End of the year fun....

As 2012 draws to a close, I wanted to post a few pics of what we have been up to. Most of December consists of the kids school programs, walking through Christmas lights, and visits with family. Here are a few, enjoy!

Skyanna's Kids Praise class did an amazing Christmas program, with really fun music! They performed in our church chapel. Skyanna wore her beautiful Christmas dress to rehearsal, and then wore this t-shirt for the actual program. Typical!

Here's a shot of us at the Tyler Lights walk thru. Skyanna brought her friend Amanda, and Anthony brought his friend Titus. Look how happy Ben is to see Santa!

Here Skyanna is reading her part in the Polar Express reader's theater that her 1st grade class performed. They all wore pajamas, and watched the Polar Express!

Skyanna and I on our way to a Christmas sweater party! We were up late!
More pics to come before the end of 2012-class party's and a visit from grandma Nancy and auntie Hannah!

It's Never Enough.

The pantry moths put me right over the edge. How is it possible that somewhere between juggling three kids, working full time, and trying to keep order to my house; I somehow forgot to put a lid on some random item of food in the pantry? And it may not even be that-it could be something so small as a smudge of peanut butter or half eaten fruit snack waiting to be found. Perhaps I left a few kernels of cereal out to be feasted on by tiny larva, or maybe the syrup dripped off the lid and onto the pantry bottom. One thing is for sure, just Google the possibilities to make your mind spin!
After reading a full article on the causes of pantry moths, I now realize a few things.

1. I must now seal, wash, and sanitize every item that goes into my pantry.
   
2. Everything-including cookies and rice need their own separate container, with a sealed lid.
3. All my items must be pushed to the front, nothing in the back where it's more apt to be snacked upon by tiny critters.
4. Wrap plastic sealed baggies around syrup and peanut butter containers, in case any leaks out.
5. Rotate all items weekly, (with all my spare time).
6. Keep tiny hands out of the pantry in case they have any lingering food smudges on them, that may in turn contaminate the shelves.
7. REALLY?!
   

What I really learned is this: It's NEVER enough! This goes for so many things in life! Would of, should of, could of. We can only juggle so many concerns and worries before they all start to blur together into one giant cloud of doom. I truly believe that I psych myself out thinking of ALL the things I have to do, and all the steps it's going to entail. I can waster entire hours looking up detailed information and directions on how to do the perfect project online. If I wanted to, I could spend hours looking up the best type of containers to store my food in.

Information is just a click away, and what started out as a simple project to clean out the pantry has now become an entire lifestyle change!

Note to self: Have Adam clean out the pantry while you are at work tomorrow.

Easter 2012

This year we were blessed to celebrate Easter as a family on Good Friday! Adam and I both had the day off together (rarely happens) so we made a big Easter ham dinner, and had the parent's over for an evening of good food and good memories. The greatest thing about being home as a family this day? We got our entire garage organized-and I changed the living room around! I actually added a couch, and it looks more spacious now!

We decide to for-go the traditional Easter egg hunt, and focus more on family and Jesus. Adam sang a lovely song with a great group of guys at church, and the kids went to Sunday school, then hung out with me at the bookstore.

I will say that we did get invited to a friends' Easter egg hunt later that afternoon, and we were thrilled to go! Everyone that is, except Benjamin. He has really entered his "terrible two's" and has now perfected his blood curdling scream of anguish over not getting his way. This talent has pretty much shortened every outing we have had in the last week. It's been especially hard on Anthony and Skyanna, as we have to leave when Ben acts us. Example: at the park, after numerous times of removing Ben from the garbage cans, he continued to run back to them. If discipline at the park doesn't work, we have to go home. It's a bummer for the older two, but hopefully Ben will learn from these experiences.

I've added a few fun pics of the good times. No, we do not have a traditional happy day Easter photo for 2012-but we are for sure not a traditional family! I embrace these memories, and laugh openly at joy of raising strong willed kids! Also, I could not figure out the settings on this page, that is why none of the pics have captions on them. I will say that the one on the very top, with Ben "sneaking away" is the classic Ben move. He thinks we can't see him sneaking away to do something naughty.

My Children!

Big sister holding her little brother.

Just an angelic moment in the leaves!

Anthony and Skyanna back in Washington, 1 and 3 years of age.

One of my favorites of Adam and Anthony, he's tying his shoe.

Seriously! Benjamin or Anthony? (It's Anthony!)

Anthony Allan Bauthues 08/22/03

Skyanna Lynn Bauthues 05/19/06 Benjamin Adam Bauthues 10/11/09

As the year of 2011 comes to a close, I was reflecting on how blessed I am! I've been privileged to raise three precious babies, one still in diapers! I know they are not really mine; they belong to the Lord. On days when it is hard to see past the spilled milk and dirty laundry, I remember that He has given me the very important job of raising them to their full capabilities. God never expects us to carry our struggles alone. Adam and I have both come to believe that he has equipped us with the tools we need to raise these specific children. Having a child with Asperger's causes you to re-evaluate how you speak, discipline, plan for the future, plan for Holidays, everything! I think the goal with every family is to find what makes you thrive, and not worry about conforming to what you think you should be.
Everyone has a hope, and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." It's so comforting to know that God has a plan for every one's life! Through the day to day strife, the aching pain and heart wrenching sorrow, it is all in God's hands. My prayer is that I would be able to see His plan through my own busyness, and when I can't see or feel His plan, simply trust His promises.
This next month Adam and I will be getting a new camera, but for the time being, here on some classic pictures that I treasure! I will get some new updated pictures on here soon!

