And the saga continues.

I had another episode today.

Just when I thought my crazy mystery disease was gone

it showed its ugly head yet again.

Thankfully today wasn't nearly as bad as last time

(which was over 4 and a half months ago!).

I pretty much just had diarrhea and itchy hives all over my body.

Per doctors orders I went straight to the ER and I gave the ER doctor the lab slips I had in my wallet (from the gastroenterologist and rhuematologist).

They drew 15 vials of blood. 

Hopefully all that blood will show something. 

I kind of feel like anything is better than just being in the dark. 

At the ER they ran a million blood tests, pumped me with fluids and a bunch of different medicines and then 5 hours later I was fine and they let me go. 

With instructions to see some mystery disease specialist in LA. 

Someones got to know what's wrong with me!

There's got to be a real life House doctor out there right?

Well whether the doctors know what's wrong with me or not, God does.
He knows what's going on.

He's in control of all things.

And He is so powerful and so so good.

Even today was a reminder of God's sovereign control and perfect timing.

I had been out all day at the kids dance and soccer classes and then to the mall with friends and I just happened to swing by my parents house after the mall to borrow some fans.

The episode started right when I got to my mom's house. 

Which also happened to be the exact time Aaron was on lunch for work.

We were able to leave the kids with my parents and run over to the ER together.

 I love how God is so gracious to give me reminders of his love and sovereignty during the times when I need it the most. 

I feel so at peace that He's got it all under control. 

His hands are a good place to be :)

Wesley's Animal Rescue Mission birthday party

There's an animal in trouble.
There's an animal in trouble.
There's an animal in trouble somewhere.
-Diego Animal Rescuer

Wesley's 3rd birthday party couldn't have been easier.

He is super into Diego right now so we threw a little Diego inspired party at a near by park.

When the kids got the to party we let each of them decorate a pair of binoculars (made out of toilet paper rolls and yarn) with animal stickers and crayons. 

I also had some animal snacks for the kids to munch on as they were crafting.

The kids loved decorating the binoculars and 

using them to look for animals in trouble.

Once all the kids arrived I gathered them together and told them,

"There's an animal in trouble.

There's and animal in trouble.

There's an animal in trouble somewhere.

 Dora and Diego heard that you guys were going to be at the park for Wesley's birthday and they gave me this letter to read to you.

Letter...

"Welcome Animal Rescuers! Some animals are in trouble and Dora and I need you help rescuing them. Will you help us? (yes!!!) Thanks! Follow the signs at each stop and Mrs. Kristin's instructions to help the animal in trouble". 

The kids were sooo excited they jetted off as fast as they could. 

The first stop was the Butterfly Wing Repair Center. 

I thought I'd include the instructions I read at each stop in case you want to know all the gushy details...

"Welcome to the butterfly rescue center. These butterflies have a broken wing and need your help to fly again. Find the first aid kit and put one band aid on each butterfly wing."

*The butterflies were made out of card stock (and decorated by me and the kids) and taped onto a baseball dugout at the park. 

The kids each got 2 band aids to put on a butterfly of their choice. 

The little ones had a hard time opening the band aids by themselves (if I did it again I would have had them all out of the package so they just had to take the sticky tabs off) but other than that they loved it.

At stop number 2 we encountered the silly Bo Bo Monkeys.

"Those silly Bo Bo monkeys are causing trouble again! They stole all of the baby monkey's bananas. When Mrs. Kristin calls your name, grab a water balloon out of the bucket and step up to the line where you can try and stop the Bo Bo monkeys." 

The water balloons were a huge hit!

We had each kid stand near the pool noodle and throw 3 water balloons at the Bo Bo monkeys.

The third stop was the Owl Toss.

'The mean old bear is blocking the path! Each person needs to throw the owls into the hoop before he will let us through."

*We used some owl bean bags I had left over from Mackenzie's 2nd birthday party. 

And next was the Spider and Snake Crawl

"Welcome to spider and snake valley. To make it to the next animal in trouble you must crawl under the net without touching any of the dangerous spiders or snakes. Good luck!"

The kids crawled under 

and then back again. 

The final stop was to help a baby bird.

"Help!  A baby bird is in trouble! She has lost her home and needs our help to build a new nest. Dig in the sand to find sticks, leaves, and grass to build her new nest."

The kids did a great job working together to find all of the stuff I had buried and they even found some other things around the park to make the baby's nest extra comfy. 

Of course no party is complete without cupcakes.

Funfetti cupcakes to be exact.

As I was passing out all the cupcakes and helping kids put straws in their drinks I forgot to tell the kids not to eat their cupcakes yet. 

Whoops...

look at Wesley's face :)

So stopped to sing Happy Birthday and let Wesley blow out his half eaten cupcake. 

Then Wesley opened his presents, the kids played a bit at the park and we were done. 

I think it was one of the most fun and less stressful kid parties we have done. 

Oh and for the favors we just did fun dips, now and laters, water guns, water balloons and a sticky frog. 

NEW Just Like Daddy bibs!

I'm so excited to introduce you to my new line of
Just like Daddy bibs.

They are made out of upcycled t shirts with a super soft and absorbent terry cloth back. 

Now your little surfer or skater dude will look just like Daddy with these cool bibs. 

Each one is unique so be sure to snatch them before they are gone. 

Check them out here in the shop. 

finger sucking

Having a kid who sucks their finger(s) is awesome

until you want them to stop.

If you want your kid to be done with a pacifier you have so many options...

hide them, 

throw them in the trash, 

give them to a new baby, 

or my personal favorite cut the end off so they don't suck anymore.

But if your kid sucks their finger it's not like you can just cut their finger off.

We tried sticker charts and rewards and yucky tasking stuff.

Nothing worked.

Well I should say it kind of worked

she went from sucking two fingers down to one.  

Woop dee doo.

But now it's time to stop

for real.

So a friend from church had the great idea of wrapping the sucking finger in a band aid. 

Genius. 

Except Mackenzie realized when in desperate situations she wasn't partial to which finger she sucked. 

So we had to start bandaiding all of her fingers. 

And then it was a little weird.

Everyone kept asking what happened to her fingers, etc. 

Anyways, the band aids are gone and she's still sucking.

Any ideas out there? 

A peek at our week

Hey guys!
I'm still waiting for life to get back to normal.

I'm not sure it ever will :) 

There's just so much good stuff (a.k.a. busyness!) going on. 

Here's a peek at our week through the camera lens of my phone.

Enjoy!

chillin

The hubby and I snuck away to see the Hunger Games at the dollar theater. 

On Wesley's birthday we went to an indoor jumping place with some friends.

The kids loved it!

I may or may not have gone on all of the "rides" too. 

Even Maddie got her jump on. 

Then we went to dinner to celebrate.

I love when they all play together...nicely! 

Yes my mom has the best kids toys. 

I think my kids like playing at her house more than ours. 

Baby Mackenzie looks just like baby Madelyn. 

Summer fun!

The kids first experience with a slip n slide. 

so. much. fun. 

and hilarious to watch. 

Shopping is always an adventure. 

I got to help our good friend register for their little girl who they are adopting from Korea.
She's only one month younger than Madelyn!

Just call me the coupon lady.

I got all of this for under $7. 

Score!

We went to Chuck E Cheese. 

Again I think I had as much fun as the kids. 

Aaron's dad got us cable for a month (so he could watch it while he stayed with us). 

Couldn't have been a better month to get it. 

getting all mushy

Wesley turning 3 made me get all mushy.

My kids are growing up fast and I don't like it.

I had to snap a picture of each of them to document this season of life.
Because one blink and I know it will be over.

Mackenzie is 4 and a half going on 10. 

She is constantly amazing me with the things she says.
I'm always asking her, "How do you know that?"

I'm pretty convinced she thinks she knows everything too.

Every time I tell her something she always says, "Yeah Mom, I know."

She is also a great helper and loves to nurture her brother and sister.

Oh and she loves to play with her little "people" (Polly pocket, princesses, My little ponies, you name it).

Wesley is our ball of fire. 

He keeps us laughing and smiling and always on our toes.

He has such a sweet, loving heart and is definitely a people person.

He loves sports and climbing (anything and everything) and is finnnaaallly into boy toys.

And he loves to cuddle.

And Madelyn is just a cutie pie.

She is already so independent.

She plays well by herself and wants to do everything without help.

She is happy and playful and stubborn.

Her favorite words are hi and bye (while waving). 

She wants to do everything that her brother and sister are doing and can't wait to be old enough to keep up with them. 

3. years. old.

Happy 3rd Birthday to my favorite little boy in the whole wide world!

Who would have thought that my horribly colicky. never happy. or sleepy. baby would turn into such a... 

silly,

playful,

joyful,

athletic,

caring,

 passionate, 

fun,

loving,

sometimes serious,

 sweet,

 

cuddly,

really really cute big boy.  

Wesley, I am so proud of the man you are growing to be! Always keep your eyes fixed on the Lord and His Word in your head and your heart and He will take care of the rest.

I love you more than words can express!
Happy Birthday Bubba!