Fun Facts For Friday

1 - Our body schedules are WAY off this week.  Zeke and Cai didn't wake up until 9:30am and Areyna woke up around 10:30am.  What in the world?!

2 - Remember this day?  Well, we had a VERY similar incident that happened last night.  On the way home from band rehearsal Josh and I were discussing whether we did or didn't need to stop and get gas.  The trooper kind of made up our minds for us when the gas light came on.  While we were pumping gas (around 9:15pm) we saw a pick-up truck come straggling in with a flat tire.  The tire was literally falling apart, with all the wires hanging out of it.  Then the lady and her daughter came out.  Josh and I looked at each other and knew exactly what we needed to do.  While Josh finished pumping our gas I walked over to see if she needed help.  She looked exhausted and nodded "yes", with thankful eyes.  She spoke little English so Josh stepped in to lead the conversation with her (he's pretty sexy when he speaks spanish;).

To make a long story short, Josh changed her tire (with Buzz Lightyear's help), the kids made a new friend as they exchanged toys and played in the gas station parking lot with the daughter, and we got in the car to head home.  Josh was drenched with sweat, saying it was the hardest tire he'd ever had to change.  We looked over to the woman as she tried to start her car...that wouldn't start!

Her battery was dead.  So, we got back out of the car to jump her car.

Then her headlights went out.  She found that is she held the knob for the brights she could see enough to get home, but we offered to follow her home, just in case.  It's a good thing we did because her lights went out about half way home.  We found a place to park her car as they piled in the trooper with us...all 7 of us, with the back piled full of our music equipment.  It's a good thing we didn't pass any of the dozens of cops we saw all night long, during that stretch.

We said our goodbye's and handed her one of our CD's and "All That Glitters" cards.  She was SO appreciative.

I'm sure this was all just a coincidence, just like the last time.

We finally pulled into our driveway around midnight.  Hence the reason for our late morning this morning:)

3 - Josh told me to remind him to ALWAYS keep our hydraulic car lift in the back, along with the jumper cables and other car changing essentials.  It's also time to restock the cars with Glitters CD's!  Another lesson, I've decided we're going to pick up Spanish in homeschooling with the kids.  One more realization...my husband is hot when he's helping others!  Just sayin'.

4 - While I was cleaning up the house yesterday I kept getting a whiff of something.  A good something.  A really nice something.  Almost fruity, but not really.  I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out what it was...until I went to change my shirt and realized that I had used a new deodorant that morning.  I guess it did the trick 'cause I smell awesome, ha!

5.  Here is our opener song, David Crowder's "Come and Listen", from Journey's last Sunday at our old space last weekend, in case you missed it.


6 - My cell phone died and I was without one for almost a week.  I went to Verizon to get the cheapest one they had with my upgrade and decided I could do without my texting plan.  So, if you text me and I don't respond, it's not because I don't love you.  Really, I just would rather hear your sweet voice instead.

7 - I am SO excited for this weekend.  We'll be in our new space.  I can't believe how quickly this has all moved.

8 - My kids have been addicted to Starfall this week!  It's really sweet to watch Areyna "teach" Zeke.  I think she'll be able to reach him in a way that I never will.

9 - The copy of "Radical" that Josh and I have been reading through fell in the toilet.  Don't ask.  We're not sure how it happened and the kids aren't either.  I'm sure that was coincidence as well, ha!

10 - There is a prize for whoever can get closest to telling me what we've been using this for.

In Order To Love You More

First of all, explain to your kids what is going on.

Let them know that mommy and daddy need some special time together.

"This helps us love each other more...

...and in turn helps mommy and daddy love you more!"

"What can do this?" you ask.

A DATE NIGHT!!!!

"But we don't have any money for a babysitter, much less a date."

What if I told you that it can be done on a $15 budget (or less)?

Child Care - FREE

Steaks at Trader Joe's - $9

Broccoli, salad, peaches and ice cream - already around the house

Red Box Movie - $1

Now, sit down and pen it in the calendar together!

That way you won't have any excuses not to do it.

