The Lake!

Jake, Preslee, Port, Ellie, Sutton and Brax on the Whale

Sloan and Preslee had matching "puddle jumpers" - great invention!

Koop catching one of the many fish...

Papa and the boys fishing - we would put the fish they caught in a plastic kid pool and the little ones would try to catch them and then we dumped them back in after they had been tormented enough!

Brax teaching Anna and Preslee to make mud pies - they were naturals - who says girls don't know how to get dirty?

Uncle Blake thinks Sutton might be the real deal fisherman - probably the only patient enough one.

My little ski cats

Brax was pretty confident

Preslee thought if the turtle will not come out on his own she would make him!

Words can't describe how much we love the lake.  Jake's family has been going to lake Eufaula since he was really little and we never knew it but my grandpa lived just a few miles away and we spent lots of time on the lake too.  Now it is so much fun to go with our "enormous" family and watch cousins play, fish, ride zip lines, sea doo and ski.  Looking forward to all the memories still to be made!

Mattew 5:13  You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt looses its saltiness how will it be made salty again?  It is good for nothing.

It's my Birthday!

Happy birthday to me!

Sweet friends!

Cute and yummy cake!

Ok I have to admit that I am over having birthdays!  Seriously 32 used to sound so old to me, but I was so blessed that another candle on the cake doesn't sound so bad!  On Friday Julie took me to lunch or so I thought.  When we walked in there was a table of sweet girlfriends that had come to celebrate and surprise me.  I really was surprised!  But it gets even better than that.  They gave me a giant book filled with sweet notes of love and encouragement from so many others that could not be there.  (Kristi~I think you win for the one who sent yours the farthest.)  I feel so loved and blessed.  Thanks for loving me well girls and I will say it once again - I have the best girlfriends in the whole world ~ God is good!  

Phil 1:3 ~ I thank God every time I remember you!

Playing with Kate!

The girls doing "cheers" with their pop ice!

Brax really liked taking care of Kate

Nat and I with our sweet girls!

My college roommate Natalie was in town last week with her sweet daughter Kate.  It had been way too long since I had seen Natalie and we have watched each other's kids grow up in pictures, so it was so fun to have lunch and play with them.  Natalie sorry if we scared you of ever having a bunch of boys!  Kate is a cutie!

Our little Rockin' Robin

Our sweet rockin' robin

With her favorite boy ~ Daddy!

The boys - Haynes, Brax, Nate, Koop, Beau and Sutton waiting to give her flowers!

A special visit from snow white who gave them bubble wands (she was really snow white at Disney before kids)

Singing "we are the world" with the whole class

Preslee had her music school program last week and it was so cute.  She was a big ball of pink feathers ~too cute ~ and they sang rockin' robin.  She loved it and especially loved all "her boys" as she calls them, that brought her flowers!

Swimming!

Drying off in the sun!

Swim lessons!

It may only be mid-May but we have some swimming in already.  Braxton and Sutton are taking swim lessons in hopes that they will be floating device free in the pool this summer.  Grandad heated the pool - even mommy temp - which is pretty warm!  We are looking forward to lots of time in the water with friends!

The Lion King!

Our sweet kids!

The boys standing ovation at the end!

Before the show!

We went to The Lion King on Friday night and it was unbelievable!  I went about 10 years ago in NY and have to say to see it with the kids was even better.  We made the boys all nap on Friday in hopes that an 8 pm start time would be pleasant.  We were amazed at how much they loved it and how great they all were!  Preslee was even totally entertained and not scared at all!  What a treat - they laughed so hard and the people next to us said they enjoyed it so much more because they got to watch the kids!  The response you hope for, but seldom get!  Hope no one thinks mid-night is our new bedtime.

Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand!

POPS!

Cheers!

The Stover kids came to play this week!  It was very hot and the kids had one of the drinks that Juju and Grandad had brought from POPS!  While they were sitting on the front porch drinking them I took this pic and thought that looks totally toxic - so many bright colors in bottles!  Sadie had her water and Preslee had a nap!

Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever!

You might be a red neck if......

No one wanted to get pinched - it really hurt...

but Sutton would pull them off the bacon and say ouch he's pinching me over and over again (tough guy)!

My little fishermen!

You take your kids crawdad hunting on family night!  The first hour was full of "dad, I think you are lying to us".  Then we caught 4 and even brought them home in a bucket and released them in the pond.  Cheap entertainment!  Daddy is so fun!

 "Enter His gates with Thanksgiving, enter His courts with Praise!"  Psalm 100:4 (the kids memory vs. this week)

Happy Mother's Day!

All Juju and Grandad's grandkids - minus sweet Anna!

Grandad finger painting with the kids - we are so grateful for "hands-on" grandparents!

"My mom" and brother and sister!

Mommy cookies - Sutton and Preslee have been gluten free for several months and the cookie company decorated them a cookie so they could have one like everyone else!

