Sports fans

The weather has been so so beautiful here so we are venturing out more and more. I finally busted out a really fun Christmas gift from our Uncle Chris and Aunt Alyssa, basketball hoop and t-ball bat, ball, and stand. The kids are loving it! Nick said the other day, with Isaac and boys in general, it's like they just understand how to throw a ball. I think he's really starting to have fun playing a little more rough and tumble with his boy. Here's a couple shots of our basketball and t-ball players in training. On the flip side of boys, check out this very girly shot of Viv. This cracks me up!

Ballerina

As the school year is drawing to a close so are other activities. We have enjoyed our little dance program but it's now coming to the best part- recital! We got our costumes last week and I'll show you a little preview of our ballerina. I'm so excited to see if she actually performs it. Mostly, it's just so much fun getting them all decked out in their sweet leos. (I hope I don't sound like some crazy stage-mom.)

Safari Park

Customize a free digital slideshow

After getting kids all on antibiotics and on the upswing we decided to test the waters and get together with our cousin and Aunt Em. My sis had informed me of a new place she had found which is AWESOME- an all indoor multi-station fun house. This is the best description I can give it. It was so neat! I only wish it were closer. They had indoor animal rides (the animals are electronic and the kids ride on them!), slide leading to the ball pit, mini-trampoline, multiple kitchens and interactive tables-think trains, rockets, fire stations, an indoor train ride (I rode with the Isaac), an indoor mini-golf course with dinosaurs, and other painting and crafting stations we didn't embark on. I hope it won't be too jam packed this summer because we'll have to venture back big time! Check out our slideshow.

Contentment in all things!

So...God certainly is not concerned with our comfortableness but our holiness. I was reminded of this after much sickness in our house. As I shared with all of you, we are trying, all four in our family, to focus more on contentment in our lives and with what God so richly blesses us with. Unfortunately, we have a lot to learn! After the beautiful birthday celebrations and times both kids got the sickies. I should back up and say we were also fighting it on and off again for the three weeks proceeding Vivi's birthday bash, so upwards of a month one person has been sick in our house! Mommy lost her sight of contentment two weekends back as she was wiped out after so much sicky! Still, "[I] am learning the secret to being content whether in need or in plenty" (paraphrase of Paul's verse in Philippians) which is basically keep your focus on Christ who strengthens us in all things. So...we're back to learning!

Vivian's 4th Fairy Party

Create a photo slideshow

I can certainly say I am more than "content" with how Vivian's Fairy Party turned out. We have prayed and prayed for the details and the weather to be nice so we could be outside if even for a part of it. The day was as close to perfect as they come. We were able to host the entire party outside and it was beautiful! All the flowers were blooming, our forsynthia which is a winter bloomer was covered in yellow blooms, our trees were blooming, all our new plants got a nice water earlier in the week so they were all perky and fresh. It was just fantastic. All the kids felt well so everyone we expected was able to attend. It was just flitterific! I must warn you that you'll need a few minutes to watch this entire slideshow, but I really believe these are the best pics we could have gotten- thank you to my wonderful husband Nick! It was a day to remember.

Niece's Dora Party

Happy Birthday Ms. Chloe! We had such a lovely time at your party that we forgot to shoot too many pics. Sad face! Oh well, I told Em that meant it was a REALLY FUN TIME! Here are a couple of shots from Chloe's Dora party. Em, you did such a lovely job with all the details, decorations, and yummy food!! I know Chloe had a great time, we certainly did.

Tool Time

A few weekends back daddy devoted the entire weekend to getting our back porch ready to go for our garden party. The kids were inspired by their hard working daddy and really busted out their Handy Manny tools and were "fixing" all kinds of things in the house. I was really proud to see all the hard work pay off for daddy. Fortunately, Nick allowed me the next weekend away to craft and create Vivi's special gift. Here are a couple of shots of all the prep. More to come on Vivi's gift.

I have a FOUR YEAR OLD!

Yes, this past Wednesday our little sweet girl turned FOUR! I really can't believe it. She looks like a little lady now. As I watched her today playing with her brother so sweetly, flipping her hair, checking her new Tink watch I thought she's really big. My old self would have been all sad, she'll never be a little toddler anymore, but my new self finds this exciting. She's really having neat conversations with me now, and asking such good questions some more humbling than others! Still, it's so fun to watch her discover and explain things from her perspective. Here are a couple of shots of her on her birthday including having her annual pan"cake" with chocolate chips now made by daddy.

Contentment

This year my word of the year is more a challenge to myself to find contentment in all things. I have been inspired by restudying Philippians and many of you know the famous verse where Paul states "I have learned the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Phil 4:12 & 13) I have begun to realize how much many of us live in the future of if I can only get to this thing I'll be okay...by the way I'm in this group BIG TIME! I have been very convicted by the Lord that I am not relishing in the gifts He's so richly blessed me with- my kids, my husband, my home, my security, my network of wonderful family and friends. I am really so blessed. But...this past year has proven many challenges and a few security blankets for me have been pulled out from underneath me. Through this learning and acceptance of change, I have begun to grasp that God has so much goodness for me even in this if I'll trust HIM and not me! This has also been a realization that any time I try to do ANYTHING on my own I won't be content. I believe God really desires me to be content in my life and truly all of us. Walk with me as I learn what this looks like for me. Word of the year- Contentment