Too young to be starstruck

We had my family over at our house for Thanksgiving. My niece got clothes with Hannah Montana on them. Addison, who is all of 23 months, went crazy saying," Anna onana!!"

When does a baby know who Hannah Montana is?? Is that crazy or what!!

writing

If my camera's battery wasn't dead I would post a picture of Payton's artwork on her closet wall.

I don't know about your kids, but mine love to play in the closet. I went in there to hang up clothes and just happen to move a lid to a container. It was leaning on the wall. I found Addy written "ABBY" and the beginning of "PAY".

Now I know that Addison didn't do it because, let's face it, she isn't a prodigy....yet. And Jacob just isn't into spelling right now. So, that only leaves one other person. One that loves to do classwork and begs for more letters to write. How could I punish her for writing on the wall when she is so excited about how well she is doing on spelling.

When Mo is doing school work, Payton wants to do hers. So I get all three of them settled at the table. Payton is excited and races through her letters. Asking for more. Jacob grumbles, trudging through the first page asking if he is done yet.

I know that my Mom is grinning as she reads this. It reminds her of a time when a certain little girl of hers engraved her name in the door of our old, blue van. Backwards L and Y so proud of spelling her name.

I guess the saying goes....Like mother like daughter.

"Why do we have Christmas?"

P,"Ummmm."

"What is the most important thing about Christmas? What do we celebrate?"

P,"Santa brings us presents."

**blushing with embarrassment as I type this**

"Yes, but that isn't why we celebrate Christmas."

J"It's Jesus' birthday."

"That is right. That is why we have Christmas."

J," When is God's birthday?"

"Jacob that is a great question......"

How do you explain that one so a 5 year old can understand?

Will I still be Jacob?

J and I went to get our haircut the other day. Getting out of the car, J asks me, "Mom, when I grow up will I still be Jacob?"

"You will always be Jacob because that is your name. But when you're older you can be Jake."

J said, "I'm not Jake. I don't like it. I'm Jacob."

No identity crisis there.

progress

Todd got his paperwork yesterday from BH. It looks like the ball is rolling now. He has to go through a few procedures before we know if he is officially hired or not. Please keep praying about this job. We want T to get hired but only if it is right. He will be back in town tomorrow afternoon and will have to finish up the packet BH sent. From there he has all the usual stuff that goes with any new job. I thank you all for your continued love, support and prayers for us.

on my knees...

For those of you who have had the privilege of speaking to me this week, I sincerely apologize for my crabby, sarcastic, rude, emotional and ugly behavior I have exhibited. You all did not deserve my snide remarks and I hope that ya'll are in a forgiving mood. So I am REALLY sorry.

It is said that when you are going through struggles your true colors come out. How faithful you truly are. I guess I have some major work to do on my self.......Like it is written, "God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again." Philippians 1:6 I have a devotional that has this prayer in it. I wanted to pass it along to you all.

Father, help us not to minimize our struggles; yet, at the same time, help us recognize that any struggle we have is small in comparison to the great God we serve.

struggles

****Forgive me if I am all over the place on this post.****

It has been a rough few days here. It has been 2 months since T lost his job because of Ike. He has had 3 prospects and nothing has happened yet. We are still in the waiting game because he hasn't heard back from an interview he went on Tuesday. I think that is the worst part. WAITING! Not knowing one way or another. You can't go forward because you don't know if something will come about . But you don't want to stand still because you feel like you have to keep moving or you sink.

We know that God is trying to tell us some thing, teach us. He wants us to Be still in His word and presence. To listen and He will guide us through this. Rely on Him completely because T will get a job in His time not ours. It is hard when you're trying to obey but your flesh is telling you to take control. When you know, you can't do it alone, without the Lord. And you have satan in one ear working on every doubt, fear, struggle, worry, what if's going through your brain.

