Sweeeeeet!!

Thanks to my darling sis I found this blog today.

looooove!!!!

The choo choo train! Be still my heart!!! Would look awesome in the boys' room.

I also love the Dandelion blowing in the wind! How fun is that?!

And the Fire hydrant makes me giggle!! =)

Check it out!! 

Oh and she's a SAHM so that means she's cool! =)

NOT a John Denver fan, but he's stuck in my head today!!!

"I'm leavin' on a jet plane. 

Don't know when I'll be back again"

Ok, I'll be back Saturday night.

I'm heading out bright and early tomorrow morning.

Mom, Sarah (sister), Josie (niece) and I will be flying to 

Iowa for a Girls Weekend Away! =)

My brother, Scott and his family are there 

for a few months during their furlough from Colombia.

We'll be doing lots of visiting with them and checking out the

Tulip Festival!! Woohoo!!! =)

I'm so excited!! I'm a bit sad that the boys aren't going with me

because they'd LOVE to see their cousins....

and Caleb would also LOVE to see Uncle Scott.

(although he acts like he's afraid of him, when he's

not around U.Scott is all he talks about!!!)

But, honestly I'm looking forward to a Mommy Break!

The only time I've been away from them overnight was 

1 night back in September and of course 

from Sammy when Caleb was born. 

Other than that it's been All Mom, All the Time! =)

**** I secretly think they'll enjoy a Mommy Break too!! shhhh! ****

Anyway, my bags are packed and I'm all ready to go.....

you know, besides the 

3 loads of laundry to fold, 

dinner to make and serve, 

TONS of prep for MOPS since I won't be there tomorrow, 

and nursery duty tonight at church

Other than that I'm all set!! ;)

My 10 favorite things about Spring...

...at least the ones I can think of right now (kids playing loudly, nap time approaching, packing list in hand, dreaming of a few days away. These are some of the things we're competing with here today!)

1. Sunny mornings and opening up all the shades

2. No jackets to find/put on/zip up

3. Bare feet in the grass/sand

4. Ceiling fans!! I really don't care what the fancy decorators say. I adore ceiling fans!! I wish I could have them running all year long! On nice days there's always at least one running in the house. Nice!! =)

5. Blooming flowers and trees. Don't they just make you relax and breathe a bit deeper?!

6. Opening up the windows and airing out the winter sniffles/blues/claustrophobia!!!

7. Walking over to the playground before lunch and stopping to see the ducks, geese and turtles in the lake!

8. I even like spring rain! Ok, this several straight days stuff is starting to feel a bit old, but I like rain and I love that it brings more of #5!!! =)

9. Crocs/Sandles! Granted, my kids are Pigpen's stunt doubles and I have to SCRUB their feet when they come inside, but it's so nice to not worry about socks for them!

10. Seeing #'s 1-9 and imagining/dreaming of heaven!! I really think heaven will be an eternal spring. I can't help but think about the day we're in heaven and I long for it!

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;

break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Psalm 98:4

Sammy Says

{While shopping for a Mother's Day gift with his father}

Daddy: "Buddy, do you know what Mother's Day is?"

Sammy: "No"

D: "It's when we celebrate the mommies and say 'thank you' to them". So we're getting a gift for Mommy. Do you know who else we celebrate?"

S: "No"

D: "Grandmom. Because she's your Mommy's mom. And Tuchis (nickname. long story!) because she's my mom."

S: "It's a day for girls"

D: "Not all girls, just girls who are mommies"

S: (very concerned) "but Daddy, who's going to celebrate all the other mommies???"

======================

{Wiggling violently during lunchtime}

Me: "What are you doing, honey"

Sammy: "I'm wiggling because I have bones in my body and I don't know where they are"

M: "Buddy, you have bones in your WHOLE body"

S: "But not in my mouth because I would spit them out!!!"

It's Friday but Sunday is Coming!!!

I'm overwhelmed with how GREAT our God is!! 

I have so much more than I deserve!

Today we celebrate the day Christ died for us.

That sounds strange, yet it's awesome and a reason to celebrate because we know what happened on Sunday!!!

So often in our lives (especially when sharing the gospel with others) we forget to talk about and FOCUS on what happened on Sunday.

He's alive!

What an awesome time it will be in heaven when we're reunited with Him!

I seriously can't wait!!

Come quickly, Lord!!!!!!!

I need to end this post because I'm getting all teary!

God has been doing some awesome, hard, painful things in my heart and life lately and I'm so thankful and hopeful that He's bringing me through this and growing me closer to being the woman that he desires me to be!

We're beyond excited!!!!

Tote has been gone since last Tuesday on a missions trip to Mexico.

It.has.been a.long.week!!!!!

Plus, this trip was following a week long trip to Florida.

So, I think I'm ready for a day off!! =)

Anyway, he was scheduled to arrive at 11pm but was able to catch an earlier flight!!!!!

I just checked and his early flight is scheduled to arrive early!

How awesome is that?!?!

With his original flight I was, obviously, going to put the boys to bed before he got home so they'd have to wait to see him till morning.

