Oh the Joys of Potty Training!

Well, we have started potty training Landri. I have not worried about doing it. I just wanted to make sure we had time to do it. She's is so funny though. I bought her the cutest potty chair. It looks like a toilet, it has a lid, a handle that actually teaches them to flush, and a place to hang toilet paper. The best part is that it sings to her when she goes tee-tee. I thought she would really like it, and she did. But here are a few things that have happened since we brought it home.

1. She did potty in it great, BUT...then she played in it! GROSS!!!!!

2. After asking her several times if she needed to go potty and her saying NO, she goes and hides in my pantry and tee-tees a BIG puddle on the tile floor. (But, after that, she used her new potty the rest of the day.)

3. This morning after asking her several times if she needed to go potty and AGAIN her saying NO, she goes into Lainie's room and poopoos on the floor behind her bed! GROSSSSSSSSS!

I decided to make her sit on the potty for a while, and she does this...

Oh well, I should have given her a book to read. Life with Landri is never dull. I love it! I wouldn't trade it for the world! She makes me laugh, cry, smile, frown...you name it! I just hope this doesn't take very long, because I am tired of buying 2 sets of diapers. The only thing is now I'll be making many trips to public restrooms. I may have to buy stock in hand sanitizer!

I'll keep you posted on our daily trials of potty training!!!

Our Former President!

I must admit that I did not watch the Inauguration of President Obama. I can't imagine what an exciting time it is for his family. I still have my reservations about him, but I do hope that he will make the best decisions for our country. I will pray for wisdom for him and protection for his precious little girls. That evening on the news I did see some things that truly offended me, though. It had nothing to do with him, but it was about our former President George W. Bush! I think that it is awesome that he and Laura our moving to the Dallas area! What the news showed pictures of, were people protesting him moving to the area. They were holding signs of him behind bars, with the statement, "I have a dream" and "I don't want war criminals in my neighborhood". That is just WRONG! I am amazed at how quickly people forget the good things that he did and what he brought us through. I did watch part of his speech. Sure I may not agree with EVERYTHING he did, but he was right when he said that we haven't been attacked in 7 years! He was strong during 9/11 and was amazing during that unbelievable point in our nations history! But how quickly those people have forgotten that!!! Shame on them! Yes, he made mistakes! We all make mistakes. I believe that he had our country's best interest at heart. I wish that the media would quit giving those protesters air time. They don't deserve it! I am thankful that we had a president who loved the Lord! We was NOT a bad president and I am tired of people saying that he was!

Busy December!

I can't believe that this month is practically gone! It has truly been a whirlwind! We had so much going on and I am so glad we made it through!

Josh and I had our 10th anniversary on December 12th! It was wonderful! I am amazed that we have been through what we've been through in 10 years! Some bad, some seemed worse, but all in all, absolutely wonderful and I wouldn't change a thing!! I never thought that we would have 4 children! Some days it still seems so surreal. I love it, though. I am definitely doing what God made me to do. I am so thankful that He trusted me with FOUR little blessings!

Josh and I had a wonderful anniversary. He surprised me with having my wedding ring reset and an anniversary band. Then we went with some of our closest friends on a golf weekend to Tapatio Springs. It was fantastic!!! We played 27 holes in one day, and that's huge for me. My mom came and kept the kids the entire weekend. Preparing for that was tough though, because not only was I getting myself packed, I was trying to get things lined up for my mom and plan a "Winter" party for Lainie's first grade class. (which I missed by going out of town.) I really had more on my plate than I could handle. I managed through it and had 2 nights of uninterupted sleep. It was great!

I finally got all of the Christmas shopping done, but didn't get it wrapped until Christmas eve...AFTER the kids went to bed. Needless to say...we were up til 1 a.m. Natalie decided to wake up at 1:35 a.m. and kept me up for an hour, and then Noah was up at 5 a.m. I was dead tired Christmas morning, but it was still so much fun! Both of our families came into town from Plainview and Amarillo. We had a great time with them. The only problem was that the time flew by! It always does when you are enjoying yourself. I cherish the time I get to spend with my family!!!

