Six!

My sweet Jack turned six last Thursday.

Six?!?!

How on earth is that possible? He really is growing up way too fast.

But despite all that, and despite the fact that it makes me all nostalgic and sentimental that my first baby is growing up too fast, I have to say that I really am so proud of the sweet little man that he is becoming. He has such a big heart and big desire to work hard.

Jack is very sweet. He humbles me sometimes with how gracious he can be towards others that have wronged him(and how quickly he forgives me when I mess up.) He is crazy about all his siblings, but him and Anna are really each others best friends. I suppose that might be one of the fun things about being 12 months apart:). He also really loves Luke, and regularly makes him cards telling him how much he loves him.

He's definitely a bit of a perfectionist which can be challenging sometimes. He wants to do everything right the first time and doesn't always take making mistakes or losing very well. But we try to use those as opportunities to point him to Christ. 

So at six Jack has lost his first tooth, can read beginner books, and can write fairly well. He loves super heroes, knights, and math(can't say I relate to that one!)

Happy Birthday, Jack! We love you and pray everyday you'll grow into a godly man!

Birthday Giveaway!

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Today is my 28th birthday. Tomorrow Jack(my oldest) turns six.

So because I love birthdays, and because this seems to be a birthday week of sorts around here, I thought I'd share the love and giveaway a ten dollar Starbucks card.

To be entered, just leave a comment, follow or subscribe by email if you don't already, and if you'd like extra entries you can "like" my facebook page.

I'll draw a winner next Wednesday! Good "luck!":)

Congrats to Gina!

Quotables

It's been awhile since I last wrote down some of the funny things my kids are saying, so I thought I might need to do that before I forget!

Max is starting to talk up a storm, and with that he is also exerting some of his will now. Fights over toys break out frequently as he learns to communicate with his siblings. But the other day he had done something to Lily and I was telling him he needed to say he was sorry and give her a hug, and he goes,"Sowee, Pop!"(we call her Lily-pop.) And then he says to me,"I DID IT, Mommy!!"

***

Jack came up to me the other day and says,"Mommy, I think you're a genius!"

And I'm all flattered of course, and say,"Really? Wow, thanks, buddy!"

And you can just see the wheels turning in his little mind, and finally he asks,"Wait, what's a genius?"

"It's someone who's really smart!"

"Oh. Well, actually I don't think you're a genius. But I think you're a really good mommy....and very pretty too." Umm thanks, I think?! :)

***

While driving to a cookout earlier this month...

"Are you guys excited to go have some yummy food and kool-aid?"

"What's kool- aid, mommy?" Jack asks.

And before I can answer Anna chimes in,"It's like Kombucha, Jack!"

Umm....

What funny things have your kids been saying lately?

Be sure to enter a giveaway for a Starbucks Card!

Farewell, Old Friend

Oh, Froggie. You have been with Jack since he was a baby. You were with us before Jack was even born, and Jack has lovingly tak care of you for the last almost six years.

You were there when Jack was sick. You were there when Jack had a bad dream. You went on every single road trip and vacation we went on. And sleep absolutlely could not happen unless you were right there with Jack.

We tried to replace you once. Jack was so inconsolable about it(I suppose he got used to your..smell..ahem..) that we gave up trying.

You were even the cause of some fights.

In many ways you were part of our family.

But, three weeks ago Jack came to Erik and I and told us he didn't want you anymore. And while a part of me was relieved that we no longer had to worry about taking you everywhere with us, I'll admit I was a little sad to see you go.

Jack is growing up, and as much as I'd like to slow the clock down and keep him little, I know that wouldn't do anyone any good. So it was with great sentiment that we boxed you up. Because even though you won't be part of our daily life anymore, you will always have a special place in our hearts.

Going to Church Alone

About a month after Luke was born, my husband had to be away on a work trip, which meant that I was left alone with the 5 kiddos for about a week and a half(we went and visited him towards the end otherwise it would've been 2 weeks.)

Luke was still staying up until close to 2 am crying every night, and then getting up a few times in the middle of the night, and then the older kids were usually up by 7:30 or so. It was a little crazy, but we got through it.

Anyways, Sunday morning rolled around, and I decided to be brave and take the five kids to church by myself. I told myself that it wouldn't be a big deal and convinced myself I wouldn't draw any unnecessary attention to myself.

Because a woman with 5 little kids never draws any attention to herself. Ahem. ;)

So I was racing around Sunday morning getting everyone ready to go, plus getting myself ready, sweating like crazy and not realizing it was only 40 degrees outside I dressed everyone in short sleeves and forgot to put on any jackets as we rushed out the door to church. When we pulled up, it had started to rain. Awesome.

Thankfully, a sweet couple saw us pulling into the parking lot, realized I was alone, and rushed over to help. They even took off their jackets and put them on the kids and  helped carry them inside the church.

Now I should mention that whenever I go anywhere I take a huge double stroller with me that feels a little like pushing a semi through aisles, and on this particular day one of the wheels wasn't working, so now I'm hot. Feeling like a terrible mother who didn't dress her children appropriately. And frazzled because my stroller isn't getting past the crowds of people too easily.

