Full Circle Moment

We started a new tradition this year in the Gerwick household.  Thank you pinterest and the woman who came up with it---I tried to find her link, but could not find it---so please make sure she gets the credit for the fabulous idea. 

Anyway--I saw this on pinterest 2 days before December 1st so I was a tailspin to try to get it all together.  Keeping it real--I did not have the project fully complete prior to us starting so we did miss a couple of days.  I tried not to sweat it too much because the boys were having a blast.  

On to the project, basically we counted down the 25 days til Christmas by doing a Random Act of  Christmas Kindness each day.  We called it being "RACK'd".  Each day we would read a scripture and a task for the day.  In the beginning of the project, it was hard for the boys to understand that they were not going to get anything in return for their act of kindness.  I would explain that we were doing something, never expecting anything in return.  We were just sharing God's love by being kind.  I also explained that "what goes around comes around" as in...if you give out kindness in the world, kindness comes back to you.  When I was teaching them about kindness coming back you, I never expected it to come full circle.  It never.crossed.my.mind! (make sure to read all the way to the end of pictures)

The boys really got into the project and loved being able to do nice things for people.  They even started thinking up ways they could do a personal act of kindness on their own.  I was truly amazed at how much they started to look for ways to be kind.  I am super excited to do this again next year and will plan accordingly and creatively.    

Advent Calendar - 25 Days of Random Acts of Kindness

Each day had a scripture and task

Card we handed out when we did the RACK - this one pictured was "tape quarters to children's vending machines"

So here is our full circle moment---a couple of days after Christmas we went out to eat as a family.  We paid the bill and never looked back.  Almost a week passed, and I was packing up all the Christmas decorations and I noticed something taped on my window near the front door.  I saw an envelope that said "Happy New Year".  When I opened it, I saw some receipts and immediately thought one of Billy's old co-workers dropped something off for him.  I took it to him and he was unsure what it was so we clearly we needed to examine it a little further. We noticed a void on a receipt for the dinner we had almost a week ago.  The bill was almost $75 with tip and it was voided out, taped on our door with a happy new year & no name, I mean...really?!  As we started to process what had happened, we were in shock and also AMAZED.  Did this really just happen?  We just spent almost a month, doing random acts of kindness with our boys---NEVER expecting anything in return and here we were holding a voided receipt.  I can hardly explain how it made us feel, but it was pretty awesome--not only for us personally, but also because we know how all the people we touched felt when they received their RACK.

We have no clue who did this, but we thank you on so many levels.  

Happy New Year!

Voided Receipt

Park Day

Last weekend the weather was AMAZING and we decided to take the boys to the park.  We love the park, but the crazy Texas heat has kept us from enjoying it for the whole summer quite some time.  For those of you not from Texas, our heat has been in the triple digits through September.  Craziness, I tell ya!  

What do the boys do at the park?  

Well of course, they look for frogs.

And they play with our dog, Copper---who has not been to the park with us in years---partly mostly because I can only handle so much.  Truth be told, the boys have always been a handful at the park and Copper would have been lost neglected.  But---we have finally arrived to a season of life where we can take our dog AND our kids to the park.  It may be time to throw a party, yes---it IS time to throw a party.  :)

Sweet and Loyal Friend - Copper - 12 years old

And they play with Daddy, of course.  He is really good about playing with the boys at the park.  Thank you honey!

Best Friends

And they pose for an occasional picture.  

Fun times were had by all.  Saturday was definitely a day I wanted to bottle up and save in my memory forever.  Glad I had my camera!!!  :)

Friends

Last week we went to Dallas to visit some friends.  We stayed with my long-time friend Cassie and her family for 2 nights and then we went over to the Lewis household for 2 nights.  We all had a blast.  It was fun catching up and letting the kids play with each other.  Love all the memories that we have made.  While at Cassie's, the dads took the kids to a Ranger game and Cass and I got to hang out.  Not really sure how that came to happen, but I loved the girl time.  :)  On Saturday, at the Lewis house, we decided to take the kids to the Lego Discovery Center and the Aquarium at Grapevine Mills Mall ----sooo much fun.  I hope to post those pic's later---but I will not promise because I am bad at keeping my promises on this blog!!!  :) 

Gavin, Grayson & Lawson - all start kindergarten the same year

 This little dove was a guest at Cassie's house while we were there.  This was taken right outside of the back door.  She has come back 4 times to lay her eggs and I was fascinated with her.....so were the kids.  She became our friend while we were there so I had to take her picture.  You really should name her Cassie!?  

