Happy Birthday Lily Kate & Ella!

(Actual picture from their party)

Lily Kate, you turn 3 today!! Even though I know that’s not old, right now it seems ancient. You, my little girl, are something else. You talk all the time, love to help me and are quite dramatic. As I was telling the babysitter that you fell yesterday and hurt yourself, you heard me telling the story and ran into the kitchen to very dramatically fall to the ground right in front of us. Seriously, you have quite the flair for drama. You are also the little mama around here. When you are following me around the house fussing about nothing, I will distract you by telling you to go and tell the brothers they need to clean their room. Oh, mercy, you forget all about your mini-drama, immediately go into “little mama mode” and run to crack your whip. You make me laugh! Often and hard!

Katie, Kate – I love you little one. I love your gorgeous smile, the way you whisper when you want to tell me something really important and I love listening to you pray. Nothing brings me more joy than your love to pray. I pray that you never lose your love of praying to God and that you know at an early age that He will never leave you and will always love you. I also pray that you know how loved you are by your family, especially your mama.

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Happy birthday Ella! Sister, you crack me up. I was telling you the other day that you’re going to turn three and be a “big girl”! You said, “No! I baby!” You, seriously, have no plans of being anything other than my baby. You put up a brave front and act like you’re all tough, but your bark is way bigger than your bite. Gracie, you are currently obsessed with dora, dinosaurs and ME! Oh, mercy, you love your mama. You also love to twirl this lock of hair, while at the same time sucking your fingers. When you are watching a show and you get scared, you put your blankie over your eyes. SO, very, adorable!

Gracie, Grace – I adore you child. When I look at your little face, my heart swells with love. I love how content you are to sit in my lap and talk to me. I love that in your little world, everything is made better with a fruit snack. You are quite addicted to them. I love that whenever we are in the car, your window has to be “up” (which really means down and you refuse to call it anything other than “up”) and you like the radio loud. Very loud. Sweet Ella, I pray that you know, personally and passionately, Jesus to be your friend and your Savior. I pray that you are so filled and secure by God’s love that you never need any one else to love you. I also pray that you know how adored you are by your family, especially your mama.

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Holy God, please shower these girls with contentment, joy, respect, kindness, peace, and love. Fill their cups with those attributes so that they spill over on to everyone they meet. Father, please let them feel so loved by you and their earthly Daddy that they never feel the need to look for love. Please fill them with purpose and let them find that meaning and purpose at an early age. I pray that their lives glorify you and make you smile. Thank you for sending your son to die on the cross for them. And for me. I love you Father. Amen.

My little oaks

While looking at old blog posts and listening to hymns today, I sobbed. My kids are getting so big.

Caleb has beautiful cursive, is bright, thoughtful, loves animals and has a strong moral compass. He asks BIG questions. Things I have never even thought about before. While discussing evolution and the different theories he says, “So if their theory is that we evolve, what will we evolve into next?” Um, right? What will we evolve into next? Of course, I have no answers for him other than my standard, “Let’s ask Daddy when he gets home.” That child keeps me on my toes and some days can be mentally exhausting, but I can’t imagine life without him.

Luke, mercy, that child is something. His eyes melt my heart. He is so happy-go-lucky, simple, generous, funny and happy. He loves Caleb and so wants to be big like him. He definitely has the “middle child” thing going on where he likes to point out all the ways that he is either different or better than someone else. He has such a simple heart, loves to tell his sisters about God and has such an excitement for life. Lukie is the child that will have me frustrated beyond belief in second and in the next laughing…hard!

Oh, and then my sweet little sisters. Gosh, how I love them. Tomorrow is their big birthday. They have NO idea. I’ll wait until Saturday morning, the day of their party, to decorate their room. They are so funny, I have no idea if the decorated room when they wake to will scare them or make them happy? They are so fragile at times. SO girlie.

I was telling some friends the other day that Motherhood has really defined the word “bittersweet” for me. Tomorrow is another bittersweet moment. My baby girls turn 3. Gosh. Three. Wow.

