A little bit of this and a little bit of that

Well, I did it. 

I started the Couch to 5K program. I bought the app and everything. After my good friend Abby raved about the program I decided it was the way for me to go. 

And I love it so far. The first day was brutal. I went 1.2 miles in like 26 minutes. Monday I went 2 miles in 26 miles. So that was better.  I'll complete the 1st week tomorrow morning. 

I am pretty sure that the Lord is doing a new thing in me.  Here I am getting up everyday to do my quiet time and now I am exercising. I don't even know this person.  Change?? Yes, lots of it. 

Also, I started reading again. Like, non-fiction. (Gasp!!)  I am currently reading The Bible, Jesus Calling devotional and Power of a Praying Wife. 

Girls, I can not tell you the huge difference Power of a Praying Wife has made in me. I think we all (at some point) walk around annoyed at something our husbands have done or even down right mad and angry. I have, so often, prayed "Lord, please change him!!" or "Lord, please show him that it is all his fault and he needs to apologize to me."  I have been so convicted of the fact that it is ME who needs to change half the time. And not only that, my pride is a hinderance to what God wants to do.  Ugh. Convicting. And please don't think that for a second just because we are in ministry we don't struggle.  I thank God for a husband who is loyal and listens for the voice of the Lord, but marriage takes work.  

Couple of other things: 

*This week we went to Texas de Brazil. Our friends, Josh & Kelly had groupons and invited us to join them! It was super yummy and really fun! 

*This verse is setting me free. 

*I am so in love with this baby, not to mention her beautiful cousin next to her!  Madi will be 1 in 8 days!! 

*God has placed so many amazing people in my life who in the last 2 weeks have sent me scriptures, encouraging texts or have challenged me to be better. 

*Jason and I started watching Parks & Rec and oh. my. Lord. Funny. 

 

*I am currently obsessed with Pandora and listening to life changing worship music. Geez. 

*I am amazed and shocked at how expensive gas is again.  We are going to have to make a big decision about our cars soon. You can pray for us. 

Gotta go. Madi just put an entire roll of toilet paper in the toilet. 

While I'm waiting..

I will reminisce on how sweet this baby girl was when she was born.

And, of course, this one.....

And wait in anticipation to see the next one. :)

A little bit of our summer

We took a little summer vacation last week. We actually didn't leave San Antonio, but it was still fun and we did it together. That's all that really matters anyway. :)

*Jason and I took a Sunday off and had tickets to Schlitterbahn. We dropped the kids off and headed to New Braunfels with our friends, The Conants. I love it there. I really would love to see our family living there one day. We ended up staying at a Bed & Breakfast in the town square and ate dinner at the amazing Huisache Grill . It was a much needed night away for us. We had a lot of fun at Schlitterbahn. I couldn't ride much because I'm pregnant, but any time in the water is fun. The B&B was awesome and the company was even better.

*Tuesday, we spent the day at Landa Park, rode the train and headed to BJ's for dinner. I was determined not to cook. If we were going to do a stay-cation, then I was not cooking!

*Jason was up to preach on Sunday (and he did AWESOME, BTW!), so Wednesday was spent with me cleaning and he working on his message. Kids & Jason got haircuts and we ended the day having dinner at Canyon Cafe in the Quarry and Orange Cup for dessert. It was Jason's first time to try Orange Cup. If you haven't, be sure to go today. It will change your frozen-yogurt life.

I love our little family and thank God for them every day. After this baby comes I am planning a trip for Jason & I to go to the East Coast. I think by then we will deserve it.

Wimberley

When I was a teenager I spent every summer in Wimberley, Texas with some friends. It was my favorite place to go. Small town. Quiet. Good hamburgers. The River. And cute boys. Because that's all I cared about when I was there.

Thankfully, I found a cute boy of my own who loved taking me there. Still does. :)

So, yesterday we packed up the kids and took the long way to Wimberley. The shops have changed, but that's about it. It's still small. Still quiet. And they still have that same burger joint.

I was glad that we kept the tradition and brought the kids along. Plus, when else do you get to your 4 year old asking "Where are we going?" for an entire 45 minute drive? :)

The birds at the zoo hate me.

The kids and I went to the zoo. The birds hate me there. We tagged along with Jenn and the her kiddos. Her poor Jackson was sick, so that made for 2 mommas with 5 kids!

Everything was easy the first half of the day. There was a cool breeze, but I was prepared and packed every jacket I had.

Everyone was happy.....Except Reagan. She pretty much sat there the whole time with her blanket and "mimi" and did not smile. This look says, "Leave me alone. Stop taking pictures of me. Give me your credit card and let me get out of here." I'm sure a sign of what's to come.

But Luke was happy. :)

We saw Rhino's...

