Milestones

We made it. Well, Braden made it. I had a difficult time of course.

Braden is officially a two year old. Braden's birthday was Saturday and we HAD to start the day off right with homemade chocolate chip pancakes. We took the kids to Grants Farm (which if you're ever in St Louis is a must see place!) and Braden took charge of the goats. I was stung by a wasp at the park and unfortunately am still trying to get my arm back to normal. We then came home to have Braden's favorite food: Amburbur's. Hamburgers for those of you that don't know toddler lingo. We capped off the birthday with a trip to Nana and Papa's house for birthday cake. Braden got some great gifts and has since decided not to remove the conductor's hat he got, nor sleep without the John Deere tractor. While singing happy birthday Braden sat stone still and when we started cheering Braden wanted us to sing it again. And again. And again. 4 times and we forced him to blow (or spit on the cake in his case) out the candles. All in all, I think Braden had a great day! As for a little about my special boy:

Braden is a boy! No doubt about it, his favorite past times include playing ball, and playing in the dirt.
Braden can actually play baseball. Braden since 18 mos has an uncanny ability to actually catch a ball when you throw it to him and really has a great arm. So great in fact that most of his teammates are unaware of his abilities until they catch one of his passes in the head or chest.
Braden has favorites. Braden loves his Papa like no other bond I've seen. Every item or activity in his little life refers back to his Papa. If Richard is cutting the grass, we have to hear about Papa's lawnmower. If we are in the car, we hear about Papa's car. Papa is the first one Braden cries for when he gets in trouble or when he gets hurt. Braden looks just like his papa as well.
Braden does not like to sleep alone. I can actually count one one hand the number of nights Braden has slept without one of the four of us in his lifetime. His most favorite place is my bed. And if you ask him whose bed it is, he'll reply with his! He's a stinker but we love him. Happy Birthday Braden!

Our 2nd major milestone, is Ashlyn. On Saturday Ashlyn was having issues keeping her mouth closed as her teeth hurt. She's been battling two loose teeth for over a month and it finally came out. This morning while getting ready to eat breakfast she told us she couldn't eat since her tooth hurt. Daddy told her to just pull it out ( and if you know Richard this was sarcastic) to which she reached in, pulled it out, and set it on her plate. That's my girl. So the tooth fairy will get to visit our home two nights in a row. And just in time for all the wedding photos we'll be taking in the next two weeks!

Daddy and Braden

Travel prep

I love going places, but boy do I hate the packing (read as last minute laundry to do) and all the car time. The kids travel great so that's no problem. It's just so drawn out! We are off to Texas (via Tulsa) on Wed for a wedding this weekend. This is the first of three weddings we'll be attending in a time span of 7 weeks. And to top it all off, Carter and Ashlyn will be in all three. We are unable to make the fourth, or we'd have another one to add in there. So, I'd say by the end of August we'll be able to rent out the kiddos for all your flowergirl and ringbearer needs. I'll also have lots of pics to post and probably some wedding attire to loan.

Baseball is our current season of life and Carter had an exciting weekend. Carter has been unable to get a hit during an actual game. Fouls yes, hits during practice and scrimmages yes, but a game NO. So this Friday, (after we've been practicing at home a lot thanks to a great new birthday gift that helps hitters) Carter got his first hit. All the parents (on both sides) stood and cheered and clapped for him. And because of the great hitting of the boys behind him, he got to run home and score. Again, all the parents stood and cheered for him!! He could not stop grinning and the first thing he wanted to do was call his Dad who unfortunately didn't get to see it because of work. He had a game the next day and got another 2 hits!! We now have a little slugger on our hands ladies and gentlemen!

Saturday, I missed the game for Carter and Ashlyn due to the Race for the Cure. It was amazing! I've NEVER seen that many people in one place. It was so humbling to see so many "pink" survivors and all the families with them. During the race, I couldn't keep my eyes away from all the signs people were wearing in memory of their loved ones. So very touching. I can't wait to do this again.

I'm also trying to post pics from Photobucket and unsure how to link to this post, so we'll see what happnes.

