Clarification

I want to help clarify something...now, don't get me wrong I am glad some of you have mentioned the fact that I don't post many pictures of Matthew. That shows me you love him and care about how he fits into this family. So I thank you for that. I just want you all to know that Matthew being the ONLY child for 9 years got the best of me everyday. He got all the high fives, all the hugs, all the laughter and so much more. Matthew had his pictures done at birth, 5 weeks, 3 months,6months,9 months, 1year , 18 months and every year since then...Carter has had his done 2 times.

Matthew got me all to himself. He did not have to share my time nor my energy. Having a large age gap between my children has it advantages and HUGE disadvantages. Many of you will comment that oh, I bet it is so nice that he helps you. Well it is nice but I don't expect him to always help. I expect him to be a child. He has plenty of years to grow up.

There is something we run into quite a bit with our family...activities. Matthew is to old for Jump around fun zone and Carter is to small to go sledding at Mt. Baker. Matthew gets alot more one on one time with mom or dad because one is always home with the other children. We treat Matthew as the only child and will continue to do so. It works for us and for him.

So, yes my dear friends I could keep going on about how I much Matthew gets or got from us as parents. I just want to leave you with this...they didn't have blog sites 12 years ago so you could all see him growing up..but I assure ALL of you...we dote on him all the time never ever letting him feel forgotten in between diapers and time-outs.

Sit on a Tack..

Olivia received a CD player for Christmas. I bought her a few Cd's at the dollar store and one was a bible song Cd...well here is what I heard this morning...

" I have Jesus in my heart...if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack!"

WOW!! That's a bit harsh coming from a sweet singing 8 year old girls voice...

Choices!?

Carter wasn't sure what he should drink with dinner..Pepsi or chocolate syrup...I swear this is what happens when you try to cook dinner..

Any ideas...

for Valentines day? It is on a Saturday..I am wanting to make reservations somewhere but then I thought of having couples come over to fondue!! Looking for party ideas..maybe that include children!? Cheap but Fun!

Ramble.....

Here are a few rambling thoughts for you all...I have had really nothing to blog about. I know I have die hards who check my blog daily so this post is for you...



Why must I always be in pain!? I am serious, has the Lord looked past the fact I have 4 kids to tend to and a wonderful husband who needs my support and fishes and dogs that need to get fed?

The last few days have been hard..I have been unable to walk much or sit for a period of time with out hurting..but this is not my intention to sit around whining about my pain looking for all of you to feel sorry for me..okay, maybe a few of you can feel sorry for me. Like feel sorry for me take my 3 year old for a week..like that kind a feel sorry for you.

But I went to the doctor in December before Christmas and He wanted to do some diagnostic testing on my L-4 and L-5...well because the pain is getting worse I called and asked why I had not heard back from the diagnostics doctor...well, they got the referral on Jan. 2nd and it can take up to 30-45 days to call you..

Okay, this is when I am about to lose it...Take me seriously people!! Please that's all I ask of you. Take me serious, and good thing I don't have to wait in line for medical care and I have medical care..good care just a tad slow for those in pain :)

On to a lighter note...Carter will be one soon and I have done ZERO..Zilch planning for this special occasion. It will be a priority this week..it has to be..coming from the mom who has huge parties for all her other kids...I Love birthdays..for everyone...we all get excited when a new baby arrives in the world..and I believe that excitement should be shown everyday but even more so on your birthday..so I will get planning!!

Next, I have 3 nieces birthdays 2 on the 8th and one on the 10th , Mikeys and my sister in laws on the 17th...Mikey will be 16!! Another party to plan.

Who doesn't love the sun!? what a blessing..cold but bright! went by the car wash yesterday and from the looks of the lines in EVERY bay EVERYONE had the same idea.
I did go the garage thinking maybe I could tackle a a small project in there...NOPE..I shut the door and prepared myself mentally for Spring. When I am selling everything!!

