Alive!

{scroll to the  bottom of my blog and pause my music}

You have to watch this video.

I cry each time I hear this song.

I am so thankful today for Christ's love for me!

...for me… 

I am broken, tattered, ugly, sinful…and He loves me.

I can't wrap my head around it today. 

I've been talking to my boys about it. Trying to have them understand the power of Christ's love for us.

I made them watch this video with me.

I wanted them to have a visual picture of what it may have been like when Jesus rose from that grave.

goosebumps

I am so grateful to serve a God that defeated death!

I am feeling so small today. So unworthy. So totally thankful for this gift!

~ and in completely unrelated news….don't forget to enter my giveaway~

Fingerprint Friday

Sour Cream Cutout Cookies

What is it about spring that makes me want to eat really colorful cookies?

Josiah loves to help me in the kitchen. And these are by far the best cookie to decorate. And my all time favorite too!

They are much more work than your average chocolate chip cookie…but it's so worth it!

So here's the recipe to my favorite:

Sour Cream Cutout Cookies

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

frosting:

1/4 cup cold milk

3 tbs instant vanilla pudding mix

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Food Coloring

Sprinkles

Cream butter and sugar together. Beat in egg, sour cream, and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda; add to butter mixture. Cover and chill for 1 hour or until easy to roll out ( I usually don't wait…I'm impatient like that).

On a floured surface roll out dough to 1/8" thickness. Cut out cookies and bake at 375 degrees for 5-8 min. (I like mine really soft, so that's 5 min)

Remove immediately to wire rack for cooling.

For frosting, combine all ingredients and bet until smooth. 

Divide frosting and add food coloring.

And get your decorating on!

~Embracing The Camera In A Very Attractive Way~

 Aunt Chelsea is the true artist!

~I couldn't help but add this pic of Ella….she's so fancy is her faux fur : )

Enjoying the Small Things!

These are a few of my favorite pics from the past week.

Even though I was crazy stressed getting ready for my show, this man was calm. He was my rock. He kept me sane. I'm so lucky to have him! Ella agrees.

And even though I look a little too excited in this pic (trying to remember to embrace the camera and enjoy the little things in life), it's one of the last pics of Ella's toothless grins, now that she has her two bottom teeth.

And it's a gorgeous day outside. Nothing better than nice weather in CO on a Jan afternoon! Perfect for picnic on the porch!

~So Blessed~

Christmas Break

Because my husband is a teacher, we all get a Christmas vacation. It's just one of the many perks of being married to a teacher. But what this means for me is that my schedule gets thrown completely off!

Our break has been awesome so far!

Here's a {brief} recap.

Christmas at my parents house.

All the cousins!

Gorgeous TuTu my sister Rach made for Ella!

Sisters!

The ADORABLE hat my sister-in-law made for Ella

Sledding on the hill by our home.

How lucky am I to live with those mountains out my front door?!?

All bundled up!

Kids being exhausted from playing with Daddy all day.

More fun in the snow, with forts and such.

Our early Christmas at home.

{Santa's Note He Left The Kids}

"Those are the best cookies ever"

Josiah's Superhero Costume I made.

I have been so blessed to have so much fun over break!

God is good.

Thankful for my family!

I think I blinked

Josiah is in preschool, and Kindergarten registration starts today.

Granted he's not going to K next year, but just knowing he could is killing me.

{This is his new smile...I'm not loving it...but I'll miss it when it's gone}

Micah is growing out of his clothes, and shoes, and looks like a BOY not a toddler.

Ella is army crawling, waving bye bye, and saying "da "da", and giving open mouthed kisses.

When did I blink?

This can't be happening! My babies are growing up so fast!

I feel like I try to savor every moment with my kids, and take a mental picture every time I want to remember a specific thing. But those memories are fading fast. Ella is only 6 months and I can barely remember how she felt in my arms in the hospital.

I feel so conflicted. I think I want another baby.

WHAAAAAATTTT?

I know, I feel crazy just thinking it. But I feel like my heart has so much more room for more kids. I'm conflicted because I know I've had three c-sections, and my body struggles through each delivery, but I really want to be pregnant again.

I am conflicted because my Spirit tells me to adopt, but I still want to have more kids (maybe if I have 4, 1 will resemble me and not their father).

I know it's a hormonal change going on right now, but I'm just SO sad that they are growing up so quickly.

I cried myself to sleep the night Ella started to army crawl. I'm a mess. Not just a regular hormonal mess....a big hot mess. I love my babies. This is killing me to watch them grow up!

Is there something we can give them to stunt growth and keep them like this forever (maybe just minus the terrible two attitude).

Thankful

So there's a craze on Facebook right now {30 Days of Thanksgiving}I started doing it and have failed horribly! I forget to post about half of the time.

I really try to be thankful every day about something!

I have learned that the best way to begin a prayer is by telling God what you are thankful for. I'm teaching my kids this same thing. When we can put aside what we worry about, and what we "need", for a few seconds to remember what we are grateful for; our lives can be transformed!

God is so good! He is in control over my life. And I am so thankful for moments like these:

Thankful I caught this moment on camera. I see a senior graduation picture in his future!

He's even rocking the white man's overbite!

Seeing my kids be proud of something they are creating

Dressing Ella Up

Having Grandparents who adore my kids and want to spend time with them

When I can get my kids personalities captured on film...Oh Micah you're such a sweetheart

Josiah laughing

Silly moments with the boys

Thankful that I finally have a hobby!

Days when my 4 year old decides to take a nap with his siblings

Beautiful Naked Babies

I am so thankful for each moment I get with my kids. Even the crazy, noisy, messy, tearful, and stressful times. I know I'll blink, and then I'll be dropping them off at college.

So thanks be to God for this time in my life!

Linking Up With Emily For Embrace The Camera

And Thankful Thursday