More Memorable Mom Moments

For the past few days I have had the wonderful pleasure of keeping our nephew Ethan. He is only 6 months younger then Kaden and they are the best playmates. I love to just sit and listen to them talk about their firetrucks and cars. They say the funniest things! They also like to plan things. This morning I heard them planning their next visit to Papa and Grammy's house and how they would take turns driving the oh so loved white truck. They have entertained each other so well that I have even gotten a few things done!

This morning I was thinking to myself...wow, this is not that hard, three kids is no big deal, I can handle this....Until the arguing started! As the boys got more and more worn out from our day at the park and playing at a friends house they both got more irritable. They started arguing about who was best friends with who and who would get to do this or that. I realized quickly that it was time for a nap. I put them down and went about doing my bible study and some laundry. About an hour later I realized that they had never gone to sleep...they were still playing! Needless to say by bath time tonight I had 1 cranky baby and two totally worn out pre-schoolers...and so the craziness began.

Kaden started crying because I could not get the blue ink off that he had stamped all over his body earlier in the day. Ethan was crying because he didn't like the sound of the water. I quickly washed the boys and started getting the big boys out because Karter was still enjoying the bath. As I was drying Kaden I heard the dreaded grunt...yep, that's right Karter was pooping in the bath tub!! At that point all three boys were crying!

By the time I got all of them in bed and cleaned up the bath tub I looked like a mad woman!

As crazy as it was I have so enjoyed this chance to spend time with Ethan. He is such a sweet little boy with the best little laid back attitude. It was truly a pleasure to watch the boys play together.


As for baby number 3...we might wait a while!!:)

Here are some pictures of our fun times with Ethan.

Two cute boys going to church

Three boys in the car...what a task!

Fun at the park...they love to "drive" things

Playing in the golf cart

Thanks for coming to play with us Ethan!

We're Back....

Let me start by saying that if you have not read Angie Smith's post called "Blink" from the Bring the Rain blog...you need to. She talked about saving life's little moments in pictures in her mind.

Nathan often gives me a hard time about how much I like to take pictures. I have the boys pictures made about every 4 months, I take pictures at birthdays and all holidays, I dress the boys the same for pictures, I dress our family in matching shirts for the 4th of July for pictures...all in hopes of capturing moments... so I will always remember Karter's chubby little legs or Kaden's new obsession with having his fingers in his mouth when he is nervous. I never want to forget these precious moments.

Our trip was filled with great moments...some them I was able to catch with my camera, but others will have to remain etched in my mind.

Our first memorable moment was when we turned around to see Kaden singing and dancing in his seat to the new Sugarland song "All I Want to Do". It became our favorite song for the week and every time it played we all sang and danced!

Here are a few of the memorable moments that we were able to capture with the camera...(Let me warn you now...there are tons of pictures...sorry...It is hard to pick my favorites!)

So thankful to be a family of 4

Brothers

The "huge" crab that Nathan and Kaden caught

Karter crawling like crazy

Sand Castles

My 3 favorite guys

Bowling on a rainy evening

The giant whole...Kaden's favorite place to play

Karter loved the water

Karter in the tent

Family

Our trip ended with a bang...literally. As we were pulling into Shreveport something hit our window and shattered it...here is a picture of how we had to drive home!

A Driving We Will Go!

"And Jesus, we're going to the beach...amen" where the words that Kaden added to his prayer last night.
So here we go off to Panama City Beach, Florida. We will be leaving tonight after church in hopes that the boys will sleep. However, if this trip is anything like my trip to Tyler last week then we are headed for major trouble!!

