It's begining to look alot like Chritmas!

We have a Christmas tree....we have decorations o'plenty....we have sugar cookies, cocoa, a fire in the fireplace and 4 inches if snow outside....it is definitely feeling Christmasy around here. All that seems to be lacking are presents under the tree. I have them stashed away some place safe. I just keep waiting for those silly little elves to come out and wrap them for me!
I have lots to update on so I've decided to break it up in smaller categorized posts. That way you don't feel so overwhelmed. I know, I'm a saint!
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I have cards that I intend to send out, but for those of you who aren't on the list....wha-la...Merry Christmas!

Home Sweet Home

In September we decided to remodel the living room. It was so ugly with its mismached paneling, and nasty old windows. So we bit the bullet and pulled down the panneling, and put up sheetrock. New windows, texture and paint, refinished the original hardwood floors, tiled the entryway, new window seat, new crown molding, and eventually new trim (it's sitting on the floor waiting to be installed)! My lving room is now the prettiest room in the house...which therefore makes the kitchen look like a pit! But hey one room at a time! Our house was built in 1910 so that makes it nearly 100 years old....it's an understatement to say that it's a project...that's right people we're living in the projects! :) One of these days I will get around to posting pics of it....but I want to wait unitl it is finished...that means trim finished, pictures hanging, and final decor in place!

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho.......

Besides the remodel, September through November are my works busiest time of year. I have been going non-stop the past three months! Between homeschool, housework, and three clients a week, I have nearly reached the breaking point. Lesson learned. I can't be all things all the time. So this next year I am cutting back on how many clients I take, and putting my focus on being Teacher Mom, and Hot Wife! If it means we struggle a bit financially...well then I'll just be forced to pimp Clint out! :)

Clint has also been busy. He has been juggling a major remodel, his own business, and is now working full-time for my dad. That's right, my man is now a home inspector, cabinet finisher, auto mechanic (as needed), home remodeler, and soon to be worship leader....again.

Family

Family life has finally settled down the past week or so. We took a trip to Seattle to see our family there. Clint's parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and it was great to have all the kids and grandkids together to be there for it. I LOVE to see my neices and nephew. I know that when we all get together it is going to be loud and crazy, but that is half the fun. Getting to see Abby and Liv play together was priceless! They are only 2 months apart, and now that they are going on 4 they really seem to enjoy playing together. When they weren't bossing each other or fighting!
On Sunday we had the kids sing Happy Anniversary to Granny and Papa. It. Was. Adorable. We were shy one kid....Kira couldn't make it for church, but the others did good and made me proud...with the exception of my youngest...she panicked and couldn't remember the words...so stinkin cute.

As soon as I get the video off of my camera, I will post it....I promise!

Chruch

In case that last part about Clint being a worship leader again, through you off...let me fill you in on another change in our family. In September God really began to impress on Clint and I that we needed to step down from the ministry at out church (ELCC), and wait for His direction as to where to go. God had been dealing with Clint for nearly a year, but it he kept fighting it. Here's a little history on us...WE DON'T LEAVE CHURCHES! In our married life of nearly 10 years, we have left two churches...both because of a move. So when we felt lead to leave it was not a decision we took lightly. After a lot of prayer, we resigned in early October and did the church shopping game for two months...not a game I am fond of...it comes with NO party favors! :)
I could ramble on and on about all the churches we tried and the great people we met..but more recently God made it very clear (finally) where we were supposed to be. Of course it came right after WE had decided where we WANTED to go. God said, "Yeah not so much...go here". We said "Oh God NO not THERE!" To which He replied "YEP"! Funny thing when God gives you a ministry and talent, you don't get to choose where it is utilized. For those of you who have grown up with me...now would be a good time to grab your heart...here is come...we will now be attending and ministering at Valley Christian Center (formerly Hazelton Assembly Of God). I KNOW!!!!!!! Trust me when I say that God had to do some serious talking for me to realize this is where we belong. Its hard for me to return to my roots, but the Pastors there are great and their vision for the community and salvation is so refreshing and easy to couple up with. So please keep us in your prayers...the people there are wonderful, but for me it almost feels like we are being called to the mission field! I say that in love.

