I learned (A look back at 2011)

I know it is 1/2 way thru the month of January & I'm just getting around to posting NY resolutions. I wanted to reflect on 2011 & see what went right & what went wrong. I wanted to think about how to do things differently.

For lack of better description, last year was tough. Now, let me first say that I know compared to what some are going through, maybe it wasn't tough. It was tough for me...but so worth it because boy have I grown.

I feel like God used 2011 as a teaching year. I have learned to Be Grateful, Value Others, Be Patient (still working on this though), Rely on God (still working on this one too).

The first 1/2 of 2011 was survival mode for us. We had a new baby, Ryan had a new job & he was working with his dad to help them finish a big project (which paid big $ too). I think that Ryan worked 170 days of the first 180......that is ALOT. It was alot on him & it was alot on me....but we survived, teaching me that we can & do survive better if we stick together. It also taught me that there are going to be times in my life that I won't be able to rely on Ryan (not in a bad way, just saying...he had a job to do (working 2 jobs) & I had a job to do (keeping kids & house) and for those 180 days that was all either one of us could do) therefore, I have to rely on God (which is what I should be doing anyway). I learned that life is better when I am walking, breathing & living in HIS word.

I learned that it is ok to ask for help & its ok to be transparent.

I learned that I CANNOT do it all & I have to prioritize. I learned that when prioritizing...God & my family HAVE to come first...sometimes that means I can't help someone else in the meantime & I hate that.

I learned that when life gets tough, hang out or get to know people who have it even tougher.....that really helps put things into perspective. I mean even when things are tough for me, I'm still sitting here in my nice house, typing on my nice laptop about all the things that are so tough....blah blah.

My God is faithful.

My kids & family are healthy.

My husband has a good job.

My marriage is good.

We are happy.

That is NOT a tough life.

My perspective has really changed & I am so grateful for that.

I also learned that God really will never give you more than you can handle.

I started back to school in the fall & I thougth " man this is really gonna make our schedule busy" then my grandmother fell ill & with all we had going on, I had to add in helping my parents care for her.....that was busy. But again, it changed my perspective on things & I am grateful for that.

I wanted to look over my resolutions for 2011 & see how I did:

Be Grateful (ok I think I've got this)

Read the Entire Bible (I'm about 1/2 way through)

Spend an hour of intentional time with my kids each day (some days are better than others)

One date night/week with Ryan (Fail.....put this one back on the list)

I'm still working on my resolutions for this year (yes I know its the END of January, now you have to learn patience :)
But I am glad to reflect on 2011 & see that I have definitely grown! Be back soon with an update.

16 & 17

I started this post when Jude was 16mos:

When we had our 12 month visit (at 13months) he was barely saying 3 words-ju (for jude) blue & mo (for more) & he was doing a few animals sounds...but now he is talking up a storm.

He can say so many words it would be hard to tell you them all:

of course: jude, blue & more

He is also saying Elmo (melmo) Big Bird, Hot, Lolly (this one is really cute to hear, it comes out lol lol), Hi, Abby, Pineapple (apple), sissy (shishee), nana, duke (duuu), chacha (which he whispers & he says "chachacha") JoJo, Purple ...just to name a few

He is still using his sign language but he is saying the words now too! He can sign: bye, milk, yes, , down/up, help, sorry, more, please, thankyou, and he has made up his own signs for no, water & drive.
Speaking of drive....HE LOVES ANYTHING TO DO WITH DRIVING!!!! He wants to sit in my car & "drive" he wants to drive the jeep (even though Audrey has to push the pedal & I have to make sure he doesn't run into things) he LOVES driving!

He is also getting good at pretend playing (his sissy taught him this). He loves playing with Audrey & he will play kitchen or babies, they play night night time and anything else she can convince him to play. His other love...(next to driving) is his Sissy!!!
It melts my heart to see how close they are! How much he loves her & she loves him right back! You think their is nothing better than the way you love your child...until you can see the way they love each other.

He is such a big boy now...yet still my little baby. He understands everything you say & wants to do what the big kids are but he will still let me rock him every night! Oh how I love rocking him!!!

We still have Jude on a special diet. He has been able to quit taking his reflux meds but we stick to very natural foods. I guess he's somewhat gluten free but really I just try to stick to the basics. If I do make a casserole or enchiladas etc. i stay away from flour based things.... somehow it triggers his reflux.

