A few more gifting ideas.

Here's a few more ideas.

1. I bought This plush robe from Pottery Barn yesterday. It was originally 89$ marked down to 49$. Anyone who loves baths will LOVE this!

2. I kind of love this shimmery cardi from anthropologie. It's in the sale section at their website and it's an additional 30% off.

We love doing homemade too! Some things to think about; if you are a crocheter baby booties or a hat are a quick little project that everyone thinks are adorable! Sea salt scrubs in a mason jar. I use 2 cups of sea salt, 3/4 cup olive oil, one dropper of an essential oil. I like going to second hand store and finding cool purses, wallets, plates, mugs etc... If you don't have wrapping paper try some pretty magazine pages. It makes it eclectic and recycles-gotta love that!

A few of my favorite things.

Tis the season for Advent, celebrating, anticipation and perhaps a wish

list... Here are some of my favorite ideas that may inspire you when someone asks that big question, 'What would you like for Christmas?

1. I love the magazine 'Athleta' and they have done it again with the piper headband. I made my own and wear it constantly!

2. A turquoise bead necklace dresses everything up.

3. I found a great tablecloth and milk glass at goodwill and this picture inspired my to get some cuties to go inside.

4. A great pair of yoga pants my personal favorites are the American Eagle brand. I live in them.

There's a little list, maybe I will add more later now that I know how to copy and paste! Only 17 days til Christmas!

Just so you know.

I still really care about this blog! It's just that now we have a mac, and blogging on a mac takes time to learn. Andy tries to teach me as I'm printing off copies for homeschooling, switching laundry over or helping someone in or out of the bath. And, oh brother, I have plenty of time to sit and learn it's just that when that time rolls around I choose a bath,or a walk, or _______ enter excuse in the given line. A tutorial on a mac gets a big 2 thumbs down on how I want to spend time, but I will! I promise. My New year's resolution this year is to master the mac...or just learn how to copy and paste, baby steps(=.

Claire turning 5.

With our sweet-natured, middle child, birthdays can get lost in the shuffle of Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations. I am trying to be very intentional about having a separate party early in November to avoid that. The girls stayed with my parents a couple of days which gave me time to make things extra special! A Claire banner hanging from the hutch, cupcakes marked with 5's and a wax paper/crayon/leaf craft, were some of the features. It was a very fun day with very special people in our life! We look forward to more celebrating with those we missed over Thanksgiving and Christmas. We love you Claire-berry!

Fall and a little more progress!

Picking up where we left off, weeks 19 and 21 at the bottom of the picture. Happy Fall! Our weekend is filled with fun,free, community activities. Hope you are able to get out enjoy what is arguabley the best month of the year.

To do list.

1. Put in hardwood floors and continue finding home inspiration on pinterest.

2. Read, Read, Read with the kids!

3. Continue praying to really believe that God is good and wants the best for us. Stop mulling over predestination and election, and just rest in my Jesus.

4. Crochet goodies for the new babies in our life.

5. Look for the best in people and give grace and mercy more than judgement-most respond better to this.

6. Finish painting the trim white, make a triangle banner for River and new baby's room.

7. Enjoy my surprise date this weekend!

8. Collect recipes for our Thanksgiving-Claire's birthday- decorate the Christmas tree-extravaganza.

9. Take vitamin D to replace my beloved sunshine.

10. Make a point to keep in touch to those precious to us.

11. Make Claire and River's scrapbook.

12. Play piano and sing just a little everyday.

13. Focus in on moments like Claire's little feet being the only thing I could see at bedtime reading. They were too cute!

14. Blog occasionally, but more frequently than not.

Keeping track

I found out about this little baby,July 5th. It is not easy hiding a 4th baby. I felt like I took the test and started showing. I am trying to be intentional about taking pictures every other week as I am thinking this is the last time I will go through the miracle of pregnancy. The girls are just as excited which is bringing a whole new kind of fun into the mix. River is very indifferent. These pics are starting at the top left 9weeks, 11weeks,13 weeks, 15weeks and then the start of my 17th. The photo shoot is held in our very glamorous extra bathroom.

School Days

We got a headstart on school this year due to upcoming trips and breaks. We are enjoying it so much! All of us, and that says alot. Lily has her alarm set for 7 does devos, chores and breadfast and school starts right at 8:30. Lily chooses what she starts and ends with each day and they can earn media time for excellent attitudes. It feels like a good rythym that we are excited to maintain.

Jason and Lindsay

I don't talk about them much anymore. Oddly, when I do it's still a pretty fresh hurt. Today is the 7 year anniversary of our good friends, Jason and Lindsay's death. It broke open a whole world of hurt, violence and loss that my little life hadn't experienced up to that point. I remember holding 3 week-old Lily and crying and singing as we had just welcomed the new life of our first baby, but lost 2 close friends to death. We will always remember the sweet memories and look forward to seeing them in Heaven once again.

July and August so far in photos

Let's do this.