Sweet Carter

So obviously I'm posting this while the household is sleeping and I'm trying to adjust to using a laptop and a new photo host. So bear with me and the pictures I'll try to edit later. On to the important things:


Carter

Such a sweet little blessing wrapped up in a shell of rambunctious giggles and sweet(read little boy smelly) hugs! Carter is officially 4. Carter has been preparing himself for his birthday since Ashlyn turned 6 in April. We've been counting down a while and this past week he's celebrated his birthday a couple times with a couple more celebrations to go! So each morning he's asked if this was a fake birthday day or a real birthday day! I love 4 year old logic already! Carter can steal your heart with his smile and his giggle. As well as make you laugh with his solemn faced looks when he knows he's in trouble. He loves to sing and play and as you saw in earlier blogs, he's learning baseball. He loves cowboys. Not the Dallas cowboys, but cowboys. He wears his cowboy boots with everything and loves that he has a cowboy room. I'll try to post pics another day....Don't hold your breath though. He loves Ashlyn fiercely and is very headstrong with having his now 4 year old voice heard along with hers. He's so tender with Braden but is not afraid to let us know when Braden has done him wrong. (aka tattling). He gives the sweetest kisses and cannot do so with a straight face. He has a sweet special love for his nana and she loves him so. Carter loves Jesus and isn't afraid to tell you that. He loves to sing (read make up his own words ) to songs and is currently a fan of the Veggie Tales, "Crocodile Rock" and Veggie Tales, "Lean on Me". I'm so excited about the years to come and am savoring one more year home with Carter before he starts school. I love you Carter!

Carter

The Monday Update with random photos

So, a lot has happened since April 10th. But unfortunately I can't remember half of it. The big thing right now is Baseball! The kids are doing great (when the weather cooperates and they love it!!
This is Carter being the catcher!
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/TheSweetLife_2007/100_1082.jpg

This is Carter with his 2nd place medal:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/TheSweetLife_2007/100_1085.jpg

This is Ashlyn's team:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/TheSweetLife_2007/100_1053-1.jpg

And this is Ashlyn hitting the ball:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/TheSweetLife_2007/100_1063.jpg

And we can't forget dear Braden:

This is Braden after learning how to take off his clothes and diaper:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/TheSweetLife_2007/100_1088.jpg


And this is a pic of the kiddos last week:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/TheSweetLife_2007/100_1090.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/TheSweetLife_2007/100_1089.jpg
That's all for now!

6 years ago today

we were blessed with a tiny little pink bundle of joy. We are still filled with joy each day that Ashlyn is in our lives. She is the sweetest most thoughtful blessing. She can cheer you with a smile and is RARELY sad or discouraged. She has an amazing voice and loves to sing. Her current favorite CD's are Lincoln Brewster LIVE, Acapella (Heaven and Earth), and Veggie Tales (O Veggie Where Art Thou). She is so talented in whatever she is doing. She is trying out T-Ball this year and is so excited to play! She giggles all the time! And I mean all the time! She loves Jesus! She can tell us Bible Story after story and verse after verse! She loves to tell her brothers about Jesus. (I've heard the resurrection egg story 10 times a day before and after Easter!) She is THE BEST big sister.. She takes such good care of Carter and Braden and loves to read to them. I can't say enough about our precious girl! We love you Ashlyn and hope you have a wonderful 6th year!

*A Big Happy Birthday to our Special Friend who turned 7 today!*

Finding a mom's purpose.

So many times I allow Satan to bring me down by insulting my choice of staying at home. I hear many questions asking," don't you want more? what are you going to be"? These questions do nothing but discourage me which I know is exactly Satan's purpose. I really do find joy in my children and staying at home with them and I don't want to have an attitude of this being temporary. God has blessed my family with the financial ability for me to stay home. I want to use that blessing for his glory. A blog that I read so touched me today. It says exactly what I've been feeling.....



The funny thing is, I do not remember ever specifically aspiring to my current occupation: motherhood. I guess maybe I always assumed I would be a mom and never really thought about balancing motherhood with whatever my current career aspiration happened to be.

