Monday, October 10, 2011

HOW MANY kids do you have???

I get this question a lot.  We've got 4, about to be 5 in about 2-3 weeks.  And our house is the same one we bought 9 years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest, Chloe.  It's a 2 bedroom bungalow, not exactly the sprawling home you'd expect when you think about someone with so many kids.  But we like it, and we've made do.  Kevin's job is still in the "building a portfolio/client base" stage, so we really don't feel like we're in a position to buy.  BUT... we need somewhere to put all of these kids!!

A couple years ago (nearly 3 years actually) Kevin and his dad started building a bedroom in the basement wtih the idea that Chloe would move down there.  Well, fast forward to this summer, and here I am pregnant with our 5th child and she's still sharing a bedroom with 2 brothers and Isaac is still sleeping in our room.  Definitely not a great setup. 

So we made a deal, the bedroom had to be done by the time school started this fall.  The spring started out on a positive note, a couple of weekends with forward movement, but then softball season started.  That pretty much meant that NOTHING happened on the house for 2 whole months.  As July came to a close, I was starting to stress.

So I called Kevin at work one afternoon and asked what project could I do in the 2 hours Isaac was sleeping right then.  He told me and I got to work painting Chloe's closet.  I think the fact that I was asking for a job to do during naptime got him to realize this seriously needed to get done.  The next day I called and asked how to set the computer up in another room so we could have a place for the crib in ours.  After my midweek nesting craze, Kevin got the hint and started getting serious with Chloe's room.  He spent 4-5 days a week for the next few weeks working all evening after work. 

It's amazing how long it can take to get from "almost done" to "actually done"  but we finally got there!!  Chloe now has her very own room and she loves it!! 


After sharing with her brothers for the last 7, almost 8, years, she was definitely ready for some girlie space. 

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

A most beautiful girl

Ok, before I get into my post, I will briefly address my 11 month blogging hiatus: I've been busy.

Moving on...



A couple of years ago, I met this young girl who was babysitting for our small group and needed a ride into church every Thursday night.  She's fun and bubbly, and I've gotten to know her pretty well during those 20 minute drives every week since then.  I've learned a lot about how much she doesn't like math and how much she loves Burrus corn.  But something more than that, I've seen this girl grow into an awesome woman of God.  She struggles with all the same things that teenagers struggle with, but  she knows the loving God who's with her through it all. 

Crae loves children with a passion and she has found a very special place in the hearts of my children and me.

She lives right around the corner and often shows up to play with the kids or take them to the park.  Last summer, she surprised me by teaching Jadon how to pump his legs on the swing without me even knowing!  Now, that's the way to a Momma's heart!!

Crae is a senior in high school this year, so I asked her if I could do her senior pictures for her as an early graduation gift.  She wanted to take the kids to the park to do them, which is so typical of her. I really don't know what we're going to do if she goes off to college next year.  We'll miss her for sure, but I'm so proud of who she's become. 

Congratulations, Crae!  We love you.
Mom to four beautiful blessings including a brand new little guy. Laugh and cry with me as I navigate the joys and perils of motherhood and homeschooling.