Photo Dump...Week of Dec 29th

 Sunday started off with me skipping church to help Ashlee paint Camille's room!!  

Before:

After:

I decided it was officially time to put away the lovlies...I DESPISE the putting away of Christmas decor!  Like hate.it.a.lot!!  But I LOVE how bare and minimal and clean the house feels after the decorations are all put away!!  Fresh start please?!

 Sunday afternoon I was snuggling with this little monster....I posted this on IG:

That night we put together B's new Friends Legos!!  We had to put it together by the light of daddy's new flashlight!  I love her room, especially all the natural light during the day, but the lighting in her room stinks!  I had fun hanging out with the princess!! 

Tuesday I helped Finn put together his new Lego sets...I think I did most of the work, but I had fun watching his eyes light up when I'd get a section put together!! :)

New Year's Eve we hung out with the Szymanskis!  Whoot!!  Pizza, cookies and sweet tea!!

New Year's Day we hung out at my Grandma's house most of the day!  Eating lots and playing lots!!

Grandpa likes her a little bit! ;)

I was so proud of her...Quiddler is not an easy game, and she did fabulous!!  

I also started the Instagram challenge put on by Andrea McAnally and Erika!!  It has definitely been  fun!!  So there will be some random pics here and there, but they were taken for this challenge!! ;))

Day 2 challenge!

Day 3!

I made some chex yumminess, that Ashlee turned me on to!!  Oh sweet goodness...I die!!

Day 4!

We got Swapees (Slurpee) Saturday!!

Day 5!

And I just loved this outfit!!  Green and Navy blue...

I hope you are having a great Saturday friends!!!

Photo Dump...Week of Dec 22nd

Oooo, look at me all doing a second post the same day!!  Hahaha!!  On to the photos!

First there was this!  Haha!!  Crazy hair Sunday!

And apparently crazy hair Monday!!

Monday night...only a miracle whip and cheese sandwich would fit the hungry bill!!  Yumm!

And finally....by Christmas Eve day, I decided his locks had to go!!  Much cuter and happier!!

He decided to help me make some Nutter Butter balls for upcoming parties Christmas gatherings myself!  And boy were they yummy!!  Oh, I did share some with my Momma! 

She was cold...so I guess only TWO fuzzy blankets would do the trick!

Christmas Eve we headed to Gaga and Grandpa's house to celebrate with family {the big kids were already there..so it was just Owen, Joey and me}!!

Just a few pics of my their house...they don't do the house justice!!  So beautiful!!

He wanted to play outside, but first he had to dress like a little girl??  

Family togetherness!!  I love them all!

I skipped the pie and went straight for the yummy cheesecake in the background!!  It was perfect!

{insert lots of Christmas present opening and food..which I covered in another post}

Christmas Day Crash...staying up late, getting up early and acting crazy all morning makes for some tired parents kids, so we just took it easy that afternoon! ;)

B did paint my nails...

B playing with her Nabi...

Thursday or Friday {because I can't remember which} I let my bestie in on a little fact...THE color for 2014 is PURPLE!!  Oh no!  We are not fans.  Not even when you pretty it up with a name like Radiant Orchid!  Blech!

At some point I indulged in a little ice cream!!  

And we ended the week still playing with our Christmas goodies!!  I love this picture of my littlest man!

Life Gets in the Way

I've taken way too long to write a new blog post.  I will use the excuse that life has gotten the best of me.  Crazy kids, the hubs daunting work schedule and wanting to focus on other areas of my life...the blog has just taken a back seat.

I've got Valentine's parties to plan for my own class and for Breslyn's class.

I'm planning the bestie's baby shower...whoohoo!!!

I've been asked to do one, possibly two, maternity shoots in the next few weeks!!  Eeek!!

I've just got my mind and body spread too thin. ;)

Hopefully, I will get back on track soon, because I miss blogging!  I will be back...maybe before the days end!  Hahaha!!  I commit myself to at least one post before Monday!  :)

I received a gift card to Target from one of my littles for Christmas...so to help keep myself organized, I bought a new {beautiful} planner!!

Happy Friday everyone!!  

Photo Dump...Week of Dec 15th

The week started with the three big kids and I visiting my "home" church.  It is where I went to church most of my life, and where my parents and Grandma still go.  They were performing their Christmas cantata, so we decided to go and surprise them!!

Yes...I took a pic in church!!!  Eeek...but it was worth it, even with the bad quality.  That's my beautiful Grandma on the front row in the green shirt...three from the right!  

My pretty girl all dressed up for school that Monday!  

I LOVE receiving Christmas cards, especially when "my" pics are on the card!!  I love this sweet family and enjoy taking their picture every year!!

Jumping to Thursday...it was a BUSY day at preschool.  Parties and fun ALL.MORNING.LONG!  We, the staff, were thrilled to get to go to lunch as a group!!  It was pajama day at school...so yes, we all went in our pjs to Chili's.  We only received a few weird looks!! ;)  These are a great group of ladies and I had so much fun with them!

