Christmas Videos

Merry Christmas from the Tillman Family

Photo Dump! :)

I was going through pictures and wanted to post some. Enjoy! :)

Hannah in her Belle dress.

Decorating the tree.

Hannah on the playground one of the last warm days of fall.

Mom T's birthday! I think this is a good picture. :)

Micah, "YUM, Menu!"

Kids found this car at Toys R us. Hannah really thought we were going to buy this ($600) battery operated kids car. Sorry, sweetie. If Santa were real, maybe he'd get this for you. But, alas, he's not.

The kids favorite thing to do at Best Buy. ha.

Andrew. And his super sweet, cheesy smile. :)

Tip for Tuesday

Do you wash your dishes with a sponge? To keep sponges fresh smelling and germ free, pop your damp sponge in the microwave and cook it for 2 minutes on high. It will kill the germs and help your sponge last longer.

December 2010

The first day of December snuck up on me! Whew! I wasn't quite ready, but I am excited about celebrating Christmas with three kiddos in the house. :) Hannah asks almost every morning if it is Christmas day yet. SO, we have a count down paper chain to help. This year I left the fancy tree decorations out and let the kids put home made ornaments on and a few kid friendly ones from my childhood.

Here are a few of the snapshots from a few days ago.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

Here is our Thanksgiving feast! :) Yes, it is already December and two small flurried snows later, I am posting our Thanksgiving picture. :) (my friend Kolby was taking this picture)

Free Christmas Cards Anyone?

Free Christmas (photo) cards, anyone?

Me, me, pick me! :)

I LOVE getting things for free. And I LOVE Shutterfly. This summer, I got two different e-mails that gave me a FREE 8x8 photo book. How awesome is that! I just had to pay a few dollars for shipping, but I was able to print a book from our family summer, and our cruise.

Now, Shutterfly is offering 50 free Christmas cards if you blog about it! Awesomeness. One thing I must post is my favorite card layouts. It could be difficult. They have some good ones. Here are my favs: You can pick your favs by going here.

I like the cards with the multi photo spots.

This one the design in cute, and it covers Christmas and New Year in the greeting.

I think it is a cool idea because if I can fit all our year into a top ten, I won't have to send a Christmas letter, and people are most likely to remember our news than if they read a big page letter.

I like this one because of the meaning of Christmas conveyed.

Need some other items besides Christmas Cards? I have used Shutterfly photo cards for Father's Day, and thank you cards in the past. I have thought about doing photo mugs for presents too. Photo calendars are also a great gift idea. Almost everyone uses a calendar! If you celebrate Hanukkah, Shutterfly has you covered. Shutterfly also has cute ornaments. They have lots of neat stuff, and if you create an account you will get great e-mails with coupon codes and discounts throughout the year!

Want to know which one I'll be picking? Check your mailbox in December!! :)

Want information on how to get free cards for yourself?? GO HERE!!

My Birthday

I just realized I didn't post any of my birthday pictures! My birthday fell on a Sunday this year so we did most of the birthday celebrations on Saturday and then Sunday we had church and lunch. Here are some birthday pictures, with my crazy kiddos! :)

(I love Hannah's crazy face, Andrew insisting on sitting on my lap, and sweet Micah far in the background in this picture!! :) )

YUM CAKE

Crazy family photo. ha.

Feeling Behind

Everytime I hear Heather Payne's "Holy Holy Holy" song playing from my phone (my ringtone for almost everyone except Josh) I hope it is a call from our realtor saying we have a showing on our house. BUT, I almost dread it too. That means I have "X" amount of minutes or hours to get our house back into a perfect state. Whew. I have been letting the house go more and more as things have come up and "life happens". I feel overwhelmed and behind as I look at the growing piles of stuff that I need to put away, and organize. I feel like if I had a day or even an afternoon I might be able to catch up.

One thing eating up my time has been making hair bows and pillowcase dresses. I have a table at our church's holiday bazaar this Saturday and have 100+ bows and numerous dresses to sell. Every spare moment that the kids are in bed (my only free time) I have been making people princess bows, lining clips, and organizing my growing stash. I really do love the idea of putting my time into something like this and being able to make some money on the side, but I do miss my clean house!

I have also agreed to be the VBS director for summer 2011. Yep, planning time is already here! I have already had meetings for said VBS and am very excited where this new ministry will take me, and am humbled and thankful the Lord has equipped me with these talents to serve Him.

Thanksgiving this year will be different for the first time in 8+ years. We will not be going to Alabama to visit our Hunter relatives but staying here in Louisville since Josh (and my brother Wade) have crazy work schedules that week. We look forward to having a nice Thanksgiving here with Wade and also some other friends too.

Now that I have gotten the above off my mind, I will write an update about the kiddos! :)

Hannah - is 3 1/2 going on 25!! Our friend Kolby is about 36 weeks pregnant and Hannah just loves the idea of having a baby in ones "tummy". She tells me almost daily, "When I grow up, and get married, I am going to have a baby in my tummy too!" Today she added something about a ring. (I'm guessing wedding ring) :) Hannah LOVES princesses, Tinker Bell, high heeled shoes, and makeup. Unfortunately, Andrew thinks all these things are appropriate for him to like and try to wear too. ha!

