Currently...

Things have been busy around here lately but we're having a blast.  I had to steal a minute to get on here and share a few of my favorite pictures from the last week or so.

Currently... Ava finished up her first season of soccer.  She really enjoyed it.  We really enjoyed watching her too.  She was so cute in her little uniform!

Currently... We got the honor of dedicating 13 babies at our church on Mother's day.  It warms my heart to see so many loving families vowing to lead their children in God's example. I know He has great things planned for each of these little Lovies.  I pray God's power of protection and guidance over each of these precious families.  

After spending time with all those little babies I went home to my little babies on Mother's day.  My sick little babies.  The girls had fevers and Brooke actually threw up.  Brian had bought tickets to a Renaissance Fair and we had planned to go celebrate Mother's Day there but since the kids were sick we decided to stay home.  Daddy saved the day with a Red Box rental .   

Currently...  I found this picture on my computer on Monday.  Brooke stayed home from school so we could go to the Doctor.  Ava tested positive for Strep and the verdict for Brooke is that she had a viral infection.  Not that you could tell that they were feeling under the weather at all by this picture.  Goofballs!

Currently... Brooke partook in her first Field Day.  It was a blast.  We were all pooped by the end of the day.

Currently... This, well whatever kind of bush/tree it is, is blooming in my front yard.  Isn't it pretty?

Currently...  Brooke's dance studio did a little mini recital at Barnes and Noble.  They were so cute.  I can't wait to see them all dressed up in their costumes! 

Currently... During the recital Ava decided Kristine was going to be her new Mommy.  She called her "Momma Kristine" for the rest of the night.

When we left the mall that night after dinner with friends, Brian pointed out Venus in the sky to Parker.  Right away he started yelling at the top of his lungs "There's Venus!"  Only it didn't sound like Venus...  

The funniest part of the whole thing was the girls laughing hysterically.  When I asked them what they were laughing about they said "He's saying 'There's Peanuts!"  

Love them!

Currently... The Fireflies had their last game.  They had a pretty good season all and all.  They have come a long way.  By the end of the season they weren't even scoring on themselves anymore!  You could really see them improving every week.

Currently... We finally made it to the Renaissance Fair.  I've got a ton more pictures to share later but let's just say it was quite the experience.

Alright well I feel so much better that I was able to get caught up on here a little.  I hate getting behind because I forget things to easily.  Time is flying by too fast and I don't want to miss a thing. {enter Aerosmith sound track here}

Now I am going to hobble my way into bed.  Can someone please call and check on me in the morning.  I slightly ODed on Funnel Cake fries (yes you read that right) yesterday so today I hit it hard at the gym today.  I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling it in the a.m.

Are You Missing It?

Last week some time someone posted a link to a recent blog post that really resonated with me.  For a few months now I have really been taking inventory of my life and trying to be more productive and proactive with my time.  -Especially when it comes to my time with my kids and husband.


 The post was titled "How to Miss a Childhood" on a blog called Hands Free Mama.  If you haven't read it yet you should go there right now!  


{How to Miss A Childhood}  


As I read through that list, I'm not gonna lie, a few of those really convicted me to the core.  Even after I've already been making a conscience effort to be less technology distracted.  It was a real eye opener.  


A year or so ago I was in a group that did a study called "The Virtuous Woman: Shattering the Superwoman Myth."  It spoke on Proverbs 31 and how to apply it to modern day life.  I remember one of the quotes I took away from my time in that group with all of those sweet ladies is, "If the Devil can't make you bad, he will make you busy."


I don't want to ever be too busy.  Especially not too busy with things that don't matter.  Every night when my head hits the pillow I pray that I have glorified God, and had some kind of positive impact on those around me.  Particularly my children and husband.  I pray that one day my children will rise up and call me blessed. (Proverbs 31:28)


That is why when I stopped into a local boutique here in my town one day and saw that bracelet, I knew I had to have it.


