Pintrest Projects in Progress

I am in love with pintrest along with many of my friends.  I have started 3 pintrest projects and I have finished one.  There are many other projects I would love to get started but a lot of them need the construction assistance from my husband.  So I am trying to get a couple done that I can accomplish on my own.  There was a pin on family handprints which I thought was so cute.  Here we go our family!

Here is my new laundry sign hanging up

across the wall are pictures of places we have been together.  

I am not so sure how excitied Mitch is that I have started a project list.  It is getting pretty long. Along with making chairs and working on the basement he has me coming up with other fun things to work on.  Good thing he loves me so much. All in time they will get done.

That Is Mine

Yes you can watch it unfold.  The boys have learned to grab something and try to escape.  They know the other one will try and take it back so they are figuring out they should try to get away.  Can't wait until they learn to run that will be fun to video tape.  I get to laugh mutiple times a day just watching them interact.  I love it.

Cooper started with it and Cohen trying to take them.

Cooper pulling back, as I tell Cohen "No" 

Cohen has them and Cooper taking them back 

No mine 

Oh yeah.... I will show you 

isn't this fun? 

Do we look older? Our big boy haircuts! 

We are even styled 

Cooper is walking closer to the camera 

Monkey boy

Cohen has recently became my monkey child.  Oh... yes you might think that cute adorable smile is innocent but that is his weapon.  He climbs all the places he knows he shouldn't and then turns around and smiles.  OH... yes he is very proud of his accomplishement on finding new places to climb onto or into.  Ofcourse when I tell him "No, No" he smiles and shakes his head No back at me.  I love that little boy!

Cohen in the cutting board drawer

Cohen in the basket with all the building blocks

Cohen under one of the end tables, after pushing the basket out of his way 

still under the end table 

that onry smile trying to pull off the lamp 

and yes back in the drawer agian, this time standing trying to climb up the other drawers 

Being Humbled

I have had a couple of very humbling experiences over the last couple of weeks. Do you ever need reminded that you have things pretty good? I do, pretty often actually. I love to set goals and work towards them. Which also translates to I like to be in control of what is going on. God has such a suttle way of reminding us that we are not in control, that he is. I know from the bottom of my heart all things work out for a reason. I know God is in control of all things.

I find myself from time to time being reminded of this very thing. A couple of plans I had worked out in my mind have not worked out how I was so sure they would. I took it hard the day I found out my plans were not going well. I had heard in the back of my mind "things do not always work out the way you want, Jessica." I was trying to ignore it. Then oddly enough I went to see my hairstylist and was telling her about my day. She made the exact same statement to me. "Things don't always workout the way we want but it is always for the better." I knew right then God was trying to get the message across to me and since I wasn't listening very well, he had someone else share the same thought.

I know I am kind of stubborn every once in a while. I finally got the message loud and clear. Yes everything will work out just fine. I have so many things to be greatful for. Just a couple of weeks ago I was praying for Cooper when he was sick. My continous prayer was to just heal Cooper and I don't need anything else but healthy kids. God answered my prayers exactly how I asked, praise Jesus for that. I am now reminded there is nothing else I need. I have God, a great husband, healthy children, a job, and a roof over my head.  Speaking of healthy children of course here a couple of pictures from the last couple of days.  These smiling faces make my day so great.  I am so proud to be their mother.

Thank you for reminding me this

 Ephesians  15-17

Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Sharing their new car they got for their birthday

We love the Wildcats even when they loose 

 Coop

 P

 Bubba

 sweetest thing in the world watching Daddy read bedtime stories to his boys

 Cohen showin off his new backpack

 Coop with his new backpack

 smiling through his paci while having family movie night in his new bean bag

2012 Intensions

What are your goals?  Did many of you set 2012 goals.  Being that I am a very list orientated person we of course did.  I get love having list.  I make a weekly to do list, I love crossing off things as they are accomplished.  I really enjoy having list, I have also learned that I really don't function well without one. Call it pregnancy brian or whatever you would like, mine has never recovered from being pregnant twice.  Lets face it, it may never recover.  My husband is learning this, I have always been a little "blond" but I think it has gotten worse.  Anyways back to my point I live by list.  So of course we have made a list of goals for the next year.  We also made our 5 year list just to give us some direction.

• I am working to get back down to 125-130lbs like I returned after having Payton.  It was much easier then for some reason. : ) 
• Work out 4 days a week
• Intentional with being intimate with my husband.  Having yound kids and working nights I could always say " I am tired" but I don't want to use that as an excuse.  Many of you have young kids and don't get much sleep we could be tired everyday all year long probably.  I am going to make every effort to not use that phrase.
• Making sure Mitch knows we appreciate how hard he works for his family at work and at home while I am at work
• Show God's love to patients while I am at work. 
• spending at least 30 uninterupted min with Payton working on flashcards, Awana, or any educational games.
• Working on Payton's speech with her ( she has started speech and we have homework to do, she is having some issues with articulation of some combinations of letters)
• reading with the boys, I read lots of books with Payton.  I know it's easier with one kid but I want the boys to get the same amount of reading for them.
• allowing the boys to learn and explore, taking time with each one, to have Mommy time.
• Making sure I display patience for the kids to see no matter what I am doing. I want to act how I want them to act.  They learn best by deminstration.
• Memorize scriputre from the book of James( the Beth Moore study we are doing in Women's bible study). Attempt not to miss any classes if kids allow that.
• embrase turning 30
• enjoy our family vacation this summer to North Carolina
• help to allow Mitch to work in our basement, we are hoping to get drywall up.

I hope you take the time to write down your goals if you can.  I enjoy reading over the previous goals we have had and reflect on what we accomplished.  It gives a scence of pride and lets me feel productive.  Again helps with my lack of a good memory to know when things happened.  Another reason I love the blog, helps me to keep a good time line of when things occur.  2012 is underway and I am sure it will fly by even faster then last year.