Happy 4th Birthday Charlie!

This was the gift he was waiting to open ALL day. He kept telling me all week that he just knew I bought him the dinosaur that moves his head and makes loud noises. I wrapped it and he knew the shape of the package. He kept saying, "Can I open the striped one...PLEASE"! You can see on his face that he LOVES it!

Auntie and uncle Kris and the boys got Char a civil war hat. He LOVES it!!

Gramma Dee-Dee got Charlie Spider Man for his B-day and for Halloween!!
Char LOVES playing baseball and always says, " mommy and daddy will you give me some pitches"? So, we bought him his very own tee-ball stand!

He also got a race track for his cars.

The Bauer's came over for a little cake and ice cream. Char LOVES dinosaurs and loved the T-Rex they got him!!

Benny wanted to help Char blow out the candles. Char wasn't to fond of that idea and we had to light the candles twice so Char could do them all by himself! Thank God for little brothers!!



Happy birthday Charlie boy! Mommy and daddy love you so much and are so grateful to God for you. When you were in mommy's tummy we thought that we might not get to see you until heaven. The doctor's told mommy that there was a strong possibility you might not live. Mommy and daddy prayed for you each day that God would make you strong and that mommy would be able to have a healthy baby. When mommy found out you were OK and that I was having a boy God filled my heart with so much Joy. I wanted you to be just like daddy. Daddy is adorable and you are adorable. Daddy was a big baby (10lbs 13 ounces) and you were a big baby.(8 lbs 13 ounces) You were the BEST baby and had the nick name "CHUCK POPE" because you were just content to chill and do nothing. You bring mommy and daddy so much joy. The funny things you say, the adorable smile, the ways you lay down your life for others by sharing all your cars and dinosaurs and the joy you bring to mommy and daddy each day by being our son. You are a blessing Charlie and we love you. Happy 4Th birthday!!

History was made today!!!

I was looking through Aaron's wallet yesterday afternoon and found an Olive Garden gift card we have had for a while. I forgot about it and so did Aaron. I asked if we could go and with a little begging(or you could call it manipulating! Oops!) Aaron gave in!! (history will tell that it's probably best NOT to go out to dinner at a sit down restaurant with our children!!) It was a very nice time and the kids all did so GREAT. NO spills, no yelling, no grumbling. The kids loved the food and Aaron and I had a good time as well. Thank you Lord for your grace in all of our lives!!

Playin' with fire..

So...here's the story.(I hope Deb doesn't kill me for this one!!) Aaron bought me a candle for my b-day. I LOVE it. I keep it on the counter and the kids know NOT TO TOUCH!! Well, today I was vacuuming and I smelled something burning. I thought, "What could that be, I don't have my dinner in yet." Then I hear Benny keep saying, "I'm sorry mommy, I'm sorry mommy." I turned around and he had lit the M&M bag on fire!! It was in flames and the counter was burned. I had to get a picture for the blog! Then I got a cup of water and put it out. Ben has been saying he's sorry for about 20 minutes!! Gotta LOVE my crazy kids.

BTW---Daddy will discipline for this one when he gets home!!!!

Happy Birthday to me!

James fell off a chair and smack onto the concrete. He only cried for a minute and it didn't really bleed badly. It just looks really bad!!

Monday was my 29Th birthday. I loved being with the kids and my love. We went to the pumpkin patch and took pictures. Then it was off to the doctor for flu shots and Jimmy's 15 month check up (that was QUITE an experience!!) and then we got Little Cesar's pizza for dinner and watched a movie with Brian and Billie. Thank you Lord for 29 years. Thank you Lord for my family (near and far) and thank you God for sending your precious son to die on a cross for a sinner such as I and for drawing me to yourself 10 years ago.

"Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me"

Recipe Tag...

OK, Jenn tagged me a while ago to do four recipe's and I just kept forgetting. So here it goes!

