I've been "tagged" - My 5 things

One of my dear friends, Lauren, has officially "tagged" me in a fun new post. 

So here's to you Lauren, my 5 things (I mean really, did you think I was NOT going to talk about myself when asked?) ;)

1) My all time favorite movie is ...... Annie

To this day, I can not see this particular actor without my heart fluttering and I almost tear up!  Ok,just felt a tear

2) I've met Marky-Mark



That's right folks I've met good ole Mark Wahlberg!  When I was in college, my sister and I went backpacking through Europe.  While in Paris we saw Marky-Mark making a movie (The Truth About Charlie, which I have never watched therefore I have no clue what "kind" of movie it is).  Anyways, he was getting into an SUV and my sis and I started waving, he drove up to us, rolled down his windows and said "are you girls American?" which of course we responded with "uuuhhhh, yes" and he said hi and drove off.  There's my 15min of fame!

3) I love the sound of my own voice

What??  Ok, after years of my mother saying it - I can admit it, I love the sound of my own voice - so much so that I talk to myself all the time.  I know, I know, most people do this...but I was that girl who got so into it that while walking across campus I would look up and people would be staring at me b/c my lips were a moving and I was even using hand jesters....I was into it!  Alan would attest to this also, he'll be standing next to me and then just start laughing at me b/c he can tell that I am deep into a conversation....with myself!  That being said, I do like to talk out loud - but then again, anyone who knows me knows that all to well (working on that one!).

4)  My childhood "mishaps" are the stories that keep getting told

There are two "little" moments in my life that just keep getting told, again and again.   The most popular is the Bart Simpson doll episode.  I spent two weeks with my cousins in St. Louis, and one day for some reason (I'm sure I was being an annoying little cousin) my older cousin and I got into an argument.  So I grabbed his Bart Simpson doll (with the plastic spiked hair) and smacked him in the face. It left a nice bruise.  But it went away in a day or so.  So on the trip home, my cousin and his older sister sat in the back of their van applying make-up to it so I would get my due punishment.

The other has to do with me being 8, ballet slippers, and a glass coffee table......I hear that one every time one of my kids leans on that said coffee table :)

5) I didn't really like Alan when we first met...

Just kidding!!  I knew I would marry this man almost instantly!  I just had to take a deep breath, pray and make sure...you know b/c we waiting a long 6 months after meeting to get engaged :)  haha!  

Ok, here's to Lisa,, Cynthia,  - just a few of my FOCUS blogging buddies  your tagged :)

Five Favorites "link up"

I'll have to be honest and tell you that until recently I had no clue what a "link up" was.  But one of my new favorite blogs Moxie Wife just started one called Five Favorites.

 How could I stop myself? :)

So here we go, my five favorites this week

1) Antibiotics

Ok, I know this one is a bit silly - but really it's my true #1 this week!!  I came down with a nasty, nasty case of Strep throat two weeks ago, got on antibiotics.......but it came back!  That's right folks two cases of strep in three weeks!  So now I am on a much stronger antibiotic, and therefore I am starting to feel like a human again

2) Birthdays

Three out of my four sweet babies celebrated birthdays recently - so knowing that we would invite the same people to all parties we just went ahead and had one big amazing party (I'm sure I will post about this very soon!)

3) Dr. Seuss

I mean HELLO, what mom of four wouldn't love the joy that comes along with Dr. Suess' birthday!  Stephen's school, like many I'm sure, celebrated all week ending with the Kindergarten class musical.  I know I'm completely biased, but it was uncontrollably cute!!!

4) Style, Sex, and Substance

 

A few months ago I  traveled back to Mobile to enjoy a wonderful evening with a Catholic women's group.  The editor of this book, Hallie Lord, was the speaker...aka...Moxie wife.  I loved the idea of this book, I loved the simplicity of it, and I knew I had to do something about it!  So off I went back home and began reading it, then I started praying, and then that lead me to a friends house with a bottle of wine. :)  This was the beginning of a new Women's group at our Parish.

5) 3 buck chuck

It's ok, those that know what that is - I heard your giggle :)  3 buck chuck is a three dollar wine purchased at your local (or in my case, extremely not local) Trader Joe's.  Last time we were in Atlanta I made Alan pick up two cases (did I just admit that?)  So after a great run, when I'm not suffering from strep throat that is, I like to wind down with my buddy 3 buck chuck. :)  Here's to you chuck, may my body get better and we will meet again soon!

So, I hope I did that right :)  Have a wonderful week - I'm sure you'll hear from me again soon!
God bless

Oh rainy days!

 When I finally jumped on the bandwagon and joined Pintrest, I promised myself that I would actually try somethings that I pinned.

 I not only wanted to share one of my kids favorite activities, but I wanted to share the reality of it too :)  

 On Pintrest, there's this great picture of a young boy with bright vibrant colors, where his mom says "he played with this for hours one day while it was raining."  Here's my experience   Yes, my children would play with this for hours - but be prepared!  Go to Sam's club, buy the $6 13lb bag of baking soda, and get the $3 jug of vinegar at walmart, so inexpensive for so much fun!  