Awwww Memories....

Silence Is Golden.....??

My wonderful Mom took Abby for me this morning. She had to run a couple of errands and Abby woke up insisting that her siblings did NOT like her and she was running away to live with Grandma.
Only having 2 instead of 3 really changes the dynamics of the house. Especially when its the older 2, because the are so self-sufficient and entertain themselves well. I took full advantage of it and relaxed on my bed watching a TV movie and snoozing while I was waiting for some laundry to cycle.
When the movie was over I thought to myself..."they sure are playing quietly together." It's such a reprieve to have the house so quiet.....too quiet.
I went in to see what they were up too.....
Whoever said silence is golden was WRONG!





All I can say is THANK GOD they weren't cutting Gracie's hair.....oh and there are two little kids in this house that are in big trouble and grounded from toys.....FOR LIFE!!!!!

"weev-wee"

There comes a time in every moms life that your daughters make your heart swell..... mine was today.

I was busily working on some photos before we get school started, and the girls were contentedly "playing" in my bathroom. When they came out.... I died. Their beauty is overwhelming.



Gracie's potential as a make up artist is clear. She will go far in life.



The BEST part of this is that after I took their pictures, Grace gave Abby a mirror so she could see how be-a-u-ti-ful Grace had made her.
One look in the mirror and Abby says, "Awwww man Grace! I look like a clown!"

And I died.

Old Man Winter

It snowed a little bit on Friday. It was kind of funny to see these tiny little flakes come down.

Saturday morning Grace came running into our room.

"Mom! Dad! All those little flakes stayed. I looked out my window and there is snow everywhere! I pinched myself. I'm not dreaming!"

Sure enough there was 3-4 inches Saturday morning. And it snowed ALL day, and most the night. By Sunday morning we had between 10 and 12 inches in some places.

It was no longer funny. I'm not ready for winter. And in protest, I will be wearing my tank tops and shorts with flip flops today. And crank the heat up.

BOO. BOO to you Old Man Winter.

How dare you try to sneak in and ruin one of my favorite seasons.

By the way, on Thursday the "meteorologist" said we had a chance of some flurries over the weekend. Clearly he partied his way through college! It's IDAHO, there's never a "chance of flurries". That ALWAYS translates to "winter storm watch 2008".

On a bright note, the kids loved it.

Clearly my child has a snow deficiency.

Dirty 30!

This last month(September 7) I did the unthinkable and turned 30. BOO. Going into it, I didn't think I would have a problem with it. But well, I did. It's not that I feel old. I don't. It's just hard to say I'm not in my twenty's anymore. I have to check that other box now on the surveys.... Bleh.
My hubby and kids were super sweet and planned me a little party. As always it is more fun to watch the kids celebrate. Both the girls "helped" me blow out ALL THOSE CANDLES! Clint had them make these giant cards. I will keep them for forever.

On the bright side...I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a UH-MAZING husband. Three great kids. A wonderful career. Good friends and family. My life is good. It's the B-E-S-T. I luv it.

Here's some pics from the party!

E ja ma ka shun

I know it has been forever since I updated, but well I have so much on my plate that updates just aren't on the list.

Here's a little of what we have been up to at the White house:

We started homeschool the last week in August. Our first week was really hard. By the third day into it, Gabe and I were both in tears! But once we got a routine and some authority established, thing have been much better. I can honestly say that I enjoy it, and at this point in our lives, it is certainly the best decision for our family. Grace in in kindergarten this year. She is already reading and writing really well. And she LOVES homeschool. She. Eats. It. Up. On our first day she was raising her hand and saying "Teacher Mom". (I had to put a swift end to that one!) :) "Mom, is just fine sweety.... you don't need to call me Teacher." I am really seeing her personality blossom. She is so sweet and has such a passion for learning...especially the arts. Both she and Gabe are taking piano lessons this year, and she just loves it. She spends a lot of her spare time at the piano "writing" her own songs. Which of course makes her daddy beam.



