Ideas and a Quick Trip

Friday I mentioned an issue we were having at our house, and I was surprised to hear how many of you struggle with the same thing.  Sometimes as moms we feel so alone, and it’s always encouraging to hear from you and know that we all have issues and we’re just trying to do the best we can without completely screwing our kids up! :)

I’m positive that my children will look back one day and blame their idiosyncrasies on me, and they’ll probably be justified in that.  I do, however, hope that one day they realize I did my best at loving and raising a bunch of maniacs to love the Lord and treat each other with kindness and respect.  I also hope they have children JUST LIKE THEMSELVES! :)  My mom wished that on me.  Guess what…her name is Lilly Katherine…and I don’t know what I would do without her.  (Except maybe get a little more sleep.)

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So, in an attempt to not have another week like last week there are two little things that I thought I would share with you.

#1.  I bought this precious plate for less than $10 and my intended purpose was to use it as a serving platter.  However, I realized it would be a great plate to display our family memory verse  by the kitchen table.

I know that having it here, we will see it daily, can refer to it as needed, and we will all be more likely to learn it if we all see it together.  All you need is a plate and a dry-erase marker.  We will learn one verse at a time, so when we’ve learned verse 29 I’ll erase it and write verse 30.  There is nothing more precious than hearing the Word of God come from the mouth of a 2-year old.

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#2.  I was going through a STACK of old magazines this weekend and happened upon another mom who was struggling with her son doing homework.  She made a “special” homework spot for her son in the bathtub, and so we did the same.

We have 2 bathtubs in our house.  The girls bathe in one, and the other sits empty collecting dust and dead flies.  Lovely thought.  Anyway, I have converted it into Preston’s Bathtub Book Nook.  Since Preston and LK share a room, one of them is upset if he is trying to read in his bed.  This way, Preston has his own space, he can shut the door, he has a clock, he can eat his snack without me stressing out about crumbs, and he is HAPPY!  (Do you see that little smile?!?!  WHEW!)

Now, I’ll let you know how long it lasts, but I think that creating a space just for him that is comfy and quiet will help.

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Now onto a few pics of our weekend.  We made a QUICK trip to visit my grandparents in Mississippi Arkansas.  We still say “we’re going to Mississippi” when we visit them, though they have moved 10 miles away over the MS River into Arkansas.  Anyway, we got to spend time with a few of my cousins (Amy Lauren and Brett and their families) and a few Aunts and Uncles.  It was a fun, fast, furious trip, and I took very few pics.   I am sad that I don’t have a single picture of my sweet MamaSara and Papa!

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Emma-Kate, AnnaLeigh, and Lilly Katherine

I love this little guy, Noble!

Girls…going bananas!

My big bug wanted to fish so badly.  He talked about it the whole drive to MamaSara and Papa’s house, but when we arrived the temperature was much cooler than expected and the winds were out of control!  Sunday morning he wanted to fish before church and he lasted about 5 minutes.  Sunday afternoon he gave it another go…and lasted about 10 minutes.  Needless to say, the fish weren’t biting with 50 mile an hour winds as Lake Chicot was white capping.

As soon as it started raining, he started running…

Sweet Emma-Kate took care of a very sleepy AnnaLeigh

Then the kids decided that spinning around in Papa’s chair was a good idea.  It was a ton of fun for LK, but as soon as Noble got in the chair he flew right off.  (Sorry, Amy Lauren, I forgot to mention that accident.  He was fine!) :)

Uncle David kept them rowdy and entertained.

We have a HUGE family, but before we left last night I wanted to take a pic of the few cousins that were gathered together.  Please take note of what I’m dealing with, people…

AnnaLeigh, Noble, Phoenix, and Emma-Kate were calmly sitting and smiling in every picture.

My two oldest maniacs WERE NOT!

And the best one I managed to get.

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Have a wonderful week.  I have 6 recipes to come if I can get it together and post them.  :)

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