Pharisees and David and Goliath

 

 

 

Katie is getting very good with her legos. She built the Pharisees who are all the lines. Then she built David and Goliath having their battle. It is fun to see her learning things and then putting them together on her own. She did this while in room time and she was so excited to show me. You go Katie girl!

Our new living room decoration.

Thank you Miss Julie and Uncle Tommy, thank you...I think...
Only my brother and Julie would send our kiddos a FIVE FOOT TALL, FOUR FEET WIDE, CIRCUS TENT as a gift!
It has pulls to put it together and is large enough inside for Katie to put EVERYTHING.

T and J,
If you all didn't like my decorating I wish you would have said something and not sent this as a hint. hehe. This gives our decorations in the living room a face lift back to simple primary colors. Lions, tigers and bears oh my!

But I have to say she loves it (Owen will soon too, as soon as he can crawl...Or as soon as I have my back turned and Katie puts him in it). So thank you again for our extremely colorful Christmas present. :)

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas 2009

Here are our Christmas photos. Nothing is really in order, but they capture our memories. It was a good day. Raining, coffee, family, friends, JESUS and naps. Katie was sick earlier in the week, but by Christmas she was pretty much back to herself-Thank you Jesus. We were blessed numerous times with all the gifts that family sent. Thank you! And hopefully for us we will get to have a hot air balloon ride this spring, just the two of us.
Merry Christmas.

Mary, Joseph and Linus

Katie stories at 2 1/2 years old.

Story Number 1

Momma, "Maybe next year we can go to FL, where it is warm, for a beach trip in the winter." (We were looking at her world map puzzle, talking about places around the world.)

Katie, "To Mary and Joseph's house?"

Momma, "In Flordia?"

Katie, "Yes, Baby Jesus needs his bottle too. Will they have a Christmas tree?"

Katie thinks Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus are our friends and we get to see them everywhere we go at Christmas time. Of course they are in yards all over town. Humm....


Story Number 2

Daddy, "Katie, what does Christmas mean?"

Katie, "Linus said to Charlie Brown."

Daddy, "What did Linus say?"

Katie using her typical line, "I have NO idea."

At least she knows that Linus said what Christmas is all about...but now we need to get her to know what he said. :)

Merry Christmas from Katie & Owen Elf

 

 

katie got her hair cut!

 

 

 

Yes, our little girl got her hair cut and it is so cute. The girl that cuts mine cut it for $5 and I am so glad that we did it.
Merry Christmas little girl!

Happy Birthday daddy love!

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...
Happy Birthday dear daddy love...Happy Birthday to you.

I can't believe that 31 years has already gone by. But there is SO much to be thankful for-YOU!
You are a wonderful husband and daddy. You serve tremendously well. Your love for Jesus and then us is evident in your life. You have grown in your current job, working with all your might to do the best job possible. Youare loving on your two precious kiddos, even when you are exhusted. You have, with me, ministered to 6 "college sweet girls" this past year. You have battled an hour drive to work and back each day, trying to redeem the time. You have mowed to more then your hearts content and then kept going. You have sought to get us under good teaching. You have healed well and sought the best things for your health after this last surgery-trying to live by grace. You continue to ask the Lord what is next and pursue it. Your view of generosity is growing so much and it has impacted our family greatly. And finally you have sat with Jesus on his teaching for contentment in what the Lord has called you to at this very moment.

The Lord is NOT done with you. You are a work in progress and it is AMAZING to see His grace on your life and mine as well as we live out what he has called us to. I wouldn't want to do life with anyone else.

For Justin's birthday we went to The Flying Biscuit for breakfast-yum! TCC for church service. Did a few errands and then finished the day with lettuce wraps for dinner. Next year I am out to make it a super duper special day. For this year...it was simple and fun at home.

I love you SO much. I can't wait to see what is in store for this next year.
Happy birthday love!
Love, Gigi-
Katie Grace-
Owen B

PS trying to get a good photo of three is, I am finding, very difficult. Katie is quite the ham, Justin looks great and Owen steady eddy.

This is a first

Justin and I had breakfast together WITHOUT the kiddos this morning. It was SO nice to have the morning with just my hubby. (Justin even made it! Coffee, eggs, grapefruit, leftover potatoes and sausage. yum!)

I don't think that has happened, but once or twice since Katie has been born. Katie has always been an early riser, beating us awake. We hear this from her room, "Daddy, I'M awake, Momma, I'M AWAKE". Over and Over...

