Is anyone out there?

For the first time in about 7 months, I hopped onto my blog to catch up! I could promise as usual that I will be better about it, but who am I kidding! Life is always busy for us and about to get even busier in the next few months when 3 of our 4 littles head back to school, soccer season starts, the playschool will be in full swing for the school year and holidays and other sports will be taking up all of our time! I'm not sure anyone even reads or cares about this poor little dippy blog anyways, But, at least my kids can read it someday and see what we were doing during different phases!
This summer we have had lots of fun (although I wish we had time for more). Jasper and I both have BUSY jobs so our free time is limited. Add to that remodeling our house and it has sucked most of our time! We have had time to head to Reno for a short family trip,

                                 we made a day trip to Capitola to have a family day at the ocean

                 
                   We celebrated Father's Day with a day on the lake! Jasper's choice of course!

                                        The girls had their annual dance recital and did amazing!!

                                                   We made time for a little water park fun!!!

So many other things have gone on in 2013! Jasper started a new job in February and he absolutely loves it! Peyton played her first year of Farm softball and she had a blast! Reagan had her first year of tball. The girls continue to love both ballet and gymnastics. Peyton finished first grade and will soon be a second grader! Caiden is now 2 and SO full of life! He keeps us on our toes! As for me, I have been having a blast running the playschool, living my chaotic bliss and with the little free time I do have. I run. I finished 2 half marathons so far this year and hope to do at least 2 more in 2013, a few 5ks and "possibly" my first full marathon in December.....We will see how that goes!;)

In may, this handsome man and I also celebrated 8 years of wedded bliss! I love him so much more today than the day I married him. 

Here's a little look at what has been going on to our poor house to....

                                        And then the time came to put it all back together again....

We still have a long way to go and lots more to be done but it is coming along just as we dreamed it! We were up in the air on renting our little bitty house out and purchasing larger but it just didn't seem to be the right time for us right now. This house is where Jasper and I started life and I'm not ready to move on! So, maximizing space has been a must with 4 kids and 2 adults in a 3 bedroom house! Simple changes has made life even more organized for us and helps us all fit!:)) I am so thankful to be married to a man that can build a house from the ground up (or at least most of it and call on his handy subcontractors to do what he can't/doesn't want to;)) He has worked his usual 12-14 hour work days and then gets home and works on our house until 11-12 at night and gets up at 4:30 and does it all again. He's pretty much superman!

Well, although this post is very jumbled and only bits and pieces of our 2013, I'm glad I could finally sit down and share a bit! I hope that 2013 has been fabulous for all of our friends and family so far! Our first half was great and I am looking forward to an even better second half of 2013! Blessings to all and I will post more when I have some "free time" hahaha, wishful thinking!;)

Raising daughters

Lately I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be a mother to daughters. What is my job? What should I teach them? How can I be their role model? I remember 7 years ago at this time I was pregnant for the first time ever.Actually at this time 7 years ago, I was less that 2 weeks away from finding out if that little tiny creature inside me would be a boy or a girl. I remember the feeling as I laid down on that table and draped a sheet over my belly. I waited for the technician to come in and for my husband to come in. As I laid there, I really can think back now and realize that I had no idea what that defining moment would mean to my life. The technician and Jasper came in the room and after some routine measurements and checks and a little emptying of my bladder, we were able to see that that sweet baby growing and thriving inside my belly was most definitely a girl! I was over the moon. Every woman wants a daughter. We think we know what it will mean to raise a daughter. We think it will be a walk in the park. We think we will have all the answers and never fear a moment. At least I did. 7 years later, I realize, I was wrong. Being a mom of THREE beautiful daughters terrifies me.
Sometimes I think that I will not have the right answers at the right time for them. From time to time I worry that I will not have the ability to raise them with the God fearing, God loving spirit I want them to have. I worry peer pressure will make them cave. I think about the amount of times their hearts will be broken by friends, boys, teachers, family and others. I dread the fact that as much as I would like to shelter their sweet, innocent hearts form all hurt, negativity and struggles, I can't. What I have come to realize lately is that I don't have to. God will fill in the blanks that I can't. I know that what I can do is be a role model. I am pretty sure that until I became a mom 6 1/2 years ago, I didn't know what my goals and ambitions were. Now I do. Being a mom is what fills my heart and soul with joy and contentment. Knowing that I get the privilege of guiding these sweet children is my happiness  But raising daughters is hard. I do not fear raising my son near as much as my daughters. That may sound silly but I just know that as a mom, I have such a huge responsibility to my daughters.
Above all, I pray that I can raise them with class, dignity, self respect, respect for others, love and a God fearing/loving heart. The world today can be a harsh place. It's so tough for young women to know where they stand, which way to go and who to look up to. If I have one goal in life that is most important to me, it would be to lead my children in the way God wishes me to lead them . I pray I am doing an OK job and setting a good example of what a woman should be. Of course, I always have more work to do and I will always be a work in progress, just the way God created me to be. If it was easy and I never tripped, I wouldn't remember to turn to God for grace. His grace carries me through and keeps me reaching to always be better for my children. For my daughters. To help them be the Proverbs 31 women I want them to be. To help ME be the Proverbs 31 woman that I want to be.

