Yay it's Friday!

He really loves his daddy!

Coo-koo

On Saturday while I was at the women's retreat.
Kyle bought me:  A beautiful German Coo-koo clock! Yay!


I've been wanting one for a very long time but they are super expensive and this one just so happens was on sale at a Flea Market for $5 big ones. 
Now we need to find another one SO we can start a cluster...


Thanks for thinking of me honey.
And knowing me well enough to see a big weird wooden clock & see me.
That's love.
  

Success

Ayden's field trip last week was so much fun.
No rainstorms.
Just pumpkins.


Lucas really liked this pumpkin.
I know because he has his pointer finger out, it screams love.

This horse had seriously creepy blue eyes.
I'd never seen a blue eyed horse before...creepy.


Two seconds after this picture was taken,
this horse bit the finger of a 4 year old.
We decided not to mess with this guy.

So we moved on to this Llama.
Olivia waited all day to see him!

We took a really fun hay ride.

Ayden was pumped.

Olivia sat close to me & ate goldfish.

She was pumped on snacks :)

Grumpy face.

and

a goofy face.

They both talked about this trip all the way home.
And then we got burritos.


It was a good day.

Renewal

For the last few months, myself and a group of girls from my church had been planning a Women's Retreat.

When I was approached to lead this team, 

that lil' voice inside of me screamed, 

"ME? Are you serious?" 

Self doubt is such a bummer!

But I took on this challenge because I knew that it wasn't about me. 

So, we planned for months.

Every week meeting, & brainstorming.

We decided on the theme:

 "renew."

Psalm 51:10

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

Looking back now,

this theme had so much to do with me.

I needed to be renewed.

I needed to let go for a change.

The day came. I woke up way to early.

Excited about the day.

Anxious because this was the first day I was leaving Lucas.

I worried, but completely trusted Kyle.

(He did GREAT btw. Perfect actually.)

The location was amazing.

High up in the mountains.

Besides a quick downpour and a few soaked ladies,

the worship was beautiful

and the messages were a gift.

Each message was so different, but melted so well together.

A message from a young mother and her love of the gospel.

A message from a missionary and how she incorporates her gift for missions into her family life.

And a seasoned vet: a women who has seen it all, been through it all and gives God all the glory.

I was so busy all day running back & forth,

not until the end of the day did my emotions really kick in.

We started praying for women.

Women whose marriages are crumbling, and want so desperately to be saved.

Women with sick children.

My heart was so full.

This day was for them.

A day where women were together, inspiring and encouraging one another...

I felt lucky to be there and so thankful that God chose me to be a part of this. I'm so glad He loves me & see's me for who I really am under all this. And regardless of how I see myself, He sees a women who is strong and secure. 

Extracting me from my comfort zone,

which lately feels like something that is happening a lot.

Maybe it's a 30 thing.

It is a few weeks away you know. 

Ugh.

Now it's time to start planning Lucas's first birthday...hmmm...

Lesson Learned

Today Ayden has a field trip and let me just say...

I.Am.Prepared! 

And I have snacks ready... 

Watch out! 

Including, a bag in my truck with sweatshirts just in case there is another thunderstorm (which is sitting perfectly - next to my blown out tire).

Life is funny that way.

Fall Pictures

Saturday morning we went to take fall pictures.


They are so sweet.

Ayden wanted to look cool. I guess. 

11 months

He's 11 months now.
So close to 12.
I haven't even begun to think about a birthday party yet...
sadly I think I'm in denial.


I'm just not ready.


He's our last baby.
So I realize how precious these moments are.


These days he walks everywhere.
His favorite words are "Baa & Daa."
He eats everything in sight.
And makes the best faces. 


We love him so much! 

The Lottery

Remember when I told you that (for me) the holy grail of all thrift store finds are paint by numbers?

Well, Friday I found 2 huge paintings under a pile of pictures at the thrift store.

And they were selling them both for 2.50!

When I find something that I have been searching for, for a REALLY REALLY long time...it's like winning the lottery. 

These are reminiscent of Margret Keane paintings, and they are SO eerie. But I love ugly. 

Oh & Lucas found a pudding.
I think he felt like he won the lottery too!

Happy Monday!