Monday, August 31, 2009

yummy breakfast and porch time

Saturday we spent time doing some favorite things...
eating a yummy breakfast here...





and hanging out on the porch here.



Joey helped build this wonderful little cabin in the woods. It's not our cabin, but we are family!

Bear loved the front steps...









Mimi sat for a quick pic too before she started rockin'!








I could sit on a porch swing forever- especially with my hubby beside me. Man oh man, what a great place to do some thinkin' and sittin'!








Padre did some widdle-ing and story telling of his younger days...





the big kids tried it all...




they can't wait to sleep there. me? i'll have to think on it:)



we had a perfect restful family day full of memories!























Saturday, August 29, 2009

bales

i love bales of hay. i love to see them in the fields.
my kids love to play on them.
here are my munckins flanked by the 2 C brothers!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

bus ride

hey come on, you wanna take a bus ride...


Tuesday was finally the big day. Braxton got to board the ole school bus with Briley. He's waited a long time for this!

more bittersweet memories!
i say a prayer every morning as now 2 of my kiddos ride off to school.





Monday, August 24, 2009

little,BIG

though they have more than their share of quarrels...

little brother is going to miss BIG brother when he starts disappearing every day to school.




Saturday, August 22, 2009

look what we found

remember way back in the early spring when we got these?
we are minus 2 of the beginning 6. country life can be tough on an ole chick.
but we are proud to say that out of the 4 still chillin' in our coop...
we now we have these...
our 1st showing of eggs...wow!
i must admit i know very little, if anything about chickens. do we even have a rooster? how many eggs do they lay a day? etc etc etc. but thanks to a good buddy- at least i know to play it safe- if you don't know how long an egg has been resting all cozy in the coop - don't eat it!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

missions minded

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48


We have been given so much and we are finding ways to give back.

Lately, it seems God is placing more and more ways along our path.


We have Africa on our minds daily.
So, on that note it was wonderful to become apart of an African Fellowship group that welcomes those with hearts for orphans. We loved meeting lots of children from Bristol's Ethiopia. Now, if we could just meet her:)

the 4 youngest kiddos in this clan have only been in the States 6 months from Ethiopia. I talked with the girls and was wowed by their beauty and spirits.



On another note, some of you may have heard from me about a non-profit called Ordinary Hero. They help us find ways to help those in need- ways to be an ordinary hero. From encouraging a woman at the mission house in town, to providing backpacks for children, to finding a place to call home for orphans around the world, to ...

We went last week to the women's mission to take the backpack we had gotten for one of the sweet children... it was a backpack extravaganza...this guy's ready for school now!


a shout out to the founder of Ordinary Hero. she is doing amazing things.

joey hanging out with some proud new backpack girls...

stopping for a quick pic amidst passing out backpacks, snacks, and more...




a good thing to ask yourself...
What have you done for Jesus today?

side note- i did copy and paste a few pics- wish i had taken more with my own camera.




















Monday, August 17, 2009

1st day of KINDERGARTEN

after much anticipation and prayer the big day arrived.
mommy had a hard time with this guy going to kindergarten. this guy, on the other hand, thought it was awesome and loved every second of it!

backpack, lunchbox, cool new tee and sneakers...

knuckle sandwiches from daddy...

remember these bracelets we made as kids? i thought it would be fun to make one for the kids to remember mommy by during the day if they needed to. plus, they are cool! (bri got hers last Thurs, brax got his this morning)


brax and bri walking to class...




right outside the new classroom... he's pumped, i'm holding it together.



found his name on his desk, met some friends, started coloring, and waved goodbye...

i am so proud of this guy!
bittersweet day for this ole mom! another milestone in life with my children!



Thursday, August 13, 2009

2nd Grade



today was the big day. the first day of the 2nd grade.
she had picked her first day of school outfit (isn't she beautiful?!!). she had her special bracelet mommy made for her. she was full of excitement and ready to go. she bounced right in and sat with her friends- hardly caring at all about her brothers and me.
she's getting way too big!
i miss spending the day with her.
can't believe her brother is about to start too.
happy first day of school my beautiful Briley!

Friday, August 7, 2009

fun with friends

friends, the vineyards, and a 30th birthday


it is always wonderful to celebrate with friends!

Monday, August 3, 2009

no greater

there are hardly words that can explain Sunday August 2, 2009!



this is the day my briley was baptized!
baptized- Christian sacrament; a ritual washing with water, symbolizing a cleansing from sin, linked with repentance and admission to the community of faith; symbolic of being filled with the Holy Spirit.


I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. III John 4
AMEN!!





Sunday, August 2, 2009

3D THIS!

it's amazing what fun these little glasses can be!
but it's hard to swallow how much $ it costs now to take 4 peeps to a 3D matinee!