Alive and kicking

Hello, friends. Just wanted to let you all know that we're alive and kicking! We are staying busy and LOVING each other! This is your official notice that the blog is going to be shut down for a while. You'll still be able to access it, of course, but I will no longer be posting. At least until further notice. Also, I've taken Facebook off my iPhone. That thing takes up WAY too much time. My Facebook postings will only be occasional from now on. It is freeing to me to "cut" some of my technology ties and just really focus on what is real and present in my life. Maybe I'll go back to blogging someday, but maybe I won't. I'll still enjoy reading your blogs on occasion! And I'll leave you with two recent pictures of the three reasons I've decided to focus more time on the here and now...

6 months2 1/2 years old

Mother's Day 2010

The Swagger Wagon

As a minivan Sienna owner this one hits home.

What you see........

What you see is me wearing cute, spring dresses to work.

What you don’t see is me trying on all of my dress pants to find that none of them fit and knowing there is truly no time for me to do anything about it right now.

What you see is a precious, curly-headed two-year old who is as sharp as a tack.

What you don’t see is her throwing another tantrum or me losing my patience with her for failing to remember her potty again! You don’t see my sadness when she says, “Mommy, I want to hold you!” and I can’t hold her because one of her brothers is screaming.

What you see are twin boys who are as cute as can be and growing every day!

What you don’t see is me falling asleep as I’m feeding one of them in the middle of the night. And me truly praying for the day when they will both sleep all night! You don’t see my worry that they don’t know how much I love and care for them.

What you see is an organized household.

What you don’t see is the tremendous help I get from my husband, my mom and dad, my mother and father-in-law, and other family members. You also don’t see the things I have to “let go”.

What you see is a mom and a wife who “has it all together”.

What you don’t see are the tears of worry and stress. You don’t hear the countless pep talks I give myself and others give me. You don’t see the offense I run to stay one step ahead of the next dilemma, problem or issue. You don’t (yet) see the gray hairs that have started sprouting on my crown.

If you look really closely at my life and my family, you will see a woman (who still can’t believe she’s old enough to be married and have three children) trying her VERY best day in and day out to be a high-quality person, wife, mom and friend. If you listen really closely, you will hear me asking God multiple times a day to bless me in those endeavors.

Brothers!!

My heart on the couch...

Two Easter Pics...

This first picture is our family of 5 dressed and ready to go to church on Easter Sunday morning. This was the boys' first trip to church, and they did great! Reid was awake for most of the service while Chase mostly slept. R held Chase and I held Reid. At one point, C wanted to be held too, so while standing and singing, I held them BOTH! Whew! Arm workout! And just a bit of advice for folks...When you see a tired looking mommy and daddy with many small children, don't say, "Gosh, you've got your hands full!" or "Bless your heart!" Say something more encouraging like, "What a beautiful family!" or "God has truly blessed you!" Thanks!

This picture CRACKS me up (pun totally intended!) While hunting eggs this afternoon, C couldn't keep her pants up! I snapped the picture just in time to catch a glimpse of the Minnie Mouse undies! He he! Such a cutie!