we love basketball

We love basketball in our house.  Dave played in high school, I played in high school and we are dreaming of years of watching our kids play too.  So far they are showing a huge interest...yay! 

This was Taylor's second year playing and second year of me coaching her team.  She improved so much this year. Last year she scored one basket all season, on the last game. This year I'm pretty sure she scored every game...sometimes a handful of baskets. 

 It's so fun playing on a team full of classmates and friends!  I didn't get many pictures of the girls.  Being the coach kind of makes that hard.  And I forgot to ask Dave to snap some for me. 

Saturday mornings were seriously just the best.  Watching those girls have so much fun, play so hard and actually figure out the game is just awesome.

This was Mason's first year of basketball. He decided at the very last minute he wanted to play.  He didn't get signed up in time to play with his friends, but he still got on a team with one of our friends as the coach.  He didn't seem to care he wasn't playing with the boys from school...all he cared about was playing basketball.  

PURE JOY.  Those are the only words I can come up with to describe watching that kid play.  He's the smallest one out there, but so quick, and dribbled that ball like we couldn't even believe.  I can't describe how awesome it is to watch your kids come alive doing something they love.  

 And while we're on basketball...

Mason got tickets to Harlem Globetrotters for Christmas!

The whole week before, he was a sick little guy.  Missed 8 days total of school.  We prayed and prayed he'd be able to go to the game.  Thankfully his prayers were answered and he was fever free for a window of about 48 hours in the middle of 9-10 day stretch of yuckiness.

 

Looking at these pictures I can tell Mason had been through the ringer.  But I'm so glad he was feeling up to making the game. 

Our favorite part was cheering on "Flight Time", one of the players that was on Amazing Race a few seasons back.  We didn't know he was still playing, so when he ran out on the court we were SO excited!  I think the cotton candy and dippin dots came in a close 2nd to being the favorite part. 

And then the end of the game came, and they noticed all the other kids who had gotten the $25 basketball to stand in line and get signatures.  We opted out, since we have an abundance of balls at home and didn't really want to deal with them fighting over one ball.  Horrible parents we are.  Horrible.   This sent one of our kiddos into complete hysteria.  Our night ended about as far from a happy ending as you can get.

Real life I tell ya.

Craft Weekend 2014

WOW.  Big break there.  Definitely unintentional as always. And I miss it as always too.
So I sat down to figure out how in the world I would start this post, and realized I had written a post back in January about my craft weekend with friends.  And I never posted it.  So I'll just start with that because it's easy.

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This was our 6th Annual Craft Weekend.  One of those I missed because I was snuggling our newborn Gavin instead.

It started in 2009.  We rented a house in McPherson because the Whatever Craft House didn't exist yet.
This was our 3rd year at the Whatever Craft House.  It's the best place in the world to do this weekend, for sure.

I got there early to open the house up for everyone and get my soup going for dinner.  I had Christmas music blaring and my back was to the door and the first person had to scream at me to let me know they were there.  I was a little startled. But I'm glad she kept her distance and didn't just come up behind me and tap my shoulder.

 I love the Craft House for so many reasons, but mostly because it holds 16 of us so perfectly and comfortably and every where you look just screams happiness.

I'm a creature of habit.  I'm the type that orders the same meal every time.
I also choose the same bed at the craft house every time.
The back corner bed with the green quilt has been mine for 3 years.

One of these years I think I'll go early enough before anyone else gets there and just hang out in the bathtub for awhile.

 

I wasn't very good with pictures this year, only snapped a few. 

I've had some old sweaters stashed away for awhile and finally got a few of them made into pillow covers. 

And used the sleeves to make boot cuffs/leg warmers for my nieces.

All weekend we do whatever we want as far as crafts or projects. No one is the boss. While most of us use it as a time to spread out and create things we don't get to do at home, there is plenty of other stuff going on too.  No pressure, no expectations.  Just moms getting a break from being moms.

Every year we have a little different of a group.  But it's an awesome group every time!  I love the opportunity it gives us to get to know some girls that we don't get to know very well otherwise.

In past years, once I get there, I don't leave.  I stay up till 3 and 4am hanging out and crafting and sleep till 10 or 11am.  And pretty much stay in my pjs all weekend.

