SHE IS HERE!

Nine days late but she is finally here! Charlotte Laurel born Tuesday, January 28th at 8:30pm. 9lbs 2oz and 21 1/2" long. Birth story soon to follow!

My Newest Project

Wondering why I have been a bit absent lately? 

Well I have just started working on my newest project...and it has been keeping me a bit occupied lately...

Our little peanut at 6 weeks...we even got to see it's little heart beat. It truly is one of the most beautiful things to see! 

Baby #3 is Due January 2013!

 I will be doing pregnancy updates once a week so I can keep track of everything that is happening...symptoms, cravings, etc.

We would definitely appreciate your prayers for this to be a healthy pregnancy!

For you created my inmost being; 

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

¹⁴ 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful, 

    I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13-14

Our Fabulously Frugal, COLORFUL Birthday Party!

Saturday we had Luke's 1st Birthday Party. We ended up going with a Colorful/Rainbow Theme. It was actually by accident. Haha. 

When I went to the Dollar Tree, I grabbed the red, yellow, and blue streamers. Hubby picked out the plates, napkins, and cups. I made up a funfetti cake mix for the cupcakes and decided at the last minute to make different colored icing for some of the cupcakes. As I went I realized I had enough cupcakes to make four of each of the colors of the rainbow.  I grabbed a package of bubbles for "gifts" for the other kiddos and it just so happened to have rainbow colors. 

 My wonderful sisters hung all the streamers for me so we had a wonderfully colorful room! They way they twisted the two colors together created another rainbow look. Thanks again girls!

For the table I grabbed three mason jars I had on hand, filled them with crayons, colorful toys, and pipe cleaners. Then we made fun shapes to stick up out of the jars...a more boyish alternative to flowers. 

After putting this all together I realized we had a colorful rainbow theme going on. Then I remembered I had a book about rainbows. It's call "I Love You More Than Rainbows" by 

Daddy read it to all the kids before we opened presents. It was really special! 

Luke got the special cupcake with the 1 candle in it. Big brother even helped him blow it out. 

Luke loved his cupcake! He kept making a funny "too sugary" face when he would get a taste of the frosting. It was hysterical! 

 When we were done eating cake, reading our story, and opening presents, all the kiddos went outside for some slip-n-slide fun. The kids had a blast. It was so fun to watch them run around the yard squealing and trying to figure out how to actually slide.

This birthday party cost us right around $25 dollars for all the plates, cups, napkins, forks, table cloths, steamers, balloons, bubbles, cake mix, and icing. I already had the items for the center pieces on hand (mason jars, crayons, pipe cleaners, etc). For cupcake "trays" and "stand", I simply used our regular white plates, and put one on top of a clear bowl to make a stand for it.

Happy 1st Birthday Luke! We love you so much!!!

To My Son On His First Birthday

Oh man. This little boy turns one today. Where has the time gone? If feels like he should be 6 maybe 7 months old...but One!? Really!?!?

To my precious Luke on your first Birthday,

The first time they placed you in my arms is a feeling I don't ever want to forget. You were so sweet, so precious, so perfect. I loved your little button nose, your wrinkly skin, and the fact that you were so tiny, yet pudgy, that the nurses nicknamed you "macho man". 

Our little Luke Israel. You have been such a blessing to us. I have loved every moment holding you, kissing you, playing with you, and teaching you. 

You have been my snuggler. My little cuddle bug. I love that even when I am having a stressful day a quick hug or snuggle from you can turn it all around. 

You started out as such a serious little guy.  I thought maybe you would bring balance in our family since your brother and daddy are so funny....

...but you have since become the funniest one yet. I love to hear you walk around the house giggling at yourself for no real reason. You always have a smile on your face that cheers any one up instantly. 

As you continue to grow I want you to know that I will always love you, care for you, teach you, help you, listen to you, laugh with you, and to cry with you. I want you to always remember how loved and cherished you truly are! 

I can't wait to see, in the many years to come, what kind of boy, teenager, and man you become. Always keep your eyes focused on God. Serving Him above all else. 

I love you Luke! Happy 1st Birthday! 

  "My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;  keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart."
Proverbs 7:1-3

Grandparents and Go-Carts

I hope every one had a wonderful Mother's Day! I did! My boys bought me a giant card, that daddy had them put their hand prints in (so that is why there was a blue paint stain on my carpet!). Plus, I got a canvas picture of our family and....a one hour massage. Yep. I got spoiled!

Today we are headed to Springfield, Missouri. My husband and I are going to the Baptist Bible Fellowship Meetings held at our old College. It will be great to see some old friends and to make some new contacts for our Houston Church Plant. Our kiddos get to go to Nana and Papa's house during that time. Jack is super excited to ride the go-cart. Yes. My 2 1/2 year old has his own go-cart. That he drives. Thankfully with his Papa.

