Wow, where has the time gone?

Many things have been going on in the Phifer home some I'll post and other's are personal, but my blog has taken a hit from the chaos and craziness of life. I have had a few friends who have been telling me how much they miss reading about my beautiful, precious children and quite truthfully, I deeply miss my bloggy friends. I apologize and plan on getting back to blogging my children's fun, exciting and entertaining lives.

Jie and Trayjan have been so busy beginning in November. Trayjan had a wonderful Basketball season and was so amazing this year. He rocked the court about everygame, leading his team in baskets and by the end of the season improving greatly on plays and rebounds. His daddy coached him again this year and I think they had the most fun ever. Jie has been busy with school, she loves school and would love to go much more throughout the week then she is now. We are working on that right now, next year she will go three days per week, but I think she would benefit so much if she went 3-5 days per week. She loves to play, socialize and learn and is doing so wonderful each and everyday. Jie also had her birthday January 8th and turned 4. She loved her Minney Mouse Party Dress and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Birthday Cake. Oh, and can't forget our Amazing Trayjan, he won his Math Challenge at school and got his T-shirt. So very proud of his hard work.

I will post a few pictures of how things have been going for the kids......they are absolutely a blessing from God and we love them so very much!

Kids are LOVING the SNOW!

This morning bright and early (about 8:30am) we all got dressed up and hit the snow. The first snow that is nice enough to play in is always so much fun. We had a snow ball fight, the kids against the adults. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be. My nephew was over so it was 3 against 2, which I think is fair, especially that my nephew is my size, it was fun when he decided to football tackle me...

It was fun to play and Trayjan and Jie made some beautiful snow angels before we trampled through all the snow. Trayjan was eating the snow, Jie was making footprints and Skyler my nephew was just enjoying himself by rolling like a snowball in it, then he was rolling Trayjan like a snow ball. Joyous Memories and Fun!

Always Thankful

As I sit here I am listening to the beautiful sound of laughter from my kids playing freeze tag. Jie has this little high pitched curly scream everytime daddy chases her and Trayjan has the most joyous laughter when he's hurrying to the base. Such a joy it is to listen to the kids be so happy and have so much fun.

I missed the Thankful Thursday post so today my post is Always Thankful! I love that although I like posting on Thursday, I have to remind myself everyday of the many blessings the Lord has provided for us.

I'm very thankful for girls night. Last night I was so blessed to meet some friends and my sister for dinner. Although we still sit and discuss our children and families all night, it is such a joy to have the time to get out with them for dinner. When I came home last night, I told Trayj I needed to meet a bit more often, he said "No mom, I will miss you to much if you go more". He is such special sweet boy.

I love that when some of us are grouchy in the house, princess Jie doesn't even know what being grouchy means. This little girl is so very happy all day everyday. She loves us so much and will tell us many times throughout the day. She is such a blessing to our lives.

I'm thankful for the power of prayer, I pray for each one of you each and every day. My God lead and guide you throughout your lives.

Thankful Thursday

I have had a couple weeks of literally just being blah...I've been trying to pinpoint what it was about, at first, I thought I was just needing to settle down and relax about Jie learning so much, then I thought maybe I need to go to work a couple days per week like I did when Trayj was growing up, then I thought I was just lonely with my husband traveling so much the last 17 months, then my husband came home and I was ready for him to travel again....LOL

Well, I have been reading my bible more and I have been listening as God is speaking to me, it truthfully isn't about any of those things, it's more about the fact that I'm a mom 24 hours per day, giving all I have to others and I have forgotten about myself. I take care of my children, help to keep them healthy, working hard and instilling an education in their little minds and along the way, I have forgotten what it is that I need. Being a mom is and will always be the single most important gift the Lord has blessed me with, but in order to be a good mom to my children, I need to not forget about my needs. Don't get me wrong, i'm not one to never buy myself a new outfit, or never get a pedicure or my hair colored, but those are not the spiritually rejuvenating things that keep my soul strong.

I have many days where I'm keeping the peace between a brother and a sister, making breakfast, lunch and dinner, giving children baths, brushing 3 sets of teeth at least twice per day, saying prayers, reading stories, doing homework with a 7 year old (which by the way is very simple to do), wiping noses, picking up used kleenex, wiping bottoms, washing hands, doing laundry, unloading and loading the dishwasher, cleaning the house top to bottom, oh yes I can't forget feeding and cleaning up after two puppies (one 125 lbs I might add, not a small task to clean up after her) and still managing to get my two showers done each day, get two kids to school, pick two kids up from school, can't forget my time checking my emails and my facebook (which I'm way to addicted to), all the while being a single mom to two kids as my husband was gone over 1/2 the month.....but all of these things are daily events that occur each and every day, and during this time, I didn't manage to forget my blessings, but I forgot how to have fun doing all these things.

I am so happy God has given me the blessing of being able to enjoy all these things with my children and I'm very thankful I have my precious children, I couldn't imagine my life without being a mom. I am so thankful that God reminded me we must enjoy each and every step along the way. God spoke to me very clearly and reminded me that as I'm being a mom, I have to remember to keep my love tank full in order to keep other's tanks full. So my thankful Thursday is all about being thankful for when I'm lost or don't understand things, my Lord Jesus Christ walks me through my darkness, that he knows my direction and he guides me to where he wants me to be. My children deserve the best of me, and so do I.

........and the tree is up!

On Saturday the kids were so excited to get the Christmas tree decorated. It is the most wonderful time to share this with our children. This year was even more special because both children have their own ornaments that they add to the tree. Trayjan kept asking how old he was in ornament pictures and when he made certain ornaments. Our tree has so many ornaments that have so many special meanings to them. Trayjan has been getting a Michigan Wolverine ornament from Grandma Susan every year since he was one. We also display pictures of family on our tree, so it's so fun to see the pictures from the past that are only brought out for our Christmas Tree.

The kids wore their matching pajamas they were bought two years ago to decorate....they looked so sweet matching eachother. I know there are not many more times, I can get by with them matching for anything.

It was a very special time decorating and the kids had so much fun, they just kept looking for more ornaments to add to our already very full tree.

Thanksgiving Tree

At my wonderful MOPS meeting on Thursday we made these wonderful little trees. The idea came from a mom in our group.

My kids loved the idea of writing what they were thankful for and adding it to the little tree. I think Jie said she's thankful for ABC's and McDonalds and Trayjan was thankful for Family, his Dogs, Toys and Friends. It was precious to have them get so excited for this new centerpiece for our dining table.

I love to create little fun things that our family can do each year, so now this little tree will be our Thanksgiving Tradition. It will fill our table each year with lifes past and present thankful gifts.

MEMORY BOX MONDAY

Okay, this is just a wonderful picture of Trayjan. I remember this time so well, we had just moved back to Indiana from Ohio and we were enjoying having family over to play. Trayjan had found this mud puddle in the back yard and began to go crazy stomping in it. He had mud everywhere and it was absolutely priceless! So this Monday I have a picture that is irreplaceable of my precious boy. It's so hard to believe this was over 4 years ago. He's growing so quickly and I don't want to miss a second of his life. I pray the Lord guides him to follow all his dreams and to always enjoy the earthly life God has given him. I know we enjoy every second with him.