This year I had to be a grown up. 

Saturday morning I was basketball coach.  And Sunday morning I was Sunday School teacher. 

The plan was to make myself go to bed earlier than usual since there was no sleeping in this year.  But it didn't happen.  I still stayed up till 2 and 3 in the morning.   And I'll just say, waking up to an alarm in the craft house is no fun at all.

Check our our past craft weekends if you want to!
2013
2012
2010

rest in His perfection

The day before Christmas Eve it happened.  That mommy meltdown that I try so hard to avoid every year.  But it seems inevitable.  There are always such high expectations.  Plus the need for a clean house, work to be wrapped up, ,cookies to be baked, other snacks and treats to be made, presents to be wrapped, food to be prepped for Christmas Day since we are gone all day Christmas Eve, and either trying to fit in all the extra stuff we didn't have time for, or just deciding to give it up.  You know, like realizing how far behind we fell in our advent readings. Not something I feel very proud to have to give up and move on.

Every year, no matter how hard I try to slow down, prepare my heart and keep my family focused on Jesus, we fail. Some years we fail worse than others.  But more times than not, the picture of Christmas in my head...is never what actually takes place.  

And you know what.  I'm slowly learning, that it's okay.

I remember running across these words from Ann Voskamp last year at the perfect time, and sure enough she posted them at the perfect time again this year...

"It's *okay* that you didn't get it all done. 

And that it's messy & far from perfect. 

He came to do it all...so you don't have to stress at all. 

The point of Christmas is you can *rest in His perfection*--- because He embraces you in your *imperfection.*

I’m thinking of the whole bright sky declaring the glory of God, pouring forth speech: 

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Lk. 2:14).

His glory in the highest always runs down to meet us at our lowest."

[from the post: "What Saves Every [Chaotic, Messy, Disappointing] Christmas: How to Simply Have the Best Christmas, Even Now, Especially Now"

Rest in His perfection.  

I don't have to make Christmas perfect. 

I don't have to try to make our days perfect.

I don't have to try to raise perfect kids.

 And I'm far from the perfect wife and friend. 

This Christmas, when I look at the mess and imperfection that filled several of our last days. And even how our own Christmas is not looking like it's supossed to.  It's like God is just whispering to me "It's ok.  When you try too hard, when everything falls into place like YOU desire...you forget about me.  It becomes too much about you.  I've already done all there is to do.  So rest in MY perfection while I love you through your imperfection. Celebrate what's already been done.  And that is all."

That is all. 

All Christmas needs to be about is what's already been done.  

Our God coming down to be with us.

To be with us and to make a way for us to be with Him. 

Despite our selfishness, our failures, our temper-tantrums.  Despite our messiness. 

It's all already been done.  

Starting in a manger and ending on a cross.

"His glory in the highest always runs down to meet us at our lowest"

 So breathe a little slower...rest....give up the expectations that will more than likely never be met. 

And celebrate.  We don't have to do a thing.

It's already done.

Merry Christmas!

Are you ready for a change in 2015?

I have the perfect idea for you!  Well, only to those who need or want it.

Are you ready to take a step in a better direction for your health in 2015?

Maybe you're sick of feeling the way you do and just having to cope.  Maybe you are tired and sluggish and never have any energy, or don't sleep well.  Migraines? Digestive issues?  Honestly, I didn't even realize that I was suppossed to feel better than I was!  Maybe you'd love to drop some pounds.  Along with these other things, this was a huge motivation for me last year. 

January 2014 was the first time in my life I decided to finally make some decisions to be healthier. Until then, I never cared.  So if you don't care, that's okay.  I am not preaching to you. If you don't care, then you don't need to read this.  Come back later if you ever change your mind. I didn't care for a long time either.  It's sad to me that there's a divide between people who eat healthy and those who don't.  That there are so many opinions and poking fun. This is about what YOU need.  I needed it.  I was living with several migraines a month, low energy, digestive issues I had lived with my whole life and just thought was normal, and not to mention extra pounds that I was finally ready to do something about.  You know if you need a change or not.  It doesn't mean you'll be jumping up and down excited to change.  Change is hard.  But a change like this will leave you looking back being soooo glad for the commitment you made.

