School work is keeping me pretty busy lately. I feel like all my free time is spent reading or researching for the British Literature course I am taking. So far, I am enjoying the class....my only complaint is they seem to pick the most depressing literature to study! This is our last week on Tess of the D`Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy and his view on life was anything but hopeful. Don't get me wrong, this is an amazing book and I loved reading it, but, man, am I ready to read something a little more optimistic. Not to mention, Hardy was agnostic, or at least skeptical in regards to the goodness of God. He seems to think God is up there just messing around with our lives for his own amusement. This course seems to focus on authors who feel belief in God is something for children and not for thinking adults. To me, their beliefs about God seem to be the childish ones...or at least lacking in understanding....it's irritating to say the least. Can't wait for next semester when I have to take a Women's Studies course!

KAYLEIGH IS THREE!!!!!!

Thursday was her actual birthday, but we had a family party for her yesterday! Ame made that beautiful butterfly cake for her...isn't it just the cutest! Insects were the theme of the day, since she received all the Hermie character dolls and three new videos from Granny, Papa and Aunt Samantha. Last night she slept with Lucy (her specific request when asked what she wanted for her birthday); I wonder who she will pick tonight.

We had a wonderful vacation week! Saturday through Tuesday evening we were in Austin visiting dear friends William and Sammi. Monday we met Justin's brother and his family for a day at Sea World. This was my first time to go! The Shamu show is so awesome! Kayleigh rode her first roller coaster and Daddy bought her a huge Shamu to take home. Wednesday Aunt Samantha and I took her to see the fireworks show at Vista Ridge (her first). I was a little worried the noise would bother her, but come to find out they shoot them off further away than they used to. When I was growing up, they went off right over our heads and debris fell all around us!

I have a new appreciation for mothers of multiples. Two days this week I had triplets! William's little girlfriends came over to play and was I ever busy! Until nap-time (thank goodness all of them take the afternoon one together), I felt like I was constantly feeding or changing a diaper. Poor Kayleigh is probably feeling really neglected :(

I have started doing "school" for about an hour a day this week, and it seems to help some. This week we learned about the letter A. We made an alligator paper bag puppet, a letter A book, and an apple tree with fingerprint apples. I am also working on one-to-one correspondence and shapes. She loves the one-on-one time...something she doesn't get a lot of lately. She has also quit taking her nap...grrrrrrrr! Oh well! The new rule is she has to stay in her room and look at books or play with her dolls for at least an hour. Today I'm letting her watch a movie, but I don't want that to be an everyday thing.

This rain is about to drive me nuts! We took Brent's advice yesterday and just let Kayleigh out to play in the rain. She loved it! She is an outdoor girl and starts to go a little nuts if she can't run around for a little while.

Sorry this is all about the kiddos...it's kind of a therapeutic thing. I have bad days when I question the wisdom of having children....they can drive me to tears on occasion. Kayleigh seems to fight me on everything and I feel incompetent most of the time with her. But I find if I focus on her progress, it helps me get passed the other stuff.

Yippie!!! We finally purchased new furniture! Here's a pic of our new couch...ours isn't red though, it's truffle(dark brown). I'm so excited! We bought the sofa, love seat, chair and ottoman. Can't wait to see what it looks like in our home!

On a sadder note....found out Saturday that my favorite clothing store, Ann Taylor, is introducing a maternity line :( This would have been awesome about a year and half ago!

Whew! What a week!

Justin had to go to San Diego for work this week and I volunteered to teach VBS at our church. Monday had me questioning the wisdom of teaching while Justin was out of town. Getting the kiddos out the door by 8:15 am was rough, and getting home at 1 pm was even rougher. We made it through the week and I have to say I am so glad I volunteered!

Before Kayleigh was born I taught Sunday school....children's ministry has been a part of my life since I was about 11. My mother directed the children's church program at our old church. My siblings and I were kinda volunteered to help out, since for some reason nobody likes to serve in this area. Don't get me started on that one.....I just can't understand why a large church, including the one we currently attend, struggles to get teachers and assistants for Sunday School. It really frustrates me!

I miss serving within the body and this week was a wonderful reminder that, even though ministry can make life a little hectic, it's so worth it! This week it was my privilege to teach 4-year olds about Jesus. Monday had me feeling a bit sorry for myself....I always seem to get the tough kids.....one with autism, one high-energy, and one very bright little girl who, like Kayleigh, tends to act up when she's bored. For some reason, I was instantly drawn to this little girl. Maybe I see myself in her or something. As far as I know, her family doesn't attend church and I'm not sure if they are believers. She asked me yesterday why we can't see God, and how do we know if he's there if we can't see him. Thought that was pretty deep for a four year old. I can't tell you how many times I got goosebumps this week! It amazes me everytime I serve how God uses these little children to teach me and strengthen my faith in him!

The sermon at church today was on James 2:14-17....Faith without works is dead, useless, of no profit to anyone. The speaker explained it like this, "Faith without works is like a car without gas". He also said if you believe something to be true, but do not act upon it, your faith in that truth is useless. In other words, what's the point of believing truth if you do not apply it to your life? It does not profit you are those around you.

Application of truth is something I have struggled with for as long as I can remember. I know so many things to be true, and yet I do not see them affecting the way I live. I feel like I'm missing some sort of bridge between knowledge and wisdom ( the application of truth). To be honest, I know what that bridge is and I know why I feel like I'm missing is. James also says that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God for it believing he will receive. Therein lies the problem. I don't pray...there I said it. I just don't....I know I should...I believe God will listen and grant me wisdom...I just don't ask for it. I feel silly praying...self-conscience...like He's going to laugh at me for what I'm saying. I fight against intimacy is all corners of my life, including my relationship with God. I think I'm missing some sort of intimacy chip in my brain or something. I mean, aren't women supposed to be pros at intimacy...isn't it just something we instinctively know how to accomplish in relationships? I feel defective. And before you say it...yes, I know revealing this seems intimate....but I would never talk to someone face to face this way. I guess I just need to start praying no matter what I feel like...maybe in time I'll get over the whole feeling silly thing, until then...I'll just feel silly.

