North Dakota here we come!

The truck is {almost} loaded…. It’s {almost} time…. Oh so bittersweet…

 

No time for talking…. No time for posting… but I look forward to getting settled in our new home on the farm and coming back to you! {grin}

birthdays & captions

There are two people in our family who have a birthday this week...
one today and one tomorrow.

can you guess who?

...............................................

and I thought...
just for fun...
that I would ask you...
to give me a wonderful caption for this photo...




..........................................

and this...



...is Quinoa
it's awesome...
it taste good
it is good for you
it's easy to cook
the recipes you can use it in are endless
almost everyone likes it
and I love it! {grin}

{when we life settles down a bit i'll get back to posting recipes... I promise! }

this and that...

I've been cooking a lot of this lately
...it's quick
easy
and healthy.

do you know what it is?



The girls love taking baths...
and it keeps them contained and clean
it's a win-win
especially when big brother can help watch them
...while I pack! {grin}

we are going to get more of this...
I think it's thrilling
...but not good for moving.

all {but a few} of our dishes are packed...
we are officially moving.

better get back to packing....
it will be over soon.
and then maybe my blog won't be so boring! {grin}

2 girls meet 2 boys

We had a playdate with another set of twins the other day
...2 1/2 year old identical twin boys

obviously we wanted to remember this occasion...
since we might not see them again for a long time

I wasn't intimidated at the thought of taking a picture of 2 sets of twins
...but I didn't have high expectations either {grin}

at first the girls sat quietly while the boys protested...



and then I bribed them with chocolate covered cranberries
...the girls thought their giddiness was intriguing.

there were FIVE other boys sitting on the other side of the couch
...she has 4 boys too!

their faces were covered in chocolate...
they were done...
and I was thrilled I had the chance to capture the moment with my camera!

I am so glad my 2 girls were able to meet your 2 boys Violet!

me talking {again}

I am up to my knees in things...
things to give.
things to keep.
things I don't know what to do with.
The boys {all four} had a blast of a weekend...
with their cousins, Nana & Papa.
I was supposed to get a lot done with only 2 children home.
...only problem is that the 2 children at home
...were 2 little girls with a cold.
All they wanted was mama to hold them...
and I did...
but that made packing harder.
I took turns wearing them in my gypsy wrap.
It was special even if I didn't get enough done.

Eliza did find herself a wonderful place to sit
...and watch mama work in the kitchen
...while I wore Nolia




My baby girls are growing up so fast
...just look at Eliza in that picture
...she's such a little girl!
oh my lovely girls.

You all are so wonderful...
you write me emails
tell me you're thinking of our family
praying for our family
caring about our family.
AMAZING.
You all bless me more than I could ever say.
Thank you!
I wish I had the time to write you all back...
I've marked all of your emails
...hoping to have time after the MOVE to write you back.
I'm hopeful!
but know you blessed me and I am so thankful for you.

This moving thing is hard
...I've never moved with a family before.
hard physically. hard emotionally.
I am so sure it is the right thing though.
This is what God wants us to be doing right now.
and I am learning amazing things through all of this.
Thank you God for this hard time.
for molding me and showing me.
How blessed am I.

I have moments of wanting to give everything away...
then I am overcome with sentimental emotions...
I realize that I have more than I have ever wanted...
I don't care for material things...
but they surround me...
how did I surround myself with things?
So I give it away...
I love giving things away.
and then sometimes I am overcome with sentimental emotions again.
but I'm learning
and discovering what is truly important.

Marriage & mothering are a challenge
through those challenges we grow and learn
and become more like Jesus.
So the more the challenges
the more opportunities to become more like Jesus.
So I am thankful for these challenges
...even though they are really hard!

I better get back to packing.

NOON

It's still noon somewhere...
right!?
So it still counts...
as being on time?
I hope so because I'm really trying to work on that!
...some new years resolution or something like that. {grin}

and now...
where were we?
{that's a lot of W's and E's}

we were not here...
last week that is
...we were there a few months ago though.

and even though leaving is really hard
...I miss the farm.

okay, enough talking
...you really want to know where we were?

gracious you all are good
lots of guesses for...
oil changes...
auto repair shops...
car dealerships...
and tire shops...

Indeed we were at a tire shop
a Discount Tire
next to an Ice cream shop

but no we didn't visit the Ice cream shop
...but the Chick-fil-a instead

oh how we love Chick-fil-a

oh and yes...
Ozzie did have his shoes on the wrong feet
and it is adorable that he helps just like a big boy



so who guessed right?
ummm... about 29 of you!

my games are lame and way too easy...
I know, I know {grin}

oh and I am having trouble figuring out how to link to you
...with the new{ish} comment system
So...
I just "liked" all of your correct answers so they pop up first!

{NOW}

on with the giveaway!

this picture...
these dresses that I adore...



they're from Zutano
I love Zutano
they're funky.
fun.
unique.
and super soft.

Zutano was so generous to give us these dresses for the girls
...and a pair of leggings to match.

And now they're going one of you a
$150 gift certificate
to the new Zutano Itzy Bitzy line!

isn't that an awesome giveaway!
...Yeah, I thought so too!

So all you have to do is leave a comment
...and tell me what you would buy with your $150?!

{disclaimer} Yes the dresses were given to us by Zutano. No we did not receive any money. Yes I truly adore Zutano and have had many pieces before these gifted dresses. {grin}

Guess where

...we were in this picture



I'll announce the winner
...who receives a big YOU ROCK from me
AND a new giveaway
Friday at noon
because SERIOUSLY if I don't name a date and time
...it will take me 4 months {grin}