Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Hard Lessons Learned

Sometimes you just have to learn the hard way. I think this especially rings true for boys. Today Aidan burned his thumb when he touched a light bulb in a lamp, leaving behind a nice little blister. And Caleb somehow escaped from the dinner table with a fork that he preceded to use as a toy. Or course he ended up jabbing it into his neck as he was playing on the couch, leaving four distinct little prong marks, but thankfully just barely breaking the skin. This is just the beginning of 'the crazy things boys do', isn't it?

Sunday, March 29, 2009

People Shepherd

In our devotional reading tonight, it talked about sheep and shepherds, and how Jesus is our shepherd. Caleb has also been learning Psalm 23 for Awana, so we spent some extra time talking about this concept. He thought we were silly saying we were like sheep. Then, when we'd almost given up trying to figure out a simpler way to explain it, and started to go on to a different topic, it must have clicked with him. He piped up, all excited, "Hey, we are not sheep, but Jesus is a people shepherd. He takes care of people."

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Vroom, Vroom

Ethan
Kellan

We finally found the perfect birthday gift for the twins, after seemingly forever pondering what in the world to get them. (Do they really need anything? They have all their brothers'toys anyway. They wouldn't even know the difference.) We got them motorcycle ride-on toys that are just their size. They can use them indoors, and even outdoors, when C and A are riding their bikes. They opened them last night, and patiently waited for daddy to put them together, and then zoomed all over the house. Pretty adorable.

Here are some pictures from their family birthday celebration.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Happy Birthday Kellan and Ethan!


Kellan
Ethan
2 years old today! We are so blessed to have both of you in our family! You fill our hearts with joy!
We're headed to Happy Joe's for dinner tonight, followed by cake and presents at home. Their cowboy themed party will be next Friday night.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Cheese, please!


Ethan, you have been in the best little mood lately. You have been so much fun to be around! On Sunday you cracked me up in the nursery. We were reading a book, and I pointed to a mouse and asked what a mouse says, thinking you might squeak or even better, crinkle up your nose. Instead, and even better, clear as a bell, you said, "Cheese please!". It was hilarious! Everyone in the room could hardly stop laughing. I sure think that's a perfect thing for a mouse to say. You are one smart cookie!

And Tuesday, I was wearing an orange shirt, and you kept calling me a pumpkin all day long. Silly kid. I love your budding sense of humor.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

St. Patrick's Day

Kellan


Ethan

Just a few pictures of our fun day. We love celebrating this holiday! Though you'll notice the boys aren't in their green attire for the traditional 'green food dinner'. That's because we had it on the following day since Mommy came down with strep throat on the 17th and was in bed rather early. No fun.

Friday, March 13, 2009

'Just Another Day in Paradise'

On our 13 hour drive home from New Orleans, I was feeling the normal sadness that the vacation was coming to an end, but I was also super excited to see the boys again. As I was thinking about that, one of my favorite songs came on the radio(because you know practically every station is a country station in the south).

"The kids screaming, phone ringing
Dog barking at the mailman bringing
That stack of bills - overdue
Good morning baby, how are you?
Got a half hour, quick shower
Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour
My funny face makes you laugh
Twist the top on and I put it back
There goes the washing machine
Baby, don't kick it.
I promise I'll fix it
Long about a million other things

Well, it's ok. It's so nice
It's just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise

Friday, you're late
Guess we'll never make our dinner date
At the restaurant you start to cry
Baby, we'll just improvise
Well, plan B looks like
Dominoes' pizza in the candle light
Then we'll tippy toe to our room
Make a little love that's overdue
But somebody had a bad dream
Mama and daddy
Can me and my teddy
Come in to sleep in between?"


And I realized I was actually looking forward to leaving one kind of 'paradise', to get home to a more meaningful one, one that I am so blessed in which to spend my days.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Our Cruise!



Finally, the post you've all been waiting for... Yes, we had a WONDERFUL time on our vacation! Everything pretty much worked out perfectly, including the schedule for the boys and grandma back home.
We had a very relaxing, refreshing time, and enjoyed ourselves immensely. It was fun to finally 'experience' a cruise, but Weston had to put up with me for awhile as I got 'information acquainted' with our surroundings. I forget how much I need information (maps, schedules, knowledge) to feel comfortable in a new environment. We quickly got settled though, and enjoyed laying out on the Lido deck, seeing a few shows, ordering room service (it's included!), taking advantage of the seemingly unlimited amounts of food (although yes, the fanciness of it was wasted on us), and even getting to know a few people.

Our first stop was in Progreso, Mexico. It is a new port, and they are still working on gaining more tourist appeal, but we did see some Mayan Ruins at Dzibilchaltun that were pretty neat. The next day was spent in Cozumel, which was pretty incredible. We explored/shopped for a while in the AM (even found our first international geocache!) and then splurged and did the swim and ride Dolphin experience that we'd always heard was worth the money... and it was.
We got to spend a good deal of time in a tank with dolphins, petting them as they swam around us, and we also got a 'hug', 'kiss', 'handshake', and the best of all, 'belly ride'. There is nothing quite like the feeling of holding onto a beautiful dolphin's pectoral fins as he glides you through the water. Amazing. C'mon, you know you've always wanted to try it.

All in all, the vacation was everything we'd hoped it would be, a very fun and romantic celebration of our 10 years of marriage. Honestly, the 'cruise' venue itself wasn't extraordinarily enticing to us(we'd describe it a bit like Hume Lake Summer Camp, with a Vegas theme), but being away, alone, together, for an extended period of time was. (And it was super nice to not have to think about food, activities, etc.)