Mess!

What's going on here with the Barton family??  One word...

MESS!

Our house is a total mess while we've been getting rid of clutter and packing boxes galore, all with the help of my sweet 3-yr-old "slave-driver", who insists that all of the packing be done today!  {I think Daddy must have put her up to that one...just kidding}

My brain is a total mess as I've been juggling to keep all of our "ducks in a row" with the two upcoming house closings, moving, transferring everything, and maintaining the normal routines, as well.

My kids are a total mess {but not in the dirty sense, at least that I'm aware of} - overly excited about seeing their Pawpaw Tim this weekend, Mimi next week, and lots of fun adventures and changes after the 4th of July.

My point, you ask? 

With our current     MESS please understand that our beloved family blog, photography blog, twitter, facebook, and anything else you use to keep up with us will be severely neglected over the next couple of weeks.  I'll do my best to keep you updated at least a little bit, but know that all of the silence will return to you full-fold, as soon as I get our computer hooked up at our new house {which is most definitely first on my "move-in" list of to-do's}.

Imagination at Work

While I cleaned, organized, and packed some yesterday, Katie played quietly inside with a few *items* she found from my large piles of attic junk stuff.  Here's what I came inside to find...

I'm not exactly sure she and I have the same "taste", but I'm sure she has the makings of a top-notch interior designer!  And here's the proud artist posing beside her...artwork.

I just love seeing her little imagination at work...even with odd objects that I would never think to put together as "play" items.  :-)

Not Me! Monday

When told to go to quiet time (aka room time instead of nap time), my daughter did not respond, "I really need to rest to get my energy back for later."  What 3 year old says that?? LOL

I have not tried to hide shoes from Austin this past week...he's found a new "favorite" pair, and they really really aren't Mom's favorite {grin}, but no fear...he always finds them just in time to go somewhere with me.

My two beach bum kids did not try, love and beg for more crawfish, shrimp, crab claws, and catfish on our recent mini-vacation.  Note to self:  Next time order a LARGE basket of crab claws if Mommy wants to enjoy any ;-)

After a short hiatus, my sweet girl is not rekindling her love for dress-up clothes and jewelry.  Each morning, we now have to take several minutes to coordinate clothes to match her chosen necklace, bracelet, ring, and shoes, and I wouldn't change it for the world!  {grin}

We are not leaving in just a few hours to begin house-hunting in our soon-to-be new home, in the northern part of the state, so be forewarned...posts may be a little scarce this week!

Flashlight & Baby Steps

While on the beach last weekend, we splurged and purchased both kids their very own flashlight to use as we searched for crabs in the late, dark evenings.  Though, I'm sure it is possible to crab-hunt without a flashlight, it gave at least a little comfort knowing where you were about to step.  After a few minutes of crab-hunting, Austin was tired of the whole flashlight thing, and I was given his little light.  So, I began to shine it in front of my feet as I walked.  Though the light did help me to see, I could see no more than one step ahead of where I was.  I couldn't see 5 feet ahead to prepare for large holes approaching, crabs burrowed in the sand ahead, or broken shells that could be stepped on.  All I knew was that the next baby step taken was O.K. to make...that for one more step, my feet would be safe from all possible unknown dangers. 

God has brought this back to mind constantly over the past week, as I have daily had to put aside my desire for control, or the illusion of control in my family's life.  Has God ever failed to provide the needs of my family?  NO.  Have I ever, in hindsight, see that God's plan was not the best for us?  NO.  Do I trust that God will take care of all of the details we're currently dealing with while selling, moving, and everything else involved?  YES...and no.  You see, until now, I've trusted God to guide us, provide for us, and use us for His glory, but I've always had some sort of illusion of control that in my human mind could be used to fall back on, "just in case".  What faith is that?  Not very good faith...

God has been and is continuing to use our current situations to teach me what it really  means to have true faith, complete trust in Him and Him alone.  He doesn't always show us where we'll be in 5 years, 5 months, or even 5 days, but He does provide for us as we need it.  My human "want-to-be-in-control" type nature begs for a spotlight to be shown on the road ahead of our family...what choices we'll need to make...how they will work out, etc.  But, my loving God is answering with a small, child-sized flashlight that shows me one tiny baby step that He has directed for us to take in faith, knowing that He will continue to provide each babystep of the way.  And that's hard!  But you know what?  It feels great, too!  I want my faith to grow...I want to sincerely trust Him with every detail, big or small, in my life, and know without a shadow of a doubt that He will do what's best for us...every time.

Beach Bums...

As a mom, photographer, and lover of pictures, I should have tons of pictures to show you from our mini beach vacation last weekend.  But all I can say is BEACH BUM! 

We all enjoyed the beach...the ocean, the sand, the seafood, the pool, the hot tub, the "she-shells", and the wonderful family time.  We all kept a head full of sand, because of Austin's sand-throwing skills.  We all played, laughed, and played some more.  We all stayed hot, smelly, and wet.  We all laughed as we watched Katie make "snow angels" in the sand.  We all sat amazed at the amount of crab claws, crawfish, and shrimp our two kiddos ate enhaled!  We all enjoyed being complete BEACH BUMS!  And, because we all enjoyed being such bums together, I took very few pictures {sorry}...but the fun time with each other was definitely worth the sacrafice!

But, Mark saved us by taking some pictures of us while we were out at the beach, bumming...ENJOY!

Katie and Mommy - searching for the really good "she-shells" for our sand castle

Katie "decorating" her sand castle with shells

Austin showing Mommy the "booaaat" {one of his new words from our trip}

The boat he saw...{good eyes, for a toddler, huh?}

Quick family shot while we enjoyed the clear ocean!

{Note:  Katie jumped up every time she felt the waves, as you can see.}

We had a wonderful beach bumming vacation with our kids and parents! 

Out of the Mouth...

Here's a few things I've heard myself saying lately...

You did see a rhino at the zoo the other day, but it wasn't a red rhino like in your book because rhinos aren't supposed to be red.  I know they made it red in your book, but that is just a book and is not real.  They like to make things colorful in books.  I'm sorry that you can't see a real red rhino, but maybe you could look for a real red bird or something else.

No, I do not want you bathe your brother.  Mommy will take care of that.  He does not want you to touch him either.   And, please stop dumping the water over his head.  You don't like it and neither does he.  Enjoy your bath and keep your hands to yourself please.  Thank you!

I don't know why there is a donkey living with those cows.  I suppose they liked keeping both animals, so they let them all enjoy the grass together.  That's not it?  Oh!  The cows are watching the donkey while they look for his family?  Oh, that makes sense...perhaps they will find the other donkey family soon.

Would you both please quit saying "uh-oh"?!  I know the commercials are playing instead of the movie...I know this isn't what you chose to watch...but i know your movie will be on in a moment.  Please stop saying "uh-oh" over and over and over again while I'm driving!

Please stop using the horse to hit your sister...or the floor...or the tv...or the wall.  You either ride the horse the right way, or the horse will go away for a very long time.

Stop hitting yourself!  Why?  Because it's showing anger the wrong way...it hurts yourself...and I don't like to see you do it.  We don't hit anyone...not even ourselves!

Did you enjoy that?  If so, hope on over to MckMama's place to find more "Out of the Mouth" posts!

Wordless Wednesday