To top things off...in the past 3 weeks, Natalie has started holding the bottle all by herself (YEA!), sitting up by herself (YEA! YEA!) and is trying to get up on her knees! She just turned 6 months old! She loves being able to sit up in the bath tub with Landri now. Now if I could just get her to sleep through the night!!

Well, that's pretty much it for December. I can't wait to see what 2009 brings! I hope that it is a wonderful year for all who read this! Blessings to you all!

My little Landri!

Landri is constantly making me smile, laugh, pull my hair out and raise my voice. She is such a two year old!!!!! Yesterday, though, was something else. I think she was bored, because she was in to EVERYTHING!!!! Literally!!!!! She gets into my purse and eats my gum. She gets into the markers and decides to write on herself, or as she calls it..."I cuyered, Mommy!" To top it off though, while I am on the computer, she comes in and says...."Mommy, I eat keys!!!" I am trying not to freak out and I calmly ask her to show me what she ate. So, she brings me a 1 pound block of Kraft American cheese that she had bitten a hole through the wrapper and started eating. Whew! Thank goodness it wasn't keys! Had it not been so unbelieveably cute...I would have gotten on to her for taking bites out of this large block of cheese.

Anyway...this is a short post today, because I have more on my plate today than I can manage. I just wanted to share some of Landri's little moments! Plus, I have BUNCO tonight!! It's MOMMY NIGHT!!!!!

Sharing my heart!!

It was a good morning this morning! I woke up with a great attitude! I may be getting started a little later than I wanted to, but that's okay! I have a plate full of things I need to get done today, but it's been nearly a month since I have blogged anything. I want my focus to be on the things God wants from me today. I want the things that I do to bring glory to Him! I friend of mine sent me this YouTube video, and I thought this is something I want to share with anyone who hasn't seen it. I am not sure how old it is, but that's not the point. This precious child amazed me and the message is something everyone MUST hear!!!



God sent His OWN Son to die for us! We need to share this! People need to know that God loves them! There are some friends of mine who are on my mind all the time. They don't go to church and I know that I need to invite them! Why haven't I? I don't want them to think I think less of them because they don't go. I don't want them to think that I am judging them! I love them to pieces!!!!!!! I NEED TO BE BOLD AND JUST DO IT! Would you pray for me that I might have the words to ask them without offending? I need to lay this fear at the feet of Jesus and do what He has called me to do! This has been weighing on my heart for sometime!

My BUSY Schedule!

I am just now getting a chance to check and return emails, phone calls, pay bills...etc. It has been an incredibly busy week! Natalie and I were both under the weather. My parents were in town, and I didn't really get to enjoy them being here. They asked to take Landri back to Plainview with them, which was great! I thought I was going to get so much accomplished while she was gone since that meant I would just have one baby at home then. I had plans to get caught up on laundry after falling WAY behind and plans to finish up baby thank you notes that I'm even more that WAY BEHIND on! I hope that it doesn't sound like I blame my precious almost 2-year-old Landri for not being able to do things, because that's not where I was heading. However, it was much quieter and a little easier with just a 4 month old. I missed Landri terribly. It's just that I set my expectations of myself too high most days. I want to do so much that I end up being disappointed. Needless to say, neither one of those things was finished. All because I didn't feel well. Now, Mom and Landri are back, and I am so glad!!!!! Landri is my little sunshine, and she just brightens up my day!

