All the fun in the world

So Thankful

2011-12-05T19:56:00.000-08:00

Pictures alone will make this post forever long - so I will skip the narrating of everything and just post the pics...

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Spontaneous Day!

2011-12-05T19:19:00.000-08:00

Spontaneous Day - it's one day of the year (though you never know when it will be), when Uncle Joby provides a most excellent day of treats. It's has always been a blast (rooftop swimming, a Wii, one spring he even rented bunnies and ducklings for the day) and it is always looked forward to (I know - just ended a sentence with a preposition. Sorry. It just felt right.).

This past week the kids went to bed on Monday night and awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs - and just guess who they found making breakfast in the kitchen...? Uncle Joby!! (Well, a picture of him cooking would be appropriate right here but, well, I was in bed. Figured if he was taking care of everyone I might as well get some sleep!

After breakfast they all played in the back yard. Joby brought a football and wiffle ball set. Then he gave them all coloring books which they enjoyed for through the late morning. Joby told everyone to get ready and did the boys hair so it was "super cool." (just putting that disclaimer in since you will see pictures)

THEN..... the doorbell rings and they get picked up by this...

How cool is that???!!!

I caught their little faces coming out the door...

They went out for cupcakes and to a play set. Then they picked up a pizza and came back home. They had so much fun.

And what did I do while I had an empty house???

OK - so I sat like that and read for about 10 minutes. Then it was on to laundry and getting ready for company. But still - it was NICE!

My kids love spontaneous day like Christmas and Reformation Celebration. At some point Joby will have to realize he can't top himself every year - but until then the partying continues. :)

Thank you Uncle Joby!

It's up for debate.

2011-12-05T18:52:00.000-08:00

I am now the mother of a debater. Not an arguer - a debater. I am so very excited that Madison is in a debate class this year with an A-MAZING teacher. We have affiliated with the NCFCA and are pumped about getting involved in debate.

Madison is going to be a fantastic debater. She is so very excited and I am right there with her.

We traveled to Dallas to watch a Round Robin. So, it's not an official NCFCA qualifying tournament. I's more of an opportunity to practice. Madison considered debating but in the end we decided just getting to go watch and learn would be the most beneficial. We had so much fun - GIRL TIME! Madison and I haven't had that much time together since..... Carson was born! Ha!

We stayed with my brother, Joby. We set off after debate class on Thursday - had a great drive listening to a book on cd and got in late that night. Friday morning we were up early and off to the debate...

Dallas traffic - not my fav! Here were are really trying to navigate....

On our lunch break we got out all our "flows" from the debates we watched and analyzed and discussed them...

In the afternoon I actually got to judge two debates. So nerve wracking! these kids were fabulous.

Joby joined us to watch a few rounds and then we headed home. He treated us to the Outback for dinner. Yum.

For some reason after dinner we got the idea that we were going to paint Joby's dining room that night. )What were er thinking?!). So, we stayed up super late and painted. It was the wrong color. I always pick the wrong color. It looks one way on the paint chip and totally different on the wall. SO, my idea for a cool grey gave Joby powder blue walls. Sorry, Joby.

We didn't have anything to paint in so Joby said he would lend us something but we had to wear whatever he gave us...

After a few hours of sleep we were back up and on our way to watch debates again. These are our sassy poses...

My mom drove over from Louisiana and met us at the debate mid morning. So fun! More GIRL time!

We went back to the bachelor pad and got changed and headed out to Southlake for some eating and shopping. I think she looked so cute - and grown up...

Lunch at Cafe' Express - where you must pretend to smoke the bread sticks - even if you're 13,

Such a cool wall hanging at Anthropologie (where you can look and want yet never afford to buy!)...

Charming Charlie - way more our budget and so much great stuff!

And finally, a yummy dinner. It was all so fun!! My mom and my daughter - how blessed I am!

Breakfast the next morning was our goodbye and we hit the road.

It was a great time. The quality time was great and getting pumped about debate was fantastic.

First Concert!

2011-12-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

Last week our local Groupon was for 2 tickets to see Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith in concert in Tulsa. Man, I really wanted to go! My very first ever concert was to see Amy Grant on her Straight Ahead tour.

I was in 2nd grade. I was OBSESSED with Amy Grant. I owned every album she had ever made and knew every single word to every single song. We are talking songs like Fat Baby and Grape Grape Joy. Somewhere my mom has a picture of me all dressed in my white dress to go to the concert. Opening for her that night was some guy I had never heard of, Michael W. Smith. One of the outfits she wore that night was turquoise pants with a white top and a hot pink blazer (shoot - I really think I have pictures of this somewhere!). I went home and tried to mimic the outfit with some blue pants I had and a corduroy burgundy blazer. It was hideous. But I stood in front of the mirrors in my bedroom pretending to be Amy Grant for hours.

Anyhoo - I didn't go.

BUT, last week me big kids went to THEIR first concert. It was the Rock -n- Worship Roadshow with several groups including Hawk Nelson, Mercy Me, and Jars of Clay. They were so excited...

They met up with some of our bestest friends...

They even got to meet Hawk Nelson. SO cool...

Meanwhile - the Littles and I celebrated our time together with a trip to Braums and the Winnie the Pooh movie we rented from the library. I let them get whatever they wanted at Braums. Normally they just get a kid cup. Our entire family gets ice cream at Braums for under $10! But when the restrictions came off... I paid $12 just for these three to get ice cream. Hilarious.

Wilson got the banana split. It was huge...

Tyson ordered the Candy Bar Sundae...

And little Pippa got the big Brownie Sundae...

Needless to say, they were thrilled and none of them ate all their ice cream.

It was so fun to hang out with my little loves. At one point while we were sitting at the table in Braums I was talking to Tyson about something and when Ty answered me Wilson says "Red Herring." I looked at him with a questioning face and he explained "Ty just did a red herring. He didn't really answer the question." It was so funny o me that his little ears have been listening to our Logic lessons. All three of them spend the next few minutes calling "red herring" on each other. It was pretty funny.

SO - it was a great night for all the Woodards - children and parents.

Zoo trip

2011-12-02T12:51:00.000-08:00

We finally found a day to go, as entire family to the zoo. It's been so great to go now that we have cooler weather but it's even more fun to make a Fun Day Sunday out of it and have daddy along. It was such a beautiful day...

We can't thank the Lees enough for giving us our zoo pass! It was a great day - of course followed up with Braums...

Pumpkins!

2011-11-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

So - how does a mom of 7 on a crazy strict budget afford to get pumpkins for all her kids??
Wait till November 1! The kids kept begging... I kept waiting. Just at our local WalMart they went from $4 each to $1 a piece over night!

They don't even really care about the carving - they just all want the seeds. :)

Ooooh - and while they carved I made these pumpkin cookies with salted caramel butter cream icing! SO YUMMY!

I just love fall - and Thanksgiving - and the slowing down of life. Learning SO much about thankfulness all the time. It is vital to the joyful Christian life. Hoping life is slowing down for all of you too - and that you might bask in thankfulness - no matter what your situation is.

Reformation Celebration!!

2011-11-19T09:19:00.000-08:00

Reformation Celebration probably plays 2nd only to Christmas with my kids. I mean, they count down the days, are crazy excited as the 31st approaches and they start discussing next year's costumes on the way home.
I really love celebrating the Reformation each year. But don't get me wrong - I ain't be hatin'. I don't judge the celebrating of Halloween. Nope. Well..., ok, if you turn your lawn into a grave yard and hang things to look like bodies from the trees - I may pass just a little judgement. But mostly, I love the yearly opportunity to revisit God's provision for His church and presenting the kids with the lives of some remarkable people who were devoted to the Word of God like Luther, Calvin, Tyndale and Zwingli. They were devoted to getting the Word of God into the hands of the common man and to returning to the teachings found in it - the were devoted to this in life, and most in death. It is truly challenging. And yet, these men were so far from being perfect. How glad I am that God uses messed up people to advance the Kingdom.

Yeah, yeah, yeah - enough, Woodard - on to the cute costumes...

We had been planning for quite some time to dress as the Winnie the Pooh gang. Days prior to our grand celebration, however, we learning that our sinking rotten friends, the Kents, were dressing as Winnie the Pooh. The nerve! (haha - wait till you see them - A-DORABLE!). My kids were terribly upset about this new development. I mean, there may or may not have been tears (do you get it now that my crew takes this really seriously?). Once we were a little settled (and I made sure I had receipts for everything crafty thing I bought to create the Hundred Acre Wood gang- which I did!!) we had a family meeting around the table to discuss a new plan. We tossed out multiple ideas but if an idea did not have 100% support we moved on. Finally, they were all pretty excited to settle on "Children of the Word." 7 kids - 7 continents - you get the picture, right? I am actually so glad we switched to this. I was stumped on a few aspects of our Pooh garb Here they are (and I truly apologize for all the blatant stereotyping!!)...

Africa (or course my missionary Madison was Africa)....

$2 sandals from Goodwill

Dollar store beads hot glued to a paper plate and for the bracelets a cut up water bottle painted with nail polish...

Gold pipe cleaner and the leftover dollar store beads for the crown...

Australia...

Owned or borrowed everything except the hat - which they gave us for free at Goodwill. Free - now that's a Gooday mate!

South America - what a beautiful senorita...

Again - we owned everything except the green fabric around her waist which we purchased for 40 cents and I bought the lace around the bottom of the skirt for $1.50.

The skirt was important because one of my vivid memories from second grade. The second graders in that particular school (I had many) participated in a "world" party where I was assigned Mexico. We had to bring a food from our country and dress accordingly. I remember my dress so clearly and I remember how I twirled and twirled in it - because it was a twirly skirt. (Did everyone else call skirts like that twirly too?)

Representing our fine continent is this handsome OSU sports fan...

A completely borrowed/owned outfit is in my book a .... SCORE!!!

Doing Europe right (or at least adorably) is this cute cute little Italian chef...

He is such a ham and he loved his costume so much. We owned everything except the mustache which I bought at a party store for $4. All I could think of when I first saw him was Lady and the Tramp "He's-a talkin' to me!"

Tyson had first settled on being the European chef but after thinking Wilson's choice of Asian ninja was so cool he wanted to be the ninja. Will was fine with switching.

Now, I know you don't want to meet this tough guy in a dark alley...

I had no intention of buying anything for this outfit but when I saw these little ninja swords at WalMart for $7, I justified the expense knowing my 4 boys would get lots of use out of them. And I was right.

And finally, Antarctica. Poor lonely Antarctica - and poor little Pips who gets the continent no one else wanted. But she didn't care. She kept saying "I'm going to be the Antarctica princess! (and crazily enough she kept pronouncing Antarctica correctly). What a snuggly snow princess...

Here they are - children of the world holding hands - get it?

Here are those AWFUL-ly cue Kents. Seriously, they are adorable!!

Now I know why Pooh loved honey so much. Who could keep away from this little honey pot??

The Quaker Oats man and Rice Crispies Crew (brilliant!)

The sweet Tracy's (what? people actually let their kids be anything they want - not in a group??)

And oh. my. word. Just having twins (#6and #7) pretty much means you don't have to have amazing costumes but then again, It's Rachel we are talking about - the same girl who laid out a ridiculous luncheon spread for us when the babies were just weeks old.
Having 7 girls, you wouldn't think there would be much Star Wars activity going on in the Castor home - but think again friends - these girls have become quite obsessed - and good thing... look at how cute they are!!!

And teeny Alice and Bess are the cutest Ewoks ever!

