My Mothers Birthday

   

We went to Arlington the weekend after Christmas. We had a little family celebration that Saturday evening with my aunts and Uncles and then Sunday evening on my mother's birthday eve, we went to the mall, shopped around, and then met aunt mimi and celebrated her birthday at the cheesecake factory. It was cold and drizzly but still a nice evening. 

And So this is Christmas......

Here are some home decor pics from this year. I actually only have one pic from Christmas day. We did things a bit different this year. We discussed how blessed they are throughout the year and especially after two of them just having had birthdays, that maybe we should let Santa do the bigger things on other kids who don't have very much all year. Instead Santa just did stockings and mom and dad got them three gifts each to unwrap.  It was really fun to actually unwrap! The idea is to slowly take the focus away from gifts. Eventually I would like to make it just one gift and instead do acts of service with the money we would have otherwise used for their gifts. They are still young and I want them to enjoy the magic of Santa but I don't want them to grow up thinking Christmas is about getting.  They got up long before us and opened their stockings so I have no pics of that! We went to Trent's parents the night before and had a wonderful meal followed by gift opening there and lots of sitting by the fireplace :) Christmas Day we stayed home all day and just played games and watched movies! It was wonderful!

bakers rack in kitchen, new baker santa from my mother

olivias tree in her room

Tybo at 10

My blonde blue eyed freckle face precious boy. Where did he come from? Looks wise he is other people in my family, personality, all me- bless his heart. He is a slob. Takes the easy way out every time, wears his heart on his sleeve. Dramatic, extremely sensitive, wants to make sure you know his feelings about everything but especially on how much he loves you.  He absolutely hates morning and getting up on weekdays. He is not like me in that he is eager to try new things, likes to be alone, do his own thing, and is one of the most secure people I have ever met. He is drawn to people that others are not. He does not enjoy reading but does it. He LOVES basketball and is pretty good at it! He loves to make people laugh, especially younger kids. He has an incredible love for The Lord and is really into His word. His favorite person is our preacher. He sat by him every chance he got at camp this past summer. He chose to be with him over other kids. A lot of people were concerned about him because of this but I was not, its who he is. He says he wants to be a preacher when he grows up. I have no doubt that he will be if he continues that desire. He has a significant stutter. He goes to therapy and others have reached out to him because of it. He loves to write and draw, and is talented in both. His favorite thing to play is legos and 'Percy Jackson' when outside. His favorite game is Mind Craft on his ipod- I do not understand it at all but he loves to show me what he has done on it! He is an INCREDIBLE big brother. His best friend by far is Olivia and they do great together. He loves to help Levi and get crazy with him too! Ty is someone I would want to be friends with if I were not his mom. I pray that he never changes and holds on to who he is in adulthood. I love that he is not of the world. I hope he never is.

Michael Ty turns double digits!

My first born. 

He chose Der Weiner Schitzel, fast food hot dog place for his birthday meal! We went for ice cream afterward at Baskin and Robbins. It was actually the night before his birthday. We also took him food to school for lunch, our same ensemble. I know I say this every year but I really can't believe he has been around  decade!!! Weird. He was the best pregnancy, hardest sleeper, yet most sensitive person in our family.  

Olivia at age 8

My girl. She is loving dolls, getting dressed up, picking her clothes, loves to wear lipgloss, has developed a real joy of cooking, and has such a giving servant heart. I love spending time with her. She is so easy to be around. We have fun just going to the store. She is the one who keeps me grounded in what is really important. God uses her to remind me of how to really be blessed by Him in this life.Her humor and logic remind me so much of her dad. She plays so well with both of her brothers in completely different ways. I think she will end up being close to both of them as adults. She does well in school and has many friends. There is a little boy who gave her a homemade birthday card with $5 in it to buy her something nice! His name is Gage, just precious.  She has become close friends with Carsynn Lawrence who we go to church with. They are great together. Carsynn is very similar to Olivia in her likes and personality. She still loves her best friend Rylan who moved to central Texas, we still see her when she visits her family here and hope to make a mother daughter trip to see her sometime this summer. He mommy is my friend too!

I can truly say that I feel honored to be Livi's mother. She is beautiful inside and out and that has absolutely nothing to do with me! I thank God for her everyday and pray protection over her as well as the blessing of being surrounded by Godly people throughout her life to be examples of His Love and Character and to help keep her accountable when I am not there. I also pray that others see His light in her and are blessed by His spirit in her.

Olivia's 8th birthday

Olivia's 8th birthday was November 11th. It was on a Monday, Trent and I, and Trent's parents came to school and took her, her favorite Taco Villa at lunch. Meme and G brought her cookies. That night she had dance and her daddy worked late so we had an impromptu party with our dance friends at Chick Fil A. I got red velvet cupcakes and a fun time. Two weeks later we had a combined party with Ty at Body Works Adrenaline City. They each invited 5 friends and we had cupcakes there as well. Although they are 23 months a part but actual dates are just a month a part. 

Trent and I's gift to her was a desk I found on Craig's List that I painted and got accessories. She now can do her homework in her own room and not be bothered by her little brother. I am slowly bringing her room to a bigger girl look, one used upcycled item at a time!

Halloween

 our traditional pappa murphys jack-o-pizza

this year with the Hanks

 Levi the shark, Livi the owl, and Ty as Robin

 the neighborhood gang and cousins

We were back by 9 so these two passed out candy while the lil shark passed out on the couch.  

I absolutely love our neighborhood and especially at this time of year. We have two families that are close to our hearts and houses who our close to ours that we have trick-or-treated with for the last four years! Our cousins, twins Avery and Sidney are closest to our kids age come as well and it makes for such an enjoyable evening. The only tradition that did not happen this year was for my parents to be here passing out candy :(

October

 got my hair did- ombre and thick bangs

 porch decor

 we painted pumpkins

 the spider webs were out of control

 Floydada Pumpkin Patch

 First time on an airplane!

 The Original Pancake House, Salt Lake City, UTAH

 Dad's fave- THE DUTCH BABY

 Waterfall at the Morman Conference Center

 Park City Mountains

roller coster down the mountain!