tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65981266251085021282024-02-21T11:22:00.412-06:00Blessed be Godwho has blessed me above and beyond my wildest dreamsJennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.comBlogger853125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-82813022402303997022015-08-23T14:04:00.001-05:002015-08-23T14:04:55.798-05:00A forever changed life...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A few days ago my friend, Amanda, and I took our 7 children and went to our 3rd annual NICU picnic to celebrate our little miracles!! As we walked around and laughed at how much has changed in our lives in the past three years the biggest thing we kept coming back to was that our NICU stays (and specifically the children that stayed in them) have forever changed our lives. Her daughter, Lydia, took her family by surprise and made an early appearance in the world- totally throwing her family for a loop and leaving them completely changed. I think anytime that your life turns out different than you imagined you have a choice to fight against it and become bitter and hard or you can allow yourself to become changed by the situation. I like to think that my precious friend and I have been graciously shown the second option. </div>
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I know that there have been plenty of tears and a few little mommy tantrums...even some little fits thrown by this mommy...but because of these two precious girls who turned my life upside down about 3 1/2 years ago I am not the same person I was. I am changed and I am thankful. Every night when I put my twins to bed I pray with them and tell them that they are the best thing that ever happened to me and not a day goes by that I can't say that honestly. I know that these two have brought some of the hardest times and the biggest blessings into my life and I am so glad that I was given the chance to be their mommy! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ax0cB4INlWloYyXbZ-y3wNQgujiltgo7XcWSD7T67xwDOVVdcqbo9TNT-2J8zuBw6mLQYxfVndomMfYs8ZinHH3TUfKd-GtLuM8LRO0zQxlOwlvXx7gN7aMFOyJI6IvnSLDcSK9KXb1L/s640/blogger-image-1031558711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ax0cB4INlWloYyXbZ-y3wNQgujiltgo7XcWSD7T67xwDOVVdcqbo9TNT-2J8zuBw6mLQYxfVndomMfYs8ZinHH3TUfKd-GtLuM8LRO0zQxlOwlvXx7gN7aMFOyJI6IvnSLDcSK9KXb1L/s200/blogger-image-1031558711.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfh3_v5wT97F9R9SS2EcXB2Kt0mcTqanrhxLfiY7IE_zWF17ZwkJDSfl7QnrfbAPlwSteEfKK1R13LJwWFLNNDz5bcdPJmcOhJZw1zrsQIRM3FDn61uoUNifL3iNbKFliPSTwUbz89uYtH/s1600/blogger-image--1910714281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfh3_v5wT97F9R9SS2EcXB2Kt0mcTqanrhxLfiY7IE_zWF17ZwkJDSfl7QnrfbAPlwSteEfKK1R13LJwWFLNNDz5bcdPJmcOhJZw1zrsQIRM3FDn61uoUNifL3iNbKFliPSTwUbz89uYtH/s200/blogger-image--1910714281.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Elli couldn't wait to hold the "cow bunny" and Macy just loved the one with the pink eyes! </div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaiHk4uWvydImv7dTCUEzICE1qovGoWqLyP4cq9_dgq0WTecZZp5W0A4U6aqszezQ-lfbWZW3qM70XjsxsNQO1HaS1jTY1qJQXGsYv2OhUNRyf8rH48BLpIn7hZNjXGqhq6qM4uvl5h7I/s320/blogger-image--2116679798.jpg" width="240" /></div>
Of course Hailey was the first one to get her face painted...and the rest of the kids waited oddly patiently for their turns! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGwyT_5fUMDZw0UsWr3LHoGs5rGxI-c1ggxTv2u667Z9GoAe-a7z_JfOZDtY5rL07kL0-XL6lM8nFD96IMoXA_3ukLaWgceBuBDQk0hapxB-URrK5Mc8PN3FkAz7SYoastfg2mHqyOQ5S/s200/blogger-image--1651549292.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this picture makes me laugh so hard because Macy asked the lady if she could have a crown and the girl painted a clown on her face and she was so happy with it! this girl just cracks me up. I still don't know if she thought it was a crown, a princess or just loved the attention we all showered on her :)</td></tr>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxdlsWU0BlMsMGMGytgTVMh1ZSsY3Mj43G-S_-buYaOnVhaVp4Z_mHjsRZ2vlB1ZL96rpHvR0tVehz7muG9AoLrjm1XSPRoJB5thJzaMSMCGC0FbHDzZB4WA2Zalx37gQf7Ou75_14Ff3/s640/blogger-image--1922513682.jpg" /><br />
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Our group...all girls and one little Jack thrown in the mix :)</div>
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Poor Lydia couldn't find the clown nose that she won, so she missed out on the picture...</div>
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I do think we make up quite a stunning group!! I think Amanda should think about growing a mustache and I'm going to look into finding a giant sombrero to wear...I really think I rocked that thing!</div>
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poor Macy and Elli- all we wanted was a cute little picture of them and they kept getting photo bombed by their silly siblings :)</div>
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<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsvbfS_-e4UL4_e7EqMjJSly1R-NrJeCxhBmf8gpJGE3bKSb1eNcWIsSf_hDVus3nMqCsjbPvc9mQsMrbg1falPYdsT_hyphenhyphen5U8pf9IawrovR-wjpcMkG5bl626IjWY7MVanNXRjjp9BD_C/s200/blogger-image--1043534514.jpg" width="150" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSUf0kzHVSuRPK8MKAnxvFGyeFaQYZFAOIMZaezKaq3lUAHZIgfH8G5N6DcrKkapFkxougyuArNybuNi23dcahhGOvlcLsZNyuHw4TX6Ow76BiYw3Ffx6v4FzPYHgl5mKpT03ebjXLvYd/s640/blogger-image-1604555217.jpg" /></div>
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we had to end the night with the bunnies, too! They are, by far, our favorite part of the night each year!! </div>
Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-37051356610675154842015-08-19T07:09:00.001-05:002015-08-23T13:36:03.550-05:00Mommy tears<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSNKsK3IHuPoKxu77OvtOK84Sxipnkmm1RMklvweFMsTJgHCcVrOD2ZmODA1sd8-MnY8yzte6ghXD4rUjgoodjfTSvi25gW_PNCPT-U40nwdyBW99Ct8qskTOiK0YJPWWUDLwwfJZUpXf/s640/blogger-image-1989822334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSNKsK3IHuPoKxu77OvtOK84Sxipnkmm1RMklvweFMsTJgHCcVrOD2ZmODA1sd8-MnY8yzte6ghXD4rUjgoodjfTSvi25gW_PNCPT-U40nwdyBW99Ct8qskTOiK0YJPWWUDLwwfJZUpXf/s640/blogger-image-1989822334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdOdPwkxP7rSWZptzSyHGIWawz_EKkLBhILxDgNEjWZEpfdi3vWbYG7DDHQKRvQOco6xOZ9q2pzPCL0tNqXNgL6AufR8BXxUfjapJ3FpDjHDr3VRrvsmEeGisLjy5nnw3KJSBSLE6yykZ/s640/blogger-image--337000805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdOdPwkxP7rSWZptzSyHGIWawz_EKkLBhILxDgNEjWZEpfdi3vWbYG7DDHQKRvQOco6xOZ9q2pzPCL0tNqXNgL6AufR8BXxUfjapJ3FpDjHDr3VRrvsmEeGisLjy5nnw3KJSBSLE6yykZ/s640/blogger-image--337000805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>This little boy is headed off to his first day of school soon and, honestly, I'm a mess! I thought it was bad two years ago when Hailey went, but at that point I could still live in blissful ignorance about how hard it would be. I never experienced it so I was sure it wasn't going to be as bad as I thought. This time around I know better. I know the first day might not be so bad but that the second, third and fourth week will be the hardest. I know that he'll be tired and cranky and not want to get up for school. I can't lie to myself or trick myself into thinking he will be fine without me or that he's ready for it. I can't pretend that it'll be easier than I think on either of us...mostly because last night I went to run some errands with Hailey and left him at home and basically had to pry his little fingers off of my neck to hand him over to HIS DAD!! He was sobbing and crying almost uncontrollably over my leaving him with HIS DAD for a few hours! As I walked away I was almost in tears thinking about the days ahead. I fell asleep dreading them and woke up this morning with a pit at the bottom of my stomach. I'm nervous, I'm worried and I'm sad. I don't know what I'm going to do if I have to pry him off of my neck and leave him sobbing at school. It was almost unbearable leaving Hailey at school when she just looked at me with these big eyes and clung to my hand...her crying would have absolutely put me over the edge. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">God give me the courage to drop my little boy off at school. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT41zaL1yK5tbtNJ9hxbIoVDcDM4EV-Qqot1fTnFTFcToztvzbRL85YJQMtXA0gBRjfagZq2DUJZouiWdH7SnOOjzZC9WLshwwUjC_qThS3siQc9U3VXdhg3nlk52ddsWxkfES-bcEOrNa/s640/blogger-image-367992997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT41zaL1yK5tbtNJ9hxbIoVDcDM4EV-Qqot1fTnFTFcToztvzbRL85YJQMtXA0gBRjfagZq2DUJZouiWdH7SnOOjzZC9WLshwwUjC_qThS3siQc9U3VXdhg3nlk52ddsWxkfES-bcEOrNa/s640/blogger-image-367992997.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdOdPwkxP7rSWZptzSyHGIWawz_EKkLBhILxDgNEjWZEpfdi3vWbYG7DDHQKRvQOco6xOZ9q2pzPCL0tNqXNgL6AufR8BXxUfjapJ3FpDjHDr3VRrvsmEeGisLjy5nnw3KJSBSLE6yykZ/s640/blogger-image--337000805.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSNKsK3IHuPoKxu77OvtOK84Sxipnkmm1RMklvweFMsTJgHCcVrOD2ZmODA1sd8-MnY8yzte6ghXD4rUjgoodjfTSvi25gW_PNCPT-U40nwdyBW99Ct8qskTOiK0YJPWWUDLwwfJZUpXf/s640/blogger-image-1989822334.jpg"></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-68407129082498234932015-08-18T17:01:00.000-05:002015-08-18T17:01:59.121-05:00A perfect life...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Before I became a mom I had this idea in my head of what my life would look like...it was very much like a Norman Rockwell painting- if I were honest. I imagined a beautiful family, with smiling children with clean little faces, laughing parents who always looked perfectly put together. Happy meals with us all sitting around the table and quietly sharing about our day- possibly even reading some great and spiritual devotional as we ate our very organic and healthy dinner. Isn't that what we all dream of?? I mean...really, none of us wants to be that dysfunctional family that has food fights and milk spills instead of quiet family meals; who has mac 'n cheese and peanut butter and jelly on white bread more often than any pinterest worthy meal. I have pretty much come to grips with the fact that the only thing even remotely resembling Norman Rockwell type life is our fireplace. There are beautiful moments- sometimes beautiful days. Mostly, though, our family is a bit broken, a bit dysfunctional and a whole lot more like a Picasso painting than anything else, but I have been learning that there is beauty in brokenness and beauty in the crazy and wild. When my perfectly planned days don't end up exactly how I imagined- I'm finding that there can be beauty in the mess that we've all turned in to. When I think my kids are going outside playing in the flowers and they end up in a giant bag of flour in the basement I can be thankful that life around here is never boring. When our cute picture on the giant chair goes wrong at least we have a memory of our monkey like little daughter who can't stop having fun. When a fun day at the beach turns sour, at least the naughty kids I share it with are pretty cute. When you're shoe shopping at Gander Mountain and your very loud kids decide to deck themselves out in the little stretchy sock nylons you can at least content yourself with the fact that you gave every person in the store something to laugh at. </div>
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Even though we haven't had a picture perfect summer. I am sad to see it end. Even though our life isn't what I imagined or what I'd always viewed as "perfect", I'm so thankful that it's mine. I'm so glad that I have this beautiful, crazy, perfectly broken family. I'm glad that we are a family of good forgivers, I'm glad that we are a family that laughs together and cries together. That we can snuggle up and watch movies together and jump on the trampoline together. Mostly, I'm glad that we are a bit messy and that our life isn't perfect, because if it were too perfect I just might not fit in as well :) </div>
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<br />Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-29449785179155557272015-01-24T20:32:00.001-06:002015-01-24T20:32:47.408-06:00A birthday party!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Hailey has dreamed of having a birthday party at the bowling alley ever since she went to a friend's birthday, there, and she finally got her wish this year! It almost didn't happen...Daddy was sick a few days before and Elli, Jack and Macy fell prey to the same sickness one by one this morning...but, thanks to Nani coming up and taking care of our littles sickies we were able to persevere and it turned out to be great fun for everyone! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvQ1pSHjONO7m5hXh9N5FODk-pk3pOj_CUvbJvfruI5y6DtfVPdFBMv7g06A-U0EkOwZPxmWJglV2Lq8pHK7d1pGy4AlliylXhFAOoU0Xio-PaYPdmh7clLwsQEc9R3C2iDu20sxIsxq4/s640/blogger-image-1622843383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvQ1pSHjONO7m5hXh9N5FODk-pk3pOj_CUvbJvfruI5y6DtfVPdFBMv7g06A-U0EkOwZPxmWJglV2Lq8pHK7d1pGy4AlliylXhFAOoU0Xio-PaYPdmh7clLwsQEc9R3C2iDu20sxIsxq4/s200/blogger-image-1622843383.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNTqyqmIcgbtLsLow8M5vdeiEnELANQhAg4OpN6HRsR5OEHs9rLY7_YiJrYUr7khGe13WAlzMHIquQJeHaG325wtwp2GcX1sKt714zsYjlUb3G6IclieIviWljQTNlvUlI38rbbasQzeS/s1600/blogger-image-616252161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNTqyqmIcgbtLsLow8M5vdeiEnELANQhAg4OpN6HRsR5OEHs9rLY7_YiJrYUr7khGe13WAlzMHIquQJeHaG325wtwp2GcX1sKt714zsYjlUb3G6IclieIviWljQTNlvUlI38rbbasQzeS/s200/blogger-image-616252161.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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Hailey and her favorite little friend, Hailey :) These two girls make me laugh so hard- they are both so unique and so "funky". Neither of them care at all what anyone thinks of them and both just march to the beat of their own drum. There must be something in the name of girls born that year :) </div>
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We had my friend make Jenny make the cake, again, and she definitely did not disappoint! Hailey was mostly excited about the golden rope and eating the crown. :) I would have to agree with her little friend Madison, though, who ate a piece of it and said, "I thought it was going to be good, but that tastes gross" :) who wants to waste their time eating fondant when they can eat yummy cake?? :)</div>
