Just Some Questions...

-How can two people who have only been married 5 years have so much junk?

-How does it always happen that on my days off I find myself at different stores buying more stuff our house just needs after we just threw away 5 garbage bags of junk?

-Why do home projects take so long, create more of a mess in the process, and cost so much money?

-Why does cleaning the house take 5 hours and making a mess takes all but 5 minutes?

-How did I live in Wisconsin for 20 years and survive the winters when I can't stand being confined to the house for one week of cold rainy weather in Houston?

-Why does one of Jackson's shirts cost almost as much as an adult one that has way more material and will not be outgrown at the same fast rate?

-Why do I watch the Dr. Oz show when I know I will then think I have every ailment he talked about and then worry about it for the next few days?

-When does the Easter candy come out?

-Who came up with the 5 day work week?

-How can KSBJ, the only station I like to listen to on the radio, just stop working one day and not come back in?

-Why must college be so expensive? Why must you go to college to teach? Why do student loans take forever to pay off?

-Where should we go in Texas for a family summer vacation?

Memorizing Scripture

I always say I want to memorize more verses from the Bible, but some how I start strong and then it fizzles out. So, I heard someone at school talking about Beth Moore's Scipture Memory Team and that you link your verses up on her blog. I looked into it and you committ to memorizing 2 verses a month that God puts on your heart. I don't know if I am too late to actually join Beth Moore's team but I am going to jump in and do it anyways. You can click here if you want to read more about it or join too! If you are going to do it let me know and go get your spiral:)

You post a new verse the 1st and 15th of each month.

Here are my first two verses for January:

1st: Psalm 45:11 (NIV) "The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord."

I chose this verse because I am often, ok most of the time, WAY to concerned with the way I look and hard on myself. I am loved and beautiful in the eyes of my Creator and that is all that matters. I want to claim this verse and live it out daily.

15th: Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those that listen."

The Lord led me to this verse today as I was opening my Bible to spend some time with him. I believe this verse means many things for me. 1) It goes hand and hand with my first verse. 2.) I have been given many opportunties this year at school so far to minister to others and I need to make sure what I am saying at school is positive, encouraging, and makes me stand out from others 3.) I need to live this verse out at home

I am so excited to commit these verses and more to memory this year and see what the Lord does with them and ME! I know this spiral (I am going to decorate it) is my new reading/meditating material on the treadmill in the mornings. You may just see me with my spiral everywhere I go:)

Such a Character

Jackson and I both wore our puffy vests on Friday to stay warm. We are ready for warmer non-rainy weather, we miss our walks!
Most Friday nights we eat at Chick-fil-a, fancy I know. Jealous? There are a couple of reasons this is our go-to place. A) I never feel like cooking or cleaning up a meal at the end of the week B) It is fast so Jackson doesn't get restless waiting C) It is way cleaner, friendlier, better tasting than most fast food places D) I really truly do love it:)

We continued with our weekly routine this week as well but added to of our favorite people to our table-Louis and Katrina. Jackson was so excited when Louis and Katrina showed up at our house. He didn't want me to sit by him in the car like he usually does he wanted China (what he calls Katrina) to sit by him. We laughed all night at the fact that he calls her China! After dinner we came back to our house for brownies (pictured in Jackson's mouth below) and to play games.

Jackson actually provided quite a bit of free entertainment! Here he was counting to three and jumping off the fireplace. He was showing off big time for our guests. We never know exactly what we are going to get from him!

This morning while he was at the table waiting for me to bring his pancakes over he put his elbows on the table and was smiling at the syrup bottle like he was posing with it. This picture didn't quite capture his true excitement.

He has been wanting to wear his Thomas pajamas as a shirt everyday. So I decided we would go to Old Navy today and buy him an actual Thomas shirt to wear, although I prefer he wear his button down shirts, jeans, and boots! We were successful on finding a Thomas t-shirt and of course Jackson wanted to wear it RIGHT away. He was trying to take the tag off before we even bought it. At least he looks cute even in a Thomas shirt! But, should I have to buy my not yet 2 year old son a 4-T shirt so that it big enough to fit through the spring/summer?

Additional information: Jackson went to the bathroom on the potty for the first time tonight. He said he had to poop so I asked him if he wanted to sit on the toilet, he said yes and the rest is history!

Our Last Few Days in Wisconsin

Thursday of the week we were home I got to do a little shopping with my mom (with Garrison and Katelyn too)! We headed for a quick trip to Target. My mom was still recovering from her knee replacement surgery so I decided to take it easy on her, ha!
We found some really good after Christmas deals. My mom is actually having to go back into surgery for her knee tomorrow and is really nervous, please say a quick prayer for her.

We then made a quick trip to my Dad's shop. I always love visiting him at work and seeing him do what he loves most! Thanks for working so hard for us Dad!

Jackson got to take a short tractor ride with Papa.
That night we went out to dinner with Brian's parents and my whole family plus my Uncle Mike. Jackson was so not acting like himself. He wouldn't eat and wouldn't go by Papa, that is just not heard of with Jackson! He wanted ME and I walked around with him most of the time.

New Year's Eve morning Jackson was up early once again. I was able to go see Melissa, Nicole, and Eli (sadly no pictures). Jackson went with me but we didn't last long before he was beyond tired and cranky.

Jackson cried through most of his nap and wouldn't stop crying once he woke up. We decided somthing was going on and we better take him to Urgent Care before we flew home the next day. Sure enough he had a really bad ear infection and another explosion while we were there! I was so glad we took him in, I would have felt awful if we waited until we got home and he had flown home with an ear infection.

Right after the doctor saw him and we were waiting for his prescription he was beyond silly!

