A Bulldozer Birthday Party for Kip

On Sunday, our sweet Kipton Lee turned four years old.

 It is so hard to believe. We started our Sunday like all others and got everyone ready and headed to church. My husband and I with Kipton before we left for church. Kipton loves going to church.

After church we came home, ate lunch, and waited for family and friends to arrive. The boys were anxious for everyone to come to our house for a visit. When we have visitors, it's a special day for the boys. 

One of Kipton's favorite things is tractors and bulldozers. My dad has a bulldozer and so he has grown up loving to take rides, and play with small bulldozers.We had a lady make this cake and she did an awesome job. She is an older lady who has been making cakes for YEARS, and she still only charges $10 for a cake. She said she had extra batter left from making this cake, so she just made him another one too. 

Normally, I am not one to go all out for birthday parties and think we need the best cake and the best decorations. This was a real treat! I thought she was just going to make a sheet cake and put bulldozers on it. I was so surprised and of course the birthday boy LOVED it!

We had all of our family there (minus a few), and a set of brothers that our boys like to play with. They had the best time and everyone enjoyed the fellowship. Karson (black shirt) singing to his brother. I thought this picture was just soo sweet. He LOVES him so much.

Look at that face. So thankful and blessed.

Kipton was so excited for presents as well. 

I have to tell you about Kipton and his love for country music. 

He LOVES to sing and tap his foot like a country singer. My parents got him a guitar and microphone so he can really bring his singing to life. He loves for me to put on country songs and he will sing along. He loves Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, and Blake Shelton. Most of the time he also wants to wear his jeans, belt, cowboy hat, and cowboy boots, but he had been playing outside and we didn't have the chance to dress him up as well. 

I'm sure this will keep him busy. 

It was a great birthday party. The kids just played and the adults talked and watched the kids enjoy. The boys were tired by the end of the night, and I captured this picture of Kevin with the boys watching Legos.

Watching your children enjoy a day is just so special. I hope I never forget this 4th birthday.

Kipton has a Birthday!! 4

Wow! On one hand I feel this day has taken forever. On the other hand, I can't believe you entered this world 4 years ago. 

Turning 4 is a great milestone. No more baby or toddler. You really are a "big boy". Here are a few things I want to tell you about how amazing you are at four years old. 

You love singing. Nana is going to get you a microphone and guitar for your birthday and you will be estatic!!

You love country music. Jason Aldean, Eric church, Luke Bryan, and Blake Shelton are some of your favorites. You try so hard to know the lyrics. 

You have always kept us on our toes. You have been the easy child to transition and separate from home and family. But you are also the temper on the floor child at times. 

You are so funny. You love to make jokes and rarely act serious. 

You know how to dress yourself and brush teeth. 

You are a good worker. 

You like to fish, take walks, ride your 4-wheeler, play in the sand, play with trucks, bubbles, and have started showing an interest in baseball. 

You love meeting up with friends at the park. You really love to play outside. 

You are very good at board games, Bingo, and puzzles. You know all of your letters A-Z and numbers 1-15. You know all colors, shapes, sizes, and rhyming words. You also know some letter sounds all from hearing mommy teach Karson. 

You love being with daddy and mommy. However, Karson is truly your world. 

When Karson is not home, you are lost so I have to keep you busy or you'll just mope around. 

This summer you went to the beach, fished a lot, ride rides at Camden Park, swam in many pools, went to your first VBS, and rode your bike almost everyday. 

The plan for you this fall/school year is to have you stay home with mom again. Because of your late summer birthday we decided it would be best to not send you to Kindergarten right at a 5 year old so you still have 2 years until that time. I hope to help you grow and learn at home. This fall will be a big adjustment with Karson leaving for school each day. 

You love animals. You carry the dogs, the cat, and the chickens around like they are dolls. 

I love you Kipton. You are a special special guy. 

I hope your birthday and party we have planned is all you hoped for! 

A Barn Building

Back in March we started gathering our thoughts, ideas, and drawings on building a barn. We needed more space, for more animals and storage.

When we built our home 4 years ago, Kevin also built us a chicken coop. It has served its purpose, but it was becoming a hassle to clean, and gather eggs. It will only hold 8 chickens, and we are ready to expand. We love chickens, their eggs, and want to get into incubation and hatching.

