Can you figure out my shirt?

So, it's been a while since I've posted and many things have happened. We celebrated Evie's 2nd Birthday with a party on Sunday Dec. 22nd. It was the perfect opportunity to share our "news" with our families, since everyone except Lance and Naomi were able to be there. We made Evie this shirt and took her sweater off when it was time to eat cake. We just waited to see how long it took someone to notice and figure out what "I'm the BIG Sister Birthday Girl!" meant...yes, we are expecting blessing #4 in August. I am praying for a little sister for Evie. She plays great, but sometimes I'm a little sad that the boys have each other and go off and play and she doesn't have a buddy. (Other than me--we do girl stuff:) The boys are excited and we actually told them before all of the family and they kept it quiet all weekend prior to the party. We were super proud of them. That's one of Evie's cousins, Payton, in the picture with her. She a sweetie pie too! Well--it is sooooo incredibly late...there are always more stories and pictures I just don't seem to have time to share them all. I'll try to post again soon. (Can you believe Evie's hair??? I don't know what we're going to do with it. Aunt Susie there in the background has curly, curly hair naturally so she will definately have to give us some tips!)

Family Picture

It's been a while since we've had a family picture taken together. My sister and her husband snapped this one for us at a wedding we were at recently...well Jon was in the wedding--he doesn't just wear a tuxedo every day you know :) Evie is such a ham and the boys are still at that stage where they paste on a smile and just want the picture done. Maybe this will be our annual "Christmas Card" picture. Maybe not--the kids grow and change so much even in just two months. There isn't a whole lot happening around our house. Jon and I have gotten to go on several date nights lately. (We have worked out a rotation with another couple and we have the luxury of grandparents right here in town too. We are spoiled that way.) Back to the date nights...we went to see the movie Fireproof last week. It was a great, great movie! Really "real life" in some parts, and good to remind us what marriage is all about. I would tell anyone who is married or thinks they might ever be married or has a married family member to go see it...basically it's great for everyone! That's just my opinion. I hope they make a sound track the music was great too.

Summer Fun

Evie thinks this is "her" spot. She just wants to stand or sit on the top of the ladder most of the time. She totally blocks anyone trying to use the ladder which is a huge frustration to her brothers who love to jump off, swim around and climb up, jump off, swim around and climb up, jump off...you get the idea. (There are almost no dry places on the boat!)
Our three good lookin' guys enjoying the water!

Why we love the lake at the end of the day!

Every time Josh, Jen and Faith joined us Jennifer was constantly trying to "tie"Faith's towel on for her...the last trip Jennifer had the great idea of just bringing her robe for the day!
Finally, the "brave" Littlejohns on the cliffs. This one isn't focused real well, but it is the one that has every brave soul in it!

The pictures span several trips over the summer and we camped a couple of times...lots of fun!!!

I've run out of time or I would have posted more pics--maybe more will follow later.

So these are the things that go on around here...I have no idea why the rug I threw by the door (that matches nothing in the house) is on the couch!?????
Evie has taken to purses lately. Now we have to have one with us everywhere we go. She actually broke the strap off of this one shortly after the picture was taken, so now she is lugging around one of my old purses. It is usually full of cars and little things like her empty bubble container. Summer is winding down and we are gearing up to start school in a couple of weeks. We are hoping to camp and spend Saturday at the lake...the weather doesn't look like it is going to cooperate...I know I keep promising pictures of the kids enjoying the lake...I really, really will get some on here. The computer I am using doesn't have any of the lake on it. I'm sure we will have some more after the weekend.

Cake, cake and more cake

This is a picture of the wedding cake another "cake lady" and myself created for a wedding last Saturday. When I was approached to make it, I quickly declined when they told me there were going to be 200-250 guests. I mentioned it to someone and they suggested I ask Susie to help me. Her daughter is getting married later this year and wants a fondant wedding cake. I had the fondant experience and Susie had the years and years of wedding cake experience. It worked out very nicely and we actually had a lot of fun. (Well, I did get tired of cooking wedding cake...you are looking at 14 cake mixes, 12 pounds of powdered sugar and a can and a half of crisco...and that's just a few of the ingredients on the list.) Susie put the edge around the bottom of each layer on and I really, really think that just "made" the cake!!!!!!!!!!!!! Overall it was a really great experience. Below is the groom's cake they requested(so there would for sure be enough cake-Jon made the cake board for us and it measured 22 inches by 30 inces to give you an idea of how monstrous it was) and below that I'm going to put a picture of some birthday cakes I made for some twins a few weeks ago. On a different note...the kids are having a great summer and the pontoon boat is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! We've had it to the lake both weekends since we got it. I think we are going to take a rest this weekend. I'll post some pictures of the kiddos in a few days--we have some recent ones that are really fun.

