A cohesive post isn't gonna happen.

Maybe one of these days, my posts wont jump from one subject to the next, but I can't seem to make that happen right now. 

First of all, I'm happy to report that I finally found a friend in B.G. who likes sushi!! 

Woot! 

So, Liz and I met up the other day to partake in the yummy goodness, and have some girl talk. 

Even though, I'm afraid I need to pay for some professional chop stick lessons for Liz. She can't figure them out for ANYTHING. Ha! 

 The kids and I went to Brittany's house the other night, to say our goodbye's. While we were there, Brittany got the stuff out to color some Easter eggs.

 It was a mess, but fun!

 And "Miss Olivia" was there, the kids babysitter. Whom the A-D-O-R-E. You're going to babysit till you are 40, right Olivia???

 And the reason for saying goodbye to Brittany, is because she is in mid route today for Greece. I keep getting these random pictures sent to me...

 I think it's safe to say that these two are excited!!

 And just about to start a 10 hour flight around the world, to do great things in HIS name.

 And lastly, I just love this picture of my sweet babes. You know, these two fight like nobody's business, as I'm sure all siblings do, right? But this morning, right before I was taking Pierce to school, these two were just embracing each other. Unprompted. I grabbed my cell phone and snapped that sweet moment up! They really do love each other. And I really love them.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I've got a pretty special visitor set to show up on Saturday.... :)))

Various and sundry happenings here

I certainly do not want to do a separate post for each of the things I plan on blogging tonight. So, this post will jump around, because honestly, that's what we do. We jump around from one thing to the next. So here's some of the latest happenings...

Kids went to the dentist.

 Both of them had a perfect check up! Woot!

 Hope is still in dance. Now she's official stuff, because she's got the whole ensemble going, with REAL ballet shoes.

 And she is loving it!

 Prancing around, like the little sass o' pants that she is.

 CUTE!

 Thanks to daddy, we've had character pancakes.

 Can you tell what this one is??? I said a platypus, but it's a duck.

 I've hidden behind flowers in order to not be seen.

 And we've started Resurrection eggs with the kids.

 It's a neat way to go over the events leading up to the resurrection of Christ.

 Kids are very excited to do it each night.

 I (along with our entire church) have lifted up our sweet friends headed for Greece this week. I've got 3 personal friends I know leaving on this trip (Brittany, Dwan and Karen)

 Who I happen to also do my Starbucks Bible study with. On Monday we spent extra time praying over each of these ladies. Blessed to know these women!!!

And please note, Bible study is at 6 a.m. on Monday mornings, this will explain why some of us (me) look so freakishly ghetto. But proving that I love my friends more than myself, I am posting it, and even BLOWING IT UP. Oh good grief.

Life is very full now.

Back when we moved here 18 months ago, I did a post on how moving totally screws up your social calender. And I even took a picture of my sad, pitiful calender to show just how sad things were for me...

Exhibit A. 

 Fast forward a year and a half, and life is very full now. (And my calender looks crazy dirty too, what's up with that? Guess it  might be time for a new one)

For a while there, I wasn't sure I would ever get here again, but I'm sure glad that I am.

Our weekend of spring, basketball, friends, and awkward pictures.

It's official, Spring has sprung, and it's beeeee-u-ti-ful. 

On Friday, Brittany and I  took the kids to a park to play outside,and just enjoy the gorgeous day that it was.

Pierce is so sweet with Lukey bear, he just loves him!

How could you not love him? He's so stinkin' cute!

Layton was with his daddy, but he joined us later that night.

Something sweet about watching your kids play a pick up game with other little ones. And since it is March Madness right now, basketball seems to be the game of choice.

 Kids played until they were filthy dirty! We had to get them all clean, before the big game came on!
So, if Luke and Hope get married, this will be an epic picture, right here! Even though, I'm thinking Luke and Maggie May, might hook up...

 Uh, how cute is this?

 We had just enough time before the game started to whip up a treat.

