Bringing in the New Year

First night in a hotel room

Sleeping crazy


We were invited to a fabulous New Year's Eve party, complete with fancy clothes and dancing. This was the 2nd year our friends have thrown this party...and it is a blast! We were all set to go, picking out our outfits, and arranging childcare...when our friends Keith and Barie invited our family to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. They had 6 free passes for our family to use. Feeling unusually spontaneous, we agreed to go, booked a hotel room, and loaded up the kids...well, minus Evan. We thought she might make the trip a little more hectic than it needed to be. :) We had so much fun. Keith and Barie have 4 children as well, and all of our kids are sweet friends. It was pretty chilly, but our kids were good sports. We kept them out until midnight, with few meltdowns. We only lost 2 kids that day....2 out of 7 isn't bad. :) They lost their youngest, and we lost our oldest....oh, the adventures we had. We brought in the new year together and after that the kids quickly sacked out. I neglected to take pictures at the park, and Barie's didn't turn out that well...so this is what I have...a few pictures from our hotel room. This was the first time we have stayed in a hotel room with our kids. I had to get tips from Barie on sleeping arrangements. But they all did great! We're ready for our next adventure!

Adding to the Tribe

This is not my actual test, but it looked just like this...for those of you still buying expensive pregnancy tests...do yourselves a favor, and hit up Dollar Tree for $1 pregnancy tests. They are cheap and accurate. I found out I was pregnant with all 5 kids using Dollar Tree tests...just sayin.

For those of you that don't know yet, we got exciting news a few days before Christmas. We are adding a member to the tribe! Baby #5 is due at the end of August!! We are so thrilled and thankful. We told the kids on Christmas morning, and they were super excited. We didn't tell people we were pregnant until about week 10...and they found out at like 4 1/2 weeks. All four of them did such a great job of keeping our secret. They did not slip once. We told our families at Christmas and swore them to secrecy as well....however, they did not do such a great job keeping it quiet. Our 4 little munchkins might need to give some lessons in discretion to the older family members. :) The kids are pretty convinced it's a boy...but I think it's just wishful thinking. I, on the other hand have NO idea. I knew all 3 girls were girls...but this one, is tripping me up. We'll find out in a few weeks, and I can hardly wait. We have names just waiting to be used.

Merry Christmas from the Tribe

Christmas tree pictures are so much work....really. I had to take so many to get this shot...and they all look a little goofy. Grier's fake smile is too much in this picture. This group is a mess. We had a wonderful Christmas...sweet, simple, peaceful, focused on Jesus....well, as much as you can be with kids this age. :) It was so special.

Totally Backtracking

Little Bumblebee

Little Ladybug

3 Bugs and a Doctor

Love this little bunch


I totally recognize that it's the very end of February and I'm posting Halloween pictures....and for that I'm a little ashamed. I don't know how they slipped past me....but I couldn't go without ever documenting these cutie patooties. I tried my hand at making the girls costumes this year, a butterfly, a ladybug, and a bumblebee. Although, everybody thought they were all ladybugs. Oh well. Aiden wanted to be a doctor, and isn't he the cutest doctor you've ever seen?? I love these kiddos.

The Birthday Girl

Not loving the singing

Icing makes everything better

Happy 2nd Birthday my little Evie (In December)! It has been such a fun year watching you conquer so many firsts. You are a force to be reckoned with little lady. You are full of life, full of spunk and adventure, so friendly, and a blessing to be around. Your smile is infectious, and those dimples are impossible to resist. You make everyone feel special with your fun and outgoing personality. Daddy and I have so much fun with you. You have challenged us in a way that the other kids have not...you have climbed out of your crib...a first for the Magee household. You jump off of furniture as if you have wings...which is a no-no, by the way. You think you're 2 going on 15, with your incredible confidence in things that you obviously can't do. What would we do without you? We would laugh less...that's for sure. We love you so much and are so thankful you are a part of our family! Happy Birthday Monkey!

Salt Dough Ornaments

We made salt dough ornaments during the holidays. The kids love using cookie cutters. :) They decorated them and we attached them to their teacher's bags of cake pops. They were so sweet. We have about 15 left over and I can't figure out what to do with ALL of them. I put a few on the tree...but 15? Wow.

Family Pictures

***Lots of pictures!

My sweet friend Susan agreed to take pictures of our family for Christmas card pictures. She is so talented and was willing to give up some of her family time on a Saturday and travel out to our neck of the woods. She was great! She was patient and fun, and it helps that she knows and loves my kids. They felt comfortable with her, which was awesome. However, naps went badly that day. Grier did not take a nap at all, and Evan finally fell asleep 30 minutes before picture time. It was a rough start...not to mention this crazy windy cold front came in while we were taking pictures. Brrr! Overall the kids did great...but it was touch and go with Evan. :) Family pictures totally stress me out...which is probably why we don't have very many. These turned out great though! Thanks Susan!

