Interesting Week!

Monday was our last day of break.  We met little and big A at the mall for some Build a Bear fun.  Harper picked out a horsey, Turner a batman bear, and Maddie a purple rabbit.  They had gotten gift cards from there for Christmas and used their money to pay the rest!  There is a little ride outside the store that the babies kept getting on wanting to ride.  I didn't have a dollar and wasn't going to swipe my card.  Sweet Turner paid for them to ride it.  He even let Maddie get on while he just watched.  He can be the sweetest boy!
  We then ate at the food court and Megs and her crew headed out.  One of our friends and her crew there jumping on the trampoline when we walked by.  I had already told the kids we weren't going to do that today.  We ran into some friends and she absolutely insisted on paying for Maddie and Turner to jump.  They loved it and I really appreciated it.  I think it was just as much a blessing to her to be able to do it as it was for me to let her:)  It gets better...she then took the big kids home with her while I took Harper home for a nap.  We don't do many play dates where I am not there.  I know the kids loved it and I enjoyed my little break.  So thankful for this family for multiple reasons.
  Tuesday we had to get back in our routine and everyone had a pretty good week.  It is funny how quickly we can get out of routine.  Turner got an ant farm for Christmas and I can't tell you how much we all like watching them.  One of us can often be found just staring them.  Who knew ants could be so much fun?
  A high of the week was Kevin's grandmother passed her swallow test and is eating small amounts of regular food.  Praise the Lord!!  It has been 4 months and this is huge!  Praying she continues to take steps in the right direction.  A low was Wednesday night Mimi's knee went out and she has a torn meniscus.  Surgery is in her near future, but hopefully she will feel good as new soon.  The kids are impressed with her crutches.
  Another low....a family that used to go to our church received bad news about their son.  He is Harper's age and has been given 6 weeks to 6 months to live.  It is heartbreaking and their faith through this is absolutely inspiring.  I can't imagine being in their shoes and our whole family is praying.  Hours before I found out I was complaining about making the kids lunches every day.  I know now this is a privilege and one that I should not take care for granted.  We are never guaranteed tomorrow, but short of a miracle, their days are definitely numbered with their precious boy.
  Turner played basketball today and tomorrow is Maddie's first competiton of the season.  She is nervous and I am nervous for her.  The girls have worked so hard and I just hope they are proud of themselves once it is over.  A lot of sweat is shed at the gym.  Also, Harper has had what looks like hives the past two days.  Praying it goes away by itself or we might be heading to the doctor.  My kids have the weirdest skin issues!  I will post more tomorrow.

A Brief Visit!!

Tonight my kids received the sweetest surprise with a visit from their Nay Nay.  It has been a few years since they have seen her and for me too minus a quick hug last year.  It did our hearts good.
  It has brought back many memories.  I remember crying for days when I found out the Smith family was moving to St. Louis.  My children's Nay Nay, who had become one of my best friends was leaving.  The thought of it was almost unbearable to me.  Looking back and seeing God's timing in everything is amazing.  As difficult as it was to say goodbye, it would have been so much harder had I been still working.
  I chose to say goodbye to the corporate world and spend time at home with the kids.  I remember the day I quit calling Jene crying telling her I wasn't going to work anymore.  As much as I loved sending the kids to her, I loved the thought of being home with them more.  The next few months I would send them for a day here and there so they wouldn't totally get out of their routine.  I knew eventually I would have to go back to work and Jene is where I would want them to go while I was at work.
  Then Shane got transferred to Saint Louis.  The Smith family, who felt like part of ours, was moving away.  It has been three years and I remember it like yesterday.  I am so thankful God allowed me to find someone to care for my babies like her own while I was at work.  I am so thankful for her friendship and the many afternoons I would stay an hour just to chat when I picked the kiddos up.
  We don't catch up near as often as we should, but seeing her tonight was like we hadn't skipped a beat.  She met Harper tonight for the first time.  I am back at work, but the big kids are in school and Harper gets to go with me.  What an awesome God we serve.  He knew all the details when I did not.  He is so faithful and I am so grateful!
  We are headed to Saint Louis next month for a gymnastics meet and I can't wait to see the Smith family again.  We love them and they all played a big part in our big kids "baby years".  What a great ending to our Christmas break!

Christmas in Savannah!

We are home from having Christmas.in Savanah...it was a whirlwind.  We were able to spend time with a bunch of the family and had a good time.  Big Da came home from the boat the day we got there.  Our kids were able to spend time with all 4 of their great grandparents, which is incredible to me.  Granny Francis has had a hard 4 months and it was a joy to get pictures of them with her in her new home.  We don't know what tomorrow holds for any of us, but we are thankful for today.  I am thankful for the memories my children will have with family that loves them so much.
  We played with cousins, ate a ton, and enjoyed being together.  We don't get to Savannah as often as we would like, but I think we make each minute count.  We stayed up late, and even slept later than usual.  Harper slept till 9 one morning!  Maddie received a new game, Apples to Apples Disney version, and the kids love playing it.  We also shot fireworks on New Years Eve which was fun.
  I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked, but I do have a few to share.  Christmas 2014 was one for the books and we look forward to the next year!

Fun During Break!

We have had fun being off school and hanging out at the house. The kids have spent several hours outside shooting Turner's gun at homemade targets.  We also ate at Chili's one day for lunch and spent an afternoon at Chuck E Cheeses.  Before Christmas Maddie and I saw the new Annie movie and loved it.  The kids also decorated gingerbread cookies at our house and made them again with Mimi.  Taking advantage of the time we have as a family and loving it.  We are currently in Savannah and are having Christmas with them tomorrow.  Will post more on that when it happens:)

Christmas at Mimi and Boo Boo's!

We headed to Mimi and Boo Boo's for brunch and to exchange gifts with them and Megs and her crew.  It was another fun filled chaotic event.  Mimi and Boo Boo sent the kids on a fun scavenger hunt where new memberships to the zoo were found at the end.  We were all excited as they got lots of use last year.
  Maddie got a sewing machine and can't wait for Mimi to teach her how to use it.  Turner got a BB gun which has already gotten lots of use and Harper received a sweet monkey baby that she loves.  The cousins exchanged too and it is always fun to watch them play.
  We have had a pretty full year and it was so nice to have everyone healthy and together at Christmas.  I am so thankful for both sides of my family and truly cherish the time we spend together.  We hung out till about noon and then headed home to play play play!

Christmas Morning!

Like a kid, I was up bright and early just waiting on the kids to come get us out of bed.  This is also one night Turner won't join us in the middle of the night.  He is scared Santa might see him....Maddie said when she woke up his head was buried under his pillows.  Silly boy!  Harper on the other hand, was snug as a bug in between Kevin and I.
  It was almost 7 before they came and woke us up.  Daddy always gets the video camera and goes ahead of us and let's them know Santa has been here.  All 3 kids run down the hall screaming and chaos begins.  I love it!
  The kids were thrilled and the playing began.  Turner's big things were a keyboard and a 360 bike.  Maddie received a karaoke machine and a floor beam.  Harper loves her new tent and baby dolls with stroller.  Mimi and Boo Boo stopped by to see everything.  
  We played at the house till about 10 when it was time to head to Mimi and Boo Boo's.  Did it mention it was Jesus's birthday?  Thank you God for sending our Savior!!  What a glorious day!