Andrew - is 2. The terrible tantrum twos are upon us. Andrew is sweet most of the time, but those tantrums come up so fast you can't see them coming, and for the smallest things. He has also learned what annoys his sister in just the right way… socks in the face, touching favorite toys, snatching snacks, etc. Boys!! :) Overnight it seems, Andrew has started speaking in sentences instead of pointing and using hand gestures to make up for lack of words. It is wonderful! And sometimes I just laugh at what he says! This boy loves food, let me tell you. I'll ask him if he wants "X" and he'll respond, "Yes please, (points to open mouth) put it in my mouth!" ha!

Micah-Moo - is his nickname right now. I love it! He is my sweet boy who is not quite adjusting to the time change. He is eating lots of food, baby food, and some table food now. He looks at our plates so longingly I feel compelled to give him bites. For the most part he likes it. Micah has started saying "Ma-Ma", "Da-Da", and a few other sounds I can't remember, he waves two ways, claps his hands, and is starting to get on all fours and rock back and forth! I may have a crawler on my hands soon!! Micah still has no teeth for a 8 month old, :( I'm still trying to remember when the older two got their teeth.

Well, it is late and I must head to bed. I've got lots of kiddos to watch in the morning! Blessings to all.

The Month of October

Where did it go? I can hardly believe it is November 1st! It was my 28th birthday yesterday and I had a great time. Saturday we celebrated by watching the Gator game, (eating birthday cake at halftime), and then going out to eat steak with our friends Kolby and Andrew. Sunday we went to church and did our normal Sunday activities.

This month has just flown by! I am still babysitting Carson and Sawyer three days a week. It has been great for my kids to have friends over a few days a week. Even though they have squabbles, I know that Hannah and Carson are good friends.

Josh is continuing on with school and cannot wait for the semester to be over. Me too.

Our house is still on the market and while we have had a few nibbles, no offers have been made yet and we are praying about our next step as the holiday season is approaching.

The kids are doing wonderful. Micah seems to be the only one really changing lots. He has started clapping, sitting up really well, trying to reach for things/crawl, and saying my favorite, "Ma-ma" and "Da-Da"!!

Kids playing grocery store!

Andrew checking out and trying to protect his stuff.

Hannah realizing I was taking her picture!


Hannah checking out and Andrew waiting in line! :) Sawyer under foot trying to eat what he can.


Hannah and Carson


- Posted by Joanna using BlogPress from my iPhone

Micah at 6 months

With Hannah and Andrew I was much better about updating status on doctor visits, and posting weekly and monthly pictures. I guess things do change when you have your third child! That is one of the reasons I started this blog. I have a HUGE resource for finding information of my kiddos. I don't have to drag out baby books, or sort through piles of photos to remember what my kids looked like at 6 months where Micah is now. I enjoy comparing our kids just to remember and see how far they have come, and with Andrew and Micah, you can see how much they look alike!!

Micah had an uneventful 6 month checkup the beginning of last week. He weighed in at 18 pounds 5 ounces! That was 75% for his age!! (Hannah 15lbs 14oz) (Andrew 17lbs 5oz) I believe he was like 27 or 28 inches, but I don't totally remember. I did have two other kiddos in the room with me. :)

Micah 5 months (yeah, I need to get some pictures off my camera!)

Okay, so here are the photos to compare!!

Hannah at 6 months

Andrew at 6 months

In other news, no news on the house front. :( I am really trying not to get disappointed that no one has looked at our house this week. Pray for a quick sale!!

Josh is coming up on his fall break and has surgery planned to get his wisdom teeth taken out. I am still watching Carson and Sawyer and it is going well. Hannah really likes having a friend come over and play three days a week!

I end with a lesson God has been teaching me: I was watching my daughter outside, pitching a fit, stomping her feet and crying over a piece of chalk her brother was holding (which she wanted). I suddenly saw myself as how God must see me, when I become impatient, things do not go the way I planned, and I stomp my feet and fuss. How silly to cry over something so insignificant. Why do I not trust God, as He has the power, control, and authority over my life. Why become upset over what someone else has? As pastor said on Sunday, God is immutable. He is always good. He can never be anything but good, and He is good to us.

House on the Market!

Not much time to write lately. I have been SUPER busy getting our house ready and doing a million and one things around the house. We officially put our house on the market Thursday! We are staying in the Louisville area, but want a bigger house, closer to work and church, and also to take advantage of great interest rates that are out there.

We are praying for a quick sale, wouldn't it be wonderful to be writing from a different home this Christmas!?!

Keep us in your prayers. We pray the right buyer would come along! The crazy clean freak is coming out in me! Before we leave the house, or I sit down for that matter, I try to make sure it is worthy of a showing at any moment! Whew! :) We do have our first showing tomorrow. I am trying with ALL MY MIGHT not to get my hopes up.