Sweet Savior,
I don’t know why you chose me, with all my faults, as mama to these amazing, gorgeous children, but thank you. I’m a mess most of the time. And I can’t hide it from you or from these little lovies. Yet, you all still love me. I know I don’t deserve that love and am so humbled by it. Thank you for my little people. My heart is overwhelmed with thanks. Please, Lord, continue to grow these little oaks strong. Firmly rooted in your Word and love. And may they always know that I love them with all that I am. And that is also how I love you, Sweet Savior.

Apparently I'm not dramatic enough for Tai Chi...

after reading this lengthy post, you make the call...)

I've named the past week, "Out of my comfort zone week." It seemed all week I was being asked to do something that was outside of my comfort level or where I felt out of control.

And I really, really, really don't like feeling out of control. Apparently God forgot that last week.

For the past couple of months I knew that my first "out of my comfort zone" moment was coming. And as I do with most things that make me nervous, overwhelmed or scared I put it on the back burner and decided that I would deal with it as it came. Never a good idea.

I was asked to come and speak to the program directors and deans of Love's residency program. It wasn't just his program director, it was all the residency PD's. The topic that they asked me to speak on was the stress in residency from the prospective of a spouse. Something I know ALL about. They also wanted ideas of things that they could do to help Resident Spouses cope with this stress.

Um, how 'bout give them resident's a 40 hour work week?

Realistic ideas, I should clarify.

They wanted me to give a Power Point presentation and then take some questions afterwards. Um, I don't know how to give briefings to anyone OR how to even use Power Point much less make slides! Um, hello, ask me to give a talk on how to get melted crayon out of clothes and I may be there. But, definitely not with PP slides.

This is also the point where I would like to tell you that I did take Speech in high school. And did not do well. Something about chewing gum and twirling hair while speaking. Oh, and this may have had something to do with it as well. I actually gave this as a speech. There were more lyrics, but you get the point. And no, I am not lying.

So now that you have the background, you can see why I was having some bad flashbacks right up to giving my briefing. Oh, and I was sick and up the night before with a sick child. When it rains, it pours.

Yep, that was an out of my comfort zone moment.

My other one occurred this weekend. It, too, I have known about for months. But seriously, people, I have so much going on that if it isn't happening today I am really good at shelving it at the back of my mind to make room for the craziness of this moment.

Anyway, I went to a Body Flow training weekend. I think I told y'all about it. I didn't know if I would like it or not. It isn't traditional yoga and is run by a fitness group that gets on my nerves, but the gym was paying for me to go (knowing full well in advance that I may or may not teach it in the end) so I decided to give it a try. Body Flow is a combination of Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates. I could seriously write a book on the events of this weekend, but for your sake (and mine - I really don't want to relive it!) I will keep this short. (Or as short as I know how to keep anything...)

I suck at Tai Chi. Bad. Really, really, really bad. And because I have the worst luck in the whole wide world (or because God wants me to learn something - hmmm, go figure) I was chosen to teach a choreographed tai chi opening to the group. And it was bad. Really, really, really, really, really, really bad. And the trainer told me so. In not so kind words. In front of the whole group. And I cried. In front of the whole group.

Yeah, definitely not a comfort zone moment.

In my defense (because apparently I still need to defend myself!) I only had 10 hours to learn the choreography and needed to sleep somewhere in those 10 hours and I had never even seen tai chi until that day. SOOOO out of my zone.

Um, yeah, so I had to have a come to Jesus moment and remind myself of who/what defines my self worth. And then I got to teach yoga standing poses in front of the group and apparently redeemed myself to the group and trainer. Her wording choice was...interesting and went something like this:

"Can I be brutally honest? (Because you held back during my tai chi feedback?!) That person yesterday, I hope I never see her again. I don't know what that was yesterday. It was frightening. This was much, much, much better. A thousand times better than yesterday. It was fantastic. Yesterday was awful. After yesterday I was praying to God that I was right and you could teach. I'm so glad I was right."

