This week

This week has been awesome! Nick took off all week and we have just enjoyed spending time as a family. We went to the Renniger's extraviganza in Mt. Dora and did some shopping. I went to a Girl's Night out and watched New Moon. We took the girls to the Orlando Science Center. We had a cook out with friends. We celebrated my dad's birthday with another cook out and card games. We slept in, watch TV and movies, and just relaxed and had fun.

On Thursday we took a picnic to Highlands Hammoch State Park. Not your traditional Thanksgiving day, but it was so much fun. The weather was perfect, slighly cool but still very comfortable. There were a ton of people there all having fun together. The girls played on the playground while we set up our lunch. Then we took a hike. My grandparents came with us and we enjoyed their company. Then we headed home and played cards at my parents house. It was a really nice day.

Today was Black Friday. I don't like to get up early so my mom and I had plan to leave around 8 a.m. and head to Lakeland to do some shopping. Capri woke me up at 6:30 (which she NEVER does), so I decided to head out early. I went to Toysrus, and the mall before I met up with my mom. Then we went to Kohl's and Micheals. We got some really great deals, and saved lots of money. I am pretty much done shopping for the girls! :) Then tonight we went and got our Christmas tree. It's soaking in water and we will put it up sometime tomorrow.

I am thankful for....

I have so much to be thankful for, so I though I'd share it on here.

1. Most of all I am thankful that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiviness of my sins so that me and my family will someday spend eternity in heaven with him.

2. I am thankful for Nick. He supports me, loves me, and is fun to be around. In just a few months it will be our 10 yr wedding anniversary and I am still in love with him, and so thankful that we have each other.

3. I am thankful for Avery (first because she's the oldest). She is such a sweet smart girl. I love to watch her learn about new things. She gets so excited when she tells me about what she learned in school or read in a book. She loves to read which makes me so happy. She is a fun girl to be around, and she's growing up so much!

4. I am thankful for Sage. She is trully unique in a way that I can't even put into words. She brings so much joy to our family because she marches to the beat of her own drum. I love to watch her be herself. She has a unique style about her and a confidence that makes her who she is. I look forward to watching her grow each day.

5. I am thankful for Capri. What can I say about my baby? I am sad to watch her grow up but I am enjoying every minute of it. She has always been a very happy baby. She learned to say "love you", which just melts my heart. She loves to be a big girl and follow her sisters wherever they go. She is just so much fun to be around.

6. I am thankful for Nick's job at Bok Tower. I am thankful that his job has provided for us in a way that allows me to stay at home with the girls. They have been good to us.

7. I am thankful for my parents. They do so much to help us, by watch our kids for us, going places with us, and just helping us out in all sorts of ways. We love having them live near us and are just so thankful to get to spend time with them.

8. I am thankful that they will be starting on our house sometime this week, and that in just a few months I will have a brand new house!

9. I am thankful for all my friends both near and far. All my friends share a different quality that I am thankful for. Local friends who have playdates with me, or watch my kids, and just listen to me. Far away friends that listen to me vent over the phone or internet, and who I love to visit with when we get to see each other in person.

10. I am thankful for my church. Christ Community Church has been great for us. We love to worship each and every week. We love the people, and love all the activies that our church is involved in. Plus the girls love going to everything which is just so wonderful.

I live a really great life, and it's nice to take the time and think about all the things that I am truly thankful for.

3 states in 4 days

In September my mom and I made a quick weekend trip back to the midwest. We took Capri with us on our "Girl's weekend", but left Avery and Sage at home with daddy and Papa since they had school. We visited my Aunt Pam and Uncle Ron in Arkansas, our good friends Tim and Lori Dees (as well as my inlaws....and G/G Baker, and Uncle Gary) in Oklahoma, and then end the trip spending the night with my Grandparents in Missouri. Here are some pictures from our trip.Capri and I with my Aunt Pam at a park in Bella Vista, Arkansas Capri and I :)Capri giving Nana a kissCapri giving Great Grandpa Baker a big hugI love the smile on Great Grandma Baker's face. :)

Capri reading a story with Great Grandma Storms

Capri and I looking at some family pictures

Capri playing ball with Great Grandpa Storms

Capri and I with Grandma and Grandpa Storms

Capri fell asleep on the airplane ride home. :)

Halloween

These pictures are from the week leading up to Halloween. I left my camera at a Halloween party at school so I had to use a disposable on Halloween night. I'll have those back soon. But for now these will do. Avery and Sage with Callie (Avery's "BFF") at the FPC Fall Fest.

Sage as Wall-e (who else :) )

The family, Trunk-or-Treating at High Pointe church

Avery the tap dancer

Capri as Tinker Bell......she wouldn't let go of her bag. :)

Capri's cute smile!

The girl's a our friend's house

Churches

Here are the websites for the churches that my family is on staff at:

http://www.chandlercc.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=44760
Chandler Christian Church in Chandler, Arizona. My Uncle Roger Storms is the Senior pastor here

http://www.bellavistachristian.com/site/default.asp?sec_id=1746
Bella Vista Christian Church in Bella Vista, Arkansa. My Uncle Ron Carter is the pastor here.

http://www.cotinyc.com/new-to-incarnation/welcome/
Church of the Incarnation in New York City (Manhattan). My Sister-n-law, Rhesa Storms is the worship pastor here.

http://www.hope-church.ws/
Hope Church in Springfield, Illinois. My Cousin Blake Carter is the Senior pastor here.

http://www.placervillefirstchristianchurch.org/
Placerville Christian Church in Placerville, California. My Uncle Gary Washburn is the Senior pastor here.

http://www.reallifechurch.org/index.aspx
Real Life Christian Church in Santa Clarita, California. My brother Andy Storms is the family life pastor here.

http://www.thecrossing.com/
The Crossing, in Costa Mesa, California. My Cousin Brett Detkin is the Adult Programming Director

http://aplacetobelong.com/
Christ Community Church. This is my church here in Winter Haven, Florida. My dad Tim Storms is part time care pastor.

http://www.orchardgroup.org/
This is Orchard Group a Church planting organization based out of New York City. My Brother Brent Storms is the President.

http://www.occ.edu/
Ozark Christian College. This is the college that most of the the above people attend and got their Undergraduate degrees. Including my parents. My Grandfather Dale Storms was on staff here for MANY years, working in the financing department.

I just wanted to share a bit about my family and the work that they are doing to serve God with all their heart. I am very happy to call them all my family!