I thank God for my boys

My boys
Originally uploaded by Silverthornes.

Do you ever feel like you are seeing a person with a mini-version of himself? Pete and Bryan look so much alike to me sometimes. They have those big, dark eyes with long eye lashes, a sweet smile and they are both random, clever, hilarious and very charming. I am overjoyed to be hanging out with this great duo for a long while.

A phone-book

A man brought a package to our door. A phone book. This is the fun conversation I had with Aubrey.

Aubs: What is that?
Me: A phone book
Aubs: Like the one Grandad has?
Me: Yes sweety, I am sure he has one.
Aubs: Neat does it have games on it?
(a pause)
Me: OHHH, you are thinking of his iPad which looks like a large Phone and a Book sometimes. No, this book is not as cool as Grandads. It is just a plain book with people's names along with their phone numbers in it so we can look up people's phone numbers if we know their names.
Aubs: That means we can look up that girl in my dance class and ask her to come over and play with me.
Me: Well, we can certainly look her up. What is her name?
Aubs: I don't know, she never told me.

Taking a picture with 9 little ones

It is getting better but this is how crazy it was for Grammy to get a picture with 9 of her grand-kids.

It's the Great Pumpkin

We got to hang out at the Alpine Pumpkin patch one day in October and loved it. We had lots of fun taking pictures.




I love the Fall!!

Happy Birthday Angie!

Happy Birthday to the most loving, most lovely, devoted woman I know.
You are beautiful inside and out.

Thank you for being actively involved in our lives. You are an awesome Aunt and an amazing sister (in-law) and FRIEND. Pete and Aubs LOVE their Aunt Gi' and ask to go back to Austin on a regular basis ;)


You encourage and inspire me.
Love ya!!

EAT MOR CHIKIN!!

I decided to start blogging again. And what better way to kick it off with some pictures of Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-a. I truly am excited to post some other fun things we have done already this summer.
It has been very busy! I have been working part-time at Alpine Christian Academy and the kids have really enjoyed it there this summer. I am excited for things to slow down a little bit and for me to get to hang out with Pete & Aubs more, but for now, we will hang on and enjoy the ride. I have been off this week which is so fun to get to spend time with family.
The kids and I headed over during lunch to get some free food and of course we got some for daddy so he didn't starve :)
Pretty cute Cows don't you think?

Embrace Life

Bryan sent me this video. I thought I would share.

Happy St. Patty's Day

Oh, he is my dear, my darlin' one / His eyes so sparklin', full of fun / No other, no other / Can match the likes of him.

This makes me happy!

Hope you have a great day!
I don't feel lucky, just blessed!

Anything for Jesus, Only let me do

I came across a song today that I sang when I was very young child. The words were so simple but still rang true to me today and encouraged me.

God, I pray that my hands are constantly used to serve You. I pray that I am using my ears and eyes to be aware of others so I can show them Your love and compassion.

Wordless Wednesday

(edited by my fun husband, Bryan Silverthorne)

My niece, Alyse

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I can't believe it has been 4 years since I first met my sweet little niece, Alyse.
12 days later, I had Aubrey and it has been so fun to see my girl and Drew's girl interact and have so much fun. This is a comparison of the girls at Lysie's 1st birthday and at Lysie's 4th birthday. Gotta love cousins. These girls have fun personalities:

While on the subject of Lysie and Aubrey, I have to post a picture that cracks me up every time!! They like to party:

I just love watching Lysie mature and grow. She is a great big sister and has the big job of being a big sister to her 3 younger siblings.
Lysie, Your Aunt Dre love ya!!
I leave you with a few of my favorite pictures of Alyse through the years :)

Thanks MOM

I want to celebrate my mom. If you have ever met her, you would walk away saying, "That lady is really bubbly and full of life." I love this about her. She is probably the most optimistic person I know. She is very caring, VERY easy to talk to, sympathetic and is very strong in her faith in God. I am encouraged by her in many ways.
I know it hasn't been easy on her, raising us after my father passed away. She had 4 teenagers at one point and a lot of responsibilities on her. I admire that she has turned to God in her decisions when it came to us by putting us in great school situations and in a great home. She has always encouraged us kids in what we showed interest in throughout the years and directed us in the way we should go; I believe that has helped each us to flourish. She is also an awesome Grammy to her 9 grandkids :)
I could really go on and on.

