Stressed

I am stressed out. We are going to be shelling out lots of $$$ to the dentist in the next few months. Please don't tell me what a bad mom I am. I feel guilty enough on my own. Goodbye birthday trip to SF... Goodbye new purse I don't even know I need yet... Goodbye other stuff I can't think of... Hello happy teeth. :D

And can you say a little prayer for us? My dad's work schedule is such that my little sister only sees him twice a week. Some family friends have been helping him out during the summer, but I've really been feeling that she should be with family. So I've been talking to my hubby about having her stay with us during the week. It would definitely add a new dynamic (if that's the right word) to our family. It would be a big change to add an 11 year old into the mix. Did you know I already have 4 kids? ;) I just feel like it's what my mom would have wanted. So we're praying about it.

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. NIV

Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. MSG

I so want to live carefree... It's got to be possible right?

xo

TGIF!

The days of the week are generally a big blur for me. Sunday's are distinguishable because of church, other than that it's just one day after the other. Friday's are usually just another day, but for some reason I'm glad it's here and the is almost week is over!

It started off good...until Wednesday. I thought the highlight of the day was my 2 1/2 year old throwing his shoe out the car window on our way home from running errands but it wasn't. Later that evening, my hubby took the kids to his mom's. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to run an errand I'd run out of time for earlier in the day. Add to that I didn't have to drag my kids with me? Too good to be true!

And it was. I got my first ticket in 10 years!

Now I've had a few thoughts in the past few months that I shouldn't brag too much about my "great" driving record so much to my hubby. You know "karma" and all that. And though I still could say I have a better record, my hubby didn't give me too hard of a time about my ticket so I won't. Maybe he figures being ticketed in the Toys R Us parking lot was enough embarrassment. I actually had no idea I was being pulled over until I was parked and getting ready to walk in the store and then I noticed the flashing lights of the motorcycle officer. Not sure how long he'd been behind me... don't know if he had his siren on, I was very into my music... I did notice all the curious parents and kids coming in and out of the store as he wrote out my ticket. I still can't figure out why all I could manage to say was "I'm sorry". No tears, no excuses, just "I'm sorry". I think the officer even expected me to say more than that.

But it's too late now.

This happy pic is from the Taste of Edmonds last weekend. It's a much smaller version of the Bite. Way more our speed. We go every year. Yummy food. A few activities for the kids. Good family fun. The boys rode the little ponies. The girls tried rock climbing. We ate Hawaiian and Filipino food (my favorites). There was a yummy Tibetan Mango drink we tried. 3/4 of my kids ate hot dogs. (Go figure). The cotton candy was delicious. Actually they called it Fairy Floss. Cute, huh? We had a good time hanging out as a family.

I hope everyone has a fun, ticket free weekend!

xo

P.S. You guys convinced me on the boots, now where should I send the bill? ;) And if you haven't check out Tara and her mom's etsy store. Super cute goodies... I try but I just can't hide how much I like to shop...especially window shop...not for school supplies though. I am so glad to be almost done with all that. :)

Aren't these adorable?

I came across these Uggs today. I am really trying to justify them for one of the girls. Really they remind me of my younger daughter. They're so fun! ...maybe if they're the only shoe she wears all Fall/Winter/Spring...

We went camping over the weekend with the Young Families group from church. It was a lot of fun. The kids got super dirty, but they had a blast. I haven't slept in a tent in a looooong time. I think I was around 8 or 9 when I started sleeping in our van when we'd camp. So I'd be safe from the bears. ;)

Our poor kids, especially the girls were squished with all our stuff. We didn't even have that much to bring. So we'll have to figure something out for when we go camping again. Other than that I think camping is totally doable. For a weekend at least. :)

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer!

xo

P.S. I promised one of my girlfriends I'd put a pic of my new purse on here awhile ago. Now I could list the reasons this purse needed to come home with me but you'd still probably shake your heads. :) The fur does come off. So that's how I'll be carrying it until...I don't know whenever I think it's time to put it back on. lol.

The uggs and the purse can be found here. You'll have to do a search for them. :)

Trust

I found this here.

