Golden Birthday

I'm entering a new decade.

I celebrated my 21st birthday in Australia as a completely different person than I am today. I worked there for two years and met David. I was 23 when we got married, and nine months later we had Hudson. It's all kind of a blur from there. 22 months later we had Pierce. 21 months later we had Alayna. And 22 months after that we had Adelle. I know other stuff happened in the last nine years, but I might as well just touch on the high notes. Now here I am, married and four kids later and I'm 30. I feel like I'm not just entering a new decade, but a new era, a new phase of life. As far as my plans go the childbearing era has come to a close. I'm getting in shape for the last time (I've gained and lost 35lbs four times - that qualifies as a high note!).

I have a few goals for my thirties:

1. To become a woman of prayer. I pray all the time, I'm just not usually on my knees. When I wake up I pray to see God's new mercies (though sometimes it might sound like, "Lord, have mercy."!!) I pray throughout the day. But I really want to develop the habit of getting up early and meeting the Lord before all the chaos ensues.

2. A studier of the Word. I'm a good studier when I have the accountability of a church Bible study. I try to read a little bit every day. I memorize verses with my kids or teach them from verses I've had in my heart for years (thanks to my mom and dad). But I want to be a student of the Word beyond reading a Proverb a day. I want to know and internalize the Truth.

3. Expand my personal training. I love training people in exercise and nutrition. I have very little extra time with homeschooling and nursing. But sometime in the next decade maybe that'll improve. :)

4. Get my family more involved in missions and ministry. We're going to start doing some country studies this year of the missionaries that we're connected with. I want my kids to share the gospel boldly and have a deep understanding of Jesus' love for us and others.

5. Learn a new skill. I have no idea what that might be at this point. Something along the creative vein probably.

It's almost 10:30 and my brain is shutting down. Sweet dreams :)

Coffee tastes so good on rainy days.

They wake up at 6am on rainy days. It's a good thing they're cute. This is just a more formal update for my far away family - love to you all!

Adelle Sophia, Smiles, Ellie Peaches, Ellie Belly, 4 months

She's the smiliest, happiest girl in the house (especially since Miss Princess Panties turned 2!). She's definitely a little spoiled because every time she makes a peep someone is in her face talking to her and keeping her company and she LOVES to be talked to. She'll be four months old this weekend. I think we'll celebrate and go get some coffee. :)

Alayna Serene, Sweets, Miss Princess Panties, Ladybug, 2 years

My little princess is two and the drama just turned WAY UP! She's sweet and fun most of the time, but we're working through the fit stage. Now when she gets up set she sobs, "I'm just going to go sit on my bed!" Yesterday the boys were wrestling in the living room she put both of her hands in the air to announce, "Everybody, lets do the Destroyer Dance!" What?! She has her own girlie twist on all boy activities and toys.

Hudson Alexander, Brains, Hud, Huddy Buddy, 5 years

My little engineer minded boy loves to build, create, and invent. He has a tender heart to the things of the Lord and gets super excited about working hard (to earn money). This past weekend he picked up sticks in the yard for an hour. He and Pierce have been saving for a toy, but Hudson needed to earn some extra so Pierce would be able to get his at the same time. So thoughtful.

Pierce Maxwell, Muscles, Piercy Pants, almost 4!

Is he cute or what?! My little toe-headed, second born is competitive and tough and super sensitive all in one adorable little body. He loves playing with guys and coloring Batman and Robin (I seriously print out the SAME picture every day, sometimes multiple times a day!). He's sweet to his sisters and loves his big brother. He's getting big, but he's still pretty cuddly. Alayna told him he was gorgeous yesterday (she tells everyone that), and he came running to me crying, "Alayna said I was gorgeous, but I'm not! I'm tough!" Yes you are, now wipe your tears.

Had to post this one for Gigi. Alayna and her "sunbrella." She played this game all day in the house, talking on her princess phone and sipping her "coffee" while it rained outside. Cheap entertainment for her and us!

It's Personal

Well, the journey has begun. I started doing some personal training. I've thought about it for a long time, but every time I was ready to get serious, I got pregnant. Since we're taking a long and (hopefully) permanent break from birthing children, I might as well get started.

I only have two clients and the rest are lining up. I can't take on too much at a time. I teach at the Y Monday and Wednesday nights, so I train Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday nights. I homeschool three children during the day and keep the youngest on a rigorous routine: eat, play, sleep, repeat. :) Once this sweet baby girl doesn't rely on me for food anymore, I can start stacking appointments and add more clients.

In other news, our yard is overrun with Giraffe Beetles (looks like a beetle bug with a long nose). My little insect-lovers are in heaven! Alayna is obsessed with her umbrella that she calls a sunbrella. I asked her what letter that started with and she made the lowercase A sound, "A-A-A, sunbrella." :)

Good Morning!

Alayna and I went on a Target date yesterday that included her first visit to Cherry Berry - what a treat! She chose Birthday Cake/Cheescake frozen yogurt and everything chocolate to spinkle on top (that's my girl!). We sat and ate at tall barstools with pink spoons. Last night when jammy time came she chose her "cherry berry" jammies :)

PBS kids new show, The Cat and the Hat, warrants TV trays and Honey Combs (not every day, but we'll make an exception this morning!).

