Snack Time with Jordan & JP

With 2 small children at home all summer there is a tendancy to have the "snackers" all day long.  Do you know what I mean when I say, "snackers?"  This is the VERY strong tendency to want to eat things like chips, cookies, candy, etc - all the live long day!

Now, this is neither affordable or good for my kids.  Plus, if I got up every time they wanted to "have a snack", I would never get anything else done in my house.  So, at the very beginning of the summer we established 2 snack times a day - one in the morning (9:30) and one in the afternoon (2:30).

Yes, my children even know the exact time that each of these specially prepared "meals" occur and I promise you when I say, they do not let me go one minute past!  It really does us both good.  It holds me accountable to stop what I'm doing and fix them a healthy & fun snack and spend a little time with them in the process and keeps them from snacking all day and eating us out of house and home (and as a result not eat their dinner!).

This solution has worked beautifully thus far in our journey through the Summer.  It's always a nice surprise to them what the snack will be and I love making them smile!

How are you getting through the summer?  

What neat tricks have you learned that you can share with me?!  

I would love to hear them all! 

(yes, the picture above is from today's afternoon snack time.  I know the pickle seems a bit odd and out of place - but they LOVE pickles and I don't always have them around - so it was an extra special treat today!)

Lordy Lordy! Looks who's 40!!!!

Today is John's birthday!  I can't believe he's 40!  We both feel so young!  Of course our 2 children - Jordan (6) and JP (3) definitely contribute to this feeling - but it still feels strange to say, "we're in our 40's!"  (I turn 40 in just 3 small months).

We have a really fun day planned if it would just stop raining!  I will definitely post more about this momentous day when it's over - but I just wanted to start the day blogging about the love of my life!

I met John in 2000 at First Baptist Church Euless.  He was leading worship for the Single Adults (about 350 in attendance!).  Now just to give you a visual... he had hair longer than mine, a beard, and had just finished a road tour with his band... yes.. he was a rock star in my mind!  And I even did that high school girl thing and imagined him singing to me!  And I can now say, as his wife of 8 years - he still gets his guitar out and writes songs about me!  It is as good as you think it might be!!!

He is my very best friend and I love spending my life with him! 

He makes me laugh hysterically...

He holds me when I cry....

He's a great jungle gym for our kids - even when he's tired...

And he can cook a mean steak - better than any Ruth Chris's, or Smith & Wellinsky's - I guarantee!

So, today, my love... it's all about you!  

Thanks for making my life so wonderful!  

Happy Birthday!

I love you!

Summer Days in New Orleans...

I love it when you you can have one of those snapshot-kind-of-days!!!  You know... the day where you're getting stuff done and the kids are being great and everything seems to fall right into place?!

In reality, I probably have those more often than I recognize or take the time to celebrate.  My husband has inspired me lately (in his recent sermon series) to celebrate the ones I love more.  So... here at the family blog I'm taking a few moments in between laundry, groceries, and managing the "he hit me's and the she hurt my feelings" to celebrate my life!

The kids have been swimming or playing in the backyard, Jordan made her bed, JP & I played catch this morning, I've gotten about 3 loads of laundry completed (from washer to closet!) and worked on some blog time and even made myself a healthy lunch!

I do love my life and praise God that He has given me these 2 beautiful children and a wonderful husband who adores me.

I would write more... but I'm already hearing, "M-O-M-M-Y!!!" from the stairs - so back to parenting I go and the To-Do List.  Thanks God for this brief moment to recognize the sweet spots in my day!

Another Wonderful Year @ Grandmother & Papa Camp!

Last week the kids were at "Grandmother & Papa Camp" - and the theme this year was "God's Top Ten!"  All week long they learned Bible verses, camp songs and created crafts all centered around The Ten Commandments!  It was nice to know that they were enjoying time with their cousins and learning great Biblical truths from their grandparents at the same time!  All the while, John & I were off in Colorado relaxing in the mountains!!!

Just to prove that they did learn something while attending Grandmother & Papa Camp I wanted to share with you a brief story about a conversation that went on in the backseat yesterday:

I had just picked the kids up from an afternoon of playing with friends.
JP:  Mommy I really wanted to take Braxton's toy home with me.

Mommy:  I know, but it belongs to Braxton.  You can play with it again the next time you go to his house.

JP:  But I wanted to take it home with me today!

