Happiness Is...

Always having chapstick and hand lotion available when I need it.

Trying new recipes. Specifically twice baked sweet potatoes and anything dipped in melted chocolate like bananas and marshmallows.

Having the laundry caught up.

Collages created by sixth graders.

Giggles from my girls.

Wilder learning how to read.

My iphone.

Laughing with Blake.

Watching Maggie, Roy, Lucy, and Hazel.

Reading a few pages in a book.

Making new friends.

Standing in my yard and embracing real quiet.

Starting a piece of artwork.

Finishing a piece of artwork. (working on it)

Finally getting in bed.

Waking up for coffee.

Happy New Year

This new year my plate is full yet so are my blessings. My prayer...Lord, please help me use my time and energy most efficiently towards physical and spiritual growth for myself and my family. (I am so good at long sentences). And rest too. This prayer comes to mind, seems very applicable. I've always liked it.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

For personal goals I would like to spend a little time painting at school and make time to read books that inspire me...before my brain turns into marshmallows.

A few of my favorite pics from the last few weeks. Maggie, the hound, and Lucy our second beagle are the newest additions to our family! I love these ladies!

How old is daddy?

Seems like moving has taken over our lives the past few weeks. We are tired, grateful, overwhelmed and in love with our hew house! I promise I'll get photos up eventually but for now, sharing some cuteness. We celebrated Blake's birthday on the 5th, here's a conversation with the kiddos while decorating Blake's cake.

Closing Day

Today is closing day! There is so much to tell...show. Pics of the new house coming soon!

Gwyneth's Fourth Birthday

DecorationsGetting Crafty
Friends
Cake!
Sisters!
Proud
Blake said this photo looked like a "Shelly party"...what does that mean?Birthday Girl


Our last party in our house!

Gwyneth's Third Birthday

Love these faces.

Full

[Artwork above was created by Gwyneth]

Tonight I am feeling full. Full of joy and contentment. I am thankful that I feel this way even with the busyness of school getting ready to start and all the changes that are coming our way. It's sort of like a little paradigm shift. I am feeling lighter. More able to let the small things go...to not worry as much. More capable of enjoying. Why? Maybe it's just growth. Maybe it's the fish oil I've been taking. The break from the heat. Maybe my new job in Owasso that I am going to love. The joy of creativity. The good Lord. All of it.

Ok, somebody please remind me of this post in about a month when I type my I'm-so-tired-I-can-barely-stand-it-post. Tired from getting up at 5am, teaching 6 classes full of about 30 sixth graders each, plus keeping my own 3 children alive. Wow! It's gonna be awesome people :) No really. It is.

Here are a few special moments from the past week or so.



Addy's first painting experience! Can you see the look of satisfaction and pride on her face?


My baby boy lost his first tooth. Freaked me out at first. We're pretty sure he swallowed it while eating a biscuit. He cried because he was worried he wouldn't get money from the tooth fairy if he didn't have his tooth. I told him she'd understand. Question, in the events that baby teeth are not swallowed, what am I supposed to do with them? Who has jar of their teeth in their closet? Creepy.


Three happy babies after I soaked them with the water hose one evening after a long day. Spontaneity can be so therapeutic.


Tonight I set the table with things I never get out. Grandmother's table cloth, my vintage garage sale dishes.


This one is random. Can someone please just write the perfect caption for this? Yes, that is a baby Jesus in the back seat.