Big Willie Style

This is just a little Will Holden report of things I want to remember.  

I wanted to keep holding off on a hair cut for Will Holden but the time had finally come.  

He had developed a major mullet and there was a little bit of Donald Trump hair in the front.  So we took him for his first hair cut on Saturday.  

He was all about sitting in the fire truck. 

And then she dared spray his hair with water.  ha! 

Thankfully he cried but he was very still and I also came prepared with animal crackers.  

I mean - is he darling or what? 

His new cut made him look SO grown up.  The girls got cuts too but it was just mostly trims.  I meant to get their hair cut before school started but it slipped up on us.  

Sometimes I just can't believe I have a cotton topped blue eyed boy.  I'm not sure I will ever get over it.  Never in my wildest dreams.  

He turned 16 months last week.  He is a busy, busy boy but thankfully on the plus side - he's an awesome sleeper.  He is going to MDO and he really likes it.  He has walked right in without crying the last few times which is HUGE.  His favorite thing on earth are balls.  He wakes up asking for "ball, ball, ball" and he goes to bed talking about them too.  We have balls all over our house right now.   He says Momma, Daddy, Sissy (he LOVES his sisters), Ball, Juice (what he calls his cups - he has never even had juice but he hears his sisters talk about it), cracker, shoes, this, NO, bye, and probably a few other things I can't think of right now.  

He had to go to the doctor today and he was at 90% for height at 33 inches and 97% for weight at 29 pounds.  He's a big boy and I love him big.  

I can't imagine our lives without him.  

Welcome to the Circus

So I posted this picture on Instagram yesterday.  

I left Will Holden alone for maybe three minutes yesterday while I took clothes out of the washer and put them in the dryer.  In that time he managed to get my charger and put it and a bunch of stuff from the bath tub into the toilet.  

At least he didn't flush, right? 

Also I'm headed to Walmart in the morning to buy toilet locks.  

TODDLERS!!!!!

And for the record - it's not because he's a boy.  Although it could be.  Or it could be that he's a third child.  Or it could be because he's just a fun boy.  

And also - I didn't sleep for about 4 years straight when the girls were little so I think I have forgotten a lot of their antics.  See picture above.  ha!  I had forgotten how I had to turn Harper's pajamas backwards because she always took her diapers off.  

All you really can do is laugh.  

And I was laughing so hard reading some of the comments on my instagram picture of things people's toddlers have done.  

I want to hear yours. Share you funniest toddler story.  The moment they made the biggest mess.  Toilets.  Sharpies.  Maxi pads.  Whatever you've got! 

I think we could all use a good laugh today.  

Uninvited

This post is part of Lysa TerKeurst’s Uninvited Book Blog Tour which I am delighted to be a part of along with many other inspiring bloggers. To learn more and join us, click here.

I am a big fan of Lysa's books.  I've also heard her speak several times and just love her heart and her message.  I was able to spend some time with her a few years ago and she is a genuine and kind woman who loves Jesus.  

She has a new book, Uninvited, that I think will resonate with pretty much all of you.  The subtitle says it all - "Living Loved when you feel Less than, Left out and Lonely".  

Or maybe you have never felt Insecure.  Or Left Out.  Or Lonely.  

I know I have and do regularly.  

In "Uninvited", Lysa shares her own deeply personal experiences of rejection - from the perceived judgment of the perfectly toned woman one elliptical over to the incredibly painful childhood abandonment by her father.  She leans in to honestly examine the roots of rejection, as well as rejection's ability to poison relationships from the inside out, including our relationship with God.  

With chapters like "Her success Does Not Threaten Mine" (DING) and "Ten Things You must Remember When Rejected" (Boom) and "Hello, My name is Trust Issues" (Anyone?) - this book will probably touch a nerve with each of you.  

"The More fully we invite God in, the less we will feel uninvited by others" - Lysa Terkeurst

Because I know this book will really change how you feel about yourself and God, I am excited to give away two copies of this book.  Leave a comment and I will pick two winners on Friday afternoon.   And if you don't win - you can get a copy on Amazon.com or pretty much any bookstore near you! 

First Week

Well, we had a successful first week of school! 

The girls both are loving their classes and teachers.  They have made friends - but they don't know any of their names yet. ha! 

We had open house for Will's MDO on Wednesday.  

And his first day was on Friday! 

He had a GREAT day! He has two great teachers who I know well and I'm so thankful for them!

These are all three of my babies on the first day ever of MDO for them.  They were all around the same age.  This is our seventh year at the MDO/preschool.  It feels like home to us.  

On Friday I had a PTO meeting so I went a little early so I could see the girls at lunch.  I can't believe my baby girl is big enough to sit in the cafeteria and eat and stay in lines and all that comes with kindergarten.  She is doing so great! 

