last day of school

(so it's way late)

The last day of school came really quickly this year. I guess as we get a little bit busier each year the time passes faster. This year Chris and I saw so much grow in each of the boys. We feel really blessed to have each of the boys at schools that fit them each so well.

2 Corinthians 9:8-11

 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,

    giving to the needy in reckless abandon.

His right-living, right-giving ways

    never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

2013...a heart of gratitude

a heart of gratitude 

^“Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, ⁷ rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude,”

Colossians 2:6-7

Several months ago I wrote this is my bible...

"My expression of gratitude is rooted in my dependence on His power, His strength.

If we aren’t filled with gratitude daily, the question we should be asking is, “Am I depending on and trusting in Christ?” (i'm not sure where it's from?)

My word of the year is GRATITUDE. 

For me that means "having a joyful heart"!  I think God has really revealed to me my need to have a grateful attitude and to cultivate that grateful attitude in my children as well. Having a grateful heart is not always something that comes naturally to our sinful nature so it must be learned. So like Paul in Philippians, I must learn to be content with my circumstances.

I think capturing life's little moments will help me have a grateful heart when life gives me lemons!I am hoping to capture a small moment from each day over the next year. Our life has been really busy lately and I want to capture life's little moments because photos make me smile. Sometimes at the end of a crazy day, I think what did we do all day? I know lots of the "moments" will be caught on a phone but that's ok. I find pure joy in scrolling through old photos and laughing at our week caught on camera. My prayer is that God will begin to move in my heart to see the good in life. My family has so very much to be grateful for...now it's my job to cultivate and model that attitude.

 Pretending the snow was still here!

Have you read The Reading Promise?

Chris and I both highly recommend this book.

What a gift to have two boys who beg to be read to!

I really thought once Tanner started reading he wouldn't be interested in us reading to him but he loves it still and we plan to keep it that way.

Bath time is crazy over here.

Painting with friends at our In-serivce

Entertaining himself in the car while waiting for Tanner.

Ummm...more drawing on the mattress.

Shopping for a project they wanted to do

Our morning ritual. After we take Tanner to school this is always the first thing Sam and I do when we get back home.

a report card treat

Do you drink Ugly Mug coffee? It's the best...especially mint cookie!

amazing weather with amazing friends at our amazing zoo

{thankful for}

1. new beginnings

2. days at home with my sweet boys

3. afternoon cups of coffee

4. God's provision...he is trustworthy

5. friends who are great listeners

6. a family bike ride

7. morning snuggles with Sam

8. Sam's teachers who love him and love the Lord

9. a pilates class

10. a lunch date with just Tanner

11. a beautiful day at the zoo with sweet friends

snow glorious snow

     I absolutely loved our weeks at home for Christmas break. Now that Tanner has school everyday I feel like a drill sergeant on school days. It's not that he doesn't get ready, it's just that we have to leave the house sooo early! I can't even remember when....but at some pont during our break it SNOWED!  The boys were in heaven. They played so long I froze to death...note to self...ORDER snow clothes now while they are on sale. They spent the last 30 minutes throwing snowballs at the backdoor while I was standing on the inside...they have never laughed so hard. It was precious.

The boys new boots from the Phillips' were very handy in the snow!

happy "spookiness"

I love Halloween. 

I'm not sure if it's the candy or all the cutest of the littles.

We trick or treated with sweet friends and ate Mollie's famous jambalaya.

the candy getting crew

they work hard to fed us

a last minute costume change from "the mighty flash" to a very homemade ghost

he even drew on it himself

he was so very proud

silly Captain Rex

i adore this little boy

spooky houses

I love projects like this with the boys...it really shows their styles and personalities

Montgomery Bell

This past weekend we headed to Nashville for a Taekwondo tournament and to see a great friends sweet new baby boy. The tournament was actually in Dickson, Tn which is about 45 minutes from Nashville. 

1st place 

1st place green belt and 1st place blue belt from Midtown Taekwondo

Ace Diner 

This was a really great, modern little diner in the heart of Dickson, TN. The food was excellent and so was the coffee which is much needed when traveling with 2 boys.

Family rule...no phones at the dinner table. 

We stayed at the State Park, Montgomery Bell. It was beautiful. I will admit I was a little skeptical when Chris did not take my downtown Nashville advice and booked a house here instead but it was amazing. Honestly I highly recommend it for a family or a weekend trip with your husband. We stayed 2 nights and we were able to ride bikes, run and go for a hike with the boys.

The villas at Montgomery Bell.

school days 2012

It's OFFICIAL...school has begun!

Now I need to figure out how to get everybody everywhere and work part-time...lol!

It is very different having to get Tanner to school by 8:00 rather than 9:00...the traffic stinks so we have to leave earlier. I had to move my morning runs up a little to get back in time but I love starting my day with some quiet time so it's no biggie.

MORNING SUCCESS

If we get everything ready...snacks, lunches, clothes pressed, bags ready...at night then we have a smooth morning....usually.

Such a handsome 1st Grader

This photo summarizes my children's personalities...silly goose and serious!

Tears have been shed over my BABY in Pre-K

summer recap

IS IT REALLY OVER?

Tanner starts school Monday and Sam starts Pre-K in one more week so I guess YES Summer is over.

We had a really busy summer not everything on our TO DO LIST got done but hey we had fun! We did a lot of playing just good old fashion playing. One of my goals this year was to play more intentionally with my kiddos not just set up activities and watch them play. THis summer I got some great practice.

Tanner did Basketball camp and Baseball camp. This was our 1st year to do camps. He had a great time and it was nice for Sam and I to have some playdates.

We watched a lot of Olympics this summer and did a few Olympic "crafts" as well.

Tanner earned enough "reading" points to go to Pump It Up a few times.

When it wasn't 100 degrees, we walked or rode bikes early in the morning. I usually follow along and drink my coffee. The mug is always full of "treasures" once my coffee is gone.

A lot of porch play..especially this week with the amazing weather.

rain play

Sam needs "snuggles to sweep" so he says.

New kicks...the boys picked them out 100% by themselves. A little wilder than the gray or navy New Balance I'm used to.

And lastly, sweet Jackson went on to heaven.

We are very very sad at our house.

ridin' to the Redbirds

Yes. You read correctly we rode our bikes from our house to the Redbirds game on Saturday night. 

It was a beautiful night.

Tanner is an awesome bike rider...he amazes me every time.

The boys have gotten much easier to take to games...I think we may even splurge and get real seats next game.

My legs were sooo sore Sunday morning. I'd run 10 miles that morning and following it with a 20 mile bike ride=super sore hamstrings. 

I love that Chris pushes me to do fun things outside of my comfort zone.

I love that my 6 year old is a much better bike rider than me.