Happy Mother's Day!!

Wow! What an amazing family I have. My hubby and children made the day so special. Josh picked out the perfect gifts, a digital picture frame and electronic device charging station to jump start my need for organization. I love my frame-soooo cool!! Madeline used her AWANA points to buy me a vase and then she and Noella emptied their piggy banks and bought me goodies from Bath and Body. It was sooo sweet to see Noella's heart this year, as she wrote me a letter of intent earlier in the week that she wanted to buy me something special this year. She has never taken her money on her own accord to buy gifts and she is just starting to take joy in this-such a beautiful thing!! She has done so well these past few month choosing gifts for others and giving them joyfully. She also made it a point to tell me "Happy Mother's Day" at least once an hour if not more!! Madeline gave me full body rubs and brushed my hair every time I sat down. She even brought the brush in the car! Such sweethearts!!! The girls painted ma a special mug at Ceramica and Hudson added a footprint! We had such a fun time together. Can't wait to use it!!! We spent the afternoon with Josh's wonderful mom. What a fantastic day. Wish there were more hours as I had a list of places to go and things to do! Just didn't want it to end.

Hudson took his first steps on May first and is at about 6 at a time now. He likes to take my phone and pretend to talk on it. He is such a happy little guy-so much fun! We are really enjoying him. I am so thankful to our gracious Lord for the family He has blessed me with!

Josh and I enjoyed our late night watching The Tudors and just being together.

I am thankful that the Lord has given me motherhood and marriage to work on my character-more selflessness, self control, patience, less pride, more humility. He is sooo faithful!!

Lately

Fun at home with the family: daddy and the girls baked some wonderful oatmeal ch. chip cookies, the girls and I baked our first loaves of sweet white bread-after much fretting that I put in too much flour, they turned out yummy!!, Made 2 sundresses, transformed an old skirt into 2, painted both my finger AND toenails at the same time-this is huge. It just never seems to happen!, lost a baby shoe at Macy's and then had it found! Yes! Thank you Lord!, girls are quickly learning songs by ear on the piano as Josh is on the guitar, spend a day with a couple of wonderful Wheeler girls, mom and dad Sanders are recovering from thumb surgeries,

Noellaisms of the week: "Grouchy Balls" These are the desert tumble weeds we have here in Boise/Kuna.

"The Ball." "It's when she sees him a lot and gets really into him, then wants to marry him."

Love it!! She is such a hoot!

We are over being sick!! Hudson and I still have a little cold, but today is better. The girls had strep and M.E. an ear infection. They just finished their antibiotics and seem to be back to their happy selves. WE have several Easter week traditions and so far we have made resurrection day posters, dyed eggs and made resurrection story cookies.

Hudson is sooo much fun! He will shake his head no to answer various questions and will sign finished. He also waves hello, points to objects for us to name, and makes raspberries. He is making all kinds of sounds. Sometimes he will make the "MMMM" when he comes to see me. He is able to stand on his own and is doing lots of cruising! He loves balls taking objects in and out of boxes.

Josh's brother and his family are coming into town today so we are looking forward to spending time with them. We hope you all have a beautiful Easter. HE IS RISEN!!!

Happy Birthday my sweet Noella Grace

Can't belive she is 5!! She wanted a Swan Lake party so I made her a white tutu and bedazzled her leotard. She is all girl. Just like I was at her age. She loves dance, sparkles, dresses, pretend-- anything pretty. Noella is gifted at art and excels in many sports and acedemics. She is an excellent reader and loves school. She is such an amazing child-a blessing to our family. She is my Bit and my Cuddle Bug. She is HILARIOUS!!!! Love her so much!!

I just felt the Lord leading me to post today...I think He is trying to get my attention in that two of my newest belongings, a necklace and a shirt, have both been totally destroyed this week. Which might not be a big deal if I had a lot of new things, but, I have not purchashed many new things for myself over the past few years. With 3 growing children we need to replace their things more often. I was sad over my shirt- too tired to remember not to put it in the dryer and the necklace, in a hurry to put it on for church, more angry that I needed to pick up lots of small pieces while Hudson was trying his best to fit them nto his mouth. Late for church and once again, not in the right frame of mind when I got there. It was a tough morning once there too. Is the Lord trying to tell me to stay home? More staying home? From church? Wanting me to be even more content? Probably. I have grown sooo much in this area, but he is still working on me. I am thankful that He loves me enough to persist.

