Hair Cutting

I just have to post about it because looking back at Saturday I can see the humor in it all now.... 

A relaxing morning of catching up on TV shows that have been in the DVR for weeks

working on a few photo movies, 

planning my baby girls 2nd Birthday Party and ordering the invites 

were all that was accomplished  

all while sitting on the couch.... What me sitting?? I know crazy. 

But I think that is just what my body needed time to just chill. 

All this chillin lead to a moment of guilt as I gazed around my home

Seeing the mountain of messes building up. 

Kids were happily going from playing in their rooms to running around out side  

They left trails of their adventures in every room. But oh I couldn't stop them... they were actually playing TOGETHER and not against each other.

Kaitlyn even tried to get herself dressed..

I walked past the pile of dishes that were slowing overflowing to the counter about 10 times
until they started talking to me.... " JENNY, JENNY, JENNY!" What your pile of dirty dishes never calls to you :) Ok well maybe I am a bit crazy. Anyways enough was enough.... Time to get up...

The Petit  hair salon was now open for business.... 

Zack had the first appointment.... 

 Before

After

While Zack was getting his hair cut in our back yard my dear sister ( who spent a few days with us) was giving Kaitlyn a bath.

Zack joined his sister in the bath while Jayden has his appointment with the scissors. 

 Before

A raging water fight began in the bath tub so my wonderful sister came to the rescue and removed little miss Katie from the situation. 

Jayden then joined his brother in the bath.

Now my sis and I were in the cutting mood it seems as we began giving our dog a much needed spring trim... 

Then we hear yelling.. this time it wasn't the dishes calling my name... It went more like this... " Mommy Mommy Kaitlyn is in here.. Mommy Mommy Kaitlyn is in the bath" 

Yep guess the bathing beauty wasn't done with her bath yet... She got right in diaper and all. 

So the puppy trim was put on hold as I got her out and changed AGAIN..

 We closed our hair salon and then went to take a shower.....

 The shower did wonders and I got another wave of energy and called a family meeting.

The kids had 2 minutes to finish what they were doing and meet in the living room. 

I preceded to give them their instructions for the next hour. 

 The motivation was an Easter egg coloring extravaganza in the back yard after the whole house was clean.

Our meeting was concluded with everyone putting their hands in and shouting... 1 2 3 lets go!!

Music was then turned up loud... 

Timer set for 1 hr 

We all got busy doing our assigned chores.  

Jayden kept saying while dusting the house " I love family meeting, Mom can we do that again ?" 

Oh of course we can son... Any way to make you guys want to and enjoy cleaning :) 

Tayler had floor duty......

It was then that she saw a long whisp of curly hair laying on the floor. 

" What is this?" she asks..

I respond with "oh that must be Zack's hair..." 

but then we both look at it once more then... "OH NO!!!!!!" 

In disbelief I look at my beautiful daughter and I see it.. 

A chunk of hair right on the top of her head gone!!!!! ZACKARY!!!!! Come here right now!!! 

" Mom Kaitlyn wanted a hair cut too" as he burst into tears and so did mommy.

Zack gave Kaitlyn her first hair cut.. 

Not quite how I was picturing her first hair cut 

but I did still save that whisp of curl and will forever remember how it got to be in that zip lock bag!!!

 SO she will be wearing her hair like this for awhile :)

After the emotional moment cleaning was resumed and completed in an amazing 46 minutes!! I love it... then it was time for egg coloring :)

So Done

I am so done being sick. I feel like I have had a cold/ sore throat for over a month now!!! I was thinking it may be allergies however just yesterday Mat came down with the cold so maybe my body has been fighting a cold this whole time?? I have no idea but I do know I would like it to take a hike.. Like NOW!!! Ok that was my rant about that.......

Now on the this week's happenings.... 

Swimming and dinner and game night at our friends Monday night..... 

Tuesday.. Why can't I remember what I did Tuesday.. Oh yes we had a meeting with our CT that went really well and then park day with Youngsters Club... 

Wednesday was kid sitting day... watch 2 sets of kids for friends one early afternoon and the other stayed the night with us. We are  blessed with all the wonderful friends God has given us!!

Yesterday my mom took my boys on an adventure. My baby girl and I did our grocery shopping. It was really a fun time spent with her. I guess she likes having my undivided attention.She talked,I checked off my list, she talked some more to everyone else who would listen. Saying "Hi" to as many people she could. They would say "Hi" back but then she would continue saying "Hi". I guess it was a fun game.. "See how many times the same person will say  "Hi" to me game :)

Mat got off early so he went with us to bring a meal to my friend who just had a baby then we used a gift cert to get dinner. 

Today I picked up my boys and sister and went to my friends house where Tays and I painted her little girls nursery... It turned out really cute if I do say so myself :)

Now I am sitting on the couch and can't move. Being sick isn't helping with my lack of motivation. I am having a hard time with feeling that even though I have done so much there is still so much that I need to do. 

