It's about time I started blogging again, don't you think?

Well, its been quite awhile since I've hit the old Blogger.  I've been relying on facebook quite a bit because its quicker and I don't need to put much thought into it.  Here is a quick recap on the last five months.
1. I quit work to stay at home again.  It was a good choice, its much less stress and thankfully I'm finding enough to keep me busy so I'm not going stir crazy.
2. I opened an Etsy store called Alexis Brooke Lane.  It's been slow going trying to focus on adding inventory and crafting with the girls at home too, but it's up and running!  I'm hoping to really pour into it this fall when Lexi goes to kindergarten.  Check it out, I made my first sale on New Years Day and have lots of people add me to their favorites and an item has been featured in a treasury already!
 http://www.etsy.com/shop/AlexisBrookeLane

3. It seems the girls are finally starting to blossom into little girls - I know everything Brooke is saying and she and Lexi play nicely together.....for the most part....which brings me to this week....

A few days ago Lexi cut Brooke's already crazy static electric mullet with scrapbook scissors.

I tried to fix it, but its pretty chunky for now.  Oh well, hair grows back.

Then, this evening, Weve was taking a nap and I was on the computer researching something and I heard the girls in Lexi's room.  They were talking and I assumed playing nicely until I heard a big squirt - the kind you hear when the ketchup bottle is just about empty.  uh oh.
I ran up the steps, skipping every three or so, and this is what awaited me:

Mattress off the bed (who knew they were that strong?!?)
Self tanner all over their hair (we'll find out if they look like oompa loompas in the morning I guess)
Conditioner emptied out in various pudding-like puddles all over the place
The piggy bank was coated in all kinds of various substances, which seeped onto the money inside....at least its not dirty money now!

I called for Weve to bring the camera - what a rude awakening for him!

Here's hoping for a less messy next few days :)

It's about time I started blogging again, don't you think?

Well, its been quite awhile since I've hit the old Blogger.  I've been relying on facebook quite a bit because its quicker and I don't need to put much thought into it.  Here is a quick recap on the last five months.
1. I quit work to stay at home again.  It was a good choice, its much less stress and thankfully I'm finding enough to keep me busy so I'm not going stir crazy.
2. I opened an Etsy store called Alexis Brooke Lane.  It's been slow going trying to focus on adding inventory and crafting with the girls at home too, but it's up and running!  I'm hoping to really pour into it this fall when Lexi goes to kindergarten.  Check it out, I made my first sale on New Years Day and have lots of people add me to their favorites and an item has been featured in a treasury already!
 http://www.etsy.com/shop/AlexisBrookeLane

3. It seems the girls are finally starting to blossom into little girls - I know everything Brooke is saying and she and Lexi play nicely together.....for the most part....which brings me to this week....

A few days ago Lexi cut Brooke's already crazy static electric mullet with scrapbook scissors.

I tried to fix it, but its pretty chunky for now.  Oh well, hair grows back.

Then, this evening, Weve was taking a nap and I was on the computer researching something and I heard the girls in Lexi's room.  They were talking and I assumed playing nicely until I heard a big squirt - the kind you hear when the ketchup bottle is just about empty.  uh oh.
I ran up the steps, skipping every three or so, and this is what awaited me:

Mattress off the bed (who knew they were that strong?!?)
Self tanner all over their hair (we'll find out if they look like oompa loompas in the morning I guess)
Conditioner emptied out in various pudding-like puddles all over the place
The piggy bank was coated in all kinds of various substances, which seeped onto the money inside....at least its not dirty money now!

I called for Weve to bring the camera - what a rude awakening for him!

Here's hoping for a less messy next few days :)

Hold My Hand

Brooke's new favorite phrase is "Hold my hand." It's not quite a question, more of a demand. She wants my guidance and reassurance if she's the slightest bit unsure about a situation.

She said it to me tonight and something clicked inside me - I need the Lord to hold my hand. Its not a request, its a requirement. There are things that I just can't handle on my own.  In fact, I need to just expect Him to hold my hand in everything, because He promises to do exactly that. Why in the world do I always get caught up and lost in this crazy stressed out everyday life and He is the one I turn to after I've exhausted every other option? After I've toiled and stressed and worked to do things on my own, I could have just held His hand and He would have sustained me and guided me all along.

What a wonderful reminder - at a perfect time of absolute craziness, I'm just going to say "LORD, HOLD MY HAND! Lead me where you want to take me....I trust you more than I trust myself"

I have no idea what this season of life will bring about, but you've never let me down and you've always been faithful. 

Life has been a whirlwind lately, pretty good stuff, just crazy and a bit stressful....here are some fantastic pictures from the last month:

Totaled our truck, and got another:

Found a bat on my head one morning, killed it, tested it for rabies - negative, thank God!

Had a double birthday party for Brooke's 2nd and Lexi's 4th - it got rained out when we planned it in the barn, but it was great fun inside anyway!

Played outside with the girls a lot - between the trampoline, slip n slide, pool, swing set, and other stuff, they never want to come in!

This pretty much sums up the whirlwind month...ha ha:

Had a wedding for my cousin at our camp, Lexi was flower girl, Dad officiated:

Had fun with my sisters!