The transition from diaper bag to backpack and lunch box really caught me off guard. I'm a smart girl, I knew with each birthday my boys were getting older; it was my transition that surprised me.I once knew what I did: I changed diapers and filled juice cups and pushed strollers. For years. One baby boy after another. And now?That transition plunged me into what has been at times an almost frantic search for purpose and validation. I bought the lie of our culture that we must accomplish to be significant. I knew God called me to be home, even now with the boys in school, but I couldn't shake the feeling I was supposed to be doing something, some accomplishment, some more worthwhile endeavor, something I could tell people I "did with myself all day now that the kids are in school." Somehow, laundry wasn't enough!

Our faithful God has taught me the value of an ordinary life lived for His purposes and His glory. The privilege of serving Him in the simple tasks of laundry and grocery shopping and shuttling kids all over town. The holy responsibility of raising a generation of godly young men. The call to say Yes wherever He leads, whatever He asks. The freedom of living in the today of my journey, and knowing He holds the tomorrow

Simplify

I'm really working on this. I know that I overcommit myself. Actually, everyone knows it. I don't want to live in busyness. I am committing myself (no not like that, but I probably should) to living a simplified life. I'm going to stop the hustle and bustle that our family seems to fall into so many times.

Blogger Blues

I don't know why, but I guess this is like a lot of things in my life... I get excited and can't wait to tell all the funny little things about our life, and then there's days for the life of me I just don't want to type!
We've all been really sad the last few days as the realization has hit that we are not going to be in Tulsa for the workshop this year! This is big news for me since I go every year! Richard's new schedule is not allowing it. It's spring break here, so taking off for him is not an option. So, Richard is scheduled off three days before the workshop so we are taking the kids away for a little R & R. They are really excited and I know they'll have a great time! Carter just wants to take a "Acation".

The Chopping Block

Well today is the day. The big haircut. I've been trying to grow out my hair, but it has too many layers and is starting to be shabby. So, I'm off later today to get it chopped.

Just a picture of the kiddos and their snowman!

Fashion Don'ts

Okay, I don't claim to be a fashionista, but I do have a couple of pointers......

If your hair is white with a blue tint, you should not wear halter tops
If you wear a hair scarf, a back tatoo is not for you.
If you are eligible to collect social security, do not wear embellished jeans(glitter, sequins, etc)
If you wear granny panties, do not wear low rise jeans. (This is a must, however I would rather see this than a thong on you.
I'm sure you can think of more, but these are a few I noticed yesterday while going to ONE store.

Ashes to Ashes, Beans to Beans?

So Ashlyn has an aha! moment yesterday!
She runs in and says,"I get it".
Mommy: Get what?
Ashlyn: Why we are called human beans.
Mommy: What?
Ashlyn: We are made from beans. That's why we are called human beans.

My next goal: Enunciate my words more clearly.

The Ugly Cry

Yep. It came out. I hate the ugly cry. Where you are trying to cry silently but can't. Where you immediately get pain above your eyes. Ughh! But it happened. And it happened while watching the movie, Facing the Giants. Obviously I like it. It really made me reflect a lot. People I know, things I've done, etc. Just a really good movie. So for today, whether it's a good day or a bad day, I'll still Praise the Lord.

Back from the Cold

Well we've started the recovery process from our trip. I can't believe my husband actually beat me posting about it. Oh well. He also mentioned putting some pictures up but I will warn you (and him) they will be censered first! We had a great time and can't wait to do it again! I will say however that I can check learning to ski off of my list. It is NOT my sport. Let's just say the young man operating the lift had quite an entertaining morning watching myself and another who shall remain nameless get off of the snow. We were able to laugh at ourselves, and that's the most important thing! However, if said husband decides to surprise wife with another trip, please make it a tropical location!! A huge happy birthday to husband as well. I am now married to a 30 year old. Uggh! Since he's working afternoons this week, we'll probably celebrate Saturday!

