yay it's instaFRIDAY! :)

well let's talk about the elephant in the room.
let's talk about this poor, lonely blog and how i've neglected it lately.
i am sorry, i really am.
i love writing and i so appreciate you hanging in there with me.
i miss the days when i posted five days a week and had time to read other blogs as well.

i am in a stage in life right now that is hard.
it's so, so good but also really hard.
i told AJ last night that i'll probably look back on this time in my life as the sweetest and also the hardest.
i wake up around 5:30, pour coffee down my throat and try to get my brain going to spend time with the Lord {currently going through a chronological reading plan, fyi}, i quickly get ready and then head to the kitchen by 7 at the latest to get breakfast going and start our day.
i work hard and long days and hit the pillow hard at night.
i was remembering last night how i used to have a break time every afternoon when avery and finley were little.
they would nap and i would eat a snack and recharge.
i would read blogs and work on my blog.
these days, there is just not time.
i am moving all the day long.
homeschool is intense because i'm managing all four at once.
in the afternoons when the littles are in bed we try to do some of the homeschool that requires my help or is more hands-on.
when we're done with that or on tuesdays and thursdays when the bigs are gone, i am usually cleaning, laundering or some other task.
so it seems lately, i've been able to sit down and write out my thoughts about once a week.
anyhow, all that to say, i'm still here.
i am not going anywhere.
i have tons of blog post ideas milling around in my head, it's just taking me longer than it used to......
so thank you for continuing to check in and read. :)

okay onto instafriday.... a.k.a., a smattering of cell phone pics from the last month or so. :

1. sawyer's first day of preschool. tear.
2. sissy's first day of mother's day out. i die of cuteness.
3. labor day bike ride.  we loved this and made such a sweet memory with our little family.
4. three handsome boys heading to church. we love our church!
5. avery and ruby. he is delighted by her & she's pretty happy about the attention. :)
6. silver dollar city day with friends!
7. it takes a village, people. :) {this is how we convince people to come to our moms of providence meetings....somehow it worked}.
8. oh girl.
9. homeschool. some days are longer than others.....

1. amazing fall sky. our Creator God showing off for us. :)
2. long live the slip n' slide! fall in the south still gives us some warm days here and there.
3. sissy "washes" bubba's hair.
4. how we get through target
5. ninjas! {with our neighbor-friend hudson}
6. last saturday was a rain boots and cabella's kind of day.
7. this boy. so much passion in one little body.  love sweet alone time with him.
8. girls night OUT. so thankful for these homeschool mama friends.
9. greek olympics day for fin's class.  toilet plunger javelin throwing, tricycle chariot races & more. fun!

sweet night celebrating grandmother's birthday.
i love hearing her stories and we all love spending time with her. :)

potter's house sundays.
blessed to serve.
learning to be more servant-like....such a process.

this is how i make dinner most days.
it's insane.
that little boy better be a chef for how many meals he's "helped" me make.

fall = boots and that makes me happy.
{i'm trying not to think about what comes after fall.}
we are loving the cool mornings and evenings.
i love having my windows open and a candle burning.
the days are still sun-shiny and warm so that is just perfect to me! :)

have a happy weekend, y'all!




p.s. i update very regularly on instagram. if you're on insta, i'm itsgoodtobequeen, if you want to 
follow along. :)
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good thing she's cute.

okay, so miss ruby has a bad habit.
my makeup.
she wants to dig in it constantly. :/

on one hand, i think it's cute and girly that she even cares about makeup....but seriously, it's getting out of hand.
and i have never let her play in my makeup, she just sneaks into my bathroom or my purse when i'm not looking.
all. the. time.

so this is our morning....fun craft time at the kitchen table....

crayons. glue. playdough. markers. the works.
i love my children being creative but then when we're done, i want it all cleaned up.

so we get it all cleaned up, wiped down & swept up and i'm feeling really good about the state of affairs.

