First Haircut

Jonas is 18 months now and really losing that baby face about him.  He is such a big boy wanting to do everything the big kids do.  He got his hard cast removed a few weeks ago and was on a walking cast for a couple weeks.  Though he is still limping a bit, he is back in the action with the kids outside and running around.  Awhile back he had his first haircut.  Normally I cut the boys hair but none of my boys had so much hair at only 16 months so I brought him to a friend who is a barber.  Jonas was so good!  He did awesome.  And his haircut is so cute.  And  8 weeks later, he needs another one already!  

 Before...think he needs a haircut?!?!

 "Not sure what's going on with this cape but I am ready!"

So still... 

 After...so adorable!

Five Minute Friday - Song

Ready, Set, Go!

Whenever describing my 4 1/2 year old daughter to someone, I let them know that she always has a song in heart...literally!  She sings at some point every day.  Whether it be a song she learned in school or church or one she just heard in the car with mommy or daddy, she sings...and sings...and sings.  There are times when quiet would be nice but I just love this part about her.  She just loves to sing and doesn't care who is listening.  Sometimes I wish I had that quality within myself.  

What I know is that she picks up on any song she hears.  She is always listening.  It dawned on me today as I contemplated writing about the word "song" that all my kids are listening.  Maybe not always to music but to the song that their mommy brings to them each day.  Anyone who knows me knows I can sing worth a lick!  But nonetheless, I sing out of my heart and attitude each day whether I like it or not.  

Some days it's "Give Me Jesus" by Jeremy Camp.  Other days maybe it's "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter and still others it might be "Blessed" Martina McBride.  

But I sing...and whatever song my attitude shows on any given day is what my children and husband see and hear.

I need to think about that next time I open my mouth and heart to "sing".

Comfort

It's time for Five Minute Friday.  Five minutes of writing without self-editing or self-critiquing.  Just writing for the joy of writing...

I am linking up with Lisa-Jo-Baker and today's word is comfort. 

Ready, Set, Go!

Macaroni and cheese.  Beef stew.  Chicken and dumplings.  Lasagna.  Biscuits and Gravy.  Chili.  Mmmmm....yes, comfort foods.  But why?  What is it about these foods that brings us comfort? 

Maybe it's the smell or the taste.  Maybe it reminds us of our sweet mama's cookin'.  Maybe it's the reminiscing that it brings.  
Maybe it's the way they warm us from the inside out and let us feel that all is right with the world with that taste and smell in front of us.  

What brings me comfort is my question?  And though it is simple, typical and maybe even a bit cliche, it is being home with my family.  At the end of the long day, I want to be home with my husband and kids.  

When things aren't right in the world it is where I want to be.  In the most recent bombings or 9/11 or the shooting in Newtown or during a blizzard, it is where I want to be.  I want to hold my loved ones during those times because it brings warmth and comfort from the inside out.   There is nothing that brings me more comfort.  

Grand Prix

The kids took place in the Grand Prix race with AWANA back in March...and yes, I am just getting around to posting pics!  The kids each picked out what they wanted their car to look like.  Hannah was adamant about wanting a shark!  There was NO talking her out of it!  They all raced really great.  Daddy learned a lot of tricks over the past year and got help from a good friend of ours so the cars were much faster.  Last year they were barely in the race!

There were some creative and good looking cars there. 

Hannah won first place in her group.  And in fact, at the end of the race, they posted the fastest cars present and this little Shark driver had the fastest car of all the kids there!  She walked up to get it with her head held high.  She kept telling us before the day of the race that she was going to win.  She could not be more proud to bring home this trophy.  Uh-oh for the day that she doesn't come in first!  That will be a teachable moment...

So Hannah won first place in her group, Josiah won second place in his group (shhh....lost to his sister!) and Caleb won 1st place for design in his group.  It was happy day in the Libby house, that's for sure!

There they are...a shark for Hannah, the Batmobile for Josiah and the American flag for Caleb (and yes, it had to look like it was flying so it was cut all wavy).  Dave did an amazing job cutting them and the kids loved decorating them.  A fun family day!

Five Minute Friday ~ BRAVE

Ready, Set, Go:

Brave.  Slaying dragons, defeating a giant named Goliath, going to war, climbing Mount Everest, fighting and surviving cancer.  These are all brave acts.  

But when thinking about the word BRAVE, I wonder when have I had to be brave in my life?  I have never had any major or catastrophic events take place in my life.  I have never done anything really scary.

But here are some brave things I have done.

Having children ~ Brave.

Having multiple children ~ Brave.

Teaching a classroom full of Kindergarteners ~ Brave.

Moving to another state miles away knowing nobody but trusting God ~ Brave.

Deciding to homeschool our children ~ Brave. 
Being apart from my husband for 3 months while he went off to the police academy ~ Brave.
Calling up another homeschool mom that I had never met before out of the blue because I needed in encouragement in this new adventure ~ Brave.

Delivering our fourth child while he had the cord wrapped around his neck and walking through some scary moments ~ Brave.

Maybe these aren't heroic.  But they are moments of "Brave" that have made me stronger and helped me be who I am today.  

And some days my brave may be as simple as killing a spider in the house because daddy isn't home...but nonetheless...Brave.