HAPPY Fourth of July!!!!

Five Favorites Meme

I have been SO BAD at blogging the last few months. I need to give a major update on everything around here, but for now - I think I have the perfect "Fav Five" for Hallie's meme over at MoxieWife.com. So, without further adieu....

1.  See this precious baby?

This is "Valiant". Little Val here, is today....GULP.....

2. THIS child!!!!!
 

3. She's...ummmm...FIVE YEARS OLD!!! Talk about being my FAVORITE Five meme around lol!!!

4. She's sweet.  She's SASSY. She's pint-sized, impish, always has to be in a dress or "fancy", and a GIFT FROM GOD!!

5. Dearest Valiant - may today bless you as you have blessed us. You are our "Favorite Five" today. Thank you for being you. You woke up SO excited that you are five today. How I adore that passion and thrill. Your daddy and I love you, AND your amazing smile. God Bless you today!!!

She's probably the best meme theme on the web today, hmmmmm?  Gosh I love this girl!

Now...go off and enjoy all the participants over at Hallie's blog!  Come join in the "fiveulous" fun!!!

Blessings!

Blessed Reminders...

...that my life is sunny, warm, and bright:

Thank you B...so much. And these were just the "test shots"? I can't wait to see the others...but no rush. Really. I can stare at these forever. They will make fabulous Mother's Day gifts for the women in my family this weekend. I am profoundly grateful. Can't wait to babysit in return!!

Peace on Earth????????

I had a really beautiful prayer time with the kids. We lit their playdoh advent wreath, did our children's Advent meditations (Welcome Baby Jesus) by Sarah Reinhard at Snoring Scholar (we are SO loving this resource by the way. The "Thnk/Pray/Act" meditations and prompts are gorgeous and a treasure!! So easy to do!), and ended with a discussion on being generous to others and what that means in many ways. We hurried into to blowing out the candles after this insight from Valiant on repentance, being generous, and forgiving others.:

Valiant: If you were not generous, you were being mean, and mean people go to the tracks and get squished by trains. 


*crickets*. 

All riiiiighty then. 

Amen???

**Valiant's views are not shared in Welcome Baby Jesus, our creed, or by our family!!! LOL!!

Art

Ok, I fell in a hole. I'm so sorry. I was on an upswing where blogging didn't feel like work, and then it felt like work, and I was a bit burdened and stressed...and well....blah blah blah. Hey G - you still checking? HAA!

I have noticed so many bloggers taking a break, posting less, or jumping in with renewed energy after feeling their blog had become "work". I'm shocked I haven't even done an Advent post yet. I LOVE Advent.

Yep...funky town.

But, I'll report some good things real fast I hope to follow with pictures - A great Thanksgiving holiday, fun at the park, fun in the leaves, a KID FREE weekend getaway for my husband and I, a Santa Brunch, A Family Christmas Work Party, and more. I also restarted my WW meeting journey after missing months of meetings when my husband was in another state for months, and then I just fell out of the habit after that...and made excuses...humph. So, we've been living life - just not here, and I'm getting annoyed I'm not recording it, because I LOVE my past blog entries. A bygone, care free era.

I have so much to blog, I feel overwhelmed, so we'll just start with some recent art projects by my girls:


"Mommy" (apparently on a contacts wearing day), by Valiant.

"Pounce" by Lovely.

"My family" by Valiant

I love our happy smiles. Can you see us all crowding like this at your door? HA!

A study on Van Gogh, by Lovely

Much love....blessings!!!!

Fall Weekend Getaway

This weekend has had GORGEOUS weather. So much so, that we decided to flee town and head back to our favorite escape spot! We spent almost all weekend outside. It was so much fun!

It was a magical two days and the first relaxed days for our family of 5 in a LONG time. Playing by the river, enjoying the market, hiking around the mountain, frolicking with the gnomes in Rock City and petting fish at the aquarium. Seeing the bright colored leaves (little Valiant kept asking "Did God paint the trees? YES!!!!) on our drive there and back while listening to bluegrass completed a phenomenal family bonding time. Did. Not. Want. To. Return. LOVE my FAMILY.

DID. NOT. WANT.  TO. COME. HOME. Phenomenal weekend.

I am now recharged for the week. The only hiccup? Valiant spiked 102 fever tonight. Oh well...life is still GOOD, and she is happy. Love and prayers to all!! 

Why Mommy Needs Contacts.

Watch this video of Valiant and I. I should wear contacts more often, no?

oopsie!

Cheers!

Summer 2012

 Where we have been when we have not been blogging...

  

Drinking with one of my bestie's via FB miles apart! 

I am SO in trouble.....wow....

LegoLand!

You can do time out ANYWHERE!!!

Sister Love at LegoLand

Date Night!