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We were down a few girls...and a little boy, but the girls who came were really fun and I think they all had a great time. </div>
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the presents were obviously a big hit :) what little girl doesn't love presents??! </div>
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but...in all honesty, Hailey was most looking forward to the bowling pin that all the girls got to sign and she got to take home! That was the one thing she kept talking about and just could not wait to get home and put up in her bedroom :) </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvENVnguOOLVT-rmrRFvAmbPq1ynkONoe_hgwQqKO7hz26npNss25h6Q0UR98l3x7JNlfMoZzxVsP4Jmr5GvX-BfqdIfy60a71_4saf43Cn8krBiGr0uP_av3vhedCRA581gu7iDDJxaBq/s640/blogger-image-1971822826.jpg" /></div>
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all the cute little girls :) </div>
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They were all so sweet and so adorable. </div>
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Apparently Hailey has great taste in friends...so far I approve of them all :) </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV7bSdu9RPRFGoD-RXRkiASbJkvmuy8Nnc_Npb6wLO4kXdihC55cWJua-6M0d9sOzKVexpa9cAlsmZPhq0y2o6YGsGYDLY3XOLtNK08uOaf7bYo8Y-IqGk40PMn-y8OSLA5gXqwqXlLZR/s640/blogger-image--2109576904.jpg" /></div>
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Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-79788079079179007792015-01-22T06:30:00.000-06:002015-01-22T06:30:01.515-06:00The big 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtg5vgGr0Zs5Hux1QdYt4hAGU748GTYSou-E26R8qVjwmjxtjJZrzanx8iNVKfdPJDzBCp0t15ysQiNY7EsoKmFrmm2QQ-2emSLJD-LqbLl7UOeEpdWYPcWlzACouY-BkzH7xHHqhN53O/s640/blogger-image--993895623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pLjuWtx-Z4dQJy-ZVX6G7AyscESDrWK9IOdnkXHE3dN_EYKoZ92zPaeh6rRPRiYY9BOVYsh_K3ukqKXF-PyuvrBrRiIVApHe-edh03kHmMAQ4laeqx0sRBfbUbSXXgUvytps6EkdY8Kt/s640/blogger-image-1587832036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pLjuWtx-Z4dQJy-ZVX6G7AyscESDrWK9IOdnkXHE3dN_EYKoZ92zPaeh6rRPRiYY9BOVYsh_K3ukqKXF-PyuvrBrRiIVApHe-edh03kHmMAQ4laeqx0sRBfbUbSXXgUvytps6EkdY8Kt/s640/blogger-image-1587832036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMqiXHSeJIx57V-aWmNr_AUGzNIUHiwowBqlyV3ajI8Ovx2LK2lu0zn3hvOBDvlaic5fNqGWbYmemWP0CCB64_eSNxqRcou_ScU2pAT6jDufgPPaa391wsoDmPxOSUshQ6sKHVbZZ9OgV/s640/blogger-image--1420088553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMqiXHSeJIx57V-aWmNr_AUGzNIUHiwowBqlyV3ajI8Ovx2LK2lu0zn3hvOBDvlaic5fNqGWbYmemWP0CCB64_eSNxqRcou_ScU2pAT6jDufgPPaa391wsoDmPxOSUshQ6sKHVbZZ9OgV/s640/blogger-image--1420088553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6P7Xha3PxTrswX-MaNgTiz22cIQLoj7yzJubc8M7WeblPWbN0e8wpfUvo_YOwQphnPtWx-q4L0j1U1zuwCn2WU5PXob83Reeg62tfJzAqY0fnY9gJT7l5HAnVXYRu8wqAHyN_2pnUgVG/s640/blogger-image--2015925699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6P7Xha3PxTrswX-MaNgTiz22cIQLoj7yzJubc8M7WeblPWbN0e8wpfUvo_YOwQphnPtWx-q4L0j1U1zuwCn2WU5PXob83Reeg62tfJzAqY0fnY9gJT7l5HAnVXYRu8wqAHyN_2pnUgVG/s640/blogger-image--2015925699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwn0FnfeOM0AndQkMKTeV6VMHqLQ65c7eCtSMtSA7Xx-pPx4mP_-0I_4QLMaMQIg8fbogl72RdOqWdXLfLaFYXzSTDsoDMcZmhrTGfZJQHrDjdundIPI06T8lMuIyEsgnDQ8f-FgfzWwtS/s640/blogger-image-504513231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwn0FnfeOM0AndQkMKTeV6VMHqLQ65c7eCtSMtSA7Xx-pPx4mP_-0I_4QLMaMQIg8fbogl72RdOqWdXLfLaFYXzSTDsoDMcZmhrTGfZJQHrDjdundIPI06T8lMuIyEsgnDQ8f-FgfzWwtS/s640/blogger-image-504513231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe6JQYLvTRdIrPG30SahKbzUrlmJ9wZtLI7DT6B5fihmtOgVW43MDSKtNw42UjufLrqsW9vdmPqx2NVF50yRkDKVKVIsZ9FyhdiH85jb0FKEJgUmwwDBZXWG5oWiU_WZCinllhl90CZ8m/s640/blogger-image-194784422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe6JQYLvTRdIrPG30SahKbzUrlmJ9wZtLI7DT6B5fihmtOgVW43MDSKtNw42UjufLrqsW9vdmPqx2NVF50yRkDKVKVIsZ9FyhdiH85jb0FKEJgUmwwDBZXWG5oWiU_WZCinllhl90CZ8m/s640/blogger-image-194784422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGc3EYh9fKENWhqoLm73JbGsjTVQTkqnVlu9whk-356G9kYj9x4uk1sZwHsF6Y_wJ3l7cD5gjzhUgvIhy_MQV4CjGu-awbg4gbF7eJugqmK8sCGvOXPbebcDdICl4rZulkAAKreUBG3TVh/s640/blogger-image--681710361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGc3EYh9fKENWhqoLm73JbGsjTVQTkqnVlu9whk-356G9kYj9x4uk1sZwHsF6Y_wJ3l7cD5gjzhUgvIhy_MQV4CjGu-awbg4gbF7eJugqmK8sCGvOXPbebcDdICl4rZulkAAKreUBG3TVh/s640/blogger-image--681710361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlaMY_X88TXvd4EMsW-ryE40WuHmjRJRLB3ZWY7YRdfindYRL6LDImoO4Quc9QoYzEScIsUsje3c_GsayJeoRq2YTj7VGhKMrhROQsDaUVwqCGVQqusrei6U-FJbexzIqZ_Kom-YgqS9A/s640/blogger-image--1646822071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jsDn2OhUMYqYAxyWBrKWt2j6h_dREriDKwv3Cbq9XgBZ6K8NVOT6BqFOignzZULP9jbekQEb5dy4GCcsVeqR3D3APwJDkdGiEPiEIMiBnGNkWGQTs87GrcSOWoAiQaCxHpsODdHzRKnz/s1600/birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jsDn2OhUMYqYAxyWBrKWt2j6h_dREriDKwv3Cbq9XgBZ6K8NVOT6BqFOignzZULP9jbekQEb5dy4GCcsVeqR3D3APwJDkdGiEPiEIMiBnGNkWGQTs87GrcSOWoAiQaCxHpsODdHzRKnz/s1600/birthday.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlaMY_X88TXvd4EMsW-ryE40WuHmjRJRLB3ZWY7YRdfindYRL6LDImoO4Quc9QoYzEScIsUsje3c_GsayJeoRq2YTj7VGhKMrhROQsDaUVwqCGVQqusrei6U-FJbexzIqZ_Kom-YgqS9A/s640/blogger-image--1646822071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>So...it finally happened. My biggest girl- the girl I spent so many years praying for and begging God for- has turned from using one hand (5) to count her age to two (6)!! I can hardly believe it! The 2 1/2 years of struggling to get pregnant seem like a distant memory. The baby who cried continually is all but forgotten. The tears of a new mom long ago turned to tears of joy and smiles of laughter as this baby has grown into an amazing girl. The day she was born I wept tears of joy and continually thanked God for answering my prayers with such a precious little 6lb bundle and not much has changed. This girl is honestly a continual blessing to me- my hailey is just the most precious gift from God. She is happy, she is spunky, she is kind and compassionate, she's an awesome big sister, she's funny and goofy. She is truly one of a kind! I can barely hold back the tears as I write this and think that the last 6 years have gone by so fast...what happened to them??! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmPRnx0AYPZW3cyPIpz0jty88ZKyQU3ULMQslv_DLj12eRr0Q0jCiFuxppHPqoSFdJc3IB6rO01stYuc0BzlCj2mAbFk67UPznKvXDLqbDBGX7pbqjKNCbLFd3MPZBl_88IkiuGC_LA95/s640/blogger-image-895777639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmPRnx0AYPZW3cyPIpz0jty88ZKyQU3ULMQslv_DLj12eRr0Q0jCiFuxppHPqoSFdJc3IB6rO01stYuc0BzlCj2mAbFk67UPznKvXDLqbDBGX7pbqjKNCbLFd3MPZBl_88IkiuGC_LA95/s640/blogger-image-895777639.jpg" /></a></div>
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Hailey is so creative...she loves crafts and creating and I love that she takes an idea and just "runs with it"! </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlaMY_X88TXvd4EMsW-ryE40WuHmjRJRLB3ZWY7YRdfindYRL6LDImoO4Quc9QoYzEScIsUsje3c_GsayJeoRq2YTj7VGhKMrhROQsDaUVwqCGVQqusrei6U-FJbexzIqZ_Kom-YgqS9A/s640/blogger-image--1646822071.jpg" /></div>
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She's starting to read and I just love it!! Reading and books have been a huge part of my life- there's not much I love more than a good book and to see my sweet girl not only be able to read on her own, but share her love of reading with her siblings is definitely sweet for my soul! </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGc3EYh9fKENWhqoLm73JbGsjTVQTkqnVlu9whk-356G9kYj9x4uk1sZwHsF6Y_wJ3l7cD5gjzhUgvIhy_MQV4CjGu-awbg4gbF7eJugqmK8sCGvOXPbebcDdICl4rZulkAAKreUBG3TVh/s640/blogger-image--681710361.jpg" /></div>
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she is goofy and crazy and has an incredible sense of style! I feel like every morning I should take a picture of what Hailey wore to school that day because almost every morning she makes me laugh with the outfits she puts together! This was one of my favorites...a little bit girly, a little bit super hero...and a whole lot of just pure style! I think this fad is going to catch on soon :)</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe6JQYLvTRdIrPG30SahKbzUrlmJ9wZtLI7DT6B5fihmtOgVW43MDSKtNw42UjufLrqsW9vdmPqx2NVF50yRkDKVKVIsZ9FyhdiH85jb0FKEJgUmwwDBZXWG5oWiU_WZCinllhl90CZ8m/s640/blogger-image-194784422.jpg" /></div>
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Hailey is also a great friend. She is sweet, kind, compassionate and caring. She hurts when her friends hurt. She cries when someone in our family gets hurts. She laughs a lot. plays a lot and truly just loves well! </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwn0FnfeOM0AndQkMKTeV6VMHqLQ65c7eCtSMtSA7Xx-pPx4mP_-0I_4QLMaMQIg8fbogl72RdOqWdXLfLaFYXzSTDsoDMcZmhrTGfZJQHrDjdundIPI06T8lMuIyEsgnDQ8f-FgfzWwtS/s640/blogger-image-504513231.jpg" /></div>
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I don't care how old she gets I think I will always love pictures of her sleeping...it makes her seem more and more like my little baby and less like the big girl she is becoming!</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6P7Xha3PxTrswX-MaNgTiz22cIQLoj7yzJubc8M7WeblPWbN0e8wpfUvo_YOwQphnPtWx-q4L0j1U1zuwCn2WU5PXob83Reeg62tfJzAqY0fnY9gJT7l5HAnVXYRu8wqAHyN_2pnUgVG/s640/blogger-image--2015925699.jpg" /></div>
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she is definitely the life of the party! She adds a lot of joy and excitement to all of our lives :) Everything is an adventure with Hailey- whether we are riding a transport bus at the Marshfield hospital on our way to visit a friend and she's making friends with the bus driver or cheering on a friend at a hockey game and getting her siblings to cheer for the red team instead of the purple...she definitely adds a bit of fun! </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMqiXHSeJIx57V-aWmNr_AUGzNIUHiwowBqlyV3ajI8Ovx2LK2lu0zn3hvOBDvlaic5fNqGWbYmemWP0CCB64_eSNxqRcou_ScU2pAT6jDufgPPaa391wsoDmPxOSUshQ6sKHVbZZ9OgV/s640/blogger-image--1420088553.jpg" /></div>
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Probably one of my favorite things to watch is how Hailey just takes charge, plans out an activity and gets her siblings to not only "get in line" and do it with her, but also manages to make it fun for all of them! Yesterday afternoon she planned out a craft for after school and had everyone gluing, coloring and using glitter to make penguins with hearts for wings. I really have no idea where she comes up with this stuff, but I just love to sit and watch her make it happen! </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pLjuWtx-Z4dQJy-ZVX6G7AyscESDrWK9IOdnkXHE3dN_EYKoZ92zPaeh6rRPRiYY9BOVYsh_K3ukqKXF-PyuvrBrRiIVApHe-edh03kHmMAQ4laeqx0sRBfbUbSXXgUvytps6EkdY8Kt/s640/blogger-image-1587832036.jpg" /></div>
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Hailey took this little selfie the other day and it just totally captured her little face :) She's so independent and spunky- so beautiful and creative. She is just the best gift that God could have given Korey and I for a first child! She's definitely not perfect, but I'm loving watching her be molded and shaped by God into such a beautiful little person! </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtg5vgGr0Zs5Hux1QdYt4hAGU748GTYSou-E26R8qVjwmjxtjJZrzanx8iNVKfdPJDzBCp0t15ysQiNY7EsoKmFrmm2QQ-2emSLJD-LqbLl7UOeEpdWYPcWlzACouY-BkzH7xHHqhN53O/s640/blogger-image--993895623.jpg" /></div>
Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-71844279200131556092015-01-13T14:11:00.001-06:002015-01-13T14:12:16.964-06:00Christmas time...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
came and went and I'm still reeling a bit from it!! It was wild, crazy and tons of fun!! </div>
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We visited family (Korey and his mom were even able to take an almost weeklong trip to Texas to see his brother and family- we were all so excited to have them back that I'm fairly certain the entire airport rejoiced with us when daddy finally stepped off the plane...or maybe they were just so happy to have their peace and quiet back)<br />
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we opened presents- way, way, way too many presents! I had to make a few trips to goodwill with some of our old toys to make room for all the gifts our kids were given! <br />
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we went to our first Christmas Eve service at our new church...where Macy and Elli proceeded to entertain the entire congregation with their gregarious little antics and Jack fell asleep on the chair...<br />
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we celebrated our Christmas morning at home with just our little family and two of our favorite people- Bob and Karen! <br />
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we (or I should say Elli) watched my mom and dad's dog and took very good care of him. I think he had the time of his life and most likely gained quite a few pounds from all the extra food he and Allie managed to sneak off of our counter and the kids plates! <br />
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we crafted....A LOT! You can always tell when hailey is around for a while...that girl just loves anything that seems even remotely crafty :) or has anything to do with getting messy and using glitter and paint! </div>
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we read a lot of stories! Just before break Hailey started really sounding out words and being able to pick out sight words from different books. I think she is well on her way to being able to read and it's so exciting to see her start to "get the hang of" one of my favorite activities of all time!! Plus, she's really been loving all the practice she gets on her little sisters :)</div>
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we played super heros...A LOT!! This house has been transformed from a girly-girl house to a superhero's playground! Not sure when it all happened, but my girls have all taken to putting on their high heels, dress up clothes and then topping off the outfit with a cape and mask! nothing makes their brother happier and their momma laugh harder :) I guess I always did want a house full of boys running around being wild and rough and tough...God just saw fit to give me girls who pretty much do that very thing!! In fact, I just ordered Hailey's birthday cake today and, for the first time since she has had an opinion she didn't ask for a pink sparkly or princessy cake! </div>
