Reunion 2011 at Fin & Feather Resort

We had our family reunion earlier this month. I love spending time with these people. Matt's cousin, who also took these pictures, made this bubble thing. The kids went nuts because it created massive bubbles. 

 Love this picture because the bubbles just popped.

 Reminder, I did not take these. I was in the AC.

So cool to see a picture taken like a millisecond before this pops.

 Action shot. Love her face.

 Her eyes are closed. She's waiting on the 'POP!'

 Not sure why he's pouting.

We had such a great time. I didn't want to leave. All 13 of the grandkids were so well-behaved. Next year is going to be even better as there most likely won't be any infants, but all the kids will be older and so much fun. Every year will be filled with more and more blessings. So exciting.

Thanks Jake for taking these pictures. I wouldn't have them otherwise. Not sure why I am thanking you on here, you don't read my blog, but your sweet wife does.

My Family

(I can take credit for this photo.)

Weekly "I AM"

Outside my window... I closed the blinds in an effort to keep the heat out and the cool in. Our house is old which in turn means ancient windows which in turn means our AC runs non stop. BUT I had the blinds open earlier only to see the trees, grass and flowers screaming for a drink.

I am thinking... the kids have blue mouths from coconut slushies and it's going to be fun getting the blue out. I also have been thinking about the message from yesterday. I really liked it. Craig spoke about 'remaining on the vine.' John 15:4-5 I think I'm going to blog about this at another date. I also have a business idea, but I'm not sure I could do it. I looked into it and it might be more than I can digested. I don't know though, gonna have to keep looking into it.


I am planning to cook... tonight is a chicken and rice soup. I haven't made this in a while and it's really hot for soup but Matt will have lunch tomorrow, which I really try to cook foods with leftovers for him to take to work. I also have a spicy chicken something. I can't remember. It's like an orange chicken with rice. Then I will make again, shredded chicken in the Crock. I cook this now all the time because it makes so much. I cooked it last week and it made 8 meals!! That's lunch and dinner for Matt and I for a while! It's such a versatile way to cook chicken. So many options once it's done. We have been eating it like taco salad and it's so so good. 

I am reading... I finished "The Ambition." I gave it a three out of five stars on Mardel's website. It was ok, but it's hard to have murder and God all in the same book. Just being honest. So I just ordered another book. Going out on a limb on this one but it's true and has a wonderful story line, "Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II." (that's a mouth full)

Yes, dad you can have it if you want it when I'm done, that is unless you would prefer to read it on your Nook. :)

I am hearing... when I started typing I was hearing C1 & C2 fight. They really do love each other very much. I think because they love each other they fight. I'm also hearing C3 chatter. She is a girl on the move! She rolls and rolls and rolls. She can also scoot while on her back. Insane how fast she has grown up.

I am learning... I wouldn't call it learning as much as being obedient to what Matt and I know is right. We have the money to move, but feel we need to be obedient with our money and put it towards a credit card. We will be going against Dave Ramsey and not closing the account; not yet. We will wait until we've moved before we do that. Today I learned the heat makes me incredibly dizzy.

I am praying... still for us to move. I'm not asking to move, we are praying for Him to tell us when. We know He will as we feel He is saying "Stay." So for now we will stay. I only wish he'd bring Breckenridge temps while we stay. haha

26in52

Book Number 10

"THE AMBITION"

It has taken me a few weeks to complete this book for a few reasons. One being C3. The other being, well, the book was slightly boring. To be honest, I haven't much to say. It took 10 chapters to get to the juicy part of the story.

This might sound weird, but to write a murder book and the theme be Christiany, that's hard to do. It didn't work.

The book is on the right in the widget for Mardel. It's a New York Times Bestseller, so maybe I'm missing something. That happens a lot.

Weekly "I AM"

Outside my window... it's super duper windy. I think it's going to get nasty tonight. I'm hoping it won't get too bad, but we could use the rain.

I am thinking... that Chloe seems older. She was gone for about five days to Grandma & Grandpa's. When we picked her up, she seemed older. She turns five in 6 weeks; crazy.  About us moving. Matt and I both agree now is just not the time. We really want to be closer to family and out of this neighborhood. The people are nice, but I'm ready for a house that has a yard for my kids. I caught a big ol' bass last week. Matt took the day off, we took the kids to MDO and we headed to a pond. I love fishing with him. I caught a big bass and it was a personal best. On Saturday, we loaded up and went to Bass Pro with a gazillion other dads. We had a mission. We needed new lures, the ones I caught the bass on and a real pole for the kids. We quit buying those cartoon poles. They are worthless. If they get wet, which they always do, they don't work anymore. So we bought a cute little pole for the kids to share. It's not made for kids, but it is perfect for them. The reel is small which is wonderful for their little hands.

I am planning to cook... cod and succotash is tonight. I'm planning a quiche and we'll probably have shredded chicken. When I do the chicken in the crock, it makes around 6 meals! It's becoming our favorite thing to eat. I make black beans with my home made taco seasoning and toss those on the chicken with some lettuce. I bought some Wholly Guacamole and Matt puts that on his. It's like a taco salad. So good.

I am reading... Still working on "The Ambition." I plan on having it nearly finished by next week.

I am hearing...Colbie whine at me and the news. I'm listening to the weather.

I am learning... I'm not sure. I haven't had enough coffee to think about this one.

I am praying... for us to move. There's a lot more on the list, but this is one of the items.

My bass.

While Chloe was gone, we took Cooper to play on the train. He got to ring the bell.