Aunt Jenny's Avocado Dip

3-4 Ripe Avocados, peeled and diced in little pieces

1 pkg. Grape tomato's, sliced small

2 cloves minced garlic

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 Pkg. Feta, crumbled

3 TB. vinegar

3 TB. Olive Oil

Mix all together and serve with Frito's!! YUMMY!!

Sweet Potato Casserole

3 Cups Sweet Potatoes, (4 medium potatoes)

1 Cup Sugar

1/2 stick melted butter

2 Eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 Cup milk

Boil and mash potatoes. Mix all other ingredients together with potatoes. Place in a 9 by 13 baking dish.

Topping

3/4 Cup brown sugar

1/2 stick melted butter

1/2 Cup flour

1/4 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp baking soda.

Mix together and sprinkle on top. (I double the topping to make it extra yummy!!)

Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes.

Gramma Martha's Donuts

3 1/3 Cup flour

1 Cup sugar

3 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2TB oleo(butter)

2 Eggs

3/4 Cup milk

1 can Crisco

Mix all together except Crisco. Boil Crisco in large pan on low to med heat. cut into donut shape of choice.(I have a donut cutter!) Watch very carefully and don't let out side's burn. When cooked through place in a brown bag with topping of choice. (we use powdered sugar and cinnamon and sugar)

Stromboli

1 pkg pizza dough

1 8ounce pkg mozzarella cheese

1 pkg. sliced provolone cheese

1 pkg. sliced ham

1 pkg peperoni's

Italian spice

garlic salt

melted butter

parmesan cheese

Pizza sauce

Roll out dough. Layer ham, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese and provolone cheese down the center. Sprinkle with spices. Fold side into the middle and seal. Rub with butter and sprinkle with a little flour. Flip over. Rub with butter again and sprinkle garlic salt and Parmesan cheese on top. Bake 20 minutes at 375. (or until golden brown) Heat sauce and use for dipping.

Recent photos of the kiddos...

Here are some recent photo's of the crazies!! Jimmy James got some new kicks...he looks adorable. Aaron made some cup cakes with the kids while I was gone. They loved it. Mea is really into tap dancing now. She loves her class at school. Charlie LOVES shark tooth and has renamed himself it. Benners is getting sweeter but still crazy into everything. All in all things are going really well and we are grateful to God for his kindness and goodness in our lives. We are SO blessed. Miss you all--Sara

Real...

My disgusting shower in my bathroom. I'm pretty sure it's rotted but do I care...not really!

My guest bedroom. Full of dust and cobwebs. Do I care...not really!

My beautifully painted walls full of beautiful art by my two year old. Do I care...not really!

A fellow blogger asked people to post about the REAL things in their life. Here are a few glimpse's into my REAL life and one giant truth in my REAL life!!
The truth is that there are LOTS of REAL things in my life. REAL sin, REAL joy, REAL thankfulness and REAL hope. My hope isn't in the fact that I have REAL issues it's in the finished work on the cross. I'm not defined by my discontentment with my house, anger at my kids, ungratefulness to my husband, selfishness, lack of joy...the list could go on. I'm defined by the righteousness of Christ and his GRACE that is reigning in my life. That's my hope, that's where I find the strength to love my kids, be a loving and faithful wife and the Godly woman God has called me to be. "How Good is is to be loved by you"!

Hebrews 4:14-16
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Whatever my God ordains is right

Though now this cup in drinking

Bitter it seems to my faint heart

I take it all unshrinking

My God is true, each morn anew

Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart

And pain and sorrow shall depart

Ben and James dedication at church...

Ben and James were dedicated at church today. It had been a long time since we had a baby dedication so there were lots of kids!! It was fun. Aaron had the boys stand by him while he talked and they were SO funny. Smashing their nose's up against the podium! I didn't see it because I was in the back but I heard everyone laugh!

Daddy's day off!

I had to show Benner's face. The kids were surrounded by the annoying geese and I was running for dear life!

Here they come to get our food.



The perefect ending to a great day... a rainbow.

Aaron showing off the, "FINISHED PRODUCT"!