Let the Festivities Begin

The day finally arrived...after weeks of "Baby JE coming!" from the mouths of our overly jubilant boys, the midnight sneaking into our home has come. To wake in the morning to the joys of seeing Baby JE and hours later to have more family arrive...the boys were in a whole new level of excitement. 

Immediately Uncle C was taken to the boys room to craft the newest and greatest masterpiece (not sure if we've played with these since last time Uncle C was here)!

Aunt K and Uncle C learned quickly what mornings were like to have a five and two-year-old in the home (and being the youngest sibling to mom...you get the living room couch to sleep on!) Morning! Rise and Shine!

Time to have some fun, while the adults prepare the Thanksgiving feast!

Big helper with Aunt K to make one of the three yummy pies!

Taking a moment to make sure it is okay for everyone to eat!

Time for our break...checking out the new movie PLANES!

Setting the table with the fine china!

Baby JE with kissable checks that Papa couldn't get enough of!

Dedicated chefs in the bitter cold frying the turkey!

And warming their hands!

Grandma break...

Turkey's done...Uncle C carving

Benny and Bailey blocked by our make-shift gate...didn't work!

So many blessings. Group effort for food prep. Let's Eat!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
mount of thy redeeming love.

 

Continuing with our Thanksgiving Tradition, we made our turkey feathers with all the many blessings we are thankful for. DG even joined in as musch as his 2-year-old, on the go, sorta-focused mind would allow him. And this year, VW expanded his thanksgiving thoughts, beyond simply list all his family members! Lots of fun!

So many blessings and overwhelming abundance to be thankful for in the love of our family and friends! May we be reminded daily of all that we have! God is Good!

Happy Thanksgiving 2013!

 

A Dusting

When you get the slightest "dusting" of snow and your little ones missed out in playing in it, they head out in the 7 degree bitter cold at 8:30 on a Saturday morning to 'scoop' for Daddy!

I personally stayed inside, peering out to capture a few pictures of their youth!

But after a brief snow fight, even they had to come in to warm up! VW immediately asked for hot chocolate (maybe that's why he headed out in the first place?), which this mama of course obliged! Winter has arrived!

Glad I'm Not a Turkey

We enjoyed VWs last Thanksgiving program at Love and Learn. He was an adorable pilgrim and did I great job singing. We could hear him nice and clear! He also danced around the tee-pee adorably, but when I told him I liked it, he informed me, "I walked around the tent, mom!"

The program ended up being mostly in unintentional rounds! It was very loud and clear with the left ahead of the right! Lots of parental giggling!

VW proud to stand with his teacher, Ms. Susan

I'm glad I'm not a turkey, a turkey, a turkey.

I'm glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving day.

They stuff you and bake you and then they will taste you. 

I'm glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving day.

It's a VW Kind of Day

Oct 21 – VW had another busy, silly and tactile day. He just loves to move and touch! He did his project and classwork quickly. [VW has been complaining that his right ear is hurting – no temp – no ear infection]

Oct 22 – VW had a normal VW day. He makes me laugh when he explains consequences to others and to me. And it’s ongoing! Good for him for understanding!

Oct 23 – I am not happy with VW today. As much as I love the boy, he has been my challenge today. He did nice work and his project is really cute! [No more jewelry (his sports necklace) at school please. VW need to temptations to get in trouble. Thank you.]

Oct 24 – VW had a fun day. The Garden Lady let us plant bulbs today. We also did a Joseph project and VW was the first one done. Being first is his goal in life. May he succeed always.

Oct 25 – VW had a VW day. It was fun. His book of Bible songs was awesome. And we saw the hearts on the cover.

Oct 28 – VW had a fun, noise filled day. He was full of action in chapel and never was a loss for words.

Oct 29 – VW had a better day. One Time-Out for hitting (opps). But he did his work nicely, played nicely, and participated in the experience enthusiastically.

Oct 30 – VW had a fun day. He decorated his Trick or Treat bag just enough to make it work, then back to centers. He is so excited about tomorrow.

Nov 1 - VWs cars were a big hit. The boys took turns playing with them. We went outside to play in the leaves. The leaves were flying everywhere.

Nov 4 - VW complained of a stomach ache but had no fever. He played well enough but ate very little lunch. He painted an awesome pillar of dust and fire from the Exodus story, too!

Nov 5 - VW was telling me he's going to see Sarah tonight! Tell her hi!! VW enjoyed glueing feathers on a plate for our door decorations. It was a challenge, but he managed without getting feathers all over himself and others. He's been very physical with others today!

Nov 6 - VW showed me the spot in his tummy that hurts. He was still very active, noisy and telling people what to do and why. So, I didn't call. He ate well, played well, and made me laugh.

Nov 7 - Yes, VW felt better until he complained of his right ear hurting. It was a brief distraction. Throwing food toys got him a Time-Out. He is quiet on his cot now! And, he did his classwork without incident.

Nov 8 - He had a mostly good day.

Nov 13 - VW had a good day. The class clown was low key, but still in attendance. He enjoyed our family graph project and drew some "C" words in his journal, though I was unaware carrots are blue!

Nov 14 - VW tried his hardest to be loudest in our room and won! He enjoed going out to the playground until his hat got thrown over the fence and got stuck in the bushes. Ms. Annette came to the rescue and retrieved his hat! All is well!

Nov 15 - VWs camera was a great Show-n-Tell. VW took a picture of himself. We mixed warm water, yeast, and sugar, then watched a balloon blow up. Awesome! He had a good day!

Nov 18 - VW made sure everyone knew he is getting his haircut after 4:00. "When is 4:00?" He had a mostly good day.

Nov 19 - VW went to the office after lunch. His hands were quite active, annoying others. We even had a talk (the whole class) about that very subject. Not a banner day for VW.

Nov 20 - VW had his ups and downs today. He did take his time to do his workbook and it showed!! His Pilgram hat is ready and took some adjustment but he's a trooper.

Fall Leaves

Last weekend the boys headed outside with rakes and a mission! They worked together so diligently to form the most perfect leaf pile ever! And then the joyful laughter, screaming, running, eating leaves? and pure craziness began!

At first I did my best to just capture their fun through the lens of my camera, from the outside looking in. However, with two boistours boys, how can you not get in on the action! Or maybe it wasn't my choice...attack Mama was the new mission and game of choice.

These two are so sweet, so crazy, so fun, so smart, so funny, so exhausting! As I reflect on the seasons of change as the leaves fall to ground or smack me in the face or cover my hair, I pause to enjoy and truly experience this season today with our boys and know this season will change all too soon and my exhaustion will be of different matters. May we enjoy the innocence of today's youth, joy and love, as we prepare our hearts and minds for the years ahead!