Being Thankful?

Ok so I know to most people the beginning of the school year is such an exciting time.  I have a confession though, I have been so "down" about it.  Its hard for me to wrap my mind around my little ones growing up, and this year they are going to be in separate classes to make things harder.  However, in trying to practice what I have been preaching to several friends in the same situation, it's time to be thankful...so here it goes.
-I am thankful that I have 2 babies that have my whole heart
-I am thankful they are progressing so well that they thrive at school
-I am thankful we are able to send them to school
-I am thankful for the MIRACLE that happened with Harwood, and my special guardian angel Michele, who will hopefully try to tackle 1st grade in a couple of years
-I am thankful for friends (and one very loving mother) who have listened to me, not made me feel insane, prayed for me, and watched as I really lost my mind over the past few days.
-I am thankful that Clay can look at me and say, "God does things that may hurt us but never to harm us"...he said it in a different context but it might just be one of the wisest things I have heard.

Ok so we are off to a good start...Fall 2012 is here whether I like it or not, I have however missed the enrollment deadline to get my teaching degree (although it was a good idea BB, much better than the sedative suggestion when I already wasn't making sense).  Maybe next semester-ha!

Oh and as for where have we been?  NO WHERE...really, other than to get yogurt a LOT.  We have been spending these last few days playing, running around, swimming, having lunch and eating up every minute of summer.  I swear we are going to have to move to the beach at this rate!  How on earth will I keep up with these schedules, I feel like I have been in the car since I woke up today.  Oh how good it was to see two faces in my mirror this afternoon.  Joy buckets in carseats=happy momma.

Aunt Al and our cousin Land were here last week-oh how we miss them!

Joy Buckets before school this morning

Tink beside here book bag hook at school this morning (yes we  each took a camera today)

Some of Michael Thompson's Pictures of the babies :)

Acting surprised like she just won the "grand supreme" on toddlers and tiaras, we've moved on to repeating "Im kind, Im smart, and Im important"  she's a little parrot

Murphy no longer has these toes,  I ate them.

Seriously?  I have to drop him off 4 days a week?

Sweet tink

Yogurt excursion #12000046

Our friend Adam and Murphy having a drink at Uncle Sweet Pea's

Murphy's 1st day back

He did some work on the farm before school this am...?

Saying bye bye to Ms. Dianne and Ella (Madden's best friends btw) at the JCC, we truly could not love  these ladies more, I miss them already.

family pictures

My sweet Land, she is as sweet as she looks.

Future roommates at U of M (maybe memphis not Mississippi that way I won't have to move)

Hoarding, yep first day of school and hoarding. Can name everything in her hands, but she's not letting go of it.

²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, 
   for his compassions never fail. 
²³ They are new every morning; 
   great is your faithfulness. lamentations 3:22-23

Thank heavens for this verse, as you can see I fail everyday at letting go...and a thousand other things.  I am so overwhelmed to think He loves me right through my fears and weaknesses.  I can't wait to see what this school year brings-the miracles from last year have just started to unfold!

"Mercy"

sometimes when Madden gets to chatting a little to fast...she turns "Murphy" into "Mercy"...just a little Madden-ism I have grown to love.  Both babies always go around the room and name everyone there as if to let us know in case we missed someone.  So since the beach...Mercy has taken a weeks worth of swim lessons, although I think our money would have been well spent with Mr. Chuck, we have celebrated the 4th,we have both gotten big girl/boy beds, been to birthday parties and I had a birthday.   We are still on vacation around this house, even though its been busy.  We have just decided that being on vacation is the best place to be, so we are staying, although I will tell you "potty training" is not recommended for vacation, its one of the worst endeavors on the planet around here, Mercy!

3 years ago...

3 years later...to the day(and yes I know I need a hair cut I am working on it).

Acting surprised for BB and Ben

Nothing better than a birthday cake, except blowing out candles

the dreaded toilets.

Happy Happy Bruce and Robb

SKIPPER!

His actual bed is being painted, can you tell the little rascal is just waiting for us to leave so he can climb down and explore?

Brave Girl...at least around Hadley

Putting Mr. Chuck to work

See there are actually 4 of us!

So we are moving...

well at least in my tiny little dream world we are.  I am in love with the thought of one day moving to the beach and its even worse now that we are back from one of the best beach trips ever.  Of course relaxing by the beach and pool with a book is wonderful, BUT what's even better is to watch a 2 year old and 3 year old totally embrace every bit of sun, family and sand they can.  I know kids usually like the ocean and like to play outside, but my two, well they would like to camp out on the beach...FOREVER.  Murphy and Madden spent 10 hour days playing in the water, making friends, and making sure every inch of their precious little bodies was covered in sand and sunscreen.  They drank up God's beautiful creation right down to the last minute of our last day.  They ate lunch and snacks outside, they napped outside, the loved on each other and all of us...it was not only refreshing but it was truly a gift.  Mimi and Pop, CC and Skipper, even Uncle Sweet Pea and Sarah all together for a week of wonderful weather was just what we needed.
For a week, our troubles were gone, stress existed only in deciding what was for dinner, and well although I wouldnt say we are more rested, I can say we were content.  To look at the vastness of the ocean and the infinite grains of sand, it was overwhelming to think the same God who made all of that was right there with us.  He was holding the babies' hands as they played, whispering to the rest of us, "look at them, their joy is what I want for all of you"....as my dad said one afternoon while were talking, "our lives are about as small and minute as a tiny grain of sand in the scheme of things, but God's love for us and the joy he has in store for us, well, that's infinite it's greater than all the oceans in the world"...( see dad I was listening...!)
Well there are tons of pics of our week together, I am posting a bunch (sorry but I had 300 to chose from)!  I am dying to get back to the beach, to that place of peace and the sight of sheer joy in the eyes of my babies...

Psalm 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

see how much happier they are...this pic alone is worth moving!

Just chatting about the BIG water

truly soaking in what it means to be on vacation

Telling uncle sweet pea about all of the waves he saw

The "tutu' swimsuit is NOT so fun in the sand, this one however, is just perfect!

at times they couldnt get close enough, it was like they wanted the other to share in everything they experienced

Mimi and CC even know how to swim in the pool!

The Hunts were there and there was a band=happy kiddos!  Murphy and Madden had some amazing moves (they must get them from Uncle Sweet Pea)

....ice cream with CC Skipper Mimi and pop and getting to wear one of momma's dresses= happy TINK

More vacationing, mom and dad need to take notes

tink's towel, I love it

that smile....

This was taken just minutes before a wave took out Skipper and Murphy-and they loved it!

joy buckets

cartwheels, cant you tell?

yep, we sleep with shovels now (hoarding knows no limits)

She loves Uncle Sweet Pea something fierce...but he doesnt have to know it :)

one of Madden and Sarah's long talks...their girl talk is so funny!