Fevers & Flu

Three of the four in our little family have been fighting the flu and fevers since Thursday.  Miserable.  This was actually our first bout with the flu.  I'm not certain if that's what the kids had, because of course being so small they can't really describe how they feel, but it's what's going around and I'm pretty certain that's what I have.  My fever hovered around 102 Fri & Sat and at 103 most of Sunday.  Praise God my fever finally broke last night and actually lasted!  This morning I woke up to a temp of 98.5.  Hallelujah!  The kids are now hovering at 100.  It has been ultra miserable. 

Thank God for my parents coming in Friday and taking such very good care of us.  Jason has battled some sinus junk and some physical weakness, but his health is much better then the rest of us and he has been super helpful, as well.  I have the hardest time just laying around watching everyone else work and take care of my kids, especially when they're sick and really want mommy.  Ivory layed on me most of the afternoon yesterday.  So unlike her.  She is finally up and moving around this morning and Micah is napping on his own.  I felt so much better when I woke up this morning that I got a little crazy and did 3 loads of laundry, washed dishes, and made breakfast...a little over-ambitious?  Yes, I suppose.  I'm feeling it now.  It just felt so good to be able to do more then lay on the couch in a daze.  I think now I'll sneak of to grab some more rest while only one of the kiddos is awake and in the care of Grandma + daddy.

This thermometer is UH-mazing.  We actually first saw it at my doctor's office, it's the same brand my pediatrician uses.  My mom & dad gave it to us as a baby gift for Micah and we *love* it.  It reads a temp in the ear within seconds.  Perfect for squirmy babies.  Beats underam, rectal, and mouth temps any day!  It's a little pricey, but worth every penny.

Brown Paper Packages

Who doesn't like receiving a package in the mail?

Especially one with such valuable content.


Playing with Pa brought a smile to this fussy, sick little girl's face.

Thank goodness for Pa & Grandma.

They've arrived just in time...to take care of our family of four all fighting the flu. Praying they don't get sick. Praising God for back up. Now Ivory's "helping" Pa shave...and putting shaving cream on mommy's face.

Breakfast

A peek into what breakfast looks like at our house lately:

Chowing down on some pancakes.


Still mastering our eating skills...

Pancake breakfast with the teenage girls.

Going to Town

She dressed herself and proclaimed herself ready to go to town to pick up Jesus.

Fresh Bread

These pictures say it all.

Thank you, Grandma & Grandpa!

Recent Project Sneak Peek

Helping me work on a project soon to be revealed.

What's on Your Phone?

We went for a girl's afternoon with Cassie and while we waited for Cassie to complete some paperwork Ivory practiced her photography skills with my phone and posed for some pictures. Cassie ended up actually running into some complication and what was supposed to take 15 minutes turned into an hour and a half. I was SO PROUD of my little girl. We had no toys or entertianment to play with and she entertained herself quietly the entire time with such a cheerful attitude. The receptionist said she's the best behaved child she's ever seen and that her mommy is spoiled. I smiled and said thank you, she's showing off. =) Of course, my heart nearly burst with joy and pride after that comment.

Ivory's excellent photography skills captured this shot.

Love my little girl. Don't love that she daily tells me, "I want to get big! I need to grow up." Today she says, "When I go to college and graduate BoBo will ring the bell! I go to college and graduate." Mixed emotions about this coming from my 2-year-old.


I texted this picture to one of the teenagers and she texted me back with a copy of the exact same face in the exact same dress. Ironic.



One of the teens texted me this picture of Ivory in Sunday School.


Jason texted me this shot while he was watching the kids and giving me a day out with some girls. So cute.

Playtime Video

Jason got some sweet video of Ivory & Micah while he watched them giving this momma a break. My husband is so precious!




I snuck up on Ivory playing by herself one day (something she has been getting better about lately!!=) and captured this video. Love it. And in case you can't understand, she's singing her own version of This Little Light of Mine.

Outdoor Fun

There's nothing much cuter then my precious little girl in yellow + ponytails + bows happily enjoying beautiful Florida winter weather.


Ivory being all scientific with measuring devices & birdseed...or something like that.

