this is what saturdays are for...

does he look excited, or what!?
ready daddy!

and, he's off!

he's not too familiar with the brakes yet!

it definitely helps him to concentrate if daddy sticks out his tongue :)
i guess this is what i get for wanting to get a picture from in front of him...

he rode right to me, and like i said, he's not too familiar with the brakes yet.

i jumped out of the way just in time... he ran into the garbage can instead of me.

hey, a girls gotta protect her camera, right!?

happy saturday!
a

sidenote: please excuse the garbage cans in the background, i don't like visual clutter (or any clutter for that matter). i don't think my neighbors would have been to happy if i would have moved them and they didn't get emptied, but you know i thought about it.

i can't get enough of this song...

More Beautiful You

Johnny Diaz

Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine

Says she wants to look that way

But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake

And she's always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen

I wish that you could see

That beauty is within your heart

And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair

Are perfect just the way they are

[Chorus]

There could never be a more beautiful you

Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through

You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do

So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done

Anything to get ahead

And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan

Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come

You starve yourself to play the part

But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true

And he'll treat you like the jewel you are

[chorus]

So turn around you're not too far

To back away be who you are

To change your path go another way

It's not too late you can be saved

If you feel depressed with past regrets

The shameful nights hope to forget

Can disappear they can all be washed away

By the one who's strong can right your wrongs

Can rid your fears dry all your tears

And change the way you look at this big world

He will take your dark distorted view

And with His light He will show you truth

And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl

[chorus]

wordless wednesday

waiting for our table at margaritaville (great french fries!)
yes, please don't leave your kids unattended.

especially these two, they're a bit unruly!

happy wednesday!

a

how is it possible...

that we have a big third grader in our house!? em started school today and she was so excited! she's been asking for weeks how long she had to wait for school, the girl loves it and that makes nick and i so happy! i didn't like school until high school, then i loved it (i think that's the point that i stopped caring what anybody thought of me and just learned to be myself). she definitely takes after her daddy in that area!
ethan was a little lost without her, being alone with boring ol' mom all day. he kept saying "i want to go pick em up now." so cute. we went to the store and got him his own school supplies so he didn't feel left out, he was pretty happy about that and was occupied doing "homework" for part of the day!
she has the most popular teacher (a male!) in the entire school! we were so surprised and happy when we got her welcome letter!
i'm excited for the new school year (this year is extra exciting since nick is finally finished with school and will be home every night!). i like the routines that a schedule brings and i'm looking forward to the mom's group starting back up. i still get a little sad that summer is over, it goes by so quickly. i try to make it fun for the kids and do things that they like and when it's over it's just a reminder that taking the time to enjoy the little things is so important! having kids in school definitely makes time go by faster (is that possible!?).

beautiful third grader!

don't you just love her backpack!? peace signs made out of tiny flowers...

she picked it out and loves it!

i almost cried with this one, they were so sweet

we have ice cream at mcdonald's after every first day of school!

why do i have to stop eating to smile!?

happy monday!
a

wordless wednesday

em brought this to me when we were camping last weekend. it was our centerpiece for our table. she's too much. do you see the little "visitor" in the picture?

happy wednesday!

a

timing...

i receive a daily devotion from proverbs 31 ministries. i love them. they are encouraging and real and something that almost every woman can relate to. today's devotion struck a chord with me and i wanted to share it. these are not my words, the devotion was written by Wendy Blight. i am thankful for her words today, His timing is perfect.

happy tuesday!

a

I Choose NOT to be Offended

4 Aug 2009

Wendy Blight

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)

What did she mean by that?

Why does she always hurt my feelings?

Why does she treat me that way?

Do any of these phrases sound familiar to you? It took my 15-year old daughter to show me that these words played through my head on a continual basis. She ended many of our conversations over the last few years with, "Why do you get your feelings hurt so easily?" or "Gosh, Mom, we are always hurting your feelings." Or, "Mom, you're so sensitive." At first, her words angered me.

Over time, I finally began to hear what she was saying. God used my daughter to teach a powerful truth to me. For years, I allowed people's words to hurt my feelings. In turn, I harbored anger for those words. The anger took root. Satan fed the words to me over and over again. I replayed them in my mind. Each time I replayed them, the anger grew deeper roots.

I would find myself sitting in church listening to a sermon and saying, "I wish ______ was here. They really need to hear this sermon." I never heard the sermons for myself because the words of others consumed by thoughts and stole my time.

