rescued

In a world full of sin and brokenness, I'm so thankful that we have been rescued.

*Note: This video contains some graphic imagery. Please keep your audience in mind when showing it.

On this Good Friday, I'm so incredibly thankful that we know that Sunday's Coming.

Jesus defeated death so that we can live eternally with him in heaven!!

egg huntin'

This morning we went over friend's house from church for an Easter Egg Hunt and lunch.

Little Man loves going to other people's houses to play with new toys. 

It didn't take long for him to find his all time favorite toy......trucks and cars.  

 After a little play time we all headed outside for the egg hunt.  

 A few eggs made it into the basket, but most of the eggs got opened and then thrown back on the ground. 

 He didn't quite get the point of the egg hunt. 

 After just a few minutes hunting eggs, he decided he was done and just took a break from all the running around!

 Even though he didn't really get it, we still had a great time hunting for eggs!  He even found one of the prize eggs!!

He won a little Easter Bunny!!

Little man was a happy camper when he found out we were having "pee-duh" for lunch.  This kid LOVES pizza!! 

 Since he didn't quite understand how to hunt the Easter eggs, we decided to have our own little egg hunt after bathtime.  

And he still doesn't get it!

Guess we'll have to practice a little more before we hunt eggs with our neighborhood on Saturday and with our family on Sunday!  

ya think he likes cars?

**These videos are a little long, so they are mainly for grandparents!!  

Pearson LOVES cars, trucks and really anything that moves......choo-choos, school buses, jeeps, airplanes etc. He sat with Matt for 20 minutes or so tonight reading the same book, Things That Go. 

If you know my Dad and brothers at all, then you know he definitely has some St. John in him with his love for cars.  

meal planning monday

Monday: Sandwiches & Chips

Tuesday: Me: Girls Night Out Boys: Fish & Chips

Wednesday: Lasagna, Fresh Veggies & Garlic Toast

Thursday: Chicken Pillows, Corn, & Broccoli Rice Casserole

Friday: Oven Baked Fajitas & Leftover Slow Cooker Beans

Saturday Breakfast: Homemade Cinnamon Twirls

Saturday Lunch: Shrimp Boil w/ My Family

Saturday Dinner: Leftovers

Sunday: With Matt's Familiy

closet clean out

I've been doing some Spring Cleaning around our house lately.  Have you?? 

It's crazy how every Spring we feel the need to clean, purge, and organize.

One of the main areas I have cleaned out recently is my closet.  I got rid of so many clothes, yet I still feel like there are so many clothes that I didn't get rid of that I don't wear that often (or even at all).  I guess I'm just not quite ready to get rid of them.  Ya know, I might need them for something!!  

So to get rid of all the clothes I don't wear but I'm still holding on to them, I'm going to do a year long cleaning out project. I turned all of my hangers the "wrong way".  This indicates that I haven't worn these clothes. After I wear/wash each item, I will turn the hanger around.  

 This time next year I'm going to get rid of all the clothes that never got turned.  

Check out the website where I got this idea, there are alot of other great home organization ideas that I hope to try out as well. 

oh the madness

I couldn't care less about college basketball until March Madness rolls around.  I honestly didn't really even pay attention to March Madness until I met Matt.  He gets really into, so get into it with him!! I don't really watch all the games but I fill out a bracket and look forward to seeing how my picks do.  And alot of times I actually sit down and watch the 4th quarter.  The 4th quarter is always the most exciting in these games because so many of them come down to the last second.  

This year I fill out two brackets.....

One with just my little family of three.

And one with all of Matt's side of the family. 

I filled out two separate brackets and I picked two different teams to win so.......

Go Kansas and Go Gonzaga!!! 

Even all the little cousins fill out a bracket with Matt's family so we had to help Pearson make his picks.  Last year I picked half of his bracket and Matt picked the other half, but this year we let him do all of the picking!! His bracket is pretty interesting to say the least!!

We let him pick in a few different ways......

  First we would hand him two different bath toys and associate each on with a team.  

Then when we got out of the bath we would offer him two different toys.  

When he got tired of that we wrote the first letter of each team on a piece of paper and whichever letter he said was his pick.  

Unfortunately he had Oklahoma State to win it all and they are already out.  

But on the flip side, I am 8 for 8 right now!!

