update:Emy

Last night I told you about how we prayed throughout our house...
Well, this morning when she was in her bathroom washing her hands, I heard her talking.
Not just talking
She was praying that someone would "love our bathroom, and be happy to have our house so we can get a house in Texas Tyler" (that is how she says where we are moving).
How much cuter can you get?

Emerson and I

I really cannot believe how old Emy is getting. She actually acts older than she is (maybe a 3rd child thing) but she is so fun to be around! Last night we had to go out to dinner (someone wanted to show our house at 7:45!) and with just she and I (no chaos from older siblings) I really enjoyed being with her! Also she has lost 3 teeth already! She turned 5 in January, and none of my kids lost their teeth that early.

Before we left the house, she and I went room by room to pray over our house. We walked into each room and said our prayers, and she was stinkin adorable! She would always start "Dear Lord, our Lord..." and at least 2 different times throughout the prayer she would say "and I love you so much Jesus". Sometimes we held hands, and sometimes we had our hands in the air, and sometimes we put our hands on a piece of furniture. She is precious.

It is hard...

Some of you will be surprised to see me write that I am sad to move from here. After my 5 years of Mississippi bashing (sorry people, but really it was all true) I will still be sad to move. One of the only reasons I can truly come to understand is that this is the place we have lived the longest!!! It may actually tie with living in WL (1992-1997), but that was a lOOOOng time and 2 children ago.
Today I read the roster of Kennedy's soccer team (here in MS) and I actually cried. Even though she has already made her team in Texas, I am still sad.
I guess it is just a part of moving, but one that I really didn't expect to feel leaving here.

only in Mississippi

Well, last night we officially became "rednecks"!
We went alligator spotting at 10:30pm. 6 adults and 9 kids on a pontoon boat in the Reservoir!
It was sort of fun, sort of scary and VERY buggy!!! It is LOUD at night on the water. All the frogs, birds, insects, alligators eating small children...lol
A fun night though, and I will miss the people we were with. They have said "We all decided, you are not moving, Corey can commute"
It's a thought...

she's growing up

So, my firstborn child is already 12.
That sounds young, yet old at the same time.
For her birthday she scored $140.00 in cash. Today she wanted to go shopping. She wanted to go shopping at Abercrombie. So we went there and she laid down $112.00 for new clothes. She spent $50.00 alone on 1 pair of jeans!!! I don't even spend $50.00 on jeans. (in fact I just bought a pair from The Gap for $13.99, cute boot cut ones)
So anyway, she is growing up.
But then we leave Abercrombie, and she wants to go and buy a Webkinz. She is still my baby.

Preacher Boy

Mac with a do-rag that they made at VBS, and a necklace from the sandy beaches of Trinidad! Stinkin adorable.

Pie Pics

Blueberries +

Elbow grease +

oven =

DELICIOUS dessert!

Hungry???

Yesterday Kennedy and Emerson and I went blueberry picking! We had a great time picking, even though it was 100 degrees out, Emerson kept saying (whining) "Can we be done farming, it is too hot to be farmers". If she only knew. We spent exactly 45 minutes "farming". hilarious.
Anyway, what do you do with a gallon bucket of delicious blueberries??? Bake!
This morning we had whole wheat blueberry pancakes topped with banana chunks and toasted chopped hazelnuts, with just a drzzle of maple syrup! Wash that down with milk (good for your bones) and coffee (good for being happy) and what else can you ask for??
Kennedy has baked 2 Country Blueberry Pies (those pictures will come next) and we are making a Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake for a dinner party tonight.
In addition to all of that for today, I have frozen blueberries in 3 cup measurements, for use in the future.
What a bargain, kid labor and $9.00...works for me!

Zucchini Yeast Rolls

It started out with wanting to buy locally and eat seasonally...and this recipe fit the bill for both! Fresh green and yellow zucchini shredded with dry milk and whole wheat flour...yum yum

This is the recipe, I hope you can read it!

These are the finished rolls. I LOVE yeast. It is an amazing product and of course makes everything taste better! I love to watch the dough rise, and then to punch it back down, only to have it rise again. Genius. After these rolls were finished, I sliced fresh tomatoes thin and drizzled them with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and dashed them with salt and pepper: washed fresh cut spinach and slices of muenster cheese. This was a beautiful and TASTY sandwich... I wish I had taken a picture before my friends and I gobbled them all up!

I know I know...too many photos!

BOYS Mac (8) Gray (6) Cole (4)

Sisters minus one

Kennedy LOVES Finn

Good to be home

It is so good coming home.
It is fun to be away and be with family and friends, but there is that "homebody" inside that relies on the daily schedule that home brings. I am glad to be home. For whatever little time we have left here, in this home.
It is interesting how a home can turn into "not a home" in a matter of 4 days.
Without the presence of kids (ie: clutter) and meals (ie: yummy smells) and only a dog and a husband/father, the home became a house. Just a structure to withhold the elements. It seemed to "stink" of nothing! The bedrooms were immaculate and the game room spic and span. The flowers I lovingly cut and placed into the vases in the kitchen and bathroom, were wilting and dying all over the place!

music

If anyone can tell me who the artist is singing on the "my photographer" link, I will love you forever! When you get to the website, you have to click on enter website, and then the music just plays. I always open the website and then minimize it so that I can listen to the music, it is so real.
Loving Sonic drinks (half price from 2-4, so you can get the gi-normous size!), what a fun treat to get me through the hot Mississippi days.
Next week's schedule is tough:
I have C's parents coming into town, my sister and her 3 boys are coming also. My daughter's BIGGEST soccer tourney in her 11 yr old life starts next Friday.
Let's just focus on Friday.
It is my 16th wedding anniversary
It is Kennedy's 12th birthday
AND I am catering a wedding at 7:30 pm for 200 people.
I will post some pictures of the delicious foods we will be preparing (I am forcing my sister to help me)

sUMMER bREAK?

I refuse to think that just because we are moving I cannot have a summer break! For me summer is...
fun times with the kids
working out (insanely) everyday
eating fresh fruits and vegies/ and grilling all meats!
reading and reading and reading
trying new recipes
traveling to visit all our friends and family
having visitors at our house

So today I have already worked out (boot camp/ab class/yoga
And I will begin a new book...
I have chicken set out to grill later and a trip to the local produce stand will provide vegies and fruits to finish things off!

Kids

It makes you feel that as a parent the most important thing you can do is love your kids,
hold them and tell them you love them because, until we get to heaven, all we can do is hold our palms over the wounds.
It is no coincidence that Jesus talks endlessly about love.
Free love.
Unconditional love.
Donald Miller

BUSY BED LAST NIGHT!!

Unfortunately, not that kind of busy...
the kind where 3 kids are scared to death of the thunder storm and are all cramming into your (Queen size) bed, at various times throughout the night. Finally my husband gave up and went to Mac's bed. At least he got some sleep!
Also, who in the world called us at 2:05am??? Stop it.

House For Sale

Well, all is painted and now we wait.
Wait for a buyer.
Oh that and keep the house clean at all times.
Not letting 3 kids mess up said house.
Praise God only 5 more days left of school.
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