Just Some of Life

 Thursday night was girls night and it was so much fun!!! This is our little discipleship group (I guess you would call it) and we always have way too much fun when we're together.  We usually close whatever restaurant down because we can talk for hours and hours if we have escaped our responsibilities at home! Ha!  This night, we decided to drive to Birmingham and go to a fun restaurant there.  It was really yummy and we enjoyed every minute of our time together!   I'm so thankful for such wonderful friends!

I don't know about where you live, but here in West Alabama, spring has arrived and along with it this yucky stuff...

POLLEN...how I loathe thee!!!!  The yellow stuff is everywhere, but so far it actually doesn't seem quite as bad as it was last year so that is something I can be thankful for!  And the azaleas in our yard blooming make me pretty thankful for this time of year too:)!

We are enjoying afternoons spent outside riding bikes, walking, catching bugs, swinging, and even baseball has started!

This is what Ellie Kate did when I asked to take her picture...just keepin it real...

And this is what my formerly sweet, compliant, laid back Abigail does about 2,438 times a day now. 

 {She has definitely entered the terrible two stage!  However, despite the fits and whining and frustration, she is so fun and I love seeing the little person she is becoming.  I pray for patience a million times a day as I try to train her and disciple her (it's an overwhelming task).}

I have let Ellie Kate give up her nap.  It was becoming increasingly harder to get her to bed at night so she did quiet time in her room for awhile but now she just hangs with me.  I'm okay with it really.  While Abigail naps she plays good by herself, and gets to watch a show (or 2) and then sometimes we do something fun together.  Lately, she has been very excited about writing her letters and learning.  She is a very smart little girl (in my biased opinion) and I think she might be reading before her next birthday!   However, she does still get tired and sometimes I find she has fallen asleep. It's funny to see the places and positions she ends up in...

 {this was at my parents house}

I'm currently trying to gear up to potty train Abigail.  I think after how strong willed EK was when I potty trained her, I am just dreading doing it with Abs.  She is a totally different child and I think she is most definitely ready...but I just can't motivate myself to do it.  Samuel was really easy so I'm hoping Abigail will be too!  After my diapers run out (I have 3 jumbo packs left), that's it and we are going to buckle down and just do it.  Then, I will have no crib or no diapers in the house! Craziness!!!!

My Buddy and His "New" Room

 I haven't updated in awhile on my big boy so I figured one was in order.  If you just want to see his new room set up, you can skip all of this and scroll down for the pics:).  Samuel is most of the time a joy these days.  His diet continues to go well and seems to really help him.  We cheat sometimes since it's not a true allergy but more of a neurological reaction.  Overall, I am still so pleased that we have made such significant changes in his (and all of ours) diet and eating.  He is definitely the healthiest eater of us all though!  The biggest encouragement right now is the way he is doing in school...his behavior is so much improved, he has matured so much, and his academics are right where they need to be.  Retaining him to do First grade again has been the best decision.  He has truly flourished this year at school and we are so so so grateful. In fact, he got his first double perfect grades on spelling and dictation sentences a few weeks ago and has several perfect spelling tests in a row lately.  It was a true celebration and reward for hard work!  He also had 7 days in a row where he was on green (for good behavior)!

On the flip side, he really does still struggle with his attitude.  Samuel gets down very easily and he still sometimes really hates doing homework.   He also still has some struggles with following directions and staying on task.  It's so hard for us to know what's normal and what could be problems.  We struggle so much in how to best parent him.  Samuel needs so much praise and extra love, touch, encouragement, and motivation.  And yet, he disobeys a lot and doesn't listen a lot.  He also has a horrible attitude a lot.  We get so frustrated and often I find myself having to ask forgiveness from him for speaking sharply to him.  I grieve so much when I do that.  I grieve the years we lost and I sometimes even grieve the months after we got him because we were so focused on his health and getting his heart defect corrected (rightly so) that we really neglected figuring out how to heal his emotional and mental defects from being institutionalized for 3 years.  Parenting an adopted child with special needs has been the biggest challenge of my life but I am of course so grateful for it and for how it has reminded me over and over and over again that I am not in control and that God has Samuel's future in His hands and that's all that matters!  Not to mention, we're pretty glad Samuel is part of our family and wouldn't trade having him in our lives for anything!!!

