Happy Birthday Bailee Boo!

Yesterday Riley took Bailee out in the freezing weather and took pictures of my "Winter Baby." I love this first picture of her, it looks like she is an angel with a halo!!
We call her our "Winter Baby" for several reasons. One, because she was born in February when there was snow on the ground in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Also, because she LOVES to be outside in the winter sledding and ice skating. I really want to get her on the ski-slopes because I know she is going to be fearless!
She and Hallie just started taking Taekwondo lessons. (They had been begging me for a couple of years.) She loves to read and has a great sense of comedic timing that keeps our whole family laughing!! She has played the violin for the last two years but, decided to take a break this year. I really hope she wants to pick it up again next year! She is a pretty good little soccer player, too!

Just so you don't think she is a perfect angel! I thought I'd throw in one of my personal favorite pictures of her when she was hot and tired! Bailee, like Charlie is a child of extremes. They are either really happy or really not happy!!! I love their intensity! I can't believe she has been with us for nine full years!!! For her birthday she asked for a heart-shaped locket with a picture of Brady and I in it!! AWWW SO SWEET!!! I KNOW!!! I can't believe God has given me such amazing children! HE is already doing such great things with her! She is fearfully and wonderfully made! (Again a reminder of her normalcy ...she also asked for a cell phone which she did not get!)

I am grounded.

Some of you may have noticed I am no longer on facebook. I am grounding myself temporarily and this is why... Since I moved to Montana my personal time praying and reading my Bible has been few and far between. At first, I blamed it on having that fifth baby. Then, I recently realized Charlie was three and a half and I was still finding excuses quite easily. YIKES!

I learned the importance of having time "with Him" when Bailee my third baby girl was born. I got to the very end of myself and realized how very much I needed to spend time with HIM daily. I desperately needed HIM to help me through each and everyday. I protected my quiet time with HIM fiercely and made it a major priority in my daily routine. I did this for about five years and HE carried me through homeschooling and having yet another baby and our big move to Montana and yes one more baby!!

Unfortunately, I have allowed too many things to eat up my time. I mean come on, there have been days when I spend more time plucking my eyebrows than on my knees. That is painful for me to admit! So, I have grounded myself from a few things and facebook is one of 'em. Don't get me wrong, I think facebook is sooo cool. I loved getting in touch with long lost friends, keeping up with my family down south and even getting to be bold about my beliefs! I don't think facebook is a bad thing but, I just need to re-prioritize my time and break some of my bad habits. I won't get back on until HE gets a tithing of my time. Keep me in YOUR prayers!

What If

What if I climbed that mountain, what if I swam to that shore
What if every battle was victorious then would you love me more

What if I were everyone's first choice, what if I went farther than before
What if I stood high above the rest than would you love me more

You say I belong to you apart from the things I do
You say I belong to you I'm in awe of why you do

What if I ignored the hand that fed me, what if I forgot to confess
What if I stumbled down that mountain then would you love me less
Lord would you love me less

What if I were everyone's last choice what if I mixed in with the rest
What if I failed what I passed before then would you love me less

You say I belong to you apart from the things I do
You say I belong to you I'm in awe of why you do

What have I done to deserve your son sent to die for me
What can I give I want to live give me eyes to see
In a world that keeps changin' there's one thing that I know is true
Your love is stayin' there's nothing else I'll hold onto

You say I belong to you apart from the things I do
You say I belong to you I'm in awe of why you do
Why you do

Song by Jason Lavik and my heart's cry this day.

Mama always says...

You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!
Careful, it's HOT!
Pretty is as pretty does.
Keep your expectations low and then you will be pleasantly surprised.
Clean as you go!
We all need Jesus.
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!
Whatever doesn't kills us will only make us stronger!
BE SWEET!
Don't say anything you wouldn't want said about yourself.
Be a peacemaker!
Pray about it.
Keep looking, it is around here somewhere.
Treat others the way you want to be treated. (the golden rule)
Get a Kleenex!
Wash your hands!
Wear socks or your feet will stink!
Maybe for Christmas or your birthday.
We give, don't take.
Time for a ten-minute tidy.
Thank you Lord!
Did you brush your teeth?
Is everyone buckled?
Did you know Jesus' first miracle was water into wine.
Let's Pray...

Bailee as Clara in the Nutcracker

She had the most lines to memorize and had them memorized in no time! She gets that from her daddy!

The Mouse Army, aren't they cute!
Phoebe and the Penny Whistlers.
Mouse King, The Aunt, Sugarplum Princess,Clara, Fritz (Clara's little bother)
*Side note about "Fritz:" Apparently one day on the playground there was a heated debate about Bailee's mama being fat!!! "Fritz" ended the debate by standing up for Bailee and said "She's actually skinny." I love that boy!!
ONSTAGE for the Curtain Call!

Daddy and I were very proud of our little 3rd grade Bailee. She really loves to be on stage (she gets that from her mommy). Last year in the school Christmas program she had a pretty big part singing and dancing as the gingerbread man. I told her not to count on getting Clara this year because it was someone else's turn to be in the spotlight. Needless to say she prayed about it!!! Love that little girl, too!!!

Stanley The Snowman!

The first two Decembers we were here in Montana I think God was taking it easy on us. We didn't even have a White Christmas! However, these past two Decembers have been more of what were expecting, temperatures in the negatives and wind chills down to -30s!!! When it is too cold the snow won't stick together to make a snowman or even a snowball!! So, when it warmed up to 30 degrees we all headed outside to play! I took Hallie, Bailee and Jay ice skating at our beautiful outdoor skating rink. When we got back we found Charlie and daddy rolling a big ball of snow around the yard. Once we got him dressed in his snowman kit that my sweet southern friend Mary sent us, Riley decided he looked like a Stanley. So, Stanley will probably be with us until March! Thankfully, our protective and not so bright Yorkies have stopped barking at him!!

Winter Formal

Corsages!

Dinner at our house.

Braving the cold! It was about zero! Tanner rented a car that matched Riley's dress. How cool!!?? In our town at Winter Formal and Prom the guy's only ask friends, even if they have a girlfriend they take a friend. I kinda like this strange tradition. So, this was Riley's first date!!! Knowing everyone was going as friends made it so much easier!