which happend right after a week of swim team

which the kids did so well at!

Baylen had so much fun playing and watching

The kids love pizza night...even though Bo wondered off into the parking lot

claming that he thought we had left him

now in less then two months

I have lost both of my kids

awful feeling

but

could have been worse

he was safe and got a good lesson in what to do and not to do after swim practice!

Finished friday night off with a game of upwards...which I won

which is always awesome to beat daddy

since he is awful to lose to!

And then kids off to watch a disney movie...

they really have gotten attached to eachother

 Baylen thought it would be funny to lay in bed with Sam on Saturday am

letting her use a passy

 Picked bluberries and they were soooo delcious! Making homemade bluberry muffins.....

 and they were gooooooood.....

 Bo and Baylen have been so fun to watch! Bo taught him how to sword fight. He copied EVERY move. If Bo put his sword behind his back so did Baylen...Baylen kept saying "On guard" SOOOO funny....

 This fight did not last long...because Sam came and stole Baylen away to play squeenkies, and then the rest of the afternoon consisted of them figthing over Baylen...they get very jelous... never would have guessed it.....Baylen loved every minute of the attention!

 Happy Fathers day....Sunday brought even more fun! Brunch at MeMe and Grandaddys was super good and fun...love family time around the table....wish the moments could last even longer...then enjoyed a walk with mom and dad....perfect day!

 Ended with Watermellon at the pool

 and homemade icecream and blueberries!!!! 

Lazy days of summer

 Gotta love a summer morning. Baylen with his bottle...yes at two, with all of the blankets from his bed. Samantha in the middle. because she likes to be with both brothers...and Bo zoned. They are getting ready for breakfast....nowhere to be
Woke up this morning early to train...but have to say it was so peaceful outside. Birds chirping and sun was out at 6... it was quiet and still...
We did not do much today, which made it perfect
Bo played with Baylen a lot. He took him on a treasure adventure. They ran around the house looking for treasure. Baylen played along like he wanted to follow and do every little thing Bo told him to do. Bo would say...good job Baylen...you are doing great for your first time finding treasures. It was the sweetest thing I ever saw. Bo was so great with him...It was fun to watch two bothers play, Baylen played with him like Sam can't...it was like Baylen just "got it". Sam worked on a lego house today that I am still not revealing until she is ready...we packed for camp with she is super excited for she can hardly stand it! Piper dug a lot..but I am keeping my cool and excited to meet her trainer to whip her into shape (in a good way) next tuesday!
Baylen has started the neatest bed time routine. When we say it is time for bed, he gathers his belongings, waves and says "night, night, see ya, bye" then he has to give everyone a hand pound, then high five, then kiss...in that order. Can we say OCD. It is so funny to watch.
I am so proud of how hard the kids worked today at swim team, it was a joy to watch. Sam always works hard, but I was pleased to watch Bo really listen....and give his very best!
Today in target a boy from Samantha's school walked by and said "hi samantha" as he was looking at the ground. She said hey back. They both gave little half waves. It was both the cutest thing ever, and sad...realizing that boy crushes are right around the corner...even lurking at target. He was with a buddy, and I turned to look as they walked away and they both looked back at her. She is a catch I must say, she will be breakin little boy hearts left and right...especailly with all the boys in this house looking out for her....enjoying summer, pools and sunshine...keep it coming....love the feeling of just being and not having to rush anywhere....

Quad

I feel truly blessed

seeing this sweet little face today on ultrasound

brought tears  my eyes

I saw Sam Bo and Baylen

all wrapped into one

I feel like my heart is complete

I am so enjoying being surrounded by my brood

I love having one 9 6 2 and brand new

I love looking around and having it all

I get to have girl talk with my girl and let her know how special she is

I get to watch my boy make me laugh and challenge me at the same time

And watch my baby be the sweetest thing on earth

just tonight I said time for bed!

He grabbed his bottle

waved and said good night

gave out kisses to everyone

hand pounds and highfives

It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen!

