Happy Birthday Tate

Today my baby girl turned "5". I can't believe it! She started the day excited because her daddy took the day off work. She then had her first day of reading class which she loved! I love her eagerness to learn. We then took the whole gang for a picnic at Meyer park. We had a blast and Jake loved chasing the GOOSIES!!! After a rest at home we headed to the YMCA so Taylor and daddy could swim. To end the day we ate the most discusting dinner at 59 diner (but she loved it). There Jake had the runs and came running out of the restraunt butt naked. Daddy was close by and he had been sprayed so we headed home with the windows down. AHHH I love this crazy life!

Today she is celebrating at school with all her friends and her daddy is surprising her with lunch! She then is going to get her nails done with her granny (a birthday tradition). Tonight is the big party at the bounce house place and then we can go back to normal!

YEE HAW!!!!!

These pictures are HILARIOUS (at least to me). Taylor has Pony Day at school today. They get to ride the pony and have there picture made. She was so pumped!! This is her decked out in her cowgirl gear! She kept having me take her picture because she wanted to pose just right!

Praying for My Man

How many times do I pray a day and during my quiet time that I forget the most important person in my life: MY HUSBAND!!!! I get so caught up with my kids, myself and screaming for patience that at times he is overlooked. I realized he is the spiritual leader of this house and needs to be covered more than anybody especially in the work place today! So, my friend sent me this and I LOVED IT!!!! Enjoy!

Dear Lord, I pray for my husband, from head to toe.His Head -That he will look to You as Lord of his life. (1 Corinthians11:13) His Mind - That he will have the mind of Christ and think as the HolySpirit and not the flesh would lead him. (1 Corinthians 2:16) His Eyes -That You will keep his eyes from temptation and that he willturn his eyes from sin. (Matthew 6:13, Mark 9:47) His Ears - That he will hear Your still small voice instructing him. (1Kings 19:12, Psalm 32:8) His Mouth - That his words will be pleasing to You. (Proverbs 19:14) His Neck -That he will humble himself before You and be strong,courageous, and be careful to do everything written in Your Word so thathe will be prosperous and successful. (James 4:10, Joshua 1:8-9) His Heart-That he will love and trust You with his whole heart.(Deuteronomy 6;5, Proverbs 3:5) His Arms-That You will be his strength. (Psalm 73:26) His Hands-That he will enjoy the work of his hands and see it as a giftfrom You. (Ecclesiastes 3:13, 5:19) His feet - That You will order his steps and that he will walk in Yourtruth. (Proverbs 4:25, Psalm 26:3)

Potty Training

I HATE potty training!!! Taylor was so easy! Why Jake WHY?????????????

This is NOT a pretty story. Jake has been wanting to wear his big boy pants like daddy and Aaron (Kim's son) for days. He has been in pull ups and he stays dry for the most part. The catch is I have to take him regularly he will not go on his on and bribary has to be involved. He has only pooped once on the potty so I stressed to him he HAD to tell me when he needed to go (that has only happened once).

So, we are rocking along just peachy and Jake comes to cuddle with me when I get a whiff of him! OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I strategically try and get these things off without engulfing his feet in crap and look up to find Maci licking his butt!!!!!!!!! UGH!!!! I told you this wasn't a pretty story! I finally get Jake bathed and cleaned up and put to bed with a PULL UP on. No more big boy pants for you Jakey Boy!

I am cuddling up with Taylor and Maci watching the new Cinderella III, such a cute show, when I am rubbing maci and notice her hair is all matted together. I smell my hands and OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! I think maci had licked on Jake longer than I realized. So, I had to bathe the dog which I have done now twice since have had her. I hate bathing her. Anyway, I have come to realize I really am hating potty training Jake!!!!!! Any helpful hints for potty training a stubborn boy please leave in the comment section!

Sexyback

Alright, I first want to state that I will try harder to write in paragraphs for Cynthia!! She said I wrote like I talk when I go on a rant (isn't that hilarious and so true I never stop to breathe).

