April Showers...

I think this April has brought more "showers" than I want to remember. After the frost this morning, I've decided anyone who wants to believe in "Global Warming" must lack common sense! I'm ready for the 80 degree weather that made a brief appearance last week. I've got kids to darken up before swimming weather gets here! Believe me, my kids need all the "darkening up" they can handle. Rileigh Cait isn't too white. I think her skin has an olive tone to it. She should tan quite nicely. Aside from all the rain, its been a fun, busy month. I can't believe it ends tomorrow. April is birthday month for the Bailey clan (yes, we're too big to be a family...we're a clan!) There is fifteen birthdays in April, and three of them are on the 27th. That was my grandma's birthday too and Jeff's grandma's oddly enough. I don't mind sharing my birthday at all. Its kinda fun sometimes. I got exactly what I asked for from mom and aunt Linda sent me her traditional card with a little fun money in it. I'm sure I'll buy me and Jeff a coke with it! My new workout gear. A ball, weights and mat. Its all red! (although, I may have already gotten past 5lb weights) Guess I'll have to add to my collection!Mom made me dinner Sat. (Her one day back in town before she was gone again.) She didn't even have to ask what I wanted. Ribs and peach cobbler! My favorite!!Sunday, mom left, Jeff worked, and I was still hurting from my surgery on Thursday. Needless to say my actual birthday was kind of a drag. I decided I'd pep things up a bit and made my own birthday cake. Jeff made me dinner(in the microwave and served on paper plates) when he got home from work and then I got to take a long soak in the tub. Turned out the evening was rather nice!I wasn't the only one who went to the doctor last week. Rileigh Cait had her two month check up and her first round of shots. She is now 23in and 10lbs 13oz. She started out 19 1/4in and 7lb even! I'd say she's grown a little! 3 inches and 3(almost 4) pounds in two months! Jeff may have another basketball player on his hands! (have I ever mentioned I'm more into football and soccer) That's okay. I prayed my girls would be naturally tall and skinny. I just hope she doesn't out grow Declan. He's not short just average! I guess they'll be like Jake and Bailey.My littlest sooner!! I found this the other day after waking up from my post surgery nap. Jeff left the door open to be able to check on me. I had asked him to open the shade if I was going to be stuck in bed for a while, and I guess, Aidan thought I needed some company. Isn't it beautiful out the window! So green!

I'm never in pictures, so I had Jeff take some of me and the kids...can't tell who she belongs to can you! Getting one of the three older kids was a little hard to accomplish I had to catch Declan in order to get a picture with him. He was really too busy to stop. I love this picture! Aidan is always so serious when he has his picture taken. A little tickle was all it took! Rileigh decided to eat, so I just took one of her and Daddy! Poor Jeff was worn out after a couple of days of playing mommy.

Oh! they love each other...well...he loves her. She looks a little annoyed Yep, still annoyed My big kids! It seems like Edana should still be a baby and she's starting school this year! How did that happen? Aidan will finally get to go to preschool...we're both ready for that! He gets a little bored at home these days. I'm ready for him to have something to talk about besides superheros! This is Dec's new hang out. I think just because he can. Although, tonight I had to get him off the table you see in the back. He was trying to work on the lamp...

This is the result of mommy trying to lay on the couch instead of in my bed.He got his first ride on the lawn mower. He loved it! Now he really won't let dad go outside without him. I think he has pawpaw right where he wants him these days. Dec is at that fun stage where he is learning all kinds of words at once. I heard him in the dinning room this morning saying "smile" I came around the corner to see him trying to reach my camera. I got the camera and he grabbed Rileigh Cait's blanket and cheesed real big! I love my babies! They're a blast, but by the end of the day, I'm worn out! That said, I'm off to bed at 15min til 10:00! Goodnight!

Our Love Story

Six years ago today, I married the most amazing man ever. We had big dreams and a very young love. Six years later, our dreams are bigger than ever and our love is still young at heart! We really met for the first time on mother's day weekend in 2001. He is from Westville and his sister is the same age as me. So, when I walked into Car Mart that day, it was kind of like running into old friends. I remember telling Shelly I'd seen them, and she got all excited and told me he was a psychologist or something. At that point in my life, having a guy around was the last thing I wanted. We ran into each other a few more times and he ended up coming over to Fayetteville for some ministry classes dad was teaching at Trinity. That's when it all really started. Classes started in August and by the end of Sept we were "courting." "Courting" lasted all of two weeks before we were engaged. Yep, I said two weeks. Getting engaged that quickly may have been the most spontaneous thing Jeff has ever done. It was the best thing I've ever done, that is for sure!

