Summer 2010

LU


Camp Wabanna

Couples Get-away with Jon's prayer guys

A Friend's Fabulous 40th Bday Get-away!




Family Vacation with the Luebb's




















We ended the summer with a birthday bash weekend for my dad





Thanks for going down memory lane with me for our summer!

This kid LOVES it!

I LUUUUVVV Kindergarten!!!!!!

These were j's first words as he got into my car at the end of his first day.

I knew he would, but didn't know to what extent. He seriously can't wait to read and be a big kid. He actually is getting frustrated that he doesn't know how to read yet. I guess I should have been working on it with him. Oh Well!

I am really liking his school. And he even got the teacher I was hoping he would get.

Mom is doing good too. I was a little weepy on my drive home, but as the day went one I realized this is a new phase for me too! Who knows what the Lord has. I still have 2 at home, but it's amazing what taking 1 of the 3 out of the situation does to the sanity. Really, it doesn't matter which one. If there are 3 of them, they feed off of each other and it's a little more chaotic.

We'll see how his excitement does as the weeks go on. He's been real tired at the end of the day, but I know he'll adjust.

Big News!!!!

So, our eldest son graduated Pre-k. I can't believe I will have a kindergartner in the fall. We have decided to send him to a half day school, 5 days a week. I'm excited for him and I think he will love it. Last week I heard him tell M that he can't wait to learn how to read so he can read to her.



Our middle child, who is posing in the picture above, is now officially POTTY TRAINED!!!! Once again, I was reminded that they do things in their time. For her, it took me talking to her about not being able to do Day Camp at our church if she's not going on the potty. She's such a processor/thinker. I love it. She's like her dad in that way.



Now our youngest. All I can say is that she cracks me up. She is full of personality. M was her age when we had O. So, I feel like I kind of missed out on enjoying how fun she was at this age. I'm really trying to stop and take it all in this time around. In this picture above I had turned my back for 1 second (literally) and she climbed right in the tub. Her other favorite place is the dryer....

I was thinking this morning that I understand how you can love all your kids the same. Before I became a mom I always wondered how that would work. But, they each have a special place in my heart and have different things about their personalities that I love (and of course things that DRIVE ME CRAZY!!!).

She's 3 or 5!

If you ask M how old she is, she will put up 2 or 3 fingers and say 5. We had her party last week and she wanted, of course, a princess party. I will have to admit that I loved it. It was fun to plan and fun to see the girls all dressed up. I love my girlie girl! I wasn't much of a girlie girl growing up...more of a tom-boy. When ballet, tap, or gymnastics wasn't my thing, my mom says she finally gave in and let my dad put me in soccer. I think it's safe to say that I am more girl-i-fied now. I think my daughter has helped that! Ha! She wears skirts way more than me.

Her party was fun. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Princess Amelia showed up at the party to read the girls and story and do a craft with them. PRICELESS!

Princess Amelia with the birthday girl

M with her cousins


The knights!


M's little friend was a royal peacock!


Little princess

I know, I know

I have not blogged in sooo long. Well, I'm at the point now that I feel like closing it down because I never do it. But, then I'm reminded why I'm doing it...for the grandparents to see things about the kids, for me to "journal" my kids lives right now, and for ME to blow off some steam!!!! HA!

Some highlights:

• I'm tired right now - emotionally and physically....I'm potty training M. Now, it's actually going great, but even a great potty trainer is exhausting!!!!!

• O is a mess. It's fun to watch her become a little person. She loves, loves, loves her brother and sister.

• J is going great. He's been super supportive of M going on the potty! It's been cool to see

• My photo program is driving me crazy on my computer right now. I need to figure it out....one of the lame reasons why I haven't been posting
  

Well, my life right now is filled with a preschooler, toddler, and a baby. I'm just starting a bible study called "Freedom for Mothers" by Denise Glenn. So super good. It's exactly what I need. It's taken from John 15, where Jesus talks about him being the vine and we are the branches. I've come to admit over these last 5 years of motherhood, that I'm not very good at it. Now, I'm not having a pity party. I truly mean that I am not good at being a mom. Meaning, it's hard work and I fail daily. In my life I had been pretty good at most things. How do I say that without seeming arrogant? What I mean is, most things (before motherhood), came easy for me and I took on life pretty easy and laid back. But, motherhood????? Wow! When I had J, life turned upside down for me and it has continued to do that. Having 3 now is a whirl wind. But through it all, it has made me realize that I NEED Jesus. I am not good at this and it's a GOOD thing. I can't do this raising kids thing on my own. Not in any strength of mine for that matter!!! My love bucket needs to be filled with Jesus because I can't TRULY love unconditionally without him.

I share all this while battling through the decision of school for J in the fall. Up until this past year I thought it was a "no brainer" that he would be going to public school, five days a week. But the Lord has brought me through a process over the years of giving MY desires and wants over to him in that area. For those of you who have known me for a long time, I've never thought of myself as a homeschool mom. I can't even believe that I've just typed that word! But as we are raising kids, I am more and more challenged and amazed at what sponges they are! I'm also searching/asking God what my child needs right now. J is a pretty emotionally driven little guy. He has lots of energy and I'm constantly reminded how much he soaks in, listens to, etc. We are praying and seeking to see what this next journey of school will look like. It could change from year to year! I'm visiting schools to see what doors the Lord opens and closes. We'll see! Thanks for listening...whoever you are! :0)

Guess Who?

ME!

My son was looking at me sheepishly yesterday. And he preceeded to say, "you look like a rock star". LOL!

But, then continued to say that he didn't like my hair. Oh, the mind of a 5 year old!

Christmas Letter

Check out this to see our Christmas letter! Make sure you check out the video at the end.

Happy New Year!

So, the Christmas days have come and gone....so sad. I've got a little bit of the after Christmas blues...plus my hubby is gone for the week....now that's a double downer! Here are the highlights of Christmas and some highlights of life right now!

Christmas Eve at my parents is always fun. Yummy food and lots of tradition. We missed my bro and his family this year...all were sick :o(


So, I'm not big on matching the girls, but Christmas dresses are a must!


One of the traditions - an adult gets sucked in to dressing up as Santa. This year...Pop Pop! M doesn't talk much and she studies people. By the end she figured out who it was.

No, its not a real 4-wheeler! - I would be on it if it were!!!! One day folks, one day.

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit! We loved having them here and the kids had a blast seeing them.

Our freezing day at Stone Mountain! But, it was fun!

Other big news.....



No, I'm not pregnant.



O is officially walking! Yesterday, January 3rd was the day that she walked more than she crawled. She is so proud of herself!


And Jake is riding a bike without training wheels. Since he is pretty tall, he now looks like he is riding a mini bike. His legs are pedaling really fast...I guess it's time to get a new one. No picture. Sorry!