Interview with the Birthday Girl: Graysen Faith

How old are you now?

Um, 4.

Gray's Birthday
November 2010

Do you feel any bigger?

Yes.  

Tell me about your birthday party you had.

It was fun.  And I got lot of toys.  And I got my own brushes.  Rapunzel brushes.  I really loved my birthday party.  

What was your favorite part of your party?

Opening my presents!  And I'm happy about getting my big girl carseat!

What was your favorite present you got at your birthday party?

My doll.  My Rapunzel big doll.  And I really love Dad.  Bye.  

Dance Class
December 2010

What is your favorite thing to do?

To sit in my big girl car seat.  

What’s your favorite food?

French Fries and mashed potatoes.  

Dressing up as a bride
January 2011

Who is your best friend?

Maddi.

Where is your favorite place to go?

To Disney World.

Have you ever been to Disney World?

No.  Dad said we can't go there.

Why? 

Because I asked him and he said no.

I'll take you someday, okay?

Okay.

Getting blood drawn for her mysterious "lump" on her leg
February 2011

What do you like most about preschool?

Playing at recess.

What do you like to do with daddy?

Getting stuff I like at the grocery store.

What do you like to do with me?

Stay here all day.  And go to work with you.  

Blake and Silas' Birthday Party
March 2011

What is your favorite book?

Dancing books.  And I love dress up clothes.  I wish I could put them on all day.

What is your favorite song?

Say Hey It's a Good Day.

What is your favorite animal?

My cat that Grammie gave me.  The grey stuffed one.

What about real animals?

Hmmm...Hippos.  I'll give em grapes.  They like to eat grapes.  

Why do you like hippos?

Because they follow us.  And I want to ride on them.  And they're strong. 

If you could be any animal what would you be?

A hippo.  

A hippo?  Why?

Because I love hippos and they're really nice and they like to eat grapes and so do I.  

Standing by our egg decorations
April 2011

Are you excited for the snow to come?

Yeah!

What do you want for Christmas?

Another kitty cat.

Working hard!
May 2011

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?

To the beach. 

Why?

Because I like the beach and we can have a sleep at there.

Tony and Kacie's wedding
June 2011

What is your favorite TV Show?

Dora the Explorer

What is your favorite toy?

My grey kitty cat.

What is your favorite movie? 

Tangled.

Helping sew
July 2011

What is something mom always says to you?

Don't eat candy!

What makes you happy?

My birthday and when you give me kisses!  That makes me happy!

What makes you sad?

When Daddy spanks me.

When does Daddy ever spank you?

Never.  *giggle*  Ohhh...when the boys be bossy to me!  That makes me sad.

How do I make you laugh?

By tickling me.

Hunter's birthday party
August 2011

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A doctor's job.

What are you really good at?

Racing!

What is your favorite food?  (I had to ask again because I knew her answer would change!)

Macaroni and Cheese.

Grape and Fall Festival Parade
September 2011

What do you and your mom do together?

Spend time together.

What do you and Dad do together?

Just clean and clean and clean and clean.

What do you like best about Hunter?

He tickling my neck!

What do you like best about Blake?

That he laughs while I tickle him.

What do you like best about Silas?

That he helps me clean my stuff up.

What do you like best about Spike?  (Spike is what we call our new baby!)

Getting him new clothes.

Hanging with Aunt Sis
October 2011

How do you know your mom loves you?

Because you say that all the time!!!

What is your favorite color?

Pink and purple and blue and that's all.

What is your favorite game to play?

That popety one.

What's that?

The hippo popety one.  (I still have no idea what she's talking about!)

Hayden's birthday party
November 2011

Who is your favorite person in the whole world?

Um, you!  You mommy!!

What is your favorite place to go?

To McDonalds

What is your favorite food (I knew it would change again...it does every. single. time you ask!)

Cheeseburgers!

What is something that you would like to do this year?

Have Christmas!  And I love snow.

What things do you like to do around the house?

Watch a movie.

What's your favorite chore?

What's a chore?

Like a job around the house.  

Oh, you mean like those little balls?  (We have ping pong balls that have chores written on them)

Yeah.

I'm trying to think...doing the glass I guess.

Do you know how much I love you?

This Big!  (with her arms stretched way out behind her!)

Giving Thanks {Day 23}

I am thankful for an unplanned thanksgiving 4:00 a.m. facebook chat with a dear friend who lives far away.

Aren't friends who you can just be you with the best?  

No fear of judgement.

I love friends like that.

Giving Thanks {Day 22}

I'm thankful for biblically sound reminders from women in my life.

I'm thankful for a night sitting at my mom's kitchen table crafting with her and conversations about my life.  I'm grateful she encourages me in my walk as a mother.

I'm grateful for words of wisdom like these, from Gwen:

Has it ever occurred to you that it is okay not have all the WARM AND FUZZYS about adopting, but that giving a child a home, love, and safety is biblical...That making sure they have food, water, shelter, and safety is a great way to honor the LORD with the gifts he has given you...

