AWANA Grand Prix

Yesterday Brayden and Logan participated in the Pinewood Derby at our church.  They were involved in the whole process of making their cars, including the cutting, sanding, painting and adding the details.  I'm so proud of how their cars turned out.

Brayden won 2nd place in design for his killer whale.  Poor Logan was pretty upset and hurt that he didn't win too, but it was a good lesson in being proud of himself and accepting praise from and giving praise to others.

Oh, and if you're wondering what the inspiration behind their car designs were, this book (one of the boys' favorites!) might have a little something to do with it:

Word for 2011

The other morning I was in the kitchen packing the boys' lunches for school.  All the boys were in the kitchen telling me, at the same time, what they wanted for breakfast.  Ashten was at my feet crying because I wasn't holding her (the nerve!!).  It was chaotic.  I was tired.  I was wishing I could just drink one cup of coffee without paying for it 6 hours later when Ashten wouldn't go down for her afternoon nap because of all the caffeine.  I had the radio on, which probably wasn't the smartest thing because it mostly just added to the noise, but sometimes I just need to hear something besides whining and kid voices!  This particular morning they were talking about what would be your one word for 2011?  The one word you would let define your life for the year and that would guide your relationship with God.  It struck a chord with me.  I was challenged.

For the few days prior to that, I had been feeling convicted a lot on my attitude of contentment.  Am I really content with what I have, or am I always looking for the next good thing, the next thing I can get for a great deal, bigger and better stuff like I see people around me getting?  Ashamed, I have to say that I am not very often grateful and content. 

I saw someone's new house on their blog and I was immediately jealous.  It's HUGE!  And they are getting it for a steal because they live in a part of the country where houses don't cost an arm and a leg and it is also a foreclosure.  And then I think about how much work and money we are always putting into our house and I am frustrated.  And I get jealous.  And I get covetous.  And it's not just our house, it's the food we eat, the number of times we go out to eat, the cars we drive, the way our house is decorated, the cell phones we have, etc, etc, etc.  It's so easy to get down about stuff.  And I really shouldn't be down about stuff, but that's not what life is really all about, when you get right down to it.  And I shouldn't be down about life, because God has blessed us uniquely and I am grateful for that.

Our house was a steal for us eight years ago when we got it.  I still doubt that we could get the house we have for the money we pay.  We are considering paying off our car this spring, 18 months early!  I am able to be a stay at home mom and we are able to live on one salary, a teacher's salary no less!  There are not many people at all who can say that!  We have four healthy children whose plain existence is a miracle from God.  I have been blessed 100 times over with wonderful friends.  I remember a time in my life just a few short years ago when I was so lonely.  I prayed and prayed for just one good friend, someone I could talk to and share things with.  You know what?  God answered that prayer, in His time!  And now?  Seriously, I am almost too busy keeping up with all the friends I have.  But I wouldn't have it any other way right now, it's such a blessing from God.  I could keep going, but I don't need to.  I got the point while I was typing it out.

So when I think about all my blessings I realize just how content I should be.  And I shouldn't even need to compare myself to the majority of the rest of the world where just having 1 meal a day or a roof over their head is a luxury.  I shouldn't have to do that.  I am blessed.  I am blessed compared to people around me with similar lifestyles.  I am God's child.  He takes care of me and my family in ways that I can't even begin to numerate here. 

So my word for 2011?  Yes, I'm getting to it finally.  CONTENTMENT!  No matter what others have, no matter what we don't, I will be content with what I DO have.  It only took me a few hours from the time I heard it on the radio for my 2011 word to be confirmed in my heart and mind.  Contentment is what I need this year.  And you know what?  Not even 5 hours later that same day, it was already being challenged.  So tough, some of the lessons I have to learn (and learn and learn.....).   

So what about you?  What would be your one word for 2011?  If you're up for the wild ride God might take you on, pray about it seriously and see what God wants for you this year.  It's my challenge to you!

At this time next year, as I look back on 2011, I pray that this verse will have characterized my life.  I leave you with Phillipians 4:11-13.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

Flip flops in January?

For my preference, it was a bit too cold to be wearing flip flops outside, but for three boys who didn't want to take up precious, playing outside time by having to put shoes and tie them (!), it was conveniently just warm enough!

Preston being silly (looks like he's modeling his flip flops!)

Shooter Preston

Eco Natural Soap giveaway winner!

And the winner is......

Congratulations, Olivia!  You can go to http://www.econaturalsoap.com/ and contact Alicia directly about which products you would like.  Enjoy!

Eco Natural Soap Giveaway!

I am very excited to do my first giveaway on my blog.  I've had friends do them and it just seemed so much fun.  And who doesn't love free stuff?   

Alicia over at Eco Natural Soap is sponsoring this giveaway.  A few weeks ago she contacted me and allowed me to preview a few of her products and do a giveaway on my blog.  She was so generous to send me a variety of things to try, I have really enjoyed the products!

She sent me a few of the bars, some lip balms a skin balm (for me!) and a pet balm (for our dog who is having some weird skin reaction after getting sprayed by a skunk).  Everything I have tried so far I love.  I have tried the "Closest Shave" bar and was so amazed how smooth my legs felt after shaving.  And not just for the 5 minutes I was still in the shower, but all day!!  And the skin balm....oh my!!  I have really dry rough feet (probably because I live in flip flops 6 months out of the year) and this stuff is awesome.  Just a little bit under my socks at night and my feet are so soft and smooth in the morning.  And it's not greasy, so my feet don't feel all grimy all night, good stuff! And the lip balms are so smooth and smell so good.  (In fact, when I got my package in the mail, the whole thing smelled good, even before I opened it!)

