Twins

  • Travel & Vacation: Disney’s Electrical Parade & Firework Show

    Disney’s Electrical Parade

    Another one of the highlights at Disney was their electrical light parade and the firework show.  The girls LOVED it (so neat)!  I can see why so many people stay for this event!  Thankful for a chance to spend the day at Disney with family and friends.  For more posts about our Disney adventure you can go to Walt Disney World or Rides & Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade or Walt Disney World (part 2) posts.

    Watching the Disney’s Electrical Parade, super cool!

    Fireworks at Disney

    Amazing fireworks over the castle

    Beautiful fireworks

    The castle changed colors throughout the firework show

    Watching fireworks at Disney

    The firework show at Disney is awesome!

     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: Walt Disney World (Orlando, FL – Part 2)

    Enjoying a funny show at Disney

    We had a blast taking the girls to Walt Disney World for the first time.  Thankful for a great time with both family and friends.  There were a lot of fun rides and shows as well as a walk through the Swiss Family Robinson tree house which we finished reading to the girls awhile ago.  You can read more about our trip in the Walt Disney World or Rides & Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade posts.

    Getting a lift to the next activity

    Riding the big carousel

    Karlie checking everything out and loving it!

    Exploring the Swiss Family Robinson tree house

    All the kids checking out the cool items in the Swiss Family Robinson tree house.

    Daddy & Karlie in a Honeypot

    Awesome family behind us in their honeypot!

    Having fun at Disney

     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: Rides & Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade (Orlando, FL)

    Karlie having a blast shooting laser during the Buzz Lightyear ride

    We went on several rides at Disney with the kids and had a lot of fun!  We were thankful for friends who guided us in the right direction and recommended certain rides for the kids.  There were some hilarious shows we went to as well.  A few rides the kids loved so much we went on them several times! 🙂  You can read more about our trip in the Walt Disney World post.

    Mommy and Karlie’s screen shot from the picture they took during our first game, hilarious!

    Daddy and Brina’s screen shot from the picture they took during the first game!

    What did the four older ones get themselves into now!?  Such fun exploring the place with friends!

    It threatened to rain as the parade was starting but we were prepared with disposable ponchos

    Disney – “Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade!”

    Mickey and Minnie Mouse – Your Invited, Celebrate Today!

  • Travel & Vacation: Walt Disney World (Orlando, FL)

    We made it to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

    A few months ago we had the opportunity to go visit friends in Winter Park, Florida.  While we were there we took a day and explored Walt Disney World – Where Dreams Come True.  The girls were so excited!  Jake and I still have passes leftover from our honeymoon (which was my first time to see Disney World) so we only had to get tickets for the girls.  It was so neat taking the kids and seeing their reactions to all the amazing rides and adventures at Disney World.  We arrived right about opening time and stayed until they closed the park at midnight.  It was a full day packed full of great activities and amazing memories!

    Three girls watching all the people in front of us get onto the Frontier log ride

    My seat buddy Karlie is loving the ride.  Smiling the whole time but not taking her eyes off all the stuff around her.

    Brina mesmerized by all the stuff to look at.  Was the wolf scary B?!  Good thing she has Daddy to protect her!

    Karlie found a small purple flower that had dropped off a tree and gave it to me.  Sweet girl!

    Our family at Disney World

    Ready for the next adventure, this time we need our 3D glasses!

    Daddy and the girls in front of the Disney Castle.  It was bright, hot, and crowded, but we managed to snap a quick picture!!

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    We had a BLAST last week spending some extra time with Jake’s cousins kids.  They were great kids and we had fun reading, playing, and exploring together.  It was neat having a 1 year and 2 year in the house in addition to 2 – eight year olds! 🙂    Hoping to get caught up on a lot of projects this week!

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read Imagination Station: Peril in the Palace by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 3) finished reading and started on the next one! 🙂  I love that the chapters are short so it is easy to read one right before devotions and bed.
    2. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    3. Play a board game – played a couple little kids games (the favorite this week with the younger ones was “Don’t Break the Ice”)
    4. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before – we had a couple field trips, special events, and a busy schedule with little ones running around this week so we didn’t get our lunches packed every night this week
    5. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    6. Attend After School Activities
    7. Take care of, play, and enjoy extra time with the little ones staying with us this week – it was a lot of FUN!!! 🙂 

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week – Ummm…..I didn’t do my official exercises (does it count lifting little ones all week)?
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day – was pretty busy and notice I got behind on my water a couple days last week
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s) – hoping to catch up this week
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – was catching up on a book that I needed to read for an upcoming meeting
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – made a little progress in the evenings but not as much as I hoped

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Pay all upcoming bills
    4. Work on Spring Cleaning – it was put on hold with the little ones here last week

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts – by the time the kids were in bed, house picked up and prepped for the  next day I didn’t get a lot of creative blogging done this past week (hoping to catch up this week though)
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients – got the projects I had to get done completed

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email
    3. Send out the Alms & Legs Meeting Reminder

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4 – went over our Grocery budget this week
    2. Payoff the Van – hoping to make an extra payment next week
    3. Pay medical bills in full – making payments (a couple have been paid off this month

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read Imagination Station: Revenge of a Red Knight by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 4)
    2. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    3. Play a board game
    4. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    5. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    6. Attend After School Activities

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Pay all upcoming bills
    4. Work on Spring Cleaning

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email
    3. Send out the Alms & Legs Meeting Reminder

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Pay medical bills in full

    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.