However, this is how the week has been. Monday was spent getting Landri ready for her first day of preschool at our church! (She is going to Mother's Day Out! YEA!!!!!) Then I picked up Noah and Lainie after school, and Mom and I took ALL FOUR to the mall to shop for shoes! Needless to say, we were all wiped out after buying 6 pairs of shoes. But, that's what happens, I've discovered, when you have FOUR kids! Tuesday was great. Landri went to "school" like a pro! She had her monkey nap mat, monkey lunch bag, diaper bag and of course her "tassy" (paci). She was so ready to go, that I could only snap two pictures because she was ready to go inside. It was really cute. Then Mom and I spent the day trying to prepare for a MOPS fundraiser, in which, Mom has a booth and is selling baby blanket sets with burp rags and bibs. Then it was time to get Landri from school, Noah and Lainie from school and take Lainie to ballet. To top it off, I still had to go to the grocery store and SAM'S Club for stuff for Josh's 40th birthday party. Meanwhile, Mom is at home trying to help with Noah's homework, help me with laundry and take care of Natalie. (I took Landri with me to ease the load.) Needless to say, again, we were WIPED OUT! However, today, takes the cake! If I could pack it full with things to do, I did. How I am still awake at almost 11 pm is beyond me. I started out at 4:30 this morning, so that I could make a 5:15 AM spin class. That is something I have never done before, but wanted to try! It was awesome, by the way, but I'm totally paying for it now!! Then I had to come home, make breakfast, lunches and get kids dressed and Lainie's hair done for school. Not only that, but I had to be there for an 8 am yearbook committee meeting. Then, I had Landri scheduled for her 2-year pictures, but that schedule went out the window, since she was up at 5:45 this morning. So, we had to do pictures sooner that we had planned in order to accomodate a soon to be tired toddler. Pictures went perfect, which was a pleasant surprise! Then we ate a quick lunch and put Landri and Natalie down for naps. I then had to pick Noah and Lainie up from school early in order to make our 4:30 appointment for the kids' Christmas pictures. I figured that with naps, I would have 2 chipper babies. We made it to the appointment on time, which in itself, speaks volumes, because we are never on time! However, here is where my expectations were set too high. Landri refused to smile or stand still for that matter. Mom and I were jumping around like weirdos, trying to make Landri smile. Everything she did while taking pictures this morning, she did the opposite of this afternoon. It was really out of character for her. Natalie, although happy as a lark, spit up EVERYTHING we had just fed her ALL over her new Christmas outfit! Not just once either, but 5 times!!! Again, by the time we made it through our 2nd round of pictures for the day, Mom and I were exhausted, to say the least. By the time pictures were ready, all the kids were fussing, crying, complaining, you name it! I still had to get gas, because I was on empty, get through rush hour traffic, figure out something for dinner and try to make it to choir rehearsal. I must be out of my mind, right? Well, I didn't make it to choir, but at least we made it through Chicken Express, bathtime and bedtime!

How, you ask?????

I have told you all this because, I can only say that it was by the grace of God and the help of my precious mother, that I was able to maintain a good attitude (with only a stumble here and there!) But, I still, even after a busy day like today, (and it's only Wednesday) I couldn't be happier! I love my life, my husband and my children. I wouldn't want it any other way! I know that I have been blessed and I AM truly thankful! I can't say that I have had the best attitude the whole time this week, but I know God is trying to teach me not to try to be Superwoman and actually focus on the really important things. I know I can handle my day better when I give my first fruits to Him! That is something that I am working on right now, "tithing my time". It is very hard for me to do that, but even when I fail at it, I still feel that desire to spend that time with Him, even if it means while I'm taking a shower! Pretty awesome to think that I can call upon His Name and praise Him even in the shower!!!

America chose!

Even though I am truly saddened by the election results, I am told by the Word of God that I am to obey the governing authorities. I woke up this morning with a horrible attitude. I did not want to accept the outcome, and it made my stomach churn at the thought of what our new president will change in our country. However, two of my friends have pointed out the 13th chapter in the book of Romans.

Romans 13
Submission to the Authorities
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Love, for the Day is Near
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"[a] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.[c]

I have a complete attitude change after reading this!!! Because I want to glorify and honor my Lord and Savior, I want to obey Him! So, instead of grumbling and complaining, I will support and pray for our new president, for I know that he has a tough job ahead of him. I pray that he will make good decisions. I strongly disagree with his views on MANY things. However, I will not be the one he answers to in the end when it comes to his supporting abortion and gay marriage, which the Bible tells is absolutely wrong. I trust my Lord, and I know that He will always take care of the things that I need. I will praise Him during every storm and every beautiful day! For Jeremiah 29:11 states: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I will remember this always, because I have a hope in my God!!!