The end of 2012....a Great Start to a New Year

One of my so called resolutions is to get back to blogging. Why wait for 2013 to start?

I can't think of a better way to close out 2012 then for our two oldest boys to get baptized!! For quite some time, Seth has been asking to get baptized; Zach hasn't really been too interested.  So Justin and I have been holding Seth off; and just waiting for Zach to be ready...and the time finally came.

 

A couple of things made this event special for us - other than the obvious joy joy of watching the boys be obedient to the Lord. This is the same church that both boys were dedicated in as babies. For someone who stays in one place that may not seem to be a big deal; but when you have moved 5 times in between, it makes it a bigger deal. Hard to believe that 7 and 9 years ago we stood in front of this same congregation to dedicate these two boys to the Lord.  Our Pastor was also happy to let Justin baptize both boys, something that was a request of Zach's.  My heart was so full watching my boys stand up in front of an entire congregation and tell everyone that they love Jesus! 

 

We sang one of my favorite hymns today as well..."In Christ Alone." I can hope and pray that all of my children can truly grasp what this means...in a world that is crazy, chaotic, and walking away from Him.  What a clear description of Christ, of the Gospel, and of our hope!

 

 

  In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand. In Christ alone! who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones he came to save: Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied - For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave he rose again! And as He stands in victory Sin's curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine - Bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath. Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

We Have Babies!!

It's been a long month for us! Patiently waiting, day after day, for these little eggs to hatch. I can't imagine how long it has felt for Mama and Daddy! Through rain, shine, and winds these parents didn't leave the eggs for more than a few minutes! In the process they lost two...but now have two little chicks to show!

Fudgesicle Fun...

Paige thoroughly enjoyed her fudgesicle yesterday...









Probably should have just had her in a diaper...or a full body bib...

Show Me Your Teeth...

"Let me see your teeth," and "Show me your teeth," have been 2 very common statements around here. The kids a a bit late in loosing teeth...Zach just lost tooth #6, Seth is working on loosing his front two teeth, and Paige on the other hand is just filling in!!



This isn't a great picture, but I asked Zach to "show" me his teeth. The loss of front teeth is not only a milestone, but a look changer. It changes everything about kids' smile - when those new, HUGE, front teeth grow in!! He is getting to be such a handsome boy!!



Paige overheard me say this to Zach. When I turned to look over, this is what I saw!! I'm sure before I know it, she will be flashing me a smile minus those beautiful teeth!!

Our Resident Bird

After three weeks away from our home we came home to a fun surprise...A couple of Killdeer had taken residence in our front yard.



The kids stepped out of the car and immediately noticed this Killdeer. After a little observation, we noticed that she was protecting an egg. The next day we did a little research, and this is what we learned...

- They typically lay 2-4 eggs.
- Both the male and the female will protect and incubate the egg.
- They lay their eggs out in the open where they can have a 360 degree view.
- Their chicks hatch typically in 18-24 days.
- When the chicks hatch they immediately run.
- The parents carry away the remaining egg shells after the chicks hatch.

On day #2, we noticed a 2nd egg. Day #3, there was a very large 24 hour storm headed our way. This Mama and Daddy bird survived the torrential rain, as well as the strong winds...and Mama even ended up laying egg #3. The boys wanted to build them some sort of a shelter, it was hard to keep watching them outside in the weather...literally braving the storm!

You guessed it day #4 held a 4th and final egg; but with regrets, they failed to protect two of their eggs from a predator. So, currently Mom and Dad are proud parents of 2 eggs still with only 7-14 days left to go!!



I sure hope we can post pictures of some new baby chicks.

Mexican girl...

My baby's favorite foods: Salsa and Guacamole!!













No worries...if there isn't any chips, she is happy to use either a spoon or her hands!!

Sibling fun....

Seth and Paige having a little fun in the yard last month...













So much fun, that everyone needed to join in!!

Screen time???

Everybody now limits their kids' screen time. There is so much technology out there, that if you weren't careful, your kids could be staring at some type of a screen all day...




Does reading on Mommy's new Kindle count???



Justin gave me this amazing piece of technology this past week. Unfortunately I need a babysitter to actually have some time to sit down and figure it out. Give it to Zach for five minutes, and he already understands it better than I do!