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Our Christmas break lasted 2 days longer than expected- due to "cold" days and it was pretty hard to take Hailey back to school! I think the past months have been really amazing and wonderful for her, but really hard for this mom! I have really struggled to find where I belong and what on earth I'm doing here. My little three are just so self-sufficient and they like to do their own thing. none of them really like to cook or bake with me. None of them really want to help me do any cleaning or basically anything with me. They are all pretty much content to sit and chatter with each other as they play. It's been a bit of a wake up call and has been very eye opening as to how I'm going to feel in a couple years....let's just say that I may need some therapy the day I drop Macy and Elli off at 4K! :) It's really different to go from being intensely needed every single moment of the day to just all of the sudden realizing that your kids are growing up before your eyes. realizing that unless you are intentional they are just going to form their own little pack and probably start foraging for food on their own and living in the backyard. (ok...maybe that's a bit overly dramatic) But, I am realizing that my kids are growing up and I'm trying so hard to just hold on to the little bit of babyhood that we have left and just cherishing each moment that I get to hold and snuggle these little sweeties before they get too big! My verse for this year is Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" :) And...that's exactly what I'm hoping to do this next year- make each day count. hold onto the good, let go of the bad and gain more of a heart of wisdom with each passing minute! Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-3395935190293124812014-12-06T15:33:00.001-06:002014-12-06T15:33:09.329-06:00My favorite holiday is getting close!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbczmazTJFfpKxBJUs004yZCE_SgBgPUXsNuqNDdY0qf-FAV3iTbyP0zh783bYiQLofveZPtYKV4kEt3h6BrQytXhFDuq1F7fKv-e0ZGJ_iZ7O1r7xPkBOUlYJgWS9l7AHez2tLSdzeQn/s640/blogger-image--1363649865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbczmazTJFfpKxBJUs004yZCE_SgBgPUXsNuqNDdY0qf-FAV3iTbyP0zh783bYiQLofveZPtYKV4kEt3h6BrQytXhFDuq1F7fKv-e0ZGJ_iZ7O1r7xPkBOUlYJgWS9l7AHez2tLSdzeQn/s640/blogger-image--1363649865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEion_Sv258A3_WPb8V9-w-UTxUwD3LqT9iYJOT-EGJ8FkX6wShzWpm9aB0aVGYeRloGD98quS-Y_Ho06yHnKm8UHpwfFzEPkK07g2FMyaTWS1iHaf0glv1LhKN7rToFU9-AW-d9NCOXvWHe/s640/blogger-image--1665354857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEion_Sv258A3_WPb8V9-w-UTxUwD3LqT9iYJOT-EGJ8FkX6wShzWpm9aB0aVGYeRloGD98quS-Y_Ho06yHnKm8UHpwfFzEPkK07g2FMyaTWS1iHaf0glv1LhKN7rToFU9-AW-d9NCOXvWHe/s640/blogger-image--1665354857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmQno6LbsG8Ad-X5j2cu4xIb6kCfugt_wNw0Pw3Z8Y1H0RrTI1hntTmIWLR7ZVtWOjA9fx0MKuAD2ydnG9s5_zEyt4a6Kes9Fiu2Jnw8YgtoYJGFpBJI7OD8NoTer-h5IXrEbjwFfBF38/s640/blogger-image--1678812111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmQno6LbsG8Ad-X5j2cu4xIb6kCfugt_wNw0Pw3Z8Y1H0RrTI1hntTmIWLR7ZVtWOjA9fx0MKuAD2ydnG9s5_zEyt4a6Kes9Fiu2Jnw8YgtoYJGFpBJI7OD8NoTer-h5IXrEbjwFfBF38/s640/blogger-image--1678812111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6V30S8Jq2sFeSGdh7W7X29-OzVOxaguxnqrEeUm0ih3MhuUp86IgBjJIpHbG8ShZdYZtcojTacU0qQmfPNnpDduqCGo30gGlrecips83bSICAA5iZz_-r8MOhHDEhpeCYgyHLlP4r47B/s640/blogger-image-409436865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6V30S8Jq2sFeSGdh7W7X29-OzVOxaguxnqrEeUm0ih3MhuUp86IgBjJIpHbG8ShZdYZtcojTacU0qQmfPNnpDduqCGo30gGlrecips83bSICAA5iZz_-r8MOhHDEhpeCYgyHLlP4r47B/s640/blogger-image-409436865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0CB9uqAc7GDCQ6PcZsWcQHF7QK9ZU5aOsFEG-7pdO33mtaNoZL-NlvIqFE9wlijQ9_1osdGuOAe4W8wAGbD51KZa4J5j_4GJ3M9g2h9zqNn5OMQxeOIhE7EmB52yaiV5Z8vXhimE8zug/s640/blogger-image-16493849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0CB9uqAc7GDCQ6PcZsWcQHF7QK9ZU5aOsFEG-7pdO33mtaNoZL-NlvIqFE9wlijQ9_1osdGuOAe4W8wAGbD51KZa4J5j_4GJ3M9g2h9zqNn5OMQxeOIhE7EmB52yaiV5Z8vXhimE8zug/s640/blogger-image-16493849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0pkeXFLjLbsMNpv8-WH-a6rb7EzTAFMWGifFDPQM8eXE387N0dffj4cE7FF3dV2nKtOnkNJxoAXq7A8fqVA9UyOcrVdazZoWajB2ROiV3f7DB3QiBTa2P0Go3kBUchMmU6_w57urafjh/s640/blogger-image-1455335145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0pkeXFLjLbsMNpv8-WH-a6rb7EzTAFMWGifFDPQM8eXE387N0dffj4cE7FF3dV2nKtOnkNJxoAXq7A8fqVA9UyOcrVdazZoWajB2ROiV3f7DB3QiBTa2P0Go3kBUchMmU6_w57urafjh/s640/blogger-image-1455335145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt0zhOLTWVIE_TMKA12OAQ8CmsIFu03LVHsrrVaeo0Nyz1rS4ofqK1hVZIoqmgvICoGNfCxon17NIvojnZQApTR8AF9Bcgt1zYs8qEL-6kXMtMVuEsbE3EIWOhP0xsd5xmQcW0YxAqiaS/s640/blogger-image-562132889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt0zhOLTWVIE_TMKA12OAQ8CmsIFu03LVHsrrVaeo0Nyz1rS4ofqK1hVZIoqmgvICoGNfCxon17NIvojnZQApTR8AF9Bcgt1zYs8qEL-6kXMtMVuEsbE3EIWOhP0xsd5xmQcW0YxAqiaS/s640/blogger-image-562132889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Christmas is my favorite holiday!! And I love all the excitement leading up to it! We are in full swing Christmas mode, here :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We helped Nani and papa find their perfect tree!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMBv9IuwH5yYw6KNh8GuncEC8JGkOESGQWLxErLvXvh8vJsODsQL4j4vKYRe-Qf6BU5Mc16S8rd18ZpiAs2RRGHv4AqrpLTJRimRC7f7TUd0cmwyt1i4kxKvOGCVc0cJ5LrQpPX1LvTZg/s640/blogger-image--1060223924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMBv9IuwH5yYw6KNh8GuncEC8JGkOESGQWLxErLvXvh8vJsODsQL4j4vKYRe-Qf6BU5Mc16S8rd18ZpiAs2RRGHv4AqrpLTJRimRC7f7TUd0cmwyt1i4kxKvOGCVc0cJ5LrQpPX1LvTZg/s640/blogger-image--1060223924.jpg"></a>we painted some pottery for Christmas presents! (I'm feeling incredibly proud of myself this year- I'm so on the ball...only a few presents left to get...might not manage to get Christmas cards out in time, but at least most people will get presents) :)</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt0zhOLTWVIE_TMKA12OAQ8CmsIFu03LVHsrrVaeo0Nyz1rS4ofqK1hVZIoqmgvICoGNfCxon17NIvojnZQApTR8AF9Bcgt1zYs8qEL-6kXMtMVuEsbE3EIWOhP0xsd5xmQcW0YxAqiaS/s640/blogger-image-562132889.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We made it to see Santa! Thankfully he comes in a line truck and makes a nice little stop at public service during their company Christmas party :)</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0pkeXFLjLbsMNpv8-WH-a6rb7EzTAFMWGifFDPQM8eXE387N0dffj4cE7FF3dV2nKtOnkNJxoAXq7A8fqVA9UyOcrVdazZoWajB2ROiV3f7DB3QiBTa2P0Go3kBUchMmU6_w57urafjh/s640/blogger-image-1455335145.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0CB9uqAc7GDCQ6PcZsWcQHF7QK9ZU5aOsFEG-7pdO33mtaNoZL-NlvIqFE9wlijQ9_1osdGuOAe4W8wAGbD51KZa4J5j_4GJ3M9g2h9zqNn5OMQxeOIhE7EmB52yaiV5Z8vXhimE8zug/s640/blogger-image-16493849.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Elli really loved Santa the best! She even put on her Santa pj's for the occasion! (And insisted that Macy wear hers, too) :) he may have broke her heart and trust when she asked for a Minnie Mouse doll and he gave her a bag of stuff that didn't include a Minnie Mouse doll! </div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6V30S8Jq2sFeSGdh7W7X29-OzVOxaguxnqrEeUm0ih3MhuUp86IgBjJIpHbG8ShZdYZtcojTacU0qQmfPNnpDduqCGo30gGlrecips83bSICAA5iZz_-r8MOhHDEhpeCYgyHLlP4r47B/s640/blogger-image-409436865.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I think Macy liked Santa ok, but when all the kids ran to give him a hug as he left Macy just glared at him and refused to get any closer!</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmQno6LbsG8Ad-X5j2cu4xIb6kCfugt_wNw0Pw3Z8Y1H0RrTI1hntTmIWLR7ZVtWOjA9fx0MKuAD2ydnG9s5_zEyt4a6Kes9Fiu2Jnw8YgtoYJGFpBJI7OD8NoTer-h5IXrEbjwFfBF38/s640/blogger-image--1678812111.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Nothing says Christmas like three kids perched atop an incredibly well decorated line truck :) </div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEion_Sv258A3_WPb8V9-w-UTxUwD3LqT9iYJOT-EGJ8FkX6wShzWpm9aB0aVGYeRloGD98quS-Y_Ho06yHnKm8UHpwfFzEPkK07g2FMyaTWS1iHaf0glv1LhKN7rToFU9-AW-d9NCOXvWHe/s640/blogger-image--1665354857.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today we were able to partake in one of my favorite childhood Christmas traditions- the ladies Christmas tea at my parents church! We picked up my grandma on the way and it was a super fun time for all of us girls!! I just love this lady!! </div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbczmazTJFfpKxBJUs004yZCE_SgBgPUXsNuqNDdY0qf-FAV3iTbyP0zh783bYiQLofveZPtYKV4kEt3h6BrQytXhFDuq1F7fKv-e0ZGJ_iZ7O1r7xPkBOUlYJgWS9l7AHez2tLSdzeQn/s640/blogger-image--1363649865.jpg"></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-45237790047705385322014-11-30T17:59:00.001-06:002014-11-30T17:59:05.236-06:00Happy birthday!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqx6wNdFLt4AtPFSYnT2F1culhG09ZE_ygvwzif6-xyTDVrnYuhJnaAEg6kOX08G0rhuqaC3nx8hpcvXteaJUBHdvR3PbDxIhCBX0FOFtRya69zEEE0r3oOnysRQdwQ-G29uQyOMj20su2/s640/blogger-image-440818591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqx6wNdFLt4AtPFSYnT2F1culhG09ZE_ygvwzif6-xyTDVrnYuhJnaAEg6kOX08G0rhuqaC3nx8hpcvXteaJUBHdvR3PbDxIhCBX0FOFtRya69zEEE0r3oOnysRQdwQ-G29uQyOMj20su2/s640/blogger-image-440818591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizCixxE19rW4pF6vUIr-qOjq_GK6wgKZoFii_E-CkQ32bZ10upsvZFJS74VgfyRWQ-dgUb-IAE3L0f8NRosXxZxdHJgzEZheB3GKmXf8t4WIXHhEpjMee3UFkTBM1jxrML5l-dUaeZMK4/s640/blogger-image-2081573398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizCixxE19rW4pF6vUIr-qOjq_GK6wgKZoFii_E-CkQ32bZ10upsvZFJS74VgfyRWQ-dgUb-IAE3L0f8NRosXxZxdHJgzEZheB3GKmXf8t4WIXHhEpjMee3UFkTBM1jxrML5l-dUaeZMK4/s640/blogger-image-2081573398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yKTAlnSadzvf-pOY8plVI0KOFVu5GAEpdF-orTTR_WJ0hOJcOszjQoWjMoFbfV1bJqrpwRd-XWgO3_-1VSvQbvWN0A6oe0abeDDOLIwZtsJOG8AQaSaedZVGrsCn0CFdt90HhE60Xo7b/s640/blogger-image-1385563397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yKTAlnSadzvf-pOY8plVI0KOFVu5GAEpdF-orTTR_WJ0hOJcOszjQoWjMoFbfV1bJqrpwRd-XWgO3_-1VSvQbvWN0A6oe0abeDDOLIwZtsJOG8AQaSaedZVGrsCn0CFdt90HhE60Xo7b/s640/blogger-image-1385563397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjauY1gz3LqFCY7EKK6lByKlm-B4tEYWiRoCqPqVL3ayJFgjgLTKSO9D8zbmfukNhiSdTpYAbjPOgXYNVi73MFr5-Z_Qcxed4ym8jp77Wy9oPbycYup9glxX4Whc5Yd4JQlbkGT12Nmix/s640/blogger-image--971504579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjauY1gz3LqFCY7EKK6lByKlm-B4tEYWiRoCqPqVL3ayJFgjgLTKSO9D8zbmfukNhiSdTpYAbjPOgXYNVi73MFr5-Z_Qcxed4ym8jp77Wy9oPbycYup9glxX4Whc5Yd4JQlbkGT12Nmix/s640/blogger-image--971504579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>My little twinnies turned 3 and had a super fun time of it!! They wanted to help make their own breakfast...so we all worked together on special birthday waffles :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPHNDvnvEJH-8PxzK6jdXh4R33G44KzFSXhDSCHGq6Oek7TtiJusnjSBENqMwll0lAhI6jDIi0QcsEDzDpcSmVxfnbTcUbZLIAOg5Q2shhim6xhCxXfK9DTxynzgfnGzpyEOiaUfAWeRZ/s640/blogger-image-1199221406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPHNDvnvEJH-8PxzK6jdXh4R33G44KzFSXhDSCHGq6Oek7TtiJusnjSBENqMwll0lAhI6jDIi0QcsEDzDpcSmVxfnbTcUbZLIAOg5Q2shhim6xhCxXfK9DTxynzgfnGzpyEOiaUfAWeRZ/s640/blogger-image-1199221406.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Taking a little bit of time out to snuggle :)</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjauY1gz3LqFCY7EKK6lByKlm-B4tEYWiRoCqPqVL3ayJFgjgLTKSO9D8zbmfukNhiSdTpYAbjPOgXYNVi73MFr5-Z_Qcxed4ym8jp77Wy9oPbycYup9glxX4Whc5Yd4JQlbkGT12Nmix/s640/blogger-image--971504579.jpg">Then we quick sang happy birthday before taking hailey to school! I think they liked it!</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yKTAlnSadzvf-pOY8plVI0KOFVu5GAEpdF-orTTR_WJ0hOJcOszjQoWjMoFbfV1bJqrpwRd-XWgO3_-1VSvQbvWN0A6oe0abeDDOLIwZtsJOG8AQaSaedZVGrsCn0CFdt90HhE60Xo7b/s640/blogger-image-1385563397.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizCixxE19rW4pF6vUIr-qOjq_GK6wgKZoFii_E-CkQ32bZ10upsvZFJS74VgfyRWQ-dgUb-IAE3L0f8NRosXxZxdHJgzEZheB3GKmXf8t4WIXHhEpjMee3UFkTBM1jxrML5l-dUaeZMK4/s640/blogger-image-2081573398.jpg">After dropping off hailey they asked for donuts, so off we went for donuts :) because apparently you get whatever you want on your birthday :)</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEU-cFZVhxLNQl-xA2TlIQK_W0e7XcL1j3ujZfxd1uSwVH0wlsYH70GBVmwHxbg7QBdrzfGndjKz8GR5uxfvCkwD6I-bzXU7UmY1mW_lUuLywtA_Xab74Z3TnbTn8ogAvaMWWHorOoXZaO/s640/blogger-image--313038783.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hp581yDY94b4N4lm6H3vKX2OWNU6A_JKapGXHQmZf-oMdy_rAyxSHZryYAB_3E7PL3NT7InZ8AFlSCcPoGAdlIUvIyRQRyLVTWh8BPF1btss_zhuOboDOWdUhFLXToosABJ-CkeBpTIY/s640/blogger-image-114103885.jpg">After daddy got home we went to everyone 's favorite place- Buffalo Wild Wings! Yes, I do think their dad has brainwashed them all! But, the twins were super happy to get to hear the whole restaurant clap for their birthday! (At least Macy was- elli was a bit scared of it all) </div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwv4hQRDsI_YuuREh6cy2dM_oTEKhLM7sFTX1AnRhM8Gid6TC_FfwV92CuepxPJsKXc1-UFfkLvcned7QExc0SKTv-6bizx3nFh5tGM93UNFuJY34kBdFLCqAYjJEmjORvu18k5h1j_LK/s640/blogger-image--1184607596.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxd1zoGjPi4ox6V8eT9ETz7PXG6JxFrvOQ93qCrTYA3od51E_cndF-NY71nmh53OgbOeS199A79tZoHEPeedhs9EmctoNJBzfd2SDl5F4yT1ySNPhBiKF1ARBf1fTBThv85cmhbBoCthlv/s640/blogger-image--728489125.jpg">Then on thanksgiving we had our family over and got to have Minnie Mouse and Dora cookies to celebrate! Macy was mostly excited because she thought the Macy's thanksgiving day parade was actually her parade! </div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqx6wNdFLt4AtPFSYnT2F1culhG09ZE_ygvwzif6-xyTDVrnYuhJnaAEg6kOX08G0rhuqaC3nx8hpcvXteaJUBHdvR3PbDxIhCBX0FOFtRya69zEEE0r3oOnysRQdwQ-G29uQyOMj20su2/s640/blogger-image-440818591.jpg">I think my littlest girls enjoyed turning 3!! </div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-41212903911731443272014-11-24T17:10:00.001-06:002014-11-25T06:46:57.068-06:00Two big 3 year olds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmV9SQH34P-pb4TURW7Fu5o2IXs8H24PPMg3Eq2lgUtG0qfls8fSV0z-BH-64Pdl7YJ6ZUFza4VavQsx5nkZj2IRQjnMGfCGJFhscnvMVa-Fp8igdAzeUMGFKG7pM05FjqSY0MOeil2sN/s640/blogger-image--1830710767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmV9SQH34P-pb4TURW7Fu5o2IXs8H24PPMg3Eq2lgUtG0qfls8fSV0z-BH-64Pdl7YJ6ZUFza4VavQsx5nkZj2IRQjnMGfCGJFhscnvMVa-Fp8igdAzeUMGFKG7pM05FjqSY0MOeil2sN/s640/blogger-image--1830710767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2i20hG3IZNpCiRRvmsHBXgDTYL_mvxr7xGJ6sEv2Us_IatylPhkcFN5jHmpcZ-xS4t301yZoDB33xNKXGBquSd-zRFz547ft9WoTlaLf8UQ2qR4BNU9bbseYw8h8BuaTN8_u88Gx8YVEN/s640/blogger-image-1684908615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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These girls are 3...how is that possible???!! Where did the time go??</div>