Seriously, do you like how it's all about her? There were more words in there, but you get the gist.

Needless to say, I told our group exercise coordinator that I just don't think that Body Flow is for me. I love traditional yoga (shocking that I did much better when teaching something I KNOW!!!) Breathe and let go...

(Exhale) Okay, I'm centered. So, yeah, those were a few of my out of my comfort zone moments. Anytime you are reading my blog thinking, "Oh, she has it all together and does everything, blah, blah, blah..." Just remember, I suck at tai chi (and for the sake of honesty I'm really suck at math too). And I don't know that I have every used the word "suck" ever on my blog and if I have it has definitely not been this many times!

OH, and you will be relieved to know that after much digging, I have found all the words to that terrible speech I gave back in high school. This ought to give you a glimpse of the kind of student I was:

Do your boobs hang low?

Do they wobble to and fro?

Can you tie them in a knot?

Can you tie them in a bow?

Can you throw them o'er your shoulder

Like a bag that has a boulder?

Do your boobs hang low?

Do your boobs sit high?

Do they point up to the sky?

Do they wrinkle when they're cold?

Do they turn on every guy?

Do you wave them at your lover?

Do they run and look for cover?

Do your boobs sit high?

Do your boobs flop wide?

Do they flap from side to side?

Do they wave in the breeze

From the slightest little tease?

Do they pop from your brassiere?

When you drive, do they like to steer?

Do your boobs flop wide?

Do your boobs expand?

When you spend a couple grand?

Do they falsely fill your blouse?

Make you master of the house?

Do you flash them every way?

Just like Pammy A.?

Do your boobs expand?

Imagine all that while I'm chewing gum and twirling my hair. THAT is frightening.

BTW - I really am an introvert stuck in an extrovert's body. And as an introvert, I don't like to speak in front of groups of people. And while I'm thinking of it, I'm also a homebody, stuck in the body of a busybody. I really need to let these inner selves out more often...

Rub-a-dub-dub...

Three Mads in a tub!
Bath time is wet'n'wild time around here. And when three little Mads want to take a bubble bath together, that only means one thing: a VERY, very wet bathroom floor!

They look all sweet and serene don't they? HA! Don't let them fool you.

I love this picture...look at Lukie in the background. Naughty.

Gracie Grace

That's one of our nickname's for Ella, Gracie Grace. This little girlie is something else. While we have never told her that she is the baby of the family, she somehow knows it and certainly acts like it! Ella loves me to hold her. There are times she holds me so tight, I think she is going to choke me! Oh, this little Diva loves her mama. Loves me.

We cut Ella's hair last month and at first I wasn't sure I loved it. But, now I am sure I do! It so matches her personality.


Doesn't it fit her cute little face? Gosh I love this little girl. She is cut from the same mold as Luke. (Joseph and I both think it's amazing how each sister is so much like a brother.) Ella is easy going, loves to watch TV, easily distracted, absentminded, loves animals and bubbles, and is always the last one up from the table. Always.

Ella loves Dora and the Land Before Time dinosaurs. She shares this love with her big brother, Lukie. My heart melts looking at the above picture - Ella just got up from nap with bed head, her pink/purple tutu on and is sitting on Luke's lap watching TV with him.

Ella Grace, you make us laugh and are such a joy!

Lily Kate

This girl makes me laugh. She is such the little mama to everyone in the house. Her Daddy and I included!

If there is anyone sad or crying, Lily Kate is the first one on the scene ready to console. She'll kiss you (even when you don't want a kiss!) bring you your favorite Lovey, or run and get a snack. She apparently has caught onto the fact that I use food to distract! LK has the most adorable nurturing personality. With that said, she also is under the impression that she is second in command right behind me. She loves to boss her siblings around and can often be heard getting after anyone who is breaking the rules. Her favorite subject to boss, her twin of course. But her brothers are a very close second! That girl has even be known to tell her Daddy to get out of the street "right now".