I know that my chickens love to be seen at the celebration but they also LOVE to see their friends. All the way home they talked about each of their friends and how they liked their costumes. It makes my heart smile to see my kids with these friends - how they play and talk and interact. No fighting, no ugly words, no competing with one another - man, it's kinda like Mayberry! They're not perfect but the Lord has definitely knit together the hearts of these children - young and old - they have beautiful fellowship. Yeah, yeah, yeah - enough already, Woodard.

Before we got started the kids gathered around to Skype with one of their missing family buddies, the Lees.

The food is always fabulous and sometimes even fitting the theme - like Amy's Diet of Worms cake. Hilarious! The best part of this for me was my son that very much dislikes school and claims he doesn't learn anything in history said "Mommy! Look! Mrs. Kent's cake said the Diet of Worms!!!" Ha. I knew he was listening.

This camera shy little Yoda - cracking up me she is.

(Ha. That's no type-o it must be read in Yoda's voice)

Games...

Pippa did not like mouth full of whipped cream from the "find the Hershey kiss in the whipped cream" game.

As usual, it was a funtastic night with funtastic friends that have really become more like family to us.

Give A Kid A Camera

2011-11-17T20:34:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, after looking at doggies needing adoption at PetsMart, where I had to say "No" 68 times (whose idea was that???), we were hanging out in this beautiful little courtyard in town located between a few restaurants. The weather was beautiful. Super beautiful. I fell asleep on Jason's shoulder while we sat on a bench watching the kids - that beautiful.

And so the kids were allowed to take pictures with Mommy's camera. I thought it was fun to see the pictures they took...

An update on Colby

2011-11-12T09:52:00.000-08:00

For those who have asked and those who are wondering I wanted to give an update on our friend, Colby, as he battles brain cancer.
His surgery went well but could not get all of the tumor. The tumor was also a more serious grade than they had hoped. But Colby has felt incredibly well considering brain surgery and more recently radiation and chemo. We hosted a little surprise party for him for completing his first week of treatment.

The kids decorated and used the chalk board as place to put to use last week's memory verse...

Thanking God for His goodness and asking for healing...

Here are Colby, Emily and sweet Jireh. In their latest update they wrote " the Lord has filled our days with many joys and many struggles. Both are gifts from God."

What a testimony they are - not to themselves but to the sustaining grace of the Lord. Oh what He will do in those willing to trust Him! And it makes me wonder why I wait for tragedy to show "such faith." Are not every little inconvenience in life under His control as much as cancer cells?? Oh for grace to trust Him more!

Pray for healing and strength and perseverance and joy for these dear friends of ours.

Fun Day Sunday

2011-10-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

I guess we've been too busy having all the fun in the world to be blogging. And by all the fun in the world I mean lots of school (in which 8th grade science and Madison's debate class are kicking my tail), lots of laundry (but hey - I've been completely on top of it for a month now!), cleaning, entertaining, more cleaning (which entails lots of "So, is your room clean?" "I think so" "If you are saying you think so then it probably isn't clean. You need to KNOW so" conversations), and lots of playing in the backyard (which looks so ghetto and trashed - but it is no longer 400 degrees here so the kids are making up for lost time and I love it).
In the past 4 weeks we have had two days that we called "Fun Day Sunday." Since we go to church services on Saturday nights we often have a entire day on Sunday to be together as a family. We can't always do something fun but with the onset of the cooler weather we have found some time to just enjoy one another.

Our first Fun Day Sunday was spent in downtown OKC in Bricktown. We walked all over and found really fun things to play on and in. Here are just a ton of pictures (and a video) from our day...

daddy is a show off...

The botanical gardens has added a waterfall fountain. The mist that came off was refreshing as the air was getting warmer...

Watching the Devon building go up - it is so tall...

Downtown has added some cool stuff - including this fountain that when it overflows causes waves around the sides. The kids loved it and within a matter of minutes most were soaking wet...

On the grounds of the botanical gardens - mommy's back had had enough so I say up top and watched...

Still praying for the Lord to provide a vehicle in which we can all fit, Madison found a great option...

After all the walking and the temperature rising we had to make a stop for ice cream on the way home...

Fun Day Sunday was great. We spend so much time with other families so being just us was really really great. Seeing the kids having so much fun with their siblings just fills a momma's heart. It was also cool to set aside Sunday as a special day - restful and encouraging to body and soul.Almost like God knew what He was talking about when He commanded Sabbath rest. And Sabbath rest points us to the spiritual rest offered by God to those who are in Him. Glorious.
Here's to hoping there are many more Fun Day Sundays to come.

Birthday and Birthdays and More Birthdays

2011-09-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

Every time I would go to the OB for that first visit after finding out I was pregnant I would wonder if it was twins. "Wouldn't that be neat?" I would think. Of course, I never expected to actually be carrying twins which is why I was so surprised that day when I found out I was. It still seems crazy that I have twins. A good friend of mine just has twin girls. When I went to the hospital to meet them and hold them I could hardly remember that I had been through that - That I had once cuddled two tiny little babies.

It's hard to remember because that was now 7 years ago!!

These little boogers are 7 years old. Nutso.

Once again we opted to not do a big party. But on their birthday day we had two friends come over for a pizza lunch, cupcakes and some play time.

That night each of the boys went on a date - Wilson with me and Tyson with Jason. And once again we used coupons that earned in the library reading program to go to dinner.
Wilson and I headed to the Elephant Bar. It happens to be located right next to the mall that has the Lego store.

One of the tings he was most excited about was that they served him his drink in A REAL GLASS. He was super cute about it.

Even though we had cupcakes after lunch and smores bars waiting at home he got a strawberry sundae. Hey - it came with his meal and it's only your birthday once a year. The waitress (can you say waitress anymore? Server?) even put a candle in it for him.

Then we headed to the mall. We rode up and down the escalator and then got down to business - using every last dollar of birthday money to buy legos.

As Wilson went through the store I was touched at how many times he said "Carson would love this one." "I bet Carson would think this is cool." or "I wonder if Carson would want me to get this one?" I begged him to pick the things HE liked and forget about Carson but I loved that he wanted to impress and please his big brother.
Once every dollar was spoken for we checked out.

(Shhh - don't tell any homeschoolers we know that we bought a Harry Potter set)

We walked - hand in hand for a little bit outside but he was eager to get home and show Carson what he bought.
Meanwhile - Jason and Tyson did their purging of birthday money first. Tyson has been counting down the days till his birthday - not so much to be older or to celebrate but so he would have money to go buy an orange kid camera that he had his heart set on.
Once that was done they headed to Bricktown where they a coupon for a free meal at Spaghetti Warehouse. This was perfect because they are building a skyscraper downtown (the new Devon building) and Tyson is beyond in love with it. Skyscrapers are his new favorite obsession. So getting to be right down where it is being being built was such a treat.

Bricktown is such a cool place and they are doing things to it all the time. Here there are in front of a waterfall - with the beloved orange camera of course...

Jason said they really had a great time. And at the end of all their walking Tyson asked if they could please just get a hot dog at Sonic for dinner. So they did.

We all met back at the house to have smores bars. Yep, no cake - the little guys begged for smores bars. (notice that the orange camera is in every shot - he took pictures of EVERYTHING all night long)

Happy birthday to my twin baby boys.

Back to School - There's no place like home

2011-08-31T11:46:00.000-07:00

School started for the Woodard Academy this past Monday. We were all ready for the routine and structure it provides. With as hot hot hot as it's been we really should have started weeks ago and taken a nice long fall break once the cool air moves in.

We are once again schooling around the table in the dining room. Although I think we will eventually desire a school room in he future, I am very content and happy with our school set up.

We all gather here for Bible first thing. Then we do our history timeline - I let them stand on their chairs...

Then everyone tends to spread out. This year I am teaching 7 kids at the 8th grade, 5th grade, 4th grade, 2nd grade, and preschool level!! You will find kids doing their work all over.

The night before our big first day we had our annual Kick Off with our co-op. It is always so fun and our dear Caldwells always serve as amazingly gracious hosts. Our CK theme this year (we were Continental Kids when we studied geography and Created Kids when we did anatomy) is etCetera Kids. We are not sticking o one big theme but are instead doing a variety of things. Etcetera means "and all these things" so it will be a fun year.

Our very first year we took a pic of all the kids on the swing set. It has become tradition. But it is so hard to believe that Ally was the twins age when we first started together. What a blessing this community of friends has been to us.

The girls..

The boys...

The kiddos having fun...

get it? etc... dot dot dot...

Madison and Abigail got a little stick fighting lesson from Jason...

And so we start another year. This is my 9th year of homeschooling. It has been a journey that has far surpassed anything I had ever anticipated and hoped - in both the joys and challenges. I am so very thankful for all the time I get with my children. I love teaching them and being with them and trying to know their hearts. And it reveals to me my own heart to me over and over. I am so blessed.

Looking fine at 9!

2011-08-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

Coley Moley. What a guy. You never met a sweeter 9 year old boy. He LOVES babies - I mean just loves them and asks for one all the time. He often comes in to the kitchen to ask what he can do to help me. He always offers to pour drinks at dinner time and two nights ago he cleaned the twins room for them - just to be helpful.
He is also stubborn, forgets to do his dishes after every meal and hates to clean his room. But hey - who doesn't? Overall he is pretty stinking amazing. And last week he turned 9 years old.

All this boy wanted for his b-day was a date with his daddy. Doesn't that just make your heart melt. I love these days and know that they are fleeting. The day is coming where all he wants is a car.

We invited our new friend, Nathan, over to play for the day. We ate lunch (fetticunni alfredo - Cole's request) and then wenr to the pool.

After swimming Cole and Nathan got special birthday cupcakes from Gigis.

Then Colson was off on his date. He had won a free meal from the Elephant Bar for doing his reading in the library's summer reading program.

After dinner they went to the Lego store so Cole could spend every last penny of his birthday money (but I do need to say he gave $20 of his money to his big brother so that he could make a purchase for which he had been saving). He bought some Hero Factory sets.

They came home and opened our gift and a gift from the Lees. The Lees also skyped in (on MY ipad no less) for the present opening and Happy Borthday singing and candle blowing part of the night.

The Lees send him cd's. The kids love them and have already (finally) memorized their books of the Bible because of them. And that gift went well with ours - an ipod. Yes, years ago my mom gave my brother, Jack an ipod. Years ago Jack gave me the ipod. And last week I gave Colson the ipod. Take that Al Gore - I bet he has never recycled that much when it comes to a birthday gift. He was delighted and is actually the envy of his older siblings who have ipods but not with SCREENS.

He had a fun day and I got to retrieve all the memories I could from this aging brain of mine of this sweet boy over the last 9 years. Oh that the Lord would draw Him and that he would find true JOY in the Savior. Our prayer is that he would not waste his life but spend it in ways that matter for eternity.

The Battle of The BULGE.

2011-08-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

I have a bulge. Not a baby bulge - man, that would be awesome - nothing better than that baby bump. Of course, having 6 baby bumps (and one of those x2) leave one with other bulges that are not nearly as awesome. But I digress...

I woke up in early June with pain in my back that over the last almost 3 months has gotten increasingly worse every day. The pain in the back was soon surpassed by the constant throbbing intense pain in my right leg. Unbearable is the only way to describe it.

I got an appointment with our church's free clinic (bc we have no money and no insurance - what a blessing to have this ministry available to us!). They arranged an MRI for me and it revealed what we all thought... a bulge...

See, starting from the top, those first 6 nice little well behaved discs? Then you get the dark one with the black line - it's a tear. Then you get a black line and the little guy is trying to escape somewhere. Maybe he needs a vacation. Maybe the pressure is too much. I understand. Maybe the intact discs tease him. But there he is torn and bulging right on my sciatic nerve.

