3234 Oak Tree Lane

Over the last couple of months, Steve has been building a playhouse for the girls.

It's about 6 feet off the ground, looks like our house =), has a great view, and is so.stinkin'.cute.

When I see the playhouse in all its adorableness (not sure that is really a word!), I think of the hours and hours of fun the girls are going to have playing house and school and restaurant, the hours of reading and eating and laughing, the hours of sister-talks and friend-talks, the times they'll run up there for a good cry or to just think for a while. But that's not what I think about most when I look out my window and see the house with the address 3234 Oak Tree Lane. (Reagan's address for their new place!) I think most about the man who put the house together and what a labor of love that house displays.

What a dad. What a man. He has so much to do and yet he takes the time and money to make something special for his girls. Regularly I think they don't realize how good they have it. And then I think in many ways I'm glad they don't. I tell them regularly, but they have nothing to compare too. That their dad enjoys playing with them and teaching them to throw baseballs and climb trees and weed the yard is normal for them. I am so thankful that they have a dad that will stop and listen to them and tickle them and pray over them. Who will take them out for breakfast dates on Fridays and Lowes dates on Saturdays and read the Bible to them over breakfast. Who will take them on walks and teach them to ride bikes and dare them to do things I wouldn't do!

When I look at that little yellow house with a tin roof, I see another expression of love from a dad who adores his girls. I hope that little house weathers a lot of storms (and any large falling tree branches!). More than that, I hope the Lord uses it and the many other ways their dad demonstrates love and care toward them to set their eyes and hearts on HIM, and that He uses the ways that Steve loves them as their earthly father to reveal to them that He, their Savior, loves them even more. My heart is full of gratefulness when I see my girls being cared for by their dad.

Turtle

Steve and I were on our way home from helping Keith and Amanda pack up (boo-hoo) and we were getting ready to turn onto our street when we saw this little guy trying to cross it! The girls thought it was pretty fun to get to pet a turtle! But no pet turtles for this house!!

Random Blog

I've been wanting to update, but time to do so has been minimal! So, let me try to post a little real quick!

Here are my sweet little darlings in a rare moment of mutual hugging. They do love each other, but I have one daughter who is super into touching and another who I think would do well not being touched - ever! So as you can tell by the quick shot I took through the banister this was a rare moment!

I love a good salad on a hot summer day! Here's our dinner - a Cobb salad - from Friday night! It was super yummy!

And here is my super deal of the week (actually, I made the order in August, but I just picked it up tonight). I bought ALL of this for $1.99!!! (6 books for the girls for Christmas, a CD for the girls for Christmas, a CD for Steve, one for me and a book for me!)

3 Months Old!

Yes, our baby is 3 months old already! And boy, is she getting cuter and cuter! She is so aware of what is going on around her...I don't know how she couldn't be with her active sisters constantly dancing around her!

Jordyn is smiling and cooing and actually looking at us! She's rolling on her side and starting to hold on to her little toys and blankets, burp cloths - whatever she can get in her grip! She started taking bottles a couple of weeks ago and she's doing great with them! Oh, and she loves the mobile above her crib.

This week I started having "floor time" with her and her sisters. Before nap time we lay a blanket down and the girls each go and get one of Jordyn's toys to play with her with. They have gotten so excited about this time of the day!!

Lord, thank you for these precious girls. Thank you for making Jordyn a part of our family. What a joy and a delight she is!

A Rainy Fay Day!

It's been pretty rainy and dreary outside today, but inside it's been quite active over here! After dinner (thanks Mama!) we pulled out our couch bed and popped popcorn and watched Dr. Seuss videos! The girls thought it was super fun! I still can't believe it's not even 7 yet!!

Jordyn is 12 whole weeks old today! Time sure is flying by. She seemed to enjoy hanging out with us for the movie. She has been smiling and talking to me all throughout the day today. She is a wonderful baby!!

Won't You Come Out and Play with Me?!?!

