ICE

Besides having great weather another great thing about living in Fl is all the theme parks and great activities you can do with your kids. This year we took an overnight trip to Gaylord Palms hotel where they had a special event called Shrek ICE. It was a series of rooms you walk through that everything was sculptured with ice. The temperature was freezing just below 30 degrees and for us Floridians that's cold :) 

Which gave an extra boost of energy for the kids as they were hyper.. 

One of the funniest parts was Jonas as he walked he looked like a penguin with his big blue jacket .. 

we all couldn't stop laughing 

 The kids had a ball and just loved every part of it ...  

Even Kate liked the cold and the pretty pink dragon 

 I think you can tell who had the most fun! 

We told him he was in the out house where Shrek goes potty and he thought that was funny... 

There was multiple slides you could choose to go down JONAS was obsessed and it was hard to keep up with him as he would slide down and then immanently go running up the stairs to do it again. He really didn't get the concept of waiting in line so, we had to find the one with the shortest line. He would ask the guy to push him so he would go faster and boy did he fly down it fast because of weighing less. Brooke got the hang of sitting on the inside of her jacket to pick up speed... but they raced once and Jonas still won.  He would have done it a hundred times but our fingers were frozen.. next time gloves are a must. 

Click here for more details 

1st Christmas

Kate's First Christmas 

It's hard to believe last year on Christmas morning we were finding out the sex of this sweet little baby ... If you don't remember the video we took .. take a look Here ... still chokes me up! I do think my favorite Christmas present ever but even better this year was having her here with us!

Merry Christmas!

             From our Family to yours!!

Isaiah 9:6  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The Annual Company Party

That time again?? Yes for me the dreaded company Christmas Party.

 I struggle every year with wanting to go.   So exciting to go hang out with a bunch of people I see only once a year and make small talk about your lives, while trying to impress the big wigs of the company (did you catch the sarcasm??).  For me it's kind of fake and not on the top of the things I would choose to do. I'm not good at smooching .. I'm very honest and outspoken so I'm not good at watching what I say. 

It's always the busiest week of the year, which can be stressful as my mind is racing on what was I suppose to bring to the school party and program next week. You have to find a nice dress you only wear once... which I hate to shop and waste money. In the past we have gotten in fights because I don't want to go, which I know is not fair. Well, this year I turned a new leaf... I didn't want to complain and I wanted to love my husband as I know this is something that means so much to him. It's his one time of year to introduce me to the people that he sees more than me on a daily basis. It's my job as a wife to step it up! I asked my sweet friend to let me borrow a dress, which was a huge relief. I put all other distractions aside and focused on my husband by listening about all the fun dynamics in the office. In the end, I really did meet some great people and usually do. It's a small sacrifice to show my husband how much I love him and what a difference it made this year. I would ask you to do the same and hopefully feel the same as I did. 

Is there something you need to sacrifice for you spouse?  

I'm embracing the camera with my hubby this week

 Who are you embracing the camera with? 

Click here for more details 

Parade #2

Much better than the 1st one in my book. It's at night and in our neighborhood plus with our friends...nothing better 

It was another fun night with one of our closest friends here. 

Our kids line up so well ...

Mason and Parker The older boys 

Lyla & Brooke The girls  

Tate & Jonas the toddlers

soon to be Kate and ADA coming home in 2012 from Ethiopia! Yes that is right they are joining the adoption world with us. 

Check our their story ... HERE  Just can't wait to have her home! 

Last Minute Shoppers

Shopping with New Purpose 

Since having Jonas home it's helped me to realize Christmas season in a new light. It's given me a new perspective to the running around endlessly buying gifts for our families that have so much already and really you don't even know if they would enjoy anyways. It's a guessing game you play in your mind of if they already have something like this or would they even like it. Why not give to someone that is in desperate need of it? The past couple years our extended family stopped giving gifts to one another and instead we give to those that really need it. There are endless numbers of organizations that you can pick out gifts from catalogues. Like mosquito nets to prevent malaria, families to grow their own garden to have food, money towards a well project .. it's endless the different opportunities you have to give to make a difference. 

Here a few organizations 

Compassion Catalog, Samaritan’s Purse Catalog, Partner’s International Catalog, World Vision Catalog, Gospel for Asia Catalog, Mennonite Central Committee Catalog.

Also if you want to still give a gift to your love ones, a friend recently got me a gift from our local Ten Thousand Villages store. 

It's a great way to help artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products to our market. It's a fair trade retailer... the artists come from 38 different countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Middle East and America. There are more than 390 retail locations. What a unique gift... handcrafted expression of culture.  I would encourage you to find one close to you or order online. 

Click here to read more about them 

Also if you want if you wanted to know some organizations that help support Africa and Orphan Care 

Click Here for some great ideas! 

For you locals...not sure if anyone saw the 60 Minutes spotlighting the homeless problem in Florida, but believe it or not 1/3 of all homeless people in the US live in the state of Florida.  We watched this 60 minute special with the twins and you could see their little wheels turning. They couldn't believe people in our own town live in cars. 