Gabe had a bit of a difficult time with homeschool to start. He's had a taste of "real" school and just wasn't thrilled to be in a "class" that didn't have any boys, and was made up of....well... his sisters. After a couple of days into it he was crying and really concerned that he wouldn't see his friends from school. At this point I really started to question whether or not we made the right decision. As time has gone on he has really adjusted. He actually seems to enjoy his sisters...well most days anyway. He still really misses his friends, and it is very important to us that our kids have friends, so Clint and I have made some changes in our lives to ensure that our children get the socialization they need.
Gabe is also a boy genius. He excels at math and reading. And has impressed the pants off of his piano teacher. Which clearly is a direct reflection of the skills of his teacher! :)



Abby is...well...she is just Abby. She wants to do what everyone else is doing. She wants NO help doing it. And she wants to do it HER way. I spent the better half of my first week homechooling, arguing with the 3 year old. Who technically doesn't need to be in school. She has mellowed out...some. And I see that she is gleaning from the other two a lot. She is mastering her letter recognition, can write her name, and several other letters. Knows her shapes, colors, numbers, and is getting the basics of phonics. She forever keeps me on my toes. Always.



On top of teaching the kids, this is the busy season for work. EVERYONE wants fall family portraits and Christmas pictures. So I have be juggling 2-3 clients a weeks as well as housework, schoolwork, and editing, editing, editing. I love my job, so I won't complain. Every time I get a print order I am amazed that people pay me to do what I love. It's rad.

Randomness

My WONDERFUL sister tagged me and for some strange reason I feel obligated to full-fill the request. So here are 6 random things about me........

1) I hate chain mail. For example the email that prattles on and on about if you truly LOVE Jesus you will pass this email on, BUT if you are ashamed of your faith go ahead and junk it! I. Hate. These Emails.
*here comes a rant*
I LOVE the Lord, my life if fully devoted to Him. I don't feel the need to pass along some lame email with a heartwrenthching picture of some white guy as Jesus, to prove my love! And for those of you who do pass them along to me.... well it's not what's gonna get you to heaven, so STOP! And for those of you like me who "go ahead and junk it", well you're not necessarily hell bound either!


2) I have a SERIOUS problem with inappropriate flushing. Wha? This is what my WONDERFUL sister calls it when my faces flushes red with embarrassment! It happens randomly in conversations with people I know well. It happens frequently during conversations with strangers. Draw attention to me in a crowd and I GUARANTEE I will turn redder that Rudolf's nose! The sister LOVES to make this happen as often as she can. Truth be known it's the real reason we moved. I just couldn't take one more trip to Target with her!
*side note- I actually won an award as a teen b/c of it. Yep that's right I own a trophy that says Miss Face Turns Red or something to that extent.*


3) Because it seems to be a popular topic....as a youngster I was in love with Mario Lopez aka A.C. Slater from Saved By The Bell! I got on my knees and begged God every night that someday I could be Mrs. Mario Lopez! Sadly this infatuation carried into my teen years. I finally gave it up at 13 after my first kiss with a real live boy.....my first "love". (A special thanks to T., you saved me from the devastating realization that this would never be me....)


4) I love to read. Unlike some people I can't stand thrillers! I have nightmares so easily. Those things stay with me for forever! But I do like some romance just not smut.... speaking of which my mother-in-law once gave me a couple of rated X romance novels once. Half way through them I wasn't sure what was more disturbing.... the smut or that my MOTHER-IN-LAW gave them too me. Which means she read them! EWWWW!
I really like to read books that make me think, inspirational books etc.
I currently just finished Driven By Eternity by John Bevere. I have to say, it. changed. my. life. It'll make a preacher outta ya and save ya all over again! I HIGHLY recommend it.


5) At the ripe-ol age of 29....VERY soon to turn...well....29 again of course, I have decide that I want to learn to play the acoustic guitar. I have always envied people who are musically talented. And seeing as how I am married to an amazing singer/pianist, I am forever in the presence of greatness! I have little desire to play the piano, b/c.... well it's just not very hot when a girl plays the keyboard, but lets face it, a chic and a guitar, well that's just pure hotness! Plus we already have one pianist in the family, and I don't want to steal his thunder. So I went with the guitar.
So my amazing husband went out a bought me one and I have been teaching myself to play. Only problem is it makes my fingers feel FAT! I can't seem to hold down one string w/o pushing down another. I inevitably end up putting the guitar back in the corner out of frustration while murmuring "theeeese haaaawwwwnds....."