So in April, we began slowly building a barn. With Kevins work schedule, its hard to get a lot done on the barn and keep up with general up keep of our home. We were really in no hurry, and it was a family project. It was nice to do a little here, and a little there. The boys have loved helping, and we've all learned a lot.

We had to build the barn AROUND the chicken coop. We couldn't tear it down, or they would have no place to go at night. Here in a few days, we will be tearing it down.

We couldn't have done any of it without my dads help. He has already built a barn on their property, so he has the knowledge.

The barn will have 3 stalls.

The first is for a chicken coop. It is very large and will have an outdoor run for them on the back. Kevin is going to build new nesting boxes, and feeders and make it all kid friendly so the boys will be fully in charge of the chickens.

The 2nd stall is for new animals. We know of 1 goat and a rabbit so far. The goat will help eat grass and brush off our property, and the rabbit is because the boys have been asking for many many months. Next year we hope to have fenced in some land for a calf.

The 3rd stall will be for storage. We haven't had a shed for 4 years so I will be so happy to clean the garage and send some of it down to the barn.

We are so excited!

We have all of the siding on the barn, and this weekend mom and I painted the whole outside black. We used Barn & Fence paint from Tractor Supply.

Next is the tin roof, and building doors.

We are getting there. My goal was to be finished by Kiptons birthday which is this Sunday.

Summer Memories

It's time for me to dump a bunch of poor quality pictures from my phone onto my blog for memories sake. 

We've had such a great summer together. I love these boys and the bond they share. It's unbelievable! 

They love playing at home, on our playground. Eating popsicles. 

We enjoyed the 4th with Nana and Papaw Brad. We sat by their outdoor fire. It is so nice. Kevin and my dad put off a few fireworks for the boys. Mom cooked pizza breads on the grill. 

Sparklers and pop-its were a hit. Anything with a BANG is what boys like. 

They have went to VBS at a church near our house. I am so proud of them, because they have never been to this church but have loved all of the days. They made these masks the first night, and proudly wore them when we got home for a picture. 

They have had many visits to the fishing store with their daddy. A rare can of pop and a fishing store are a highlight! 

We have visited the park and met new friends. I am thankful that my boys are not shy in making friends. They will walk right up to other kids, and make friends instantly. 

Karson went with his Nana (my mom) this week and picked out his Kindergarten backpack. He chose Lego's. It was a great idea because he LOVES building with Legos each night before bedtime. He also got a lunch box. They finished up their fun trip with lunch at McDonald's per request from Karson. :) 

They love to pick me flowers, roots and all. I have to laugh everytime. 

More park days. Fun summer playing.

They have visited with both sets of grandparents many times this summer. This day they were visiting their Mamaw (Kevin's mom) and after swimming, they built a tent. 

Then, they hoped into their Papaw's boat for a picture. They sure think they are special. Cousin Dane is also in the picture too.

They have both grown so tall this summer. 

It has been one great summer, with many great experiences. 

The best memories do not include money. It's TIME & relationships. That's what is important. 

I can think of a million memories from my childhood. They all have to do with time.

Playing barbies all day long. Swimming, playing house, being with neighborhood friends, VBS, riding my bike, church events, and being with my family are the memories in my mind.

The memories are just priceless. 

When your life is full of CLUTTER!

If you come to my house, it is free from clutter. That's because I am a stasher!

I always have been. I don't have clutter out in my rooms, but rather in my closet, and upstairs in the attic. This past weekend, in the midst of 4th of July we decided to throw in a yard sale.

To get rid of clutter.

My husband is so good at hosting yard sales. 

It feels so good to de-clutter our home, and our lives.

My theory is, if you haven't touched it in 6 months, it's going in the yard sale.

We don't need "stuff", to really make us happy. It is a temporary fix to go to the mall and buy, but really it becomes old and then it's clutter.

Getting rid of clutter in your house, is a good thing. 

Getting rid of clutter in your mind and heart, is an even better thing. 

I am working on both. 

I have held on to grudges for too long. I have held on to negative friendships for too long. I have prayed, and read, and thought about how to de-clutter my mind. I have the answer. 

Through Jesus Christ. 

Clutter in your mind comes from the outside world. It's something we can't get away from. 

Garbage in, Garbage OUT. 

