Long Winter Days with Toddlers

These bitter cold days make it hard for me to let my kids play outside for long if at all so that leaves a lot of energy inside for me to figure out something to do with! So I thought I would share a couple ideas that we've been doing since I prefer my kids not to be constantly watching movies...

Tent making was fun for everyone to play in and play hide and go seek...

Taking masking tape and making "roads" to drive upon has been entertaining for them.

Gideon being the traffic director...

I'm becoming more crafty so now Gideon has his very own "stop sign".

Chloe being her normal wonderful self...

Pull Up House Party

So I was selected to host a Pull Up House Party and I was going to have it on Friday but it snowed so today my friend Erin allowed us to come to her house and celebrate!!! My sister Beth and her little man Isaiah came as well! We had fun! It comes at a great time as Tirzah is ready I think to start potty training!

Nephew Isaiah and I!!!

Youngest Partier!!!

Chloe was all partied out and no matter how much noise just went to sleep

Amazing Party Pack

Some More Snow Pictures

This wound up being one of the best snows we have had. The snow was perfect for sledding and making snow ice cream and snowballs! We all had so much fun outside and in over the weekend. We still have some lingering snow around and there is snow in the upcoming week forecast but for now life goes on.

Snow Ice cream is not hard to make all we did was get a bowl full of fresh snow and then add a little vanilla, 1/2 cup of sugar and then milk till it was fluffy and kept tasting it and adding things till it was right!!! It was quite delicious!

Gideon's bear hat on backward (thanks Nicole for a wonderful gift notice he is wearing the mittens as well you brought back)

Behind our house has a great sledding hill!

Daddy and his girls!

I put Tirzah's hair in braids for the first time

So serene and beautiful!

Chloe Bear

I LOVE living in the Mountains!

Gideon Bear

Joshua's huge snowball he made while clearing the sidewalk--so genius!

Chloe Bear and Mommy

Tirzah ready to go in, second hat...

Daily Walks

I kind of feel like this rainy weather is trying to mess up my daily walking plan...I have started to take the kids on a daily walk out in the park after lunch before naps. We have such a wonderful place that we live and it's great exercise! Joshua is also helping me twice a week to start walking down on a track close to our home so I can prepare to walk/jog a 5K this year. Here are some pictures of our walks...

Random Photos

Chloe and her cousin April

Poor Chloe always has something being stuffed in her mouth...:-)

Oh Yes, my son can babycarry...

Have you Ever Thought: I just can't be a Mom today?

Now of course we would never vocalize the thought that some days we struggle as Mothers, right? That there are some days that we would like to nestle back down under the covers and just have one more hour of sleep. That most days we feel inadequate to parent these sweet children the Lord has blessed us with!

A couple weeks ago I was feeling bad emotionally and physically. I was feeling very overwhelmed by being a Mother of three little ones three and under, managing a home that never seems to stay clean or organized, carving out time to be able to spend with my wonderful husband, and all the projects I want to get done but never seem to have the time for. I remember just wanting to give up...don't get me wrong I love my children and husband with all my heart but I was just worn out. I stumbled upon this book called Desperate: Hope for the Weary Mom and it wasn't a book that had all the answers for being the perfect Mom or how to get everything accomplished. It was a book that breathed grace back into my life and reminded me I don't have to be the perfect Mom. It is written by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae, one who is still in the trenches of raising little ones and Sally who offers her wisdom and encouragement from already having been there.

I am still not completely finished with the book but let me tell you each chapter is brim full of encouragement and I constantly find myself saying--that's exactly where I am! It talks about how women can encourage and mentor one another in being a young mother and wife that glorifies the Lord. The chapters cover training our children, sin, depression, being lonely, etc. This is not a manual that instructs you in what to do as much as encourages you that others have been there too.  There is scripture throughout the book and both ladies take part in each chapter, Sarah writing Sally at the beginning and sharing her struggles with little ones and Sally sharing her experience and wisdom. I highly recommend the book for all mothers with little ones! Especially those that feel like they are drowning at times!

What You Will Find in Desperate

• The perspectives of an younger women going through the little years, and an older woman who has raised her children well
• QR codes and links at the end of each chapter that lead to videos with Sarah Mae and Sally talking about the chapter
• A friend who so understands those “hide me in closet” moments
• Practical steps to take during the desperate times
• Bible study and journal exercises in each chapter that will lead you to identify ways in which you can grow as a mom
• Mentoring advice for real-life situations
• Q & A section with Sally where she answers readers questions

One of the chapters on depression has an amazing checklist that I found very helpful, sometimes when I am really feeling down it takes me a while to find out what caused it or triggered it and here is a quick list to assess what is going on:

• Do I need sleep?
• Have I been reading my  Bible?
• Do I feel alone?
• Am I watching my health? (Exercise)
• How can I get help?
• What do I need to invest in the joy factor in my life?

Usually it is one of those things for me...there is so much more in the book, definitely get it and read it! This week is the launch of the book so there is a lot of giveaways and special deals so this is a good time to get it!

• Get the Kindle or print version
• There are giveaways and specials for ordering more than one there are giveaways for housecleaning and massages, a retreat with the authors and a spiritual retreat. :-)
• For the book site and more info

Books to Read in 2013

Our family is trying to read more often these days...cutting back on our computer time and movie watching and trying to get more books read aloud and personally. I want to read aloud more often to my children as well. I got to read some wonderfully illustrated fairy tale books to Tirzah the other day while she sat on my lap since she wasn't feeling well. I thought I would share some books on my list:

1. Power of a Praying Wife
2. Desperate by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae--more on that tomorrow
3. My Life, My heart, My all MacDonald
4. Middlemarch by Eliot
5. Dombey and Son by Dickens
6. Shirley by Bronte
7. Buggies and Blizzards
8. Ultimate Proof by Jason Lisle
9. Not a Fan
10. Out of the Salt Shaker
11. Tortured for Christ
12. You can Teach your Child Successfully

Others may be read along the way but this is my goal...

Four Year Anniversary

Yesterday Joshua and I celebrated four blissfully wonderful years of marriage! We are still very happily in  love and more so now then even when we first got married. We are still learning much about each other and how we can better serve and love one another and are amazed that there is still so much to learn.

We celebrated by dressing up and going out to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants Abuelo's (they have amazing food and also send you coupons on your birthday and anniversary.)

This morning Joshua and I made a delicious breakfast that we shared with our children. We had fresh fruit, huevos rancheros, bacon, juice and a doughnut. We ate by candlelight even though it was morning giving a romantic feel even with Gideon asking to blow out the candle and Tirzah wanting bites. Life is good and romance is still alive after three children!

Afghan Scarves

These scarves the guys are wearing are called Shemagh and is used in the military and they are brought back from Afghanistan by Daniel when he was over there...it was fun seeing the brother putting them on and posing. I also got a beautiful silk scarf from Afghanistan.

Adorable Chloe in Chrismas Outfits

I don't know if you have seen how adorable Chloe is but she is always ready with a smile--even when she is sick! Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks of her looking as cute as can be in her little Christmas outfits!