The Birthday Festivities continue

I think its safe to say that Michael's birthday week has come to an end.  I say week because it feels like it's been going on all week :) We started with a family party at Auntie Lindsay and Uncle Shauny's, then there was his actual birthday- lunch with Uncle Rogie and Aunt Karlee, surprise presents in the mail and finally... what he'd really been waiting for: a birthday train party with "all his friends".

My sister-in-law had the brilliant idea a couple months ago for a birthday party.  Why not just invite all our kids friends over before lunch time and have a party with mommies and kiddies. I mean honestly girls- does your husband enjoy spending half his Saturday at some kids birthday party??? Brilliant isn't it! The kids get to play with each other and your husband isn't sitting in the corner- giving you the "lets go already" look- it's a win-win situation.  Anyway, each day for about a week he'd wake up and ask me, "Mom- is today my party with all my friends?" And then we'd have to count the days.

So it finally arrived, he was thrilled. By now he realized he was getting toys for his birthday- so we had to work that out :)  Oh how quickly our yucky sin-nature rears it's ugly head!  He got to play outside, play trains, play in his bedroom- all the things a boy could wish for. There were about 15 kiddos running amuck in my house (thankfully daddy was at work!). But what fun we had, Michael was blessed by the many people who love him. And mommy's finally glad this week is winding down!

I would have never guessed that 15 kids could squish at my table made for 6!

The happy birthday boy!
How is it that in .3 seconds you can become consumed by children!
Gabby and Samuel- the best little helper girl ever!
Yep- more Thomas the Train movies!

Michael turns 3!

I use to hear my friends say all the time, "I can't believe my child...". Well, yesterday I was the one actually thinking it. I can't believe Michael is 3 years old!  I have to be honest that I was very sappy and kind of emotional that day- it doesn't help I'm pregnant too- anyway- I kept looking at him and thinking to myself that I couldn't believe it's been 3 years.

My how our lives have changed. No more lazy Saturday mornings in bed, no more hopping the car to just go a few places, no more "hey lets go away for the weekend", no more anything :)

Oh but the blessings those things have been replaced with:

Saturday mornings watching Tom & Jerry in bed

Cooking his favorite breakfast: shaw-sage, french-toast, bacon and pancakes!

Hearing his sweet little voice around the house

Teaching him what it means to have a happy heart.

The list could go on and on, I never could have imagined what a blessing it would be to be a mommy. And each year I'm reminded of the easy pregnancy I had, the excitement of his birth, how he taught both of us to be more selfless. Words cannot express how grateful I am that the Lord's blessed us with another fun-filled year with Michael.

Here he is with daddy playing with one of his new toys- building a "Rite-Aid" for his trains to go to!

Worm Hunting

One of the joys of staying home is being able to do "fun" stuff like hunt for worms.  I say "fun" because I can't stand insects, rodents or anything that's got more than 4 legs, is slimy or likes dirt. Soooo I put on my smiley face- because that's what mommies do- and off we went outside. 

Michael is fascinated by digging for worms.  This time in particular had me giggling because he had their family dynamics all figured out.  He found a mommy, a daddy, a baby Samuel, a Bailey, an Auntie, a Zekey...on and on he went.  Of course, he had to save them for later to show daddy what he'd found.  I agreed to allow them in the house- this ONE time- as long as they stayed in the cups he placed them in.  

I go in the garage to switch the laundry and as I'm walking back in, I hear Michael telling Samuel:

"Dis one's daddy Samuel, dis one's Nana..see da worms Samuel."

I'm horrified to find him dangling the worms in front of Samuel's face and admiring each of them that he's placed all over the exer-saucer. 

Note to self- don't allow ANY MORE insects that belong outside in the house EVER again... at least until my babies are 3 years old!

The fun begins- picking them out one by one.

I think this was a daddy one because it was so big :)

There is a time for everything

For those of you who don't know, my sister April is going thru a season of weeping, of pain and growing.  About 2 months ago, my brother-in-law Jim went away to Camp Penelton for his upcoming Marine's training.  Unbeknownst to April, this was the first of many lies and many heartaches.  Jim didn't contact her for over two weeks and when he did, he told her that he didn't want to be married to her anymore.  They have 2 children, Ezekiel (3) and Samantha (1yr), a home, and have gone to counseling the past 2 years, etc.  