then i had that sinking feeling that i hadn't seen ruby in a while.....

no.

she used the. entire. jar.
and of course, not on a wipeable surface.

yes. she wiped it all over avery's shorts and he didn't even notice!!
what in the sam hill?!!

she coated the charger. like in every crevice.

why not throw a little bronzer in there too?

and here's the truth.
i cried so much.
like seriously, couldn't stop.
kind of ridiculous actually.
but i just did not want to spend my day cleaning all this up.
and had no idea how to even deal with it.
and i was ready for us to walk out the door to run errands so we couldn't do that what with ruby being covered in makeup and all.

and bless my sweet boys' hearts, they didn't know what to do with me.
sawyer went and spread a quilt on my bed to make it pretty for me and finley went up to the attic to try to find another blanket for my bed.
so so sweet.
they are going to make great husbands, by the way.
they've had to deal with all of my emotions, they'll be able to handle anything. ha! ;)

anyhow, i just put my comforter in the car and we took it to the dry cleaners to see what they could do with it.
i'm hoping that i got it there fast enough that it hadn't set in yet.

ruby and avery's clothes are currently soaking in hot soapy, oxicleany water.
i worked on the carpet for quite a while and now it's soaking with spot shot.

i know it's just a comforter, and so silly to cry over, but i love it and it's pretty. :)
so that's my shallow post for the day.
me crying over "stuff" that doesn't even matter.
oh sigh.

p.s. AJ met us for lunch and to give me a big hug and all was right in the world. :)




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thrift store thursday {kind of} and real thoughts on summer

okay, so summers are crazy, right?
i lovelovelovelovelove summer time.
love the weather...the hotter, the better.
love the laid back days, the grilling out, eating dinner outside, swimming.....i could go on and on.

the hard part is. . .
i do not have a moment to myself.
i feel like someone needs me or is talking to me every moment of the day.
i feel conflicted because i love having my kids around and i love doing activities with them....seriously it is my joy in life.....but....
i also need some alone time.
i have realized over my years of mothering that i need some consistent alone time to keep my sanity.
and honestly, i'm not getting much of that lately.
on one hand, i feel as happy as i've ever been and i love my life.
truly... i told AJ the other day, i think i'll look back on this time {with my kids at home} as the happiest time of my life.
on the other hand, i really really really need 5 seconds to take a breath. :)

also, i love writing and i love blogging.
writing has always been so therapeutic for me and i am struggling to find time to sit down and blog.

so there you go. those are my honest thoughts right now.
my goal is to just be in the moment this summer.
enjoy each and every day and make the most of them.
i'm praying that what is most important for that day, rises to the surface and that i will let the other stuff go.

on that note...haven't been able to do much thrifting lately either.
my mom did bring me another load of vintage goodies this week for the booth.

i love this vintage teal candy dish.

fun vintage nut choppers.
love those red lids

a whole stack of vintage cookbooks.
they have such neat covers and i love reading through old cookbooks.

for whatever reason, my booth has super slow lately.
this past month was my slowest month yet...pretty discouraging.
from the time i started {november} through march, it had steadily increased and done better and better....then spring hit and it has slowed way down.
i still love having a booth....but it sure was more fun when stuff was steadily being sold! ;)

i did pop into the thrift store quickly today....with 5 kids {i had meliyah}....i was quickly looking for some water shoes for ruby...did not find them.

also, good news/bad news.
bad news, the store is stuffed to the gills full of stuff....seriously more full than i've seen it in a long time.
that is bad news because i don't get to shop there on thursday mornings! ;)
good news....for my kids....they found a cool marble run set for 99 cents.
sold.
:)

okay friends...have a great thursday....happy summer! :)


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today

 

my thoughts and prayers today have been constantly turned towards moore, oklahoma.
so sad and hurting for them.
oftentimes, big tragedies seem so far away and removed.
and honestly, mostly, i'm pretty disconnected with the outside world...don't watch the news and keep up with current events by what my friends tell me.