Plan it out, just like you would a special night out on the town.

Make it intentional and special:)

Here is how our night went:

Kid's in bed - check

I just have to share that while I was finishing up the dinner 

Josh gave all 3 kids a bath.

Boy, if that doesn't shout his love for me...

Mood Music - check

Romantic, candlelight dinner - check

Delicious dessert - check

Movie - check

I don't even need to tell you the other advantages of having a date

 in the comfort of your own home;)

And that is how an at-home date is done, my friends!

I've God A Good Idea

Sometimes I have these brilliant ideas, so I thought I'd put them out there just in case one of my entrepreneur readers wanted to put them into practice and become a millionaire or something;)

Red Box Parking

I think stores that have Red Box movie rental stations right inside or outside the door should have a half-dozen or so 5-minute (or 15 min. for those S.L.O.W browsers!) parking spaces up front near the entrance.

That way, when you want to run in and just return a movie you won't get a ticket for parking in the fire lane;)

What do you think?  You think someone could accomplish that one?

How about you?  Do you have any brilliant ideas you'd like to share?

Focus...Focus

This is a prime example of how our children learn.

Josh carefully showed Areyna how to hold the bat and explained when to swing at the ball.

Areyna's first attempt at it.

Just look at her form.

Pretty impressive if you ask me.

She is poised and ready.  You can just see her concentration!

Then there is Zeke 

*sigh*

After receiving careful instruction as to how to hold the bat and when to swing...

...he quickly became distracted by the ever-so-tasty 

"soury things" in the grass and couldn't resist.

Note the placement of the thrown ball, ha!

And this is why I am going to use different techniques while homeschooling these two:)

The End Of A Chapter And 21 Hours In Virginia

This weekend was a big weekend.

Josh and I made up the entire "Journey Worship Band" this weekend.  We really should have put a "Do Not Disturb" or "Come In At Your Own Risk" sign on the Green Room door back stage, hee.  Just kidding...or am I?!

Anyhoo...ahem...it was our last weekend at the old space before we start rockin' the new space for Jesus!  Therefore, it was all stripped down.  No media, screens, set, bumper videos, sound system...

...and it was AMAZING!  It was such an emotional day, though.  I think Pastor Jimmy teared up during every service...they were good tears though:)

In all honesty, it was one of the best services I had been to in a while.  There was no hype, no strategy to get more people in the door, it was just true, honest, raw worship with song and praise and teaching.  It was the closing of a chapter, yet the opening of another!

What a blessing it is to be part of something SO MUCH BIGGER than ourselves!

After our last set, Areyna and I jumped in the car with my sister-in-law, Danielle, who graciously waited for me so I could make it, (sorry for being late Joy), to Josh's little sister's wedding shower in Virginia.

I'm so glad I was able to make it!  Not only was the shower fun, but afterwards all us girls, (6 mommy's, 8 little ones, 1 bride-to-be and one out-numbered man, sorry Rick) piled into the Via home and did what girls do best...talked, laughed, ate and gave advice for the soon-to-be-newlywed:)

Strangely, though, it was much quieter and much more calm without all the boys...I'm just sayin'.

12:30 rolled around this afternoon and Jenn and I decided it was time to go relieve our men from their fatherly duties and let them get some of their own work done so we began our trek back home.

Josh had a crock-pot dinner waiting for us when we got home.  We grabbed a quick bite to eat together before he headed out to get some work done on the new space.

*sigh*

We have planned a much-needed, in-home date night on Wednesday to reconnect after this crazy summer!

I am more than ready for the fall and all the stability, and cool weather, it brings with it!

One Year With Micaiah

Well, this time last year we were getting our house painted, putting our house on the market, planning a move...and having a baby!  All 6 lb. and 8 oz. of him.

I can't believe it's been an entire year.  It seems like forever ago, yet, just yesterday all at the same time.

Micaiah has been such a trooper this year.  He has been through a lot of transitions in his one year of life.  He's shared a room with his music rehearsing daddy, a washer and dryer, learning to sleep in a room all by himself to sharing a room with his two older siblings.  He's done excellent with all of his transitions!

