Happy 5th Birthday, Paisley!

Dear Paisley,
Today you turned 5 years old. I can't believe it. Where have the past 1,825 days gone? It is amazing to see the changes in you this past year specifically - both physical and emotional.

• Physically, you have thinned out - your face has lost some of it's chubbiness and your body has become more toned and fit. In my opinion, you become more beautiful (on the outside AND the inside) everyday)!
• Emotionally, you are more helpful, more willing, more obedient, more respectful and more mature.
• You are very inquisitive - you ask a lot of questions and want to understand how the world works and why things happen.
• You can be dramatic and overemotional at times but I'm sure that is mostly due to your age.
• You are sweet and thoughtful - making cards for your friends and family almost every day! In fact, one of your favorite things to do is to deliver mail to your friends in the neighborhood.
• You love art. If I'd let you, you would draw and paint, cut and create all day long. I wonder if you'll be an artist one day.
• You sing all of the time - you sing while you're drawing, you sing while your playing with your dolls, you sing in the bathtub, you sing while you're playing dress-up. Sometimes you sing the right words and sometimes you make up your own. Either way, it always sounds beautiful to me.
• Your favorite doll is still Allison - your American Girl Itty Bitty Twin. She goes everywhere with you and you love to wearing matching clothes with her. You call her your "dolly", which I think is really cute. You also love "My Little Pony", "Barbie" and "Play Mobile". Those sets will keep you occupied for hours!!
• You swim, play soccer and do gymnastics - all of which you really enjoy! And this past winter, Daddy signed you up for Ice Skating and you have already moved up to the 3rd level. You have great balance!!
• You are a good eater - love fruits and vegetables - and will try most anything.
• You hate to be hot. You hate not having choices. And you definitely hate to make mistakes (you are a perfectionist). You hate being told what to do.
• You adore your baby sister more than anything in the world - you really want to be a mama and sometimes wish Whitley was your baby, not mine!
• Your favorite colors are pink and purple. Your favorite food is probably ice cream (you love Rainbow Sherbert). Your favorite princess is Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" which is one of your favorite movies. When you watch TV, you like "Max and Ruby" or "Ni Hao Kai-Lan".

These are just a few things about you this year so you'll have an idea of who you were entering Kindergarten. I believe you are a smart little girl with lots of possibilities ahead of you. You love to learn and I hope you'll always feel that way. Your dad and I are so proud of you.

Happy 5th Birthday, sweet girl.
We love you so much!

Love,
Mama

Happy 4th of July!

We had a delightful fourth of July...(we actually celebrated it on the 3rd as it would turn out because that is when our city decided to celebrate everything). Erma Bombeck says, "You have to love a nation that celebrates its independency every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism." And we certainly fed our faces and celebrated with much fun! First, we went to the parade downtown (Paisley loved the southern belles the best (the pink and yellow dresses were her favorites),
and Colby loved the police motorcycles and the firemen. Next, we enjoyed time at the pool together - it was hot but the water felt refreshing. Then, we came home, took naps to get refreshed for the evening's festivities and went to a friend's house to watch the fireworks (they have a great view of them!). The kids at the party played with glow sticks, sparklers, pop rocks and downed quite a few cookies and popsicles.

Around 7:15 pm, our really good friends went to the hospital in labor and we were able to find someone to stay with our kids once we got home at 10 pm so that we could be there when sweet little Eliza Maria arrived. The sex was a surprise (however, I did call it all along)... and it was such fun to share such a special time with our dear friends. Welcome to the world, sweet girl!

While there is so much fun surrounding the Fourth - fireworks, parades, watermelon and ice cream - let's not forget the true meaning of this holiday. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness!"

I thank God every day that I live in a country where I have these rights. May God Bless America!

The sweet sounds of miss Whitley

Look at Whitley's cute crawl and listen to all of the sweet coos and other sounds she make. It's such fun having a little one in the house. She follows me around like a little puppy and is ALWAYS so happy. She plays quietly and doesn't really get into anything she shouldn't. What a sweet little blessing!

Colby's Bike Party

Colby had a bike party for his birthday this year. It was such a great party - not expensive, fun for all involved and easy!!! Basically, everyone brought their bike, trike or big wheel to the school parking lot (which was free and a great location to have the party)... and the kids could ride over Colby's bike ramp or through a few obstacle courses I set up with cones and other items. There was a playground nearby where they could play and also sit down to eat. And we had cake, pizza and shaved ice. What more could a bunch of 3-5 year olds want?? For favors, we gave away plastic bike license plates with their name on it.

Here are the pics:

Happy 3rd Birthday, Colby!

Colby, it's your 3rd birthday. One year later, and you are still the most adorable little guy I know. You still have such a great personality - you're fun, adventurous, mischievous (in a good way), inquisitive, and ALL boy. You love life and get excited about almost everything (except certain things... like eating vegetables).