But through prayer, and reading you can de-clutter. 

A Modesty Challenge Part 2

I blogged about a challenge that Nicole from Children are a Blessing has up on her blog. 

She is Challenging women to wear skirts/dresses for one week to honor The Lord. If this is new to you, how do you feel? Do you feel different and is this something you feel The Lord has put on your heart? 

Please link up your posts, and any other post about modesty you have written on Nicole's blog. I am late getting this up because I have been battling a sinus infection. :( 

I only have two outfits to share today. I am not so good with taking pictures of myself because, well, I'm busy :) but I'm trying to do a little better. 

Jean Skirt : Goodwill

Yellow Top : Target

Necklace: gift from my Mom

Another day that I remembered to take a picture, was when we were visiting my parents. We had both been doin yard work prior so my hair is pulled back. 

Skirt : Amazon

Shirt : Goodwill (Gap)

Shoes: Old Navy

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I haven't fully switched to wearing skirts. Mainly, because I only have about 6 that actual meet the requirements I have in my mind about what The Lord would want. The rest that I wore in college/high school have been donated to Goodwill. 

I think the hardest part about wearing skirts everyday, is the heat. I get hot easily, and sometimes a pair of long shorts make me cooler than a skirt. So my question is....

What type of skirt do you wear in the DEAD heat of summer?

Did anyone else take this challenge? 

I just love the idea of it, and it is really on my mind a lot. 

Part 1 is HERE!

God's Timing

It's July. I'm so thankful it's July. 

June was not so great. Many unexpected things happened that I won't go into detail about, but know it was hard. Hard times do bring you closer as a family. 

God knows his timing. We do not, but he sure does. In the midst of bad events, God saw fit for this cat to come to our home. 

To bring us joy! To help create our servants heart. To create a lesson on love, care, and nurturing for our two boys. To give me something else to think about, rather than worry.

As silly as it sounds, God's timing with our "coal cat", was good timing. 

We all needed lifting. He is fun, adventurous, loveable, and truly just wants to have a family who loves him.

God's timing may not be to fix the problems we have right now, but to prepare our hearts on how to love better. 

Even if it means taking in a starving, hurt, cat. 

I am thankful.

For God's timing.

In July.

And in every other month. 

A Modesty Challenge part 1

I have posted about modesty dressing once on this blog.

You can see that post HERE!

It is my 3rd most Popular Post, not that I really care about numbers or popularity but obviously it is on the hearts of other readers, or it wouldn't be in the top 3. 

I thought about hosting a Modesty Dressing Challenge, but I only have a few readers and figured it wouldn't get the hearts of many women. So I went to "Children are a Blessing's" blog and messaged Nicole to see if she would be interested in the challenge. She loved the idea, and it went live on Sunday. 

Nicole and her family decided to begin wearing skirts. Not because it was cool, but because they felt it was more pleasing to The Lord. What do you think?

You can view the details on her blog above. Basically, it's challenging women to dress in skirts/dresses for 1 week and see how you feel. Did your heart change? Did you feel like you were serving the Lord more by dressing this way? 

While being involved in the challenge Nicole asks that you blog about it. Take pictures of your outfits, talk about the process, and teach others what you feel modest dressing is. 

So, could you do it? Could you switch from jean capris to a jean skirt? These outfits look so cute! I have began wearing skirts more. Have I fully switched to all skirts? No. 

I really want to. But why? 

I have read that the Bible says that women should dress as women, and the men as men. There should be no mistaking. So, if men are to wear loose jeans, should women? 

I believe a long skirt or dress does show 100% that you are a woman. 

Another question I ask myself is:

What would I wear if Jesus were in this grocery store with me? 

Would he like it if I were in short Nike gym shorts? Or spandex yoga pants that are ever so popular? I think it does show attention to places that attention shouldn't go. As a woman, we shouldn't seek attention in our body, but rather in our personalities, character, and spirit. 

Would you want your husband looking at a young girl in spandex pants, and a low cut shirt at the store? NO, you wouldn't. 

Matthew 5: 28 says "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultry with her in his heart." 

It goes on to say in verse 29 "If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to loose one part of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown in hell."

Wow!

So could you give up your jeans and yoga pants for just 1 week?

I challenge you to try. I am taking this challenge and will update with my thoughts and progress.