Snapshots

 snoozing.

 playing with stickers.

sweet moments.

reading before church.

watching for daddy.

growing boy.

snacktime.

reading with daddy.

my precious parents.

kale chips.

splash pad.

sweet face.

stinker.

smiles.

ice cube fun.

sharing.

hugs.

loving his new quilt from a dear friend.

Midweek Randoms

We have been having a good week. I feel like I never stop going - but I am thankful I have three little blessings to keep me busy. 

Asher is teething and has been so fussy this week. Teething tablets are my friend!

The kids have been playing so well together lately. It warms my heart to see them getting along!

I am this "--" close to getting off Facebook. I'm just really tired of drama, controversy, negativity, and people posting things aimed at others but not coming right out and saying. I'm already not getting on but maybe once or twice a day, but just letting those of you who are my "friend" know, if I disappear, it's not because I've "unfriended" you, I'm just off for awhile.

We are having a conference at church next week. I'm helping as much as I can with the food - mainly making stuff at home and taking it for the meals. Today I did a big shopping trip to get all the ingredients. It was crazy, especially with three kids in tow! 

Playing sweetly.

I got to talk to my best friend today! It was the best 30 minutes! I seriously miss her so much and hope we can somehow figure out a way to talk more often.

Lily "working on" her shopping cart. Notice the tool bag. I love the heels too. Ha!

I called around to a bunch of speech therapists to get info and rates. I had no idea it was so expensive! All the offices I called cost about the same, so we are hoping to get in with the one in our town. There is a program the state offers called Early Intervention, which would be free, but they don't work with articulation, which is what Levi needs help with to determine whether he needs palate surgery or not.

This week I've been thinking a lot on Matthew 6. There are so many precious verses there, but these are some of my favorites:

Matthew 6:30-34

Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore, take no thought, for your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for tomorrow, for the morrow will take thought of the things of itself.

Celebrating

We have been celebrating a ton the last few days! Today was my Memaw's 97th birthday and Jacob's Pawpaw's 91st birthday!

On Saturday we celebrated Memaw's birthday. Out of town family came in and our group of 25 (give or take a few) descended on a local steakhouse. We had such a great time visiting and of course, eating. Lily and Levi kept themselves occupied with the lemons and their cups of water.

This boy is a goof ball!

Sweet Asher.

After lunch we headed back to Memaw's for presents, cake & ice cream. It was past the kids nap time, but they did pretty well. 

Levi had the greatest time playing with all the toys.

Memaw fed Levi a bunch of her cake and ice cream. 

I think they both enjoyed it.

We took the kids home for naps and I made dinner for my sister. After the kids got up, we loaded back in the van and went back to Memaw's to give Myra her supper and visit with family. 

The cousins had the best time playing around the farm! They fed goats, rode bikes, threw acorns in the ditch, made goofy faces while swinging, and kicked a ball to each other. I sat outside and watched them  for most of the time. So many memories of my childhood flooded my mind and made me so thankful that my children can experience some of the same things I did. 

After Sunday dinner with Jacob's family, we went over and visited Pawpaw. He is at home now with Hospice and Home Health coming in and caring for him. He was in pretty good spirits. Lily was so sweet to sit by him. She told me today that she doesn't want to give Pawpaw hugs because he looks so scary (with the oxygen and breathing treatments). I felt so bad for her, I know she can't really understand what's going on.

Jacob played some of Pawpaw's favorite hymns - Great is Thy Faithfulness, Amazing Grace, Satisfied, It is Well With My Soul, and Be Still My Soul.

Levi telling Pawpaw bye-bye.

Today was full of more celebrating. It started off with breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Pawpaw has eaten at cb nearly everyday for years. His birthday wish was that he would be able to go there for breakfast after 7 weeks of being in the hospital/rehab. We were thrilled that he actually made it! Of course since he's been so often, all the waitresses know him, as well as lots of other customers. 

They seated us at a great big long table. It was crazy to say the least!

Lily and Aunt Eliz. 

Pawpaw, Asher and my mother-in-law.

Our wonderful babysitter came and watched Lily and Levi while I ran some errands. After naps Lily and Levi helped me make jambalya for supper. Lily insisted that we all wear our aprons. Ha.

After supper we went over to have cake with Pawpaw. He was pretty tired and sat in his chair sleeping most of the time we were there, but we had a great time with all the family that was there. Asher got to play with his cousin who is 3 weeks younger than him. So fun!

What a precious few days these have been celebrating our grandparents! God has blessed us so much! We are thankful for the sweet, sweet memories we've made!

19 months (and palate update)

Levi is just growing and changing so so much. Everyday is a new adventure with lots of learning and exploring for him. He is full of energy and definitely ALL boy!

He still loves to sing. His favorite songs right now are Twinkle, Twinkle, Standing on the Promises, and Trust and Obey. We have a kid's hymn cd in the van and he'll join in humming or singing along with it. I love that he loves music!

He is constantly moving - dancing, jumping, running (I seriously think the child can't walk! ha.) He plays really well by himself and he and Lily are playing together for longer periods of time now. 

He loves balloons, fans (wherever we are, he begs to turn the ceiling fans on), bananas, brushing his teeth, his blanket, looking at pictures, anything to do with water, playing outside, animals, popcorn, and kale chips.

His favorite books right now are The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon, Go Dogs, Go!, Curious George, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear.

He knows four catechism answers - Who made you? God, Who was the first man? Adam, Who was the first woman? Eve, and Of what was Adam made? Of the dust of the ground.

He had an appointment at Children's Hospital last week. His growth and development are really good. The plan for now is to have 3-6 months of speech therapy and then the doctor will decide if he needs palate surgery or not. Levi is having trouble pronouncing some sounds like "s" and "ch". They come out like a nasally kind of snort. The doctor isn't sure if that is because of the abnormality in Levi's palate or because he's just not saying them right. The speech therapy should help to determine what is going on.

Mama: "Levi, did you put the crayon in your mouth like mama told you not to?"

Precious Innocent Looking Child: "No!" 

Ha!