I have not always found man trustworthy, but God has never failed to live up to his word in our relationship. -Beth Moore

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. -John 14:1

For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which he swore to them. -Deut. 4:31

xo

Lost in bookland

Summer is going by way too fast. I can't believe it's already August! I have been reading a lot lately. I hadn't finished a book in years until I joined my friend's book club, and now I can't stop reading. I discovered yesterday I could download ebooks from Barnes and Noble so now I don't even have to drag the kids out of the house or wait for the UPS man. :) I am totally tickled over this. My hubby thinks I'm strange. lol.

The last couple weeks have felt so busy with VBA and then Kai's sports camp. I am so glad to not have any thing to do today. I woke up earlier than I would have liked but I think that happens quite often.

Can you guess where this pic is from? It's probably the one place I will willingly take all 4 kids other than the mall. I know the zoo like the back of my hand or at least my kids do. This time I just took the boys. I've had to drag them kicking and screaming from both places. Usually it's the guy below causing the raucous.

Don't let the sweet smile fool you. This boy has been keeping me BUSY. I know I say the same things about him that I used to say about Kai, but honestly sometimes he is more mischievous than his siblings combined. He continually tests my limits. Someday I will miss this right?

And here's Kai at sports camp. It was his first time doing anything sports related. I think he had a great time. It was last week when we were having temperatures in the 90-100s. I don't think he complained at all. I know they took lots of shade and water breaks.

So now I will go back to curling up with my book, well actually my ebook, which isn't the same as a real book but it'll do while I wait for the UPS man, wishing I was on a tropical beach somewhere instead of on my couch.

Happy August!

xo

Tired...

Remember how I couldn't wait for VBA to start?

I am not a morning person. I'm trying to become one... I've been trying for years. I can wake up early. It's the going to bed part I can't seem to master. My kids are not morning people. Getting all 4 of them to church by 8:30 a.m. isn't really happening. We are getting later each day. But we have 2 more chances to be on time. :)

Next week Kai is doing a sports camp. It starts at 9 a.m. After this week I should be able to get there on time. Maybe if I tell myself I have to be there at 8:30 a.m. That doesn't ever seem to work though.

And no the pictures have nothing to do with my post. I just happened to find myself on Pottery Barn's site tonight. There's a lot of cute stuff. Those 2 are my favorites. I'll just have to imagine for now though. :)

The girls are loving VBA and I am loving their excitement. I'm just tired. And really trying to run errands with the boys is exhausting. I think it's worse than when I'm running around with all 4. The last couple weeks they've really gotten into wrestling each other. And this week I learned they don't mind doing it public. I don't know why I was surprised.

At least the sun has been shining!

Happy Summer!

xo

I can't keep up

I can't keep up with this blog. I don't know how everyone does it. I can't even keep up with social needs of my 7 year old, who is currently chatting my ear off with the wonders of Pixie Hollow. I need to plan some play dates. Thank goodness VBA is next week. :)

Where to begin...I could tell you about how we went to the zoo (again), how my kids are really bouncing off the walls (Thank goodness for sun today) or how we started on Fall shopping the other day (which led to a talk on how we're not made of money and appreciating what you're blessed with)... Really nothing exciting though. So I will tell you about our 4th.

It was the best. We spent time at hubby's best friend's parents cabin. The warmest water ever. The kids loved it. We don't get the chance to play in warm water often in WA. It was just good to be with friends, and relax! I wish I could have taken pictures of the fireworks. They were amazing and I didn't have to worry since my husband wasn't putting on the show. And we ended the night with smores. :)

I thought of you guys. She has decorated so wonderfully with so many cute vintagey touches you all love. I should have taken pictures. Maybe next time.

hubby and I

my busy boys

my sweet girlies

My hubby is taking the kids camping again tomorrow! They are so excited. I'm not the best camper (I worry about everything and my imagination runs wild) so I think they have more fun without me. And my hubby told me Jolia is a mini me so really I'm not needed. :) We have a camping trip planned in August that I am actually looking forward to. My one goal is to clean the carpets while they're gone, but other than that I am going to enjoy the time off. Isn't my hubby the best!

I hope everyone's enjoying their Summer!

xo