Merry Christmas

This is the first year that Abi would take her picture with Santa. And of course Little Man wouldn't go near him. Merry Christmas to all!

Backtracking to Labor Day

We visited Granma and G-daddy in Virginia over Labor Day weekend. I just now got these pictures uploaded from my camera to the computer. Better late than never!

There is a duck pond near their house and it is becoming a tradition to visit and feed the ducks. We almost went swimming with them too!

This is one of my favorite pictures ever. I think it portrays the Reverend's personality perfectly ( and his shadow, Little Man)

I love this picture too!

Friends for the day...

the silly pose...

and one of the best pictures ever with the kiddos, Granma and Granddaddy!

Happy Labor Day!

Super Mario

So as I am laying in bed this morning, I hear the sounds of my children awakening. If you know Avery, my 5 year old, he heads straight to the Wii to log in some Super Mario time. This kid loves him some Super Mario, he is killer and could probably beat your pants off.

But this morning, there was also another sweet sound. He was teaching Aiden, age 2, to play. All Aiden could do was push one button to go straight and every now and then hit another button to jump around. So Avery would go before him, slaying monsters, shooting ducks, and preparing the way for Aiden to just walk straight. And yes, it took forever, Aiden would get distracted, jumping all around, falling down, going the wrong way. Then his brother would just pick him up and Mario would carry Luigi to safety, helping him through.

Sound familiar?

As I was laying there, I could picture the sweet hands of our Lord, saying "Come to me, let me carry you, let me help you, let me go before you today preparing the way.

Will you let him carry you today?

I lift my eyes up to the hill, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121-1-2

Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you , I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Pumpkin Fun!

We headed to the pumpkin patch at a friend's farm, Walden Farm,

a few weeks ago.

some slightly OCD behavior???

What a cute little poser he is!

And this guy is a poser too!

A cute group shot...

Not quite the cooperation I was hoping for. I was wanting everyone to stand on the fence rails--what a cute Christmas card it would have been...

Just swingin' away on the tire swing.

Even daddy got in on the fun and launched the kids across the farm on the teeter totter!

just playing around. there was also a 40 foot tube slide that the kiddos enjoyed.

hay ride!

what a fun family time!

and finally one great family shot. you might see this one on the Christmas card this year, folks!

Happy fall, ya'll!

Foto Friday

Today was Scarecrow Day for Avery at Kindergarten!

Wordless Wednesday

Sleeping Adventures

These are the last week's pictures of Little Man's sleep adventures. I just wanted to document them here on the blog.

BUS TIME

Avery has waited for 2 years to ride the bus. So on Thursday, the first day of kindergarten, I let him. I was a little nervous, but knew the bus driver would take good care of him.

Plus, big sister, Abi said, " Mom, I've got this, don't worry about it."

Uhhm, okay...


so excited...


and he made it. When he got home, Aiden was so excited to see him, that he ran to hug him and busted his nose. That's a first bus ride he'll never forget!

While the big kids are away, we PLAY!

Aiden-sneaking some extra milk...




playing with mommy...


he loves to play ANY kind of ball!


movie time...


I just think he's so stinkin' cute. and i love my time alone with him!

KINDERGARTEN

Ready or not, here he comes...

Avery's first half day of kindergarten was on Friday. He LOVES his teacher and knows one boy in his class.






and of course, a little bit of silliness!


He has another half day on Wednesday, then full time starting Thursday. He wants to ride the bus with Abi on Thursday, I said "We'll see."

2nd Grade

She's off and running... to 2nd grade. Can you believe it?

It just doesn't seem possible but she certainly acts like a big girl these days!






She has a fabulous teacher, is reading great, and had a great first day.

The middle man heads to kindergarten testing in the morning. He took his 2 shots today at his dr. appointment like a pro, didn't want me to hold him or his hand, and only teared up after they were all done.

He's super excited about kindergarten. More pics to come of his first day next week.

HOPE for today!

This is an entry from Oswald Chambers' My Utmost For His Highest. I borrowed it from a friend's blog (thanks TC)! I'm learning to live in the PROCESS and not wait on the END GOAL.

July 28, 2010
He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side . . . —Mark 6:45

We tend to think that if Jesus Christ compels us to do something and we are obedient to Him, He will lead us to great success. We should never have the thought that our dreams of success are God’s purpose for us. In fact, His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have the idea that God is leading us toward a particular end or a desired goal, but He is not. The question of whether or not we arrive at a particular goal is of little importance, and reaching it becomes merely an episode along the way. What we see as only the process of reaching a particular end, God sees as the goal itself.
What is my vision of God’s purpose for me? Whatever it may be, His purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. God is not working toward a particular finish— His purpose is the process itself. What He desires for me is that I see “Him walking on the sea” with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see “Him walking on the sea” ( Mark 6:49 ). It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God.
God’s training is for now, not later. His purpose is for this very minute, not for sometime in the future. We have nothing to do with what will follow our obedience, and we are wrong to concern ourselves with it. What people call preparation, God sees as the goal itself.
God’s purpose is to enable me to see that He can walk on the storms of my life right now. If we have a further goal in mind, we are not paying enough attention to the present time. However, if we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious.


I pray this blesses you and gives you HOPE for today!

FIVE!

My middle man, Avery, turns FIVE tomorrow! Unfortunately, we couldn't find any of his baby pictures on our hard drive. Good thing I scrapbooked them and we can always scan some in the future. I added some extra pics to make up for it tonight.

Avery at age 2 in the snow...


Avery holding baby Aiden as almost age 3.


Messy face at age 3. (well, he always has a messy face!)


playing soccer at age 3


Pumpkin farm at age 3. silly boy!


one of my all time favorites...


batting practice at age 3...


sweet boy at age 4...


spiderman at age 4 ( he was spiderman two years in a row, probably this year too!)


and tonight, at almost FIVE!


Avery, we love you. You are a sweet, generous, and sensitive child. May you never lose that but grow into a loving and godly man.