Baby #4 and Heart Thoughts

Life is flying by, and so is this pregnancy.  I blink and a few weeks go by before I realize what week I am on.  I recall having this feeling when I was pregnant with Grayson, but this pregnancy seems to be flying by even faster, maybe it cause I hardly have time to stop and really think and ponder like I did with my past pregnancies.  But even with all the busyness, I am trying my very best to enjoy every moment of this pregnancy as I know before long I will blink and I will have another kid nearing his/her second birthday or nearing his/her 4th birthday!  

The twins, especially Saray, are really enjoying watching my belly grow.  Saray, from the beginning, has stated that the baby growing in my belly is a girl.   I guess we'll just have to wait and see if she is right on with what God has hidden from our eyes for now.  Next Month on April 11th we'll have our 20 week ultrasound - I can't wait!

Between now and April 11th, we have a lot going on.  In just a few short days I leave (yes, just me) for 5 days!  I am headed to Arizona to visit a friend and to take a much needed vacation.  I wish Jeremiah could come with me, but someone needs to hold the fort down.  He is willing to take the 5 days off from work and he's willing to watch the 3 kiddos.  Wow, what a guy!!!  Maybe some men would be scared out of their mind with the idea of watching 3 kids, taking care of the house and cooking meals, but Jer, he's pumped and excited with 5 days with the kids, all to himself.  But if you think of him, pray for him, and the kids.  It's a big job to watch any number of kids, even if they are your own, for any amount of days.  I even get weary and wonder if I am cut out of the job...so keep my little family in your prayers.  And pray for me, that my spirit would be refreshed and renewed.  My biggest prayer is that GOD would burn in me a new vision for the upcoming season(s).  I feel like I have been running on empty, or at least close to 1/4 tank full for the last few years.  I need this, and God knows that.  I want to hear what He has on His heart for my family and for this season that is lies ahead.  I am so incredibly thankful for His constant grace and mercies that are new with the rising sun, this keeps me running.  But I need more than that, I am tired of just getting by, I am tired of just thriving and striving. I need a new revelation of what it means to really step into His peace and rest.  I know that the Cross is a mystery door, and on the other side lies freedom from striving and it's a place of abiding.  I am so thankful that with the crucifixion of Christ (and resurrection!), I was also crucified, and therefore I don't have to abide by the striving rules that the law forces.  And with that in mind, I ready for my 5 days to focus my eyes on HIM alone and to have my heart renewed with his vision for my life.

Oh!  On April 9th we will be celebrating Jeremiah's birthday!  What a special man we get to celebrate!  How blessed we are to have him apart of our family.  We love you, Jeremiah!


Song - Do Everything - By Steven Curtis Chapman

Snow Bunnies

We finally had a decent snow fall (4 or 5 inches) last week, so we bundled up and went out to shovel/play in the snow.   It was the first time that Joshua asked to go out and play in the snow, normally it's Saray that constantly asks to play out in the snow, even if its a slight dusting.  We were thrilled with the request, especially since Jer had the day off, which meant I didn't have to bundle three kids all by myself.  

The kids had a blast and played outside for over an hour.  We made snow angels and made a slide of snow connecting to our 3.5 ft retaining wall by our driveway.   Grayson kept trying to run through the snow like the twins, but kept falling, only to be stuck in snow face down.  Thank goodness Momma was never too far away to rescue the little guy.  

Saray was the first to make the request to head indoors, which was shocking as it's normally Joshua who wants to go back inside first (generally with 5 minutes of being outdoors).  But everyone was a bit happier and warmer when greeted by a warm cup of real hot cocoa and a morning snack.

Putting to Memory

One, two, three, four, five.
Once I caught a fish alive,
Six, seven, eight, nine ,ten,
Then I let him go again.
Why did you let him go?
Because he bit my finger so.
Which finger did he bite?
This little finger on the right. 

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I cannot help but be simply amazed by Saray, she memorized this poem/song in one day.  It makes me realize that I do not give my children enough credit...they are all so very smart!!  In fact, I think in a handful of years they will actually outsmart me.  

