Fun Visit

Yesterday, the kids and I went to my sister's house for a visit. We picked them up and immediately went to see my mom's new house. She has a huge hard and tons of space. We all went for some dinner and playtime for the kids. After dinner, we headed back for KK's house and the kids had a treat from KK. They love to watch her popcorn machine make them popcorn. As you can see from the picture below, they all three sat right there waiting. It was cute.

Maddie was definitely excited when the popcorn came out!!

Today, we spent some time playing outside and a LOT of time inside. It was so hot, the kids didn't make for very long before needing a cool off break. Here are a couple of cute pictures of them playing outside. We took Ashton's tractor and Maddie's jeep. The girls piled in the jeep and had a good time. At first, Addison wasn't sure what to think, but I think she changed her mind and enjoyed it. Ashton just followed behind on the tractor. They all had a good time and we enjoyed getting to visit.

Roadtrip, in more than one way

Tomorrow, Alex is going with a friend of ours on a roadtrip. Robbie is playing in a music festival in Atlanta tomorrow night and invited Alex to go with them. Alex seems to be pretty excited about. I'm sure they will have fun!

So, the kids and I have decided to make a little roadtrip of our own. We are about to load up to make an unplanned trip to see my sister. We miss her!! Ashton came home from school the other day crying that he needed to see his "KK". It was sweet and sad at the same time. The kids love Casey, Addison, and Brandon so much and hardly ever get to see them anymore. So, we're leaving when Maddie wakes up to go stay the night and hang out with them all day tomorrow. I'm sure that I will have tons of pictures to post tomorrow after we play and have a good time. There is no telling what we will get in to.

Hope you all have a good weekend!!

Courtney

New Machine & Tons of Possibilities

I've been on a little mission lately checking out new sewing/embroidery machines. I have been using Alex's mom's for a year and a half now. There is nothing wrong with the machine. It works great and I've really not had any problems with it. So you're thinking, why I am looking at new ones?? Well, I'll tell you. I'm very limited to what I can do with her machine. I've had many requests for things I just can't do unless I upgrade. SSSSOOOO..... I finally talked Alex in to getting me a new machine for my birthday. Yes, my birthday is a month away, but I he went ahead and got it for me now. I'M SUPER EXCITED!!!! We have a friend that has opened up a business and wants someone to do all her embroidery work for her. She has mentioned me doing it, so HOPEFULLY I can get that gig. I'm really excited!! I've been playing around with it all day. I feel like a kid in a candy store. It is unbelievable all the options I have. So, if you need anything, let me know.

This Week....

This week has just flown by for me. Monday we really didn't do much. I wasn't feeling super good and so the kids and I just kind of hung out all day. Tuesday was back to school for the kids. Maddie wasn't as happy to be there this week. She got pretty upset on Tuesday and I had to leave her crying. I headed for the gym; wondering in the back of my mind if I was going to have to go back and get her. When I got done, I called to check on her and she'd calmed down and went back to her class at snack time and was happy. YEAH! I went and ran some errands, grabbed a shower and headed back to get them. The day was over as fast as it began. Wednesday was another school day and back to the gym for me. For those of you that don't know... I'm on a mission to loose some weight before my birthday, which is creeping up on me faster and faster. After school, the kids and I headed to Providence to do some shopping. We got back just in time to have dinner with Robbie and Cason, from church. Another day gone in a flash! Yesterday, the kids and did some more running around. Ashton has outgrown all of his "long pants" as he calls them and so we went to look and see if we could find him some more. After that, we went and had lunch with Alex. Something we hardly get to do these days. It was nice!! We then headed home for the kids to nap. While they were sleeping, I sold Maddie's crib on craigslist. I was so excited. I wanted to get rid of it and finally did!! Katrina introduced us to craigslist a while back ago and we've gotten rid of a couple things on there now. Yeah!! When the kids woke up, we headed for the gym. While I worked out, Alex took the kids swimming. They had a LOT of fun! I headed out there when I was done and couldn't even find them at first. I look around and finally found them in the LAST place I would have expected to. They were jumping off the diving board!!! Maddie sat on the bench beside the pool and Ashton was jumping off the board in to Alex's arms. WOW! He has come a long way. He was so sad and cried when we had to leave. This might just be my way of getting to go work out some in the afternoons. They can swim and I can work out! Sounds like a good plan to me.. LOL.

