Surprise?!

So I know I had a spring snow picture on here just the other day but...we got a half inch and it melted within a half hour, then it was sunny...Today we woke up to this! We already have more than an inch out there! And it is coming down heavy! And it is April 21st. Did you hear that?! APRIL 21ST!! I thought for sure moving to Eastern WA that spring would come in March and I would be posting all these sunny day pictures making my west side friends uber jealous as they sat in the incessant rain...that's what I get. :) Anyway the boys are out attempting to build a snowman at 8 in the morning while Lyla Jane and I snuggle in a cozy blanket and blog. Did I mention the forecast calls for sunny 60 degree weather tomorrow and Saturday? I wonder if it'll happen...Happy Spring from Spokane!

Thank you, Lord.

#65 My husband who is always here, even when the evening goes rough..

#67 The great wrestle..

#68 Forgiveness, full forgiveness..

#76 Babies..

#78 Robins in the grass..

#82 A certain little boys' love for reading..

#85 Tall tree shadows..

#89 Blooming Easter lily..

#90 Heaven, missing my Grandpa Bruce..

#91 An almost 2 yr. old's ever changing, and quite entertaining mind..

Spring?

April 18th in Spokane...Yes that's snow on the ground!

Spring!

Well so far this spring has been quite busy! But it has been so fun having people come stay with us and also making a couple trips! We had 3 weekends in a row with visitors in February from our friend Kristina and her kids, Chuck and Robin and then John, Krystal and Lydia! Then in March we had my sister here for a week and a half and the next weekend headed out to Idaho! The kids and I stayed with my amazing friend Rachel and her kids while the guys went on a 4 day hike in Hell's Canyon. April Started with a visit from Bob Usher! We all went to Missoula, Montana together for a meeting filled with great preaching and sweet fellowship. And last weekend the kids and I made a trip to the westside! I wish it could have been for a week! I didn't get to see everyone, and that makes me so sad! It is super hard to try and see all your family and friends in a 3 day trip! I did the best I could with 3 kids by myself, we stayed 3 different places and were busy all day everyday. But it was such a blast! And the kids did so well for skipping naps and sleeping in a different place each night :) I am so blessed!! I absolutely LOVE having people come stay here, so if you haven't yet...COME!! Please? Thomas is heading off to AZ on Easter weekend and the Sconyers are planning to come at the end of the month, and May will bring the Murillos! CAN NOT WAIT :) Tis a happy spring indeed!

spring thus far...in pictures

Sugar Detox 2011...CHECK!

Well, the eight weeks of no sugar is done! And No, I didn't quite skip all the sugar...but most! In fact, I can honestly say that sugary treats don't even taste quite as good as they used to. Nor do I want to eat up every sugary delight placed in front of me. Which is a good thing, a very good thing! I still love to have my chai tea everyday, and an occasional Starbucks treat. But all in all I think this was very good for me. And for future I definitely want to try to use natural substitutes in baking and such. So a big THANK YOU! to Donielle @ http://www.naturallyknockedup.com/blog/ for putting this together!!

Never A Dull Moment. 5

So goes my day. And I am so tired. Dragging. Teaching Elijah about Abram and Lot. Ethan is learning his letters. Lyla Jane is following me around whining and wanting nothing but for me to hold her all day, which is hard. But she is sick so I try to understand. Finally lunch time comes. And that means nap time is next, and not that I want to get rid of my little darlings but today I would like to take a nap too. Hoping anyway. So I am getting lunch ready and Ethan turns on his whines. He wants milk. Milk. Milk. Milk. Mama I want milk. Mama? Mama! Mama...You get the idea. I am ignoring him until I hear the right request. Elijah is singing at the table, where he does his school, I-I-I'm done. I-I-I'm done again and again and again....and again. He is ready for me to check his work. I am ignoring him too. Then I hear Lyla chime in mommy, mommy, MAMA MOMMY! MOMMY!!! I also ignore her. Now I am almost laughing out loud because it is getting louder and more chaotic by the second. Then it gets quiet. *SIGH* See! Ignoring does work sometimes. The boys are now talking about baseball at the table. Nice. So I finish up with lunch. And then I hear a spill. Right next to me. Lyla Jane opened the cupboard, took out the big bag of peanuts, took off the clamp, and dumped the entire bag out. All while I was "ignoring" her! ... Now everyone is at the table ready to eat. Elijah's prayer goes like this... "Dear God, Please bless this food and just bless this day and um help us to have a good day and just help me and Ethan to not quarrel like Abram and Lot's men. And give Papa a good day. And help us learn something at church tonight. And bless this food and in Jesus name amen." I can't help but smile. In all the chaos some things, good things are sticking. And I am thankful.

"Pretty"

I love that I can finally do things with her hair! She looks in the mirror and says, "pretty".

CONGRATULATIONS to You!!

Thank you Thomas for all you're hard work!! We love you and are very proud of you!! Congrautlations on your raise!!!

Smooth Sailing

Do you ever feel like everything is going so great that it may at any moment just fall apart? Well that is how I feel today. Things have been rough for a little while. In my heart that is. I have just been struggling extra. But it went away. Praise the Lord!! I feel like I got a little victory over worry. And now for the last week or so, things have been so great. And whenever this happens I usually have a big let down. So then the worry starts to creep in again! Viscious cycle. So please pray for me if you think about it :) I believe there is great power in prayer! And I want lasting victory. And to keep this sweet joy in my everyday! Thanks dear friends and loved family!!

Sugar detox...

Well. Here I am week half way through week 5. Last week was to completely cut out all refined sugars, even the organic ones. And this week is cutting out all quick breads...pancakes, waffles, muffins. Pretty much any bread made without yeast of some sort...I love pancakes. And why is it I never think about something until I want to exclude it?! I went to Starbucks just the other day and got a peppermint white chocolate mocha{probably full of HFCS}...and a muffin. A muffin?! I NEVER get those. Oh well. It was a special occasion after all. I mean, I was getting a treat for the boys...anyway I really do want to better my diet and eat less, WAY less sugars. And as much as I really have cut back, this is just a lot harder than I thought! So anyway on I go...On the upside I have bought LOTS of organic produce the last couple weeks and we have had salad with every dinner! Yes even the kids :)

The boys being boys!

Our little Lyla Jane is a little handful!

Ben Bur Park!

We have a great park right by us! Just a 10 minute walk. And today was perfect for a walk to the park! Cool but not cold. A good work-out for yours truly...double stroller helps. Thomas went to men's prayer meeting/breakfast this morning, so we decided it would be fun to take a walk. And a perfect chance for me to play with my new camera!! So here is our afternoon in pictures...

Seven Years...

Happy 7th anniversary to us! What a beautiful experience we have shared. We are more in love today, this day, than ever before. We have not always put the Lord first in our personal lives and I believe that is cause for disaster, as we have experienced at times. But we have learned and praise the Lord we have made it 7 years already! I am sure that if the Lord tarries we will have many, many more wonderful years together. True love is selfless work and so, so worth it all!! Here's to many more happy anniversaries to us!