It has been miserable. I have been in so much pain and I have been on A LOT of medication. I am thankful for a diagnosis and the Lord has been so faithful to provide FREE physical therapy visits and FREE chiropractic visits. I am just praying that I will find relief soon.

SO - if you've tried to get a hold of me and wondered why you couldn't it's because I've climbed up in my bed with pain meds in attempt to sleep my pain away. Thank God for Madison. Send your nominations for mother of the year at any point.

J Baby - my great love

2011-08-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

My hubster turned 37 this week. I don't know if I ever really thought 37 was old - but I certainly do not think it is anymore!

I love this man. I mean, in a sweet, ooey gooey, mushy gushy, make your heart beat faster sort of way. And I love him in a solid, resolute, firm, stand the test of time, for the rest of my life sort of way. And I think both are so important.

The last few years have been hard for us. It's hard on a man to barely make ends meet for his family. It is hard for a wife to deal with a discouraged partner. It's hard on marriage when its members are worn and exhausted and sometimes less than kind as a result. It is hard to feel like you are treading water in life - just staying afloat -and wondering if you are in your marriage too? Yet it can be good.

It's good to know who will still be there at the end of the day. It's good to know no one is going anywhere. It's good to know you are still loved when you feel unlovely. It's good to find you are stronger than you knew. It is good to receive grace that you didn't know could be offered. It is good to crawl in bed with backs turned and still find feet that make their way to touch in the middle. It is good to know commitment.

When everything is always ooey gooey chocolate and roses it is wonderful. The easy days and romance are the pulsing emotion of love. But the life in the trenches, no make up, yes I just said that and now I'm so sorry... the commitment... is the decided action of love.

I am so blessed to know both. My J Babe still makes my heart beat faster. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of him and have to stare a moment longer. I love being with him and he still makes me laugh and laugh and laugh. And I am in this till death do us part.

I love you Jason Scott - with an undying, crazy strong, ever growing, never regretting love. I love you as much as always and more than ever. Happy Birthday.

Madi wins an iPad!

2011-08-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

Madison won an iPad! The kids all worked so hard participating in the library's summer reading program. The won all sorts of coupons for participating but at the end of summer they would draw names for the bigger prizes - like $25 gift cards, a wii, and an iPad. Every time they read 800 pages (or 8 books for he younger ones) they were able to enter their name in the drawing. Madison read over 3,200 pages and had her name entered 4 times.

The initial day for prize notification came and went. All the kids knew the date was August 2nd. All day that day and even that week the kids reminded me to answer my phone if it was a number I didn't recognize. At the end of the week they officially declared "Woodards never win anything."

However, last week I get a call from the library saying they had extra money to buy an extra iPad for the teen reading prizes and MADISON's name was drawn as the winner!! It was pretty exciting. But them came reality. We did not want her to have an iPad. We don't want her having internet access and honestly - when it comes to our kids - this house is the place things come to be lost or broken.

Knowing Madison deserved a reward for her diligent reading and for breaking the no-winning streak for Woodard family... AND knowing that Mommy's laptop is on it's last leg (seriously folks - it's taped together in my lap right now and beeping at me every 4 seconds saying it cannot read what is in the USB port even though there is nothing in the USB port) we came to an agreement that Madison would be paid a decent amount of money (small to us - large to her) and Mommy would use the iPad. SO - I am so super pumped about my new iPad!! And Madison is quietly saving enough money to take over the world. So it's a win win (win).

Don't Waste Your Life

2011-08-10T12:29:00.000-07:00

These are our friends Colby, Emily and little Jireh...

They are so, so dear to us. We met at church. They always sat somewhere close to us and eventually we said "Hey - come over for dinner some night!" and a beautiful friendship was born. We do lots of hanging out, sharing meals, and loving on each other. They are the ones that took Madison and Jason to Peru. They have helped us financially over the pat few years in ridiculously huge ways. They have shared our burdens and we have shared theirs.

Colby and Emily are rare in the sense that that truly live the things they say they believe. I mean, they treat their time, their talents, their money as God's and do not hold on to any of it too tightly. They give of their time to serve others, they volunteer their medical abilities at our church's free clinic. They give their money to people in need to a degree that most people would be uncomfortable with. When we were without a job in December they asked if they could buy a house big enough for all of us to live to help ease our financial burdens. I mean, who does that? These two. They take very seriously the command to love one another and I praise the Lord for them.

Now, we have certainly been blessed by them financially - but the greatest gift they have given my family is the testimony they have right now facing the newest trial in their lives.

Brain Cancer.

Colby was diagnosed just weeks ago. Days before he graduated from his residency as a pediatric ENT he had his first symptoms. What an earth shattering revelation. And yet, the testimony these two have is amazing. The very first night Emily and I talked on the phone (the day after they got the results) she was so obviously being divinely held. She gave me all the details and told me all her fears but she could not have communicated more clearly their greatest desire was to bring glory to God and advance His kingdom with this cancer. We cried. We prayed. And she talked as if they had been given this great gift. I mean, who does that? These two.

There is SO SO SO much more I could say about these two precious friends and their commitment to Christ and to encouraging fellow believers but this post will be epic long as it is. I have ended this post by copying just one of the letters they sent out to friends. Please read it. Please share it. I really have never cared if people are reading my blog but I desperately desire that people would read this letter.

We spent our last evening wih them last night. They treaed us to chocolate fondue at the Melting Pot (boy do they love me or what?!) .

They leave today to begin their trek to San Fransisco where he will have brain surgery to remove as much of the tumor as they can. Surgery is Tuesday the 16th - would you join me in praying for them?  Read this letter and be encouraged that God gives grace when we face trials. Be challenged to hide God's Word in your heart as yousee it pouring off their lips in what they write. Be convicted to remeber how we are called to live like our days are numbered and to bring glory to God even in the face of things like cancer...

Dear Friends and Family,                                                                         July7, 2011

            Thank you all so much for your sweet prayers and words of encouragement. We are now three weeks out from our initial discovery of Colby’s brain tumor and it is a joy to be able to share with you how faithful God has been. Because of God’s tender mercies EVERY day, we have hope and are continuing to trust that this circumstance will be for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). Many of you did not receive our first email explaining the details of how we learned of Colby’s tumor. If you have any questions after receiving this update,please don’t hesitate to ask. We are both happy to answer any questions you may have.
            Over the last few weeks, we have watched God provide so abundantly. When we needed time to simply celebrate life, we had the opportunity to do so with both of our families as we celebrated Colby’s graduation from residency 2 weeks ago. When the emotional battles were tough,your phone calls, hugs, emails, and texts came at perfectly timed intervals. When we needed to hear from God, he has shown himself powerful in his Word, the Bible. He has led us to so many helpful passages in our daily readings, sermons online and at church, and through many of you who reminded us of passages to study.
            We have been overcome with the immeasurable value of Christ in our lives. “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you” (Psalm 63:3). His love is worth living for, and is even more valuable than life itself. It is that Love that has carried us, and is what awaits us in even more awesome clarity after this life. And we have this assurance not because of anything good we have done to deserve a reward, but because of Christ and the free gift of grace He offers to anyone who just trusts in Him. It is Colby’s absolute desire that each of you know Christ in this way before he leaves this world. There would be nothing that would give us more joy in this life. In fact if anyone is unsure of his eternal security or would like to talk to someone about starting this relationship with Christ, Colby would like to talk to you personally, anytime, night or day. You may email him directly at ____________ or call his cell phone at 405-XXX-XXXX. You may also call or email Emily if you would be more comfortable. (friends- message me if you would like to get in touch with Colby or Emily)
We have also been reminded that this battle is not our own. Each time we made plans to fight the next step, God was one step ahead of us and showered us with a new blessing. When we thought our next steps for finding the right neurosurgeon would be difficult, God gave us two excellent options – both in Houston and in San Francisco. Both neurosurgeons called Colby personally and were very kind and helpful. We have prayed through our options and have chosen to move forward with the surgeon in San Francisco.
Though we were initially hoping we would be traveling to San Francisco this week for a consultation visit, from his standpoint, there is nothing the surgeon could gain from examining Colby in person that he could not gather by telephone or from his MRI. In fact the 2 telephone calls and several email communications with him have more than answered our questions and concerns. He confirmed that the tumor is almost certainly a low-grade glioma and is located in the part of the brain called the insula. The great news is that the neurosurgeon expects Colby to have a nearly 100% chance of being alive 10 years after diagnosis based on his published data, though we maybe battling recurrence by that time. He also has published data that shows <2% risk of serious complications (such as paralysis on one side) in his relatively large experience in removing tumors from this area. Because this is a slow-growing tumor and Colby feels so well,we have the luxury of time and ability to schedule a surgery at a mutually convenient time. Colby’s surgery will take up an entire operating day and the surgeon would not be able to do anything else that day, so it is understandably difficult to find a day with that kind of availability. At this point we are waiting to hear from him with possible dates for surgery, and hope to hear this week. We will send another update when we know our travel dates.
In the meantime, please continue to pray for the following:

1. Healing. God is able to heal in ways that doctors cannot. We know that is one way that God could glorify Himself, and we are asking him to remove the tumor before the surgeon can even get to it. However, we know that is not the only way God can glorify Himself in this and we trust in His perfect will for us.

2. We are still looking for ways that Colby may be faithful to this calling and not waste his tumor. He may have one such opportunity this coming Monday that we are excited about. He is open to sharing his testimony and the gospel in any format or event.

3. That we would have news about surgery date soon. Though not urgent from a medical standpoint, many things in our lives are on hold until we can get this part behind us.

4. Multiplication of time to read, study scripture, and write for both Emily and Colby. The lessons we are learning in these days are priceless and we want to meditate on them and record them for us to look back on and give God the praise He deserves.

Again, it is our privilege to walk this road together with your support. We will send updates as they come and are grateful for your love and prayer. If you wish to be removed from this prayer list for any reason, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We won’t be offended at all. Also if you know anyone else who you think would like to hear from us and pray for us, we would be happy to add them to this list.

Love,
Emily, Colby, and Jireh

Romans 8:16-17 "The Spirit bears witness, along with our spirit, that we are children of God. And if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we may suffer with him that we may be glorified together."

We are SO homeschooled.

2011-08-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

The last two days we have done our part to perpetuate the homeschool stereotype. We haven't bought denim jumpers. We didn't get all awkward and look at mommy when someone asked us what grade we were in (oh wait, yes we did do that). We didn't decide to stop immunizing our kids. What did we do? Well, the oldest 4 spent the last 2 days with friends having a Lord of the Rings marathon. And they wrote their own skits. And they did their own LOTR activities.
And
they
dressed
in
character.

If you had asked me if I had stuff in my house to create LOTR costumes I would have had said no - but give my kids 10 minutes in the attic with their creativity and they were decked out.

Frodo and the ring...

Gandalf (the white)...

I call him Lego-las... get it? Those are lego pieces on his ears...

And Aragorn - she washed her hair and then put gel in it to get it all scraggly and cool (seriously cool, people)...

Here they are with their other buddies...

They had loads of fun and I am definitely ready to ban all elf and orc talk for a while.

Not wanting the littles to feel left out we had our buddies Noah and Lydia over to play with the twins and Pipps...

The girls played with the doll house and with their babies and played house under my bed and in other strange places. The boys played very well just waiting for me to allow them on the wii and then were in 7th heaven - you know, not having to interact in real life but getting engrossed in the task on the screen... see - homeschoolers are normal kids too.

All of these things helped in having INDOOR fun as we have endured 60+ some days (I believe) in a row of triple digit temps. I just love our friends and all the little friendships amongst our kids.

I will take geeky kids and teens that love each other and love to play with each other and do silly skits any day. I think they're the coolest cats around.