but today, this is close.
it reminds me of the joplin tornados....we were in the middle of tornado season then as well.
we live in the part of the country that pretty much sits in the middle of the tornado paths every spring.
both times, it has seemed that we narrowly escaped.

tornados are so scary because they are so unpredictable.
they can level one house and leave the next one perfectly sound.
they can change directions and turn and get wider.
that feels very scary.
that feels out of control.

somehow, this time i have felt so much peace.
peace that can only come from Jesus.
Jesus, who is constant.
Jesus who is for us.
even when we don't understand.

last night my neighbor texted me to say that the university {10 min from us} was issuing a warning to go to your safe spot.

we were watching the news, but it wasn't even raining yet.

i texted back, "right now?!! it's not even raining."

then, so fast, i heard it....loud, whistling, howling wind and rain came out of nowhere. 

we looked out the back window and our trampoline is blowing across the yard. 

aj said, "go now."

and we all headed for our little laundry room.

i grabbed ruby out of bed and we huddled together in there until it had past.

the kids were scared at first, but they quickly calmed down. 

thankfully, it did not turn into a tornado...just straight line winds.

many trees down and electricity out, but nothing serious.

that's our trampoline in there....in the woods behind our neighbor's house.
such a bummer, but honestly, it's a trampoline.
i can't begin to understand why there are tornados or why it hit them and not us....but i do know that God is good.
and He has a much bigger lens than we do.
and He hurts right along with us.

so today....it's hard for me to focus on much else.
it's still stormy here and i'm thankful to be inside in a warm house.....holding my babies close.

not taking a moment with them for granted.

so thankful that i get to take care of them, clean up after them, feed them, read to them, play with them and be with them.

praying so much for our friends in oklahoma today.
praying they feel Jesus close.
He is near to the brokenhearted.

**the necklace at the top is from the vintage pearl.
i love her shop.
it's where aj got my layered mother of pearl necklace a couple years ago.

it's called the love for oklahoma necklace and 100% of the proceeds go to the american red cross to help with the relief efforts.**



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tuesday thoughts.

hey y'all. 

we're having a sweet tuesday at home over here.

we did a quick target run after dropping the boys off and then back home until it's time to pick them up this afternoon.

i love spending my tuesdays with just my little ones.

it's nice to have focused time for them.

we do lots of hanging out on the floor, playing with toys....just like i did with the big boys when they were little.

i like it.

special moments that fly away so fast.

how many times have i wished i could be back on the floor with my little avery playing legos??

having older ones, definitely helps me slow down and appreciate these days with my littles.

dark chocolate cadbury mini's. 

somebody hold me.

my favorite.

i resisted the urge and did not buy them for myself.

but if someone who loves me wants to buy them for me that would be just fine. ;)

saw this antique vanity at my flea market last night.
i love it....thinking i need a vanity in the new house.
what say you? do i need a vanity?
only comment if you're going to say yes. :)
ha ha ha ha ha.

okay, must get back to packing....we close in 10 days!!!
can't wait to show you the new digs!
can't wait to decorate a new place....that is ours!!


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have i said that i'm ready for spring?

well, shoot.
i thought we had made it through flu season unscathed.

yes, ruby has been sick pretty much all winter, but the rest of us have sailed through and missed most of the crud.
the big boys came down with it on friday and spent most of the weekend laying around and recovering.
can i just say, praise Jesus for tamiflu.

ruby had a wonderful few days of being well and it was so fun to see her sweet personality.

she went to bed saturday night as happy as a clam and woke up sunday morning congested and pitiful.
it hit so fast.
makes this mama heart so sad.
i'm so ready for my girl to be well.
we went back to the doctor this morning {i feel like i live there lately} and of course she has a double ear infection again.
she has an appointment with an ear, nose, & throat doctor on friday so i'm hoping we get a good solution.

we all stayed home from church on sunday and made the most of our day with baked oatmeal, hot tea & some family game playing.

oh and m&ms.
chocolate is necessary.

by last night i developed a really painful cough that feels like it's in my lungs.
i haven't determined if i caught whatever virus is going through this house or if it's from running in the early hours of the day in the freezing cold.
probably not my smartest idea to date.

so that's my sad tale.
praying that we're all on the mend and that this is the end of it.

so long winter, i'm done with you. i never really liked you to begin with.


