I Heard The Bells

If you haven't seen or heard Casting Crowns sing "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" then you aren't alone. Until this past weekend Mark and I had never heard this song before, despite it being released several years ago. Our church featured the song this past Sunday and our worship team True North performed this song and it blew us away.

So I wanted to share this absolutely captivating song with you all in hopes that it brings you a sense of peace and joy as we approach Christmas.

(Note: Click PAUSE on my Playlist within the Blog so you will only hear the music from the Video and not both music tracks.)

Revelation and Resolutions

God reaches people in various ways but I often hear the Lord the loudest through music. The Lord certainly didn't bless me with the talent to sing beautifully or to play an instrument, but I do believe He speaks to me through music.

A while back I heard a song on the radio that made me instantly tear up. The message was so powerful that by the time I heard it a second time, I was singing right along with it as loud as I could. Since then I have heard that song on the radio quite often and it just puts life in perspective on days when it's so needed. It's a song called "My Own Little World" by Matthew West. Below is an excerpt of the lyrics. After hearing this song the lyrics stick in my head for days...and I love it. These lyrics have turned into a sort of prayer I pray often.

What if there's a bigger picture?

What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world


Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me


What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?


That I could be living right now
I don't want to miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now

Outside my own little world.

Check out the full song/video via YouTube here.

And if I'm in the car by myself, I turn "Revelation Song" up as loud as I can stand it and sing along as if I'm performing for a crowd of ten thousand. (Shh! That's a secret!) That song gets me so amped up with grace, I feel unstoppable. On a day when it seems like nothing is going right, singing Revelation Song at the top of my lungs is one of the best spiritual boosts I know of!!

As 2011 quickly approaches, I began to ponder recently about my new year's resolutions. And I have decided to give up on creating resolutions. Instead, I want to create a personal purpose. Resolutions are an outward commitment and often get forgotten a couple months into the new year. A purpose is deeper. To me, a purpose is a spiritual commitment. I am honored beyond words to include wife and mother within my life's purpose but for the past few months I have felt the Lord calling me to fulfill an additional purpose outside my own little world. My talent (or gifts) may not be in music but I'm certain the Lord gives us all unique gifts so that we may bless others.

Matthew 25:40 says it perfectly...
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

My prayer for the new year is that we have complete faith in His plan for our life and the strength to follow Him wherever He leads us.

It's going to be amazing, baby!

Today, Ian and I had a wonderful opportunity to help decorate our church for Advent, while spending some special mother/son time together. Ian has been looking forward to this for a while. He was so excited at the thought of getting to help hang Christmas lights like he has watched Daddy do in years' past at home.

When we got to the church there were people in various parts of the church working on hanging garland, enormous wreaths, wrapping big Christmas trees with lights, etc. As Ian and I walked in, hand in hand, he quietly said to me, "Mama, I don't think there's anything here for me to do." I reassured him that there was. We met with the coordinator and Ian told her what he had told me. She let Ian know how excited she was to have him there to help and told him she saved a special job just for us. They wanted us to decorate the Christmas tree in the "Bride's room", or parlor, up near the church offices. We were handed a bag of ornaments (mostly non-breakable, thankfully) and strands of lights. As we waited, Ian noticed a pretty gold angel ornament that was intended for the large trees near the sanctuary, and he asked if we could put it on "our" tree. The coordinator smiled and handed it to Ian - he was excited.

As I wrapped the tree in lights, Ian organized the ornaments and pile of hooks. We talked about the terms volunteer, serve and ministry and what they mean. We talked about how one simple act, like decorating a tree at our church, is serving others and it's serving the Lord with our time and talents. We also talked more about the upcoming Christmas holiday and why we as Christians celebrate Christmas. Even though I'm sure Ian would have probably rather have been playing model airplanes at home, he hung in there and genuinely helped, talked with me, and listened. I will cherish that time with him; the memory of our first "service project" together.

So tonight as I'm making dinner for Mark and me, the kids were sitting across from each other at the kitchen table eating theirs. That's when I overheard an awesome conversation that I will never forget. Now granted Anna does not have true words yet, but she was listening to Ian and responding with noises as if she was speaking as clear as a bell. Anna began to reach up with both arms and Ian was trying to guess what she wanted. Here's how the conversation went....

Ian: "What do you want, Baby?" (Yes, Ian usually adds the word Baby to statements because we often call Anna "Anna Baby")
Anna: Uh! (as she reaches both hands to the sky)
Ian: "Oh, you are reaching for God. He is way up in the sky."
Anna: A little coo of a "uh-huh".

By this time I had turned around so I could see what they were talking about and just watched without them knowing.

Ian: "Did you know that God is going to come back down to Earth from heaven and we will get to meet him, Baby?" (with a huge look of excitement on his face)
Anna: another coo of "uh-huh".