 And of course, take some MORE pictures.

 Then it was ON! Hoosiers vs. the CATS. In a land of KY fans, I was a lone Hoosier, but I didn't lose heart, and I represented! Of course we know the outcome, but I thought the Hoosier did great, and I'm still a proud HOOSIER!!!

Once we recovered from the game on Friday night, we got ourselves all prettied up to get our pictures taken for our church directory. We've actually not had any type of church picture made since Pierce was 1, so 6 years. And let me tell you, it was brutal.

I understand that a directory picture has to have a certain look about it and all, but WOW, the awkwardness is just unbelievable! We were telling Blake and Brittany about it, and then we decided to reenact it for them....

 I will def have to share the final product with you when we eventually get our directories. :)

Today was church, and just hanging out watching the games. So, I will leave with these two, well, because they are cute!

Happy Weekend!!

Progress on school.

It's time for 3rd quarter progress reports on the kids. Can you believe we are in the last 9 weeks now? Holy moly!! 

First up, Pierce.

All of his are based on 1, 2, 3 grade scale. 

Below Expected, 1.

Expected, 2.

Advanced, 3.

Pierce is getting a 2 in most areas, working at grade level. But he does have a few that he's getting a 3 in. 

 Addition, above grade level.
Numbers (recognizing,counting, place value) above grade level.
Follows directions and rules, above grade level.
Demonstrates responsibility, above grade level.
Complies with reasonable request, above grade level.
Respects rights and properties of others, above grade level.

Comments: Pierce is a leader among his peers!!

Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you Pierce!!

 On Monday I met with Hope's teacher to discuss where she is at academically and kindergarten preparedness.

She took an assessment in the beginning of the year, and recently just took same assessment.

She knows all her letters and sounds. She can write her numbers, and the teacher assured me, that she is ready for kindergarten! Yikes!

The teachers also asked some basic questions, and I wanted to share some of the answers....

What is your mother's name? "Gretchen
What does your mother do? "Laundry"

What is your father's name? "Paul"
What does your father do? "He goes backpacking" (this was first time) Second time around, "He goes to work."

What is a family? "sick together" (first time)
What is a family? "love"


I am a proud momma!!!

I've hired a personal photographer to document my life. Her name is Brittany.

You know my friend Brittany, right?  Well, shortly after I met Brittany one of the first things I found out about her is, she takes incredible pictures. So much so, that I often would ask her, "have you ever thought of doing that professionally?" Apparently, I wasn't the only one asking her that question...

So, she pulled the trigger, and started For His Glory. 

Last night she was headed to her in-laws house in Muhlenberg County to take pictures of Blake's cousin, and she sweetly invited us along. Once Pierce got out of school, we drove for an hour, but ended up in a little piece of paradise!! They live on a farm, and it was gorgeous! My kids had the best time. And Since Brittany is a great photographer, I end up with these awesome pictures of my kids. So I've decided I'm going to take her everywhere just to document my every move. My own personal photographer following me around in Wal-Mart, the BMV, the pick up line at school. That wouldn't be too much, would it? :) 

Pierce, Hope, Layton and Clay. 

Just something about being out in the country, that seems to bring the best out in children, you know? They find the joy in the most simple of things, like playing with water in a bucket.

Or swinging on a swing, that is incredible! This swing was awesome, I even took a ride. I felt like I might touch the sky.

After the kids had played their hearts out, Joy (Brittany's mother in law) fed us a meal of chicken and dumplings, green beans, apples, homemade chocolate pie, chocolate chip cookies, and oatmeal raisin cookies. I think the kids were in shock, have we died and gone to heaven mommy? No kids, you've just a woman who knows how to use her stove properly.

Country living sure can be appealing, but I would without a doubt, miss the mall.

But back to my personal photographer, please check out some of these pictures she took of my Hope.

Thank you, Brittany! I will treasure these forever!!!! If you are in the area, check her out, you will not be disappointed!