Silent Auction/Spring Carnival

We took the kids to the annual SPCS Silent Auction/Spring Carnival. The big girls enjoyed playing all of the games and visiting with their friends. Charlotte really liked jumping in the bounce house! Henry, well, he just like watching all of the action.

 Charlotte thinks all of Chloe and Sophie's friends are her friends too. She was talking to Elizabeth while they all waited for the pie throwing contest.

 Sophie was eager to watch too!

 Those girls were such good sports!

 Wild Man Noah, trapped in his stroller.

And Henry was trapped in his too.

Tuesdays of Praise

Several weeks ago my mom called just to check on me. She had a bad dream that I put my kids in the car, drove away, and no one knew what happened to me. (Not even Christy knew where I was!) Obviously it was just a dream, and I am still here, still fine, still blogging. BUT, if there ever comes a day when something really does happen to me and let's say that I die (it's going to happen at some point unless Jesus comes to get me first), then take heart: I know where I'll be.

2 Timothy 1:12
"...because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."

I have trusted Jesus with my life, both here on Earth and in eternity to come.

Praise God for the assurance of salvation!

Fun with Friends/My Birthday

Last weekend I celebrated my birthday. It was a lot of fun! I had so much fun that I took almost zero pictures. My sister-in-law organized a brunch/playdate with some of our friends on Friday morning. There was some yummy food and great fellowship. On Saturday Jason let me sleep in (which in parent language means I got up and fed Hank at 5:00, Jay got up with him at 7:00, and I woke up at 8:00). I stayed in bed while he and the kids fetched me breakfast. I hung out there until it was time to get ready for basketball games. It was really great! After the girls' games we went over to Mexico City Grill for dinner. Delicious fajitas! Then Jay took the kiddos home, so Christy and I could go see The Vow (which I liked, by the way). I got some good presents: a Keurig, the flip-and-fold and flip-and-fold jr. (our closets and drawers are looking good!), books, and A LOT of desserts (my Mom made me three). But one of my favorite gifts was from my friend Katie (okay, Josh too... I know he helped). In addition to a giant platter of individual scotch-a-roos (which I forgot to take a picture of), she gave me these:

These are "33 matches - so you can practice & perfect your stop, drop & roll with your children." I realize that sounds sort of like a crazy idea, but it's a joke from when we were kids. If you haven't heard the story, let's just say it involved a campfire and some seriously hairsprayed hair

This one says, "33 peanut m&m's - because the outside of you may be sweet but we know you are still a nut on the inside."

This is "33 pennies - so you can give your 2 cents 16.5 times."

And this is "33 Reasons We Are Friends..." She wrote things like:

"we are both cool people"

"we long for the deep love & relationship with Jesus"

"we love to quote Friends lines randomly in any conversation"

"rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock"

"you are as close as a sister"

I am so thankful for friends who know me so well and still love me anyway.

And these are our cute little boys...

"Hey, Hank, look at the camera!"

 "What was that?"

"Let me see! Let me see!"

"Oh, there you are Paislee!"

Parent & Child Dates: Take Two

A couple weekends ago (February 26th to be exact), Sophie and I had our first date. She picked "Go to the bookstore for a new book and a treat." We headed off to Barnes & Noble and spent about an hour perusing the books before she settled on the one she wanted. She picked Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom by Jennifer S. Holland. It really is a very sweet book. Once we made our purchase, we went to Panera for the treat portion of our date. Sophie wanted a chocolate chip cookie and I wanted a French baguette with butter (I love me some crusty bread and butter). We ate, talked, and read through some of the stories in her new book. I had a great time being one-on-one with Sophie!

Valentine's Day Flashback

Remember Valentine's Day? I completely forgot to post about it! And now with my stellar memory, you'll have to make do with a Cliffs Notes version of our holiday celebration.

Last year I made pink pancakes and milk for our Valentine's Day dinner. This year I made individual heart shaped pizzas (don't worry, Jason and I went out for a dinner date the weekend before... we did take Henry, but it counts).

Jason brought home roses, a box of chocolates, and a sweet little love note.

I love my family and I am so grateful for them!

Tuesdays of Praise

I am barely scraping by to get this post in on time! But it's still Tuesday, so I'll press on...

I wasn't really sure what I was going to write about today, but there were two passages from the Bible that came up multiple times this week. They are:

Hebrews 12:5-11

"And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

'My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.'

 

 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Romans 8:17

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." 

Praise the Lord that He has made us His sons and daughters! Praise God that He disciplines us out of love and for our good (righteousness and peace)! Praise Him that we are now co-heirs with Jesus Christ!