Praise the Lord the kids slept well this morning. A Christmas Blessing!

*Katie did wake up asking for her bear that goes with her baby doll at 5:50 am, but went back to sleep. She just woke up at 7:23 am-WOW
*Owen fed at 12:30 am and again at 3:45 am and went back to sleep till 7:15 am.
*So not a full night of sleep, but a good one.

The Lord continues to answer our prayers of helping our kiddos sleep. We'll keep praying.

A Christmas Breakfast Party

Here is our first annual Christmas Breakfast Party. It was a lot of fun. Especially since it was still early and the kids were in good moods! We ate a LOT of food, had some fun conversations and enjoyed being with each other during the busy season. I think we will try this again for another holiday.
Thanks to Julia who snapped these photos for me as well as to Tracy who provided the delicious home roasted coffee!

Katie story-Oh and the other baby is baby Judah, who Katie wanted to hold and call Judy. hehe She also asked Beth why he wasn't crying. *It seems every time Katie holds Owen he starts to cry.

And Owen had a cute winter outfit to wear, but we didn't get a chance to put it on him. :( So he looked like a cute banana! He'll have to wear his outfit for Christmas!

Owen's message

Owen told me he wanted to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS. From his heart to yours!

Making Special Christmas Memories w/Daddy - Disney on Ice

The morning started with Katie getting ready for our special day. Mommy fixed her hair extra curly like the princesses and did a wonderful job at that! What a beautiful little girl!

Quick photo in front of the Christmas tree and we're off...

The show was quite impressive. Katie simply tried her best to take it all in at first, but by the end she was up on her feet dancing and clapping. In fact, during one song she was lifting her hands (mimicking worship from church) and joining right in the fun. She really did have a great time!

Mr. Hugh saved the day with a special treat during intermission - popcorn. Without it we'd (meaning Hugh and I) would have been in some real trouble, but Katie enjoyed that as well.

Thank you Katie for sharing such a special day with me, I truly enjoyed spending it with you. I'm often filled to overflowing as I watch you grow up into all that God has made you to be. You are beautiful, fun-loving, and a smart little girl...and my little sweetheart. When God enables me to see beyond my own selfish ambitions I'm amazed at His grace in giving you to me (and to us). While I know that you are in desperate need of a regenerate heart and far from perfection, you often appear so to me. I love you pippers Grace and I'm so thankful to be your daddy.

Tree-Trim Trail Mix

A MUST MAKE for all families this season. Really, it is easy and delicious!

Ingredients:
8 (I used 12) cups of freshly popped popcorn
1 cup of walnuts toasted at 350 for 5 minutes (I used crispy almonds from NT)
1/3 cup real maple syrup
1/4 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. sea salt
pinch of baking soda
1 cup dried cranberries-optional

Heat oven to 300. Grease a large, rimmed baking sheet.
Mix the popcorn and nuts in a large, well-oiled bowl. Bring the syrup,cinnamon, and salt to a boil in a small pot set over med. heat. Let the mixture boil for 4 minutes, swirling the pan occasionally. Turn off the heat and add the baking soda, stirring until the mixture is creamy. Pour the mixture over the popcorn and stir well. Spread the popcorn on the baking sheet and bake until it's dry to the touch about 15 minutes. Let the popcorn cool for 20 minutes or so, then add the cranberries. ENJOY!

God caused it.

So...a piece of fruit fell off the counter...

me "Katie DON'T touch the fruit. It fell off the counter!"

Katie "God caused it to fall off."

me "No, Katie, you moved the fruit and the apples fell off (But in reality God did allow it to fall, he could have stopped it..how do I explain that?)."

Katie "God give us all the fruit and it says on the paper to be careful."

me "Yes, Katie, we must be careful so we can keep the fruit fresh."

Ahhh...sometimes I wonder what she is learning. I must admit, she is learning SO much. I must keep at it!

snacks

 

I am working on fun snacks. Here are ants on an apple...I think the ants and mud were eaten off about 3 times per apple slice. We never made it through even half an apple. I guess the fun snack was too good!

I am going to try a popcorn ball next.

Do you have any fun snack ideas?

Two little cuties...

 
 
 

Katie-2 1/2
Owen 8 weeks

What is the meaning of Christmas...?

Katie, "Christmas trees".

Trying to teach her about this is difficult...but pretty cute. :)

Room time

 

Katie now is asking to have room time! I am so thankful I stuck with this, especially now that we have Owen. It gives Katie her own space for 30 or so minutes and she gets to regroup. I am amazed at how much this can settle her being down or change her attitude to a happy heart.

