stepping heavenward...

Carrie always recommends the best books for me to read. She was a literature-education major who has an insatiable appetite for words. Whenever I call her for a recommendation, I swear she is like a prophet knowing exactly what to recommend for the season of life I am going through at that very moment. Whether or not I share with her what is going on in my little pea brain, she tosses out the name of a book or two, I go and get them, and I am blown away at how relevant they always are to my life. This one is no exception. The passionate headstrong Katherine is a literary friend to any woman who has a feisty, opinionated, strong-willed side. I am in love with her as I see myself on these pages at different points in my walk with God. and now, I am off to read some more...

my carrie

Carrie is one of my very best friends in the whole world. Our relationship is so unique because of the incredible amounts of quality time we have been so fortunate to have with one another as adults. We all have those friends in high school and college that we get to spend unlimited time hanging out with and really getting to know, but it is rare to have those opportunities once we enter the world of adult responsibility. Since we taught together in such a small classroom both day and night school and walked almost every morning together for 45 minutes for like 5 years, we were practically attached at the hip. Never have I ever spent that much time with someone except for my kids. My years with her are my sweetest memories of young adulthood. I have never met someone with such a gift of relational evangelism as she has. She is an amazing woman.

I love my Carrie! Across the miles she is my partner in crime homeschooling her 4 children, sharing ideas, recommending delicious books and recipes, praying together, helping me pinch a penny even tighter, and so much more. (plus we share "joker's smiles" and that makes me happy) I have a few friends that I miss so much it physically hurts and she is one. I dream of what it would be like to "do life together" with my soul sisters again. So many things would I change if I ever returned to Kansas...I would totally stalk my sweet friends to the point of irritation, I am sure, but they'd love me enough to tell me so. I am so thankful for the telephone...that antiquated thing our kids won't even know how to use. Sometimes it is my lifeline!

A few last pics from the Wiltse trip...

I guess this is a tradition for us on our quarterly visits: mudmasks & hair dying! One of these days I hope we will get a good non-mask pic of us together!

The DS was a hot commodity over their visit. Shelby is asking for one for her birthday. Mason gave Jesse his Didj and he is in heaven. He is learning math facts (and getting a head start on carpal tunnel). We have to limit his time to 30 minutes in the morning and evening.

We had a few Punky Brewster marathons. Mya caught Punky fever! Punky Power!! Mason wasn't quite so thrilled with Punky but he likes it better than the Brady Bunch.

Mason has had a lot of practice with little sisters so he was very sweet with Preslie.


A few more things I want to remember:

"The Cheese Touch." or, the ramen noodle touch, the milk touch, chicken touch, the booger touch, the earwax touch...etc. Courtesy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the kids are addicted to the "touch" game.

Kenna saying that she didn't want to sit by Lucy b/c of her "crazy hair," but aggreeing after it was pulled back into a pony tail.

Sweet Girls at Breakfast Time...

After about a week, we finally dragged the kids' table into the kitchen for the little ones to sit at during meal time. I don't know why we didn't think of it sooner. When they weren't fighting over who got to sit by whom, they loved having their own table. Preslie the moocher would crawl up and beg bites like a little puppy dog. Shelby loves that baby girl and was happy to pick her up and share some of her cereal with her. Kenna and Mya enjoyed Preslie as well. Several times I walked in on Kenna playing so sweetly with Preslie in the playroom and talking to her in a baby voice. I love it when young kids use baby voices, as if their sweet tiny little voices don't sound much like babies' voices already!



Side Note: James was listening to talk radio the other day and they were bashing the Duggars saying that "those kids don't even get a childhood" because they actually have to help around the house and with the little ones. Does Shelby look scarred for having to help with the little ones or do chores around the house? She is such an awesome girl...confident, courteous, helpful, and respectful (most of the time-of course she has her moments). We'd be doing our children such a disservice if we didn't set high expectations for them, and they would not be pleasant kids to be around. I have been around kids who have no responsibility and very little discipline, and they are NOT happy-campers to put it mildly.

I am so afraid for this generation of children growing up with no responsibilities at home because their parents want to make sure they have a "fun & full childhood." I don't know about you, but when this generation hits the job market, I'd much rather go to a Dr. Duggar than a Dr. Kardashian or one of the kids from the "real housewives of___!"

Potty Trained for One Whole Day...

One of the first days Jenn was here she bribed Lucy to go on the potty with Laffy Taffy and panties. It was AWESOME. She went on the potty ALL DAY LONG. I thought this was it, she was potty trained in a day!

