WOW, What a Life!

There are a lot of pictures in this post, sorry about that. I take them and do not realize what I have until I go to blog about it!

Let's start with something silly. I was running out of Tupperware and wondering where it all had gone. Don't panic though, we found it...in Mark's car. 

If your Tupperware comes up missing, start with looking in your husband's car

 A random pic of my not-so-baby-anymore baby girl and her pup, Peaches

Down to the nitty-gritty

With the holidays coming so quickly, we have been SUPER busy! Baby Jacalynn came for another visit and stayed the whole weekend with us again. She sure does love Austin and Abi, always laughing at them when they talk to her.

Jacalynn and Aunt Jennie

This weekend was not only a big weekend because of Jacalynn's visit, but also because Abi was finally baptized. With both Austin and Abi, we let them arrive at what they want to believe on their own. We talk to them about what mommy and daddy believe about salvation, but they are also exposed to what others believe or do not believe. They know that Aunt Lisha, along with many others, do not believe in God. Our intentions are never to scare them into believing that there is a God, but rather allowing them to see with their very own eyes how He works in their lives and in the lives of people around them. In September, while having lunch, Abi said, "Mommy, I can't wait to die and go to heaven to meet Jesus." (Not exactly what I want to hear from my 6 year old, the dying part!!!) I was reluctant to address the comment, fearing that she may say whatever necessary to get my approval. So, I said, "really, and what do you think about heaven?" Before she could answer big brother chimed in, "Abi, you do know that you have to pray to ask Jesus in your heart to go to heaven, right?" Abi, with a slight look of surprise said, "I didn't know that! That's what I want to do, say a prayer so Jesus will come into my heart!" So, that afternoon at the lunch table, she prayed.

Abi's baptism, November 21, 2010 

Kenzie, Mark's little sister, was also baptized 

Most of you are familiar with Yellow Baby. She is part of our family. If she goes missing, there is panic in our house, as if we were missing a real person in our household. When Abi was 6 months old, we came home from Arkansas to visit Grammy. We went into one of the hole-in-the-wall stores in Jewett, TX, and there is where Yellow Baby was found. Mom, Abi and I were walking down one of the isles, and Abi out of no where reached for the baby. At first we thought it was just something that caught her eye, but it was love at first sight! Some of my favorite memories of Abi when she was a baby, was waking her up in the mornings. She would be sleeping with butt in the air and Yellow Baby snuggled up next to her in a headlock! So sweet! Well, when Jacalynn was here, I couldn't resist giving her an early Christmas present, Purple Baby!!!

 Jacalynn, Purple Baby, Yellow Baby, and Abi

Austin LOVES motorcycles and fast cars! Every time he goes to Grandpa's house he asks if Grandpa will take him on a motorcycle ride. For a while G-pa's motorcycle was out of commission, but this weekend he got it up and running. Boy, was Ausitn excited!

Motorcycle man Austin

Being home schooled really has it's perks! For example, instead of only having 3 days off the week of Thanksgiving, we took the entire week off (from written work, that is!) As part of the Thanksgiving celebration, we scheduled a surprise visit with Luke, Abi's best buddy, for lunch!

 Abi and Luke

 Goofy as usual

Unfortunately, the Thanksgiving celebration that I am used to, didn't exactly work out this year. I baked pies and cookies all day Wednesday in preparation for the feasts! After finishing that, I had some left over energy. So, I decided to make some tasty treats for our guests, Aaron, Georgiet, Zay, and Bastian. I started slicing potatoes, and ended up slicing part of my pinkie off!! Yikes! It hurt, but I'm pretty sure it hurt Mark more than it hurt me! Poor guy freaked out and called everyone under the sun!  Luckily, Sluz learned some cool stuff in nursing school and was able to put a pressure wrap on it. It made all the difference!!

 The day after I took the wrap off



 I sure hope it doesn't mess up my finger nail long term!

My pressure wrap. Abi said this looked like a turkey head, just in time for turkey day!

I also spent all Thanksgiving day dizzy and nauseous. I ended up vomiting, and missing out on my annual Black Friday date with Naomi!! NOT COOL! I guess you could say we had a rough start to the holiday season, but it got better! Papa, Nancy, Aaron, Georgiet, Zay and Bastian all visited from out of town. In all, the weekend turned out to be pretty good!

 Nancy and Papa

Bastian and Sluz after a long day 

 Kenzie, Shawny, and Sion playing the Xbox

Aaron and Mark in usual form, super goofy! 

Abi, Zay, and Georgiet

Lately, I've been pretty tapped out in the creativity department. I started on this outfit over the summer, and finished it at the beginning of November. Sad, isn't it? But I DID finish it! 

 Abi has worn the top, but says the skirt is "too trippy"

 Some Christmas bows I made

More Christmas bows