Let the Madness begin!!

wordless wednesday

pearson {21 months}

**I am SO late on getting this posted and I don't even have pictures.  Hopefully I'll be able to take some pictures tomorrow but I'll go ahead and post this since he turned 21 months on Saturday.  I can't believe he is 3 months away from being two years old!!  Crazy!!

These months seem to be flying by lately, which is why Mommy is late with your 21 month post!!  You keep us laughing these days.  You are so happy and love to giggle.  There were definitely days when you were a baby that I thought you were going to be a serious kid, but now you love to laugh.  You love to give us kisses and hugs and you love to make us laugh too!!  We love you so much sweet boy!!

Measurements:  27 pounds 11 ounces

Clothes:

• shirts/onesies: 24 months & 2T
• shorts/pants: 24 months 
• pjs: 24 months & 2T
• diaper: Just finished up our last pack of 4's.  Size 5's
• shoe: size 5's & 6's

Sleeping: You have been napping earlier this month and you seem to take a better nap.  You nap from 12:30-3pm.  You go to bed around 7-7:30pm and wake up around 7-7:30.  However with the time change you have been going to bed around 7:30-8:00 and sleeping until 8 or 8:30!!

Eating: You drink 3 sippy cups of milk and eat 2 snacks and 3 meals a day.  You love any kind of cracker, cheese, almost all fruits, especially blueberries, salad, homemade mac n cheese,  & pizza.  There really isn't too much that you don't like

New Tricks: Chicken, rooster, lion, bear, bird, elephant, donkey (hah-ho) sound, Can recognize number 1-9.

Words: Again, he is saying so many words, I can't keep up with them all.  I've got to start writing his new words daily so I don't forget.  He is still not really stringing any words together, but I'm not too concerned because he is very verbal and says alot of words.  He will sometimes say "Go Bye-Bye" or "Ho Pee" (help, please).

Da-De (Daddy), Go (when he waves), Doh (dog), Da ("dat"), Woah (hello), Mommy, Duh(Duck), Wah (Water), GoGoGoGoGoGo (when we mention going somewhere), Nuh (milk), Ah-Oh (when he drops something), Di-Dle (Bible), Ca-Ker (cracker), Go-Go (anything with wheels), Doo (Peek-a-Boo), Shhhuh (Shoe), Cah (car), Nih-Nih (Night, Night) Trac-Ker (tractor), Na-Nuh (Banana), No, Gee-Suh (Jesus), Nack (Snack) Di-Da (Diaper), Bye-Bye, Sha-Ta (Shasta-my parent's Dog), Izz-oo (Izzie), Jo (Joseph), A-Tal (Apple), Truh with a rolled "r" (truck), Woooaaah (Wow), Yah (Yay), Buh (Book), Coh (Cow), Pah (Pops), Trac-Ker (also train) BeBe (Blueberry) Bo (Boat) Too-Too (Choo-Choo) Ba-Be (Baby), Uh (Up),  Eeeee (Eat), Pappi (Paci)  Ba-Tuh (Bathtub), Yo-Yo (Yogurt) Yo-Ya (Lolly), Cah-Se (Carson), Cuh (Cup), Boh (Ball), Soh (Sock), Coh (Coat), Pee-Suh (Pizza), Tuh-Dle (Puzzle), Cuh-Cuh (Color), A-see (Aisley), Ah-Yi (Alice), Mi-Mi (Naomi),Sho (TV Show) Mi-Mo (Mickey Mouse, Mi-Mi(Minnie), Chee-uh (Cheers...on Mickey Mouse), Ya-Yi (Lolly), Cha (chair), Moo (moon), Chuh (church), Shah (Star), tuh-tle (turtle), su-cle (circle), o-ful (oval), Hah (heart), tee (teeth) No (nose), eye, Mummy (tummy), elbow, knee, Am-ba (Amber), Essie (Lexi), Teet (feet), ah nuh (all done), Buh (Book), New this Month: Be-Bo (belly button), Waaayyyy (yay!), Ah-she (Ashley), Yi-Bia (Olivia), Ou-Sie (outside), Bubu's (bubbles), Ah-noo (airplane), Ugh (up), Ha (hat), Ho (help), Tee (teeth), Tee-Tee (Potty), mow (mouth), A-Mee (amen) Owl, Pih-see or Pee-Pee (Pearson), Wa-yee (wagon)

Teeth: 15 (eight top/seven bottom) Your bottom right canine came through this month.  Now we are just waiting on your bottom left canine and your two year molars and then we are done with teething.  Although it hasn't been bad at all!!