Adventure club helpers needed!!! Hey moms and dads when you bring your kid to adventure club PLEASE come in ad sign up to help..They GIVE you a cool t-shirt!! They have Lil k for 3-5 year old and childcare for babies if you are leading. It is so much fun and rewarding to see the kids learn about the Lord. It is not hard and you don't have to be a scholar in the Bible to help..So come on in and get started!!!

No school tomorrow!?! Why couldn't we make up a snow-flooding day? Just a thought...


Here is the best laugh out loud sight in the world!! CLICK HERE to laugh

All dressed Up

and ready for his first formal dance...I am bit late blogging this...awww..to be 15 again and going to your first formal dance..I loved that part of high school!! It is hard for me to grasp I am raising 4 kids and I am 32...it seems just like yesterday we where making plans on what to wear and where to eat and how we where going to have a party afterwards.. I can say that now but I never did tell Mikey..

A fun afternoon

At Jump around Fun Zone...I had been wanting to go for awhile and when the kids finally woke up I decided to take them. It was so much fun for everyone!! The place was busy! I love how you can bring your own food and your laptop ( I didn't) to do whatever you want..Carter had fun playing in the baby area while Olivia spent a ton of her time begging me for money to play the air hockey game..I had to encourage her to go "jump" she finally got past her intimidation of the other kids and played till she was asking to go home!! Well worth the 6.00!

I Will Let

You figure out the story behind this....






the toilet was very clean...nobody was harmed.

Unable to

Make dinner and parent at the same time..what can a women do!?! Grab the camera and let it be...

Just a few of my

Of my favorite things and friends!!






I had the privilege of hosting a wonderful " Favorite things party" with my girlfriends Friday night. About 4 years ago our MOPS group had done a similar thing and last year my dear friend Cher had hosted a favorite things party. It is a lot like Oprah's favorite thing show where she will give everyone in the audience her favorite things.

















MANY of you have asked me how to host your own party...you start with your guest list ( we had 11 girls) and then give them at least 2 months notice for the party..we did this because we have a 10.00 gift value per guest and they can split it up over the course of a few months. Strive for a FINAL headcount within 3 weeks of the party date. This is the important part. Sometimes finding 10 of the same thing can be a bit challenging, I just picked up 10 of my favorite thing Saturday for the next party. ( hoping for one this summer!)

The night night of the party..you can do whatever you want..we had dessert fondue and lots of other yummy food along with wine. You could do a sit down dinner.
Amber had made everyone take home totes for their goodies..but you can have each guest bring their own basket. We did not set a rule for for wrapping your gift but many of us did or had great packaging..It is up to the guest.






After a few games we drew names ( thanks Julie for the inspiration of the bookmarks!) then we each took our turn presented our favorite thing and why it is our favorite thing. Somewhere cleaning products, somewhere homemade, but most was a girly fun stuff , like Victoria secret lip gloss and body spray!!

We had so much fun!! Some of the girls have never been while others attended the same kind a party last year. Here is a few of our goodies...

Real Simple Magazine ( can you believe that 2 of brought this magazine!)
Nail polish remover
Degreaser
notepads
Starburst
spa hair treatment
candles
chocolate
Baileys ( YuMMO!)
Wall hanging
washcloths
toothpaste ( Awesome!!)
Make-up tote
Bath & Body works lotion and soap
Scrapbook kit
Victoria secrets lip gloss, bath gel and body spray
ornament
Magic Eraser
Nail dremmel Tool kit

and so much more!!!



As you can see it was better then Christmas for some of us!! I think what my favorite part was was sharing with everyone else what I love..It does not have to be hard...I know some people do a gift card favorite thing..they bring 10.00 gift card from their favorite store along with the product they love. The guest can explain why it is their favorite and each guest can leave with a gift card and the product is then given away through a drawing.

No matter what you decide..It is so much fun and worth everything!! It does not have to be thrown in any particular month..we are looking at doing one this summer and maybe including a weekend getaway with it!! YIPPEEE!!