What I learned in 2008

Well as all of you know 2008 was a very busy year for us, many, many changes. I was awake last night (what else was I going to do while Jaden decided to party from 3:30am -4:30am) reflecting on God's goodness, his grace and his mercy. What did I learn in 2008 mostly to rely on him, as if I didn't already know this and I can repeat it 10 times a day, but truly in my heart I am still wrestling with control. I know he has the big picture in hand, and through the exhaustion and through the weariness, he's got it all. I have 4 of the most beautiful children in the world and a very loving and caring husband. It has been such a learning experience and since I have cut way back on my activities, (it's easier to manage the chaos) at times it's been a little lonely, but I am at peace with the challenges he sets before me and the person he wants me to become. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for our family in 2008. Happy New Year.

The Love Dare

So over the years Michael and I have done devotions as a couple, not always on a regular basis, but we have done some great books. We decided to do The Love Dare

It's from a movie called Fireproof, about a marriage about to crumble (no we are not crumbling - I really wanted to see it when it came out - I posted about it when it did - but as you can imagine babysitting for four kids - 2 very small is not too easy, I can't wait until they get a little older), but not having done a couples devotional in a while we decided to do it together and we just started it. I thought OK we have a great marriage this shouldn't be too hard, it will keep us reading and praying together, HA!!.

Day one - Love is patient - Go the entire day without a negative word toward your spouse (I FAILED THAT ONE).

Day Two = Love is kind, do one random act of kindness. (Failed that one too - by the end of the day at home with all the kids, I could only manage a snuggle before bed) I'm 0 for 2 here.

Day three + (do day one and day two as well as three day three) buy your spouse an unexpected gift (since it was just Christmas, we set a $5 limit), I have done OK today although, I was able to be patient, did not do the kindness thing, the night is not over yet, and I bought Michael his favorite ice cream from the store (any kind with peanut butter - we don't usually have it because Kaleigh is allergic and he doesn't want her to feel bad that she can't have any - I bought her some ice pops).

So I'm trying really hard here, but not doing so well, better than day one though. At the end of the book it has 20 questions to ask your mate while on a date or some quiet time, I can't wait to get to that part. Right now we just need to get through the next 40 days.

The angry face

I haven't been able to catch the pout but this is the angry face, the "NO DON'T TAKE MY TOY" face.

Sleep

Jaden always sleeps on his stomach, but it just so happen he was so tired one morning that he fell asleep in his crib on his back. Never happens so I had to catch it.

Footy Pajamas

Everyone had footy pajamas on, just coincidentally.

Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas with visits from family, and the excitement of the day.

All the kids with their santa hats.

My guys.

A Barbie Cruise Ship was a big hit, even for Madison.

We were glad to have Michael's Aunt Betty share the holiday with us.

My Sweet Little Boy

New Shoes

Took the girls to the mall this weekend (yes I am insane) to take a picture with Santa (no one smiled, even after Kaleigh begged me to take them - won't bother posting the picture because it's that bad) and decided to go to Payless to buy them some patten leather shoes to go with their Christmas dresses. Well we were not successful in the patten leather shoe search but Madison HAD to have these pink sparkly shoes (She's just like Kaleigh) and we could not leave the store without them. Today she has been walking around the house with them on saying "I WIKE NEW SHOES!" at least 20 times today, she had to call Michael on the phone to tell him, and kept them on so when he came home from work she could show him how her new shoes looked on her feet. She cracks me up.

Two different Pics

Took the first picture over the summer, and a different one tonight, can't believe the difference a couple of months can make for a little guy.

Santa's little elves

It Never Get's Old

It never gets old, I love his laugh!

So Funny I had to copy it, it made me laugh so hard

My friend Courtney is a hoot sometimes and can put things in to words I cannot otherwise, this was so funny I had to make a copy.

i'm sorry

..i'm sorry, but would whoever put all those piles of dirty clothes in my house please come and wash them and fold them and put them away??

...and the same person must have made my 3 year old act like, well, a 3 year old. could you fix that? (except mine is 22months)

..and could you also make dinner every night this week since i have no idea what to make.

..and wrap the gifts...that is, if you can find them in the basement (our garage) that looks like a tornado went through it.

..and, while you're at it, could you get these 10 extra pounds off my hips/butt/thighs/stomach?

thanks! i appreciate it!

