Leaving on a jet plane...

well Daddy is at least, and oh boy were the tears flowing this morning (the kids were sad too!!! just kidding, it was the kids who were crying) Cappy thought he was leaving on Thursday and coming home sat and you would have thought that poor kids heart was breaking in to pieces when the doorbell rang for Kev to leave for the airport this morning! Oh well, it is good they love him!

After Daddy left we hung out for awhile, made cinnamon rolls, and we were just generally lazy until it was time for swim lessons.  Today was day 2 for the 2 oldest kids (they are doing a special spring break daily class) Cappy is working on stroke development, as he has been independently swimming since about 2.5.  Sweet Pea, on the other hand, cries at the mere thought of entering a body of water sans floatation device.  In fact, she cried for a good part of last week just imagining her swim class "I won't even know the teachers name!" "What if I have a boy teacher?" "what if I drown?" were just a few of the concerns voiced by the girl child.  So Kevin took them yesterday and I asked them to call me when the class ended.  I answered the phone to hear "Mamaaaaaaaaa I LOVE SWIMMING LESSONS!!!" I breathed a huge sigh of relief. 

Soooo today it was my turn to take them to lessons.  I loaded all 4 kiddos up (and plenty of snacks and distractions for Rowan since he would be having to sit and watch.  30 minutes, 2 juice boxes, a cheese stick, some Ritz crackers, a fruit leather, an orange, a quick nursing for baby snarf, and a broken slinky later-and the kids did great again! (OK so I could only focus in short bursts, since I was trying to prevent the little boys from driving all the other Moms crazy....) but what I saw was awesome! Cappy is really getting the hang of side breathing, and Sweet Pea spent lots of time face down with nary a tear! Fear of water over and done with, thank goodness!

Then during nap time, I went shopping for new car insurance and-are you ready for this???? Saved us over $450/6 months! Woot! I also got our deductible down to $250 instead of $500 and got higher rental car coverage, should the need ever arise.  Love saving money!

Now we await then end of nap time when I think we will go to our favorite little SnoBall shop and enjoy a frosty treat before heading to Life Together Group tonight for a little bit of fellowship time with all of our crazy kids!

Spring Break is off to a great start!

Rowanisms

Just wanted to make a little list of things Rowan says that are precious-don't want to forget them!

OOolianna=Julianna
Chickenlay=Chick-Fil-a=any fast food resturant
ohlah bar=granola bar
coco miwwwk=coconut milk
is otay=it'sok


I will have to add to this as I think of more.  I love the funny way they say things at this age, but they lose them so quickly! So I will add more as they come up!

Loving this day!

I have said it before, I love my job-but in my heart I am a stay-at-home mama.  (little factoid...for the first 2 years I worked at the church, I called myself a "stay at home mom who worked 5 hours a day" then I had to put Ro-Dog into mother's day out at 10 months, and Baby Snarf in at 3 months, so now I gave that up and say I am a working mom...anyway)

Soooo, I LOVE days off.  I mean I know everyone loves days off, but I just find a special bliss on days like today.  I had to fight really hard with myself to not keep Seamus home from school today.  (If I was still a SAHM I would probably homeschool...well maybe)

So what am I doing on this fantastic day off you may ask? So exciting! :) I:
-went to Sam's
-had lunch with my kids
-put the little 2 kids down for a nap
-made "paint water" with Julianna, by soaking a marker in water.
-played outside in the backyard

and when the babies wake up, we will:
-go to the mall to make 2 exchanges
-go to a friend's house to pick out some doll clothes
-pick big brother up from school
-make pizza for dinner
-maybe watch a movie on netflix and have a dinner picnic
 and in between I will do dishes and laundry

So nothing terribly exciting, to some people a day like this sounds like a nightmare.  To me, however, it is perfection.  I love just being.  The normal, mundane tasks of the day, surrounded by my little brood, they make me smile. Next week is Spring Break, and I am going to pretend I am a SAHM all week long! Woohoo!

The beginning of my 4th decade

Ok, so when I think of it THAT way it sounds crazy! But really overall,  I am happy to be turning 30.  I know it is a hard milestone for many,feeling like they are leaving their carefree ways behind and really beginning adulthood, but seriously I have FOUR kids-there are no carefree ways here! I have felt like a real grownup for quite a long time, and I am actually really excited to have my age match up with who I feel like I am.  I am quite frequently the youngest in a group, and used to feel looked down upon because of it.  Now, I feel like the people who know me look past my "youngness" and see me for who I am.  I am content in my life and where we are right now.  I am more confident then I have ever been.  My husband is incredible:he works hard at a job he doesn't like to support us and studies hard so he can have a job he loves. My children are as close to perfection as I can imagine. My job is a blessing.  My family loves me and is proud of who I am.  My friends are like family. I serve a God who is present and real in my daily life.  Truly, there is little I could ask for on this anniversary of my birth (I can always think of SOMETHING to ask for, lol)

So Happy Birthday to me!

Wrapped in the arms of my God

We had a close encounter with God today.  When Kevin went out to his car to leave for work he saw a curious envelope on his front seat.  The envelope was made of fancy parchment and sealed with a deep red wax seal.  Written in fancy script was Kevin and I's initials.  Inside was a piece of simple cream parchment paper sealed with the same red wax, with a seal of a cross imprinted in it.  The letter (written again in beautiful, old fashioned script) read:
Dearest Kevin and Annette:
Thank you for believing in me, for I believe in you.
I love you always,
God

Also inside the envelope was $427.  Strange amount, right? Well it happens to cover Kevin's plane ticket to Florida for his interview with District Committee on Ministries for the Florida conference.  (he is in the process of becoming an ordained United Methodist minister in the Florida conference)

We shared with a special group of friends that money was tight with Kevin's trips to Florida and saving to buy a new car for him also.  Things were not impossible, but tight enough to feel the squeeze.  1 week later the money appeared.  I do not know who was playing the hands and feet of God this time, but I am thankful for them.  Cappy says it was a real true miracle-and I agree.  Whether God stepped down to deliver that letter or someone heard his still small voice and heeded his call-it is no less a miracle in my book.  When the children of God are faithful and just, miracles occur.  Everyday, we can be wrapped in the arms of God.

Sunshine days are here again!

I adore this weather! Mid 70's is just blissful! The kids are running around outside and Baby Snarf and I are sitting on a blanket soaking up some lovely Vitamin D.  The dog is enjoying all the company :) Perfection!

Snuggle Naps

Are one of my favorite things about being a Mommy.  Most Sundays I get one smooshed in between Rowan and Teague, and I snooze for a blissful 2-3 hours (thanks to my adoring and fantastic husband who knows I am brain dead and crazy tired on Sunday afternoons).  Today I am getting a bonus mid-week snuggle nap since Tick-Tock baby is sicky.  I hate that he isn't feeling well, but am also really enjoying all this cuddle time. (and loving being in my PJ's in the middle of the day!)

So I will be going now, off to dream land with my sweet chunk of love snuggled up as close as close can be!