Monday we met Amanda and Dena and all their kiddos to play! We met up at the mall (free air conditioned play area!) and had a great couple of hours. All of the little ones played amazingly well and us moms were even able to hold several conversations! It was so cool to me that we were able to even eat lunch with 7 children 5 and under and all the children sat in their seats and ate quietly, shared their food and toys, and obeyed so well. Amanda and Dena, thank you so much for how you are loving and training your sweet little children!

A *Few* Pictures of the Girls!

Here are a few (wink, wink) pictures of our precious little gifts! Reagan is 4, Sydney is 2 and Jordyn is 7 weeks old!!

Thanks, JJ, for taking these!!

4 Weeks Old Today!

Jordyn is 4 weeks old today. In some ways it seems like time has gone by so quickly, in other ways it seems like it truly has been 28 days since her birthday! This last week she was such a trooper! From Thursday evening - Saturday afternoon she came with me to our annual Ladies Retreat. She did fabulous! I even got to hear the messages (more on the Ladies Retreat coming shortly!!). It was fun having just her for a couple of evenings to just hold. The time to hold her at home flies by when taking care of the other girls and the house, etc., so I cherished those moments I just was able to rock her and hold her and snuggle with her!

She is growing like a weed, too! I can't wait to see how much she weighs next time we go to the doctor. Her cheeks are filling out! Last night she even let me sleep about 3 1/2 hours straight...well, that may have been because I forgot to turn her monitor back on after feeding #1! She is a very pleasant baby! She has her little spurts of crying throughout the day, but other than that, she is quiet and happy! She is starting to focus in on people and things which is fun for us! Reagan and Sydney love showing her toys throughout the day!!

We are Home!!!

We made it home yesterday a little before noon, and Jordyn and I have been trying to recover from our hospital stay =). Neither one of us slept much while we were up there, but we are making up for it now! My mom is staying with us for several days, which is an incredible blessing! She is making it so easy for me to get rest and recovered so we can get back into the "new normal" as soon as possible! Jordyn did GREAT last night! My Mom said she slept pretty much until it was time for her to eat each time! I hope she keeps it up! She's a little jaundice, so we have to take her to the doctor today. Also, the girls will come home this evening! I'm looking forward to having them home, too, but it's been nice to have a little time to rest before they get here! I'm sure they have been having a blast at their Citi and Grandpappy's house!

Here are some pictures...

More Beach Pictures!

JJ took some fun pictures of the girls and I while we were in Destin. I was waiting to post them until I made a frame for Steve! Oh, and as you'll notice, one of our little darlings enjoys having her picture made a lot more than the other one!!

Day 3!

Today we started off with some super yummy donuts at the Donut Hole and then, with the kiddos loaded up with sugar we headed back to the ocean! Reagan wanted to swim in the ocean, so in we went. It was pretty chilly at first, but so beautiful! We enjoyed it so much! Sydney was quite whiny today, BUT once we got back to our room and went to the pool she was HaPpY! She even went under a couple of times! They got to stay up about 2 hours late tonight since we were busy packing up! Reagan thinks she is pretty big these days!

This was such a wonderful getaway! I've been able to rest and enjoy the girls and have even slept well the last couple of nights. I'm so grateful that JJ brought us along with her =)! We'll be back in Orlando in time to pick up Steve from the airport tomorrow! Reagan didn't even hesitate about leaving when I told her we were leaving so we could go pick up her Daddy!

Here's some pictures from today!

Day 2!

Today was another beautiful day at the beach! JJ and I got a little too much sun yesterday, so today we opted to run to Wal-Mart and get a handy-dandy umbrella! The girls on the other hand spent about 4 hours enjoying the sand and sun. Reagan made more new friends and even was great at going down to the ocean to fill up buckets of water. She was so sweet sharing with Sydney and when I told her she needed to come over and play with her sister (and leave her new little friends) she ran over and played with Sydney without even hesitating! Where we are staying has a little putting green right outside our door, so after dinner we went and goofed off a little bit. We ended the evening with some special s'mores. Now the girls are whipped, although Reagan is snuggled up next to me trying to wind down...I think she may just sleep the whole ride home on Friday! She's been so excited since she's been here I don't think she quite knows what to do with herself!

