Changing things up.

I am deciding to change things up a bit here on my blog. I have been trying to blog about life... but my life just isn't that interesting.. hehehe so... I am going to change things up a little and play and try to get a new look and a new site and everything... Instead of trying to have it just about family life, I am going to make it a little more personal. Talk about my personal life journey that God has me on. I am not leaving blog spot.. I will just have a new title and I will let everyone know. I will still use this one too for updates on the kids. Like Asher's birthday on Tuesday :)! If anyone can suggest things I can do and ways to personalize it better.... that would be great!

New day

Well, after a long talk the other day with Ez, he finally (not really repentantly....) but FINALLY admitted to the cheating... I was talking to him about how when he is lying about something and insists on staying in that lie.. he is a liar.. and I can't believe anything he says. So, he tells me he did something, I have to check. If he says he didn't do something, I can't believe him. That really bothered him because he was trying to convince me that he hadn't done something else that i was accusing him of. So, he had to tell the truth about the cheating to try to get me to believe the other. I still don't believe that he wasn't lying about the other, but it is a step in the right direction.. And I think he understands the problem and how and why it needs to stop. We also had a long talk about responsibility and disciplining yourself. He has been better about chores the last 2 days too after that. I don't hold my breath that this will keep up, but it is a step in the right direction at least! Thanks for all the help!!

Weather and what-not

Well, today is quite a day here in Round Rock!! It is SNOWING!! And the snow is STICKING!!! Both nearly unheard of occurrences here. There are HUGE flakes falling right now. I am NOT totally thrilled. My kids are happy.. and of course, that makes me happy... but weather effects me physically. here is the thing... Cold makes me hurt.. but if I am inside where it is warm, I am not too bad.. but the CHANGE of weather is what kills me... and here, it can't get much worse!!! On Sunday it was 75 degrees and now, it is snowing and 34 degrees. There was a 30 degree drop between sunday and yesterday. That is what kills me! So, I guess if I lived somewhere that it was snowing or rainy alot... and I could be inside most of the time.. that would be ok. I just need to not have these big flip flops!!!

On to the "what not" part of the post. I am trying to figure out the best way to deal with something in my home and I would LOVE all the advice I can get. My son, has been doing A LOT of lying. And I mean.. when he knows he is caught.. he stays insisting on his lie. I have punished.. I have talked to him about what God thinks of lying... Last night he finally confessed *in a very quick not really repentant way* to his lie, when I told him that by staying in his lie.. he has become a liar.. so I can't believe anything he says. I don't know how to make him see that this can't go on and that he has to be honest... I have been getting so frustrated recently with my younger boys. I feel like a failure of a mom most of the time.. and they are REALLY GOOD BOYS. There are just some things.. and some times.. that I can't get them to decide to do the right thing. I pray for them.. and I talk to them... they all claim to be living for God so I try to talk to them from a Biblical standpoint, but I don't know if they don't get it.. or don't care, or just aren't wired to understand yet. I am open to any and all suggestions on how to deal that I haven't done. I also worry that I am expecting my kids to be PERFECT, which I know they can't be...
That is the update from here! I hope all is well for all my friends out there!!!

new years eve pictures

What a week!

Ok.. so it has been more than a week.. and I promised New years Eve pics that I haven't posted.. I think what I am going to do, is start doing a post with words.. and then do another post with pictures... I just get too frustrated with trying to put the pictures where I want them to be!! :) yes, I am too easily frustrated! hahahaah In my mind.. if you put a picture up after you write words, that is where the picture should go.. NOT all the way at the top to where you have to drag it all around to put it where you think it should have gone automatically in the first place!!
Anyway, so far 2010 has not been a whole lot different than 2009.. :) My 2 little boys have been in alot of trouble.. I am trying to figure out how to make them aware of their heart choices. Not let them get away with "I didn't think about it" or "I forgot" or... anything like that but to realize everything they do (or don't do) is a choice.. and that choices come from the condition of our hearts alot of the time. Or, maybe all the time. But that if they can't make a right choice to not do what they know they shouldn't or to remember to do what they know they should when they are here.. and safe and cared for.. they aren't going to make those right choices when they are out in the world and have none of the same Godly conditions.
I don't know really how to do this.. so I grounded them to their rooms. They have to keep their space clean without having to be reminded to clean it and to get their school work done without having to be told that it is school time. I figure if they are in their rooms, every time they think about wanting to not be.. they will think about why they are and maybe some changes will start to be made. That is my hope anyway. This parenting thing is SO HARD. I mean I never thought it was easy.. but I guess there are days that I realize that I thought that it would be a little more easy now than it is.. I mean, it is easier than it was when they were little. But I just want it to be EASY. I know I am fooling myself right. Ethan really is in the "easy" category most of the time. I hope the younger boys will get there too! Maybe this will be a kick in the right direction!! Or, it will be more than 3 weeks of their wasted time and some peace and quiet for me. .hahaha
Hubby is getting ready to leave town for a week. I HATE when he has to be gone. But at least this time, there is something exciting to look forward to at the end! *besides him coming back which I always look forward to* I have a friend coming to see me!!! YAY! And this is a friend that I haven't seen since we were in 2nd grade!!! For anyone that isn't fabulous at math.. it has been about 25 years since we have seen each other!! It is amazing to both of us that God implanted us so deeply in each others hearts that even after all this time we have both thought often of each other and wanted to be back in contact. We both know that lots of time has past, although it feels like we have never been apart. That is how easy our friendship is. I am enjoying getting to know her as an adult, and I can't wait to show her pics of all my life experiences that she wasn't able to be there for, and I can't wait to share some with her!!! Anyway, that is our life in a "nutshell" I will post some pics now! Which of course, will be what you see FIRST.. but ah well, I will get this figured out sooner or later!!

update

Ok, so here is the scoop for the last Wed. of the year! First of all, we LOVE New Years Eve!! That is one of our fave days of the whole year! We spend the evening with junk food, movies, games, and all over family fun!! This year we have invited 3 families from our church to join us. I think that will make it even more fun!!! if they all come, there will be a total of.. 11 kids and 8 adults! :D plus, one baby in the belly, but I don't think that peanut counts yet.. :D I will take and post LOTS of pics! :) The other decission that has been made, is after 15 days of trying this diet and vitamin thing... hubby and I decided to stick with the vitamins, but not be so strict on the diet. It was just too hard for me, and I haven't noticed ANY good from it at all... I am in MORE pain and feeling more and more sick every day. I can't function that way. I have 5 kids to take care of every day.. I have to be able to do it in a good attitude and with less pain.. I am still doing the vitamins and will still do very little sugar... but for now the dairy and bread and all is back. I will slowly cut those back out as time goes on and see if things improve.. just take it a little more slowly. We are in prayer that this week or next we will get an answer on hubby's promotion. We would LOVE for him to get the job because it puts him in a better place to get the job he ACTUALLY wants. hahaha It will be hard to get used to the new schedule though. Anyway, I guess that is it for today. I will post more on Friday when we have a new year and new pictures! :)

Big day out

Due to my health... A big day out for us.. is going to the mall for a little while. :S my poor kids.. but they did get new hats, that made them happy! :) and we got our annual Hickory Farms.. so we are pleased!! Just wish I could eat them!!! Now I am feeling a little over done.. but the kids had a fun day so, that is what matters!!! Enjoy the pictures!!!