Lily also loves to clean and help out around the house. And we totally take advantage of her. Shamelessly. I pray that this little attribute sticks around - at least until she moves out of my house. It is especially lovely since my boys have z-e-r-o desire to clean house.

Lily Kate and Caleb are my kids that love dressing up. Lily loves all things princess:

Isn't she delicious?!

But, don't forget that this sweet girl also has brothers! She can hang if she needs to.


And this girl loves to have her picture taken:



Lily is like her big brother Caleb is so many ways it's uncanny. They both love to talk to me. Constantly. They are both stubborn, smart and love to figure out how things work. Both are very dramatic and not easily distracted. Definintely cut from the same mold!

Lily Kate, we love you and can't believe you will be 3 next month!

My favorite kinda blog post

My life in bullet points:

• I was supposed to run a half marathon this weekend. Supposed to. In other words, didn't. I was so not ready to run 7 miles, much less 13.1. I really wanted to do one last run with my fav runner but between the fact that I didn't train, hubby's schedule sucked and I will be gone the next two weekends - I decided at the last minute I couldn't do it. Bummer.
• I have officially joined the 21st century. I now text. And have a phone with a touch screen. Gosh, I'm fancy. Next thing you know, I will have a twitter account. (snicker) Not likely.
• This weekend I did make a few more dresses for the girls. 6 to be exact. I'm getting faster and almost have it down to a science. I have gotten a lot of compliments on my dresses and a few people have said they would pay me to make dresses for them. Um, I politely said no. Ghetto seamstress I am, real seamstress I am not.
• Speaking of me working, I got a job! The YMCA hired me!! I will be taking over a yoga class at the end of May and next weekend I am getting certified to teach Body Flow. It will be a 2 and a half day certification that sounds exhausting. I'm blessed that my mama will be flying in to take care of my kiddo's while I go.
• I also filled out an application and sent in a resume for a job instructing group exercise classes at a corporate fitness gym. My friend works for the company and they really want to hire me to teach! The money is amazing! More than my hubby makes an hour! Exciting stuff.
• Of course, my first job is mama and wife! And in case I have never told you, I am married to a man that never wants me to work. He is supportive of my endeavor, however. He makes me laugh though...he's a little worried about my "career" getting more attention than him. That silly man makes me laugh! I would hardly call this a "career". Seriously, we are talking like 2 hours a week. Boy, could you imagine if I told him that I was going back to school to become a rocket scientist? Luck for him that's not likely to happen...
• Have I told you what I am obsessed with lately? This. I am really in need of an intervention. My boys, however, think I am very cool. Especially since I have made it to world 8! (Just pretend you're impressed.)
• So, next weekend I will be doing this Flow cert. and then the following weekend I am going to the Mind, Body, Fitness Conference in Dallas to get Level 3 and Anatomy & Alignment certifications. It's a 4 day conference, that is going to be exhausting, but where I will get two more certifications. My SIL is coming from Alaska to take care of the kids so that I can go. I have good kin folk, don't I?
• Well, I need to get to bed. Hey, I have a very important meeting on Thursday - if you think about it, will you pray for me? Thanks! I'll fill you in soon.
  
  

A glimpse of what is to come...

My boys are growing up. WAY too fast. Way, way, too fast. As evidence by the following conversation:

Caleb: I like Jayden at school.
Me: Oh yeah, what do you like about her?
Caleb: She's hot!

WHHHHAAATTT??!!??!! You're seven! What do you know about "hot" girls??

That conversation was only days after this conversation:

Me: Luke, you are so cute. Did you know that?
Luke: Yeah. The girls at school think I'm cute.
Me: How do you know?
Luke: I just looked at their faces and I could tell.

(This is a picture of the boys giving me the "force." If I didn't have boys, I probably would never know what that means...)

A mad adventure with food coloring, vinegar, eggs and 4 kids!

Our annual easter egg dyeing was extra interesting special this year because it is the first year that the girls got to participate! They loved it and true to form Lily Kate was extra careful not to get messy and was quite particular about the color of her eggs. Ella, on the other hand, made a mess and wanted to eat the gross vinegar water.