About this time, God called me to teach a Bible study on the book of Proverbs. I spent days and weeks absorbed in this amazing book of Wisdom. One afternoon, God brought this verse across my path, "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense" (Proverbs 18:11). Wow! It leapt off the page and into my heart.

I had a choice here. Up until now, I received people's words, jumped to a conclusion, and chose to be offended. God's Word spoke and said, "Wendy, you have another choice...choose to look past their words and not receive them with an offended heart." I discovered that I needed to LISTEN objectively and ask: What is driving their words? Do they have a valid point? Do they have a deep hurt? Do they need something I am not giving? Are they someone who is just plain mean and negative?

The responsibility was on me to stop the words from entering my heart and taking root. I discovered in this process that I NEEDED the approval of others. Yet, God's Word clearly says that He is the only One whose approval I need. When I accepted this, my heart changed.

Yes, it took time, and I am a work in progress. But, now when someone speaks a hurtful word, I check it at the door of my heart. I hear the words, I recognize my issue, and I speak Truth over my heart. I literally say, "It is to my glory to not receive this as an offense." God is pleased because I honor Him with this choice. It is a win-win for everyone because I do not ruin the rest of the day by pouting and making it all about me. I do not soak in self-pity. I let the words go.

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am created in Your image. Thank You that in You I find my identity. Thank You that it is only Your Words and Your opinion that matters. Lord, give me Your ears to hear. Help me not to be easily offended and easily angered. Help me lay down any offenses to which I am currently holding. Let me live in the freedom of Your love and forgiveness. Help me live not in my flesh, but supernaturally in the fullness and freshness of Your Spirit. I ask this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, My Lord, Amen.

we are definitely hooked...

we have been camping twice this month and we are addicted! our friends, the andersons, meet us up there and we have a blast! this time my dad went along and nick's dad and barb met us up there (they "camped" at the lodge down the street!). we have the best time and the kids do nothing but play, play, play and we all go on ranger and quad rides... so much fun! these pictures are from this past weekend...

he loves to ride... his first time and he is so good!

beautiful girl

he wants to play for the d-backs, i think he has a shot!

silly kiddos

i love this picture! that's elsa, she and ethan were "married" by their older sisters last 4th of July... they are inseperable and they have so much fun together, so cute! that's a pop gun... no ammo and they are not allowed to "pow peoples" or it's gone!

do you think that they love each other!? this is nick's dad... he's awesome!

happy tuesday!

a

three things you don't know about me...

the blog hop this week is "3 things you don't know about me"... i'm struggling to come up with them because i'm kind of an open book, but here it is...

1. i am a pretty simple person, it doesn't take much to make me happy.

2. i like odd food combinations... sour cream on lasagna, mayo on my fries, mustard and cheese on sloppy joes, i like hot dogs cut up in macaroni and cheese with ketchup mixed in.

3. i worry too much. i know almost every mom says that she worries, but i struggled with consuming anxiety and irrational fears for a long time (maybe i will post about it sometime) and have recently overcome it without medicine. i know that a lot of people require meds and i have nothing against that; anxiety is bad enough without having people judge you for the way that you function, i just never wanted medicine.

happy tuesday!
a

blog hop

i have seen so many FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHS through the "blog hop" today, so i thought i would play along...

i love this picture of em and ethan from our camping trip over the fourth! so sweet and it shows how they really are, they are so great together, just like a brother and sister should be! check out the roots on that tree stump, it was so cool that they were above ground! i love it!

happy tuesday!
a

wordless wednesday

(and a summer fun photo post all in one.... I'm all about being efficient)

happy july

a

eight

I was tagged by Hollie a very long time ago, but I was at Disneyland, probably busy spinning on the Teacups, or eating corn dogs, or kicking my husband's rear at the Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story Mania rides. What's that? He kicked my rear? Until you can prove that, I am sticking with my story... this is, afterall, my blog.
I also weigh 120 pounds and am a natural blonde.
Really.

