Catching up at the beach

Sweet Jac digging in the sand

D and Daddy

All the kiddos (except the baby...he can't sit up on the steps yet)

Jac trying to make the car "go"

Jac and Sammy

We have just returned from a very impromptu and relaxing trip to the beach. Steve was supposed to run a 5k in Beaufort this weekend where we would stay with our friends from So Happily Us. Over the past couple of weeks he has tried to get back into the running "grove" to prepare for the run. Instead, the weather has been freezing, work has been crazy and it has been tough for him to get in the mind-set. When S.H.U. mentioned that it would be WAY more fun to go to the beach for the weekend instead of running in the cold....we jumped on the idea. AND, since we all wanted to visit with Freeman Family Fun while we were in the lowcountry, we all took the kids to the beach to be bums (which you are supposed to do at the beach) and hung out. The weekend was filled with catching up (we hadn't seen F.F.F. since they have been expecting their 3rd little boy....only 14 weeks until he gets here if that tells you how long it's been) playing games and really not much of anything else. It was just what the doctor ordered (although to be honest the doctor would probably have really liked us both to be in shape enough to run the 5k) and we had a blast. The only thing wrong with the whole weekend was that we were only able to be together for 1 full day. Other than that, it was great!

Wouldn't you know that a weekend with friends would give me some more things to add to my gratitude journal, so here goes:

1. God was so kind to give us these other two families to spend time with. I am truly thankful for their friendships and I love them.

2. I don't think one can make it to the beach, look out at the ocean and waves and not be completely in awe of what God has given us in His beautiful world. This is completely incredible and reason to give thanks.

3. My kids are at the ages where we could let them play in the back room or on the screened porch and not worry (too much) about if they could hurt themselves or needed us to help them with small tasks. Ask any mother who has raised small babies and they will tell you this is a HUGE accomplishment, both for their children and for the mommies' relaxation.

4. For most of my life I have had an awful anxiety about social situations and the feeling that I'm supposed to be doing something other than resting or relaxing (no place like the internet to air your insecurities) Anyway, I am thankful that I am learning to be in the "now" and let go of the worries and stress.

5. Finally tonight I am thankful for the fact that after an awesome weekend my children are sound asleep and I can spend some more time with my Simple Abundances (sadly I admit I neglected my devotions over the weekend). I am going to sit down and mentally prepare myself for a day at home tomorrow with both girls since D has the day off (followed by some Brothers and Sisters just because I love it!!).

Gratitude

Since forever, my mom has been reading her prayers every single morning over a cup of coffee, a banana (with all natural peanut butter) and a small glass of orange juice. (Not really part of the story, but I wanted you to paint a picture.) About the time I went to college or maybe a little after, my mom bought me one of the books she uses to count her blessings in the morning. This book was given to her by a dear friend of our family and mom's copy of the book is so worn, the binding is loosely hanging on. The book is called Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. In her daily musings, she gives a way to simplify or improve your life and/or sometimes just make you feel better about who you are and what you are doing. For the first time since she gave me the book (sorry mom) I have decided to make it a daily habit of mine, as well. On January 14th Sarah required that we start a gratitude journal. This is to include five things everyday for which we are grateful. I don't have a fancy journal in which to write them and I already have enough piles of books and papers in my house to keep track of. Plus, if I write them and keep them hidden, I wouldn't feel like I was giving proper thanks and recognition for the things God has given me. Soooooo.....I am going to try my best to use the blog world as my gratitude journal. Here goes:

A few of the things for which I am thankful:

1. Today is the last day of the work week and that means we get to travel to Edisto for the weekend. Our friends So Happily Us and Freeman Family Fun are meeting us down there for a weekend of NOTHING!!!!! Just hanging out, letting the kiddos play and probably some board/card games of our own. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!

2. I am so glad that my children are so happy and so welcomed where they go to school. Everyday they come home and have had a blast learning and playing with the other kids. That makes me a really happy mommy.

3. I am so fortunate that my brother and brother-in-law have married such wonderful girls. I love both of them so much and since I didn't get to grow up with a sister, they are great sisters to have.

4. I love that God has given me a flexible schedule to be able to be with my girls as well as my nephew most days. I love these little ones and I am glad to have them around (most days :D).

5. Finally I am glad today that we have a roof over our heads and food on the table. Every day this is a blessing, but especially in light of the tragedy in Haiti we can certainly be thankful for what we have.

