Weekend Snapshots.

We had an interesting weekend. Jacob was at Allstate Youth Orchestra from Thursday morning until Sunday night. I'll be honest, it was hard being without him for that long! I know he's normally gone a lot during the days, but he's always home to sleep. Even though the days dragged by, we tried to make the best of it. The kids were actually pretty good, so that was a huge blessing!

Friday morning picture to send to Daddy.

L&L requested pancakes for breakfast. Little Mommy Lily took it upon herself to feed Levi. He thought it was so funny.

Happy boy. 

When I asked the kids what they wanted to do on Friday, they said they wanted to go walk around at the mall. We had so much fun! They wanted to ride the carousel, but we only made it around about 3 times before Levi got scared and we had to get off. :( He normally does well when Jacob is with him, but I was also trying to hold Asher, so I wasn't able to give Levi all my attention. Oh well. I had a little change leftover so I let them ride one of the riding toys.

So many people stopped to talk to the kids and comment about them. In the hour we were there, I got asked no less than three times, "are they all yours?" Ha! I feel like we're a spectacle where ever we go! Can't imagine the comments people with like 10 children get! :)

After naptime we were surprised with a gift (dot paints) from some sweet friends of ours in SC! 

Friday night we went and ate mexican with Jacob's extended family. It was pretty crazy! I think my kids get overwhelmed with all the people giving them hugs and wanting to hold them and stuff (and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, at all!), all three of them just wanted to be right with Momma the whole time. Oh well, I know pretty soon it'll be like pulling teeth to get them to sit with me! Ha. 

Saturday morning I "braved it" and we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. (A gift card from Christmas was burning a hole in my pocket :) We had the best time! The kids were so good!

Mmm, pancakes and eggs!

Me and my little man.

Of course after finishing breakfast, the kids had to play with the toys and rock in the rocking chairs. :)

We picked up a few things at the grocery store and then headed home. 

Sweet Lily fell and hurt her knee. She cried for Daddy and wanted me to send him a picture of her. In case you're wondering, yes, we use frozen veggies as boo-boo bags! :)

We went out and visited Memaw after naps. Uncle Josh looked at family pictures with L&L.

Bathed babes, ready for bed.

Papaw is the official book reader on Sunday nights while we get supper ready. :)

Even Asher had to see what they were watching on Uncle Ernie's iPad.

Happy Friday!

Lily turns 3!

So finally more than a month later I'm posting about Lily's birthday. Oh well :)

Our girl is getting so big! She lights up our home with her personality...and her attitude. Ha! She is so funny and makes us laugh every day. 

She wants to do everything just like Mama. 

She has a huge imagination. She loves acting out stories. She loves playing mama and teacher and nurse. 

She loves her brothers. 

She is bossy. 

She loves to read and be read to. 

She loves to sing. 

She is a helper. 

She is shy at times. 

She loves coloring, cutting, pasting, basically anything crafty.

She loves playing games. 

She can be happy as can be one minute and a puddle of tears the next. 

She is stubborn. 

She enjoys playing outside and can't wait for summertime.

She loves taking pictures.

She talks all. the. time.

She weighs 30lbs and wears size 3T clothes and size 9 shoes.

For her birthday breakfast she wanted chocolate chip pancakes.

We had a small party for her at Five Guys. Well, it wasn't that small when you consider the size of both our families! :)

Silly girl!

My big helper. I am so thankful for her!

Weekend Happenings

Lily and Levi got violin lessons on Friday afternoon. It was Levi's first, and he was beside himself with excitement! Lily is doing really well with her lessons, although she has a hard time just playing on one string at a time. :)

Jacob taught some private lessons Friday afternoon. Whenever Asher hears the violins start playing, he speed crawls to the door and peeks under. It's so funny! Last week he started banging on the door, so I've had to move him back to the living room to play. 

Asher managed to find the newspaper, which kept him occupied for awhile.

We got a quick supper at 5 Guys and then ran to Target to let the kids pick out something from the dollar section. We aren't paying them to do their chores - because there are just some things you do because you live here and you're part of the family. But we are paying them a little to do extra jobs. They are learning about giving money to the Lord and saving some and having some to spend.

Lily chose to get CandyLand band-aids. She used all 10 of them within 10 minutes...on one doll. :) 

This cheesy boy has got to get a haircut. My word! his hair is out of control!

The most amazing thing happened to me on Saturday. Now, for those of you reading, this is not to get sympathy or make you feel bad for my family. I've rarely talked about our financial struggles on here for those reasons, and the fact that God always provides, but I have to share this, because I saw God answer a specific prayer and I never want to forget it.

It was raining on Saturday afternoon, so as soon as Jacob got home from rehearsal, I headed to the grocery store by myself. I prayed on my way there that God would provide for me to get everything we needed on my list - I wasn't praying for someone to give me money, but that there would be unexpected sales, that I would find manager's specials, and that I would use our money wisely. 

{I know it may seem silly to some to pray over a little thing like this, but God cares even about the sparrows, and I know He cares for even our smallest needs. Side note: My Dad planted the church where I grew up and still go. He worked a secular job on top of being a pastor so he could provide for our family. I remember going shopping every week and my mom praying that God would stretch the money to cover the needs.}

This was my facebook status later in the day: 

    My heart is overwhelmed by the faithfulness of God! Today as I was getting ready to check out at the grocery store, a group of high-school age guys came up to me and said they had some money left over after getting what they needed and they wanted to give it to me to help pay for my groceries. All I could do was blubber out "thank you" through many tears. 

Never underestimate the power of prayer even in "small" things.

Saturday night while I was putting the boys to bed, Lily said she needed to go potty. She got a little chair so she could turn on the light, then all was quiet and I assumed she was doing her business. After I put Asher in bed I went to check on her and this is how I found her. She "did her eyebrows." LOL What I didn't find out until I was doing her hair Sunday morning was that she had also cut her hair with my little scissors! Thankfully it's not in a really noticeable place! She is a mess!

Levi insisted on wearing a tie to church because Uncle Joseph does. He didn't care that I didn't really go with his outfit. ha!

Playing at Grammie's house after Sunday dinner.

I made homemade pizza rolls for a fellowship after church Sunday night. They were soo good!

Sweetie just after waking up from her nap. 

Here's another story about Lily - she had trouble settling down for her nap so she got out of her bed (which she's not supposed to do and she normally doesn't) and closed her door (which I didn't hear because I was in the kitchen) and had a big time playing with her baby dolls. She eventually fell asleep on the floor which is where I found her when she woke up. Like I said, she's a mess!

Reading a bedtime story with Daddy.

Pictures by Lily.

These are just a bunch of random uncropped/unedited pictures on my phone that Lily took. When she gets ahold of my phone, there is no telling what I'll find. Last week she took a ton of the same exact thing...her closet door. I guess she just sat there snapping away. Ha. 

After she got the brush stuck in my hair. :-/

Mama making chore charts.

Levi and Uncle Josh.

Beautiful Yaya.

My "I'm about to lose my mind" face.

LOL

Daddy's "stop taking pictures of me while I'm eating" face.

I literally laughed out loud when I found this one! :) Typical boy.

Crazy sweet girl!

Happy Friday!