Cake Pops

I made cake balls on sticks, "cake pops" for the kids teachers at their fine arts school, and for their teachers at church for Christmas. They were so fun to make and turned out so pretty. They were a big hit and I think they might just be my new "thing".

Right of Passage

Look at that big boy eating his first turkey leg. I was so proud.

Messiest Magee

Just a Saturday morning with a doughnut. What in the world?!


Let me just start out by saying that I love this little girl to pieces. She's pure sunshine...always ready to smile, laugh, and have a good time. However, she is by far the messiest, grossest baby that I have ever delivered. There is nothing lady like about this little lady. She shoves huge pieces of food in her mouth, runs her messy hands in her hair, and seems to stain clothes daily. Most of the clothes she wears have gone through AT LEAST 2 other girls, most of the time more...because of fabulous friends with "hand me downs"....BUT somehow Evan has managed to ruin clothes that others have not. I've actually had to throw things out that she has worn only a few times. I'm keeping "Shout" in business, I tell ya. She's a mess. We all tell her that daily, and she just laughs.

Advent

Advent starts tomorrow with the 1st of December. I follow this gal's blog, and have decided to use her advent ideas this year with the kids. I just wanted to post it quickly so that you too could enjoy some neat Christ centered activities with your little darlings this advent season. I'm praising God for the hope we have in Christ...the coming King! I would be lost without Him.

Friends

This picture is from this summer...so it's old and the babies have changed a lot since this was taken....and we're missing 3 kids in this picture....Aiden, Gracen and the middle sister....BUT I had to share it. We had some spontaneous hang out time with our best friends today. It was just what Kendall and I needed. I don't think either of us were ready to start back up after our Thanksgiving break. We are both homeschooling mamas and our schedules are kinda opposite, so that means our hang out time suffers. Our kids love each other so much though and ask to hang out a lot. I love to watch all 7 of them greet each other...there's lots of excitement and hugging that goes on. It's melt your heart sweetness.

I'm sure I've talked about her before...but Kendall and I have known each other since we were little girls at the church we grew up attending. We were only acquaintances for awhile, and then my mom started babysitting her and her little sister after school everyday...and all day during the summers. I wouldn't say we were instant friends...would you KC??? :) I think we both just put up with each other because we had too. I was super bossy...I know, it's hard to believe. Kendall was and is super sweet. So we fought A LOT. But through the years the Lord knit our hearts together and we developed this kindred spirit, sisterly friendship. We both had become Christians when we were kids, but it wasn't until around the same time as older teenagers that we decided to live our lives for Jesus. And that right there cemented us forever. We also spent a summer together in NYC through Campus Crusade doing ministry in the inner city...super cool summer! Our husbands were in seminary together in Dallas, with no family around...so we really depended on each other. We started having lots of babies while we were there, and shared so many firsts together She is so dear to me, and has taught me a lot about being a good friend.

We now live the closest we've EVER lived married...approximately 8 minutes away...we even share the same HEB and Target! Our friendship has gone through many seasons, and as of late we try to fit in phone conversations...mostly when we're driving. We try to sneak out of the house in the evenings to hang out or watch the latest ghetto dance movie. :) We meet up for play dates when our schedules allow it. We bounce parenting concerns or ideas off of each other...or mysterious illnesses that our kids have developed...We talk out ways we can be better or more efficient homemakers...we exchange dinner ideas...we share areas we are struggling in and need prayer for...you name it. I'm so thankful that she's still a big part of my life after ALL these years. God has been good to me!

Aiden is a new creation

Aiden's spiritual birthday

Celebrating his new birthday on our "You are special plate"...the same plate that my parents used to celebrate me and my brother's spiritual birthdays.

June 26th will forever be a day the Magee Tribe celebrates. A new Magee entered God's family on that day. Aiden trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of his sins...the most important decision he'll ever make! We are thankful for answered prayers, God's grace, and the wisdom to know that this was the real deal.

We had been talking about it with him for a LONG time...He KNEW the gospel, but we weren't convinced that he knew that he NEEDED the gospel. We also wanted him to initiate. Blake and I had been praying that God would make it very clear to us that it was authentic...real heart change, and not just head knowledge of what the Bible says. We asked the Lord to show us some specific things...and He did. God is good. Aiden was so excited...and that part was really cool! It actually happened on the last day of our big summer outreach at church. He had gone to a kids club all week...something the teenagers of our church help lead. Aiden had been asking us about becoming a Christian for awhile, and as we would talk about it with him, we realized he just wasn't ready.

