His Strength

Sometimes I catch myself thinking...Uh-oh...its finally here...the time I finally cave in under the pressure on me.  The time when my inadequacies have caught up with me for good.  The time when my failings overtake me because I can no longer out run them.

Tonight I want to be Amanda, out in the yard, blowing bubbles, playing with the dog.  Well...maybe not the dog part so much.  :)

I'm thankful for the times when I come to the end of myself and am reminded for the 828th time that I'm not doing this, all of this, in my own strength.  That my God offers new grace with the dawn of each day, that He prefers me, that He is more than enough.  Always.

Seek the LORD and His strength;

Seek His presence continually!

I Chronicles 16:11

Project 365, Week 38

Good morning!  Isn't it just a lovely time of year?  We are enjoying it!  As I was pulling up photos this week I was feeling like I hadn't taken any, but I actually had one for everyday....its just that it was Friday before my camera came out....up until then it was with my fancy new phone...shame!!

September 16

While the guys were playing football, I snapped a couple photos of my niece.

I also decorated the house for fall.  Z and Aiden were especially vocal about how much they liked the it all.  Z was a bit in awe saying, I never knew anyone celebrated fall like this!  Made me want to do more.  :)

September 17

Sitting on the couch with Avery, reading after school.

Aiden got to spend a couple days with my dad and Kiki at Cape Cod...he came back with lots of stories and big smiles!

September 18
Busy evening of the girls and boys running separate directions...and quite a storm brewing!

September 19

Amazingly, we lost power about midnight and it came back on about 1:00 in the afternoon.  We have city water and gas and a generator, so its barely an inconvenience.  However, Shaun pulled out the refrigerator to get it plugged in and this is what was under.  I thought I cleaned behind and under the fridge somewhat regularly, but clearly its been a while!

Are you missing anything around the house?  May I suggest you pull out your fridge?  :)

Shaun and his two brothers were building office spaces for tax season so I brought over Aiden to help for a bit.

 September 20
Aiden staying busy at cheer practice.

 Avery not fully paying attention.

 Pretty sky sometime in the middle of practice.

September 21

I did an engagement session at 7 AM and we had some friendly visitors join us.

September 22
Inspired by Rachel, I made cinnamon rolls on Saturday morning.  Such an easy thing that I knew the kids would just love before heading out to football.  And I'm all about tucking in new traditions here and there.

 It wasn't perfect because they did a little arguing sitting here at the table, but we'll try again next week. :)

 At one point I walked into the dining room and found these two working on math workbooks that they didn't get from school, on a Saturday morning.  Impressed!

 Speaking of impressive, these two were great in their respective back-toback games.

 See?  Z is carrying the ball in for a touchdown!!

 From there I took my girls and two of their cousins to go to see more cousins.  The one with the crown is six and her mom threw her a fabulous princess party.  Since I know you're wonderign, Tin Foil Man is a knight, Sir Pop, my crazy dad.

 On our way home from the party the girls and I stopped for takeout.  We all enjoyed getting some girl time in on the car ride home.

For the evening we had neighbors over for dessert.  We've known them mostly in passing for many years, so it was great to get to know them better.  A piece of me wished I'd had more of the day to make our house not look quite so "lived in", but that's just where we're at and, picked up house or no, we really enjoyed our evening.  Great people!

How was your week?

O My Son

99% of the clothes Aiden has ever worn have been gifts or hand-me-downs.  Symeon is his biggest contributor and he just loves to go through a new bag of goodies.  

When I found out I was having a boy I was sure I'd be dressing him until he was 13...SO not the case...Aiden has tastes and opinions all his own. 

When he found a couple ties that would go with the shirt "just like Pop's" he was elated.  We both agreed it called for an impromptu photoshoot.  Eight minutes start to finish yielded some photos I will cherish forever.  This boy has my heart in its entirety.

He regularly tells me Mommy, I love you SO much!  Mommy, you're pecial.  Mommy, you look pwitty.  Who doesn't love hearing that 8 to 30 times a day??

 Everyday, it seems, he's trying out new words and phrases...

Where is my thing-a-majigger?
I decided...
Wait up!
Maybe later...
Just in case...
I have a good idea!

Last week his word was "jealous", though he didn't quite know how to use it, so it always came out funny.  I'm so jealous that I get hot chocolate!

 Today Shaun and I were making out hugging in the kitchen and Aiden walked in and said, Are you guys having a wedding day?

 I'm so very thankful for his heart, his smile that never goes away, for the gift he is to all of us.  My heart can scarcely contain it all.

.

O my son, O son of my womb,
    O son of my vows...

Proverbs 31:2

Are You Ready For Some Football??

The very first day we met Z, back in March, he asked if he could play football.  At the time our answer was "we'll see" but as time went on it became apparent that we'd have him through football season.

Knowing we'd be in that world anyway, we casually asked Avery if she'd be interested in cheerleading.  We got an immediate and definite YES! even though it would mean no dance for her after havign done it for four years.  

Since August 1st Avery and Z have been practicing M-F for 2.5 hours (until school started, now its three days a week) and now, finally, it was time to actually play and cheer a game.

I made a healthy, protein-rich breakfast and then we were off to meet up with the teams at 8 AM.

Aiden was just tickled that there was a police car in front of and behind us.  

 Once we got to the field we waited and waited some more...

 and finally, the day officially kicked off!

Z played kicker, full back and linebacker.  He played every single play and looked really good.

 Lots of excited fans, too.

All very intent on the game.  :)

The team lost by one in a heart-breaking overtime game.  Z and Shaun talked through a lot of it and many life lessons were taught because of it all.  Great way to spend a Saturday morning (minus the opening ceremony nonsense).

Halftime show

And a short video from practice earlier in the season...keep an eye on the cute one in the stripped shirt.  :)