Name Change

Ever since I was in high school I knew that my first son would be named Carter. I have always loved that name. Even if it does mean Cart Driver. It's a family name that goes way back on my dad's side of the family and is also my dad's middle name. I wanted each of my children to have a family name whether it be first or middle. Luckily the man I married liked the name Carter as well. So our first born son was named Carter Alexander. Carter after my dad and Alexander after Benjamin Jerry Alexander. Yes my husband has four names and NO I wasn't going to do that to my kids.

Ok, enough back story. So Carter comes home the other day from school and this was the conversation...
Carter: "mom I'm going to change my name."
Mom: "What! No! I love your name! Why in the world would you say such a thing!"
Carter: "because people who don't know me call me "quarter" NOT Carter!"

As I try to hold back my giggles I tell him that they are saying Carter, but just in a lazy way. He said No mom, they are calling me quarter like the coin, you know the circle money. What makes this so funny is that Caden who has the sweetest little voice calls his brother "quarter" and always has. I guess he doesn't really notice it since that is the way he has always said it. I even tried to get it on video so I could post, but couldn't ever catch the right moment. When you ask Caden and he thinks about it he will say Carter, but you ever get Caden frustrated at his brother then you hear...QUARTEEERRR....

Carter fixed the prob. though. He just decided he would change his name. When I picked him up from class last night at Brook Hills this is what I saw on his name tag.



Yep, He decided he would change his name to Tom. He said he wanted something simple & short. So Tom it is.
Side note - we had a little drinking prob. that resulted to water all over our shirt as well.

As funny as this is to me I did find out tonight at bedtime that this is a serious issue in the life of my 6 year old. Tears fell as he really feels some at school are making fun of his name. So if you ever see my little guy make sure you pronounce every syllable of his name clearly. And don't let him talk you into calling him Tom. I assure you he may try!

Spring Break '10

As I looked forward to the week ahead I had nothing on my calendar for Spring Break. Absolutely NOTHING planned, well except for Izzy's dentist apt. . By Monday afternoon I think I had at least one thing scheduled each day. Wow, that didn't take long.

I was able to catch some things on camera, some things were spur of the moment and I unfortunately didn't have my handy dandy camera with me.

Since the first of the week wasn't really the warmest weather we found things to do inside. Like....going with Ben's mom (a.k.a Grammie) to the Blue Bell Factory in Sylacauga, AL then having a picnic afterwards.



Going to the ice cream parlor at the end of the tour & getting ice cream was by far the favorite from everyone!







The boys are into playing games. It really doesn't matter what kind. Board, computer, Wii, Leapsters....you name it they will want to play it. On this particular day & time we had to find one that little sister could play as well. Can't go wrong with the classic Candy Land.



While the boys were having some daddy time riding bikes at the park. Isabel decided she wanted to help me plant flowers. I was wearing my gardening gloves so she needed hers as well. Since she doesn't have any then her pink snowflake winter mittens would have to do. They still got the job done.



With all the visits to the park, picnic's, bike rides, games played and other family time that we enjoyed momma still got to go out not only once, but twice with the girls! I got to enjoy some great food & a movie with some friends as we celebrated a friends birthday. I also got to get together with some friends who were ever so kind to give me some info. on homeschooling. That is going to have to be another post for another day. I think my head may still be spinning....

One thing that we didn't get to do that Isabel really really wanted to was go to the beach. All week Isabel had been telling me that she wanted to go to the beach like some of her friends. Unfortunately going to the beach wasn't one of my spur of the moment Spring Break moments. However, I could break out the bathing suits & beach towels and pretend.



It was a great Spring Break 2010!

No Cavities

I was a little concerned about Izzy's first dentist apt. She is def. more dramatic than her brothers, she is full on girl! Hoping it would help I took her the week prior to watch both her brothers get their teeth cleaned...thankfully they did great! I guess they have both been enough now that they are pro's.

Meet the magnificent Ms. Susie!



Little intimidated by the bright light & chair that makes you feel like your falling...



Notice the pig that is under the napkin - he was her comfort, but the light was too bright for his eyes, so he was hiding.

Thankfully Ms. Susie has sunglasses to help



All done! No cavities! Ready to go home with new friend "glove girl" complete with pink ribbon of course :)

Change in scenery

If you have followed my blog long you know that I can't keep the same background more than a few weeks. There are too many FREE choices out there that I like. Just in case you like to do the same....my two favorite websites to get FREE backgrounds are Aqua Poppy Designs and Cutest Blog on the Block.

A different crowd

I get in front of a "crowd" to speak 5 out of 7 days a week, but my normal crowd is different than it was this past Sunday. My normal crowd is none above the age of 3 and no more than 10 at a time. When I tell them something they hang on every word and don't ask twice. If Mrs. Kylie says it's so, then it must be!

For those who do not know, this past Sunday Ben preached at Brook Hills while David was out of town. The text was Deut. 6, but the main focus was on Ben & I's story of moving to East Lake. After Ben spoke for about 25 min. a panel of people came out and were asked some questions. Each person on the panel had something to do with serving in East Lake. Yes, I was on that panel.

It's really weird, you would have thought that I would have been nervous. I thought I would have been. However I really was not. At the 9 o'clock hour I was more nervous than the other services, but it was more that we were running off schedule and time wise were not where we were supposed to be. We all had a time frame and didn't want to exceed our limit.

There were lots of things that I wanted to say, but like I said we were limited on time. I also didn't get to pick the questions that were asked. The crowd this past Sunday isn't like my normal preschool "crowd" where they will take everything I say and believe every word. In this process of telling our story there have been lots of opinions shared. Some uplifting and others not. It really reminds me of when I was preg., esp. with Isabel, even if I didn't know someone it seemed I had a sign on my forehead that said "Please tell me what you think of me being preg. as I already have two little ones by my side". You really learn to grit your teeth and smile.

