We are the CHAMPIONS

Watching Shawn play football NEVER gets old...I've watched him play high school ball, college, semi-pro, and in this flag football league for many years now.  Tonight they won the entire championship, yet again!  I've got a crush on the quarterback...and I'm his #1 fan!!  Congratulations, BOYS!!

Keeping Busy

The past few days the kids and I have been on our own, after seeing Shawn off to his eleventh year of coaching school.  This time always makes us a sad, as we know our time with him is coming to a close as football season commences.  

So, we've been keeping busy by doing all sorts of crafts and playtime...

Faith pretended to have her own cooking show...do you like her Q-Tip microphone?

I found this chalk paint that I bought years ago in Canton...we put it to good use.

 Today, I received a package with tons of packaging peanuts.  While the kids were resting in their rooms, I googled what I could do with these little guys when the kids got up.  In  my research, I found that these peanuts are made out of corn starch, so when you dab water on them, they stick together.  No glue, no mess!  So, we made a heart, a cross, a giraffe, and initials.

Saw this balloon ping-pong idea on Pinterest--paper plates/popsicle sticks/a balloon

And, daddy came home early and surprised us...the best part of the day!!

Sweetness on a Sunday Morning

SOUPer Summer

It's HOT outside, y'all!  Each summer, Shawn and I question why we continue to live in Texas, but neither of us know anything else.  I don't think the first five years of my life in New York count, do you?  So, today, I beat the heat by thinking of the winter.  I made my own chicken stock (it's adds up and can get expensive in the grocery stores).  And it's super easy.  After my stock simmered for several hours, I added in my whole wheat noodles, veggies, chicken, and seasoning.  I made nine pints of chicken noodle soup and three pints of chicken stock...freezer ready!  I was so pleased with the fruits of labor today!  I follow the 100daysofrealfood.com site, religiously, and she defrosts the soup at night, warms it up in the morning, and puts it in the kids' thermoses for lunch that day.  I am so glad I have some healthy lunches ready for the kiddos during the winter!  

Bow and Arrow Time

Jaxon got this bow and arrow for his father/son gift during the father/son camping trip a week ago.  I think the movie, Brave, made Faith interested, as well.  Fun times!

Random Acts of Kindness

Today, without being prompted, Faith asked me if she could write a thank-you letter to our mailman.  We weren't sure if our mail person was a male or female, so she wrote, Dear Mailman/lady.  She was wrote the letter, we read over it, and she excitedly ran to the mailbox.  A couple of days later, the mail LADY took the time to knock on the door for a present for Faith.  Unfortunately, Faith wasn't home, but Shawn was there to accept the gift on her behalf.  It was a small package of trail mix.  She also left a special letter in the mailbox for Faith.  So sweet!!  I guess Faith wants to be permanent pen pals with her now, because she's already written her a Christmas card.

Soccer Camp

Our church put on a Soccer Camp all this week for kids who completed Kindergarten and First grades.  Faith loves to kick the ball around anytime we go to the dome, so I knew we had to sign her up.  She's never been involved in an organized sport, either, so we thought she would enjoy learning some soccer skills with kids her age.  Each child had a verse they had to memorize, and it was their theme verse.  1 Corinthians 9:24 reads,  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Not only did they learn soccer skills, but they learned and practiced God's Word.  It was truly a great week.  I'm also proud of Faith because she literally did two, straight hours of soccer and didn't complain once about the morning heat.  She's definitely a trooper!   At the end of the camp, she came home with Chick-Fil-A coupons, a popsicle, and a soccer medal.

My Models

So, the other day my sister calls me up and says, "Hey, I signed up Mason and Marilyn for a model search audition at Stonebriar Mall...you should totally come, too."  I was laughing and thinking to myself, this is definitely not my kind of thing, and I'm not this kind of mommy, but it could be fun.  If nothing at all, we would get in some good laughs and I would get to spend some time with my sister, niece and nephew.  So, I called up and got Faith and Jaxon put in the same time slots as their cousins.  All they told us on the phone was that they were looking for confidence, personality and stage presence.  We didn't even have to dress up if we didn't want to.  Today was the big day...I didn't coach my kids or anything, I just told them they'd be walking down the runway.  Faith asked if she could smile and that was the extent of our model training.

We met Gina and her kiddos at the Ice Skating Rink a couple hours before the audition, and we ate a snack and walked around the mall.

We don't even need an audition, we already know they're as precious as could be. :)

We listened for directions, the kids had scripts they had to memorize and everything.  They had to state their name, age, recite their script (they didn't make Jaxon do his for some reason), and do their thing on the runway.  Marilyn was first, followed by Mason and both did absolutely wonderful--we were hoopin' and hollerin' for em'.  Jaxon went next, I loved how he said his name and age with full confidence.  He walked down the runway, but instead of turning around and walking back (even with promptings), he just stayed there and decided he would check out the judges for a bit.  Faith...well, she did the same, EXACT thing, but she made her way back a little quicker. She kind of butchered her line, but it just added to all the fun and excitement. Gina and I died laughing...it was HILARIOUS! What can I say, they are both people watchers!