They want to make a difference... which the next day I was on the phone calling the rescue mission. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2hzRPLVSm4&feature=youtu.be

It's up to us to make a difference to look at this season as a opportunity to be a servant to those in need and to give generously! How are you going to be doing this? Whether it be our neighbor, a stranger, relative, or a person from another country.. lets make their Christmas a little sweeter! 

Cookies

 I will be the first to tell you I'm not a good baker. Even though i love to eat sweets, it's not my cup of tea. But I do like to do simple crafty projects... here's some I got from a fun great blog Come Together Kids  she has endless fun ideas to do with your kids... her creativity is inspiring.  

Brooke had a friend over from school, you like her showing off in the picture below? 

Do you remember when you had a friend over when you were young and how you were super confident and showing off everything around your house?  You actually hear stuff you thought they weren't listening to but instead they're retelling it to their friends... exacting what Brooke was doing...  pretty funny 

While the girls quickly got distracted by playing dress up. Parker hung around and helped me finished them. I'm sure the teacher at school enjoyed these for their teacher luncheon. 

Tis the Season to be Merry

Christmas is fast approaching, seems like the stores had it correct this year to start stocking Christmas items before thanksgiving because you forget how quickly it sneaks up on you. I wasn't really prepared this year, I'm sure one day I will learn to plan ahead. With a mad dash, I was able to find their Christmas PJ's on sale after thanksgiving. We usually give them their PJ's on the night we decorate the tree so they have them all month long to enjoy. This year we did it a night early so they could wear them to the local Christmas parade the next morning and then go shopping for our tree.Fun to walk around in your pj's all day:) Parker would live in his Pajamas if he could. 

For once it was a cool outside so I wanted to take advantage of it. 

This picture is for you college friends out there ...

Does Brooke remind you of someone?

 with her pants hiked up... haha 

apparently I might have wore my pants too high

At the Christmas Parade bright and early 

Jonas not feeling very well :( 

 We have been to this parade the past few years and we always forget how long it is... 

2 hours but lots of candy given to keep us on a sugar high.

Kate's first parade was spent mostly sleeping but many more to come. 

It was a great start of the season with getting a tree, decorating it, and then out to dinner with some friends. 

Huggable and Lovable....

DADDY!! 

 Nothing sweeter than a dad with his youngest daughter! 

May he be the example of the man she will marry someday ... 

I can only hope she marries someone near as good as him! 

Click here for details 

"Will you have more?"

It's funny the mom instincts that come when you are given a child ...
each month I have something new God lays on my heart that I need to work on within all my children's needs. It's a never ending journey and always a work in progress. 

 Life is rushing passed us and I'm trying to stop and enjoy but hard to do some days. Our thanksgiving was refreshing to get away to the cool crisp mountains and enjoy the beauty all around us. For me, I'm a mountain girl... I just feel so close to God when I'm up in the trees looking down on his beautiful creation. I could live there forever! I know heaven for me will be a taste of the feeling I get when I'm there.  

Behind these beautiful professional looking pictures is real life .. yes, it's hard raising 4 individual children, harder than I could have ever imagined. All their personalities and needs are so different but I know I'm going to try my hardest to give it my all and hopefully with Gods help they will turn out to be lovers of Jesus and love the life they have been given here. 

Most days I feel like the picture below ... 

But know I am given grace and strength by the one that created me! The next day I pick up and try my hardest to do it better than the day before.

 One question I get asked a lot is "Will you have more?" I say I don't know... only God does.  But, for the 1st time in my life my heart is overflowing and a huge wave of contentment overflows my heart... a feeling I have never felt before.

The Boys

The boys are bonding but I do have to say they struggle... Jonas adores Parker and looks up to him but Parker doesn't understand and wants his alone time playing with his toys without a pesty toddler bothering him. Everything Parker likes Jonas likes... I'm sure typical for boys their ages. I asked Jonas the other day "what do you want to be when grow up?" he said confidently "Cars 2!" doesn't really make sense but all he knows is that Parker is obsessed with Cars 2 so, he's wants to be it.  Just wanted you to know they are normal .. behind these cute pictures of them they are still a work in progress. but aren't we all?

We try to think of ways to build their relationship and know with patience it will come. They couldn't really be any more opposite which I do think will pay off when they are older. Their relationship has a lot of challenges but good healthy ones that will help mold them on who they become one day. 