8 THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO:
1. Christmas
2. The mom's group at church to start back up
3. Camping with my three favorite people :)
4. Snuggle time in the morning with my kiddos
5. Getting back into my favorite jeans
6. Re-decorating the kids bathroom and the downstairs bathroom
7. The tomatoes out of my "garden"
8. Enhancing my photography skills

8 THINGS I DID YESTERDAY:
1. Snuggled with my munchkins in the morning
2. Read
3. Drank a yummy smoothie that I made with this thing, my favorite kitchen appliance
4. Snuggled with my hubby while watching The Bachelorette... seriously, what is she thinking with Wes!?
5. Got rid of a TON of my kids clothes/ toys that they have outgrown or no longer use
6. Drank too much sweet tea in place of water (at least it's made with water)
7. Spent too much time on the computer
8. Laundry

8 THINGS I WISH I COULD DO:
1. Find a fairy that would come change the sheets (my least favorite housekeeping task, which I do twice a week because I'm kind of a freak like that)
2. Play a game of Farkle with Mrs. Ricketts
3. Spend more snuggle time with my munchkins in the morning (or all day for that matter)
4. Fly... but not on an airplane, that terrifies me.
5. Travel around the world with Nick and the munchkins for a year
6. Stop worrying
7. Magically make my hair start growing into all of the colors that it currently is (I know, I know, shocker that it's not real)
8. Find the Tiffany ring that Nick surprised me with that I lost a couple of years ago

8 SHOWS I WATCH:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. General Hospital
3. The Today Show (I really only like the opening music and the first 10 minutes)
4. The Nightly News with Brian Williams
5. The Bachelor/ Bachelorette
6. The Amazing Race (I am going to be on this with Nick and we will win, because we're cool like that)
7. Food Network... all of it, but I really love Paula and Rachael
8. Desperate Housewives (I know, I know, but I really like it)

8 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME (I'm adding this because I also got tagged with this and don't want to post seperate):
1. I'm allergic to ants
2. I like ketchup with scrambled eggs, cheese crisps and mixed in my macaroni and cheese (with hot dogs cut up in it), but not on anything else normal like a hot dog or hamburger
3. I love taking pictures of flowers
4. I think that taking showers is a waste of time (but I take them... frequently, I just don't like to)
5. I have window tint stuck in my left arm and a small spot in my left cheek... I was in a car accident almost 10 years ago, was flewn to the trauma center and received more than 500 stitches in my left arm and the left side of my face and neck and sent home within 3 hours of the accident.
6. I never had a bit of plastic surgery after the accident and the only way people know is if they see the gnarly scar on my left shoulder... I heal well, but apparently my stretch marks from bearing children didn't get that memo.
7. I wish that I could go back to my junior year spring break missions trip to Mexico and finish building the house we started. Short version... I went down there with my church youth group to build houses for extremely poor people, but we only got to pour the foundation before a massive hurricane rolled in and we had to leave 4 days early. I cried for weeks.
8. I try to aviod drama. Unless, of course, it's this kind.

8 PEOPLE I TAG
You
You
You
You
You
You
You
and you... just leave me a comment one thing (or eight if you would like) that you wish you could do... please.

happy tuesday
a

thoughts on a tuesday

i just read this post over at mckmama's blog and it struck a bit of a chord with me.

we all have things that we struggle with. we all have people that we struggle with. it's just a fact of life. what isn't typical in those situations is mercy. we tend to jump to conclusions when it comes to others; myself included, but i've worked on this one and i've gotten a lot better than i used to be (not patting myself on the back or getting on a soap box, just putting a little bit of me out there, and well, it is my blog.) i used to over-react to things that were said and done, whether those things were said and/ or done directly to me. i've changed. i've outgrown that. it really has nothing to do with me and everything to do with Him and the mercy that He has shown me.

anyway, i like the post and i like the story. now if only we could track down the guy that was "looking out" for us and took our lawnmower and weed whacker out of our driveway last summer so that nobody would steal it...

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44-45

happy tuesday!
a

happy wednesday

(i didn't feel like digging any deeper for a catchier title)

i love the piano. i love the cello. i pretty much love any instrument and the beatiful sounds that a skilled artist can produce with something that is otherwise useless.
when i was a little girl i wanted to learn to play piano and took lessons for a bit. turns out that i really loved being able to play, but i didn't like my teacher and i didn't like to practice. unfortunately, my piano skills are very limited.
i came across this video of two very talented artists and i love it. i could play this on repeat all day and blast it throughout the house; i think it is beautiful and it just makes me happy.
i hope that you enjoy it as much as i do (and remember to pause the playlist at the bottom of the page).

happy wednesday!
a

the best 30th birthday ever...

