full love...full house

oh my, another week has passed (flown) by and yet i am some how amazed at this??

i have the best intentions of going through my checklist and updating my weekly goals...i am writing them down on paper and taping it in my car, on my desk and in the kitchen. ha the top 3 places i spend my days.

this past week... the jacobs kiddos got an amazing gift they have been wanting for a long time

introducing..... ali-bama!!!

she is a black lab and she has been a wonderful dog so far... after a week and a half. camdyn was very reprehensible at first and did not want a thing to do with ali-bama but she has really turned a corner (thank the lord) and is in love with this dog.  she likes to boss her around and pretend to spank her...love.

oh, and don't you just love her name???? as soon as the kids saw her (we surprised them and did not tell them elliot's dad and step mom were bringing her to bryant for us) they said we (kk and cannon) want to name her bama. after about five minutes it changed to ali-bama-it is precious and oh so fitting for our love of bama football and the university. cannon's fav-or-ite thing to say to her is... roll ali-bama roll. hahaha. love it.

last week report cards came home and you are looking at

mr honor roll himself. kk has worked so hard this semester and oh my 4th grade is hard. i have had to google so many things this year, for two educators in this house we have been dumb founded. haha.he was very proud of all his work all a's and only one b. poor kk can't even get a picture by himself.

kk and his buddies... drake, camille, and kk.great job to everyone and they are all such great kiddos. we love y'all!

kk also had a tot performance this week on friday night... it is kinda like the harlem globetrotters but 4-5th grade version. the p.e. teachers at the school select the students to be on the team and then they perform at different events in the area, little rock and hot springs.

here is a short video from friday night...







my parents came into town on friday for the performance and brought me their treadmill to use until my training is over. chief goes into work every a.m. at 5 so, 3:30 am runs were killing me and honestly i was terrified too. it is so dark even with a light at that time and once the teacher went missing in montana in that super quite safe town... that was it for this lady. call me a scaredy cat or what have you but this momma fo' sho' ain't doin it.  i plan on training on the treadmill through the week and then outside long runs on saturday/sunday morning-once it is light outside.ha.

this weekend i completed a 10 mile run. thank.you.precious.sweet.lord. i train by myself so it is just me and the lord on these long runs, and boy do i talk to him the entire time. this run was big for me because i have NOT trained for this like i should have. i have really good weeks and then weeks that i am so mentally drained that i can't not even tie my running shoes to get onto the road. my work is so rewarding but also it has taken a toll the past few weeks. do not worry i know way God has placed me in this journey and it brings joy to my heart. i am praying that the lord will guide me through this journey and to complete this process as a healthy and happy momma.  so on weeks i have slacked i have really tried to make up miles and double up. at this point in the training my goal is to just get across the finish line and hug my precious babies and my sweet thang. 

on sunday we walked with thousands and thousand of believers at the march for life to the capitol. it was an amazing experience for not only chief and i but for our kiddos too. it was very moving and you could feel the Lord moving everyone is so many ways. truly wonderful.i did not take any pictures because the weather was raining and cold i can not wait for next year.

in the word this week this verse just shook me...

not that i speak from want, for i have learned to be content in whatever circumstances i am. i know how to get along with humble means, and i also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance i have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
phil 4:11-12

Rammer Jamma... ROLL TIDE!!!!

Y'all knew this one was coming..... Alabama National Champs!!!! RTR!!!

Oh, this week as been wonderful and started off better than we could of excepted!!! It was honestly just lovely and perfect.

We started the morning off watching YouTube videos of "Twent Wichardson," videos and baking cupcakes for the game. Cannon's favorite Bama player is of course #3 Trent Richardson, whom he calls "Twent Wichardson," Oh, he loves him.  During our nightly football games in the living room he is  "Twent."  That evening before the game Cannon and I went to pick up pizza from our local fav, "Little Caesar's," and in the car we were talking about the game and he said... "Mom, God made me and Twent the same." I asked him how was that... " he said "Jesus made me and Twent really fast runners." I went on to tell him how awesome that was and how much Jesus loves him and how he loves Trent too. He then said something that I almost drove off the rode, " But, Mom God loves everyone and makes everyone special and he makes everyone different." I asked him how he is different, " he said well Twent is brown because he stayed at the beach wayyyyy toooo long." I know that is not really appropriate but it made me smile and laugh all at the same time.  God love him! He really loves Jesus and Twent!

Here at the baboo's on  Tuesday moring before we left for school... of course all decked out in their Bama gear!

#1 and if feels sooo good!!!! Roll Tide!!!

