Joy

Galatians 5:22-23

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

When I look at this picture of baby Collin, all I see is joy. Love it.

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas season our family had a lot of fun, especially with adding another little boy to all the madness. I loved making Christmas crafts with them, including thumbprint reindeer and a huge hand print Christmas tree. We read a lot of Christmas books and watched a lot of Christmas movies too, including our favorite How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Some of this season's more comical highlights:
McLain: "Mom, Santa is like a stalker. But better."
Keaton: "Mama? You wet me out of dis buggy? If you don't, you go on da NAUGHTY list!"

Both of our families went to the Christmas Eve service at our church. We were very proud of Clay and his version of a modern day, redneck shepherd. Please view the attached link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozt6lNIIa1g&feature=share

We had a very relaxing Christmas day. We spent the morning at home in our pajamas and the evening with both of our families at my parents' house. I love that we all enjoy being together. Can't wait to do it again next year!

Thankful 30... Last One!

Day Thirty!

Today, I am most grateful for my Jesus. I know that I am undeserving of all the blessings I've written about this month, but I'm so thankful for a heavenly Father who loves me enough to bless me with them anyway. Thank you Lord for your sacrifice, your love, and your blessings on my family and myself.

Thankful 30...

Day Twenty-Nine

Today, I am thankful for my friends, the ones I've known for most of my life as well more recent ones. I cannot imagine my life without girl friends to vent to or to share crazy children stories with. Thank you Lord for my besties!

Thankful 30...

Day Twenty-Eight

Today, I am thankful for pictures. Yes, that's a little random, but it's SO true. I love looking at pictures of my boys and having pictures of my family all over my house. Nothing cracks me up more than old pictures, especially the scary ones from middle school. Sometimes , I wouldn't mind losing a few of them... :) I'm very grateful that Clay got me a new camera for Christmas last year, so that I'd have lots of good pictures of baby Collin. Thank you Lord for pictures and the memories they preserve! I'm posting a few of my favorites.

Thankful 30...

Day Twenty-Seven

Today, I am thankful for my in-laws, all four of them. I have the best. Period. I've been fortunate to watch my sister-in-laws grow up over the years. My first memory of meeting them was when they were three and five. When I went to pick up Clay for our first date (no, he was not old enough to drive!), Courtney opened the door, wearing only her underpants. I didn't know then that she was going to grow up to be my sister-in-law and my Keaton's anti-clothes wearing soul mate! When they were older, I baby-sat the girls. I remember filling up water balloons and helping Ashley stuff her bra with them. I'll be nice and not post a picture of that day! Thank you Lord for the only kind of sisters I have!

I love my mother-in-law, because she has burned more bread than any other person I know. A meal just doesn't seem right at her house if the bread isn't at least a little crispy. Plus, I think Mimi loves my boys more than I do if that's possible. I have to adore my father-in-law, because he is more sensitive than any girl I know and owns his weepiness without shame. Pop-Pop also plays air guitar every Sunday at church, which cracks me up, and he is a fierce fisherman who has passed his passion along to McLain. They are both great people with big hearts. Thank you Lord for my in-laws who raised the man I love so well!

Thankful 30...

Day Twenty-Six

Today, I'm thankful for my most favorite Christmas tradition. At least seven or eight times during the Christmas season, I pack up my boys and we search for neighborhoods filled with houses covered in lights, the more bright colored lights and tacky, inflatable displays the better! (The insanely decorated house on Brookwood Drive is our ABSOLUTE favorite.) We always listen to Christmas music and drink hot chocolate along the way. Tonight, we included baby Collin in this tradition for the first time. His reaction was to fall asleep. :) Thank you Lord for this fun, light-filled season with my boys!

Thankful 30...

Day Twenty-Five

Today, I am thankful that my great big ten year old will not hesitate to climb in my lap to cuddle. I love that he wants to snuggle when we're lying in bed watching a movie. I know these days won't last forever, but I'm very grateful that he's not too cool yet to cuddle with his mama. Thank you Lord for my snuggle bug McLain!

Thankful 30...

Day Twenty-Four

Today, I am thankful for Sarah Hale. Before teaching second grade, I had no idea that this woman was an important American hero. At the beginning of my first year teaching, I happened upon a children's book about Sarah Hale that tells about how Thanksgiving was almost forgotten by most Americans by the mid 1800s. The story explains how she spent 38 years writing 1000s of letters to four different presidents. In her letters, she worked to persuade the presidents to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, so that it would not be forgotten. Finally, Abraham Lincoln was convinced and made the fourth Thursday of November our nation's day to be thankful. Thank you Sarah for your years of dedication, so that my family may enjoy Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Thankful 30...

Day Twenty-Three

Today, I am grateful for my third born who hasn't quite figured out that he is supposed to sleep through the night. :) Collin still wakes up. A lot. Sometimes, well a lot of times, four times a night to eat. Even though I feel like I've been hit by a bus in the morning, I'm grateful to have this healthy, adorable middle of the night partner in crime. I know that this phase will not last forever and that when I'm waiting up for him to come home from a date that I'll gladly trade those late nights for one or two of these. :) Thank you Lord for my nocturnal baby Collin!