And to now

have a face to this new life

and feeling it is an exclamation point

to my already perfect family

I am overjoyed

all I want to my kids to be happy

healthy

and know that they are loved

Last day at the beach...for now

It is always super hard to leave the beach
leave the time spent with family
and not being swept up in the daily task that everyday at home can bog you down with
Just to beable to spend all day with the kids
and not really have to go or be anywhere
Just set at night
and relax
as much as you can on a vacation with kids
Which I love
but it is still 24/7
But I love being able to just be with them, really with them
I loved watching them at the pool tonight...they had so much fun!
They all three played with eachother so nicely
and found friends
It was neat because they were all boys
Sam was amazing to watch
She was rough
and they thought she was awesome!
She was so sweet to Baylen when they said
get rid of your brother
She would keep him around
and even give him kisses here and there
I loved to watch his face laugh so much
watching his brother and sister play
he thought he was right in it
I love to watch Bo jump in waves
Sam stay up late and just be with us
playing scabble
eating dinners I don't cook
bike rides
golf cart rides
beach time and pool time
the list goes on and on
I love watching Baylen dance and make faces
Looking forward to being home,
but only because I know I get to come to my second home again soon....

Hebrews 6:1-3
Sometimes we are sad when our kids grow up to fast and want Superheros instead of Nemo
But we are just as guilty
We get into our favorite thing and never break out when we need to
God does not want us standing still
If you are coasting through life you really are going downhill
We need to seek challenge inorder to grow
God calls us to the mountains for a hike!
Joshua 1:5-9
When we have a list of worries that takes over us, that is Satan attacking
When we have concerns that knock on our heart..that is the Holy Spirit letting us know something needs to change
there is a difference
God is always near us
If you give into fear you have stopped believeing in God
I am weak
Don't allow me to give into panic
Job 38:2-7
What am I missing everyday
What am I sleeping through
Our babies absorb so much
when did I stop absorbing
quit observing in awe
of the creation and blessings around us
Romans 8:35-39
There are mean people all around us
We must learn to blanket them in grace
hold our tongue
do not pass judgement
Deal with mean people in truth and love
Isahia 9:6
We always dream of being a better mom, wife, friend
I have good intentions but they fade...
Help me remember the joy that we are doing our best and ...what really matters....

I read a blog recently

from a lady that I swore had it all together

but she really did'nt

she admitting that she was awful at keeping her house clean

Was asked how does she find the time to do everything

she said

she does'nt

She does not volunteer much

Hates processed foods

She simplifies and organizes

It is essential to sanity

She loves to blog

it is the one thing that is hers

baby steps

we get overwhelmed when we want to do everything

all the time

perfectly

and when we want to read everything

but we can't

She cares for her family

keeps her house clean

fixes lots of food

scrapbooks less

blogs and reads

It is trial and error

readjusts to what works

Jeremiah 31:23-25

Sometimes your nine year old is freaking out

your six year old is throwing up

and your toddler is sceaming because they do not want to be at the ball field

for the third time this week

Or there is someone ringing the doorbell

when you are still in your pj's

two phones are ringing

The house is exploding

even though you swore it would not be

and you would stay on top of it

the fridge is empty

hours of work is behind you

and hours ahead

On days like this I have awful thoughts

I want to be free

time to take a leisurely bath without wailing outside the door

To pick up the hosue and it stay that way

Tough days make us long for what we do not have

We then realize

that if we had what they had we would have a whole nother set of challenges

I recently read an article about a mom who had twin daughters

and it was not until their third birthday that they discovered they had a genetic disease

that would take their life

can you imagine?

Your three year olds

right there in front of you

and then having to watch them weither away

I also hear of the 5 year olds with cancer

in car crashes

bullied or abused

The 7 year old that dies of an anyrism in PE

can you imagine getting that call?

I don't say all of this to sound morbid or cross

it just shakes you a bit

makes you want to go outside and shout to the skies

Thank you

Thank you for all my blessings

for protecting my family

it makes you want to always have a smile on your face

and gladly take on the days that seem bad

but really are awesome

that you have kids that will mess things up

or need things from you

On frustraing days

I really need to pray for a change in attitude and a good nights sleep

Tomorrow is always a brand new day

I will smile when my kids are crawling all over me and making a mess

I would not want it anyother way

Thank you God for helping me keep calm in the chaos and not totally lose it

thank you for helping me laugh instead of cry

today was great

Sandcastle with kids and dad

a crazy golf cart ride where grandaddy was so silly

The beach on a windy but nice day

A pouring down naptime where you can truly relax

beacuse you can't be outside....

Oh

and the fried shrimp mom cooked last night

amazing

I love this beach house

love love love it

what a retreat

already sad about leaving

but know I will be back soon

very soon

On a final note

took a sweet little dog named bandit home to see his family

the joyful tears that the lady cried melted my heart.

