10 Things I Am Doing Today

1. Reorganize my scrapbook supplies (I have way too many and they are a mess right now)
2. Updating my Kodak Software.
3. Vacuuming for the 1,256,487 time this week.
4. Loading the dishwasher for the 429,513 time.
5. Going to buy formula and Gerber Graduates for Elek.
6. Decorate outside for Christmas (Going to hold off on the tree for a week or two)
7. Drinking 864 glasses of Diet Pepsi.
8. Making cheesesteaks for dinner.
9. Taking a few photos.
10. Christmas shopping.

My Mosaic...

1. Grevillea Ned Kelly with native bee, 2. Fattoush, 3. Harry, 4. reaching out ........., 5. Something New / Simon Baker, 6. Thirsty .., 7. Awakening City, 8. Mint Chocolate Chip Cone, 9. Dotty-Wotty House, 10. The Earth is God's Canvas., 11. Indescribable Night, 12. 23.366 I have an eye for photography

If you'd like to make one of your own, here's how you do it:

Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr search, using only the first page, choose your favorite image, copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker (4 columns, 3 rows).

The questions:

1. What is your first name? (Kelly)
2. What is your favorite food? (Fattoush)
3. What high school did you attend? (Harry S. Truman)
4. What is your favorite color? (Periwinkle)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Simon Baker)
6. Favorite drink? (Diet Pepsi)
7. Dream vacation? (Hungary)
8. Favorite dessert? (Ice Cream)
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? (Art Teacher)
10.What do you love most in life? (Children)
11. One word to describe you. (Indescribable)
12. Your favorite hobby. (Photography)

Today I Am Thankful For...

My husband who puts up with my lunacy. It takes a very patient person to deal with me and he is one of them. For the fact that he goes to work everyday without complaining in order to provide for us. Who knows it's what he's supposed to do and just does it. And tells me I'm gorgeous even when I don't believe him. For being one of the best dads I know.

my Maddy Beth, who is scary smart. Who hardly has to study and makes straight A's. She is one of the smartest people I know and she's only 11. For her being one of those people who are good at pretty much everything they attempt. For her easy smile. The fact that she's a loyal friend. For her wild bed head.

the Eman. My boy that always keeps me on my toes. Always keeps me guessing at what he's going to do next. That he loves school. He always tries his best at everything that he does and that his teacher even notices it. His love of Jesus. He knows that He's always there and that He'll never leave him. Of his ability to remind me of that fact. That he loves his sister and brother more than anything, even when they don't want to be bothered with him.

my tiny unexpected joy, Elek. Who's smile lights up my day. For his constant happiness. His laughter that fills the room. For those gorgeous blue eyes that remind me that everything is all right in the world.

I'm thankful for my parents who's faith in me has never wavered. For teaching me "That God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 2:7 For my Grandma's bible that has the same passage highlighted and underlined to remind me of it too. For my parents for going to every parent teacher conferences that I had, even in high school and no one else's parents went. For being the best grandparents that my kids could ask for. That they never once have moaned or groaned when I've asked them to watch them or pick them up from school. For never giving up on me, even though I'm sure that they probably wanted to a million times.

For my Grandma, whom I miss more than I thought was possible. For the fact that I still feel her love for me. For the most unconditional love that I could ask for. My Papa that always called me baby, even when I had babies of my own. For the most unconditional love that I could ask for. For my Grandpa, who was always pretty grouchy with everyone else, but was never grouchy with me. Who was always willing to toboggan behind his house with me. For my Granny, who has always had my favorite green beans waiting for me. For her warmth, her welcome. That I've been able to sit with her for hours and hold her hand. That she loves me.

I'm thankful for my job working with kids that always make me laugh and make me crazy. That they call me Miss Kelly. How they tell me that I am their best friend. For all the hugs around the waist. And all the picture they make me that hang on my fridge.

For a Savior who's mercy never ends. Who loves me regardless of who I am or what I do.

If you've never tried Elfing Yourself, then this is your year, people.

Mom and Dad, this is for you. You crazy dancing fools. I just never knew y'all had these moves. Dad, you shimmy with the best of them.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

This Is Seriously One of the Cutest Things I Have Ever Seen

Make sure you watch until the end.

10 Things I Did Today

1. Loaded the dishwasher (nothing new there)
2. Drank 4 glasses of Diet Pepsi (I've become somewhat of an addict lately)
3. Watched Jack's Big Music show twice (I didn't actually watch it, but it was on)
4. Took a bubble bath (Heaven!)
5. Took care of a sick Madison (who claimed she was dying...she just has a cold, but is extremely melodramatic)
6. Watched iCarly with the kids (I really did watch this)
7. Cooked dinner (It's Shake and Bake and I helped)
8. Took a few pics this morning (no one wanted to cooperate)

9. Went shopping with Ian (Value City, Dollar Tree, Joann's and Family Christian)
10. Finally updated this blog!

Ian Phelps

Monday night Ian applied 20+ fake tattoos all over his body. His arms, legs, back, stomach, etc. It was lovely...not.

