Happy 5th birthday, Bluebird!

Oh, my, where has five years gone?!  I still remember crawling into the doctor's office, sick as a dog, eager for some relief of some sort, only to stumble out later in a daze after being told I was pregnant with my second baby (and no relief for the next 8 months, haha!).  She decided to have her own style from the very start, showing herself off full-breech and refusing to move and sending mommy off for her first cesarean.  She came out weighing 6 lbs. 15 oz., 19 inches long, head full of dark hair.  We named her Madison Blue (Blue after her great-grandma), not knowing how perfectly that name would fit our blue-eyed beauty.

She turned our worlds upside-down, making our family fuller, our days busier, and her sister a big sister!  She keeps us laughing with her nutty sense of humor, and has made me realize that children come out with a personality all of their own and it's best to accept it and embrace it and try to channel it in the right direction if at all possible.  I get lost in her blue eyes, amazed by her sweet and giving nature, and my days are filled with joy as I listen to that infectious giggle and watch her dance and twirl and create... she is my free-spirit with the biggest heart, and I'm blessed to be her mommy.

In the past year I've watched my bluebird grow and mature from a preschooler into a little girl.  She went from the baby to being a big sister in a big way, and has embraced that role with full enthusiasm.  She's eager to help, eager to please, eager to pray, eager to praise God, and makes me so proud every day.

Maze Craze

Hooray for last minute surprise field trips!  We were blessed to tag along with LCA to Maze Craze in Hallsboro today... the girls (and mommy) and a blast!

Racing duckies with the hand water pumps

Excited girls!

Raegan

So determined!

Riding the barrel train!

Maddie in the maze

Hayride!

Harper and Mommy on the barrel train

Pedal car racing

Rae in the maze

Maddie's favorite- the bouncy balls!

Climbing the hay bales

My loves

Halloween 2013- Harper's First!

 Making memories for Halloween... We dressed the kiddos up in the costumes of their choice, then went to trick-or-treat in the grandparents' neighborhoods!

My oldest girl, who wanted to be an Air Force soldier like her dad

My middle baby, an Indian "queen" (she was not satisfied with just being a princess)

And my youngest in her first costume!

Digging in the candy bowl at Grammy's

Shocked that we let her have it!

And she dumped her candy in the floor and proceeded to roll in it.

Home school Day #1

We survived our very first day of home school today!  It was a busy, busy day... I was slightly over-zealous and had several crafty projects for us to do for the first day of school, so school took a pretty long time!  Day one in a nutshell was a learning experience... for Mom.  I realized that my organization system didn't really work well for me, that it will take some time for my girls to see this as school and not play school, and that a four-year old's attention span is all of about 30-seconds at a time.  However, despite all of the glitches and mishaps, we spent an entire day together in one room with lots of laughter and talking and very little arguing and fighting.  I learned that my girls are amazing... they have a hunger for learning, they're inquisitive, they're eager to please, and they have very generous hearts.  There may a lot of trial and error in our upcoming days, but it's worth every minute as we learn and grow together as a family.

Our "classroom"

All my girls ready for our first day!

Raegan came out dressed in one of her old school uniforms... go figure!

And Maddie chose to spend the entire day in her pajamas, of course!

Working hard

At the end of the day, Raegan still wanted to stay at the school table... I think she likes it!

Things I want to remember about our past two weeks

1. We officially made a 100% commitment to home school the girls this year (4th grade for Raegan, PreK for Maddie).  We submitted our application and received approval, started setting up our "class room," and ordered curriculum.  We've received great confirmation that this is the right decision for our family this year, yet I'm still a nervous wreck!  Praying that I don't ruin my daughter's educational future....

2. The big girls spent a couple of nights getting spoiled at Mimi's house while Harper and I visited Kirby in Fayetteville while he finished up his seasonal training for the Air Force.  It was Harper's first hotel experience, and she was a perfect angel!

3.  Maddie informed me the other night that she could hear the sand.  Naturally, I had no clue what she was talking about, so I inquired further.  "Mommy, when God made me, I think He left some sand in the way back of my teeth because I can hear it."  So precious!  (Of course, it turned out to be her tube falling out of her ear, not sand, but it was still a cute idea!)

4. Haleigh and Noah (my niece and nephew) came to spend the night early in the week, and I discovered some very important things.  First, a houseful of kids can be crazy, but lots of fun.  Second, my husband and I make a really good team when it comes to managing a houseful of kids- I am very blessed.  This man who knew absolutely nothing about children and was so uneasy around them when we started dating is amazing with them now and is the biggest help!  Lastly, that wild little Noah whom I absolutely love reminded me how very different boys are from girls.  As a mom to all girls, it was an eye-opening experience to attempt to wrangle him for an evening!

 

5.  My girls attended a gymnastics birthday party and I learned that they have been "blessed" with their mother's lack of coordination and athletic ability.  It's a good things they're cute and smart.

6.  We discovered the Early Jazz station on Pandora.  Enough said.

7.  Maddie apparently has a major aversion to peas (and quite a dramatic flair)...

The many faces of eating A pea.

 and #8... No matter what happens or how crazy life gets or how impossible things seem (from home schooling to bribing children to eat peas), it's all about HIM.  I'm not able to accomplish much in my own power, but through His strength I can conquer the world....

      Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

-Ephesians 3:20-21

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

-Philippians 4:13

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

-2 Corinthians 12:9

 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

-Matthew 19:26

Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.  In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

-I Chronicles 29:12

You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
    the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

-Psalms 68:35