Summer Heat Wave

It's Texas. It's summer. And it's hot. Everyone can agree that this summer seems to be warmer than most. And the mosquitos are out in small armies all over the place. And to make things even more toasty our A/C broke a few nights ago. And to be honest, I think it has brought us much closer as a family. Well, ok, maybe that's not true. But we did spend the night at my moms which was lovely and Aaron is spending some time with his mom today, so thats good.
This is all stemming from my attempt to be a 'make lemonades' type girl, and I think I am doing really well with that.
The summer is flying by. We have already had so much fun. We spent the first have of June on an awesome roadtrip to Florida; destination Walt Disney World! It was incredible. The drive was so pretty. I fell in love with all the bayou's in Lousiana and the further southeast we headed the more magnificent the trees became. Our favoreite were by far the live oaks draped in whisps of moss (old man's beard; according to Kelly). The kids thought they looked spooky, but I thought they looked mystical and romantic (that got a huge eye roll from our Zoe). And Aaron loved those trees too. Every few seconds of the drive, he'd get all giddy and point "Look babe! Another tree with all that whispsy moss!".....Well, maybe he didn't actually say that. He really seemed indifferent about the trees. But he did come up with some great one liners that the kids repeated the whole trip long. And he taught us the tradition of holding your breath while crossing the Mississippi River! Sid and Aaron could do it, but Zoe and I fell short. The boys were really impressed with themselves. We could tell :)
Disney and Florida were everything we hoped it would be! The heat wasn't near as bad as I had anticipated and the crowds were totally bearable. Our favorite rides were Tower of Terror, Expedition Everst and Big Railroad Thunder Mountain. OH! And Test track. We can't forget that one, it was the first one the we rode and it was awesome.
We went out to Cocoa Beach one day while we were there and Aaron thinks my thirst for a beach vacation has now been quenched. He knows me and I could go to the beach everyday. But that'll do for this summer. It was a really pretty beach- soft sand and cool water. I loved it.
Well, thats cathing everybody up to speed on where we are right now.
Sorry dear blog that I have abandoned you for so long.
I promise to update more often.

Flutters of Summer

I love this time of year. Anybody who knows me knows that summer is my favorite. I am a beach kind of girl. And I am so excited for our upcoming trip to Florida, I can barely stand it. We are heading to Disneyworld, first week of June. Meeting up with Jennifer and Kelly there and we are all buzzing with anticiaption of the awesome time that will ensue.
And who doesn't love a good road trip. (3 day road trip) If Aaron and I were independanlty wealthy, I am convinced we would travel so much.

Stop and See

Every time I pray about my children, or pray about what kind of parent I should be, or pray about not feeling close with my family God says the same exact thing to me every single time- he has for years! One of my very first posts on this blog was about that exact same thing.

The exact same 2 words.

Every time.

"Slow Down".

What a simple request. Why do I keep coming back with more questions about it- when that seems so easy and so direct. I mean it couldn't be more clear. SLOW DOWN. He wants to move slower, speak slower, notice life, take a breath, fly a kite. And sometimes I do, and then I always come back to the rush- the mad dash that is life. Before I know it another week has passed, another month. When will I heed His word? When will I stop the madness and get down on my knees and be still.

Well, I have done just that for the past couple of days. .OK, ONE of those days, I was so still I went directly to sleep leaving my dearest husband to do all the after dinner dishes, and stuff- but still he is amazing like that. Anyways, while being in this "conscious" state of slowness and calmness, which is so much easier said than done, this is what I saw:

