More updates...

Ha-Ha Cissy, Colin is still 7:) Life has just been taking up all 24 hours of the day. Literally. Lauren and Sadie are now sharing their room and I think both of them are still getting use to each other. Like this morning when Sadie woke up at 6:30 to nurse Lauren took it upon herself to wake up too. I am a firm believer in children staying in bed at least until 7:00 but after a discipline and 2 very awake little girls I decided this morning it was not happening. Besides waking up early Lauren has decided that you are a girl when you wear a dress, and otherwise you look like a boy. Hence a dress everyday. Sometimes 2 or 3 depending on whether we make it to the restroom in time. Colin has lost his two front teeth:) I love it, I think its just so cute when they have no teeth in the front and the lisp slightly. Unfortunately one of them didn't fall out naturally, apparently the snaggle tooth in the front was an extra one and it was pulled a week or so ago. He did so well and they even let him keep the pulled tooth, I swear it was about an inch long...disgusting. He has also been able to take days off his punishment because he has on several occasions choose wisely instead of foolishly or selfishly. This has been indeed a big deal in our home. We are all excited when we get to rejoice for changed behavior.

Sadie is doing just wonderful aside from being distracted by above sister and not sleeping in like she use to. it has been twice now that I have found miss Lauren in her crib with her in the wee hours of the morning. She is eating like a little piggy and growing everyday. She scoots/rolls all around the floor and you will often find her half way under the sofa or bed. Her hair is getting thicker by the minute and I am sure in no time she will be sporting bows:) Taylor has been a huge help within our home (usually;) She recently served at one of her first Metro Youth events. (I still cant believe I have a middle schooler) It was the Senior Luncheon, Grams and Gramps sat at her table and I believe they made wonderful memories. Well, that's us lately on top of Homeschooling, Home group, Piano, Singles, Deluge, Worship Team, Accountability, Cleaning, Cooking, Grocery shopping (a job in itself) Leading, Submitting;), being a mommy and a wife, oh did I mention I was trying to exercise too?

Colin

So it was last night after a loooong day I thought I needed to reflect on Colin and all the wonderfully good things about him. I never really did so adequately for his birthday so I thought I would post now after another really looooong day:) Since we have been spending so much time together in our bathroom (Actually I was interrupted from this post to join my bathroom buddy again) that taking time to acknowledge all the great things the Lord has given me in Colin would probably do us both some good. Some things that I am thankful for... 1. Colin has a very compassionate heart for those who are less fortunate, from a very young age he was willing to give toys away, save money and buy things for them at Christmas time, and often asks about children in other countries. 2. He is a life saver to Lauren, literally. 3. He loves to entertain both his younger sisters and they love to have him entertain them. 4. He still gives me hugs and doesn't wipe off my kisses. 5. I love that he lets me play with his floppy ears. 6. That he is opened about asking questions about Christ and heaven. 7. That he is learning to play guitar. 8. Once he starts serving he begins to enjoy it. 9. He desires to be around his family. 10. What God is going to do for him, through him, and with him. Colin, Happy 7th Birthday! I love you!

She likes bananas...

The last 2 weeks... less math, "peep" a DS? and 4 months!

So here are a few updates:)

Colin turned 7! We had a very low key celebration...he got 75.00 in gift cards and $$$ and has since then tried to convince Jonathan and I to fork over a little more and let him get a DS! The "debate" is still ongoing. Besides starting school 2 weeks ago I also started potty training Lauren. She has really done great, we have had our share of accidents (about 1 a day for the first week) but she would simply say "oh, sorry mom, I 'peep' on the potty next time" she looks adorable in little panties and has kept her pull ups pretty dry during naps and bed...Taylor is doing well and working through some tween seasons of her own. we have had some really good conversations lately and I am praying for fruit to be produced:) She was extremely pleased when I announced math was taking just too long and we were going to cut our usual 30 problems into 15! I know she was thinking who are you and where is my evil teacher/mom from last year?? Sadie just turned 4 months!!! I cant believe how fast time has gone by! I love watching her grow and show us her little personality. She has started crying/screaming now when she gets mad, she rarely does this so its almost comical to Jonathan and I when she does, we try to tell her we have had much worse;) She went for a well check up this past Wednesday, she weighed 13 lbs. 13 oz. and she was 25 1/4 ins. long. She is "recovering" from her battle wounds...3 shots, it was so sad. She just stared at me with her big eyes, giving me the "why would you let them do this to me" look. That seems to sum up our last 2 weeks, minus the numerous opportunities the Lord allowed me to have to train my children in the way they should go, and the 4 days of rain, our pool has now officially overflowed and I believe there are about 2000 frogs that have had their honeymoon outside of our home (I hate frogs! Weren't they part of the plague series??)

We Started....