Anyways, I just had to share that article because I thought it was a great reminder for all of us in this technology driven day and age.

Testing, Testing, 1-2-3!

Last Monday Brooke had some more allergy testing done.  Thank you all of you who sent up prayers for her.  

She puts on a brave face but she had a great deal of anxiety leading up to this point.  I was so proud, she never fussed or cried.  In fact she never has, even when she was a baby and doing all of this.  

When she was about 2 1/2 she saw a picture of her back during a skin test and she said "I look like a Lady Bug."  

So here's the results.  Those small dots all down her back are airborne allergies such as grass and pollens.  As you can see nothing there is swollen which means that she will likely not react to any of those things.  Her Doctor is really puzzled because she keeps showing up negative to all the airborne stuff (even in her blood tests) even though she displays all kinds of nasal and bronchial symptoms thought the year.  He said he highly suspects within the next year she will "grow into" her allergies and they will start to present themselves during testing.  

This would be a good thing in someways because then we would know what her major triggers are and what we could have an action plan on what to avoid rather than just treating symptomatically as I am having to do now.  

That big red spot right at the bottom of her neck between her shoulders is where they put the peanut mixture.  Unfortunately as you can see, she had a pretty big reaction to that.  We were hoping for different results, at least that she was growing out of the peanut allergy but it looks like that's not the case.  

In fact by the time we got done talking to the doctor and got to the car the welt was still growing.  It's kid of hard to see in this picture but before she got in her car seat I snapped this picture.  It was welted all the way across her back between her two shoulder blades.  By this point she said it was itching pretty bad (but she was good and didn't scratch) and her poor little eye started watering and her left arm started to welt up too.  I got her home and got some Benadryl in her and she was fine.  

So that's where we are for now.  Still highly allergic to peanuts.  The Doctor said at this point there is a 1 in 5 chance that she will outgrow it on her own so we're still hopeful.  

We also went ahead and had her Doctor put her name down in the system for a trial that has been going on for the last 5 years or so.  This doesn't mean that she will be a part of the trial it just means that they can contact us and give us more information if we are interested down the line.  From what I understand and have learned about it is that they give the peanut allergic person a very small amount of peanut protein and slowly train their immune system to build up a tolerance for it.  

 Her Doctor said his friend's child is doing it and she is now up to eating 13 peanut M&Ms a day.  It's crazy and very terrifying to think about handing your child something you know could possibly kill them but we thought it would be worth talking to someone and learning a little more about it if down the line if could save her life.  

We did joke though that she might outgrow (or build up a buffer to) peanuts but she'll end up with Diabetes because of eating all those peanut M&Ms everyday.  

The Birthday Princess

"It's because I love y'all."

"One time I farted in my bed and it smelled like cotton eggs."

Ava: "Mom, where are my clothes?" Me: "Um, you're wearing them already." Ava: "Oh yeah... It's a good thing you were here Mom."

After hanging out with her little friend Avery (2 years old) for awhile she came in and told Rachel and I, "I keep telling Avery to follow me and she just laughs.  It's like she thinks I'm a woman..."  I have no idea what she meant (I am not even sure she knows what she means half the time) by that but the way she said it was hilarious.  

This girl cracks us up on a daily basis.  Those were just some of my favorite "Averisms" over the past year.

Last week she had her 4th Birthday.  In the morning when she woke up and everyone was getting ready for work and school she said "Why are Brooke, Daddy and Parker going to work and school instead of staying home and celebrating me?"

Diva much?

After we dropped Brooke and Parker off at school I stopped by Starbucks to surprise her.  This has become our little special treat between the two of us on the days Parker goes to school.  My favorite thing is sometimes she'll grab my hand when we're walking somewhere and says "It's just me and my Mommy!"

When we were in line at Starbucks the lady working the counter said "Is it Princess day?" when she saw Ava's crown.  Ava said "No, it's my Birthday.  I was three but now I'm four."