Twice As Sweet

2011-08-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

My friend, RC, is having twins! This is my first friend to have twins and I am so excited for her.
She has 5 girls already and- get this - the twins are both girls too!! Having 7 daughters in a row has to break all sorts of statistical probabilities. And for all of them to be so stinking cute probably does too.

I got to be a part of throwing a shower for this lovely lady but as you oooh and aawww over the pictures know my contribution was minimal. These other hostesses are shower pros. The theme was "Twice As Sweet."

Look carefully... to the left... through all the pink... I made the sparkly marshmallow pops...

insert pictures of said pops - aren't they cute!

...ok, enough about me - back to the shower...

Pink lemonade served in mason jars - so cute. Who says Pinterest is a waste of time?!

Seriously - I apologize if any diabetic comas are induced merely from looking at these pics. What a treat it was to celebrate the coming of these sweet babes.
Look at the adorable garland made for her with take home treats - everything on there the babies can wear!

And speaking of cute things she take home for the wee babes... these are the mobiles my friend ACK and I made for her...

I want to have a baby just so I can make one for my own!

Thinking about her twins has made me find all the memories I can about my own little guys. I remember some things very clearly and others not so much. I remember cuddling them both in my arms and how wonderful that felt. I remember learning how to nurse one bottle feed the other at the same time. I remember wondering if I'd ever make it through - and here we are almost 7 years later. The Lord was faithful - which I guess answers the question I asked regarding them yesterday... "Will I ever make it through?" Haha. I am so glad to know the Lord gives life and the Lord sustains mommies. To Him be the glory.

Carson turns 12

2011-08-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

Birthday month begins. From the end of July till the end of August we have all 5 male birthdays in our house. Carson kicked it off by turning 12 last week. This handsome son of mine is such a delight and I am loving watching him turn in to a great young man.

Carson wanted a party with friends this year and seeing as he didn't have one last year it seemed like a great idea. However, parties are expensive! So let me tell you how we broke every etiquette rule and threw a very budget friendly party.

It started with me emailing around a link to the moms of the other kids where they could go to sign their kids up for free bowling. I then asked if they could please send their child and coupon with me to the bowling ally. How is that for bad manners?! No invitations. Fortunately, my friends are amazing and no one turned me in to Miss Manners.

I used scrapbook paper I already had to make a banner for the birthday boy and just bought a pack of balloons for a dollar to decorate...

For favors I bought some gift bags (also for about $1) and then popped homemade popcorn to fill them (already in the cabinet so that's free!) and then picked up a 3 pack of gum at Walmart for $2 while I was grocery shopping.. They may not be the greatest favors but I was happy with them and they were so inexpensive, which was the best part...

Now, keeping the guest list down was a big part in helping the budget but that was a fun part too. You see, because of homeschooling and how we interact mostly as a family with other families there is very little age segregating that goes on. My kids have no concept of "I'm a 5th grader so I don't really play with that 4th grader." or "Those 7th graders are so cool - can't wait till I'm there." The kids all play TOGETHER and they do so very well. I absolutely love that about our times with friends. But Carson was hoping that for his party- maybe it could just be the big kids. Well, I needed no persuading when it came to keeping the guest list short and really thought it would be super fun for those older kids to just get some time to themselves. Carson is on the tail end of that "big kid" bracket but that didn't bother him in the least. So, Madison, Carson, JC, Abigail, Grace and I headed to do our free bowling...

It was really fun. The kids were horrible bowlers and it didn't bother them at all.

Carson and Abigail tied for the lowest score in round one...

Then they started doing goofy things in round two - like spin before rolling the ball, bowl through your legs and who can get their ball to roll for the longest time but still hit the pins. They had fun. Gutter ball after gutter ball didn't discourage them and each of them at some point got either a strike or a spare.

After round two we went back to our house for pizza and cake (again - Little Caesars $5 pizzas - can't beat it!).

They mentioned how quiet it seemed to not have all the little kids around - and they were right. It was so fun to get to be with these awesome kids. There at such a sweet age where they are growing up but still kids. I listened to them talk about things from politics to video games. It made my heart full and caused me to thank God for these sweet friendships.

While they ate they had me pull out the laptop and they watched Tim Hawkins clips. If you want a good laugh check him out.

Carson picked tacos for his birthday dinner. Afterwards we skyped with our sweet Lees. Carson and Mitchell were able to play chess together - what a treat! And the whole family joined us at the table as we sang happy birthday...

but we did lose our skype connection once so we had to wait to get them back - which meant the candles got pretty short... (oh, and that's Pioneer Woman's chocolate sheet cake - Carson's favorite)

Check out the precious coupons sister Ally made for her brother. She is so sweet and really loves her brother...

I sure do love this boy. I am thankful for my 12 years with him and hope to be an even better steward of the next 12. He has a sensitive heart to the things of the Lord. He is brave and wants to take the gospel to unreached peoples with his best buddy, Mitchell. He is smart. He is funny. He will be a great leader to his siblings. He is the greatest 12 year old I know. Happy birthday, Bud.

Oh me of little faith...

2011-07-29T18:18:00.000-07:00

Full disclosure... life, financially speaking, has been hard for us for a long time. We are so blessed and optimistic of all that God will do with this new company He has given Jason but it has been slow going. Jason works hard - so hard. He and his friend MG have worked so hard at making connections and getting new clients and we have such hope of what PCSOS can be. But starting anything is hard - and we started already behind when it comes to money. So every dollar that comes in is already owed somewhere else. And even when there is work the bill might not be paid for a month. We wish we could have consistent income, We wish w could have a normal budget but it just feels like we are playing catch-up when we'd rather be trying to move ahead and get out of debt and have a little stability.
We trust our heavenly Father. We have been AMAZED at how many times we have had God's people help us financially - buy us groceries - fix or cars - pay our mortgage - pay for an event we wouldn't have been able to attend- ask Jason to fix their computer and way over pay him. Time and time again we have seen this. How could I ever lose sight of HIM in it all?? We know He has us where He wants us but I must confess - the last three days have been a little hard - and my heart has been sinful and I have lost sight of God's faithfulness. I smile on the outside and say "God is good" and say "He is faithful" but I knew yesterday that I was questioning Him. "Why can't we be out of this struggle? When will You let us prosper in this business? When will Jason be free of this horribly heavy burden? When will we stop being the friends that have no money and can't do anything? When will we be able to go buy our kids shoes just because they need them?"

I had eyes turned in to self and that always ends badly. We are waiting on bills and have had slow days and for the first time we were unable to pay our mortgage this month. Not wanting to ask - yet again - to someone who might be able to help out we just settled in that we would have to take he blow of having the missed payment reported to the credit bureau and we would have to come up with extra money to do a payment and a half the next two months. This is where God wanted us - right? We have talked about me getting a job which may be the best plan. But contemplating it all became a cloud that blocked my view of a loving sovereign God. I even started to question Him in more aggressive ways. "How does having financially blessed people bail us out bring you great glory? Couldn't that happen to anyone? How are You going to work all of this out in a way that shows it had to be You?"

I didn't completely lose heart. I knew I needed to accept His plan. I need to be ready to go where He wants me and help my family when they need me. I knew He is working all things together for our good - but I've been fearing what that path might be? He doesn't promise lots of money or financial security. He promises blessings to the faithful and He promises HIS faithfulness to us.

I called the mortgage company around 3:00 (they close at 3:30 on Fridays). I told them with great regret that we could not make our payment. The girl on the the phone was sweet. Set us up to pay a payment and a half for he next two months. Reminded me that this would get reported on our credit. I knew that. I gulped. We hung up.

At 4:04 as I was walking in the the library with the chickens. A dear friend calls and says "We'd like to pay your mortgage - and before the end of day so you don't default." I was overwhelmed and gave this person the info to call but I knew they closed business at 3:30 on Fridays and that this was the last business day of the month. And yet, just moments later - while picking our picture books with Pips I get a text saying "Taken care of... now it's not hanging over your head. We love you. Let's not talk about his anymore - pretend it was anonymous. I'm glad and thankful and humbled that God chooses to use flawed people to answer prayer. He gets the glory and the credit. It all belongs to Him and we give out the gifts He gives to us. By His grace and for His glory alone. He is good, my friend."

I wanted to sob right there in the easy reader H-M section. Not only did God send His people to sweep in a the last moment he used a family that is not "financially blessed." They don't have extra money just laying around. I am sure there are many many things they could have done with that money. And they sacrificed for us because of the work the Lord has done in their hearts.

Could God be trying to get my attention any more??? What else does He need to do to prove that He holds us and has us right where He wants us. He is not punishing us, He is not messing with us, He is holding us closely and doing what is best for us. I keep saying.... if living day by day, month by month, year by year (sigh) depending on God desperately for every dollar is what it takes for us to LOVE Him more and NEED him more and WANT Him more - then wouldn't we be fools to want anything else????? The problem is that there is still a lot of foolishness in my heart. And yet... He is faithful. Not because I earn it or deserve but because I am HIS and He loves me.

.... Oh for grace to trust Him more.

What kind of girl do you want to be??

2011-07-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

The boys were attending a super cool Star Wars birthday party on Sunday and so, having the rare occasion of being with just the girls, Jason and I took them to get burgers for lunch. Part of time we spent talking about what kind of girl you want you be. We asked Ally and Madi to tell us 5 words they would like people to use when they describe them. They shared things like patience, Christ-likeness, kindness etc... We then talked about how we could help them be more like the things for which they wanted to be known.

At one point I looked at Pippa and said "What kind of girl do YOU want to be?" And her response was so funny - I grabbed my camera and asked her to repeat it...

When "long hair" was the first thing she said I was totally cracking up. Such a girl - pink and sparkly.

But I had to ask myself... how often do I, when I should be contemplating the inward man, focus on the outward. I don't spend a lot of time wishing my body were more fit but at times it is probably more time than I spend wishing my soul were more fit. How much time do I dream about the type of home I would like to have an what I would like to fill it with instead of how I can be of use to the house of God. How often do we neglect the inner man? Oh Lord, make me LONG for you more. Make me LOVE you more. Open my eyes to the worthlessness of all things temporary and convince me of the great value and significance of all things eternal.

Summer So Far...

2011-07-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

I have to start by pointing out that we have been setting records in Oklahoma for consecutive days over 100 degrees and without rain. It has been nutso hot so we have been inside or at the pool.

Here's a little bit of what we've been up to now that we have stopped all the traveling...

Spelling Bees - my mom did spelling with the kids constantly while she was here

My mom would line them on the couch and pull up each kid's grade appropriate spelling word list and they would take turns. She made all sorts of rules and they just loved it. They used the remote as a microphone.

Here is Pippi after spelling "PIP" correctly...

Who knew spelling bees could occupy my children for so long? I still have horrible memories about getting out in the first round of the all school spelling bee that I had worked so hard to qualify for. Don't ask me about it. I might cry. And the English language is stupid anyways.

Finding baby bunnies in our back yard...

I totally photo shopped those stains on to the carpet so none of you would feel badly about your carpet. Ha. Seriously - if you'd like to feel better about your carpet just come for a visit.

We got the babies back with their momma and I've seen them all over the neighborhood now that they are bigger. Super cute!

4th of July... celebrating with our friends the Beltz and the Wrays...

Playing a game where they had to race to empty the toilet paper roll without letting any t.p. touch the ground...

Dressing up like cows to get free food at Chick-fil-a...

Making shadows on the back fence...

Getting hand me down rain boots that you want to wear every day...

Pretending to be a boy scout...

Lots of playing piano (and yet no one knows how to play - donations to get my kids piano lessons so that I don't gouge my ears out with a fork are being accepted. And anyone who wants to go to my mom's house and play Chopsticks and Heart and Soul on a piano until she wants to jump off a bridge - I think that would be fitting retribution)...