In the last 2 years Samuel has pretty much resided in every extra bedroom (besides ours) at one time.  He is back to where he started when we moved in now:) and hopefully will stay here until we move out of this house (whenever that may be).  I used all the same stuff pretty much that was in this room before he switched but rearranged it a bit.  The only new thing I bought and made was a bulletin board. He made his bed up really good this morning so I figured it was a good day to take pics:)... 

 He LOVES the desk in his room.  It was not in here before and even though it was in the room he and EK shared, they didn't use it as a desk.  He is actually excited to do his homework now because he loves to go upstairs and work.   The bulletin board is just a normal one, but I covered it in brown burlap just for something a little cuter.  Jeff said that it was a boys room and I didn't need to do this, but of course I did anyway!  Ha!  I haven't decided if I'm going to let him pin things up or just tie up some jute string and then let him hang stuff from little clips.  I'm leaning towards that option. 

I got this old window when we lived in Hattiesburg for like $8 and it's been in the attic since we moved here.  Not sure why I never though to have it in one of their rooms before now:).  I have always loved it! 

 I mades these letter pictures when Samuel and EK shared a room, but I just changed out the E for a G and his middle name.  I asked Jeff to hang them and thought I had explained to have them side by side, but he hung them this way...so we'll go with it!

I spray painted the cheapo black frames from Walmart white and then added a brown burplap matte around the letter picture.  I really love these although the paint scrapes off very easily! 

 

Love these tins from Hobby Lobby that I've had for awhile.  Got them half off and a ton cheaper than the ones that sell at Pottery Barn. 

Congrats on making it through this long post:).  I hope to post some pics soon of the girls room even though it's not exactly how I want it!

Spring Break

While Jeff was in New York City on a mission trip with students, we spent time with my parents in Atlanta. I would much rather entertain my kids there than by myself at my house:)!  The kid have had a blast as usual especially since the weather has been decent besides one day.  Here are some pics of the kids playing in the sand pit...

Samuel built this structure...not sure what it is...but he is in his elements when at my parents house.  He wakes up and heads outside before he even eats breakfast.  He catches lizards, digs, plays in the sand, rides his big wheel, etc.  

Here are a few pics from my mom's iphone of Samuel and his lizards...

When it rained Tuesday, we went with Aunt Erin and my mom to the mall to ride the merry go round (as Ellie Kate calls it) and eat lunch.

So thankful for my parents and that when I come I get to sleep a little later and not have to do every single thing for the kids!

Blessings

One of my favorite singer/songwriters is a Christian artist named Laura Story.  She also happens to help lead worship at the church I grew up in outside of Atlanta, Georgia.  She writes out of what God has done in her life a lot of times.  Shortly after she got married, her husband got diagnosed with a brain tumor and although he has lived, he deals with significant disabilities and memory loss.  So, she has walked through a lot and one of her most recent songs is amazing.  I saw it on a blog this morning and thought it was appropriate to share here as well in light of what we are watching happening in Japan and what many of us go through in our journey of life.  It's not always easy to see or go through suffering.  The words are written out below the video.  I hope you will be blessed.  I can honestly say I truly agree with every word she wrote.  It has been my experience that the most amazing blessings in my own life have come through trials and sufferings and as Laura Story sings...they are His mercies in disguise...

Blessings

-Laura Story

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

As long as we have faith to believe

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know the pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy

What if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise

Show Us Your Life - BIRTHDAY PARTIES!

Throwing any sort of party is a love of mine...but I especially love throwing birthday parties for my kids!  I know some people think it's crazy to plan fun parties for 1, 2, 3, and even 4 year olds...but I just love planning them and making a special party for my special children.  I usually do the invitations myself and all the decorations myself as well.  Most of my parties are also either in the afternoon or morning so I do not serve an entire meal...just cupcakes, ice cream, finger foods, etc.