Jude we love you so much. I say you are my sweet boy & it is so true. You love everyone around you, you love to laugh, you are just Sweeet! I love being your mommy & making you giggle, playing with you & watching you grow (not to fast please). I can't wait to see what God has in store for you & where HE will take you if only you will let Him. Your Daddy & I pray that you & your sister will always be close, take care of each other & find God at a early age. We love you JuJu!!!

Christmas 2011

Troubles & Thanks

There is a reason they say "when it rains, it pours". I am learning to be content where I am right now, to live in the moment, to trust God & mainly just to not take things for granted.

First of all, I wanted to give an update on my grandma who is doing....GREAT!!! I really don't know how the old bird did it but it seems as if she is going to make a great recovery. She has been in the hospital & nursing home for the past 3 mos but on Thursday we will be moving her to an assisted living facility! She had the option of going home but she chose this instead which I think is great & I know she will have a bridge club going in a matter of weeks!

We (the world) lost an angel this past week. A childhood friend of ours, Leslie Molbert Dame. Her body lost its fight to cancer after fighting for over a year. She was 28years old. I've had a hard time facing this fact. That her earthly body will not walk among us. She & her family are in alot of my childhood memories & in all of my memories of church. Throughout her entire fight, her faith never waivered. That has been a true inspiration for me. I know her body is gone but she is still very much alive. There are so many people(myself included) that she made an impact on & will carry her in there heart from now on.
My sad thoughts go from "she was too young" to "why leslie", "its just not fair" to "all the things she will never do or see" & then I am reminded that to be absent from your body is to be present with the Lord. She is doing & seeing things that would not hold a candle to this earthly world. She is rejoicing with the angels. She is in the arms of our Heavenly Father! She is pain free! (6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7For we walk by faith, not by sight:8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.)
My heart hurts for her & her family & for this earth. But I also know that her inspiration, her effect on people will never die. She will go on making a difference whether she is here or not. I hope that I can be more like her.

I also have a good friend who is being tested. He is a good man. He would (& has) risked his life several times to help other people & now his character & his word is being questioned. My heart goes out to him. He is in position where he gets up everyday & goes to work not knowing. He doesn't get an agenda...he does not know who he will encounter or what his day will hold. He doesn't know if the his next "client" will be friend or foe. He does not know when he leaves for work if he will come home to his family.....& yet he still goes. I think that says alot about him....about his character. I can only believe that he is enduring such hardship because he is so highly valued by God. That God has such an amazing plan for his life that he has become a target by the devil. But see, we know the ending....we know that God always wins! That HE is in control! That he will work ALL things together for good for those that love Him! (Romans 8:28)

There is more but my heart is heavy enough now.....and thankful. Thankful that I can hopefully lend support & comfort to friends. Thankful for my two healthy kids, thankful for my husband who does so much for our family. Thankful to know the people above & am better for it. Thankful for a God who saves me from this harsh world & thankful that not even death can win.

Thankful

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 Its easy to give thanks for the things we ARE thankful for but God calls us to give thanks for EVERYTHING! Today I am thankful for my troubles

today i am thankful for northshore mama. If you have not been to her page...you need to go & like her. I have done almost all of my christmas shopping/cards etc & am well under $100!!! https://www.facebook.com/NorthshoreMama

today i am thankful for a little energy even though I only slept about 4 hours..2 little ones not feeling well = no bueno Also, I missed this weekend bc of work but wanted to mention how thankful I am to all the military people out there, esp those closest to us christopher fahrenholtz, russ wright & jake dyer & those who have given there lives for our freedom. I think sometimes we forget how blessed we are just to be free!

today I'm thankful that my sweet little boy let me rock him to sleep. He is getting so big so fast!

today I am thankful for a great support system! From family, teachers to my work girls...I am one blessed girl!

Today Im thankful that my messy house is not going to bug me (ok maybe alittle). Test tonight & all i've got time for is the babies & studying. Sorry house...get in line...your just going to have to wait :)

Today I'm thankful that my God is faithful!

Today I am wishing that I am the kind of woman that when my feet hit the floor each morning the devil says~~ "Oh Crap, She's up

what am I thankful for today? Not sure exactly yet but I am thankful that I have a today!!!

today I am thankful that my husband is home with us! Happy Friday!

