100th day of school

 100 days!

100 eyed monster for 100 days of school

Last Tuesday was Micah's 100th day of Kindergarten.  Well technically he's missed some days but whatever :) I asked Micah to share 10 things that he's learned in Kindergarten in his first 100 days.

In his words he has learned how to...
*add
*read
*not play in the cafeteria
*count money
*climb in P.E.
*hula hoop
*play typing games
*write sentences
*not be loud at the computers in the classroom
*take AR tests

He's been quite a busy boy ;)

arabia mountain

We took a couple hour break this afternoon to climb Arabia Mountain.  It was a sunny, WINDY, beautiful afternoon and getting out after almost a week of rain was wonderful.  Micah and Connor loved the fun and easy hike and did a great job spotting the stone 'towers' that kept us on the right track up.  

Logan started off in the hiking carrier and lasted all of three minutes.  I spent the whole way up convincing him that he wanted to walk straight and follow his daddy and brothers instead of trying to play in the puddles and throw rocks, sticks and pine straw everywhere.  He is quite the stubborn, independent one yet he is almost clingier than Connor was.  QUITE an interesting combination.  Thankfully I have learned through being a mom the past five years that you have to go into adventures assuming it's not going to go as planned so that when it doesn't you are prepared and if it does you are pleasantly surprised :) 

 We stopped at the top for a snack of popcorn and energy bites, watched some eagles fly around, and jumped off some rockish ledges on top of the rock mountain.  I wore Logan the whole way down hoping that being with me would make it easier for him to stay in.  Technically it worked as long as I didn't stop walking or stop humming "Following The Leader" from Peter Pan.

I love adventuring outside with all my boys and love that they let a girl adventure with them too :)

scootering

conversations of the heart

Micah had a birthday party on Sunday afternoon and we had a rare occasion alone in the car to talk.  On the way from the party to our small group meeting I had the urge to ask him a question.  I don't want to forget what was said so I'm writing it down. This is how our conversation went.

Me:  Micah do you know how much Jesus loves you?

M:  Infinity

Me:  Ha.  Yes that's right.  Do you know how much God loves you?

M:  Infinity too
Me:  Yep, no matter what you do it is always infinity.  Did you know Mommy and Daddy love Jesus and God too?  Do you love Jesus?

M:  Yeah

Me:  Did you know that Mommy and Daddy have Jesus' spirit in their hearts.

M:  Yep.

Me:  Do you think one day you will want Jesus' spirit in your heart too?

M:  I already do.

Me:  You do?!

M:  Yep I do.

Me:  Oh...(trying not to be shocked and maybe doubtful) Well that's really cool.  Did you ask him?

M:  Yeah and (making a sucking noise) he came in.

Me:  Really!?  When did you do that?

M:  In my bed when I was 4.  I prayed it in my head.

Me:  Why didn't you tell us?

M:  Because I didn't need to talk about it.

Me:  Well Sweetie that is very cool. Thank you for telling me about it.

I told Zach about it last night and we were both very smiley and excited at the thought.  In both of our heads there's that thought of wondering if, but in the end we have to trust the plan that God has for all our children and we pray that he will reveal himself to them in a way that they need and understand.  We will always only know about our children's spiritual lives by what they share with us and fruit they show.  No matter what is going on in his precious heart our conversations and example will continue to be us striving to be a light to our kids, ever failing but ever knowing He works through us in spite of us.

  

rain is good for ducks

On the way home from running errands yesterday we saw two ducks playing in the puddles on the street in our neighborhood.  It's been raining A LOT so there are big puddles. Connor could not believe that there were ducks here and let me know how they got here and why they came.

Mama, the ducks were at the 'feed the ducks' park and they were too wet and they were cold so they got in their car and drove here so that they could play in the rain and just a little water not a lot of water.

glossary:
feed the ducks park- Turner Lake Park where we go to feed the ducks
a little water- a puddle
a lot of water- a lake

saturday morning fight

This past Saturday was a rare occurring morning with no where for anyone to go and nothing pressing to do. Which obviously led to an epic light saber fight.  Logan and I were the good guys and Zach, Micah and Connor were the bad guys.  It was NOT a fair fight!

mariokart

MarioKart was one of the boys gifts for Christmas and they have been loving it.  Micah and Zach are pretty good.  Connor is very enthusiastic and I have not played enough to actually be anything yet.  I was awesome at the old MarioKart in my younger days so I'm hoping to sneak in some practice time somewhere so I can surprise them all ;)

On facebook the other day I shared something I the boys told me after a race.

Micah-  Mama, I won first place!!!

Connor-  Mama, I won last place!!!

Gotta love a positive thinker :)

little chefs

On the Friday before last I hit a wall.  It was the last Friday of Christmas Break and apparently the exhaustion of the past weeks had finally caught up with me.  By 3 o'clock that afternoon I looked like a zombie.  Well for those of you who actually watch walking dead, I didn't look or act that freaky, but I was struggling big time.