I think most of you that read my blog are aware of my love for Bama and Mr. Nick Saban! He is a legendary coach and he is also so handsome (yes, my husband knows this).  When I was pregnant with Cannon, Chief and I attended a Nike Coaches Clinic in Mississippi where Coach Saban was speaking ( he was coaching LSU at the time) and we were both able to go listen to him and we sat on the front row.  At the time we didn't really know who was speaking because it listed either him or Coach Dungy... lucky girl lucky girl.  Well, after listening to Coach Saban speak he opened for questions and then ended the session. When leaving he walked up to Chief and I and asked about me being pregnant... if it was a boy and how far along I was and why was I interested in listening to him speak. After talking briefly and telling him it was a boy and we were due the next month he asked what we were naming him.  When I told him Cannon he smiles and said now that is a football player name and then he asked the unthinkable... "Can I rub your belly because one day that boy will be a hell of a football player?" Ummm... are you kidding? Yes, you may rub all you want, I thought! hahah!!! So, that is my personal encounter with My Man Nick!!!

My cousin from Bama sent me this email yesterday and oh I love this video! Too cute!!



And, just one more video! This video is amazing to hear the fans all singing Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer...





ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!

Goals

If no one chooses to read this post, I am 100% okay with that.

I follow the Money Saving Mom pretty closely and she really encourages you to set weekly goals and even daily goals.  I am pretty good about setting daily goals to ensure what I need to do that day actually gets done, as soon as I get to my office on work days I type out this list and tape it to my desk.  Some tasks are very simple and I am sure if my teachers were to ever look at it they may think oh my sweet heavens Torri needs some help if she can't remember that BUT, I need it I really do. I found the above picture on Pinterest (oh how i spend too much time on there) and I felt it was very appropriate for this season in my life.

Sooo, my goals this week..

1. Spend my quite time with my Bible at the BEGINNING (I feel that it really helps me start my day off this way) of each day.

2. Be diligent in my Face-to-Face Mary and Martha Bible study.

3. Maintain my running training schedule ( I am ahead of schedule ...praise the lord) 24 miles this week.

4.  Organize my pantry.

5. Start reading a new book this week.

6. Do at least one load of laundry each day this week.

7.  Prepare meals for the month and organize those coupons.

8.  Plan a monthly short letter for the teachers at work; including dates of training and etc.

Oh, my! Now that I look at this list I will be working hard this week.  I feel like I really need this and I plan on next week coming back and crossing off the things I was able to complete.  If you did decide to read this post please ask me about this close to the end of the week and help hold me accountable.  I continue to pray for peace and calmness during each week as it can get out of control and busy before I know it. Lord, please grant me your words to speak this week and give me the strength and calmness for my children to see.

ROLL TIDE... give em "heck" Alabama!!!

We can NOT contain ourselves today at all...I am so dearly sorry... NOT!!!!

The boys had their outfits laid out last night and could not wait to get up this morning and get those jerseys on. Little Miss has her Bama shirt and tutu on including her houndstooth bow- yes, she picked it herself hehehe!!  Momma is sporting her ....

You guess it... ding ding!!!

Cannon and I have our "Twent Wichardsin" cupcakes in the oven (red velvet) and we are beyond pumped today. We are having an ALL DAY Alabama party today while the big boys are at school!! This day truly has me pumped and ready to go and kick some booty!

I can't lie when I say I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing my sweets (Nick Saban) on TV all weekend. He really just melts my sweet little heart.  

I took a picture of the two ittie bitties this morning in the Bama gear to send to their Nana (Chief's mom- for those of you who do not know Nana lives in Alabama and she attributes to our Bama fever)

Please please and please take notice that they are both holding up the #1 sign (even CE) and I did not tell them to or have ever coached them in doing that. I loved it!!! Very proud momma moment right there!!!

love. just love it. Cannon has been requesting to watch You Tube videos all morning of this "favowite Twent Wichardsin," and he also shares my love of Ole Nick, so YouTube videos it is today!!

I hope you have a wonderful day today and just know the TIDE IS ROLLING TONIGHT!!!!

bama love.





Starting Things Off in 2012

I am very excited about God's plans for us in 2012, it is all him leading the way and I am ready.

Chief and I started 2012 off with a first, we went out yay!!! ( not really - to dinner, but I call that out. It was a send off dinner for our precious friends The Hursts- they are moving.)We enjoyed dinner at Ya Ya's and we were home by 9:00!!!




We also added a family member... Annie.



KK took this wonderful picture of me and Annie...lovely! Annie is a sweet ole guinea pig that we happily adopted from another family. My intentions were to keep her over break then take her to the preschool...well, I love her, I really do. Before I picked up Annie from a friend I had never held any type of creature except like a dog or cat... Total first. I love her. So, now she resides at our home and I will take her to preschool to visit, yes visit only because the beautiful bug eyed girl is ALL mine. A quick funny... I took her to visit my school kiddos on Wednesday our first day back at school ( side note ALL of the kiddos at school know that Mrs. Torri does not touch animals/creatures except for dogs/cats) and while in one of our Pre-K rooms she poops all over my jeans and then onto the rug. Oh sweet babies they died in laughter and were gasping for air, it was a precious moment that I will never forget for 2 reasons. First, I have never been pooped on by a creature and second because, of the sound of that laughter. Priceless.