So, here are a few of my favorite parties I've done 

{click on the picture to be taken to the link for the party}

Samuel's Pirate Party (7 years old)

Samuel's Lego Party (8 years old)

Ellie Kate's Wild Thing Party (2 years old)

Ellie Kate's Lollipop Party (3 years old)

Ellie Kate's Princess Party (4 years old)

Abigail's Chick Fil A Cow Party (2 years old)

Bittersweet

During this season of life with young children, the days are sometimes long and frustrating...physically, emotional, and mentally exhausting.

Lately, it seems though that my kiddos are growing up WAY.TOO.FAST.  I stop during the day a lot of times and just think..."you have three kids...8 years, 4 years, and 2 years old."  How did I get here so fast?  I literally watch them periodically and try to freeze the memory in my mind because I know all too soon, they will be gone and grown up.  I'm trying to embrace every stage, every moment, every change that comes our way as we raise these 3 arrows. 

One day in our home, there will be no more squeals of laughter or toys littered across the floor, no more sippy cups filling my dishwasher or carseats in the minivan, no more homework or basketball games to attend, no more fights to break up or boo-boos to kiss away.  I sort of dread that day, as so much of who I am now is wrapped up in these three little ones under my care.  And yet, that day will come...sooner than I can even imagine I'm sure!

This weekend, I had to embrace a change that is bittersweet.  We transitioned Abigail to a big girl bed and took down her crib.  Moment of silence please:)...

bye bye baby bed

This is the first time in over 5 years without a crib up in our home.  It was something I longed for and dreamt about for so long and now it is disassembled and in the attic.  And yet, this symbolizes moving into the next stage of life for us.  We no longer have babies in the house.  We may not ever see a crib here again...and that's okay.  God has given me ever so much more than I could ever ask or imagine in my children.  To have made it this far is just amazing!  I look forward to this chapter of toddler to pre-school and school aged children and watching the amazing little people they are becoming!

My Abigail is growing up and changing almost daily.  She is a hoot and so precious to me!  She loves her big girl bed and sharing a room with her sister now.  I'll post more about their new rooms later!

Some of My Favorite Things

I know, I know....I've been a real blog slacker this week!  And I can't come up with anything more interesting right now than to share a few of my favorite things...

Mrs. Meyers stuff

(anything from hand soap or dish soap to cleaning spray)

I love the basil scent best!  It just smells so good and I love cleaning my kitchen with the countertop spray!  Plus, all the Mrs. Meyers stuff just looks prettier and cooler sitting out on my sink than say Palmolive or Dawn bottles:). 

Bed Bug Bumpers

Say goodbye to bulky, pesky, ugly, and expensive bed rails.  These things are great...you can make up the bed easily over them (they go under the sheets) and you can also travel really easily with these!

AmazonMom/Subsribe&Save

I've been using Amazon for my diaper and pull up orders and it's so easy and cheap!  I have to buy organic diapers for Abigail or else she breaks out so this is especially great for me!   Anyway, you can save 30% of the listed price of diapers and you get free 2 day shipping right to your front door.  You can cancel your subscription at anytime and you can enter in new dates any time.  I also use this to order a lot of Samuel's gluten free stuff since we don't have Whole Foods here in town.  And in fact, I just ordered 6 bottles of Mrs. Meyers hand soap through subscribe and save and got them for less than $3 a bottle (which is $2 cheaper than Whole Foods or other health food stores that sell them around here).  An added bonus is that the more you order through Amazon Mom and Subscribe and Save, you earn more months on Amazon Prime which gives you free 2 day shipping on so many other things on Amazon! 

TIGI Control Freak

So, I have super thick and super frizzy/unruly hair.  I have tried A LOT of products and this is by far my favorite one! I wait until TIGI stuff goes B1 or B2G1 free along with coupons from ULTA and stock up because I also like the shampoo and conditioner in this line. 

Dunkin' Donuts Coffee

I LOVE my coffee in the mornings more than ever!!! I have been in a routine the past several months of getting up around 6 am so that I have time alone to study my Bible, pray, journal, etc before the kids wake up.  I love waking up to my Dunkin Donuts coffee already brewing (on my timed coffee maker)  as this makes it so much easier to get going!

Okay, well that's about all I have time for this Friday evening.  Would love to know if any of you share a love for any of my favorite things:)!