We are struggling. We want the quick fix, now. We want answers and just to get this over with and move on with our lives. But we know, without a doubt, we will miss out on the true blessings God has in store for our family. We will be stronger in faith and closer to our Lord and Savior when this battle is over.

I once heard Beth Moore say, " Our problems may be above our heads' but they are below God's feet." I find rest in that, knowing that nothing is bigger than our God.

update

Hi, all.

Todd said that his interview went well. He is waiting on some paperwork, physical and drug test. So we should know by next week if he has the job or not. We have discussed it and both know that all of this is in God's hands and it doesn't help for us to stress out about the waiting game. If it is the one, that is great. If it isn't, we keep our faith that God's plan is better than ours'.

Yesterday, I got a call for an interview. How funny is that? In the same week Todd does. It is for WalMart of all places. Todd says I live there so why not get paid for it. Friday I will talk with someone. We aren't sure how this will play out if we both get hired. All we know is that God is going to work it all out. We just have to sit back, relax, listen, seek Him, and rest in His peace.

P had a "hat day" at school. We stopped by Gma and Gpa's house last night to borrow one of great Gma's hats. She was excited to wear the one she picked out. I will post a picture later.....just too tire right now. I asked her about what they did and she said,"nothing". She did say that they wore them but nothing else. I'll have to ask her teacher on Tuesday.

Tomorrow we are going to the zoo with our home school group. Pray for clear, beautiful skys. There is a 60 percent chance of rain. We're going to have a fun time either way.

Love to all!!! I am off to bed, I am exhausted.

send a prayer

My wonderful hubby has an interview tomorrow morning at 9am.Would you mind sending a prayer up for him? If this is the job God has planned for him, make it clear to the interviewer,Todd and anyone else involved.If this isn't,help Todd and all the rest of us rest in peace knowing that God is working and has some thing so extraordinary waiting for him.We just have to be patient,be still and listen carefully to His words.

We are edgy around here because he has been out of work for some time but God has provided for all of our needs.He has also shown us where we have spent money unwisely and how to be better stewards of what He gives us.We are learning....

saving

The grocery store I shop at had an awesome sale going on that ends today. I was able to buy 10 item combinations, limit 3 times, and get 5 dollars off when checking out. I happened to have coupons for numerous things which worked out FABULOUS!! The total cost of my bill was $131.28, I saved $76.03. So I walked out of the store only spending $55.25 of the total bill. My jawed dropped when the cashier told me how much I saved. I am a believer of coupons now. Oh, I did learn some thing new. You might know this already but if you don't FYI. If you have a store card that gives you more savings, if it isn't scanned before they start scanning your groceries. It won't double or triple any of your coupons. Sneaky.

can't win for losin'

I am once again reading Creative Correction. It has been quite a few years since the first go around. Then I was a young mom, in a different stage of heart and mind. I thought that there was no way any of Lisa's ideas would work so I didn't stick with it.

I realized, lately, that all I seem to be doing correction wise with the kids is spanking, time out, and screaming because I am at my wits end. I needed a change and fast. So I decided to give it another try and have an open mind and be more diligent in applying some of her ideas. I really have enjoyed reading and I actually like some of what she says. So whenever I get a chance I try to implement an idea of hers.

We were cleaning up before Todd got home Friday night. I told the kids that if there were any wet towels left on the floor and I found it, the slacker would wash towels the next day. It sounds good, doesn't it?

Well, after the younger ones bath tonight I went by J's room and spotted his wet towel. I casually announce that I see something on the floor that doesn't belong. P comes running down the hall with another towel yelling, "I didn't put mine up. Can I wash towels tomorrow?!" She was genuinely excited about the thought.

O.K. did I miss something in the book? Todd said to take advantage of it.

My drama queen

Oops, I mean princess. Addison is the queen around here.

J and P were in the backyard, Addi was napping, Mo was doing school work and I was in the shower. P comes in and asks to play in the front with the neighbor. I tell her not now because she couldn't be in the front alone. She leaves the bathroom.

