Pictures

While we were visiting our old city, I just had to stop by my favorite portrait studio and get some new pictures of the boys. Here are a few of my favorites...

A Good Time with Great Friends

Today we drove to our old city for playgroup. We went to a great gymnastics place and had a ball! It was so fun to catch up with the wonderful friends that I have missed, and of course the kids had a great time, too!

Nothing's Ever Exciting Enough...

for Kevin. He always has to rev it up a little, make it more interesting. Faster, higher, bigger, upside down, more power!!! Last night he took the boys' roller coaster, laid under it, and lifted it to create a steeper incline for the boys to race down on. They loved it, and it was the first thing they wanted him to do when he came from work today!

Will the Real Chuck E. Cheese Please Stand Up?

Yesterday our Mommy & Me group went to Chuck E. Cheese. The kids had a great time playing the games and riding the rides. When we sat down to eat, we chose seats near the stage so we could all sit together at the long tables. Bryson loved having a view of Chuck E. Cheese & his band while we ate. But then, the most confusing thing happened... While Bryson was watching Chuck E. (the robot) on stage, Chuck E. (the man in costume) came out to meet the children. Bryson's reaction was so funny - he kept looking back and forth from one Chuck E. to the other - I could just hear the questions running through his mind as he contemplated the possibility of 2 Chuck E. Cheeses!

Disney Live!

Yesterday, the 4 of us went to see a live Disney performance. All the boys' favorite characters were there - Mickey Mouse & his pals, The Little Einsteins, Handy Manny, and Tigger & Pooh. Both Carter & Bryson were mesmerized from start to finish. They LOVED it! Carter laughed and clapped while Bryson squealed with delight. It was such a fun afternoon!

Hooray for Me!

Yesterday, I ran my first 5K! My time was really slow, but I was proud of myself for doing it. I've wanted to run in races for years, but I've just never done it. I've never been a runner, and (let's face it) I'm not in the greatest shape. This year, I just decided to go ahead and register. I put aside the fact that I hadn't trained and figured if I went ahead and signed up that I would have to do it! I'm glad I did because I loved it! The energy of the race day atmosphere was really exciting. I'm really proud to have accomplished my first 5K and I'm excited to run another one soon. I'm planning to build my way up to mini triathlons and a 1/2 marathon. Wish me luck!

Happy Valentines Day To Me

If you have been around our family for at least one February 14th, you know there is no hullabaloo around our house on this "Hallmark Holiday". Kevin decided not to celebrate Valentines Day sometime in college, and despite my best efforts to change his mind, has stuck by that decision. I continue to whine about it every year, but actually, I'm quite used to it and (almost) over it. This year, my new girlfriends decided to pitch in and spoil me with a Valentines basket full of traditional Valentines gifts! I was so surprised, and really tickled by it. They gave me chocolates, a silk flower, a sappy card, all of it!!! I loved it! Thanks, ladies!!!

P.S. If you can believe it, Kevin actually tried to eat one of my chocolates!

Valentines Day Party

Yesterday we hosted a Valentines Day party for our Mommy & Me group. The kids had a great time playing, decorating sugar cookies, trading Valentines, and busting a pinata. Carter hasn't stopped talking about the pinata, and is wanting to know when we can have another one. He's even suggested that I should get one for my birthday (since mine is the next in the family :-). I enjoy this group of ladies and kids, and I'm thankful to spend my Wednesdays with them!

Arts & Crafts Show

This weekend, my wonderful friend Gaylee invited me to Affair of the Heart (my favorite arts & crafts show). After church on Sunday, I left the boys with Kevin and spent the afternoon shopping with Gaylee. It was so fun and relaxing; I always enjoy the show & any excuse to see Gaylee. I found this great piece for my kitchen, too - I love it, but Kevin's not so sure. What do you think? Vote in my poll - it's totally anonymous, so be truthful! (I had to include this second picture to show how it compliments the cabinets & countertops!). I really had the best time on Sunday. Thanks, Gaylee, for thinking of me and inviting me to the show. Let's make it our new tradition!

Boat Show

This week we went to the Boat Show and had a great time. Twiggy the waterskiing squirrel was there, and the boys LOVED her! They had great seats to watch the performance, and they were so excited. They squealed and laughed and talked about it all night long. We also had the chance to check out sailboats, 50 foot yachts, and even a houseboat! We're already anxiously awaiting boating season!