All the cousins at the Zoo! After looking at this I realized it would be totally possible to have four children with their ages (6, 3, 2, and 9 months)....scary thought!

Kayleigh has a big-girl bed now! My sister bought new bedroom furniture and gave Kayleigh her old bed. I think I am going to paint her furniture the lime green color in the comforter. Luckily I found a bed set that already matched her walls...I did not want to paint her room again!

Woo Hoo!!!! We had a potty-training breakthrough this morning! Kayleigh actually told me she had to go poo-poo, and then went on the potty! Now I know most people do not get this excited over bodily functions, but I am thrilled!

On to other subjects....

I have decided to become better informed on the goings-on in the world. Right now my only source of information is Good Morning America. This is probably not the best source, but without cable it's all I have. In the past, I have voted totally based on party affiliation and I realize this is not going to work in the future (probably didn't work in the past either). This time around I would like to research the issues at hand and make an informed decision. That being said, I need some input from you ....any suggestions on web-sites that will help make me an informed citizen. I'm not really looking for radical, but I do think knowing all sides of an issue are important, so I welcome any suggestions you have! My biggest pet peeve is people who simply accept everything they hear without looking into it for themselves. Therefore, I do not want to be one of them!

Any ideas on how to get a three-year old to pick up her toys? Here's what I've tried so far:

--putting toys left out away so she cannot play with them the rest of the day
--taking away TV
--taking away outside
--time-out, while I clean up the mess
--telling her Jesus wants her to be mommy's helper ( yeah, I know, probably not the best way, but had to give it a try)

Of course, most of these are more pushment for me, then her. I'm pretty much out of ideas here. I know she's only three, but I would think she's capable of cleaning up her toys.....especially when I am there helping her do it.

Playing in the rain!

This is what 100 long-stem roses looks like! Aren't they beautiful!

Isn't she the cutest little girl in the world!

My great-grandmother turned 100 years old a couple of weeks ago! I can't imagine living that long and seeing all the changes over those years. We took a picture of the five generations...I think it's so cool! Oh, and those are silk overalls my Papa is wearing!

Yea!!! We finally have high-speed internet! Now that I don't have the worry about tying up the phone line, I plan to blog more! Of course, this all depends on how busy this English class keeps me. We have to participate on a discussion board a certain number of times during the week. So far, I'm enjoying the interaction with my classmates. This is my first internet course involving regular discussion, so it's a whole new world for me.

A few happenings since the last post:

Kayleigh ate three pennies, which I then had to check her poop for. Oh, the joys of motherhood! They passed without a hitch, and hopefully she learned her lesson. She is in an experimental stage right now. Every thought that enters her head must be tried out....this includes taking off child-proof caps and spilling medicine everywhere. I thought the bottle was out of her reach, but she figured out how to get it somehow!

William is pulling up on everything and he can stand on his own for as long as he feels like. He gets this huge smile everytime he catches himself standing. Guess he thinks he's pretty hot stuff or something. His determination amazes me! Kayleigh was a pretty easy baby to redirect, but not William. That child does not forget about what he wants. Yesterday I spent a good 15 minutes pulling him away from the stove while I was cooking. The kid would not give up and when he finally did, he went for the cookbooks on the shelf. And he is a screamer! There is no question he is upset when he doesn't get his way. I think he gets this from Justin!

I am enjoying my laid back summer schedule with daycare children. Right now I only have one little boy on Tues and Thurs. This enables me to focus more on my own children. Some days I feel like my children miss out on quite a bit because I have other children to worry about. I really enjoy the days when it is just me and them. Today I think we will go to the library after William's nap. Kayleigh loves going to the library! Reading is one of her favorite things to do and I am so glad she already loves books!

That's all I have for now....I'll try to drum up some deep thoughts for the next installment!

Abba, Kayleigh and Daddy at the ZOO this last October. Isn't this the sweetest picture!

William watching the men work with tools!

WheelBarrels are so much FUN!!

Kayleigh on her new swing set!

Did you know there is gobs of FREE preschool material on the Internet! I could spend hours ( and to be honest I already have) searching all the websites out there. I have found so many awesome craft and lesson ideas for this next year. I think I am going to work toward about an hour to an hour and a half of "school" time after the summer. Of course this will be totally flexible depending on the mood of the children. Some days they will sit and pay attention and other days I'm lucky to get a five minute story in. I working hard at keeping the TV off for most of the day and getting them outside for at least 30 minutes. I love this weather....we can stay out all day if I want to.

Daddy, Papa, Uncle Mark and Cousin Jeff put together Kayleigh's new fort/swing set this weekend! She loves it and is already a pro at climbing the ladder and rock wall. So, now we have our very own park in the backyard. Although, I do still plan to visit the park down the street at least two or three times a week. That's my exercise!

Still working on school stuff. Only one more week and then the final. I'll be taking British Lit through TWU this summer. Hopefully I won't have problems finding time to read and write some papers. I found out TWU offers a General Studies degree online, so that's the route I'm going to get my Bachelor's. Still not sure what I want to do when I grow up, but at least this degree provides some options (Master's in Teaching or Library Science are two I have considered). I have a while before I'll return to the work force, so for now I'm just going to focus on the BA.

Well...I think I hear a child waking up!