tuesday was my 30th birthday and my amazing husband planned a great celebration for me. he has been asking me for months what i wanted to do for my birthday because he wanted to do something special since it was the big 3-0!
well, he really out-did himself! last friday we loaded up and headed to california for five straight days of fun... at DISNEYLAND! and to make it even better, nick's dad and stepmom, barb, had a last minute vacation cancellation and were able to join us!
we had the most amazing time and turning thirty is a breeze when you are acting like a kid, i highly recommend it!
i took a ton of pictures, so instead of boring you with a post of 60+ pictures i made up a slideshow.

happy thursday!
a

little miss' turn

emily has been waiting patiently for months for her hair to be long enough to cut and donate to locks of love. she has wanted it cut like mine for so long but was willing to wait. she is so sweet and i am so proud of her for thinking of this. it just shows her heart. today was the day and she and i both had our hair done today. we had so much fun!
i will have to post better pictures of what she looks like tomorrow, but couldn't wait to get this up. the back of her hair is so cute and she can't stop playing with it and has combed her hair for probably a total of an hour just because it feels so new and neat to her that it is short!

happy wednesday!
a

signs of summer...

little man has a new "do"...

before... he has no idea what he's in for

where's my hair?

my tough guys!

sweet little man!

happy friday!
a

more graduation pics...

these are from saturday's graduation.

Congratulations Class of 2009!

Wednesday was so nice and the graduation was great! Everything worked out really well and we all ended up where we were supposed to be. Getting to and from the stadium was a bit of a mess logistically, but there's nothing wrong with a bit of exercise!

President Obama spoke at the graduation. Regardless of your own personal political views, it was a really neat experience to be in the same place as the President of the United States of America and his speech was pretty great. We had great seats, but the view of the podium was blocked by the speakers. Nick said that his view from the field was blocked with teleprompters, so I guess it didn't really matter where we sat, the big screens were probably the best way to see.

I didn't take my zoom lens becuase I was afraid that it would get broken in the crowds so I didn't get great close up pictures, but I wanted to share some of what I did get. I hope you all have a great weekend!

The individual school graduation is tomorrow and they will call Nick's name to go up and receive a fake rolled up diploma (they mail the real one), and I will definitely post pictures of that too!

Happy Friday!
a

I would try to point Nick out, but really... all that matters is that he's down there!

Pat (my stepdad), me, Susan (Nick's mom), Lindsey (Nick's sis), Barb (Nick's stepmom), Virgil (Nick's dad)
I thought it was funny that they asked people to turn off phones and pagers... who has a pager?

At the back of the stage, btw the two flags are Obama and the President of ASU

Obama speaking

Obama comissioned the ROTC graduates, which I thought was really neat. Gore spoke and comissioned Nick when he graduated from West Point. You can see all of the ROTC grads in from of the stage. Such brave men and women!

My graduate!

Maroon and Gold...

Today is such a special day for us; one that we have been looking forward to for two long years... today Nick graduates with his MBA from The WP Carey School of Business at Arizona State University!

Nick has always wanted to get his MBA, (I remember talking about it with him before he even graduated from West Point!) and two and a half years ago we made the decision that the time was right for our family. The kids were young and the two nights a week in class were "do-able" for us with little activities such as sports and school events. We knew that it would be really difficult at times and that there was no turning back and no giving up once we started... we were in it for the long haul.

I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am. Nick gave up so many things that he wanted or wanted to do because of school and he had the best attitude the entire time. There were countless days that he had to skip family funtions, stay up until midnight or later (on top of working full time and the four hours in class two nights a week), so many weekends given up for group projects and meetings, electives that he was in for four hours four nights a week and then eight hours on Saturday (during the holidays), and he would sit at the table or lock himself in our office when the only thing he wanted to do was play with the kids or sit back and relax. There was a week that he had to be in Tucson for a training session for work, but he also had to be at school in Phoenix on Tuesday and Thursday. He worked all day, drove the two hours to Phx for class then drove back to Tucson after class for training the next day. He made up classes when he traveled, which sometimes had him away every night of the week and he studied while on business trips instead of enjoying time to himself or with his associates.

He walked a fine line with a smile on his face and I could write all day about all of the sacrifices that he made for this dream, but I can't tell you what this has meant for our family and I will never be able to put into words how proud I am of him for this!

Go Devils!
a

happy monday!

i'm kind of a monday girl. i like the start to a new work (or not) and school week. i like that it feels like a fresh start with so many things to do throughout the week and i'm ready to begin! so many great opportunities to laugh, have fun, be kind, take pictures, smile, play, show the love of Jesus to others, smile, give thanks, read, plant flowers, smell flowers...

my cuties on easter

i love my flowers

happy monday!
a