Going to the library...

...and getting prizes. I'm telling you - the summer reading program has lit a fire under my kids. They are reading like crazy cakes and that works very well with this hot weather.

And by doing all that reading they earn things like coupons for free bowling...

and coupons for free sundaes...

So - we've had good times trying to beat the heat. Inside the house we've been trying to focus on being thankful and showing honor to one another.

I must admit that I miss the schedule of our school year but am trying to make the most of footloose and fancy free. :)

Fin and Feather

2011-07-18T18:29:00.000-07:00

Got home from Atlanta.Did all the laundry.
Slept in my own bed for the first time in 2 weeks.
hugged my husband.
got the laundry out of the dryer.
folded it.
put it back in the suit cases.
loaded up the van.
Left for Fin and Feather in Gore, Oklahoma for my mom's side of the family family reunion.

We were (and by we of course I only mean me) weary from the travel but ready for more time with family.

above are my amazing grandparents - affectionately called GG and Pa

below are the cousins connecting over breakfast ...

Pips and Kylee enjoying Papa

Uncle Todd, Aunt Jill and Terri above

Abby and Jansen below...

I can't ell you how fun it was to be with family. Unlike the Atlanta trip - some of my cousins here had kids! So it was a different kind of fun for everyone. The kids loved being with their cousins and it was awesome to see how little Pippa fit in with all the red haired blue eyed people. My cousins-in-law are amazing godly women and I loved being with them and their families.

Nana organized a talent show. My kids did a lip sync to Press Play's NY2LA. They are so super cool..

The Pipster was SO shy - she kept her head down and her hands on her face the whole time...

Cason (not Carson - Cason) and McKenna were A-MAZING doing a Bible speed drill and memory verse recitation. I was SO proud of them!

Pippa actually did go up and do her ballet talent. She was adorable. He she is after sitting with Uncle Jack and Josh...

We spent lots of time at the pool (didn't take a single picture). The kids went daily to the arcade (didn't take a single picture). We went to a fun water park (didn't take a single picture). . But we did have plenty of fun with everything we did...

Tony and Shannon (Wendy - how do I not have a single picture of you or Andy???!!!)....

The boys at Soda Steve's...

This reminded me of when my dad would pick me up from school and take me on a lunch date...

Jack and Josh brought their dogs - they we so fun. Jack and Jake actually look alike!

Here are some of the group shots...

The family that we all came from...

And the couple that started it all...

34 hours on the road, 38 relatives and 1 beautiful wedding = a great time.

2011-07-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

My cousin John met and snagged one amazing woman. It was our pleasure to be at their wedding. But it was in Atlanta. 17 hours away from us. So we arranged for our private jet to get us there and back in a timely manner. Unfortunately there were some mechanical issues so we ended up having to drive. I hate when my private jet breaks down.
The same day Jeff and Adrienne left we drove 3 hours to Dallas and picked up Uncle Joby. I was so sad that Jason couldn't come with us but Joby was fun company. It was a treat to be with him so much (not sure if he feels the same away about accompanying all 8 of us - but let's just pretend that he loved it). Then we drove 5 more hours to my parents house in Louisiana. (I have learned not to use the state's abbreviation of LA because everyone thinks I'm talking about Los Angeles. Way to not support Louisiana people.) We swam, ate dinner and washed every one's travel clothes so they were ready for the next day - that way I only had to bring in the swimming bag and toiletries bag.

The next day we drove 9 hours - through Atlanta to the northern part of Lake Lanier where we stayed at an amazing 4 story lake house...

that had the steepest driveway I have ever seen. I took pictures to show Jason how redonkulous it was but the pictures reveal nothing!

It looks like a sweet little path from a child's story book!!! What is up with that? Seriously - a van that dropped off food one night COULD NOT GET BACK UP! You can see its skid marks in the second picture. It was scary. Bu the kids thought it was a like a roller coaster so I tried not to cry when I had to drive down and just yelled with them like I was enjoying the ride.

Being with my Leahy family is really so much crazy fun. They can make anything fun and anything into a competition. Never a dull moment and my heart is always full when I'm with them.

We had bridal party brunch (because little Pippa was the flower girl) and Lindsay gave her cherished sidewalk chalk as a gift ...

Rehearsal - where Madison had to fill in for my cousin, Katie, who was late (you could not find a more perfect and willing fill in)...

Rehearsal dinner - which was loads of fun. I even got to sit with some of my cousins instead of my kids - which was a treat! (I was the only cousin there with kids so while they were all having a blast somewhere I was usually feeding my kids or putting them to bed etc...)

My beautiful cousins and Aunt Liz above and blow are Katie and Jackie - they make me happy!

And then the wedding - did I mention the adorable ring bearers and flower girl?

and their adorable siblings? Admit it. You'd have 7 kids too if they were this cute. :)

The wedding was truly beautiful...

Did I mention Christy Nockles sang... THE Christy Nockles. If you don' know her go immediately to youtube or itunes and listen to her A Mighty Fortress. She was amazing - we had church right then and there at the opening of the ceremony.

Did I mention that Jodie Benson sang? THE Jodie Benson. As in The Little Mermaid and Barbie from Toy Story? She sang with her husband and they were just fantastic.

Lindsay was stunning and the ceremony was so God honoring and moving...

And then the reception where my girls danced and danced and danced...

And my boys dipped everything they could in the chocolate fountain and ate it...

I missed my hubs so much - especially being a wedding and all. But I had fun with my fabs fam...

the cousins...

It was a jolly good time. Then there was a party at the lake house afterwards. Seriously - the Leahy clan can party. And the Leahy sisters can cook and entertain your pants off. My kids stayed up till midnight every night - playing ping pong and cornhole with my cousins. Wilson kept finding ways to make a dollar off people. It went by way to fast and just made me miss my east coast family so much.

We stayed an extra day in Atlanta with my Aunt Liz and Uncle Marshall and cousin, Katie. Then we drove back to LA (you know what I mean) for yest another night and then on home the following day.

Then I had three days to be ready for the other side of the family reunion! Now you know why I haven' blogged in a while!!

Great Family. Great times.

The Greatest Treat!!

2011-07-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

This is the 2nd post from my super nutty, crazy busy June. My attempt is to be brief.

Part of my anniversary gift was knowing that Jason successfully begged and pleaded and convinced my dearest friend since 9th grade and her family to make the 15 hour drive to see us!! I could not have been more delighted.

Jeff and Adrienne and all 6 kids were the most wonderful addition to our home for 8 days. It was crazy hot so we did indoor things and went for ice cream twice.

The kids got along so well - not a single fight. But that doesn't mean it wasn't LOUD at times. One night we fed all the kids and put them to bed and got Pei Wei take out so the adults could have one quiet meal!

Adrienne has been a blessing in my life since I was 14! The Lord has taken us on very similar journeys and we laugh at thinking how we married men that are SO SO alike, have 7 children (yes, her #7 is on her way) and homeschool. Jason and I could not create another couple so similar to us and it was truly refreshing and encouraging and fun to be with them.

Here are some pictures...

Jeff has been developing his mad photography skills and took our family out for a shoot...

Jason pulling out some of his awesome posing...

It was a wonderful week - there's so much more I could say but saying that it was wonderful definitely wraps it up. Lots of late nights (EVERY night), lots of laughs, lots of noise, lots of groceries, lots of memories. Thank you to my hunny bunny for bringing it about!

Mother/Son date night

2011-07-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

My June has been the busiest month of my life. And that's coming from a girl who graduated college and got married on the same day. Bus, busy, busy. Company, traveling ,company and more traveling. I have SO much to blog about and that overwhelms me. SO I will try to get some short posts up as to what I've been doing the past month.

Early in June our church hosted a mom/son even. The mom's take their boys out to dinner and then meet at the church for dessert and something special.

Here I am with my motley crew...

It was a unanimous decision to eat at Steak n Shake.

At the church we had cupcakes, heard a speaker and then got to hold some "extreme" animals. The boys held a baby kangaroo, a lemur, and a Burmese python. They loved it. Cole was about to chicken out on the python at the last second so I jumped in with him - thinking it was no big deal. Bu having that snake on my neck creeped me out! And especially when it's head came towards my face - maybe I dislike snakes more than I thought.

The boys were absolutely precious all night. Opened my doors and gave me compliments. Tyson told me it was his best date ever. And even added that he wanted to marry someone just like me - very pretty and a christian. Boy - he sure knew the way to his date's heart! :)

Cupcake love

2011-06-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

My precious friend, Tiffany gave me this book for my birthday...

I've started trying to bake through it a little. Not truly dedicated like a Julie and Julia sort of thing - just the ones that interest me.
LOVED these - brown sugar pound cake and brown butter icing...

But I've decided you could coat cardboard with brown butter icing and it would be fabulous.
Here's a link to the recipe b/c I don't feel like typing it out.
http://playswithfood27.wordpress.com/2011/04/30/brown-sugar-cupcakes-with-browned-butter-icing/

Last weekend I tried these Boston Cream Pie cupcakes...

Not really a fan. I tried her pastry cream recipe and it bombed. Big time. So I made my own. I made the mistake of taking these to a cook out without trying them myself first. Ugh. Tried them once we got home and didn't like them at all. The cake was too dense for my taste and lacked flavor. The good part about that means I didn't try to eat all 7 that were left over (not that i would EVER do such a thing - hehehe).

Next up - lemon cupcakes with lemon curd filling. Hope they are amazing.

After the Storm

2011-05-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

I've been saying for weeks now that our back yard looks like a ghetto day care. This didn't help...

This is what it looks like...

2011-05-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

... when I go to fold laundry after not doing it for three days. Fun times.

Just as I decided I didn't want to cut Pip's hair....

2011-05-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

... she did it herself. :(

A big chunk off of her left side and then some in the back on the right side (but at least that looks a little more like layers)

Yes, the big girls had all sorts of sewing projects that they left out on the bedroom floor - including sewing scissors. I guess it's good that with the 7 children this is the first time we've ever had a self administered hair cut. But still. Boo.
I had JUST been thinking about how around this age I cut the other girls' hair to little bobs but how I did not want to do that with Pip's. But oh well, it's just hair.
She cried and cried after as if she thought the cuts she did wouldn't be permanent (you can tell from the top picture). She really cried hard when I told her we would have to cut all the rest short too.
Fortunately, we had a park play day the next morning scheduled for our flock and one of the moms cuts hair. She was such a blessing to me - brought her scissors to the park and sat Piper down right on the ground and cut her hair.

She was pretty amazing - considering the crazy wind ("where the wind comes sweeping down the plains" is in the song Oklahoma for a reason)

And now my baby looks like a big girl.

Before she saw it (since she got it cut in the park) Pip felt it and looked at me with a sad face and said "Mommy - it's too little." But as soon as she saw herself in the mirror in our van she loved it. Kept smiling at herself in the mirror. She wanted me to take a picture of her with her pretzel.

I know it could have been much worse. I am thankful for that and for a cute summer cut and for a friend to fix the mess. No use crying over cut hair. :)

Saddest. Night. Ever.

2011-05-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

We had to say goodbye to our dear friends, the Lees, on Sunday night.

We've known for a while that this was coming. As with most military families - staying in one place is not how it works. Andrea and I had been living in denial for the past few months.

We got together every day their last week here.

On Monday we hung out and the guys went to see Thor.
On Tuesday Andrea and I took Maddy and Madison with our friends, Amy, and her daughter, Abigail, out for a little girls night. Madison, Maddy and Abigail are the oldest girls in our co-op and have a special bond between them.

