Christmas present and softball

This year for Christmas my parents bought me a digitial picture frame. I love this present and it couldn't have been more prefect for me. I have tons of pictures. Really, my computer is full of them and I have boxes of CD's that I've put my pictures on just in case something happened to my computer. So as I was looking through my CD's for pictures I came across these.
A little over a year ago Lexy played softball. She was on a select team, and she had so much fun. She played tournaments all the time. We traveled a lot to McKinney, and the littles loved going to her games and seeing her play and cheer her on. During this tournament the Plano balloon festival was going on and we played with the balloons flying close by. I can't remember what our placing was on this tournament but I remember how much fun it was to see her play. I miss her not playing and I'm sure she is equally as sad that her coach decided to dissolve the team and join another. She is still a little hurt by it but hopefully she will play again...very soon.

Christmas Play

This past weekend we had our Christmas play at church. On Saturday we went to the rehearsal and Ella and Avery did a great job. Isaac on the other hand did NOT!! He cried the whole time and would not leave my side. So I decided that he would not be in the play, it was too much of a battle with him. Her are some pictures of my sweet girls. These are some of Ella's favorite friends. Sophia is in the middle and Bethany is on the left. They had so much fun together as they waited to go on stage. As we were on our way to the BIG church to perform Lexy had to be my shepherd and get our lost sheep. During the second performance Ella spotted my mom. Now you have to know that Ella and my mom have this love thing. When Ella goes to her house she doesn't want to come home. Lexy used to do the same thing. So when Ella saw her "mana" she couldn't control herself. She forgot everything she was supposed to do and started sliding down the stairs and acting so silly.
Here are the other two little sheep, don't they just look so adorable?!!
They all did such a great job.

The Hardest Punishment E-V-E-R!!

About three weeks ago Lexy brought home a very bad grade in math. The following week I spent every night with her studying and going through every one of her homework problems. We stayed up till midnight most nights. It was NUTS!! So I told her that her father and I talked about her grade in math and if she did not pass her next math test she would not be able to go to her first BIG Christmas party with 7th and 8th graders, that everyone was so excited about. Since school started she has failed every math test given. I thought this would be a great motivation for her to do good. The morning before the test I woke her up early and quizzed her over a couple of thing. " I know mom, I got it," was what I heard from her as I gave her math rules to work out problems. So her test was on a Friday and she didn't get her test back till Wednesday of the following week. Which every day after I picked her up from school I would ask her if she got her math test back, NO, not today is what she would tell me. However, on Wednesday I did not ask her as soon as she got in my car, I didn't ask her at all! We had to go shopping Wednesday right after school for an outfit for the party. So after an hour and a half of shopping we found something to wear. As we got into the car from our shopping I said, " hey did you get your test back?" She said, " Well I asked the teacher if there was any extra credit to do and......" WAIT!! I have been asking you for your test the past two days and your telling me that you got it back and you didn't tell me? Well you didn't ask! she said. WHAT!!!! So what did you make? I asked her. She said well I'm not going to be able to go to the party! And she told me her grade. At this point I was so mad at her I didn't talk to her the rest of the way home. We came home, I helped her with her math homework for the night and that was that. So Friday rolls around and she knew she was not going to the party that evening. She had another math test, and she had the teacher grade it for her before leaving school hoping that she did well enough to go to the party. Well she did! She just passed the test! Which is what I told her. I had told her I didn't expect her to ace every test but a least pass them. So Friday she came home with a smile and as soon as she got in the car she blurted out I passed my math! WOW! Lex that's great!! I knew you could do it!! I was so proud of her. Then the dreaded question...So can I go to the party? I looked at her and told her that even though I was so excited that she passed, her punishment for failing her last test was not going to the party. Friday night came and went and I had one very sad 12 year old. Tino said we needed to stick with what we decided. It was very hard but we did, she said it was the hardest punishment ever!! So I'm wondering...what would you have done? If you don't have children yet, what was the worst punishment your parents followed through with? OH, and this week tomorrow actually, she has her math comprehension final!! Pray for wisdom and confidence.

