nice long visit

We loved having an extended March visit with the Links...while also thinking and praying and hoping and wishing that they may just be moving back here before we know it.  ;)  They arrived Thursday night, so we started our time Friday with a laid-back schoolroom morning...

Showing Mads and Sam the new Kid History :)

Jenn is awesome and brought fun St. Patrick's Day crafts and activities...my kids love getting to do these things when they're with her :).

And then outside time, rolling down the hill in the front yard ;)

Saturday, we had some girl time when the mamas, Madi and Greer went to Greer's rehearsal for her first ballet, the Roar of Love.  It was beautiful and so special for Greer to have Jenn and Madi there to watch...and then we topped it all off with a little ice cream treat from Jenn :)

That evening was my fave...all of us got to be home together, the weather was amazing, kids had fun playing, daddies grilled some yummy dinner and we just had visiting time without anywhere to be :).  Can't really think of anything better...

Some bedtime funnies :)

 And love :)

 Park time after lunch Sunday

Loved the St. Patty's Day fruit rainbow Jenn and the kids made :)

And some yummo cake pops from our neighbor friends!

As we were straightening the house and getting the babies to bed, the bigs made themselves at home with books behind the couch.  On their own.  Love this view :))

Getting ready to say bye on Tuesday...all fun and games until...

...somebody is sad that her friends are gone :(

But it's almost final that other weekend's events mean that our fave buds will be back here doing life with us in just a little while...it is a gift straight from the Lord and we.are.so.grateful. :)))

rare pretty saturday this spring

Though I confess to be fairly weather-wimpy, I think it's safe to say that this spring has just been too cold across the board.  We have missed most of B's games because of it and just grown weary of inside time.  Thankfully, one March Saturday gave us a quick reprieve and we enjoyed being with B, visiting with family and friends and then relaxing some on the porch for the evening.  

Mammaw, Aunt Gretchen and baby Charlie came to visit!

Garner loved holding him :)

Our kids loved fun time with our Roberson and Miller buddies...and got dirtier than dirty :)

And finally, reintroducing ourselves to the back porch.  I can't wait for more time out here again this year...

This week starts our spring break, so hopefully that will mean lots of blog-catching-up!  Stay tuned...

randoms in feb

All cuddling up and reading in Mama and Daddy's bed on a Saturday morning :)

Greer :)

"Mama, yook at me!"

Another Greer creation...with cheese this time

Found this in the mess of her room...pause and smile :)

Assisting in the kitchen and looking so grown all of a sudden...

Couldn't help but snap this pic one morning, thinking about how easily I could have missed these precious days if I had followed my own plan for my life...

Boho chic?  She dressed herself and was so proud.  I couldn't break her spirit, so off to school we went :)

Testing Newton's laws and PJ day at co-op...

And another pic of Greer's cute class making valentines crafts :)

A beautiful weather day...thankful for flexibility to occasionally postpone schoolwork for a few minutes for fresh air and family time :)

He loves to read now...one of my favorite outcomes of homeschooling and all the reading we do as a family

Although he is hungry all the time (growing boy thing, I guess), he is the.slowest.eater.ever and ends up staying at the table after we're done and cleaned up

After finishing my 2012-read-through-the-Message-version-of-the-Bible in February 2013 ;), I turned to this year's focus. I stink at slowing down for prayer time.  Reading and studying the Word are easier for me since it is doing, but the calm and stillness of prayer gets put off in this busy stage of life.  I long for that time with the Lord.  I gathered some prayer-focused reading materials, will be studying scripture on praying and look forward to more consistency and growth in my daily pausing.  Pray for me to be a better pray-er?  Thanks :)

Tough couple of days...lots of time-out in the reading chair beside Mommy and no interest in wearing a hair bow (only because I suggested it).  So thankful it's not like this all the time.  It's exhausting and so sad!

Garner and I went on a Saturday morning date to a birthday party for her little co-op friend, Henry.  She loved the dinosaur hat party favor.  So fun and cute!

Loved having an overnight visit from the Owens!

Presidents Day learning

Sweet sisters

Before I could get on to Greer for writing in her Bible, she said, "I underlined my Bible like you do, Mama."  :)

Treats and snuggles

Her smile melts me

Decided to paint their homemade crystals while I was on a phone call one day...homeschoolers :)

I remember my mom driving the kid wagon...crazy to be doing the same!  Had a few extras from three different families one afternoon :)

Usually they sleep on the top and bottom bunks of Greer's room...but have recently been pulling out the  trundle to be a little closer.  I can't wait to show them this when they are teenagers and don't have quite the same affection for each other :)

March will be coming up...but it's our craziest of the year, so we're a bit behind.  On everything :)