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I feel like it was just yesterday that we were finishing up our thanksgiving dinner of peanut butter and jelly, enjoying our last day as a family of 4 and looking to our future with a bit of fear and trembling. </div>
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And, now, here we are a happy family of 6- dealing with newborn twins is a distant memory, our hospital stays are (hopefully) behind us, life has taken on a bit of a routine. we are getting into the rhythm of 4 kids- in fact some days it is downright easy...but, we still live on peanut butter and jelly and we still look to the future with fear and trembling...who wouldn't with 4 teenagers to come. :) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5WbUhxko7rW01AbPI-qTFM3V5zBdGfTGh066d1n6Lj4KNzoUZ-cMVm2qBKnP_G8QS5u310xz7qpnYFpFXLidB9og5LpuZNYCvGBt8ran2otMPxd_l-6BrAwK3HjQt2_YFKb6aiUKxR6h/s1600/blogger-image-456826930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5WbUhxko7rW01AbPI-qTFM3V5zBdGfTGh066d1n6Lj4KNzoUZ-cMVm2qBKnP_G8QS5u310xz7qpnYFpFXLidB9og5LpuZNYCvGBt8ran2otMPxd_l-6BrAwK3HjQt2_YFKb6aiUKxR6h/s200/blogger-image-456826930.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsD5GCuv5Z9gq2eac5pIDcLJnZ3t_FrB-USdXop3WNxTc2kVWTGTJve1dXj2gwFFuzRQ0IcwMVT0PQlkvlGO7FHuISwMOoyt-PZj1fCpaxI4BLg8TB5JYHv_w36sI2Lz64D0xkigNu611/s640/blogger-image--304555345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsD5GCuv5Z9gq2eac5pIDcLJnZ3t_FrB-USdXop3WNxTc2kVWTGTJve1dXj2gwFFuzRQ0IcwMVT0PQlkvlGO7FHuISwMOoyt-PZj1fCpaxI4BLg8TB5JYHv_w36sI2Lz64D0xkigNu611/s200/blogger-image--304555345.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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3 years ago Korey and I were on our way to the hospital and I was in for the longest, but best labor of my life! I still can't really believe I made it to 37 weeks carrying these little buggers. I can't believe I was able to deliver naturally without any complications. It was all God. He just gifted me again and again with these two! In more ways than I could ever count. I know that Korey still considers the day we brought these two home from the hospital the proudest day of his life...I, on the other hand, will never forget the day I got home with two babies and for the first time in my life had to think about how I was going to carry two carseats into the house at the same time- or make the choice of who to take first and who to come back for. (Korey had stopped to get us dinner and pick up a breast pump for me) I will never forget the amount of tears that I shed over these two precious babies or how much God used them in my life to shape and grow me. I think I love them so dearly because I know how much they cost and would do it all again in a heartbeat. On the day I found out I was carrying twins my whole world changed. I cried- like all out bawled ugly tears in my doctor's office. The nurse gave me a popsicle and a tissue and was worried I wouldn't make it home safely. I lived in a fog for days, after that. Even just the thought of caring for two babies at one time seemed more than I could handle. But...after months of "house arrest" and weeks of bedrest I knew God wasn't gonna leave me stranded. Today, I can say that I'm not the same girl that sat in her doctor's office and cried over weaning her tiny baby so she could help her twins grow. I'm not the same girl who lamented the fact that she'd go to Target without make up or showering. Today, the day my twins turn 3, I'm stronger, I'm tougher, I'm older, I'm wearier, I'm more broken, I'm changed. And for that, I'll never be able to thank God enough. God met me in the weariest, most broken hours. It was there- in the days of little to no sleep- that God reached down, pulled me to Himself and helped me carry on. I've never needed God like I did when I had two newborns, a 14 month old and a 2 year old to care for. And, I love Him all the more because He was there when I needed Him. He was there when no one else could be and I know- 100% that I am alive and well- still smiling, hugging, loving and caring for my 4 precious kiddos because of the grace that God showered upon me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuGUkLM8z4g1a1x_CJIDo5bmiYM2INjNoCnSxWDMWNZJwwKf6c7RhU9Xr_VaiJJ035xUAlG8nTzJ1QWlQnMu_yQXQftl8remmXNSqtQiWmewuDuxr3vdKAax4so3GFPPrJE9L9unAGmEH/s1600/blogger-image--2071066875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuGUkLM8z4g1a1x_CJIDo5bmiYM2INjNoCnSxWDMWNZJwwKf6c7RhU9Xr_VaiJJ035xUAlG8nTzJ1QWlQnMu_yQXQftl8remmXNSqtQiWmewuDuxr3vdKAax4so3GFPPrJE9L9unAGmEH/s200/blogger-image--2071066875.jpg" width="150" /></a> <img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYuX6dGKtiDJ93DiVRcu9u5boBLVnfkC_4LqK9ObbIKh-mmoswUOUbuau1fHLCtb_z6xHhAlFNcGW0UppMXFjPUmPjSQNYfw2J92aNlTmZF0zK1s-OakNMjIv-uXpz85f88x_Ue3bH202/s200/blogger-image--818746485.jpg" width="150" /></div>
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There's just something special about these little self avowed "best friends"! They love each other so much- but will fight each other pretty much to the death for something that's theirs! We hear "I have to go potty" about 640 times a day. They love to eat lunch at school with hailey, but eating is only secondary- people watching and giggling is the real reason we all love to go...that and fighting over who gets to sit by hailey. Pink is still Macy's color and purple is elli's. I love that their colors are still theirs! </div>
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2i20hG3IZNpCiRRvmsHBXgDTYL_mvxr7xGJ6sEv2Us_IatylPhkcFN5jHmpcZ-xS4t301yZoDB33xNKXGBquSd-zRFz547ft9WoTlaLf8UQ2qR4BNU9bbseYw8h8BuaTN8_u88Gx8YVEN/s640/blogger-image-1684908615.jpg" /><br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmV9SQH34P-pb4TURW7Fu5o2IXs8H24PPMg3Eq2lgUtG0qfls8fSV0z-BH-64Pdl7YJ6ZUFza4VavQsx5nkZj2IRQjnMGfCGJFhscnvMVa-Fp8igdAzeUMGFKG7pM05FjqSY0MOeil2sN/s640/blogger-image--1830710767.jpg" /><br />
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Happy birthday my sweet baby girls!! </div>
Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-65838045269287212532014-11-14T16:13:00.001-06:002014-11-15T12:36:07.717-06:00A happy ending!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl06dfMNPXLukLRaesoZgnCOkahEbeEtVUf-a-v3SCDIzu3oHTE4OA4xG425hH77nWsq0wnLVT5NYWHUUG0hTym_qNMdRi7YCxWmVtTXPBoAdjyQHeMFLTzhallOpsTagDaS_7SaaxiFfy/s640/blogger-image--1653517766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl06dfMNPXLukLRaesoZgnCOkahEbeEtVUf-a-v3SCDIzu3oHTE4OA4xG425hH77nWsq0wnLVT5NYWHUUG0hTym_qNMdRi7YCxWmVtTXPBoAdjyQHeMFLTzhallOpsTagDaS_7SaaxiFfy/s640/blogger-image--1653517766.jpg"></a>Sometimes a picture just can't do a day justice! These beautiful girls holding their precious operation Christmas child shoe boxes, all packed and labeled seems so sweet and so innocent...but, what it really is- a sweet happy ending to a fairly rough day! Armed with our picture lists and pencils all 5 of us hit up Target to fill our shoeboxes. It had already been a bit of a long day...poor Jack was struggling with the stomach flu and Hailey had a long day of school in already. But, since we aren't ones to let life hold us back (aka...too dumb to just change our plans) we persevered! We met the sweetest lady who had 3 children who were all grown and gone, but who had actually been on the ground helping to deliver the shoeboxes and was able encourage us all and reduce this momma to tears with her beautiful encouragement that these days are truly precious...an encouragement that I would need to cling to just a few hours later! After the craziness of buying our presents we headed off to McDonalds to play and eat. Jack, who had seemed to be doing much better, took a turn for the worse and ended up throwing up at McDonalds. And, as any mom knows- the minute throw up is added to the mix you know your day is going to take a turn for the worse! We hurriedly bundled the rest of the kids up and packed the remains of their food for them to eat in the car...Since we hadn't had a chance to play in the play place yet I had some not so happy little girls. Then, the unthinkable happened- Hailey dropped her hamburger in the parking lot! As we pulled away most of the kids were in tears and this momma was just ready to be done with her day. Thankfully, it was a 20 minute drive home and that gave each of us a chance to get our emotions under control. :) </div>
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As the day ended it didn't really get a ton better...sure we smiled nicely for a picture, after we threw huge fits and fought over who got to put the purple unicorn in their box and who got the pink ponies vs. the orange ones and poor Jack threw up one more time. As I finally tucked them into bed, placed my exhausted little self on the couch and had a good little cry all I could think was "I'm not even sure it was worth it". But, looking back at the picture I can remind myself that it was- it was worth it! all the tears, all the pain of cleaning up vomit, all the little kiddie fits and the exhausted momma. It was all worth it! Because, hopefully my kiddos aren't just buying gifts for little kiddos across the ocean...maybe, just maybe they are learning a little bit about thinking of others. maybe they are teaching their mommy a bit of patience and a bit about what's important in life. maybe it's not just about packing shoe boxes. maybe its about something more. And maybe that something more makes it all worthwhile :)</div>
Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-38789719725546450972014-11-10T13:52:00.000-06:002014-11-10T13:52:34.545-06:00be still my heart...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It comes as no surprise to anyone else that I just adore these two cuties...but, sometimes I'm just overcome with emotion when I think about how big they've gotten; how far they've come and just what a testament to God's faithfulness these two have been in my life!!</div>
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Tomorrow marks the 3 year anniversary of the day these girls tried to enter the world...a day I will never forget. a day etched in my mind in complete detail. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God worked a miracle that day and kept my babies cooking a bit longer. I also know that at the time it seemed like a death sentence to be stuck pregnant with them any longer. :) I can't believe my babies are going to be 3 soon...and that that day is a distant memory! </div>
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I love these two little best friends so much! I'm so thankful that God blessed me with them! I think I finally understand, now, why all the parents of twins willingly have more kids- it gets so much better the closer they get to 3!! I love spending time with these two! they make me laugh and giggle so much. They're so full of life and spunk, it's just incredible. Most of all, when I think about Macy and Elli- I'm so thankful that God gave me two kids to split this much personality between...I shudder to think of the poor soul strapped with this much personality alone! </div>
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I love you, my sweet little matching princesses. I know you sweet girls will never remember the "day you almost came" and I hope and pray that you never have to experience it...but, I know that that day is one of the most poignant days in my memory bank and I will never, ever forget how scared I was and how I prayed that God would just spare you from being born early! I'll never forget the day spent in labor, the scary contractions, the frantic phone call to your Nani and Sheila- begging for a ride to the hospital. I'll never forget how fast your daddy drove home from up north and how he spent the whole night sitting by my bed in his work clothes. I'll never forget how God orchestrated the doctor to be in town and willing to stop by and check on me "quick" and then figure out a nice little concoction of drugs to stop labor. I'll never forget how relived I was when I finally felt my body relax and the contractions slow down. I'll never forget how the thankful tears flowed and how your daddy and I praised God in that hospital room. I'll never forget...and I hope that you won't ever forget how much your mommy loves you, your daddy loves you, but most importantly how much God loves you!</div>
Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-85603458481653199172014-10-01T13:25:00.000-05:002014-10-01T13:25:32.828-05:00parenting fails...and winsLately I've been really asking God to take away my pride. To just really break me and make me more like him....because, you see, I've been realizing that I'm kind of an "angry mom"! I wouldn't say I spend my whole day screaming and yelling, but I would say that I've definitely been more stressed, on edge, and generally a lot easier to get riled up since school started. A lot of that has to do with my pride.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUlGBvMghgDuP6Jz4ra7ioKB9ZUKMu7brUMV4ss0nZ9nsM-rE5Qr7RAK5JnFeXyOFTeEqxNJ2XE6OYK2qfXQI7MYtYQtDB1hkYIV403F3f6zFADHYmKRaUSaI3v3VWHr6UlZU4nC2W48A/s640/blogger-image--1689352610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUlGBvMghgDuP6Jz4ra7ioKB9ZUKMu7brUMV4ss0nZ9nsM-rE5Qr7RAK5JnFeXyOFTeEqxNJ2XE6OYK2qfXQI7MYtYQtDB1hkYIV403F3f6zFADHYmKRaUSaI3v3VWHr6UlZU4nC2W48A/s320/blogger-image--1689352610.jpg" width="240" /></a>I hate to be thought of as "that mom"...you know the one- <br />