These memories warm my heart and make me hopeful that I am the mom they need. The mother that God designed me to be.

Christmas 2012-Instagram overload!

I am ashamed to admit that I am awful about about having a camera with me. So my trusty old, cracked iPhone has to get the job done! We had a fabulous Christmas filled with God's blessings. Christmas is by far, my favorite holiday. Not that it is not great to celebrate Jesus every single day, but it is so magical and humbling to celebrate his birthday! Happy birthday Jesus and thank you God for giving me another Christmas with my amazing family. Life is short and health is a gift. I never want to take a single day for granted  Especially to be together, healthy and happy on Christmas! Here's a blurry look into our Christmas!

My whole world-the hunky man behind the camera;)

6 year olds take awesome pictures!

My biggest best friend

Ready for Christmas Eve service

Cookies for Santa, carrots for his reindeer and cheese for Santa Mouse!

Santa came!!!!

He left treats in the playschool too!

Christmas morning chaos!

Beautiful new hats from our neighbors!

Oroville bound for grandpa's house!

Great grandpa Warren and his mini me! I am so thankful the children get to spend the holidays with him!

                                                                Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!

Last night of our 25 Christmas books. Each year on the 1st of December the children pick one wrapped, Christmas book to unwrap, opening the last on Christmas night! Love creating this tradition for my babies.

It's been real 2012! On to a new year and new memories! Hello 2013!!!

Hope you all had a blessed Christmas and holiday season!

Love and hugs, The Warren Family

Being mommy for the week!

Running a playschool is amazing and I sure do love ALL of those littles with ALL my heart....BUT, each year I am blessed enough to close down from Christmas until after the 1st of the year. I used to feel guilty but then I realized how much I can truly say I earn and deserve this time with my children. And THEY deserve this time with me! Each day of their life, they share their home and their mommy with a room full of other children. I am with them but I am not REALLY with them until 5:30 pm. SO, this week has been full of horse back rides, sleeping in, cuddling on the couch, games galore, tea parties, time for long daytime baths instead of rushed ones at night, appreciating all of their little giggles more and watching them enjoy playing together as a family. What a blessing this time has been. Thankful that God gives me these moments to re center myself and remember what it's all about.
I am working on my New Year's resolution, and I can say that finding more balance and giving more of me to MY kids and my hubby is definitely included! What is on YOUR New Year's resolution?

Seriously-This poor blog!

I am so sad and ashamed that I only posted on this poor little blog FOUR times in 2012.:( What happened to me? I guess it could be due to the 4 kids 6 and under, the very busy playschool I own and run and keeping a household going!;)
Our life is busy and chaotic as ever! Jasper's job is demanding, mine even more so and then there are of course sports, friends and a busy toddler that keeps us going!! Peyton is now 6 1/2, she is in gymnastics, rejoining ballet after a 3 month break and will do a little cheerleading from January to March! Reagan is 4 and LOVES gymnastics and her ballet class. Jordyn is 3 and will be starting Gymnastics and ballet in January.  Caiden is 22 months and well, he's just BUSY!:)  I can barely believe that he will soon be two! For those that have asked, YES, I am in full blown baby withdraw mode BUT as of now we are still set on stopping at 4 littles!
For those readers that don't know, I run a large family child care home (I care for up to 14 kids each day). I have two assistants that make my life easier and I pretty much would be lost without them!:) Each day my life is full of chaos, laughter, messes, some tears and lots of memories being made! It is such a blessing to get up each day and spend my day with a room full of little people! It's even better that my own children are with me each and every day! I am blessed to get the time with them!
I wish I had more excitement to write for all of you but, things have kind of been the same old thing around here. We have been filling our December with Christmas crafts, Christmas music, talks about what Christmas is really about, a ride on the Polar Express (which was amazing) and hanging out with close friends! This weekend I will kick into holiday baking mode, finish last minute shopping and do our annual Christmas light tour complete with hot cocoa!:) I am hoping to be on here A LOT more in the future! So, as I have said before (and then disappeared for months on end) please don't give up on me!:) In 2013 I will find more balance and put myself first now and then which means giving myself more blogging time-maybe a new computer that actually works and doesn't freeze too!;)
I hope that everyone is enjoying their holidays and holding their babies tight! I know I have been holding mine a little tighter since last Friday's tragedy in Connecticut. If you are the praying kind, please say a prayer for all families and individuals hurting right now. Life is short, sometimes MUCH shorter than it should be. Enjoy the time you have! Love your babies, kiss your spouse, eat bad for you food sometimes, sneak some chocolate, dance in the rain, take chances and live life.
Here's JUST A FEW of my favs over the last few months! They are in no particular order. Just some randomness of our "Chaotic Bliss"

LIFE....

