All things birthday...

Gator and Bull got bikes and helmets from Mommy and Daddy for their birthdays. We're still working on the mechanics of pedaling and steering at the same time.

We had such a great time at the boys' birthday party. We might just do it at this same place again next year!

My second born

is four years old today!



Dear Bull,
You joined us exactly two months after we lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. You were a constant reminder of God's faithfulness, what really matters, and how blessed we were during a very hard time in our lives.

You are passionate about all things. It is 110% or nothing for you.

You still love to snuggle me and I love your snuggles. I look forward to your hugs and kisses and physical affection.

You are a very physical kid - everything is hands on for you. Your hugs are so tight! Sometimes you knock me over when you tackle-hug me.

You are very expressive - one of the most expressive kids I've ever met. Your facial expressions and body language are a constant source of laughter for our family, especially when you're mad (which makes discipline a challenge somedays).

You love strawberries, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and juice boxes.

You are obsessed with bandaids right now. Any time someone says ouch, you run to the bathroom and get him/her a bandaid, unwrap it, and place it on the boo-boo.

You also love Dora and Diego. You sing the map song and the backpack song perfectly. You pretend to be Baby Jaguar on a regular basis while I get to be Alicia or Diego.
Case in point: that's Baby Jaguar from Diego with a bandaid on his back legs.

You "read" stories to me, especially from our Dora books.

You give voice to your toys - I learn a lot about you by listening to those conversations.

You still love Power Rangers too.

You say very funny things. Any time you hear a noise, you say "What that sounds like?" Then you answer yourself. You say "plobley" instead of probably and "ploblem" instead of problem.

You keep us abreast of how you're doing, like a play by play of sorts. For example, if something crashes, you beat us to the punch and announce loudly that "I'm ok!" Maybe I should stop asking that question so much.

You are POTTY TRAINED! Stickers finally started working, and everything clicked!

You will be a big brother in a couple of months. So, you will be the only one in our family who fills the dual role of a little and a big brother - quite a special spot for a special kid.

We are so thankful to have you in our lives. You have challenged us to think outside our parenting box, and to appreciate the creativity of the God who created you.

We love you!
Happy 4th birthday!

My first born

turns 7 years old today!

Dear Gator,
It's so hard to believe that you have grown up so fast. Your Daddy and I are so pleased with the young man you are becoming.

You are in first grade now. You read chapter books with very little help, and have spelling tests and memory verses every week. You love the game Sudoku, tell time like a pro, and count money like an accountant.

Speaking of money, you are quite a saver! There have been multiple times over the last year that you have decided that you want something, figure out how much it is, and take on extra jobs to earn the money. In fact, you even hired yourself out to our neighbors - letting dogs out, cleaning up flower beds, along with other odd jobs. You made quite a lot of money at our garage sale too!

You are still very nurturing and compassionate, sensitive, and helpful. To watch you with your younger cousins (two of which are babies) is heartwarming. You are even that way with your brother (though there is a limit to your patience with him).

You love all sports (your favorite changes with the season). I asked you the other day who was playing in a football game. You responded, "LSU and Auburn are playing. It's 2nd and 6. Auburn is up by a touchdown and extra point." You've also started making your own playbook.

You are competitive, but not mean-spirited. In fact, your Daddy and I have clued into this and try to use it in our parenting of you. We were having a tough time in the morning with getting ready. So, I started setting the timer so you could beat the clock. Now, you get ready in 15 minutes (brush teeth, wash face, get dressed, and make your bed).

You are willing to try new foods now - can you teach your brother that trick? You are already eating us out of house and home. You're always hungry! I guess that is why you're such a big kid! At 7 years old, you are tall and lanky (like most of the men in our family), though not skinny. You wear a size 2 shoe, and a small or medium in clothes depending on the brand/item of clothing.

After learning the story about Jacob and Esau at school, you came home and asked me with all the seriousness in the world, "Am I the firstborn and do I get the birthright?" I laughed out loud! I love when you ask questions like that. It shows a new level in your thinking.

Your biggest news this year happened in January. You accepted Christ as your personal Savior! Daddy and I were there with you when you prayed. You were baptized just last month by Daddy. It was a very special day for you and for our family. You have asked some tough questions this year. Your faith inspires us with its simplicity and depth.

We are so blessed to have you in our family. You are a great joy to us.

Happy 7th birthday! We love you!

My pillows!

They're done...Aren't they gorgeous?! I'll post pictures as soon as they're on my bed!

Unredeemed

This song is on the Selah CD that I won the other day. I hope it ministers to your heart like it has mine! The lyrics are below.


The cruelest word
The coldest heart
The deepest wound
The endless dark
The lonely ache
The burning tears
The bitter nights
The wasted years
Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every life that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the Father has in store
Just watch and see
It will not be
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

Colors of the Season

In honor of Tuesdays Unwrapped over at Chatting at the Sky, and my first Fall in this new place I call home, I hope you enjoy the colors of the season through my lens!

Pumpkin Patch

On Sunday afternoon, we decided to visit a pumpkin patch. This patch had a lot of different things to do (not just pick out a pumpkin). The boys had a blast playing in the hay, getting dirty, jumping, climbing, and tolerating photos by mom. It was really windy and bright (made for interesting shadows and hair in some of the pictures), but quite pleasant otherwise. The boys each chose a pumpkin, and found a little one for Monkey too!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for:
- 30 weeks of pregnancy with my monkey (only 10 more to go!).

- healthy kids, in spite of a little flu bug that visited us this week.
- a wonderful visit with a brave little boy (one of Gator's friends) who has a brain tumor and started radiation yesterday.
- Bull being potty trained!
- my cool Hubs who teaches my kids how to rappel on a tree.

- watching kids being kids in the woods (including my biggest kid).

- a camping trip with great friends whom we haven't seen since April.
- the pile of laundry serving as evidence of all the fun had on aforementioned trip.
- hot cocoa and candy corn, s'mores and soup, campfires and camp food.

- the changing leaves and the beautiful colors of this season.
- a warm bed and a full pantry/frig/freezer.
- my God who makes all these things possible.
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
1 Chronicles 16:8

Quick update

Remember this post? Here are three different posts by Karen showing the progress on my gorgeous pillows.
I can't wait!

Gator's Baptism

Since Gator decided to follow Christ back in January, we have been trying to figure out a time for him to be baptized. Hubs left the day after Gator's decision to attend Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course in SC. Then we moved here. Then I found out I was pregnant. Then I got really sick. Then we had to decide on a church home.
Finally, all of the details were worked out and Gator could get baptized. Sunday was the day! This was Hubs first baptism. I think it is pretty cool that he got to baptize his son! He also got to baptize a good friend of ours from LA whom Hubs has been discipling.
The water was very cold. Gator did really well though. I was very proud of him for following Christ's example and publicly acknowledging his decision to follow Christ.
What a blessing!
Buried with Christ in death, raised to walk in newness of life...

I can't believe that I won!

The Nester has a Giveaway Day every so often - one giveaway every hour for 24 hours. I have entered every time. This time I actually won! I get to pick two sizes of pillows for Karen from Elsie Eleanor Designs to make to match my master bedroom. Her stuff is gorgeous and so luxurious (which is why it goes in my bedroom where it is less likely to be ruined)! I am so excited!
A little while back, I also won a giveaway on BooMama's blog for Selah's new CD. I'm still waiting for it to arrive, but I can't wait to get it!
Yippee!