Little Miracles

Little miracles are everywhere around us, if we choose to slow down and see them.
I could have totally missed this miracle, but instead I chose to see the beauty in the chaos. Last night, after the worst behavior day ever for my two oldest, we decided to head off to the Good Friday service at our church. We have been looking forward to this, especially me, as I don't get to attend worship anymore because I'm working. (But I still go to Sunday school class, which is totally amazing!)
I just knew that once I got all 3 kids to church, the chaos would slow down, and I could pray and sing and find peace. All this was true, but not in the way I expected...
First of all, after a difficult trip through the parking lot, (losing Skyanna in the middle of it) we finally made our way into the church, and there is a big sign on the entrance door that reads, "Enter In Silence."
HAHAHAHAH! I knew at once that I would be chasing after three kids somewhere down the hall, but most likely not in the worship service. I prepared to put on my martyr cross, and let Adam go to service while I patiently and humbly watched the three kids I'd been working so hard to get away from all day! Inside I was fervently praying, "Lord, I know this is my season of life, but I so wanted to worship! I wanted to have some ALONE time with you, to focus my thoughts! Instead, here I am trying to keep 3 kids quiet, with my youngest straining to escape the stroller already! This is NOT peaceful!"
As I was entering my sad state of acceptance, in walked a wonderful gal named Joy, who is the wife to Rob, the music leader and minister for this evening's events. She had her two kids with her, one 3 months older than Ben, and her daughter close in age to Skyanna. She was their to support her husband, and then usher her two kids quietly out the door. Here is the miracle:
We ended up not going to service, but letting the kids loose to run up and down a huge ramp in the church. Screaming and giggling, our kids ran and chased each other, the joy in their eyes unbelievable! I found my own dissapointment greatly lessened having a friend to talk with, and not only that, it was HER husband who was putting on the service and leading it, and she stayed in the hall to visit with me! Now granted, it really was a matter of survival, our wild hooligans would never have made it quietly through the service, but God brought someone into my life to minister to me in a simple, friendly, down to earth way. Instead of the time of deep contemplation and communion I thought I was going to have, I got to chat with another mom about blankies, shopping with rowdy kids, discipline, napping, and plans for summer outings! Deep, spiritual stuff? Maybe not to some, but in my book, this is as deep as it gets!

April Flowers!

What a great month April has been! We've been getting lots of sun, and the kids have loved playing outside! Anthony is loving the June bugs that come out at night, and I let him go outside with his umbrella and hit them! We are so excited for Easter, Adam will be performing a song, and it's beautiful! I'll try to get it recorded.

Benjamin loves the outdoors as well, and is a daredevil! Here is just one of his many stunts, climbing the slide. He's a beefy little dude, and takes lots of tumbles! He can also climb on the coffee table, and is working his way up to the couch.

Well, well....look who has "Bieber Fever!" She found this shirt at Walmart and totally got excited, so I had to let her get it. It's so cute! I don't think she even knows who he is, she just knows that her little girlfriends at school think he's cool.

This is Anthony's soccer uniform for this spring, his team is called the Rams! He scored his first goal in a game last week, and is really, really, loving soccer!

Just another pic of my stout little guy.....notice the adorable curls!

Skyanna loves to watch Anthony try and climb trees!

Oooh look! He made it up a tree!

Dry hair....

Wet hair!

Here we are at Anthony's soccer game. Ben is mad that he's strapped in the stroller, he wants out! Hahah!

Yard Work

Seriously the sweetest cats in the world, Princess here, and Sam below!
Ben's best friend, Sam the cat.
My least favorite stage, learning to feed themselves. Yuck!
Skyanna and Sophia, best friends from school, putting on make up!
Benjamin finally adopted a blankie! All my kids have blankies, and I was worried he wouldn't want one. This is his froggy blankie he got for Christmas, it comes with a cute matching pillow.
Curls, curls, and chubs!
Pretty Skyanna at Chuck e Cheese for her friends party!
Ben's first time playing on the toys!
Check out my little man's cute shorts!

Okay, here are some pics of our recent yard work. We hacked down dead trees, (one that had been killed by lightning) and hauled all the wood off. It was a big job, and really noisy.
The trees that we took down are in our backyard, so now it adds space to the yard, and takes away hiding places for snakes! We hope to get some hammocks out here.
Daddy and his girl! We've been busy here, ready for summer to come so we can go swimming. Although, we could go swimming now, it's in the 80's, but the pools not up yet! The kids have swam in the little pool a few times this last month. With Adam and I both working full time, this is a crazy time, yet somehow manageable. I'll keep ya'll up to date on what decide to do with our yard....it's slow going for us, just getting a hammock up would be a plus!