Sometimes, I just get the random need to "POST"...Those were the exact words that I just said to my husband as I sat down at the computer. My computer is old and slow, I am busy...oh so busy, I have a million things I should be doing BUT when a post comes to me I post and let all else go. It has been MONTHS since I posted on this blog. I bet my readers gave up all hope in me BUT, I promise, I am back!!! I can't Promise that I will have anything exciting to post, in fact I can't promise that it will not make you fall asleep. I can promise that it will be me. All of me.
I could back track and tell you all about the recent months. I could tell you that Caiden's first birthday made me cry and made me feel things I never felt. I could tell you that Peyton turned 6 and started first grade and broke my heart like it has never been broken. I could tell you that Reagan had preschool orientation and I felt sad instead of glad. I could also tell you that my sweet Jordyn is turning 3 in 3 short days and I am NOT taking it so well. I could tell you that my playschool is my dream come true and full of the most amazing children EVER!! I could also tell you that last May 28th my fantastic hubby and I celebrated 7 years of bliss....BUT I wont.;)
Instead I will just type. Type what is in my head. Type what I feel like saying in my "public diary".
I am so blessed. Blessed beyond my wildest dreams. Life is BUSY, FAST and EXHAUSTING for me. But it is what I always prayed for. I have 4 amazing children, a husband that loves me beyond what I deserve, friends that I know truly love me, a job (that although very hard) makes me excited to get up each day and a God that loves me so much more than I know.I am a mom, wife, child of God, playschool teacher, daughter, sister, teacher, team mom and so much more. However, what it comes down to, I am whatever God wants me to be. I never forget that it is God who has blessed me with everything in my life. If you are new to my blog you may not know that I am a God driven, God fearing woman but let me tell you I am!
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength-Philippians 4:13
On to life as it is now. Well, life is amazing! I have 4 sweet angels that light up my life!! Peyton 6 (going on 13) has the deepest brown eyes and a heart of gold! I'm pretty sure that she would give the shirt off her back to keep another warm! Reagan, oh sweet Reagan, my DIVA! A total girl through and through! Lipstick wearing, dancing, and pink all the way! Jordyn, my oh my Jordyn...She is actually what prompt me to post, so I will talk about her next. Then Caiden....I was told that a boy holds a special place in a mama's heart. Boy is it true, Definitely no more, no less than my girls but it is different. I feel like he can pierce me with those eyes and tell me what he feels by looking at me. I feel like he thinks that my hug can make all right in the world. He is needy, but I am ok with that. In fact, I'm not sure what I will do when he doesn't need me.
Then my Jordyn, well, what can I say? DO NOT get me wrong. Of course I do not love her more than my other three beauties BUT every child is different. I am struggling with her turning 3 in three days. In fact, I held her in my arms tonight, stared in those AMAZING BLUE EYES, and started to cry. It seems like just yesterday I sat on my faded old green olive love seat and held a stick in my hand with two lines. I was bawling, at the time not happy tears, because it was Christmas eve and there were TWO unexpected lines on a cheap test instead of ONE that we expected. I held a colicky three month old in my arms and a two year old was on my husband's lap as I broke the news. I had recently left my career and knew that my husbands was in jeopardy and a third baby was the last thing on our mind. THANKFULLY, GOD'S TIME IS BETTER THAN OUR TIME!! On the night we found out that our sweet Jordyn was on the way, it was Christmas Eve 2008, we went to Christmas Eve service at Hope Point and they spoke about Mary. They spoke about Jesus not being a part of her plan BUT God's plan and her trust in God. At that moment, I gave my life to God and trusted him to navigate me through this VERY rocky time.
On September 3rd 2009, a beautiful baby girl named Jordyn Sophia Warren was born to us. The biggest, BEST surprise gift of my life. Not a single day goes by that I do not thank the Lord for blessing our family with her! I am having very, very hard week this week. I feel like although Caiden is my youngest, Jordyn turning 3 ends an era. I feel sad, lost and hurt. She has been such a blessing to me. She is SO much like me that it is scary. She is a true gift from God and EVERY TIME I look in her eyes, she captivates me. I feel like God himself, stepped down from heaven and gave her those sweet eyes, SO,if I have seemed off this week, forgive me. I am an OVER THE TOP MOM. 100% I live for my children and my husband. Life is life and it goes on, BUT watching this unexpected miracle grow has filled my life and heart like I never expected! Thank you Lord for giving me this sweet family, my amazing friends, my hectic, prefect job and this beautiful life. All the glory to you Lord! So, although I will post more soon, this is a post to my sweet
Jordyn Sophia Warren! Thank you for being you beautiful girl! OCD, aggressive, talkative, emotional, loving, silly, all of the things that your mama is! I love you so much angel face!! Thank you for choosing me to be your mama!