Here are some of your favorites:

• Riding your bike - you can do all kinds of tricks like stand up on the middle bar of the bike, go over your bike ramp, go over the curb, put both feet on the side of the bike while riding and run and jump onto your bike to get started. It is very impressive.
• Swimming - you are still a little fish in the water. I know you are going to be all over the pool this summer probably learning new strokes and dives.
• Building things - you love to build train tracks, legos, towers, you name it!
• Sports, sports and more sports - pick one and you'll be happy to play it. Soccer - yes! Lacross - yes! Basketball - yes! Baseball - yes! Football - yes! If it involves a ball and you can play it, you're in anytime someone asks.
• Games and puzzles - you love to play games and work on puzzles. You are pretty decent at it too.
• You are really happy 90% of the time. You love to do most anything and are willing to try new things. (Especially if you're Daddy encourages you to!)
• You are cuddly and loving. You still like your pacifier and blankie to comfort you. And you love to be held. I particularly love to read books and sing to you while you are in my arms.
• You know your shapes, colors and how to spell your name. I think you'll do well in school.
• You prefer to play with older kids... I think they can do more and that challenges and excites you.
• And you don't like to be alone - you definitely like to be around people.
• You are the pickiest eater I know!! Very difficult to get you to try new things.
• You have a big heart and an even bigger smile!

You are just a cool kid. And I'm so glad you're mine!!

I love you! Happy 3rd birthday, Colby.

Love, Mama

Missing my blog

Okay so I'm seriously missing my blog. It's not that I don't have time (although that can be a challenge with 3 kids) - it's that I never seem to find the inspiration or right topic to get me started. I am hoping it's just a case of writer's block and I'll be through it soon. My problem is that I'm a perfectionist and every time I sit down to write, I want to write really well... you know, from my heart... the kind of writing that is meaningful and inspiring. That is my goal (how lofty and egotistical of me!!). However, it is hard to think those kinds of thoughts and string together words so that the story or message I'm relaying is meaningful when there are kids screaming at each other, pounding on the door, making the baby cry (accidentally of course), whining about something, breaking things, asking for my help, or telling on each other, etc. You get the picture, right? Talk about some serious writer's block!! I will start a post and then set it aside for that moment when inspiration will hit me to finish it... and alas, it never happens. So... I have about 20 half-finished (half you-know-what) blogs. My goal is to finish them and get back on track. I will focus on this over the next week or so.

I hope you can hold me accountable for this. (IF I even have any blog readers anymore... stay on my case).
Thanks!

What is my calling?

Okay - where to start. First of all, in the wake of this 2nd earthquake in 2010... I feel so helpless! Helpless that at times of pain and suffering in our world, there is nothing I can do. I feel like God is tugging on my heart and preparing me for SOMEthing, but I am confused as to what that "something" might be. I clearly cannot go to Haiti or Chile right now to help those inflicted by these terrible earthquakes. I have a 4 month old baby that I am nursing 100% of the time so I cannot leave her for even 1 day. That prevents me from physically going there... so what else can I do.
Sure, I can give money (and we have).
I can pray (and we do).
I can trust that with God's love ALL things are possible (and I truly do believe in Him).
But I just feel in my heart that God has a bigger plan for me and I just for the life of me cannot figure out what it is. I have prayed for him to reveal it to me... but I know that God's time is not always the same as "my" time.

I just feel SO helpless (from my very comfortable home where food and water are readily available) as I watch (on one of my multiple TVs) the absolute loss and suffering they are experiencing. It seems so cruel that we have so much and something so tragic can happen to people that have so little. I don't understand it.
I can only pray.
Pray for for healing for the traumatized, sheltor for the homeless and love for the orphaned.
Pray for water (to drink and bathe), food and medicine (for those who need it).
Pray for diapers and milk for the babies (can you imagine not being able to change your baby's diaper or feed her when she's hungry?) I think of this every time I hold Whitley.
Pray for those sweet, sweet children who lost one or both of their parents. They must be so scared! So sad! So lost. How their little lives have been forever changed.
I wish I could just... do... SOMEthing. Please God - reveal to me your plan.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Paisley's 1st Slumber Party

My baby girl is growing up. She had her first slumber party with a friend (Channing) tonight. They ate popcorn, drank apple juice (watered down of course) and watched some TV before hitting bed. When it was time to go to sleep, Channing became concerned and wanted to sleep in her own bed (this was her 1st time sleeping away from home as well) SO Paisley (Miss Independant) decided to sleep over there instead.

Now that's a happening slumber party - start out at one house and end up at another. Let's hope they don't do that when they're teens!

Snowman Poop

Last week when the kids had the day off from school due to the wintry mix the south received, we decided to make the best of it. So... we made "Snowman Poop" for all of our neighborhood friends.
You might be asking what "Snowman Poop" is... it is marshmallows, white tictacs (or other white candies), and white chocolate chips. The fun part was that Daddy arrived home just in time to deliver it with us so we did this as a family. And Daddy was trying to teach Paisley and Colby to "ring and run"... that was pretty funny.


They didn't quite get back to the car before most people saw them... but it was fun trying to teach them to be quick and sneaky (all in the name of good, harmless winter fun).
Here's to Snowman Poop - YUM!