If you're like me you have all sorts of different kinds of days. You have the uneventful, where you wouldn't necessarily call them good or bad, but just days. You have the days that are great, where you are rested, surrounded by great moments of laughing and joy and when you lay down on the pillow that night you're not questioning the words you said, or the actions of your children, you're just thankful and at peace. Then other days fall into the 'Let's do this' category. Kids are up earlier than usual, quiet time is missed, coffee didn't work and you are seeing all the characteristics in your kids that make you question your parenting abilities. I tend to push through these days, pray for grace and understanding and for the Heavenly Father who is the perfect parent, to once again take the reigns. At the end of these days, I usually turn to Andy and ask, 'Are we doing things right?' 'What do we need to change and work on?' 'This is harder than I anticipated.' On the 'Let's do this' days I especially need to remember to give myself grace and do-overs. The day doesn't have to continue on this track. 2PM is a perfectly good time to make things right! We are coming out of Andy having a very full schedule and me feeling very spent as a mom. Grace needs to abound in our house especially these days. Everyone feels a little off, isolated and out of sync as our work is very lifestyle instead of 8-5. Our annual camping trip is coming and I can't wait to reconnect, rest, and recreate, just us. I didn't know exactly how much I felt this until this morning when I was edgy and the tears started coming. 2 Trader Joe Dark Chocolate bars dipped in peanut butter and Andy taking over has definitely helped on the road to emotional well-being. A week unplugged and unprogrammed will be the icing on the cake!

It's hot here!

Sprinklers, water balloons and the beach are filling our schedule.

Training with 3 kids.

Andy is climbing Mt. Rainier in August. Here's what power lunges look like with three kids.

Why I love morning.

My summer staples.

I love clothes! I know they are material, they are frivolous, and there are bigger things to think about. I also know
how I feel when I see or wear a great outfit. That being said, this summer I am all about the jean cut-offs and a white tank! Try it you'll love it, except all the male readers, Josh Glidden. You would look like a weirdo.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

When I was in high school I worked at a CEF Camp, which started my passion for Christian camping. They are very strong on the Gospel presentation and I love that! A great tool they offer is called 5 day clubs. Teens from the area give their time to come to your house do songs,Bible time, games and just fun stuff kids love. They also tell the great story of Jesus every day for 5 days. Claire bear is in her one-on -one time going through the wordless book in that middle pic. It made me tear up a little, praying and hoping she gets it! It's easy to host and a great way to reach out to your neighborhood, which should be our greatest mission field. As Christians we should be the kindest, hospitable and caring neighbors people have ever known! The only thing I had to do was drive around passing out invites, provide the snack and open my doors, I encourage you to get involved in some way in your neighbor's lives. Here's the link if your interested-5 day clubs

We are using summer to do some projects that would make me too crazy along with school year stuff. I really wanted Claire riding a two-wheeler by the end of the summer. Pulling 80lbs maybe a great workout, but I was feeling more mule than mom. That said she really just decided that she was ready and did it! love her independent spirit. I am working my way through each room painting walls, painting trim, organizing, etc... this summer. Bathroom is complete and under $100 for new curtains, new floor, walls, and trim! I love our bathroom! Next is finishing the trim in our bdrm, I'll post pics as soon as that is done. Gardening always takes time, but I am not burdened by it at all, pure joy. The girls watched this Australian show called 'Just add water,' about 3 teen girls who become mermaids. All they do is pretend they are mermaids with Australian accents all day. River is getting more and more words, but not quite getting the one I want him to embrace. Potty. We'll see if that is a mission accomplished this summer or a potty fail.

My Creed

I am reading a book right now entitled 'Bittersweet' by Shauna Niequist. I like it, I think it's flaky in spots, but overall good. Andy requested Shauna to speak at our mother/daughter retreat. When her assistant came back with a cost of $3000 dollars for the weekend, Andy asked me to do it. I'm alright with being the second choice, and said I would work for $2900. I'm kidding. Anyways, in one of her chapters she encouraged people to make a list of things that you are not willing to live without, and a list of things that you could give up. So here is my non-exhaustive list thus far.

I will not live without

1. Giving God my first, my best, my thoughts, my energies, my everything. This is my first and greatest goal. I strive, and fail, but continue to strive for that daily.
2. Giving my family loyalty, faithfulness, love, committment, time, prayers, good food, and a safe haven from all that threatens on the outside. For us that means low outside committments, intentionality in our home, as many meals together as possible, homeschooling in this season, bringing Jesus into every conversation possible, and limited media. This is my list, no pressure if yours is very different.
3. Pouring time into the home team, and occasional time to everyone else. There are people in my life who would give they're kidney to me if I was in need, love my kids as their own,and know me through and through. They are a small group of people and I love them more than life. I have also learned that Andy and I know many people and they are great, but they are not the home team. God is refining me to invest time wisely and appropriately.
4. I love to dance, share a great, healthy meal with sangria and then just talk for hours with great friends. Therefore a church that is against dancing and alcohol, but has potlucks of cheetos, KFC,doughnuts, and generic punch-not a great fit for me!
5. I love laughing, traveling, clean, clutter-free spaces, cuddling my kids, walking, biking, gardening, snowshoeing, reading practical Theology, remembering old stories and telling them again and again, sermons by Tim Keller, bluegrass, jam bands, early morning prayer journaling, before bed baths and dates with Andy. These are the moments that refresh and refine me.

I may have left some things out, but I got alot in there. It feels good to hone in. I would encourage you to do the same, because the truth is, we can't have it all.

More summer goodness.

We are doing a summer book club with friends. Our first book was 'The Secret Garden', so first party was a garden party. It also fell on the first week of camp so the menu included exciting things like cut-out pb&j and great value fig newtons. The girls went to the nature center, picked strawberries from our garden, and drew flowers, while we would casually ask them questions from the book. We wouldn't want them to know we were sneaking in school. Every Monday night Our home hosts the teen and college girls from camp. While we were studying Proverbs, the guys were playing video games...What???? It was so fun to host and look forward to many more. Now I need to go to bed. 5:30 comes quick!