Giving Thanks {Day 19, 20, 21}

{Day 19}

I am thankful for Christmas decorations.
I can't believe we did this (or that I'm admitting it), but we decorated for Christmas the weekend before Thanksgiving this year!  We had a free night Friday night (which is such a rarity during basketball season), so I called Lincoln from work and asked him if he'd be up for putting up the tree.  He knows how much I dislike that task, so he had it up and lights on it before I even got home from work!  He had also carried in all of our Christmas decoration tubs and stacked them nicely in the kitchen!  I was so grateful that all I had to do was sort the ornaments for the kids to hang on the tree!

The kids with their piles of ornaments.  Ready to start hanging!

Lincoln and I hanging out matching Hawaii ornaments.

Our first family picture in front of the tree!

Another memory from this year...my mom gifted us with a new tree last year after Christmas, and I was so excited to use it this year!  I got home and took one look at the tree that Lincoln put up and realized it was not the new tree...but our old one...  I asked him why he didn't use the new one and he responded with "this one is still good, why would we start wearing out the new one when we can still use this one?!"  Ahhh, my husband.  Thinking logically.  I appreciate this quality in him, even though it can drive me crazy sometimes.  He does help me keep perspective, and I've learned a lot from him about needs and wants.

{Day 20} 
I am thankful for a Church home where my kids can learn important lessons in fun ways!

My boys Sunday School class learned "The Perfect Ten" song over the last several weeks (as our sermon series has also been on the 10 commandments).  They performed their song for all three services this past Sunday!  I thought they were precious, and they really enjoyed doing it.

{Day 21}
I am thankful for my kids birthdays!


 I'm also thankful for people who help me prepare for their parties!  I've had help from my sister, mom, and marcinda for Graysen's upcoming birthday party.  Here are a few sneak peaks!  I'll do a full post with details after the party!

Kara working on a sewing project...

Graysen testing out her new tower!

Giving Thanks {Day 18}: Sister

I am thankful for a sister who will do crazy things with me!

I know the picture isn't great...but this was a late night Chinese run Kara and I went on...simply because I was craving it...and yes, we walked away with an entire BOX of Chinese food!  

So thankful for someone to be silly with!

Giving Thanks {Day 17}: Encouragement

I am thankful for the gift of encouragement.

Encouragement is so important.  

Giving it, receiving it.  

Asking for it, being open to God's nudging to give it someone in particular.  

I've been feeling really discouraged lately in my parenting.  I have been overwhelmed with the idea of bringing another new life into our home and training him to be a Godly person.  I've been questioning whether I've even begun to scratch the surface with the four that I have and questioned why God would give me another life to help mold.  

I've been blessed several times lately by people who have encouraged me in this.  

The teacher who stopped by my desk to let me know how much she enjoys having one of my sons in after school tutoring.  

The basketball coach who complimented Lincoln on how well our children obeyed.  

The assistant principal who stopped me in the hallway this morning to tell me how well behaved another son was when he was with her a few nights ago for a special outing.  

The friend who just emailed me to tell me that she wished her son hung out more with my third son because she thinks he's a great kid and trusts what we teach in our home.

I emailed a friend and said:

 "I can't take the burping and tooting and loudness and hyperness that fill my home...and it's not even winter time yet!!!!!!"

She, having a much better outlook on life, responded with this:

Seriously. J smells. Like, he’s not dirty – he just smells. He has that boy smell already. And although I can’t distinguish a H smell yet – I sure know what a L Boy smell is. And it’s not any better. They smell. And I hate it. When I think of the apartment (and future homes), I think about how much more perfect they would remain if it was just me and R. If it was just us, things would smell nice. Like, burning fragrant candle nice. Things would look pretty. There would be organization and efforts made to have the house look aesthetically pleasing. At all times. Furniture would coordinate and the house would have a shabby chic theme. With white. A lot of white. But, instead, I have two boys. Boys that are toddlers, but will soon grow into boys – forever. Smelly, awful boys.

However, these smelly boys will forever protect their sister. They will grow to be teenagers that can do stuff. Like trash, mowing, fixing, labor kind of stuff. They will adore me and I’ll be their first love. Their wives will thank me for raising fine men. And they’ll turn into the heads of households. So, boys are important. And, remember, girls aren’t exactly angels either – hello teenage years (and beyond)! J

Encouragement...it's so important!

Giving Thanks {Day 16}: Pictures

I am thankful for pictures that allow me to take a trip down memory lane.

Graysen, 11 months at the pumpkin patch.

Graysen at her first birthday party

Graysen, age 13 months throwing a fit Christmas morning.

Hunter, age 4 at Graysen's first birthday party

Giving Thanks {Day 15} Blake's curls

I am thankful for my sons' curls.

Is that silly?

yes.  I know.

 They are so beautiful though!  

I miss these curls.

 I hope that when he is older he will grow his hair out again.

He doesn't want to take care of it now...

Giving Thanks {Days 13 and 14}: Good Friends and My Mom and Charlie

Day 13:

I am thankful for an evening with good friends!

Nick and Britt came over tonight.  I'm so thankful for another couple who "gets" us!

Day 14:

I'm thankful for my momma and Charlie, who always opens their home to me and my loud crew!

Giving Thanks {Day 11 and 12}: My Son

I'm thankful for this head.

it's full, and round and healthy.

I'm thankful for this foot.

His second toe is longer than his first...like me!