Toddler Awesome

 
This boy.




He turned four in September.


He REFUSES to wear pajamas. He will not potty train.

He has no volume control and is LOUD LOUD LOUD from 7am--8pm. Just when I am at my wits end with him. he sings this song:






I cannot describe the cuteness. OH my.


Of course, he wont let me video him. I have to "catch him."

I have been chosen for a blog makeover over at Toddler Awesome. Stay tuned!!

50% off at Sugar and Dots

I hope you have ALL met my sweet blogging freind, Kimmie. She is great in so many way.

Today, January 23rd, until 11:59 PST, she is offering 50% of in her Etsy shop: (use the code "tweet"

She is uber talented and you wont be dissapointed. I have been meaning to show you the Family Rules print she custom made for me....more later on that:)

Good deals!

Came across two great deal while procastinating cleanign the house and my four year old spreads Play Dough EVERYWHERE:

Panasonic TA-1 Ultrathin HD Pocket Camcorder Enabled with Skype and iFrame (Dark Grey
normally 169.99 now on sale for 69.99.




AND

$20.00 Amazon gift card for $10.00
on LivingSocial.com You can only buy one and only for a limited time.



My 14 year old now has the radio up too loud and is drumming on my counters. Still Play Dough everywhere. My computer surfing time is offically over, this 80 degree weather is throwing me for a HUGE loop.

Real Friends

Can I take a minute to gush and tell you about someone really important to me?

Edie is a special special person in my life. She is an example of Grace and fun and I think of her daily. Honestly. She is such an encouragement to me. I think of her when I do little things like put up our initial in a random place

that I know Edie would get. or search for curriculum,
or write on a chalkboard

and take a picture to Facebook her that I copied her.  I have poured my heart out to her and she has showed such amazing encouragement and giving me a push to strength. Even in little things like posting our initial or wearing a flower pin
and in the bigger things like acknowledging all that I have given up to pour my life into this home and these children dn acknowledging that, "Yes, it is hard and moving on"

How does she tackle theology and lipgloss in the same breath? How does she fully grasp our depravity and sin yet smile and life her southern life and have fun in life? How does she layer so many things and colors on her tiny little frame? Why does it work? Edie is a mystery to me :)

How did we meet? We haven't. She is on one side of the country and I am on the other. She is the prom queen and voted most popular in the yearbook of Blogs while I am the dorky middle schooler struggling along. Im not going to say she didnt notice. How could she not? She noticed and reached out to me and encouraged me and repeated to me that "we are so friends" when my kids pointed out that I dont actually know this person.

Tragedy struck Edie's life. And I cried. Her house burned to the ground. Her family barely escaped with the pajamas on their backs. I cried. Im angry. Not at God not at anyone. Just angry and blubbery. She praised God that only by His Grace were they able to escape with not a hair harmed on their heads. I feel horrible for her and want to reach out and fix something. Instead, she reached out to me and reminded me of God's Grace and Love. That didn't even occur to me and I'm not the one who lost their home and every little insignifigant memeory and knick nack that went with it. i may need to go cry again...

Happy Birthday Edie! You are so special and important to me! I thank God for all that you are and all that you encourage me to be. Thank you for allowing us to learn through your tragedy. thank you for your example and laughter and love. Thank you for giving yourself to us. You are there as a bright birght spot in the spare moments on our computer screens. It means so much more than you'll ever know.

Many women have linked up to wish Edie a Happy Bithday. There is also an adress to send cards:) at
Life In Grace

With God all Things are Possible

Here begins yet another post about how amazing our home is. Not because of my decorating or our amazing hospitality or anything like that. That's not it at all.

Nine years ago we moved into a modest rental with 3 children under 4.  Our landlord was a sweet kind women who was a single mom and didnt do much upkeep on her home. There were mildew problems, there was one plug in the kitchen and only one row of counter and cupbaords on one side of the kitchen. There was one living room and it was small and akward, two small bathrooms that could fit one person if that. I found cancer and had surgery, my husband injured his back and was out of work for three years. God surprised us beyond belief and added two more blessings to our little family. We wnated to move--We searched and searched and no one would even talk to us. If they did they were gone when we told them how much money we made or that we had 5 kids. No luck for us.

Then one day I got turned around and lost and happened upon this amazing home just outside of town.



3,400 square feet, 5 bedrooms, two fireplaces, outside built in BBq and fireplace, two living rooms and a loft...HUGE kitchen with a 4 foot by 7 foot island, eat in kitchen and dining room. I tried to explain to my teenagers that they wouldn't rent to us. They did.
 
It was a weird situation and before we knew wether we had the house or not  we had to buy a refrigerator and put in notice on our old house. We had to start utilities (electricity required a $750 deposit) The whole time I couldn't decide if I was incredibly blessed or really gullible.
 
I do my best to explain how amazing this house is. It is very grand and was the model for the area. People believe me but when you walk in you kind of gasp and realize how amazing and grand it really is. I came across a sticker at the Dollar Tree that reads " With God all things are Possible" and thought, if we get this house I want to post this on the wall so that when you gasp you know why. It's God. All Him.
 
I searched and searched for just the right decal and found the perfect one. found just the right decal. Then it sat there for almost a year while I over thought it.

One night it became now or never and I climbed up on a ladder and got started. It was a lot harder than I thougth it would be. I started to wonder what business I had attempting a craft, especially one that requires patience. I was up there until almost 2am. and this is the result:
 


 


This is just before Christmas, hence the trees and teapot and chalkboard...can I leave the trees there year round? I like them:) 

I'm trying to figure out how to photograph the house so you get that gasp. This is an alcove area in the dining room. The vinyl lettering is two foot by three foot. It really is HUGe and you can see it when you first come in the door:)  
 
 
 
Linking up at Motivate me Monday, CraftoManiac Monday, Take a Look Tuesday Show and Tell, What I Whipped up Wednesday, Favorite Things Friday