And we are back on!

St.Louis that is! We will be going for 9 days while Sean is at weld inspection school. The best part really is that it is a very cheap vacation for a family of our size. His company is paying for the gas and the hotel stay and in addition to that, the hotel that we are staying at(embassy suites) has a made to order hot breakfast every morning. We stayed in one in San Diego when the twins were 1 1/2 and you could practically eat a snack for lunch after filling yourself with breakfast!

So while Sean is at school(in the hotel) we will be able to go to the free zoo, free museum and other awesome cheap if not free attractions in St.Louis!

The only downfall is that we will be going on the third week into school for the girls. With that being said, I know that this will provide them with learning experiences that they can't get inside a classroom and we will be doing daily work(during naptime)so that we can keep up with the class.

Here fishy, fishy!!!

Yesterday my husband picked up my latest ebay "winnings"! I love how ebay tells you that you "WON" something but yet...it's more like "you won, now pay".

Well...that is neither here nor there...

I thought I would share with you from the eye of a 15 month old baby exactly what we got!




The tank came complete with six different african cichlids(which...I don't know anything about)which apparently have lived well in this tank for a year together. I have to say that the hood and canopy sold me. It is great to have the tank encased so that little hands cannot reach inside.

Top Ten things going on in our house!

1. K1 and K2 went to their very first SLEEPOVER yesterday!!! It went well...but definatly yeilded some sleepy girls today!

2. K4(or G1 rather) is still doing GREAT on the potty! She only had one accident today and is showing great progress.

3. Sean had a doctors appointment this morning with his ortho doctor who insists that he still needs surgery. Hopefully this trip will expedite this process so that we can go to arbitration to have the insurance company forced to pay for his surgery.

4. Yesterday was our 8th wedding anniversary! Exciting...I know! We went to pappadeaux for dinner and felt stuffed beyond belief just after our appetizer. Needless to say...I had my entree for lunch today!

5. K5 has taken quite a liking to her baby doll and is showing that she is quite the little mother. Isn't it funny how children at such a young age can show their natural instincts?

6. MY BESTEST FRIEND IS PREGNANT!!!!!!!! I love love love love love it! My best friends kids are the closest things my kids have to cousins so this GREAT! And...quite frankly I can't wait to snuggle a newborn and not have to nurse it!!! LOL

7. The girls have all their school supplies. All three of my girls who are going to school are ready! And, mommy is ready for the new routine as well!

8. My schedule for September is going to be FULL! If we still get to go away to St.Louis in September than I will really be busy! People still want to schedule their parties for September which is great, but I don't know where I am going to fit them in. Oh yeah...did I mention that I got a new website. You can check it out if you wish http://erin.uppercaseliving.net

9. We are loving our new church! There is a connection event this Sunday afternoon that we are looking forward to.

10. I am in the market for a new laptop. One just for me just for work. So...I think we are going to buy a dell. Or I am going to buy a dell rather. It is so nice to not have to figure out where the extra money is going to come from!!!!

Potty Training Series

Such a Big Girl with her favorite Elmo undies!

Busy...

After the potty she gets her jelly beans!

I think I might need more beans!

We are proud of our Gracie!

This might have been our day!!!!!

Well...today I decided about halfway through the day that Gracie needed to potty train. She knows when she goes, tells me right after and then proceeds to climb up on the changing table after getting the exact diaper and wipes that she wants.

ummmm...I am sorry....but her time has come!

So...I told her that she needed to go on the potty and sure enough she went!

I was shocked. And to date this has been the least stubborn reaction to something that I have asked her to do.(I don't know where she gets that!)

I am hesitant to say that I think she has it down. But at least this is a step in the right direction.

Oh and for those praying for my "mountain", thank you. The mountain still exists but at least it didn't grow if you know what I mean. I would like to see it shrink and am praying for some shrinkage but I know that God's timing is perfect and we only see a bit of his plan at a time.

Thanks for your prayers. Perhaps you could add Gracie's potty training to your list!

E

oh ME of little faith.

Bombarded by thoughts....

I am so ripped by this. Why do I think that I am bigger than God...or rather why do I think that God is smaller than he is.

Why didn't I ask??? Why didn't I believe that he could go ahead of me. WHY DO I STEP BEFORE HIM?????

Why do I sit her terrified of a situation that is yet to come?

I know...I know....I know God! I know that you want more from me. I know that you called me before the creation of the world to be YOURS! I know. I know. I know. And I know that I ignore you. ANd I know that I doubt you. And I don't want to. I don't want to leave me without you. I need you. I need you. I can't do this. I am scared. I am terrified. I am alone. I am angry. I am sad.

And still you come to me and say "my child. Why are you afraid...for I know the plans that I have for you. I know them. Erin...be still. Do not be afraid. I am here. I am going before you. Don't ignore me. Look for me. I am here. You are not alone."



Greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city!

Do I believe that he can? Do you believe that he can? Please tell me that you do. Have you seen him move the mountain in your life? Because I am about to stare my mountain in the face and I am so terrified.

Thank you.

Thank you for your prayers. Sean's grandma passed away late last night.

We were able to see her on Thursday afternoon.

Please pray for hearts to be softened as we move through some difficult situations.

Because I believe our God can move mountains if he wanted to, I believe that he can soften even the hardest hearts.

So...again I ask you to pray.

Thanks.