Tuesday Triumphs!

The bags are all packed!!
The car is clean and fueled!!
The kiddos are all enrolled in ski school!!!
And EVERYONE is HEALTHY!!!

I'd say that is triumphant!


**Stay tuned for pictures and stories from our First Ever Family Ski Trip!!)

Friday Flashback!

"Sisters, Sisters, There were never such devoted sisters..."

Love my sister, Kandy, and love this picture...Look at all that HAIR (and a lot less me!) She has always been referred to as an 'angel', and I suppose she (mostly) fits the description, but with a little bit of SASS (I hold the family francise on that one!) We had a lot of fun growing up together and now I can easily call her one of my best friends. She has taught me a lot about having patience, kindness, and understanding. Our family is so blessed to have her!!

Tuesday Triumphs

One of our most triumphant Tuesdays to date...

First, I saved a whopping $20 at Wal-Mart just by using coupons, AND an additional $15 in rebates once I mail them in. Not too bad, definitely not like some of my other very savvy coupon using friends, but it's a start...

Second, and of extremely great value, I finally found a BBQ Sauce in the state of Missouri that is worth spending my money on. It's called Casey's Famous Hickory BBQ Sauce, it's not quite Head Country...but it's the closest I have been able to come to the golden child of condiments (I'm very picky about my BBQ sauce!).

And last, but certainly not least...ALL THREE CHILDREN TOOK A NAP AT THE SAME TIME!!!It was a glorious ONE HOUR AND THIRTY MINUTES!! I was so excited that I even considered sneeking in and taking a picture of each of them just for proof, but didn't out of fear that I would spoil this very special moment for all of us (ok, especially me, but trust me, they were enjoying their slumber). Each awoke happy and hungry...

All in all a triumphant day!!

100 Days of Prayer

Yesterday I started a new devotional titled "100 Days of Prayer for Women." Today's focus was on priorities and the importance of keeping God FIRST in my life. I thought the content was quite timely with it being just a couple of days following Valentine's Day. Here is a quote and scripture that spoke to me most...

"When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now. When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased." -C.S. Lewis

"And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ."


(*In my prayers for Brock each day I sometimes read along in Stormie Omartian's "The Power of a Praying Wife. On this day, Feb. 16th I read chapter 16- His Priorities. Isn't God clever...to coincide my study and prayer for myself along with my prayers for my husband!!)

ATTITUDE!

We have been talking a lot about attitudes at our house. And by the way, someone forgot to mention to me that as soon as our son turned four years old he would all of the sudden develop some serious ATTITUDE! Good attitudes and bad attitudes...we all have both at times, but even when it is difficult we should CHOOSE to have a good attitude, right?

That being said, today as I was helping the older boys get dressed (ironically to go on our "monthly mission", more on that later), *SIDENOTE: Is it just my kids or does it seem like at times just getting dressed is the most difficult task of the day?? Anyway, Tytus was showing some signs of a not-so-good attitude...heavy sighing, slouching, even a tiny little eye roll. So I say to him, "Buddy, I do not like your attitude right now, you are just acting kind of ugly. I mean, I do not know where you got all of this attitude, but I wish you would give it back!" To which he replied, "I know where I got this attitude." And I say, "oh really, where did you get your attitude?" Oh, Yes, get ready for it, because without skipping a beat and actually quite kindly he followed with, "From YOU!"

OUCH!! Nothing like having your eyes opened by the honesty of your child. It can be a shot to the gut when you see your not-so-best qualities come out in your child. So after a quick pep talk and a promise that I will also work harder at having a good attitude we were on our way. Guess it's time for me to practice what I preach!!

Flashback Friday

I seem to be sticking with the winter wonderland theme, and rightly so since it is still very cold outside and we have had snow flurries the past couple of days. Here are a few pictures with some of our good friends. This was the first winter that the Borns, Millers and we all lived in Churchill Park in Jenks, OK. It snowed a bit (and by a bit, I mean hardly at all) and the boys decided to make a play day out of it!!

Ellie and Kate Born- little Kate was the first baby of the group...she is just as sweet now as she was then!

We had our nieces, Josie and Lindie, with us that weekend...they are helping Josh and Brock with the beginning of what would soon be "the biggest snowman ever"!!!

Yes, that's Josh in short sleeves, and not because it is warm outside...at least it wasn't to most of us!

Michael was quickly recuited when Josh and Brock realized that making "the biggest snowman ever" required more man power. Oh and if it looks like Brock is wet, well, he is...I guess building a snowman in the freezing temperatures can cause a man to sweat!

The girls had fun (probably not as much as the boys), and their parents didn't kill us for letting them play outside all afternoon without appropriate winter gear!