We were planning on going to our friends concert in Decatur that night and I was pretty sure I wasn't going to make it through the ride there without crashing so my dear husband, told me to go take a nap and get ready for the evening while he and my little chefs took care of dinner.  They made chili and it was delicious.  It tasted even better because I got to eat it showered and rested :)

I had no clue Zach took pictures with my phone until I was going through them all today to delete some.  It was just too sweet and cute not to share.

daisy

Logan LOVES Daisy!  Loves Loves Loves her.  Her name is one of his two favorite words and he will yell it constantly, especially when he wants to give her a snack.  He loves grabbing her, petting her, feeding her, yelling for her and watching her through the window.  The only other child who has ever been this fond of my Daisy May is Mr. William.

My sweet Daisy is 12 years old and will probably not be with us much longer.  However she is a stubborn southern woman so she could surprise us!  For however long it is our baby boy is loving every minute of it!

piratey things

Connor goes in and out of his pirate love and he was "in" the other day.  He took his new swords outside and convinced Logan to attacked the fort with him.  Logan was only too happy to obliged.  Hitting things is one of his favorites.  Me letting him hit things pretty much made his day!

sunday song

Called Me Higher
All Sons and Daughters

I could just sit
I could just sit and wait for all your goodness
Hope to feel your presence
I could just stay
I could just stay right where I am and hope to feel you
Hope to feel something again

And I could hold on
I could hold on to who I am and never let You change me from the inside
And I could be safe
I could be safe here in Your arms and never leave home
Never let these walls down

But you have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I will go where you will lead me Lord
You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I will go where you lead me Lord
Where you lead me
Where you lead me Lord

And I will be Yours
I will be Yours for all my life
So let Your mercy light the path before me

new year, new goals

I think goals for a new year are a great idea.  It requires you to sit down and examine what you've done and where you're going, things you love and things you can let go, and above all where your relationship with God fits into all those categories.

That said, looking back at my goals for 2012 kind of cracks me up.  The girl who wrote those goals had a five week old who was still taking amazing naps during the day, a two year old who was still napping during the day and a four year old who didn't have to wake up at the crack of dawn to get to school on time.  I won't go on and on with the whats and whys and hows, I'll just say that being a mother and wife is the best job I've ever had but parenting three was way more time filling than I could have ever imagined.  But just for the sake of honesty I'll share my goals of last year and highlight the ones I accomplished, which looking back was way more than I had thought I did!

Sarah’s Goals for 2012

Spiritual
                *  complete  bible reading plan 
               *  daily prayer time and journaling
                *  set a good schedule for boys so that I am able to begin waking up before them again
                *  read at least 6 spiritual growth books
                *  join a women’s accountability group of some kind
                *  make goals for Children’s Church and accomplish them

Physical
                *  earlier bedtime
                *  eat healthier (more water, less Dr. P and other sugars)
                *  regular exercise - complete 30 day shred at least twice, run 2-3 5ks
                *  skin care regiment 
                *  be diligent with taking vitamins
               * engage in physical activity/play with M, C and L

Financial
                * reevaluate family budget and stick to it
                *  patient with spending $$ on wants
                *  pay off  student loans
                * organize paper work with a filing system
               * savings account/retirement account

Professional/Home life
                * keep up cleaning schedule and weekly goals list
                * refurbish piano, coffee table and end table
               * complete one pinterest craft a month
                *  try 3 new recipes per month
                *  summer reading practice with Micah
                *  work on Connor’s letters and numbers
                *  limit time on facebook , blogs and email
                *  read at least 6 fun books

Relational
                *  more special dates with Zach
                *  monthly hangout with friends our or at home
                *  concentrate on word of the year limit/slow..This was the biggest fail of all!
                *  reach out to the needs of others small or large
                * still trying to learn to make meaningful, friendly small talk
                *  specific prayers for others and myself
               * plan a fun weekend getaway with 1) a group or girl friends 2)mother and sister in laws on each 
                    side

I shared with my pastor today that I feel like my personal relationship with Christ was on a back burner all year due to just the overwhelming amount of energy it took to be a mama of three instead of two.  Meaning, prayer time, bible reading time, etc. were very sporadic and often hurried if they did happen.   However, somehow He has changed me in a relational way this past year that I never saw coming and I don't even know when it happened.  For that I am extremely humbled and grateful.  He replied by telling me that yes we have a a role to play in keeping in step with the spirit and seeking him but good news is that even when we don't, He will be faithful to carry to completion what he has started in me. 

This year I'm sure Zach and I will chat about the things we want to do this year and the things we need to do, and I'm sure I will list many times the different projects I want to try but my biggest goal this year that I'm writing down is this...

In 2013 I want to explore and enjoy the life God has given me, all aspects of it both good and difficult, with a grateful heart and with praise and adoration to who gave it to me.  

So in life with my God, my husband, my children, my family and friends, my home, my body and my finances I just want to slow down and take the time to explore them all and enjoy who and what they are in my life.  As wonderful as it sounds I know it's going to be difficult, but I know regardless come this time next year I'll be able to see ways God has worked in my life regardless of the goals I have accomplished.

embrace the camera: jan 3, a look back

 Zach recently connected my phone camera to a dropbox file so all my pictures aren't just lost on my phone to be forgotten about.  Most of these were taken before instagram for android so while some have been shared through the tedious process of emailing them to myself and then downloading from email to the computer and then uploading them to the blog, most have not.  These are my favorite embracing memories and pictures from 2012...at least the ones from my phone ;)

and the fella who does it all with me.  Love him more every single moment of the day.

{embrace the camera}