"Rolling" through Tuesday

 Every Tuesday morning, the babies and I head to Bible Study at our church. Right now I am doing a Beth Moore study on the life of Paul and oh.my.goodness is it good! I am learning sooooooo much and growing more than I have in a very long time! Paul was an amazing man that God used mightily! He faced extreme hardships and unimaginable challenges, yet still he NEVER wavered in his commitment to the Lord!

AMAZING! 

 While I'm in my class, the babies are off enjoying their time together too! They have THE sweetest and most patient teachers EVER! After a kind-of rocky start to the year, they have (finally) settled down now and are actually enjoying Bible Study too! 

To know they are cared for, loved on, and having fun is such a blessing to me;)

Tuesday evenings are usually quiet and spent at home doing the same old same old, but THIS Tuesday proved just a little different. Because the boys school surpassed their fundraising goal in the "Race for Technology", they rented out the local skating rink for the entire night to celebrate. 

Two hours of skating fun, with all your friends, for FREE!

Now who can beat that kind-of deal, right?!?!

I'll be honest, I was a little less than thrilled about taking all four kiddo's skating by myself.  I mustered up the energy though and decided to embraced the challenge;)  Last time we went skating, I had an extra set of hands with me, which proved to be a BIG help!

This time, much to my surprise, the kids did GREAT and had no trouble staying upright;) 

The were rocking and rolling all over the rink!

 

Even sweet little Hudson did amazingly well!

He actually preferred to be on his own and refused my help several times;)

And when the little ones had had enough skating for one night, they were off to explore the in's and out's of the arcade games. 

 The night ended with the "Ultimate Bare Foot Race" across the skating rink floor!

Run Riley Run!

Of course, the babies would not be left out, and wasted no time jumping right in!

 And there goes our Sophie--trying her best to keep up with her BIG brother;)

...And that's how we "ROLLED" through our Tuesday!!

"Babies" and "Buddies"

 I've been asked before about when we think we'll STOP calling these two little ones, "the babies"? We've called them that for SO long now, that the term has just kind-of stuck around. 

And even though they are two-and-a-half and three years old now (and definitely no longer babies) they are still affectionately called that by most of our friends and family. 

So until we come up with something else, these two will forever be known as "the babies"!

However, when I look at this picture, which I snapped right before church yesterday, 

I see anything BUT babies. 

They are growing up fast and changing right before my very eyes!Here they are exactly two years ago...

so little and oh SOOOOOOO very cute!

My home time flies;)

 Okay, so on a TOTALLY different note I wanted to post this yummy crock pot recipe. It's no secret about how much I love my crock pot. I use it throughout the week, but on Sundays, it's a definite MUST!!!! I LOVE throwing my meal in before we head out for church and by the time my hungry crew walks back in the door that afternoon, lunch is DONE!!! 

No prep, no mess, and only one pot to clean up after! 

Totally can't beat that!!! 

Yesterday we had THIS.

It's definitely not a new recipe,

BUT it's a goodie.

 On Sunday afternoon, after we got lunch cleaned up, and the babies down for their naps, I got to hang out with this little cutie. Like I've said before, Riley is my little crafting buddy. He loves drawing, coloring, and creating!

Ahh..a boy after my own heart;)

A new craft store opened up close to our home and I was dying to check it out. When Ri found out where I was going, he was begging to go too!

So off we went. I ended up purchasing some material for the 16 pairs of Christmas PJ'S I am making this year, and Ri ended up with a package of M&M'S.

 I'd say we were BOTH happy;)

And while we were out shopping, these two did a fine job holding down the fort! Every Sunday afternoon, this is a typical scene you would find in our home...my two biggest boys, cuddled up on the couch, cheering on their favorite football team, and keeping their fingers crossed for a victory!

Thankfully yesterday, our Carolina Panthers were FINALLY able to bring home a WIN!!!

Our Elf is B-A-C-K!

For the fourth year in a row, our little elf "Sam" has returned from the North Pole to spend the holidays with our family. The kids have anxiously awaited his arrival since, well...since July!
(No, I'm totally NOT kidding!)

He usually arrives the day after Thanksgiving, and this year he seems to be a little more mischievous than in years past;)

I found this really great link on Pinterest that has 100 fun ideas for your Elf on the Shelf!

Seems to me like some of Santa's elves are causing some trouble this year;)

And now that Sam has arrived, it's time to start counting down the days until Christmas is here!!!

Can you believe? Christmas is literally just around the corner? That's just CRAZY!! This is by far my most favorite time of the year, but it can also be the busiest. We have LOTS of wonderful activities planned throughout the month of December, but in order to get it all done-- and not forget anything-- the boys helped me make an activity advent calendar. 

Each little envelope has a "secret" activity stuffed inside and each day the boys will take turns opening up their envelope.  

Of course, the weekday activities are very simple in nature and the "bigger" activities are saved for the weekends! 

And since the boys got their own advent calendar this year, I thought it would be fun to make one for the babies as well.

After looking on (where else) Pinterest...I found this one and thought it was just too stinkin' adorable!!!

Everyday, the babies will add one cotton ball onto Santa's face, and by the time Christmas gets here, Santa will have a nice full beard! 

Now really...

how FUN is that?!?!?

Beyond T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L

As I write this Thanksgiving post, all is still and quiet in my house.

It's still early, and I have at least an hour or so before my day will actually begin.

I LOVE this time of day. Time to be still and a moment to reflect.

This Thanksgiving, I am once again humbled and overwhelmed by the Lord's abundant mercy and goodness to me!

My heart is so full of gratitude that it feels as if it might BURST!

The Lord has blessed me with four...

beautiful, 

sweet...

...soon to be five...

 HEALTHY babies,

 a giving husband who loves me (and proves it daily),

Attentive parents and

 godly grandparents, 

siblings who are also...

my best friends, 

extended family we LOVE

and ADORE,

Food to fill our bellies and

a stocked pantry.

a church we LOVE, friends we ADMIRE, 

a comfortable home, kind and caring neighbors, 

warm beds, closets full of clothes,  and shoes on our feet.

Seriously y'all...my list could go on and on and on...

As I was preparing to host both of our families for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, a little chorus I often heard my Grandpa sing flooded my mind...

"Thank you, Lord for saving my soul.

Thank you, Lord for making me whole.

Thank you, Lord for giving to me

Thy great salvation so rich and free."

Oh, how I am most grateful for my salvation and my personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

Without Him, I AM and would be NOTHING!

What a truly wonderful day it was.

A day to remember, reflect, and rejoice in what the Lord has done!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!!!

I'm so glad I'm not a turkey;)

My sweet Riley came home from school this week singing a little Thanksgiving poem which he had learned in class.

Since then, it has been totally stuck in my head and several times throughout my day I'll catch myself humming the tune;)

"I'm so glad I'm not a turkey, a turkey, a turkey."

"I'm so glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving Day!"

"They STUFF you, and BAKE you, and then they ALL EAT you."

"I'm so glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving Day!"

So enjoy that turkey y'all

...and be thankful that you aren't one this year!! 

HA

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness!

Psalms 145:7

Happy Thanksgiving!!!