Changin a Few Things

Over the last month or so, I have realized some things about our life. The main thing that I noticed is that our kids are our main priority/focus. They have become pretty much the only thing that we have to talk about.

I am sure that most of that comes from the fact that we became parents to four (five including JB) over night. Our kids have also brought with them a lot of "baggage" that only God can take care of...but, I have spent my time trying to figure it out myself.

Amazingly enough, I have let go of lots of those things and we have seen some true change. God has also spoken to me about...well about me and WHERE have I gone. Jason and I bought a new home a year and a half ago and basically have JUST lived here...which is so NOT like us. The house has an awesome yard, but because I have been SO consumed, my hands have only been in the dirt like 3 times in 18 months.

So, I have begun a change. Jason and I have slowly gotten back to doing some things we enjoy. I have done some rearranging and junk shopping and working in our yard. Jason and I redid several of the flower beds in the backyard. We finished one completely this weekend...looks pretty cute if I do say so myself.

I decided that I would post a couple of my recent decor projects.

This is my new favorite spot...it is my new vanity area that Jason created for me and I decorated...LOVE it!

This a pic of my new junkie bird cage that I put candles in...it looks really cool with all of the lights off!

This is not new, but one of my favorite things...this is a collage of my Maw Maw and Pop Pop...Jason and I got married on their wedding anniversary...I LOVE her VERY much!

The last is of my "french" spot in my bedroom.

Also, I have been wanting an inside dog...so after much hunting...God put Dottie right in our family...she is truly so ugly, she is cute and she fits perfectly! I have a couple of pics of her that I will also include.

Family Pics

Went to Bethlehem

Took the kids to a walk through nativity last night...it was really cool!

They got to do a Jewish wedding dance, see baby Jesus, make a brick, and see lots of animals.

We went with our friends, the Bartlows...

that is their two cute girls in the pic with ours...they are also adopted.

Nutcracker

Mom and I took the girls to see the Nutcracker.

They loved it and we had a GREAT time! Of course now they want to be a ballerina.

We bought them tutus to wear for Christmas...it is pretty cute!

Thankful!

So, just to get on my soap box for a minute...what is up with everybody putting up their Christmas stuff a week before Thanksgiving?

It is weird to have Christmas trees up while eating your Thanksgiving turkey. What happened to being thankful first?? I really feel like it is important to give Thanksgiving its due time and remember what we are thankful for.

I am thankful for LOTS of things...but just to name a few:

1. God
2. My Husband
3. My Kids
4. My Family
5. Our health
6. My friends
7. Our church
8. Our home
9. Rest
10. Thanksgiving

Hope you have a GREAT Thanksgiving! Enjoy your family and friends!

Should have just done the road side park!

So we went to Austin for the weekend (read below). Did lots of cool things, ate great food, and bought some neat stuff. But we really should have just gone to this road side park, cause the kids LOVED it! Jason and I found this park a few years ago on one of our many Austin trips.

We decided to stop there on our way home from Austin and show the kids, I am pretty sure it was their favorite thing...Go FIGURE!

Austin- Went to the Capitol

So JB had a play off game outside of Austin and it was Jazzy Jay's 7th birthday, so we decided to make a weekend of it and take the kids to all of our favorite places in Austin.

The first place we went was the Capitol. The teacher in me wants to always make things like this a real learning experience, BUT I should have learned my lesson from taking JB to the Capitol several years ago.

JB was probably 12 when we went the first time. First of all he was very confused about Texas' Capitol vs. the White House, so I think he was very disappointed that we were not at the White House. But, I decided to make the most of it so him and I walked all around looking at the pictures and reading all of the signs. I thought it was pretty cool and he seemed to be soaking everything up. But, when it came time for us to leave...he looked at me and said "So you are telling me that all these plaques and pictures are of people who are dead?" And, I said "Yea, most of the people are not alive." And his 12 year old response was "Oh, that is weird!"

Out of the mouths of babes! What can I say???

SO this time, I thought I would have better luck...I did the whole "teacher" tour! And at the end, I looked at my kids and said "Now guys, why is the Capitol so important?" And Jazzy Jay says...Ready for this one?

"Cause it is the big letter that starts a sentence."

Its a good thing I am a teacher and not a tour guide at the Capitol...cause I apparently REALLY stink at it!

But, we did take some cute pics...I included them below.