The Tortes and The Hare

Alexa and her class worked hard on two plays her class would be performing.  The memorized lines, made costumes, made back drops and props and spent a lot of time working on their plays.  She couldn't wait for the day that we got to come and watch.

Alexa was the mouse in the play "The Tortes and The Hare".

She new all her lines perfectly and was a pretty cute little mouse up in front of the room!

They performed two different afternoons for parents and grandparents.  They also did a couple performances for different classes in school.  Emma was very excited that her class was one of the classes that got to see the plays.

Here is the cast ready to take a bow.  Alexa walked us around the room to show us all the different parts of the background that she helped to create.

Alexa was pretty excited to have her daddy and grammy there to watch too!

Before I Was A Mom

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put them down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Author - unknown

I received this poem from a friend for Mother's Day and as I read it I thought .... this is so true life looked so different before I was a mom.  It also made me think of way God keeps molding me as a mom.  The influences and events in life that have had a huge impact on me as a mom.  The day each of my kids were born and I held them for the first time has been a definite molding event.  Each one of them has been so different from the time they were born.  If only it was as easy as having one and having the rest figured out, definitely a learning curve as you go. Second is the influence of my best friend friend Leigh Ann and then losing her tragically.  So many things she taught me about being a mom and now a inspiration to me in the legacy I am leaving behind. And thirdly, traveling around the world to become a mom to our sweet Max.  God is good! Through all the ups and downs in life I see him continuing to mold me as a mom.

There are so many wonderful people that have been a huge influence in my life and my journey as a mom.  I am so thankful for my own mom and the example she has been for me.  She taught me so much about love and sacrifice.  Being a mom was her passion and her priority and it showed.  I am thankful for my mother in law who also gave of herself and who raised her son in Lord.  I am thankful of her influences in his life and that I get the benefits of her love and prayers in having a godly husband that leads our family.  I am thankful for so many wonderful moms who are on this journey of motherhood with me.  I have learned so much from so many and am grateful for the love, support and encouragement on this journey! 

Being a mom is my love, my passion.  I am so thankful for my four blessings that call me mom.  I am thankful for the joy they bring to me and way they stretch and grow me each and every day.  There is no other place I would rather be in the world than walking through life with my four little blessings.  There are days this mommy things is easy and everything is smooth sailing.  Then there are days that are hard and days that I often feel inadequate in meeting the demands and needs of my 4 little individuals who are all wired and need to be loved differently.  When I really think about the responsibility God has given me in being mom to these four blessings ... raising them in the Lord, molding them, building character in them, loving them, praying for them, playing with them, disciplining them, providing for them, teaching them, training them .... the list of responsibilities is endless and is often overwhelming.  I am so thankful I am not at this alone.  I am thankful for my supportive, godly partner, my husband. But most of all I am thankful that my heavenly Father daily provides what I need and provides what I lack for my kids.  I am thankful he has entrusted me with these four special little people and promises to walk with me on my journey of motherhood.  For many this day is a day is filled with joy but for others I know this is a day that represents pain and loss.  Today I pray for and think about those who desire to be a mom and those that have lost their mom or their children.  

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful moms out there.  May God bless you today and in the days to come.  

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit  

Ephesians 3:16


More on our Mother's Day weekend to come! 

The Royal Wedding

The girls were so excited to watch the Royal Wedding.  We talked about it as it approached and the girls were so excited they they were going to be able to watch a real princess wedding.  I knew this would probably be a once in a life time for the girls so we decided to make it a special event for the girls in our household.

We made one of our favorite scone recipes for the big event.



While the scones were cooking we got ready.  The girls got their fancy princess dresses on and Alexa asked me if I could put a fancy dress on too.

The tea was brewed and scones beeped in the oven ... we were ready.

We all got cozy and ready to start our English Tea while we watched the Royal Wedding.

Of course a tea party isn't complete without the sugar stir sticks.

All the sugar makes the tea worth drinking!

The girls were mesmerized as they watch the parade and then finally the wedding.

