What I'm Loving Wednesday

I am loving this sweet girl, and her summer hat, and her love for diet coke like her mama. Ok, I don't love that but it's cute.

Love this. Nothing we can earn. His grace.

I discovered this a few weeks back and Zach and I are just loving it for our coffee. (He always said he hates flavored creamer, and he's even loving it!) Sooo good! Try it!

These boys right here...Love them!

A find at the dollar tree. What racers child wouldn't want these?

:)

I took this picture to show Zach and he wanted a pair too, for him. Sadly, they only came in kid sizes.

We have been so busy the past few days so I am loving that we are getting back on our schedule and knowing that fall is right around the corner. I am loving that! 

I am also loving that I am able to stay home with our children. This week I was at the CC Practicum and I missed the kids sooo much. I missed knowing every detail of their day and felt so disconnected from them at the end of the day. I am loving and so thankful that I have the opportunity to stay home and be with them 24/7.  God has definitely blessed us in this way.

5 on Friday

1. The boys are doing so well in Swim lessons with Miss. Maddie. Cohen swims almost with no swimmies and can jump off the diving board onto a noddle! Caleb is getting more and more confident with the water. And Miss Presley just loves watching her brothers in the water :) She will get her lessons next year!

2. I just finished a great book and study. Anything by Jennie Allen. It's a must read. "From this point on things are changing. I am living for the moment when I will face you. I want to get to heaven out of breath. Having willingly done anything that you-God-ask.. anything" pg 79

3. EXACTLY one month from today, the first Classical Conversations Class starts. I am so excited to begin our homeschooling. I have prepared so much over the past few weeks! And next week Mon-Wed is the Practicum from 9-4. I am going each day to learn more about the group, classical education, and what we will be studying and learning next year. Cohen will attend the play camp there for that time. I am nervous yet excited :) My mom is kind enough to keep Caleb and Presley and love on them for those three days!

4. My dad gave us a ton of camping stuff that he is no longer using! We can't wait to plan our first camping trip (it may or may not be in our front yard the first time).

5. Tomorrow I am helping Zachs sister Holly throw a baby shower for their cousin, Chelsea. Her and her husband are expecting their first baby in August. A baby boy, Ethan! Can't wait to celebrate tomorrow!

A neighborhood friend

Noelle lives next door to us and the boys just adore her (especially Caleb since they are close in age). She was adopted 2 years ago so the boys have grown up with her.

Isn't she just precious?

I'm so glad she is next door, she also has an older brother and sister but they were at camp when Noelle came over this day. I just love there are kids nearby. They enjoy water balloon fights, walks in the woods, feeding the goats, chasing chickens, riding scooters and bikes together as fast as the can down the driveways, climbing trees, their list of creativity goes on!

FUN cheap finds.

I love coming across cheap finds. Especially when it comes to toys because one the kids may or may not destroy them, two they outgrow them and three what momma doesn't love surprising her children will fun new things knowing how little she really spent yet the kids eyes still light up (they have no clue) A lot of their Christmas gifts each year are used too, shhh  :) 

 This kitchen, found at Goodwill. $7.95. Included foods, pots and pans, an oven light, a microwave that you press the button and it "dings" when its done, oh and an overhead oven light. How cool!! I bought this with all the kids in mind they all love it and last night Cohen made me dinner multiple times :)

This, I scored at a yard sale months ago from a friend :) When they boys brought it to me I immediately said no because it was a "baby toy" Her son is younger then both of my sons and already outgrew it. However, I'm glad I caved because all the kids play with this multiple times a day, it races cars, makes a lot of noise and flings the cars off the track. Who wouldn't love this!

The list goes on of the cool things I have found but these I just happened to have in my iPhone pics already :) Another big one, scooters I found from Once Upon a Child. Best outdoor toy the boys play with, daily!

Who said kids were expensive? :)

Throwback Thursday

July 2010 

 Cohen was 

18 months old

July 2011

Caleb 

8 months old

July 2012

Presley Jean

2 Months

 

The last 3 Julys of our 3 beautiful children.

 

I'll love you forever

Our sweet girl is getting so big. I peek on her a lot while she sleeps because I just love sleeping children. So peaceful and precious. I immediately thought of a FAVORITE book in this house that we read often, I'll Love You Forever.

"I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be"

-I'll Love You Forever

Robert N. Munsc

caleb,

sweetest kid i know.

great snuggle partner.

hilarious.

 i can't get enough of this child.