Likes: Books, trucks, Mickey Mouse, Playing outside, Taking Walks, Snacks, Being with his cousins, Seeing his Grandparents, singing songs

Dislikes: When we tell you we can't go outside, Getting your diaper changed (not always though)

Other Random Things:

• We took away your paci for a few days at naptime and you did fine, but your naps just weren't as long. I decided to give in and give you your paci for now for naptimes.  We'll work on taking it away when you turn two. 
• Every time you say "truck" you still roll your r's and you also put a sound in front of it.  For example, "ca-truck" "ma-truck".  We keep thinking you are saying the specific kind of truck, like dump truck or fire truck, but it's not always the same and really can't understand you. We'll figure it out soon enough.  
• You love to clap and you always say "Waaaaaayyyy" instead of yay!
• I have to sing the ABC's to get you to brush your teeth. Every time we brush your teeth you clap for me when I'm finished singing!! It's so cute!!. 
• You are a talker.  You always have something to say. We definitely can't understand half of what you say, but it's so funny to listen to you because you speak in sentences, except we usually just get like one word. 
• When we say our prayers at night, I say a short prayer and you always repeat the words that you know.  You always know when the end is nearing because I say, "Help me have a good night-night.  Amen."  You say nigh-nigh, then A-MEE really loud.  It's so cute!!

Look how you've changed....

meal planning monday

Monday: Sandwiches & Chips

Tuesday: Oven Baked Frito Pie

Wednesday: Papa Murphy's Pizza & Salad

Thursday: Enchiladas, Rice & Beans

Friday: Chicken Pillows, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, & Salad

Saturday Brunch: Hosting a Brunch

Saturday Dinner: Date Night

Sunday Lunch: Last Sunday Lunch w/ our ABF

Sunday Dinner: Chicken Pot Pie

Firmoo

Have you ever bought glasses or sunglasses online? 

This was my first experience with an online optical store and I would definitely recommend it to others.  Firmoo is the World's most popular online eyeglasses store.  Years of expertise in optical industry enable Firmoo.com to offer varieties of prescription eyewear to the consuming public in high quality yet at extremely affordable prices. 

I chose these glasses and had them made into prescription sunglasses.  The neat thing about shopping at Firmoo is that you can virtually try on these glasses.  You can upload a picture of yourself and then see how the glasses will look on you. It was definitely helpful to see how the shape and size was going to look on me without having them in my hand to try on.   

I've never had a pair of prescription sunglasses.  I just couldn't justify spending the money on them, since I mainly wear contacts and my non-prescription sunglasses.  Since I was given this pair for free, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to try a pair out!!  Firmoo has glasses as low as $10 (and that includes the prescription lenses), so this is a great way for you to try out new styles of glasses for an unbelievable price.  And if you don't wear glasses, this is an awesome website to purchase glasses just as a fashion statement!

So......how would you like a pair of free glasses too??

Firmoo has as "First Pair Free Program".  All you have to do is pay shipping!!  Click on this link and it will show you the available glasses for the "First Pair Free Program".  If you don't see any you like, the free glasses list will be updated irregularly.  If you follow Firmo on Facebook, you'll be one of the firsts to know when they update their stock!  Below is a video walking you through the steps on how to get your first free pair of glasses.    
If you have any questions, you can check out their FAQ page here! 

Disclosure: I received this product free of charge in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions on it. I did not receive any financial compensation for this post.

why do we even have toys?

I'm not sure why we even have any toys at our house.  Pearson loves to play with his toys, they just don't entertain him as long as the real things around the house do.  

A few days ago Pearson entertained himself for a good hour with a broom, dustpan and brush while I cleaned out the pantry and fixed dinner. 

And today before bedtime, instead of playing with his tools or reading his books in his room he decided to play with all the diapers that I bought.  

Anyone else wonder why you even have toys?

seeds family worship

 Have you heard of Seeds Family Worship?  We are big fans.  Mainly I'm a huge fan, but I teaching Pearson to be a fan, and so far he seems to like them!!

Ever since he has started repeating things that we say I have realized that I need to be very careful what music he is listening too.  So many of the songs that they play on the radio are inappropriate for his little ears and even have curse words in them.  When he is in the car with me we try to only listen to KLTY, Christian CD's, or our Seeds Family Worship CD's.  Of course, every now and then we have to listen to KISS to get our Taylor Swift or Mumford & Sons fix, but I try to make sure that the things he is listening to are positive and uplifting and things I wouldn't mind him repeating.  I would definitely prefer him to walk around singing "Our God is an Awesome God" rather than "I'm Sexy and I Know It"........ya know??