And I always love seeing this girl! She is loving second grade! 

Her first assignment was to bring three favorite things in a paper sack.  She took a turtle she got at the beach, a Little House on the Prairie Book because and an apple.  I love that these are the things she loves.  

We had promotion Sunday today and all the kids moved to their new classes.  We are teaching Will Holden's class this year.  And when I say "teaching" I really mean wrangling toddlers.  I will miss being in our adult class but I try to take every 2nd or 3rd year and teach.  I'm excited to be with his class. 

Hollis' teacher sends me little pictures of her every day.  It makes me so happy to get a glimpse of what she is doing.  

It's been great getting back into a routine.  The early mornings are a little rough and we are still working on getting the girls to bed early.  And if I could just keep up the habit of making lunches at night and laying out clothes at night - we might have a good year.  

Greater the Movie

If you know me at all - you know that I LOVE SEC football and especially the Arkansas Razorbacks.  (Go Hogs!)

Let me tell you about one special player.  

Back in 1994, there was a guy named Brandon Burlsworth from Harrison, AR (30 minutes from where I grew up).  He wanted to play football for the hogs.  Other small schools offered him scholarships but he wanted to be a razorback so he chose to walk on.  He worked harder than any scholarship player has ever worked and won a scholarship in 1996.  He went on to be a team captain and all SEC.  He also worked hard academically and earned his master's degree before he played his final game - the first AR football player ever to do that.  He was also a guy of very strong faith.  

The Indianapolis Colts drafted him in 1999 and 11 days later he was killed in a car wreck.  

A slogan that has been at Arkansas ever since has been "Do it the Burls way" - which means do your best even when no one is looking.  A foundations was set up based on his work ethic and Christian values and they bring in kids for each home game who would likely never be able to go to a Razorback game and they sit in a special section for "Burls Kids".  They also work to give kids in Arkansas eye exams and glasses for those who might not be able to afford them.  Brandon was known for his thick glasses.  

I love SEC football and the Razorbacks but I also LOOOOOOOVE a good sports movie.  I don't think I have ever cried at a chick flick but I sob like a baby at every sports movie.  I can't watch this trailer without tearing up.  

Greater - the story of Brandon Burlsworth - is coming out on 8/28 and I want to encourage you to take your family to see it.  It will inspire you and uplift you! Even if you aren't a Hog fan! 

Lately

Before I write anything else, I want to say I'm praying for the devastation that is in south Louisiana and the floods they are experiencing.  So many horrible things go on in our world daily.  I don't always post about everything even though I usually try to stop and pray for people because I feel like I would be doing nothing but posting daily about life's events but things weigh heavy on my heart as I know they do for you.   Just in the last week there was a cop shot and killed just an hour south of me and you may have heard of the plane crash that killed three couples from Oxford, MS leaving behind 11 kids without any parents.  It's hard not to be overwhelmed by the loss.  

My friend Susie lost her beautiful house and both of their cars in the floods.  She makes signs (she made the one that hangs in Will Holden's room) and there have been several pictures on the news of people floating in boats holding her signs.  It's like a symbol of hope in a dark time.  I love this picture of Susie.  She has lost so much but she has so much grace - choosing to look at the positive.  

If you want ways to help - these are some places you can donate who are helping people:

 Disaster Relief - Louisiana Baptists and Welcome - Welcome - Jefferson Baptist Church . 

It feels a little awkward to talk about such loss and then to talk about our daily life.   I think what I see in the people of Louisiana is they realize that the important thing is they are together and safe.  Things don't matter - family and friends matter.  So we celebrate the time spent together with our people.  It puts a lot in perspective.  We give, we pray, and we realize that each day is a gift.  

Last Friday Hollis went to a birthday party for her friend Kampbell.  This is such a sweet group of kindergarten girls.  I am hoping they stay friends through the teen years.  It helps that I love their mommas too.  

Five years ago, just a couple of weeks/months after these kids were born, we had a girls night at my friend Elizabeth's house.  We all sat outside on her deck visiting and our babies slept harder than they ever have.  I will never forget that.  We took this picture of us and our babies (only Laurie was holding the boy instead his mom because she just loves to hold babies).  I took this picture of them the week before they all started kindergarten.  I plan to recreate this before junior high and high school and college if we all stay here.  I'm thankful for this community/tribe/village that we apart of.  

Last Friday night, we decided to take the kids to Silver Dollar City the next day for a little back to school celebration.  My parents have season passes and live only an hour away so I texted them and asked if they wanted to meet us.   It was oddly cool and not crowded in the morning.  By mid afternoon it was hot and crowded and I had had enough fun but it was a good day.  Our girls are fearless and would ride anything (I hate rides).  Will Holden did WAY better than I expected.  They have a big room (that is air conditioned) that has all of these balls that kids can pick up and throw and shoot through little cannons.  We could have stayed there all day.  Will Holden is obsessed with balls so he was in heaven.  It was so fun watching him.  