6) I am a huge chocoholic! I admit I have a problem, and I don't want treatment..... just my next fix! I am serious! If there is chocolate in the house, I will eventually pic at it until it is gone. I think that might be the reason that Abigail was a 8lb 13 oz bundle of "Oh dear God I'm gonna die getting this kid out" when she was born! I was in my second trimester during Halloween and had a drawer where I kept the kit kats and reeses peanut butter cups, I couldn't stay out of it! I got so fat with her and just kept blaming on my "boggy uterus"......there was no way it could be the pounds of chocolate I was gobbling away every day....NOOOOOOO not my precious.
I just love hot fudge sundae's. That first bite of creamy hot fudge and cool vanilla ice cream melting together on my tongue....mmmmmmmmm forbidden chocolate...... It really is my preeeeciouuuuussssss.



There you have it, six random things. And because I can't stand chain mail, I refuse to tag anyone else! A girls gotta stick to her guns.

Comic Relief

I have often stated that God gave me Abby as my comic relief. I have three great kids. Each and every one of them have very different personalities, but by golly they are all stubborn. When I was pregnant with Abby I prayed that God would give me a quiet little bookworm....um...yeah, not so much! She is definately the one that can prattle on, and on, and on, and on... you get my drift.
On the flip side she comes up with the funniest comments, and the quirkiest ideas. I gaurentee that if you ask her a question about something, she will be able to "come up" with an answer.
Well the other day the kids were getting their swim suits on to go swiming at Grandma's house. I was in my room finishing up editing a photo session when she comes in...dressed like this... and says..."Mommy, who do I look like?"


After laughing hysterically I said, "I don't know, who do you look like?"
She replies, "I'm ROCK STAR Mommy!"

Now I PROMISE I have NEVER ran around the house with my swimsuit rolled down, my boulder holder around my neck and upside-down, with head phones on!!!!!

Let's just be gald that "Rock Star Mommy" Barbie is not coming soon to a store near you!

Grace Is 5!

It's a bit late of an update, but I wanted to post some of the pictures of Gracie turning 5! Her Granny's birthday is the day before so Grace was privileged to have her Granny here to celebrate with her. My sweet girl turned 5 on July 13th!

Granny and Papa bought her a new big girl bike b/c she can now ride with no training wheels! And her Grandma and Grandpa Way bought her the long anticipated Dora doll that can be taken in the bath and her hair changes color, and make-up appears..... yada, yada, yada. She has been wanting this for FOREVER!!!! She was thrilled to get it. And her mama and daddy got her her very own game boy. She was VERY spoiled this year... but hey she's the middle child, she needs a little bit of spoiling!

When I get a chance I will put together a little slide show of her growing up. In the mean time, here are some pics from her b-day party.

Summer is just flying buy! We have been taking advantage of every moment of it!

We've been camping every chance we get. Clint's parents come up in July and they brought our nephew Andrew with them. So we loaded up the trailer and we camping! Just before they came out, Gabe finally learned to ride his bike w/o training wheels! Of course me mentioning that his cousin didn't know how and that he would be able to show Andrew that HE could do it, might have added some sudden inspiration!But it didn't last for long, b/c once we went camping, I taught Andrew how to ride w/o training wheels!!!!! I am sure the entire campground thought I was crazy running behind him and hooting and hollering! But I was soooo proud of him, and it was awesome to see all the kids (minus Abby of course) riding their bikes like "big kids"!


*Sorry Alecia, I don't have pictures of Andrew riding, just video of it! :( I was too busy running to take pics and when he finally got it, I ran and grabbed the video camera instead! I think your dad took pics though.*

Papa and Granny certainly enjoyed relaxing and just hanging out with their grandkids.


This was pretty much how Papa looked the entire trip!


The kids really enjoyed hanging out and playing with each other. I wish they could see each other more often! Here's a few pics of them just being kids...








All in all I think the kids had a great time!