Little bird being a momma

sitting on her eggs

Grayson, Ethan, Gavin, Kyla, & Gage

Gavin holding Kyla - Watch out!!!

Let's hear it for the girls!

I have to tell you that I take my job at mothering these boys very seriously.  Not only is it my goal to raise good men of character, who love God, but it is also very important to nurture their future husband capabilities.  I have humbly accepted that I am the only girl in the house for now and most days I truly love being the one and only.  But.... I would be lying if I did not say that I find comfort in knowing one day, these boys will get married and have kids of their own.  I look forward to the day that I will not be the one and only.  I look forward to having a daughter-in-law.  In preparation for a long awaited female presence, I prepare the way.  

This one's for you girls.....

These two....

ARE officially done with preschool AND are sooo ready to go to Kindergarten.  

Where did the time go?

These are shots of them the night of their "graduation".  They are being goofy and will probably hate these pictures one day, but I love them.  

What's Up?

Good Morning!!  I feel like I have not posted in forever, well---because I haven't.  All is good at the Gerwick house.  We are near the end of another baseball season for Gavin and starting Cudas (our competitive swim team).  All the boys are going to swim.  They are super excited and I promise to post more frequently this summer and try to catch up on some missed posts.  I promise, really---  :)

I am coming to you today, really to share something that has been going on with us over the last 9 months.  I guess it has been something I have kept low on the blog radar---unless you were looking specifically for it.  I don't really know why, except for the reason that it has been private, but I have felt led by God to share my story more openly and what a better way to start.  It is concerning the 6 frozen embryos that we had.  I have shared with you here and here on this blog before.  If you know me personally, then you know my story---I am super open about it.  If you don't, then I want to share with you now.

In February, I started a blog about my journey/ life after IVF.  It will pretty much explain it all.  Please stop over and check it out.  And I have a favor to ask, if you know anyone that is/has/or is thinking about going through IVF, please send them a link to the blog.  And I graciously accept any of your prayers, because it can be a little scary to be so transparent.  Oh, the blog....  www.lifebeyondivf.blogspot.com   Make sure to start from the beginning---there are only 4 posts so it is not too long.  :)

Thanks for sharing in my life.

Much Love,
Tanni

Polar Express

In early December, we took the boys to the Polar Express in Palestine.  It is about 2ish hours away from our house (one way), so we were a little apprehensive about going, BUT it was SOOOO worth it.  The boys had a blast, we had a blast watching them experience something magical, AND a wonderful added bonus was that we meet our friends from Dallas---Brad, Cassie, Lawson & Harlan.  Cassie and I have been friends for more years than I can count.  Way back in the day---we lived together.  It was so fun to meet her and her family and experience this train ride together.  All the boys had a blast.....the pictures don't lie!!!  :)

 You have to BELIEVE for it to be magical----or at least be a parent watching our kids love every moment of it.  :)  

Here is the train and all the kids waiting in anticipation (in the cold) for the train ride to take place.  

 They were so excited----well everyone, except Gavin who did not want his picture taken at the moment!  :)

 Our ticket

 Now the smiles are starting to come....

 All 5 boys---wearing the same PJ's---so cute!

Are we really going to the North Pole?

 IT IS MAGICAL---you have to BELIEVE!!!  :)

 The conductor came by to punch the tickets----just like the movie.  Check out Grayson's look.  

 And here comes Santa....

 The kids are playing with the jingle bells from Santa----if you could only hear the sound here----you would really need ear plugs.  

Our trip to the North Pole via the Polar Express was amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone with small children.  It was one of those moments in your life that will never be forgotten.