Fast forward to Tuesday when we're getting ready for swimming. I now have to remove tattoos. No big deal, you spray a little haispray on them and they pretty much rub off. I'm working on the ones on his legs and notice he has not one hair on either leg. I ask him if he has shaved his legs. He looks at me as if I'm completely clueless and answers "Yeah, all swimmers shave their legs."

Our Newest Sport

Cheerleading season has ended and heaven forbid Madison not have a sport to participate in. And so we've moved on to this...

Yes folks, we have joined the world of competitive swimming. Ian has also joined this world.
Coach Bud told me that Madison picked up on the Breaststroke quicker than he's ever seen anyone else. There goes that overachiever thing that she has going. Ian on the other hand is not so graceful. His pool entries are glorified belly flops that you can hear in the entire pool area. When he climbs out of the pool his stomach and chest are beet red. He could care less though and gets right back up there and does it all over again. I say practice makes perfect and he seems to love it. He is practicing his kicks here.Maddy swimming to Coach Bud.

Not Me Monday

I did not put my pajamas on at 3:30 p.m.

I did not serve my kids leftovers for dinner.

I did not turn on and then stand in front of my oven to get warm.

I most certainly did not spend an hour fooling around with the settings on my camera and taking a ton of totally random photos.

I do not desperately need to do laundry.

I didn't tear up heavily when I read The Giving Tree to Ian because I personified the tree to be myself and the boy to be, naturally, Ian. I didn't have to pause while reading the end where the boy has grown very old and leaves the tree all alone in order to collect myself so that the tears streaming down my face didn't erupt into a full-fledged sob-fest.

I do not put my children off when they ask me to do something. Not once this week did I say, "Uh, huh, sure Darling, in just a sec," and then answer them again in the exact same way when just a sec became two whole minutes later and they asked me again.


And, last but certainly not least, this past week I did not try, again, to tell God that I know better then He does. And He did not, again, remind me through my circumstances that He does, in fact, know better and that all I need to do is nothing. He will do the rest.

Romans 5

1 We have been made right with God because of our faith. Now we have peace with him because of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through faith in Jesus we have received God's grace. In that grace we stand. We are full of joy because we expect to share in God's glory.

3 And that's not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. 4 The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. 5 And hope will never let us down. God has poured his love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us.

6 At just the right time Christ died for ungodly people. He died for us when we had no power of our own. 7 It is unusual for anyone to die for a godly person. Maybe someone would be willing to die for a good person. 8 But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 The blood of Christ has made us right with God. So we are even more sure that Jesus will save us from God's anger. 10 Once we were God's enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son has died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives.

11 And that is not all. We are full of joy in God because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, God has brought us back to himself.

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
12 Sin entered the world because one man sinned. And death came because of sin. Everyone sinned, so death came to all people.
13 Before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not judged when there is no law. 14 Death ruled from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. Death ruled even over those who did not sin as Adam did. He broke God's command. But he also became a pattern of the One who was going to come.

15 God's gift is different from Adam's sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But it was even more sure that God's grace would also come through one man. That man is Jesus Christ. God's gift of grace was more than enough for the whole world.

16 The result of God's gift is different from the result of Adam's sin. God judged one sin. That brought guilt. But after many sins, God's gift made people right with him.

17 One man sinned, and death ruled because of his sin. But we are even more sure of what will happen because of what the one man, Jesus Christ, has done. Those who receive the rich supply of God's grace will rule with Christ in his kingdom. They have received God's gift and have been made right with him.

18 One man's sin brought guilt to all people. So also one right act made all people right with God. And all who are right with God will live. 19 Many people were made sinners because one man did not obey. But one man did obey. That is why many people will be made right with God.

20 The law was given so that sin would increase. But where sin increased, God's grace increased even more. 21 Sin ruled because of death. So also grace rules in the lives of those who are right with God. The grace of God brings eternal life because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done.

Thy Will Be Done

Cheer Competition

This routine...Cheer Competition

...resulted in this.
Maddy has decided the foot to the mouth and the stitches were worth it.

Sunday Seven

Elek the Monkey
Xavier the "Piyate". When I told him to say Argh, Matey he replied "Argh, Maddy."
Emilee the Huntress
Ian the red haired mohawked BMX rider
Madison the Softball Player