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*who shows up to drop off her kid in her pj's- without makeup<br />
*whose kid is always late<br />
*whose kid doesn't have her teeth brushed<br />
*whose kid didn't get her homework done<br />
*who forgot the lunch money or the lunch box or the permission slip...or even the dentist appointment<br />
*whose kid is mismatched or dressed too cold or too hot<br />
*whose kid (or kids) throws a few (or a lot) fits on the floor of the school<br />
*who can't seem to control any of the tiny little people that swarm all over her feet.<br />
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(yes! all of these things have happened to me in the past month that school has been in session)<br />
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I just hate being "that mom"! <br />
Because in my feeble little mind that mom is a failure. <br />
she can't keep it all together<br />
she can't plan ahead<br />
she is terribly unorganized<br />
she is lazy<br />
she is a bad parent<br />
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I never want to be labeled as any of those...so I work and I try and I stress and I plan...and when those carefully laid plans, those amazing schedules, the massive amount of work all crumbles I get irritated. I get stressed and I tend to get mad at the people closest to me. Blaming them for making it all fall apart. <br />
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It's sad really. In my pursuit to be thought of and seen as a better more together mom- I fail in the one thing that's the most important- showing Jesus to the 4 little people who live with me and the 1 big person I'm married to. It's like I'm stressing and striving and working to earn approval, but missing out on the fact that I'm already loved, cherished, blessed, and incredibly special to the God of the Universe! What more could I ask for? What more could any of us want than that?? Why does it matter what mere mortals think of us, when God, the creator of the Universe already loved me and cared for me enough to send His one and only son to die for me?? <br />
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so, that's why I've been praying. I've been begging God to get rid of that in me. I don't want to be the perfect mom- I just want to be more like Jesus. Last time I checked Jesus cared more about people than schedules. He took time out to hold little ones on His lap and He stopped an entire crowd of busy people to care about one woman who had been healed. Jesus had time for people and I don't want to become so busy that I don't! <br />
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And...this morning...this morning was my biggest win yet!! <br />
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Someone couldn't find the socks she wanted...meltdown #1<br />
Someone couldn't get her shoes on right...meltdown #2<br />
Someone wanted the hat the other someone was wearing...meltdown #3<br />
Someone wanted to go check his deer camera before we left for school...meltdown #4<br />
Someone wanted to sit in the carseat her sister was sitting in...meltdown #5<br />
Someone didn't want to stay at school, but wanted to go home with mommy...meltdown #6<br />
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and...<br />
yes, we were late to school<br />
no, we didn't all have our faces washed or hair brushed<br />
yes, I snuck chocolate for breakfast when no one was looking<br />
no, Hailey didn't get her teeth brushed<br />
yes, she wore pink cowboy boots with tights and shorts<br />
yes, the dog peed on the floor while we were gone<br />
yes, the dog ate lunch off the counter while my back was turned<br />
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It literally was "one of those days"<br />
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But...<br />
This momma can smile and carry on because me and Jesus kept it together this morning! There were no tears from this momma. There was no yelling. There was a lot of whispered prayers for patience. There were a few begs for a mouth that stays shut and a smile that is genuine. And we pulled through. We all survived. We laughed. We tickled each other. We even smiled as we walked into school late. We all thrived and that's way more important than all the parenting wins in the world!! :) (or maybe that is one of my biggest parenting wins yet??) :) <br />
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<br />Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-30535282972122202032014-09-29T19:40:00.001-05:002014-09-29T19:40:31.557-05:00The best day ever??<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4hX6cEl3TD2RGB-Nq5m5_IIzIwgp-XVlYtPszYZt00FQFsygdZamCT-X8ArMXZhr9USrPlGQ3nwL2ePVXmawJre2iaRmb4RAlF5tE3FfgIsADZoEnG1Cp4acAN1pS3YjvUDpTF9WB4LE/s640/blogger-image-1313937846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4hX6cEl3TD2RGB-Nq5m5_IIzIwgp-XVlYtPszYZt00FQFsygdZamCT-X8ArMXZhr9USrPlGQ3nwL2ePVXmawJre2iaRmb4RAlF5tE3FfgIsADZoEnG1Cp4acAN1pS3YjvUDpTF9WB4LE/s640/blogger-image-1313937846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9goKkMYsg2_gqrFqyWVTWyIpAOCFe9va4i720Z7reZfbqxm0Y0W9WuuesocuxX-XrvUnMlw5Vsoz8X2ArlZdi_OI2as3AovMllPWd59GBWG_JakGv6FITrhvGaZXj2kyfTAgJ071JxD-K/s640/blogger-image-1321708711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9goKkMYsg2_gqrFqyWVTWyIpAOCFe9va4i720Z7reZfbqxm0Y0W9WuuesocuxX-XrvUnMlw5Vsoz8X2ArlZdi_OI2as3AovMllPWd59GBWG_JakGv6FITrhvGaZXj2kyfTAgJ071JxD-K/s640/blogger-image-1321708711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>If you ask jack this was definitely the that!! He got to go duck hunting with his daddy on Saturday and I'm fairly certain both of them had tge time of their lives! The Mosquitos were terrible. It was muddy and hot. They only got 3 ducks. But apparently none of that was enough of a deterrent- they both came back smiling and as happy as can be! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVHLrDcrFr8loEDlV9XAyPn04wruei-qMNnTparsDoE6cDv5ORb6XyGWG9WdyvGAe7fBFbldRIOqrjIqBYWsiTo69EPk62q8PtThg_CvgZ2MAWpNoPXuK1RAXV6fsu71PHRTugfuVycye/s640/blogger-image--2038778517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVHLrDcrFr8loEDlV9XAyPn04wruei-qMNnTparsDoE6cDv5ORb6XyGWG9WdyvGAe7fBFbldRIOqrjIqBYWsiTo69EPk62q8PtThg_CvgZ2MAWpNoPXuK1RAXV6fsu71PHRTugfuVycye/s640/blogger-image--2038778517.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9goKkMYsg2_gqrFqyWVTWyIpAOCFe9va4i720Z7reZfbqxm0Y0W9WuuesocuxX-XrvUnMlw5Vsoz8X2ArlZdi_OI2as3AovMllPWd59GBWG_JakGv6FITrhvGaZXj2kyfTAgJ071JxD-K/s640/blogger-image-1321708711.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4hX6cEl3TD2RGB-Nq5m5_IIzIwgp-XVlYtPszYZt00FQFsygdZamCT-X8ArMXZhr9USrPlGQ3nwL2ePVXmawJre2iaRmb4RAlF5tE3FfgIsADZoEnG1Cp4acAN1pS3YjvUDpTF9WB4LE/s640/blogger-image-1313937846.jpg"></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-50896170956626224022014-09-24T13:35:00.001-05:002014-09-24T13:53:55.318-05:00My little "pack"<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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These three are anything but boring! they are hilarious and adventurous...naughty and fearless...incredibly fun and extremely overwhelming all at the same time! It seems that when they are without their fearless leader they tend to act like a wild little pack of hyenas. Everyone running and doing their own thing- no one really organizing or leading them. I suppose that would be my job, but hailey was so good at it that it's hard for me to remember I should be doing that!! And before I know it they are just running wild and wreaking havoc upon our house!! I'm just hoping that the house survives and is still standing by the time they grow up :) <br />
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Without their big sister around my 3 littlest ones have become closer and better friends!! It's pretty cute (most of the time) to see their little personalities come out in different ways! I think the funniest part is that no matter where we go someone asks if they are triplets. Makes me laugh every single time. Poor jack is just such a small little guy!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6x7r35boR_csRu7HNgcC_ktu7mwMEWJpEC3WgRfsZtF3zDAImbgsfxEXHl8dGqFWWEa0T2N4Q5LF_Nql0MPizko33zvLYJ3Ar6EjGGRQsh00RQHM4NXquByZcqX8nfGM7Sxa-_1CDE4E6/s640/blogger-image--1537878928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6x7r35boR_csRu7HNgcC_ktu7mwMEWJpEC3WgRfsZtF3zDAImbgsfxEXHl8dGqFWWEa0T2N4Q5LF_Nql0MPizko33zvLYJ3Ar6EjGGRQsh00RQHM4NXquByZcqX8nfGM7Sxa-_1CDE4E6/s200/blogger-image--1537878928.jpg" width="150" /></a>Our highlight of the week is getting to go eat lunch with hailey! She asks us to come every week and it's adorable to see the little three just fit into the school so well! They go potty with the kids; wash hands with them; play on the playground and just naturally fall into line- just like all the other kids! </div>
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I think my favorite part about just having the little "pack" around is that they're starting to develop their own little personalities and desire to be "themselves". Macy is still a bit more mellow than the other 4, but once she sets her mind to something there is no dissuading her! She was the oldest of all my kids when she finally was potty trained, but by fare the easiest one to potty train. One day she just up and decided to go potty on the toilet and hasn't had an accident since! Elli is our crazy wild child. She has no time for anything that might seem normal or have rules to it. She just blazes her own trail and does whatever she wants- she's a true free spirit and I love it. She makes me laugh and is by far the goofiest of any of our kids...even though she is the most shy. Jack is just Jack. He's so much like Korey and so much like me. He loves to play by himself, as long as he's by someone, and wants so badly to be an army guy when he grows up. He's continually looking for a new hunting spot, wherever we go, and probably misses his big sister more than any of us! <br />
I love that my little 3 love to be together, but I'm just incredibly excited that they are becoming a bit more independent and loving the individual attention. Yesterday I took just Macy to pick up hailey -she was pretty excited and kept saying "I so special today, momma" :) <br />
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We did storytime today at the library and I couldn't believe how cute they were or how well they listened!! Elli had no interest in anything but sitting on my lap and Macy loved it all!! She even did the hand motions to the songs! Jack answered all the questions and was generally pretty outgoing! I loved it!! It was the first time I've seen any of them in a situation like that. I was so proud of my little Macy for acting so grown up. (that's her between Jack and her sweet little friend, Taylor) <br />
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I think we all might be fitting into our new routine without our biggest girl better and better each day!!Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-63228301675779942162014-09-14T14:11:00.001-05:002014-09-16T07:25:16.976-05:00A time of change...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnjfx_Hoz3TNERmyLAhwwHPVg-dGp-LwCHm0gv_UYbucI6tMFIK9C39BzNFpK6NDnXsy18g2L1hcu-2KgOaFqjl1nQStfNne4BiI-8JJanA5fAxFLfi0hI5LmtqR6MN0_scAuEzTnMwzn/s640/blogger-image--1133039313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnjfx_Hoz3TNERmyLAhwwHPVg-dGp-LwCHm0gv_UYbucI6tMFIK9C39BzNFpK6NDnXsy18g2L1hcu-2KgOaFqjl1nQStfNne4BiI-8JJanA5fAxFLfi0hI5LmtqR6MN0_scAuEzTnMwzn/s640/blogger-image--1133039313.jpg"></a></div>It seems like the fall is always a time of big changes...the changing of weather & the leaves just sort of seem like the outward, most obvious show of what seems to be taking place in our little home and in my heart. I've been a bit absent on here because sometimes change is hard. There's usually the dying off of something and that's not always painless or easy. This year it's been particularly hard to get back on the swing of things; to transition back to school and rules and wake up times. Summer was so beautiful and so fun. Just a blessed time of running and freedom for all of us. Korey barely worked any overtime, so it was sweet to have him home. But, like all beautiful mountaintop experiences, it's a bit hard to leave that and go back. Jackson turned 4. Hailey started kindergarten (all day. every day). Korey started working long days and we were hit with a few overnight storms. It was a big fat dose of reality- all at once. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tdCj58nsEyvNRrBhtuHcnOzx8tcNfZP-tVuwQg2TKZJ9Kkvab1fGkkhdQxwamG024u_WJxQE28o8BQoJQDI2D56f0_61H6ru7Fy_Dhu8yVxtaebE8t-v-Ds42cfLI9roWiYd3cA9jEJZ/s640/blogger-image--772212572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tdCj58nsEyvNRrBhtuHcnOzx8tcNfZP-tVuwQg2TKZJ9Kkvab1fGkkhdQxwamG024u_WJxQE28o8BQoJQDI2D56f0_61H6ru7Fy_Dhu8yVxtaebE8t-v-Ds42cfLI9roWiYd3cA9jEJZ/s640/blogger-image--772212572.jpg"></a></div>Honestly, I struggled. I'm still struggling a bit. I miss my big girl. She adds such joy, laughter and excitement to our house. There's a noticeable difference without our precious ring leader to guide us all. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJmjxFEu0wppRXSLOz-9uvknXuj9nB4YF1mfjMj_f29WZu1AQOI1oAByXUIM7dqUGl8mic5Fbq-0_wN_3myEoFW-Z0duHJCEFK3WL6U9RSXXO0vzhP4DW1pAuSvQJQfsSJLqCcGOvC9im/s640/blogger-image--186493793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJmjxFEu0wppRXSLOz-9uvknXuj9nB4YF1mfjMj_f29WZu1AQOI1oAByXUIM7dqUGl8mic5Fbq-0_wN_3myEoFW-Z0duHJCEFK3WL6U9RSXXO0vzhP4DW1pAuSvQJQfsSJLqCcGOvC9im/s640/blogger-image--186493793.jpg"></a></div>My little boy is becoming more and more like his daddy- which I LOVE, but it makes me miss the sweet little baby boy more and more. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f_KKVDGUs7cjQcUiEtMn6-TRI37npI1Kow-eEM196oGW3K2iIZUlA6eLw0IMJr_i2KlnCrNhzGFu3cQqVTAtABbx0KufJ7W0nPns4EQKnxh-r4MMe5Sb8SAW68aLlOjUapOu7idg3jmE/s640/blogger-image--1230844120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f_KKVDGUs7cjQcUiEtMn6-TRI37npI1Kow-eEM196oGW3K2iIZUlA6eLw0IMJr_i2KlnCrNhzGFu3cQqVTAtABbx0KufJ7W0nPns4EQKnxh-r4MMe5Sb8SAW68aLlOjUapOu7idg3jmE/s640/blogger-image--1230844120.jpg"></a></div></div><div>And, It's hard to be a mom doing it alone for days at a time. It's hard not to feel lonely- not to mention just plain tired, when your best friend is gone.