Busy busy!

So still no pictures. I am using my ipod for the time being but have not quite figured out how to upload those on to the computer... I know I can get them to facebook. I still need to call Canon and figure out what to do about my camera but I have definitely missed having it! :( Friday I got to do some scrapbooking. We had a crop at the dayschool and I did a half day because my Mom could only watch the kids until 6ish. There was a singing at church that night too but we decided to stay in because we had been so busy all week!
I posted about some bad storms that rolled through so Tom went with a group from church to help with the clean up. Luckily for us it was north of us so we have been lucky but it is pretty bad in the areas that got hit. Tom worked really hard and we feel especially blessed to be a part of such a giving church congregation!
I took the kids to the library yesterday morning and met up with my mom. We took the kids to one of the parks here in the area and I went for a 5 mile run. I have not run longer than 3 or 4 miles in the last 6 months or so, so I was a little nervous. It felt really good. I have been trying to quicken my pace so I have been running 3 miles but trying to improve my time. With the 5 miles I just tried to run the whole time! haha I made it and I ran it in about 48-50 min. It was such a gorgeous day I was glad we were all able to enjoy it!
Last night I got to hang out with my good friend Heather. We went to do a little shopping and eat. It was nice to just get to shop around, take our time and catch up!
We ate lunch over with my parents so ever since we got home we have just been relaxing! Love those Sunday afternoons! :)

Sorry for the delay in posts....

So I have not posted since Monday and not because I have not had things to say or time although it has been a very busy week but because Tuesday night I had ladies bible class and my mom had invited us to dinner. I take my camera with me almost everywhere so off to grandma's it went with a screaming Tinzley and a well behaved Jonas. Tom met us over there after work. I left from there to go to ladies bible class and left the camera behind... well, big mistake! Jonas decided to pick it up and throw it on the floor so my camera is out of commission until I can find out what we need to do to fix the lens. It still takes pictures but the lens is definitely NOT working properly. I was very upset on Wednesday morning when I found this out so we are still processing what to do and I just did not want to blog with no pictures! :(
Other than the camera breaking we have been doing well. Tinzley is pretty much potty trained...well she is 99%of the time and sleeping through the night without a diaper too (her decision) She has not wet during her nap or during the night yet. Pretty amazing kid! Jonas has had a couple of great weeks so thanks for prayers on that one. The only thing is the camera which I am hoping he didnt really do on purpose... :/
We hope all of you are doing well! I am ready for the weekend
Tom and I have been trying to keep up our workout routine. I am running 3-4 times a week and we are doing a weight training 5 times a week. I do cardio on the days I dont run such as step and just dance on the wii (yes I consider that a cardio workout haha)
I would love some prayers for our financial situation. We are doing okay but it is definitely a week to week worry. I know we are not to worry and we need to know God will take care of us but it still can be a scary thing to know if you have enough money for gas and groceries and the bills... Thanks in advance :)

Time just goes by quickly...

We had some pretty bad storms roll throught the Birmingham area last night. Luckily were south of the really bad parts but did have some really strong thunder and lightning and enough rain to flood our backyard. This is Tinzley and Jonas checking out our little pond. We are studying Winter animals and penguins this week at school. Jonas got to bring his penguin Penny to school. This animal has been around for awhile. I got it when I moved to Wisconsin when I was 5. :)
I took some pics of Tinzley playing on the playground at school. She is so fearless! She is also doing so great with potty training. It is crazy to have both kids out of diapers. (Well, except for nighttime) Although Tom and I went to dinner and a movie on Friday night with some friends from church and had two teenage girls from church watch the kids. We forgot to tell them to put a diaper on Tinzley for bedtime and she woke up the next morning dry! Crazy!
This is Jonas on Sunday watching The Lion King holding onto his guns. Boy, I do not like those things! Why do boys love them so much??

Ice Skating!

Jonas's friend Jayden had an ice skating party today! I was so excited because I love ice skating and the kids had never gone! Jonas LOVED it and did really well for it being his first time. Tinzley liked it too but had a little more trouble staying up on her skates! We had such a great time and wish Jayden a happy birthday!

Bath Time

Got some pics of the kids taking a bath! Pretty funny and still cute even though they are getting SO big!

Thursday with the Twins

I got to spend my morning with two of the cutest twins I know! They were kind enough to let me take some pictures of them! They behaved so well and they were such a joy to be around! I am very grateful for the time I got to spend with them and being able to help out such a GREAT friend! :)

My kids on the otherhand were all about their sunglasses today! They are ready for summer! :)

Wonderful Wednesday

Titles are kind of hard to come up with...


