my lawn crew

The boys are always out with Bryan when he mows the lawn. 

There is a nice man that comes next door once a week to mow, and he's always talking to the boys.

They think it's such a cool job to drive up in your truck with a lawn mower in the back.

So, it's one of their very favorite things to play.

 Elias's bat is a weed wacker. 

 Time to load up!

Strapping the mower in.

After they strap it in, they take turns driving it around to the "next job". 

the invisible woman

Please tell me you've been here too? Where you are just the woman who is constantly feeding someone, the woman who tries to keep her house clean, the woman who tries to teach her kids (everything, abc's, closing the toilet lid, loving God, loving your siblings, etc), the woman who grocery shops, menu plans, empties the dishwasher, the boo boo kisser, the you-name-it-I-do-it????

Okay, obviously the moms do a lot, and most women I know, do it so well. With a smile, and seeming to have it all balanced. Me? Not so much. I am not balanced, and half the time (okay, most the time) I'm frazzled and grumpy.

I read this today, and oh my goodness. It's what I needed to read today.

"No set of circumstances could ever isolate you from My loving Presence. Not only do I see you always; I see you as a redeemed spirit, gloriously radiant in My righteousness. That is why I take great delight in you and rejoice over you with singing!" From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Amen? Amen! God SEES ME! Not the frazzled woman trying to keep everyone safe and fed. He sees me as a "redeemed spirit, gloriously radiant in (His) righteousness". Thank you, Jesus!

first day of school

We started school today. 

It went pretty well, and the boys were very excited! 

I hope their enthusiasm continues.

 My big pre-schooler and kindergartener

We started the day off super unhealthy, but a big treat for the boys. 

We also sang, Happy first day of school to you!

pause button please

On my brain that is...

My brain just won't turn off tonight. So this will be a long boring post of everything going on in my head that I can't make stop so I can sleep.

There are so many things I'd like to get done before this wee one arrives. My list is large. I started tackling this list, and started too many projects at once. Now my house is a disaster zone. I made a ginormous list of "what to get done before new baby". I was so proud as I started checking off one little thing at a time, but then I got ambitious. Our front room/office is a dump. It became a serious dumping ground that I can hardly move around in to organize the way I want it. My bedroom is a dump as well. As I was cleaning out every other room in the house, it became a catch all for the items that I'd like to find a permanent home for.

It's not just organizing and cleaning that I'm dying to get done. I have pretty projects too. I've been neglecting my regular house cleaning to get the fun stuff done, and now I'm regretting that decision! I'm pretty sure dishes, diapers, and laundry are the only things that I've kept up on in the last few weeks. Yuck. I should get on that cleaning my house business.

I just found out today that I'm off the wait list for a homeschool co-op I wanted to join. I thought we'd be on the waiting list for a year, but nope! We were only on the waiting list for 2 weeks! I believe that is a definite God thing.

I decided we needed to start homeschool tomorrow even though I have NO IDEA where Elias's books are. I know I've seen them, but I have looked in every "safe place" I can think of. No books. I ordered some new ones last week because I just got tired of looking! This prego brain needs to pick up a few brain cells because I'm losing too many things lately! Also, I was getting Isaiah's papers ready for school, and I realized one of his books has a whole lot of blank pages. How did I not notice this while looking through them almost a week ago?! Now I have to get in touch with the company, and hope they can get me a new book fast. It of course is missing the lessons that I wanted him to do Thursday.

Venting? Yes. Exhausted? Definitely. Feel better now? A bit. Maybe now I can fall asleep without thinking of all this stuff.

puzzle time

take a guess...

...At who this boy is supposed to be

According to Elias he is fireman-batman-pirate who is named Cacafiyafiya. Lovely.

first icees

We broke the news to Isaiah last night that we will be doing homeschool. We decided to follow it up with a walk to the gas station and try some icees. Elias liked that it made his tongue blue, Isaiah thought it tasted good until about half way through, and Raelynn could not get enough - she kept begging for more.

teacher i am

Bryan and I have been discussing homeschooling for a few years. We've thrown the idea around, sort of prayed about it, but always ended on "let's at least put them in preschool and figure it out from there".

We started talking about it again this summer. I, again, sort of prayed about it, but quickly decided that it was ridiculous for me to start homeschooling at 7 months pregnant. I figured it would be too much for me to teach the boys, while being gigantic, and then taking a break in November when this little one is born (actually, I'm praying for an October baby because I'm so very large already!).