And my husband :)

Off to Chicago in a few days! LORD HOLD MY HAND!

Hold My Hand

Brooke's new favorite phrase is "Hold my hand." It's not quite a question, more of a demand. She wants my guidance and reassurance if she's the slightest bit unsure about a situation.

She said it to me tonight and something clicked inside me - I need the Lord to hold my hand. Its not a request, its a requirement. There are things that I just can't handle on my own.  In fact, I need to just expect Him to hold my hand in everything, because He promises to do exactly that. Why in the world do I always get caught up and lost in this crazy stressed out everyday life and He is the one I turn to after I've exhausted every other option? After I've toiled and stressed and worked to do things on my own, I could have just held His hand and He would have sustained me and guided me all along.

What a wonderful reminder - at a perfect time of absolute craziness, I'm just going to say "LORD, HOLD MY HAND! Lead me where you want to take me....I trust you more than I trust myself"

I have no idea what this season of life will bring about, but you've never let me down and you've always been faithful. 

Life has been a whirlwind lately, pretty good stuff, just crazy and a bit stressful....here are some fantastic pictures from the last month:

Totaled our truck, and got another:

Found a bat on my head one morning, killed it, tested it for rabies - negative, thank God!

Had a double birthday party for Brooke's 2nd and Lexi's 4th - it got rained out when we planned it in the barn, but it was great fun inside anyway!

Played outside with the girls a lot - between the trampoline, slip n slide, pool, swing set, and other stuff, they never want to come in!

This pretty much sums up the whirlwind month...ha ha:

Had a wedding for my cousin at our camp, Lexi was flower girl, Dad officiated:

Had fun with my sisters!

And my husband :)

Off to Chicago in a few days! LORD HOLD MY HAND!

A few pictures, a few words

I have exciting news!  Our sweet little niece Pennie is now walking!  Kassandra posted a video at 6:30 on 6/30 of her walking, it was so sweet.  And she's only 10 months old GO PENNIE!!!!  Brooke is starting to communicate in sentences and Lexi is reading and spelling...she's on lesson 70 out of 100 in her reading lessons.  I have to recommend "Teach you child to read in 100 easy lessons", except that its not easy for the mom.  It's been fairly "easy" for Lexi I guess, but not me.  I can't wait until we're done - we both keep putting it off.  It really works though, so if you have the gift of teaching I'm sure it will be easy!  I dont have the gift of teaching as I've recently realized- or patience, but that's a fruit of the spirit, so I guess that's my fault ;).  Lexi seems to be catching on so thank God for that!
She is doing very well and shocked me by writing and spelling Lexi Loo Loo the other day by sounding it out:

Here are some rainbows after last week's rainstorms.  We had seen so many rainbows since we've moved here - I LOVE THEM!

Here is a picture of Brooke napping with Daddy - they both sleep more peacefully when they fall asleep together on the couch:

Lexi & Brooke watching a Leap Frog DVD - I think Brooke has a lazy eye (both sides = a miracle Lexi doesn't have it) and you can see it pretty well here.  We'll find out next week after her 2 year check up....looks like a surgery may be in the future :( poor baby!

Lexi and I cooked Strawberry Pancakes yesterday for breakfast - she was pretty happy about it!

I found Elmo in an open casket on the coffee table.....were they having a wake?  Ever since Lexi has learned about heaven, she's been kind of morbid.  Should I not make it seem quite so enticing? It kind of freaks me out haha.....

Lots going on this weekend - more pics to follow soon!

A few pictures, a few words

I have exciting news!  Our sweet little niece Pennie is now walking!  Kassandra posted a video at 6:30 on 6/30 of her walking, it was so sweet.  And she's only 10 months old GO PENNIE!!!!  Brooke is starting to communicate in sentences and Lexi is reading and spelling...she's on lesson 70 out of 100 in her reading lessons.  I have to recommend "Teach you child to read in 100 easy lessons", except that its not easy for the mom.  It's been fairly "easy" for Lexi I guess, but not me.  I can't wait until we're done - we both keep putting it off.  It really works though, so if you have the gift of teaching I'm sure it will be easy!  I dont have the gift of teaching as I've recently realized- or patience, but that's a fruit of the spirit, so I guess that's my fault ;).  Lexi seems to be catching on so thank God for that!
She is doing very well and shocked me by writing and spelling Lexi Loo Loo the other day by sounding it out:

Here are some rainbows after last week's rainstorms.  We had seen so many rainbows since we've moved here - I LOVE THEM!

Here is a picture of Brooke napping with Daddy - they both sleep more peacefully when they fall asleep together on the couch:

Lexi & Brooke watching a Leap Frog DVD - I think Brooke has a lazy eye (both sides = a miracle Lexi doesn't have it) and you can see it pretty well here.  We'll find out next week after her 2 year check up....looks like a surgery may be in the future :( poor baby!

Lexi and I cooked Strawberry Pancakes yesterday for breakfast - she was pretty happy about it!

I found Elmo in an open casket on the coffee table.....were they having a wake?  Ever since Lexi has learned about heaven, she's been kind of morbid.  Should I not make it seem quite so enticing? It kind of freaks me out haha.....

Lots going on this weekend - more pics to follow soon!