Raising Multiples
Travel & Vacation: Celebrating in Vermont
Birthday cake! Doesn’t the birthday cake look beautiful?! Grandma Kay made the cake and did the main layer of frosting and Brina added all the colorful frosting and goodies to the cake. It looked pretty and tasted delicious! 🙂
The girls had a four day birthday weekend since they didn’t have school on Friday or Monday so we made a quick trip up to Vermont to spend some time with Jake’s Mom and grandparents. We celebrated the girls birthday during our visit which was a lot of fun. The girls enjoyed spending time with their grandparents. It was a great trip packed full of a lot of good memories. Grandma Kay gave Brina some good tips on cake decorating which Brina loved (she was tickled pink that Grandma let her decorate their birthday cake).
Brina decorating her and Karlie’s birthday cake
Karlie all smiles. While Brina was decorating the birthday cake Karlie was happily picking up the toys and cleaning.
Brina loves helping in the kitchen, decorating the birthday cake was a big hit with her
Karlie discovered a cool toy in Grandma’s stash while cleaning up! She thought the helicopter was pretty amazing!
Grandma Kay showing Brina how to do another neat trick with the frosting!
Sweet girl having fun
Brina so proud of her decorated cake
Karlie having fun!
Brina had extra frosting so Grandma let her decorate some cookies. Daddy eating one of the cookies Brina just frosted.
Happy Birthday Sweet Girls!
Look whose eight! Grandma Kay found some really cool number 8 balloons that the girls loved!
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week was busy with Jake traveling, school, work, volunteering, and a whole bundle of other activities. Even though I didn’t make as much progress as I hoped I was able to get some things accomplished.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
Read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 6)– finished it and started the next book already- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2) – haven’t started it yet
Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School Activities- Plan one special Activity with the Family – with the busy week we decided to spend some quiet time at home
Volunteer One Day at Girls School
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – wasn’t a great week with exercise
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayContinue my YouVersion plan(s)- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – put on hold currently
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – working my way through it
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekPay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attentionWork completed for clients
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4 – went over budget by $3
- Payoff the Van – working on it
- Pay medical bills in full – paying them
- Complete 2012 Taxes – working on them
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 7)
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Volunteer One Day at Girls School
- Easter activity & celebration
- Get together with Family and/or Friends
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
- Send out Alms & Legs Meeting Notes
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
- Complete 2012 Taxes
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week was crazy with Jake being out of town part of the week and having a sick little one complaining of right side and shoulder pain which resulted in us going to the pediatrician followed by a visit to the hospital for an ultrasound to see if something was wrong with her appendix. The actual ultrasound itself took over an hour with two different people trying to get a good picture of her appendix. They never did get a good picture, but they didn’t see anything abnormal either. Thankfully she is starting to feel better now. I am really ready for the warmer weather and praying for healthier weeks ahead! Despite all the busyness I was able to get some items done this week.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
- Read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 6) – working on it
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2) – last was so busy we didn’t get a chance to start it yet
Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesPlan one special Activity with the FamilyCelebrate at Girls Birthday PartyVolunteer One Day at Girls School
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – didn’t get it done
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayContinue my YouVersion plan(s)- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – its been so busy this one’s been on hold
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – got through more of it
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekPay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attention- Work completed for clients – had to put some on hold because I had a sick little one a couple days this past week
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4 – honestly with the week being so busy and various visits to the doctor, hospital, pharmacy, and store I didn’t keep track, but I am pretty sure we went over this week
- Payoff the Van – working on it
- Pay medical bills in full – making payments
- Complete 2012 Taxes – making progress
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 6)
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Volunteer One Day at Girls School
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
- Complete 2012 Taxes
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
By The Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I just finished reading By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The girls loved this book and hearing more about Laura’s adventures. By the Shores of Silver Lake is the fifth book in this series. The story continues as Laura and her family move from Plum Creek to the Dakota Territory. Through family Pa found a job working on the railroad which helps makes ends meet until they can file their claim on their homestead.
Once the girls who were sick with scarlet fever were well enough to travel they took the train to meet Pa in the new area. Their first winter in Dakota was cold but they were able to stay in the surveyors house that was stocked with supplies without anyone around for many miles. At the first sign of Spring many men started coming through so they could file a claim on their homestead. Ma and the girls cooked many meals for men traveling through while Pa was away hoping to get the piece of land he wanted to start their new homestead. The town of De Smet started popping up right before their eyes and even Pa built a building in the new town that he could rent or sell later.