Oh, I love my hubby!!!! No seriously, I am cheesy head over heels for that man.
But, he listens and listens well...



I mentioned these precious babies months, I mean months ago, sold out most places and very difficult to find. Chief gifted me with these for Christmas and I was surprised and a very happy Roll Tidin' girl! They now have a safe home in my closet and i have worn them very carefully to special places. The boys call them my Bama Shoes and I just love them!! I will def be sporting my loves on Monday while the Tide Rolls and then to school on Tuesday to show who is #1!!!

I am continuing to train for the Little Rock marathon on top of everything else going on, it has been very difficult and prayer is definitely getting me through it. I am training before Chief goes to baseball practice so my 4 am wake up call on top of 3 kids to care for, basketball season and my new position as DIRECTOR of preschool ministry is a little overwhelming at the moment. Yes, I said it and I hope you caught it. I was offered the director position before Christmas by the church school board and I happily accepted, it was official on January 1st. I love it and it actually doesn't feel like a job, I still only work part-time ( 3 days/ 8-2:45) and I love the ladies who serve with me. It has been a huge blessing and it has been amazing to see God's plan over the past year.

As I go through this very busy time with life as we all are right now please pray for one another, even though we may not know what is exactly going on in each others lives, we all need prayer daily to survive this world we live in.

In Him, we have this Season!!

We have been on Christmas break for almost two weeks now and I am ready to get back to OUR routine.
I am so very thankful that Elliot and I are both off for the entire Christmas break and that we are able to enjoy this precious season of life with our children and our families.

This has been such a fun time with our kids and I can honestly say it has been the most stress free Christmas season that I can remember.  I know why it has been stress free and the peace has been so amazing and free.  I hate and I am embarrassed to say it but I have been in the word of the Bible and have devoted more quite time with my Lord and Savior in the past 6-10 months than ever in my life.  I am very proud but also embarrassed and continue to ask forgiveness for something that I have not made a necessity in my life.  It has been a priority in my daily life and I am oh so thankful for his grace and love.

What did the Jacob's do during Christmas break.... Break it Down!

We have acquired a new family member... Annie, a geniea pig. ( A picture to come tomorrow... but she looks like Buggsie from the movie "Bedtime Stories.") We love our Annie girl!!

The big boys (Chief and KK) got out of school on Wednesday and the bay bay's and I finished up on Tuesday (lovely)... on Thursday KK, Cannon and I went to my sweet friend Cindy's house to decorate Christmas cookies.  She was such an amazing hostess, the coffee was waiting on me and she had some awesome goodies to snack on. 

We ended up bringing home two large boxes of Christmas cookies that were ready for Santa and momma!! haha!!!

We were home on Christmas Eve and it was beyond relaxing and very laid back, we watched Christmas movies, went out to eat for dinner, drove around looking at lights and then headed to Church for 11 pm candle light service. The service was beautiful and I am still so thankful that Cannon did not catch the place on fire... he did almost burn KK's hair off his head though.

I really slacked on taking pictures of the kids opening gifts because,oh my, it was WILD to say the least. Three kiddos opening gifts, well Camdyn liked the candy in the stockings better than presents and needless to say she was on a sugar high before opening the first gift. 

(I promise I have more... I can't find them)

KK was very surprised by his gift and he was the sweetest thing all day thanking us. (he got a laptop)

Cannon Ty was beyond pumped about his Hungry Hippos and "big ole" race tracks.

Camdyn is still cooking up a storm in her new kitchen and then vacuuming up her mess with her new pink "voom".

I was a big dork and didn't take a picture of the kids in front of the tree on Christmas so I took this before taking down the tree the other day...boo.. bad momma I know it!

We even took the kiddos ice skating one day last week... it was DANGEROUS!! ha! I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life.  A Jersey Shore look alike Dad was there skating with his bad self and he almost made me have a potty accident. We all couldn't stop laughing!

Cannon loved and I mean loved skating he is so different from KK. When KK went skating for the first time he was so frustrated because he couldn't do it perfectly the first time. Well, Cannon just loves it, falls and all. He also could skate so fast it was too funny!

We have soooo enjoyed the past two weeks of staying in our pj's all day, eating junk food and playing all day. I hate for this time to end but we all need our schedule back and Chief is going stir crazy.  I will always remember our Christmas 2011 as a peaceful, fun and loving time.  The magic of this season always warms my heart and brings a smile to my face. In Him!