Haven's Two Year Old Birthday Party!

Haven and her friends celebrated turning two! Megan came to play on the slide,
in the garden box,in the creek,and in the barn!Row-Row came too!!Abbie was here!Birthday girl!Sweet Momma!This is a classic Jason face.Row-Row was especially attached to Poppa.Blowing/Spilling/Eating bubbles.Helping~;-)Look at this sweet face.Love her!Party friends!
Thanks to all who came to help us celebrate!
4.3.2011

Three Beds

Polly Jane (6 months) now sleeping in the children's room, but still in her co-sleeper-converted bed. Haven (2) in the crib. Elijah in the double bed.

4.1.2011

Library Storytime

Elijah was at least three before we hit up a library storytime. I remember telling another Mom a story about our first library storytime. She was not taken with the hilarity of my story, but instead stared at me in absolute shock: "You've NEVER taken him to storytime?!?!" I wanted to laugh so hard, but I held back~:-) If library storytime attendance is the measure of a good mother, I have certainly failed!

Here are some pictures to prove that we've been at least once. I think this was our first trip. We've now attended at least three times~;-o

Haven was exceptionally eager to participate in these Dr. Suess stories. By the end, Elijah wanted to have a job too. He wouldn't jump up and wave his around like all the other children. He sat still and just quietly raised his hand, and not very high at that. Our sweet librarian missed him in all the loud chaos. Dear little Elijah sat silently crying "But, Momma, I didn't get to have a job." I quickly schooled him on getting the teacher's attention, and that crisis was resolved~:-) It is so interesting to notice all the extreme differences in my children's personalities.

Storytime was SO FUN for my kids. Maybe we should go more often...but that would require me to be a better Mom.....

3.31.2011

Haven Turns Two!

Sweet girl! Little did we know what we were in for after you turned two! We had cupcakes from our favorite spot to celebrate.
3.29.2011

First Food

My two very much loved Pollys:

How precious are these photos and the times we are able to spend together!

On our way home we stopped to play in Chattanooga. Eric let Elijah, Polly Jane, and me ride the carousel. Haven could have ridden too, but she started screaming when the (very loud) music began to play.




Have you done the riverwalk in Chattanooga? It is wonderful! The trail is just eight miles long, I believe, and perfect for strollers. Incidentally, Eric and I had a fight over when we should end the walk. I wanted to *finish* the trail, while Eric thought the cold weather, lack of jackets, abscence of food, three young children, and need to finish driving home that evening should make us call it a night. You'll all be glad to know, I went ahead and submitted. I'm not exactly sure what my problem is, but I have some kind of compulsion to get to the end of the trail. (Flashback: Table Rock. Mom, Ab, John - oh, the memories!)


We ended our long walk at Mellow Mushroom where Polly Jane enjoyed her first taste of solid food. What was it, you ask? Pizza crust, of course. (Praise the Lord we haven't been plagued with food allergies/issues with our kids!) Just a few days shy of six months, Polly Jane tore up her first food. It was fun (yet, disgusting) to watch her.


3.27.2011

Thanking God for...

{Gifts 432 - 470}

- My team of great helpers {and all the reminders to be cheerful in my work~:-)}
- "I want you to hold me, Momma. Hold me all the way." ~Haven Extended hugs from an incredibly rambunctious 2 year old.
- Laughter and kisses outside of CHS
- "Momma! Momma! Watch this!" An across the house slide from a little boy in Spiderman undies. "That was awesome!"

- Hugs from children at church
- A morning nap with Elijah on the couch! While Haven played quietly by herself! (A once-in-a-lifetime grace, to be sure!)
- An interview of Katie Davis by David Platt
- The love of God manifest in others
- Trampoline jumping with Sarah, Joshua, and Andrew

- Upcoming Women's Retreat - anticipating God doing great things!
- A refrigerator full of brown eggs
- Millions of books to read, much to be discovered! (Train whistles as a secret code!?!?!)
- Coffee with Bailey's hazelnut creamer
- The grace of seeing my own folly - not asking for prayer when struggling with Polly Jane's pregnancy

- Interrupted, good talks with my just-turned-27 sister
- Two new pairs of jeans for Elijah - $1.38
- Taking food to friends - the privilege of serving and the encouragement that this is less stressful than it used to be
- Crying - weeping rather - in front of friends
- Free food from a Dollar General return

- Birthday parties and playdates and all the great learning opportunities which lie therein
- God answered prayers: Elijah's courage to say no
- Mocha cheesecake
- Clean diapers
- Husband home

- Glimpses of the dire consequences of my sins - a grace pushing me even more towards...
- Jesus, who promises to make ALL things new
- Calm, wise words emitted from a frantic, scared-to-death, freaking-out mind. GRACE IN THE MOMENT!
- Little girl, wearing a hooded fleece, walking over to her crib - ready for her nap
- The Rag Coat & These Happy Golden Years reminding me of how much God has given us

- Lots of bright, sippy cup colors filling my dishwasher
- Washing machine humming before 6 AM
- Children reading to themselves, surrounded by books
- Jolly - super attached to Hug by Jez Alborough, and the entire family's ability to read it to her
- Disney movies from the library

- "Kiss me again, Momma! A Big Kiss!" ~ Haven
- Jumping with Jolly at Matthew's Pump It Up party!
- Friends for my children - an answered prayer of long ago!
- Tissues (what if I had to wash all these handkerchiefs?)
- Eric's help during a two buggy Costco trip