So then I interject, "You're right, Ian. Jesus is going to return someday and all of the people who believe in Him will go live in heaven with him. We will live with the Lord forever."

Ian: "We all get to go see heaven and stay there forever with Jesus?" Then he looks to Anna and says, "I can't wait. It's going to be amazing, Baby! I will meet Jesus and get to sleep on a big, fluffy white pillow...a big cloud. Yeah!"

I was speechless. Part of me wanted to chuckle at his innocent thoughts of bouncing on a big puffy cloud and the other part of me was in awe of how a four year old little boy could possibly wrap his mind around such an awesome spiritual concept - without being afraid. And does he ever have it right; it will be truly amazing to meet our Lord and Savior face-to-face. Until then, I will continue to thoroughly enjoy the tenderness of a child's spirit whom I know already has a special place in his heart for the Lord.

Race To Nowhere

After reading an online article titled "The Enrichment Black Hole" I came across information about a documentary that is about to be released nationwide and thought it was quite intriguing, called
Race To Nowhere. The premise is that kids in the States are over scheduled, under too much pressure to achieve at young ages so they will succeed later in life, and how kids don't get time to simply create, play, and grow into adulthood anymore. I can't wait for local screenings to become available or for Netflix to carry it.

Check out the trailer at http://www.racetonowhere.com/node/4494.

I'll also be interested to see how this documentary either supports or conflicts with my recent insight on parenting from the book titled Rite of Passage Parenting. The book promotes raising kids with clear-cut rites of passage at various stages of childhood so they are taught responsibility for their actions, while preparing them for the REAL reality of adulthood, basic coping skills, and self-sufficiency. The rite of passage theory is to give children a clear line between childhood and adulthood.

As I type this in an electronic journal I think of how much our society has changed in recent decades; especially how we communicate. We don't hand write letters. We rarely pick up the phone and have hour-long chats with family or friends. And we rarely have deep, meaningful conversations with friends and family during face-to-face visits. We type an email or text a quick note. We've lost the art of communication and I am just as guilty as anyone else. It's easier for me to write or type my feelings than speak them, most often. My thoughts seem to come out better when I have the opportunity to use the Delete button when necessary. Delete button doesn't work in normal conversation. Ha!

I have the joy of saying I live in Oklahoma - and, yes, I am serious. I love it here (other than during tornado season). This is home. But when we moved here almost six years ago, I quickly learned one very important difference between Texans and Okies. Here we have the "art of the visit" as my husband calls it. In Oklahoma you can quickly find yourself in a ten minute conversation or "visit" with the cashier at the grocery store. My in-laws and my husband's Aunt have an amazing knack for learning the life story of their waitress over lunch. My father-in-law has even been known to learn more about someone he visits with at a rest stop simply by complimenting their pet dog than I can tell you about some of my own extended family. This amazes me! And I admire it. When Mark's entire family gets together I learn all kinds of interesting things about them. They tell stories. They share family history. It's intriguing (maybe because I haven't heard all the stories a hundred times like Mark has) and it's real.

On another note, I find it interesting how many main-stream, conservative families are now choosing home schooling as the best option for their children. Maybe our US society is so far off balance in the area of education and properly equipping children with necessary life-skills, that a more relaxed and creative environment for study is a better option for many.

So I guess my ultimate point is, as parents of children of any age we need to stop and ask ourselves (as often as possible) if what we are doing either in our own household or as a nation, is right for our children. If there are gaps between what is right and wrong for our kids, we need to recognize that and do something about it.

One truth remains fresh in my mind from day to day - when God blesses us with children we only get one chance to raise them. If I have ever wanted desperately to succeed at a job, it's while I'm working as "mom" with Him as my boss.

Halloween

Halloween was neat this year. Ian dressed up as Darth Vader and Anna went as Super Girl. Both kids looked so cute in their costumes!



This year we opted to take the kids trick-or-treating at a local mall where the store employees pass out candy. It was a safe environment, we didn't have to worry about bundling up in jackets, or being out after dark. The kids loved it.

Anna was really apprehensive about taking the candy from the hands of the store clerks but she got the hang of it. And she'd even say thank you in her own little way - she makes a noise where she actually sounds as if she is saying thank you but can't say the words yet. And then she'd give her famous backward wave. Ian was not only excited to collect candy but to scope out everyone else's costumes.

We stopped at Gram & Pop Bob's house as well as Nana & Papa Willard's house so the kids could trick-or-treat. By the time we got home the kids were wiped out! Fun was had by all.







Ian turns four



Ian making a wish on his Penguin cake.

On Saturday, the 23rd, we had Ian's fourth birthday party and his two best school friends, Jackson and Dalton, were able to attend, along with loads of family.

