Golf clubs for the little guy

We decided to go to Starbucks for a little dessert the other night. We came home with a set of clubs for Grant-man. He and Sean golfed 9 holes the day before and so Sean decided they're going to golf together once a week. Grant is VERY excited. Every day he asks to go golfing. His golf clubs are actually real nice and he loves having a rain cover. Lauren, on the other hand, is a girl after her mom's own heart. She's holding a venti latte that's almost as big as she is. Thankfully I always get decaf, so it was mainly just sugar intake. Yes, she's extremely messy, pay no attention.That was actually a good trip to Starbucks for me because the oh-so-nice barista made me a Pumpkin Spice Latte before they officially come out for the fall. Which, they're supposed to be on the menu Sept. 8 or 18, can't remember which. Sorry, I'm just a huge fan of iced decaf nonfat PSLs with a little whip on top.

Grant at preschool

I struggled for awhile deciding what to do for school for Grant. Do I homeschool, Christian school, charter school, public school....etc. So many choices, so many opinions from all different people. Thankfully, I think I still have another year or 2 before the big decision, but for now I have him going to a preschool. He's young yet, only 3 1/2, but his 2 cousins go to this school as well, and I want him to grow up close with his cousins, like I did. It's a preschool in a lady's house and she used to teach at a Montessori school. I like the things he's learning. Do I think I could teach him the same things here? Yes. I just don't think he'd actually pay attention. I have tried to teach him other things and he always wants to run off and do something else. Part of it is just his age - I mean, he's just 3, part of it is me, he'd rather be playing. All in all, it's a good change of pace for us. He goes M,W,F for 3 hours in the morning. I get to have one-on-one time with Lauren and he gets to learn and be around other kids. He's still getting used to it, but he enjoys it when he goes. So, all that being said, here are some fun pics of the kids. One is Grant's first day and the others are just having fun around the house.

Why

I always felt like when people asked "why did this happen to me?" that they needed to just rely on God. I mean, seriously, just pull it together, stop whining, maybe it had to happen to somebody, so it was you. I'm not known for extreme gentleness to others. I have kind of a suck it up attitude, grin and bear it, you'll get through it. I know, it sounds like I'm some mean uncaring person, and I'm not like that in all situations. I've sent my share of get-well cards, I've cried with friends, I've made meals, bought things for people, etc. So, when I learned yesterday that I had my third miscarriage, I asked why does this keep happening to me. I cried and cried. I thought, come on God, don't put me through this again. I understand and can sympathize with those who ask why things had to happen to them, why it's hard to just trust God. But that's what you have to do. That's what got me through the other miscarriages and God is doing it again this time. I have learned to lean on Him even more. People are there for you, sure, but God is there all the time - at 3 in the morning when you suddenly wake up and can't get back to sleep, in the middle of the day while dealing with kids, He's there to just pray to and ask for strength.

So, maybe I'm being taught patience, maybe I'm being taught more gentleness, which is something I've been working on developing for a few years now. Whatever it is, I know the Lord is teaching me. I will be open to Him and do His will. It's hard, it's easier to cry and mope, but it's the right thing to do and the thing that will help me the most. And when somebody says why did this happen to me, I can respond in love.

3pm

It happens around 3:00 every day. I'm doing well with the kids, managing the nausea (although eating too much), then 3:00 hits and I turn into a monster. Seriously, I get grumpy, snap at the kids, all I want to do is lay down and have Sean walk in the door to save the day. It hasn't always been like this, just this first trimester with this pregnancy. Grant and Lauren are managing well, but I feel like a big jerk. I also then tell myself I don't have enough energy to make dinner and a bunch of other things. I know remedies to all of this: I need to hit the gym so I have more energy (which is true), I need to eat small things all day long to battle the nausea, etc. So yesterday I decided to get back into the Word. You know, THE WORD, the B-I-B-L-E. And it helped. Of course it would, why wouldn't it? I took a long shower last night after putting the kids to bed. I wanted to get in bed at 9pm, but I stayed up and read the Bible. It was worth it. Today is a new day. I have an hour to go until 3, but I'm feeling pretty good. Even thinking about cleaning the bathrooms.... one step at a time though. ha. I took the kids to the store so Grant could pick out his first backpack - of course, it was green. Then we hit Chick-fil-A for lunch with Aunt Aileen. Lauren's now sleeping, Sean says he's coming home early and Grant just wants to make a pillow fort. I think I'm up for making dinner tonight. Thank you Lord.

hair cut and mug shots

I got a haircut. I know it doesn't look like much, but it seems I was always trying to grow my hair out. I cut 2 inches off yesterday - which would take me until Christmas probably to grow back out. My bangs aren't in my eyes anymore, which is great too. But I like it and it feels more manageable in the heat. Plus I hear when you're pregnant, you get your hair cut, so, I decided not to let anybody down and fit the mold.