  • Little Town On The Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

    A couple weeks ago I finished reading Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls.  It is the seventh book in the Little House series.  It is hard to believe we are flying through this series and before long we’ll be done.  The girls loved these books so much I am already thinking about if I should do another series or something similar next.

    Now that the long winter of blizzards is over the Ingalls family is heading back out to the homestead to work the land.  Laura got a new job, attended some fun parties in town, and began to spend time with Almanzo Wilder.  She continues to study hard for the teacher’s test so she can help Pa and Ma keep Mary in school.  Mary is going to college for the blind.  Even though Laura is fifteen years old she past the test and receives her teaching certificate early.

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    We had a wonderful Spring Break with the girls.  Last week Jake had to work for a few days in the Charleston so we went with him.  It was nice to hang out together with family and create new memories.  This week we are back to the normal schedule with school back in full swing.

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 8)
    2. Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2) – almost finished, started reading it this past weekend
    3. Ride bikes / scooters / skates / roller blades with the family – rode at home and took our bikes & skates to Charleston to ride as well
    4. Go on a picnic with the kids – had a picnic with the girls at the Easter Egg Hunt & while in Charleston
    5. Play in the park together – played several parks in Charleston with the girls
    6. Visit a Museum – went to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry and the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
    7. Plan one special Activity with the Family – spent time together in Charleston doing special activities including the Cooper River Bridge Kids Run on Friday!
    8. Go on a family walk – took walk through Battery Park
    9. Get together with Family and/or Friends – had some family and friends over
    10. Play a board game – played several games with the girls
    11. Go on a special road trip – went to Charleston
    12. Slumber party
    13. Go out to dinner one evening – went out to eat while in Charleston
    14. Watch a movie or TV show together one evening – since we finished reading the Little House on the Prairie books we introduced the girls to the TV show, they were sooo excited!

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week – lots of bike riding, walking, and even a mile  jog in the Kids Run
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week – since we were traveling most of the week I didn’t plan out the menu
    3. Pay all upcoming bills
    4. Start Spring Cleaning

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van – made another payment
    3. Pay medical bills in full – got one of the bills paid off, working on the other ones now

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 9)
    2. Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
    3. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    4. Play a board game
    5. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    6. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    7. Attend After School Activities
    8. Volunteer One Day at Girls School
    9. Prepare for Upcoming Visitors
    10. Finish the girls Bookshelf

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Pay all upcoming bills
    4. Work on Spring Cleaning

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Pay medical bills in full

    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.

  • Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro

    The girls have had the Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro (Playskool) for several years now.  They love it!  It is a unique game with a picnic blanket board, a picnic basket, games pieces, a story they can read, and a cd to listen too.  Many times as we are setting up the game someone will read the story and after playing the game the girls like to listen to the cd. It is a cute game about using your manners, being kind, and polite.

    • Colorful with neat game pieces (how many games come with a cool picnic basket)
    • Book  to read during story time with fun character who are learning their manners
    • Audio CD with more about the story and songs regarding using manners
    • Easy to play (recommended for ages 4 and up)
    • 2 to 4 Players
    • Object of the game – use your manners and be the first to collect all the items you need at your picnic!
    • Learning Benefits – social skills (say “please” and “thank you”), taking turns, listening, reading, and more

    We love games!   We have found that playing games is beneficial for many reasons.  It gives us quality time together as a family.  The kids learn that they will not always win (which is not always an easy lesson to learn), but the game can still be fun even if you are not the victor in every game.  It provides opportunities for us to talk and create memories together.  Games teach and help our kids practice a variety of useful skills like following directions, reading, writing, counting, taking turns, and more.

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    We had a great Easter weekend with the family.  I am super excited about spending some extra time with the kids since they will be out for Spring Break this week.  A lot of my goals for the upcoming week center around time spent with the family.

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 8) – still reading through with the girls
    2. Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2) – haven’t started it yet
    3. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    4. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    7. Volunteer One Day at Girls School
    8. Easter activity & celebration
    9. Get together with Family and/or Friends

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – hoping to get back into it soon
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – reading through it

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4 – went a little over with the Easter items
    2. Payoff the Van – made another payment
    3. Pay medical bills in full – making payments

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 8)
    2. Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
    3. Ride bikes / scooters / skates / roller blades with the family
    4. Go on a picnic with the kids
    5. Play in the park together
    6. Visit a Museum
    7. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    8. Go on a family walk
    9. Get together with Family and/or Friends
    10. Play a board game
    11. Go on a special road trip
    12. Slumber party
    13. Go out to dinner one evening
    14. Watch a movie or TV show together one evening

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Pay all upcoming bills
    4. Start Spring Cleaning

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Pay medical bills in full

    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: Dolphin Show at SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)

    So beautiful and graceful

    One of the other highlights at SeaWorld was the Dolphin Show.  It was really neat watching the dolphins gliding through the water, jumping, and interacting with the people.  Amazing creatures and fascinating to watch!

    Another show at SeaWorld

    This show is with Dolphins!

    Part of the Dolphin Show, pretty neat!

    The Dolphin came up for his treat

    Standing up on two dolphins, that’s neat!

    These dolphins are well trained

    This Dolphin looks like it is having fun

    Awesome!

    Beautiful animals