I just wanted to say, I love ya mom! Thanks for showing me how to be a good mom. Happy Birthday!
I leave you with a video of mom being funny and making Aubrey laugh when Aubrey was little. LOVE IT!

Na-nee-na-nee-na-na

I gave Aubrey and Pete some fruit salad and I hear Aubrey say to Pete in a bragging tune:

Aubrey: ha - ha - ha - ha -ha - I've got more oranges than you dooo

Me: you don't have to one-up Pete you know

Aubrey: what does one-up mean?

Me: When you point out the fact that you have more than someone just to brag or just to try to make the other person feel bad because they don't have as much as you do. Don't you think that might hurt someones feelings when you rub in the fact that you have more than they do?

(Aubrey paused and contemplated a moment)

Aubrey: ha - ha - ha - ha -ha - we both have oranges

Happy 1st Birthday CHARLIE!

I can still remember like it was yesterday, being at the hospital in Bossier and seeing my sweet nephew for the first time and holding him. Charlie has been a total joy to everyone he is around. When I picture his little face in my head, it always has a smile because that is how he ALWAYS is when I see him. What a precious child.
I am so privileged to be a part of this little man's life.
I LOVE YOU CHARLIE!!

Less of me is more.

I want to share something God has placed on my heart. I should relax and focus more on my kids - my husband - home and less on everything else, including myself. I am mainly talking about the time and energy I give to these things. It has been easy for me to stray away from kids/husband/home (with my time) and follow selfish desires like me wanting to talk to my friends, me wanting to browse my emails, check out my google reader, do my workout, my, my, my. Seriously, when I go to bed and the end of the day, what my stuff is going to be fulfilling? I'm not saying that my stuff is bad. I need my time but when am I taking my time?
Angie sent me this link after I shared with her my heart about this matter and it was put so perfectly.
I seriously doubt God is pleased by some of the choices I have made in a day. We are constantly faced with decisions (especially as parents) to choose our priorities. Thinking of what benefits our kids should absolutely be towards the top of our list under serving God (which coincidentally ties into focusing on our family)
This is easier said than done. I struggle with "self" on a day by day basis.
My prayer is to no longer see "self" but to simply be the person God intends for me to be. Someone who possesses His characteristics. I desire to be a wife who is gracious and steadfast, a devoted mother who is stern, considerate, compassionate and loving - a homemaker who is hospitable and who takes ownership and pride in her home.

As I typed the last few lines, an old hymn popped into my head. I think it is appropriate and I pray it is always my desire:

Have Thine Own Way
Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

I leave you with a couple of videos of our kids. Aubrey says the Pledge of Allegiance in the bathtub and Pete laughs at a silly ball. THIS is what fills my heart with joy at just the remembrance of it.

November B-day Parties

I have not blogged in a while because I decided to focus on my family more and my house. I am still looking for that balance and I hope that I will someday. For now, my kids are in bed, husband it doing a little work, so here I am to update you. Here is a look into the party life of the Silverthorne's in November.

Well, My birthday started the month off. Yes, Drew & I turned the big 30!! Here is a picture of us at the Johnny Carino's in Tyler. I LOVE THAT PLACE. I love having Drew as a twin. HAPPY 30 BRO!!
We had lots of friends and family there. I was overwhelmed with the love in that room. Thanks again Amy for orchestrating that. On my birthday, my little family took me out to Cheddar's after church. We had an awesome time! It was a good day.




We also got to go to some pretty fun birthday parties!!

Eden's party was happening with her Little Mermaid theme and the pin-the-fin on the Mermaid. We had a great time and LOVE the Roberts new house! I can't believe she is already 5. I am so proud that we got her the movie "Little Mermaid" last year for her birthday and I guess she liked it ;) She got an Ariel doll this year and wouldn't put it down at the party. Precious! It is so awesome that Ben and Amy are good friends with all of my siblings. It's fun that the cousins were all invited to the party as well.




Pump-it-up with Grayson was pretty fun too. Aubrey has been friends with Grayson from the beginning. We always have fun with them.

At Andrew Tutt's party Aubrey even got to ride a horse for the first time. She LOVED it!! She really was a natural. She started out on the pony but wanted to ride the horse ALL BY HERSELF! Pete didn't care so much - maybe next time.