What I've been up to

So, I have been pretty busy lately. Jarrod has been really busy with screenings and stuff so he can get patients and I have been hanging out with the kiddos. I have also been doing a few really cool things (one I started today).
A few weeks ago I started the Maximize Your Mornings Challenge. I discovered this through a blog I really enjoy (Inspired to Action). Basically you get an e-book and you read it then fill out the workbook section. So, I did all this in January, but then put it aside until about 3 weeks ago. While my ideas have changed (I moved my wake up time, I'm doing the Bible Study through the group-Philippians, and I have basically skipped the workout part) I have greatly enjoyed doing this. But, it has been HARD. I am definitely not a morning person, so waking up early is not something I like doing. With the kids still in school for 2 more days it has been hard b/c they get up at the same time I do, so I'm not technically getting quiet time for my Bible study. But, I get it done and that is what matters. As the summer goes on and the kids sleep in, it will work out a little better as far as quiet time goes. The Philippians study has been great, because without it I don't know what I'd be doing for my quiet time with God. I need structure and a focus, so this has worked out well. They gave us a study guide and questions and things to look for everyday. It has really helped me learn- you read the same section for 5 days answering different questions and looking for different things each day. I am doing the summer session and have an accountability group through Facebook. (they do quite a few sessions)
Today I started 21 Days of Prayers for Sons. Basically for 21 days I will be praying for/over the boys 10 times a day. I found this through a couple of friends on Facebook (Diana and Jamie). The creator of the whole thing has a blog that details what the whole idea is about and how it works. I have joined a group for the summer session of this also. This is also based on an e-book (available for purchase on the blog) that comes with some background info, different topics to pray about and a list of prayers based on the topics. I love the list of prayers. Each topic has 10 prayers (the 10 you would do for the day) which totally helps me out since I have a little difficulty in that area. It gives you pretty specific stuff to pray for and the spots to insert you child(rens) names. I have already prayed for the boys twice today and I am so excited to see how this goes. The author of the e-book/blog  (Brooke) also posted this the other day and I thought I'd share it-

{Originally posted at the M.O.B. Society, I like to post this article the day before the start of the 21 Days of Prayer for Sons challenge.  Perhaps you need to settle this issue in your heart once and for all.  There’s no time like today.}

This parenting of the male species is hard.
Whether you have an adventurous boy, a scholarly boy, a rambunctious boy, or a bookworm boy. A little boy, married boy, big boy or somewhere in between boy. Sinner boy, saved boy, sanctified boy.
It’s still hard.
I’ve watched your words, you boy mamas, and I confess: I’ve been totally overwhelmed with what God is doing through this community. I’ve rested my head many nights speechless that God would allow me to kneel with you and pray for His hand in our boys’ lives.
Several times I’ve asked God, “what are You doing?” And other times I’ve read about a mom’s deep burden for her son and all I could utter was, “O God.”
He hears our groanings.
The coupled pain and hope that keeps a mama on her knees wears a carpet thin.
But He hears you.
And God is for you.
You are the apple of His eye. His beloved. His thoughts toward you are many and His plans for you are good. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
When your son takes his first steps and you realize for the first time that your baby is growing up…God is for you.
When you give it your all and his heart doesn’t change…God is for you.
When you wake up and he’s five and you realize there are already so many moments you’ve missed and will never get back…God is for you.
When you realize the home life you desperately wanted to provide for him isn’t going to happen…God is for you.
When you realize how your own sinful choices have affected him…God is for you.
When you’re defeated and ready to quit…God is for you.
When you see the desires of his heart and realize that they’re not always good…God is for you.
When your son gets hurt or that thing you always wanted to protect him from happens…God is for you.
When his heart doesn’t belong to just you anymore…God is for you.
When he makes choices that hurt you, no, devastate you…God is for you.
When the threads of your carpet are worn bare from the praying, begging, hoping in God to complete the work He started…God is for you.
And His heart for you is good.
As we prepare to join our hearts in prayer for 21 days tomorrow, perhaps the one thing we should settle is this:

God is for us. And His heart for us is good.

promised pictures

Here are the pics I promised. They are Kaitlyn's Bday and Mother's day (my craft table painted and my gift from Jude).
Bday-
We got a cookie dough cake from Cold Stone. It was super yummy.
She had 2 friends over and they had cupcake fondue.
Our gift to Kaitlyn was a real haircut at a salon in town. The places like great clips and cost cutters have butchered her hair in the past, so we gave her a "real" haircut. We went to Barnes and Noble and scoured the magazines and found this cut. She looks great with bangs.
Mother's Day-
I asked that we paint my craft table that has been waiting for a few years to get painted. We did the top in chalkboard paint and the rest in Purple Dragon. Jarrod suggested the stripes on the top. I think it turned out great!

Jude made me a flower bud vase at the Lowe's Build and Grow. (He didn't want to take a picture) I love the vase!

