P365 {Family Journal 2013}

My friend Erin is my digi scrapbook partner in crime. I know no one else as who is as crazy about it as me. I sort of hooked her and then she taught me and introduced me into a WORLD of free digi scrapbook stuff that is now plaguing my hard drive. You should see my "scrapbook folder" it is a nightmare mess...one day it will be organized again. HA! Sometimes I just need to say "NO!" HA!

ANYWAY! Bunny trail much Michele...she started doing this Project 365 scrapbook thing. I was all good for her, but I have enough to keep up on in my scrappy life that I am not adding one more project! BUT, the more I looked at hers I was convinced I HAD to do this too. There are so many random photos that don't warrant scrapbook pages, but I hate to see get lost on the hard drive of overly organized photos!

Plus, it's a cool way to catalog the year and try and include Chad and I a bit more! The kids get enough page time!

Below is the first "12 weeks" of my P365 Family Journal. Some pages combine weeks and some weeks are missing altogether...I don't plan to "force" myself to find a photo every day and some days/weeks have more photos than days...I really just want to capture our day to day. I am pretty happy with how it is going considering I just started this project LAST week. {Please note when I am in "scrap mode" my house is a wreck, we don't eat well and I stay up way.to.late, but I am fast at it too, it comes with 4 years of practice! HA!}

Enjoy. {PS I am using a different host site (photobucket) for my pages, so you most likely won't be able to click on them to view larger. Sorry...I think the photobucket link can take you to my host page...if you so desire.}

WEEK1-3

WEEK 4-5

WEEK 6

WEEK 7

WEEK 8

WEEK 9-10

WEEK 11

Click here to see my other scrapbook blog that I FINALLY updated! ;)

A Prayer of a Little Girl {Things Lo Says}

I wanted to get this posted BEFORE Easter, so I guess it is now or never.

Gosh, this happened several weeks ago, like before spring break and I wish I could remember everything that surrounded this prayer, but I can't. I constantly tell myself this IS important so I won't forget...yeah right. Anyway, one afternoon I went to check on Lo to see if she actually napped when I overheard this little prayer/conversation she was having with Jesus. It's moments like these you wish you could have an audio recorder in your ears to remember every.single.word. I focused my mind hard to remember as much as I could and quickly wrote it down.

Here are some of my favorite lines of her prayer:

Jesus I know Easter is not about the toys, its about you Jesus. You are the best God evah (yes, she said it just like that!) I know I need to sleep but I just really want to read this Bible book to you God.

God I have this boo boo on my knee but you need to get it better, but I can still walk God, see {proceeds to walk around her room showing God! HA!}

She prays for at least 5 minutes or more telling God her entire life story. Just pouring out her heart and life to Him.

God I know you made the people and the animals, but I just want to know HOW? {blind faith--completely trusts in the Almighty and His power--this right here is why God asks us parents to raise our kids up in the Him, so when they are older they will not depart from it! Proverbs 22:6. The faith of children is astounding!}

And then all the children say AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

{a little selfie from the iPad}

As I sat and listened and felt my heart nearly explode with pride and joy, I couldn't help but think what Jesus was feeling in Heaven. I could just picture Him smiling and His heart full as He listened to this innocent child talk to Him feeling every bit as proud and joyful (probably moreso) as I was. Jesus loves the little children so much because they just come to Him as they are and unashamedly sit in His presence  My kids teach me so much about my faith and how to just be. Stop worrying so much about what words I use to pray or what I "let God in on" in my life {like I am really hiding something!} and just be in HIS PRESENCE!

Easter is about recognizing that Jesus came and died to be the KING WE NEEDED! Not the King we wanted. He came and died to be our SAVIOR because that is what we needed most in order to live.

Happy Easter!

Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail {Acoustic Version}

So here it is the end of March and I have posted almost nothing. I have things I want to blog, but then I apparently don't care...HA!

ANYWAY, Here is a video of Leighton singing Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail {Acoustic Version}. I am so impressed that she knows every word. I mean she should, daddy and her sing it every.single.night. It has been a nice change of pace from "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer."

Enjoy!




Here Come Peter Cotton Tail {Acoustic version} from Michele Keethler on Vimeo.


And if I don't post before. May you have a blessed Easter! Even though we sing about the bunny, we know it is because Christ is Risen!

Things MW says

Just a few of the phrases and conversations I don't want to forget.

He now says "umm, no dank ju" {no thank you}

The other day I was in the bathroom getting ready and I hear a child in the distance yelling "FINE! I go tell mommy!" Now normally this is only a phrase Leighton uses, but apparently MW picked up on it and now uses it frequently. HA!