So are you eager to try out a few of the products for yourself?  One winner will get to choose any two soaps, one body butter/balm and one lip butter!  There are two ways to enter (remember to leave a separate comment on this post for each one):

1. Visit Eco Natural Soap and leave a comment saying which of the products you would most like to try.

2. Link this giveaway to your facebook status and leave a comment saying you did so.

You have until 7 pm (MST) on Wednesday, January 26 to enter.  The winner will be announced Thursday morning, so make sure to check back and see if you won.  Good luck!

Exciting stuff

You'll definitely want to check back into my blog tomorrow morning as there's going to be a fun surprise!

Ashten - 10 months

My little Ashten is 10 months old today!  Can't believe, it's going so fast. (And yes, I will probably say that every month/year from here on out, so we might as well all get used to it!)  This last month she has really started to show her personality quite a bit.  She loves to be around other kids, especially her brothers, she is wary of new places and new people, always looking to me to see my reaction and she is very smiley and happy when she is fed and rested!  She had quite a few firsts this month as well: first two teeth, first belly laughs, first Christmas and first time standing by herself. 

 Cutie pie close up

This is how she is often looking up at me: "hold me please mommy!"  How can you resist that pitiful face?

Ashten has started eating much better this month.  She is mostly on table foods now.  She never really did the baby food thing, so I just decided to start giving her what we were eating one day, and she loves most of it!  Her favorites seem to be potato salad and spaghetti!  I also moved her from the big high chair to the booster seat that fits on the chair.  She kept standing up in the high chair and almost falling out, and it's nice to have her at the table with all of us, our table is maxed out now!



Chris!

Logan was messing around with the camera the other day and got this picture of Chris.  I like it because it shows just how Chris can be with the boys - fun and silly!  I never get this reaction out of him when I'm behind the camera.  I just love this man!

Preschool for Preston

Preston is starting to get a little jealous that his brothers are in school and that he's not big enough to go to school himself.  So since he's still got another year and a half and I don't want to keep answering the question, "how much longer till I go to school?", I decided to do a little preschool with him at home.  I haven't been real consistent with it, but he really likes it, so I need to make a schedule and stick to it!

So far we've worked on bigger/smaller and matching items that go together.  I think we will start working on rhyming and counting next.  And coloring neatly!

Taming the tongue

Brayden and I were having a discussion today about how powerful our mouths and the words that come out of them are.  I told him that the Bible actually warns quite a bit about controlling your tongue, and just how hard that is to do.  How basically it is impossible by ourselves, we have to have help from God to even have a chance at controlling our tongues.

Then he told me he thinks sharks need to learn to do that too because today at school he learned how when sharks have their babies, the babies have to be on their own right away because the moms can't control themselves if they get too hungry and they will actually eat their babies.  So he said "I think the sharks need to learn to control their mouths too so that their babies don't have to be on their own right after they are born"!

Ashten's new favorite game

Thankfully she has a brother kind and patient enough to push her around and around the basement on her riding toy, it could seriously entertain her for at least a half hour at a time!

Christmas cookies

I'm kind of behind on my blog, just now posting about the delicious Christmas cookies the boys and I made several weeks ago.  Oops!

We made 68 cookies in all!  It was a lot of fun and surprisingly I didn't have a cow about the mess and make the whole experience not fun for everyone involved (yay, me!)  Since we had a lot of cookies and we definitely didn't need that much sugar in the house, I asked the boys who they wanted to give some cookies to.  They unanimously said "daddy's basketball girls!".  So, the next day, we took a whole tray full of cookies to basketball practice and shared with all the girls.  They boys were so proud and the girls were very grateful.

Versaw photo shoot

My side of the family was all together for Christmas this year!  It was the first time in over 18 months.  Too long definitely, but understandable considering that 3 of the 4 of us are married and/or have families that we have to work around.  I have 3 wonderful sisters and I miss them like crazy, I didn't realize how much I missed being all together as a family until we were all together again at Christmas.  I surely surely hope we don't have to wait another 18 months till we are all together again. 

Anyway, while we were all together, we had a family photo shoot, thanks to my dad's camera and a nifty tripod that yours truly got him for Father's Day!  I think the pictures turned out pretty good considering there was no one behind the camera making funny faces or weird noises or getting everyone to say "daddy has stinky feet".  Don't judge, that's what works for our kids, cracks them up into the best smile every time!!

I'm digressing quickly, so instead of go on and on about our family's hygiene habits, I will just show some pictures.  Sound good?  I thought so!

The whole family

Next Christmas there will be a new 5-month-old grandkid too (courtesy of my sister and her hubby)!

The cousins

For the following pictures, we actually did have some little kids behind the camera trying to do bunny ears on the picture-taker and trying to get the subjects to smile.  It was actually very funny as the kids didn't really know how to do it and they just ended up tickling the top of the person's head.  It was funnier in person than it is on the blog, just trust me.

All of us sisters

My parents

All she wanted for Christmas was her two front teeth....

And she got them (a few days late)!!!!!