One Lump Sum....

Well, it has been crazy to say the least around our house. Last Sunday, I started my first rotation in the preschool class at our church. It was fun! Nothing like I had anticipated. The rest of the day was pretty lazy. Alex, Ashton and Maddie all took naps and then we had Mexican food with a group of people from our church. It was nice to get to know a few more people that we see each week, but don't get to talk to much.

Sunday night, the kids and I decided to take a little last minute road trip. We really enjoyed spending Monday and Tuesday with BB, KK and Addison. We got to get away from home for a couple of days and enjoy some playtime. The kids got to do a little pool fun, take a ride with BB on the four wheeler and play with Addison!! There wasn't much outside time because the rain kept us stuck inside.

Wednesday we basically stayed home and got some cleaning done and today was SHOPPING!!!! The kids and I piled in the car this morning and we went to Hermitage and then Providence to do some much needed SHOPPING! After we got back and took a short nap, the kids' friend Cason came over to hang out while his dad did some work for church. It was a fun night!

Stay tuned for a busy weekend wrap up.....

A few days in one.....

Wednesday, Alex spent the day at home using some vacation time. It was Ashton's last day at Tuesday/Wednesday school and he wanted to sport a mohawk. Of course, Alex was all about that as you can tell!! Maddie wasn't feeling good, but still willing to pose for a picture with her big brother.

Friday morning, we went to Pump it Up with some friends. As you can tell, Maddie had some fun playing ball with Mr. Erik. Surprisingly, she loves Erik!!! For anyone that knows her, knows that is a big deal because she really isn't a fan of too many men. However, Erik made it one of his goals to "make her like him" as he said. It worked!!

Friday evening, Daddy got some time to play with the kids and hang out with Erik and Kaleb. I, on the other hand, got some much needed time for me. I joined a handful of other Journey girls at Katrina's house for Scrapbooking/Craft night. We had a lot of fun. Most of the girls worked on their scrapbooks, but I worked on a service project for the women's ministry. It was a great time!! Can't wait until next time.

Maddie was a SUPER big girl today!

This morning, Maddie had to have bloodwork done in order to try to help us determine whether or not she is allergic to peanuts. Alex and I were truly dreading this visit because she is a strong little girl and we just knew that it was going to be absolutely horrible trying to hold her down for blood to be drawn. Well, little miss Maddie shocked us to say the least!! The lady came in to take her blood and Maddie just laid back. She pulled Maddie's arm out to the side, turned it over and began to draw the blood and Maddie NEVER moved! Can you believe that? She didn't even cry!! When the needle came out and the lady placed the cotton ball on her arm, Maddie began to cry, but nothing until it was over. How amazing is that?! God was definitely watching out for us today!!! So, as a reward Daddy told her she could go to Chick fil a and play. She spotted it on the way to the doctor and wanted to go. After a quick hair cut for Ashton, we went back and she got to play.

IT IS OFFICIAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it is official! We have a trampoline! Saturday, Alex got to spend some time seeing how much the kids LOVED playing on the Kimbro's tramepoline. Today, he went and bought one. I'm not totally sure though whether it was for them or him... LOL.

As you can see, Ashton & Maddie are definitely enjoying it already!

Alex couldn't get it put together fast enough! We were literally tying the netting up while they were jumping. I have a feeling that this will be our new favorite pass time for a while!!!!!

Fun Filled Weekend

This was another busy weekend for us! It seems like we've had a lot of those lately. Saturday morning, Alex and the kids joined Robbie and Cason for breakfast at Waffle House while I got to enjoy a quiet morning alone. I even got to get out of the house BRIEFLY by myself, which doesn't happen much. I came back to find every toy we own outside in the driveway and the kids having a great time playing with Daddy. All this rain lately has kept us inside and they were busting at the seams to get out and play! Saturday after brought even more outside fun at Ansley's birthday party. The kids like to play at the Kimbro's house because they have a trampoline. We're still working on Daddy letting us get one! I'll keep you posted.

Today was another great day! The Journey started two services (9am and 11am) today. We chose the 9am so that we could get home and have lunch without rushing like we normally do with the former 10am service. It was a nice change of pace in our house. I think I'm going to like it. Despite a few small alterations to our normal set up... it was a great lesson and service. I'm excited to see what next week brings!

Fabulous Friday

Today was a fabulous day!!!!!!!!!! I have been brainstorming on some ideas for service projects that my church women's ministry could be apart of and today I hit a JACKPOT. I found several great ideas. I'm super excited about one in particular. There is a women and childrens shelter here in Lebanon that needs help. I'm so excited about finding out all I can about it. From everything I've read, it seems like an awesome organization that could use some major support. I'm so excited about it!!! I'm thinking about trying to volunteer there starting in August at least one day a week when the kids both start Mother's Day Out and I'm free to do what I want. I'll keep you posted!

Have a great weekend!

Casey & Addison for a vist

The last few days have been a little more busy than last week for us. Alex stayed home from work on Tuesday and after we took Ashton to school, he, Maddie and I went and did a little shopping. After that, we got another visit from Casey and Addison. They came to stay with us again for a few days. We're glad to have them here and love our time to visit with them.

Wednesday brought more shopping for Maddie and I. Casey talked us in to going to Providence to look for her some clothes. Can you believe I would need any convincing for some shopping?! LOL We had a good time and enjoyed getting out. I was just TRULY exhausted after half a day of shopping and didn't do much of anything the rest of the day.

Today is just going to be a day of relaxing and hanging out at home before Casey & Addison have to head back to their house to see Brandon after lunch! Alex should be home shortly thereafter and who knows what we might get in to for the evening!! Stay tuned.....

