Last night as the kids were getting tucked into bed…late, after a fun night with friends. Gillian asked, “So what are we doing tomorrow?” Both Kip and I said, “No plans, we are just going to relax and enjoy a day together.”

So in Gillian’s prayer last night she said, “Dear God, thank you for this fun day we had with friends, please let us have a fun day tomorrow doing NOTHING, please help us find SOMETHING fun to do. In Jesus name we pray.”

It was pretty cute!!

I love to listen to Gillian and her girlfriends play dress-up. They are so precious while they are try to act like grown-ups. The best part is the cute little accents they pick up. On this unseasonably warm day, Gillian and her friend N were taking a stroll around their castle (our yard) looking for their cat. I just had to take a few pictures so I could remember their sweet childs play.

I do not think I have met anyone who doesn’t love Lego’s. They were one of my favorites when I was a kid so it makes me happy to see that Hayden also loves them. For years now, we have collected many large sets from the City Collection and their Car Collections. Typically Hayden and Kip will sit and work on them together. However, this time Hayden was so excited about his newest set Lego Indiana Jones set that he couldn’t wait for dad, who was having to work so hard.

Hayden very responsibly sorted the set just like he would do when he worked in conjunction with Kip, he sat at our dining room table and worked through the guide, page by page. Sadly, I didn’t expect he would get them done, but I was proven wrong. After about one hour he came to me to show me what he accomplished. There is just nothing like the priceless look your children have when they accomplished something on their own. It was a noteworthy day for sure.

A vignette on the life of sweet Gillian. I cannot believe how much my baby girl has changed this year, she is just as precious as can be. She just recently danced in the production of Stars & Stripes and did such a lovely job (as did all of her girlfriends). I am so thankful that she seems to really enjoy dancing and as of now wants to continue. I can see that she has matured in dance and is allowing the music to carry her through her steps, quite amazing to see the transformation.

She is also doing very well academically in school, burden with introverted genes she has some obstacles to overcome, but am certain she will. She is a blessing to our family and continues to wear me out. Her favorite things are her American Girl Doll, her Webkin and her friends. Although she is all princess and girly girl, she has a couple boy (space) friends that she enjoys playing with. She can play cars or Star Wars with the best of them. I love her tender heart. I love that she wakes up slowly in the morning, much like me. I love that she loves to read and be read to. I love that she loves to just be with me.

What is Blue & Gold and cute as can be?

Hayden in his Cub Scout uniform! He is stinkin’ cute (as his momma, I can say that, right?)

He melts my heart. Goodness, it has been sometime since I have written an update on the precious little people in my life. Hayden has grown so much this year. He is doing well in school and it is amazing to me what he is learning at his young age. What a blessing.

He continues to gain confidence in who he is and he still loves to chat with grown-ups and friends. This year H decided to show the world how funny he is. This used to be reserved for just his family, but now he loves to make his friends and classmates laugh. Hayden recently joined Cub Scouts and really enjoys it. What a fun troop and pack we are part of. We are really enjoying getting to know the other families at the many events.

As a family we have enjoyed the things we have done while taking care of the requirements H needs to satisfy as a Cub Scout. They had a Science Day at the AFA a few weekends ago and it was a BIG hit, Hayden even got to make his own ‘box camera’ and develop his own pictures.

This past weekend was the Blue & Gold Banquet at the Flying W Ranch. It was a fun night out as a family.

We also visited the Fire Station in our neighborhood. They were so nice and spent a good long while with us — we felt like VIP’s. It was a very educational trip for the entire family.

Just today, we went with our pack to the Pioneers Museum- we only had 45 minutes to go through all of the exhibits, but based on the excitement that the kids showed we will be going back to take more time to look at everything again. If you haven’t been in awhile, I recommend it. What a fun way to learn more about this beautiful place we call home.

I had fun looking at all of the pictures from these fun events… such neat memories.

I do not mean to be redundant or annoying, but sometimes something is in your face and you just can’t help but appreciate it. This week it happens to be witnessing the love our family has for each other and how well we know each other. I cannot say that ‘gift giving/receiving” is my main love language….but I sure do love it!

My dear sweet husband had me anticipating a surprise for about two weeks. I thought I was gonna bust. I think he tells me that he has ordered something for me just to torture me. I have to say that it was totally worth the wait.

This filled my cup. To have someone truly know you and love you so much that they search out something they know you want but wouldn’t get for yourself. You see, I love organizational tools, but all of the ones that I love are so pricey that I rarely indulge myself. I also love that my stamping corner is in the main living area. However, that can also be a challenge because it is our main living area. I try very hard to keep it neat but sometimes that just doesn’t happen. My desire was to bring in a bit of functional decor to the shelves. My surprise accomplished just that. Kip sought out some decorative boxes I had my eye on for this area and I have to say it looks so much neater.

If you know my daughter, you know her hobby is fashion. She changes outfits at least 5 times a day, she loves clothes and loves to play dress up. Gigi’s primary love language I believe is quality time and I love to fill her cup by participating in role playing with her.

I have to admit, I like being her majesty’s daughter (pictured) much better than a I like being a wild dog, living in a small shanty (fort under a table). Being a princess can be a lot of fun, can’t you tell? Grace…no that isn’t my name that is what I hope you give me!

Love Languages were not something I was aware of as a child or young adult. But, in reading “The Five Love Languages” and attending a class on Love Languages it has really served me well in knowing what fills the love tanks of each person in my family. The fun thing is we are all very similar in what fills our tanks, I am sure that does not happen very often.

The pleasant surprise is how aware our children are of our love language just by observing us. Recently, my Hayden made me a gift. This gift is dear and precious to me because he made something with his own hands that he knew I loved and that I was passionate about. He has been blessed with his daddy’s imagination and craftiness. My cup is overflowing with the love my son poured into it. I am so honored and proud that he is my child. I had to create a card with this stamp to share it with you.

I am truly blessed.

This morning was like most of my mornings when I do not get everything little thing ready before I head out the door. I couldn’t find my book, my purse or my mind it seemed. I was rushing out the door and bringing those around me down with me. Why is it the good I want to do I cannot do?

Just then my dear, sweet husband gives me a hug and says, it is okay, drive safe and I love you! Talk about a huge slap….I so did not deserve that!!!

Once at my destination, I had an hour to meet with the ONE who has given me so much. We met for coffee, in my car. We prayed together, we read together, we listened to Vaughan William’s Symphony #5 & Fantasia On a Theme together and HE held me while I cried for forgiveness.

Why am I sharing intimate details of my coffee with God? Because it moved me, it enveloped me and I felt HIS love, warmth and forgiveness. Twice within a matter for minutes I was shown such Grace, Love and Mercy. How blessed I am.

To top it off I was finishing my reading for my Bible Study and it was once again about our sin, temptation, suffering and desires. It was the Power Hour and I am so thankful for my coffee date with God. I am resolved to doing that regularly.