First Weekend of Spring!!

We had a great spring weekend here in Acworth! I love the weather this time of year - nice and warm but not hot and no bugs!!

Chad turned 7 on Saturday and we had a great day with him. He is a treasure to us and I just can't imagine what my life was like before this awesome boy was in it. He just cracks me up and makes everyday a little better. He was so patient with us all day waiting to open his presents. Most of the time the kids open their gifts after they eat their doughnut breakfast left by the "birthday fairy". We had such a busy day planned that we didn't have time to open presents. Claire had chorus rehearsal from 9-12, Cody had his first soccer game at 10 and we were running like crazy! All Chad really wanted was a "big boy" wallet. Pretty easy gift for Mom!! We also got him a clip-on I-Dog that has become his favorite gift! The boy loves music and the I-dog lets him listen to his MP3 player without headphones. He's been belting out "Hey Jude" all over the place! We also spent a lot of time outside playing with his new giant frisbee! Chad loves to play frisbee and really wanted one of those big ones.

Here's a shot of the birthday boy blowing out his candles on his oh so yummy cupcakes!




Saturday was also Cody's first soccer game! What fun! We had a couple of friends from church come out and watch with us. Cody's good friend, Calvin, is on the same team and they love playing together! It is so funny to watch a herd of 5 year olds chase after the soccer ball. We won - although they don't really keep score. Cody is playing for One Goal which is a God-centered sport association. We love that before the start of each game there is a prayer led over the loudspeaker and each of the children are introduced for all the teams playing that hour. At halftime they have a small devo and say their assigned memory verse for the week. It's God first, fun second, and learning the sport third. It's a great environment for us right now.

Better get busy doing something productive! I'll finish out with a couple of shots of our little soccer player!







Have an awesome spring day!!

Today

Today has been a pretty good day. It is one of those crazy busy weeks! It is Teacher Appreciation week and that means a lot of work for me and a lot of other people. I actually love days like today. I read to Chad's class for 20 minutes then went to get lunch for Claire's teacher then held a short impromptu meeting with friends and the principle before rushing out to get Chad and Chase's teachers some lunch. I love the constant activity and the wonderful feeling of making these awesome teachers feel appreciated.

We are so blessed with the school our children attend. We have had nothing but great experiences there and just love it there. I love how many people there have become important to our family. I feel blessed by each and every one of them.

The rest of the day was pretty good, too. After school Chad, Cody, Jason and I played a little bit of frisbee in the backyard. There is nothing better than hearing "Mom, it's much more fun when you're out here with us" from your sweet little boy. After Chad made sure he didn't leave a single square inch of his jeans free of grass stains, we came in a worked as a team to get the house picked up and cleaned! I finally put away 3 weeks worth of laundry (I know that is horrible!) and cleaned my bathroom (in desperate need!!). After dinner we all played a little Wii before the kids got their showers.

I guess we had too much fun, though. As we were putting Chad to bed he asked when we were going to do his homework!! Oops! Oh well, at least tomorrow is Friday and he can rest up over the weekend!

I know I know it's about Cody again

This blog really isn't supposed to be all about Cody!! It just happens that right now he is going through the most changes and let's face it, I'm with him all the time!!

Yesterday was his first soccer practice. I loved everything about it - except maybe the part where he was flattened into the ground by the biggest kid on the team. Oh well, he got right up and dusted himself off and was ready to go. I actually cried when I put his tiny little shinguards and cleats on him! How crazy is that? I just can't believe he is this big already.

Cody is a very shy little guy so I wasn't sure how this was going to go. He did very well and listened hard to the coach and had a great time. He was running all over the place pumping those little arms. I don't think I have ever loved a practice as much before this one. Don't get me wrong, I have loved watching all my kids do their various activities. There is just something special about knowing this is the last time one of them will be starting their first sport. It is bittersweet.

I am always amazed at the confidence doing one of these activities gives children. Cody is always confident about himself at home but has the hardest time interacting with other people. Last night after that practice he was just full of himself! He went to the grocery store with me and was talking up a storm. We ran into a friend and he was telling her all about soccer. It was awesome to see him open up a little and be so proud of himself. That alone is worth the hefty fees you have to pay for kid's activities!

I forgot to take my camera last night but will take it next time. I don't think I couldn't have taken any shots last night anyway - too busy admiring my kiddo!

It's Tough Being a Woman

I'm doing the new Beth Moore study, Esther, It's Tough Being a Woman. It is a great study so far and I have learned a lot of new things through the life of Esther. I often wonder, though, why it is so tough being a woman. One whole week was about meanness. The context was that woman are so often so mean to each other. Why is that do you think? As we were watching the video it was so convicting. Every situation she mentioned about the meanness of women we had all experienced. I agree with Beth Moore that most of us don't know too many "mean" (as in premeditated mean) women. I do think we all know way too many women that have been mean to us at one time or another. I, too, am guilty just in case you thought I was accusing everyone else!

I wonder if the times we feel we have been mistreated are always the fault of others. I know that I have been guilty of judging the intentions of others without ever asking their intentions. It is so hard to go back from that way of thinking. Once you have judged their hearts it is very hard to stop. The anger and hurt just builds from there until we are convinced they are mean.

