God is good...

Sometimes, you have a day where the sun and the moon and the stars all seem to line up...

and everything falls into place...

...then you are reminded of how good life really is.

God is good...

puzzles and things...

The kids love puzzle time.

I love sitting on the floor helping or watching or showing them a new trick.

Sometimes, they show me a new trick.

I am still surprised by how well Lily and Brysen get along. I know their older siblings who are very close in age as well struggled to get along... you know, they power struggle thing.

They get along now, but there was a time when...

well, I'll save that for another day.

story to write...

Sometimes when we are young and getting ready to start out on our own life's journey...

we may make some silly choices.

I mean who hasn't done it, right?

Haven't we all bought a car that was too expensive or quit a job before we had another one lined up?

These are tough times to be "starting out". The choices are a little bit different than they were a few years ago. You can't walk into any place of business and figure they are hiring.

There is one thing that I do know, though...

This girl... will be just fine.

She has a strong belief in God. She has a family that supports her and loves her oh so much.

This girl has fire and gumption. She will be okay in these precarious times.

She was telling me just the other day that a large number of seniors are suddenly dropping out. They have decided that they don't want to finish their last trimester of high school.

Now, let me set the record straight...

This particular girl was not a cake walk to raise. There were some huge mountains to climb. Those mountains had deep ravines and sharp cliffs. There were times when I thought we might stumble and lose it all.

But, here we stand...

at the last leg of her "childhood" journey.

Her life is beginning.

She has a story to write...

and the telling of the tale will be beautiful.

Just Like Daddy...

Brysen: Mom, look at my wheel chair.

Mom: Why do you need to have a wheel chair?

Brysen: I hurt my foot... just like Daddy.

Party on...

The evening started just fine...

Cadi was singing to the dog.

What?

Are we the only ones who sing to our dog?

The next thing I knew the girls started getting a little crazy.

You know, posing and turning into the rockers they "think" they really are.


Then they started to get serious.

Rock Out!

Party on, Wayne!

Party on, Garth!

Then, I think they may have lost their minds...
General mayhem insued and we had to call the cops to break up the party.

What a shame...

Highschool Science Experiment...

The supplies and directions.The mad scientist!
Testing the temperature of water vs. soil...

Why?

I don't know...



...but the mad scientist was happy with her results....
even though science is her least favorite subject.

Smart Kids...

When Momma's away...

the kids will...

make large frosting covered cookies!


Then, they will eat all of the evidence before mom gets home!

Smart kids!

Hey Daddy...

Hey Daddy...

Hey, Daddy!

Can you hear me, Daddy?!

Daddy, I want you to pay attention to me... not the computer!

Hey, Daddy, guess what...

I love you, Daddy!

Fishy...

"Mommy, I'm a fishy!"

Time...

There are so many ways to find time to spend with one of your kids.

You can take a walk, ride a bike, read a story, color a picture, play a game, or braid their hair.


Aubrey and I love to talk while she gets her hair braided. Sometimes she tells me about her day and sometimes I tell her about mine. Sometimes, we just talk about general stuff... you know... animals, kids at school, cars, dolls, etc.


Sometimes, we spontaneously break out in song.

All of my kids love to sing and what better time to share a funny or gross song than when you're hanging out with one of your kids.

My body has turberculosis.
My body has only one lung.
She coughs up her blood in a bucket,
and dries it and chews it for gum.
Yum Yum.

I know, I know.
Gross.

Dinner time...

Missing from the table...

just Cadi.

Love ya, Cades... miss ya when you aren't here.

Mmmmm....

Enchiladas

Mom's favorite meal.

coloring...

Coloring.

Mom and Bry...

talking about colors.


Laughing...

when he calls me mommy poo-paw.

Sharing a little one on one time.

Just us.

Enjoying each others company.

Thanks for spending time with me, Bry.

I love you.

love...

" You be the baby and I'll be the mommy."

These two kiddos can fight like cats and dogs, but they also love just as fiercely.

At the Well...

Discussion Questions:
What is your definition of friendship?
Did you follow the belief that we should not be friends with our children?
Has that changed?
In what ways can we befriend our husbands and children?
What can we do to teach those skills to someone else?

Friendship is loving, spending time, being there when the chips are down, being able to tell someone the intimate details of your life and know that they won't share it with another soul.

This is a great topic. I guess this is one of the areas where I struggle (outside of my family). You see, my family are my friends. I haven't ever really felt the need for many outside friendships... that is, until about a year and a half ago.

I think there is a big difference in being "best friends" with your children and being their friend and parent. In the parent role, you are sometimes called on to be in the role of disciplinarian. That wouldn't fall into my definition of "friend". I believe that the role of "best friend" comes into play as your children grow older and leave the nest. This is the time when your role as parent changes and you can really start to see them as another adult friend. You are more of an advisor than a rule maker, at that point.

My husband is my very best friend in the whole world. I would do anything for him. I am there for him... always. Likewise, he is there for me... always. We want the best for each other. We seek out each others company.

I think the best way to teach friendship, is to be a friend.

I am not an expert in this area... at least outside of my home. I struggle to make friendships outside of my family. Since losing my mom over a year ago, I have really noticed my need for female friendships. I have made it my daily prayer that God would bring someone into my life that would be that kind of mentor and christian friend that I am so longing for.

God is my ever faithful friend. He is my help and my peace. I couldn't make it a day without Him.

Happy EveryDay...

We don't really celebrate this... strange holiday.

I have never understood why someone would think that this day, above any other day, would be the day to show your love for your spouse or children.