A topic for another post is how our 13 year old daughters almost got hit on by 20 something year old young men!
On Wednesday Jason and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary. So, the Lees came with us to the Melting Pot (my FAV!) for a fantastic dinner and then we stayed up late at our house.

Thursday was our mom's night. Mom's night is always the best night of the month - except when you're having to say goodbye to a beloved friend - and when one of you is missing due to being super sick.
We ate at the Cheesecake Factory, which has become the norm since it's open till 11.

Instead of eating our cheesecake there we headed back to Tiffany's house so we could say goodbye in private. (Of course, I know it's not my goodbye night with her so I continue to live in denial and try to be dead inside.)

After laughing for over an hour we gave Andrea our gift - a Kodak Pulse digital frame. It is the only frame that allows you to email your pictures directly to it. So, not only had we already sent over hundred pictures to the frame - over the next year we can continue to send her pictures so she and her family can be a part of our lives.

Then Andrea read the beautiful poem that she wrote for us. It was all about gathering around tables - because that is so often how we fellowship. It ultimately reminds us that we will all gather around a bride's table one day in glory. She then gave us the most beautiful necklaces made from spoons (get it - the table theme?). Each one is different - made from a different pattern. They are beautiful and I will cherish mine.

Well, after a teary prayer time we decided "hey - since you are not leaving till Monday morning, maybe we could meet again for Sunday breakfast so that Amy can be with us?!" So that became the plan. I did mention that we love to gather around the table didn't I?
Friday the Lee kids played at our house for the afternoon and Jordan and Andrea joined us at dinner time. The kids played and we watched Inception with the hopes of figuring out for certain if he is awake or dreaming at the end. (Well, Andrea and I had that intention. The boys didn't care.)
Saturday morning Andrea and I ran errands and she bought a zoo pass for our family. Man, they are SO generous! Saturday evening was church and afterwards we went back to the RV (oh man - I haven't mentioned that they are living in an RV! Have been for 2 months since their house sold. She is such a trooper. You can follow Andrea's blog through this painful move as she chooses joy at http://andrea-choosingjoy.blogspot.com/) and had pizza and roasted marshmallows.

Sunday morning we met for that mom's breakfast where we were ALL there. Andrea read the poem to Amy and gave her her necklace.

Amy had a funny gift of her own. Whooo did a great job at choosing joy? Andrea!

Now, Andrea drove with me - which means I had to ride home with her after saying her goodbyes.

It was very emotional and the experience was trying very hard to get me out of denial. :(

Then our families went to the zoo for the day. It was beautiful out. All the animals had babies and we had lots of fun.

Jordan and Andrea held hands all day - it was very sweet.

The most fun was the new elephant habitat complete with new baby elephant!

Before leaving we got these pics... Madison and Maddy with the "See you soon" sign. Because we really believe we will see them soon. (And if Harold Camping is right we will see them in 4 days. haha)

Carson and Mitchel stood on their states and waved. Sniff sniff.

Back at the house we had dinner. Unable to think about saying goodbye the guys made us go to Thor. It was definitely more fun for the boys but it was a distraction.
The kids were pretty hyper when we got home. I think part of their dealing with the sadness was to be so silly. The Lees have letters to all our kids and Madison and Carson gave gifts to Maddy and Mitchell.
Ally read the stories she wrote about "The Super Awesome Lees." Then we prayed together for the last time.

And then the goodbyes.
I think I can honestly and accurately say I have never seen anything as sad as what I watched in my living room that night. It was not just crying. The children were weeping and sobbing. It even seemed like fake exaggerated crying but it wasn't. Mitchell and Cole stood facing each other with the tears pouring down their faces. I pushed Cole towards him and said it was ok for them to hug. They embraced each other so hard and wept vigorously. And it was like that for each good bye. Maddy and Mitchell have not only become like siblings to Madison and Carson but to every one of my kids.
Maddy's cry was so loud and filled with grief that you would cry just hearing it. Man, I am crying right now as I type this just recalling the night. And as sad as it was I would have preferred to stay in the living room crying than have to say goodbye to Andrea. It was so painful. And to see my children's hearts breaking ripped mine out. They may deny it but I'm pretty sure even the dads shed some tears. It was the saddest night of my life.
After long hugs and making the rounds we walked them out to their cars. Our entire family stood on the porch, all of us crying (and not just quietly crying - I mean, loud ugly sobbing) and waved until they drove around the corner.
We came back in and sat in heaps on the couch while Jason and I tried to comfort 7 mourning children. Piper finally fell asleep inbetween sobs but still woke herself up twice crying. I think we sat crying and comforting for at least another 30-40 minutes. One of the sweetest things was how I saw my children comfort one another. Ally kept going to Piper and Ty and Carson to rub their backs. Cole hugged Pip while she cried. Carson went and sat by Madison and wrapped his arms around her. It was truly comforting to my soul to see that.
Jason and I pointed the kids to 1 Thess. 5:18 which says "In all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." We asked the kids to list things they could be thankful for despite the circumstances. They came up with..
     ~that Mr. Lee has a good job in this economy
     ~that we had 3 fun years of great friendship with them
     ~that the pain makes us long for heaven

We still couldn't get the crying to stop -so even though it was 11:45 I started an episode of Extreme Home Makeover. I said I'd only let them watch up to the first commercial break. But even I wasn't ready to stop being distracted so we watched till the end.

I know there will be difficult days ahead. Especially for the Lees. But we thank God for them and pray for them to return. And we thank God for all the technology that can connect us. The kids have been texting with Maddy and Mitchell the last two days and have already written seveal letters to be mailed to Ohio. The kids thought we could wrap up our thoughts with this this..

           "It is better to have loved the Lees and lost than to have never loved them at all."

Anniversary trip

2011-05-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

My tricky husband schemed a little plan to take me to California to see some of our most favorite friends- Chad and Erika (a big thanks to Uncle Sam and Uncle Jack for making it possible). All in celebration of being married for 15 years! I was very surprised - overwhelmed when he told me 2 days before departure. SO for 2 days I continued to be overwhelmed as I cleaned and packed the kids and packed for us and got medication to help little boys not wet the bed and wrote out schedules and worried that everyone would obey and be delightful for my friends that graciously agreed to watch them. In between the hustling I found moments to get very excited about 5 days of get-away and fun friends.

Once to the airport- before the crack of dawn on Monday- I was filled with excitement. Big Boo to Southwest Airlines open seating policy and a bigger boo to the people who seeing a married couple trying to find seats together wouldn't offer up their aisle or window seat to accommodate.

My whole body was happy when I saw the view from the Ontario airport outside of LA.

I was even happier to see Erika pull up - with balloons coming out of the window and 3 kids in car seats in tow! My heart melted the moment I saw 5 week old Johnna Rae. James was super cute and welcoming but Jessa was very unsure of the stranger sitting close to her. I worked hard at trying to make her like but didn't really make progress until I pulled out my iPhone and let her see some of the kid games I have on it.

Being with Chad and Erika was the greatest gift. They are AMAZING parents and I remembered how HARD it is to have 3 little ones who need constant training.

On the way home from the airport we got In And Out Burger which then fulfilled my list of things I wanted to do (see mountains and eat at this much talked about burger joint)

I thought is tasted great but don't see what all the fuss is about. I'd take Rally's over it any day (are there more even out there?? sniff sniff).
Look at this cutie who wanted to sit by me all week. He is precious!!

Also - it must be said that part of getting to go meant that Jason would have to answer his phone for anything business related. Not ideal but totally understandable. SO - for a lot of the trip he looked like this...

On Monday we hung out at their apartment - read books to the babe and got caught up with E while we waited for C to get off work. We stayed up crazy late and laughed a lot (this will be a theme for the week) and went to bed happy and nourished to the soul.

Tuesday we strolled around downtown Redlands, saw their old coffee shop, ate at a great bakery/restaurant and them drove up into the mountains to Big Bear. I was not expecting CA to be this beautiful!!

Once in the deserted little ski town we strolled around shops and played by the lake. Every view was beautiful and it was SO PEACEFUL!

And how crazy to go from sweating in the 90+ degree heat to needing to bundle up from the cool mountain air. Jessa in her adorable hat...

Isn't he handsome...

I held the baby as much as I possibly could. Glad Jason grabbed this pic...

15 years later.. and still so in love...

We ate a lodge sort of restaurant. Our generous hosts did not allow us to spend a penny on this trip. We were so blessed by them!

On Wednesday evening the grown ups (and Johnna) shopped around at Victoria Gardens. I might have loved two shirts on the Anthropologie clearance rack that Jason bought them for me.

Then we ate at the most fantastic restaurant!

Similar to the Melting Pot - each table has a grill in the middle.

Then they bring endless amounts (as long as your have a sugar daddy to but you the all you can like Chad did) of delicious things to cook and eat. It was so so super yummy.

But I did not eat this little guy since it really looks like a little guy...

We were so happy to find such a neat place to enjoy each other that night.

On Thursday we went to Pasadena to Hunting Library and Gardens. It was BEAUTIFUL. The art museums were stunning but my favorite was the rose garden which looked liked was the set for every Jane Austen book tuned movie. (And actually has been used in hundreds of movies - like Iron Man 2, The Wedding Planner, My Best Friend's Wedding, National Treasure 2 and Memoirs of a Geisha to name a few)

Jason and I also hit the Huntington Library where we saw a Gutenberg Bible and one of the earliest copies of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. I was so excited and took pictures for the kids because we had just studied these two things in history.

The big bonus was that it was FREE DAY. Well, that's not really the bonus - if you don't have advance tickets (which we did not) you cannot get in on free day. But a sweet man had pity on us when he learned we were from Oklahoma and let us in for free anyways. Sweet!

Chad had mentioned that he thought we were in the neighborhood with the house from Father of the Bride. So, when we left we headed out to find it.

Isn't this just every girl's dream house? Jason wanted his picture in front of it...

We went to the world famous (only to coffee snobs) Intelligencia Coffee

And then, I had to go all the way to California to go to my first IKEA. We ate dinner there and walked all through.

And finally on Friday we went back to downtown Redlands and ate at a gourmet pizza place. I had mashed potatoes and broccoli on mine. And I feel fancy because of it. :)

The day (and nights and wee hours of the morning) were filled with encouragement, laughing, talking, YouTube clips, and more laughing. How I wish I could convince them to buy the house 2 doors down from us that's for sale. They are truly forever friends. I already miss them.

I thank my wonderful husband for all his planning and sacrifice. And my Anniversary treats were not over here... the Melting Pot and the Mayfields are in my near future!!!

Seriously. I want one of these..

2011-05-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

Is it a super cute purse? Yes. But is that all? Nope -it's a CAMERA BAG!

I am in love. My herats beats a little fast. Shourld Ibe embarrassed to admit that? Probably.
You can check all their adorable style out at ...
http://kellymoorebag.com/

Or, you can enter to win one like I have at mom spotted...
http://momspotted.com/2011/05/kelly-moore-camera-bags-review-giveaway-250-value.html

Or, as my friend Amy suggestted - any of you who are feeling led to buy one for me can purchase the B-Hobo in muted teal and send it my way. Hahahaha.

You're welcome.

Let's Go Fly A Kite

2011-05-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

There is a reason that the song "Oklahoma" mentions the wind sweeping down the plains. It is WINDY here. A lot. SO, we had a picnic with our friends, the Mclaurins, and flew kites. The kids loved it. So did the adults.

Piper was like the kite whisperer. She could her kite up faster and higher than anyone else. It was pretty funny.

Everyone had to fight with the wind to find success. Wind is good for kite flying but too much wind makes it difficult. Go figure.

Wilson is chasing one that got caught in a tree...