But, now he's supposed to land at 8 (the boys bedtime) so I'm going to keep them up so they can see him tonight.

I realize that this could be disastrous since we're all tired and a bit cranky from a long week, but if he comes in the door and they hear him that would be worse!

We're so excited!!!

Please pray for Santiago!

This is my handsome nephew, Jackson

Jackson is my brother, Scott's son. 

Scott and his wife Laura along with their 3 kids Jackson(7), Makayla(6), Avianna(2) are missionaries in Colombia.

Their best friends in Colombia Alfredo and Juana's son Santiago was just diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 

Santiago is 4 years old. 

Their family was planning on relocating to another city along with Scott and his family to begin a church plant there. 

I don't know what plans will need to change because of all of this.

Please, please pray for Santiago and for his family. 

He also has a sister, but I don't remember her name.

Pray also for Scott, Laura and their kids since they are so very close to this family and being home on furlough it's hard for them to know that their dear friends are going through this and they're so far away.

Please pray Jackson. 

Santiago is Jackson's best friend and Jackson is such a sensitive caring boy. 

I hate to think how hard this must be for him!

I have never met this family, but my heart is aching for them and also for my family whom I love so much and hate that they are going through such a hard time!

"I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears."

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them, he delivers them from all their troubles.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.

Psalm 34:1-4, 8-10, 15, 17-19

Who doesn't love a deal?!

We went to a children's consignment sale in Philly today. 

They had so much stuff! 

Some things like clothes were overpriced in my opinion, but I got a deal STEAL!!!

I got this twin size bedding set for Caleb. 

I've been thinking I'd like to have something like this for him, but we just couldn't possibly afford it. 

I realize that he's still in a crib, but I've just been thinking ahead and r

eally wanted something like this for him. 

(Sammy already has a bedding set of our Mexican Soccer Team, CHIVAS!!! 

Aguante las Chivas!! =) )

So, a few days ago I was looking at some sets online and thinking about what 1 or 2 pieces 

(quilt and sham or quilt and curtain or something) 

we could get and then I would do the rest in some generic bedding stuff like solids or stripes. 

The set includes the quilt, sham (shown at the top), 3 pillowcases, top and bottom sheets and the bed skirt!!!

Here's a (not so good) picture of it:

This is a close-up of the pillow case which is the same as the sheets (top & bottom) and the bed skirt:

So, I know you're dying to know how much I paid for it. 

Well, the price sticker was very messy, but I thought (and was hoping) it said $30. 

I decided  if it was more than $30 I'd pass it up. 

The lady (bless her heart!!) said it was $20 for the WHOLE SET!!!! 

YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I was so very excited!! (And I still am!!)

-------------------------------------------------------------

The other good deal that I got was the Bolt movie. 

The Wise King (hubs) was going out of town yesterday and asked me to pick up a copy of this movie since it was released yesterday and was on sale. 

(He took Sammy as part of his Christmas gift to see it in the theatre and they really liked it. I hadn't seen it yet)

So, first thing in the morning, like the good blogger that I am =)

I opened my blogs and one of them gave a coupon to save $5 off the movie plus a $4 mail-in rebate! 

YAY!!! You must know that my husband is the deal finder in our family, as much as it kills me to admit it!

He just seems to find a deal no matter what he's looking for!

So, I can't wait to tell him how much I saved on the movie!

This is my new door decor for spring. Please, try not to be jealous of the mini blinds!!

I got the tin hanger for 95 cents at a thrift store!! The ribbon was $1 for the entire roll and the flowers were 50% off ($1 each). Making a grand total of $3.95 with ribbon to spare!!

So, do we like it better with or without the willow(?) shoots??

And should I use the extra ribbon to make a hanger for it?

HAPPY SPRING!!!!!!!

 (Now if the weather would cooperate it'd actually feel like spring!!) =)

Thankful Thursday

I have about 10 minutes before it's Friday so I'd better make this a quick one!

I'm thankful for...

...my hard-working husband who's away in Florida this week.

...the boys being very good so far since Daddy's been gone (we're only on day 2 though so let's not hold our breath! Just kidding!!)

...my brother, sis-in-law, nephew and 2 nieces that are coming tomorrow!!!!!!!! Yipee!!!! We haven't seen them in almost 3 years! Their youngest was just a few weeks old and they've never met Caleb so we're all very excited!!!

That's all for today. Please try and survive until next week's edition. I know it'll be a great one since we'll have had an entire week with the fam and Daddy will be home by then!!! =)

Let's pray for Little Miss Hannah

What a beautiful little baby! Let's pray that they find a cure soon and that Hannah can beat this disease!!

I wish I knew how to embed the youtube video, but it's not working so here's the link.

Caleb Says

Welcome to the 1st edition of Caleb says! =)

I never want Caleb to stop saying "feiku (thank you), mommy!"

It's the cutest thing ever!!!

He's been singing a lot lately. I'm going to try and video tape it.

One of my favorites is "wa wa wa elmo's on" 

I guess he thinks that's what the song says since as soon as we hear it we say "elmo's on!"