First Campin' Trip Of The Season

We FINALLY got to go camping! We have been wanting to go since early May.... but the weather didn't seem to get the memo that it is supposed to be summer! And in these here parts, we don't tend to have COLD May's.
However, June has decided to play nice so we packed up monday morning and headed to our favorite comping spot. I gotta say this just might have been the best camping trip yet. Our friends decided to join us, so it gave the kids someone to play with, and us someone to socialize with..... which we did 'til 1 in the morning every night! (Side note, I am too old to be staying up that late... ughh.)
We went fishing as a family, which usually irriates me because I LOVE to fish, but when the kids fish, it is impossible for me to fish. They are always tangling their lines, or reeled in the line and want me to cast, or they are waving a hook around a sibling and fighting! So this time I decided that instead of fishing myself, I would just man the kids poles and help them. It turned out to be far more fun, because all the kids caught fish. Watching their excitement was so much better than catching one myself.
Abby was particularly funny, when she gets excited about something she tends to shake her hands while her whole body is stiff and shakey! But it is nearly impossible to reel while shaking, so she would reel for a minute and then stop and shake for a minute all while yelling, "I gotta fishy, I gooooootttttaa fishy"!
Too stinking cute.... oh, here's her fishy.





Gabe learned how to cast while we were fishing. He still needs some work, but he's getting the hang of it. This is the first time he took a real interest in fishing, which of course makes his daddy so proud.



And the big news of the trip is that Gracie learned to ride her bike without training wheels!!!!!! I must note that Gabe has yet to accomplish this milestone so there is even more pride for Grace that she beat her big brother at something. I'm not sure what was cuter, her beaming smile as she did it, or her daddy whoopin' and hollerin' running behind her!




We also took all the kids to a little creek to cool off. It was sooo cold, but once the kids were in for awhile they didn't seem to mind. I think they went numb from the cold and couldn't feel anymore! I leave ya with a few pics from that, and hope you are all enjoying summer as much as we are!

Bummer

A few weeks back a baby duck found its way straight from heaven and to our house. She was maybe 3 or 4 weeks old and soooooo sweet! One of the neighbor kids knocked on our door and said they had found a lost baby duck. So we rescued it.
Meet Waddles.


After we rescued Waddles we read that ducks are very social and need other ducks, so we ran right out and bought our 3 week old duck some babies to raise.

Meet Quakers and Peep.



We also went out and purchased 6 mature hens so that we are getting 6 eggs every day until our baby chickens start laying. Which probably won't be until the end of summer. So on this farm we have 18 chickens, 3 ducks, and 3 dogs.... e i e i o!

Until this morning.....

At 6 AM the dogs wanted out for the day. Clint stumbled out of bed and opened the back door and let them out. It was VERY cold and windy out this morning and he wasn't really coherent and didn't want to go out in his skivies to kennel the dogs.

At 7 AM I wake to hear the chickens going nuts....

At 7:05 Gracie comes running into our bedroom screaming "Daddy, Bear has a chicken!"

We leapt out of bed and ran outside. Bear and Bailey had broke into the chicken coop!

There was carnage everywhere! My baby ducks were dead. 5 of my chickens were dead.

I'm not sure its normal to sob over farm animals.... but I did.

I'm pretty bummed about the chickens, but I am really bummed about the ducks. Waddles was soooo sweet. And the babies were adorable. Waddles did such a great job being their "Mama" and not letting the chickens peck at them.

*Sigh* I don't think I'm cut out for farm life.

Rest in peace sweet duckies..... you will be missed.



PS - Anyone want a broken golden retriever and a oaf-ish black lab...... they may come up for adoption soon! Grrrrr Killers!

New Doo

We took Abby into the eye doctor last week and after an exam he informed us that Abigail's eyes are still very healthy, but when they were dilated he did see some need for lenses. So our little girl is sporting a new look. To go with her "new look", I decided that the girls and I would go and get summer hair cuts. So much to the chagrin of her grandmother, Abby is now 7 inches lighter in hair.
But doesn't she look just adorable?!!!!



Here's Gracie my ever-ready-for-the-camera girl. I think she look sooooo much older!
And yes, Clint does own a shot gun, and yes he knows how to use it!



All three lovely ladies.....



On a side note, Clint quit his job with Lithia last week to pursue his own business as a home inspector. Please be in prayer with us that God will mightily bless this step of faith.