Thursday Thirteen



Thirteen things I learned from my kids



1. Laugh more

2. God hears even the smallest prayers

3. Trust more

4. Being honest may hurt but it's usually best

5. You can dance anywhere if the music moves you

6. It doesn't matter what people look like, it's what's on the inside that counts

7. Books can take you on incredible journeys

8. Don't pretend to be something you're not

9. A day in the park can be such an adventure

10. Food doesn't have fat or calories

11. Grandma always has better snacks

12. It's okay to ask for help

13. You should really listen and not just hear what someone is saying






Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Tina

2. Julie

3. Sherry

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



The Big Night

I can't believe it's already here!! We took Josh to his new school tonight for the kindergarten open house and registration. We met four different teachers and they were all very nice but had very different personalities. I've picked out the two I like best and think I'm going to submit my request later this week. The stuff they are doing in the first year of school these days is incredible... book reports, journals, math and so much more. It's so amazing to me : )

I just keep thinking "my baby is starting school!" I feel like it was just yesterday that I held him in my arms for the first time. So many people said it would go by faster than I could imagine and they were right. Time slips away so fast!!

You know you're blogging too much when...

Your son (almost 5 yrs) starts looking for things you can blog about. A couple days ago Seth did something very cute and Josh said "Oh Mom, you should put that in your blog!" Maybe I should let him start his own blog, huh?




Thirteen Things about Stacey 1…. My Dad once left me in the car because he totally forgot about me. I was about 4 or 5 and remember waiting until I didn't see any strangers around, hopping out and running to where I knew he would be in the store. He was so upset when he realized. He actually had tears in his eyes. 2. This year My Grandma is 75, My Mom is 45, I'm 25 and my son is 5. 3. I love painting in my house. One of my favorite rooms is the office/scrapbook room where I'm doing one wall as a giant scrapbook page!! Thanks Mom for the great idea : ) 4. We have a silly birthday thingie in our house... Josh and Seth are both on the 29th - Hubby and I are both on the 5th. 5. I love details but have to remind myself that some people don't. 6. I have bad luck with getting things rolled up in car windows... my head, hair and even once my boob!! Let me just say Ouch : ) 7. I once tripped over my cousin and broke my foot. It was pretty dumb! 8. At the same time my Mom had a broken arm. People thought we had been in a terrible accident. 9. I changed my first diaper when I was 5. 10. I collect willow tree figurines, thanks to Julie for getting me started. 11. I fall in love with my husband all over again when I see him playing with the kids and being a good daddy!! 12. I love playing board games and card games with my family. 13. My favorite food is pretty much anything mexican. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Addie 2. Lauren 3. Julie 4. Shalee (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



Get your freak on : )

Okay, so Addie has tagged me for the super freaky "meme" today. I've been asked to post weird and freaky things all about me. Anyway, here goes...

1. When I turn up the volume on the TV or stop the microwave, I have to stop it on a even number.

2. When I sleep at night I keep my mouth shut and my jaw clenched because I'm afraid bugs will crawl in my mouth as I sleep. It really does happen people!!

3. As soon as it starts getting dark outside I go through and close the blinds. It doesn't matte whose house I'm in either. I'm afraid of people watching me!!

4. I am so afraid of people getting their hands shut in car doors that I constantly tell the kids to stand back while I close up the van. I think this one goes back to childhood when my sister accidentally closed the car door on my finger.

5. My stomach makes funny noises all the time. It's actually gotten worse since my gallbladder surgery three weeks ago. My family and friends have come to expect it.

6. I can't walk into a crowd without basically having a panic attack. Even walking into church after it starts is a big deal for me!!

7. I'm a night and morning person. I just love to stay up late and watch TV, read or do stuff on the computer. I also love getting up in the mornings and getting ready for the day!! This really bothers some people : )

8. Lately I've noticed my boobs getting a little smaller and my feet getting a little bigger. Not sure what the deal is on that one??

New addition...
9. I walk and talk in my sleep. I've been known to get up and try to leave the house. One time my Mom walked in and I was pushing the covers to the end of my bed and I told her I was pushing the plane. Another time I walked into the bathroom and started undressing at 2 in the morning to get my shower and go to work. Once I woke my husband up when using my remote control as a barcode scanner after a stressful day at work. It's pretty weird!!

So now it's my turn to tag a couple of friends. So Tina, Sherry and Mary it's your turn now!!

Josh's first eye exam

On Saturday we went to Sam's club and they happened to be doing free eye exams. We decided that Josh should get his eyes checked. Here's what happened next...

Eye tech ~ "Does he know his ABC's?"

Jeff ~ "Sure, he knows them all."

Eye tech ~ "Great, Josh look in and read what you see on line 5."

Josh ~ looks in the machine and starts singing "A B C D E F G..."

Eye tech ~ finally catches her breathe from laughing so hard and says "let's try one more time. Look at the line that starts with B and tell me what other letters you see."

Josh ~ "I'm going to need to think about this one."

Finally deciding it wasn't going to work they said thanks and entered him in the Easter basket drawing anyway. I think we'll wait a little longer before we try that again : )
By the way, he won the Easter Basket!!

One more quick thing about Sam's Club... We bought a digital camera there in November and love it. Recently something happened and the lens wouldn't work right. Unfortunately we couldn't find our receipt to send it to Kodak and have it fixed. We went in and asked if they could print us a new receipt. The manager was so nice and exchanged our camera with a brand new one!! We will be going back there for sure!!

