I'm not your typical mom...

Okay - confession time... when I had just Chayse I used to listen to all the "kiddie songs" for her. So she was always singing stuff from Kids Praise, Veggie Tales, etc...

Maybe I'm just too _ _ _ (I refuse to say it... but old) now and I just want to listen to "my stuff". So my kids are CONSTANTLY listening to praise & worship with me in the car, at home, whatever. If you're in the truck with me - we're usually watching (and singing along very loudly) the 5th Service DVD or a Hillsong United DVD...

And then here's what you get (but I LOVE it)...



In case you can't understand him - here's what he's saying:

"Jesus, we're living for your name. Never be ashamed of you. Woah-oh
Our praise and all we are today. Take, take, take it all. Take, take, take it all."

Just so you know - this video is just of Connor (because I can still effectively bribe him with a piece of gum)... but Colton sings this song so well and plays the "air guitar" with it - but refuses to be captured on video (so far). But when I catch him - I'll show you that too!

Isn't God good? I love him!

My son is the funniest ever...

I think my son misses being home with me (after having 2 weeks home for Christmas break)... here was our conversation this morning:

Colton: Mommy, are you going to pick me up from school today?
Mommy: Yes, Mommy will be at work today and so I'll pick you up from school.
Colton: Are you going to have lunch there too?
Mommy: Yes.... why?
Colton: Will you pick me up at lunch? I'll give you a dollar...
Mommy: ...jaw on the floor... laughing my BUTT off!!

I am a good Mommy... I did reassure him that he could make it through the whole day of school and I would pick him up after naptime and he walked away happy.

But man - that dollar could have bought me a desperately needed Diet Coke this morning.... hhhmmmm! :)

It has been WAAAAAYYYY too long...

All I can say is - I'm sorry!
My camera, my phone - both filled with a bunch of amazing pictures for some really fun posts... but - they are still there... in my camera and in my phone (hopefully to be posted on here soon).

My problem is two-fold:
1. It was Christmas break and I had kiddos home to wrap presents for, play new games with, feed 4-5 times a day and over all just have fun with them while on break.
2. I have been having wi-fi problems with my computer lately - if I could just post from my phone I'd be GOLDEN... but not yet.

Sooooo.... here's a quick "recap" of the last three weeks of "The Life and Times of the Shirley Family"

• Kids on 2 week break for Christmas - LOTS of playing outside
• Fred took the 2 weeks of vacation as well... had some fun dates! :)
• Christmas - fun, but low-key this year (YEAH!!!)
• Colton lost his first tooth on the 26th (more pictures to come) - I actually pushed it out, but in my defense, his tooth was pushing underneath and causing him pain.
• Connor has a new friend - his "shobel" (shovel). Everything he did outside for the last two weeks involved dragging that shovel EVERYWHERE!!!
• Fred and I went to see Claret (Nyk & Jen Olson's band) at a club downtown (GREAT show and fun to see them perform again) but I got carded for the first time!!! (okay - I got carded once before, but just for an "18 and up" place - this was so I could wear a bracelet all night that said "ok to drink") Kinda wierd... :)
• Very pleased with the presents the kids got (I helped pick a lot of them out) and the boys got matching pirate ships (which Fred thought I was nuts for buying) but having two of them has been a HUGE lifesaver! :)
• Really been praying about some stuff for the future lately (like I really haven't before) and I'm excited for what God has in store for us!

Anyway - I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year's...

All our love... The Shirley's

I amuse myself...

Okay, I'm known for being a "hyena", a "Wilma" (because I laugh like Betty or Wilma on the Flintstones) or just a plain old GIGGLY GIRL!!
But tonight, my husband got me - so I just had to share:

Me: Explaining that we should start Weight Watchers and then telling him the points difference in our evening snacks (mine 3 pts, his 6-7 pts)
Fred: "Well, I can have that many points because I haven't had any points yet today!" (Meaning - this is the first "points" he's counted today - not that this is all that he's eaten...)
Me: Laughing so hard that I can't breathe, my eyes are watering and Fred "shushing" me and telling me not to wake up the kids.

Yes, I am a dork - but I enjoy life! :) And I enjoy my husband - he makes me laugh!
Now you can all laugh at what a wierdo I am and you probably don't even get what was so funny about what he said... that just makes it all the more funny to me (and yes, I'm still laughing about it!)

Snow Boys!!

If you have boys - you know they LOVE to be outdoors... no matter WHAT the weather!

So the kids and I took a Sunday off a couple of days ago (much needed time at home) because we have just been RUNNING lately! And it worked out perfectly because it had just snowed the night before.
Connor went sliding last year - with Momma - and loved it! But I don't think as much as he loved it this year... he went down a few times with his big brother who took care of him (how sweet!).














In case you can't tell which one is which - Colton is in front and Connor is in back... yes, they are pretty much the same size right now!














I love my boys and I love when they are nice brothers and do things together...
God is good!

FINALLY picutres of my homemade goodies

I know this is a little late - I mentioned it awhile ago... and then made it for dinner last week (but then forgot that the pics were on my phone - until I just found them)

I made those DE-LI-CIOUS pannekoeken's with an apple/raisin sauce for the top... SOOOOO good! So here's some pictures for you to drool over! :)

This is the pannekoeken plain - without the apples... still very nummy with syrup on it!
















And here it is with the apple/raisin sauce...

My son is "special"...

If you knew me at all growing up - I was a special child! I had an "interesting" way of dressing myself sometimes and doing some interesting activities from time to time (who am I kidding - I'm still a dork when I want to be - just ask my hubby!)

So here's my son's idea of "fun" the other night...















He's wearing only his diaper, his blankee (as his "cape") and his DAD'S socks! He ran around the house just LAUGHING for quite awhile at his "genius" idea....

I love my kids! :) They definitely make me laugh!

PS - And just to point out for the "keen" eye - you can see just how special Colton is as well if you see his "table" that he made to play school with Grandma in the background - the box from my Christmas tree with pillows on top (and his birthday crown from school) and his rocking chair (Evan's old one) right next to it! :)

ALL my children are special! :)