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oh, sawyer.

 how could i have known?
this third boy of mine.
i had no idea what a third boy personality would be.

 i daily shake my head at the wonder of this child.

this child who has surprised me in so many ways.
he is strong and sweet and loving and stubborn as the day is long.
he can melt my heart in one second {hello big brown eyes} and  make me think i'm going to lose my mind in the next.

he says things like, "mama you're my pwincess" and "when i gwow up i'm gonna be a power wanger an a cowboy."
he is an absolute delight and i love spending my days with him.
i am so thankful God entrusted me with this sweet little life.
i know how fast these days go, so i am treasuring each day of costumes and super heroes and his requests for me to read book after book after book.

one of our favorite things about sawyer is that he is his own person.
he wears some sort of costume seven days a week.
he wears black rain boots seven days a week.
he often wears a clip on tie clipped to his t-shirt.
a cape is near constant and he often wears a mask into the grocery store.
i love. it. 

he also says whatever he is thinking. . . which is pretty typical of a four year old . . . but also sometimes embarrassing.

like yesterday when we were leaving the library and we were waiting on the elevator that was taking forever to open.
ruby was screaming at the top of her lungs and wanting down and we were generally making a scene.
typical.
finally the doors opened and a tall lady walked out.

sawyer, at full volume, "mama, that wady is way bigger than you!"
ohmygosh. i die.
avery & i were already in the elevator {thankfully} and we both instinctively pushed ourselves back against the wall, willing those danged elevator doors to shut.
avery is staring at me with a wide open mouth and big eyes.
but sawyer's not done yet, "evwy wady is bigger than you, mama!"

oh my word, let it end.
finally, mercifully, the elevator doors shut.
and immediately avery and i launch into a speech to sawyer about how you don't comment on the way people look.

then i reminded avery how when he was little he turned around in the line at barnes & noble and asked me if the person behind us was a boy or a girl.
much worse. much, much worse.



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i'm laying it out here.

brace yourself.
i need to get my words out.

so i've been trying to write a post on sawyer's birthday and/or thanksgiving for the last week and i just can't seem to get it done.

y'all, i am tired.
like seriously, so. worn. out.

my friend called me today to see if i was okay.
i told her that my plate is so full.
way too full.
like one paper plate that you loaded up with thanksgiving dinner and it's too heavy and is spilling all over the sides.
but it's all so good that you don't want to take any of it off.

everything on my plate are good things.
i have no idea what to take off.

i'm not sure if something actually needs to be taken off, or this is just a really busy, harder season and i need to deal.

i do know this: 

God is for me.
He is good and He allows things for my good.
life is just sometimes hard and not always supposed to be easy...although i long for easy.
this is just a season.
the next season will be different.
i have it really good.
God's grace is sufficient for me.
His strength is made perfect in my weakness.


okay other complainy thoughts that i need to get out and then i'll be done.......

i feel like i look so tired and old right now.
i also just feel tired and old right now.
i do not stop from sun up until sun down.
i never stop moving.
my list seems never ending so i don't know how to not be constantly doing something. 
this is wearing on me.
but the laundry {for six people} must be done.
six people need to be fed and loved on and cared for and taught and i feel like i pour out, everyday, all day long and i don't feel like i'm getting much refreshing.
not anyone's fault, it just is what it is.

but you know what, the Bible says, those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
so, i'm counting on that.