Enjoy the little video of Saray.  

A Pirate Life For Me...

Okay so maybe I wasn't really cut out to be a pirate, but I sure do enjoy taking my kids to the pirate ship pool in Deadwood.  So at least for a few hours I can pretend, I mean my kids can pretend that they are little pirates out at sea.

Speaking of the little pirates, Grayson is up from his nap.  2 are still sleeping...so I'll upload the pictures while I can.  Enjoy the pictures.

All My Love

Valentine's Day used to be a day where I mopped around when I was single, then it turned into another reason to go out on a date with my stud of a husband once I got married, and now that I have children it has turned into another reason to show my love to my family and also to make and decorate cookies, make valentine cards and hear my kids laugh over the new discovery of sprinkles hitting a sugar cookie and the plate.  I heart another reason to love my loved ones.

I never thought I could or would love this much.   But God has enlarged my heart and I pray that He will continue to do so.

Here are a few pictures from our fun evening the other night.

Joshua - 3.5 yrs old

Grayson - 22 months

 

 

Saray - 3.5 yrs old

Terry Peak House - Our Surprise Adventure

We had a great adventure at the Terry Peak house this past weekend.  We arrived at 4pm to a very cold, big 4 bedroom house (3 floors).   The furnace was on the fritz, which meant a chilly evening; thank goodness for a wood burning fireplace!  I stayed bundled in my winter coat and hat for nearly 5 hours, while everyone seemed to adjust to the cool indoor temps (the kids ran around til about 8pm, so I'm sure that helped).   I thought for sure that I would be sleeping in my coat and hat under the few blankets on the king sized bed.  But, thankfully the maintenance man was able to repair the furnace just in time for sleep.  Phew!   

As far as sleep went, Josh slept like a rock all night long, but Grayson and Saray played tag sleep; Grayson would cough, which would wake up Saray for 20 minutes or so.  Finally they were fast asleep, only for it to last 30 minutes or a hour until the tag game would start over.   Blah.  At least sleep is overrated.  

The kids had a blast playing in the hot tub outside under the stars with Daddy, Uncle Jesse and Uncle Jansen , Aunt Molly and Brittany (Jesse's girlfriend).  The hot tub was a highlight for the kids, that and watching "Wipe Out" on the TV with the crew.

Overall, we had a blast at the "Terry Peak House" and hope to go back again sometime in the near future (ya know, a year from now.)  

Sabastian - 3 months old (My parents' foster baby - also Molly's half brother.)

My better half.  :)

The twins were so excited to use sleeping bags for the first time.

Grayson, the boy who will eat anything.  He's enjoying Chunky Chicken Chili.

Saray hanging out with Uncle Jansen and Uncle Jesse the next morning.

Hanging around the fireplace, trying to keep warm.

Hot Tub Time!

Grayson and Mommy.

Relaxing after all the playing...watching "Wipe Out".

Uncle Jesse and Niece Torin

A Surprise Adventure

I should be getting things ready as we're headed out for the night, but morning sickness is kicking me where it counts, in the gut and my energy level.  We're getting ready to go on what the twins are calling "a surprise adventure".  My sister and her husband rented a big house just 4 miles from Terry Peak, one of the ski resorts up in Lead, SD (only 30 minutes away).  So my parents, Molly, Sabastian (Molly's half brother - foster baby), my sister Alesha, her husband and her twins, my brothers, my sister Ana and my family will all meet to have a good old family get together for the night.  We're not going snowboarding or skiing this year but we do plan on having lots of laughs and lots of fun in the snow tomorrow morning.
The twins are extremely excited for this adventure, especially since they get to sleep in sleeping bags for the very first time.  Grayson, I'm sure, will be extremely excited to tear apart a new place, I mean explore a new place.  All I am praying for is sleep, especially since my little family of 5 will all be in the same room. 

Wish us luck!   I need to get back to work.