Finally - WAY up there!

It was a fun way to spend a Friday evening with great friends.

Celebrating Easter!

2011-04-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

I love Easter weekend.
Our Easter worship service is my favorite of the year.
I wore too much mascara this year forgetting that I always cry and cry.

We made plans with the Lees for the weekend because their time left here is short. This is another reason why I shouldn't wear too much mascara these days. Sniff sniff.

My parents also switched their plans last minute and came up as well. I love have lots of people to celebrate life with! It makes it more exciting and ... celebratory!

Friday we all went through the Good Friday experience at our church. A walk through of the stations of the cross. Very touching. Afterwards we all came to our house for dinner and a little Good Friday service where we extinguished candles as we read each portion of the account of the death of Christ.
I forgot to take any pictures because I suffer from a mental disorder. It's probably called "i-birthed-a-lot-a-babies-itis."

On Saturday Nana and I took the kids shoe shopping. Ugh. Can you say torture? Warning - do not wait until the day before Easter to find Easter shoes for you kids. I should have known this but please see the aforementioned disease.

Because we attend worship service on Saturday night we celebrated the resurrection a little early.

After church we just HAD to snap pictures. Sadly, the ones with me in it are blurry. Boo.

After the service our dear friends the Kents and Lees came over for dinner and to color eggs.

And for dessert we made smores using peeps in the place of marshmallows. The kids called them SMEEPS.

On Sunday we enjoyed another fantastic breakfast from Papa. The Lee's came over early afternoon (after my parents hit the road) where we had to switch our egg hunt to the great indoors because of all the rain. I think they had more fun inside anyways.

We hid the eggs EVERYWHERE - so they had to tear the place up to find them.

On the table the candles we extinguished on Good Friday were lit to remind us that He lives.

After our delicious lunch the adults tried to stay awake while the kids kept performing skits with the buckets...

It was a great three days of celebrating the most important event in the world's history and in my life. Jesus is alive and He is still in the business of changing lives. To know that I have been saved from the wrath of God and from the power of sin is still overwhelming to me. Oh that I would live each day as mindful of the cross as I did these three days.

Getting back to it

2011-04-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

When you don't blog for a while you don't feel like blogging.
I'm back trying to preserve memories because last week I found out we lost !) years of digital photos.
Yes, 10 years lost.
Every digital picture I took prior to moving in to this house almost 4 years ago.
Including Piper's birth.
Please don't talk to me about it or I will crumble into a heap and sob.
Wish I had blogged from 2001-2007.

ANYWAYS...

I tried forever to upload videos from a talent show our co-op did but could never get it to work. So, when my kids were in a little production for their drama group I recorded smaller portions in hopes of posting them.
Here are Madison, Carson, and Ally playing Lucy, Sally and Charlie Brown...

Cole was a number reciting The Nose Book by Al Perkins. He was so cute up there - trying to keep a straight face but that dimple giving him away and seeing that cute smile beam as he was so proud to be up there.

They all did Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Yes, I know how to spell it because it has been sung in my house a bazillion times.
And spelling it is Tyson's new obsession.

You didn't notice that there wasn't an individual shot Ally did you?
Just call me mother of the year.
In my defense she had changed into different clothes while I was taking those pictures.
But I still forgot once she came back.
At least she's in the group shot.

They were all supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - as usual. I am such a proud momma. I know how Colson feels - I can't hide the smile either.

So fun I would need a Thesaurus to begin to describe it all...

2011-02-23T17:03:00.000-08:00

I just got back from spending the weekend in Dallas attending Sally Clarkson's Mom's Heart conference. It was a WONDERFUL conference and the weekend was extraordinary because of the friends I shared it with. So many laughs were had and inside jokes created. It was a weekend that this mommy needed big time. And that is not because I am so stressed over my many children or the responsibilities of homeschooling. I DELIGHT in being with my chickens all day long. I do not HAVE to have a break from it. But it was a BLESSING for it to me given to me. And I am a better momma today than I was when I left Friday.

The conference itself was a gift from a friend and my hotel room was a gift from my brother, Jack. What a blessing!!!

We started off bright and early. It was exciting just to get to the meet-up point because our dear friend, Alicia, who had moved away in September, flew in to come with us. Not too much gets me jumping up and down at 7:30 but having all of my sweet CK moms together again was truly exciting. Plus, our sweet Tiffany brought her sister, Tori and our friend, Amber came too.These are truly amazing women and so so fun.

Fist stop was Cafe Express for lunch. Last year we got such a kick out of "smoking" the bread sticks. I know, aren't we hilarious? We had to revisit the fun this time too.

Amy K. refused to smoke hers because she had her baby there. Is she above repraoch or what? ha.

By the way, if you are already rolling your eyes thinking we are ridiculous then you better just go ahead and stop reading this post. Because our hilarity only gets more ridiculous.

After lunch we went to the hotel, showered, and went down to the conference. If you have a group of 10 you can reserve a table, which we did. However, due to a mix up our table had not been reserved. I don't know about other women's conferences but at this one, if you don't save your sear early you are banished to the back. The conference staff apologized profusely and we picked a table in the very back right next to the door. This was a good move for us. We giggled so much last year that Tiffany, when reserving our table, put it under Amy's name! Too funny. So we set up shop in the back.

And I suppose i should apologize right now to the Mom's Heart staff and Sally herself for all the giggling coming from our table. My guess is that they are used to it but on the off chance you thought we were rude or uninterested in what was being discussed please know that couldn't be farther from the truth. The conference was truly inspiring. We are just goofy like that.

Here are some of my dear friends...

Alicia and Andrea

Tiffany and Tori

Rachel and Amber

All of us... (and I found out just recently that Amy really isn't holding Mary in this picture - she is just holding blankets - creee-py)

We skipped out a little early to go to dinner so that we could have plenty of time to enjoy our meal and each other. We ate at La Madeline's and the manager told me that we are getting one here in OKC. I hope so. It is yum-o. I spend most of dinner talking to Alicia. She updated me on her crazy life and I updated her on mine. I feel kinda badly that I kept her immersed in a serious conversation when the rest of the group was in uproarious laughter for most of the time over Amy T's hilarious stories. Woof.

Back to the conference for Sally. Let me tell you - if you want to be motivated and encouraged in your calling as a mother then just read or listen to Sally Clarkson. She is amazing and so real. It is a delight to my soul to pour over the things she says. I went back to my room a little early because I was just SO tired I could barely stand it.

I shared a room with my forever friend, Andrea.

And we had adjoining rooms with Amy K. and sweet baby Mary!

Last year we all had our OWN rooms and it was truly delightful. Such rest for the body and spirit. This year we all had a roomie and still, the refreshing effect was just as full. It was certainly different but truly such fun. And since little Mary was there this is what we all ended up doing so much of the time...

She is such a little doll. The joke is that looking at her made our wombs ache (except for Rachel's whose is already full with twins!). Several times we laughed noticing how all of our heads would be cocked to the side while we ooohed and aaaahed over the tiny babe.
Day two brought more challenges from Sally, a catered lunch and some time for reflection. Well, the conference didn't schedule the time for reflection but we did. We skipped out on the session after lunch so that we could sit in some quiet and think, pray or talk about all that we were processing. Andrea and I retreated to our room where we sat in our window seat with lots of pillows and pulled together the curtains so that we had a fort of sort. Being the mature adults we are we even knocked on Amy's door and ran to hide in our grown up fort. :)

(I tried to do a serious face with my serious journal but look more like I am about to sneeze)

Andrea and I talked about the legacy we hope to leave. Think about this... what 5 adjectives would you want people to use to describe you after you leave this earth?

After a while we all gathered in our room for a few more laughs before heading back down. I have a posed pic but this one is more realistic because we truly were laughing almost constantly.

The conference wrapped up around 5:30 and we headed to Southlake for dinner and shopping. It was delightful to not have a schedule! We could go where we wanted when we wanted and didn't have to be anywhere at a specific time.

Here we are waiting for a table for dinner

And these hilarious girls all started clapping and hollering as an entire wait staff of this Mexican restaurant comes singing and clapping to bring ME a birthday dessert. Lovely. Why is it that I find teenagers annoying? Seriously - we are worse.

And after dinner Andrea gave us a little show through the window from outside. The entire restaurant laughed as she channeled her inner Michael Scott. What a hoot!

We had to get Cheesecake from our favorite place after dinner to take back to the hotel.

Once we were in jammies and eating cheesecake the fun began. From inside jokes to performing our hidden talents from high school to funny stories - we LAUGHED until it hurt. The poor people who had rooms anywhere close to us - We are so sorry!!

This is what the weekend sounded like...

On Sunday everything started winding down. Some had to get back early, some had to get to the airport. A few of spent a leisurely morning at the hotel. Amy K, Andrea and I got lunch at La Madeline's again and then went back to Southlake. After a little shopping and getting groceries at Central Market we hit the road. On the way home the three of us had great discussion and listed to a sermon by Paul Washer on reforming youth evangelism and discipleship.

There is something truly wonderful when people from all different walks of life (different cultures, socio-economic statuses, different stages of life, moms who work and moms who stay at home, families that send their kids to public, private, or home schools) can come together and be unified in Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ. But there is also something truly wonderful about sharing time with people from your exact walk of life, those with the same desires and struggles, the same calling and the same challenges. There is such comfort in that mutual understanding of one another and such joy that is then shared in our Lord. I think both of those setting reveal to us a glimpse of heaven - where people from every tribe and every tongue and nation, rich and poor, slave and free will gather together completely unified and obsessed with ONE THING - our Lord Jesus Christ - and making much of Him forever.

Princess Pips

2011-02-12T09:08:00.000-08:00

As I was buying a birthday present yesterday I realized the party I was preparing for would be Piper's FIRST birthday party. I mean, she's been to parties but so often our circle of friends do family parties or parties where all the children in a family are invited. And I really do love that. But I was excited to think that my baby Pip would be going to her first tea party birthday. My how she's grown!

So we broke out the dress up and got all ready for the celebration.

And, of course, she had to wear her sunglasses. Umm - How was I so unaware that she was growing up?

She really is the princess of this family. Hope she has fun at the party!

A Valentine's Visit

2011-02-12T08:55:00.000-08:00

I was so glad that snow did not keep my brother, Jack from visiting us this week. We were all so excited to see him. The children swarmed in like vultures, surrounding him at all times. They love their Uncle Jack. The kids wanted to have a Valentine's Party with him and so Jack decided they would have an "I love Uncle Jack Valentine's Party." (did I mention he's clever)
So, they made sugar cookies in the afternoon and he took us out to dinner (treat!). The next morning he came over for breakfast and he and the kids all had hot chocolate and then iced (and ate) their heart cookies. The LOVED it. And so did Jack.

The kids also got Jack to put the Hey Tell app on his phone so that they could send him voice messages. And Jack showed them his app that takes a picture of someone and then makes the look fat. They thought that was hilarious.

It was great to have my brother here, even for just a short time. He is so fun and funny and generous. I am pumped that he is going to get to visit a lot more this year!

A charge to a 13 year old girl...

2011-02-06T20:41:00.000-08:00

One thing I really wanted for Madison as she entered her teen years was to be charged, by godly women who love her, on different topics. I had thought about doing something like this when she turns 16 but then considered that we don't know what our near future holds and that we may not live here or have these women in her life 3 years from now. So, why not do it now and we can always do again when she's older. I asked the other mom's in my co-op to charge her on specific topics - they are all so gifted and have so many strengths to draw upon.

We met at our house for birthday cake. Jason took the other rug rats out for ice cream so that it would be peaceful. My friend, Rachel (whose topic was hospitality), brought me all the things for table - to make the room so pretty.

