Extra in The Ordinary

I'm not sure why the 100th day of school is so carefully observed, unless the teachers are secretly counting down the days until Summer (I know I am), but either way I just can't believe that it's March, and we are already ALMOST done with this school year. So, for our own celebration, here is a picture of the first day of school. Since I never posted it when it was at all relevant.... And here we are after 100 more days of homework and 100 more gluten free and dairy free lunches....looking 100 times smarter.....

Our oldest daughter, IPK, turned 9 this week. It hardly seems like 9 years ago we were kissing her little forehead after her long awaited arrival. I was on a 3 month bed rest before she was born. Then, I went 10 days over due before I had her. We were so ready to have her in our arms! After being induced due to high blood pressure, I finally had a c-section at about 6:50pm on a Friday night. She was a 8 pounds even, and so perfect. I cried when I saw her. My heart was beating on the outside of my body. I love my babies, and my first is of course no exception. Maybe that day my emotions were exaggerated because she was born by emergency c section, so when I heard her cry for the first time it was a relief (she was ok). Over the years, she has learned to talk, learned to walk, learned to read, ride a bike, learned to love God, and to love His commandments. She is an advanced reader, a cat lover, and like a fish in water (loves to swim). She loves her sister and her 6 cousins (and one...

Spring break has never been so fun! This year I rented a suburban, left Husband at home in Houston, and took my girls, my sister, and her 3 kids on a road trip. In case you didn't catch that....that's 5 kids. And no daddies to help. Yes, it was a brave trip, but it was SO much FUN!! It's like the thing you're really supposed to do on spring break- usually we don't travel very far, and/or we try to get too much done at home. This year the theme was definitely:"Get out of town!!" 1) Thank you to husband for letting me and the kids desert him for 6 days . The fridge had no food in it when we left. I just didn't have time to grocery shop. So he ate out of the pantry and slim pickings of the fridge for the week. Why do men prefer that to going to the store for food? Anyways, he made like 3 batches of soap while we were gone, so I think he had some fun. 2) Round trip, this was 1200 miles. I drove it, but my SWEET sister was the parental referee. Oh m...

These days our family is busier and busier. Finding time to sit down each weekend with the girls and still have "Tea Time" has been a challenge, but when God's in charge, really cool things happen. I was praying to Him that I felt like I was in a Tea Time funk, and I wasn't sure if I was still supposed to write the Tea Time devotional book, and God basically said stop being lazy and write out a few good ideas. I did. Here's what happened.... This weekend we created The Heart Board Tea Time!! Some of you have done a "Dream Board". I like them, my kids have done them, but they can be worldly if you or your kids get too focused on tangibles like cars or clothes or food, etc. So, we decided to make a Heart Board this week during tea time. The only things allowed on our heart board are pictures that remind us of spiritual truths, family members, God's creation, good, noble, righteous things, God's word, etc. I wanted the girls...

Last week I was reading Family Fun magazine, and I came across a cute idea. Ya know all the crazy, funny, adorable things kids say- the things that make you giggle? Well, rather than feeling guilty that you don't have time to journal and scrap book every waking moment of your children's lives, try making a Giggle Log. This can be a notebook you keep at home in the book shelf, or a list you keep in the kitchen, or whatever works. I love the "notes" on my iphone, since it goes with me everywhere, so I keep my Giggle Log there. Anyways, you just jot down the funny things your kids are saying/doing about once per week.  First of all, the day before I started the Giggle Log I got this pic of the girls, which seemed fitting.  Ok, so here's what I have so far (I just got started) Giggle log: (general earlier memories) When IKP would go with mommy to the obstetrician while pregnant with Punkin, IPK wanted to go up the "alligator" (elevator). Pun...

