My niece...the life of the party!!!

This post is about my niece. If any of you know my niece, you know she's the life of the party. She's so funny. She always has something funny to say and she can laugh at herself too which is a GREAT quality in a kid. She is friendly. She loves people so much. She befriends the friendless and jumps right in to include herself in everything. A friend of mine told me a story about when Jacob was supposed to start going to the Encounter Kids class at church. He turned 4 and he was finally moving up from the nursery. We didn't go that night, but my friend said she told her, "we can't start yet we have to wait for Jacob." How sweet that she would care so much about him that she wanted to make sure he didn't miss anything.

She has such a love for life. She asks a million different questions about everything, because she desires so much to know so much. The world is her oyster and she wants to soak it all up!!!! All the stories my brother and sister in law tell me about her are just amazing!!!!

But....this story is really about how my 5 year old niece has it right!!! She was at our house on Wednesday night. I made them breakfast for dinner. We were eating dinner and I said "I forgot to call you on your first day of school to ask you how your day went. I'm so sorry."

Her response to me was, "Aimster, that's alright sometimes things come up."

What a true example of unconditional love, unwavering forgiveness and the heart of a child.

Today I thank God for my niece and nephews. They keep you on your feet but also keep your mind on the good and teach the ability to throw out the bad.

Raise your cups....a toast.....

Yesterday was my last day of work. After what seemed like an eternity, I am FINALLY a stay-at-home mom again. So today I want to tribute this post to my sister. Who, through her unselfishness has taken my kids in every day for what seemed like an eternity that neither one of us really thought was ever going to come to an end. Mostly because we really didn't think I would have the courage to quit....but it did come to an end.

Every day we had lunch together, and every day she listened to me say "I hate working...well, I like my job so if I need a job this is the one I want" and every day she watched as I would start to talk about getting ready to leave 15 minutes before I was really supposed to start and she would count down the time until I finally got up to leave 5 minutes after I was supposed to start (my boss and I had an agreement...my start time was somewhat flexible)...and every day at that 5 minute point she would try to convince me to call in sick. She taught the kids a song....not go not go not diggity go...to the theme of the hot dog song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse....which only made it so much harder to leave my kids and go to work. :(

She told me about times when she would sit on the couch with Jacob during everyone elses nap and he would let her know all the things we have at our house that she doesn't have at her house. :) She spoiled him with popcorn and movies practically everyday....and turned him on to the world of chocolate milk. She has touched his life in more ways that I can describe.

I am really not sure that my sister knows how much she helped us out by watching our kids. She made a lot of things possible for us. We both appreciate her willingness so much! I know it was hard at times and though she loves our kids, they can be VERY frustrating. But she did it day after day...so today....I'm thankful for my sister, who over the past few years has become more than just my sister, she's my friend and I love her.

Hit the Road Jake.....

I haven’t written in so long. There is so much going on at our house that would entertain you….but I’ll give you the highlights to catch you up…..

Jacob LOVES school. He loves his teachers. He is doing very well at school. His teacher said he is the best cutter in his class and he can write his name….yes I’m a very proud mama!!! He has grown into such a great little man.

Lyla is doing really well. She has 4 teeth now. She is rolling over, scooting, sitting up on her own, crawling backwards and starting to crawl forwards. She laughs…only at her brother though…which is horrible….I’m so funny…why won’t she laugh at me?!?!?! :) She’s such a sweet little girl. She LOVES her brother and her glow worm. Jonathan is her favorite. She could be crying and crabby all night….the minute he walks in the door…her whole demeanor changes….this has honestly happened. He was at Bible Study one night…she was so cranky and inconsolable he walked in while I was getting her ready for bed and she stopped mid-cry and smiled a huge heart-melting smile!!! It’s so cute.

We have teams in our house. When we go out, we talk about how we have teams now and how our family is perfect. Jonathan and Jacob are on a team and Lyla and I are on a team. But….Jacob and I are practically inseparable and Lyla loves Jonathan much more….we should switch the teams. Jacob told me the other day “mom we’re a team.” I LOVED to hear that. I’m not sure why. But I just thought it was so cute that he likes being a team.

Jacob loves Lyla. He loves everything about her. The other day I went into the shower and came out to hear him giving her treats to try to get her to stop crying. He said “here open your mouth you have this. I have one too.” He is always taking care of her. I hear him go into her room in the morning and wake her up…. “good morning Lyla…it’s Jacob” I love how he loves her.

Today I told Jacob “hit the road” then I told him I have a song to sing to you. So I sang “hit the road Jack…” after I finished he said I’m not Jack I’m Jacob. So he said “Mom I have a song for you. Hit the Road Jacob and don’t come back no more…more…more” SOOOOO Funny!!!!

We have a vcr in our van. Currently we watch only Barney in the car. I have never taken other movies out to the van. Jacob got this Geo Traxx airport for Christmas and it came with a dvd. Jacob loves it. He asked if I can bring Geo Traxx to the car, he said “it’s my flavite :)” Then he started singing the song….so Jonathan told him he doesn’t need it in the car because he knows the whole thing. Jacob responded “you so silly da!!!”

Yesterday I was thinking about the kids and thinking about how much I love them. Then I started thinking about how much God loves us. It’s completely incomprehensible. I think “How could He possibly have more love to give than I love these kids?!?!” That’s the amazing part of it. He does. I LOVE the words to the song :
How deep that Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That he should give his only son
And make a wretch his treasure
Today, I’m thankful for love. Where is life without love? You love your husband, boyfriend or girlfriend, kids, parents, siblings, friends….that being said…where is your love for God? Everyday, people show their love for other people. There is a million dollar industry for people to publicly proclaim their love for each other. Today, publicly proclaim your love for God. I’m not saying you need to be one of those people who stand on the corner screaming at the cars passing by…but you know what you need to, so for lack of a better term….JUST DO IT!!!!