A New Year...

Wow! I can't believe another year has already swept by.

All year I struggled with the fact that we are always in a hurry....

The hustle and bustle that life continuously throws at us makes me feel like we are doing something wrong....

From the moment we rise out of bed to the moment we fall to our pillows, life is busy......

Breakfast, off to school, clean up, midday pick up, 3:30 pick up, homework, soccer practice, piano lessons, golf lessons, dinner, bath, stories and prayers, ironing and packing lunches for the next day, off to bed to start all over again.......

Maybe it's the fact that we have four children all born within four and a half years........

Maybe, we want them to be too well rounded.....

Maybe, I can't say no......

But, it feels so wrong all the same.....

So this year, as I reflect on our year, I am wondering what we can cut?

How can we simplify?

How can we hurry less?

All the while trying to bring glory to God.

Trying to seek His will.

Trying to raise children who love and know God.

What are some ways you've been able to find the balance?

Three Children and the POD

Since I was on such a roll with the blog posts, I thought I would post some pictures I took during the big move. We used PODS to move and store our stuff while we wait for our house stuff do be finished. PODS have these fabulous blue doors on them. I thought they were the perfect back drop for some pictures of my children. However, my camera battery died when it got to Hogan's turn so he is left out. These were taken in October but I couldn't help but share.

Four Wheelers on the Farm

Two days in a row.....I am blogging. Maybe I can make this a habbit again. I really do love to blog. It is therapuetic for me. However, my crazy life takes over and well....there is no time.

My brother and his wife had their first baby on Sunday and my sister and I drove up to Houston to see her. She is precious! I need to get the pictures from Shannon because I forgot my camera. But I promise to post some pictures soon. That's if I continue this new habbit of mine. Anyway, while I was in Houston, Josh took our four children, their four four wheelers and our two 6 month old labs to a friends farm to play. Isn't he a great dad. They had loads of fun and were covered in mud when they got home. Our friends have 5 children. They are all much older than ours but precious. They are so good with our kids!

So here are a few pictures of from the day. Yes, Josh remembered to take the camera that I forgot. He had all the kids and the dogs and he remembers.....I have nobody and I forgot. Somethings wrong with that picture.

Above is sweet Abby with Elisabeth on her pink camo four wheeler.

This is Conner and Beck on his blue four wheeler. Conner is a big dude. He looks like donkey kong driving the car on Mario Kart on this thing. The kids said he popped it up on two wheels and flipped it backwards causing him to fall in horse poop. They think that story is hillarious.

This is Shelby and Gates on his red four wheeler. Shelby is so fun. She likes to get the boys to be her boyfriend. Little do they know she is a beautiful model.

While they were there, they got to ride horses. Here's Abby taking Hogan and Beck for a ride. Looks like they had a good day. I wish I could have been there.

Little Christmas Update

This year has been such a mess. We moved out of our house on Halloween. We were supposed to close on our new house December 10th just in time to throw everything in and celebrate Christmas. Well things didn't quite go as planned and we are still living with my parents hoping to close on our new house January 8th. Please say a prayer that things will go as planned.

I attempted to take some pictures of the kids before church one Sunday hoping to get a good picture for our Christmas card. However, getting four children to all look good is next to impossible and with all the drama with our new house I opted to not send Christmas cards for the second year in a row. YIKES!

Santa brought all four of my children four wheelers for Christmas. I'm going to have to start taking anti anxiety meds soon. The plan was to be in our new house for Christmas. Our new house sits on six acres. Lots of room to run four four wheelers. However, the plan did not work out so the kids road them up and down my parent's street.

Beck played so hard he wore himself completely out. While sittling on the desk watching my brother in law play computer games, he completely fell asleep for the night. It was only 6:00 and he did not awake until 8:00 the next day.

Hackers Stink

Hello Friends!

So a hacker has gotten into my hotmail account and my Facebook account. He is sending everyone messages telling them that I am in London or England that I am kidnapped and being held at gun point. He is asking for money and help. If you get any of these messages, please ignore them. I am fine. I am home and have the police looking into this matter. This person has changed all my passwords so I am unable to get on and fix this. Please continue to tell others that this is a scam and to not be fooled by this low life!

Thanks.

First Day of School and a Family Photo

I know I have been a terrible blogger! We have been out of town a TON and then we got puppies and then the house has been on the market....and well life has been CRAZY!!!

But school is back in session so hopefully we will stay home a lot more. Their first day was last Thursday and everything was great. They all love their teachers! Gates didn't start until Friday because he only goes three days a week.

Here's Mr. Serious on his first day of 1st grade.

Elisabeth on her first day of 2nd grade.
Together

....and our little family with the pups!

I am blessed beyond measure!

Introducing....

...the latest additions to our family.

Meet "Jet" Setter.

He is the sweetest thing and just beautiful!

Beck has been begging for a dog and well his birthday is Thursday so....he got a dog.

He named it "Jet" and I named it's middle name.

This is "Lola". I haven't come up with her middle name yet.

Let me know if you have any good ideas.

She is sooooo sweet and easy going. She will lay on her back and let you rub her tummy and

she follows me everywhere.

This is what Elisabeth got for her birthday.

...look at that sweet face.

I feel like I have a new born again. Puppies are deffinately a lot of work. However, the kids have been great about helping.

Colorado round up!

Here's a a quick recap of our lovely trip to Colorado. We had so much fun hanging with our good friends Stephen and Brianne. We all hung on to our truck and loaded up to go kayaking on the river.

I helped the guys build the decks.

We kayaked the freezing cold river.

We did a lot of cooking and cleaning.

Beck wore himself out and fell asleep in his camping chair.

The men worked super harda and made awesome decks on the front and back of the house.

Stephen, David and Josh got a little cream on their stache.

The kids used their imaginations.

Hogan found the hugest dandilion.

We saw these beautiful trees.

We laughed at Stephen while he got shocked by the dog collar.

Gates was the cutest thing evah.

We played on the rocks by the river. We threw rocks in the river.

These two....well...nuff said.

Beck loved on these dogs ALL week long. Mr. Foree promised Beck that his mommy and daddy would buy him his own dog for his birthday. So....WE DID. We went to Houston and picked up two lab puppies yesterday. Don't worry pictures to come.

The guys build all new decks on the outside of the cabin. The kids were all right there to watch and loved to help.

Beck builden on the fort. The kids built this with the extra wood.

Hogan watching his daddy.

We had such a great time and can't wait to go back!

Flipped

Ok I know I promised more Colorado pictures but I wasn't in the mood....

So here are some pics of my "Big" three year old trying to put on a pair of flippers at the pool today. He's getting so big and wants to do all things "by myself", however, today I got to help. He does still need me!

We're in Colorado....and we're never coming back!

We took the kids up this little mountain to see this beautiful waterfall. It was so fun! Last time we did this hike, Josh had Gates on his back and I had Beck on my back. This year they all walked it by themselves! I was super proud of those guys! We took a family picture in this spot three years ago so we had to have a do over. I can't believe how everyone has grown.

I have lots of pictures to share, but not today. No time to waste in Colorado. I'll post when we get back!