Sid has the same size feet as me.
Zoe stretches the exact same way in the mornings as she did when she was an infant.
My family is really funny. We spend most of our evenings just laughing.
I noticed that if you let them work it out- they will.
When Aaron senses me watching him while he is watching TV or doing something else, he will wink at me.
Sid really likes to make random noises. Zip Gobbie Blah
Zoe sometimes talks so much and so fast- she stops to think and get "caught up" on everything she just said.
I think our dog is OCD.
The baseboards in our kitchen could use a good scrubbing.
Zoe doesn't want her food to touch. But will eat it anyway.
Zoe thinks I am beautiful.
Aaron loads a dishwasher like an architect.
Aaron is hot at night- cold in the morning, but always cuddly.
Sid doesn't want me to hold him or kiss him good night.
Sid doesn't mind if I kiss him LOTS and stroke his hair in the morning before he is fully awake.
Sid thinks that knuckles were named after nickels cause there are 5 of them.
My kids have inside jokes with each other.
If Sid studies hard he makes 95's.
Aaron and I have inside jokes and our own language (with only 3 words).
I am so blessed to have these people in my life.

So, I stopped and smelled the roses, and I feel closer to my family. We truly are so blessed to have loved ones in our lives. And God is so amazing to build us to need relationships and yearn to nurture and love one another. I know I can't always slow down- but when I do, I am always better for it.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Renewing Me while God Renews the Earth

Happy 2009! I realize I have been a really bad blogger. I do not feel as though I have such a huge following that I owe too much of an explanation. If you read this you also talk to me all the time- you know what I have been doing.

I am so excited about the new year I can barley stand still long enough to write about it. This year has started as most have in the past- busy to the brim and crazy Texas weather. But I think this year has big changes for me and my family. I don't want to get into to much of that now, as I am (as always) typing this while doing a million other things- and I don't have time to get into all the details. But more on that to come.

I love the idea of the New Year. I love the idea of a fresh start. Anything that you did horribly last year, or lost or gave up on- here is your chance to make fresh of it! People are all so optimistic this time of year. It is like a do-over! But bigger and better and much more ambitious.

I think about how God wipes your slate clean when you accept him as your Lord and Savior into your heart and vow to follow him. And again and again many times after that. Now that's the ultimate do -over.

This year I wanna renew myself, renew my passion for the Lord, renew my body, renew my outlook, renew my goals. I am ready for a whole new year~!

I am looking forward to sharing so much more! I will try better to update more often.

So thankful.....

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Every Thanksgiving I realize there is so much to be thankful for. I have such a thankful heart, and I am humbled this time of year. We have the Lord, we have a home, we have jobs, we have our families, we have our health, we have shoes, we have ice cream. Such things I take for granted all year long. My everyday problems seem so small when you look at it that way. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family and so many friends to celebrate with this time of year. This is my favorite time of year. The weather is amazing (thanks for opening my eyes to that Aaron:), the food is delicious, and the time spent with family is so treasured. I just celebrated my birthday yesterday, I feel more blessed and thankful this year than I ever have before. I am looking forward to this next year with so much love and optimism.

And a thankful and humble heart! I hope everyone has a truly wonderful Thanksgiving.

Halloween

As promised...

Thank God Its.....

Friday.

5 things I LOVE about the weekends:

No school or work

No alarm clocks

Quiet cool mornings with my coffee

Staying up a bit late with a great movie or book

Big Breakfasts

Friday is finally here. I have not updated in the longest time. I promise to post pictures later, But for now an update on our lives! Zoe got glasses, and has started piano lessons. She also is going to audition for Honor Choir at her elementary school. Her and I also joined Girl Scouts- I will be her leader. I am very excited about it. We have a camp out in November, so I am off to buy long johns later this afternoon. Sid is doing great in 5th grade. He is in the new Intermediate school and it is so different from Elementary school, but he likes it. One of his really good friends from church and Bible Study is in his class so that makes it fun, plus 3 new friends all with the same name. He has been perfecting his flips on the trampoline and drawing comics. We went to the pumpkin patch last weekend and had a great time together. Aaron just finished a really hard week jam packed with tests! I hardly saw him at all this week which was really hard on me. I am more cranky when I don't get time with him. But I am so proud of him, he really studied hard! He is such an inspiration. Mom is going to England next week, so we are preparing for that. The kids are sad that she is leaving. She is very loved and needed.

We have all been completely bogged down with homework and stuff that we have hardly had a chance to make it outside and enjoy the cooler weather, but it is cooling off here. The leaves have been slow to change, but hopefully that will happen soon. First leaf on the ground signifies the beginning of Fall, right?