Church Picnic

Josh and Seth counting their eggs

Daddy's such a kid!!

Auntie Sherry with Seth

It was pretty hot out there!

My Dad

He could do a Propel water commercial : )

Is it time to go home yet??




Thirteen Things about Stacey! 1. I let little things that people say bother me too much! 2. I really want to loose weight and I'm very discouraged about it. 3. People always think my Mom is my sister. 4. I love shopping even when I don't have money to spend. 5. I love a good girl's night out! 6. I can drink a good cup of coffee any time of the day. 7. I won't eat mushrooms. 8. When I eat too many strawberries I get a little rash on my arms. It usually doesn't stop me though :) 9. It took me 6 months to get pregnant the first time and 13 the second. It was such a hard time in my life. God knew what he was doing though!! 10. I've never had alcohol of any kind. 11. Did try smoking a couple times to be cool... what was I thinking?? 12. I love to hear my son explain things about the Bible and Jesus to his friends. 13. My youngest son just learned to pray. He grabs a hand, closes his eyes and says "Jesus, Amen." It is one of the sweetest things I've ever seen! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Julie 2. Tina 3. Theresa 4. HolyMama! 5. Lauren (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



Daycare in my home

Okay, this picture is almost a year old but it's one of my favorite!!
The kids all love to get under my covers and hang out together.

This is Arianna 5 yrs. She is such a beautiful little girl.

This is Analiah 2 1/2 yrs. She is full of life and loves to have fun.

This is Natalie 3 1/2 yrs. She is very silly and makes great faces.

Here are some things that are difficult about having daycare in your home...

1. Your house gets a lot more wear and tear.
2. Your kids sometimes feel like they don't get all of you.
3. You don't get a raise.
4. You hear lots of whining, crying and complaining!
5. You can't discipline the kids the way you would your own.


Here are some great things about having daycare in your home...
1. You get lots of extra hugs and kisses.
2. You get to watch the kids grow up and learn new things.
3. There is lots of laughter and just plain silliness.
4. You become friends, almost like family with the parents.
5. Your kids always have friends to play with.

I've been doing this for about 4 1/2 years now. At first it was just to pay the bills but over the years it's just become a way of life. This is all my kids know and they love having their friends over everyday. We've worked it out so I get Thursday and Friday off each week and that makes a big difference!! I really enjoy these little kids and it's fun to watch them grow and learn!! I know one day I'm going to look back and miss these times so I'm making the most of each day.

Grandma Mable Update

Well, Grandma is heading home. I guess they decided not to keep her and do anything else. We would appreciate your continued prayers though... You guys are great!!

Update on Grandma

Well, she's doing okay. They were unable to do the open heart surgery because she was just to weak and her heart rate was too low. The instead put a pace maker in. Today we will know more about what the doctors are planning. Thanks for all your prayers!!

Prayer Request

My husband's Grandma was taken to the hospital just a couple hours ago after passing out and falling in her living room. We just got a call that they are taking her in for open heart surgery. She is very weak but we know God will have his hand in this situation. Please pray for her and the family as they are trying to deal with all of this!!

Thank you all for joining me in lifting her up to the Lord.

Rub a dub dub, two cousins in the tub

I just love this picture and couldn't resist posting it.
This is Seth and Sarah in the tub a couple months ago.
Seth is having a great time but Sarah's not too sure.
I'm sure they're going to love this picture when they're 12!!




Thirteen Things about Stacey 1. I can touch my tongue to my nose (I should have posted a pic of this) 2. I love to shop for bargains!! I pulled a pair of new shorts out of my son's closet the other day and realized I had only paid $1 for them!! 3. I love giving gifts to people. Especially when it's something they just mentioned in passing and don't think anyone cared. 4. I have natural curly/wavy hair but blow-dry it straight most days. 5. I would love to try and play softball but am too embarassed to tell anyone becuase everyone thinks I hate sports : ) 6. I love to read but usually can't put the book down once I start and then neglect other things I should be doing. 7. I won't drink a glass of milk but don't mind having it in my cereal. 8. I get very car sick... I get sick after a one hour trip to the outlet malls. 9. I puke very easily!! I've been like this since I was a kid. If I went three weeks without puking it was amazing to my family!! Probably more than you wanted to know, huh? 10. I once sat down and ate a whole roll of thin mint cookies. Okay people, I was six months pregnant : ) 11. My middle name is Ann. 12. I love kids and could picture raising 8 of them!! 13. I love to make cards and scrapbook but don't make enough time to do so. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Lauren 2. Addie 3. Tina 4. Sherry 5. Julie




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



Preach it Josh

Yesterday I hear my 4 yr old and my hubby talking in the other room. Here's how the conversation went...

Hubby ~ "Josh why do I get so upset and frustrated about stuff? I'm sorry Daddy got so upset a little bit ago."

Josh 4 yrs ~ "Daddy, all you have to do is pray like this... Jesus please take away all the stress and the frustrators in my life."

Hubby ~ "Josh, you know, you're right! Daddy just needs to lean on Jesus more." Then says a prayer that I couldn't hear much of and hugged Josh.

It was so cute to know that my 4 yr old was witnessing to my husband and showing wisdom beyond his years!! Sometimes our kids are the ones who make such an impact in our lives and they don't even know it : )