One Year Ago

Exactly one year ago I found out I was pregnant. I stared at that word "pregnant" on the test stick for a long time. I truly could not believe it. Am I really?!?! 3 children. 3 children under the age of 3. How do I explain that feeling of shock.

But 1 year later I sit here with my 3rd child and my heart is over flowing with joy and love. He is so perfect. We are all so in love with him. 2012 was a good year for us. During this year we got to welcome our son Colt Darren.

Having 3 children makes life very busy. Sometimes chaotic (who am I kidding all the time chaotic). But having 3 children is the biggest and best blessing God has given me. They challenge me to be a better person: more patient, more kind, more selfless. I love seeing the world through their eyes. I have found my true calling and I will forever be grateful that I got to experience raising them.

Dan and I literally cannot remember what life was like without them. Yes, somedays we dream of sleeping in and eating hot meals. We long for quite moments to relax. But we are continually encouraged by friends and family. We are encouraged by a God who loves us. We see their precious lives and are honored that we are trusted with them.

These children are something special. Each one of them. They are all unique and dearly loved. I didn't know 1 year ago what to expect. I had no idea the fun and joy that awaited me. The sweet eyes and the chubby cheeks that I would get to love. One year ago my life changed for the better.

Spoken Gems

Spoken gems with random pictures



Colt was getting a bit fussy while I was folding laundry so I asked Saffryn if she would play with him. So she goes over to him.
S: "Here chickee chickee chickee. Here chickee chickee chickee."
Colt gets a big smile on his face
S: "MOM he is smiling!!! He likes it when I talk to him.
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As we were leaving our house there was a group of mom's talking at the bus stop right by our house. Saffryn looks at them, then looks back at me.
S: "You are the biggest momma."
Awesome....
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I was singing a made up song about our kids. It was to the tune of where is thumb kin.
Me: "I love Saffryn, I love Saffryn. Yes I do. Yes I do. I love my little Saffryn I love my little Saffryn. Yes I do. Yes I do. Okay now it is Pierce's turn. I love my Pierce"
Pierce cuts me off saying, "Colt! Colt!!!"
Me: "You want me to sing about how much I love Colt?"
P: "Huh ho" translation uh huh
Such a sweet boy!
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Pierce comes up to me saying, "Up momma up."
Me: "Buddy I cannot pick you up right now. Maybe you could ask your daddy."
Saffryn: "Come here Piercey. I will pick you up. I am so strong."
Pierce takes one look at her and takes off running.
Saffryn chases him saying, "Come here boy. I will pick you up. I am so strong."
She catches up to him grabs his waist and tries to pick him up. They both fall over and laugh!
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Pierce was screaming trying to push my buttons and I let out an exasperated sigh.
Saffryn takes Pierce's hands and leads him to his room and says, "Pierce, I need to have a talk with you." They get to his room.
S: "It's not okay to yell at people. You don't talk to people like that. Okay buddy?"
P: "huh ho."
Saffryn gives him a hug and they both walk out and play nicely. LOL!
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Learning to cough into their elbows!

Silly kiddos!!!



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Counting My Blessing

I have so much to be thankful for:




These are pots and pans I need to return to my friends. Why do I have them? Because they brought me dinner in them!!! And this is just a very small representation of how many people brought us meals (or gift cards for meals which is just as good!!!). Seriously you guys have blown Dan and me away these last 3 months! Thank you!!!




These flowers were given to me from a friend last week. She knew we were dealing with more sickness and wanted to give me something bright to cheer me up! Amazingly thoughtful! Thank you!!!




And can we please talk about this bad boy! It makes dinner so easy and not to mention delish! So so thankful for this!



I love looking through my pictures to find one of these! I am thankful for this funny girl!




I love this little boy full of personality!!!








I am so thankful for our newest Mahoney!




I am SO BEYOND thankful that I get to stay home with these sweeties! I love that I get to take them to do fun things, like special drinks!










Oh and take them grocery shopping! Haha!


I am so spoiled!

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Family

Saffryn is so excited for our family coming for Christmas! She talks about them all the time and today drew these pictures:













We are so excited to spend Christmas with you guys!


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Super Duper Easy

Today we made some homemade ornaments. As the title suggests they are super duper easy!!! These are not going to be the kind that can be saved year to year, but they are fun...and easy. Did I mention that? Lol!

First buy some mints. Not all mints are the same. Some don't work as well. I prefer the target kind. Make sure it says made from peppermint oil. Not sure if that is the difference but those kind for sure work!




When you are ready to do this activity preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Next have your kids help unwrap them! This is a great way to practice fine motor development! If they are old enough they can eat some as they work. I chose not to do that (Saffryn probably could but Pierce is just too young so I thought to be fair I would say no across the board) and my kids didn't mind. So don't let that discourage you from doing this!



Put some wax or parchment paper on a cookie sheet.





Then have your children help you put the mints in a circle. Be sure to leave lots of room in the middle!




Then put them in the oven. Watch them melt together. It takes about 5 minutes or so. Don't be discouraged if at first it doesn't seem to be doing anything, it will melt. Then take them out to cool.



I turn the light on so the kids can watch!


Remember when I said to leave enough space in the middle?




Otherwise this happens and you really want this




Then you put a ribbon around it and find the perfect spot on the tree!




If it stays sticky you can use some hairspray on it to act as a shellac!

Super Duper Easy. And fun. Both of my kids loved doing this. Oh and you can sneak a mint if you are as obsessed with peppermint as I am. Just sayin....


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Sensory Time

Since we were once again cooped up in our house thanks to germs I thought I would have the kids help me in the kitchen. I got their hands all washed and made a big to do about baking some pumpkin bread! (Recipe from my mother-in-law. Get it from my sweet sister-in-laws blog here).

We get into the kitchen and I start getting the ingredients out only to realize we are out of eggs. Oh yea...I used them all up during breakfast. Shoot! What kind of goof doesn't remember they used up all the eggs and wont be able to bake? ME!!!! Ugh. Mom brain strikes again.

The kids were super disappointed and wanted to help me in the kitchen. What to do?What to do?

What about a sensory time?!?! I found some old oatmeal in the pantry. BOOM! Go me!

The kids had a blast! They loved dumping, stirring, filling up the oatmeal container and tasting it. They probably had more fun doing this than they would have baking with me because I was not constantly telling them "No". Lol!

Oh and the best part. Oatmeal is so much easier to clean up than flour! I think I have found my new go to sensory item!!!!