Dyeing eggs with 2 two year olds is an adventure.

The boys were very creative this year with their color choice and decorating. Here are some pictures of our evening:

He is Risen!

Happy Easter!
Love, The Mad Kids

They say you become like the people you hang out with...let's hope so!

It has been 2 and a half weeks since I last blogged. Time really does fly by when you are having fun! I think about blogging, but then life and livin' happen and blogging time falls to the wayside.

So before I begin the blogging catch-up marathon, I want to share the following picture of my fav girlies at the gym.

Aren't they gorgeous.

So we went out to eat the night before I left for Disney. They stayed at the restaurant and partied, while I had to go home to pack -BOOO. Anyway, toward the beginning of the night I was up at the bar and this guy came up to me and said, "Your friends are hot and so are you."

I laughed. Hard. We're moms. Between us we have like 30 kids. Please.

But he's right. These ladies are hot. And they kick booty too. Some have 2 kids, some have 5. A couple have run full marathons and a few teach some sort of fitness class. All are in their 30's and a couple are very close to the 40 threshold. And all of them push me and are encouraging and inspiring.

And all are hot mama's!

I have heard that mental vacations make for painful vacations...

I like to think that I am an organized, detailed person. You kinda have to be when you have as much going on as I do. I love to make lists. Lists give me the delusion that I am in control. And I make lists of lists. Apparently I really need control.

We leave for Disney tomorrow!! Whoo-hooo. But wait, I just made my list yesterday. 2 days before the trip. I have no list of the list. Thus, I am feeling out of control. Very out of control.

Control is an illusion anyway, right?

This is the first vacation that I have taken in years where I have not been preparing for weeks in advance. We vaca a lot with some of our best friends and I am known for being prepared for almost any occasion and for making itineraries, almost down to the hour, for us to follow.

This trip is soooooooooooo different.

Apparently when one goes to Disney they plan it out a year in advance. And months before they arrive, they have their time at Disney planned out, meals, rides and all, with reminders being sent to their phone hourly. I, on the otherhand, have bought our plane tickets, our tickets to the park and I *think* I have a hotel. Oh, and did I mention that we are apparently going on one of the busiest weeks of the year?

Yeah, I'm behind the power curve.

I have been trying to figure out why and then it dawned on me. It's because I'm taking TWO of my children. Only half. One for each arm. One per parent. And the two older ones to boot!! I don't have to pack a bag of things to entertain them on the airplane or figure out how I'm going to drag a carseat through the airport, while carrying two kids. I'm not worried about where our hotel room is in correlation with a elevator, Walmart, dining facility & McDonalds. Or if it will be toddler friendly and hold two pack'n'plays. I don't have to pack a diaper bag, strollers for every occasion, bottles, sippy cups and snacks.

It's just Love and I and our big boys.

The ease of it apparently has me on a mental vacation already.

So while I'm sad to leave the baby sisters behind, I know they will be in great hands and will be getting LOTS of attention. And we will get to spend some quality time doing fun, big things with our big boys.

I am so excited!
Disney, here we come!!! (hopefully there is some place for us to stay...)

And now you can definintely tell them apart!

I did it.
I gave my girl her first haircut. And then cried.
Not because I did a terrible job (although I'm confident that no one will be calling me to do their hair anytime soon!). I cried because this is the first time that we've purposely done something to one twin and not the other. Now you can definitely tell them apart.

But, it had to be done. And for a while it stopped her from twirling any "rat's nests". Such a sweet, short lived time. She has managed to make a few very small ones at the back of her hair where it is the longest.
One can hope that that will be all that she does. Because I'd hate to have to go shorter!
Here are some pictures of my sweet girl with her short do:


She's still cute isn't she?! And then here she is with her "shisher".

I'm tying not to get a persecution complex, but I really believe the DMV is against me!

Today was my third time at the DMV.
And, unfortunately, it isn't my last.
Because I failed my driver's test.
Lovely.
Just lovely.