I know things will not be easy with this move, I'm sure there will be many trials we face. I don't have any expectations, good or bad. I pray for wisdom daily. I am following Ben as the Spiritual leader of our home, but more than that I am following Christ as Lord of my life! A verse that Ben used on Sunday has become one of my favorites as well as my prayer for our lives.

Psalm 67:2
that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.

I came to realize that when you are speaking from the heart & you just want to be real with everyone and the focus is not on you, it's on Christ then it's easy to speak in front of even hundreds of people. I pray that people will hear what was said and not let fears of this world inhibit them from sharing the good news of Christ, even if that means it is in a less comfortable environment than they are used to.

Fearful

At times throughout my day I have to admit a hint of fear sometimes hits me. Fear of the unknown of what I'm getting myself into. This move to East Lake is really a big deal and I don't want to take what God is doing in our lives lightly. Hints more fear. I often find myself trying to do things myself and not letting God be in complete control. This move however, I have no control over. I have no control over our house selling. I can't pick what people we will run into once we are there. I am already trying to come to terms with not be able to "fix" all their problems & needs. Everything will depend on God and that means me trusting fully on Him.

I wasn't able to make worship with my faith family last Sunday b/c of a sick child. Thankfully you can download notes & weekly teaching online. The Church at Brook Hills weekly teaching The only thing that was posted at the time I looked was the notes so I printed them out. What an encouragement!

Dr. David Platt
Chapter 8: Fear or Faith?
Numbers 13 - 14

Portrait of the Fearful....

They disregarded the goodness of God
They doubted the greatness of God
They magnified potential problems
They minimized powerful promises
They disobeyed the Word of God
They disqualified themselves from the blessing of God

Portrait of the Faithful...

They believed the goodness of God
They trusted the greatness of God
Where others saw an obstacle, they saw an opportunity
While others worried about man's power, they were confident in God's presence
They obeyed the Word of God
They would experience the blessing of God

What about us?

Will we turn from God and trust in ourselves...
Or will we turn to God and trust in Christ?
Will we sit back in fear of the world...
Or will we step forward with faith in the Word?
Will we waste our lives in routine religion...
Or will we spend our lives in radical devotion?

I want my life to be a portrait of the faithful...how about you?

To do list

Thurs. night the sickness bug hit the DeLoach house yet again. So Friday I took off work and stayed home with Caden & Isabel. Carter still went to school, it was the Boosterthon Fun Run he wasn't about to miss! Since the sickness had hit during the night most of my Friday was consumed with cleaning. Carpets were cleaned, bathrooms were scrubbed, sheets, comforters, blankets, pillows and even the shower curtain had to go through a hot wash cycle in the washing machine.

This is where most of Caden's Friday was spent.



Sat. we woke up to a beautiful day, one we hadn't seen in awhile. The sun was shinning and it was actually warm enough to go outside without a jacket. Since it was a day that we were all home with nowhere we had to be, I got out my to do list. Ben loves my honey do list :) ok, not really, most of the time it just gets longer and longer. It was stuff we HAD to get finished though since we have the house for sale. We washed windows, puttied some nail holes, painted door trim, cleaned the garage, and did a little touch up paint. Of course I had two little helpers right under my heels wanting to help.

So I put them to work helping with the laundry...



and dishes....



It wasn't long before my help had disappeared and I found one outside building a fort with Ben's golf clubs.



and the other just running around pushing her puppy in the stroller. Side note - Yes, she dressed herself and yes pink is our favorite color!



Caden was still a little sickly, but came outside with the rest of us just because he couldn't resist the wonderful weather. He didn't stay long and was back resting on the couch. Luckily this "bug" that he got was only a 24 hr deal, it just left him without any energy for a few days.

Now that it's Sunday night we are getting back into the "grind" and my nightly to do list starts again.

Clothes are laid out...



lunches & snacks are packed....



and juice cups are ready for breakfast...



I think it's going to be a great week.

He is our strength now let us sing for Jesus Christ our risen King!

I can do that

Ben and I are both DIY'ers (Do It Yourself'ers) if that is even a word. I absolutely love to get ideas then go try to make it myself.

For example right before Carter was born I saw some blocks in the Pottery Barn Kids magazine that I absolutely loved. So Ben & I came up with this to go above his crib, which is still hanging today above his big boy twin bed.



Of course I had to make Caden one to match.



With two little boys and 9 months preg. I didn't make Isabel blocks (I ended up buying some), but I did see a picture in Pottery Barn Kids magazine for around $65. When I saw it you know exactly what I said....I can do that!



Same with cakes. Now grant it I usually recruit my sister to come help me, but hey she works for free :) Since my sister wasn't available for this particular cake, a friend helped me out.



Ben is a little higher scale than I am when it comes to making things himself. He wanted pull-up rings to hang in the garage for part of his workout. He bought some PVC pipe, heated it in the oven and made them into rings.



He also enclosed our back porch into a playroom.



I say all that not to bring any creative credit to ourselves. Honestly the biggest reason I (we) are DIY'ers is because I'm cheap. I just can't make myself pay the high prices and everything that I like has a high price tag. Esp. since most of what I like & re-create is from Pottery Barn.

Now with that said, we are again trying to do something ourselves. Yes to save some bucks.



Ben did create a website that has lots of pictures of the house, so if you know of anyone looking for a house in Chelsea tell them about deloachhouse.com.