Thursday, March 27, 2008

Easter Pics

Easter was fun. Here is the requisite family picture.




The easter bunny brought sunglasses in the easter baskets. Look at these stunners...


The Tennessee Mountains

We had a great few days in TN this week in the Blue Ridge mountains, just across the NC border. We went with Rick's childhood buddy, Jason, and his family and it was great to reconnect with them and let the kids get to know each other. It snowed while we were there so Rick and the kids went sledding for their first time. Here are some pics...



Micah kept asking to "get in the boat". Poor southern kid!





If you knew Jason and Rick as kids, you might swear this was a picture of them! Jason and Rick are 4 days apart in age and Micah and their youngest, Luka, are 9 days apart in age. They are both little stinkers, probably much the same as their dads were!



We went ahead and betrothed these two! They were immediate kindred spirits!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Baby Aardvark



Well, baby Aardvark has been spotted and the good news is that he has feet! (The arrow is pointing to his toes.)

Yes. He! Another stinky boy! Katie was okay with it, after I reminded her that she now won't have to share anything and can retain her "queen-of-the-house" crown. She also relishes the fact that she will not be solely responsible for the wrestling of Micah, here in a few months! I am happy that the sleeping logistics will work out (I wasn't sure how much a 9 year old was going to like sharing a room with a 2 year old) and Rick is glad that there will be yet another son to mow the lawn for him and support us in our old age! Ha!

So there you have the news!

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

My kids, defined!

Bo·he·mi·an /boʊˈhimiən/ Pronunciation[boh-hee-mee-uhn]

1. a native or inhabitant of Bohemia.
2. (usually lowercase) a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices.


Well, obviously my kids are not natives of Bohemia, but I am much encouraged by definition #2 - I think I have finally figured them out!

Seriously, several times a day I think, "I need to put this on my blog", really for my own recollection purposes, as I intend to print this blog out one day. But also because I know my mom and dad get a chuckle out of/feel sympathy for me for some of these things. But I rarely do it. Where does time go? Well, this week it has gone out into the yard with about 40 bags of leaves and 5 truckloads of crepe myrtle limbs.

But here are a few things I don't want to forget about my bohemians, this week!

...the way Micah runs everywhere, especially when he has no pants on and his short, chubby little legs have to move at hummingbird speed to get him moving as fast as he wants to go. It's especially funny (in a sad, tragic way) when he runs at this pace down the hall to his bedroom - he hasn't mastered the 'coming in for a landing' slow-down and has to bounce off of his door frame to make the turn. Is it any wonder he is constantly surprising us with new bruises?

...when Katie led an entire restaurant in prayer! This actually happened last fall, but I had forgotten about it until I was telling someone about it recently. Her Daisy girl scout troop was meeting at Moe's for chips and queso and the TV was on showing coverage of a fire in a warehouse somewhere. She saw it and hushed the group and told them "There is a fire on the TV and we need to pray for those people RIGHT NOW. Sarah, (her faithful sidekick) you pray." And so sweetly, 15 little 6 year old heads bow for Sarah to pray. The chuckle came directly after when Katie lifted her head up and said, "Ok girls - let's play cheers." and they commenced toasting themselves! So I learned 3 things about my child that day - she has a soft and sensitive heart for people hurting, she is a delegator and she needs to stay away from adult beverages!

...how Micah is genetically predisposed to be musical, as evidenced by the fact that he sings in his sleep! The other night, all was silent and well and I hear softly through the baby monitor "sad-hananooyah, sad-hananooooooyah, sad-hananooyah unto da lor." Locals know that this is Micah's new favorite praise song (having replaced "Your Name" as the one he hollers out in church (as if dad was taking requests). Translated, it is "Shout Hallelujah" but most of our friends now sing, "Shout Hananooyah"! Micah is so loved!

...the speed at which Micah's taste in music changes. His is currently all about Five for Fighting, which is great with me. The past months have been full of Billy Currington (there is something so endearing about a 2 year old singing "Thank God for good directions...and turnip greens."), Phillips, Craig and Dean, the Rippingtons and Zoe Girl. He is quite a diverse little man!

...how protective Katie is for her little brother, and most any littler person around her. She recently scolded one of her friends for swinging too high when Micah was around since he likes to walk right in front of swings. One night a while back, she was sad that some friends at school wouldn't play with her that day. But she said, "At least I'll always have Micah. He will always be my best friend." And that is probably what got me into my current pregnant state! They love each other! Today, anyway!

I guess I could go on and on. I'll save it for another day. I just pray I remember these little monkeys in all their silliness. I'm trying to treasure it all up in my heart.....