Happy Birthday Jack

"J    A    C    K 3 that's me" is now a four year old!  We had several celebrations along the way. First a birthday breakfast with Tim and Kathi...

 Then a family breakfast birthday celebration on his actual birthday

 And a birthday dinner with our dear friends, the Wilhoits! 

Happy Birthday J A C K 4!  You are so loved.  This year you learned to swim, to use the potty (swimming with no life jacket actually came before learning to use the potty...you're just really athletic and your mom is a slacker...thus the order of those) and you learned to ride your bike with no training wheels!  You are learning your letter sounds now and I have a hunch you'll be reading this time next year.  I've enjoyed watching your friendships develop.  You're a kind friend and God has given you a generous and loving heart.  My deep prayer for you, sweet Jack, is that you would trust in Jesus and that he would grow you, year by year, into the man he wants you to be.    He loves you.  He sees you.  And he gave his life so that you can truly live.  Happy Birthday to my oldest son, a boy who brings  much delight to his momma! 

long lost Judah

This post may or may not be in response to pressure from one of my BFFs to get some new pics up of Judah.  (By the way, EG loves to use the acronym BFF.  She says it stands for "very best friend".  We're still working on our letters, as you can tell!  She walks around the house saying, "BFF, very best friend, BFF very best friend."  Now Jack has started as well)

Life is fast these days, way too fast for me.  When I look back the four months we've had Judah, I'm amazed at all we've done since his birth...no wonder I'm tired and my blog has seriously taken a back seat.  Andy and I are really hoping for some slower days and we're trying to rework some things to slow down our pace of life...but I also think having three kids is JUST A LOT...in a good way...but it's busy busy.  I think we thought we could just keep going on with life like nothing had changed and now we're four months in to life with three and realizing that's not really feasible at all!  We tend to learn by mistakes, me and Andy.  Oh well.  So for my BFF who requested these, here ya go!  Sorry so they're so late in coming.

Isn't he cute?  He's fun, really fun.  And LOUD!!!  He squeals all the time.  He's strong too.  Trying to sit up these days.  And he still loves to snuggle with me for a part of night.  That's how we roll these days. 

Maybe I'll get back to the blog before 2013.  We'll see. 

It's beginning to look a lot....

We got back from North Carolina and we were READY to decorate for Christmas!  Here's Emma Grace setting up our Navity Scene, handmade by women in our city in China.  Such a treasure to our family.  

 And the kiddos opened their ornaments for the year!

 This year we chose something other than an ornament representing where we live!  (Each of the past for Christmases have been in different locations!) We were thankful that 2012 included no moves! Our theme this year was about who God has created each of these little ones to be!

 We chose a cowboy for Jack, as he LOVES to dress up like a cowboy.  Most days he can be found sporting cowboy boots and a cowboy hat.  Like a cowboy, this little guy loves adventure and risk!  I love this guy in his boots and hat.  Oh I hope he doesn't outgrow them too soon!

 And our Grapey Girl-she's fancy and girly and loves all things pink.  Ballerina slippers for our little dancer girl!  She's dancing this year at the most precious little dance academy.  She's learning about glorifying God with the arts.  And she was made to be an artist!  We tell her The Designer designed her to design!

 And for his first Christmas with us, Judah got a lion.  This is less about his unique personality, which we are excited to discover, and more about his name and our prayer for him.  His name means praise and it's also the family name of the tribe that Jesus was born out of.  Jesus is referred to as the Lion of Judah.  HE IS OUR CONQUERING KING!!  Judah, your name constantly reminds me to praise the Lord.  He is so very very kind to his creation.  And his kindness is seen most clearly in sending the Lion of Judah to give his life up, like a sacrificial lamb, for us.  He's the Lion and the Lamb.  It's our prayer that all of our kiddos will trust in the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ!

 This little trees holds all our super special ornaments and here is Jackie boy decorating our big tree!

 Danny and Beth were around to help too.  Definitely fun to include them in this time.  We got an ornament for them as well, as they are becoming like family!  A funky bird and a burlap star for them...they are funky like that and we are enjoying getting to know them.

Looking forward to this Christmas season!

Women I Love

The Backyardigans

There's a lot of fun to be had in a back yard like this!  

 We enjoyed a lot of good time with Mom and Danny over Thanksgiving, as well as catching up with other NC family and friends.  I neglected to take any photos of said fun.  But here are a few my Aunt and Mom took!

North Carolina Fun

Growing up with a cousin only 6 months older than me was awesome.  Rednecks (like us) say "cuz" instead of cousin.  While we were in NC, my Emma Grace got a taste of how I grew up...in the country with cousins!  We loved our time with Brandi and her crew...just wish we lived closer!  

I taught the girls about doing cheers, like Brandi and I used to do!  I decided not to include photos of me jumping on the trampoline and subsequently peeing in my pants!  Those moments will just have to be treasured in our hearts, Brandi!!!!  I LOVE YOU...and your girls!!

Halloween 2012

Our neighbors go all out for Halloween. It's fun to be a part of this little community on our street.  This is our second year trick or treating with this crew and it was a blast!  

 Brian played it cool this year after scaring all the kids last year.  Thanks Brian!

 Dave and Brandy turned their garage into a pirate ship...like I said, they go all out!  We made a good showing this year with our new GIANT PURPLE INFLATABLE SPIDER (courtesy of Timbo) but this takes the cake!

 Batman and Robin to the Rescue!!!!

 I was a cat again this year...so lame.  My neighbors were giving me a hard time. Sorry, I didn't know.  But now I do and I'll be sporting something new next year if I can find the time to come up with something else!

 Here's the gang of kiddos and the gang of mommies!

Happy Halloween!