Finally, I'd like to share some sweet photos with you all of the aforementioned kiddos that I love. They have been so funny today (even though they have run me ragged!!!). Jac and Liam were playing hide-and-seek in my bed sheets earlier.......

A couple of notes: 1. Jac is almost 22 months and Liam is not yet 5 months.....note the similarity in size!!! 2. There was something on my camera lense so some of the photos are fuzzy at the bottom. 3. I didn't realize how puffy Jac's eyes were until I looked at these pictures. She's had a little cold going on.

Here are some of the precious pictures my friend Micah took of our family! Micah came to our house to capture our family, including little Liam, for our Christmas pictures. I can't show you all of them because some will be used for "surprise" Christmas presents for the family. But, here are some that we really like including our Christmas card picture above. (I tried to enlarge it, but it didn't work.

We hope you and your families have a happy, healthy Christmas and New Year.

Thank you God for giving us Your son!

Halloween 2009

We had a great Halloween this year. Delainey wanted to be a Wicked witch with green hair and Jac was a black cat. The festivities started Friday morning with Delainey's Halloween party and parade at school.

All buckled in and ready to go see big sister at school.

Is tha a wicked witch leading the parade?

Jac was even asked to be in the parade with her big sister.

The Oliver girls leading the way!

Jac really doesn't seem to understand what is going on.

Parade and party are all done!


This year our church hosted a Trunk or Treat and we decided this would be good idea. So we dressed up the girls and headed out.

Our little black cat, who refuses to put on her hat

Check out the green hair!

By the end of the night, Jac was sans costume, but holding all the candy!

Goofy was in charge of passing out the candy from our trunk

Who needs pants, when you can wear a onesie?

So just let me sit down here and enjoy this sucker.

A weekend away...FINALLY!

Well after working 6 days a week for several months, the pool business finally settled down enough to take a Saturday off. Fortunately, a friend loaned us her condo in Murrells Inlet for the weekend and off we went with the girls, Pie, Grammi, Aunt Chelle, and Baby Liam. What a relaxing weekend and thankfully it was still warm enough to enjoy several walks on the beach and Delainey didn't mind putting her feet in the water. A weekend away from Columbia was exactly what the doctor ordered!

Sunrise the first morning.

Laura and Jac on the beach for an early morning walk

I think we have a little runner in our family!

The Oliver girls watching the waves

Delainey and Jac playing in the sand

"It's not that cold!"

I love this kid!

Filling a bucket

Still filling a bucket

Sunrise the second morning

The alligator at the Lazy Alligator store in Murells Inlet

30 seconds after getting the car, she was out! Must have been a fun weekend!

State Fair 2009

Delainey is ready to race!

Jac discovers how good elephant ears taste with Laura

Delainey and Laura on the elephant (A tradition started by Poppie)

Jac and Laura on the ferris wheel

Laura and Delainey on the ferris wheel

Mimi, Jac, and Delainey riding the Merry Go Round

Delainey, Jac, Mimi, and Laura fishing for a great fair prize

A couple of Sundays ago we headed over to the SC State Fair to take in the SIGHTS, sounds, smells, and good eats! Once the girls get older, I will start taking pictures of the interesting South Carolina residents that come out for the State Fair. I have often wondered where these people hide the rest of the year, seriously!

This year, the fair featured chocolate covered bacon, which I never found, and all of the usual rides and fair foods. Last year at this time, Jac saw the entire fair from the front of my chest being carried around the Baby Bjorn, funny she doesn't remember that. We rode rides, saw animals (including the pig races), and ate lots of bad for us food. Next year, Jac should be able to join Delainey on some of the kiddie rides though. Still a good time was had by all!

Jac is growing up!

I love this smile!

Yes, I can do it myself!

I mean, who doesn't sleep like this?

So it has been awhile since any of us have posted to our family blog, so I decided to take a couple of minutes and put up a few pictures. The quality of the pictures aren't great, because they are from my cell phone camera. Our nice digital camera dissapeared a couple of weeks ago and has not surfaced anywhere. Very dissapointing!

Anyway, this update is dedicated to sweet Jac Jac. She is growing up right before our eyes. Still not much of a talker, but she is very smart and....determinded is the best word. She holds her own with her big sister, but is still very clingy to Mommy most of the time. I think she would be just as content being an only child or a little sister. She is very expressive with her facial expressions and wants to try everything by herself (reminds me of another kid in this house). Now, if we could just get her to start talking to us, life would be so much easier!