Fun with Friends

This week we've had a few chances to get together with friends. On Wednesday, our Mommy & Me group went to the Children's Museum to play. The kids love to dress up & play in the little city, the glow room, and make arts & crafts.

On Friday, my friend Amy came to visit with her 2 kids. Carter & Bryson were so excited to have their friends come for a visit (so was I!). Zane & Avery had grown so much in the few months since we last saw them. I have a tendency to "freeze" people until I see them again and forget that they continue to grow even when I'm not there to see it! Afterward, Carter said to me, "Mommy, did you know Zane is bigger than me?" Of course, Zaney's always been bigger than Carter, but I guess he never realized that until this visit. :-)

Today our church small group went to Incredible Pizza to eat and play games. They have a mini bowling alley with gutter bumpers for kids, and Kevin taught the boys to bowl. They had a great time and wanted to do it over and over again. As always, the choo choo and carousel were a hit, too. What a fun time with friends!

Amazing Grace

Wow! Kevin & I went to the Chris Tomlin concert last night, and it was amazing. Life-changing. He sang beautifully, and it was incredible to experience worship with thousands of people pouring their hearts out to God. I could really feel His presence, and feel Him smiling at the sweet sight and sound of His people. It was wonderful to be a part of it.

More than anything else, I took away from it the idea that I can make a difference to someone for His kingdom. Someone made a difference to me. Thanks Mom & Dad, for teaching me about God and His amazing love for me. Thank you Greg, for inviting Kevin to church when we weren't living in His light and experiencing the blessings He had for us. Thank you Pastor Herbert, for believing in a church where we could feel "safe" and presenting His Word in a way that broke our hearts and made us desire a more meaningful relationship with Him. (If you'd like to hear Pastor Herbert, check out www.peopleschurch.tv)

I hope that you have a relationship with our Savior, but just in case someone reading this blog is still searching...

If you haven't accepted Jesus, please, please know that He loves you. He died for your sins, and for mine. He is an awesome God who wants to spend eternity with you. The bible says in John 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" Right there where you are, you can pray this prayer: "Jesus, I believe that you died on the cross and rose again on the 3rd day. I know that I have sinned, but I turn away from my sin and turn toward you. I want to live for you from this day forward. Please come into my heart and make me new."

Swim School & Jury Duty

3 Cheers for Carter - he was promoted to Level 2 at swim school today! He has successfully completed Level 1, a 9 month program, in only 5 months! He's doing a great job, and it's really helping to him to become more confident and a little more indepedent. I am so proud of him. Bryson, on the other hand, hasn't been wanting to get his eyes in the water. His teacher says he won't get a ribbon on Ribbon Day if he isn't willing to do it, so we've been practicing. Today he told me he would do it if he had goggles like Carter, so... I bought him goggles. The only ones they had in his size were purple (not real manly, but they'll do), and they're scratch & sniff - they smell like grapes! Bryson was so happy to have his new goggles, but he still wouldn't put his eyes in the water! Stinker!

On another note, Kevin has jury duty this week - something I (knock on wood!) definitely don't want to get stuck with. I've actually considered giving up my voter's registration just so I won't get called! I feel bad for him because he hasn't been home much lately. After the ice storm, all his patients were rescheduled for Thursday, Friday & Saturday, so those were crazy busy days. Now he's going to jury duty all day, then rounding on patients and writing orders after dinner. Poor guy hasn't seen the light of day in a week. Carter was missing him tonight, and cried himself to sleep. (He normally wouldn't do that, but he was way overtired and cried several times throughout the day over silly things.) Trying to help, I told him, "Pretend I'm Daddy. Close your eyes, and give me a hug." I even used my "daddy voice" to try to make him laugh. "HI. I'M DADDY. HUG ME." That sent him even further into his fit! Poor guy. Poor Kevin, too!

Happy Groundhog Day!

I know it's weird, but I really like Groundhog Day! It means that Spring is on it's way, and by February, I'm ready! I'm done with winter weather and early darkness after Christmas. Bring on Spring! At Mother's Day Out today, Carter learned all about groundhogs & shadows and made this super cute groundhog to take home. He was really excited about it and asked if he could sleep with it tonight. I'm also including this picture of Carter "baking" brownies. I asked him to help me make this special treat to bring to book club this evening (which has since been cancelled, so we have some serious brownie eating to do), and this is how he "helped"!