Where does the time go?

* Sigh *

EPIC - Chopped

Last Friday was our bi-weekly EPIC girls group meeting and this time we organized a cooking competition based off of the tv show "Chopped."  Well, actually I did very little in the food prep area for this event!  I made taco soup for the girls' dinner before the competition and I gave the devotional.

We had 12 girls for this event and it was a blast!  I think they enjoyed showing off their cooking skills and next time we'll make it even harder for them.  It was fun to watch them work as a team, be creative and get competitive.  And now I know I can hire them all to come over whenever I don't feel like cooking dinner :-)  Here are a few pictures from our fun night...

 the judges and their stone faces, ha ha ha!

 the winning dish :-)

 the winning team competed in a dessert cook-off with the leaders

 we made pumpkin snickerdoodles with a maple glaze

but their brownies with chocolate and raspberry sauce were the obvious winners, yum!!

It was a fun night cooking together, reflecting on the wonderful benefits we receive as daughters in Christ, and I'm blessed to be a part of it.

Just like big brother

The following set of pictures just make me smile because I noticed that while I was trying to get a picture of my 3 guys together, Jonah was way more interested in watching his big brother's every move and imitating him as best he could.  Jonah's eyes are fixated on Benjamin.

I was going through more pictures and realized that when Peter was trying to get a picture of the boys and I, that Jonah was once again imitating his brother.  Benjamin has a crazy "say cheeeeese" face now whenever his picture is being taken.  And Jonah was doing his best to be just like his hero....

Cracks.  Me.  Up.

I love them.

Simple moments

I always have the best days when I don't allow myself to get wrapped up in checking the oh so important facebook statuses, reading the latest blog or ensuring my house is spotless and instead, just be intentional about enjoying life's simple moments.  I love a clean house and I love reading blog posts but I love the joy that comes from locking eyes with my boy who is delighted that you are going to read him that 10th book.  Or the smile I receive from my baby when I tickle him so easily because I know all his weak spots.  The simple moments where you're pushing your boys in your stroller and you see an older lady smiling knowingly at you, as if to tell you "enjoy these moments, they grow so quickly." 

Today I'm grateful for these simple moments that bring me so much joy.

 walking to the dollar store for a fun treat one morning!

 Daddy had to work through lunch so we stopped for a fun lunch at McDonalds

 watching Thomas the Train

 watching them build a house in our subdivision inspired him to measure our own house

 he wants to be just like his Daddy

 cuddle time on the couch

practicing really hard to perfect The Halleujah Chorus

 Daddy had to work through lunch again so we made transportation pancakes!

 yummy tractor and train

wearing our firetruck outfits to go to the special fireman storyhour at the library

First tooth

Look who now has his first tooth?!  Of course, he decided to pop his first tooth while we were on vacation which isn't exactly sleep inducing......but.......considering he has no control over that and he's still adorable, we'll forgive him just this once :-)