also, i hate complaining and i'm tempted to erase this whole thing.
but i'm not going to because maybe you feel overwhelmed, overtired and overworked as well.

and maybe i sound like a spoiled brat who needs to just be thankful for what she has...which i really, really am, by the way.

but honestly, this is the real deal.

thanks for listening.
i'll try to be sunshiny and happy tomorrow.  :)




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Thank Goodness It's instaFriday

hey y'all, happy friday!

last weekend we did a little overnight camping trip with our friends.
it was seriously so. fun. 

i think we all needed to just get out and get away so it was really therapeutic.
i absolutely love camping and i look forward to doing more and more of it as our kids get older.

ha!
they're so manly.
AJ is not going to be thrilled with me for posting this but i don't care.
it's my blog and i can do what i want. :)
plus this pretty much sums up their friendship. . . they are hilarious together.

we made it easy and had hot dogs, chips and s'mores for dinner.
they even got cans of sprite so that was pretty exciting.

ruby did so great for her first camping trip in a tent.
we set up her pack n' play right in the tent and used a sound machine app on aj's phone.
it worked great!
also, i love her in a hoodie and fleecy jammies. adorable.

mr. zach taught the kids how to build their own fire.
they were in heaven.

ummm.....that looks safe, no?
possibly why the park ranger came and made us pour a bucket on it.
:)

camping in the fall is fun.
a little cool in the mornings, but perfect once the sun comes out.
love hanging out with the woods and dirt and sticks to entertain the kids.

i think we made a bunch of great memories in that less than 24 hour trip.
so fun.
can't wait to do it again.

that night {after a whole day of lazing around with some camp laundry thrown in there} AJ and i had a date night.
it had been too long since we'd had a date so we were both really pumped.
we did one of our favorite free activities....

go to barnes and noble and get stacks of magazines to look through while quietly drinking coffee.
the only bummer was that it was cut short because ruby was not sleeping and crying for mama and daddy.
we had to come home early but it all worked out because we got home, put her to bed & had a date night cuddled up on the couch watching parenthood. :)
still fun . . . although i do want to finish those magazines . . .

sunday morning run.
i'm working to be ready for a 5K in a few weeks.
it's really, really hard to find time to run.
this sky was a gift from the Creator of the universe to me that morning.
i often need to be reminded that He is close.

this is my every morning routine.
cozy in my bed quiet time with the Lord.
coffee is mandatory.
i am not telling you this with any sort of pride . . . at all.
my husband is amazing and disciplined and gets up every morning and makes me coffee.
i have struggled for years to be consistent in everyday time with the Lord.
this past year, with AJ's help, this has been my morning routine. 
i need it and i am so thankful for it.

this little girl has been a snotty-runny-nosed-not-feeling-good mess this week.

but she sure is cute!

and she does this 712 times a day.

naughty, naughty.

she kicks the baby gate until it leans over and then she climbs over it. 

oh mercy.

the littles and i ran into payless this week.
saw picked out these gems for me.
he reeeeally wanted me to get them.
snazzy.

this boy taught himself to play harmonica.
and it sounds really good.
he amazes me a lot.

my sawyer who has taken 3-4 hour naps every day for the last two years has cold-turkey quit the nap.
break my heart.
i'm in mourning.
seriously, this is messing up my whole afternoons.
yes, i'm being dramatic but it is no bueno in the afternoons right now.
i will be happy with a one hour rest time even if he doesn't sleep.
even that is not happening right now.
more like i'm sitting outside his door while he comes out over and over and i put him back over and over.
super fun.
after struggling with him all afternoon yesterday he passes out in the car 5 minutes down the road to pick up the big boys.
great. a power nap. perfect.
this too shall pass. this too shall pass......  ;)


what about y'all?
what have you been up to this week?

link up your phone pics with me here:



p.s. i'm itsgoodtobequeen on instagram if you want to follow me!
let me know your username and i'll follow you back!  :)


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