You need to read this

I just finished reading this post.
http://simplekids.net/three-friends-parent-needs/

I loved it! We really do need those kinds of friends. I NEED those kinds of friends. I NEED a friend who will help me move a body (check out the link to Brene's post for the info on this). Once upon a time I thought I had friends like that. But, I have come to realize that maybe I was mistaken. I have called and messaged those friends and I just get ignored and passed over. I don't really like to get close to people because I usually end up getting screwed over. So, when it does happen I hope it's with the right people this time. I mean, I have "friends", but I WANT friends like this. Friends that I can depend on, that will be there if I call at 3am b/c I just want someone to talk to, that will be there for me to vent without trying to "fix" me. Thankfully I have that in my husband, he really is my best friend. He fits all three of the descriptions in the post, plus he would definitely help me move a body and I'm pretty sure he'd say the same about me. But, I'd still really like to have a girl to chat with. So, I pray maybe I'll find somebody like that cause I think I need it.

My kids crack me up

Jude just sat on the short couch (the love seat) and said "It smells like Daddy is here" and I said "Really, what does it smell like?". Then he replied, "It smells like Daddy's pants"

Mia then squats down and said, " Sometimes when we go hiking and we finish Daddy squats like this, looks around, laughs and says 'look at what we just accomplished'."

Mother's Day

Yesterday was Mother's Day and it was GREAT!!! I am blessed to have 5 great kids and a wonderful husband!!
Jude woke me up at around 7:30 for some yummy PW cinnamon rolls (I made them Sat. for Kaitlyn's party). So, I fed the kids (Jarrod was out hiking) and then Daddy came home and was super surprised that we were all awake. He had planned a big breakfast, but we beat him to it. He did end up making the turkey bacon he picked up. He was trying to go the healthy route, but we both agree that while turkey bacon is edible, full fat pork bacon is so much yummier. The kids gave me some beautiful cards. Emma made me a beautiful butterfly sun catcher st school and Jude made me a flower vase at Loews (he also picked out some tulips to put in the vase).Then, we got my craft table ready to paint. My poor table has been waiting about 3 years for paint. After hanging out for a little while, we headed off to church. At church they handed out roses to all the women and we also got an invite to a salon for a night of pampering. After church, we drove out to Lolo to eat at the Lolo Steakhouse. It was soooo yummy. Jarrod and I split a pound of Alaskan King crab legs. I didn't realize how much I missed crab until I had that. After lunch we took Kaitlyn to the mall to spend the rest of her Bday money. She got a couple of cute shirts at American Eagle. Then, we went to the big Dipper and got ice cream. We ran by the garden and Kaitlyn and Coen passed out. When we got home Jarrod and I primed the table and got the first coat of paint on. I am doing the top in Chalkboard paint and the legs and trim in Purple Dragon. I love chalkboard paint! I am so excited that my craft table will be done soon. I love the fact that as I'm doing stuff I can make notes, write out supply lists and even draw out my ideas on the table- no paper needed!!! I will post some pics later along with the promised Bday pics.

Funny story- we gave Mia, Jude and Coen a bath before bed last night. Mia likes baths except for water in her face, so she is constantly spitting when water gets on her face, Jude hates baths (we have tried everything-sometimes he is calm, but most times not so much) so he screamed the entire time. So, he was a quick get him in get him out. Coen on the other hand loves the water. He'll take showers with us and hardly make a peep. Even last night in the bath tub he played and splashed. He even sat down in the tub. I know, you're thinking -sitting down isn't that big of a deal!, well in our family it is. Jude still won't sit in the tub- he'll squat, but that is as close as it gets. Well, Coen sat and when it was time to get out, he flat out refused. He even figured out how to put the plug back down. The only time he was unhappy with the bath situation was when we took him out. He kept hopping up and trying to get back in when I was getting him dressed. It was great! After having the last 2 hate baths, it was nice to see one enjoy it after so long.

Kaitlyn is 12!!!!

Yesterday we celebrated Kaitlyn's 12th birthday. My little baby is a big girl now. She is almost as tall as I am. She is in an XS at Old Navy and she has surpassed my shoe size and is now in an 8 1/2. (which means I just got some new shoes-well, new to me anyway). She has gone from my little chubby cheeked human buoy into a beautiful young lady. I miss my little belly button picking baby, but I am enjoying my young lady. We have our moments, but most of the times we have skipped the drama. We love her very much and are sooo proud of her. I can honestly say I am looking forward to seeing the woman she will become as we are getting glimpses now.

Kaitlyn, we love you and are so very proud of you. You are a sweet girl and you are turning into a beautiful young lady. Happy Birthday!

Here is how her Bday went - after school she opened her presents and then we let her pick somewhere for dinner. She decided on The Mustard Seed (my Cinco de Mayo baby picked chinese food for dinner). Then, we came home and had a yummy choc. chip cookie dough cake from Cold Stone. She got a lot of neat stuff for her birthday and I think she enjoyed turning into a tween. She got some Bday money, Old Navy GCs, a hiking pack with water bladder, the Lego Harry Potter Wii game she wanted, a purse and wallet from her siblings and a haircut from us. Tonight she gets her party. We let her have 2 friends over for a sleepover. They are going to watch movies and play Wii. We are going to do cupcake fondue for dessert. I think we are going to do PW's cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I will definitely post pics of all this Bday stuff as soon as I get them on the computer.

Funny things Jude says....

(Mommy steals a piece of Jude's cereal)
J- Mommy I don't want you to eat my butt.
M- Umm, yeah I don't want to eat your butt. That's kinda gross.
J- It's a human butt!