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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Weekend Snapshots.

Supper at Chipotle on Friday night.

Me and my baby girl.

Allergic reaction to new laundry detergent. 
Thankfully it was nothing a little colloidal silver gel and lavender oil couldn't clear up!

Mama and her babies.

Grandpa stepped right in and fed Asher while I helped finish the Sunday dinner prep.

Happy boy cleaned his plate before heading to church. 
Yes, I know it's a pink plate, but it was the only one clean at the time :)

Listening to bird calls with Papaw.

Cameron and Asher playing.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Levi's turns 2!

Our sweet Levi turned two right at the end of last year. It's hard having birthdays so close to Christmas because everyone just kind of feels party-ed out. We didn't do a big party or anything, but I think it was special for Levi.
Last picture as a 1 year old.

Levi is growing and changing and learning about life so much right now. He talks so much - he's been to speech therapy twice (to help determine if he needs cleft palate surgery) and each time his therapist says he is speaking and understanding much higher than his age level. All glory to God for that! 

He knows his ABC's, can count to at least 14, loves to sing (and knows many songs and hymns), has memorized several Bible verses and knows about ten answers in the Child's Catechism. We are just amazed at how much he loves to learn.

He is a little guy. He weighs 24 pounds (soaking wet) and has just recently (like in the last 2 weeks) outgrown his 12 month clothes! He's just compact! :)

He loves trucks, animal figures, trains, dolls, cooking, dress-up, reading and more reading. He likes coloring, doing puzzles, and playing with play-doh.

He still takes an afternoon nap and sleeps great at night. He usually sings himself to sleep.

He is such a helper. Whatever daddy or momma are doing, he wants to be right in the middle of it. 

He has a streak of stubbornness and an attitude that sometimes gets the best of him. When he's done wrong he quickly asks for forgiveness.

He does not like to wear his patch. :( He had an eye appointment this week and he has to go back to wearing it 3 hours/day instead of just two. Poor boy! He fusses and is grumpy when it's on. I hate it for him! We go back in 2 months to get his eyes dilated and examined.

He loves all his family and is quick to give hugs and say "I love you."

He adores our babysitter, Hannah. He "talks" to her all. the. time. on his play phone.

He isn't too picky when it comes to food. He is usually willing to try whatever is put in front of him.

He is polite and usually remembers to say please and thank you. :)

Our two 2 year olds. Lily and Levi are the same age for two days.

Levi told me that he wanted bacon and bananas for his birthday breakfast. :)

His birthday was on Sunday, so we celebrated at Jacob's parents house with all my family. Levi shares a birthday with Grandpa (Jacob's dad), so we had a dual celebration. 

Daddy and Grandpa trying to help him blow the candle out. He was blowing above the candle so they were trying to tilt his head down. :)

Mmm, brownie and vanilla ice cream. 

Lily was a willing helper when it came to opening the presents.

Tired birthday boy.

Several family members went in with us to get a big present for all three kid's birthdays. 

A wagon!!

They were so excited! They have asked for a wagon since a dear friend watched them at the park and pulled them around in her wagon.

Our three sweet little ones.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Weekend Happenings.

The days lately have been challenging. With 3 year old and 2 year old tantrums, testing the boundaries, fighting, flat out disobedience, and whining, it just wears this mama slap out. Oh so often there is a struggle in me whether I will respond with grace or with my flesh. Sadly, many times I have to ask forgiveness from my babes for my response. How thankful I am that they quickly forgive and don't hold grudges. 

Motherhood is such a wonderful, rewarding calling, but it certainly makes your own sin and weaknesses flash boldly before your eyes. I am so thankful for the grace of God. I'm thankful for His Word that I can cling to in the moments of trouble. I am thankful that I can come boldly to Him and receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

I know these little years are going to be gone before I know it. I am endeavoring each day to savor the sweet times, not dwell on the difficulties, and choose joy even when I don't feel like it.