How do you relax with so much to-do???
Or is this just a time in life where there isn't much relaxing?? 
I have been trying to take time to "stop and smell the roses"
well actually I haven't smelt much lately but you know what I mean.
But like at this moment there is 16 goldfish that Kaitlyn just spilled on the floor ( yes I did count them... and I have no idea why :) that I should get the vacuum and pick up, I need to put dinner in the oven ( I am so thankful I froze a pot pie a few weeks ago because it would have been a find it and fix it kind of night), I have a chore list to write,
 Clothes that have been asking to be hung for 2 days now in my room, a Photo DVD to do, eggs to hard boil so we can decorate them in the morning, Sunday school craft to plan,

So as I was typing this my computer crashed and I was able to pick up the gold fish( the crumbs are still there), dinner was put in the oven, jump with Kaitlyn on the trampoline... all in 5 minutes

God just showed me that what I was grumbling and complaining about were little things that I needed to just take a minute and deal with them. The other things will get done but maybe just not when I planned because God put other things in my day that I didn't plan but were more important.. Like spending a few minutes to laugh and jump with my kids. They for sure don't care about my list of things to-do ( oh to be a kid again!!)  Me being sick is part of His plan for my day to... Maybe for me to learn to just relax and not worry about all the things to do. Will I ever learn that???


Well now before my computer decides to shut down again I will go and do a few more things on my list.... Baby Steps :)

Happy Friday!!

To simply remember my favorite things.......

When the dog bites... when the bee stings... when I am feeling sad... I simply remember my favorite things.. then I don't feel so bad.... My all time favorite movie.... EVER..... Sound of Music. The hills are alive with the Sound of Music .. Ok I will stop now :)

A few days ago I read a blog post from my friend who made a list of her favorite things.... I loved the idea (thanks Stef :) So now I am going to attempt to write a list of what I love.. Not sure how long it will be and it won't be in any particular order  but here it goes....

 Warm Sunny Days

I really really don't like being cold

Healthy Kids

After being sick almost all of last year I have come to love fever, boogie, extra cranky free days

My husband

who brings home flowers and fudgesicles

Family and Friend Game Nights

Oh the memories we have made :)

  The time of the morning
not a creature is stirring not even a mouse
  it is just me, my bible and God!

 Getting into a warm car 

after it has been sitting in the sun!

 See's chocolate suckers

 The smell of a pinesol clean house
 How I feel after a long run
Just wish that would motivate me to actually run!

 Cherries
I am eagerly anticipating the first sighting of the stands along the road to my moms house.... should be soon very soon

 Good Hair days
when it just seems to "work"

 My house filled with friends

 kids making messes in every room and people full and happy!!

 A huge glass of ice cold peach tea 

 The perfect ice they give you at the hospital

 The time of day when 
I get to take my jeans off, pull my hair up and get my comfy sweats on!

 The book of James

 1:2,3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 

 Reading blogs of other mom's

who have been there/ done that :)

 Baby Feet

I love to smell and love on them :)

 The scent of Vanilla

 A Clean Garage
I savor the 2 minutes it stays clean  :)

 Blogging
So I know that I won't have to remember what I want/need to.. 
I can just go back and read it :) 

 Laundry that is folded and put away
 A rare event in our house.. at least the put away part

 Clearance Racks

  My Family
Both near and far

 Time Period Dramas

 The movies that you have to really "listen to" as Mat says :)

 Sundays

Teaching my 3 yr olds, worshiping with the saints, receiving the "honey" for my soul, 

 Mat's 1st day off!!

 Blasting Music

My kids come running

 wait for their turn to dance with mommy :) It is a workout I tell ya :)

Road Trips

Car packed with snacks and excited kids 

 Laying by a pool

A good novel, See's sucker and Peach Tea a MUST  

 Sunglasses and flip flops

 Baking

Decorating Cakes

Writing To-Do Lists

 With a freshly sharpened pencil

Family Devotions

Home School Catalogs 

Writing Lists of things I LOVE :)

 

 

Getting Crafty

Hosting  a baby shower today got me feeling all crafty. With kiddos in tow this rarely happens... But my wonderful mom took my kiddos last night so I could clean the house and not have 3 little people trail behind me undoing all my cleaning attempts ( Don't you just love that!!). So it was a perfect time to get my craft on :) Here are the results.......

A diaper teddy bear

 Here is a fun way to give the gift of diapers and wipes... The wipes I wrapped in pink tissue paper  and the diapers are rolled and tapes together. I then put a ribbon around them so I could hot glue the arms, legs, head and ear on the ribbon and not on the diapers so the diapers are still useable.

 Yesterday I went to the mom to be house and got a look at the nursery 

 So adorable isn't it?????

So I came home and made these for her wall

It was a very fun day and guess what my mom is keeping my kiddos tonight.. Looking forward to a night with my honey!!! Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

Flip Flops to WHAT??????

The sun was out, the birds chickens were chirping..... It looked like we were going to enjoy another flip flop day....Kids were up early, chores done  being worked on,homeschooling was even going surprisingly smooth maybe because of the threat of not being about to go out with our friends.... to lunch and then to the jump house :) But whatever it was it was a wonderful school day!!!