I think Madi enjoyed hanging out with the "ladies" while we waited for everyone to arrive. Once we are together we sat down for chocolate cake.

(one without me)

(one with me - thanks Rach)

After cake and coffee we gathered in the living room and me precious friends poured out their hearts my daughter on the following topics....

Rachel spoke on the biblical mandate for hospitality and how doing it well honors others. She encouraged Madison to open her home to others one day and be helpful when we do it now. Most importantly she reminded her to never get caught up in the details like Martha but to cling to Christ like Mary.

She gave Madison beautiful little serving bowls.

Amy K. spoke to he about the biblical mandate to honor your husband and how honoring your parents now will prepare you. She spoke about how at the heart of honoring a husband, or parents, or siblings is love. She drew upon I Corinthians 13 in her charge and promised that the Lord would supply all she needed.

Amy T. spoke on the biblical mandate to treasure God's Word. She gave her 3 sweet gifts that went along with her points. One of them was a journal to write her memory verses in (which she started filling up the next morning). She encouraged Madison to remember that God's Word is complete and can fully equip her for everything she needs in life and godliness.

Tiffany charged Madison on the biblical mandate to love your children and how loving her siblings now will prepare her for that. She praised Madison for the loving behaviors she has seen in her already and encouraged her to pour herself our in the service of her family.

She gave Madison a beautiful silver heart necklace that says "love always" on the back.

Andrea had the daunting task of addressing purity; how the biblical mandate to be sexually pure starts in the heart and mind now. She wrote a beautiful story comparing two potential wedding days for Madison -one filled with joy and ready to offer her entire self to her husband and one filled with regret and fear because she had already given away her heart and had it broken. It was a beautiful encouraging letter reminding Madison that sex is not bad - it is beautiful and fantastic but only within the confines of marriage and how it can be most treasured when she has saved all of herself, body, mind, and heart for that one special man.

She also gave Madison a little gift - a bracelet with a little heart charm.

My heart was so full at the end of the night. Full of love for my daughter who is now a young woman and full of love and gratitude for the precious women God has put in my life. I think the night meant a lot to Madison and will always be a special memory.

I. am. the. mother. of. a. teenager...

2011-01-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

and I couldn't be more excited. I seriously have the greatest teen girl to have walked the planet - well, at least as far as I'm concerned. :)

Her big birthday treat was a trip to the salon. Anything she wanted I said. Hot pink highlight? You betcha.

Doesn't she look fabulous. Coolest homeschooled girl I know. :)

Because one of her bestest buddies was going to be in Tulsa on Madison's birthday, I took her and her two special friends out for dessert on Tuesday night. Now, if you have a 13 year old daughter who has horrible friends, then you should stop reading right now or might just become overwhelmed with envy. These girls are amazing. The love each other and their families and the Lord so very much. They truly sharpen each other as well as having so much goofy fun. I am so very thankful for the role they have had in my daughter's life.

On Thursday morning I took Madi took a local hair design school to get her hair done. This picture is so precious to me.. my little girl getting punk rock pink in her hair while she reads the biography of Adoniram Judson.I am telling you - this girl has my heart!!

We spent the morning of her birthday with our co-op. We met at our church gym and talked about the cardiovascular system and spend some time jumping rope and playing basketball.

We had a little friend staying with us too and Madison loved getting to take care of her...

I brought cupcakes again - Boom Boom Pow cupcakes to be exact. A local cupcake place makes these fantastic treats with yellow cake, chocolate frosting, caramel and sea salt. The call them Boom Boom Pow. :)I have been known to duplicate them and they were Madison's special request.

Jason took Madison out to her most favorite restaurant.. The Olive Garden... for dinner (3 cheers for a gift card!)

After dinner they spent the evening at Barnes & Noble and she spent a little of her birthday money on a book learning to use a flower loom. She can't wait to spend the rest on yarn.

She is just as precious as can be. Learning more and more of the world every day and desiring to grow up in a way the honors the Lord. She still wants more than anything to be a missionary to Zimbabwe. She recently learned of a group there that she might want to investigate called Hands of Mercy. I love her dedication to this desire if hers. She is constantly reading biographies of great missionaries and sitting in with me while I listen to Piper sermons. She is growing in the Lord and I am so thankful to see His hand in her. She is quick to apologize when she is wrong and often very broken by her sin. If you want to ask me for parenting tips on how to get a daughter like this just forget it. This must be the work of the Lord. Besides, wait till get to the twins birthday and I write about them - you'll be sending parenting tips to me! :)

Happy birthday my darling girl.

Happy Birthday Sweet Peach.

2011-01-21T17:51:00.000-08:00

I am telling you that there isn't a sweeter 10 year old girl in the world and boy am I nuts about her.

We spent the day at the science museum with our co-op. It was very fun as it was our first time back together since Christmas break. The kids played and explored and got to eat food that had been frozen in liquid nitrogen. We brought cupcakes (chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing withe Reese's cups crumbled on top - per Ally's request).

We passed on a birthday party for the girls this year. Instead we did some special things. The Lee kids came home with us from the science museum to play for the day.

I took Ally to get her hair cut (a treat for my kids) in the afternoon. And let me just mention here that the salon would let you pay with a debit/credit card but you could only tip with cash or check! Weird. And a really bad policy. I was a little embarrassed to tip with $4 worth of quarters! But not as much as I would have been if we walked out of there without tipping.

After Jason got home we took her (just her - the only time Jason and I have have together been with just one child except for ER trips!) to the mall to get her ears pierced.

She had done this once before but the holes closed up. She was nervous because she remembered that it hurt. But she was brave...

Riding the escalator, which is my kids' favorite part of the mall. Since we RARELY, RARELY go I figured she could take a whirl or two...

Then we took her our for dinner. We had such a special time. We tried to remember what we had done for every birthday she has had. We got stuck on a few. It was a fun time with just our little Peach, who normally gladly steps out of the lime light.

Back at home we had birthday cake (Eclair cake actually - her favorite) with the Lees.

She got the pillow pet she had been wanting (which settles the score even further between me and my husband who thought our kids would never want something so stupid. I knew they would love them and now all but one of them own one).

I love how selfless and loving Allyson is. She is tenderhearted and comforting and nurturing. She will make a fantastic mother some day. Just recently she has wondered if maybe the Lord would have her be a missionary in Asia. Oh that He would hold her heart!!

New Year's Eve

2011-01-21T17:15:00.000-08:00

We were so excited to the hourly bags we did last year. I must admit, even I was really looking forward to it - and for someone who cherishes the quiet time at night when all 7 kids are in bed - that's saying something. This year we celebrated with the Lees which made it even more fun.

5:00 - plates, napkins and streamers to decorate for our pizza dinner...

puzzle challenge - twins vs. kids vs. adults - but the puzzles were so hard that no one finished. SO we all helped the twins complete theirs as the hour ended.

Family worship - we all filled out papers identifying how we wanted to be more Christ-like in the upcoming year and a Scripture to memorize to help us. Then we sang worship songs together.

game time! This is a fun fun game... charades on crack...

This was a Christmas gift and if you have little signers then I highly recommend it. I think it has been on in our house every single day since Christmas.

Get comfy and watch a movie.

Pause the movie and have ice cream sundaes.

All you need to celebrate the new year.

Here in the middle of the country we have to record the ball dropping at 11:00 and then watch it at midnight. SO, disregard the word "LIVE" on the screen - but the kids don't know the difference. :)

And once we rang in the new year of our sweet guests had to hightail it to the bathroom to "toss her cookies." Poor baby. All I can say is we sure do know how to par-tay. I mean, is a celebration really complete if it doesn't include cleaning up vomit at the end? Oh well, so not the highlight of the night. But OTHER than that - it was a blast. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas! 2010

2011-01-21T16:55:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed Christmas morning 2010. We woke up singing Good Christian Men Rejoice, like usual. The rest of the morning just seems more joyful and relaxed.

The kids seemed to do a great job of waiting patiently for their next gift and enjoying watching one another open their own. They all seemed excited for their siblings and thankful for their gifts. (Totally not trying to brag - normally I feel like sending everyone back to bed moments after we have begun!)

Tyson got the kid's camera he had wanted so badly. By evening he had taken over 1000 pictures and drained the batteries. Here he is taking a picture of his camera taking a picture...

We had Papa's famous pancakes for breakfast (the very best).
The Lees joined us for our Christmas lunch/dinner meal.

Later, the Markmillers joined us for dessert and games. We just love all these families and think having newly adopted, Lauren, as part of the crew is a real treat!

And then they were all ready for bed. Piper has new friends to cuddle with...

Twas the Night Before Christmas! 2010

2011-01-21T16:33:00.000-08:00

Oh - a Christmas house... is anything more fun? The decorations, the anticipation, the presents under the tree (well, not our house, I don't put presents under until they go to bed on Christmas Eve), the company arriving... it is all so much fun. My parents came in a few days before Christmas and they kids were bustling about so they could turn the boys room into a "hotel" room for Nana and Papa.

They stayed in ROOM 1 which also happened to be named "The Leahy Suite." Their door also came with a "Do not Disturb" or "Come on In!" sign to hang on the knob.

The beds were neatly made and had a chocolate on each pillow with a note that said "So that your dreams might be sweet."

They even had bottled water and glasses (the note says "ice available upon request.")...

We went as a family to the Christmas Eve service at our church. I must be honest - by the time we got settled in and the service began my heart was FAR from wanting to worship. Then - just as 10 more people fill in the row next to us, someone desperately has to go potty. It was so packed - there was no easy way out- I was growing more frustrated. Funny (but not really), how little things can so easily turn our hearts away from our One True Joy. I was so convicted by how easily my eyes leave that miraculous Christ child on a daily basis. And in my great conviction I was reminded of how that child came to die... to save sinners...like me. Praise the Lord.

After the service we enjoyed some traditions with our dear friends, the Lees. These people are so precious to us and it was a blessing to celebrate, eat, and have devotions with them. The kids also exchanged gifts...

The Lees bought treasures for each of my kids. How generous is that?! We bought a gift for Maddy and a gift for Mitchell from the Woodard family but my kids so sweetly went through every toy they owned and found things they wanted to give to their friends. Some of the things were a little embarrassing for me ,as the mother, to let them give as a gift, but I loved the heart behind the gesture and decided them to let at it (one of the gifts was a happy meal toy!). Pip got very attached and very emotional to a sock monkey in the movie Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Mrs. Lee remembered that (because she is the queen of all gift givers) and found this adorable pink one. Piper named her Lucy and sleeps with her every night.

The boys... so cool...

Tyson was pretty excited to get (yet another) Little Einstein DVD (surprise surprise)..

Once home, Nana gave the kids their traditional Christmas Eve pajamas...

Then they all got in bed and Jason and I got to work. All the baskets and boxes in place (to put their gifts in as they open them)...

And we are ready!

SIDE NOTE..... Maybe you noticed in the pictures but a week before Christmas Colson broke his nose!! Hit by a baseball while playing catch with a friend. Bless his little heart. This was a good day...

THREE!!!!!

2010-12-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

I have to throw in amidst all the Christmas stuff (because it is thrown in amidst all the Christmas stuff) that Piper had her 3rd birthday on the 5th. Three - is it possible?? This little girl is all fun, loads of laughs, super sweet, and sometimes a little naughty. She is absolutely adored as the baby of this family.
Happy Birthday Pippi.

Such a treat that our new little friend, Jing Yan Lauren, who just got home from China with her forever family 2 days before, was able to come celebrate with us!!! She is too cute for words...

And how could I not include this beautiful little Jireh in Santa get-up. So so so cute!!!

Happy birthday my little Pipster. You are loved, loved, loved.