summer fun

I can definitely say that although it is incredibly hot outside, I can tolerate the heat way better than when I was seven and eight months pregnant. Now I can actually enjoy playing outside with the kids.

Embracing the camera:

And some more pictures of my kids:

Happy Father's day1

So I was going to write a super long father's day post yesterday, you know, on fathers day, but then I got sidetracked. We ended up going to bed at like 10, cause we were both so tired. Then I woke up this morning, fresh and ready to write a brilliant post, and happened to glance at my sister's blog, (big mistake), and realized that she literally stole the thoughts from my head. So I ditto everything she said.

But seriously, my dad is awesome. Growing up people were always like: "it must be so hard to be a pastor's kid, I'm so sorry." And I was like "um, it's awesome! I don't know what you're talking about!" (btw I know I use "like" a lot when I'm writing. Don't judge) Anywho, I always thought it was awesome being a preacher's kid. I still do. Your dad could probably beat up my dad, but my dad knows the whole bible by heart! And boom goes the dynamite!!

I have come to realize now, though, that the reason I have always loved being a pastor's kid is because growing up I never heard either of my parents say this: "you need to behave, because I'm the pastor, and what will the congregation think of me if they see you act like this!" In fact, my dad never acted like he cared about what the congregation thought of his kids. It was almost as if it didn't matter what other people thought... as it his security rested in something other than the opinion of others... weird, right?

That's because, as Katie said so well in her post, my dad believes the gospel. Like really believes it. And he lives it, and shows it daily to his family. And teaches it to his family. I love being a pastor's kid because what my dad preached from the pulpit he modeled in his daily life. I love the fact that when he preaches, and he starts talking about the gospel, he literally starts crying. This used to embarrass the crap out of me, I was all like "come on dad, pull yourself together!", but now I see that this emotion comes from a place of deep understanding of the love that God has for us.

Anyways, I love you dad! You are an amazing father!

The other day I came across these picture, and three things instantly jumped out at me. 

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1. I look rough. I know I know... I literally just pushed out a baby, but still.... 

2. Am I seriously nursing my baby, smiling for the camera, and helping coral my other children a mere few hours after giving birth? I'm not going to lie, I'm kind of impressed by myself right now. 

3. Elias looks like such a baby (I mean this literally, not in the omg you're such a baby way)! I looked at this picture and I was shocked by how young he looks right here.... And that's because he was young! No wonder I don't really remember the first couple of months after elana was born!

New Kitchen

So my mom came to visit me this weekend, so naturally we had to paint something.

Here is my kitchen, all made over:

So the color looks different in every picture.... darn lighting.