His theme was Penguins of Madagascar and we had paratroopers and glider planes for the kids to practice their "top secret mission" with. But, when Uncle Mike and Aunt Anh began making balloon swords - that took the cake! The boys wouldn't put them down.

I can't even put into words how excited my son was during his entire birthday party. He didn't just get loud...he literally screamed every word he said. And I have never seen a child so excited for each and every present (or "surprise" as he called them) he opened. He was so precious, too, that he immediately said 'thank you' to the giver of the gift. And after the party he would ask, "Who gave me (blank)?" and then he'd go up to that person and hug them and tell them thank you. It was so cute. He was so appreciative for everything and everyone there.



Sword fight!

The excitement continued well into the night. He couldn't settle down and ended up not getting much sleep Saturday night. Sunday he actually fell asleep on Mark's lap during the church service and slept through the entire sermon and some of the worship music. He was exhausted. And yet, he didn't nap Sunday afternoon. He was so fascinated by his new toys that his brain wouldn't slow down.

 



The Thursday prior to his party was his actual birthday and, of course, I get very sentimental around his actual birthday. Both kids' births were quite eventful and memorable in their own ways. And I praise God for each child He gave to us.




The ultimate party animal with his new Lightsaber
and Imaginext aircraft carrier...and balloon belt and hat.

 

A tree and its fruits

As a mother of two young children, the Lord has placed many scriptures in my heart and mind regarding parenting but two specific ones come to mind in this current season of mothering.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

I also like to remind myself of Luke 6:43-49 about the tree and its fruits and the wise and foolish builders. Within days of bringing each baby home from the hospital, the true reality of my role as their parent hit home...hard. I felt an overwhelming desire to protect them, love them, and do right by them when it comes to instilling the Word in their hearts early on. Mark and I both want to do our best to help Ian and Anna build their life foundation on the Rock. Because with such a solid foundation, we have faith they will always have the Lord in their hearts no matter what the enemy throws in their path.

This school year I started a new tradition with the kids now that Ian understands more about God and prayer. I figured the car was the best place for us to start our day in prayer because there are no distractions. And God so graciously grants us a red light at a particular intersection almost daily so we can safely pause to pray together. So this past week we were running a bit late and the light was green instead of red. As I passed through the intersection Ian calls out from the backseat, "Mama, wait. We didn't do our morning prayer yet." I beamed with joy that he had not only realized where we usually do our prayer but that he had accepted prayer time as part of his daily routine.

Today we had planned to only go to Sunday School hour of church because Ian was a bit stuffed up from allergies and didn't seem to be feeling completely well. As Mark got Anna up from her morning nap, she popped out of bed, grabbed her shoes and happily headed for the car! She knew where we were going. As we entered the church parking lot she began to squeal and kick her legs with delight. And Ian announced proudly that this was "his church". We were so happy to see both kids so excited about church. And, again, that church and time of worship has become part of their weekly routine...a part they look forward to.

So after we picked Ian up from his Sunday School class and began heading for the nursery to get Anna, Ian told us that we were going the wrong way - that he goes to two classes and his second class was the other way. We asked him if he was feeling well enough to go to church hour and he told us that he did. Mark and I just smiled at each other. I checked with the nursery staff to make sure Anna was doing well and we headed to Ian's second classroom. It makes me so overcome with joy to realize that both kids genuinely enjoy attending church - having their own special time for worship with other children, stories, songs, activities, etc.

Ian's first memory verse for Sunday School is a simplified version of Psalm 139:14.
["I praise you because you made me."] He has really impressed me with his memorization of it and understanding of what it means and who we are praising.

Something else cute is that Ian caught on to us ending our prayers with the phrase, "In Jesus' name we pray, Amen." He has added this to the end of his nightly prayers but he says it, "In Jesus we name, Amen." He's too cute.

I can only pray that the kids' thirst for the Word continues to grow as they continue to grow.

Day Out with Thomas The Tank Engine



On Friday afternoon we ventured out to the Railway Museum to attend the Day Out With Thomas event (it was free!). As we got ready to leave the house Ian kept saying, "I'm going to see the real Thomas. I hardly wait!" (Yes, he omits the "can" in that phrase.) The crowd was minimal and the excitement was high. Both kids were so hyped to do all the stations. They played with wooden and electric train sets, did putt-putt golf, got temporary Thomas tattoos, jumped in a bounce house, and got on the retired train cars. They even got their picture taken in front of THE Thomas the Tank and Ian got his picture with Sir Topham Hatt. But the highlight of the day was the magic show. The Marty the Magician show (or "Smarty" as Ian thought he was called) was a HUGE hit. Ian was so into the show that he was having a hard time catching his breath because he was laughing so hard. And then Marty called Ian up on stage to help him with part of the act. Ian was reluctant at first but quickly smiled and enjoyed it once he was up there. The magician placed one foam ball into Ian's hand and made it turn into two foam balls. That blew Ian's mind! He was so excited after that show that he insisted on doing a magic show for us when we got home. I think I heard "Abracadabra" a dozen times on the way home.