Empty containers + birdseed = excellent entertainment for this 2-year-old.


Gotta run inside now--Micah Man woke up from his nap!

Day Out

Saturday, my sweetie & I slipped away for the day for some after Christmas shopping. It was such a great, refreshing day together. I'm grateful for those who watched our kiddos and for the time we had together.

Craft Center

My incredible husband built me this craft center.  It's changed many times over these past few years--and that's what is so beautiful about it, so easy changed and adjusted to fit current needs.  I LOVE it.

For all those envious scrapbookers/sewers/etc., you too can have one of these amazing organizers! It's simple! Here's how:

1. Measure and purchase a piece of peg board the size you'd like (some stores will cut it to size or you can use a small handsaw or electric saw).

2. Buy small (abou 2x2) pieces of wood to make a frame all the way around the peg board and a few strips to go in the middle.

3. Paint the peg board and wood the desired color (I painted the front and back because otherwise the brown shows through).

4. Optional: glue strips of old carpet to the back of the wood strips (we didn't the first time and we not only peeled paint off the wall, but also the actual sheetrock paper--big mess. Some carpet stores have carpet scraps you can get for free...we found it in our church junk shed!).

5. Screw pegboard to the wood strips. You want a complete square of wood strips on the back and a few rows in the middle to screw your cans to (eliminates excessive holes in the wall).

6. Hold the frame against the wall and put one screw in each corner. If you find the studs and use long enough screws it will be plenty sturdy and you will only have 4 holes in your wall--easy to patch later if necessary.

7. Your pegboard frame is complete! For hanging and storing I cleaned and decorated old tin & paint cans with pretty scrapbook paper. I cleaned jars and we screwed the lids to the pegboard (be sure to do it through the strips of wood in the middle) for ribbon and buttons and such. I bought a pack of hooks in the hardware section designed for pegboard for scissors and other stuff. They hang through the pegboard perfectly since it's about 2 inches away from the wall. You can use all sorts of fun, recycable items to hang stuff from. I love recycling items!

Now you're station is ready for all crafty projects with less mess.

Thanks again, sweetheart--you're such an amazing husband.

Everyday Happenings

My kids love legos. All 3 of them.



Check out our little man's mad skills.

Kid Qwips

December 2010

Mommy tells Ivory not to do something. Ivory, “Turn around Mommy. Turn around.” Or another favorite reply, “Close your eyes, Mommy. Close your eyes.”

“Don’t say content Mommy, don’t say content.” In reference to Mommy telling Ivory not to ask for anything else and to practice being content.

January 2011

Ivory watching a video of her dad talking, “Dad, stop talking. Just stop talking.”

Ivory, “Don’t say dangit. I say dangit?” Ivory catching us on our bad habits…

Ivory, “I do it. I do it all by self.” Said about practically everything she does…except eating on her own when she’s perfectly capable.

Ivory and daddy laying down at bedtime. Ivory is playing with daddy’s hair, “Spicy hair. Hot and cold. Soft. Spicy hair. Frankincense.” Then moved on to talking about other things.

Ivory praying at bedtime mumbling so Jason can’t understand. Looks up when she’s finished and says, “Pray that Nana and Grandaddy be in big bed.” She’s ready for a visit from Nana & Grandaddy!

Under Construction

Sorry about the blog's recent inaccessability.  I had some technical difficulties that I think have now been resolved.

Fire Station Visit

Ivory sitting in the fire truck with daddy. She even got to turn on the lights.

Yes, she *loved* it.




Micah enjoyed watching from the stroller.

My Micah man.

His smile melts me.

Checking out the gear.

Oxygen tanks.



I have mixed emotions about seeing my little girl with this mask on. She was eating it all up.

I imagined this turning out a little more artistic.


Jason has been on a lot of calls since joining the fire department--and he's still giddy like a little boy about it. What is it about fire fighting and men? He is so sacrifical and I love watching his eyes light up when he rushes off to put out a fire. Of course, I say lots of prayers, and the first few times I could hardly go back to sleep, but now I sleep like a baby. He's in the best hands.