So It Begins...

The book has lived up to its name in 3 of our friends homes, now it's our turn to test it!

Day 1 update:

We started training after breakfast at 8:00am. By 9:30 we were on underwear #7. Josh was super excited about using the big potty, he just never quite made it. Each time he would say, "it's okay momma, maybe next time."

I was ready to give up (I know, how premature and immature of me!) Kevin then patiently took over. Around 10:30 Kevin was on the phone and I was doing laundry when I heard Josh squeal with delight. He had made it to the potty and done all the necessary things to use the restroom on his own and now he wanted candy! And that's it. Underwear #7 stayed dry and clean the rest of the day, even through a three hour nap. Way to go Josh.

We are keeping our fingers crossed for Day 2.

Oh My Boys

I love them. That's all.

First Fruits

First Fruits. Literally. These are the first strawberrys to grow in our garden. Actually, it is the first thing edible in our garden to grow this year. Josh has been patiently waiting for the little green fruit to turn red. While it never got very big, it did turn red, ripe and juicy. We have high hopes for the garden this year and already many of the vegetables (started as seeds) are showing promise. Although considering in years past the only thing we've grown are a few tiny tomatoes and stringy green beans it won't be too hard to beat!

*kudos to the photographer!

7 Months

Dash is 7 months old and continues to amaze me with his happy demenor and laid back personality. He is all smiles, all the time, and his big grin takes up his whole face. He is sitting up on his own and still loves any and all food. Of course the delight of his heart is his brother. Nothing can make him laugh as much as Josh. He can't quite give high fives yet but he gets a big kick out of the idea. Bath time is one of his favorites along with our afternoons outside. Everything goes in his mouth. EVERYTHING. But still no teeth.

As usual, when I got the camera out for pictures, his big brother had to be a part. Enjoy.





Here is Josh at 7 months: I guess the big smile is in the genes!

Adventure Race

Kevin's gift to me for my 30th was exactly what I asked for: 6 hours of physically demanding teamwork that left us cut, bruised, sore, exhausted and completely in love. My mom tried to convince me that I needed to go to a fancy hotel and enjoy a day at the spa for my transition into a new decade but my idea was slightly different. Instead Kevin and I competed in our first adventure race. We opted for the short 6 hour race but they offer 12 and 24 races as well. One day maybe... So we mountain biked, on terrain that actually needed a mountain bike, for fourteen miles. I can't say I actually biked the entire time, there were a few steep hills that were pretty rocky that I just didn't have the strength to bike. We paddled another 4 miles in blustery winds that really killed us time wise. The funny thing about this was Kevin's mind set before the big race: "I'm not too worried because we can always stop". (he said this on my behalf) Which is true. On the bike, on foot, and technically on the boat we should have been able to stop. But with the winds we couldn't let up one little bit. Kevin muscled us through it. Finally we trekked 6 miles. Through it all we were looking for clues and doing our best to follow the state map. In the end we finished in 5 hours 5 minutes, 8th out of 17 in the coed section but we did beat 2 all male teams. The best part was the time Kevin and I had together. I loved the adventure race. I love my husband. I love being 30!

Easter

Holidays- they take on a whole new meaning when you have children, especially those holidays which are intended to be Christ centered but have been over taken by the world. Easter is a perfect example of this and so we have tried our hardest to keep Josh's attention on the real meaning behind this special Sunday. Our friend Sarah gave us the super idea of a Resurrection Mountain to build with Josh and use all week as we told the story of Christ, his betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. Each night we read out of Daddy's real bible the corresponding passages and then used our playdough figures to act it out. On Friday Christ died on the Cross, on Saturday we took him down put him in the tomb, and on Sunday when Josh came downstairs and rolled the stone away the tomb was empty! Jesus is alive! I was so amazed at the excitement he found in this activity and his ability to recount the story, the gospel, of Christ! As an added bonus we had a special guest staying with us who got to hear the story as well. As I've studied in John lately I've been reminded that Jesus did not take us out of this world, but left us for a purpose. To glorify Him, to proclaim Him, and become more like Him. I pray this for our children. I pray for their minds to be protected from the worldly things that are like dust and fleeting. I pray that they would be consumed with things eternal and that they too would know Christ in an intimate, live saving and changing way.

making the dough

assembling the cross, Roman soldiers, Mary and Jesus

Christ on the Cross

(the next picture of Christ in the tomb is missing...sorry)

finally, Christ off the cross and out of the tomb. He is ALIVE!

Egg Hunts

Josh egg hunted last year, but his year he egg hunted with candy and WOW what a difference! Our sweet friend Tammy* invited us to an egg hunt at the Waterway in the Woodlands with her son Jake. My parents were still in town and tagged along for all the fun. They hunted eggs, planted flowers, watched the ducks, and saw (as Josh called him) "the big bunny". Then this past Sunday our Granny had a big egg hunt for all her great grandchildren at her house. Even Dash got to participate in this one! It definitely wasn't as much about the eggs as it was the candy and finally daddy had to step in and stop the sugar intake. Not a day goes by in the last 2 weeks that Josh has not asked to egg hunt. He runs in the other room and counts while I hide them. There were quite a few pictures so here is a slideshow for your delight!

*I actually met Tammy in Dubai. I taught her eldest son in 1st grade and she was my room mom. When I found out I was pregnant with Josh, she also found out she was expecting. We moved to Texas in July and they followed suit a few months later, moving just a few miles down the road from our house. Since that time a beautiful friendship as developed. She is such a kind and thoughtful lady and has such a sweet affection for my boys. What a blessing!