Seeds Family Worship CD's full of scripture based songs.  In fact, it is straight scripture.....that's it.  There are no extra words or bridges or stories in the songs.  It's an awesome way for kids (or their parents) to memorize scripture.  

 Here's a preview of one of the songs that I just memorized.  It was so helpful to have this song because this verse was the theme verse of my Bible Study this semester.  

If you want to listen to some more songs, you can go here and download one for free or you can go here to listen to a few more samples.  They are so catchy and they stay in my head all the time.  I can't wait to hear Pearson singing these songs with me!!

Here's the cool part about these CD's.  They are $12.98 a piece BUT you get two of the same CD's.  The idea is for you to give one to someone that might need it or give it as a gift.  OR if you are like me, and like a good deal you can go in with someone and split the cost of the CD and get each CD for $6.49!! Not to bad, huh? 

**And because I love a good deal, if you use the code SPRING13 you can get 20% off your CD purchase through March 17th.

Our modeling days are over.......

This morning we met up with Ashley and the kids for some FREE Chick-fil-A breakfast. We didn't plan it, but all the kids were wearing stuff that my Mom made. Pearson had his Easter shirt on, Carson had his mustache shirt on and Olivia had her St. Patrick's Day outfit on. I tried to get a picture to send to my Mom of the kids modeling her stuff, but I think modeling days are over.

I guess Lolly will have to wait until there is another grand kid to get anther model.

meal planning monday

Monday: Cranberry Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Fresh Veggies, & Salad

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday @ Rosa's

Wednesday: Fried Rice & Egg Rolls

Thursday: Goulash, Salad, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, & Cornbread

Friday: Chicken Tender Cobb Salad

Saturday Breakfast: Sausage & Cream Cheese Twirls

Saturday Lunch: Out & About

Saturday Dinner: Leftover Goulash

Sunday Lunch: Chicken Pot Pie

Sunday Dinner: Dinner @ The Havard's

10 on 10 {march 2013}

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month!

{Document a snapshot of your life & find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

This morning I woke up at what felt like the crack of dawn because of the time change to make this yummy breakfast casserole for our ABF.  We had breakfast duty today!!

Since Pearson has been sick, Matt stayed home with the little man while I went to church.  

(Don't mind the tape on Matt's glasses......Pearson broke them for the 2nd time a few weeks ago.  We had plans to go get him some new glasses this weekend, but our sick little boy changed those plans.)

It was so weird to go to church by myself, but since we had breakfast duty and I work in the preschool during the second hour I had to go without my boys.  

When I got home from church, Matt already had Pearson down for a nap, so we had a pretty lazy afternoon on the couch.  I spend some time pinning lots of Spring outfits on Pinterest. 

We were hoping to go to small group tonight, but Pearson woke up mad as a hornet and coughing again so we though it would be best to keep his little sick germs at home.  He spent some time relaxing on the couch watching "Memo" (Mickey).

And he did a little drawing on Mommy's paper with a pen.  It's so funny how drawing with a pen and on something other than a coloring book is soooooo much more enticing to him. 

And of course, after we made the decision to stay home, he perked up.  "Cah-kers" (Crackers) make this boy so happy!!

Since we were planning on being gone for the evening I had already put dinner in the crock-pot.  It was so nice to just continue relaxing and spending time with my boys while dinner was cooking away.  I made Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Tacos.  This recipe is so easy and so yummy.  And my favorite part is always the leftovers.  I take the leftover chicken and make my Sour Cream & Cheese Enchiladas.  I usually just use plain chicken, so this Salsa Chicken adds an extra flavor that makes the enchiladas even better!!

After our normal night time routine of dinner, bath, playtime, and prayers, we put our little man to bed.  He cried and cried and cried.  He usually cries for a little bit, but tonight was way more than normal.  I definitely don't mind doing cry it out, but I felt really bad that he was crying for so long since he has been sick.  I went to go check on him and all he wanted to do was snuggle.  He even let me rock him.  I guess he is still not feeling 100%.  Poor baby. 

Matt and I finished our evening with some Girl Scout Cookies, Amazing Race, and The Bible.  Are you watching the 5 part series of The Bible on The History Channel??  It's so good!! I'm really enjoying it.  

Happy 10th!!