This child makes me laugh

and the funny thing is...I'm pretty sure he's me in a male body.

Some March randomness of the boys

They all decided to climb into the train table 

Pappi helping Sanders swing

Batter batter swing!

Shep on Buzz...notice the nasty carpet?

Our room carpet free

Twins room after new floors!

Sawyer bug

Sanders...awkward pose

Sanders (looking slick), Sawyer and Shep.  They love the shoe storage bench that Pappi made!

Eighteen months!

   Sawyer and Shephard FINALLY made it to their twelve month apt...at eighteen months.  I know they were so thrilled to be getting so many shots in one day! That's how we roll with three kids under three! : )  Matt had a deposition and mom had a meeting, so I took them to the doctor solo.  As strange as it sounds, I wasn't all too nervous about being alone.  After all, I wasn't alone...if anything, God's been really reiterating lately that He's ALWAYS there!
    Well, I made it to the appointment, all excited about being early and....I locked my keys in my car.  Along with the diaper bag, which had sippy cups, snacks, cell phone, debit card...ha! Everything.  Oddly enough I was calm!! Thanks to whomever was praying that morning! I went in to the office and told them what happened.  They called a locksmith for me and he arrived just as we were needing to leave.
   In the middle of the key crisis,  the twins got shots.  Two in one leg, one in another, two in one arm and one in the other arm.  If you can't count, that's six total! THEY DID AWESOME!!! They cried (of course) but as soon as the nurse was finished with giving shots, they stopped and were back to being themselves.  Schoo!  Thank you Lord!  Below are pics and stats:

Shephard: 25 3/4 lbs and 31 in

Sawyer: 24 1/2 lbs and 31 in

     Dr. Walker said both were healthy and developing great.  He complimented on how attentive and happy they were.  As a mom, that meant so much to me.  One of my jobs in life right now is to be a mom...and I have to give all of the credit to the Lord.  Hearing from somebody that you are doing good at what you are meant to do, is so encouraging!!! At times during the day I can often doubt myself as a mom.  I am constantly having to go to Him for strength and guidance on different situations.  As stated on the blog before...my goal is to have them know Jesus and so they can be the "light that shines...so others may see and know Him too."  I'm not perfect...but I am trying.  Do I fail? YES.  Daily, a lot of the times hourly!  I'm often reminded of Paul talking about finishing the race, persevering, keeping the faith.  Raising up warriors for the Lord is one of my "races" and it's amazing...I love it!

February 2012

   I hate that I haven't posted in so long.  Since the beginning of December I've had the stomach virus twice, three sinus infections, the strep (on valentines day) and then the flu the next week.  Needless to say- I'm OVER IT! I finally realized, while having the flu, that God was trying to get my attention.  He was telling me to relax more and take care of my body better.  So, ding ding.  I've been eating my vegetables again and making sure to add protein in after I work-out.  Thankfully I've been well for a record two weeks! : ) 

    I can't believe how quickly the boys are growing and how much they are learning.  Sanders is a pro at riding his trike...I mean it all of a sudden "clicked" one day.  He loves to be on it 99% of the time we are outside.  Sawyer and Shep are bundles of energy...running around in every direction.  And guess what: It's crazy and hard...BUT I LOVE IT!!!! Not always in the moment...but I'm learning too.  This is a season of life and I want to take it all in.  Every season in life is hard...in some way.  I just see it as God chiseling me and allowing me to depend on Him while persevering on. Thank you Lord for the men in my life- Matt, Sanders, Sawyer and Shep- I am BEYOND blessed!!!

Sanders and Shep playing in the rain

Shep rolling around in the wetness

Sawyer playing with cement truck in the rain

Daddy and Sanders at breakfast

STICK anybody? Sawyers weapon of choice

Sweet Sanders

Shep and Sawyer in the jumpie

Shep climbing in...they don't need help from me anymore to climb up...

Sawyers sweet grin

Yup- that's Shep...no doubt about it

My three (well four counting Max) awesome boys!

wandering...in different directions...as always

Sanders and Pappy

Shep attempting the tricycle

Aunt Britt

Sawyer, Amanda and Shephard

Foley Christmas parade

Candy*beads* stuffed animals*coupons for free food*corn- dogs*fake snow*train rides*jumpies*tractors*floats*SANTA!!! All of these things and more were at the Foley Christmas parade.  Tractors...yes tractors were in the parade! Local farmers brought out their tractors and paraded down the road.  It's probably the most unique parade I've ever been to.  The boys loved it! AND- I'm so thankful to live near my family.  I don't know how we could do it without them...Thanks Britt and Seuss for going with us!

Sander, Suess, Sawyer and Britt

Suess and Shephard

Sawyer, Shephard and Sanders

Sawyer, Sanders and Shephard on the train ride

Sawyer and Shep enjoying the drain...oh so fascinating!

First Haircuts

Shephard's first haircut (December 22, 2011.) He looks thrilled doesn't he? He actually did really well.  My cousin, Amanda, cuts all of our hair.  She does an awesome job...especially with my boys!! I forgot the camera, so this is the only picture I got of him that day.  He looked more like a little toddler boy afterwards...where did my baby go?!? They grow too quick!

Hats and mittens

Do y'all remember the cold weather we had this past winter.  You know...the week when it was actually cold? : ) The pictures are of Shephard and Sawyer wearing mittens and hats for the first time.  (For your information, toboggan is not another word for a winter hat...at least up north. While living in Spokane I was sadly corrected that a toboggan was a sled. A lady walked into Pier One one day and I was so excited to see her toboggan on her head.  I told her that and she thought I was crazy.  After the third time of repeating myself, she rudely said that she was wearing a beanie, not a toboggan.  She then informed me that a toboggan was a sled.  Moron me.  Oh well!)   

Anyways- the boys thought these new clothing articles were fascinating.  They danced and marched around the kitchen all proud of their new items.  They would bend over and hit the floor and then run while raising their hands up in the air.  You probably had to be there, but we couldn't stop laughing at their pure joy...over hats and mittens!

Sawyer

Shephard

Magnolia Springs Christmas fun

Mid-December we decided to try out Magnolia Springs for some Christmas fun.  We had been there before for the corn maize...this was the first year for them to put something together for Christmas.  It was actually pretty fun! They had a live petting zoo, a tracker ride through lights and scenes from Jesus birth story, a reigndeer bucket ride (this was too fun), duck water shooter and some other things.  In the middle of the tracker ride we were dropped off at Santa and Ms. Claus "house" where we took some pictures, ate some cookies and made a craft.  We all had fun...and made some great memories! The picture didn't come out clear, but it will do!