[words to live by]

I feel like this week has just been SO busy...and I am tired! Kids, both at school and at home, have been very draining.

I have pictures to upload, but Blogger is being a little stinker...will work more on that tonight.

Until then, I came across the following...and it was just what I needed. :)

Words to Live By

Do not undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.

It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Do not set your goals by what other people deem important.
Only God knows what is best for you.

Do not take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Do not let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past nor for the future.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Do not give up when you have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
It is fragile thread that binds us to each other.
Do not be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Do not shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.

Do not dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams is to be without hope.
To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Do not run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been,
but also where you are going.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

weekend

Friday evening...5:30ish

 

Saturday, 12:00 pm

Saturday, 4:30 pm (Valley West Mall, Des Moines)

(Those pictures are the epitome of Will...babbling and LOUD! Kind of looks like a little lion.)

Sunday, 5:00 pm

(Keatin is honestly a GREAT big sister...but every once in awhile, things are TOO quiet...and we find things like this.)

(His daddy's son.) :)

[saturday]

We had a nice Saturday...

Josh had to work until noon, so Keatin, Will, and I did some good playing in the morning.

Keatin is still loving on her dolls...

...and who doesn't love jumping on your bed when your mommy is changing the sheets??? Will had a blast trying to jump...or walk for that matter. :)

Saturday afternoon, we decided it was time to test out the snow and go sledding. We "tested" the baby sled inside first...Will was thinking he would like this sledding business...

...and I know he looks a bit unsure in this picture but let me tell you what, he LOVED it! I honestly had to drag him inside arching his back and crying after his poor little cheeks were freezing cold!

Keatin went down a few times, but she wasn't a huge fan.

And here is our sledding king! Being the mom...I, of course, thought this was too dangerous for Will to do by himself. Josh assured me he would be fine...this baby sled doesn't tip...and Will LOVED it! Not a lie when I say he went down the hill 5-7 times all by himself!

walkin' will

It is amazing what a few days can do when you are learning to walk!

This man is on the move...and Josh and I decided yesterday that we can "officially" say Will is walking. YIKES!

Josh, Keatin, and I were sitting at the kitchen table yesterday and Will was in the living room. I could hear him coming around the corner, down the hall...walking the whole way. It was a flashback to the first time I remember him CRAWLING around that same corner.

Sometimes I get that lump in my throat thinking about how fast my babies are getting "big"...but then I smile. :) I L-O-V-E being their mom. :)

getting close

The Barber residence will soon have 2 children walking around...ah! :)

blocks & bearcats

Happy Snowy Tuesday! Woke up to some snow this morning...it is probably only 2-3 inches, but this is the most we have had this winter.

Keatin and Will are still LOVING the blocks they got for Christmas from G & G Petersen. We spend lots of nights building things around Keatin, listening to Will cry while we make him wait, and then letting Will knock them all down with a smile on his face. :)

On Saturday morning, we headed to Maryville, MO to watch the Northwest Missouri State men's basketball game. Our good friend Ben is the head coach, and Josh has really been wanting to make a game. It is about a 3 hour trip...we had to make 2 quick stops on the way down, but the kids were AWESOME travelers. :) We were able to hang out and play with Ben's 2 sons, Peyton & Tate, and his wife Michelle for several hours before the game. At the game, the kids really did great as well...and the Bearcats won, so yipee!

Will was mesmerized by all the action - he loved it!

Keatin does not like going to games at Hilton, but she really liked the Bearcats game - much smaller arena...

Tate - right before he fell asleep and slept the whole game.

Peyton & Keatin. :)

Back at the McCollums - Will loved the boys' little chairs!

Sunday morning, we all headed to church - check out Josh and Peyton...TWINS!

It was a great trip - thanks to the McCollums for having us!

what is better...

...than reading a pink purse book with your big sister in a tent...

...or feeling happy enough to give a cheesy grin...

...or play peek-a-boo with your mama...

...or learning to eat yogurt like a big boy???

Ah - the simple things in life. :)