READ THIS BOOK!

So, in my Friend2Friend group this semester we are reading the book, "Big Girls Don't Whine". I actually chose the study because it was the one my friends were taking! Ha! A little high school, maybe? But, either way! I am LOVING this book! I think every woman in the world should read it! I feel like a light bulb goes off every time I pick it up!

It is so eye opening to read about the difference between being a Big Girl and Little Girl. I can't imagine what our world would look like, what our churches would like like and what our homes would look like if more women would step up and be the Big Girls that God created us to be! I know I have a LONG way to go but I really am learning so much! So, if you get a chance... pick this book up!!! I don't think you will regret it!

I watched this video this morning and sobbed. While my little boy sat playing Legos on the dining room table and my little girl was out running errands with her Daddy who loves her more than anything. I have two children who are so loved and we give them absolutely everything we can. It is so hard to remember that there are so many children who have no one. So many of the children in the video looked a lot like my own. I am overwhelmed with feelings of saddness for them right now. I am grateful that they are loved my our Heavenly Father and pray that so many orphans find earthly families to love them. And I ask God to give me His heart for them. It is amazing that when you look at the Bible you really do see that God's heart is for adoption. I am so proud of all of the families I know who have chosen to adopt and pray that all of our hearts would be stirred to love on orphans in some way.
James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Show Us Your Life - Valentines Dates or Ideas

At Kelly's Korner this week it is Valentines Dates or Ideas.

Now, Valentine's Day is a very big day at the R's house. Valentine's Day has always been a big deal in my house. You see, I was born on Valentine's Day. And what makes it even more special is my mom was born on Valentine's Day. So, I like to think of myself as pretty much the best birthday present/Valentine's day gift she has ever gotten:-) I loved Valentine's Day growing up and secretly thought of it as my own personal holiday. My mom always wrapped my presents in Valentine's paper and somehow always managed to find that perfect Hallmark card, "On Your Valentine's Birthday..."

Needless to say, the standards were high when Mr. R entered the picture. But, never one to not meet a challenge head on Nick made our first Valentine's Day together absolutely perfect... he proposed! The next Valentine's Day was going to be tough. How do you follow marriage proposal? Well, we had been married 6 months so somehow he managed to suprise me again the next year (haha yeah right) we found out we were having a baby on my birthday! Since then the Valentine's days haven't been quite as huge. But, it is such a special day for us because of all of those things!

This year I am really excited about Valentine's Day! On Saturday night after the kids go to bed we are having a date night in! I am making shrimp linguini, tomato and feta salad, cheddar bay biscuits, and chocolate covered strawberries. Nick is in charge of picking out a cheesy romantic movie to watch while we eat our strawberries and drink sparkling cider. I can't wait!

Then we will make Sunday about the kids. We are doing heart pancakes for breakfast and all that fun stuff.

I am so excited! Happy Valentine's Day (or as it will always be in my mind, Happy Katie Day!)

I am so ready for Spring! But we have had fun in the snow despite my extreme dislike for winter. Max built a snowman with his grandparents and was SOOOOO proud of it! I was pretty impressed myself...

On Friday night we had kind of family night where we played in the snow. It was so much fun and was Sophie's first time to play in the snow!

And of course as parents we were legally bound by the age old tradition that after your children play in the snow you must serve them hot chocolate...

I of course am super excited for Valentine's Day coming up! As you know it is also my birthday and quite possibly one of the coolest holidays out there! I think we will use this weekend to kind of celebrate Valentine's Day as a family with the kids. Then the next weekend I think Nick and I will go out to dinner for my birthday. The funny thing is although I love celebrating my birthday we never really do anything big. And honestly, I love it. I think Nick and I will just go somewhere fun for dinner and spend time together. At this point in our lives I really don't need gifts and we don't have a ton of extra money to spend. So, a date night is the perfect way to celebrate! Here are a few pictures of my other 2 little Valentine's besides my wonderful husband!

they really do like each other...

Love those babies! Can't wait to add another to their craziness!

Home from a Girls Weekend to a Snow Day

So, this weekend I celebrated my amazing friend Christina's 30th birthday. She and my other amazing friend Sarah came to St. Louis and we had an FABULOUS weekend away! We did so many fun things that are hard to do with kids! We started out at Frontenac Plaza for a little window shopping and people watching! Then we moved on to lunch in Clayton at Il Vicino. Two words on that one: YUM and O! Then we headed to the Galleria for some real shopping! Christina and I love helping Sarah find new clothes. Since she has a job she needs big girl clothes! So, we help her:-) Then we went to our hotel right by the arch. The view from our room was just increadible! For dinner we went to Carmine's Steakhouse. Again... so tasty! We had a very... um... interesting waiter who gave Christina a very motivational speach informing her that his 30's were the worst decade of his life! Ha! But, he gave us free chocolate cake so we aren't mad! Then being totally us when we saw a horse and carriage we had to go for it. We took a horse drawn carriage ride around downtown. It was freezing and we were cracking up the whole time about everything but I think I will remember it forever! The next day we went to breakfast at St. Louis Bread Co. then shopping at Target and then finished off our get together with lunch at The Cheesecake Factory! Couldn't have been more fun! I love those girls! We have so much fun together. We say everything and anything that pops into our heads and laugh until our stomachs hurt. They bless my life SO much!

Max is a little dissapointed this morning because school is cancled. Poor guy loves to go. So, I am trying to make today fun at home. I am making cinnoman rolls right now while he is watching Veggie Tales. So far so good! Not sure what else today will hold. Maybe I will be a REALLY good mom and get out the Play-Doh... we'll see...