I knew that she was thinking she would never see her dog again

The ability to bring her what she thought was gone forever

was amazing

I often picture someone walking up with Riley and Walker

as if they were just lost

It was comforting to give her what I long for

It brought me joy

I know bandid smelled Walker and Pie on me

and knew we would leader her home

Feeling blessed

Proverbs 22:2-6

"The rich and poor shake hands as equals-

God made them both

A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks

A simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered"

I often worry about my kids

am I teaching them right

Am I being hard enough on them that they will learn

but easy on them that they know they are loved

All about balance

Is one too tender

one too stubborn

I don't want them to ever struggle

I want them to know love laughter sucess peace and significance

As moms

we protect our babies

 we want to smooth the way

but scripture says to just point the way and they will okay

I have a hard time trusting that

God wrote the music

He knows what it is suppose to sound like

We teach them how God is always there to cover them with grace

Some will figure it out at eighteen and some at eighty

It all boils down to them and God

We can only set the tempo

I want to give my kids the right tools

to make life easier

I don't want them to face pain

but that is out of my control

Help me focus on what I can do now and give their futures to You

thank you for the gift of each child

the miracle of your creation

Help me remember that you know them before they were born and that your plans for them are plans for good!

Sam got lost on her bike

I will not go into details

because I know I will always remember them

but I thought she was gone forever

this devotion came at perfect time

I had to put it in Gods hands

Instead of going over and over in my head I wish it had happened differently

I know that it was all part of the learning plan

that God has orcastrated

in this journey for each of us

just another reminder

of how

my kids are my everything

and I thank God for them everyday



Still at the beach....

Kinda hard to be on a blogging schedule at the beach

So tired at night

just want to fall asleep

I will have to say Baylen went through a two day

I don't know what I should call it

full day tantrum

sleepless  nights

no nap

and many fits

Instead of blogging about it

I chose to let it pass

and blog again

when things were better

and they are

Baylen has actually

been pretty perfect

which is never what I want

I don't want perfect

I just don't want horrible

and yes

he was horrible

just something inbetween

will do

A quote that I really like is

This soon shall pass

So

in the heat of a fit

it will pass

and it does

I just wish the good times did not pass so fast

and the not so good times

went super fast

but it all balances out

I was on a bike ride with Baylen this morning and was thinking of what a struggle it is

to stay in the moment

I often find my mind wondering to the past

past memories of the kids little

the cute things they did

the pictures I will look at

that will bring up a warm thought

or memories of my own childhood

like sandwhiches at the beach

Disney trips

Chistmas mornings

movie nights

pizza night

family time

I find myself wishing for it back

and then

I will just forward

and think of how it will be when all four of ours are grown

and Kevin and I are walking our dogs on the beach

talking about Bo Sam Bay and ?

as adults

and then

I remind myself

the past is the past

and It was good

but it gets better

those memories are ALWAYS with us

they are not gone

we can live them over and over again

I don't have to be sad as my kids grow

we will have new fun things to love and enjoy

and still have the fun memories to revisit at anytime

And as for the future

I am in no rush for that

but it is a fun thing to focus on

for positive thinking

thinking about being 80 or 90 and still going strong

knowing that that will be a fun time to

But for now

I am happy where I am

right now

which is amazing

that I opened to my devotion today

titled

"I think I can"

Psalm 107:4-8

It is a rough day

much to do

little time to do it

You are needed by too many people

There is not enough of you to cover it

If you do indeed give the 150 perccent that they demand

you will break

Piles of laundry

bills

dirty floors and faces

You were suppose to leave an hour ago

but everyone is still in pj's

Sometimes I think it might be nice to be in prison for a day

just to be

I laugh at myself for such insane thoughts

Instead of thinking

I can't do it

I should say I can

We can do all things through Christ

So really we should say

I think He can

So I stop

and ask God

to remind me of all that is good

Think basic

food shelter love light

Don't go big

I want to run away from frustrations and pressures

Help me to take on one thing at a time

this day

Help me see you working through these things that are screaming at me at once

I love love this devotion!

A memory that I want to remember forever...

baylen running after his brother and sister at the pier shops on SSI

he was so proud of himself

saying "here we go"

I hope I remember that little voice forever

Trying on hats

pointing at manicans

saying "whoe"

Bo always in fighting action mode

Samantha always wanting to help

always putting the other one first

always

Watching the kids in the waves on the beach

how silly goggles look on their faces

watching them swim

play on a playground

eat a snack

get a redbox

I hope the little things

are always the big things....