It was a fun afternoon and one Ian won't soon forget.

Forever young...but still growing up with each new day

Post Created On: 8/30/10

I just celebrated my thirty-third birthday and it was quite memorable. Mark and I had a truly enjoyable evening out where we had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants out on Lake Hefner - gorgeous views! Mark gave me a really touching birthday card and a beautiful silver bracelet from James Avery. He also ordered a custom engraved heart crosslet charm for the bracelet that has the kids' birth dates on the back. Ian and Gram (what the kids call my mom) made a birthday card for me and Ian wrote his own name (for the first time) on a card Mark got for me, from Ian. Ian did an awesome job - he clearly wrote each letter and did it really well. Ian got me a new necklace that he calls my "jewels" for my birthday. Gram helped pick it out and Ian was so excited to present it to me. He knows I often wear my diamond (or "star" as Ian calls it) necklace that Mark gave me for our wedding and how much it means to me. So Ian was so excited to give me a necklace, too. He has the sweetest heart!

On my actual birthday, my mom and the kids and I went to the Science Museum for the day and had a blast. We ventured into the planetarium show for the first time and it was a huge hit with Ian. He impressed us by knowing many of the answers to questions posed during the show. Anna decided the dark room was a good place to catch a nap on my lap so I enjoyed the snuggle time.

The kids and I rode the two-story twisty slide in the tree house play area - keeping hold of those babies on the way down was quite a challenge. Anna liked it so much she tried to climb back up the slide to try it again. Ian enjoyed the new robotic arm exhibit, climbing in the airplane cockpit (one of his usual stops), playing in the kidzone area - including the John Deere life-size farm tractor, the child size fire station, and the squirt gun and bubble wand station. We enjoyed a packed lunch in the cafe and some energetic tumbling time in the gymnastics exhibit of the museum, before heading home for naps.

I get such joy watching how wide-eyed both kids get when they try something new, learn something new, or accomplish something new on their own. Watching them grow and live a life of pure joy is a remarkable blessing.

A Reflection....

Our wedding day

On the way to dinner with Mark over the weekend one of my most favorite songs from my childhood came on the radio - "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart. That song reminds me of growing up and of my Dad - he played Rod Stewart a lot when I was a kid. And growing up there was always music around me - on the house stereo and in the car. Music isn't just entertainment for me - it's deeper than that. Music touches my soul. Some of my current favorites are "Sweetly Broken", "By Your Side", and "At The Foot Of The Cross". Their message is so powerful! These songs (and so many others) make me think of raising my own children, the amazing influence those around them have, and how I pray they have a true relationship with the Lord and follow His guidance from a young age.

 

Our first anniversary

In my early twenties I always felt like ages 29-31 would be great years for me. Those where the years I looked forward to - not sure why at the time, but I do now. Little did I know those would be the years in which I would give birth to my precious babies. These years were also the authentic start to a deep relationship with my Lord and Savior. I grew up in the church but wasn't what you'd call a "church kid". I was baptized while in college but never truly opened my heart to Jesus until many years later. It wasn't until Mark was brought into my life that I sincerely asked the Lord into my heart and prayed for His will in my life. A decade ago I was a very different woman. I still marvel at how He worked to mold, teach, and "love" me into the woman Mark would choose to marry and raise a family with. As my walk with Christ matures each day and each year, I see more clearly how He has been with me my entire life, through so many lows, even when I didn't know He was....or didn't want to acknowledge His presence. He made it possible for me to not only make it through a few very dark times, but to come out stronger. His glory and His grace abound.

End of summer

Post Created On: 8/29/10
Well, the summer is coming to an end (at least we hope the summer heat is). School starts in just a week and a half and both kids will attend Mother's Day Out this year. Anna will attend on Wednesday and Ian will go Tuesday through Thursday. I think we're all ready for the structure each school year brings. And I know Ian is so starved for interaction with children his own age.

Ian starts his first season of Tiny Tot soccer through our local YMCA next weekend. He was so excited to get a set of shin guards, cleats and a small blue soccer ball. He and I have spent several hours already practicing in the front yard with his small goal. He is so funny. If he knows we're going outside to play, he chooses soccer or golf as his primary activity. He still loves his "green jeep", an automatic Arctic Cat ride-on toy, and does countless laps around the backyard every few days. I'm anxious to see what he thinks of the real game of soccer when he's on a team, has to take turns being on the field or on the bench, etc.

