Brothers, Balance and Blessings! Part 1

Brothers: Do you know what it is like to have a house full of boys? Of coarse my house is not all boys but with 3 boys it is a house full of them. I don't know what brothers are like because I was an only child. Some days I could pinch all three of them. Big brother is always wanting to win, be first, and doesn't quite understand how to not make the others holler. I have to remind him that they are watching him and that they are his disciples. Sometimes he acts 3 instead of 9 (he will be 9 this month). Then he is the brother who made my bed (did a GREAT job) this morning, helped me pick blueberries, likes to come and snuggle with me & still wants to rub noses with his mommy (sometimes). There is Middle brother who doesn't mind hollering as loud as he can when something doesn't go his way & likes to tell me "NO". He is the brother that is not afraid of anything and is always doing something (sometimes it is something he is not suppose to be doing, like trying to pull up the carpet). This is my most stubborn child (surely he couldn't not be out done) and doesn't like for anyone to tell him what to do (he is quick to say "You are not my boss"). Then he is the brother who loves for me or his daddy to read to him, lights up when I go to get him from his class at church, gives the best hugs (squeezes), has even made my bed by himself a time or two (doesn't look as good as when big brother does it, but it is the love that went in to it) and today when he got up from his nap came running to sit with me and love on me!! Middle brother also loves to give hugs and kisses to little brother (even if little brother doesn't want them). Now there is little brother who thinks he is as big as the other two. This boy can scream like none of the other kids, he is the one that has wanted me to hold him most of today, the one that I thought would never sleep through the night and he is the one that loves to get into things he is not suppose to be in (playing with cell phones or the computer). Little brother is also the one who can mess up any game that the big kids are playing and it drives them crazy. Then this is the boy who loves to give loving (and some of the best) when he gets up in the morning or from a nap. He is the one who can give you a smile that will melt your heart, can throw things away (not always things that are suppose to be thrown away) for you, enjoys helping pick things up (he thinks it is a game) and this is the boy who we can take anywhere and he loves it. These boys are a great joy to me and also what God is using to bring balance to me. (Part 2 (Balance) coming soon!)

Chicken Pot Pie

Thought I would share one of our favorite meals with you. It is real easy and very tasty. Hope you might try it and that you will enjoy it!

-boneless skinless chicken (3 breast give or take) cooked and shredded (I cook mine in the crock pot all day and then it falls apart when I get ready to shred it)

-1 lb bag of frozen mixed vegetables

-1 Can of cream of chicken soup

-1 can of cream of mushroom soup (you could use cream of celery instead)

-Salt and pepper to taste

-2 frozen deep dish pie crust (they come in a pack of two)

Cook and shred your chicken and mix in your cans of soup. Cook your vegetables and mix them in with the chicken mixture. While your veggies are cooking put out your pie crust so they will thaw out. Add salt and pepper to your liking. Mix really well (mixture will be thick) and then pour in to first pie crust. Invert second pie crust on top. Poke holes with fork in top crust. Place on cookie sheet (in case it bubbles over some) and bake at 400 for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Blueberry Picking!

This morning the kids and I went to pick blueberries! What fun we had! Actually a couple in our church (the people we rent from) told us that we could come one day and pick some blueberries. Well today ended up being the best day for us and it worked well for them! So we loaded up and headed to their house, what a beautiful home they have, and Mrs. Tysh helped us get started. The kids were so excited!! After a while Sarah was ready to visit with the horses and Elijah of coarse wanted to tag along, Timothy was just hanging out and Isaac was busy faithfully picking blueberries. We were out there about 45 minutes when the smaller 3 had had enough of the heat and Mrs. Tysh took them in while Isaac and I finished up. Isaac did so well and hung in there and picked right along with me, never complained, not one time! Isaac and I picked for another 10 minutes and then headed inside. We were greeted with a nice cup of cold water, how refreshing. We ended up with about 1 and 1/2 gallons of blueberries. We enjoyed our morning and the sweet fellowship with Mrs. Tysh.

Birthday Girl!

Our baby girl!

Sarah is 1 in this picture

Her & her scooter

Opening the gift from parents

I think she was a "little" excited :)

Sarah's cake

The girls after they had played a game

Waiting to blow out that candle

Having FUN!!