 

7 Ways to Pray for your Heart

{Awesome article by Jon Bloom, can be found HERE}

Delight: Whatever it takes, Lord, give me delight in you as the greatest treasure of my heart.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

Desires: Whatever it takes, Lord, align the desires of my heart with yours.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9–10)

Dependence: Whatever it takes, Lord, increase my awareness of my dependence on you in everything so that I will live continually by faith.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Discernment: Whatever it takes, Lord, teach me to discern good from evil through the rigorous exercise of constant practice.

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)

Desperation: Whatever it takes, Lord, keep me desperate for you because I tend to wander when I stop feeling my need for you.

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.” (Psalm 119:67)

Discipline: Whatever it takes, Lord, discipline me for my good that I may share your holiness and bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

“He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:10–11)

Diligence: Whatever it takes, Lord, increase my resolve to do your will with all diligence.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15–16)

These are just suggestions. The Lord may lead you to pray in other ways. But however he teaches us, whatever means we find helpful, may God cause us all to grow in faith until we pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and never lose heart (Luke 18:1).

When God Speaks

Whenever we play this song by Mercy Me in the car the kids get so excited. Its called When God Speaks. Anyway, whenever Caleb hears this he claims "Its my daddy singing!" He gets so excited and we blare the song as loud as we can! I have explained that this is not their daddy but both Caleb and Cohen say "yes it is mom, hes singing, just listen". Daddy sings to them every night so maybe they think any song with a man with a deep voice singing about God, is their dad? I can't argue with that assumption. 

These boys think very highly of their daddy  :)

This big girl here, thinks she is big like her brothers and can brush her teeth all by herself in the mornings.

Miss Independent

Take my life and let it be.

Cutest working girl I've ever seen!

This kid has officially quit napping. He is still required to stay in his bed quietly (although one day he got up secretly, got Nutella out of the cabinet, brought it upstairs, ate it with a spoon, tried to hide the evidence) but other then that hes done good playing quietly.  Once 4:00 hits he begins melting and our afternoons have been rough. Thankful this is just a phase and he will outgrow it. Right? :)

Yes, we went to the Salem Fair.

We had SO much fun with our small group friends.

We ate a lot of fair food.

Rode rides.

Played games.
Presley was content in the stroller looking at all the lights.

Stayed out too late.

Always said I would never take my children there. Never say never!

And will go again next year 

:) 

Fun tradition we have!

Points Leader at Franklin County Speedway

Zach is leading in the points at Franklin Co. for his class (Mini Stock).

Points Standing as of July 6th.

So proud :)

Classical Conversations Timeline Song

This is the timeline song of Age of Ancient Empires. We just got our CD a few weeks ago to start using in the fall to help Cohen memorize the timeline. We listen to this on repeat. The kids and I love it. Its amazing how songs can help you memorize stuff so much more easily! 

 We have actually been working on learning this since last September.  :)

Here he is trying to learn the first couple parts of the timeline

Our Fourth!

Zach had a race at Callaway Speedway on the 4th so we made a family event out of it (minus Miss P who stayed with Nana). We went in the pits to be with daddy, I made dinner and brought it from home, and we planned to stay watch the race and then the fireworks :) 

After a dry afternoon and the beginning of a dry evening. 

It rained, again

We huddled in the trailer to stay dry,

then they cancelled the race.

It was okay though because we went to get Presley and go home and enjoy our own 4th of July show :)

The boys had such fun just going to the track, sitting in the pits and eating dinner with their daddy in the race trailer. They thought it was so cool!

Who needs a race and fireworks anyway when you have family (and some sparklers) ? :)

Big girl

Presley's favorite thing of the week: chairs chairs chairs! This child loves to climb into chairs and sit and play, or just go up and down up and down. Makes her look so big!

A boy.. and his cat

Cohens love for "kee kee"

Cats name is Brody, but no one calls him that. 

He feeds him, and by feeds him I mean pouring the food in the morning and physically holds the bowl for the cat to eat out of.

Cohen will usually ask kee kee about how his night was outside (he does not sleep in the house) during their morning breakfast together.

then, the cat is ready to go outside but cohen refuses to let him out. kee kee hisses.

Cohen lures him back in with more petting :)

Then I secretly let out kee kee, and Cohen goes to look for him. He is usually in hiding by then.

Cohen does love Duke, the dog. But right now, he is "best friends" with kee kee.

A boy and his cat :)