New (not so great) pictures...

Who are these kids??? And what happened to my babies and toddlers??? I know I talk about how big the kids are getting in like every post. But look at these strangers! They have totally replaced the little ones I'm used to. Carolina just had a huge grown spurt so she's looks like she's 7 going on 16. George is mastering the art of golf these days. And Laney's favorite thing is to show off some of her new dance moves. What am I supposed to do with kids??? I know all about taking care of babies. You feed them, burp them, dress them up like a doll and listen to them cry. I even know how to handle a toddler. You dress them up, watch them get dirty, dress them up, watch them throw a tatrum, and play patty cake with them. BUT KIDS!!! WHAT THE HECK DO YOU DO WITH KIDS??? Theres emotions and boys and girls and feelings... Its a mess around here right now and I have a feeling its not going to get any better for the next 14 years.

New Rules

As I'm sitting in the living room watching Julie and Julia. My kids, who are supposed to be napping, are having a blast (not napping) in George's room. I have no idea what they could be up to in there. Making a huge mess of everything GB owns and utterly destroying his room, I'm sure. That's what they do these days. Make a mess... I am working on teaching them about cleaning up after they make a mess. George is not so bad at it. You can tell him to clean up his room and after just a bit of fussing and fighting it gets done. And very well I might add. He actually puts stuff in its place. Laney on the other hand would rather sleep or throw a holy fit then to clean her room. I fight with her and I fight with her but to no avail. She always seems to win. I did actually get her to clean her room last week one time, at which time she put everything away perfectly. So much to her dismay, I now know that she can do it, she just doesn't want to do it. But she can do it. There seem to be more and more battles as the kids get older. Or maybe the battles are just changing these days from toddler battles to big kid battles. Or maybe I'm just expecting more and more outta them as they get older. Or maybe I really am losing control. I would like to hope that its not that latter. But I cant help but to feel some days that I am losing my very firm grip on parenting. What happen to the good old days when the most I expected outta them was to go to sleep at nap time. Wake up in a good mood and maybe eat some dinner.... Ah dinner, that's a different post entirely.

Pictures... or lack there of!

The kids have been somewhat anti-camera these days, which has kept me from taking as many pictures as I used to. And to be completely transparent (something I'm learning to be more and more in my life) I just havent been getting the camera out. Life has been filled with school, church, lots of bible studies and family time. Which always seems to leave me wishing I had gotten my camera out just a moment to late... But heres an update none the less. As far as school goes, the kids are loving it. They are at Acton Elementary and Acton Baptist Preschool these days and seem to really be embracing learning. Carolina is enjoying the first grade and even brought home her first "Chapter" book yesterday. Reading has come like second nature to her and its something we love to see her enjoying so much. George is loving his new school for quite a different reason, as he no longer has homework at this school. Which is something that makes him really happy. Not that I can say that I totally disagree with him, homework in kindergarden seemed like a bit much to me. He comes home everyday and tells us how much he loves riding the bus and playing outside with his friends. Laney misses her friends from Stephenville the most. She had really bonded with a couple of the other kids at Rocky Point (namely Bailey who we miss very much) and her teachers. But that hasnt stopped her from loving Acton Baptist. She has no problems saying goodbye to me on Mondays and Fridays when I drop her off and always has great artwork to bring home to hang on the fridge. As for Ben and I, we are doing great. We spend a lot of time reading our word these days and trying to live the life God has called us to live. Parenting still has is ups and downs around here, but over all we have gotten to this really fun age with the kids. They are such a blessing from our Lord and we try to appreciate that everyday. God is also blessing our marriage and bringing us closer and closer together. We are in a much better place now then I can say we have ever been in the past 10 years. Thats right! It will be 10 years this Sept! I am so excited to be reaching this milestone with Ben, one that seemed so impossible just a few short months ago. We have found a new church home at Lakeside Baptist Church here in Granbury and are making new friends everyday. We're also getting a chance to get to know some people that Ben has been working with for the past year a little bit better. It really does seem that God has a purpose for us moving to Granbury and we're enjoying our new life. I hope your all doing well and I cant wait to hear from you. Please leave a comment here or email me at: mandi4168@gmail.com! Lots of Love, Mandi "Remember, O Lord, your unfailing love and compassion, which you have shown from long ages past. Forgive the rebellious sins of my youth; look instead through the eyes of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord." Psalms 25:6-7

Small Moments

Everyday I am bombarded with things that remind me of how much older the kids are getting. Everything from: "No thanks mom, I can read it myself", "I can go outside by myself now", "Idon't need training wheels anymore", "Mom, I can get my own breakfast", "Mom, I can brush my own hair" and the list goes on and on and grows bigger everyday about the things they don'tneed me anymore for. And even though I know that's part of life, they get bigger and need me less and less it still stings every once in a while. Don't get me wrong some days I relish in the fact that I don't have to dress them anymore or change diapers or feed them. But I still look forward to those moments when they crawl up into my lap (which seems to get smaller and smaller everyday).

But then sometimes, when I least expect it, I get a glimpse at my babies just being little kids. Playing like little kids do and not trying to prove to me just how big they are what how much they can do on their own. And it gives me a moment, usually a very brief moment but a moment none the less, to see them as the little ones that they still very much are. Because even though they can accomplish so much on their own now they are still my babies and they always will be...

Well I know this doesnt even begin to compare to what our friends in the Northeast are getting hit with... But for us, its a lot! We got a huge snow and ice storm on Monday night that laid down about two inches of snow and ice. And we've been trapped ever since!!!! Yep three days of being locked in the house with three kids that are either on the computer or going crazy. We havent been to school since Monday and I'm pretty sure we wont be going back till Monday. Were supposed to get some more snow tomorrow. The movers should be here tomorrow to start our move to Granbury, so were all very excited to get that started and over with. The house we found is perfect and were all very ready to get moved in and settled in our new home. But for now we are trying to stay warm and not leaving the house!

What can happen in a year? A LOT!

What can happen in a couple of months? EVEN MORE!

Almost everything has changed for The Martin family and yet in the same breath I could say that we are very much the same... We are all very much in love with our family and very happy these days. As you can see the kids are getting bigger and bigger everyday! Carolina turned 7 right before Christmas, George will be 6 in April and Laney will be 4 in less then a week!

I am returning to my blogging and cant wait to update everyone on our day to day life again arond this wonderful crazy beautiful home...

Just an update...

Ok, ok, ok... I so know it has been FOREVER since y'all have seen anything from me. I apologize for that. Life has totally gotten away from me. But here is an update on the goings on around here...

1. School is hard.
2. Raising three kids is hard.
3. Raising three kids while going to school is harder...
4. I got my VA money all worked out, so I am actually being paid to go to school (no pressure there)
5. Laney is potty training.
6. Carolina should be able to read 25 words by the time she graduates from Kindergarden, she can now read over 70.
7. Carolina was tested and placed in the top 3% of all kindergartens in our town and has now been moved into TAG (talented and gifted) classes.
8. George likes girls.
9. Laney likes to get her own way... ALL THE TIME.
10. Ben is enjoying his job, but its getting harder.
11. We still have a house that WONT sell in WA.
12. My new major is accounting (turns out I'm a math geek)
13. We love our two dogs, turns out life is so much easier with two instead of just one.

Okay.... Well that's all I can really come up with right now and I have a huge load of reading to catch up on. Hope this helps let some of you know that we're still alive out here... just really really busy.