A lot has happened in the last few days!

It seems like forever since I've had the opportunity to sit down, in quiet, and update our blog. So, be prepared, this is going to be a long one!

Friday, we had our small group at the Cheuvront's house. This one was probably one of the best talks we've had (my opinion, of course). It seemed to really hit a few cords with me and I usually keep pretty quiet at these things. Not this time!! I might have talked just as much as Jeff Bode and anyone that knows Jeff knows that is pretty hard to do. LOL. Alex missed out on the fun because he decided to go to the Titan's game instead.

Saturday, Alex, the kids and I went out for lunch just the four of us. It was nice because we don't really do much JUST the four of us. We love having people over & sometimes forget that we can have a good time alone!! After lunch, we hit the grocery.... FUN STUFF!!

Saturday evening, the Burton's, a family from church, came over to hang out and have dinner. It was a lot of fun! We haven't really gotten to do anything with them outside of church and had been wanting to. It was nice for Maddie especially because she isn't used to getting to play with many girls her age. Briley is just about 6 months older than Maddie and they had a really good time playing with purses and cell phones. Of couse, Ashton and Tyler enjoyed running around outside too. It was a fun night that ended with a big game of cards and a lot of laughs! Can't wait to do it again!!

Sunday.... what can I say? The Journey is always rocking and this week was no exception!! I started attending a new class this week. Let me just say that it was just the right thing at the right time for me. It really helped me to realize that a lot of things I'd been feeling lately, yet trying to suppress, were real and important. A while back, Erik did a sermon on Religion vs. Relationship. It was a sermon that really hit Alex and I both because we could really relate to what he was saying. Our last church was more about religion than relationship. Since that sermon, I've really been wrestling with whether or not I had been baptized for religion or relationship. I have no doubt about my salvation; just about my baptism. The more I thought about it and talked it over in my class on Sunday morning, the more I felt like I had done it more for "religion" than for relationship. I knew in that moment, talking with Sandy, that I was ready to do it for "relationship". I went forward and was re-baptized. I truly feel like this time was right and I'm blessed!!

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Lots of fun and Big Goals

Yesterday, the kids went for their 2nd day of school. It went just as well as the first. I'm super excited. It makes it so much easier to leave them when you know they are happy and having fun. With that said, I took off to do some returns and shopping. It was SO weird to be all alone shopping. It has been a VERY long time since I shopped ALL alone. I got a ton of stuff done. It was nice! Next I stopped for some lunch with my dad and a friend. It was a pleasant break and a good chance to catch up with my dad. We've not done much lately with everyone's busy schedules. Then it was about time to head back and pick the kids up.

Our afternoon was hectic but fun. The kids played with Kaleb and Katrina and I baked muffins and bread for church. We whipped it out like pros. It was a batter, after batter, after batter. The kitchen was full. It was nice to have some help getting it done much faster. We managed to get a couple of weeks worth made, wrapped up and in the freezer. YEAH!! Thanks Katrina, you were a HUGE help!!! Not to mention, you came up with an excellent time saving idea. LOL

Today, the kids and I got up and took off for a morning stroll. I'm kind of on a mission to loose a certain amount of weight between now and my birthday next month. I can't beleive I'm voicing this on my blog because that means I really have to succeed or EVERYONE will know. LOL. On a more serious note, I typically am not up for much exercise. I can watch what I eat and loose weight IF I stick to it. But this time is a little different. I read something yesterday that really spoke to me. It made me realize that I HAD to do it. There was no excuse and no reason NOT to. Yes, I know that isn't much time for big goals, but I know that with some major work and a lot of prayer, I CAN & WILL do it!! I'll keep ya posted!

1st Day of School

Today, Ashton and Maddie started their first day of preschool. Well, actually this is Ashton's third year, but it was Maddie's first time ever!! I was very nervous about how she would do. It took her about five months of going to the preschool class at church before she stopped crying and stayed the entire time. As you can see, they were both just as ready as can be heading in.

This is the two of them "cheesing" outside the door. They were so excited!!!!! Maddie went right in to her class with no problem. We left her and went to take Ashton (so we could stop back by and check on her). Ashton took all his stuff in his room, put it up in his cubby and went straight to playing with the "boys" like he was a pro. It was cute!