I downloaded a book for him my one of his favorite authors...he was finished with it and reading through it a second time by the end of the day!!

Sickies...

A fun little trip into the doctor for Seth and Eli today! This part was a highlight for Seth...the "astronaut" mask! We walked in and we walked out with "walking pneumonia" for Seth and ear infection for Eli! Seth has been pretty puny for a while, I guess now we know why!!

Mardi Gras

It's Mardi Gras season! I think that quite possibly the Mardi Gras section at Target is almost as big as the Valentine's Section??!! Everywhere you look there is purple, gold and green, fleur de lis', and beads, beads, beads! Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday is the Tuesday before Lent....the Tuesday before thousands of people "give up" something for the days prior to Easter...a day that is then historically filled with indulging in the things you plan on "giving up!" The celebration here is certainly not as large as in New Orleans, but there are numerous parades, balls, and other activities you can take part in. We haven't participated much in all of this...maybe due to the hassel of crowds, or the hassel of finding a "family friendly" section, or the hassel of shielding the boys' eyes from certain things...etc. We will, however, this weekend share a King Cake with our friends....hoping that they get the dreaded piece and have to buy another one of these yummy cakes for us (more to come on that in another blog). But for now...Eli wanted to try on this Mardi Gras hat...he looks great - and begged me to buy it, which I declined...but either way Mardi Gras looks good on him - but what doesn't!!

"Hold You!"

Every child says it...or at least all of mine have! They reach up to you, with big round eyes and say "Hold you...hold you!" I guess that after months of hearing their Mom or Dad say "Do you want me to hold you," they figure out that it is a pretty good thing to learn to say! I LOVE it! It's one of those statements that I would love to hold on to just a little bit longer. One of those terms of endearment that I hope no one try will correct or fix. I can remember when Zach was about Paige's age that he would use his pointer finger and emphatically give everyone a thumbs up...just without the thumb. I was sad when the day finally came that someone kindly showed him the "right way" to do it. Soon enough, Paige will figure it out, and "hold you" will disappear, and "hold me" will appear! All that to say, she is growing up fast! She is running everywhere, talking up a storm, and growing like a weed!

One year ago...



Now...



Chasing her around with the camera isn't all that easy...saying "Touch the fence..." at least kept her still for a minute!



Checking out the Bayou...



Hangin' with her brother (her buddy) Eli. On a side note, this is Eli's FAVORITE hat...it looks like a really bad wig, but he loves it!!

Art...by Seth

A couple of weeks ago, Seth had his date with Daddy! Justin chose to take him to a local art shop called Painting with a Twist. This is a phenomenal place that basically walks you through painting a specific picture. This particular day, they were having a kid's workshop. Seth LOVES art, and was so excited (and nervous) to go. I might have been more excited than he was...I couldn't wait for him to get home and to see his finished piece of art.



Three birds on a branch! They are NOT owls, just birds with big eyebrows! Justin said if the teacher told the kids they could use their imaginations and add personal touches...Seth was on it, without hesitation - thus the large eyebrows, the animal clouds, the bi-colored bird, the blue beak, and the random twig coming out of the branch! The painting is up in his room, and I can't help but smile when I see it...it is perfect...just they way he intended it to be!!

Swimmers....

Our boys have always been swimmers...Eli was in the ocean at 9 weeks! We have been doing swim lessons for what seems like years, and it has certainly paid off! This past week, all of the boys were promoted to their next swim levels. Zach and Seth to Intermediate, and Eli to Advanced Preschool Beginner 2. We are so proud of them and their great effort week after week!













Congratulations boys!!

Cuddly by the Fire...

About midway through our bedtime stories, Eli curled up by the fire and fell asleep! Looks pretty cozy to me!!

Pine Wood Derby Cars...in Progress!

It's that time again....Pine Wood Derby time. Our PW Derby isn't officially until the end of the month, but we (Justin and the boys) have been working on the cars for quite some time. A few weeks ago Justin and the boys cut out the shapes, and last week I had the task of helping the boys paint. They each has some very specific designs in mind. Seth LOVES color. If I had 15 different colors of paint, he certainly would have found a way to use all 15. They did all of their own painting, I just did the taping!













Eli was at preschool, and Paige was strapped in her highchair with Oreos for a snack!



The finished products...minus the wheels!!

Maybe this year they boys will place in the top? We'll see!!