A bunch of updates tied into one post... :)

WOW! So, I guess I haven't been on here since JULY... Has it really been THAT long?? I guess as you can see this summer has been pretty crazy busy... Well, where to begin??

THE GIRLS-
Serenity is now 4 years old! Yeah I still can't believe that one... No one told me a year in "mom time" was more like a week "real time". I still remember the day we brought that little girl into the world :) The last 4 years have been challenging, exhausting, sometimes infuriating, but all at the same time -by far- THE best and most meaningful 4 years of my life. We're currently homeschooling (not sure for how long), and she is amazingly smart (I may be a bit biased but that's ok) ;) She's pretty darn good at writing her name now, were learning all kinds of words in Spanish, a few things in Sign Language, Weather, Days, Months, Letter sounds and uses etc. She loves art and learning new Spanish words. Were also supplementing with a Faith curriculum which is great.

Now Destiny is 1 and a half (exactly in 11 days). Destiny LOVES to get into things, I don't think there's a moment she isn't thinking about getting into something that isn't hers to get into/climb on/throw away etc. :) But I love her just the same. She is talking so much now - especially in the last two days - we actually know what she is trying to say and she seems to understand us pretty well also :) which is AWESOME. Another adventure we've started - the POTTY training process! HAHAHA Ohh boy  - I feel like maybe she holds it until she gets off the potty.... LOL. Well actually she has gone in the big girl potty a few times now I think she  just forgets because if i catch her right before she goes potty and remind her she will go to the potty but if I don't it's like she forgets haha. As long as were out of diapers some day I'll be good ;)

I could go on forever about my girls so, on to the next thing haha.

Back in June I started this "Good Morning Girls" online bible study group with about 13 other women from all over the country world - we read "The Ministry Of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson together and did a corresponding bible study. I recommend this book to ANY and EVERY mom - yes it was THAT good. I am so happy to say - about 10 of us are going to continue through the Fall session together where we will be reading, discussing, and learning 1John. It's been a blast getting to know them over the last few months and I can't wait for this next session.

Through Sally I learned about a movie.. A movie called Dolphin Tale (Sally Clarkson's son is in this movie BTW) - It doesn't come out for another week and a half but I was lucky enough to get to see a free screening of the movie in a local theater! Of course I brought Serenity... yeah yeah yeah I too wondered if that was a good idea since it was not a cartoon lol so this next thing you're going to hear may shock you................... She LOVED IT! As did I of course. It was a great heart-warming movie (don't forget to bring a box of tissues haha). Click here to view the trailer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And last but definitely not least this summer I was chosen out of a select group of people to write a review about the Family_Time.Mine day planner from DotMine.

First off I want to make it clear that I have not been asked (or paid) to give any kind of opinion that is not solely my OWN.

After trying the Life_Time.Mine planner last year I was pretty hesitant to try another one out this year... I will just say that THAT particular one was not for me. So, the time came around again this year, they offered me a free planner if I agreed to write a blog containing my opinion (again). Well I am pleased to say, the Family_Time.Mine planner is one hundred and twelve times better (for me) than the Life_Time.Mine was. Maybe that's because I don't have much of a Life haha. Jk. lol.

The Family_Time.Mine is in my opinion - easier to use. It is spiral bound which means allot easier to flip to the page you need without the book closing on you (an issue with the last one not this one), and you can keep that page open allot easier as well.

It has a clever page for babysitter information (you can leave this page open for the baby sitter and it will display where you are, how to contact you, emergency numbers, notes, etc.)

A family business page (doctors numbers, neighbors, teachers, library, schools, take out numbers, etc)

A page for contacts

A "master planning guide" for each season, a monthly view and a week by week view (which allows more space for writing - LOTS of space)

A notes/lists space on each page that is perforated so it's easy to pull out and take with if needed. (also a place for sticky notes on those pages)

A large area for notes after every couple months.

A space above each page so you can write down what "family time" you have planned for the month.

and seriously SO much more- it is the only planner  I have used for longer than two weeks :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Now if you're even still reading this I will say there is more "news" to come.... We will have to save it for another post in the next couple weeks though so stay tuned :)