Tinzley got a new outfit from grandma and I just had to put it on her with her boots. Ms Jennifer redid her hair, thank goodness, for she was looking a little desheveled and I do not leave the house without my camera! :)

Tinzley is getting so independent. She is doing great with her potty training, she is buckling her seat belt, undressing and redressing, and she is constantly telling us "I do it" It is just nice to enjoy the little things about my children and I feel very fortunate everyday for that oppurtunity!

Tuesday Pics

Watching Monsters Inc.

It was a busy Tuesday but good! I had to drop the kids off, run to the bank, run to the pharmacy, go to ladies bible class, pick the kids back up at school, then run home for nap time! After nap time I got dinner ready and I was going to go to ladies bible class (yes twice in one day) then do our grocery shopping but that was becoming a little overwhelming so we all went to church, dropped me off and the kids and Tom headed to the store. I got a text a little after 8 from Tom asking if Rachel could drop me off because he didnt have the cash... :) Headed over to Wal Mart and got the groceries paid for and headed home. Just another typical Tuesday in the Phifer house! Boring huh?? :)

Jonas has had a couple REALLY good days which has been so refreshing! :) I have been having some little breakdowns over guilt and just feeling overwhelmed. I have an amazing support system that gets me through the rough the times by just listening and understanding. How lucky I am! Trying to remember that God can take any situation and turn it good :)

Hope you are all having a blessed week!!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Love having the day off!

Sunday Pics

It was a gorgeous day out yesterday! So gorgeous Tinzley apparently thought it was October... haha She is head to toe in a Halloween outfit! :)

Birthday Party/Washer/Grandma Pawpaw Saturday

We woke up to Jonas wanting Daddy to come see something he had built...which right now I cannot remember what it was. So our day started around 8 and Tom insisted on making breakfast! I tried to tell him that it was his day to relax but he just wouldnt have it ;) So while he was cooking, yes I was taking pictures but also started our Saturday tradition of laundry. I put a load in and noticed after awhile it was very quiet for a load of laundry. I lifted the lid and it was smoking and smelled like burning rubber. Tom and I knew this could not be good. We called my parents to see if they had any insight. My Dad said he would be over as soon as possible. Well we had a party to go to so figured out how to drain it and put the wet clothes in the dryer and were on our way. Turns out it is fine... Just old and needs smaller loads but still works. Sigh of relief!! My parents ended up staying the day with us which was nice because Tom and I got to go running. They got pizza for dinner and Jonas and Paw Paw built some legos Tinzley and Grandma got some snuggle time in! Welcome home Tom! :)

Tinzley was invited to a birthday party this weekend and Jonas was invited too but it was a girly party. Luckily they have a brother so he didnt mind going!

It was so much fun letting the kids play, eating ice cream, and cake, and talking with good friends. I also took my camera to get some practice taking pictures. It was chilly out but the sun was shining so really a beautiful day!

January 13th

Where's WALDO??
The kids got Where's Waldo books for Christmas from Santa and they LOVE them. It has been a fun family activity. They are a little different than I remember but still so much fun. Jonas got the first one and Tinzley got the second one. Here they are looking for Waldo over some breakfast. This was the morning we woke up to Tom still being at work. Poor guy worked 29 hours straight and was awake for 40 hours straight. We are very thankful for his job and also VERY thankful for him being home this weekend. :))

Tinzley and I went on a little Girl's night out to see Beauty and the Beast in the theaters. This is the pic I got...

I laughed for awhile after I saw this on my computer. She is something else!

She loved seeing the movie in the theater and when the credits started she turned around looked at me and said "We watch it again?" It was so much fun experiencing my favorite Disney movie with her! :)

I tired too!

So not much thought is going into this blog post and I took one picture today! If you cant read what it says... Dear Daddy,

You are a real (honey bun) When we think of you and how much we miss you making us (Snicker) (s), we think all this hard work must result in a big (PAYDAY) :) We saved you the last Reese's and hope you had a good night Love Jonas, Tinzley and Mommy

Tom had to pull an all nighter and has worked 12 days in a row now... I am tired and I know he is too! The subject of this blog "I tired too" is a Tinzley phrase! :)

Tax Season is AWESOME! :/

We are going on Tom working 10 straight days... blech! We are very thankful for his job and my parents for helping out too. We would not be able to do it without them!

Jonas has also been having some attitude problems and we have been having some bathroom/private part issues. Poor Tinzley is doing great with the potty training but may have a yeast infection and has had a sore bottom too. The kids and I had to have a whole discussion about private parts and who can see them and touch them. Jonas asked why boys have different parts than girls. Jonas and I have also had to have many heart to hearts about attitude and having to do things you dont want to do and also how there are consquences to every action...good or bad! So it has been an interesting, tiring, important couple of days!

