car wash awards

The first thing out of Christian's mouth on Tuesday morning (the first regular day he was out of school) was, "so are we going to the zoo or the park today?"  Gah.
I'm sorry, are you serious?
The boy thinks that we need to be going and doing something every. single. day.
So don't judge the actual cleanliness/dirtiness of my van (or the fact that I'm a van-driving-mama, for that matter) and just try to take into consideration that this afternoon's activities had more to do with doing something fun than it did with winning any car washing awards. :)

          I love this face!  It's so her!

                                                         

 Get out the hose and these two are almost beside themselves.
I heard more than once just how much fun they had giving the van a bath!
Score for the Mama.

little cuties

Usually one afternoon a week I have two extra little people at my house.  It just so happens that I saw these two little people come into this world.  


You can imagine how much I love all four of these cuties. :)  

 

Seeing the four of them together reminds me so much of when we were kids.  

On today's agenda was some coloring, a little dressing up, and of course some amazing music-making.

Apparently all the planets were lined up just right since I got all four of them to look at me and smile at the same time!
I love this one!!

May

This Memorial Day weekend has been a busy but nice ending to a pretty packed May.  We spent the day today at my in-laws enjoying some fun times at the pool.  No naps for my little boogers means that yes indeed they are in  bed at 7:15.

May has been a big month for my boy.  He turned five (FIVE- which seems so strange) and he finished up preschool.  He's been asking and asking how much longer it would be before he turned five.  The kid has been counting the months or weeks or days at least since Christmas.  The day of his birthday, my favorite quote from him was, "Mama, I love being five!"  

  

He can't wait to start kindergarten, and I think he's absolutely going to love it!  

an unexpected gift

Chris and I have been going to Avalon Church for about eight years, I think.  I had heard of fasting before then but had never actually done it.  I'm pretty sure it was five years ago that Chris and I started fasting together.  Our pastor introduced an idea that the church would all fast for 21 days at the beginning of the year, so we decided to join in.  Each time we have fasted (whether it was as part of a group like that or just on our own) we have had specific things that we were praying for.  We have prayed and fasted for our church, our marriage, business, kids, you name it and we put it on our list.
I do not tell you this so that you'll think that we are awesome, but so you'll know that God is.  
It's not like, "hey- we fasted and we won the lottery/ got a new car/ got pregnant!"  I'm pretty sure there were a couple of years where we (and several people in our family and church family) were praying specifically for us to be able to have kids.  We have prayed continually for God to bless and grow our business, and it has happened slowly but surely.  
It's not magic.  It didn't happen in our timeline.  We have fasted and prayed for many things, and in the end, everything has happened according to God's plan and purpose for our lives.  
This year, Chris and I decided to split up our fast.  Normally we do three consecutive weeks in January, but this time we did one week in January and then our second week was at the end of April.  I had five specific things that I was praying for.  
What I got was peace.  It wasn't on my list, but wouldn't you know it?  It's just exactly what I needed.
Nothing just happens.


Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

a time to plant

We are in gardening mode at our house.  Maybe by saying "we" I should disclose that the most involved that I've been with the input of what we should grow and taking some pictures. :)  Year before last when we had our first go with gardening, we mostly grew tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and some kind of hot peppers.  This year our garden is quite a bit bigger and to it we've added some melon, some bell pepper, and some cucumbers.  There's just something about eating something that you grew in your own yard!

Today when Chris was staking the tomatoes, the kids were outside playing and I went out to get some pictures.  Christian found a little visitor behind the wagon.

Note that Audrey is definitely hiding behind Christian!
Chris kept telling her to come see the turtle, and each time she responds with, "my Mama says I don't have to touch it!"

Fun times!