almost a quitter

I really thought about quitting this blog... and I might still. There is just too much life going on to capture it all. I get behind and then who has time to catch up on blogging when you're...

hanging outside with 3 little kids expectantly waiting for daddy to get home from work.

figuring out how to parent an incredibly cool, almost-four-year-old.

bathing and rebathing children who seem to pee on everything and who are always covered in food (hope). not to mention the high maintenance hair of the older ones. i love doing their hair but they don't exactly love it:)

making sure we keep up with these cars... and that the boy in this picture is confident in being the fastest, tallest, strongest, etc.

making sure that your two athletically talented children don't come crashing down from the playground built for children 5-12 years old.

daily removing permanent marker (lotion, diaper cream, vaseline, makeup, crayola marker, etc) from your child "artist."

busy snapping iPhone photos of a princess sleeping in such a way as to not disturb her pre-nap tea party (which she had in her brothers bed).

finding and enjoying time with your husband and best friend... oh and 8.5 month old baby who loves to make funny faces.

responding to "look at me mommy" all day long:) aka pouring on the praise and encouragement.

watching your 2.5 year old get so big it makes your heart hurt.

teaching a baby to eat, and sleep, and watching her fall in love with her brother and sister.

watching for parking lot traffic so you're toddlers can ride their bikes over the speed bumps again and again and again (the joys of apartment living).

ummm... does anyone else's house look like this 5 minutes after the children awake? impressive.

Photo Shoot Give-a-way!

My fabulously talented and beautiful friend Melonie is giving away a photo shoot for one lucky pregnant mama! If you or someone you know lives in the Orlando area...ENTER NOW!!!

Go here for the details... and you'll get to see my belly bump while you're there~

Part II: Oreo Truffles

For all of my non-healthy eating friends out there (julia)...I would like to share a recipe for Oreo Truffles. I would bet that my non-healthy eating friends (julia) probably already know this one but in light of my last post I think I better share it just in case.

OREO TRUFFLES (with no cool step by step photos)

1 package oreos

1-8oz cream cheese

chocolate bark

chop up the oreos in a food processor. mix in softened cream cheese. roll into 1-inch balls. refrigerate until hard. melt chocolate (or whatever candy coating you'd like) and dip balls. place on wax paper or a baking sheet and refrigerate until chocolate hardens. keep refrigerated (because of cream cheese) and try not to eat all of them because they are really. really. bad. for. you.

How-To Tuesday: Oreo Truffles

So I made that title up...almost sounded like a "real" blogger for a minute:) Anyway, on to my regularly scheduled program:

Step 1: Take big bite and allow the chocolate to drip all over your face.

Step 2: Show your mommy the yummy goodness while your taste buds do a dance. Does she look a little intoxicated or am I exaggerating the power of chocolate?

Step 3: Show just how happy chocolate can make a girl.

Step 4: Take another big bite before your mommy asks you to share.

Step 5: Pop the rest of that gooey mess in your mouth.

Ta-da...mission accomplished!

TROUBLE.

My rule is that if I take a picture then I shouldn't discipline you for getting into something. I think it's a fair trade.

His Turn

Stay tuned for their Daddy/Son "special time."

newborns

hope

journey

jayden

My semi-annual, non-kid post

GET THIS BOOK!!!! I'm only 1/5 of the way through it and I believe it will change the way I'm living.

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

"Joy is the realest reality, the fullest life, and joy is always given, never grasped. God gives gifts and I give thanks and I unwrap the gift given: joy.

And he writes...

Daddy Daughter Dance (Dad-daw-dance: In Journey)

Our night began with a fabulous dinner at Pei Wei. What a great idea! Have all these dads dress up and take their daughter(s) to what felt like the prom but to the annual Northland Church Daddy Daughter Dance. Journey (dressed in her beautiful white gown) and I arrived at the church to the smell of buttery popcorn, flashing lights and music pumping loud enough to hear in the streets. I walked into the foyer of the sanctuary and had a flashback to my old clubbing days then quickly realized this was a redeemed version of what fun, music and dance should be like. We go from table to table, eating fruit, cheese and cotton candy. Then the dj yells out “Time for the Cupid Shuffle!” We hit the dance floor and danced for 20 minutes (btw..that song is way too long) most of it with Journey in my arms. As we dance I look in Journey’s eyes and she is amazed!

After we danced to a little Stevie Wonder, the associate pastor came on stage and guided the fathers and daughters through vows made to each other. As I am holding Journey in my arms I began saying the vow to her, she reaches up, clasps my face in her hands and gave me the most endearing look ever. I began to weep and she just laid her head on my shoulder squeezing me with both arms while I finished vowing to protect her, guide her, pray for her, love her and love her mother. Wow! That was the highlight of my night.

At this point it is about 8:30 pm, I’m exhausted from dancing, she is tired too but she sees the face painting line and had to have her face painted. So we stand in line hot and sweaty, music pumping, dads on the dance floor next to us dancing as if there was no tomorrow. Thirty five minutes later and a beautiful flower painted on her face capped off a wonderful night of fun. I did keep her out way past her curfew and I told Journey “only daddy can keep you out that late and NO ONE ELSE.” I never knew a Daddy Daughter dance could be so amazing. I am hooked, can’t wait to go back with both my baby girls!

Meanwhile...I got to hang with these two.

While Daddy and Journey were cuttin' up on the dance floor with over 1000 other daddy/daughter pairs, i got to hang out with these two. We went to Jayden's favorite spot-Millenia Mall where we had chickfila, played in the "little circle" (a wide open place with no equipment that is meant for lots of chasing and instant friend-making), and snuggled up on the couch with a movie...non other than Disney's "Cars." It was a good night indeed.

a special date

Stay tuned for some fun pictures from a special night. Demetrius took Journey to a "Daddy-Daughter Dance" last night. They definitely had fun and did not get home until almost 10:30pm! He took her to dinner and then to dance the night away...

Kodak Moments

Happy 1/2 Birthday Hope Elise!

Happy Saturday!

3 musketeers

I hereby introduce to you...the 3 Musketeers. That would be Selah-bug on the far left. She has unofficially (along with her Mommy Melonie) become part of our family. She is about 7 weeks older than Journey and 2 years to the day older than Hope. We love them so much! I've mentioned before that Melonie has a budding photography business.

I just love this picture she took because these are their signature facial expressions.