We thought we had it all figured out. We'd be married two years before we started a family and we'd have all of our kids two years apart. HA! Two months into marital bliss, I decided Jeff needed to be a Daddy! He needed a little convincing. By the time we prayed about it we came to a drastic conclusion...deciding when to bring a life into the world was best left up to God, so we did. The rest is history. Six years of marriage and we've had four babies plus one miscarriage. Yes, we're crazy. People tell us all the time.

We've also taken some giant steps of faith in these six years. Like Jeff leaving that cushy job to go into the ministry only to end up unemployed for a while before taking a job at Dillard's. Talk about building your faith. What is really incredible is to look back on it all now and realize how much God was in control when it felt like no one was! It wasn't what we had planned, but we learned more in that time than we ever could have, if it had been an easy transition. If nothing we learned how to live on nothing to prepare us for making next to nothing in the ministry we ended up in!

Now we're up to it again. Next Saturday Jeff is taking the praxis tests to become a teacher. He is doing the Non-traditional Teaching Liscensure program and planning to teach high school English. He is one of the teachers at the ranch now. Hopefully with his education and experience and God's favor he'll be teaching in the fall. I don't doubt it all! I'm not sure how God is planning to use all this. I do know that Jeff and I will always feel called to minister to youth no matter what venue God chooses! We really serve an awesome God. While Jeff is working in the public schools, I believe it is time for me to start the book God has placed in my heart. Don't worry, you'll never know when it comes out...i plan to write under a pin name. I want God to get the glory for it all! Just like I hope he gets glory for everything else in Jeff and my life. He is such a great God! And he gave me an incredible man to share my life with. As I look back on these six years the only word that comes to mind is Blessed. I am so blessed! My life truly is abundant!

Spare time...what's that?

Oh my goodness! Its been forever since I blogged. I've been waiting for Shelly to blog only to realize that I haven't. Well, lets see. I've been chasing Dec, feeding Rileigh, and praying the rain will stop so the other two can go outside. Plus a little crafting on the side. (I did a couple of hat boxes anyway.)Now the yard is out of control, so tomorrow we're going to have to finally mow. (So much for Sunday being a day of rest. Although, I don't believe any mom has a day of rest...especially on Sunday.)Most importantly Rileigh was dedicated last Sunday!

Oh! I did start an excercise class. (I'll spare you any pictures of that.) A lady in our church has a ministry called W.O.W (Women's Overall Wellness) She does fitness classes three nights a week, will help you with your own nutrition needs, and its all for free. Its such an awesome ministry, and I think about half the women involved are from outside of the church. If you've been wanting to get in shape/heathly but didn't feel comfortable or couldn't afford a gym or need outside motivation, you should check her out. They meet at 5:30 on Mon, Wed, and Fri. Mondays are pilates, Wednesday is kickboxing, and Friday is weights and cardio. She's pretty intense, but I was actually pretty comfortable despite my lack of ability. There is so many different types of women that i didn't feel like the fat cow of the group. One woman in the group has dropped like 5 or 6 sizes since starting last August!

Rileigh Cait is growing like a weed and changing everyday. Declan can't wait to play with her, but for now, he'll have to stick to wrestling with Aidan. Edana will be enrolling in school next week. Wow! My baby is starting school! Edana and Aidan both had birthday parties to go to last weekend! Jeff is taking the praxis next Sat, and I'll be having surgery on Thursday. Mom and Dad's house is almost finished...I think. Hopefully that means we'll all have our own space before long. Really, I just miss my king size bed with its soft, velvety comforter. Life doesn't really have a chance to slow down around here. Of course, if it did, I'd go crazy from boredom!

Tuesday, Jeff and I had the chance to dress up like adults and enjoy a taste of culture. A friend of ours is graduating with his masters in music. He had his violin recital. It was so good I felt that I should share with everyone! (I had more, but it takes too long to download) We had a great time! Of course, we had to go to Wal-mart after. For some reason, we can't go out without a trip to Wal-mart...its a strange phenomenon.