The Williams Six

Caleb asked me if we could do a scavenger hunt today. Caleb calls it a "pirate treasure hunt". This is the first time we've done that since moving into our new house. Chloe wanted to play outside after, so I made the last clue to the mailbox (I needed to get the mail anyway). This is no lie.... Caleb opened the mailbox and there was a package addressed to "Pirate Caleb Williams". My mom had sent him a pirate shirt. She's fun and addressed it cute! What would be the chances that the first time we did a pirate treasure hunt in months, there would be a pirate package waiting for him at the end. I called my mom to tell her thanks and share this story. She said she had the shirt ready to mail for two weeks. I love coincidences like this!! Makes life so fun!! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

"Today is a great day to skip school." - Caleb If you know anything about my school attendance record, you will know the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I could always find a reason to skip school. Ha! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

If you have been reading my blog long, you know I shamelessly brag about my children. I know its a completely unattractive trait, but I adore them so much that I can't help it. They are all so different yet so amazing and wonderful. My sweet baby is so awesome. Barely a day goes by that someone doesn't say to me "I just love him. He is so cute." Luke has the most infectious personality for a kid his age, whose only word is "ball". People just love him. He makes the most hilarious faces. Luke is such a snuggler. He loves to be held, and when you pick him up, he hugs you and lays his head on your shoulder. He does this to everyone, but people are always so flattered by it and love it. I call Luke a caveman because he is fearless. He climbs on everything and jumps off everything. He is seriously so great. Luke truly carries so much favor. He knows how to get what he wants. When he wants something, he points and occasionally screams. Without ta...

I have talked about our bedtime routines before. I love nightly tuck-ins. Even when I am exhausted, spending those few minutes with my kids is the best. Brett and i spend a considerable amount of time on the bedtime routine (most nights). After we say goodnight, Luke falls asleep pretty quickly. Caleb and Chloe each play in their respective rooms for awhile. When Caleb is ready to get into bed, he always asks me to come into scratch his back and snuggle with him. And I do it. Because I know the days are numbered where he will want me to do this, so I am soaking up every minute of it! I don't stay in their long, but it is in those moments that Caleb is the most open about what's on his heart. I absolutely love it!!

Chloe calls a ponytail a "hair pony". I think it's so cute that I don't correct her. She has started wearing pigtails more often, which I think are so cute! (as I write this, I realize how goofy the actual names are....pigtails and ponytails!) - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

How am I supposed to not die laughing when she struts out of her room?? In case you can't tell, those are tights, not pants. With yellow heels. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

To say I adore this boy is the understatement of the century.... - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Playing outside by the pool today, Caleb had me rolling laughing (not on purpose)!! "I wish I lived with God. He would listen to me and give me my clothes." "You're meaner than a giant who crushes little kids." Both of these were because I wouldn't get his clothes for him! He also said he "booty stooled" the chair (he actually had a towel on so the chair is fine). This term dates back to when Brett played football. If a guy would sit on a stool naked, it was declared a booty stool and no one else would sit on it ever. We've adopted the term to prevent our kids from sitting naked.....hahaha! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

We are about one month into homeschooling, and I love it! I was unsure how it would go, but so far, so good. I am so thankful for the opportunity to teach my son! I know it is not for everyone, but it definitely is a good fit for our family. Just to look back one day (and laugh at myself), I thought I'd share what my thoughts on homeschooling so far. The positives: - I still get lots of quality time with Caleb - Chloe is interested in learning along with Caleb (though I don't let her do everything because I want to keep it special) - It is so awesome watching Caleb learn - I am learning things I never knew (yes, even in Kindergarten). I was a good student, but I only learned to test well....this time around, I am actually learning! - Our school day starts about 9:30, so no getting up early for me (yay!). We are usually up by 7:45, but we don't have to rush out the door - I love the freedom - Because it is one-on-one with Caleb, it is a good time of growth for both of...

I snuck in to take pictures of my kids to remember how they slept through the years. This is what I found. Caleb Luke (with pjs that don't match) And.....Chloe.....the queen of bedtime antics I laughed for two days straight. I am impressed with her creativity. And taking bets on when she'll get her first tattoo :).

I cannot say enough how thankful I am to have a pool. I love to swim, and my kids love to swim! I am surprised how little it has effected our water/electric bill. I snapped some fun pictures while my kids were playing last week.... This boy is such a joy...he makes me smile.... Trying to get a good picture of my three cuties, but they weren't so into it (can you tell? haha) Luke gave up on the group pic Caleb can swim without floaties, but when he jumps in, he likes to wear them! This was taken after a cannonball.