When it's been a while since the last post, you know we've been super busy. Work has been full of wonderful opportunities to go early and stay late, and limited time to write. I always regret not taking enough time to write, but at the moment resting seems smarter than burning the candle at both ends, so I'm glad for that. After 12 weeks of unexpected additional responsibility at work, I feel like I came through it stronger, and even more healthy, rather than getting sick. Ok, enough about me! Back to family stuff! During the past few weeks, we: Watched our lil Punkin graduation Pre-K, and she did a great job!! We celebrated lil' cousin Tighty's 3rd birthday. Or you can call him "Batman": We celebrated IPK's 8th Birthday in Dallas with brother G and sister S: Here's go karts with brother G and sister S. We love them so! Here is Punkin' in her very first solo go-kart ride: Oh, and we went to a few day...

A couple of weeks ago I learned a lesson from my kids in courage, and I just have to share this. It's a precious memory I'll keep with me forever. So, it was a hectic Saturday morning, the Saturday before Easter, and we were getting ready to go out to eat breakfast. IPK (our 7 year old precious daughter) wants to put on her magnetic earrings. Ok, I tell her. (She'll take them off in about 10 minutes because they pinch her ears, but until she has the courage for real piercings, this is what she likes to wear). So she puts them on and looks happily in the mirror. Big smile, and then she trots off to her room. 5 minutes later..... Punkin (our 5 year old daughter) goes into IPK's room and notices the earrings and wants to put them on, too. There's only one pair, so the conversation isn't getting very far. Mr. Extraordinary (husband) hears this conversation, and says- "Hey IPK, do you want to go get your ears pierced?". She gives me a look I'll ne...

Ordinary: Chaos at dinner time, plus 2 more kids Extraordinary: An unforgettable, precious little story I'll tell my kids (and their 2 cousins) for years. :) This past weekend I kept my sister's two little ones, "Tighty" and "Yaya", and it was definitely busy at our place. Yaya is 4 and Tighty is not even 2, so combine that little recipe with another restless 4 year old and a curious and super smart almost 7 year old, and you have a perfect dish of entertaining chaos. They have their quiet moments, but I'll be honest. When it's too quiet I'm worried. Chaos is pretty much what you expect with 4 kids. Ok, so it's been a busy 24 hours of Cinco De Mayo fun, and I'm frantically trying to cook dinner (ok, ok I didn't cook- I was frantically trying to plate up the Chinese takeout), and the kids are begging me for "lunch". First of all this makes me feel a bit guilty at first and I think "did I not feed them today?", ...

Ordinary: It's my sister in law's birthday, and I forgot to send a card, so I'm feeling pretty crumby Extraordinary: My sister in law is also currently in chemo treatment for stage 3 colon cancer, and she's my hero (and hopefully this post will tell her in case she has any doubts) It was a few months ago when we got the news that she had the "c" word. I can't even think or say it. It's so harsh, and presumptuous. Not her- she can't have something like that. She's so strong. The mom to two spunky boys, and the wife of my brother, who's quite the manly man. She's tough.  She did Tough Mudder for goodness sake. She is a marathon runner. She's just slightly older than myself. Not her, please God. I haven't even gotten to know her well enough. We haven't lived in the same state. I haven't been the sister I really wanted to be...yet. God please give me a chance. After we heard the news that it was a reality for her and o...

Ordinary: a sick kid, and then the other gets sick a day later.... Extra: Little one (Punkin) got sick after big girl (IPK). So, big girl says "Mom, when she gets sick I just wish it could be me.". Me: "Wow". My thoughts: My girls argue every now and then. We have a small house, so they get in each other's way, but they love each other SO much. It actually reminds me of the kind of love I'm called to show my biological sisters, and my sisters in Christ...AND my future sisters in Christ. How many times have I thought of a friend, almost called, and then decided not to. She's probably busy anyways. How many times have I almost given someone a compliment, and then shyed  away, or rushed right by. Shame on me; love is all that matters. Just say it. Just do it. Faith working by love was the theme of a recent women's weekend I attended, and it reminds me of a sweet woman we had to say goodbye to recently, my aunt. Aunt W never second guessed herself....