The girls enjoyed listening to another story about Laura and her family. After each chapter they always want me to read another one. They thought it was neat that Laura got to spend some time with their cousins and they especially loved reading about Laura riding the horse. It was a cute book and the girls have loved these books so much that they are already planning on reading the series again after I finish reading them.
Travel & Vacation: Leaving on a Jet Plane
Leaving on a Jet Plane! Jake took this picture of an airplane flying over the ship earlier that day
We spent most of Saturday morning on the boat enjoying breakfast, walking around, and reminiscing before heading to the Fort Lauderdale airport. Our flights didn’t leave until later that afternoon so we had plenty of time to get to the airport, relax, and have some fun before parting ways and getting onto the planes. Half of us were heading back to South Carolina and the other half were going to Kansas. We ate snacks, read books, played games, slept, and were entertained by the wildlife that came to eat the crumbs the kids dropped on the floor. Probably the most entertaining game we played was Bean Boozled, we had some good laughs with that one (a couple times we even had the couple sitting next to us laughing).
Nicko enjoying his candy bracelet from Brina Bee!
Nicko enjoying his candy bracelet from Brina Bee!
Zach could sleep anywhere….here he is sleeping soundly on Grandma Penny’s lap at the airport
Reading books in the airport
Another form of airport entertainment in Fort Lauderdale, watching the pigeons come in and pick up the crumbs that the kids dropped on the floor. This one was right next to my foot! The birds came several times within inches from us. The kids would eventually get so excited watching them that they would scare the birds away but in a few minutes they would come back again. Although it was kind of gross the kids were entertained and fascinated by the birds (they kept wanting to feed the birds more).
This guy was right next to Amber’s boot and backpack. He wasn’t very scared of us, he was more interested in getting the crumbs off the floor.
Travel & Vacation: Last Day at Sea
The entrance of Windjammer always had cool food carvings. Usually there were too many people or we were trying to meet up with people so I didn’t stop to take many pictures. The girls insisted that I take one of the motorcycle!
It was nice to have the last full day on the cruise at sea. Since we had to have all our suitcases packed and out in the hall after dinner we just squeezed in some packing time around all the fun activities that we wanted to do for the day. We got to do some of the activities we hadn’t been able to do earlier in the cruise like rock climbing and ice skating.
Nicko wanted to go to the Fisher Price Little People movie so Lee, Nicko, Grandpa Russell, Grandma Penny, Jake, Brina, Karlie and I went to the movie. You can’t see the girls because they sat near the front and I was in the back row behind Nicko. It was cute and the kids really liked it.
Looking out over the Royal Promenade through the glass elevator during the day
Curtain at the evening show on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas
The musicians on stage
Comedian riding a unicycle with a 6 year old kid (from the crowd) on his shoulders
Singers and dancers at the Farewell Show. How do they dance so well in 3 plus inch heels?!
Farewell Song from a group of staff members. They had servers, room attendents, musicians, and more!
Brina and Karlie swinging for the last time. At the end of the Farewell Show Karlie burst into tears, she was so sad the fun week had ended. She said it went by too fast and she had such a great time she wanted to keep on cruising. She decided she wasn’t ready to go back to school or chores. Poor kiddos, it’s always hard when a fun vacation comes to a close. Thankful for the opportunity and all the fun memories we created throughout the week.
Looking down on the Royal Promenade at night through the glass elevator one last time. The girls love all the lights on Main Street at night!
Karlie holding back tears while Brina is ready to get moving again as they walk over the glass bridge and down the Royal Promenade one last time!
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Rock Climbing on Independence of the Seas
Lee made it to the top and rang the bell! WooHoo! He made it look so easy and went up several times that morning!
The final full day on the boat we spent at sea. We had a lot of fun climbing the rock wall, going to a movie with Nicko, ice skating, swimming, going to the show, and so much more. The only thing that we did that wasn’t exciting was pack our luggage because we were heading home the next day. I didn’t get any ice skating pictures because we were not allowed to take the cameras on the ice.
Nathan made it to the top! Yay Nathan!
The girls were proud of Grandpa Russell for ringing the bell too. Way to Go Grandpa!
Karlie ready to go rock climbing wall
Brina was content watching all the family members climb the rock wall.
