State Fair and American Girl

This past Tuesday we made our yearly trek to the Fair except this year we went in the afternoon and stayed until closing. Man, were we wiped out the next day. I could barely keep my eyes open the next day and my legs were throbbing. I feel so old.
We played games, fed animals, 'planted' food, 'milked' cows, rode some rides, met some friends; and of course, had some fried food. Caitlin went back and forth from an "I love this" look on her face to a "What the heck is going on here?" look. The rides and games were a bit much for her to take in but she loved going to the 'farm' and the barn. She did try a few games; but of course, never won anything but always walked away with something:) Caleb won a basketball and Christopher a light saber; which of course, he broke.

This weekend Brian took the boys to a father-son campout with our church to Mineral Wells while Caitlin and I had a 'girly' weekend:) I had been looking forward to this for a long time! We had lunch at American Girl with a friend and her daughter and they had so much fun playing with all the babies, dolls and accessories. They got to borrow dolls to eat lunch with which was so cute. At night she slept with me in my bed which was fun to do since she's never done that before....but hearing her smacking on her pacy at 5 in the morning was not so fun.:)

Pumpkin Patch

It may not be October yet but we are ready for the fall!

Typical Christopher:)
Look at Caleb so strong carrying his pumpkin!

Caitlin's signature snapshot face these days:) (This is MY pumpkin..GRRRRRR!!!)

Happy Fall!

Lakehouse 2010

It was another successful trip to the lakehouse this year with our community group. Every time the kids get stoked, can't stop talking about it weeks leading up to it, have loads of fun while we're there and the parents get wiped out.:) It is an exhausting trip. Not much sleep is had but lots of fun memories are created and shared...and that's definitely worth losing some sleep over.:)

Christopher's Quotes 1

I thought about dedicating a blog just for all the wonderful and random things that come out of Christopher's mouth but, that's too much work for me, so he can tag along on mine. I will never be able to undestand how this boys' mind works. Out of nowhere he will just say the most randomest things. And if he's not saying something random he's bombarding you with questions. So Caleb asked Christopher today why he asks so many questions and Christopher said, I quote, "So I can control everybody." Wow. Well, at least he's honest.

On the way home from the pool today Christopher breaks the silence in the car (which he should win some kind of award for....I can just see him onstage....."Thank you thank you for this 'Breaking the Silence' award. I never thought I would win this, but one time, along time ago....and there's his segway into some long-winded speech, which he has not prepared for, but will no doubt keep you entertained.....or have you banging your head against the wall. I'm sure it would be the latter for my mom:)

Anyhow, so on the way home from the pool he randomly says, "You know what I'm going to ask God when I get to heaven?" And we all say in unison, "What Christopher" "I'm going to ask God why that one sheep ran away."

There's your thought-provoking question for the day.

First day of school

Well so far we're doing pretty good...I didn't forget the kids needed to be at school today and we all woke up on time. Score one for mom:)
Don't the kids look so studious???:)

Highlights of Summer 2010

This summer has gone by way too fast. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing so I'll go with both. Good, since this heat is pretty brutal and I love that fall will be around the corner soon. And bad since I wish we would have been able to spend more time at the pool. Moving has taken up a good chunk of our summer but I am so thankful it happened when it did and not in the middle of the school year!

Last summer Brian and I were very intentional with the kids doing fun weekly family time where we would teach them some Truth that involved a creative activity. We were hoping to do the same this summer and I even purchased the second Heritage Builders Family Devotional but; unfortunately, we haven't been able to crack it open with the move. But, I'm OK with that given we were intentional in other areas.

The kids and I went to West Dallas a couple times a month to a friend's house who had put together a "summer school" for the neighborhood kiddos. The stellar women who spent countless hours brainstorming and preparing for each lesson did such a great job and Caleb and Christopher really enjoyed being a part of it. Christopher asked what we were doing this morning and I told him we were going to WD and he said, "Yay, I love that!":) Here is a picture of all the kiddos from this morning...

In the midst of moving we were still able to find some time to spend with Dajia and Treveon. She invited us to her birthday party; which was at a wave pool, and we were able to meet a lot of her family. While in the pool one of her cousins asked Trey if he had a mentor and he said no. (They aren't "officially" allowed to have a mentor until the fourth grade but Brian has told me he wants to be his mentor.) I asked Trey if he wanted Mr.Brian to be his mentor and his eyes lit up and he said, "Yeah!!" So he ran to Brian and said, "You my mentor!!!!" Brian smiled and said, "Oh yeah? Well you gotta get good grades OK?" So there's the start of a beautiful friendship.:)

A few weeks ago they spent the night at our house for the first time and I was surprised with how well it went. I was prepared for some kind of run-in with Trey and Christopher since that has happened before but the kids did great. We took them to dinner, the Karate Kid movie and then swimming the following day. It was pretty sweet putting them to bed. Dajia wanted her bed to look just like Caitlin's with the matching duvet cover and the quilt folded just like Caitlin's. It was cute. Here is a picture of all of them playing in the backyard...

We ended our summer with a great trip to Maine. It was a time of remembering and celebrating. We remembered Papa as his life was celebrated during his funeral in Portland and we also celebrated Leslie and Betsy's 40th Anniverary at The Samoset Resort. We were also there for the Redmond Reunion which was held at the most beautiful lake I have ever seen. It's called Worthley Pond but to me it's more like a lake than it is a pond. Here's a picture of the kids having fun at the Reunion....

While in Maine the kids went hunting for clams, hermit crabs, and raspberries and blueberries. Here's a picture of the boys hunting in the water and the girls hunting for berries...

The last two days in Maine we went to Pine Point beach where Brian went to regularly when he was a kid during the summer time. So I think he enjoyed reminiscing and being able to take his kids there but I probably spent more time sleeping in the hotel.:)

Unfortunately on the plane ride back home Caitlin had fever and had a hard time with her ears but she did fall asleep in my arms at one point which I savored.:) I can't believe school orientations start next week. But that's life. It moves fast. We are only here for just a little while so I am trying to do my best at enjoying the gifts God has given me while being intentional with the life He's given me. Hope you all are enjoying yours too:)

In light of moving

A friend recently told me that moving is one of the most stressful things you can go through in life. We are in the thick of it with about 10% moved into the new house and about 50% packed up in our old house...so we have a ways to go with a countdown of 5 days left.
I've had my moments where I have felt somewhat paralyzed over not sure how this will all be done but, amazingly, my heart has been at rest as I look back and have watched this unfold.
Hmmm...could it be that I am finally learning to walk in my God-given role and allowing Brian to lead us and make decisions as I trust him? Or could it be watching God's hand work out all the details in making this happen? It is definitely both of the above, along with the overwhelming Truth that in light of eternity this (moving) doesn't matter. I'll never forget Jay Jacob's sermon years ago when he said, "Your story is not about what happens to you, it's about how you respond to it."
God's Word tells me that as a follower of Christ I should expect hardships in this life. And not only that, but when I share in His sufferings I will know Him more. Phillipians 3:10 And that is my heart's desire. To know Him more.
Don't hear me wrong, I am not saying I have been suffering as we pack...well hmmm...maybe a little:) But it's been a great reminder to me about what truly matters while I'm briefly here on this earth. I'm learning that even in the midst of life changing circumstances, people are more important than what is happening inside my four walls.
This life is not about me. It is about the One who died for me. I don't always reflect that Truth in my attitude or in the way I respond to people but by God's overwhelming grace as I learn more about who He is and His love for me I will reflect Him all the more.

On to tackling the next 50%!!...