Mixed Emotions

I was cleaning out my closet the other day and decided to sale my school books. About a year ago I decided to stop studying for my nursing degree. I had such a huge conviction in my heart about leaving my kiddos for a couple of hours a day, in the evening, to go to school. I also needed studying time which made me resort to letting the kids watch ungodly amounts of TV. I know it sounds bad but I was on a mission to finish. I was so busy and I was homeschooling my then first grader. After a month of going to school Tino and I decided it would be better for everyone to stay home where I was greatly needed. So I piled up all the kids in the car and we drove to my school and I took the kids in the counseling center and they watched me drop my classes. My oldest was 11, and she cried as I did it, she kept telling me she didn't understand why I would give up my dream. The other three were to young to even know what I was doing. I told her that God gave me my precious children that I had spent hours praying for and for two out of four of them I would spend countless hours visiting them in the hospital for the first 3-6 months of their lives. God had blessed our family with them and I felt as if God was telling me " I gave you these children, no one else, why are you leaving them for your own selfish gain? Do you not trust in me? After all I have given you?" Tough to hear but so true. Why would I leave these sweet little children who needed their mommy to tuck them in at night and read to them? To be there as they ate dinner and talk about our day to daddy. God had saved my children from death, why couldn't I trust him to be our provider in our finances? In my own selfish mind I had rationed going to school by thinking that I would make more money for our family, I, I, I! Never thinking once how I was effecting our family, what would they remember of their mommy, and for a time they can second. I know that one day my children will make great sacrifices for their family but I pray that they will know that it can be done, and that God will bless them through it. Just as He has provided for our every need, above and beyond what we ever thought. However, as I sold my books I was overcome by great sadness. I guess I was holding on to them thinking maybe later but now they are gone, along with my dream. But I have the most amazing healthy strong, lovable, sweet, smart, God loving children, not to mention a man who spoils me rotten, and a God who sacrificed His only son for me, what else do I really need? As I write this I am still filled with sadness but as my children are running around the house in their PJ's and singing "Oh where is my hairbrush", I am so thankful that they can have the freedom to be kids and lounge in their PJ's on a cold winter morning. What a great life God has given me!

Christmas Tree Farm

This past weekend we went to a Christmas Tree Farm to cut down our tree. We usually go to one close to our house but this year we went a little further and found a better location. Their trees were much nicer than our old place and we had tons of fun. It started out cold but as the day went on it was quite pleasant.

We went on a hay ride. I tried to take a good picture of Lexy but she's into the whole thing of "mom stop taking my picture", so this was as good as it got.


Ella said she wanted this tree, because it was a baby. And she told me to take a picture of "her tree". Isaac was done with the whole tree thing and decided to stay in the wagon and have us pull him.

Parade Day!!

We normally don't go to the parade because it is always too cold. I don't do cold, or extreme hot. So with blakets, chairs and hot hands in tow we were off. We made it just in time to find a great spot. Avery sat with her daddy for a while before taking her seat.
This is my favorite picture of these two. Everytime they are together my heart melts. Avery LOVES her daddy so much.
My sweet mom went with us. There were several people selling different things. So of course my mom bought the kids cotton candy.
These are some of the great balloons there.



When Isaac saw the my little pony coming down the street he ran to Ella and said, "Ella, Ella look your pony is coming!" He is such a sweet boy whenever he saw something she would like he would make sure she knew it was coming. Here are some of the floats we saw.

We enjoyed seeing all the characters there. We saw Despereaux, Arthur, Amelia Bedelia, Spider Man, Strawberry Shortcake, and Curious George. Avery and I would yell to the characters, and tell them we liked their books. Most of them gave us a thumbs up. But Amelia Bedelia, did not have a float and was just walking by herself and I asked her if she was Amelia, and she looked so excited that someone had finally recognized her. Avery told her how silly she thought she was. She told Avery to continue reading and she was proud of her reading so much. Alexis was not able to come to the parade with us because she was at Great Wolf Lodge with a youth group. Her are the kids before we left.
Ella did NOT want to take a picture, so we told her if she did not smile she was NOT going to go to Grandma's. She quickly posed for as many pictures as I wanted. Look at this little peanut. Isn't she just the cutest thing you ever did see?!! Of course she is!!!!!!
We had such a great time. The weather was amazing!