See you all on Friday!

To My Sister Miranda On Her Graduation

This is my little sister Miranda. This little girl, is graduating high school on Saturday. 

 How in the world did she go from being that little, precious, wide-eyed, fiery, red head...to a strong, gorgeous, confident, and amazing woman of God?!

To my dear Miranda, our "little one", 

I wanted to tell you how incredibly proud I am of you. You are so funny and full of life. I love how quirky you are and how you love to make people smile. I love that you don't worry about what others think of you, and yet you conduct yourself in a way that no one could say anything negative about you. I love how you have convictions and stick to them. I love how you have a servants heart and are continually look for ways for God to use you. I love and am amazed at the wise decisions you make at your young age. I love the way you seek God. 

Miranda, I know God is going to use 

you in great and might ways. Your heart is open to Him and willing to serve. Never let that change. Right now, life is exciting and about to be completely new. Never forgot God. Hold fast to truth. There will be times in your life when Satan will tempt you with the things of this world. Hide God's word in your heart, so you will not fall when those temptations come. 

I am already praying for that special person that I know will come into your life some day. Don't settle for any less than God's perfect for you, Miranda. Wait on his perfect timing. Above all, keep God first, and He will work out the details.

 I am so proud of you, Miranda. More proud than I could ever express! I can't wait to see how God continues to work in your life and grow you in the years to come. You are an amazing, godly, loving, confident, caring, selfless, funny, quirky, and feisty young woman. I love you Rudy!

Family Day: Downtown Arts Festival

Lately we have been able to spend some wonderful, very much needed, family time together. We have had a pretty hectic schedule the past couple of months, and are finally getting a short little break before summer gears up and our lives get even crazier. 

We went to the Oklahoma City Arts Festival last week. It was such a wonderful time spent eating delicious food, looking at some amazing art, and playing together as a family. 

Downtown OKC has a pretty amazing children's garden that we had never been to before. It is seriously the best "playground" I have ever been too! It had a lot of natural play spaces, thing for the kids to climb on or in, items for them to discover with, and completely open ended play spaces. We LOVED it! 

Jack loved these letters to climb on. It spells GROW. I should have got a picture of the r...oops...oh well.

He wanted to climb on top of it like all of the big kids were doing. 

There was this interesting tower with a spiral stair case. I like that it wasn't anything specific. It would allow for a child to completely use their imagination...it could be a castle, a ship, a tower...really just about anything!

I love little spaces like this natural teepee! I want one for our back yard!

They had this amazing maze that Jack loved.

He took off running into it as soon as he found it. 

...it took him a little while...

...but he finally found the center. In the center was this musical thing...not sure what to call it...but when you walk, jump, or run across it, it makes different chime sounds. Jack ran across it over and over, listening to the "music". 

He then wanted to climb this huge rock like the big kids were...but then..

...we spotted this!

...it pours down rain from the top, and water shoots out from the sides and the bottom. 

 He had a blast! I had to keep reassuring him at first that it was OK to get soaked. Little brother watched on...very curious.

I...I mean he...decided he wanted to go in...

...it was a bit too cold for his liking though and it took a little persuasion to get him to stand there and not cry. oh well. Big brother loved it! 

After changing clothes we went to wait to hear a friend of ours sing. While waiting Jack found these ribbons and started spinning...

and spinning...

and spinning...

till he fell down. He says "momma...room spins round and round" after he falls down...hahaha. Silly boy.

By this time little brother was exhausted and fighting sleep! So we decided to take a walk to hopefully help him fall asleep. 

Along the way Jack found a small stream and started gathering rocks. He loves rocks. 

the stream led us to a little pond where we saw a turtle...

Daddy was trying to show him the little waterfall...but Jack was much more interested in the rocks. 

We then found a much bigger waterfall. Daddy and Jack climbed all the way to the top. 

 On the walk back to the pavilion to hear our friend sing, we spotted a little friend resting beside the water...

Jack was so excited! We wanted to go pet the duck soooooo bad. It took a lot to convince him not to get closer. He really, really, wanted to pet him. 

After our walk we listened to our little friend sing. Then Luke was awake and happy again from his nap. We ate some snacks, played in the grass for a while. Then we decided to head home and enjoy the rest of the day laying around the house enjoying each other. It was so nice!

I love this picture of Jack and I. I was tickling him hardcore just to get him to smile. What a goof ball. 

Have you been able to spend any special time with your family lately? If not take a day off from schedules and everything else going on to simply spend time together. It is a great way to recharge and connect as a family!