This year I took part in 2 challenges with My Clean Eating Challenge.   Before the first one this summer, I was definitely nervous.  I had major bad habits with food, I didn't like many veggies, I never read a label in my life and felt like eating clean was going to be virtually impossible and not enjoyable in any way.  

Thankfully I was wrong about a lot of that. 

I never knew food could heal so much. The right food, anyway. And it makes all the discipline worth it.  And after one challenge I was ready to do another.  Just to make sure my habits were sticking and that this wasn't going to be something I did for 90 days and then stopped. I personally need accountability and tend to not be very disciplined in some areas of my life without it.

Not to mention I really had no clue what clean eating was all about so I needed help.

I did a few other posts about the challenge, and my clean eating journey here and here. 

Why's it called clean eating?  I'm not really sure.  It's just the term everyone's picked up.  We have to call it something. But if you prefer to call it REAL FOOD eating, go right ahead.  It's about eating foods that were made to be eaten, and not eating things that were never intended to go in our bodies. Little did I know how far the food industry has gotten away from real food.  It doesn't eliminate entire food groups, it just suggests limiting things that aren't the most beneficial to our bodies and health.

I realize this can be taken to all kinds of levels.  But it can also be kept simple. 

 

The challenge is about people coming together to learn. (because let's face it, we don't all have hours and hours to spend researching, educating ourselves and figuring out a new food journey all on our own, having someone just teach it to us is much easier).  It's people coming together for encouragement, and having a team, and a coach, to help you when you say "I have no idea what I'm doing!"

The challenge is about real people eating real food in real life.  It's not about shopping at Whole Foods and Trader Joes every other day.  I could never do that.  I'm a small town, home-body who doesn't venture past Walmart and Dillons most of the time.  I need REAL LIFE habits.  Not things that I'll only be able to keep up for a short period and breaks the budget. This is what the My Clean Eating Challenge is all about. 

And let's be honest.  This isn't about saying goodbye to your favorite treats forever.  At this point that may not be realistic to you at all.  Even during the challenge, you'll get 2 cheat meals a week.  I never thought I would say goodbye to Pepsi.  But I don't do this perfectly.  We still ordered a 2 liter along with our pizza tonight. But rare is way better than every day.  I didn't sign my life away to something.  I just made huge changes.  I will enjoy treats at Christmas, but I'll make better choices than years past because I know how I feel now and how I don't want to feel.  I am aware of the junk now.

I would love to invite you to start 2015 off with the Winter My Clean Eating Challenge.  It begins January 8 and will be 10 weeks long.  Every week there will be a webinar helping you learn and know how to do this!  Recipes will be shared, tips will be given, you will get SOOO much support! 

Why do I talk so much about this?  I guess it's just like anything else in life.  When you're excited and passionate about something, we don't tend to stay silent do we?  If everyone stayed silent I, myself, would never have be encouraged to start this journey.  I would NEVER have figured this all out on my own.  Never, ever.

It's been so awesome not only realizing what eating real, whole foods has done to my own body, but watching others too.  I've watched friends stop medication they were on daily, just because they learned that eating the right foods can fix a lot of issues.  I've watched friends get that sparkle back in them because they actually see hope in a journey of weight loss, and they don't feel tied down by signing their life away to counting calories or taking pills and shakes.   It's fun to do this together, and I would love to have you join us in January!

Here's how:

Go to www.mycleaneatingchallenge.com

Browse around and read about the challenge, the creators, the success stories.  Don't miss the FAQs. 

When you're ready...click REGISTER.

Fill out the registration form.  Cost is $150, but $125 if you register before January 7. 

It comes to $1.80 a day!  That's a cheap cost to feeling better, looking better and overall better health.

Join alone or get a friend or family member or a whole team of 3-6 to join you! Having someone doing this with you is HUGE!  But if you don't have anyone to join you, we'll get you on a team!

Listen to a recorded call with lots of info here.  All you have to do is enter your name and email address to access it. Don't worry - no spam!  It's the creators of the My Clean Eating Challenge, gals I know personally, giving you all the info!

Like the My Clean Eating Challenge official FB page - with 265 more likes they are giving away a free challenge!

Join the Winter My CEC event on FB so you don't miss announcements.