New Year's Eve night we went over to Brian's parent's house. Mel made his famous Mac and Cheese for the whole gang. We hung out and watched the kids play most of the night.

Brian lost his wedding ring and couldn't find it anywhere. (Thank goodness Traci found it a few days ago!) Here we are with Brian's sister Traci, her husband Jason, and kids Leo and Lily.We said good-bye to my family around 8:00 and put Jackson to bed. Brian played a game of Scrabble with his mom. We watched the ball drop in Times Square and called it a night. I think this is the first year I haven't stay up until Mid-night in a long time, but we had a 4:50 wake up call to go to the airport.

We made it home without to much of an issue, besides Jonathan forgot about and a carseat for Jackson. Oh man, what a trip! So much happened, so many loved ones seen, so much to be thankful for, but so glad to finally be settled back into our routine at home!

A List

1. Jackson got a haircut and she cut it really short, of course he is still handsome!

2. Jackson got another Christmas present. He tore right into it!

Thanks Aunt Midge and Uncle Dan for the awesome race track!

3. Happy 7th Birthday Aaron! My Aunt made his cool lego cake.

4. I love spending time at the park with my favorite boys. Jackson's face always lights up right as he spots the park from his stroller! I snapped a few pictures while he played.

Tongue out!


I guess this is his new "having fun" face!

5. Jackson thinks he a big boy and he will only swing on these swings now. He doesn't even want me by him but gets upset when he doesn't go anywhere!

6. Brian plays a mean game of Scrabble! He comes up with plays that I don't even believe and usually gets none less than 24 points a turn. I still have fun playing with him because he helps me get lots of points too so sometimes I end up winning, so to speak!

7. We had a great morning at Church after several weeks of being away. Brian cleaned and de-cluttered our garage, but other than that we spent most ot the weekend just hanging out the 3 of us!
8. Jackson is such a goofball, especially when he doesn't take his Sunday afternoon nap!

9. I am looking forward to making this next week the best one yet and letting God use me in ways only He can for his glory!

"Our God is Greater than all other gods, since the heavens can't contain him." 2 Chronicles 2:5-6

Splish, Splash!

In the past over Christmas while we are back home we would go stay at a Resort with an indoor water park. I wanted to take Jackson to one but didn't want to pack another bag to spend one night somewhere. I found a hotel in Green Bay that had a small indoor water park that would let you come play just for the day. We had planned to get up and go first thing Wednesday morning, but we Jackson blowing out his diapers we were not sure we should go. We decided to wait until his first dirty diaper and see what was up. We had headed to the snow hill first and then after lunch (still no dirty diaper) we decided we were going to take our chances and go. So my dad, Garriosn, Brian, Jackson, and I piled in the car and went. My mom wasn't feeling well, boo!



Jackson was so excited once we walked into the water park! I think he may have forgot how much he likes to swim and play in the water. It was the perfect size water park for Garrison and him.



Jackson and Garrison were going non-stop from the time we got there until we left. They played on the little slide, the steps, the water, the spray station, and the big slide.



I love this picture of us, except that there is a fog circle right on my face.



The big slide provided hours of entertainment and fun. Jackson was able to go down it by himself and he couldn't get enough of it! He was a rule breaker and went down on his tummy a few times.


The biggest kid of us all enjoyed it just as much!

Jackson shot a few hoops with daddy and mommy. He has skill:)

The three of us enjoying the day together.

My dad played with the two boys for a while by himself while...

Brian and I relaxed in the hot tub!

A quick picture with my favorite brother who is getting so big and smart!

My little fishy who didn't want to leave the water park.
All warmed up and ready for dinner. Garrison and Jackson both fell asleep at 7 o'clock before we got home and slept through the night. Except then Jackson was up at 4:30 the next morning and Garrison was up at 6:00.

I am so glad we decided to go to the water park, we ALL had a blast! Thank you Dad for taking two whole days off of work. Jackson and I loved spending time with you.

Cabela's

The Tuesday after Christmas my dad and I took a little roadtrip to take Garrison and Jackson to Cabela's. We needed something to do inside and I knew Jackson would love looking at all the animals. I was right, I don't think I have any pictures of his face from this outing. Brian was home resting after his turn of the flu so I didn't have him to make Jackson look and laugh at the camera!

We started by looking at all the fish in the aquarium. This was by far Jackson's and Garrison's favorite part of the store. I think we spent 3/4 of our time in here watching the fish.
I thought this hill with all the different stuffed animals was pretty cool. I guess thought the same thing!

Grandpa and Jackson, no smile from either of them but at least they are looking at me:)

Jackson was really excited to see the elephant until he realized it didn't move or make noise like the run at the Rain Forest Cafe, ha! He kept telling me it was broken.

Taking another trip through the aquarium before we leave.

On the way home we stopped at Wal-Mart for a few groceries and while we were there Jackson filled his pants. Within 30 seconds of knowing he was going I noticed the back of his pants were soaked. At least he was standing up in the cart. I left my Dad and Garrison to pay and high-tailed it out to the Expedition to try and attempt to change Jackson with out getting it all over the car, himself, and myself. Thank goodness I had remembered to pack extra shirts, pants, and socks because he needed them. Poor guy and momma!

All day Jackson would say "Daddy work" and I would just agree. I guess he was really concerned when he didn't come home at night time. He was crying and standing at the window calling for daddy. I called Brian and told him he better spend the night with us.

So sweet! Jackson didn't leave Brian's side the whole night. We both were glad he was feeling better.

Thanks Dad for the fun trip! I still can't believe I left Cabela's with out buying some green apple licorice.