I'm not a fan of the DMV. But in reality, who is? And that is why I put off going for so long. Until the day of my birthday when Love was looking at my driver's license and noted that it expired on that day. Well you may find this shocking, but I didn't find spending time at the DMV the thing I wanted to do on my birthday. Call me crazy.

I decided to go on Love's next day off. And that so happened to be almost 1 month later. So disturbing on so many levels.

Last week, I looked up online what I needed to get a license and headed to the DMV. I wait in this ridiculous line only to be told that not only do I have to take the written & driving tests, I need more proof of who I am. Apparently my old license, my military issue ID, title to our vehicle and proof of insurance were not enough.

So I make a return appearance on a couple of days ago. This time armed with all of the above and my social security card. I arrived 30 minutes before the DMV opened and waited in the cold rain for them to open the doors and tell me that they also want my birth certificate. I call Love and ask him to bring it to me. He does, I wait in line again and they tell me that they also need my marriage license. UGH! Although I don't have all the documents that I need, they told me that I could take my written and driving tests.

Seriously, if the gentlemen on either side of me are any indication of who is driving on our roads - we should be VERY afraid. The guy to my right got a 3% on the test. Yes, you read correctly. 3%. The guy on my left had been there 3 times before he finally passed. Frightening. Very frightening.

So I take my written. Pass without studying. Because that's how I roll.

Then I roll on out of there with all that confidence and wait in line for my driver's test. And wait. And wait. And wait.

Then leave. I have to come back anyway with my marriage certificate, so I left in an attempt to make it to my trekking class in time. I have priorities. Just not good ones...

I go back this morning (because I can only go on the days that Love will be around to watch the Diva's. Could you just imagine the Drama that the Diva's would bring to the DMV? Frightening...) once again early and wait in line. The line was already long and I got there 15 minutes early. I think some of these people sleep there.

Anyway I get there, wait in lines, finally get called to take the driver's test. I get in the car, pull around to the back of the DMV - rolling with all that confidence - and apparently pull into the wrong lane because the test-giver-lady yelled at me.

Confidence gone. I knew from that point, this was not going to go well.

And I was right. She failed me. Something about not looking around enough and, ah-hum, not-slowing-down-in-a-school-zone. Other than that, I thing I would have passed.

So, now I get the pleasure of going back - again next week. Lovely. I can hardly wait.

Oh, by the way, I swear that half the people in that DMV didn't speak english. I still can't figure out how they are getting license's and passing tests and I can't? Things that make you go hmmmm.

Life is more fun when you have a best friend

This is what happens when I don't blog regularly!

Oh, my little neglected blog...
I've been cheating on you.
With my sewing machine!

Yes, instead of blogging I have been sewing. A lot. Bordering on obsessed. But having oh-so-much-fun! Here are some of the things that I have made lately:

Has a matching one with a flower on the opposite side.

This one didn't have a match, so I made a flower to put on the dress below. Now they coordinate!

SO, the pillowcase dresses were SOOOOO easy that I decided that I could do the same thing with some cutsie fabric I got at the store. This was my first creation:

With more confidence, this is my second creations (both of these have identical ones for the sisters)

And now, making these are my absolute favorite:

Oh, and I went to the fabric store and found so many prints that I will be working on this week! Love it!!

What else has been happening around here? Oh, it is official - I bought our tickets to Disney. Joseph, the boys and I will be headed there for Spring Break. The sisters are staying with their Gigi (my stepmom) and their Aunt Lara (my 13 year old sister). I have a feeling they will be getting a lot of attention and spoiling. I'm a little nervous about the trip, but I am also so excited! It has been a rough couple of months around here and we could all use some time away. When I told the boys that we were going, neither were excted. Actually, they both said the same thing, "But, I don't want to go to Disneyworld." Even as we tried to explain it to them, they didn't believe us and weren't buying into it. We tried to compare it to SeaWorld (which they love) and told them it was even bigger and better that that. They still didn't buy it. We decided to drop it - they just have no idea what kind of fun is in store for them.