Brandon, Amber, and Nathan ready to go rock climbing
Brandon heading up the rock wall
Amber heading up the rock climbing wall
Lee and Amber both climbing up the rock wall
Grandpa Russell watching the rock climbers. Brina giggling at Mommy, I had just spilled one of the drinks because the cap wasn’t screwed on all the way (Brina thought it was pretty funny)!
Karlie listening to the instructions from the worker before doing the climbing wall
Karlie heading up the rock climbing wall
Brina all smiles peeking out at me from the basketball court. Is it windy B?
Karlie going up the rock climbing wall. She didn’t make it to the very top but she did get a good ways up and tried it twice.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week was busy with Jake being out of town part of the week in Charleston and special events I think we were only home together one night the whole week. Hoping this week is more productive for me.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
Read By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls– finished and they are ready to start the next one!Read Imagination Station: Voyage with the Vikings by Marianne Hering– read most of this book while in the doctors office with the girls and finished the rest later that evening
Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesPlan one special Activity with the FamilyPrepare for the Girls Birthday
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – didn’t do 5 days
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayStart with my new YouVersion plan(s)- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – paused reading this book because another took priority, hoping to read more this week
Finish reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan- going through this book with a group of friends
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week – Jake was in Charleston or had other events in most of the evenings, we had a special event with the girls one night too so the menu just didn’t get done
Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attentionWork completed for clients
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group EmailEmail a meeting notes for Alms & Legs Ministry Team meeting
Financial Goals
For my February Grocery Budget I am replacing my typical Groceries $40 for 4 with my Life Simplified: No Grocery Shopping in order to use up some extra items in my fridge, freezer, and pantry.– I finished up over 7 weeks of No Grocery shopping, we are starting to low on a few items so I will need to make a grocery run soon- Payoff the Van – made a payment this week
- Pay medical bills in full – paying on them
- Complete 2012 Taxes – working on it
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 6)
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Celebrate at Girls Birthday Party
- Volunteer One Day at Girls School
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
- Complete 2012 Taxes
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
Travel & Vacation: Spending Time with Our Family
Someone’s looking pretty chipper first thing in the morning. Karlie loved that her bunk bed was above ours so she would lean over when she woke up to see if we were awake yet. Most days she was up at 6 am and ready to go!
We most of the day in Jamaica but later that afternoon and evening we had fun on the boat. It was a more relaxing day, we played cards by the pool while the kids swam, talked, walked around, did activities, and went to the Love & Marriage show after the kids were in bed for the night.
Relaxing and playing cards with Josh, Dad, Mom, Lee, and Jake on the pool deck while the kids were swimming. The girls realized we were by the “Sprinkles” ice cream machine playing cards and stopped swimming long enough to have an ice cream cone.
Karlie on a mission!
Brina pushing Nicko in the stroller down the hallway
A guy from the table next to us brought over glow sticks for the kids. Nicko loved his!
Sweet Karlie girl
Brina enjoying her dessert
Eeek! There’s a bat in our room! The girls reassured me that it was okay because the bat was really just a folded towel. They thought it was pretty cool!
The Royal Promenade was all lit up at night. It looked beautiful. This is one end of it. It had stores and restaurants on the main level and room balconies overlooking too. They head a couple different dances, parades, and various activities at night in this area too.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Dinner and A Show
Brina listening intently to the conversation…completely forgetting that it is not ladylike to put her knees up on the table!
We spent the day heading over to Grand Cayman, exploring the island, taking a boat ride out to swim with the stingrays and snorkeling. After we were back on the ship for the night we went to the Family Arcade Night, ate dinner, and went to the evening show before officially crashing for the day. It was a fun day packed full of wonderful memories for the entire family!
It was a super fun filled day. Karlie crashed for a power nap in her seat at dinner. Although she did perk up again when they brought the dessert menus around. 🙂
Happy Birthday to my little brother Josh! It was great getting a chance to celebrate with him this year. Earlier that day we went swimming with the stingrays so that’s not something we get to do everyday!
Nicko enjoying his dessert, a chocolate chip cookie. Watch out for Cookie Monster!
Karlie all smiles and now awake!
Nicko decided to try and pick all the chocolate chips out of the chocolate chip cookies. Too funny!
Daddy and his girls heading to the show!
They got front row balcony seats with the birthday boy – Uncle Josh