OR his other catch phrase if the other one doesn't him serve him well and mommy doesn't care about the "evil" Lo has supposedly done to him is "FINE, I not play with ju then" proceeds to storm off to his room for around 45 seconds before returning with a happy attitude. {Another phrase from none other than the Lo Lo sissy.}

I don't want to forget how he says pajamas. He calls them JAMAS{like Llama but with a J}

If he doesn't like what I asking him to do albeit simple instructions such as put on shoes, or go to the potty he will automatically just put himself in time out. He thought was a cute game until I started making him sit there the whole 2 minutes.

Other times I ask him to do something and I will just hear "no, too bizzy." 

Says "kiss it" for every teeny.tiny. boo boo he gets.

I hear this about 200x per day "NO. Micah pick!" He always wants to pick the show we watch.


Daddy goes into get MW from a nap.
MW: "go way daddy"
Daddy leaves and after a few minutes I go up to check on him
M: Micah did you tell daddy to go away? that isn't very nice. Daddy loves you.
MW: I love MOMMY!
Mommy heart melts.

Whenever I talk about a baby or him being a baby etc. He immediately does this "wa-wa-wa" cry thing to revert back to being a baby! HA!

When ever he doesn't feel good or is hurt he says "poor buddy".

And this last one may be a bit tmi, but it is funny to me and its my memory so stop reading if you don't like potty talk. :)

While he is potty trained we still struggle with going poop on the potty. He is doing much better, but sometimes when he is on the potty and try and get him to poop he will hug me tight and say "I can't go poop, it boken {broken}" Cracks me up every time.

My Future Worship Leader

Leighton is a performer.
All eyes constantly watching whatever trick she is doing.
This week it is singing. This started at a young age.

13 months here

Her favorite song to sing now besides Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is  Rescue.

Chorus:
Because I need you Jesus to come to my rescue
Where else can I go.
There's no other name by which I am saved
Capture me with your grace.
I will follow you.

Look at that passion!

I know it is a simple thing but we only listen to christian music any more. I love hearing my kids sing the songs and request "Jesus songs." Lo and I have already had some good Jesus conversations because of stations like Way-FM. Plus, it isn't just about her it's about me too. I find my attitude and thoughts are so different and changed because of listening.

Maybe in a few years she will be praising Jesus on our kids' worship team. Don't ever stop praising and loving Jesus baby girl!

February Rewind

Flashback.
During the Blizzard of Oz we watched out Lo's window as my awesome neighbor made this cool sled slide toboggan thing for her kids. There may have been a few tears at our house because we couldn't go join them due to the flu we were experiencing...well, it was still there 2 days later and momma had cabin fever so out we went and headed over there to sled. Oh my gosh it was fun. Don't ask me how I know...the looks on my kids faces say it all.

 {click the pics to view larger}

MW apparently has no core strength as he kept wiping out at the top, but boy did he think it was a blast and kept getting up for MORE!

  

Then here is my pretty little son, sporting a lovely bow. He just cracks me up. One day all these pictures will come back to haunt him. I can see it now, he is going to be some big jock on campus, thinking he is so cool and tough and then BAM! Mommy pulls out the baby pictures. ;) Yep, totally THAT mom. ;)

Then here is our gear head. I mean really Leighton...car magazines?!?! Don't you want to read mommy's fashion magazine or something a tad more girly?!?! Daddy is pleased. I think she is going to be one of those girly girl tom-boys. She doesn't mine getting her hands dirty, so long as she has a bow in her hair and a sparkly shoes on. :)

These two definitely keep me on my toes. HA!

Meg

Pardon the picture quality. :( My good camera was dead. 

My kids LOVE their Auntie Meg! LOVE. They ask for her every.single.day. Whenever we leave they ask if Meg will be there when we get back. They squeal in delight when the dogs start barking their heads off at breakfast because they know it must mean Meg is coming! {Meg's college is near our house, so she stops by b/w classes a lot.}

Micah wanted to be just like Meg and so he dug out his laptop so he could do "pooter" time too! So sweet.

 Of course since sissy had the REAL "pooter" aka "ipad" he had to go up there and bother her! They know better than to touch Auntie Meg's "pooter!!"

Oh I love technology...always and forever. :) Name that movie.

Tiny Dancer

Leighton loves dance. Good-bye mommy's dreams of a future gymnast.

Our Y had a few dance class issues, but now it is up an running again and she asked to do dance again this month. At a consignment sale I found her a ballerina skirt (she was IN LOVE!), along with ballet and tap shoes. She is one happy, tiny dancer.

Meg also teaches her A LOT. She wants to be a dancer just like her!

Let's just hope she did NOT get my genetics for dance, because bless her she will have to work much harder then.

