Sadler is such a determined little boy, I was very entertained watching him attempt to climb the rock wall, just a little too short yet :)

 This picture will forever crack me up, it just doesn't get old! Love that little boy and his 'tude!

Grandma R picked him up from school so I could stay with Sadler at music class, she treated him to a happy meal for lunch and when he got home he told me that his chocolate milk looked like Sadler's skin!

It was the sweetest thing, I love that he's finally noticing the beautiful differences between him and his brother!

 My little Gap models!

He's such a little ham in front of mirrors!

Grayden turns 4 years old today, at 9:51 pm!

Since he had to share his special day with Mother's Day this year, and we had a couple parties to go to, we celebrated his special day yesterday.

We went out to breakfast at his favorite, Panera Bread!

After dinner we let him pick out his OWN redbox movie, he was so excited!

Just wanted to quick wish all you mothers out there and my own mom and mother in law a "Happy Mother's Day!" I hope you each had wonderful days and were loved on and treated extra special by your children today! I had a great day going to church with my family, then we went to my Grandma's house for lunch. After naps in the afternoon we went to the Revolution service where Grayden recited Psalm 100 in front of everyone with his classmates (good job buddy), and then went to Mindy and Kyle's house for dinner with my family. 

I also wanted to let those of you who are not mothers (yet) or who have a child(ren) in Heaven, or whose mothers are not in their lives anymore that you were heavy on my heart today. I prayed for you often. I know many of you struggle on this day and I wanted to tell you that you were in my mind and in my prayers. 

Me and my boys before church this morning, so blessed to have been chosen to be their mommy. 

I know I am far from the perfect mom, but I try my best to nurture them, and love them, and teach them  about Jesus. I often lose my patience with them and get angry, I don't always give them all the attention they deserve or tell them how proud I am of them often enough. 

But, I pray that they always know how deeply I love them, and how thankful I am for the blessings they are to me. I ask God to help me be the best mother I can be and parent them in a way that pleases Him. 

I love you boys! Thanks for making my day so special!

Gray's 3school class had a bike parade at the end of the day a couple weeks ago, for someone who's not too sure of himself on his bike, he did GREAT!

so fun! It was a perfect day for it!

 The boys looking so handsome for church in their new shirts from Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Alyssa.

roasting hot dogs over the fire last week! LOVE!

 When Gray wakes up in the morning he helps himself to the pantry and has been making his own 'breakfast'

this particular day (yes, in Christmas jammies) he made a parfait of peanut butter crackers, chocolate chips and potato chips in a pitcher!

 

Gray made me a sand cake, it loosks quite similar to one we had at some one's birthday a couple weekends ago! Love it!

 They go outside to watch the underground sprinklers for fun, must be a boy thing!

 best moments of the week:

~lots of beautiful weather to play outside.

~special lunch picnics at home with daddy one day, and at the park with Grandma another day.

~spending time with Robb at the Summit last week, so thankful to have him there with me, he's my best friend and I love when we're together!

~Surprise 'just because' flowers from Robb! 

~ A good friend of mine welcoming a new baby into their family this week though the gift of adoption. An answer to many prayers!! 

Robb and I, along with a couple others from our church, left for the Christian Alliance For Orphans Summit in Nashville, Wednesday afternoon. 

My fellow blogger friend, Brenna, and I did a little Q&A swap. Below is the interview I gave her, to read the answers to the questions she asked me, and to learn a little more about her, her family, and her current weight loss journey hop over to her blog by clicking here.

Thanks Brenna, for inviting me to participate in this blog swap! 

1. Why/how did you start blogging?

Initially, WAY back when I first started my blog, I intended to chronicle my new life as a parent.  But then I had almost no followers, and found that I never quite knew what to say, so I didn't end up posting very often.  Then I took a LOOONG break.  When I came back to blogging, I put more of an emphasis on fitness and eating (to help keep myself accountable, really).  And people actually read!  But I still plan to keep writing about parenting and crafting and fun stuff like that!

2. Biggest pet peeve?

People with a lack of compassion for others (bigots, bullies, etc).  I don't understand why people want to live that way.  It shouldn't be hard to choose to live life with love in your heart.  On a less serious note...it drives me nuts when drivers put on their turn signal just because the road ahead is bending.  What's up with that?

3. What did you do on your very first date?

We were poor college students, so I think our first "date" involved sitting in his dorm room watching "Family Guy" episodes, lol.  But the first time we went out, I believe we ate at Swiss Chalet and saw a movie!

4. What's your best wedding day memory?

 

That's a tough one...I think the rain was really memorable.  It only rained for a very brief time, when we were first starting our photos, and as a result we have some really beautiful photos with a big black umbrella. I also really enjoyed dancing with my high school friends to an East Coast Canadian song that we used to listen to at our school dances.

5. What was the title of the last movie you watched?

What to Expect While You're Expecting.  Is it bad that I loved the birth scenes where everyone was in pain?  The last movie I saw in theatres, though, was 42, and that was AMAZING...but the racism is a bit hard to swallow, knowing that it really happened/happens.

6. If you could have named yourself what would you choose?

I actually really like my name :)  But when I was younger, I loved the name "Amethyst".  Which, coincidentally, is my son's birth stone.

7. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried and why?

I think it was the last time I watched Modern Family...though I tend to end up in hysterics over my mother's reactions to things more than the show itself, ha ha. 

8. Do you have reoccurring dreams? What about?

I have two.  One involves me driving, and I realize I'm speeding and I can't stop.  I usually end up running many stop signs and almost crashing my car.  (These started after I was in a car accident in which I was driving on the high way, got hit by a transport truck, and couldn't brake enough to prevent myself from going off the road.)  I also have dreams where I am in a plane that's filling up with smoke.  I'm afraid of flying as it is!

9. What are you most afraid of?
AIRPLANES!!!

10. What do you have stashed away under your bed right now?

So.  Much.  Junk. Basically anything that doesn't have a place anywhere else in my house.  Like my beloved flute.  Oh, and my hand weights.

That's all I got!