Cute Video

I have more cute videos but it is just taking WAY TOO long to "process" this thing!
When I have more patients I will try again.

What do you get when you put grown men in a kids play structure?

REALLY FUNNY PICTURES

I won't call out your age Dad but I have to say it's shocking to see you bend like that!



Happy 3rd Birthday Eli - We had a blast!

Grrrrr.....MONEY......

Michael and I started the Dave Ramsey “total money makeover” about two years ago. It has included some proud moments of cutting up credit cards, distracted weak moments of treating our selves with needless indulgences, and what feels like a really LONG never ending battle of paying off debt! One thing I know for sure it’s really fun to pay off debt when you have a substantial amount of extra money to put to the cause (which only happens twice a year – bonus & tax time). Otherwise it’s a long frustrating battle. It’s been so nice to get rid of “stuff” it’s true the less you have the less you have to worry about. But the point I am trying to make is a recent lesson I have learned. Recently Michael and I realized we had lost focus of the “plan” and had not been praying about money and opportunities for me to make some. God truly is amazing and always provides. I am a strong believer that we must live out our consequences of bad decisions. God may not choose to bless us with a quick fix of MONEY to make it all disappear but he will give us opportunities to learn lessons and mature while He provides. A friend had just recommended a book called, If You Want to Walk on Water You Have to Get Out of the Boat. I have not started reading it but it got me thinking. I have to MOVE and act. If I just sit still in my house praying for money most likely folks it ain't gonna happen. So I started making some phone calls. Child care seemed to be the most reasonable thing since I am home with my own all day long. Just happens that the Mother of a little girl I watched back when I was pregnant with Blake was in desperate need of child care for her new little 3 month old daughter 5 days a week and her 4 year old 2 days a week. A week later Michael’s sister called and asked if I would be willing to clean their house – AWSOME! Yesterday, a friend called who I have done some accounting work for in the past to see if I would be interested in taking on one of her accounts that is absolutely ideal. Well there you go; I just had to get out of the boat. As Pastor Greg said it Sunday, keep running the race and don’t give up. I am sure that everyone of you reading this can imagine (because it’s your own reality) there are some tough things to adjust to having 3-4 kids all day. I am learning how to prioritize my time and how to keep up on laundry and cleaning in between “jobs” without neglecting my husband and two kids. I realize that all you mommies of three and pregnant mommies need help! If I get this all figured out I want to help you all some how. So no more focus on the hard things. Here are some blessings and good lessons learned over the past week.

- My kids and I love having a little “happy” baby around all day long.
- Ellie has a friend to play with twice a week all day long and it gives us lots of opportunities to learn new friendship skills. Yes, this can be exhausting but I have been able to help them both work together and learn some of the things I was most worried about Ellie dealing with in preschool this coming fall.
- I am WAY more scheduled and ready for the day come 7AM.
- Due to the spit-up factor I am keeping up on laundry.
- Ellie has come to the conclusion that it’s ok that her mommy doesn’t have a baby in her tummy because we get to help take care of all the other little babies who’s mommies have to work.
- I have to pick up my house every night BUT I get to wake up to a clean house (well picked up house) every morning.
- Sharing our home, hugs and kisses with two sweet girls.
- I am able to make the total money makeover not feel so SLOW.

My prayer is that I continue to learn not to just hope but faithfully pray for God’s will and to keep moving. Not just looking for my prayers to be answered in my way but to see God’s provision and blessings.

Sweet Kids

Cute

Mike let's me sleep in on Saturdays here and there and lately he has been teaching them dance moves. The most popular is the robot to Toby Mac! This is too cute. I wish Blake would not have turned around cause his face is priceless. Ellie has it down and loves to dance with daddy!

Only Blake would think of a game like this...

Stick gold fish in Aunt Katy's toes...then eat them....I know it was so discusting! We scared his with our yelps as he stuck them in his mouth. Good thing Katy just took a shower.

I got tagged

4 jobs I've had:
1. A.C.A.P (Autistic Children’s Activity Program)
2. Respite Care
3. Mutual Fund Trader – Trust Company
4. Stock and Bond Trading Assistant

4 movies I've watched more than once:
1. Anne of Green Gables/Anne of Avonlea – me too Andrea!
2. Father of the Bride (first and second)
3. Pride and Prejudice
4. White Christmas

4 places I've lived:
1. Reno, NV
2. Gresham, OR
that’s it folks!

4 TV shows I watch:
Net Filx and Kid Movies

4 places I've been:
This is kinda sad….
1. Vail, Co - family
2. Spokane, Wa - family
3. Victoria BC, Canada – just for fun
4. San Francisco, Ca – business trip

4 people who email me regularly :
1. Mars
2. Michael
3. Brothers
4. In-laws

4 favorite foods:
Hmmmm – can I just say I love almost all food!
1. MEAT – and it makes my husband so proud
2. Ice Cream
3. Anything Italian
4. BIG hamburgers (I know that’s meat too)

4 places I'd like to visit:
1. Anywhere with a spa and massage
2. Europe
3. Australia – mainly because Mike would love to go
4. Hawaii

4 things I'm looking forward to this coming year:
1. camping
2. beach trips
3. Ellie turning 5 and Blake turning 3. They are getting so big and its fun!
4. No more major house projects. Yes, we still have to finish every project that we have ever started. This is not Mike’s fault I am just as bad.

4 friends I'm tagging:
1. Mars (double tag)
2. Matt and Beth Benz
3. Alyssa Roupp
4. Cyndi Strandberg : )