I stopped back by Maddie's room and she was sitting up at the table with a couple of boys playing with some little animals. I was excited. So far, no tears!!! I left and went to do a few things and called to check on her about 10:30-11:00 and they said she was doing great! Yeah!!!

Well, at 2:30 when I went to pick them up. Maddie was resting on her mat; another HUGE shock. She had actually taken a nap!! WOW! She is shocking me left and right. Miss Donneita said that she had done wonderful, not cried a bit, and took a great nap. I'm so excited!!!! Ashton and Maddie both had AWESOME FIRST DAYS at school!!!!!

Another Awesome Sunday

Today was a special day for Alex and I. As most all of you know, we have been attending The Journey church for about six months now and WE LOVE IT!!! To some people this is not a big deal, but to us it is. This morning, we went in front of the church to be acknowledged as new staff. This is basically equivalent to becoming a member at other churches. We are thrilled to be apart of such a great group of people and look forward to all we can do with The Journey.

Today was also the start of a new teaching series called DNA. Every week, our pastor, Erik, does an incredible job of delivering the message. Today was NO different!!! He has a way of grabbing hold and pulling you in each and every week. So much so, you can't wait to go back the next week. It's awesome!!! Great job as usual Erik!!!!

Our Big Swimmers!!!

This morning, we joined my sister, Casey and her family at my dad's house for a morning of swimming. For those of you that don't know, Ashton and Maddie aren't the biggest swimmers and normally it is more work to get them in the water than anything else. However, not today.

Ashton and Maddie BOTH were jumping off the diving board. Some on a float and some of the time in the water. Ashton even started jumping off the board on to the shark float you see in the background. WOW! They were super big today!

These are just a couple of shots of Ashton and Maddie swimming like big kids with their floats on.

And here is Maddie doing what she liked best... sitting on the steps ALL ALONE kicking her feet. AKA... "I spashing Mommy!"

The Romer's for a visit

Friday morning, my sister & her daughter arrived to visit for the weekend. We immediately loaded up and headed for Target. We are two girls that LOVE to shop. LOL. Plus, Casey doesn't have a Target near her house and she needed to go there for a birthday gift. Casey had a doctors' appointment just before lunch time and so the kids and I got to watch Addison. I think Casey was afraid she wouldn't do well, but she did great! We had a lot of fun. Ashton and I tried to teach her how to roll balls back and forth with Ashton and Maddie showed her how to put a passy in a baby doll's mouth. It was fun! I was even able to get Addison down for a nap, which Casey was certain would be impossible. Just call me Super Aunt Sissy!!! LOL

Catching up....

This past weekend was insanely busy and the week has started out pretty hectic!! Alex started a hockey tournament last Friday night and played 3 games over a 36 hour period. WOW! He's never done that before & was absolutely exhausted!! The kids and I couldn't go Friday night, but after some Saturday morning family time, naps and signing practice, we went to the Saturday afternoon game. It was nice to get to watch Alex play. I rarely get to go with the games scheduled so late at night.

Sunday morning started out super early for Alex and I as well. He had to be out of here at 7am in order to make to his 8am hockey game and the kids and I had to be at church at 8am. Needless to say, that Sunday afternoon we ALL took naps.

Here are a couple of pictures from the weekend that I thought I'd share.

Alex was trying to take a sweet picture with the kids and they decided it was "bunny ear" time. Not really sure where they learned to do that!

This is Ashton & Maddie before church on Sunday morning. Maddie looked so adorable in her new dress and "ponies". And Ashton has become a camera hog wanting his picture taken everytime you bring the camera out. LOL

So far this week, we have all had our teeth cleaned. It was Ashton's second time to the dentist, but Maddie's first. She did a great job and they both got rave reviews on their dental hygiene! YEAH Mommy & Daddy! That means we're doing something right!! We also went to preschool and met Ashton and Maddie's new teachers for this year. Ashton is going to have Miss Betty and she seems super sweet. He seemed to be pretty happy with her too. He stayed in her class and played while we went to meet Maddie's teacher, Miss Donita. She was wonderful too. I think this is going to be a great year for them both!!