One of my favorite moments of the year so far
The joy on their faces is priceless
Locks of love
The Edge of Normal book review
I have just finished reading Carla Norton’s The Edge of Normal. Carla Norton is a bestselling true crime author (Perfect Victim: The True Story of the Girl in the Box), and now she has released her debut mystery novel,The Edge of Normal. Already receiving critical raves and coveted “page-turner” status from Oprah.com, Carla’s novel is aSilence of the Lambs for a Gone Girl era, and it’s inspired by real-life kidnapping cases such as Jaycee Dugard and Elizabeth Smart.
This book will have you hooked from the first pages. It has a slow build that unveils layer after layer of the story with each chapter. It is a story of taking personal fear and turning into passionate heroism.
About The Edge of Normal: Reeve LeClaire looks like a typical 22-year-old girl, but she is anything but normal. Ten years ago, she was kidnapped and held captive for four years. After a lucky escape, she’s been rebuilding her life, thanks in large part to her therapist Dr. Ezra Lerner. When he asks Reeve to help mentor another girl rescued from a similar ordeal, the two bond very quickly. But the more Tilly confides in her, Reeve realizes she may not simply need to support this young survivor, but that she may be the only one who can protect her from a cunning predator who is still out there, watching her every move.
Twins twice
I’ve been trying to write this post now for several days trying to come up with the right words and most of them just feel inadequate. Not even quite sure how to process all the things going through my head and my heart at the same time so I’ll just do my best. Hopefully I’ll be able to stay better at the blog because I love looking back and reading all my posts that I’ve recorded of the girls growing over the years and milestones and exciting things in our life but at the same time having three kids definitely keeps me busy and limited on extra time to blog.
I’m sure that window will only get smaller now that we are going to be the parents of FIVE children.
Yes that’s correct five children. We have once again been surprised beyond belief that we are expecting twins for the second time. Thankfully this time around the twins are fraternal which greatly decreases our risk factor and we are praying that we will make it to the end of 36 weeks and have healthy babies that can come home from the hospital at the normal time instead of being in the nicu.
We have never imagined our family as big as it is growing. We always had a plan of having two children and that was it, but God always has a different plan it seems and it will be amazing I’m sure.
Twins at 10 weeks. Due this summer!! Guess I’ll have to change the name of my blog.
2nd Grade
Dearest Hayden–
Summer’s over, big girl. You were absolutely giddy with excitement in the days, OK weeks, leading up to this morning. I keep hoping to somehow bottle up the excitement and release a little each morning so that it continues, and I SO hope it does.
Prominent memories of the morning:
“Mom, I sat up so fast this morning when my alarm went off that I nearly fell straight out of the bunk bed. I was so excited because its the first day of school finally”
“So, Mom, you ARE staying the entire day with me right??? That’s what ‘room mom’ means, right???” (uh oh…thought you were going to freak out a little when you realized I wouldn’t, and I totally wasn’t prepared for your misunderstanding, but we worked it out and you were ready to go!)
“I already figured out what to say to the kids in my class ‘Hi, I’m Hayden, lets be friends, OK?!?!” (You are one of three new kids in your class and I know you will make great friends.)
You had a backpack in mind all summer and picked out an adorable one that was exactly what you were looking for. You wanted a tuna sandwich, with five cup salad and oreos for lunch and were so excited to use all your new things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2nd grade…wow. What an exciting year that awaits you little one. You aren’t so little anymore and each year it seems like you grow so much. You are starting at a new school this year and we couldn’t be more excited for you and with you. You have counted down the days and hours with such joy and I hope that joy continues all year long. God has such an amazing year ahead for you and we can’t wait to see all the things you accomplish and discover. 2nd grade was such a pivotal year for your Mama. That’s the year I met some of my best friends that are still with me today (Hello TARA!!!) and I even met your Dad that year! Oh the possibilities and friendships that await you. Open up that brain and your heart and I know that God will fill it with all that He has for you.
I love you BIG BIG BIG!!! (ok…there come the tears that I’ve been holding back) It’s pretty quiet around here….your sisters are playing their hearts out together and I’m figuring out how to spend my time waiting to pick you up and hear all your stories.