 

Weekly "I AM"

Outside my window... The sun is making its way into our west facing window. The grass is turning brown, but if you were to see the grass in the backyard, it's green because the kids play in the water. It's just so hot and windy which in turn creates the 'blowdryer effect.' That's the feeling of a blowdryer being blown in your face. blah

I am thinking... We probably won't move until next spring. A total bummer but we both agree that paying off our little remaining debt would be a better idea. I'm also still thinking about how Dave Ramsey answered my Twitter question ON AIR today! He called me Megan, but that's okay. It's a common mistake. He still answered my question AND said it was a good one. haha  I've also got butterflies on my mind, but that's for a later post I've been working on in my head.

I am planning to cook... tonight it's Chili Lime Chicken Tostadas. Then hopefully there's leftovers for dinner tomorrow. Also on the menu is the herb crusted cod from last week and my version of a succotash.

I am reading... Still working on "The Ambition." C1 is at Grandma and Grandpa's this week, so hopefully I can get some quality reading in.

I am wearing... shorts and a t shirt and of course socks. This question is retiring because no one cares what I'm wearing. I'm a stay at home mom who doesn't care about fashion only about staying cool so ya, this is dumb.

I am hearing... C3 chatter. I swear she can say "momma." I ask her and she repeats it and laughs. And Jeopordy is on in the background. I watch it hoping I can get at least one question right.

I am learning... Hmmm, I'm trying to learn Colbie. She's so different in a fun way, but I have to learn how she works. haha Not sure if I mention about Strong Willed Children, but I'm learning about them as well. It's working!! Just have to ask the right questions. :)
 
I am praying... for a lot of things but one being us moving.

Weekly "I AM"

Outside my window... my trees look sad and droopy. Like me, I don't think they were prepared for this terrible heat. It's just so darn hot out. The cottonwood trees are letting go of their annoying fluff. It's like a dandelion being constantly blown in your face. blah!

I am thinking... What a great week I had last week. It was the Knox Family Reunion at Lake Tenkiller. I had the best time! My kids had so much fun. It was just one of those weeks I will remember for a long time. My kids, the older two, are coming into the age where they are fun to take places. We didn't have to hover over Chloe while she was in the pool because she can control herself in her life jacket now. Cooper, well, Matt had to snatch him out of the hot tub once because he got in without anyone knowing, scary. Colbie and I hung out in the cabin during the day because it was a little warm for me, but it worked out well because of the other babies in the family. I am so lucky to be part of the Knox's. Love those people.

I got Matt into geocaching. If you have not done this; do! It is so fun and so addicting. What's great is if you have a smart phone you can play. You just need a GPS. Basically, I won't go into the lingo, but basically things are hidden all around you by people. These 'caches' are there to be found. I created an account on geocaching(dot)com and starting hunting. We found our first 'treasure' as Chloe calls them, after church yesterday under a tree near our campus. Look into it. There are things hidden, literally, all over the world! Matt and I really want to go to Colorado, one because of the heat, but two because we want to geocache. He's become an addict.

I am planning to cook... I'm cooking a pork chop thing in the crock. I'm too lazy to go to the Tasty Kitchen site, copy the link and post it. I hope it's good. It's a new one and I get a little nervous about brand new recipes. The rest of the week we'll have regular dinners, chicken burgers, tortellini soup and Matt found some "Product of USA" cod at our local meat market, so we'll have that. Am I going to eat the cod? I might. hehe

I am reading... The Ambition by Lee Strobel. My mother in law told me about a book called, You Can't Make Me, but I Can Be Persuaded. I stumbled upon a podcast with the author of the book. I realize that Cooper is my Strong Willed Child!! Those podcasts were life changing. I am not kidding. I have been parenting Cooper ALL WRONG!! I have been telling him what to do, and that doesn't work, it hasn't been working! The author said, you have to word it differently. For instance, here is what I would normally say, "Cooper pick up your toys." He would in turn tell me "NO!" So now I say, "Cooper, I know you love playing with your toys, let's pick them up, okay?" It works! I am still learning how to word what I want him to do, sometimes takes me a few tries to get him to comply, but once I get the wording correct, he always says, "Ok, mom!" I tried to buy the book on Amazon, the wait is 1-3 months. It has changed my attitude. I now feel more capable with him, I don't feel so lost in parenting him. So I am trying to not change his strong will but guide him. So great!

I am wearing... shorts and a t-shirt... surprise surprise.

I am hearing... People's Court ending, I just turned it off. It's the one show during the day, I really enjoy watching. I'm weird I know. I normally hear Colbie, but she's napping. I guess her waking up at 4am then 5am has worn her out.

I am learning... how to parent Cooper better. That Colbie is so much her own person I sometimes feel like I am doing something wrong because she won't do certain things. For instance, I tried feeding her 'real' food the other day. She's 6 months, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Here's how it went...... it didn't. She refused to open her mouth. I am not kidding. The girl refused to even crack her lips! She's 6 months old people!!! I tried applesauce, thinking the natural sweetness in apples would be better than that icky rice cereal. Here's how it went....it didn't. She dry heaved then refused. I am foreseeing another SWC (strong willed child) BUT the author of the book says, "If you have been blessed with a SWC, you have been complimented greatly by God."


I am praying... there's a lot of things on my prayer list, but one that may seem trivial to most is the heat. I know it's nearly summer, but it's not summer and I'd really like to enjoy June if possible. The heat just makes me feel so darn dizzy. I wore my vest to church yesterday and it was so nice. I guess she'll (vest) be my new BFF for the next 3-4 months.