Today I am thankful for a whole hour to myself! I should be studying but I think I wont :)

I have been trying to be thankful each day for something new...i've missed a few but man has it really made a difference on my perspective. Mostly, I have been so thankful for my family! The fact that I get to stay home everyday with my kids....WOW! Thank you Ryan. Staying home definitely has it's challenges but I really just couldn't see it any other way.

I have really been enjoying this age (for both). They are both SO sweet, they love love love each other & Jude will follow Audrey anywhere. He is signing so many words(more, please, thankyou, sorry, yes, up, down, eat, milk, help) but really doesn't say much. Just yesterday we got him to say "more" & "blue" and today I got him to point to himself & say "jude". He CAN say words he just doesn't. I haven't figured out if he just cant get in a word between me & Audie or if he is just content with signing. He is so super smart & is really listening & obeying well (praise God). He loves to hug, cuddle & sometimes rock. He is really enjoying reading now too!

They are both just SOOOOO Sweet, sweet to me, sweet to each other...just sweet! I am just really enjoying them!

Audrey gets up in the morning & either comes & gets in bed with me or lets me sleep & reads books in her room! She wants to be the "little mama" each day which basically means she gets to boss Jude around & drag him around like one of her dolls. She really is such a big help though. They like to eat breakfast at the "little table" (kids table) & she keeps him in line while I get everything going in the morning. She has such a helping spirit. She is in all her glory when "mama needs her help"
We have been working on "obeying all the way, right away" & this is hard. Hard because she is such a good kid & I feel like I am being too hard on her. Hard because as good as she is, her sinful nature wants to do things her way & when she wants to do it. Hard because most of the time I feel like I dont measure up & who am I to be running this precious little one's life?

Sorry to just ramble on....we have alot going on & my heart has been very heavy. I am reminded of how precious my life & what I have in it is. Mostly, I am feeling thankful though.

What are you thankful for?

Circus Party-Details

I have tried to get this invite to post right but it is just not working...i'll have to call tech support (hubby). Anyway, I ordered it from etsy from this site. And where she was awesome, let me make as many changes etc. I found that by the time I had it printed (on heavy duty paper ) & bought envelopes, it was over $1.25/invite....not exactly a bargain for all the work. The design itself was $15 & if I didnt have to print 50 of them & special order envelopes then this wouldve been the way to go.

Ryan being silly with our props for the photo booth

The set up

My very talented friend Charlotte (from the W Group) & I came up with this idea for the cake table. I wanted to have bright colored candy in clear jars & she wanted to create a "big top". She used thick (3 in) ribbon & draped it over the fan then taped it to the table. I got the individual colored candies from party city (not cheap I might add).

I wanted the party to be fun & kid friendly (considering it is a kids party). I decorated with all things editable!


This was my first attempt at the tissue paper balls. I watched a tutorial on you tube on how to do them & I think they came out cute for my first ball. They are super easy...basically you just lay flat about 10 pieces of tissue paper & then fold it back & forth like an accordion then tie then middle with a piece of fishing line (long enough to hang later) then you just start fluffing each piece.

Wendy (Ryan's step mom) did face painting for the kids! Super cute & fun & the kids loved it!

Marshmellow Roses!

These were a lot easier than I thought they were going to be. I took plastic pop sticks from hobby lobby & stuck a big marsh mellow on it then I heated up red candy melts & dipped it in.

Another look at the candy table

Aww the cake....I found a pic similar to this online when i searched circus party themed blogs: This may have been my favorite thing! My friend, Amy Clark, who just makes these beautiful, delicious creations just for fun, made this cake for me for the party. I can't tell you anything about it but that it was delicious & I ate it for 5lbs (or one week)!

For the cake topper, I bought very thin, almost two inch, wooden letters at hobby lobby & painted them with a metallic paint. I let Audrey pick the colors.

Uncle Robbie with the birthday boy (they were actually both birthday boys, Robbie's birthday was on the 7th)

The Photo Booth was fun! The kids had a blast with this! Ryan literally (heavy duty) taped large pieces of cardboard together for the top & the sides & I hung a piece of fabric from the back (we actually stapled it right to the hardyboard siding).

Birthday Boy


Birthday Girl

Her little outfit is called a petite romper, I saw it on etsy from Ry Ry designs (she was easier to find on FB) for $14 I think (shipped)
The headband was from this etsy site she was super accommodating since i ordered it 5 days before the party & she made sure that it got to me on time. She even followed up with me to make sure I had gotten it.

A Few Pics from Today-Details to follow