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmgh562O2S-xTVdg_o4S1SZCGg61mzLtPB8QfLUc89ec3HjbcrAQJ4nXK6SWQqkE0YKYFdKBbltN19icHEsBJYXY-jyIPoVk6L2nQaTdhyaJ9-tFeNjnaXdMqGd8NUe7syPTquVGs4bNS/s640/blogger-image-1432402782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmgh562O2S-xTVdg_o4S1SZCGg61mzLtPB8QfLUc89ec3HjbcrAQJ4nXK6SWQqkE0YKYFdKBbltN19icHEsBJYXY-jyIPoVk6L2nQaTdhyaJ9-tFeNjnaXdMqGd8NUe7syPTquVGs4bNS/s640/blogger-image-1432402782.jpg"></a></div><div>But, I'm so thankful that along with the hardness of change there is a beauty to be found in the sweet reminder of new things taking place of the old. Just how the fall comes to make way for winter and spring- we have to welcome in change to reap the sweet rewards that it brings.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv3QeJNSystTcB4tyH1lbHxCficPhAXwrs14PbtAq8U-fMPXGCDi_1zMJna6vy7DwYEZUN3bV1RC1hIy3XISU9xf0dyCFUKmzGApBVfYccAg5v6sMF6IOc-jxyDbaXLljbJIFwoQDQvPw/s640/blogger-image-785681817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv3QeJNSystTcB4tyH1lbHxCficPhAXwrs14PbtAq8U-fMPXGCDi_1zMJna6vy7DwYEZUN3bV1RC1hIy3XISU9xf0dyCFUKmzGApBVfYccAg5v6sMF6IOc-jxyDbaXLljbJIFwoQDQvPw/s640/blogger-image-785681817.jpg"></a></div></div><div> We started up our Wednesday night ministries at church and I get to teach the kindergarten class. I'm beyond excited to see my girl in action, to learn verses with her and to guide her and her sweet friends in their relationships with Jesus. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5gPJwc8pavKmG2L5Y55lCteRDaNsUMmXyayMyJG5dAzF0NsTARvPG9DHgW2qjmfYKxaKFFD4b8l92TtFPxKwGye2t9wHcorF1xAaUapIknIWb618qy34knIowSXRtvfRC9L-XjNF56Sx/s640/blogger-image--1504532324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5gPJwc8pavKmG2L5Y55lCteRDaNsUMmXyayMyJG5dAzF0NsTARvPG9DHgW2qjmfYKxaKFFD4b8l92TtFPxKwGye2t9wHcorF1xAaUapIknIWb618qy34knIowSXRtvfRC9L-XjNF56Sx/s640/blogger-image--1504532324.jpg"></a></div></div><div>My big boy has been really stepping up and taking charge of his little sisters. It's been fun to watch the 3 of them bond...we've been calling them our pack of hyenas :) and they are pretty much a tight little pack. I love seeing that. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxxx2KFPrRHbx4tZ_Wco2WGrkubtLyUcv87qH7b8g3dwViQRqtCtcaNBVlag06JdFH573Sk4N09J-Od4TqXlXMARLnu038LPSRScPaZpB_OCPWdHt7jCXY_zLt2vfimimIA80mfJC_nYW/s640/blogger-image-35509845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxxx2KFPrRHbx4tZ_Wco2WGrkubtLyUcv87qH7b8g3dwViQRqtCtcaNBVlag06JdFH573Sk4N09J-Od4TqXlXMARLnu038LPSRScPaZpB_OCPWdHt7jCXY_zLt2vfimimIA80mfJC_nYW/s640/blogger-image-35509845.jpg"></a></div></div><div>The twins have been getting cuter and cuter the older and more verbal they get. Today they were sitting by each other on the floor and Macy said "I love you" to elli, to which she responded "I love you. I really do" and put her arm on her shoulder. It was just a sweet moment that does a mommy's heart good to witness!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_Lv2ZFhXYJgFocg2i0UqA8bwHPmMULnbj-3VVmctOHLJAjaDGhsxHfeJLDnQvrpcJGl_6vLa4aX8cIHw9cUIqWou8JmBKabFRBnB3_ZFEGGqEkIu5IgX5Fa0qtS11e7SgmdNKnf4-tyg/s640/blogger-image--1693290491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_Lv2ZFhXYJgFocg2i0UqA8bwHPmMULnbj-3VVmctOHLJAjaDGhsxHfeJLDnQvrpcJGl_6vLa4aX8cIHw9cUIqWou8JmBKabFRBnB3_ZFEGGqEkIu5IgX5Fa0qtS11e7SgmdNKnf4-tyg/s640/blogger-image--1693290491.jpg"></a>And...probably the biggest blessing of all has been that I set up my sewing machine again. I haven't sewn in years and it just felt good to get it out and make a little burp cloth and hem up some pants (it's truly the little things that make me happy) :) </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm looking forward to the rest of this fall and some of the fun changes that will be in store for us...I guess change can be exciting and fun! </div></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-31396111387823295082014-08-13T14:26:00.001-05:002014-08-13T14:26:06.585-05:00bunny the butterfly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwcQK-dUPRf1Pj9ZB0XI3N1JWyRcHGSyWEeCTbbz90TWjf_SKczJU8zEqpFJq8oryTXzWgZeAiekgq6f-NTQ58MuWFv_bKVmf4yeKPBo0RaeLvzghLYToslV1HU_UlSYqp_JwuPus614C/s1600/collage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwcQK-dUPRf1Pj9ZB0XI3N1JWyRcHGSyWEeCTbbz90TWjf_SKczJU8zEqpFJq8oryTXzWgZeAiekgq6f-NTQ58MuWFv_bKVmf4yeKPBo0RaeLvzghLYToslV1HU_UlSYqp_JwuPus614C/s1600/collage1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>A few weeks ago Hailey found a very big and beautiful caterpillar and took it home and put it in a jar...not many animals that get put in jars survive our house, but apparently this caterpillar was different. Against all odds it created the most beautiful green sparkly chrysalis (no joke, I thought hailey had put sparkles on it). It soon got named "bunny" and every single day was checked on to make sure it hadn't become a butterfly overnight! Well, last night I noticed that "bunny" had emerged from the chrysalis and was starting to flap her wings. And this morning it was time to let bunny go. It was time to let her spread her wings and fly away. </div>
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Hailey was the proudest little butterfly mom. She carried it outside, she rescued it from the kitties and she gently tucked it up into a lilac bush, then she sat down to watch and wait for it to fly away. Well...bunny either needed more time, or more sunshine or the audience wasn't to her liking, because she never did more than flap her wings. Regardless of how much Hailey coaxed and cheered and encouraged her that butterfly had no intention of leaving her safe haven and we had to leave for swimming lessons. As soon as we got home all the kids piled out of the car to check on bunny in the bush, only to find it empty and bunny nowhere to be found. Hailey immediately started jumping up and down and cheering for her little one who had learned to fly, but the cheers soon turned to tears as she realized that bunny wasn't going to come back and live in the jar on her dresser anymore. </div>
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It made me think of being a mommy...</div>
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yesterday Jack learned how to ride a 2 wheeler. I was so proud of him. I was jumping up and down and cheering. But, as I watched him ride down the driveway I had to fight back the tears, because my little boy learned how to ride on his own, but he rode away from me and it reminded me that there's going to come a day when he rides off for good. A day when he doesn't stop and turn around and wait for me to cheer him on before going again.</div>
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In the bible study I'm doing right now, Lysa shared the verse <br />"Teach us to number our days carefully, so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts." (Ps.90:12)</div>
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and it keeps coming back to my mind. There's only so much time I get with my kiddos and I want to take care to not squander those days and hours that I get. </div>
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Today we are playing with caterpillars and butterflies and learning to ride 2 wheelers and use the potty. But, in the blink of an eye these days are going to be gone. As hard as they are. As exhausted as I get. As overwhelming as the demands of 4 little ones can be...I want to look at my days with the wisdom of a woman who knows it will come to an end and cherishes the little moments (and the big ones) for just that reason.</div>
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Already I'm having to "look forward" to Hailey starting kindergarten. As excited for her as I am and as much as we are all looking forward to the welcome "relief" from the busyness of the summer that the fall brings- it's hard to imagine my baby being gone all day every day and only getting the weekends to play and just "be" together. It's scary to surrender your baby to God's care and let her walk into the big ugly world. I know we don't have control or "care" of our children, anyways, and that none of us can even pretend that we can protect our children. But, it seems so much easier to keep them safe when they're within arms length. </div>
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I feel much like Hailey did about bunny...so excited and proud and like I wanna just cheer her on for being so big and grown up and "flying away" like such a big girl, but at the same time I want to just let the tears flow at the thought of my baby spending her day without me. </div>
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Ahhh...being a mommy is so tough and so contradictory. </div>
<br />Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-41520810555730651952014-08-01T14:25:00.000-05:002014-08-01T14:25:54.966-05:00Happy twins day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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The littlest girls in our house have been in "super cute" mode lately. I find myself more and more in awe of them. They have such a cool and unique relationship. They are so close- best friends, in fact. But, at the same time they will fight and wrestle like no girls I've ever seen!<br />
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In the last few weeks they have started talking in sentences and it's been absolutely precious to hear them yell, "Macy where are you?" Or "elli- belle, come here"! Or say, "I love you, elli- belle" </div>
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I would never have said I wanted twins...I really never did. I always thought they'd be a bit overwhelming :) but, now that I'm a mommy to these two I'd wish twins on anyone! They're just so much fun! And, if the amount of cuteness and fun wasn't enough reason to love these two...their bond and relationship is truly awe inspiring! They love to hold hands, give random hugs and fight with one another- sometimes all at the same time :) I just love how close they are...how there's really no "personal space" when it comes to them. I love how they hit and scream at one another one minute and are rollIng on the floor laughing the next. They share food and cups. They share beds and pillows. They share clothes and toothbrushes...even nuks :) </div>
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I truly believe that God blessed my life when He made me the mommy to these two girlies. I'm so thankful I'm not the woman I was before I had them...although I do miss my sanity, my brain, and my pre-twin body a bit...I really don't miss much else!</div>
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I love how these girls taught me to slow down, to savor life, to laugh and giggle with abandon, to throw caution to the wind and just "jump" feet first at whatever life has to throw at me. These two are awesome like that. They have absolutely no fear...not even when they should! I caught them taking turns jumping off of the top bunk and onto the one below about a week ago and this morning I caught them jumping off of the tire swing while the other one pushed it! (at least I know I have a heart that is working well, because there's not much that these two haven't tried and there have been more times than I can count that my heart has lept into my throat and I've said the "God protect them" prayer as I ran) </div>
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I pray that as my little twinnies grow that they will always forgive and laugh as quickly; that they will remain best friends and loose the worst enemy status. I pray that they will continue to bring about growth and change in me (I'm pretty certain that ones a given) :) and that they will draw close to the one who promises to stick closer than even a twin sister- Jesus! </div>
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Elli has been a bit scared the last few days and it's been so precious to tuck them into bed and say "goodnight. mommy loves you. daddy loves you. Hailey loves you. Jack loves, but most of all- who loves you??" and to hear them simultaneously yell as loud as they can "Jesus loves you" :) It melts my heart and I pray that someday it won't just be repeated words, but it will be words that spring from a deep knowledge of the soul that Jesus does truly love them both! </div>
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Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-77096564913910572462014-07-30T08:08:00.003-05:002014-07-30T08:08:47.415-05:00a little "break"<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRWQrkSQqg81iqCQ3oos9_CbiMC_b3WM9EL034saK1IWYDm89HW5AA3J2u8WrxaxqTia1Nm9fgtqntvxve21PN80OwHxyyGych_InxrNo_9vvaNdS0sTdhoLCvMUinbbmoPGdtobzM_Bp/s640/blogger-image--814897485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE0y0SkcfXt0mhFyTle-ZdhRkf_BXG3cRFX6vpxQ2zB_gK7hoIOvUg0SZx2aybiD-DYTtAyaCPmXCMeAMILfBZykptrlFYhppa3U2AsLGKS6K_pytiR4RPyW4W7-L5GHjBB5as7hXYJUv/s640/blogger-image-25681803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE0y0SkcfXt0mhFyTle-ZdhRkf_BXG3cRFX6vpxQ2zB_gK7hoIOvUg0SZx2aybiD-DYTtAyaCPmXCMeAMILfBZykptrlFYhppa3U2AsLGKS6K_pytiR4RPyW4W7-L5GHjBB5as7hXYJUv/s640/blogger-image-25681803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>It's been a bit crazy and chaotic around here, lately! We've been running a lot and doing a lot...so it's been a welcome relief to take a step back, relax a little and stay home!! </div>
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First though, we celebrated my grandma's 90th birthday!! I love this lady like nothing else and it was sweet to be able to celebrate her! </div>
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Since my sister and our favorite baby boy were in town, they came and stayed with us for a night! We ALL love baby Evan. There's not much sweeter than snuggling my kiddos on the porch in the morning...but, snuggling with Evan and Macy was way sweeter! The best part- she held onto his little hand! </div>
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Hailey LOVES to help with Evan. She wants so badly to be a babysitter or a mommy someday...it's so cute! In the car yesterday she prayed that God would give her 5 babies! :) I sure hope he answers that prayer for her!</div>
