Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Old Man Winter

We are sooooo over winter at our house. Today the kiddos put their imagination into motion and we imagined how nice it would be hanging out on the ocean. I don't think it's ever going to warm up!

Hanging out at the 'beach' eating popsicles.

Livy working on her tan while listening to beach music.

Playing in the sand and looking for sea shells.(actual sand and shells from the ocean I had brought home from the Bahamas when Jeff and I went back in 2002)

Also, we celebrated Daddy's b-day yesterday. It was to cold to go anywhere or to have people over so we hung out at home. Happy b-day honey!!

Friday, January 17, 2014

Her Laugh

Josh was tossing some blocks onto the table this week causing Maddy to laugh. Luckily Jeff was there to capture the moment. This is sure to make you smile today!

Saturday, January 11, 2014

5 Months

Makes the sound dada all the time (which makes Daddy happy),  beginning to sit on her own for short periods of time, making a high pitch scream when she gets excited, had her first Christmas, reaches out for mommy to hold her, cried for the first time when daddy left for work, found her ticklish spot and laughs like crazy

Monday, January 6, 2014

Let It Snow!

It finally came! My hubby has been waiting years on a snow storm this big. He loves to take the kiddos out in it and act like a kid again. However, today was way to cold to have them out. But that didn't stop him or the neighborhood men. They just can't stand sitting in the house while there are mounds of freshly fallen snow "that has to be taken care of." This afternoon Jeff wanted to see if he could make it down our road. When he finally gets down there he sees my dad sitting there in his car wanting to see if he too can make it down the road. While he's out on his road check, our neighbor was out blessing the neighborhood by plowing our drives. Well he slides off one of the driveways and gets stuck big time. A man stuck in the snow around here is an excuse for all of the neighbor men to play in the snow and to see whose truck can pull him out. After two rucks, and a snow blower trying he was stuck even worse. In fact he ended up down by the woods causing him to be really stuck. They ended up having to call the farmer down the road to bring his Bobcat to pull him out. Two hours later he was finally out and needless to say they were numb all over. I loved Lisa's response when she looked out the window and saw him stuck back there, "Did you all say to each other today would be a nice day to take a drive down by the woods today?" If you know Lisa, you know it was hilarious when she said it. Oh how we love our neighbors!
Men acting like boys playing in the snow! How did you ever get stuck back there Zach??

Jeff took the older ones sledding yesterday afternoon. They can't wait to get back out there and make some major snow forts with daddy!




Maddy loved watching the snow fall.

She is fascinated with it.

It won't be long until she is playing in the snow with her siblings.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2014

Happy New Year! We hope you all are enjoying your first day of this year. Last year was surely the year of   the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for us. We walked through moments of extreme happiness as we finally adopted a daughter and moments of fear as I received the call of Jeff's accident. However, I can say those moments have made us stronger individuals and made our marriage even stronger. Which made me realize as life gets crazier around here with juggling four kiddos, homeschooling, and two jobs for Jeff, our marriage needs to be placed before all of those things. Someday (coming way to soon) the kiddos will be gone, and the schoolroom will once again be a dining room and Jeff and I will be saying how big the house seems to be with them gone. The one thing I don't want us to say is that our hearts have grown apart because we put our marriage on the back burner so we could raise a family. Our marriage is not struggling, so I don't want anyone calling me worried. In fact, our marriage is the best it's been in 17 years and I want to keep it that way. What I'm saying is I never want to be a statistic of unsuccessful marriages. There are too many good Christian couples divorcing in this country because they put so much time and energy in their kiddos. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that at all, but you have to take time as a couple and realize that your spouse's needs should be before the kids. When you do, your marriage not only thrives, but your children feel more secure and can be eye witnesses of how God intended a marriage to look like. I couldn't ask for a more God fearing, loving and considerate husband. In order to help him to thrive I need to be the wife that takes time for him so he knows he is #1 in my life. So, my New Year's resolution is to take more dates together, be a better listener, slow down and take time for him and support my hubby in all area of his life. I've found a few sites that have great date ideas such as:
 http://www.wifemomsuperwoman.com/2012/10/01/30-non-cheesy-date-night-ideas/
and
http://www.stayathomesusie.com/77-super-fun-date-ideas/
and
http://zachterry.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/50-questions-to-ask-your-spouse-on-a-date-night/

On the flip side here are our kiddos waiting for the new year last night at the annual New Year's party. This year we rang it in at Chamber's new beautiful home!

Waiting for the countdown to begin.

Josh is front and center.

10 seconds to the New Year.....

Can you feel their excitement?

One little boy partied a little to hard last night.

Miss Livy didn't get up until 11:00!!


Hope you all have a blessed and happy new year!