Both kiddos made it to the next round--the Photo Shoot!  They gave me Faith and Jaxon's score cards to review at this time as well.  Mason and Marilyn made it, too!  We had private conversation with a judge who talked to us about the importance of having a portfolio if I wanted our children to ever be picked up by an agency.  She broke out the photography packages with their pricing.  I was honest with the lady and told her that I wasn't interested in my kids modeling, that we were just tag-alongs with family who invited us.  In my head I was thinking, "If my kids are as gorgeous as these score cards say they are...someone should be paying for the photo shoot, or paying me...LOL!"  The whole experience was fun, nonetheless, but honestly, I think EVERY child makes it through to the photo shoot, as long as you are willing to pay the big bucks.

Object Lesson

I did this little science experiment/lesson with the kiddos the other day, and not only did they think it was the coolest thing ever, but, visually; they grasped the need for us to flee from sin and draw closer to God.

Here's what you need (and you probably have it all at your house):
One Plate
Glass/Transparent Cup
Penny
Small Candle
Water
Food Coloring (to spice it up a notch or two)

I started out telling the kids that the penny represented our sin, the lit candle represented God, and the water represented their lives.  Note:  You want the penny out to the side.

As I put cup over the candle and let Science do its thing...I told the kids that as we flee from sin, we draw closer to God in the process.

  Now, the cool and life-changing part happens...

Flee from sin and pursue goodness. 2 Timothy 2:22

Bowling with our Babies

The Onion Shed

We are slowly but surely exploring the little city that we moved to almost ten months ago.  Faith and I went and ran some errands the other day, and I was talking to her about how there used to be no roads and how people rode horses or walked to get where they wanted to go.  It made me want to take her to the historical Onion Shed Downtown Farmersville.  In 1935, Farmersville was known as the Onion Capital of North Texas.  Migrant workers would plant their onion slips and return to harvest them.  The Onion Shed was restored in 2002, but you can still see the rustic floors.  I'm not sure if she wanted to hear all I told her, because she definitely got an earful, but she didn't seem to care.

First Annual Father/Son Camping Trip

This weekend marked the birth of a brand new tradition.  Let me unpackage this for you, though.  Shawn and I were totally moved when we saw the Courageous movie together several months ago.  Out of that movie commenced a Bible study that Shawn did at church every Wednesday night.  One particular Wednesday night, Shawn came home with an idea to have his buddies and their boys take a traditional trip somewhere each summer.  Shawn got ahold of his four friends that had kids close in age to Jaxon's, they came up with a date, Shawn organized an itinerary, and so started their weekend.

I packed up my little camper, and had fun leaving notes all through both Shawn and Jaxon's packing.  Faith wrote a letter of her own, too!

So sweet!

Friday, we all met at the Bookout's house and saw the men/boys off, and the girls had our own fun complete with swimming, pizza, dessert, and girl talk.  Throughout the night, the husbands would send us pictures that melted our hearts the entire evening.

The guys went to Cooper, Texas, Kurt and Dallas' hometown...their first stop was at Peerless Catfish Restaurant.  Shortly after, they went and bought the rest of their food for the weekend.

Jaxon Copeland, Dylan Bookout, Brayden Hylander, Austin McCain

Next, it was time to set up camp and make S'mores!

Here are the mommies, minus Elanna, being dorks!

Saturday, the boys had a full day jam-packed with things to do...they fished, went swimming in the lake, went on a compass hike, an owl-prowl nature walk...you name it; they did it.  Also, each daddy presented their son with a gift.  Jaxon got a brand new bow with some arrows.

Last night at the lake together...they had so much fun!!!

Oh Lord, my prayer is for these boys to always be aware of Your Presence in their lives.  May you continue to protect and bless them in your loving and merciful arms.  Help them to always trust in you no matter what lies ahead. I pray that you would give us parents the daily wisdom and discernment we need to guide them in Your way.  Most importantly, Lord, I pray that they will all invite you to be the ruler of their lives one day.  In Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

I know the Lord is going to bless these daddies for investing this time into their sons.  Until next year...

So, are you wondering what Faith and I did in the absence of the boys?  I knew you were.  Like mentioned above, the first evening, we had a late night at the Bookouts.  Saturday morning, Faith and I got pigs in the blanket and ventured Downtown to Farmersville.  After a little while, we met up with Laurie, Bethany, and Desiree for a morning playdate and some lunch at Chick-Fil-A.  Bethany and Desiree are such a sweet answer to prayer, but that's another blog about five more months from now.  We had so much fun meeting them for the first time today, and they are just as cute and as sweet as can be!

This evening, Faith and I had dinner at the house, went and rented Gnomeo and Juliet, and watched it with popcorn in hand.  I've thoroughly enjoyed this weekend with my mini-me...we've had some great bonding and talking time, that's for sure!