I recently read a friend's blog post that gave me some wonderful insight... 
Sibling Rivalry Part I 
Sibling Rivalry Part 2 
Sibling Rivalry Part 3 
Sibling Rivalry Part 4 

Parker

Parker holds a special place in my heart being the first born (only by 11 minutes) and the 1st for me to lay eyes on... I was the happiest momma in the world. He is the one child I see the most in both Scott and I. He is a people pleaser and doesn't want to get in trouble. Getting in trouble has been really hard for him to handle. I think he thinks he honestly can be prefect all the time. I reassure him it's impossible, thank God!   I worry about him the most, I don't know little boys as naturally and how they operate. I have a soft spot in my heart for him as I struggle just like him.  I want to build up his self confidence. I want him to be prepared for disappointment when it comes his way... to be able to shake it off, to see it's given to build him stronger not defeat him.  I wish I could hold him and protect him from the world. He would have honestly loved to be an only child and he strives on the extra attention when it's just with him. He loves his alone time just playing for hours. He craves the one on one time when we can give it to him. His favorite line is "mommy what you want to talk about?" when I sit next to him. He's such a precious child, so handsome and funny. If he only knew all the amazing potential he has to offer believe me I tell him... he's focused, smart, loving and complicated just like us all. 

It's funny the mom instincts that come when you are given a child ...

each month I have something new God lays on my heart that I need to work on within all my children's needs. It's a never ending journey and always a work in progress. Hopefully with God's help he's going to grow into one amazing confident young man. 

Kate

Kate is now 5 months old and is starting to get on a good schedule,  taking two good naps a day, sleeping through the night from 8pm to 6am. She is  rolling over and sitting up ... yes sitting up... just crazy. Already teething wanting to chew on everything in sight. I have to say she is truly an easy baby. She didn't fuss once our entire 9 hour trip and back. All I have to do is look at her and she smiles... we are in love. I think she has a momma crush as i can instantly sooth her like no one else, which I can honestly say I love!  

Recently, she has shown being upset when going to strangers. Oh no! I just know we have a stage 4 clinger in the making but truly I'm at fault as I want to enjoy every second of this babyhood before it's gone. She falls in the perfect line for being a 4th spoiled child .. as I am the most relaxed with bending the rules with her. I hope she doesn't get too rotten ..  

Do you blame me? Look at her ... she is all I have dreamed of in a baby girl! 

Happy Friday!

Jonas

Jonas is learning his toddler boundaries

He's been so much better with listening but hey, he's two going on 15 what do you expect... perfect example "time to go Jonas," I said 

He sits down and says "NO, I don't want to go.. I'm tired" and gives his cute pouting mean face hoping I would fall for it ... 

I say "Uh oh Jonas come on ... let's make a right choice" and up he jumps. Wow, that worked I think to myself. Granted every day is different but he's been so much better at listening! But don't let him fool you with the cute face he's one big character non stop talking and has entered into the world of Whys!

Brooke

The twins are becoming more mature helping me around the house daily. Doing their chores without me asking them. It's so nice not to nag and it's becoming a habit for them. Brooke really has been taking an older sister role. Her instincts of being a momma are so awesome to watch blossom, she reminds me of me when I was little.  She knows exactly what her siblings need at all times, she jumps at the chance to change a diaper or feed a bottle or baby food. I just love to watch her talk baby talk to Kate... sounds just like me.  Her patience is great when it comes to Jonas...more than mine some days! You would be amazed at what she can get him to do and the love she pours into him without much back in return. She is trying to show him the right way even though some days she needs to take her own advise. Her strong willed spirit is becoming a good tool in her character.  Her nurturing heart is just beautiful and so genuine. I love her determination to do what is right.. her bossiness keeping the kids in line because she knows it's a lot on mommy to have 4 children so she instantly wants to help (that's what she told me the other day.. sad, I know) Also, she is becoming quite the cook wanting to help me with dinner every night. She is going to be one amazing wife and mommy someday... she is a little mommy in training! 

Oh if I could have a penny for her thoughts in this picture. she was the first to walk up the mountain .. leading all of us behind her.. which I think is a reflection of who she is becoming. 

Hallelujah

The house is quiet .... all 4 kids are taking a nap today at the same time! It's amazing and rarely happens. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel... that someday I will have my hour of quiet in the afternoon back. Without realizing it I took a little blogging break... it seemed the weeks were flying by like days. A broken camera has been keeping me from posting as no-one really wants to read blog post without fun photos to go along with it. 

Well, no longer I was feeling guilty as I swear Kate has about 10 photos since she has been born ... so sad totally due to being the 4th child. I went to get a cheap point and shoot camera and walked away with a good one.  With 5 different people convincing me I needed a good camera with 4 children, I grabbed it and didn't think twice ... with in a week later Scott had told me he's getting money back from his non sick days he didn't take at work which was the price of the camera. So disciplined and honestly on Scott's end got me a new camera .. nice how things work out sometimes:) 

Anyways, the camera was so fun to play with while in NC. Really, it's priceless to capture these pictures. I feel like I have a professional with me at all times. 

So much is changing right before our eyes and fun to capture those moments through a lens ... 

( more to come )

The Money Shot

 A Dad and his boys in the mountains ... priceless! 

More to come about our Thanksgiving in Asheville, NC  

Click here to learn  more