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we went on a little walk with Felicia and Evan and found a teepee at the school forest. It was pretty cool and the kids had a great time playing in it! (they were playing Pocahontas...go figure that Hailey figured out how to play "princess" even at the school forest) :)</div>
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Sometimes I think a momma's heart just needs a little break from the chaos and busyness of summer and I'm so thankful that this week has provided it! It definitely has been a sweet treat and a balm for my weary little soul :)</div>
Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-90671046796098589252014-07-24T07:23:00.000-05:002014-07-24T07:33:42.244-05:00Perfectly loved!this morning as I survey my house, I see:<br>
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3 laundry baskets full of clean, unfolded clothes,<br>
an overflowing basket of dirty clothes<br>
the leftovers of last nights bedtime snack smeared on the table<br>
half empty bottles of water sitting on the counter<br>
beach towels on the backs of every chair in the dining room<br>
still wet swimming suits lining the railing on the deck<br>
an empty box for legos...no clue where the legos even are<br>
random shoes perched precariously on the edge of the coffee table<br>
throw pillows and blankets strewn about the living room<br>
our little prayer sticks dumped out and hiding under the dining room table<br>
dirt sticking to the bottoms of my feet, because the floor hasn't been swept lately<br>
toilets that are in need of some serious attention from cleaning agents<br>
and <br>
a sink full of dirty dishes that I just didn't get to before bed...<br>
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all of it seems so overwhelming...all of it speaks to me and says "you're a failure". <br>
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but, what's even worse is that all of it is still sitting there because last night was a rough night putting the kids to bed. <br>
we went swimming and got home a bit late. the kids were hungry so I rushed them through a snack (at which point they were already well beyond tired) and tried to herd them off to bed...naturally they resisted. needless to say, it all culminated with a momma in tears and 3 of her 4 kiddos in tears as well. (thank God for Elli, who just seems un-phased by it all and was content to lay in her bed singing and playing with her kitty doll while the world fell apart)<br>
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I had given the last bit of myself and could not seem to find any bit left to give...that speaks to me and says "you're a failure." <br>
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it's so easy to feel overwhelmed and in need of a break as a momma. it's especially easy when life seems to be going so well and then "bam" out of nowhere a bad day, week, month strikes. it's so easy to blame myself. to immediately go into "bad mom" mode and feel down and like a failure.<br>
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it's not always so easy to go to the source of my strength and get myself a little "fill up" when I feel like a failure. <br>
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In the bible study I'm doing (am I messing up my kids, by Lysa Terkeurst), she talks about how much we are loved by God. I was so struck by a verse that we've probably all read over and over again and one that I know I've sang as a kid-<br>
1 John 3:1a <br>
Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us. That we should be called children of God.<br>
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It's so refreshing, so encouraging, so uplifting for my spirit to read that this morning. To be encouraged in the fact that I may look like a failure. I may feel like a failure. I may even be a failure, in my own eyes, but that's not what God sees.<br>
I am a beloved child of God. I was worth dying for- even in that terrible moment when my kids were crying, because I was harsh with them- Jesus saw me as worth dying a terrible death for. and not only worth dying for- worth adopting into His very own family. My dear friend just adopted her third baby and to see the amount of love and joy she has for that child- immediately upon birth is just a beautiful reminder of how I am viewed by God. I am His daughter- a daughter of the King. And as much as I love these precious ones- God loves me more- with a more perfect love!<br>
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I thank you, God, for your righteousness that covers me. I know how sinful, how ugly and how hard my own heart is- but you don't dwell on that, because Jesus covers me. Jesus' love is what keeps me going. The fact that He loved me perfectly in spite of my sin is awe inspiring. I am perfectly loved by you. You over me with Your precious and perfect sinless self, so that I can be defined as a child of God- not as an un-worthy, weary, beat up sinner! <div><br></div><div>And...here's to also praying I can sneak in some of this today :) <br>
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</div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-35396192341055784752014-07-16T07:50:00.000-05:002014-07-16T08:31:13.203-05:00Motherhood is tough<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u0k3IVdjMxWB4ZXHAnbRGtXSLF5szvSQIeZ4S7cSjU6mp90l8MRp3kMfMztJAJkp3qUW12io7uGHXX2OgmStzuIEcQS3K7iNSP3MqmCGfApL5klenqde8zDNV6dqhRmXw21-bxCfMchn/s1600/blogger-image-59810036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u0k3IVdjMxWB4ZXHAnbRGtXSLF5szvSQIeZ4S7cSjU6mp90l8MRp3kMfMztJAJkp3qUW12io7uGHXX2OgmStzuIEcQS3K7iNSP3MqmCGfApL5klenqde8zDNV6dqhRmXw21-bxCfMchn/s640/blogger-image-59810036.jpg"></a>This has been a really great summer. We have been having a lot of fun. We have laughed a lot and played a lot. But, this summer has also reminded me just how tough motherhood can be. It's a tough job to be "in charge" of four little hearts. To be the one to train, encourage and discipline 4 little people. It's so easy to feel like I am failing- every. single. day. I loose my temper. I fall apart. I cry over things that don't matter. I get upset when no one seems to be listening. I don't always serve my family graciously and cheerfully. I get frustrated about the endless piles of laundry and the massive amounts of dirt and sand the floors seem to collect every day. Sometimes I say yes to things without thinking them through and my kids end up with Minnie mouse, kitty and dragon "tattoos" all over their legs. </div>
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(on a side note...Hailey is becoming quite the little artist, isn't she?! I just wish she would use a different canvas than her sibling's bodies) :)</div>
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There are so many things to make me feel like a bad mom. So many times I fail and fall short of the ideal mom I've created in my head. </div>
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But, there is one thing that I'm learning this summer...and that is that I don't need to be defined by my "bad" moments or my "good" moments. I am defined by God. I am a perfect and beautiful creation. I'm doing an online bible study called "am I messing up my kids" by lysa terkeurst (amazing book, by the way) and one of the verses we had for homework yesterday was:</div>
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Psalm 100:3 says, "Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who made us, and not we are ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture" </div>
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I've found that to be so comforting and a confidence booster on the not so good days. And such a great reminder to not become prideful on the "good" days. </div>
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God made me. He created my unique personality. He created this wild and crazy life for me; I didn't create it myself. Anything good in me- is because of Christ working in my life. Anything "bad" in me, I can trust that God will work out and use for good for me and for my kiddos.</div>
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I don't always feel like the best mom for my kids. I don't always have confidence in my parenting ability. But, I can have confidence in God. I can rest in the truth of the fact that God doesn't make mistakes. It wasn't a mistake that I had 4 kids in 2 1/2 years. It wasn't a mistake to God that I had twins, when I thought I was having just one baby. Nothing in my life is a mistake or a surprise to God. And today (and the rest of this summer) I will be resting in that and hopefully enjoying more moments with my kiddos- knowing that when I do mess up and screw up, I can ask for forgiveness and move on- knowing that God can use even my screw ups for His glory! </div>
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Just like he can save these poor little kitties from all the love and cuddles that Macy can dole out :) </div>
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<br>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-84717179888873209852014-07-03T14:26:00.000-05:002014-07-03T14:26:52.253-05:00the beginnings of something fun...I'm probably not the first mom to relish in the excitement that summer can bring. I'm most certainly not the first mom to look forward to sunny days and playing outside...but, I may be the first mom who can finally say THIS SUMMER STUFF IS FUN! I seriously find myself marveling at the fact that this summer has been really, really fun! We've laughed a lot, we've played a lot, we've had a few little colds here and there, we've had some crabby days...but, overall we have been having so much fun that I can hardly believe it.<br />
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Maybe it's because the last 3 summers have been really, really, really hard. Maybe it's because my youngest kids are 2 1/2, so I only have one little one in diapers and I'm finally getting out of the "baby stage" with my kids and entering the little kid stage. Maybe it's because the last winter was such a long, dark, cold, depressing one. Maybe it's because we've done a lot more fun stuff. Maybe it's the fact that God has been working on my heart and that so far it's been a summer full of grace and forgiveness and sweet moments and moving on after blow ups. Maybe I'm learning to give grace to myself, to my kids and to my friends. Maybe it's that instead of setting the timer and spending 20 min with God and the rest of "rest time" cleaning up, I've been spending 20 minutes cleaning up and the rest of my hour or so worshipping, reading and spending time with God. Maybe I'm more content this year. Maybe I'm learning to embrace the moments and the mess and the dirty rings around the toilet and bathtubs. It could be any one of those things...or quite possibly all of them together. </div>
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Whatever it is I am so incredibly thankful. I feel so blessed to be able to enjoy even the simplest of moments without feeling the rush of overwhelmed anxiety. I feel so blessed to enjoy the smiles and the giggles and the laughs of my kids without doubt and fear and worry creeping up. I feel incredibly blessed to just sit and laugh with my kids- to go on bike rides and to play outside- to push them on the swings and simply watch them ride their bikes- to wash the dishes and watch them all outside playing on the swingset- to clean up the living room and fold laundry to the sound of their giggly little chatter outside. </div>
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I am so thankful for God not giving up on me, for continuing to work in my heart to bring me to the place where I can rest in the shadow of His might wings. I praise Him, because I know that there's nothing in me that could bring me to this place. I know what my heart is capable of and I know that it's not even close to letting go, relaxing and enjoying life. I've always been a "do-er" a worker and someone who felt like she needed to earn God's good favor and I can't even begin to describe to you how amazing and freeing it feels to be letting some of that go. (I can almost guarantee I'll have the worst day ever tomorrow and I'll be freaking out about everything...that's just how it always seems to work...I'm still a work in progress...but, as slow as the steps may be at times- at least I am making some progress) :)<br />
To feel confident in God's love and confident in the fact that He promises to and will supply all that I need for parenting these littles- has given me so much more freedom to be myself, to be who God created ME to be. I'll never be super organized, I'll never have a spotless house or a super routine. I'll most likely never have super clean, pressed and properly dressed kiddos-(they may even be sporting Minnie mouse tattoos on their foreheads as I write this and just this past weekend I took my youngest to the Mall of America in her pajamas and thought nothing of it). I'm sure I'll still forget something (or everything important) when I go somewhere- that's just how I roll. I'll never be a super consistent disciplinarian type mom whose kids jump when I snap my fingers or give them the evil eye- I'm just not that disciplined or consistent with my own life. I'd much rather throw stuff away than organize it (no kidding- my son has nightmares about me throwing his stuff away...). I don't love or thrive in a messy house, but I'm able to function in it, for a while, and I'd much rather have it be messy than stress myself, my kids and/or my husband out to keep it in tip-top shape...and I'd much rather spend the day puttering around in the yard, weeding the garden or pushing the kids on the swing than vacuuming or cleaning toilets (who wouldn't, right?!) I love teaching my kids to be independent, even if that means they choose crazy outfits, put their shoes on the wrong feet, get into a bit more trouble or it takes 5 minutes longer to get out the door. I've been known to feed my kids ice cream for supper and use movies as a babysitter so I could quick clean up. I pretty much never had much of a brain, but now that I have 4 kids I don't have much of one at all- I think the lack of sleep and continually trying to keep track of everyone has basically fried it! To be able to work on being kind, loving and forgiving with my kids, has been way more fun than constantly redirecting and correcting behavior. <br />
