Wordless Wednesday - What is Wrong With This Picture?

Sunday Snapshot - My Sweet Emmeline

Is she really 5 years old??  This precious little bundle of girlyness

who, after 3 boys (and at my age of 42) was quite a surprise!

I asked at every ultrasound for them to check again, just to be sure!  After delivering a house full of testosterone, I was NOT convinced that she was in fact a girl until she was born and I could check for um, missing parts, if ya know what I mean!  Hehe!

And what a girl we got!  I had hoped for half tomboy and half girlie girl and I do believe the Lord heard my plea.  This child will dress up in her best Princess dress, ready herself for the ball while shooting Nerf guns at her brothers and if necessary, tackling them to the ground without toppling her tiara!  The girls got talent, y'all!

We call her "Charlie's twin," Lord help us her! 

She is LOUD and bossy knows her own mind and so full of joy and laughter and smiles and is always the one who, when asked to pray for something for the Lord to help her with - prays for all the children and the animals in the world who don't have homes, to find homes and families! 

She certainly did open her arms and her heart to her sister, whom she adores! 

Don't get me wrong, they can fight like - well - sisters but...

They are each others side kick and best friend

and have a very special bond

Oh and she also wants to adopt a baby - from New York - when she grows up!  Yeah, don't ask!  LOL!

She is the one I chose to home school this year,

Yep - this one - really!

Really!!!  Ha!

I am loving it.  Em, on the other hand, would like to go to a school with a playground!  Sigh!  I am committed though and because I got to experience this with my Em, we have now decided to keep Caleb home next year - and maybe both girls - sorry dear Em but you may be stuck with me for another year!

My precious Em turned 5 a couple of weeks ago but due to this

We weren't really able to celebrate like we wanted to, so we waited until there was a break in this

 to be able to come to JuJu's  and PARTY!

The table was set, the ice cream cake, divine, the cousins all there and...

my sweet baby got to do the one thing she was so hoping to do....

SWIM!

It had rained all day and was not as warm as it had been but she didn't care.  As soon as the rained stopped (well almost stopped), they jumped in - at night - in the cold - in the drizzle and had a blast!  Funny thing is the 5 younger ones all jumped in while the older 3 hid in terror!  With age, comes wisdom????  Heh!

Em's other 5 year old request was to go down to my brother and his wife's farm and ride horses!!  This is truly a little slice of Heaven on earth for my kids.  They love going to the farm and who could blame them? 

There are chickens

and hogs

and horses!

and cousins on horses!
Em loved it

When she demanded asked to steer, I felt a bit like a parent letting their kids drive for the first time!

When she is 16 and driving for the first time, however, I don't think she will let me run along side the car, will she?
So my darling Emmeline, you haven't changed much in your 5 years

except for getting taller and older (sigh) and maybe a little LOUDER (again, Sigh), and I am so thankful that you haven't!  You are just as sweet and loving and fun as you have always been. 

You still love to snuggle and take comfort in your Momma's arms and that does this Momma's heart good!

My beautiful Emmeline, I wish you a very Happy 5th Birthday and hope the next 5 years will bring you lots of ballet and soccer, tea parties and flag football!  You are my precious Princess Tomboy and I wouldn't have it any other way!

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Birthday Shopping CAN be Fun!

Tomorrow, we go to celebrate the 2 beautiful Emmeline's in my life!

My Mom

and my daughter

Their birthdays are both in March and while Em's was, ahem, at the beginning of the month, Mom's is at the end, so we head to Mom's tomorrow to celebrate both Emmelines, one late and one a bit early!

In true "mom of 5 kids" style, I waited until today to shop for a gift for my sweet mother!  Most of the kids had the day off from school, so off we went to my mother's favorite place on earth!

The plant store! 

The kids tried to talk me into Walmart, cause did you know that they have plants too!  They do, really - along with lots of toys!  How convenient!!!!

Nope, plants from Walmart just will not do for my Mom, the master gardener!

As soon as we arrived, the toys, or lack of toys, were forgotten as they explored the beauty of the place

and our Em's final choice...

Pink Hydrangeas, of course!!

and after all that exploring, it was time for...

ICE CREAM!!!

It was a fun afternoon and I am looking forward to tomorrow and to celebrating the two beautiful Emmeline's in my life, one who is now 5 and one who is just a teeeeeensy bit older!!!!  Hehe!

Love you both!

No Greater Love

This child of mine

This wonderful child of mine earned enough "good behavior tickets" at school to get to choose a treat

So what did he choose, you ask???

Did he choose no homework??

No!

Did he choose to sit where ever he wanted for a day??

No!

Did he choose to sit with a friend at lunch??

No!

So what did he choose??

My sweet baby boy chose to read to his sister!!!!

Lizzie was SO excited!  I love my kids! 

Big Brothers ROCK - most of the time!

So when you are too young to ride a rip stick, just grab a big bro and hop on!!!!

When they are not tickling, teasing or tormenting (not my angel boys - heh), big brothers are pretty cool!

Thank you for your service

Take a look at this sweetness!

Just look at the expression of sheer joy on that darling baby's face!  Brutus is the first Military canine to win the Congressional Medal of Honour - and one of the lucky ones.  The fate of many of these wonderful, loyal dogs is such a shame.  How I wish these beautiful creations of God who give such unconditional love, would be treated with the love and care and respect that they deserve! 

This was sent to me in an email!  Love it!

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.


2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.


3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.


4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.


5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.


6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.


7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.


8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.


9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.


10 On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone.

Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.


Take a moment today to thank GOD for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God's critters.

Sunday Snapshot - A Blessing in Disguise

OK, so remember this post? 

How can this be a blessing in disguise???

Well...

Look at this bad boy!!!!!

Yep, I am once again a "truck" Mom, cause being a "minivan" Mom never felt right anyway!!

and...

We have an extra seat, you know for friends and such.  "wink wink"

Granted, it is a 2003 and has more than a few miles on it, but it is my "blessing in disguise."

Cause, while I would have never asked for this,

I am choosing to look at this as a "blessing in disguise."  We would never have been able to afford that extra seat otherwise!  You know, for friends and such!  Hehe!!!

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