It was a nice way to end the summer.  

Pray for Louisiana.  

First Day of School 2016

Today we went back to school! I feel like it's almost Christmas morning as I scrolled through my social media feeds last night and everyone was posting pictures of backpacks and tables set for breakfast and then today everyone was posting their first day pictures.  

This is also probably the only day in the year that I have backpacks, lunches and clothes all laid out and ready the night before.  I have good intentions but most mornings I'm racing around instead.  

My sweet Kindergarten girl! 

My verse for her is 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."”
Joshua 1:9-11

And my Second grader! 

My verse for her is 

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16

I can't believe how much she has grown in just two years! 

These two were so excited to go to school this morning.  Scott went with us and we walked them both in.  We got there early (along with pretty much the entire school) and had extra time to take a few pictures! 

Our "pre game" faces! 

Last Thursday we went to Kindergarten orientation.  The kids all go and stay in their classes for an hour while parents go to a meeting.  I walked Hollis to her class and she started crying and clinging to me.  She is such a smart and confident girl but she still has moments of shyness.  I finally left her and by the time I picked her up she was doing great! I was very prepared this morning for her to be scared or upset.  We spent a lot of time yesterday giving her pep talks and praying over her.  This morning she walked with a smile to her class and sat down and wasn't scared at all! I was SO thankful! We took her first and then after we took Harper we came back and just checked one more time on her but she was dong GREAT!!  She has the SWEETEST kindergarten teacher.  All the kindergarten teachers at our school are amazing.  I was excited to have any of them and would have been thrilled no matter what but her teacher is I think the perfect match for Hollis.  Harper and Hollis have different personalities who need different teaching styles and I think we got a perfect match! 

Hollis is a rule follower and loves learning.  She is going to do SO great in school.  

Next we took Harper.  She was so happy to go to her class.  Our school district got completely rezoned this year so nearly every school has brand new kids.  Harper knew 3 boys in her class but none of the girls.  She told me this afternoon there were "a zillion boys and only a few girls in her class".  But that didn't bother her.  I know she will make good friends quickly.  

I'm SO thrilled about her teacher this year!! She goes to church with us and I've known her for a long time.  She stayed in our house for a DNOW when she was in 10th grade and I've kept up with her through college and marriage.  Her mother was Harper's preschool teacher.  We love them both.  I like all the teachers at our school so I would never request a teacher but I DO pray a lot that we will get the right match and I just always figure who we get is meant to be.    I was so happy because she already knew all about and was set up with Harper's FM system and was excited to use it.  I didn't even have to ask or do anything - it was all ready for Harper this morning.  This was a picture at open house last week.  

Harper and a high school cheerleader from our church.  Harper loves her! 

Harper said this was the "best day ever!"  I think she is going to love second grade! 

Will Holden was ready to run all over the school.  

I was thinking about Hollis all day.  Her teacher sent me this picture and I was so anxious to pick her up.  She was all smiles and said she loved Kindergarten!! I'm so thankful! 

This was me in second grade.  Do you think either girl looks like me? 

I have hosted a BTS brunch the last two years and thought I would keep it going but then I decided that with getting two kids to school plus a toddler -it was just more than I could handle right now.  Plus with the rezoning - I only knew a couple of moms this year so I decided to pass.  Maybe in a few years once I know more people and Will Holden gets older, I will pick it back up again! Will Holden and I ran errands and kept busy instead.  

I'm looking forward to a wonderful school year! 

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Real Life Every Day Kitchens

Our kitchen is my favorite room in the house and it's really what sold me on our house in the first place.  I love all the stark white kitchens that are popular now and I would probably choose that if we were moving but I still love my kitchen.  

Looking in from the living room

This looks into our family room.  If you look closely you see a lot of child locks.  And sometimes just some old fashioned rope.  ha! Whatever works to keep a certain little person out of the cabinets! 

I'm working on changing out our kitchen table area.  This is what it did look like.  

With Will around, the little shelves made me nervous and I decided it was too cluttered so I got rid of it all.  I bought this little glass kitchen set when I bought my first home when I was single like 15 years ago.  I am hoping in the next few months to trade it out for a bigger farm style table.  I want to get those galvanized metal chairs and maybe big rattan chairs to anchor it to go with my bar stools.  

Something similar to the things above.   And maybe a more modern light too.  Stay tuned.

Kitchens are the heart of the home so I can't wait to see yours.  You can also IG with #reallifeeverydaykitchens.

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