The girls and I did a devotion entiltled," Don't Push Away the Goads." I found that goads are pointy stick that farmers would use to drive their oxen down the field. Sometimes God uses situations as goads in our lives to help us see our sin and to repent and change our ways. For me it has been having one car. Now that we have 2, Hudson still does not like being in the car so we still need to spend most of our time at home. I think he is warning me not to enjoy any possessions more that I enjoy my fellowship with Him. He also is telling me to say "NO" to a lot of things. Many good things, but for this time he is leading me to hold off and focus my time at home on my family. Marriage and children are great examples of Gods hand in our lives where he uses them to teach us to be more loving, patient, and especially other focused and to give up our rights.

I was sooooooooooooooooooooooo irritated this week when I ws getting my children out of the truck at Babies R Us and a lady wanted to park in the space next to me. She pulled right up to my stroller (after finding she could not fit into the space because my car door was open as I was getting the 3 kids out) gave me the look and sped around the parking lot to a spot a few cars down. I do not see why it was such a big deal to have to park 5 feet further from the door. We could all use the exercise right? This is one of my biggest beefs with people lately that think they need the spot right next to a car with 3 small children who need help getting in and out (especially after my baby has been screaming to get out). If I see a car loading kids I will find another spot to park. The Lord wants me to be loving to these people, but I am feeling mad!! Won't you all pray that I will have a kinder heart towards people who want to park next to us:)

Babble, Skate and Worship

I forgot to post about Josh's guitar playing last time. He has been working on several new songs and is getting quite good. He made a few really cool worship tapes and can play many of the songs now. He just learned Revelation Song this week. Really in one night ,as Josh is a night owl and will stay up late playing guitar and watching Heroes or 24. It is so sweet to have family worship time together and have him be able to play the guitar. I am looking forward to having him play at our campfires.

Hudson just started babbling-like last night. We gave him Cheerios and a biter biscuit and off he went with the babbling! Sure beats the screaming....don't know if he'll abandon that just yet....As I am sitting here he is crawling full speed across the living room into see my and pull on the many cords attached to the computer and laying around the office. He also tried to shut the computer off. He has crawled all the way across the floor at least 4 times already!

Today we went to the Nampa Roller Drome with the Johnsons and Carrolls. We also got to visit with Carrie, her children and the Gammon family. It sure was cool to see how much fun the girls had. They both did well. Madeline really likes skating. I think the ice skating lessons have helped her to roller skate too. They played Limbo, and speed skate and Hokey Pokey. We will definitely have to go again next month. My camera is on its last legs so I couldn't get any clear pictures this time. Maybe next month we will have a new camera!!

I really want to post something profound, but for now this is it!! Hope you are all having a great January!

Well we've kinda been hermits since Hudson was born. We have had one reliable car and it is a Civic and very challenging to fit all 3 children in it and go make more than 1 stop. Hudson does not like riding in the car and will most likely let us know by crying until we get out of the car.

Madeline and Noella were sitting at the table at lunch and I overheard them discussing the meaning of a hypothesis and a paleontologist. All this learning from the show Dinosaur Train!!

These days they are into making up all sorts of pretend games, Petshop/My Little Pony, and babies. Hudson is crawling as of last week and is working on his 4th tooth. He is also taking naps in his crib with only 20 minutes or less of crying!!! Yippee!!!

Yesterday I made dumplings for dinner. I had never made them. It was quick and easy with only a few ingredients and little prep. time. Monday I made oatmeal raisin cookies which I had been trying to make for at least the last 2 years and everytime I go to make them, the girls tell me, "Mommy we don't like raisins,would you make chocolate chip?" So of course I make the chocolate chip and then never get around to the oatmeal raisin. I am trying to get back into cooking again as Hudson has been happy now that he can crawl around.

Today we picked put the tulle for Noella's swan lake tutu. This is my next project. She is wanting to have a Swan Lake party for her 5th birthday next month. I will post pictures when I get it finished in a week or so. I have seen so many cute projects on various Blogs lately, but am just so tired by the time the kids go to bed, I just wind up falling asleep. I really need to make it a prioroty to get some exercise each day. We did go on a walk to the park yesterday and picked up a bag ful of garbage around the neighborhood-does that count?!!!!