The 8 year olds' party!

We had Kelby and Troy's party this weekend and I think this was, by far, the perfect party!  We let each of them invite one friend to go along with us to Austin's Park and Pizza. 

We had to make them sit down to eat before we started playing but within 15 minutes they scarfed down their pizza and were off!  They started at the go-karts and rode them a few dozen times before the night was over!

Teague started at the little track...

but by the end he was at the big track with everyone else!

They did swings and rock climbing and mini golf and bumper boats and spinning cups and roller coasters. There were almost no lines so we went from one ride to another and were able to ride all of them several times. 

And then there was lazer tag! We all loved laser tag!!

The boys got cool presents and really enjoyed their time with their friends.

We had to drag them out at 11pm as they were closing the doors! They were all talking about having their birthdays there because everything was so awesome! On the drive home they all fell asleep so we just transferred them to the beds when we got home! (That's my kind of slumber party!). It really was the perfect party! There was something for all of us to do and no one was left out because they were too old or too young and I didn't have to cook or clean up!! A win-win!! This morning they enjoyed cinnamon rolls before heading home! And even this morning they were still talking about all the fun they had...makes my heart happy! 

Kelby's 8!

Today, Kelby turned 8! We had a little celebration during dinner, with cake and gifts, but tomorrow we will have his and Troy's joint party with their friends!

Here they are as 4 year olds turning 5...

and now as an 8 year old!

Happy birthday, Kelby!!  We love you and love watching you grow and mature as the years pass by!

Happy, happy day

Last Wednesday, we went to our church's all life group worship night. During one of the songs, Troy turned around and said "Mom, I want to be baptized." I asked him why and what does that mean and he said, "because I know Jesus is in my heart."  What wonderful words to hear as a parent!! He talked with Richard a little and then to our children's pastor and decided he would get baptized on Sunday.  At the end of the worship night, a lady came over and tapped me on the shoulder and said that God wanted her to pray for my son. I told her sure and which one, I have four. She pointed to Troy and said God was highlighting him to her, but didn't know what she was supposed to pray for. I told her Troy just committed his life to Christ and asks to be baptized and then she said "okay, now I know why He sent me over here!" It was such a sweet confirmation to my heart from God and what a blessing she was for just being obedient, even when she didn't know why God was sending her to us. 

So today, we were able to speak over Troy and read him his life verse again, which was read over him at his baby dedication and then baptize him. 

Lots of family came in and we all enjoyed celebrating Troy's special day!

Baylee's 15th birthday

Baylee turned 15 on Thursday and had her party last night. She and several friends wanted to go out to the fair to see Joe Nichols in concert. All the girls came to the house to get ready and then we ate and had cupcakes and gifts.

Then, we were off to the fair! All the girls rode with me and the "cowboys" went in the truck with Richard.

We were quite a sight with all the girls dressed fancy and all the boys in their cowboy attire.

While the girls were at the concert, we walked around and saw all the fair sights. It was a late night for all of us, but we had fun.

Teague...and the bus

Teague has adapted well to kindergarten. He brings home green smiley faces every day, he is learning to read, and they are doing some fun arts and crafts throughout the day. He talks about all his friends playing on the playground and in PE like they've been friends forever. I am glad they first week of screaming and crying at the drop off has now changed to smiles. There is only one little hiccup we keep having with him...the bus.

During the second week of school, Teague fell asleep on the bus and did not get off at the stop. By the time Troy, Koby, and Kelby got off and realized he was not coming too, the bus pulled away from the stop. They jumped in the pick up with Richard, and they had to chase the bus to the next stop to get Teague off. We told the older boys to make sure Teague is awake when they get to the stop so this wouldn't happen again.

Then, a few Fridays later, the elementary school is bussed to the high school to attend the pep rally's. Teague decided that he did not want to ride the bus home, he wanted to be a car rider with his friends.  So, again, all the boys got off the bus except Teague. When asked "Where is Teague?" The boys said he never was on the bus with us. So once the school figured out there was no car coming to pick up Teague, they called Richard's dad to come and get him. We had to explain to him that you cannot be a car rider just because you want to be!

And then yesterday, all the boys rode the bus to the new house... except Teague. Richard had called the school to make sure all the teachers knew the boys would ride the new bus, but I guess Teague's teacher did not get that message. We tried to contact Richard's mom fast enough to have her at that bus stop to get him, but we were too slow. So Teague had to ride the whole bus route and come back to the school close to 5 PM for Richard to pick him up. This time it really wasn't his fault, but it is still funny that Teague can have so many bus shenanigans after only six weeks of school. I am thankful that he is so social and resilient and has never been scared or upset with any of the mishaps. He just goes with the flow and knows someone will get him wherever he ends up.

Hard work

It's been a little over two weeks since we closed on the house and we have been working tirelessly trying to get it how we want it before we move in. It's funny how our list of four "must do's" has grown into a page and a half. It seems like we get going on one project and find another?!? Here are a few before pictures.

We are finishing up the last of the list and have the refrigerator and sectional being delivered this week, so we are hoping to start moving on Friday!! Just typing that sentence made my heart jump. I can not wait to see all our stuff in conjunction with all our hard work. It's going to be perfect!

A luau party

Amber turned 31 today and since she just spent the last 3 months in Hawaii, mom chose a Hawaiian theme. 

Even Abby had a grass skirt!

It was a quick trip for us since it was on a Thursday, but it was worth it! Happy birthday and welcome home, Amber!

One step closer

It's been a long few years! Richard put his house on the market a few months before we got married in hopes that it would sell quickly. Unfortunately, it didn't and the boys and I moved in with him and the kids in August 2013.  The boys slept on the two couches in the living room. With every showing we were so hopeful that they would buy it, but no one even put in an offer! The guilt of having kids sleep on a couch with no space to call their own was growing over each month that passed.  I tried to remind myself that it was only for a season, but it was hard.

Then there was a completely different issue of moving into a home that was still very much the essence of Richard's late wife. Which is not completely a bad thing. We knew we wanted to sell and didn't want to sink a lot of money into redecorating, but I have walked a very fine line of trying not to change much in a home I have lived in for over a year, yet internally struggling with always feeling like a guest in a place I'm supposed to call "home". I haven't seen my dishes or pots and pans or furniture or pictures in over a year...

But today we came one step closer. We closed on OUR home!!!

In our wishful thinking that Richard's house would sell fast last summer we found this house. 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths 4000 sq. ft. and a huge shop all on 18 acres for the kids to enjoy. It was perfect in our eyes. But Richard's house never sold. We prayed diligently for the house to still be available and be cheaper whenever ours sold. 6 months went by and we noticed it was taken off the market; it didn't sell but the owners just took it off the market. Then in the spring a new  student came to Baylee's school and through a few conversations, Baylee found out she was the niece of the owners of that exact house. Richard ended up going to one of Baylee's track meets in hopes to find them and see what was going in with their house. They ended up exchanging numbers and once Richard's house went under contract in June he called them and they said they were still interested in selling and would drop the price significantly if we kept realtors out of the process. Prayers answered!!! We moved into Richard's parents' house mid-July and have been grateful for the place to stay during this transition. 

So, today we signed a million papers for a home we feel God marked as ours over a year ago! We are so excited to move in and make it ours and give all seven of us space to call our own!!