Happy Fathers Day

So, I meant to tell the world that I love my husband for many reasons, but today I just want you to know what a great father he is. The List (in no particular order):

He reads to the kids

He bathes them at the end of the day when I have run dry of patience

He likes to play with them, like run around and get sweaty (I hate to get sweaty)

He makes a mean egg sandwhich when Mommy is not available to make dinner

He can change diapers, and does on occasion

He can be trusted to take care of all four little ones, by himself for an entire day

He teaches them about the love of God at every opportunity

He leaves them (even when he would rather stay) to go out and get the job done

He tells them Bible stories, and remembers all the details

He holds the baby during dinner so I can eat

He is a consistent disciplinarian even when it is easier to look the other way

He attends tea parties at our dining room table with the girls

He recognises and praises each child for his/her uniqueness

He goes on runs with Annalee

He antagonises Shelby to no end just to hear her say, “No, it’s Shel-BEE.”

He falls asleep nearly every night with Avery “tucking her in”

He has big dreams of teaching Reece about all things manly

Most of all, his my husband and their father

And that makes him perfect for us.

In My Dreams

And this, folks is what I dreamed I would always see as a mother. Self-entertainment in a beautifuly clean, sun-lit room. HA!

Cloud watching

Because everyone knows goggles are the perfect cloud-watching accessory

Cindy Lou-Who

Well, almost...

Birthday Fun

Shane was teaching Annalee a lesson in taxes, trying to swindle her out of 20% of her birthday money from Grandmommy. Annalee not falling for his shanagins...

Avery, well, what can I say?

The Big 5!

This cake was from her first party with Aunt Cherith. Lucky girl got three parties. What a month! Good thing we like cake.

Silly Shelby

The Many Faces of Reece

Tag, it's me.

I never do these little things, but I am breaking trend for this one...

24 questions about myself: #1. What’s your current obsession? weight loss

#2. If you could do any job in the world and know you’d be 100% successful, what would it be? Mommy, success to me would be living each day full of PATIENCE and JOY teaching my children the love of God

#3. What are you wearing today? Khaki shorts and a brown cotton shirt #4. Why is today special? Reece is sleeping on his own in the swing and I am not holding him, who-hoo #5. What would you like to learn to do? Play the guitar #6. What’s for dinner tonight?chicken tortillas

#7. What’s the last thing you bought? groceries #8. What are you listening to right now? Toot and Puddle on the TV

#9. What’s your most challenging goal? To lose 45 pounds in the next 7 mths

#10. What do you think about the person who tagged you? Sherri is an amazing lady with a consistent joyful spirit with strength beyond measure with many, many talents including: singing, floral designing, cooking, painting, and all things artsy. Oh yeah, I think she is good at some sort of sport, although I cannot remember, maybe volleyball, or something like that.

#11. If you could have your house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere, where would it be? Colorado Mountains

#12. What is your favorite vacation spot? Not sure, I think I should keep checking them out before I decide:)

#13. What would you like to have in your hands right now? Money to hire a housekeeper

#14. What would you like to get rid of? debt

#15. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Colorado to visit dear friends

#16. What super power would you like to possess? Not a clue

#17. What’s your favorite piece of clothing? My long green cotton dress that I can wear around the house or out on the town

#18. What is your dream job? Mommy

#20. What do you find annoying? Messes

#21. Describe your personal style. Classic, simple with a little whimsy (Ha, this is funny because I keep telling my sister that is what her photography style is, but apparently it is my own style)

#22. What is one of your secret skills? I have a great memory

#23. What are you most proud of? My husband. He really is amazing to me. His determination, strength, work ethic, passion, love for others, and leadership is unmatchable. He pushes through tough times with no sleep, a good attitude, and self sacrifice that would make most men crumble. He loves his family, His God and his calling more than any trial life throws at him and he will go to any length to stand up for those three things. He is my hero.

#24. What is your typical morning routine? The girls wake up about 7 and (should) go to the playroom while I feed Reece and get myself ready for the day. The girls eat breakfast at 8 while I clean the kitchen and start laundry. Then the girls play outside or in the playroom while I hold Reece and try to continue chores. Avery and Reece take a nap at 10 and the rest of us either do "school" or have quite time. Then is is lunch time!

How about you?

Earings

Five Years Old means... ears pierced. She was literally running to the store.

She is getting so big

Annalee will be attending Grace Prep School next fall, two days a week. It is a university model school where the parents partner with the teacher to combine both homeschooling and classroom learning experiences. Here she is trying on her uniform.

P.S. I will also be teaching 7th, 8th and 10th grade English at the school.

Girls update

Annalee is quite the lady, always trying to be a princess, ballerina, tea hostess, teacher or something very proper.

Shelby is searching for her own way to be both the little sister and the big sister. I work in small ways each day to allow her time alone with Avery so she can become a leader, too. Shelby and Avery have a very different relationship than Shelby and Annalee. They love more physicaly, wrestling often. They also fight a lot more than the other two. I think it comes down to the fact that Avery doesn't communicate very well yet and so there is a lot of screaming and grabbing, when there should be questions and sharing. We will get there. That is what I tell myself.

Then Annalee shows up and may or may not take too well not not being in charge:) The look on Shelby's face is priceless.

It has been a while

I am totally not falling behind in my blogging because I am overwhelmed by four children, trying to take care of a new house, running a business, planning lots of birthday parties and operating on very little sleep, nope, not me. I am however slacking in the posting department because my internet is HORRIBLE! So, I snuck a away for a few minutes and am sitting here at Panera. So lets see how many pics I can post before I have to run off again. I have 30 minutes.... of course, the picture uploader is not working the one night I have to run away to Panera. Sorry. Will try again later.