I come from a family of women. Still I wish I could figure women out sometimes! I don't think I will ever know what makes us tick. Why we are so hard on each other, why we are so quick to put each other down, why we are so quick to judge each other, etc... I know from experience that no one can cause pain like another woman. I think we have all experienced that from time to time.

So, as I am still absorbing this Bible study, I would ask that we all search our own hearts and motives in our relationships with other women. We all need to cut each other some slack and remember the great sisterhood we all share.

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." Colossians 3:12-13

Cody, again!

Well, it's official! I no longer have any babies! Cody signed up to play soccer today. I can't believe he is going to be playing a sport. I know it will be good for him. He is starting to branch out and trying new things. He is actually excited about starting kindergarten in the fall. He tells everyone he will be in Mrs. Hedden's class (Chad's K teacher) so I have to make sure that happens or he may go into a tailspin! The idea of tiny little Cody playing on a soccer field is funny to me. It will be entertaining. Chase was the same age when he started playing soccer but he always seems older to me than Cody at the same age. I know it's just my perception of Cody as a baby. I need to let that go and let him be a big kid!

He is excited that Calvin will be on his team. It is sweet to watch your children develop friendships. It seems that age 5 is the age that really starts to happen. I'm so glad we live here and our children have so many good friends!

It was so nice outside today. The kids played outside all afternoon and even had a watergun fight. Claire was evidently not very good at the battle because she came home soaking wet!! The boys were hardly wet at all - mainly their rear ends because they slid in the wet grass. I think the teams were pretty heavily weighted in the boys favor, though. There were about 8 boys and 3 girls - hardly seems even! I'm not one for hot weather but it is nice to be able to wear flipflops and the kids run around barefoot! I guess it was just nice for our feet to come out of sock hibernation!

Out of the mouth of babes...

I am constantly amazed at the things my kids say! The latest example is from sweet Cody. He looks like a 2 year old but talks like a teenager! His mouth is always making promises his body can't keep!!

This past weekend Jason and I attended a Focus on the Family marriage simulcast. It was awesome and a great day spent focusing on God's plan for our marriage. The kids went to the day care offered by the church there at the simulcast. We had mentioned to the kids we were going to a marriage seminar but nothing in detail. On Sunday morning my cousin, Julie, is asking Cody what he had done on Saturday. He told her, "my Mom and Dad went to a marriage seminar and learned about marriage and kissing.". We all cracked up!! I don't know where he got that information (it was not that kind of seminar!!) but it sure was funny to hear his perception of the event.

Another quick Cody story (again this is mostly for me so that I don't forget these things!). A couple of weeks ago Nathan and Teda brought Liberty to church for the first time. Later at home I asked Cody what he thought of her. He said, "I didn't get to see her.". I asked him why not, "because her Daddy was carrying her around in one of those things you keep drinks cold and I couldn't see her."! I loved this answer. I couldn't tell if he thought a baby carrier was a cooler or if Nathan had been carrying a cooler and Cody thought Liberty was in it. Either way he was very disappointed he didn't get a glimpse!

The ever awesome Cody!!



I'm out of here - need sleep!

Wow!! I am behind!

I pulled up a friends blog today and signed into blogger for the first time in a very long time!! I didn't realize that it has almost been a year since I last posted anything on here. I know my Mom has probably wondered what on earth happened - I think she is the only one that consistantly checked in with us! I use this mainly as a way to keep up with everything going on in my life. Time moves so quickly and I find myself struggling to remember what everyone was doing at any given time.

So, a quick update!

Jason is still plugging away at his job. We are so thankful for a secure job in this economy. So many we love are not as fortunate. We praise God for the stability we are afforded.

Claire is still loving Girl Scouts and is in the middle of Cookie sales. She didn't sale nearly as many this year (thank goodness!) but still did very well. We have what we hope is one more week of booth sales and then we can put this behind us for another year. Claire is in the 4th grade and has just flourished this year. We are so very proud of her and love to see her growing in every way. She recently had to start wearing glasses. We had NO idea how bad her poor vision was and are so glad she can actually see now!



Chase is a busy 9 year old boy doing all the things 9 year old boys do! He took a break from sports and decided to try Cub Scouts. We can't really tell how much he enjoys it - it varies from week to week. I just love everything about this crazy boy! He is a wonderful mix of mischief and tenderness. He is really doing well this year in school, too. This years biggest change is his level of social activity. He has always been a little shy and has really blossomed this year.

Chad is our superfun crazy kid! He is about to turn 7 - how in the world did that happen?? He is in 1st grade and just excels at all his work. He is reading like a pro and loves it. Chad is also in the Cub Scouts and he really likes it. His den leader is his PE teacher from school and he has always loved him. I can always count on Chad to make me laugh! He is a little pistol and has a huge heart. What a treasure!

Cody is almost 5!!! That seems impossible. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself next year when he starts kindergarten! We go to register him next month. I think he's pretty excited about it, though. It will be a difficult time for me!! He has decided he wants to play soccer this spring. I think we are going to let him give it a shot. We can only hope he is not like Chad and announce his permanent retirement in the middle of the first game!



As for me, I am super busy being Mom and wife to these awesome people! I am the VP of our PTA and spend a lot of time at the school. I love everything about being there and trying to make it a better place for the kids. It is very fulfilling and challenging. It has also forced me to broaden my comfort zone which I think is a good thing.

Better wrap this up and help the kids with homework. After that it's on to Cub Scouts!