The women's Bible study I take part in starts up this week and I look forward to getting back with that circle of friends and fellowship. We have several new members this year so I am excited to get to know them all.

We raised Ian's bed up off the floor and onto the rails, adding the headboard that was part of the guest room decor before the kids were born. He was so excited to have his bed up high. He told us a while ago that he wanted it done and I'm sure part of his desire for a "tall" bed is so Anna can't get up there - a place of his own where she can't bother him.

I turn 33 years old tomorrow and I'm looking forward to the coming year. We're quickly putting the days of having "babies" in the house behind us and daydream about how much easier it will be to take upcoming family vacations, do weekend day trips, etc.

Lots of change on the horizon.

Mama loves a good deal

So this weekend is tax free "back to school" shopping here in Oklahoma and as of 10:30am today I was already done shopping - woohoo! I am SO excited to have found some really sweet deals this year thanks to mail coupons, online coupon codes, free shipping, and paying no sales tax. I got each child their entire fall/winter wardrobes and a pair of shoes each and was under budget!

And can I just say that Kohl's saved my sanity with the convenience of online shopping that included free shipping, no tax, 20% off my entire order, and $10 Kohl's Cash for every $50 I spent. Woohoo!!!

Old Navy got our business for their $10 jeans sale. I love how their jeans have the adjustable inner waistband for my thin waist, long legged kids. And I lucked out finding a pair of embroidered jeans and a romper for Anna and some cool camouflage cargo pants for Ian on clearance. And with a coupon for $10 off of $50, all the better.

God sent an angel to watch over us today. Not only did Anna drop her Pappy in the store but Ian left his motorcycle toy under one of the clothes racks when got distracted by, you guessed it, a girl! I had loaded both kids into the car and had to tote them back in to search for the items. We quickly found both and both kids were happy...and Mama was SO relieved! Thank you God!

Our venture to Stride Rite was just that...an adventure. Although it was only a ten minute trip into the store - at max - it was interesting. They had their long-awaited "buy one, get one 1/2 off" sale so I was there when the doors opened today. I was floored to hear the saleswoman tell me that Anna is a size 6-1/2 and Ian is a size 10 after measuring them both. What? I know SR measures a bit big (which I like because then the kids get an entire school year and well into summer of wear out of each pair of shoes) but Ian....a size 10. Wow! He was thrilled to get to pick out his own shoes. The first pair he loved, he didn't like once he tried them on. Second try was also a really cool pair of shoes but they didn't have his size. So his third choice was a hit with him (...and with me because they were already on sale and then we got them half off the sale price). I'm so thankful he didn't pick out the horrible Star Wars shoes with Darth Vader on them or something. Instead he chose a really cool blue and green pair of shoes that he claims make him run really fast and the "suction cups" on the bottom make him bounce really high. He loved the shoes so much he not only wore them out of the store but wouldn't take them off the rest of the day. I had to pry them off of him for nap and even that didn't last long. He took them to bed with him and came out wearing just his little underwear and the shoes!

Now Anna's first experience at Stride Rite was much more....dramatic...than I remember Ian's first time. As soon as we approached the wall of shoes and a woman started towards us she let loose with the screaming and water works. And it didn't stop until she was securely belted back into her stroller with Ian next to her and some goldfish crackers in her hands. Poor thing was tired and scared. But, we found some super cute white and pink tennis shoes that seem really solid. I sure hope they are because this girl goes through shoes in literally a matter of a week or two. She is ROUGH on her shoes!

So here are the kids posing with their new shoes on. I can't believe I actually "school shopped" for BOTH kids this year. Anna was just a newborn last year. And now she's an active toddler. And Ian, well he is 3-1/2 going on 18 some days. Ha!

Colorado 2010

The family at the overlook where we enjoyed a picnic with
Mark's family and a spectacular view.

This year the trek to Colorado was marked with new adventures, lots of time at the park and the lake, and some sickness unfortunately. Here's a brief summary and some pictures.

The kids got to experience Echo Canyon just outside Pagosa and both were thrilled to get to scream and yell without their Mama telling them to quiet down. :) Ian ate his first vanilla ice cream cone (and one chocolate one) with sprinkles and loved them both. Ian and Daddy got to fish at the lake just outside the condo several times. Ian is great at casting...not so good at the patience part of the sport yet. Anna loved chasing the geese!

The kids were enjoying throwing rocks into the river.
Check out my handsome hubby with his "mountain man" look.

Ian made some new friends, including two older girls (age 6 and 8), who he was quite taken with. All the kids enjoyed tossing rocks into the river in downtown. The kids and I enjoyed a picnic by the river where we got to feed the chipmunks who call Pagosa home.

