2, 5, 6

These kiddos are growing and getting bigger everyday. Caden is about to turn seven and the littles are holding strong at 2 1/2 and 5 1/2. I know that Easter morning is always crazy at our house. I was concerned that we'd never be able to get good pictures of them dressed up for Easter pictures, so we took a little trip this afternoon to take some pics. We didn't get a ton of pictures because the bugs, and the sun, and the toddler... but, you know how that goes :)

these days

These days are BUSY! I haven't posted in forever, and I honestly hope to go back and post a little bit about birthdays and holidays that have past in the last 6 + months since I've blogged.

I am really focusing lately on finding a balance. As a mom, I have a tremendous amount of pressure on me. I work, I keep a home, I raise three little people. It's not unusual for me to feel scattered or frantic over what needs to be done next or what hasn't been taken care of yet. I have found that this feeling leaves me constantly unsatisfied. or stressed. or a crazy, hot mess! So, I'm trying to slow down. It doesn't mean that we don't have three baseball games a week, or dance practice, or praise team practice. Some weeks I wished it did, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about enjoying the time that I have. Enjoying the time I spend in the car with my kids, the late night catch up talks with Josh, the coffee visits with friends. I can choose to enjoy the time God has given me and do as much as I can with what I have, OR I can stress and fret and freak out.

So, the dishes might not get done this week, the laundry might pile up. But me? I'm taking it one day at a time and trying to reach out where I can. Be more aware of where God has me and the things He's asking of me.

"Your beauty should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."-- 1 Peter 3:3-4

first grade

the time has come for our sweet Caden to start first grade. we are so thankful that he was in a k-1 flex class last year. he is with his same teacher from last year, and the transition was so much smoother today than last time around (remember this?)... So, a few things he's pumped about this year?

• he's in the same class with so many of his favorite friends (Cole, Griffin, Brayden and Annie Thompson, to name a few)
• first graders don't take naps anymore! they get to go to PE while the kindergartners rest.
• mrs. buxton didn't have to move rooms from last year, and he knows where everything is
• Trace is in mrs. ramsey's class and is right next door!
• buying his lunch! Cole's grandmother runs the lunchroom, and Caden loves to buy!

I took a few pictures this morning and he was off without a single tear! (although he did try to talk me out of making him be a bus rider this afternoon, and also he complained about his "heart hurting" earlier, i think because he didn't want to go to school). I can't wait to talk to him this afternoon and hear exactly how his day went!

let me not fail to mention that today is also Josh's first day of school. it's his 11th year to teach at Berry Middle School and his mission field has never been greater. God has blessed that school with many Christian teachers who are able to share and lead without fear of retribution. I am so thankful for that!

beach, baby!

you can tell the busy summer we've had by my lack of blogging lately. it's been a good, long summer. We've played and partied and traveled and just tried to be intentional about spending time with each other as a family, as well as building into friendships with others.

we spent a few days at the beach before school started. it rained and was overcast for much of the week, but that just fed into our desire to be low-key. it was an absolute blast! here are two pictures we took the first afternoon we were there...

caden and laura grace are old pro's in the sand. i knew they would have a blast, but i wasn't sure about Timothy. He has been to the beach one other time (remember this:)

so this year, we are walking, running, trying to swim, and all other sorts of adventurous things. here are a few pictures from our latest trip!

and, of course, we have the obligatory family beach pictures. i'll have to say, with the help of our friends Brad and Courtney, we were able to capture a few good ones (and by a few, i mean 5 out of the 250 we took!). my favorite cousin Page did a few magic edits on them and we were in business :) you'll probably see these in the banner and design of my blog sometime... not soon. it may be three more months before i update it again!

our good friends, Brad and Courtney (Bwad and Cwortney as LaLa would say) were able to join us for a few days and i snapped a few shots of them. they are our favorite, non-blood "aunt and uncle." they don't have kids, but love ours... somethings wrong with them :)

and of course... a few bloopers, just for the ones of you who really don't know me and need confirmation that we AREN'T a perfect family.