These Two

I've really been enjoying these two recently.  They are trouble when they are together.  They are both so expressive and emotional that it is usually either laughing or yelling or crying.  So even though they may be wearing me out, I'm treasuring my time with them.

It may have something to do with my oldest being in school, and I really miss him.  So I know my days are numbered having them around the house everyday, and well, there's a little bit of savoring going on.

This day they wanted to be twins, which sometimes I feel as if they are.

And I caught them in one of their "we are the best of friends" moments!  Giggles abound on these days.  Mostly Caleb making Haleigh laugh, as he does with all of us!

Family Togetherness

Ninjas

As my friend Emily says, I will never be as cool as my husband.  I can't compete.  What is it about dads that always have the coolest ideas that the kids absolutely love?  So I don't try to compete, I just love seeing what he comes up with!


This week, he made each of the kids ninja capes and headbands.  He took my extra fabric, cut it up, and drew on it with a paint marker.  Even Haleigh got in on the fun, and had a little ninja princess get up!  


They are the cutest bunch of ninjas I've ever seen!

Happy Halloween!

Just got back from a rainy trick or treating night.  How sad!  Poor Haleigh was so cold and we did not dress appropriately.  I guess I can go ahead and schedule some sick visits at the dr office.  


Here's the pics of our kids in their costumes...

No Time for the Pumpkin Patch

With us trying to get our house on the market, I new that we didn't have anytime to take the kids to the pumpkin patch or apple picking this year.  So sad to me because it is one of my favorite things.  I've already told myself that all the holidays this year will just be different.  It doesn't mean they won't be special, but they will definitely be different.  

So insert GRANDPARENTS!  Don't you just love them?  My parents came to the rescue and took the kids for the weekend so I could get some stuff done.  And they took them to the pumpkin patch!  And they even took pictures for me so I could document it.  I love them!  Although, they aren't in the "cute" clothes and Haleigh's hat is on wrong, I am thankful for these pictures and they way they love my kids.

 And for the memories...

2010

2010

2010

2009 - Days before Haleigh arrived

Quotable Kids

Micah Edition:


8:00PM - putting boys to bed
(i just lied about that bedtime.  It was really 7:15 because ed was gone and I was sick!)

Micah: Mom! Have you felt my muscles recently?
(need I go on?)


Me:  No Micah I haven't.


Micah:  Well you should.  They are HUGE!!


We are working on pride.

Quotable Kids

Caleb Edition:


7:30AM - kids in room, Ed and I downstairs reading


Caleb:  MOMMMMAAA!!!


Me: Yes, Caleb.


Caleb:  with Caleb enthusiasm aka shouting - I'm growing up!


Me: Yes I know!


Caleb:  I'm growing big like Daddy!!


Apparently my boy grew overnight, and he could tell the difference!

I'm Gonna Miss Them

This week we are preparing for a big week for us, all of us.  Ed and I are taking our youth on a trip to Camp Barnabas.  It is our first time going, and we are really excited.  It is a camp for kids with special needs.  Our students will pair up with a kid (ages 7-15) and basically walk through a week of camp with them.  They will eat with them, sleep in a cabin with them, help them ride horses, swim in the pool, do the ropes course, go down the water slide, etc.  This is a camp made just for them!  So its going to be a challenging week, but a good week.


On the other hand, I'm about to pass on the kids to our parents.  I am really struggling with it.  I decided a while back that I just shouldn't even think about it because I would just worry.  Well now I am here, and I'm not worrying, I'm just sad.  I trust our parents, but 10 days is a LONG time.  I'd like to think my kids will miss me.  They need me...right?


So this week I'm savoring every kiss, every giggle, every hug, every "I love you", even every cute little face I'll wipe, and dirty hands I'll clean, and yes maybe even their cute little bottoms I'll wipe!

How 'Bout this Picture?

If you missed the first one go here.  


Here is the latest shots we got from the kids...

It seems this "phase" is here to stay for a while.  I could get used to this!

ReFocus

 As a mom, you know, you never get to a point where you are "cruisin".  Once you "master" a phase of parenting, a new one begins.  Sometimes, you get off track for whatever reason, and find your kids are not your kids anymore.  That's where I've found myself recently.  

All of a sudden, I'm having to repeat myself 2 and 3 and 4 times to get someone to obey.  

All of a sudden, I'm negotiating with my kids.

All of a sudden, my kids aren't getting along and yelling at each other.

All of a sudden, I'm waking up and realizing it didn't happen all of a sudden! 

I'm really the one at fault.  I've been lazy in my parenting.  So when I'm lazy, they get away with more.  And thus the issue.

So this week, we are refocusing.  I'm taking the most attention-needing areas and reteaching.  Here's what we are focusing on...

1.  Obeying Right Away - aka the first time
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Col 3:20

2.  Putting Others First
Honor others more than yourselves.  Rom 12:10b

None of you should look out just for your own good.  You should also look out for the good of others.  Phil 2:4 


3.  Loving Each Other with our Words and Tone
Avoiding a fight brings honor to a man.  But every fookish person is quick to argue.  Prov 20:3 

4.  Telling the Truth 
The Lord delights in those who are truthful.  Prov 12:22
 
 

How 'Bout This Picture?

The boys have started this little thing that I could get used to!  I am a mom who is ALWAYS trying to get them smile for me for ONE. LITTLE. PICTURE.  Most of the time it doesn't seem to go well.  But recently, we have had a love for the camera!  So I am capitalizing!

Caleb's new phrase is "How 'Bout this Picture!"  Then he'll pose either by himself or with one of the other two.  Check out these pics I got the other day!  And yes, they do have brownie ALL OVER their face and teeth, but its baby steps! 

What's New

This time of year is actually kind of slow for us, well, I guess as slow as slow can be for people involved in ministry!  So we have been enjoying some extra family time and getting some things done that we usually don't have time for!

I am really trying to flesh out my theme for this year - SIMPLE!  When I started doing resolutions for the new year I kept coming back to the same thing, I needed to simplify things.  There are SO many great and worthy things that I can latch on to, but I have realized that it makes me a crazy person.   So I've been fine tuning my "simple" plan for all things homemaking, mothering, etc.


Micah is getting ready for his t-ball season and is preparing by playing catch with Daddy.  Ed is completely amazed that he is actually playing catch with his son!  Micah is very gifted when it comes to baseball so it will be interesting how that plays out on the field.  Here's some pics from throwing the other day...

Ed loves his form...he keeps telling me to look at it!  I'm not sure if I know what I'm looking for!

Caleb (and Micah) just got haircuts.  Micah has had a buzz before, but this is Caleb's first and we think its a keeper.  He looks so ADORABLE!  I could just eat him up!  He actually let me take pictures of him the other day before "Bible Dudy (study)".  He is really thriving on one on one time and plays so well with both his brother and sister.  But he does best when he plays with one person.  That's when you really see his personality come out!

Haleigh just keeps growing and changing!  Its too fast!  I LOVE the stage she is in though.  She picks up more and more words like "get down", "more", "baby", and "ni-night".  She loves to laugh, and yell, and yes even wrestle!  She will hold her own against the boys, but is also a very sensitive girl.  She cries every time you tell her no and is frightened of every person who walks in our door because she thinks they are taking her!  We have recently added the pigtails to her hairstyles and I think its SO CUTE! 

This One's for the Grandparents!