So...on to the happier moments of the weekend :)
On Friday I made Lily and Levi chore charts. They love them and have been so excited to put stickers in the boxes as they get finished. 

Jacob's mom, Uncle Judah, and Aunt Elizabeth came over on Friday night to watch the kids so Jacob and I could go out on a date. Above is Lily and Levi's reactions when they found out Grammie was coming. :) 

Funny story about the date night. It's literally been months since Jacob and I have been out together. Last Tuesday or Wednesday I asked Jacob's mom if she could watch the kids and I was going to try to surprise Jacob with the date. So, Wednesday night he talks to our babysitter and wants her to come Thursday night so he could surprise me with a date. On Thursday morning he kept talking about going out that night, and I kept putting him off since I'd planned for Friday night. We were supposed to have snow and ice Thursday afternoon, so I tried to use that as an excuse. I finally ended up having to tell him about what I'd planned. We both got a laugh at how we haven't had a date in months and then we each try to plan a surprise date the same week! :)

We used a coupon from my mom for supper at Ruby Tuesday and then we went to Starbuck's and talked about finances/goals for 2013 - better late than never. :) We had such a good time!

Saturday we played at home, bought groceries and took naps. I attended a friend's wedding while Jacob kept the kids home during naps. 

We went and ate mexican with Jacob's extended family. It was a fun time! Lots of sweet memories were told about Nanny and Pawpaw. We miss them so much. 

Silly kids begged me to take a picture of them sitting on the box of diapers. :)

Sunday we were finally able to be at church as a family again (the kids and I missed the last two weeks because of their coughs). I love this picture of Lily and my nephew, Ridley with Papaw reading to them. So sweet!

Happy Monday!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Christmas Day

This is the last Christmas post! :)
Christmas Day morning we went over to my parent's to celebrate. My Dad reads the Christmas Story and we have prayer before all the gift opening craziness begins. Levi loved sitting with both Grandpa (on Christmas Eve) and Papaw while they read about Jesus' birth. Notice Levi's vacuum close by his side! :)
We are all still dressed in jammies when we go to my parent's. So fun!

Lily, Levi, and my nephew each got cooking sets. They loved breaking them open and trying them out.

We had our traditional yummy breakfast of breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls and fruit. It was delicious! Why is it that Christmas breakfast always tastes sooo much better than ordinary breakfasts?! 


Asher was wiped out.

Precious family time.

We headed home around 11 and we just lounged around until supper. Jacob put together Lily's new dollhouse, the kids played and then took naps, I read some of my new books.

Lily loves her dollhouse!

We went over to have supper with some of Jacob's extended family. It was a fun, relaxing evening. 

I am so thankful for all the sweet memories we made this year! 

Monday, January 14, 2013

Weekend happenings.

Our weekend was pretty low-key. The kids still have coughs so I kept them home from my nephew's birthday party on Saturday and from church on Sunday. I was 99.9% sure they weren't contagious anymore, but we really don't want to spread the germs.
Friday was warm, so I took the kids for a walk in their new wagon.

Saturday we cleaned and played. While I was doing my hair, L&L had fun doing their bears' hair.

Playing "Matching" with Daddy before he left to play in a concert.

Two happy kids early Sunday morning.

Having "church" at home. I'm thankful for sermonaudio.com.

Levi reading while mama cooks dinner.

Uncle Judah is awesome!
We typically have Sunday dinner with Jacob's family, but his mom and most of his siblings were out of town for the weekend, so I cooked and his dad and brother came over. L&L had so much fun playing and reading with Uncle Judah.

Me and my girl snuggling after naptime.

Sweet babes in their jammies with their babies.

Mr. Mischievous.

Homemade chocolate chip cookies.
All of my family came over for supper Sunday night since we normally go over to my parent's on Sunday evenings.
Levi and his sweet babysitter, Hannah. He loves her!

Papaw and Ridley.

Happy 4th Birthday, Ridley!

Hope you all had a fun weekend!