Heard Around Here Lately...

A few weeks ago Hayden was in the 2/3s class at church. She said to her pregnant teacher, "Your tummy is getting so big! Did you EAT the baby?"

I prepared a bowl of fruit cocktail for the kids at lunch one day. Jax said, "Fruit cottontail?! Yummy!!"


One of Hayden's favorite things to say to me: "Mommy, you make my sun bright." *melt*


Yesterday morning Emerson and I were chatting while Jax was resting in the living room. He said, "Can you guys please, a little bit, PIPE IT DOWN?"

Soccer is upon us

I'm a soccer mom. I love those titles that we think we'll never become. I grew up in a small town that didn't even have soccer, and I basically know nothing about it. So I guess you would call me a soccer mom-in-training. Thankfully I married a city boy who played soccer all of his childhood and was really good at it. He's coaching Emerson's team this year... I've enjoyed watching him be so patient with those five- and six-year-old girls. Jax is playing on a new team this year, coached by his friend Landon's dad. This team is unbelievably good. They're playing in the upper bracket of their age group, and they've been unstoppable.

I look forward to Saturdays every week! A few weeks ago we played in 30-degree weather with wind chill in the teens. Crazy but fun. 

February Picture Post

The day after Hayden's party, we braved the snowy weather and went to see Beauty and the Beast at the PAC, courtesy of Grammy. Emerson loved it, and her impersonation of the maid-turned-feather duster is epic.

The next weekend was the 2nd annual Daddy/Daughter dance at LT. Emerson has looked forward to this since last year, and Hot Sauce only has to wait one more year!

The littles and I ate at Charlie's that night. Banana pudding rocks.

Hot cocoa on a cold night while Daddy was in Green Bay. I love Emerson's toothless smile. The girl hast lost 7 teeth now. That seems like so many to me for Kindergarten!

Hot Sauce doing her best grumpy face. But really, how grumpy can she be with her fave blankie around her neck?

Emerson working on a project on the 100th day of school (photo via HH website).

Valentine's Party with her 2nd grade buddy, L.C. They were in dance class together last year, and Emerson was waaay excited to be partnered with her. Love her sweet spirit and kind heart!

I'm beyond thankful that so many of these sweet kiddos will become some of her dearest friends over the years.

We had a Friday off and went with Grammy to the Tulsa Children's Museum. The packing tape slide was a huge hit.

Laying on a bed of nails. I did it too...it hurt my scapulae. Thankful no one snapped a picture. The little red-headed boy in this picture became besties with Em during our visit. He would show her around and explain each station. So cute!

The creme de la creme of the month was the Potters' visit. Eric is on sabbatical right now, so they have been traveling around the eastern U.S. (literally) and were able to stay for 3 days last week. My kids had the BEST time with their cousins, and spending lazy days at home with my sis was pure bliss. We did venture out to the aquarium on Monday since J took the day off.

Mindy (or Mindus, as I've called her for almost 20 years now), one of our dearest friends from high school, brought her little man Baylor over for a visit. Talk about a BLAST catching up and laughing our butts off while recounting various high school shenanigans.

Emerson couldn't get enough Baby Saige.

Riveted by a show... probably Lazy Town or something. Even Saige is watching!

Two prayer requests... my friend Sherry from our church has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She will begin chemo soon. Also, prayers going out to a sweet little boy named Ben in New York with an aggressive brain tumor. He is my friend Cristin's cousin's son, and I can't get him out of my mind. Here's the BLOG. It'll tear your heart out.

Why I Love Ebates...

THIS is why I love Ebates:

You see, I am not a huge shopper. And I'm not a huge online shopper. But for those times that I do shop online, it's so much fun to make money doing it. I get little quarterly (or however often it is) checks in the mail, and it's fun to cash them and put them in my 'fun money' envelope. No, really, I have an actual envelope. Here it is:

I know. Bless my heart. I've had a 'fun $' envelope for a really long time. It's where I put birthday money, my Ebates cashed checks, etc. I usually save up for a larger item like boots or a big trip to Sephora or a full-priced shirt at White & Black or other fun store. And on the rare occasion I get a cash withdrawal from the bank and they send it out in a new white envelope, I get excited that I am getting a new Fun $ envelope. Double bless my heart.

So anywho, back to Ebates. It's absolutely FREE to sign up, and all you have to do is start your online shopping through them. And get paid. Click HERE if you are interested. Yes, it's a referral link, but let me tell you, I wish someone would've told me about it a long time before 2010 (see above) because that $225 number could've been a lot bigger!