Jordan:  JP!  Do you know what you're doing?!  You're so, like, COVETING!

I was thrilled to know that 1) my 6 year old knows what coveting is and 2) that she remembered what she learned last week from the Bible!

It just goes to show you that they do listen and they do remember and it makes a difference in their lives!

Hallmark Blog Moments

This past week has certainly been filled with "blog moments."  You know... those things that happen in the course of your week, or life rather and when they happen you immediately think, "I've got to share that on the blog!" 

Okay, so I've got about 3 of them that I know for sure I want to share with you all - and they are all VICTORY moments of which I'm super excited about too!!!

Okay the first one is Jordan's Kindergarten Graduation!
Can you believe it?  She just turned 6 last week!  She did so well singing on stage and speaking her skit lines so confidently in the microphone... a mother couldn't be prouder!  She received an award for perfect Church attendance and for reading over 100 books!  Wow!  A lover of church and of books... does it get any better?

Okay - blog moment #2
Last night as I was trying to run the kids a bath, Jordan asks if she can take a shower instead!  Wow!  I think my life just got easier!  She LOVED it!!!  She washed her own hair too!  It was fabulous!  When she was all done she asked if she could take a shower all by herself every night!  Wow!  Again... couldn't be more excited about this phase of growing up!

And for blog moment #3...
JP pooped in the potty all on his own!!!!  Yes, this is definitely a moment of PRAISE!  I know by events later in the day that a total conquering of this area is not complete - but we are more than happy to praise & celebrate victories like this!  All I've got to say is, "JP... you did good son - just keep 'em coming!"

As summer kicks off this morning - I'm going to be watching and waiting for more celebratory blog moments and don't worry - I'll share them with you here!  So stay tuned!

Where did the time go?

Okay, Okay - everyone keeps telling me that these days of small children are just going to fly by!  Sometimes I'm not so sure they are right....

But this morning as I'm remembering the day Jordan was born - 6 years ago today - I feel exactly that!  I remember every detail of that day as if it happened yesterday!  And then I blink and she's 6 years old, asking me questions about songs on the radio and what makes a car work (oh my!). 

She's become my little helper and I love it!  I know that this is only a glimpse of the days to come... I'm catching a vision of us cooking holiday meals together, shopping together, and so many other fun things.  Jordan - you just keep doing what you're doing, learning, growing, loving your family, friends and your God and you'll tackle this thing called LIFE just fine!

This week is birthday week - next week is Kindergarten Graduation. 
Stay tuned for lots of fun photos of it all!

Summer's just around the corner!

When Jordan's birthday gets here I know that Summer is just around the corner!

I can't believe that my oldest child is almost 6 years old!  There are so many ways I could take this first sentence.  One, I really do remember as if it was yesterday the day she was born.  She was so tiny and had the cutest little cry - it was almost a squeak instead of a cry.  Or I could mean, "I can't believe I'm almost 40 and my oldest is 6!"  Most of my friends that are my age have teenagers!  Either way, watching Jordan turn 6 has already been so much fun!  She really takes everything in and let's excitement take over her whole little person!  A couple of weekends ago, John's parents - Sweet Mama & Papa Lou - came for a visit and brought all kinds of treats!  (Barbie, books, clothes, etc)  Each gift was opened and held up for all to see.  I think her best gift was story time at night!  Getting to sit in her grandmother's lap and get undivided attention was priceless to her!  She hated to see them leave.

This next week, Jordan will get to have a special snack during school and then Saturday is the big party @ Storyland @ City Park.  She is SUPER excited!  Stay tuned for more birthday stories and pictures!


Click here to see more pictures from the grandparent visit!

JP really enjoyed their visit too!  In fact, he had so much fun that he finally conked out with his Boo-boo Bear in the living room!  He NEVER does this!  I just had to capture this moment and prove to him later than he indeed CAN take a nap!  I'm not sure if it will work - but it's certainly worth a try!

 JP is assuredly the most ready for Summer!  We got the kids a little pool for the backyard.  A day doesn't go by when JP doesn't venture out to the pool in some capacity or another!  This picture was taken on a day when I told him that we didn't have time to swim - but he could play outside.  So walking around in the pool - with his clothes and his cowboy hat seemed to be okay I guess.

What a summer I'm in for huh?!  Anyone want to come spend the day with us?  There's never a dull moment around here!