Chatter Box

As most of you know, Maddie has been chatting away for a while now. However, I've noticed an entirely new vocabulary over the last few days. Or maybe it is just that she is putting together more sentences and phrases. I'm not sure! I just know that I'm catching myself hanging on her every word. She amazes me with all the things she picks up on. You just don't realize what you've taught them sometimes, until it is repeated. I know that sounds crazy to some of you, but she is just so darn cute! It makes you realize just how much they mimic what you do. They are just a little sponge ready to absorb everything they possibly can. It is great! She is even trying to sing songs more and more. Its adorable. So, my piece of advice.... remember if you have young children, they are literally absorbing everything they can. Lets make it count and make sure they are absorbing what they need to!

WOW! What a Sunday?!

Mother's Day was a great day in so many ways! It started with the four of us just hanging out a little, getting ready for church and heading out. Alex didn't go early to help with set up and parking lot duty; instead he stayed home to help us get ready. It was nice!! Things can sometimes get pretty hectic without him. LOL.

Sunday at The Journey was AMAZING!!! I just don't know how else to explain it. It had been deemed "Celebration Sunday" and boy was it. We were excited to witness one of our dear friends' baptisms. Jamie had been teeter totting on whether she was ready or not, but decided she was indeed ready and that she wanted to take that step toward a relationship with God and we were very excited to be there to witness that with her family!! We love you Jamie and are very happy for you!!! The Celebration didn't stop there though. Alex has become close to a guy in our neighborhood that also attends the Journey. Jeff too decided to take that step toward a relationship with God and he was baptized as well. Alex was incredibly moved to see Jeff take that leap and we're very happy for his family. Yet the excitement didn't even stop there. By the time our service was over, FIVE, yes FIVE, people had come forward to be baptized. It was absolutely AMAZING!!! I've never been apart of something like that and I have to say that my life has been forever changed. I'm really excited about all that is to come at the Journey.

After all that, you wouldn't think that anything else could happen. But, Sunday evening, some friends (the Reed's) came by to check up on us and our husbands' decided they would just cook us up a nice little Mother's Day dinner. I have to say that Erik and Alex did an excellent job!!! It was a super nice treat! Hope you all had a great Mother's Day too!

This Week All Wrapped Up

Tuesday evening I got a super big surprise! Casey and Addison had came up for a visit. I was very glad to see them!! They spent the night with us and then spent most of Wednesday here with us before heading back home!! We can't wait to see them again soon.

Friday, we had a family day to Pump It Up, one of our most favorite places to play. We met some friends (the Reed's) there and then went to lunch afterwards. It was a lot of fun!!

Saturday, Alex and the kids spent almost the ENTIRE day outside doing yard work. They had a lot of fun and Daddy was THRILLED to have more items checked off his "list" of to dos. I, on the other hand, got pretty lonely in the house by myself. LOL. Thankfully, Kevin and Tiffany joined us for some pizza for dinner and I finally got a little bit of entertainment. Tiffany and I enjoyed our chat while the kids went outside to play some more with Kevin and Alex. It was nice to get to catch up with them. We don't get to do enough with them some times!!

I've been on a cleaning spree, so I've neglected to post in the last several days. Saturday the kids and I decided to give Alex as much alone time as we could. We did the grocery store run and then after naps we went to our friend Morgan's birthday party. It was a fun afternoon! I even got to enjoy a Girls Night Out with some other girls from The Journey. We had a great time.!! Thanks Alex for staying home with the kids.

Sunday, the entire family went to church early (and I mean early) in order to help get things ready for service. We helped set up the chairs, the coffee bar and anything else that we were asked to do. It was nice to see how things are put together and feel like you helped to get it there. After service, we helped with taking it back down and then headed to the house. Alex had an afternoon hockey practice and I spent more time cleaning while the kids napped. All and all it was a productive Sunday afternoon at home!!

Yesterday, Maddie had an appointment for some allergy testing. It was not something that Alex or I were looking forward to, but knew that she needed it done. We learned a few months ago that when she ate Honey Nut Cheerios, she had a break out around her mouth which I knew was a sign of food allergy. I avoided them and moved on. More recently, I learned that she couldn't have a bite of peanut butter granola bar without the same reaction. With Ashton running around loving peanut sandwiches and peanuts by the handful, we decided it probably was a good idea to have her checked out to be on the safe side. We didn't want to take too big of a chance in Ashton giving her something she didn't need to eat OR her helping herself to something in the pantry on her own since she LOVES to hang out in the pantry!!!!!!!!

The tests proved to be negative for all 28 things they tested her for, BUT the doctor isn't totally sure that her acid reflux medication couldn't be interferring with the results. So, to be safe we have to avoid all nut items until she has a round of bloodwork to completely rule out the peanut allergy. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it comes back negative again!!

Hope everyone has a good week!

Donuts with Daddy

Wednesday was a big day for Alex and Ashton. As most of you know, Ashton goes to a Tuesday/Wednesday school and Mommy and Maddie drop him off and most days, Daddy gets to pick him up. The reason Wednesday was so special is because it was "Donuts with Dad" day at Ashton's school. He was so excited that Daddy to got take him to school AND get to stay for a bit and eat. They even had made Daddy a cool little pencil holder/tin and a polka dotted tie. It was pretty cool!! Daddy can't wait to wear it. LOL.

Thursday was a pretty noneventful day. We did some cleaning and played at home. Nothing too exciting!

Today, we met our friends (Erik, Kaleb & Katrina) at Pump it Up for some fun. After some major jumping and a little abuse from Erik, we met up with Jamie, Trace, Ansley and Jack for some lunch and more playtime at McDonald's. All and all it was a pretty fun morning. The kids are now napping. I'm going to enjoy just a little more peace and quiet and then tonight we're going to volunteer at the talent show at Rutland Elementary with The Journey.