I'll post news when it happens.

GG's Birthday and My Matching Boys

We celebrated GG's birthday while we were in Jax. (We also celebrated Josh's Mom's birthday but somehow we don't have pictures of that!) Here are Hannah and Andrew with GG. :)

GG had extra help blowing out all the candles. Hannah helped me put on the candles and insisted of one kind and color of each candle going on the cake! :)

Before church the other week. Both my boys in their matching polo shirts and tan shorts! :) Micah still wasn't really awake. hee hee

Cruise Pictures

On the beach (ship in the background)

Beautiful Sunset!
The beach at Half Moon Cay

Looking down on the Lido Deck
I had to include just one picture of all the wonderfully amazing food we had on the cruise! :)

We had a blast and I am so glad Josh planned this cruise for our vacation/anniversary! :)

1,000 Gifts: The Goodness of God

101. God's provision for us in the little things

102. Being able to "rest" and know God knows how it will all work out

103. The great fellowship of new friendship at our new church

104. Serving the Lord with your spiritual gifts

105. The grace,

106. peace,

107. hope,

108. mercy,

109. and wisdom He gives me daily as I seek to train my children

110. The comfort I have to know I will see my Mom again one day

111. Knowing my Mom (and God) have my extra 3 little ones in Heaven

112. Joy, somehow through the pain

113. Seeing God bless a blogging friend through the foster care/adoption process (Cilla!)

114. The assurance of salvation

115. The conviction of sin

116. A good morning sermon

117. Hannah learning to sit (quietly) through a church service!

118. Singing the days of creation with my kids

119. And being amazed how God really did make it ALL in 6 days!

120. Knowing God is certainly not finished with me yet!

Hello

I know I am super far behind on the updates! Our past few weeks:

- I started watching 2 more kiddos 3 days a week. So far so good. :)

- Josh and I went on a cruise, LOVED IT, had tons of fun

- Kids got spoiled at Grandma and Grandpa's house! :)

- Josh started the semester

Whew! More updates and pictures to come soon!

1,000 Gifts : Celebrating this Week

71. Good naps from the kiddos so I could finish painting the garage

72. A husband that planned a cruise for us

73. The cruise is THIS week!

74. 6 days to spend with my hubby :)

75. My mother-in-law who is watching the kiddos while we go on the cruise

76. A van to get us to Jacksonville

77. The 7 years we have been married

78. The exciting future ahead

79. That Josh and I get to do it together

80. And with the 3 kiddos God has blessed us with

81. A working washing machine

82. And dryer

83. At my house

84. The plethora of clothes for each family member

85. Figuring out a new function of my earphones

86. A slightly cooler day / night

87. A part time (babysitting) job for me

88. And a new friend for Hannah to play with

89. The strength God gives me to care for 5 kiddos 3 & under

90. That Josh will be home part of the time to help me each week

91. Veggie Tales DVD's in the mail from my Aunt

92. The Bible songs CD that came in the mail today

93. Seeing the kids faces light up where they hear a familiar Bible song playing :)

94. Hearing Andrew say new words, and beginning to form sentences

95. Teaching my kids the scripture

96. A quiet moment to be able to document and reflect on all the things I am thankful for

97. A good scrabble match

98. Plenty of pennies to throw into the fountain (at the mall)

99. Free Chick-fil-A texts on Friday

100. Stress free outings with the kids

Update

I've posted a few new entries tonight, so scroll down to enjoy the pictures!!

Here are a few random ones I wanted to add as well.

Micah is starting to enjoy the exosaucer! He still gets a little scared if Andrew comes put and starts playing noisily with the toys on there. I can't believe my little baby boy will be 5 months old tomorrow!!!!

I'm gonna have this crazy crew 3 days a week!! (from right) Carson, Hannah, Micah, Andrew, and Sawyer!! Five kiddos ages 5 months to 3! :)

Family picnic after church one week… we were waiting on the Krispy Kreme family opening.

Me and Andrew while at the family reunion in South Caroline. I don't even remember getting this picture taken, but I like it.

And finally…

Micah! Such a funny angle and face. :) Micah is full of life, smiles, giggles, and sweetness!! :)

Faces of Micah

As captured by Josh :)

Creation Museum New Pictures

Some new pictures from Josh's phone. :)

Andrew looking at the turtles.

Josh and Andrew

Kind of in the middle but I wanted to post. :) Kids riding on Uncle Steven (horsey)'s back.

Walking through the Genesis 1 exhibit. (notice Andrew's face is the only blurry thing!? That boy has the hardest time keeping still!)

In the "final Adam" movie theater… Micah was hungry!

Josh feeding a horse/zebra. Can't remember what they call it.

In the "Ark" exhibit. This was close to one of my favorite parts. You feel like you are walking through the ark construction! :)

In the creation video part of the tour. LOVE Hannah's face here. :)