Birthday, Jam, and Bread

Well my birthday this year was bunk. Not sure if that's a word, but that's how it felt. Richard is on days so I got up and got the three kids ready and took all of us to church. A teacher comes and gets me in the middle of class and says Carter threw up. Fun. So I go and get Braden and Ashlyn, load them in the car (it's freezing outside) and pull around to Carter's class. I get him in the car and tell him it's okay, we are going home. He says he isn't sick. He says he coughed a big coff (his words) and that he spit it in the trash. So, he's hungry for lunch. Off to home we go. I made a huge pot of soup. The kids play, I clean. My parents come over after church and we eat soup. I put the kids down for a nap. So Richard gets off work, my family is watching the kiddos and we go to the Winter Jam concert. Our friends drive behind us and on the way into the venue our cars get seperated. We park, pay, and go in. They tell us to find a seats. We can't. They've admitted too many people and the Fire Marshal is yelling for everyone to find a seat. (This was general admission at the door, no tickets) So we call our friends who can't get in because they've closed the doors and said sold out. They didn't want us to leave ( we were a group of seven in our van) and so they missed it. We stood for at least an hour with no seats and let me tell you I was not impressed with the concert. Don't get me wrong, but do you really need a lot of "love offerings" and a sermonette from each performer? So that was it. Bummer. Oh well, I ended up getting new living room furniture as my birthday present and they are beautiful! Thanks hubby.! And we are going on our trip on Friday and hubby is taking me somewhere nice!!! Yea!!
Saturday I made cookie sandwiches (chocolate chip cookies with buttercream in the middle), but Carter couldn't find where I'd put the bread in them! :)
Friday Carter got a papercut and needed a bandaid. Ashlyn said she wanted to do it. Well she thought she was putting Neosporin on it, but instead blood curdling screams erupt from the bathroom. Oh no, Carter was screaming, "my hand is burning". Yep, you guessed it. Ben-Gay. Poor kiddos. Carter cried for an hour while it went from burning to freezing, and Ashlyn cried for putting that on his hand. Oh the joy!

Feeling the Burn!

Okay so this past week I've been running. And oh I can feel it! My legs were on fire and my nose was so red! It was so cold outside. I decided to go ahead and start running outside no matter the weather. I could feel my lungs. I'm not talking about feeling a tightness in my chest. I felt my lungs breathing in and out. I also thought, "Oh, Lord, please don't let me die with snot on my face!" Hopefully this week will be better. I don't know how I'll run today since the sidewalks are all covered in snow. I may just have to do my dance moves (workout DVD) at home! Bummer. Only 1 week and 5 days till we leave for our trip. I'm so excited!

Recaps and Resolutions

Okay so we are all over sickness at this point. Fingers-crossed. We were well at Christmas and then got it again from those down there! Yuck! Anyway, thank goodness we are all well! So we had a great Christmas. Three celebrations and way too much stuff. All of which we love and are grateful for. So Richard surprised me with a trip. Actually let me rephrase that. He tried to surprise me. The company emailed me to confirm the trip and the cost etc, and of course I read what I'm emailed. So I call Richard knowing this is a mistake since I know we are going on a cruise this summer and why would he book two trips like this in one year? But my poor hubby who tried so hard, bless his little heart! Needless to say I'm really excited and have determined (since I have never skiid (sp) ) that I may not know what I'm doing, but I'm gonna look good on the slopes! Yeah for hubby. What a fun gift!
And Resolutions. I didn't plan on any. I never really do. But yesterday's sermon was 7 in 07. And one of them was living a healthy life and giving full control to God. I never really thought about it in those aspects. I can live healthier, longer, and give MORE glory to God. So our preacher announced he's going to run the 5k in June for Race for the Cure. Well, I decided that I am too. I know a couple of you who are laughing at this very minute. Are you picturing Phoebe running through Central Park? Well I'll have you know that I may not know how to run, but it can't be that hard right? So, Richard and my loyal readers are really the only ones that know. I'm not keeping it a secret mind you. But there's just something about saying your Resolutions outloud. At least for me. Another resolution along the same lines is we are totally revamping our food lifestyle. No more eating out. No more quick drivethroughs! It's camping around the kitchen table for us! I'm really excited about this one! Cause you know I like to cook. Now the challenge is converting our not so healthy casseroles and meals to good ones! So feel free to send me your recipes!! So that's 2007. Anyone else doing resolutions this year?

Kenny

My little brother says I never mention his name so here goes. Kenny. He is actually getting married next August and has just turned 21 last week. He's home from Harding on break and has been staying with us and picking up extra work with the company I work for. His wedding website is www.theknot.com/ourwedding/AmandaHarrison&KennyFester. They are just so cute together. Ashlyn is the flower girl and Carter is going to be a ring bearer. I can't wait to see them. So that's my post for Kenny.