Oh I just have to say I have a major "thing" for baby feet. I love to smell and love on them!! Is it just me or do those little pudgy feet  look completely and utterly delicious right now :)

Oh I guess all of her looks like that too :)

We are a little ready for summer :)

This was last week but I just had to add it because I love it so :)

Oh theses were a few days ago too. My sister and I took the boys to the drive- in. We saw HOP.  Daddy got called to work OT.. so he stayed home with Kaitlyn so he could go to bed early since 3:45 am comes all to soon!

I really can't say how the movie was because of my really annoying problem of falling asleep when all cozy with blankets and pillows... ( Oh I LOVE the drive in :) We were supposed to watch Rango also but when they accidentally put on a thriller movie on our screen instead of Rango we quickly frantically got buckled up and left... So Rango will have to wait until we can watch it in the comfort of our own home :)

This was also from a few days ago... a chip and gaucomole picnic on the swing set... Notice Kaitlyn with no shirt on.. For some reason all day she was taking off everything I put on her. I found her dress next to the trampoline, thinking a shirt and pants would be more difficult to remove I put that on her.. Well her shirt ended up on the floor in her room... I guess it is ok... But hopefully this habit stops for her  soon or we will have to have a talk :)

OK back to yesterday :) I gave Kaitlyn her first french braid that actually stayed in all day!!

 So we went to lunch and the jump house... While at the jump house I thought the ceiling was falling ... but it was actually THUNDER...... Then on our drive home it started  to HAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is that SNOW in our back yard.... CRAZY!!!!

 I was feeling rather uninspired with dinner.. I have chicken breasts out but didn't have any idea what I was going to do.. The menu said oven fried chicken but that just wasn't working for me last night..I found a great pulled chicken recipe for the crock pot that sounds delicious but being it was already 4:30 that wasn't going to happen.... But I really wanted pulled chicken... So I tried browning the chicken breast  in seasoning and white wine... I then poured a whole bunch of bbq sauce and covered and let simmer for 30 minutes.. and whola ... Pulled chicken :) And I felt like being extra sweet to my honey so I made him his favorite curry chicken with a curry yogurt sauce... He was happy beside the way I tried to change it up a bit by adding apples thinking he wasn't going to notice.... :) well he did and says " I hope those are potatoes" My man doesn't like mixing fruit with things... He loves his fruit but not in his dinner :) * He happily ate his dinner while picking out the apples :)

 

 The sun shinning on my entertainment center promising a beautiful day but showing me all the dust on it which reminds me off all the work I have to do today to get my house ready for a baby shower tomorrow.. So off cleaning I shall go. Happy Friday!

Where is your sting??

    This past week has been a reminder that too often I lose sight of what I am doing all this for..... I more often than not get caught up in the day to day... Laundry, house work, cooking, checking off my to-do lists, errands, and lose sight that it isn't the things in this house that are important but the people in this house that are!!! For it is the  people big and little that God has given me for whatever time He sees fit to hug, love, laugh with, to teach, to learn from and to just find joy in, and to cherish. God says that there is a time for everything  Ecc. 3:1&2 " To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;" 
   A young man we knew died this past week. He left behind a wife, 4 young kids, parents, siblings, family and friends. To us it doesn't seem right... why should a young man die??? Well like in Ecc there is a reason and season for everything. We might not be able to see why on this side of heaven but there is a reason... If you have ever seen a quilt on the underside before the backing is put on it looks like a mess... no reason... no meaning.... just a mess.. but then you turn the quilt over and you see that every stitch was in its proper place for a reason and the result was a beautiful masterpiece. Well this is like our lives... Since the creation of the world God has had his plan and purpose and nothing can stop or get in the way of Him accomplishing this. And He is working every single detail of our lives for our good and His glory to those who love him and are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28)
      The one thing certain in all our lives is that we all have a time to die. So ask yourself are you ready for death?? Do you live each and every day like you are one day closer to eternity?? I know I so often lose sight of this... That heaven is my true home where I will leave forever with my Savior.
     Before I was a Christian though this was very scary for me to think about. When I was 9 my dad died. I for a short time was VERY angry at God for allowing my dad to die so young. But God used this greatly in my life to show me how short life really is. I began to ask myself... Am I ready to die???  No matter if you live until you are 9 or 90 when you are talking about eternity, forever with God for those who are saved or forever without God...  both of those lives are short when compared to FOREVER.
"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:54-56

The only thing that can/has concurred death is CHRIST.....  It is only through His death on the cross that someone can be freed from the power of death... Because those in Christ will no longer face death, and eternity in hell forever separated from God. When those in Christ leave this life they will be met by their Savior to live forever with Him in a heaven....A New heaven where neither moth or rust will destroy. there will no longer be any sickness... cancer... or death.... I now can have peace

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold I am making all things new.’” Revelation 21:3-5

What a wonderful promise this is.... Heaven.... Our hope is In Christ ALONE!!!

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my Light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love
What depths of peace
When fears are still
When striving cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died
the wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground his body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the Precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell
No scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

In Christ alone