Immediately everyone within a 10 feet radius started wishing her a Happy Birthday.  The Barista even wrote "Birthday Princess" on her cup and gave her a free cake pop.

After we Starbucks we went back home to pick up Grandpa Jim and Grandma Marcia who where here visiting from Illinois.  We decided to take the birthday girl birthday shopping.  After shopping we decided to grab a bite to eat.  Thanks for the lunch and shopping date Grandpa and Grandma!

After shopping we picked up Parker and Brooke from school.  Parker decided to stay home with Grandpa and Grandma while I took Brooke to dance class but Ava wanted to go.  She said "I want to show all Brookie's friends my crown and they will say 'Is it your birthday?"

While Brooke was at dance class we ran over to this great little children's boutique shops nearby to look for a graduation dress for Brooke.  While we were there she got even more birthday wishes! 

By this point I told her I wanted to borrow that crown and see how people treated me.  I wanna be a Birthday Princess too!

For dinner the birthday girl requested Mac and Cheese and Chicken Nuggets.  

I told her, "You do know you can have anything you want right?" 

 Present time!  Swiper no swiping!

Oh man! They caught me!

Now earlier in the day Ava had informed us that during present time we were to cover her eyes and lead her into the room where we would all be hiding with the presents and yell "Surprise!"  And since it was Ava-land we all obeyed.  

Her face was priceless.  She felt so special.  I love that!  

 This is the present she picked out for Grandpa and Grandma to buy during our day of shopping.  A new outfit with a matching one for her American Doll Baby.  Super cute!

Cake time!

Hope you had a great 4th birthday sweet baby girl!  We love you!

Tonight for fun I did a little question and answer with Ava because as you've witnessed above, you never know what is going to come out of her mouth.

Who are your best friends: "Mommy, Grayson, Brylee, Olivia, Kira and Landon."

Favorite Color: "Dark Pink and that's all."

When I grow up I want to be: "A Mommy and do Mommy stuff like you do. ... Where do I get a computer?  Costco has those phones but I'm going to buy my computer at the Apple store."

What was your favorite thing about being three: "Being able to hop on one foot."

Favorite food: "Cup Cakes."

Favorite thing about Soccer: "Playing stop light, go light."  

Oh and on that note I wanna write this down so we don't forget.  One day she was telling Brian that at soccer she learned how to do a "Mule kick."  When he asked her what that was she said "It's where you kick the ball behind you and it's called a Mule Kick, but I call it Strawberries." 

Favorite movie: "Strawberry Shortcake, Beauty and The Beast and Tangled."

Women's Retreat 2012

This picture pretty much sums up my whole weekend.

I {heart} these women.

Roomies!

My status update Sat. morning was, "That moment when you wake up next to some of your best friends surrounded by empty bleach pens, chalk dust, cookie, Funyun and Tortilla Factory carnage..."   

Yep, that sounds about right.

 We might have a had a little bit too much fun.

Yep, Kristine and I had to do it. 

As a side note, if you've had three kids you may want to go pee before doing trying this at home...

Just a helpful tip from two mom's with 6 kids between them.

The rest of the night was...

well, a blur.

There was a a trip for Mexican food around midnight and for some reason we ended up in a Walmart parking lot...  And then around 2 a.m. our room reeked of bleach while we worked on these little beauties.

Saturday morning started off with some quiet time by the lake.

And then things got a little crazy.

Ok, a lot Crazy!

Thanks for the memories girls!

I loved laughing with you!

We sure did a lot of that.

I learned so much this weekend.  I took 11 pages of notes to be exact.  It was a lot to process in 24 hours but I'll tell you one thing -I have some of the best friends in the world.  Amazing, Godly, authentic, courageous women.  Friends who love me for me, and who let me love them right where they are.  I am so blessed and honored to call them friends.  

I also got to meet and make new friends with some wonderful ladies.  All and all it was a great weekend, one that I will never forget.

One for the record books!