Thank you to the women who have shaped my life.  First to my mom. you truly are the most amazing servant and friend to everyone I know.  Judi - you are amazing at serving us in so many ways and love our kids so well.   My girls - Ok, I'm not going to name names b/c there are too many of you that have played such an amazing role in my life and you know who you are.  You make me laugh (best ab workout ever) until I hurt.  You hold me accountable (even when I don't want to be called on my stuff).  You always know when I need a sweet card or call or better yet a girls lunch.  You pray for me faithfully!  You have made my life richer- I have gleaned so much from you - from parenting, to being a wife, to following Jesus.  I can't imagine life without the "Best girls" in the world!  Can't wait for more amazing memories with each of you. You are amazing mommies and truly are Proverb 31 women - when I read it I love how God highlights different ones of you in different verses = thankful for you!

Avery is 6!

Kids at the party!

Sweet Avery is 6!  She and Kooper have become the best of buddies over the past few years - when they are in town he can spot their car from a mile away.  They had a fun party at the gym at the ranch.  It was a fun carnival party - Jeannie is amazingly creative!  Avery, God is shaping you into a sweet woman after His own heart.  Can't wait to see all He has for you!

Phil. 1:6 Being confident of this.  That He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

The slumber party!

Jake and I went on a date Friday night.  My parents watched the kids.  We got home pretty late and found my mom laying on the end of Preslee's bed sleeping.  Then went up stairs and Papa and the boys had all made beds in the floor of the boys room and were asleep.  It was too cute!  It would have been a better picture if Papa wouldn't have woken up before I snapped this shot.  We a thankful for grandparents and our kids are too! 

Psalm 127:3 Children are a blessing from the Lord!  Blessed is the man whose quiver "or bed" is full of them!

Dates with my kids!

I think this picture should be used for antioch titled "This is not discipleship!"  

Preslee kept saying "this is my coffee!"

Being intentional is what I have found life with Jesus is all about.  I have to be intentional getting time with God to be transformed and filled up so that I can do the things God has called me to, out of "overflow" with Him!  We have to be intentional with our kids to help mold and shape them into who God has made them to be and so that they can do the things God has planned for them before they were even born, I have to be intentional in discipleship relationships to help others grow in the Lord and walk in freedom with Him.  We have to be intentional to get time with our spouse so that we are truly one and healthy.  Even though all these things are so great and I love them so much, it is amazing how the business of our days steal so much - I think that is the intention of the enemy!  But we are fighting to take back all of these in order to live out God's fulness for us and help others do the same!  I most always have 4 kids with me and love it!  I am not a fan of farming out kids, because I know God has called us to be their parents and entrusted us with an amazing responsibility - but also so grateful that others are helping shape our kids too.  But it is a special treat to get one on one time with each of our kids.  Here are some pics of little dates with mommy!

Psalm 139:16  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Good bye is so hard!

The Meldrum's and Dax went to get yummy snow cones with us when they were in town a few weeks ago!

Today is the day!  Our sweet friends the Meldrum's are headed out to share the Love of Jesus with the people of Iraq.  We love you guys so much and are going to miss you terribly - but are soooo proud of you!  Praying for you this morning - felt like God said - you will be like spring rain that waters the earth (Hosea 6) that people you pour into will come alive and see God's purpose in their lives and be drawn to the father.  Can't wait to hear all God is going to do.  

I love the song Hosanna and the Lord has given it to me as a way to pray for the Meldrum's -  specifically the part where it says, "break my heart for what breaks yours, everything I am for your kingdom's cause; as I walk from earth into Eternity!"

And the birthdays continue!

Kids at the party and a few dads!

Haynes - the birthday boy!

Sutton, Port and Brax after Bri-Bri soaked them with the hose.

Painting with pudding!

Our sweet Jade is here for 2 weeks while mommy, daddy and sister are in India!

Barrett the birthday boy and the boys and Preslee!

Great cupcakes with #3's on them!

Saturday we went to Barrett's 3rd birthday at the always famous pump it up.  Can't believe he is 3 already - happy birthday Barrett.  That night we went to our nephew Haynes' 2nd birthday.  I luv dirt - was what each of the kids shirts said, well, it is true of Haynes.  We have 3 boys that get dirty, but everything is relative - seriously - this kid is a mess - but a cute one at that!  Sarah is always very creative so the kids ate yummy dirt flower pots and even painted with pudding.  Happy Birthday Haynes - we luv you little messy boy!  

Happy, happy Birthday!

We had a fun surprise party for Julie at the church!

She really was surprised!

Happy birthday Marci and Angie (so cool 2 of my favorite girls share the same birthday:)   We didn't actually get to celebrate with Marci b/c they are in Waco (and headed to India for a few weeks), but Jade threw Angie a little surprise party.

Here are the kids all sharing one snow cone that Angie had in her hand prior to being surprised!  Love you girls!

A few days later we celebrated Julie's 30th birthday.  Love you Jules!  You are amazing!

Wow!  We have had some majors birthdays the past few weeks with still more to come in the next few weeks.  It is always fun to get together with family and friends and celebrate those we love!  Happy birthday to each of you.

Psalm 100:1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth!