Birthday Celebration!!!!

Jacob and I celebrated our birthdays, yet again! I always enjoy sharing a birthday with him and that we always get to blow out our birthday candles together. This years birthday celebration wasn't very extravagant, not that have been in the past! Maybe next year he can have a birthday party with friends and such over. Jacob you are such and awesome little man over the past year you sure have grown! Last summer you learned how to ride a bike without training wheels, you decided that you really didn't like swimming in the big pool and also that you don't like to eat tomatoes but you do like to pick them off the vine. You are such a smart little guy and know how to read words like jump, push, pull, wash just to name a few, you still have a huge love for tractors and farming which I don't think you will be out growing anytime soon! You love red and orange peppers, peanut m&m's, and butter sandwiches. You are super funny and some of things you say are hilarious! You impress me with computer skills and how far you have gone on your Reading Eggs website and that you know how to venture over to PBS Kids online. You enjoy playing with tractors, Lincoln logs, and recently the smaller Lego's. Your two favorite songs are International Harvester and the Dirt Road song. You love having a big brother and sister and love to help with your little sister. You are super strong and like to try and carry Lillian places you want her to go! (Even when she really doesn't want to be removed from where she was!) You told me that you are ready to go to kindergarten and that you will miss me and Lillian. I know we will miss you too, although I'm not sure about Lillian, I think some days she will miss you and others, maybe not! You are one whole hand and you said now that your five you do things "so much better now"! Happy Birthday to our little Jacob, we love you!!!! Blessings, Lisa

One Thousand Blessings

#586-595

586. Lillian walking around the house all by herself like a really big girl!

587. The kids finishing up their winter reading program at the library

589. Watching My Yard Goes Disney with the kids

590. Starting to think about what to do with our backyard this summer

591. Watching House Hunters International with Chad, dreaming of places to go

592. Lillian sleeping through the night for the second or third time ever! (or at least I think she did, I don't remember getting up with her!)

593. The kids holding the baby chicks at the farm store and hand sanitizer

594. Having a small birthday party for Jacob and I

595. Knowing that Chad's grandfather is no longer in pain and that he is with his wife in heaven

To learn more about One Thousand Blessings visit Ann's blog, A Holy Experience, and take the dare to count as many blessings in which the Lord has given you!!!! Blessings, Lisa

Running!

Over the past month and half I have started running! Of course I would have never really thought of myself as a runner before. It all started on New Years day last month, I had signed up to run my very first half marathon in May. I am really excited about and find myself getting better at running (something I thought was never possible) not to mention I seem to have lots more energy! I look forward to my runs and this past Saturday morning I ran 6 miles in 57 minutes! I don't think I have ever really ran 6 miles before and if I had it was many, many years ago.

The first time I ran this year it was on the treadmill and it took me forever to go one mile, it took me 19 min to go one mile, that was about six weeks ago! Now I can run a mile in around 10 minutes at comfortable pace.

I have also decided that I really don't like the treadmill, so now I am learning to deal with the cold and running outside weather permitting. For Valentines day last week Chad bought me a pair of running pants and running shirts that are Cold Weather Compression. (Not to mention they were 40% off, I love a good deal!) Oh my, are they wonderful and actually keep me warm! I will run outside as long as the weather isn't below 35, windy out and/or snow on the ground. We have been so fortunate this winter with many days above average. Now I find myself constantly checking the weather to see when I can run next! I have to admit, I love running!!!! Blessings, Lisa

One Thousand Blessings

#576-585

576. Making cupcakes for Kyle's class at school

577. Celebrating Valentines day at home with my family

578. Reading Valentine cards with the kids

579. Running six miles in 56 minutes

580. The kids enjoying themselves at the school carnival

581. The kids exciting about their cousin spending the night

582. New books from the book store

583. A new recipe magazine

584. Kyle and Lindsey not having school on Presidents day

585. Talking to Kyle and Lindsey about the past presidents

To learn more about One Thousand Gifts visit Ann's blog, A Holy Experience, and take the dare to count as many blessings in which the Lord has given you!!!! Blessings, Lisa

One Thousand Blessings

#566-575

566. Talking about plans for a summer vacation

567. Lillian walking while holding her baby doll clear across the room to put the doll in its stroller then proceed and push the stroller across the room

568. Lillian becoming a bit more confident with walking

569. Scoring two huge boxes of diapers on sale at Target

570. Scoring some good deals at the sporting goods store

571. Going out to eat with Chad (and Lillian) for Valentines day

572. Not having to wait too long at the restaurant for our table

573. Buying myself an early birthday present, a pink and brown leather study bible

574. Helping Lindsey make her valentine holder for school tomorrow

575. Helping the kids with valentine cards

To learn more about One Thousand Gifts visit Ann's blog, A Holy Experience, and take the dare to count as many blessings in which the Lord has given you!!!! Blessings, Lisa

Symphony Orchestra, Lollipop Concert!

Last Friday the kids and I went to a local Symphony Orchestra's Lollipop concert, this was Lindsey, Jacob and Lillian's first time! It was a wonderful evening and they did very well for being that they were hungry and Lillian was sleepy! This event is held every year around this time and for the past two years we couldn't go due to the weather! It seems that we always had a nice big snow storm, but not this year the weather was beautiful for a February evening.

We had to leave at 4:30 so that we could be there around 5:45 for the instrument petting zoo! The kids had the chance to touch and try many different instruments for the first time. Of course now they all seem to want a violin or a cello! Lillian enjoyed watching them maybe more than she did hearing them!

Jacob had a really little violin just his size!

Kyle and the trumpet

Lindsey and the baritone

Kyle and the trombone

The building was very beautiful and much bigger than I had thought it would be! Here are some pictures I took before the nights performance. Lindsey mentioned that the Queen sits in the balcony pictured below! (She was very serious about this too!)

We listened to two different performances Carnival of the Animals followed by Peter and The Wolf. Both were great and once it was over we did get a chocolate lollipop shaped like a music note! After it was all over we went out to eat around 8:00, usually our bedtime! So by the time we got home it was pretty late! I am so glad the kids had this opportunity and I know they will remember this for awhile! Blessings, Lisa

Cheer Camp 2012

Last week on Tuesday Lindsey had her cheer camp performance during the high school basketball game. She was so excited to finally preform her routine, it had been postponed due to weather we had a few weeks ago. She remembered a lot of what she had learned which was great, she loves an audience. I was the only one that went with her since it was a school night. Chad stayed at home the other kids and even Lillian! I did call him about three times to make sure Lillian didn't miss me too much. Chad told me that 'she didn't even know I was gone'!

Lindsey waving to the crowd!

I enjoyed myself and didn't worry about taking to many pictures, I just wanted to enjoy her moment! I know she had lots of fun and she was so cute to watch! Blessings, Lisa

One Thousand Blessings

#556-565

556. Lillian handling her baby shots fairly well

557. Watching Lindsey perform her cheerleading routine at the game

558. Catching up with a friend I haven't seen in awhile

559. The kids enjoying themselves with their new club

560. Hearing all about Kyle's basketball game

561. Lindsey enjoying herself at her American Girl tea party

562. Going shopping with the whole family

563. Eating out at Culver's for dinner with all six of us

564. Watching the Super Bowl with the kids and Chad, at home

565. Indianapolis hosting the Super Bowl for the first time and having it be a success

To learn more about One Thousand Gifts visit Ann's blog, A Holy Experience, and take the dare to count as many blessings in which the Lord has given you!!!! Blessings, Lisa