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Primping for Church

Life with a house full of girls! Okay, technically only three of them are mine but you can imagine what we're in for in the future when they each have a friend or two over! Poor Sammy.

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Last game for the Gator Girls! They showed their awesome team spirit tonight and went out on top...an undefeated season! Thanks Daddy for being such a great coach! {and just like that, I'm all caught up on my pictures}.

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Introducing the newest member of the Geek Squad. Amelia has discovered she LOVES playing on the "pewter."

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Yes. 11 pictures in one post... because I'm so far behind in my daily pictures, but even more because I can't get enough of seeing these two get along so well! They had a mean game of pig going on! Love to see them have fun together. One of the best parts of being a mom!

Jo longing to be out with the big kids~

Basketball cupcakes for Lu's last practice~ sticking with the hoop theme here!

Tornado {x2}

 

We were hit by not one but two tornados this evening. Tornado Amelia and Tornado Josie had the house destroyed in about 45 minutes flat. They started with the coloring supplies and then moved onto....

the bedroom where all the dress up clothes had to be emptied from the trunk.

Then onto the playroom....damage was minimal here but proved to be quite strenuous......

 

.........both tornados came to a screeching halt about 6:00pm!

Mondays with Millie

Last night Mils had a headband over her face so the ends were by her ears and she had her mouth around the top of the headband. I asked her why she was wearing a headband in her mouth. To which she replied "it's not a headband mom, it's my head gear!" I wish Maggie would wear her head gear so proudly!

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two of my favorite colors. wish you could smell the daffodils~

WIdows + orPHANs = Wiphan

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after widows and orphans in their distress......James 1:27

A few posts ago I shared some really sweet Valentine Fortune cookies that I learned about from an amazing mom blogger. Andrea is an incredible mom, photographer, bible leader and craft extraordinaire...but most importantly she is a lover of Jesus and advocate for widows and orphans. Andrea and her husband are part of a ministry in Zambia that cares for both widows and orphans. Wiphan is a grassroots ministry that began just three years ago out of Atlanta. They are supporting two schools and a sponsorship program that allows these women to care for their children and keep precious babes off the streets. Please visit their site to learn more about donating or possibly sponsoring a child. You can also find these really cool shirts. Purchase of each shirt feeds and educates an orphan for one month.  Would you consider buying one of these hip shirts?

But please take the time to visit their site as my words really don't do justice for the work they are doing!

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We can't get enough of the sun around here! {P.S. I'm not intentionally leaving out my #2, she was at a friend's house all day}

Flashback Friday

Wasn't I just writing this post?

And now she's already grown into her big sister's clothes? I need to stop blinking!

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Miss Hollywood

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There's a party going on at our house!

Bring your swimsuit and plastic microphone!

A date with Handsome

Monkey #1 and I got to sneak away for a movie together tonight. I love spending time together...just the two us. We have such great talks and really get to share our hearts.  We were almost home when he said "mom, can we just drive around and talk some more?" Ah man...melt my heart!  Love that son of mine!

Valentine Links

A few did ask...so here's the scoop! Below each picture is the link and I found both ideas on www.oneprettything.com A great site for craft ideas for both mamas and kids and lots of links to free printables.

http://triciarennea.blogspot.com/2010/01/smore-gift-labels.html

http://thelongthread.com/?p=5646

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The Party Recap

We had a fun day of celebrating with the family! Millie was wild all morning in anticipation for her "rainbow" party! It's hard to believe when we started throwing parties for our kids there were just a couple cousins at the parties....these days the parties are packed with cousins! I love it! Thank you so much Grandma and Papa Poulin and Zehms for making the long trek over the mountains! We are so thankful that you were able to be here partying with us! 

*I"m working on getting all the fun details posted over at polka dot barn so check that out if you're into partyware:)

Happy Birthday Valentine!

We had a plan. We had our timeline figured out. We thought we knew what was best. He had a different plan. A plan that would require waiting. A plan that involved many tears, countless prayers and even a little doubt. Oh, how His plan is better...perfect. We are so thankful for the waiting because in that waiting we grew and when we saw your face that Valentine's Day four years ago it was all worth it. You are a complete joy Miss Amelia! I can't, for a single moment, imagine our lives without you. I am so deeply grateful for you, our sweet Valentine, and so very honored to be your mama. Happy 4th Birthday Millie Mae!

The Lord your God is with you,

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing.

                                                                                            Zephaniah 3:17

Somewhere....

over the rainbow there's a party happening for a sweet little girl! Most of the family will be here today to celebrate Amelia Mae! Can't wait to watch her soak it all  up!

Valentine Fun

Yesterday Millie celebrated Valentines and her birthday at preschool. She was giddy all morning long!

Part of the birthday celebration is getting to sit in the middle of the circle while the rest of the class gives you a blessing and sings Happy Birthday. She's sitting with our great friend Tanya who also has a February birthday. I just love this picture of them and it's especially sweet because Tanya likes to tease Millie about marrying her youngest son so that Tanya can be her mother-in-law someday. Millie actually told me a couple nights ago that she's probably going to marry Landon so Tanya can be her mudder-in-law.

Jo was just happy to have herself some cupcake!

We've been having a great time crafting our homemade Valentines. I mean to offend no one with this statement but I really don't like character punch-out Valentines. Yes, I've taken the easy way out a time or two but I'd much rather make them ourselves. We have a chance to be creative and make some fun memories in the process. Millie loved making these heart shaped crayons. I've always wanted to try this and it was so much fun and super easy. The cards I downloaded free from a great site. I'm too tired right now to look it up but if any of you eight people that read this blog are interested let me know and I'll get the site for ya!

I love how Amelia started making her M into a heart! So cute! Notice I also put a little note that the heart was actually a crayon not candy. After Jo tried to eat one I figured I'd better give a warning!

Maggie's fun treats that we designed together.  For the record the boys' Valentines do not say Love or have XOXO. That would be totally wrong mother!

And finally, Sammy's Valentine smores~I think these were my favorite! Again, found the free dowload somewhere but have no clue at the moment!  Now I need to get cracking on Millie's party decor!

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Somebody is about to turn 4!

That somebody doesn't like frosting...can she really be my child?

Mondays with Millie

Okay, so technically it's not Monday.  I fell asleep on the couch at 9:30 last night and all my fun blogging and reading activities fell by the wayside. So today it's Tuesdays with Millie.  I had a couple funny stories to choose from but I want to share a sweet one from this morning. We were in the car running errands and she was reading her bible. I could hear her reading to herself about the birth of Jesus. Her reading went something like this..."Then an angel said Mary you's gonna have a baby. Him's name is gonna be Jesus and he's gonna be juuust perfect." Ahhh, couldn't have read it better myself Millie! Love you almost 4 year old!

Dance Fever

Tonight was the annual Father/Daughter Valentine Dance. This was Rocky and Maggie's 6th year going and Millie's 2nd year. The girls look forward to it all year and I  hope the girls never grow out of dancing with their daddy!

The whole family

All the girls! Jo, Sam and I were so lucky to have Madi come out and spend the evening with us~we had such a fun evening catching up, eating, laughing and snuggling! We love you Madi and think you're the coolest girl we know!