Shouldn't every day be a celebration of that love?

We usually give our children a box of candy hearts and I get a card or letter telling me how much he loves me. However, this is not a special treat for me. We say "I love you" frequently... not just daily but mulitiple times daily.

I know I am loved... not just through a card, flowers, dinner out, candy or some special show of affection on the 14th of February...I am loved because my husband tells me and better yet, shows me every single day of my life.

For me, everyday is Valentines Day.

homeschooling science...

Today sydnee was learning about molecules.

She was able to make a diagram of a protien molecule out of toothpicks and clay.

Sydnee had so much fun learning about the different foods and what they are all made of.

We pulled out some different foods and looked at the ingredients. This was a good way for her to see that sometimes it is hard to tell what foods are better for us than others. Some of the foods she thought would be healthier, turned out to be not so good.

Learning is a marvelous thing.

superbowl party pics...

Okay... I don't really like football. I don't mind if someone does, but it just isn't my idea of an enjoyable way to spend my time.

We did break out the party supplies and let the kids think we were having a grand ole party for the superbowl, though.

We had sub sandwiches and and chips and icecream and soda...

You know, all of the stuff that our kids don't normally get to have.

It was a lot of fun!

Daddy to the Rescue...

Oh yeah... he is digging Cadi out of the snow!

She needed to get to work and the snow is above her tires. She couldn't move.

So... daddy to the rescue!

That's better...

Sometimes sisters get on each others nerves. They find that sharing space and time and parents is just too much. That is usually when the books come out and they spend some good quality alone, quiet time with themselves. Then they get some time to think and mom gets some time to "not" the disagreements.

Awww....

That's better, now, isn't it!

At the Well...

Do you go to church to fulfill an obligation?

Sometimes... are you shocked?

Sometimes I am tired, sick, hurt or just out of sorts. In these moments I don't want to get up and go to church. I am always glad when I have pushed through those feelings, however, and entered the house of God.

I think it is too easy for people to make excuses not to go. I am just as guilty as the next person. Shocking, I know, but as I always tell my family... I am not perfect.

Do you get involved to get a reaction from someone; possibly pity, recognition or even money?

When I was younger, I had to be involved in everything. Mostly because that is what I saw in the lives of those people that I had looked up to as a child. As I grew older, I realized that I had a real problem saying no. I had to go out of my way to learn to say no (nicely, ofcourse) and try not to beat myself up over the guilt that I felt. Now, I realize that God is not expecting me to have to "do it all". He has called me to a purpose and that is the course I need to pursue.



Do you volunteer in your child’s classroom to analyze the new teacher or is it to help?

There are times when I volunteer in a class at church to "check things out". I think that is a good parenting tool. Not because I am expecting to find something un-Godly going on, but because God has entrusted these wonderful children to me and it is my responsibility to make sure they are being well taken care of.



Do you share prayer requests for a chance to gossip or because you truly care and are praying?

I would never share prayer requests as an excuse to gossip. In fact, if I am not sure it is appropriate to share, I will keep it to myself or ask for prayer for... and then just say that it is not something I can talk about but... you get the point.

Gossip really bothers me. When I am in the midst of a group of women who start that kind of talk, I want to get up and run. It seems almost as if women think that if they put a humorous tint to the gossip, then they are just joking not gossiping. I think we all need to be more aware of what we say.

three year old help...

I know that most mothers would agree with me when I say...

the most fun a three year old can have is to help clean the house with the big people.

My little guy just loves to clean the baseboards. He's really good at it too. He makes sure he does each and every one. Then he wipes them all down and shows you what a great job he is doing. He loves the praise he receives for a job well done.

... and Mama gets another chore done.

guitar...

Cadi has taken up the guitar.

I think she just couldn't stand watching mom and little sister learn something without her.

She is doing really well and has even bought her own guitar.

days like this...

The weather is too cold today for outside play. You don't normally hear that from me... we can play outside when it is frigid... but today there are to many sniffles and coughs to accompany the cold. I don't need any more sickness in our house. I think we are paying (this year) for how healthy we have all been the last 3 or 4 years during the icky part of the winter.

Mark got home early today (before 10) and now he is napping. We are going to be moving some furniture around later. The house has already been cleaned and now it smells so nice. I love pinesol.

The kids are chilling out... watching a movie and playing with some puzzle cards. It is quiet... for our house. I love days like this. Everything feels very relaxed. Almost like I could kick back and take a short nap... right here in my chair........

Ouch...

Our little man ran straight into Miranda's guitar today.

It is actually a lot deeper than this picture shows, but not deep enough to need stitches.

He is very proud of his owie.

... and very angry at Miranda's guitar.

A Phone Conversation...

Tammy picks up the phone and hears...

Mark: Ummm, Tam... I'll be home pretty soon.

Tammy: Why?

Mark: I just got out of the doctors office.

Tammy: Why? Is everything ok? What happened?

Mark: I'm fine. I just hurt my ankle. It's not broken, but the doctor said I tore three ligaments in the side of my ankle. It is pretty swollen.

Ummmmm... Ya think?

...and this picture was taken before it really swelled up!

My poor baby.

Finally getting serious????

My beloved Cheyenne...

This picture is a rare thing.

Why...

Because she is studying.

I know... pick yourself up off of the floor. She had to break out the smelling salts when I realized what she was doing, too.

She told me that she wished she had realized how important all of this "school" stuff was years ago. sniff. sniff.

I am so proud of how hard she is working this year. Her senior year.

Good girl, Chey. Good girl.