Sammy **Sings**

Like the true Eagles fan that he is, Sammy started singing the Eagles fight song....

but he either didn't remember the words or just wanted to give it his

own creative touch.

"Fly, Eagles, Fly

to North Carolina"

Thankful Thursday

"I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose." - Woody Allen

I've had kind of a frustrating day.

Maybe not quite frustrating, just crazy busy.

Ok, a little frustrating too! =)

I've decided, though, to focus on the good things and not worry about the not so good things.

So, I was thinking about all of the things that I'm thankful. 

Obviously the list of the things I'm thankful for would be way too long to put on here, but I thought I'd share some of them with you.

I'm thankful for....

*sunny days

*little boys kisses

*whispered i love yous at bedtime

*singing in the car

*telling seriously lame jokes to Sammy who happens to think they're hilarious!

*winter time when I don't have to shave my legs 

(tmi, sorry!!) =)

*biting into a pepperoncini and the spicy juice squirting up my nose 

(ok, maybe not so much, but it made me laugh!)

*putting clean, folded laundry away that was just worn the day before 

(that's an awesome feeling!!)

*looking around my house and wishing it were cleaner/neater/more organized, 

but knowing that my kids are loved and they know it!!

*skipping with Sammy 

(and then being told by his father that I'm not allowed to teach 

him that because he's a boy!) =)

*looking at our needs and wondering how they'll be met and knowing that God ALWAYS provides!

*dreaming of spring!

*being a mommy!

*God's grace and peace when things are a little crazy in our lives!

my amazing/wise/hard-working/loving/God fearing husband!!!!!!!!

There are so many, many more!!

Maybe I'll try and make it a weekly thing to post a few things that I'm thankful for. 

I need it to keep me grounded! =)

True Indeed!

While we were eating lunch today Caleb asked me for Daddy. 

He does this QUITE OFTEN! 

Caleb: "Daddy?"

Me: "He's working, buddy"

Caleb: "Pop-pop?"

Me: "He's working, too"

Sammy: "Mommy, why do the grown-up boys go to work?"

Me: "because when they work they get money and we use that money 

to have a house and cars, food, clothes and toys and everything we have. 

Your daddy works very hard so we can have those things"

He thought for a minute and then said, 

"....and doors, mommy! Daddy works very hard so we can have doors too!"

I'm so excited!!

Meet Jacques le Croc

Is this little guy cute, or what?!?!?!

VBS this summer is going to be so fun!

I'm in charge of the crafts this year and I can't wait!!

If the croc weren't cute enough, here are his friends:

Tucker

Blossom

Belle

Flash

Don't miss VBS this year!!!!

GRRRRRRR!!!!!

I must say that I have LOVED the National Do Not Call Registry. We have received significantly less calls since registering our number several years ago.

Recently, however, one company continues to call and it's really getting on my nerves! 

I assume that it's the same company although I can't be sure. 

When I ask what company they're calling from they tell me either Card Services or Account Services and the calls are always to consolidate debt or something about our car's warranty.

 Every time I ask them to remove me from their call list because my number is registered on the national list....

THEY HANG UP ON ME!! 

I HATE THAT!!!! 

I know, hate is a strong word, but seriously, I HATE that!!!

**End venting session**

Hopefully she'll still remember me when she's famous!!

One of my good friends, Meredith has just officially started her photography business. 

It's so exciting!! She takes amazing pictures! 

I'm so happy for her taking this exciting step! Go, Mer!! =)

Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of giving you such awesome news 

without also giving you a way to get in touch with her 

so you can have her take pictures of your beautiful families! ;)

Check out her brand spankin' new website (and book a session!!)

Livie Loo Photography

Say what?!

Sammy: Mommy, why do people love their family?"

Me: "Well, because God gave us our families and we're thankful for them" 

(totally not sure how to answer that one!)

S: but I don't love my heart" (what does THAT mean?!?!)

M: "why not, buddy?"

S: "my heart goes doing when i eat"

M: "what?"

S: "it goes doing doing when i eat."

M: "how does it go?"

{proceeds to mouth the words 'doing doing'.}

S: "it goes like that."

Daddy: "where does the doing come from?"

S: "my heart. right there" (points to stomach)

D: "then that's your stomach, not your heart."

S: "but my stomach is in my feet. and the 'doing' sound comes from there." 

(pointing to stomach again)

{End conversation that is going nowhere fast!!} 

Silly Sammy Strikes [Again!]

Sammy says:

"One day we have to get magic beans and then say '

bidly, bidly, bidly boo!' and then a beanstalk will grow. 

And then we have to see where that beanstalk goes."

Me: "Where do you think that beanstalk will go?"

Sammy: "Up to a giant's house in the clouds. 

He's gonna try to get us and we have to 

climb back down the magic beanstalk. 

And then we have to give him something."

Me: "What do we have to give him?"

S: "Like one of my toys or something."

M: Why do we have to give him a toy?"

S: "Because he wants one toy...he might want one toy. 

Maybe he might have toys for us to play. 

Maybe a Mickey-in-the-Box. 

Where we turn the crank....He might have a toy like that for me to play. 

Because that toy is my favorite."