It is so sad to believe that our girl is getting older. Sarah had a great birthday and enjoyed everything about it. On Thursday, which was her actual birthday, we gave her a scooter. She was so surprised and could not wait to ride it! She also received a package from my parents that had plenty of surprises in it and then for supper we celebrated with our Pastor and his family, him and Sarah share a birthday. On Friday we took her out for lunch to the restaurant of her choice, we all enjoyed that. The waitress even brought her a desert that was big enough for us all to enjoy! Finally on Saturday night Sarah had her birthday party with her friends. She invited 4 little girls from church and they had the best time playing together. We ate pizza, played a game, the girls played dress up and then we had birthday cake! We did something a little different this year...we asked that for a gift the girls bring a chritian book (age appropiate) and then I made up a story that included alot of the words left and right. The girls formed a circle and as I read they passed the gift (book) they brought to either the left or the right. At the end of the story which ever book each girl was holding that is the one that got to open. After Sarah reads them at home we are going to donate the books to our church library for all the girls to enjoy! Everything turned out so well. :) I have told of Sarah playing T-Ball, well last week (Wednesday) her picture was in the paper. It was such a great picture. It is a picture of her tagging someone out, a really great action shot. Wish I could post it.

First Haircut

Actually it was a hair trim! :) Timothy has had this hair right on the back of his neck that was flipping up in a curl around his little ears. Don't get me wrong I thought it was cute, especially on him, but I did not want it to grow so long that it covered up his whole ear (I am sure it wouldn't have). So the other night before I put him in the bath tub, I gave him a little trim on the back. Now he looks like a little man!! Really he does look very clean cut and very neat.

On the pregnancy note: I think I have felt the baby move some. It is only those small little (like butterflies) moves I am feeling. I have been feeling better and only am sick a little each day. I am 14 weeks now and looking forward to that next Dr. visit. I also am wearing some maternity clothes already....this is my 5th pregnancy, I have to remind myself.

One last thing....we went to some friends house last night for supper. These friends go to our church and I realized that we have eaten at alot of people's house from the church. I love it and have enjoyed every one of them. Everyone that has invited us over has made us feel so welcome, the food was very delicious and the fellowship was more than sweet. Our family is looking forward to more times of fellowship with our church family!!

A surprise visit

Sarah with her grandparents

Elijah and Gigi

Isaac loves being with my parents! (Sorry mom that you blinked in the pic) :)

I love this picture of Gigi and Timothy

And this is what Gigi saw out our window on Friday morning (do you see what we saw?)

Sarah has been palying T-ball, but one thing that is not good about living far away from family is that grandparents don't get to come to all the games. BUT...my parents and Bryan's mom surprised her with a visit to see her play ball! I wish I could have captured the look on Sarah's face when she saw them walk in our house. She was sooooo surprised and excited! They did get to see her play and then spent the night and hung out with us until after lunch the next day.

As we were sitting and talking on Friday morning, Gigi realized that there was a snake on the tree outside our front window! Praise the Lord, Bryan had not left for VBS yet and my wonderful hubby took care of that snake for us (me). :)

We had so much fun spending time with Paw, Maw and Gigi. It was so nice that they were able to come and visit and get to see Sarah play ball. It is not great living far away from family, but I am so thankful we don't live so far that they can't come for a short visit!!

Thank you Paw, Maw and Gigi for coming and being with us. We loved every minute of it and so glad we got to make some memories. We love you all so very much. We are blessed by each of you!

Post #100

I can't believe it...this is my 100th post! To celebrate I have updated some things on our blog so be sure to look it over. I have enjoyed blogging so much and always look forward to seeing updates from those we follow, reading comments from those who follow our blog and just being able to some what keep track of all that goes on here.

I want to thank each of you for keeping up with our family and for taking the time to read our blog. I also want to thank those who have been faithful to leave comments, what an encouragement and blessing. It is so good to hear from each of you.

I am looking forward to another 100+ post more! I know that my kids and I will be able to remember what was happening at this time in our lives. Please keep checking in with us and feel free to leave a comment or two and feel free to become one of those who bless and encourage us by being a "Follower"!

Until next time....