But, the next morning, she wasn't interested anymore. It was fun while it lasted. The oldest two potty trained themselves at 2 1/2, and I am confident she will too when she is ready. I am all about not having to work at potty training. They all do it when they are ready and I refuse to make it a miserable experience for her or myself. She did just go again today, on her own accord. We will see if it lasts this time. : )

The Tough Boys...

The "Tough Boys" are: Jesse as Jess, Lucy as Jackson or "Jack" for short, Shelby as Joshua, Mya as Cameron or "Cam" for short, and Mason as "Bub" is not pictured b/c he wouldn't make a mean face. The gang played plenty of dress up the past two weeks, including weddings, princesses and princes, Star Wars and tough boys. Such imaginations!

Hey Hey We're the Monkeys...

Here we come, walkin'down the street.



We get the funniest looks from everyone we meet.



Hey, hey, we're the Monkeys and people say we monkey around.



But we're too busy singing to put anybody down.



We go wherever we want to, do what we like to do
We don't have time to get restless, there's always something new.
Hey Hey we're the Monkeys...

These cutiepies ARE monkeys! They had an awesome two weeks together with only a few minor skirmishes. We are all getting lots of rest today after saying "Goodbye" the the Wiltses yesterday.

Monster Scorpion Found Dead...

A few days ago we were awakened by screaming kids barging into our bedroom and hollering, "Get up and get down here. There is a HUGE scorpion in the backyard!!!" Thankfully, it was dead, but it WAS huge!
3 1/2 inches long with a stinger that was over a centimeter long. It's body was bigger than a peach pit. Seriously, it was the size of a rodent. Filthy little demon thing! As creepy as it was, I think I am more afraid of the tiny ones because you could see this thing coming from a mile away, and the tiny little babies are hard to see and sting their enemies way more because they haven't developed defensive instincts yet. It would be the equivalent of an experienced gunman shooting someone in the leg once just to stop them vs. a rookie who opens fire shooting his enemy full of holes. That is how the little devils work.
I am glad we found him dead on this very week so that Mason, Mya and Makenna will have a cool AZ story to tell.

the outdoorsmen...

These two handsome little surfer boys went hiking with James on Thursday. They came home red as tomatoes and very thirsty. They had a blast hiking the mountain by Noni and Papa's house. They both got cacti stuck in their shoes and hands and were very proud of their bravery in pulling them out. Good Times!

visit from the ice cream man...

The ICE CREAM MAN IS COMING!!!! The kids did 5 chores a piece to earn money for the Ice Cream Man. He comes through our neighborhood a few times a week and we wanted them to be ready with money when he did. He just so happened to drive through our neighborhood that same day!

For all of my friends who have heard my "creepy ice cream man" stories, you can now put a face to the name. He always has the same line for me and he used it on Jenn that day. "No ice cream for mom? You must be trying to get back into modeling!" EWWW!

splash pad fun!

Somebody's walking...who could it be?

Preslie Janell, that's who! Woot Woot!



Preslie has been taking steps for over a month now, but this week she really took off! She has adopted this crazy grin too and we LOVE it! She is really developing a personality!



The Wiltses have been here for over a week now and we are having so much fun. I think all of the chaos and extra attention has really brought Miss Preslie out of her shell!



We went to the splash pad in Anthem yesterday and it was a huge hit for all. As you can see, I remembered to put shoes on her this time. Her little chubby knees did get a little scraped up, but nothing was bleeding this time. Success.



She is just one of the kids now. Running around on the fake turf and climbing in the spider web. She is definitely crossing over into toddlerhood.

Wanna bicker? You're gonna hug....

Yesterday, after much picking on each other, Shelby and Jesse had to stand there and hug each other for 2 minutes straight. (next time it will be 5 minutes) I got this idea from a friend in Kansas who is a Momma of grown kids. (Two mighty fine young adults, I might add.) She said when her daughter and son had one of those days where they just couldn't get along, she'd make them stand in front of the stove where she would set the timer and have them hug each other for a good amount of time. So, yeah, my kids usually get along pretty well. They are all surprisingly good to one another and I love it. But, during times when we are off schedule, have a lot of excitement around here, or they are tired, they start bickering and it drives me insane. Lately we have had a lot of visitors and changes in James' work schedule, so they are not behaving at their finest. We are also looking forward to having Jenn and her 3 kids come tomorrow for 2 weeks, so they are beside themselves with anticipation and excitement. I so hope they are over this picking on each other thing by the time they arrive!