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It's been fun to be able to relax a little bit, to let myself be me, this summer. To get back to the spontaneous, spur of the moment girl that I used to be. To get some of my energy back, to feel a little bit less like I'm drowning every single day has just been an amazing blessing- thank you, Jesus. <br />
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Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-17994234149527721382014-06-24T07:38:00.001-05:002014-06-24T13:29:53.532-05:00A little scare<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Elli scared her mom and dad pretty bad yesterday. What started out as a simple rash in the morning, slowly spread to her whole body and took over her face. </div>
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It may seem like no big deal, but since I know what it's like to have an allergy and feel your throat closing up I was petrified. I didn't know I could get to the ER that fast from our house. </div>
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God was really watching out for our baby and sent me a precious friend that suggested I check on elli, during her nap, just to be safe. I've never been so grateful for a piece of friendly advice before! This is what I saw when I went to check on her:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZ27CJ2x2hyZvJ_iRaM3P77tXQe46PraLycjhgT5JrA8hSZQm3vzi8NnrGn-JXJauA869eZfbFf6UNIxf1GcDPO6L0AI11LNJgblyOW3KoBlptqtx_ryLE4J9MXT2H40Hg8LchrO-hYct/s640/blogger-image-72384332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZ27CJ2x2hyZvJ_iRaM3P77tXQe46PraLycjhgT5JrA8hSZQm3vzi8NnrGn-JXJauA869eZfbFf6UNIxf1GcDPO6L0AI11LNJgblyOW3KoBlptqtx_ryLE4J9MXT2H40Hg8LchrO-hYct/s640/blogger-image-72384332.jpg" /></a>I immediately woke her up and started packing to go. Thankfully the same friend was over and watched the kids so I could just take her and go. I'm so thankful we got to the doctor when we did. The whole way there she just listlessly laid in her car seat and scratched at her throat. when we saw the <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">doc he said her breathing was fine, but she had hives on her tongue and throat, so the outcome could have been different. Praise God, that about 10 minutes after she was given medicine she was back to her spunky self and the swelling was starting to go down. By the time we picked up the prescriptions and got home her face was back to it's normal color and she was totally working the system for more Popsicles and a cookie. :) I was just happy to see her being spunky and looking less puffy, so she got Popsicles and a cookie! :) I have friends battling way bigger problems, with their kiddos and I know this is a simple and easy to fix problem, but Korey and I both went to bed thanking God that our baby was ok and praising Him for sending a friend our way that day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It does my heart good to see her looking cute and a lot less puffy this morning!</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It was so precious to see the bond of my little twinnies yesterday- the first one elli asked for was Macy and leanne was amazed at how different Macy acted without elli and how she kept talking about her. There's just something sweet about their relationship. Makes me even more grateful that we don't have to raise one without the other- breaks my heart to think about it.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-74670808932844669302014-06-21T14:12:00.000-05:002014-06-21T14:12:00.021-05:00time marches on...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6-MXSN35JlB9j_GTD24E7WY1mUQrRj0gxELqECr1sKo4s-U6K1XOPUbKzPzfXBS75RKui8I_Ni46hQl2s5QV3KvtKfO1-O_trJEzc17OurmpBRlidVkqWlvHysDBve56GG81mAiFlMFL/s640/blogger-image-243187776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlJUHrluL8jZqHqh5mqNtjfoYZoEai3cYUHbSpcOB8k2E8yzbv9PTxIPh15nwUiswUDUQIlC0tlHYhn05j2R1rEoOTRP-7-CkIqzdErt4Zz2WRD1ULIXuGzfGpTJCCvtuhDFZ6GwmsXyD/s640/blogger-image-2080233538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlJUHrluL8jZqHqh5mqNtjfoYZoEai3cYUHbSpcOB8k2E8yzbv9PTxIPh15nwUiswUDUQIlC0tlHYhn05j2R1rEoOTRP-7-CkIqzdErt4Zz2WRD1ULIXuGzfGpTJCCvtuhDFZ6GwmsXyD/s640/blogger-image-2080233538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4OWuCz1alNjTclGaEKi3LdBfrIEf6RJ8UXuz1xHY3CyxyEgWb3GwSVGWlNJ7EPxxjHrIAmstCqo1K8FekTyY9Y_0cRm1lODsiS2m-uaAaJFOQ26jKhjR50Hkwrn4n1V1FDDb3f1HnWbL/s640/blogger-image-1753030829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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3 years ago our precious twins were a mere thought in our minds...something we stressed about, prayed about and begged God to take care of. And today- they are wild, crazy adventurous and totally not willing to take life sitting down! They may have taken their sweet time coming into the world, but they have been ready to play keep up since then. Yesterday, they hit a big milestone- they each got their own little bike! I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT! </div>
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honestly...make life stand still for just a minute or two, God. These girls are getting so big, so fast and I can hardly handle it! You should see Macy race around on her little bike. She acts like she's been riding her whole life- she's a complete natural. Elli struggles a bit more, but she's pretty good at it, too! Last summer I felt like I was marveling at how well Jack was riding his bike and the summer before Hailey was just learning how to peddle around...now Hailey is on two wheels, Jack is an old pro and my babies are keeping up! </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlJUHrluL8jZqHqh5mqNtjfoYZoEai3cYUHbSpcOB8k2E8yzbv9PTxIPh15nwUiswUDUQIlC0tlHYhn05j2R1rEoOTRP-7-CkIqzdErt4Zz2WRD1ULIXuGzfGpTJCCvtuhDFZ6GwmsXyD/s640/blogger-image-2080233538.jpg" /></div>
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two days ago both of the twins decided they wanted to ride bikes and fought over the one we had every waking moment...to the point that Macy fell and put her front teeth through the top of her lip, had blood pouring out of her mouth and still wanted to get back and ride!! Crazy kid! After that we went and searched on craigslist for the first available bike. thankfully it's pink and purple...unfortunately it has the loudest most annoying horn EVER known to man. It may go missing one of these days ;) </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6-MXSN35JlB9j_GTD24E7WY1mUQrRj0gxELqECr1sKo4s-U6K1XOPUbKzPzfXBS75RKui8I_Ni46hQl2s5QV3KvtKfO1-O_trJEzc17OurmpBRlidVkqWlvHysDBve56GG81mAiFlMFL/s640/blogger-image-243187776.jpg" /></div>
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our little biker gang- getting ready to hit the open road...aka...the driveway ;) </div>
Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-32572965075725282932014-06-20T14:04:00.001-05:002014-06-20T14:04:24.504-05:00More kitties?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87EntYJp6utT29ouvSXKX254VVbtZ-9LjHPMQZIFsnmmzepVq-Ia-jGdKrVrLMwzvHxTC064aYUy952c0QPhpmvg97K7NRo5LR5LtapoAIjndfmME3zDC2wp-KzXdebUEmftsgoW6TKcE/s640/blogger-image--208770399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87EntYJp6utT29ouvSXKX254VVbtZ-9LjHPMQZIFsnmmzepVq-Ia-jGdKrVrLMwzvHxTC064aYUy952c0QPhpmvg97K7NRo5LR5LtapoAIjndfmME3zDC2wp-KzXdebUEmftsgoW6TKcE/s640/blogger-image--208770399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>We brought home two adorable new kitties! Trucky and Minnie Mouse are their names :) both girls! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlDtzW6KT4URWFx26vLNL6Ehy100OsBylZX5hK6XFgZRnhGANj1MvFaPURJ4ZT9L-DP7fwdwcH2PdlkpBaYDiAJ8x2pchvjt84SkJiT9ohqphuFcNb9Uz29_JPyxjyaAntMysl-TexdmI/s640/blogger-image-1934582333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlDtzW6KT4URWFx26vLNL6Ehy100OsBylZX5hK6XFgZRnhGANj1MvFaPURJ4ZT9L-DP7fwdwcH2PdlkpBaYDiAJ8x2pchvjt84SkJiT9ohqphuFcNb9Uz29_JPyxjyaAntMysl-TexdmI/s640/blogger-image-1934582333.jpg" /></a></div>
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Korey accuses me of being a sucker...and leaving out Macy, and I will say that I'm a huge sucker :) but, Macy had her heart set on getting a pink kitty and since they didn't have one I wasn't about to make her pick one if she didn't want to! :) and...honestly hailey and jack are most excited about the kitties- Macy and elli are still a bit apprehensive- after getting clawed a time or two!</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87EntYJp6utT29ouvSXKX254VVbtZ-9LjHPMQZIFsnmmzepVq-Ia-jGdKrVrLMwzvHxTC064aYUy952c0QPhpmvg97K7NRo5LR5LtapoAIjndfmME3zDC2wp-KzXdebUEmftsgoW6TKcE/s640/blogger-image--208770399.jpg" /></div>
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I'm just praying my little heart out that they don't go missing on us...I'm not sure I can handle another round of little boy tears over his kitty!! </div>
Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598126625108502128.post-32249276319785863552014-06-15T16:15:00.000-05:002014-06-15T16:15:05.575-05:00A great dad!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJUvEbDzJ0ZbZX-tszghupUn_sPqjQGUgiGbYNzSIVN3nykKbdpWpbVoXCUNH-WrwNHOwh18kquV7yUojvUqs9bUbyBqLWT6rLs3ZWC7QhQLtqvRRlEyPyFma4v9DzbJxSDhm8DbJKkbd/s640/blogger-image-1465631795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJUvEbDzJ0ZbZX-tszghupUn_sPqjQGUgiGbYNzSIVN3nykKbdpWpbVoXCUNH-WrwNHOwh18kquV7yUojvUqs9bUbyBqLWT6rLs3ZWC7QhQLtqvRRlEyPyFma4v9DzbJxSDhm8DbJKkbd/s640/blogger-image-1465631795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXDvd8MzJ2Ln1ECDTD8S8G976is_j_YJIOitGyGZfn-W8P6OQKDY-H-tZGl2qV1q4apzAW4l3PuPQuUKsspLHwWX3btyKE64-ut7eBzIDWnXiRn084lvsUy4nuDM8M8lP1fTVDmbV0x-s/s640/blogger-image--151892136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXDvd8MzJ2Ln1ECDTD8S8G976is_j_YJIOitGyGZfn-W8P6OQKDY-H-tZGl2qV1q4apzAW4l3PuPQuUKsspLHwWX3btyKE64-ut7eBzIDWnXiRn084lvsUy4nuDM8M8lP1fTVDmbV0x-s/s640/blogger-image--151892136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwGQncP6-z7V0KEyqlw7tjjhsm-MUVpyR_192BX9u_aJaIsmRlBvDdSgNA68Z-nLY9O3wG1s2LIiHX2Bnu3eZRAW-Ypm9PGRkH3y3tCX7Xi1UjzItXjCRkNFs2n9Xs8Iz5rPV2eyamrE9/s640/blogger-image-1026242277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwGQncP6-z7V0KEyqlw7tjjhsm-MUVpyR_192BX9u_aJaIsmRlBvDdSgNA68Z-nLY9O3wG1s2LIiHX2Bnu3eZRAW-Ypm9PGRkH3y3tCX7Xi1UjzItXjCRkNFs2n9Xs8Iz5rPV2eyamrE9/s640/blogger-image-1026242277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIsffLcueM7FVmmkog-Nn4hbRvrUKIhNnQW_05kUzk27g4pkBE17eUEa1CoIhLOSTByQcYnFV1pf9YFPDMFpzVUL7bV8P0UwHF0edss2gkD6F2Y2djIjWk-v33xRpDeHUxm0W6jzPHU4T/s640/blogger-image--1541705938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIsffLcueM7FVmmkog-Nn4hbRvrUKIhNnQW_05kUzk27g4pkBE17eUEa1CoIhLOSTByQcYnFV1pf9YFPDMFpzVUL7bV8P0UwHF0edss2gkD6F2Y2djIjWk-v33xRpDeHUxm0W6jzPHU4T/s640/blogger-image--1541705938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's really no surprise that the man I married is a great Dad. </div>
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One of the reasons I married him was because he was so good with kids and wanted to have a big family. </div>
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What's surprising, though, is just how great of a Dad he's become! Before we had kids I may have had some ideas of what great Dad is, but seeing a great Dad in action, every single day, has given me a bit of a better idea of all that goes into being a great Dad! </div>
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Great Dad's sacrifice for their kiddos...they stay up late, they work hard, they give and they give...even if it means only making a special little tire swing to surprise their kids with when they wake up in the morning! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1dpy_bHO7YPwDpiSSEhxfJXZuayChUoGo9jo_sEIuS6qvV-fwELIfeswoRWnpTo3CvIppdqw5eIeaqSeb13QDARkBENDPeFOBWl02WFQtPNiaohJEr1sFLX0oYhzXMRuAcfZkkOSxRxz/s640/blogger-image-341711161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1dpy_bHO7YPwDpiSSEhxfJXZuayChUoGo9jo_sEIuS6qvV-fwELIfeswoRWnpTo3CvIppdqw5eIeaqSeb13QDARkBENDPeFOBWl02WFQtPNiaohJEr1sFLX0oYhzXMRuAcfZkkOSxRxz/s320/blogger-image-341711161.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Great Dad's don't just spend time with God, they teach their kids that time with God is important and invite them to join them in His search for Him. </div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIsffLcueM7FVmmkog-Nn4hbRvrUKIhNnQW_05kUzk27g4pkBE17eUEa1CoIhLOSTByQcYnFV1pf9YFPDMFpzVUL7bV8P0UwHF0edss2gkD6F2Y2djIjWk-v33xRpDeHUxm0W6jzPHU4T/s320/blogger-image--1541705938.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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Great Dad's give great haircuts and then make funny faces about them!</div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwGQncP6-z7V0KEyqlw7tjjhsm-MUVpyR_192BX9u_aJaIsmRlBvDdSgNA68Z-nLY9O3wG1s2LIiHX2Bnu3eZRAW-Ypm9PGRkH3y3tCX7Xi1UjzItXjCRkNFs2n9Xs8Iz5rPV2eyamrE9/s320/blogger-image-1026242277.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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Great Dad's take their sons to work with them and let them take risks...then, they bandage them up, hug and kiss their owies! </div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXDvd8MzJ2Ln1ECDTD8S8G976is_j_YJIOitGyGZfn-W8P6OQKDY-H-tZGl2qV1q4apzAW4l3PuPQuUKsspLHwWX3btyKE64-ut7eBzIDWnXiRn084lvsUy4nuDM8M8lP1fTVDmbV0x-s/s320/blogger-image--151892136.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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Great Dad's have a great sense of humor! They laugh ALOT and about ALOT of things...including father's day cards made out to "my bobby" :) </div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJUvEbDzJ0ZbZX-tszghupUn_sPqjQGUgiGbYNzSIVN3nykKbdpWpbVoXCUNH-WrwNHOwh18kquV7yUojvUqs9bUbyBqLWT6rLs3ZWC7QhQLtqvRRlEyPyFma4v9DzbJxSDhm8DbJKkbd/s320/blogger-image-1465631795.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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I was blessed to have a GREAT DAD growing up and now I'm incredibly blessed to watch a GREAT DAD in action! Thank you, Jesus!</div>
Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543433091827740536noreply@blogger.com1