When my sister told me, a million thoughts came rushing into my mind.  The Lord so sweetly reminded me of Ecclesiastes 3: 1-11-

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace,

What does the worker gain from this toil? 

I have seen the burden God has laid on men.

He has made everything beautiful in it's time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

I'm posting this to ask anyone who reads our blog to pray for my sister.  I know there are a million thoughts going through her head as well. I know that Satan desires to see her and her family torn apart and suffering. I know that Jim is lost in a dark place of sin and unrepentance. 

But this I also know- the God we pray to cares for us. Our God parted the Red Sea, raised a man from the dead, cured a blind man, closed the mouths of lions and had a man swallowed by a fish! He can most certainly change a man's heart. Pray with confidence, pray with a believing heart that He can do anything-  He makes everything beautiful in it's time.

Advent Conspiracy

This morning we were sitting in church and our Pastor showed a great video about this upcoming holiday season.  Let me first say- as he did- we're not against buying things for each other. We're NOT saying to not buy your children any presents, nor are we saying the idea of buying Christmas presents is evil. 

What we are saying, what we do feel, is that Christmas has gotten so blown out of proportion it's ridiculous.  This video is something that really hit home for the two of us.  Check it out and pray how the Lord would lead you and your family:

Advent Conspiracy

Again, we're still going to buy our children gifts, BUT, we are also going to cut it back and have our kids do something worthwhile for others. Like Pastor Tom said, we're going to store our treasures in heaven, not on the things of this earth.

First Foods!

A couple of days ago, Samuel moved onto bigger and better things: Rice cereal.  He wasn't too excited about that (see pics below) but he's come to enjoy carrots, green beans, peaches and pears.  Like his father he hates peas and doesn't really like bananas.   It finally dawned on me he needed food when, after inhaling a 6 ounce bottle, he was still acting like he was hungry.  Boy- this kid is gonna eat us out of house and home for sure!

Disneyland

Baby update--We're for sure expecting another baby in July. They aren't exactly sure of the due date only because the baby's still little. But everything looks good- she has a strong heartbeat (I figure if I start willing her to be a girl she will be a girl :) And I'll know a lot more in 3 weeks.

So a week ago (give or take a few days) we took off to Disneyland. Me, Mikey, Samuel and our friends Danelle, Judah, Julianne and Emma. I figured if daddy wasn't there then Mikey would have a better attitude (more on this a little later). Anyway- so we braved Disneyland with just us two and 5 children. It was AWESOME :) I'm not sure why I was doubting Mikey having fun, well I do, but I'm so stoked that he had a blast. His friends Julianne and Judah are a bit older than he is- but he loves that. They were excited to show him all around Disneyland and he was very excited to follow. We started off in Fantasyland with Dumbo. Mikey was a little nervous to ride, but when I informed him that I was taking his baby brother- he realized he needed to man up and go with him :) So he held Samuel's hand so Samuel wouldn't be "scared". That's my boy. Everything was going great- until he got off Dumbo- ran over to Judah and smacked right into Dumbo's ear. Instant shiner under his left eye. Luckily mommy was thinking ahead and brought a ton of candy- so he got over it real quick.  Then we headed off to the Tea Cups, Mickey's house, Minnie's house, the jungle cruise, the tree house, Pirates of the Caribbean, ohhh the places we went. I don't know who had more fun- me watching Mikey experience everything for the first time or Mikey realizing all of his favorite cartoon characters have an actual home.

The best part- Mikey seeing Lightning McQueen. I can't even put into the words the look on his face when he saw Lightning rolling down the street, revving his engine. Oh my word- priceless. He waved hi and yelled as loud as he could, "Hi Lightning- over here- hi Lightning!"

That Disney- they sure know how to make a little guy happy!

Even the ice cream at Disneyland is wonderful :)
Samuel and Mommy on Pirates!

There's just SOOOO much to see...Mikey finally has this place figured out- where to next Mikey?
Mikey: "We're spinning fast Mom!"Ahhh... loving on his little brother.Our little Mikey pants had to much fun!