A DATE

Had a date with my favorite guy. We went to Michael's company Christmas party on Friday Night. It was a lot of fun, it was held at the National Air and Space Museum at the Udvar Hazy Center (satellite museum out at Dulles from Washington DC) it's 5 minutes from our house (that was nice). We had food, music and we got to see and IMAX movie at the end of the night .. good for a break for my feet (I haven't worn heals in a year) it was different and fun. Unfortunately I left my camera in my coat when I checked it and didn't get any pictures from the night, this is the only one we got before we left the house. Don't mind the Tostitos bag.

Some Days

Some days I am so busy and caught up in the daily grind of life (our chaos) that I don't even get the chance to slow down and on those days that I do, I am over come with emotion on how much I love these children and my husband. I know God gives me those epiphanies so that I can keep going, even when I am exhausted and think I can't do this another day.

The below videos

A friend of our sent my husband this video with him and his wife in it, so Michael updated it with the girls pictures since High School Musical is their favorite movie.

HM3 staring Jordan

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HSM3 staring Kaleigh Cole

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One of my favorite pics

Getting ready for the christmas card picture.

A couple of pics from Thanksgiving

My grandparents and my aunt and the girls with the daughter of one of my cousins.

Angel (cutie pie), Jordan, Kaleigh and Madison.

Just the Same Old Same Old

Can't believe it but I shouldn't be surprised, all 4 kids have strep throat and I have a bad virus, but I am grateful no trips to the ER and no one's in the hospital, it could be worse.

A New Name

Not sure what to rename child number 3. Exhibitionist, Mountain Climber or Escape Artist.
Can't seem to keep her clothes on, climbs everything in sight, including counters, bunk beds, tables, or escapes out of her crib..ALREADY!!! She's not even 2. Maybe I can just call her TODDLER AMAZING!!! It suites her.

Check out that wild hair!

My 5month Old

I can't believe he's 5 months old. In some ways it seems like he's been here forever (of course that is relative when you aren't sleeping), but he's just the perfect fit for our family.

**He has curly hair already -it's going to be wild once it grows in (as you can see)

**He has eaten solid foods since about 3 and 3/4 months old (to try to get some more calories and weight on him).

**He weighs only 10lbs 13 oz (he's tiny like his sisters - except Madison- seriously we don't know where she came from she's so big) - he's not a big eater.

**He doesn't sleep more than three hours between night feeding and maybe two if I'm lucky during the day (it would be great to get him and Madison on the same nap schedule one day).

**He's been sick twice (bad upper respiratory virus and now strep throat)- my heart aches for him and me.

**He LOVES his sisters (all of them) smiles and laughs for them constantly except when he's tired.

**He's definitely a momma's boy, loves his daddy but is definitely a momma's boy (he knows where the food source comes from).

**He's very sweet and pretty happy once you address his issues (he's a little demanding I have to say).

**All those things I've heard about boys (smells, noises, burps......all true with him)

**We can't imagine life with out him (or any of them......except the noise level at 5:00 at night might actually be audible in our house instead of deafening).

**I wouldn't change it for a thing except maybe some more sleep.

Tae Kwon Do - White Belts

The girls finally earned their white belt, took a little longer than normal since they have missed a lot of classes from being sick here and there, but they were so excited when they came home, they came rushing in to tell me, Michael got to watch, while I stayed home, we had Shepard Group that night. Apparently the white belt is the hardest to get (other than black) because is the first one that sets the foundation (I don't know, that's what I'm told) but now they are excited about continuing to earn the different colors, yellow is next so we'll see how long it takes to get that one, they did an awesome job working at it and Michael worked really hard practicing with them.

Happy Thanksgiving

I have some pictures from Thanksgiving that I will post later but trying to squeeze everything in is a little chaotic at this point, especially because Jaden has strep throat. Rare but true he has it, leave it to us to get the rare stuff.

We had a good Thanksgiving the kids traveled really well, even Jaden. once we understood the issues we were able to address them, the ride up on Thursday took 7 hours a normal ride is 5-5 1/2 so a little longer than expected, but the ride home was even longer 8 1/2 hours, Jaden had had enough around 7 1/2 and proceeded to cry the last 45 minutes. Made for a long ride but we made it home and we were glad we had Sunday to do nothing but recover. Of course with the little guy being sick with a fever and up all night since Wednesday, pretty much the only one's who got any sleep were the girls. Sorry this seems like a downer but just stating the hard facts. 4 of my kids is hard.

I am thankful for teh fact that I got to see my family, and some friends that part is always good, it is hard to travel with a family of 6 and try to find enough space for us to be comfortable, I am grateful to my parents for sqeezing us in even if it is a little tight.