Alexa kept saying if she was Kate she would be really nervous because so many people were watching her. I couldn't agree more.

We made so fun memories as we watched the Royal Wedding together.  I loved chatting about all the details and parts of history with the girls.  I am sure this will be an event in history that they will remember fondly.

Easter Celebration

Easter is a holiday that I have always loved.  Celebrating Christ's resurrection and victory over death is something I pray I never take for granted.  Since the death of my friend Leigh Ann Easter continues to bring new feelings and emotions.  Singing, hearing and reading about Christ's victory over death and heaven penetrates my heart at a deeper level. I can't help but think how amazing the Easter celebration she is experience in heaven is. 

This year Easter also was a celebration of new life in our family.  We have been blessed with the sweetest little boy from China.  Through our journey to him and back home God has taught me so much.  One of those things is how much love my heavenly father has for me.  He sacrificed his only son in order to give me life.  He loves me like his own and has adopted me into his family.  The depth of this love didn't resonate to the depths of me until I held Max in my arms and felt this overwhelming love for him.  What a love ... what a gift. 

Alexa Grace - 8

Emma Faith - 7

Shane - 5

Max - 20 months

Sweet Sisters!

A proud big brother!

This is one of my favorite shots of the day.  Cousin Bailey helping Max up!

After a yummy lunch the kids changed out of their Sunday best and were ready for some backyard fun! The first stop was the sun room to see what treats grammy and papa put in their Easter baskets.  Our line of little ones with baskets just keeps growing.

It is always exciting to see what treats grammy finds for the baskets. After the baskets were emptied it was time for Easter Egg Hunt.

It took very little time for Max to catch on to this fun game.

The kids were off, quickly covering every inch of the yard in search of the Easter eggs.

And of course an Easter is not complete without the appearance of the Easter pig.

Max wasn't one bit scared and was ready to share his eggs with him.

When Max discovered there were treats in the eggs this is what he thought "oooooooo"

The eggs were emptied and everyone filled a bag with yummy treats to take home.

It was a picture perfect day! We had so much fun just sitting around, chatting and watching the kids play.

Papa is always up for some fun.  

We broke out the bubble guns from the Easter baskets.  The kids had fun chasing the bubbles around the yard.  There were a lot of smiles and giggles. 

The kids decorated the cookies we had cut out and cooked the day before.  They thought it was great to pile it high with frosting and sprinkles.

In the afternoon we headed over to Eric's sisters house to finish off the day.  The kids were excited to see and hold their neighbors baby kittens. 

Alexa loves animals so she was in her glory! 

Max was trying to figure out what "gentle" meant! It was his first interaction with an animal. 

We finished off the evening with a yummy dinner and another Easter egg hunt. 

The kids loved spending time with their cousins. 

We are blessed!

Easter Cookies

The kids love making cut out cookies.  Thanks to my friend Kathy she has blessed me with a wonderful cookie and frosting recipe.  I would call her and her friend Shannon the cookie and cake queens.  I met them through my blog and would love to fly and meet them in person and also take some cookie and cake decorating classes from them.  Kathy helped with some tips so the rolling and cutting and cookie process isn't so frustrating and we come out with yummy, not burnt or broken cookies.  So now I can get as excited as the kids for our cookie cutting and cooking fun! 

The girls rolled out the dough and were ready to get to work!

This is serious business!

Shane joined in on the fun too!

Then it was Max's turn to join in for some fun! Of course he had more than enough hands wanting to help him cut out cookies for the first time.

He was so fun to watch!

He decided to taste a little flour ....

then decided to share some with Emma!

A big smile for Alexa.  This boy loves life!

When we weren't looking he put a big ball of dough in his mouth.  We head a lot of "mmmmmmm's" after that.  Notice the ball in his cheek.

It has been so fun for the kids to experience all these firsts for Max with him.  They love his reactions and to see what he does.  I love taking it all in.  There is new excitement in the things we do as we experience them through Max's eyes.