Summer Fun Comin' Up

So here is our latest adventure. I was on my way down to our doctor in Mt. Home Arkansas last week and saw this pontoon boat. We have talked for several years about the fact that maybe a pontoon boat would work well for us (with the kids) and for having more space to able to take our families and friends along to the lake. Anyway--I called the number, we went and looked Saturday and it was such an amazing deal. We prayed about it--we even talked with the kids and prayed as a family that God would guide us in this decision. We explained that maybe there was something else God would want us to spend our money on instead of this boat. (Anthony "got it" and prayed that God would help us know...Gideon's prayer went like this..."God, please help us get the boat!") He's three--almost four--at least he got it that it was something to be prayed about. We are really trying to get to that point as a family...EVERYTHING is something to consult with God about...if He is really, really going to be in the driver's seat of our life and our family. Anyway, we can't wait to get it down to the lake and try it out. We already have the boys' birthday party planned for Saturday evening, so it may be Sunday afternoon or next weekend before the maiden voyage!

God's Goodness

Jon and I attended a marriage retreat in Branson this weekend. It was led by Travis Plumlee--who is truly a man of God, totally yielded to and led by the Holy Spirit. It was so refreshing and fun and we are so thankful for the things God is continuing to teach us and use to grow us to be more like His Son. We literally got back just few hours ago and went out to my parents house to pick up the kids. Anthony, Gideon and Evie have had a total blast there this weekend. It is so nice that we have a place where they can play and run and really get to experience the country the way Jon and I both did growing up. Anyway--we ate dinner out on my parents' deck and Anthony got done and asked to be excused to go get in a few more minutes of play before we had to leave. My dad joked with me on the phone that the boys were so low maintenance...he has a dirt pile in the yard from some ground work he has been doing, and he told me he gave them two shovels and they have been happy as clams, digging and playing all weekend. Of course Anthony headed right back to the dirt pile where he and Gideon had been just 20-30 minutes before. All of a sudden he let out a yell/scream I have never heard out of him at the same moment that he hurled the shovel he had been hitting on the ground and came running and crying to the deck faster than I have ever seen the child move. The only thing was he was crying but not making any noise--totally freaked out. I thought he had been stung by something and he finally got out that there was a brown snake. Jon and my Dad headed for the dirt pile where Anthony had been and my Dad almost stepped on a copperhead right there on top of that pile of dirt. At this point my dad calls back to me that I should check Anthony to make sure he doesn't have a bite on him and I flipped out. I kept asking him louder and louder if it bit him or just scared him...to the point Jon yelled at me to calm down and quit asking...that he would know if he was bit or not. At this point I start to cry and just have to back away because I don't want Anthony to see me crying and upset. My dad at this point has already chopped the snakes head off (rather forcefully--I told Jon he just was releasing his emotions a different way than me). Anyway--everyone got calmed down and Jon told me he didn't mean to yell etc. I still felt like I was going to throw up...I kept thinking how many times I let the boys out there to play when it is just me out there working, how many times they go crawling up the pile on their hands and knees, sit on it, etc. At this point Jon reminded me that just today as the marriage retreat was ending we spent a considerable amount of time as a group praying, each couple praying for our different individual families and needs and Jon said "we spent time today praying specifically and powerfully for God to protect all three of our children and He just answered our prayer with Anthony!" Ahhhh God, thank you for this man. He is so calm and so quiet sometimes, but so solidly grounded in You and Your truths. Our children are God's. He will always be watching out for them and working His perfect will. Although it would be tempting for me to want to never let my kids out in the country again...that's not going to happen. It's not my parents fault there was a snake...that is just part of the outdoors. There are many dangers out there, we just have to do the best we can to protect our kids and and keep them safe while at the same time trusting God completely. (I'm still learning in that area! I don't know if I'll ever have a snake encounter that doesn't leave me feeling like I want to throw up!!!!!!!!!!!!)