So much for not drawing unnecessary attention to myself. :)

At this point a sweet friend of mine saw me in my frazzled state(and I'm quite sure my face wasn't doing a very good job of hiding my bewilderment), and offered to help me get the kids into the sanctuary. I happily took her up on her offer, and figured if I could at least get Lily and Max dropped off in their Sunday school classroooms, church would be a breeze.

But that day neither of them wanted anything to do with Sunday School, and didn't want me to leave them. I didn't want to leave their teachers with crying children, so I decided to brave taking all five kids into worship with me. Thankfully my sweet friend happily offered to hold Max, and we survived..for a little while at least.

After about 10 different potty breaks, 2 stops to the mother's room to nurse, and one near melt down I was starting to question exactly why had I done this to myself.

Once church was over, I gave up any last shred of pride I had, and accepted help from anyone who offered.

Thankfully we made it back to our van without any problems, but it was definitely a learning experience!

2!!!

My sweet Max is two today. As you can see from the picture he wasn't too thrilled with his cake(which is funny because last year on his first birthday he refused to eat his cake too!) This year he didn't refuse, but I think the candle concerned him.:) Once it was gone he was more than happy to eat the icing, and then was even more thrilled to discover the Thomas the Train plate his cupcake had been sitting on.

I love birthdays. I love making birthdays as special as I can for the people I love, and my goal for Erik and the kids birthday is always to show them how special they are to me. It's usually nothing too big, cake, balloons, a special outing perhaps, and usually a specific gift. The birthday child gets to pick the meals(which works great because generally my kids request super simple things like pizza or hot dogs.) 

Today we decided to take Max to the zoo. It had been about a year since we had last been, so we figured that'd be something he'd really enjoy. It was a fun and tiring day, finished off with pizza and birthday cupcakes for dinner. 

Max is a pretty laid back little guy(although not afraid to voice his opinions), he's cuddly, and also a bit more rough and tumble than Jack was at this age. He likes to keep up with everyone else, and has a little bit of a stubborn streak in him. The older three kids still think of him as a baby, and will even tell me sometimes,"Oh, mommy, he's just a baby!" 

He really likes Luke, but we are definitely working on what is means to be gentle. He's a Papa and Daddy's boy through and through. 

Happy Birthday, Max! We love you so very much, and pray you will grow into a godly man who walks with the Lord!

My Unbaked "Biscuit"

Be sure to enter my giveaway for a Starbucks Card!

So there's this really convicting, and encouraging book I've just finished reading called Fit to Burst. There's this one chapter in the book(probably my favorite chapter) called The Unbaked Biscuit. In it she describes the guilt cycle that often happens in motherhood when you're wanting to do something nice for your children but can't seem to find the time or energy.

I thought of biscuits. I would like to be a person who makes biscuits for my hungry children. I do not feel like making biscuits right now. I will make biscuits another time. I will have time when I am not tired and feeling fat. The kids won’t know. I wish I had made biscuits. I could have made biscuits. I’m such a bad mom who doesn’t make biscuits. I am not as good as all the moms who are everywhere in this stupid world making biscuits. People who talk about making biscuits are self-righteous. I hate biscuits. They make me feel guilty. Jesus loves me! Biscuits or not! Jesus doesn’t care that I didn’t make biscuits. Home free! Biscuit-free! (Desiring God)

But then she goes on to point out, that while yes it's true that Jesus loves us regardless of our biscuit making abilities(or our decorating skills, or our desire to play with our children) the reality is that if we truly believe Jesus loves us and that he died for us we will change. We will want to do something to show those around us we love them.

But His blood will change you. When Jesus is all, things happen. When you believe to your core that you are forgiven and loved, one of the first things that happens is you start doing things. Fruit is intimately connected with forgiveness. When we are forgiven, we do not gallop out into a life of ambiguity and indifference. We do not become great negotiators of whether or not it matters that we aren’t doing things. We become filled with gratitude, love, joy, and peace. And then, having a firm foundation of another’s righteousness, we are free to go out and do...But He cares very much what you do with it. Having been given it, go out and . . . reflect on all the things that you don’t have to do? be embittered by every appearance of work? despise anything that doesn’t come easily to you, that might be difficult? choose to be above the physical world? look down on sisters who are getting more done than you?

How often am I guilty of thinking,"We should go to the park/play a board game/ go out for lunch/ bake cookies." Then before long that thought turns into,"There's just so much work to do around here. The kids will never know I was planning something fun to do with them. Look at them they're happy! No need to put more work on myself."

And that's all true, of course. I am busy. There is a lot of housework that needs to get done. They are each others best friends. But, isn't it good to show our children how much we delight in them by actually doing things with them? I mean, I can tell them until I'm blue in the face what a blessing I think they are, and while that's good, I'm pretty sure sitting down and spending time with them, doing things they enjoy, and surprising them with special outings will enforce those words so much more. 

"Then, after you have remembered the strength of your salvation, go out and do something with it. Find ways to use what you have been given to freely bless those around you. Tie on an apron and dust yourself lightly with flour. You are not here in this world to work your salvation in (thank God), you are here to work it out."

Do the rest of you ever struggle with this? What would be your "unbaked biscuit?"