Thankful 30...

Day Twenty-Two

Today, I am thankful for pajama pants. Yes, I know. That's not really in line with being grateful for my kids and my job, but really. Is there anything else in the world that's more comfortable? Nope. Not in my book. I love coming home from work and putting on my p.j. pants. I love pajama days at school. I especially love days in the summer when McLain wakes up, mischievously looks at me, and declares it a p.j. day in our house. Thank you Lord for pajama pants! I hope I can wear them every day in Heaven!

Thankful 30...

Day Twenty-One

Today, I'm very grateful for the job I have. It's not easy. Some days I come home crying and want to pull my hair out. However, more often than not I love teaching and the girls I work with. Thank you Lord for providing me with a solid job that allows me to provide for my family in often very creative ways!

Thankful 30...

Day Twenty

Today, I'm thankful for long bubble baths with a good book, chocolate, and a coke with ice. I don't think there is a better break from the chaos of being a mommy, wife, and teacher. Thank you Lord for these quiet moments to recharge my sanity! :)

Thankful 30...

Day Nineteen

Yesterday, Keaton was talking to me, and he was talking about something being long, which in Keatonese is prounounced "wong." I modeled how to put your tongue in the front of your teeth to make the /l/ sound (something I've done on numerous occasions), and for the first time he was able to make his /l/ sound perfectly! We practiced saying long and then switched to practicing love. Without prompting, he turned to me and said, "Mama, I LOVE you!" Words cannot describe how happy I was to hear him clearly say that. Thank you Lord for Keaton's speech teacher and all the progress he has made in the last 14 months!

Thankful 30...

Day Eighteen

Today, I am very grateful that I could spend the morning at Keaton's preschool. My mom and I got to help with his class's Thanksgiving centers and feast. Super fun! I have been very impressed with his curriculum and his teacher this year. Mrs. Tovar really does more than I would have ever expected in a four year class. While I was there, I took some mental notes, and I told Clay that I could rock at being a preschool teacher. Maybe one day! :) Thank you Lord for giving me this morning to be with Keaty Peaty and for his teacher!

Thankful 30...

Day Seventeen

I am so grateful to be able to spend the next ten days with my family. Woo hoo! Being a teacher is such tough work sometimes, but the vacations make it all worth it. Thank you Lord for this extra time to spend with all my boys!!! :)

Thankful 30...

Day Sixteen

I am thankful for uninterrupted sleep. Of course, it's been seven months since I have had any, but I am thankful for the longer stretches I get now and then and my weekend naps. I'm looking forward to my Thanksgiving break and the extra sleep I'll be able to squeeze in to my days. :)

Thankful 30...

Day Fifteen

I'm grateful for quality time with my kids. There are those sweet moments in between the madness of homework, diaper changes,and cooking meals that allow me to just BE with my boys and really enjoy them. I love when my little monsters and I pile into my bed with a big plate of fresh-from-the oven chocolate cookies and watch an episode of Storm Chasers. Thank you Lord for those evenings with the men in my life!

Thankful 30...

Day Fourteen

Today, I'm thankful for the girls I work with. I miss the ones that have left over the last couple of years, but Mrs. Girau and Mrs. Priestly are still hanging in there. These two have been on my team for five years and, we have become a fiercely close, Vampire loving trio. They crack me up, make me smile, and always have my back. They are the big sisters I never had when I was little but am so grateful for now. I love you Joelann and Sabrina!

Thankful 30...

Day Thirteen

I am very thankful for my Dad and the work ethic he modeled for me. He is the hardest working person I know and always has been. It's rare that he enjoys what he does or many of the people he has to interact with at work. However, that never stopped him from going to work to provide for our family. Thank you God for my Dad!

Thankful 30...

Day Twelve

I am very thankful for Saturdays spent shopping with my mom. I love that we like the same stores and appreciate any and every holiday item on sale. I love that we can hang out and enjoy each other's company all day. Don't know what I'd do without her. Thank you Lord for my mama!

Thankful 30...

Day Eleven (A day late)

I'm thankful for the few minutes in the morning that I have to myself before all the boys in my house wake up. I love those few minutes of solitude that I can spend sipping my coffee and fooling around on the computer. I love my family, but I really love that early half hour of peace and quiet too. Even if it is at 4:45 A.M. :)

Thankful 30...

Day Ten

I love days when my boys get their hair cut. Ms. Tiffany always gives them mohawks after she cuts their hair, and they look so darn cute. Thank you for being so fabulous, Ms. T!

Thankful 30...

Today, I am especially thankful for my brothers. They were fun to grow up with, but I like them even more now. They are fabulous to my boys. I love seeing all of them toss a football around in the backyard. I guess they prepared me for what a house full of testosterone would be like!