I will post pictures and more stories on Monday.

Courage

Be Strong and Courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged.

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

Courage looks different for everybody, doesn't it? We all struggle with courage in different ways. In the new bible study that I am doing, I came across this verse, and found great truth and comfort in it. The command to follow is plain to see the Lord wants us to be courageous! For he is ALWAYS with us. It makes me feel like I could handle anything! Just thought I would share this.

First Day Of School

Look how grown up they look!
Look at those new backpacks and lunch boxes!
"See you later Bailey! Mwah!"

Little Madison

We celebrated Madison's 2nd Birthday at Pam and Dellis on Saturday! She looked like such a big girl! I had to leave early for a work party- but I got these shots before I left!

Madison and Pop Pop

Blowing out candles

I think she liked the Leopard!

Royal Princess Coach! For the Princess!

A little look back

Came across these pictures on my computer from a couple years ago- WOW the kids have grown so much! Sid is just learning to ride his bike:Zoe and I on the 4th of July 2006
Aaron playing with Sid and a sleepy Zoe!
Kayla and Zoe "taking a nap"


The kids in a tree at Chilsolm Park

I love these pictures!

I am Loving all this Rain!

We have had some rain the past few weeks and that has been a welcome change to the regular Texas summer- it is sweltering at 100 degrees, and up! We have had a wonderful summer. Aaron finished his semester, and he will start back the same day as the kids (8/25) BACK TO SCHOOL for all!! Aaron and I have been so happy with the cooler tempuratures, we have been doing some house repairs and we are so in the mood for fall. Aaron has definaltly pulled me over to his way of thinking, Fall is the best time of year (although I will always be a summer girl).

The kids and I went to Kansas and had a wonderful time visiting Jennifer and her family! Here are some of my favorite pictures:

They look really happy don't they? We had a great time, but we were also happy to be home! We went to a whole bunch of baseball games this past weekend. Here are some of my favorite pictures:

My Goals

Here I am at work being silly and emailing pictures of myself when I should be working! But I thought it was funny so I added it to this post. I have some goals that need to be accomplished sooner than later, and someone once said that if you tell other people your goals, you will be more apt to work on them, cause other people will then be like "So, how is that new car coming along" and you will feel more pressure to achieve!! SO, we will see how that turns out!

GOALS

Read my bible every morning

Sid and Zoe shall sleep ALONE

Develop and stick to a bedtime routine

Get at least 6 leases per pay period

Bless someone else once a week

Do something special for each family member once a week

Turn off the TV and get outdoors

Exercise and loose 5 pounds by Aug 31

That is all I can think of right now, although 5 minutes ago I was thinking of alot more stuff.......hmmmmm.

saw this new ad for smartwater

One last goal..................to feel as relaxed and completely content as Jennifer looks in this picture!

Blast form the Past

This day in 1999, the world was hushed with the news that JFK Jr and his lovely bride of only 3 years, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, were missing after a late night flight to Martha's Vineyard. I have never written about them before, but I have always thought their relationship was really an intriguing one, namely because they were so private and glamorous (and Kennedy's- I mean Hello!). Especially Carolyn, imagine marrying "America's Prince" and being hurled into the fame and spotlight that comes with being Mrs. JFK Jr- it must have been really tough at times. I don't think she was too private about the media attention bothering her. And then to have it all end so quickly. There are many speculations about their relationship and weather or not they were happy and faithful and so on, which is really sad. But I think they look very happy. Their ashes were scattered at sea July 22nd 1999. Here are some pictures of them, a real blast from the past. I think they are interesting! Enjoy.....

A private moment at the Kennedy's Estate in Hyannisport-

Is anyone else surprised to see how "plain" the furniture is?

Right after the surprise wedding ceremony in Cumberland Island, Georgia!

Carolyn looking tense about the media attention they received every where they went.

They seem very happy!

Very Glamorous and Gorgeous!

SO in Love!

all about the babies