I love having a girly girl that wants to dance and attempt gracefulness (did you see the band-aide on her knee from her latest attempt!), but can also throw down with the boys! The perfect combination.

Imagination {Train Style}

So the other day I was telling you that my kids have no idea how to play anymore. Or so I thought....

After the gym I left the kids watching some show and headed to the shower. When I got out their show had ended and Lo had made them a train! Complete with her Engineer/Conductor dress up clothes and whistle! HA! She even got MW playing too! I was blown away by this.

 ALL ABOARD.

 Leighton informed me we were going to go through the forest, then stop at a park and play and then head to the zoo!

 Here we are at the "zoo."
This was a bear that we got to pet! He was pretty friendly!

 Next stop the giraffes. Apparently you can hug these guys.

 Then we found some cats to lick. {What is wrong with my kid that he has to LICK everything! No wonder we are sick all the time now! HA!}

I wish I would have gotten more pics of all the animals they found tossed about the house. I was just so impressed with them playing I got caught up in it too!

So I guess they still do know how to play even if they watch a little too much Deigo, Backyardigans, and Sesame Street...oh and who can forget JAKE!

Just Another Day

I am linking up with Kelly's Korner today with A Day in the Life. I actually had this post all ready to go for over a week, but never hit publish, so  when I saw this link up I figured today is as good as any. HA!

Last time I went through our schedule it was August! Now it seems like the end of the year is looming. Time is just picking up in speed with each passing day. I am still not over my baby girl turning 4.

Our days seem like they are always full and each day is different. Ever just feel so "busy" but really you aren't, you just poorly manage your time?! Yep, that is me. I constantly find myself "busying" myself with things that don't matter and then wondering why my house is a mess and how I forgot to throw chicken in the crock pot!

Well the biggest change from last time is I no longer frequent the gym at 530a! Micah dropped his AM nap, so we all needed a break and an "activity" to break up the morning. :)

7/715a-up and at 'em. Call me lazy, but I don't get out of bed until one of my kids, namely Leighton, wakes me up. Then we head to breakfast.

730-830a- Breakfast with a PBS show blarring in the background. And THIS is why I have no idea what my current events are.

What? Is this not how YOU eat breakfast?!

845a- I am frantically trying to get us in the car and to the gym. On Mondays and Thurs I train a friend, Tues Lo has gymnastics, so my only 'lax days are Wednesday and Fridays.

9a-1015a- Gym time for me, Kid Zone for the kids. I am so lucky that they both absolutely LOVE it in there and matter of fact they get mad at me if I tell them we aren't going...

1045a-1p-home and trying to get lunch around. My kids are too busy watching TV to eat breakfast and so they are "STARVING" by 11a. We usually watch another show or two and "play" until nap time at 1p. I use the term loosely because my kids seem to have forgotten how to play and only want to watch tv or play on the iPad, that or fight over the one and only toy we apparently have. :)

Don't let the "sweetness" of this picture fool you...they are full on, no rules, wrestling each other to the death. I wish I were kidding. At this point I have stopped refereeing them so long as there is no blood. They can love each other with a passion that supersedes all odds, but then they equally can go at it.

On Tues, we hang out with friends at someone's house until nap! LOVE.

1p-3ish- Nap time. We read a book and then they lay down. MW is so worn out he is out like a light within minutes. Lo, well she still thinks naps are for losers. Mommy doesn't. Lately I am making her lay still and quiet for 20 minutes and if she is STILL awake after that (never has been yet!) then she can play quietly.

This is my time that I do only what I WANT. I rest, I scrapbook, I blog, I stare at a wall, but I refuse to "work" during nap time. I enjoy my break and free time.

3ish- snack and more shows. We watch WAY too much TV around here...do you know how hard that week was without tv?!

4ish- daddy home. Mommy finishes off dinner prep. (ie checks the crock-pot) HA!

501p- we eat.
After dinner on Tues and Thurs mommy leaves for her worship team commitments for the rest of the night. Daddy is in charge. And it is usually bath night. How sad we actually have to have designated bath nights, because we forget to bathe our kids otherwise. Just yesterday we looked at each other and tried to remember when the last time they had baths were?!
Wed night mommy and daddy have small group; and Grandma Rachel babysits.
Monday and Friday are our only "family nights."

6-8p-more tv, some playing and then getting ready for bed.

8p- LIGHTS OUT! Daddy reads to the kids, I love this.

8p-watch a show and then I try and head to bed by 930p!

So that is an exhilarating look into our day to day. I am really working on cutting back the TV watching around here, not because I think it is "all bad," but because I think my kids just can't remember how to just be and play, and use their imaginations--that is their job. I just default to tv because it is easy...really challenging myself to do better.