And pretty birds....(the good ones)

A little while later the kids got hungry. So, we found the "beach area" so the kids could play in the water and eat their lunch.

And then Jenn left me. And the world fell apart.

Luke fell and cut himself because I wasn't watching. I wasn't watching because a bird pooped all over my lunch. Then, with the bird poop in hand I ran to get Luke who was screaming and crying. I know someone was watching all of this and shaking their head in disbelief. "Ahh...look at her not paying attention to those children!"

We got all that settled and then Reagan knocked over Jenn's diet coke that she had just bought. And we all know how much we love a good fountain diet coke. I sat Reagan down and another bird pooped all over me. Gross.

I went to buy another diet coke and while walking there with Reagan in the stroller, my diet coke spilled out and then someone next me looked up and said, "Oh look it's raining bird poop." And there I was standing right under it. Why God didn't take me right then and there, I don't know.

They were wondering the same thing....

After an hour of realizing that my luck had run out we decided to leave. All the kids were freezing cold and I redeemed myself as a useful part of this world when I pulled out all my jackets for them.

Except this is what they looked like......

Ahh...good times.

Mother's Day 2010

Today was my 3rd year to celebrate Mother's Day. I am so lucky to have such 2 beautiful children. I adore them. I still can't believe that I am a Mom. With a capital "M".... :)

I also have to say that I am so thankful to have a husband who loves and supports me as a wife and a mom.

To my baby boy. This was one of the most amazing days of my life. I couldn't believe that I could love someone so much and so instantly! Jackson you light up my life!! I love you in every possible way. I love being your mom and I LOOOOVVVEEE that we share a love for music. :)

To my baby girl. An equally amazing day! I was nervous that I wouldn't know how to love you as much as I loved your big brother. But I was so wrong. I was so overcome with emotion the day you were born. You changed my life and added another amazing piece to our family. I love that you are already my little "girly girl". I'd be lying if I said I didn't pray for that!

What a beautiful gift God has given me. Prayers and blessings for all you Momma's and Moms-to-be. And a VERY special prayer of hope to those who have lost their Mom's and are praying for a child. I say a BIG "Happy Mother's Day" to you because I think women were made with the gift to nurture and influence others.

Lots of love.

Family Update

Sometimes I forget that there is family who read this blog and don't get to see my kiddos all the time. :) So, here's an update in the life of Jackson & Reagan.

This picture pretty much says it all. The fact that she is in her Princess pajama gown and wearing a bow even says it more. Jason changes and puts her to bed every night. I thought it was funny he left the bow on her. She is such a girly girl who loves her daddy. She's talking more and more these days and continues with her love of food. This morning was her first time to be put in timeout. She threw a fit over not getting a cookie for breakfast and I had to stick her in the corner. She cried and then told me she was "saaahhhry". She still melts my heart even when she's misbehaving. I taught her a New Kids On The Block song that she sings along to, as well as, Taylor Swift's "Love Story". That's my girl.

Jackson.

My sweet boy. Key word....boy. I snapped this picture in the car recently. We were listening to Bon Jovi (courtesy of Jason) and he was rockin out on the "air" drums. He also got a new hair cut and looks even older to me. He'll be 4 on May 28th. I am already re-living the day we brought him home. So crazy. We are going to celebrate in Houston by taking him to an Astros game. His first game ever. Jason is so excited and I know this will be as much, if not more, of a celebration for him too. He still gets up every single night and wants to get in bed with us. He starts out in Reagan's room, but finds his way to ours around 2 am. I am usually so tired that I don't even realize he's in there with us. He still love school and LOOVEESS music.
Jason and I are doing wonderful. We just celebrated 6 years of marriage and couldn't be happier. We have been very blessed and are constantly seeing God provide for our family in every way. Our marriage has never been better. Jason has found a new love with yard work. (Or got sick of me saying things about it.) He is out there almost every day trimming trees, prepping to lay new grass, killing weeds, moving rose bushes, planting new flowers...etc. We've been eager to make a lot of changes in our home, but are taking it one step at a time. At this point, I don't care much about what we end up not getting done. I just love that we are excited about doing life together. Recently, Jason surprised me with a Pandora charm for my birthday. I love everything about it. He knows I love Pandora and he bought this one because it was the 6th Anniversary stone. I know that he was really thinking of us when he bought this. Really meant a lot to me....and now I'll stop gushing.

My sisters will be watching the kids this summer Tuesday - Thursday's. I plan on having a list of chores for them each day. Just kidding. I was 12 when they were born and I had my fair share of raising them. I'm just loving that they have to wipe bottoms 3 days out of the week.

We plan to spend lots of time at Landa Park in New Braunfels and the neighborhood pool this summer. I want a tan...and the kids want to swim...and I want a tan.