Tomorrow we are headed to the Donut Hole for breakfast and back to the ocean!!!

We are at the Beach!

Steve is working in North Carolina this week and someone blessed us with an opportunity to go to the beach 'til he comes home! So, yesterday afternoon, the girls, JJ and I packed up the van and headed to Destin. It is gorgeous up here. We spent all morning at the beach and the girls had a blast! They even made a couple of new friends! Reagan decided she liked the ocean, too! After dinner we went down to the boat docks to see if we could see them bring in some big fish, but we were a little too late. But we did see some skinned sharks (sorry, the pictures are probably gross, but I thought Steve would like to see them!) . It was such a fun day! Here are some pictures...

Pictures!

Christmas Crafts and Gingerbread Houses

JJ made Christmas crafts with the girls one day and we decorated their playroom with them! They were so cute!

Then, we had our "annual" Gingerbread house day with Mia and Ellla and Dena. The girls made adorable houses which actually stood up this year! Sydney just enjoyed eating the gingerbread men!

Just a Swingin'

What a Wednesday!

7 AM, and our condo was shakin' this morning! Steve got the girls up and they had breakfast together! By 8:30 the girls and I were on the beach catching some sun and shells! The water was a little rough and the girls' healthy fear of the water seemed to disappear today, so we didn't stay at the beach too long! We went to the pool for a little while, but then Reagan had, ummm, should I say a difficult time, so we headed up to our room to work through things and regroup! We watched a Blue's Clues and got ready to go on a lunch "date"!

When I was little we would go to this restaurant that had fried pickles. I used to love them! Steve showed me a menu when I got here for a little place that has fried pickles (along with fried everything else!) so my mouth has been watering since I saw the menu! So the girls and I went there for our little "date". We had so much fun! The girls had fried pickles, fried mushrooms and fried pickles! (Along with a very cheesy grilled cheese sandwich and French fries!) Everything was great and the service was wonderful! We just took our time and laughed and laughed and laughed. We sure did wish Daddy-O was with us, though!

By the time we got back home, I thought the girls would be worn out, but they weren't! (It must have been the cake with the yummy chocolate topping!) So, I put Sydney to bed and then Reagan and I grabbed our own rocking chairs on the balcony and read our books!

It was so beautiful outside that I packed up a picnic and we had dinner on the beach! The girls just couldn't stay out of the ocean! By the time we were done they were both soaked! They were so cute!!

Ahhhhh...It's off to relax for a little while!

Tuesday - Ahhhh...Another Beach Day!

Well, I think the pictures say enough about today! The girls had a blast! They were in bed before 7 tonight! They were so tired by the end of the day! The little boy in the pictures is their new little buddy for the week, Carson!

Reagan and I colored and Sydney and I played once we settled back in the condo. Reagan and I also began working on these verses today:

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100

Monday!

We've had a great day so far today! As you can tell, I'm enjoying having my computer back, although all I've done with it is catch up blogging! The girls and I were at the beach by 9 AM and played in the sand for a couple of hours! We met a lady with her two year old and her Mom down there this morning and had such a fun time with them! Sydney even ventured out today and played with her sister in the sand. The beach is so wide and it is so cool how there will be little pockets of water all up and down the beach. The girls (and I!) love that we don't actually have to go down to the ocean to get a little wet! I forgot to put my card in my camera, so I don't have any pictures from this morning! Then we cooled off in the pool and enjoyed tater tots for lunch. (Don't worry, we had some other stuff, too, but the tater tots were the hit item!!)

So, after lunch I put the girls to bed and went outside to read. I came back in and heard quite a bit of chatter...not totally unusual, just louder than normal!! So, I quietly turned the doorknob and this is what I saw...

Popsicle Faces!

Little JJ came over to play yesterday and I haven't ventured outside much with the girls because it is SO hot outside. BUT they all wanted to go and swing (even Sydney bounced and grinned at the thought), so we braved the heat with Popsicles in hand!