Unfortunately, though, Mark got ill midweek and was in bed for two whole days. We didn't realize how bad he was until we got back to the city and he saw the on-call doctor only to find out it was strep throat! He's on the mend now but it stunk that he wasn't feeling well for the vacation that he looks forward to each year.

All in all it was a fun time. We really look forward to next year in hopes we'll have even better weather, good health, and lots of outdoor time to go and do and see even more than we were able to this year.

Best friends - Bryson and Ian

All it takes is two older girls to make a young boy abandon fishing.


















Even at the top of a mountain my daughter can find a dog to make friends with!

Anna entertains Nana and Papa on the patio.

Mark and Anna on a "hike" to the park.

The kids enjoying a picnic by the river.

Mark and the kids by the lake. It was really cool some mornings.

Anna (my little daredevil) going down the slide by herself. Her next trick was to do this on her stomach. And, of course, she loved it!!

 (not sure why this photo won't appear the right direction as it does in my photo file...but you get the idea)

Anna grows up overnight

We returned from our annual trip to Colorado on Sunday and I think Anna decided to grow up overnight. She woke up on Monday refusing baby foods and desperately wanted our table foods for lunch and dinner. By today's lunch she was really ready! She ate half of a grilled cheese sandwich (one of her first table food favorites), two whole strawberries (diced) for the first time today, a few Cheerios for the first time, and some diced oranges (without the mesh feeder). With each bite of strawberry she'd make her "yum" noise and sign "more" to me. So I kept putting more on her plate....and she kept eating. She has now refused baby purees and jar foods (other than one jar of her favorite food...macaroni and cheese at dinner tonight) in favor of table foods. Where did my little baby go?

A pic of her lunch...before and after. :)

Some of Anna's words at this age...

gee-gee (dog, horse or anything that resembles either animal), daddy, hi-ee (hi/hello), mama (only used when she's tired or having separation anxiety), brr (brother), sh-sh (fish), hah-hah (hot), tee-tee or nigh-night (terms used for her lovie Monkey or pacifier), and she signs "all done" and "more" at the dinner table.

She puts two words together including - Hi Daddy or Hi Doggy.

Anna can also put her own bib around her neck, can get her own shoes off and loves to undo the velcro herself, attempts to do the top buckle of her car seat by herself, and helps us get her dressed.

My son

My son is (to me) one in a million. He has the biggest heart, is quite the thinker, and has the best sense of humor. At three-and-a-half he is wise beyond his years....and sometimes just amazingly funny without even knowing it. My best stories about him often occur while we're riding in the car. Here are just a few....some funny, some sweet...all Ian.

• We were headed to Ian's school one morning this past spring and stopped at a red light. As we waited, Ian noticed my cross hanging from the rear view mirror and asked, "Mom, why do you have a cross hanging in that front window?" I replied, "It's so we're reminded that even in the car, God is always with us and will protect us while we are on the road." To which Ian responds, "I think it also tells people to get out of the way." All of us including Anna, began laughing after that one.

• As we were returning from my sister-in-law's house a few weeks ago Ian asked to hear his favorite song in the car. For some reason he thinks Buffalo Springfield's For What It's Worth is the best song around right now and asks to listen to it often. As I put the Forest Gump soundtrack disc in the player he follows up by saying, "You know, the song where they say 'Stop children, what's that sound'?" I was floored that he actually knew the real words to the song. His mind amazes me sometimes.

• Again, we're in the car not too long ago and Ian tells me that if he sees a policeman going too fast that I can pull him over and Ian will get to be a policeman for the day so he can write the policeman a ticket for speeding. (My mind couldn't help thinking how funny it would be to have Ian hop down from his car seat, slide open the van door and march over to a policeman, hand on hips, to start lecturing him on speeding.)

• It was late April and we were having dinner as a family like usual. Our wedding anniversary was approaching so Mark and I were explaining to Ian what an anniversary was. Mark told Ian that he met me about eight or nine years ago. Ian, in his wisdom, asked Mark, "So before you met Mama you were alone?" Mark replied that he was correct. Ian's response was, "No Daddy, you weren't alone. I was with you." Mark and I both looked at each other with a lump in our throats and tears in our eyes. Mark just leaned over and hugged him and said, "You know Buddy, in a way you were with me. In a way you were." That was one of the most touching moments of Ian's third year.

• As we played in the living room this past week, Ian told me randomly that when he gets big like Daddy that he will take care of me. It was so precious.

• Nearly every single time we're outside in the yard, at the park, etc. Ian will go searching for a flower to pick and give to me. He's so sweet about it. He'll hunt all around and get so sad if he can't find one for me. Recently he opted for a three-leaf clover (because he says they are lucky - wink) when flowers were no where around. His picking of flowers for me started several months ago and he just smiles so big as he hands me a flower (a weed, actually) and says, "Here Mama, I picked you a special flower." And if Aunt Laura or one of the Grandmas is with us, he will pick each of them one, too.