Here is what happens when the kids are left alone to play! :)

January 10th Pics

Poor Tom didnt get home until 930 last night... He is searching for food! Haha

My flowers from Tom and Jonas

Jonas hanging pics on his door!

Hello Kitty always :)

So I missed blogging yesterday but there was good reason for it and do not fear I did not miss taking some pics yesterday! This is our little Tinzley ALL dressed up for school! She loves her bows, her necklace, and her new dress from Grandma! She is ALL girl as Jonas is ALL boy!

We went over to Josh and Rachel's house last night to watch the National Championship... Roll Tide or Geaux Tigers? It did not matter we just like hanging out with good friends and enjoying some good food so THANK YOU Josh and Rachel! I took a very awkward pic of Josh and Tom that they were pretty good about it! :) I also wanted a pic of me and Rachel because we dont really have any and she has been the best friend a girl could ask for this past year and a half! She is a pretty awesome person!

This pic down here is me and my favorite girl! So here are two pics of me with my new camera! :)

So, on a deeper note I guess or I guess a goal check in since I consider my readers of this my people who are holding me accountable. Tom and I have done pretty well with keeping up on our exercising! I have done okay on reading the bible everyday...some days have been missed but I have been reading my parenting book and I am almost done. I am enjoying reading and trying to figure out the best way to raise our kids. It is a tough job being a parent. Constant doubt, frustration, joy, relief, enjoyment, happiness, disappointment, embarassment, and so many things. It is so hard to know if what you are doing is right and what you say is the right thing, and how you react, or how you discipline is the right thing.

All this to say I am really trying hard with Jonas. He is such a smart and fun kid. He is so talented and so interesting. He wants to know how things work and why they are the way they are. He asks so many questions and is so curious. He also is very obnoxious at times, and very LOUD! He pushes, and tests boundaries. He yells and screams when he doesnt get his way or when he is sad or frustrated. He wants what he wants when he wants it, and when he doesnt want to do something he tells you and he has an attitude. He is shy around new people and has the awful habit of hitting people when they get in his face. He can make you laugh, he can make you cry, he can make you smile, and he can make you scream! Boy, I love that kid but sometimes i feel so out of control with him. One thing I am trying to remember is no matter how much I want to, I cant control what he does. He is his own person and will always be his own person. I must accept his strengths weaknesses and push him to use those for good over bad. He needs to learn that new people and new things can sometimes turn out okay. That is okay to not like something or someone but to still be nice and respectful.
I try and pray about it, I try to relax and be understanding and patient. He is such a great kid. He is such a sweet and sensitive kid as well. He can be very empathetic when you are hurting or sad. I just want what is best for him and for him to be the best Jonas he can be! (cheesy haha) Any advice is appreciated. :)

Is it really sunday night? Already???

Well, I will be honest this weekend went by WAY too fast but it was full of some fun stuff and good times! We survived Jonas's first sleepover and Tinzley has now had two days in a row with NO accidents... not even during naptime!! She is doing great and we could not be happier! Two kids out of diapers during the day and one to go for nighttime! These kids have made it too easy! But again, I am not complaning about that!! Not one bit! :)
Tom had to work ALL weekend so we definitely missed having him around but I got some necessary cleaning and rearranging done. He took me out Saturday night to a movie but our first stop was ULTA which I loved! I have never loved skin care products but I have gotten better at figuring out what works for my skin and I just LOVE ulta!
Tom and I went to see Courageous and if you have not seen it I would COMPLETELY recommend it! I cried throughout the movie but laughed as well! It is just an incredible movie with a great message that all parents, grandparents, men, women, aunts, uncles, everyone needs to see. It will make you think about your life and the choices we make with our children.
At our church they have started LTC (Leadership Training in Christ) and I was asked to help out this year. I was a little nervous because I have not been involved with this program before and I have also not been too involved with church in the last year but I was asked personally and took it as an honor so accepted! I will be in charge of girl's speech and I am also helping out with one of the puppet groups! So I had a full day of LTC practice, Tom worked and the kids got to spend the day with my parents. Apparently they slept all afternoon :)
I am really enjoying my new camera! It is fun to bring it out everyday and see what pictures I can get of these two crazy kids! Tinzley is not camera shy one bit... Jonas is my tough one to capture. I try to put equal amounts of pictures but it is tough when she just lets me take her picture all the time and asks for it. But here are a few from this weekend and tonight that I enjoyed! Jonas even let me take a few!