What I found, was that almost immediately my older children mixed the colors and just had a bunch of browns after just a few moments.  Cecilia and Jude loved it, but I had to fill the medicine dropper for them and still they just squirted it really fast.  After a bit, the older kids' pan was used up and they were getting restless with the idea - so we progressed to "mini" volcano's.  The first time, I just grabbed a used paper towel ring and cut it up.  But then I made salt clay volcano's so we could use them over and over again.  I mean really, what's more fun than watching that!! :0

Here's the "recipe" if you will:

baking soda

vinegar (for colors just drop a little bit of food coloring in little containers)

medicine droppers (I couldn't find a package to purchase, so the pharmacy at Walmart gave me 4!)

any pan

Have fun

Salt Dough (for any fun occasion, like crown of thorns, homemade ornaments, volcano's)

2cups flour

1/2cup salt

warm water (mix it in a little at time)

bake at 350 for 1hr

Happy rainy days!

A Lenten reflection

I'm going to change gears for a minute from my usual family updates to something a little closer to my heart.  I would like to share with you a bit about our Lent in the Maddox house, or maybe more about me :)  It's ok to have a few things about me..right?   

 This year, I've had the chance to start a new group at our Church with a friend of mine, Mandy Flurry.   We started studying a new book called "Style, Sex, and Substance" edited by Hallie Lord.  You should Check her blog out!  www.moxiewife.com

 Anyways, through this study, and my own prayers and reading the same theme continues to cross my path..... "He must increase, but I must decrease" John 3:30.   I know, I know - duh!  I mean that is what Lent is about isn't it?  This great opportunity to die to ourselves, deny some simple pleasure in such a way that we grow in holiness.   It's not enough to say, I'm going to give up sweets and then just do that.  We are called to truly grow in the ability to die to our daily immediate desires, not so that we can be miserable and never happy - but just the opposite, so that we can experience a truely amazing happiness, one that only God can show us!

 Why would I not want this joy and happiness, why would I not want that for my marriage and my family? This Lent God is giving me this great chance to dig deeper and allow Him to increase in my life - but only if I will allow myself to decrease!  

I hope you all have an amazing Lent!  And I want to know about your Lent, leave a comment and let us know how God is calling you this year!  

Two year old twins.....I don't believe it!

 Yesterday I woke up, and all of a sudden I had two, two year olds!  Are you kidding me?  How did this happen?  Well it did, and here is a semi - quick overview of the last two years via pictures.

 Alan and I are embarking on new territory here, ok let's be honest, ever since having Cecilia and Jude we've been in all sorts of new territory when it comes to children.  But this time, for the first time, we have two year olds........ and I'm not holding a new born in my arms.  

 I checked out my blog from the twins birth and it is so amazing to look at Stephen and Abby.  They were so young, Abby was two weeks shy of 2 herself!  Wow!  God is Amazing isn't He!  

 These past two years have been full of laughter, joy, some tears, extreme amount of patience (moments of lost patience) and a level of learning and growth that I'm not sure Alan and I knew was possible in two years.  

 So here we are, a very spirited joyful 5 1/2 year old, a beautiful almost 4yr old, and two amazingly different 2 yr olds.  So what's next?

 Well, that's up to God!

 I digress. 

 These have been some of the greatest years and memories of my life.

 And I am sure any mother would say the same!  

   Thank you for joining us on this journey, and supporting us in so many ways!  I can't even begin to express to our families and friends who have been there for us when we needed an extra hand! Thank you!!

Happy birthday Cecilia and Jude!

You have brought so much joy and life into our lives! I can't wait to see what God has in store for us next! :)

Hey Jude!

 So, little Jude got a little sick the other day - and well, I really wanted to work on getting a good picture in poor lighting.... so look who got to be my subject.  Really, it was an almost perfect scenario (other than the fact that the little guy wasn't feeling good of course).  But around here, we don't have a lot of moments where someone stays completely still and you can use a bit of a slower shutter speed

 Don't worry, he bounced back beautifully the next morning!  It also brings up another question.... is it bad to think your child is super cute when their sick?  I couldn't help but melt inside when he followed me into his room, begged for his puppy and blankie and then headed back to the couch.  He wasn't moaning or anything, just very gentle and loving......what a guy!

 I have noticed though that I haven't taken to many pictures these days, so I am trying very hard to keep my camera near and get on the ball around here

 Jude was not thrilled with the idea

 Cecilia tried to comfort him....

 He thought he was fooling me (but I saw that smile)

ahhhh, and 2 mins later Jude gave me the shot of the day!

Happy Fat Tuesday!  The Maddox house is busy, busy, eating all the cookies we can get our hands on and then talking up a storm about Lent and Ash Wednesday.  Once everyone wakes up from their naps we are going to make "bury the Alleluia" signs. I found a great, fun activity at Catholic Icing.  You should head over for some fun ideas!

May you all have a peaceful and prayerful Lent!  

Why not?

So 2013 has put a little perspective in my life - to say the least!  We've had a few bumps and tears, but in the end God is control and I know all will be ok!

Last week, I needed to run to my parents to pick up Alan's suit and as I was getting everyone together I thought to myself "why not check Stephen out of school for this?"  Ever since he started school, he doesn't see my parent's as often as before, and that's just not right!  I also knew that if I grabbed him out of school, we would have more time with my parents and not feel the need to rush back to MS so I could be home for the bus.

 Off we went, Stephen's surprised face was priceless (mainly b/c he thought I was checking him out to go to the dentist! haha)

We had a carefree afternoon, trying to find wind in my parents backyard and just enjoying each other.  Isn't that what being a child is supposed to be about?  Isn't that why we wanted to stay close to our family and not move to TX when we had the chance last year? 

 At the end of the day family is so important!  We don't know what tomorrow holds, so this family is going to step back and make more time for all those we love!