Pixel Perfect: Getting to know you

Today we are getting to know Kel over at Then there were 5.

How long have you been married? 5.5 years

How many children do you have? ages? I have 3 kids. 2 girls and 1 boy. Kayla (3.5), Edyn (6 months) & Guinness (2)

What is the one thing that if nothing else "sticks" you want your children to learn from you? Sounds cliche...but that Jesus is LORD! I am a believer and I want my kids to know Him. To trust Him. To believe that He can do anything in their lives.

Are you a stay at home mom or a work at home mom? I am a stay at home mom.....some days I love it, some I don't. Def. grateful to be able to do so though. :)

Do you have any hobbies? I have a love for photography. I think I can take pictures well, but......want to pursue that further. I love crafts and cooking....well...baking more so than cooking.

What is you best memory you have of your family? The best memory I have of my family involves my sister and I dressing up in her "homemade" homecoming dresses, walking the "catwalk" (a 6 foot space in our room) to "I'm too sexy for my...". HAHAHAHA, maybe that should be my most embarrassing moment too. LOL Hahahaha!!

What is your favorite family vacation? well I would have to say playing on the beach with my oldest daughter. The others had not been born yet and we were vacationing in Thailand (we were missionaries in Asia for years!!) and her excitement for the beach was awesome. It was great to see her in her elmo swimmer pull up just throwing caution to the wind and soaking up the sun. Really fun. I hope to make similar memories with the others.

What are some ways you practice frugality? GROCERIES!!! I try and clip the coupons/download from online. Also, living on a missionaries salary, you get real good at going without. Being back in America has for sure increased my desires for "things", but we try and look at it as....."in the end, we can't take it with us" approach. :)

What is your most embarrassing moment? oh my word.......well, if I am totally honest....I have had many...and I mean MANY embarrassing moments. Probably my most memorable embarrassing moment was here I am in the library talking to a freshman (obviously this is years ago and before I became a believer...keep that in mind). I was a senior...what I was doing talking to a freshman you say?...I don't know. Anyway, we were talking about another girl. Another girl who was sooo "I'm too sexy for my...." (who happened to be super popular) and who I didn't like very much at all. Well, I shared that fondness with this freshman and loe and behold...I look up and there is THAT girl.....sitting not more than 10 feet from me.....looking at me. No not looking....STARING holes into my head. My stomach sank and my face, I KNOW, turned white. I was sooo embarrassed that I looked down, thought real fast about what I could say......and walked right up to her, sat down to turn the tables and said...."so and so...why don't you like me?".......HAHAHAHA, what was I thinking? dumbest, most embarrassing/non-proud moment of my life. Turning the tables did NOT work.

What surprised you the most about marriage? How I can look back and see how God uses us to sharpen one another. How my worst flaws come to light and the hubs loves me despite that. Totally awesome!

What surprised you the most about being a mom? What surprised me most about being a mom is the amount of love and frustration I can have for my kids at the SAME time. Being a mom was never in "the cards" (so I thought) and when my husband and I decided that we would try to have a child....well......lets just say I was elated and freaked out at the same time. My daughter is SOO dramatic, and sometimes that can be SUCH a challenge, but.....I love that she has this eccentric personality. She is her mama's daughter for sure! :) My Son is adorable....and with a name like Guinness..we feel we set him up for GREAT things (we named him after Oz Guinness....not the beer, although same family) :) And my Edyn..well...she was a surprise for sure, but boy oh boy..she is a delight. Just a smiley little "mama" (that's what we call her).

What is the hardest part about being a mom for you? I feel like I live a life of guilt. It is hard for me to balance having a bad day with my toddlers to thinking of the mom who maybe can't have kids and would love to have my day. It is also difficult for me to spread myself to 3 kids evenly. I have 3, 3 and under...sooo...my attention is needed ALL the time. Balancing is difficult. suggestions anyone?

What is the most rewarding part? At the end of the day, whether frustrating or good, my husband and I put both kids down (our oldest daughter and son are in the same room) and we sing songs together. We pray together. We tuck them in. I guess knowing that His mercies are new every morning......gives me hope that I can try again tomorrow (if it's been a frustrating day).

How long have you been blogging? I have been blogging for 5 years or so.

What is your reason for blogging? At first it was to keep in touch with family while overseas, but now it is to meet SOO many NEW people. The blogging community is AWESOME!

Can you leave us a link of your favorite post from your blog? http://www.joshandkel.com/2010/02/big-picture.html