Now when I come back and her timer has gone off this is normally the scene I find. Toys are everywhere but thankful for developing this quiet time for her.

One addition-I am going to, a few times each week, play the Jesus Story Book Bible on CD for her to listen. (Check it out it just came out) I know she can't read yet on her own (though we read it each night), but she can listen.

Katie-you can't read this so you won't know one of your Christmas presents. hehe!

Colossians 2:5

So in my short (since Katie is not going to sleep and Owen will eat soon. ) quiet time I am pondering...

is Paul rejoicing in their stability of faith because of their good discipline (Col 2:5)?
Their discipline of knowing (Col 2:2-4) that they have attained all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
If so I NEED to preach the gospel to myself all the more...I need a steadfast faith in Christ alone.

What a player...football that is...

 

Thanks Uncle Tommy and Ms. Julie for this sweet football outfit. It fits great and is awesome for this upcoming bowl season. Oh and go Flordia...I like Tebow!
Thanks for helping this stud out.
Love, Owen

Happy Thanksgiving

Now where did she learn this?

 

A New Thanksgiving Tradition

Justin bought me this book by Noel Piper. Treasuring God in our Traditions. An encouraging read-pretty fast read-yes, I recommed it. Though this tradition I am blogging about doesn't seem to have God in it, it does! This is a fun thing that points to the fact that God wants our family to have fun and be joyful. These cereals sure do bring a lot of energy to everyone, especially Katie! We will see how well she sleeps... :)

But here is our new tradition. The night before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve we eat cereal for dinner-we choose a our own box (oh the memories Kix brings from Childhood). We are doing this in prepration for all the yummy foods we eat on the actual holiday!

Justin braved the long lines at Harris Teeter to buy four boxes of cereal. He did get some funny looks. He brought these home and we devored our individual bowls in about 20 minutes. I think I ate 3 bowls!

Justin picked-Peanut Butter Captain Crunch
Me-Kix
Melissa-regular Captain Crunch
Chelsea-Honey Nut Cheerios
Katie-wanted some PB Captain Crunch and Kix. (she did not want her regular Cheerios :)

It was a hit. We are going to finish off our cereal on Christmas Eve!

What traditions do you all do?

 
 
 
 

How to get ready with a toddler and newborn

 

This was my morning...trying to get ready to go to a friends house...

Owen-incredible stinky diaper which got ALL over his outfit, needed a bath.

Katie-not to be left out wanted a bath too.

Owen-got him dressed and then let him look around from his place on the floor.

katie-wanted a few more minutes to play in the bath in which she dumped out the entire contents of her shampoo to make bubbles and to wash her "baby wawa". :(

Me-desperately trying to get my teeth brushed, hair in some sort of order(decided a hat was necessary), clothes on that were not spit up upon, contacts in and maybe even a few pats of make up.

Only took about 2 hours! :)

Welcome Chelsea!

 

Welcome new lower suite dweller!

Sorry it has taken me so long to post about Chelsea, but she is our new college girl. She moved in right after Owen was born and really it has be so hectic. I guess she has gotten to see us in all our craziness of up and downs with a newborn and toddler.

But we are thankful she has joined us and hopefully it will be a great time for her here!

Katie's friend Chris Mas

Justin went in to get Katie this morning and this is the conversation that they had as Katie got out of bed.

Katie, "Daddy, when is my friend coming for Christmas?"

Daddy, "What friend, Katie?"

Katie, "My friend Chris (first name) Mas (last name). She is coming over to share her toys."

SO....katie understands one thing...Christmas means toys! I am amazed at her thinking and how she has put this holiday season together in her mind. And from another story I posted about Katie, I know one thing...she wants it all! Whew, that is going to be expensive.
Now, on to teach her about Jesus...again. How hard it is to keep Him at the forefront of our minds, adults and children alike! :)

Shower again?

 

I was DETERMINED to have a shower today and one hopefully by myself, but...this transpired.

katie, "I need to take a shower again."

mommy, "why?"

katie, "I just ate an apple and got dirty."

What I thought? Apples do not get you dirty! So what was unknown to me before is now known to me. Apples do get you dirty if you are 2 1/2 years old.

She waned one again because I was taking one. And she was just as determined as I was to have one. I guess I shouldn't have worked on her loving showers so much!

Oh brother..I JUST want a few minutes by myself... :)