Preslyn and Ella are here now and say :
E–Hope you do good and don’t get on red. (Ella prayed such a good prayer, thanking God for the right teacher. It was the sweetest prayer and nearly choked me up to hear.)
{E-H-P}
P–Hope you do good and on your spelling test and have great learning.
Knock it out of the park, kiddo! We’re all rootin’ for ya!
Summer ’13 Favorites
- Stella Dot On the mark necklace in gold
Layered with other necklaces or worn solo. This necklace is lightweight and goes with everything. Lately, I’m digging anything with arrows on it. 
- Thermos Intak Hydtration Bottle
I love that you can keep track of how many times you have refilled your bottle with a rotating intake meter. Gotta stay hydrated in this hot Texas heatwave!
- Kind Bars Almond & Coconut
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4 pack love & beauty lipgloss by forever21.
I snagged these at the checkout a while back and love the feel of them and the colors are subtle and each different! The light pink and the goldy peach or my faves!
- nude/gold toes
- chambray button down shirt–throw it over a tank/wear it with leggings/or solo paired with neon pants
- Ulta Bronzer–keeping it simple this summer with minimal makeup and no foundation
- Sparkle Eyeliner–to glam it up go with a classic black with sparkle in it like Rimmel’s Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner in Sparkling Black
- Kimchi Blue Fatale Skimmer by Urban Outfitters
These shoes are my go-to this summer. They look great with cutoffs, rolled up jeans, or cute skirts. Finally an alternative to sandals and flip-flops that are very feminine but also edgy. I have gotten so many compliments on these. The piping is gold which of course ties in all my gold accessories and looks great with my summer tan!
Summer Tunes
one republic/of monsters and men/Disney’s shake it up (for my mini’s)/ellie goulding
What are some of your summer favorites?? Leave a link in the comments.
Fun mail
Today I received a package that I have been waiting for since Christmas. Ok, so I didn’t order it at Christmas but I received money to order this for Christmas but I waited until recently when the new designs were released and I wanted to do an Aug-July calendar for the school year.
I chose the life planner from erincondren.com. If you haven’t heard about this website or Erin then you need to go now and check it out. Her website is PACKED full of goodies to keep your life streamlined in every area. They have fitness planners, meal planners, gift wrapping, pens, markers, ah the list goes on and on. Everything is custom to your selections and you can’t go wrong with any of her designs.
I’m looking forward to filling up my book with all of our upcoming events and staying organized and stress-free this year. THANK YOU’s to my cousin Allie and my friend Elizabeth for showing me this amazing product!
I recommend
I just finished an amazing book. The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier. It had all of the essentials: love, loss, friendship, grief and then a discovery of a friend that was never completely known. The story chronicles a woman reading through the journals left to her by her best friend after her death, and discovering an entirely different person that she had never really understood or known. That may sound morbid, but from the first chapter I was totally engrossed. It is heart wrenching and heartwarming at the same time.
Mostly I came away feeling encouraged to journal more. To leave a written legacy for those I would leave behind one day. I have dealt with so much loss during the last several year
s and memories are one thing but having something tangible to remind yourself of that persons voice is so precious.
Captured
This morning I asked Hayden to read our devotion at breakfast. She was so excited about what she read that she read it three times.
“Open up your heart and mind to receive more and more and more of Me. And as you do, I will pour in my blessings of Love, Peace, and Joy– until you are overflowing.” Jesus calling for kids devotional
Munchkin approved oatmeal
I have the hardest time with oatmeal. I know it is good for me but in order for it to be truly healthy, the taste is pretty bland and never enticing. I will eat it because I know it’s good for me, but telling that to my kiddos is another thing!
This morning we were out of milk and running low on time. Instead of eggs I decided I would try oatmeal again for them. They were less than thrilled but I promised them a buffet of toppings.
They were really excited when I told them they could have a sprinkle of brown sugar, a swirl of pure maple syrup and all the fruit they wanted. They piled on the grapes, strawberries and blueberries and then a handful of pecans.
It was the fastest consumption of oatmeal I have ever witnessed. Mission accomplished!!!
They were also really excited to share with the blogosphere there newfound love. They are anxious to see if any of you have the same reaction. Leave your comments!!!
This is my norm 