Our AMAZING director, Sara!!  She looks to be laying down the law with her fist all tight, but really she is just explaining to us that Grace Place would be buying our lunch!  Awesome!

These first two ladies are Obug's teachers!  Mrs. Michelle (Msssschelle) and Mrs. Danielle (MisDanieellle) are awesome!  Owen loves coming to school and they are so great with him!  

My teaching partner....Mollie....LOVE her!!!

Later that night I took a picture of ALL THE GOODIES I received from the sweet kiddos at school!!  

Friday was a BIG day for me...it was my first time to "host" a party as a room mom.  Y'all...that job is no joke!!  It stressed me out, and I'm already fretting over the other TWO parties we are "allowed" to have.  Goodness!  Anyways, I decided that The Grinch would be our theme, and I think everything came together well.  Just a couple pics (I'll do a full post with lots of pics later)!

Saturday, I needed to get out and buy a few more Christmas gifts...and while I was looking for Aidan some blue jeans, I came across this precious baby girl shirt!!  So glad Ashlee is having a girl!!!  :))

Then Saturday afternoon I had choir practice at church.  We were preparing for our Candlelight service the next day.   

My favorite person missed practice, because she just HAD to have Christmas with her family...gaw!  But Traci was there the next afternoon for practice and we had tons of fun!  :)  

Sunday morning...sweet B all ready to go to church and then see the Nutcracker with Gaga!!  She was a little excited!!

Joey and I had kids church upstairs...my big boys joined us for the morning!  Aidan...good gracious!!

We made Happy Birthday Jesus party hats during class!!  

That night my family AND Ashlee and her family came to the Candlelight service!!!  It was so nice having them all there!  

We sang the old Christmas favorites, and some new songs as well.  The lights were out and only our candles were lit for the last song...I was so choked up I couldn't even sing (this happened last year too!)!  So I just held my beautiful candle and stared out at the crowd, totally moved by the love of a baby being born, just to die on a cross...all for me.  

Healthy Food is Gross...

...and I don't like it.  I want sweets, and cheese.  There I said it..."eating clean" sucks.  I know...shame on me for using that word.  I don't know a better word to describe my feelings!!

Kale...GA-ROSS!!

Whole Grain/Wheat bread...it's okay.

FlatOUT wraps...blech.

Lettuce, turkey, fat-free anything gets SO boring.

Quinoa...still can't pronounce it, but I hope it tastes like chocolate.

Sweet Potatoes...never tried it...but will.

I've just barely begun this process, and I know it is just my tastebuds HATING on me, but I pray these "clean foods" start tasting "dirtier" soon!  Hahaha!!  But seriously, this food looks yummy...

...but a little lot monotonous, don't ya think?  I am a lover of the following...bananas, chicken, eggs, green beans, broccoli, spinach, apples, carrots and many other healthy foods.  

But I would RATHER have...

...mmm, that's right, cinnamon bacon rolls!!!  Or perhaps...

...queso and chips.  I told you, sweets and cheese are AWESOME!!  

But here I go...off to eat a lunch of dry turkey, in a less than appetizing wrap with a side of carrots and sub-par dressing.  Yay...not really.  Ok, really....I am proud of myself when that is the option I choose...right up until I start craving chocolate again.  

;)

Project Coming to a Garage Near Me!

I'm going to be doing this soon...can't.wait!!  I needed a solution, and there ya have it!!  Thanks to my dad for the filing cabinets and about a million file folders!!  Yay!  And now all my fabric can be kept in the garage instead of all over the master bedroom in a pile on the floor in a basket in the corner!!  Whoohoo!!

Happy 2014...My New Year's Resolutions!

Oooo, did that catchy title draw you in?!!  Heehee!  And now for my much anticipated resolutions....

I'm not making any!!

That's right.  None.

I fail every.single.year.at.all.of.them.  And I'm sick of failure.  So this year, I won't set myself up for that mental walk of shame that I face around March...when I realize I have yet again let my goals take a back burner to life, laziness or selfishness.  

I AM however making a few changes....it is the new year, which always means a fresh start...for everyone!  So I will take it!!  Most of the changes I want to make cannot even be measured, because many of them are changes in my heart, personality and spirit.  

And there are a few changes I want to make that will be visible....like spending less time holding onto my phone for dear life, when my kiddos just want my attention....like turning off the TV and other electronics for a lazy-brain break....like having more patience when dealing with my kids...and there are many more.  

I cannot express how much I appreciate and LOVE a fresh new beginning.  I pray that God will help me to focus on these changes I want to make, and push me when I'm feeling like I can't.  I pray the Holy Spirit will convict me when I fail, and encourage me when I'm doing it right.  

Happy New Year Family and Friends!!