We're gonna take an odd turn here, but after that whole telling-the-boys-about-Disney-and-them-not-being-excited thing happened, God showed me the coolest thing. For those of you that don't know, I have this odd fear of heaven. It sounds great and all, but I really like my life here. I know what to expect here and I like it. I have no idea what to expect in heaven and am not positive that I will like it as much as here.

Does that sound familiar? That's the boys and Disney. They like SeaWorld, know what to expect and can't imagine it getting better that that. But it is OH-SO-BETTER!

Not sure if that got lost in translation (as most things do with me!) but I love it when God does cool stuff like that. Love.it!

In another completely odd turn, I am going to my yoga training this weekend and can't wait! I get to spend 8 hours for 2 whole days doing and learning about yoga. Is that like heaven too, Lord? ("Oh, it's even better than that!" He says.)

I also signed up for another half marathon in April. Training looks close to impossible, but I'll give it my best shot. Joseph is supposed to be gone the month before my race, so it looks like I will be spending a lot of time on the treadmill since I won't have anyone home to watch the Darlings. I'm only doing it because it is the last run with the person who inspires me to be a better runner and person! My friend Heather is a great running coach and amazing runner. She just ran the Austin Marathon and qualified for the Boston Marathon. I think I have a picture of her somewhere... here it is:

Heather is on the left and Jeannie is on the right.

Isn't eveything made more fun with a picture? Yeah, so I'm going to run a half in Houston with her. Obviously not next to her since she will finish in like 1 hour and I will finish in 5!

And this is my Crossfit buddy, Lee Anne. We work out together all the time and she pushes me farther than I would push myself and is the best encourager! She's also super funny...

Normally she has blond hair, but decided to take a ride on the dark side. I love it darker, but she doesn't. Isn't she gorgeous? This girl kicks but and takes names!

More turns: The first time Caleb did this, I about died laughing - He walks in the door from school and announces: "Cause the party don't start 'till I walk in!" If you don't know where that comes from you can hear it here. I wish I could say I have no idea where in the world he would listen to such trash from, but...I can't. I hate to admit it, but I listen to total trash music when I run. And drive. I don't really listen to the lyrics, but apparently my children do. Note to self: pay attention to what is on the radio!

Gosh, this boy is going to break hearts some day.

Little Luke is learning to read! He came home from school the other day and said, "A simple blend is when a vowel comes after a consonant." I love that they are learning phonics. I learned to sight read as a kid and I did just fine, it just seems like they learn faster with phonics.

And this boy is something. I tell y'all - one minute I am ready to throttle him and the next second I want to squeeze the love right out of him!

Speaking of their school, their registration is due this month and man is it going to be costly with two. I need to get a job. Nah, actually I have NO desire to work. This stay at home mom gig keeps me plenty busy.

Those turns keep coming - My sweet little Ella is getting a hair cut. A very short one. And I am SO sad! But is has to be done. That girl is a mess. She does this twirl thing with her hair and it produces these matted dreadlocks. It can take up to 30 minutes to get the knots out and there have been many times that we can't get the knot out, so we have to cut it. It has been going on for so long and we have tried everything to stop her. Nothing is working, so our pediatrician suggested that cutting her hair short is the only way to stop her habit. :(

I love this picture of her. It's a face she makes when she is day dreaming. Look at those cute chapped lips. Yummy...

Isn't she so cute? I have been in denial that cutting it is the solution, but at this point her hair on one side of her had is halfway down her back and on the other side is at her shoulder. Yep, she looks a mess. It doesn't help that the sharp contrast is Lily Kate with her long hair halfway down her back, in ringlets. ((SIGH))

My hair lady is coming over this week to do the deed, so I will take some pictures of my sweet Ella soon.

In another completely unrelated topic, it snowed here today. It was only for about 5minutes, but hey I'll take it. Here are the sisters celebrating their winter gear (and cereal apparently!):