It's funny how I remember all the details of that day, down to Ellie making us all hot chocolate and us all discussing if Baby Kate should be outside or not (she was the first baby after all). Carissa opted not to join us since she was in fact eight months pregnant with Easton. Miss you all so much...what fun memories!

Splish-Splash!!!

(***Disclaimer: I haven't blogged in almost a week because our internet was down and a mommy of three only has so much time to spend on the phone each day with AT&T. Also, Cash and I are sick and don't really feel like doing much of anything...so, here's a quick little pic to keep us current!)

Cash LOVES him so bath time!!! He is hilarious...his arms and legs flailing and splashing all at the same time! I can't imagine how wet I will get when he gets to start taking baths with his older brothers, they never fail to get the floor (and me)covered in water! Here's a picture for proof of his sheer happiness...and complete cuteness, if I do say so myself...

Flashback Friday!!

Since it is snowing outside even as I type, I thought I would post a couple of pictures of Brock and me from a past winter wonderland. These pictures were taken at Brock's parents home (the one he grew up in...not the one on the hill) the winter that we got engaged. The loveable canine we are each posing with was our first baby...our dog Britney that Brock adopted while we were dating. When we started a human family, she went to live with a man that works for my dad and his wonderful family. They are taking great care of her and we get regular updates on what is going on in Britney' new world.

Oklahoma Living Magazine

"Oklahoma Living" is a magazine distributed to all residents that are a part of the Rural Electric Cooperatives of Oklahoma. So, if you live in Oklahoma and you live in the country, then you know what this is. Even though we don't live in Oklahoma for the time being, most of our family members do and receive this publication. Brock's mom had given me one recently and suggested that I enter a picture of the boys sometime in the monthly Photo Contest. I did a few weeks ago and this month the picture was chosen as a winner of their monthly Photo Contest! It was kind of neat to call my family in NW Oklahoma and tell them to look for the boys in the February issue.

View "Oklahoma Living"

Bring Us Some Summer!!

I will be the first to admit that the snow has been beautiful AND we have had lots of fun playing in it. However, we could use a little sunshine! Now, so far this week that hasn't really happened, so we decided to settle on a summertime treat!!

This is the really great blender that Brock got me for Christmas. It does all kinds of fancy stuff (as least that's what the manual says, all I have made is smoothies!)

This is the really handy (and really old) popsicle mold that I found in the back of my cabinet during one of my "I got sidetracked from my daily chores and started organizing the cabinet instead of loading the dishwasher" episodes!


So, I decided to put the two together and make some very yummy (and healthy) treats that would remind me of the days ahead when I am relaxing by the pool in the hot sun! (oh wait, that doesn't really happen when you have young children!)

The boys thought it was pretty cool and they were a big help as always. They had a little trouble with the 'waiting on them to freeze' part...but I think they thought they were worth the wait!

Snow Days!

Despite the temperature, we bundled up and headed outside for some winter fun in the snow, complete with sledding, snowball fights and a snowman!! Here are a few pictures from our fun family time in the snow over the past weekend...

DAY 1

There they go down the big hill behind our house. Hey, if you can't go golfing, just go sledding on the course!!

Made it to the bottom! Everyone is having fun!

This is right after Daddy started throwing snowballs...Beau is obviously pretty upset about it and Tytus was quick to retaliate with a few snowballs of his own!

Fun in the snow = hard work for Daddy!

DAY 2
Always making a silly face!

Beau was helping to make a snowman until he discovered that he could eat the snow...Tasty!!



The snowman was packed so tightly that our resident carpenter had to get his drill out to give Frosty his eyes, nose, and mouth!


Even Cash got in on the final pictures with our new friend!

He's definitely one of us...I think he is trying to do 'Pistols Firing'!!!

The Evolution of Beau's Mood!!

Beau...what a great kid! He is the Lover and the Fighter all rolled into one adorable, witty, smart, ornery little boy. He is without a doubt full of SPIRIT and WILL! I have often described him as a kid with 'great gusto'. One never has to wonder how he is feeling or what he is thinking (I have no idea who he got this from!).

After sledding and playing in the snow with Daddy and Tytus, I bundled up with camera in hand to capture the memories. The following montage of pictures pretty much captures the very essence of THE BEAU-BEAU SHOW...

So happy...just finished sledding down a big hill with T-Man...having tons of fun...

Oops, Daddy starts throwing snowballs and pegs him in the face...that's cold and it hurts...

The pain is quickly overridden by anger...

Don't even think for a second that he's getting over this one fast...the anger now evolves into pouting...

Oh, it looks like Daddy and T-Man are having fun throwing snow on each other...he considers getting happy and joining in on the laughing and playing, but...nope, not yet, and he certainly doesn't want anyone to see him smiling...

Okay, he can't stay upset for too long and he definitely wouldn't want to miss out on any of the action!!