So, there it is. That's what's going on!

My Brother

My brother called me this morning to ask me to listen to a Buxton song that he and one of his band members covered. First of all, it meant the world to me that he called. Second, he has some rocking vocals! Seriously, I want him to come here and sing with me.... He's also a drummer, bass player and acoustic guitar player. I don't care that I'm bragging on him. I'm so proud of him. Oh and he's the one on the right.

Enchanted Rock

Jason and I have been wanting to go to Enchanted Rock for awhile. Both of us have never been. I am not from here, so I'm excused. Jason, however, has lived in San Antonio his whole life and has never even seen it. He had also never eaten squash when I met him. I mean, what kind of Texan doesn't go hike a massive rock and eat a yellow vegetable that is really only good when sauteed in butter and topped with melted cheese? Come on!

At the last minute, we decided to take the trek and drive a little

north of Fredericksburg. Aaron, Bre and the kids joined us. Of course, the boys rode in one car and the girls in another. Wouldn't have it other way. :)

When we got there the kids found a little creek to play in, we made hotdogs and then hiked up Enchanted Rock.

3 things I found:

I'm a wimp.

I'm out of shape.

And a man with only one leg shamed us all.

Repeat, lather, rinse.

The moment that made me get my butt off that rock and walk was when I saw the one legged man hiking up past me.

We made it up to the top though! Jason carried me....errrr,

Reagan on his back. My HERO!

Jackson, Abby & Carson LOVED every minute of it. It was a really fun day. I love getting out and it was so much fun to do it with family. I'm also glad that we haven't hit the Texas heat yet. Thank you God for cloudy, windy days!

This picture is so adorable. Obviously, (because it's good) Breanna took it.

Daddy & Rae. :) All 30 lbs of her!

Okay, so what I love is that you can't see Reagan, but you CAN see her bear.

2 funny points: A. She carried a bear up a mountain B. It's in our picture, but she's not.

I don't think Bre and I have had a picture taken together since she was 8 months pregnant in my wedding and wanted to kill me for putting her in a bridesmaids dress. :)

I love this picture!

Who's that weird guy?

We went to a birthday party for a friends little boy who was turning one. Breanna & Aaron were there and (lucky me) she had her camera. :)

What I thought was a sweet picture of momma and baby girl ended up making me LAUGH OUT LOUD every time I see it.

I also have to add this picture. I love everything about it.

Thanks Aaron for always making laugh...and to Bre for capturing all the funny & beautiful moments. :)

Happpyyy New Year!

Happyyy New Year! The picture you are looking at is a fresh faced ME. I am being very brave putting something like that up. It's a little scary, but I had to show you my enthusiasm for 2010.

Don't you see it? :)

If I were being honest and I guess I am....I would say that 2009 was a hard year and I'm glad it is over!!!

It seemed like every month of 2009 offered new obstacles. I was really not understanding what was going on, but towards the end of this month (cause it takes me a full 12 months) I gave up and gave it to God. There was nothing else to do. Yesterday I sat and reflected on 2009. Now, don't get me wrong. There were some amazing blessings.

Jackson turned 3.
Reagan turned 1.
God provided for us in INCREDIBLE ways.

Fantastic friendships.

River City Community Church.

My marriage came out on top. :)

But, most of all, I believe that Jason and I were taught a very valuable lesson in 2009.

"My heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be your name."

I have sung this line many times as a worship leader and it never fails to move me beyond belief. I have seen grown men who are suffering from cancer sing this at the top of their lungs. I have seen families who are struggling in every way imaginable stand together and make this their prayer. And I have seen my life in 2009 and although there were a lot of heartaches, tears and chocolate....yes, chocolate...I am thankful and grateful for the lessons it has taught me.

So, in 2010 my heart will once again choose to say, Lord blessed be YOUR name. I think He has something special for us in 2010. Can't wait to see it.

Visting Houston

Our family drove to Houston today to spend some time with my Dad and see the rest of my family. We have been here for 4 hours and already have been shopping and had a delicious dinner at Red Lobster. I am feeling spoiled, but actually enjoying this rare occasion. It will be nice to have a few days by away.

Highlights from our 3 hour drive here...

*Listening to our favorite driving songs that Jason put his Ipod. Kenny Chesney, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel (I know!), The Beatles, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Kari Jobe, Coblie Calliat...and much more.

*Reagan found a bag of cookies that I packed for an "emergency" and was into cookie number 3 before I noticed. Chocolate everywhere! Thank goodness for wipes.

*Jackson asking every 25 minutes, "Daddy are you SURE this is the right way to Papa's house?"

*My sweet driving skills. I scared Jason out of his mind, but I had fun! Ha.