I get out about 5 minutes later. As I am toweling off, here she comes again. She is whining trying to tell on Mo. I tell her that I cannot understand her when she whines. Also that she needed to think about if she was tattling to get someone in trouble or because someone was going to hurt themselves by doing some thing wrong. We are working on not tattling so much around here. She continues to have a whiny tone. I tell her that she needs to come back when she can talk without whining. I turn her toward the door and guide her out and shut it.

Going into my room I can hear her and J talking outside. I peak out the window and listen. P is standing by the trampoline and J is jumping. P is pouting with arms crossed in front of her, lip protruding. It really was a site. J is showing concern for his younger twin. He asked if she was upset because I wouldn't let her play with the neighbor.

Here is what my darling daughter replies. "Mommy said that I could go out in front after she is out of the shower. She is and I was trying to say to her and she pushed me like this(hitting on her shoulder) and shut the door!!" J spots me peeping then,so that was the end of that little white lie.

I know that P didn't think that she was stretching the truth. I had hurt her feelings and that is how she felt....like I had pushed her out the door and slammed it in her face. I have to tread lightly with this young lady. She wears her heart on her sleeve.

She is better now, her Daddy came home tonight. She got lots of snuggle time. So much that her bedtime came and went....maybe an hour and a half later. But it was worth them enjoying each others company.

free

OK, you might not get excited about this like I did. But I am going to post it any way. I have never been a coupon clipper. I always thought that it was too much of a hassle and wasn't worth the few cents saved. I have just recently become a believer of clipping. I should have kept up with all of the money I've saved so far.....sorry Susan.

Any way today was the first day that I actually got some thing FREE. Yes, I said free. I printed out a $5.00 coupon for science diet dog food. Petco has 5lb bags on sale for $5.00 so I got it for nothing. The checker asked were I got the coupon and said "sweet" about 3 or 4 times.(young guy) He said that if he was me he would do it again but to make sure that he wasn't working. I'm not going to.It felt weird walking out with a bag and not having to pay for it. But oh so nice.

Introducing......

Ladybug....aka.....Addison who had a fun time being silly. She was definitely in the zone of being a bug, pesky little thing. She hammed it up for the camera for as long as she could stay still. Quick little bug she is. We could get her to look at the camera but a second and then she was off again. The wings didn't last long on but she still looked cute. One lady at the festival told me that I was young and could make another baby just as cute as her, so she was taking Addi home. Then she saw Payton and oohed and aahhed over her.

Ironman...aka....Jacob. Daddy had the honors of getting him ready. Pull on the suit and POOF, muscles appear. He thought that was cool. He was in an uncooperative mood when it was time to take pictures. His mind was on one thing and one thing only, CANDY. He didn't want to fuss with getting his picture taken. He wanted to get to our church fall festival NOW. Not ten, fifty, or twenty minutes...NOW. (what can I say, he is just like his mommy.)

We stopped by Grandma and Grandpa's to trick or treat and got lollipops. He was excited about getting his first piece and wanted it then. We tried to get him to show off his muscles but he was being shy. He did see a lot of other Ironmen at the festival.

TinkerBell.....aka.....Payton. She was so fun to dress up on Halloween. I really think that this might be a favorite occasion of hers. She actually gets to wear make up away from home. She was too cute getting ready. I pulled her hair up in a ponytail and curled it. I applied powder, blush, eyeshadow, liner, mascara and lip gloss....she was in heaven. To top off the outfit, Nanny sprayed gold glitter ALL over her hair and body.

Saturday night was the play of Peter Pan. Guess what Miss Thang wore? Yes, her Tinker Bell costume. Jacob decided that he wanted to wear his too. I think we got our moneys worth out of them.

No pictures of Mo. She really hasn't dressed in the last 2 years. Pre-teen years have begun.

I'll post the rest of our pictures on the shutterfly website. Go check then out.