 Sign up for the free newsletter available to ANYONE!

Do you have an HSA account? If you do, you can possibly use your account to pay for the challenge! You simply need a script from your doctor prescribing the challenge and then out the appropriate paperwork!

And let me know if you have any questions!  Leave a comment or email me (email address in the Contact section of my blog).

I will surely need this challenge again myself after the next few weeks of Christmas goodies!!

It feels good to know I have a plan already set for getting back on track. 

The new Bikini Body Mommy Challenge starts January 5th too!  Perfect timing to get an amazing start to the new year!

Happy Birthday Gavin! {Thomas the Train party}

Our baby turned 3 the day after Thanksgiving. 

He came up with an easier way to show 3 on his fingers, all on his own.

This was him before bedtime the night of his actual birthday.  Turning 3 is hard work, and it wasn't even party day.

 I kind of knew how he felt.  It was a whirlwind of a weekend. 

Thanksgiving on Thursday.

Birthday party baking, cleaning and decorating on Friday.

Dave and I were gone all day Saturday for the K-State game.

Sunday off to church and home for an afternoon party.

Whew!

Gavin talked about a Thomas party for months. 

And after I got it all decorated, he stood and looked around and said 

"I no like Thomas anymore...I like Percy"

Seriously this child cracks me up!

I'm pretty sure he was just trying to see what I'd do.  Where do they learn these things!?

Good thing mom was on top of things and made sure Percy was a part of the party too (in just a few places).

We got him a birthday shirt to go with his engineer hat from Silver Dollar City.

 The shirt was a little big so he wanted it tucked in, with a belt.  Just like big brother has to do for school everyday.

I hope I never ever forget how funny Gavin is at this age.  Maybe he'll always be that way.

He makes us laugh daily.  He cracks jokes, has the funniest faces and can be quite the little ham.

He's Mr. Independent.  Most days he has 2-3 shirts on because Daddy wears 2-3 shirts to work to stay warm.  They are 100% of the time on backwards.  To the point that I do not understand HOW he is so consistent at getting them backwards, you'd think that at least SOMETIMES he would get it on the right way.  But no, never. And typically you'll find him wearing a belt that is either only through 1-2 loops or on backwards with the buckle in the back.  I still don't even know how he gets it buckled that way.  Oh yeah, and he has some Mickey Mouse slippers that he loves and insists on wearing them grocery shopping most of the time.

He is still a Daddy's boy, as he's always been.  Lately he talks about how he's going to go to work with Daddy the next day.  Which has still yet to happen.  Poor thing.

He would be happy if he could throw a football or wrestle with Mason and Daddy all day, every day.

And he's be far our most social and outgoing child, also the one who wanders the furthest, experiments the most, and holds his own in any fight. It's a little disturbing to me to see how well he's picked up how to fight and go into attack mode. But I guess when you're the baby sometimes you just have to learn that to survive.

Yesterday in the checkout line at Walmart he was singing his Sunday School song "jingle, jingle, happy bells", so loud that I'm pretty sure 2-3 lines of people could hear him.  I didn't realize it was that loud until I looked up and saw people on all sides of me smiling, pointing and listening to him. 

 

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!"

Thank you Buddy the Elf.  Gavin is helping you out with that one.

It sure is fun being the baby of all the cousins. He gets spoiled and they are all so sweet to him.

When you have a child who needs NOTHING, and I can't even come up with ideas. 

Then a Thomas overload it is. 

Thomas books, puzzle, toys, flashlight, water bottle, bathrobe, pillow case and I'm sure there was more I can't remember.  And I'm guessing maybe even more coming for Christmas!

But the superhero cape was quite possibly the hit.

3 year old birthday parties are the best!  It seems like it's the first time they actually know what's going on.  But I'm super sad thinking about how it's probably the last 3 year old party I'll ever throw.

 I remember how I felt between ages 3 and 4 with my other kids.  And I'm kind of dreading it again. There is a lot of growing up that happens.  They move from toddlers to preschoolers and a lot of the "little kid" talk, and cute things they do go away.  I tried my hardest to hang on to my bigger kids as hard as I could and slow down this growing up process.  But it didn't work.

Hopefully I can figure out how to make it work this time around.