Sweet kisses on chubby baby cheeks - precious!

Pear Pickin'

We have a pear tree in our backyard and it's loaded with pears this season. It's been gorgeous outside so yesterday we did some morning pear picking and an impromptu science lesson on spiders.

In the very middle of this picture is the eight-legged creature that made me jump backwards off my ladder and prompted an insect vs spider lesson. This next shot is a blurry close up. I'm glad spiders eat flies, but I'm really not a big fan!

Alayna found a "baby" pear and ate the whole thing core and all. Then she went back to the bucket and found herself a big one.

Pierce LOVES pears. They're his absolute favorite. My favorite phrase of the day, of course, from bare-footed Pierce, "Ugh! I stepped on a wotten peh-uh. Now I have peh-uh swime on my foot!" Translation - he stepped on a rotten pear and got pear slime on his foot. :)

Hudson was my little worker bee, carting the pears from the tree to house.

This is the bucket load that I get to make into something. You're welcome to pass along any creative ideas or recipes. Hudson would like to make some applesauce, "only it would be pear sauce, but that sounds weird." :)

Enjoying our tasty snack.

Stretching

Stretching is probably one of the most neglected parts of exercise but it's one of the best things for you. We're stretching in more ways than one around here. The last couple of months have been pretty lean due to several unexpected expenses - one being the air conditioner motor. When it's 105 degrees every day, you can't go without the AC.

Anyway, one of the first things on the budget to get cut is the food budget. There are those days when I'm so tired that I can't possibly make lunch (insert sarcastic tone) so we drive through Chick-fil-a (okay, so maybe I'm just craving that deluxe chicken sandwich with provolone and a little caffeine on the side!). The last couple of months we haven't been driving through and I've been forced to overcome a little mommy-laziness and get creative - sometimes you have to think outside the pb&j box. Yesterday the kiddos were thrilled with bananas, raisins, cracker and cheese. Creativity and no money inspire incredible resourcefulness and sometimes some pretty awesome recipes. You can do amazing things with lentils and beans! (It's a special blessing when Mom has an "extra" flank steak too!)

Tight financial months also open your eyes to the amazing faithfulness of God. His timing and precision is perfect. I can't tell you how many times we've been blessed with a grocery gift card or money in the mail, a package of diapers on the porch, even a thank you note from a friend with a little Sonic gift card inside ( You know who you are. Thank you!)! This kind of stretching also keeps us dependent on God and seeking Him.

My kids' faith is growing through this too. The other day we were driving out to a friend's house. I forgot the directions and my cell phone was dead. We drove around the neighborhood for awhile and I was about to give up when Hudson said, "Mom, you could pray." Right, good idea five-year-old! We prayed and, sure enough, we found it around the next turn! Hudson said, "I knew God would answer that prayer."

Last night I was saying goodnight to the boys. Hudson (no prompting from David or me) said, "I think I'm not going to play on the computer or my video games on Sundays anymore."

I said, "Really, what made you decide that?"

He said, "Oh I just thought it would be a good idea. I think I should just pray and do other things because my Bible says it's God's day and I think that's what He would want me to do." For real?! What mother who prays for the hearts of her children every day wouldn't be glowing, bursting, and weeping?! I'm amazed to see the Holy Spirit at work.

Then there's the stretching that occurs in me homeschooling three kids and nursing a baby. I'll share a little deeper look at that sometime. I'm glad there's not a camera on us most of the time! We have fun and we learn a lot and this mommy gets to practice just about every fruit of the Spirit or ask forgiveness later!

So, a little stretching is no big deal, especially when it's building such strong faith, not just in me, but in my children.

On a lighter note, David shaved the goatee and surprised me with this:

It's all shaved off now. Aren't we all glad!

Swimming, School, and Stuff

We've been swimming, swimming, swimming around here! Hudson can swim from one end of the pool to the other and dive now. Pierce still thinks he'll "drain" without a life jacket, but with a life jacket he might as well be a fish. Alayna sticks to the steps most of the time. She likes to venture out into the pool on my back. I get some incredible exercise in the pool throwing the boys and piggy-backing Alayna across the pool and back. Adelle hangs out in the house with Mimi or in the shade of the pool house most of the time. Next time we're out at the pool maybe I'll remember my camera!

School is going great. We're part of a local homeschool group now and the boys are excited for all the field trips and special Friday classes we'll take.

I'm teaching two classes a week at the Y now and starting up a few personal training sessions for some ladies at church. Busy doing what I love and so blessed!

Here's a picture update for the last couple of weeks:

Poor Hudson - no one goes to the bathroom in peace around here! (And he'll probably be mortified someday that I posted this picture - notice the tan line. Yes, my white children do tan!).

Poor Pierce, swimming takes it out of him.

I love those fresh morning faces - sweet Alayna all wrapped up and Hudson hugging his monkey.

We're on week 6 of school. The kids were doing some serious water color art projects in this shot.

This was supposed to be a shot of my sweet baby sucking her thumb to go to sleep. Don't mind the sweaty, sleepy mommy. Sometimes I actually fix my hair!