Music

Music...we love it. It is always playing, we are always downloading, you-tubing, singing, dancing. Not a day goes by that someone doesn't start singing a line from a musical, sing what they are saying, sing a question, or just talk about something musical. Paige and Carter will start singing choir songs -ones that Paige has sung that Carter is singing now, or *cough cough* songs that I sang in high school. Paige is playing the guitar, Mia is taking the piano and the boys are interested in both guitar and drums. Music makes our lives better. You can forget the troubles of the moment and sing and dance it away. Ginger called me tonight and what did we start talking about? Music. There was a song that reminded her of Paige. It is called Headphones by Britt Nicole. One of our favorite artists (there are many though)

She gave it her best She tried to fit in She tried to be cool

But she never could win

Her mom says she’s great

The kids think she’s weird

Honestly she wish she could disappear

Why you try, try to be like the rest of them

When you know there’s so much more within

There’s only one you

Here’s what ya’ gotta do Whoa, Whoa...

Anytime you feel alone, put on your headphones Love, love’s coming through your headphones Anytime you feel alone, put on your headphones Love, love’s coming through your headphones L-o-o-ove is coming through your headphones L-o-o-ove is coming through your headphones

It goes on to say, keep your head held high and dust off your shoulders. Music can give us all the ability to dust off our shoulders and move on :)

Some of my favorite memories with my kids are singing. The other night all four kids and I were in the bathroom singing something obnoxious (a song called to sing it to me-choir song) and each trying to sing louder than the other. It was so funny and would sound insane to someone from the outside, but TOTALLY normal for us. I am blessed with kids who love music as much as I do. ♥

The swings

The Baxter Children recieved a wonderful new addition to our yard this summer. TIRE SWINGS! Mia asked Papa for a tire swing, so he gathered all the materials and got one up. Very quickly they decided that one tire swing wasn't enough. So, Papa came out with two more tires and very quickly got the others up! He also put in what the kids call the "tarzan rope". I just smile when I see them out there swinging like monkeys. It has been hours of fun and just what every kid should have...a tire swing :)

Carter's swing

Kain on the "Tarzan" rope

the monkey's

a day...

to those who think that a stay at home mom doesn't work..hasn't been to my house. I spent a good 6 hours in the car today running all over this town. (drop off, pick up one-drop off, pick up another..repeat repeat repeat)When I say it out loud, my day..it is insane. But, I am thankful for my life, my kids, my family.

The "S" word (school=sick)

We were all so excited to get back to school, meet our new teachers, spend time with friends..and instead we got back to school, to meet all the sickness that school carries and to spend time in the doctors office. It started with just a little stuffed nose, turned into a sore throat, and a horrible cough. We have been to urgent care, and Dr. Jamieson's office. The kids are all on the 2nd round of antibiotics, this time a super strong one. Lysol is my friend, the bummer of it all is that I have gotten sick...really sick and can't seem to kick it and we all know, when mom feels sick NOTHING GETS DONE. My house is a tornado, the laundry is overflowing, I can't find anything. This certainly wasn't my plan for when the kids went back to school. I have so many projects unfinished that need to be worked on! I thought this would be the time! Grand scheme of life..not that big of a deal, but like I told the kids: "When you are sick, it totally stresses me out" I just want them happy and healthy. What more does a mom want? :)

Guitar

It is 3:45 in the AM!

I come out to switch the laundry...why am I doing laundry in the middle of the night? I can't sleep!....back to the story. I come out of my room, and the lovely and magnificent Paige is awake. I said "What are you doing?" She said "Listen to the song I just learned to play"

So we sat down in the front room and I heard my daughter play a song on her guitar-Heart of Worship, and there is a line in there that says "you search much deeper within, through the way things appear..you're looking in my heart" I came back into the room and thought what a blessing I have for a daughter. She loves the Lord. She is funny, sweet, kind. I look at her and see her heart. She is exactly the way she was created to be. I am overwhelmed with joy..not because I did something right..but because she is fearfully and wonderfully made.

California

Even though my pictures are gone, I did manage to get some from my parents, and I remembered I sent a picture I took of my kids on vacation to a friend. I was able to go through my sent messages and found it. This is the first day of vacation. We had a blast in the pool. The kids were pretending to be from HSM..it was quite comical.

Pictures

There are those moments you wish didn't happen.

The ones that make your heart hurt.

I had one of those this weekend. My laptop with all my pictures of the kids for the last 8 months is ruined. I feel like something was stolen from me...my kids experiencing life. We had so many fun things that have happened in the last 8 months. Birthdays, holidays, Paige's first band gig, two huge vacations to South Dakota and California.. and our everyday life..so many "firsts lost". I have looked at those pictures hundreds of times over the past months. Organizing them, planning scrap pages, picking ones to frame.. they are gone. I still see my kids in the pictures in my head, and I feel heartbroken. I know I will have thousands of other opportunities to take more pictures, but right now..

It is not enough.