His personality is really starting to show through and he is learning new things every day.

Here is what he is up to lately:

Signing all done, more, and please very well. We're working on thirsty and hungry (although we all know he is ALWAYS hungry! Honestly, the boy weights 23.2 lb. now)

Continues to make all other babies cry (except his little girlfriend, Eliana.  She just kisses and loves on him regardless of his actions) because he steals all their food, pacis and toys:)

Following simple instructions. He actually "helped" me put his legos away the other night.

Says: all done, uh-oh, hot, mama and dada to us

Another tooth came through on July 21st.  He is now up to 5.5 teeth!

Walking like a champ. Every day of July he would take more and more consecutive steps together until he could walk across an entire room by the 20th!  Now he is walking laps around the entire house.

Loves him some meat! This boy eats more than Zeke at this stage in his chunky little life. Size 18 month T-shirts are a little snug around his belly.

Beginning separation anxiety. He definitely loves his mommy. When he's tired he'll cry whenever I walk out of the room. If I'm not around he does much better. Out of sight, out of mind, I suppose.

Does NOT like me to scurry around and clean up the house or work on projects.  Darn!

He is beginning to help me get him dressed.  He'll pull his arms through his shirt holes and transfer his toy from one hand to the other to get both arms through.

Cloth diapering is going GREAT!

He is down to nursing for just his first feeding in the morning.  We are giving him organic cow's milk for the other 2 meals and he has transitioned wonderfully.  We went straight to sippy cups, so no more bottles!

Loves anything with buttons: ie. amps, cell phones and remotes, but prefers the more expensive ones...of course.

Sings along with his daddy!  I love this one:)

"Gentle" is far from Cai's vocabulary!  He is SO rough and LOVES to wrestle.  He's been known to knock Zeke off his feet on occasion.  Shhh...don't tell Zeke I told you that one;)

What do you do with him during rehearsal?  Well, the same thing we did with the other two.  He is going to master the drums and guitar just like Zeke!

Starting to play games.  He likes to drop things and wait for our reaction.  He likes to splash water in his own face.  We have an on-going game when he wakes up in the morning or at naps.  We cuddle together until he has completely woken up.  Then, he makes an "mmmm" sound.  We'll copy each other back and forth until it gets faster and faster and then he picks his head up, takes his thumb out of his mouth and is ready to get down and play.

He has learned the difference between his and Zeke's bubbies and tries to steal Zeke's to make him mad. Usually Zeke does pretty well with it:)

Balls are a favorite lately.  He likes to play "fetch".  Who needs a dog when your one-year-old does all the drooling, plays all the games, and chews on everthing that a dog would?!  At least I can put a diaper on a baby, ha!

He loves people.  He hardly ever puts up a fuss while strangers "ooh" and "aww" over him.

We are so grateful for this third little life that God has blessed us with.

Happy 1st Birthday my sweet Micaiah Joel!

Recipe For A One Hundred Degree Day

What You'll Need:

Kids - it always helps to have an excuse to get creative and dirty:)

Clothes - optional

Tupperwear and spoons for playing with water teaching 

your little brother how to play the drums

Paint Brushes - you can't beat water and grass painting

Water Bottles - it's always safer than licking the water off the concrete

Good thing that never happened;)

One Sprinkler

A Super Hero is a necessity - for safety, of course

Now... get creative ...

...and don't worry about getting water in your face...

...because you can always get your bicycle helmet on to keep the water out of your eyes.

Just remember, though, teamwork is the key to happy hearts in the sun!

I'd Rather Do Anything Than...

Sometimes, as a parent, there are tasks that I'd just rather not have to do.

Some days it would just be nice if my kids didn't have to be sustained by food. I mean, I feel like the majority of my day is spent running around the kitchen filling up sippy cups, cutting up fruit, grabbing an extra napkin, and cutting up meat for my little carnivorous toddler.

Don't get me wrong, being a mom is awesome, and I love my kids, so don't even go there!