Welcome 2010!

Well, I should (hopefully) be back for good this time. I have missed blogging terribly but I had so much going on with the kids and the holidays that it had to fall by the wayside. However, I'm excited to be back.

I'll start off with "Happy New Year!" and list my wishes for 2010. I saw that one of my blogger friends called them wishes instead of resolutions and I like that so I'm stealing it (thanks Stephanie!).

My wishes for 2010 are:
To stay active in my bible study/ devotion every day
To be a more present mom
To spend one-on-one time with Paisley and Colby every week
To do 1 educational field trip with them every other week (museums, aquarium, etc)
To blog regularly
To get rid of the residual baby weight by exercising at least 3 times a week and eating healthier
To stay off of the computer and keep the TV off between 5 pm and 7 pm every night - that will be just family time
To help Colby conquer potty-training
To say no to other people and yes to my kids more
To read at least 3 books this year (me personally)
To have family game night/ movie night once a week
To do at least one adventure race this year
To go through my closet and get rid of A LOT of my clothes (starting with my maternity clothes)
To learn to sell on eBay and rid myself of some things (simplify life)
To be a better mom and wife (always)
To have our family dinners mapped out for 2 weeks at a time instead of just 1
To limit computer/ TV time in the house
To read to the kids for (at least) 30 minutes a day
To enjoy every second (because it all goes by too fast)

Feel free to share some of your wishes for 2010 too.
Thanks.
Lisa

Hands

"We clasp the hands of those that go before us... as well as the hands of those who come after. In this moment, we enter the circle of those joined together in the dance of life."

(Curtis's hand is on bottom, then clockwise Whitley, Colby, Paisley and me.)

Welcome Whitley McKaye

Finally she has arrived!! We were blessed to welcome Whitley McKaye into our lives on October 27th. She is beautiful and perfect in every way and we are head over heels in love with her. We praise you God for your love and blessings in our life.

Colby and his bike

Well, I cannot imagine a more proud dad than Curtis. He is completely biased, of course, and always thinks his kids are super stars, but Colby's latest accomplishment really put him over the moon. As a true sportsman who loves biking and has talked incessantly (since the day they were born) about taking the kids mountain biking with him as soon as they are old enough, I don't think even he could have predicted what Colby would be able to do at 2 years and 5 months old. Paisley has been riding her bicycle without training wheels since August (she is 4 years old, mind you)... and Colby watches her and watches her and you can tell that he wanted to do it too. However, he would patiently ride her old bike with training wheels hoping for the day he was tall enough to ride her "big girl" bike. He'd ask everyday, but Curtis would simply respond "One day, Colby, one day you can do it too!"

Well, Curtis saw this look in Colby's eyes the other day as he was watching Paisley ride. He seemed to be dissecting inside his head how she was doing it all so Curtis decided to remove his training wheels and see what happened. Sure enough, Colby got on the bike, took off, found his balance pretty quickly and never looked back. Oh, sure... his stopping isn't very pretty, but he can ride in circles or straight and even change directions with no problem. He doesn't even want Curtis to run beside him (which gives me slight heart failure). Even I have to admit, it is impressive to see such a little guy riding his bike all by himself.

I'm sure it won't be long before he's jumping curbs and doing other tricks that I'd prefer he never learned.
Check out the video and see for yourself.

Praying for Sterling!

Please keep my good friend, Roger, along with his wife and little boy, Sterling, in your prayers. Sterling is 5 years old and I can still remember holding him for the first time when he was just a newborn. He was the sweetest little baby and holding him brought home for me the miracle of my own little blessing growing inside my belly (I was pregnant at the time and anxiously awaiting Paisley's arrival a few months later). Sweet little Sterling - whom God graciously placed in Roger and Becca's care to raise and to love - has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. They will know more about his condition as they continue to do tests on him over the next few weeks. Right now, it is a waiting game - and I know they need all of our prayers. As a parent with a child of nearly the same age, I cannot imagine the fear and helplessness they must be feeling right now. I pray that they will get strength from all those who love and are fervently praying for them. Their faith is amazing!

God, I ask that you comfort Roger and Becca and lift them up during this time. Carry them when they cannot move... love them when they feel anxious and unsure... reassure them when they are afraid. Place your loving, healing arms around Sterling. Give his young body the strength and ability to fight and to overcome. In your precious son's name we pray. Amen!

2 weeks and counting...

I know I haven't been the best blogger as of late. I have to blame it on nesting. I have been busy cleaning and sorting and planning for when my sweet baby girl arrives. We are at 2 weeks and counting (but remember, I'm always late so it could be 3-4 that we're looking at). I would be lying if I said there were not moments when I thought "what have I done?" - simply because life is going to be somewhat chaotic for a while and I know that. However, I am really excited to hold her and see her sweet little face and get to know her personality. Paisley cannot wait for her to arrive as well and asks me every day when she will get here. I wish I had an answer for her - we'll all just have to wait and see.

Come on out, baby girl - we cannot wait to meet you!