God started moving my heart in a different direction, though. I felt pushed to actually pray about it. So, pray we did - for two months. I'm completely convinced the Lord has laid it on my heart to teach these precious boys of mine. I'm so scared, not going to lie. I've had it in my head that I needed to leave their education up to "the professionals". But really, who is more qualified and more loving than their own mom? Especially a mom who loves the Lord with all my heart, and has this amazing person called the Holy Spirit to guide my every step?

So, once again, the Lord has challenged me to do something completely outside of my comfort zone, but I'm 100% at peace with this decision we've made. We'll take it year by year to see how it progresses, but for now, we're going to be one of those homeschooling families! To tell you the truth, I'm super excited about not having Isaiah gone for 3 days a week for 6+ hours.

On a sad note, we told Isaiah and Elias today. Elias took it in stride, and was pretty nonchalant about it. He has had no desire to go to school. Isaiah cried. Pretty much broke my heart, but again, I know this is what the Lord has for our family this year. I asked Isaiah why he was so sad, and he said, "Kindergarten will be so fun!". My response, "You don't think Mom is fun?". He stopped crying right away, but didn't really say anything else.

About 30 minutes after our little family meeting, he said, "Mom, so when I get to be 6, can I help you teach too?"

I think he's going to be okay.

26 weeks & the 4 pregnancies

I'm having the hardest time remembering how far along I am! I have to figure it out almost every week. I'm not sure why I can't keep it in my head! This week, I was thinking, "I think I'm 25..wait..no..I have to be at least 27?...no...26..no...25". Seriously, this thought over and over in my head, so I finally looked it up.

26 weeks.

I just look like I'm about 35 weeks along!

Some say it's because I'm on my fourth pregnancy, so I'll roll with that. I'll take being big as long as I can feel as great as I do (other than serious exhaustion - 3 kids can do that to a girl)!

I thought it would be fun to compare my pregnancies to speculate on this little baby in me. Boy? Girl? I'm leaning towards girl, but really, it could be a boy too! How would I really know? I do often call the baby "her" or "she". So, if I'm having a boy, he'll have to forgive me for calling him a girl for 9 months!

Isaiah:
How I carried: Super high. The boy attacked my ribs on a daily basis...sitting was so difficult at the end because he was so squished up into my ribs & lungs
Health: I was okay the first trimester, the second and third were a little rocky and I had a lot of ulcerative colitis issues
Weight gain: 45ish pounds- don't judge
Cravings: pumpkin scones, iced caramel macchiatos, and jr. bacon cheeseburgers from wendys (again, don't judge)...hm, I wonder why I gained so much weight? I loved me some Mexican food, also.

Elias:

How I carried: Again, high. The kid attacked my ribs, as well. He didn't drop until I was actually ready to have him (like minutes before I had him)

Health: Horrible. My ulcerative colitis was awful, but I found a natural doctor - about half way through the pregnancy, I started feeling better and started gaining weight with the help of some weight gain shakes daily (nasty!)

Weight gain: 25 pounds

Cravings: I can't remember because I was on such a strict diet. I know I had cravings, but I pretty much ate vegetables, salad, and grilled chicken. I do remember always wanting Mexican.

Raelynn:

How I carried: Lower than the boys. I was so much more comfortable with her.

Health: Amazing. I had no colitis issues, and I felt great (other than tired) the entire pregnancy

Weight gain: 28 pounds

Cravings: black bean & cheese quesadillas; strawberry shakes (Burgerville was my VERY favorite); Mongolian Grill -a lot, Bryan got sick of it!

This one:

How I carried: Lower than the boys, like Raelynn

Health: Amazing. I have had no colitis issues. I'm super tired a lot, but I think that is mainly because I have 3 other kiddos I'm taking care of.

Weight gain: Holy smokes. On my way to beastly like I was with Isaiah - I'll leave it at that!

Cravings: bean & cheese quesadillas for the first half; pasta - one thing I should stay away from, but I can't help myself. I want pasta every day (don't worry, I resist the urge at home...but when Bry & I go on dates, pasta & I are friends); strawberry shakes; fruity drinks - those cranberry limeades from Sonic are oh so delicious in this heat!