• Ian talks often about wanting to be a zoo keeper when he grows up. We make weekly trips to the zoo and both kids just love our time there. We've watched many of the animals grow up over the past years.

Here are just a few cute things/phrases that Ian says at this age:

"I'm sweating like a sweater." (What Ian told me on a hot day.)
Old Maybe (also called Old Lady) = the store Old Navy

Chick-So-Lay = the restaurant Chick-Fil-A

The Lawnmower Store = the store Lowe's

Tornado boots = what he calls his rain boots

Sugar and cream ice cream = vanilla ice cream

Combo = the "condo" in Colorado on vacation this summer
Honda store = where we take the van for service
Pouch = punch
Dag-Gumit = What he says when he makes a mistake
Bammit = What he says when his toys run in to each other or when they are intended to crash.
"I hardly wait." (His form of "I can hardly wait.")
Red Jay = what he calls a Cardinal (since Blue Jays are Blue, red birds must be a Red Jay - sounds logical)
Uhscusting = his pronunciation of "disgusting"

He uses the word "never" when he should use "ever" and it's so cute. Here's an example - "Mama, this is the best dinner I never had."

A new favorite phrase, "That scared my life out." Most of us know that phrase as being, "That scared the life out of me."

Ian loves to use "big words" that he hears other say, words we read in books, or those he hears on tv. Here are some of his favorite "big words" right now (that he understands the meaning of and uses properly):

magnificent, incredible, amazing, phenomenal

Ian loved to wear his rain boots in 100 degree heat this summer. He always gets to choose what shoes to wear when we leave the house (unless we're going to church) and he chooses those hot plastic boots. He sure does get the smiles from the people we see in public, though.

And the most interesting development over this summer was Ian's creation of imaginary brothers. At the start of summer there were 3 brothers. That number has since grown to 10 and now 90. I think he's read "101 Dalmatians" a few times and taken it to heart. He so desperately misses his school friends! :)

Adios avocado!

When we moved into our current home five years and four months ago we were pleased to find a home that had been fairly updated considering the homes in our neighborhood are 40+ years old. The one eyesore of our new home was our master bathroom. The shower/tub combo had the original 1970s avocado green tile accented with dingy metal safety bars. I will admit, though, that those bars saved me several times as I showered - a bit unstable and front-heavy as us women get while very pregnant.

It's sort of a joke but I don't think even most of our family has ever even seen our master bathroom because we were so embarrassed by it. But now we're quite proud of our new bathroom - thanks to the professionals at Pedry Remodeling. Here are some before and after shots.

We did the demolition work, knocked out the drop ceiling, replaced the insulation, and attempted some of the tiling ourselves. And then we quickly realized the issues present in our bathroom required professionals. And we're so thankful we handed this project over. Even the pros said this was a tough job! But it's done and we love it!

A soggy but blessed 4th of July

We had quite a soggy day today but that didn't keep us from enjoying the Libertyfest parade early this morning before the heavy rain hit. We met Mark's parents along with his sister and her two boys at our favorite parade-watching spot just in time to see the start of the parade.

Ian loved the police officers on their motorcycles, the loud firetruck, the horses and the "soldiers" (as he calls all military). He was especially impressed with some people who were doing cartwheels down the street.

And I sat in somewhat shock as my "baby boy" got what I will call "googly eyes" as the very pretty Miss Oklahoma went by on the back of a convertible with a gorgeous dress and crown on. I asked if he thought she was pretty and his response was priceless....in his soft, sweet voice he told Mark, "Uh-huh. She looks like a princess."

Anna was most taken by, you guessed it, the horses and the animals. One memorable moment was when a float went by with about a dozen dogs from the local shelter on display and she just went crazy. She was waving, hooting, yelling, clapping, and making so much noise in excitement that everyone around us was laughing and commenting about her.

Despite all the joy we received from watching the kids experience the parade, the most touching part of Independence Day celebrations for me is seeing floats or vehicles go by filled with veterans, Shriners, our local police and firemen waving American flags and playing patriotic music. It is awesome, too, to realize how blessed we are as Americans to openly and freely practice our chosen religion.

God bless the USA!

Randomly funny

Some randomly funny stuff that I simply didn't want to forget about...

Yesterday we were in the yard playing. With the 100+ degree heat, we were all sweating. Ian proceeded to remove his baseball cap and fan himself as he said, "Mom, I'm sweating like a sweater." I rolled in laughter.

Anna walked days after she turned one. Within days of that she was no longer crawling at all. And within the past week and a half, she has started to all out run (mostly in an attempt to chase Ian). Watching her little chubby body run is one of the cutest things I've seen in a while.