To celebrate Chloe's 4th birthday, she requested a "ballet-er" party. She uses balleter regularly in lieu of ballerina. Miss Brittany is the best dance teacher ever! Chloe took her classes last year, and she absolutely adores Miss Brittany! Chloe was VERY excited when she found out Brittany would be leading the girls in a dance lesson. At the end, they performed a dance. The focus of the party was the sweet girls, but the brothers got to swim (the girls swam after). The girls requested a water break....hahaha.... I am heartbroken...I video recorded the dance, but my camera was on the wrong setting and did not record correctly. It was the cutest dance! Chloe was the last one to sit down at the end of the dance (not on purpose)....soaking up the birthday attention :). The girls are all absolutely adorable, and I was so impressed with how well they all participated. Afterward, we enjoyed lunch, then birthday cake and gifts, of course! (Chloe asked to open gifts f...

Hi, it's me. The girl who used to blog here. My days have been full. My heart is even fuller. God is blowing me away with His goodness. I've made a few new friends lately, and that makes my heart very happy. I have consciously been cutting back on social media.....because no one is more important than my children (except my husband who I talk to face to face). Lately, I have been really aware of how fast the days are passing. My kids are amazing little creatures. They're learning. They're absorbing this world. But, wow, the days are going too fast. They're going to be in college soon, you know. :) Part of me wants my kids to stay little forever (that's about 95% of me)....the other part of me is really excited to see the amazing people they're going to become. But that entails growing up and moving out :(. Homeschooling is going great. I am struggling to not make it like traditional school, and I am having a hard time balancing our social life with ...

Chloe celebrated her 4th birthday today! It was an absolute blast, and I will blog more on that later. Partway through her party, Chloe got mad.....she was mad that we made her blow out her candles before opening her present. I know, how dare we do that to her! I snapped this picture.... And sent it to my parents, with the caption, "Does this remind you of anyone??" My dad called....dying laughing. Last time my parents visited, the left this picture for me to get framed for them and take to their Keys house: This was my official face of my childhood. I pouted A LOT. I was very stubborn and hated not getting my way (Brett would argue I haven't changed...haha). My dad asked me to make this He said, "It will be funny to have the pictures side by side. Then when Chloe has a daughter, you can put a similar picture of her." He totally proved my theory that one of the highlights of parenting has to be when you see your child raising themselves. All of the antics ...

A few weeks ago, we went on a double date with our best friends (to talk about the direction of our ministry). After dinner, we went to a fun cupcake shop! Ty and Clay have been our friends for almost 10 years. They were campus ministers when Brett and I were in college (though they aren't much older than us). We have known them longer than we've known each other. They mentored us (individually) during college and have since become our closest friends. I am so happy we live close to them again!!

My friend, Abigail , took this picture for me. I love it. I have only been a teacher for a few weeks, and I've already received a great award LOL

These are all repeats from Facebook: Two days ago, Brett was giving the kids baths. Across the house I hear, "Daddy, I am NOT going to marry you." Apparently Chloe didn't like having to get out and that was a serious threat. _________________ Last week, as I was teaching Caleb, Chloe walked into the school room (fully dressed with a backpack) and declared, "Sorry I'm late!" As if we were waiting for her to begin. _________________ While sitting on Brett's shoulders the other day, Chloe said, "I can see the whole world from here." (I have jumped on his back before, and it is crazy how different your perspective is when you're a foot higher.) _________________

In early August, I kinda felt in a rut. We had nothing going on, Brett was working long days at football camps, and school hadn't started. When I have long stretches of not much to do, I feel blah. I am a doer, so when there is not a whole lot to do (and it's too hot to be outside unless you're swimming), I feel bored. Clearly, there is plenty for me to do during the day...but mundane chores are not fulfilling. Since late August, life has been on fast forward....crazy!! Caleb's school is not that involved (about an hour a day), but it has changed our whole schedule. Usually, in the late afternoons, we play around the house and don't do much....but now that we are schooling in the mornings, I have started running errands in the late afternoon. We also sometimes play with friends in the afternoon. Additionally, the Labor Day weekend threw me off. My parents gifted us with SCUBA diving lessons to get certified in the Keys. We had to take an online course tha...

I finally figured out why Chloe has had such a hard time with potty training. She informed me tonight that her pee doesn't like toilets. It prefers beds. So it's not her fault. Her pee has an opinion that matters.