I also decided to take some mug shots of the kids so we can all have our pretty faces up here.

I have to admit, my hair feels a lot shorter than it looks in this picture...

Grant-man, such a good looking kid. I couldn't ask for a better boy - he's 3 1/2 already.

And little Lauren. She looks so sweet here, and she is, but she is also a WILD THING.

Sean's 30th

Ah, a few moments to myself. Lauren is taking a nap, presumably. Grant is at the store with his Aunt Aileen. I find myself at the computer.

I am thankful for Aileen. She is always ready to watch the kids and has also agreed to watch Lauren every Wednesday and every other Thursday this fall! That's amazing and a big commitment! I am going to be a BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) leader again this year and could never do it without a great family that supports and helps. I really feel like I am supposed to do it again, although I am pregnant and feeling tired. I believe God will give me the strength. Also, I learn much more as a leader and am excited to see how my faith will grow as we study Moses and his life.

Sean is finally 30. I think it was kind of hard for him to actually turn 30. He has a lot going on in his life and sometimes I feel so helpless to help him. I appreciate and am encouraged by his love for the Lord and his diligence in following Him and wanting to do the right thing. He is a great husband and I thank the Lord for him. It also hasn't been an easy couple of weeks to love me either as I am moody from this pregnancy (at least I am blaming it on that). I am hoping the next 3 weeks will go quickly so I can end this first trimester and start feeling better. I'm also eating more with this pregnancy than the others, so I need to watch myself!

Well, that's all for now. The pictures are from Sean's 30th at his parents' house. Aileen and her friend Angie made the cake. Pretty good, huh?

Back from the Journey

Well, we're back! Been back for a week now, but I needed the rest and break from things before finding time to blog.

Our trip was great! Even though it was 8 days, I think we could've stayed longer. It was wonderful to see "old" friends and to visit with family. Our friends' visits were so short though, since there were a lot to see. It's nice to catch up though and see how each others' lives are changing. God is so faithful and His work is evident.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was Lauren eating wild raspberries. She had a few opportunities and she loved pulling them right off the bush and popping them into her mouth. She was quite a mess after finding many black raspberries in Missouri. It was neat to see her enjoy them. Our only concern is that she would start pulling flowers off plants here and start eating them! I think we've definitely got some "country" kids at heart. Grant had lots of fun riding horses, catching lightning bugs, finding snakes, catching tadpoles and frogs, riding 4 - wheelers, etc. There was a lot to do! He also had so much fun playing with his cousins Andrew and Ethan. We were home not even a day and he asked me "mommy, now what can we do?" He was so used to being on the go, not slowing down, he wasn't too sure what to do with himself. We're settled back into the routine here though and things are going well. Grant finishes his last night of Vacation Bible School tonight.

I think most of you who read this already know the news, but we're pregnant! I'm due February 24 - almost 9 weeks along now. I've had nausea and have been very tired. Sean was gone all week for work in Atlanta, which I think just made me feel more tired since he wasn't here. We've not had much family time together since Sean wasn't able to go on the trip and then he left 2 days later for Atlanta. He celebrates his 30th birthday next week though, so that's something else to look forward to (for me, anyway, since right now I'm 31 and he's 29....).

Here are some pics of the trip, not all of course, but some good ones.

Lauren eating wild red raspberries - much cleaner than black...

And here are the black ones - you can't see the full extent of it ALL over her.

Here are Ryan and Tiffany and sweet Cadence. Isn't she so cute.... Oh wait, where is she?

Our kids! 2 are mine, 2 are Amy's, 2 are Sarah's, and Katia had 1 representing that night...

My brothers and me --- and our newest-born children. I think Lauren just finished squeezing Cadence's arm. Sorry Cadence.

Lauren loves playing the piano. I believe Uncle Aaron was getting her going on some hymns.

Lauren, Caleb and Cadence. Yes, I do have pictures where Cadence is a very sweet little girl. I just caught her here with her tongue hanging out - she was just trying to smile, that's all.

Grant-man on the 4-wheeler. He is tough.

Sweet Baby Cadence.....Adorable

All of the Lauxes present at the "LFC" Laux Family Reunion this year. What a good looking bunch.