Silly conversation overheard tonight;

W: When I grow up I am gonna marry a cricket.
M: Yeah a BIG cricket. (laughing histerically) ( lily in my ear asking, what's a cricket?)
W: I'm gonna marry a shoe. (more laughter)
W: I'm gonna marry a cat. (ok, now people at Chick Fil A are looking at us)
M: I'm gonna marry a frog. (followed by hysterical laughter and stares)

Lily didn't know what to make of this conversation but I don't have to worry about her. She's already told me she's not getting married. She is staying right here at home with Mama, forever.
Wonder how long it'll take for her to change her mind?

Recently I was at work and was going over my Christmas list during a slow day. Everyone was teasing me because I was so into it and it is only October. I have always started early and now more than ever I have to. If I waited too late we would spend way to much and I may not have time to get it all. Some of my gifts this year I have even had since mid summer because I got them so cheap. It works best to spread out the buying, it can get VERY expensive QUICK! My favorite clearance buys are always on the end caps at Target. For example this year I bought a Playmobile Castle for Wyatt for half price, I have had it since May. Over the years as we have added kids we have toned down our Christmas, less gifts and focusing more on celebrating Jesus' birth. Our goal is for each kid to get about 3 to 4 Santa gifts, a thing or two from mom and dad and of course the stockings (which are a wallet drainer-should have gotten smaller ones!-but just can't stop this tradition because I love it!).

So now onto the reason I am telling you all this anyway Stephanie at Ni Hao Ya'll it asking for some help with Christmas gifts so here are what we are getting our kids, so far, we think...and shhhhhhh, don't tell them, it's a secret!

Noah 12- Really what do you get a preteen? He wants a cat which costs NOTHING! so that really helps with the whole budget thing. Other than that I have no idea, well maybe a nice keyboard. He loves music and is always trying to play Nama's piano.

Sellers 9- Star Wars fanatic. Need I say more. Pretty much everything will be Star Wars and I buy the action figures at TJMaxx where they are half price compared to T and WM. I also got him a very cool SW framed movie poster from Ross for only $20.

Wyatt 4- Stars Wars lover. Yep, if you shop at the TJ Maxx in my hometown you won't find any SW figures, I buy them all, only $3.99. This is all he asked for but I will probably get him a Leapster and some games. I love Leapster.

Mason3- I am getting him a Leapster even though he probably cannot use it, yet. He is the youngest of many and so wants an electronic game to play with so he can be like his older siblings so this is what he is getting! I have also gotten him a wooden tool bench (Target on clearance).

Lily8- So far I have gotten her an ATM bank machine. She is a saver so she wants this very badly. We are also getting her an American Girl Doll and a few accessories ( not many- this stuff is EXPENSIVE!),

FYI- You can go online to get Leapster coupons for the system and the games.

Other gifts we have gotten in the past we loved: (that this tired ole brain can remember)

Neighborhood Sounds Bingo
Webkinz
Wii and games
Costumes ( after Halloween sales are a great time to buy them!)
See Saw for outside
Play Doh sets, I know they are a mess but some are really fun


If you are an early shopper and want to share, please do!

While Lily and I were putting up her laundry she starting singing...

Mama Loves Me, This I know...

to the tune of Jesus Loves Me.

Well of course I was flattered but really I didn't feel right stealing Jesus' song. So I smiled at her and started singing Jesus loves me, a song she is trying to learn anyway.

Weekend was nice. We went to the beach and it was COLD! Just one day in the low temps (for the south you northerners) was all it took to remind me how much I do.not.like.the.cold.
I did everything I wanted. I slept in (once til 10:30, can you imagine), I read, I dominated Boogle, ate some delicious She Crab soup and did a little shopping. It was great but I sure did miss my babies. So much that I spent Sunday night at my in laws with Wyatt and Mason just so I could see them a little longer. Sometimes a weekend away is really just a little reminder that where you really want to be is HOME!



It's 6am and I'm off to work....

in just 9 hours I am off to a weekend with my hubby and NO kiddos!

As much as I love my kids I am ready for a break, I just can't wait to sleep in, read, play games and maybe do a little shopping.

Don't you wish you were going?

Faith

makes things possible

not easy.

the saying on a recent sign I bought and placed right in my kitchen.

Check out our adotion website, our 5 month update is posted. A lot the stuff is the same you will see here but check it out anyway! Just click on Lily's picture to the left!

Kim is giving away the cutest retro dress on her blog. I would love to win one so I am entering the contest...if you would like to just HOP on over to her blog and enter too!

It has been a while since I have shared one of my cute conversations with Wyatt. This is a conversation we had at bedtime recently.

Wyatt: Mom, I was not ready to start school yet. (he goes to a church preschool 3 hrs a day)
Mom: Well it was time to start school so you can learn all the things you need to know.
Wyatt: I just wasn't ready yet, maybe in a few more weeks.
Mom: You have to go to school baby to learn.
Wyatt: I can learn everything I need to know in the city.
Mom: What??? What city?
Wyatt: You know, the place with all the tall buildings.
Mom: Yeah, I don't think you need to know what they are teaching in the city. (we'll stick to church)

7:51 and everyone is in bed....am I dreaming?

We finally reached the end of our birthday marathon, having all 5 kids birthday's in 3 and 1/2 months. Four just in the last 6 weeks (ouch!). Our littlest man celebrated his 3rd birthday Friday and we had a family celebration on Saturday. He was so excited about his birthday and anticipated his party for weeks. He wanted to have his "friends" at his party, or as we know them our family.
Anxiously waiting..... A little potato sak race...

You know those people. The ones that offer you advice, when you didn't ask. The ones who aren't like you. They don't know you or even more so don't know how God is working in your life. They think they know better for you than you do. Well, I work with one of those. I don't know why but she feels the need to give me advice about my family. It is not advice I have asked for or advice I need. You see I don't need anyone to tell me that having a BIG family can be hard, it is. I don't' need anyone to tell me having a BIG family is expensive, it is. I know it because there are many days we are reminded of that. Like when we sit for hours at the kitchen table doing homework or go to a fast food restaurant and it is $35, that used to be a nice dinner out for two. Or on the nights it takes an hour and a half to do bedtime with all our kids. Or when I look at the mounds of laundry, the shoes and toys strewn around the house. But the thing is I LOVE my BIG family, I would not have it any other way. I actually dream of it getting BIGGER someday. I know that may sound crazy but I love the thought of it! I know I cannot make someone else understand how BLESSED I feel but I sure wish I could. I just don't know how to respond to her "advice". Maybe my new Mantra can be BLESSED TO BE STRESSED, I could even get a t-shirt.

Driving home from church Wednesday night at sunset...

Lily: "Ma, where the sun go?'

Ma: "The sun went nite, nite." ( my standard little kid answer)

Lily: "Noooooo, the sun go to China."

Pause

Ma: "Actually Lily, it is in China."

She is so sharp.