I'm not sure exactly where this phrase came from but it cracks me up each time I hear it. You have to know Ian to know how funny he is when he uses his very dramatic tones, along with a single raised eyebrow, strange accents he hears on television, and the occasional made-up words. After seeing the massive python at the Houston aquarium, he started randomly saying, "And you better be brave about this big snake!" It's funny on its own but makes Mark and I laugh so hard when our three year old says it with a southern drawl, as if he was the bad guy in an old western film, as he props one hand up on his hip.I swear this kid could be a highly successful actor some day.

Anna hoots like a baby owl and points when she's really excited about things - seeing the leaves on the trees move, an airplane fly over, and any animal but especially dogs.

The circle dance Anna does when she is excited, hears music she likes, or a tv show comes on that she enjoys (like Blue's Clues or Jack's Big Music Show). She extends her arms straight up over her head as if she's reaching for the sky and walks quickly in a big circle around our living room as she squeals or hoots in delight.

When Coal attempts to take a nap in plain view, Anna will go up to him and set her monkey blanket down across his legs or at his face, leans over and puts her forehead on his body (this is her way of hugging him), and then pats him as if she's telling him good-night.

During the last hour of our car trip back from Houston Mark and I were mentally exhausted. Ian had literally talked the entire seven hours prior. So Daddy attempted to play the "let's see how long we can go without making a sound game". He counted down and the game began. It was seriously less than fifteen seconds when we heard Ian start laughing from the back seat and then he said, "I won". Which made us both laugh, too. We explained the game again and had high hopes for the next round. Same reaction - this time it was about five seconds, though. We must have played that game a dozen times in a row and each time Ian would make some sort of noise in less than a minute, he'd start laughing, we'd laugh, and then Anna would start laughing and squealing. It didn't give us any moments of peace but that game did give us a few moments of really hearty laughter and yet another funny memory to reminisce about during our next car trip.


I'm sure there will be more to post as they come to mind....

The Clampetts visit Houston

It's hard to believe it's been nearly one month since I logged on and posted. Since my laptop crashed in April I have simply not been online for any length of time in order to write. I'm still taking tons of pictures (imagine that) but have yet to upload them in weeks. I'm slacking! Ha!

We just returned from a week-long trip to Houston where, as my Dad so accurately put it, we looked like the Clampetts from the Beverly Hillbillies as our loaded down, tarp-covered F-150 pickup rolled into the driveway.. Mark had business so we packed up the kids and headed south for an extended stay at the Hotel Papa Rod. The kids traveled much better than we'd anticipated so we were quite pleased to get there without a major meltdown. On the trip down Anna decided to reach out and grab the cheeseburger from my hands at lunch. She proceeded to take a big bite out of it and seemed to enjoy the taste. {Great, the Golden Arches have now sucked both my kids in.) She's getting the hang of table food and pretty open to trying new things; especially if Mama is eating it - then she really wants to have it.

During the week Ian enjoyed lots of time swimming in Papa Rod's pool, spinning Papa's recliner around in circles with Papa in it (much to my Dad's chagrin), and riding his bike on the flat driveway and around the cul-de-sac. Meanwhile, Anna enjoyed doing laps around the pool (the pool itself scared her), pushing her stroller or anything else on wheels around the cul-de-sac, exploring Papa's house, and playing "chase" and "peek-a-boo" in the hallway to the guest rooms. And Uncle Mike (aka Mohawk Mike) and Auntie Anh came over often to visit.

The kids love playing with their Aunt and Uncle and Anna was quite taken with Mohawk Mike 9as she has been since she was a baby). She loved playing peek-a-boo with him! Mike was sweet enough to take tons of time to try and 'revive' my laptop while we were there, too. And Anh probably took one thousand pictures during the week - of which I'm SO grateful and SO excited to see them.

While Mark worked, Papa Rod took me and the kids to the downtown Aquarium (or "Quarium" as Ian calls it) one day and it was a huge hit! Anna hooted like a little barn owl the entire time as she pointed to each fish and animal she saw. Ian was fascinated by all the animals but a few really stood out. He still can not stop talking about the Poisonous Blue Dart frog, the python, or the black and white striped tiger. After a tour of the aquarium the four of us had a fantastic lunch in the aquarium's restaurant. It boasts a 150,000 gallon salt water tank in the center of it. So cool! Some of the fish seriously looked like something created for a Pixar film. I'd never seen some of these before and they were so unique! The kids were thoroughly entertained and the food was excellent.

The trip was quite memorable and we look forward to our return in November. We'll be flying so hopefully I can tone down the packing a bit so we don't take up half the belly of the plane. Is it possible to travel light with two toddlers in tow? We'll see.