Back to the blog title SEXYBACK!!! Yes, from the Justin Timberlake song. I went to the gym to run for the second time this week YAHOO!!!! I have not been able to work out in 5 months and it felt so good. BUT, as I was huffing and puffing along on the eliptical my eyes were drawn to the women strutting around the gym. They all seemed to be about a size ZERO!!!!!!! UGH!!!!! I wanted to throw up! I stared at them shooting darts there way and looked at there hips, butts and thighs and let me tell you not one of them could have beared three children! And if they had I REALLY don't want to know about it!

So, as I am now really huffing and frustrated to boot Justin Timberlake's SEXYBACK comes on my ipod. I started cracking up out loud. Heck yeah I am bringing sexyback. As the lyrics proceeded to say "Dirty Babe", yeah that's me dirty from baby vomit, "get your sexy on" when did I last shower?? "look at those hips" heck yeah they brought three kids into the world!!! I started running harder and faster and would have really jammed out if the gym wasn't jam packed. So, ladies go to itunes and pull up this song TURN THIS UP and I want to see you shake those hips around your computer because there is NOTHING sexier than a woman who gives LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!! "You ready...."

Our Littlest Blessing

I am creating this blog to share with you all the roller coaster of now being a mommy of three. Caden Michael Bench made his arrival January 15th at 3:01PM. What a roller coaster ride this pregnancy has been. When God started pulling on my heart to have a third little puppy I had no idea what a ride he had in store for me. I really thought since I am trusting God and stepping out of "my plan" for my life and having another kiddo that I would have an easy breezy pregnancy! WRONG!!!!!!!! After pre-term laboring and the wonderful liver condition I became extememly mad at God. I even found myself not praying and not even able to cry out to him. I then called on my sweet sisters to intervene on my behalf, which they did and did it often. I really feel blessed to have such incredible Godly friends who when I would call ready to pull my hair out from all that itching would pray with me on the spot and talk me down out of my krazy state! I really am quite ashamed at my behavior but I realized God was big enough to handle me in my encrazed and itchy state! What I did not bargain for was the lessons I would learn through those months of anger and doubt. I found myself questioning whether God really did put it on my heart to have another baby and was he there hearing me scream at all. The answer to all those questions were a big fat YES!!!!!!! My sweet sister-in-law told me since you can't pray put on the praise music and let it surround your house and you know it worked (my sister-in-law is one of the wisest women I know and I admire and love her soooooooo much---especially since she is making me an aunt once again. I now have the great priviledge of praying for her and I can only hope I am as much of a comfort to her as she was to me). I finally found my heart surrendering and softening as the music would blare through the house. Everytime Jeremy Riddle's Sweet Surrendered came on tears would fill my eyes and I would hear myself slowly talking to God. I am sure he was shaking his head and sweetly crooning "it is about time my daughter". That song means so mcuh to me now. I blare it in the car daily and it was amazing Sunday was my first day back in church and they had time at the altar for praying and they started singing that song WOW!!!!!! I dropped to my knees and cried at all I had been through and am blessed to have. God is so good and his grace and forgiveness that I was in need of was so abundant. As soon as Caden was in my arms there was not a doubt in my head that God had indeed shouted at me to have another baby. He is my little man and the love I have for this little gift from God is indescribable!

So, not every blog will be that long but I want to be able to share this journey with you all. Thank you to all who prayed us through this pregnancy and prayed for me when I couldn't find the words or the desire. I may have left God but he NEVER left me and it is so awesome to be back in conversation with him and to know I am forgiven for my krazy behaivior. Am I sane now (was I before all this NO). To Kim, Shell and Cynthia you guys are my rocks and I would be so lost without you. Thanks for things only you guys would understand. Will I still call and rant and rave, uh YEAH! I wouldn't be me without my sudden outbursts from my alter ego!

I also need to give much love to the sweetest and cutest teammate around (yes honey that's you!). Michael was truly so supprotive and I am sure there was more than 100 different times he wanted to trade me to a differnt team. But, he kept me and we have truly scored!!!!!!! Babe, I love you and can't beleive what God is doing in our lives and I am ecstatic to go on this journey with you and see what he has prpeared for us b/c I know it will be awesome...and to end this form a quote from my fav author Karen Kingsbury "...I thank God who for now has blessed me with these."