I'm just saying, if I were to have one job to give to someone else it would be fixing meals for my kids:)

What about you? Do you have any specific task that you'd love to pass on to someone else for a day?

Little Corners Of My Mind

My mind has been a whirlwind lately and I can't seem to follow through on a single idea or thought.

So, it's your lucky day.

I've got a post filled with random thoughts from my mind that have been circling around for the past couple of weeks.

So, fasten your seat belts and rid yourselves of any type of organizational expectations you may have had while coming here today:)

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It's August! Where in the world did the summer go? In fact, where in the world is 2010 going and why does it seem to be in such a hurry?

The weather was so nice yesterday. We kept all our doors open all day and the kids played outside, happily (well, most of the time), for about 95% of the day. The other 5% was spent eating and yes, they all finally got a bath last night!

Micaiah turns ONE on Friday. I'm not even going to talk about that one yet...

This past Sunday was "transition Sunday". I may or may not have teared up a little bit as I dropped Cai off in his new TODDLER class;) And I may or may not have snuck into Kidz GIG to peak in on Areyna as she danced and sang to Jesus with her new class (which she has been talking about non-stop, by the way!). Zeke, well he didn't transition much, seeing as he's been going to Areyna's class the whole time because he couldn't manage to stay put in his own class without her. But, now that he is familiar with his room and teacher we are working hard to make this transition pleasant for him as he ventures into life without his older sister and cousin in class with him.

Cai slept almost ALL DAY yesterday. He woke up at 8:30am, we put him down for a nap at 10am and he slept until 2:30pm! He was ready to go back to sleep by 4pm and slept until almost 6pm and was still ready for bed at 8pm. Not sure what all that means except for the fact that we've worn that sweet little boy out this summer!

School! AAHHHH...I don't even know where to begin. It's August and I need a plan...and fast!

I feel as though I'm veering more and more into the "simple life". I now dry my clothes on a line outside, I cloth diaper my child, I am working on getting our compost going, I feel the need to rid myself of all unnecessary appliances that "help" me do things more efficiently because I don't feel like they are all that much help anyway. My sister-and-law and I are checking into to a farmer's co-op to buy our meat and produce from. The world probably thinks I'm crazy!

Cai walked a full lap around our whole house yesterday without falling.

Radical is literally kicking my butt! All these feelings and convictions I've felt over the years are surfacing at once and this book is convicting me, even more, to put them into action. So many things to think and pray about.

I'm so glad we don't have to go to the beach this week. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the beach, the ocean, the salt water, the sand, looking for crabs and seashells, cleaning beach remnants from the creveaces of my soon-to-be-one-year-old's chubby rolls, but I am VERY thankful to be at home this week and get caught up on the normal, everyday things, that go weeks without getting done around here, like: mowing the grass, watering the plants (I'm down to 2 live plants inside...pretty sad), laundry, normal cleaning around the house...

Stuff...stuff...stuff...sometimes I just want to get rid of all our "stuff".

We think Areyna may be lactose intolerant. She's been getting really bad stomach aches and we decided that we'd try to weed out milk. She went all dinner and night without a stomach ache and no milk. We'll give it a few days to see what our next step should be.

Yesterday was a super-productive day! We finally got our newsletter done, Josh worked on the yard (it took him 5 hours!), I got caught up in the office...I LOVE productive, relaxing days:)

This weekend will be our church's last weekend in our current space. Josh and a slew of other people have and will be working around the clock, in the new space to put the finishing touches on it so we can get going in full swing right away. I LOVE that Josh gets to be a part of this. I kind of feel like I do when we are able to give, financially, to someone going on a mission trip. Even though I can't physically go myself (you know, with three kids and all the "help" they bring to the table) I still get to be a part of it. I don't get to go on the mission trip, but we can help enable someone else to go, therefore being part of the trip ourselves. I can't physically help out at our new space all that much, but allowing my husband the freedom to come and go is allowing me to be a part of the bigger picture!

I suppose that's all my mind has the capacity to process at the moment, so I'll stop for now.

Have a great, happy heart"ed", fun, productive, motivated, relaxing Tuesday!