The last club was on a Saturday, so Blake got to be there too. Blake and I both had jobs we were doing at the club. Blake was doing more manual labor stuff, set up, etc. and I was leading an adult bible study for any of the parents of the neighborhood kids that were coming to the outreach at the park. I saw Aiden go off with one of the teenagers, a girl who had been helping in his class the whole year. I knew what was going on and was kinda freaking out...and totally distracted. Blake and I both wanted to be there when he ultimately made the decision....but all we were able to do was be onlookers. I think God had to do it that way to move us out of the way. We had been telling Aiden "no" for quite some time. On that day, he took his faith into his own hands and told Deborah, that he needed to talk to her about asking Jesus into his heart. I saw the whole thing from a distance...and started to cry. Something in me knew that this was the real deal. He was probably 100 feet away, so of course I couldn't hear him...but I knew from his body language what was going on and I saw their celebration. I was still trying to lead this bible study...I honestly have no idea what I was saying at that point...I was in a totally different world. But I saw my first born, my 6 year old...looking so grown up and mature, going around telling everyone that he was a Christian...with such joy, and I was reminded of the joy of MY salvation. He ministered to me that day...so excited...knowing he was a new creation, knowing that his life had been redeemed, and he wanted to tell the whole world. It's several months later now, and he continues to be a light. He wants others to know about Jesus. He has such neat conversations with friends about Jesus' sacrifice, and I'm blown away by his boldness. I thank God that He has grabbed a hold of my son's heart at an early age. I pray that Aiden continues to follow after Him. We continue to pray for his sisters. Lord help us all. :)

First Days of School

First day of 1st grade

First day of kindergarten

First day of their fine arts school on Wednesdays

The littles wanted a picture too

This treasure warms my heart...Aiden grabbed her hand knowing she was nervous...he's not a very affectionate kid, so this meant a lot.

We homeschool. It's a fun adventure. To be honest, it's something I've never wanted to do...but God has brought me joy through my obedience. Another confession...I'm not too quick to tell people that I homeschool. I don't know...I guess I'm still getting used to the idea...and probably still a little bit embarrassed about it. Our exposure to homeschooling has not been the greatest. We've known some sold out, "my way or the high way" kind of homeschoolers and they are not very fun to be around. I don't think homeschooling is for everybody, nor do I think it's God's way for education. It's a scary thing when people start believing that their values are God's values...that's rarely the case. However, for now, God has called the Magee Tribe to homeschool...and that's the adventure we're on.
Aiden started 1st grade this year and Gracen has started kindergarten. Going from 1 to 2 has been a big change....but a good one. I felt kind of weird schooling 1/4 of my children last year...it was all lopsided. Now, I'm schooling 1/2 of my kids and that feels a lot better. It keeps me busy...but the time I get to pour into them has been priceless. Blake and I see this time more than anything as discipleship and character building for them. Our studies are rigorous and challenging....I know academically they are doing well....but I'm more concerned with their hearts, their love for God, and their love for people...That's what we spend a lot of our days working on. Our time together has been a treasure for me.

Let's Try this again

This picture has no real significance. I just think it's fun. It's from this summer....but this is pretty much how we've been around here for the past week...taking it easy...and it feels good.

I've been on a hiatus...and I'm dusting myself off and trying this blogging thing again. I'm nervous about it, because I set high expectations for myself, in general...and when I can't live up to them, I feel like a loser. So these past 6 months of non-blogging, I've pretty much felt like a loser...seriously. I've been so busy with family life, homeschooling, ministry, etc. that blogging has been on the bottom of my long list. I'll give it another go though...I do think it's helpful for me to slow down and process things going on around me...and of course, it's like a virtual scrapbook. I'm hopefully setting more realistic expectations this time...

Surprise!

My personal favorite

I totally LOVE these kids. I mean, look at them. How can you not? They are hilarious and so fun! Blake took off a day in February and we surprised them with Chuck E Cheese. We told them we were taking them somewhere special, and they were going crazy trying to figure it out. When we finally pulled up and got out, they immediately started dancing, and celebrating. Blake and I were cracking up. I love that they are expressive, and joyful, and not too concerned with what others think...yet. I know that day is coming...but until then I'm gonna relish these sweet moments of pure freedom!

Change isn't always bad

Last time sharing a room...for now anyways. (Sort of staged. I forgot that morning)

About to be 3 and ready for a big girl bed

New roommates at Aiden's request. He and Evie are sharing a room now.

Hello Gracen--looking at the "big" girl room

Grier's 1st night in a big girl bed. *Sniff, sniff. They are VERY excited to be bunking together.

So in February and March we did a lot of changing around here. We switched so many things around that it made my head spin. We decided to make our 4th bedroom a playroom, and so we combined kiddos. It's been several months since this took place...Aiden and Ev are still loving being together...and it's adorable to hear my 17 month old say "Aiden". She loves him SO much. Grier and Gracen are now in bunk beds. We wanted to start Grier lower to the ground. She was ready pretty quickly for a "real" bed. We had bought this adorable set of bunk beds unfinished (from Furniture in the Raw) in someones yard who needed to sell them quickly..for $30. Yes...$30! Isn't that ridiculous!? So, Blake painted them white and moved them into the girls room...pics later. We're still mixin' it up over here...although it's slowed down a bit...thank goodness.