We Started our 7th year of Home Schooling this morning. It went very well! We kept it low key and will continue to do so for this first week but I can tell its going to be a great year:) I also found out that I am going to need a lot more planned activities to keep Miss Lauren busy! She just wants to be doing everything her big brother and Sissy are doing and she is pretty sure of herself that she can do it better then they can. Sadie is doing wonderful on her new schedule that we began last week. She is going to bed better and has nice structure to her day now...though as I type I can hear her cooing in her bed! Ahhh! I cant believe I have a 6th grader!!!

Oh the savings...I purchased all of these items for free! Yup, absolutely free. I just love it:) And I got 12.00 in ECB's for next time. Ya-hoo...

Besides my CVS and Publix Shopping not much is going on here except some sickness:( and school planning. Taylor is doing remarkable in her brace...very little complaining and she got a great report that it is doing exactly what they want it to! PRAISE GOD!!! Colin is gearing up for his 7th birthday and not looking forward to school:) Lauren is finally getting into "roll playing" to help with obedience...except sometimes she turns a 10 minute discipline session into a 20 minute one as she demands "baby Lauren" (a large, slightly ugly baby doll) to obey the first time, sit on the potty, wipe clean and do so all with a happy heart:) Did I mention Mommy has to make "baby Lauren" speak...Sadie, well Sadie is adorable not to mention completely sweet, she barely cries unless she really needs something and cant wait the typical 10 or so minutes for it (i.e. the Lauren story) she is sleeping better once she goes to bed...between 11:00 and midnight. I am still working on that part, but she is in her own room with her big Sissy Taylor and so far that is going well also.

As I attempt to put Miss Cutie to bed I leave you with these shots, one of our Mexican Fury sleeping soundly AND PEACEFULLY:) and two, "Baby Lauren" sprawled out on the dining room floor where she was left after not obeying...

Arrr, I cant stand the way pics. load here! why? why?

Saving $$$$

This was just blog worthy:) and a testimony of God's faithfulness in what some would think is cheeky I know is His kindness. OK, CVS this week, I spent $13.00 out of pocket on 4 transactions. I saved $57.33 and walked out with 16.00 more ECB's. Essentially they paid me 3.00 to buy all of this. I came home with items including 2 packs of CVS diapers (I like them:) Veet "razor's" for my up and coming tween (Can you believe Taylor wants to shave...not yet)Laundry detergent which I was just about out of and I waiting for a good deal! And these were just some of the goodies I was able to get. Then at PUBLIX yesterday (no picture:) I spent 70.00 (My goal was to be under 100) and I saved 80! I even got a pack of 16 individual packets of infimil formula for 1.00, 3 pork tenderloins, 4 lg. bags of chicken nuggets, pork chops, ground beef and 1 1/2 lbs. of deli lunch meat among many other things. Oh and I went in the rain and was in and out of there in 45 minutes...that in itself is an amazing feat! So I am totally grateful for my saving this week and love to watch God work out details! Yes, I am 27 and getting excited about coupons and grocery shopping...

A couple of slides:)

The Fourth of July!

Rick and Debi's beach condo that they graciously let us crash for a few lovely days~

The 4th of July

So most pics from the evening aren't blog appropriate so these will have to do:) JK! I don't have time for a slide show so who better to post but my cutie pa-tooties! Hope you had a great 4th of July!

Headed to the Park...

Just a few pictures of our park day (morning actually) I left the mess of my house and headed to the park with my kiddos, they played, had fun and got Lauren tired;)Sadie enjoyed looking at the trees for a while and took a little nap herself. It was nice. What I didn't expect was the crazy person going 45+ miles behind me that almost caused a severe accident on the way there, I literally slammed on my brakes and swerved out of the way and watched them run a stop sign right in front of me...I wonder how many other times the Lord just chooses to spare of us of danger. Anyways, I also didn't expect the judgemental sin escaping my heart when I cringed at the family Colin chose to play with at the swings, they were quite interesting, the 2 moms...were smoking and they were dressed immodestly amongst other things. Yet my son didn't "look" at the appearance of them and choose to just play, I just kept thinking "Oh he's going to smell like smoke now...I wonder what they are saying in front of him" "Great now Lauren's over there!"

Wow! Its a yucky scene when the sins of your heart are being revealed at the park no less. But God is so kind and faithful to show me the ugly to then see the beauty...I saw the family calling Colin by name and thanking him for being kind to their sons and playing with them. I kept thinking of a message recently at church; the topic was pretty much what I was doing at the park, totally judging based on appearance instead of reaching out (like my son) I was saying yuck. I am so glad Jesus loves me despite my sin...and grateful despite my crummy example He chooses to use my son to reach out to people, maybe next time I will get off my fat tushy and reach out like my 6 year old:)