Oh where oh where has my little girl gone?

My biggest little girl turned 11 yesterday.  I re-do the old blog yearly, (and who knows if I'll get around to posting more), but in thinking about the verse for the year, I was reminded of what Allie wrote not too long ago.  

She wrote this in her journal at the beginning of the school year.  I just love it.  Yes, being 11, she's already starting to lose her mind at times, but there are some things she truly "gets."  I am so proud of her.  I love this verse too.  

Allie you have matured a lot this year.  You are sensitive to the needs of others, and you are kind and caring.  You like to tell the rest of the kiddos what to do, no doubt, but you are learning when to just let it go…well sometimes.  

Monday was the first night of cotillion.  She wasn't crazy about the idea at first, but she had a great time with her friend, EC.

They go way back..

Way back!  They were two in this pic.  

Happy birthday to my sweet Allie! We love you!

Might as well - Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas!

Shew what a month.  I thought since I posted a Thanksgiving post that I might as well finish it out with a Christmas one!  

We had a great day celebrating at home.  The kids were beyond excited this year.  It was loud and crazy and a little wild at times, but that's just become our normal!

Thanksgiving 2013

So thankful for a week OFF!  Yay! Yay!

It is so great to be off the grid.  

Right after school was out we headed to Bunny and Pappy's.  The weather was pretty terrible with lots of rain and even ice after we got there.  We spent our times indoors watching football and eating.  What else?

After a few days, we headed to Nana and Pappoo's for Thanksgiving.  The kids played with cousins, great-grands, and grands.  We made smores, and ate some more!

Nana filmed the kids around the table as they shared what they were thankful for.

Grace:  I'm thankful for Garrett.

Garrett:  I'm thankful for Grace.

Allie:  I'm thankful for food.

Mary:  I'm thankful for friends.

David:  my mom

Me:  little sniff

So thankful for these little people God has given us.  

Thanksgiving fest

The kids' school Thanksgiving fest was yesterday.  Garrett was a Pilgrim in the kindergarden play. 

My proud pilgrim!  I thought he would say, "NO WAY" when he saw the costume that was sent home, but he said, "Wow, I'm a real preacher!" 

Here is a clip from the play.  He did so great!

Promise U musical

Here is a clip from Allie's part in the school musical from last week.  She was the "movie director" in the story line.  It was the perfect role for her! ha

Hanging with Jenn

NO LIE.  My blog has been acting crazy.

I've tried several times to post, and it won't let me type.

A sign??

Maybe I need to shut it!

This is Jenn Hatmaker…..and my crazier friend, Kelly.

Kelly you deserved every bit of this….posting of your picture. 

I'm sure she will not approve because she likes to remain incognito, but girl you asked for it…"let's be honest."

This is my sweet friend Libby! She, and Kelly and I are Jenn Hatmaker stalkers and have been for a few years.  If you need any book recommendations, "Seven" by Jenn Hatmaker is one of the most profoundly, perspective changing books that I've ever read, but to top it off, she is HYSTERICAL.  

I found Libby a few years ago, also through blog stalking.  She has four kiddos (3 of who are adopted from Korea), so that'll seal a friendship when you know someone who also brought a two year old home from another culture.  Good times!  

As for Jenn…we really did "hang with her." (for a few min anyway!) Kelly's sister-in-law went with us also, and SHE lived across the hall from Jenn in college.  We just followed her around and acted like we knew her too.  Jenn is so genuinely nice that she played along! ha ha ha

Is anyone else having blogger problems?? It's taken me hours to post!  Every time I type, it goes to the title bar???

Is there an upgrade I'm missing???

No shoes no service

I forgot his shoes.

I have to wake this boy up most afternoons to go grab the big kids, and he stays asleep in the car with the blanket over his head.  Usually I throw his shoes in the car and we go.

Today, I had to get out to go inside the school rather than pick up line, and he had to walk, half asleep in his bare feet.

You know what?

I didn't even care:)

Seriously, I think God gave me four kids because it took me having four to realize, some things really aren't that big of a deal.  I'm a "blend in" kind of girl, and it's not cool to care about everything little thing anymore.  

I saw this article on Ann Voskamp's blog.

It's about comparison.  This silly little example made me consider this.  As mammas, we are sometimes busy worrying about whether we measure up to all the other mammas.  When I realized that I forgot his shoes, I was about to get embarrassed thinking, "What will the other mammas thinking?  Oh. There is the lady with all those kids who doesn't have it together."  Which is probably not even the case, but why even give it a fleeting thought?

Because we measure our worth by the world's standards and not by God's.

He surely doesn't care about walking around barefooted, so why should I?

Here's the article.  She says it WAY better than I could, but I'm not comparing:)

Here is the Link.