After a long morning of screaming (Karter, not me silly) on Thursday, I finally decided to take Karter to the Dr. Nathan is always making fun of me...saying that I always think he has an ear infection. But this particular morning I blocked him out and decided it was time to take Karter in...( I was secretly hoping that he at least had a cold so Nathan wouldn't laugh when I got home).
The trip was pretty uneventful until an old college friend called. We began talking and everything was going smoothly. Right as I started to pull into Tyler traffic Karter started screaming. I quickly got off the phone with my friend and turned to see what was wrong. When I turned around I was shocked to see that Kaden had gum all over his face, his car seat, and even in his hair (now I understand the no gum in the car rule Flo!). There was nothing I could do. I continued to the Dr.'s office with a screaming baby and a gummy 4 year old. By the time we arrived the gum was already hard and there was no way I could get it out of his hair. I managed to get the gum off of his face and ears and we went into the Dr.'s office where I saw a friend who immediately noticed the purple gum in Kaden's hair.
After a long wait the Dr. took one look in Karter's ears and said that they were both infected...ugh...poor little guy. We got some meds and were on our way...without gum this time!
Nathan had to shave most of Kaden's head when we got home!

Needless to say, we will not be taking any gum on our trip and we are praying that the boys will have a blast!!

See you next week!!

My little swimmer boy!!

Last week Kaden learned how to swim without his floaties....now he is swimming like a little fish! I am so proud of him and can't believe how fast he is growing up. Here are some pictures from our swimming adventure today. Kaden even jumped off the diving board!

Go Kaden Go!

Karter has enjoyed our swimming fun...but it sure does make him sleepy!

Light bulb moment!!

I love bible studies. I have not had the opportunity to do one in a while and I realized this week how much I have missed it. Like I mentioned in my previous post, God has just met me right where I am. He is really speaking to me and that little problem I have with worrying about who I "should be". I love that verses I have read before are some how new to me and say things that I never heard them saying to me before.

This week my light bulb moment came when I was reading Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even thought I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil...

I will admit that I have always been fond of the beginning of this verse...you know the green pastures and restoring of my soul. It is the valley of death part that has never been my favorite...until this week.

In the bible study Angela Thomas talked about being in a "valley" and how one of her friends said to her..."I don't think you know your bible very well. God says we walk through the valley of death."

There it is, my light bulb moment. God does not just put us in a valley and leave us there...we walk through the valley. We will not be in the valley forever! Isn't that just the greatest news! Just that one word that I had always just skimmed past has literally changed my life and how I intend to view my "valleys" in the future.

Summer Reading

I was never a reader. I hated it when I was younger. I was that kid that tried to duck down in hopes that the teacher wouldn't see me when she was calling on people to read out loud. At one point I was even put into a group with the "slow kids" while we were reading a novel as a class. Needless to say, reading was not my thing.

However, during my junior year of high school my English teacher challenged us to find a book that we LIKED and write about it. For some unknown reason I picked up "This Present Darkness" by Frank Peretti and from that moment on I was hooked. I read everything Frank Peretti had to offer and just kept going. If you have never read "This Present Darkness" or "Piercing the Darkness" you are missing out on a great read and a blessing. They are both books that tell a story about the spiritual warfare going on all around us.

Here are some of the things I have been reading this summer.

Anything by Karen Kingsbury is great! The book above is from the Redemption series that has had me hooked for a while now. If you want a book that you can't put down and that also inspires you to walk closer with the Lord through any circumstance this is the series for you.

I started the book above earlier this summer and I have loved it! It is so practical...with fun ideas for letting your husband know how special he is. It has really impacted the way I think about being a wife and how I can be a wife that encourages and lifts up my husband. It has been well worth the $12 I paid for it and I would recommend it to any married woman.Finally, we come to our summer ladies bible study. We are only one week in and already the Lord has touched my heart. I just love how God just meets you where you are. Isn't is cool to think that he knew I would do this bible study at this time and he made sure it would have exactly what I needed to hear. God is so cool!

Maria

This Monday night we started our first session of summer bible study. We are going through "A Beautiful Offering" by Angela Thomas. Our first night was a huge success with over 50 ladies attending. I am praying that God is going to big things in all of our lives as we seek to know Him more.

During the introduction video, Angela talked about "the church lady"...you know the one who always has smile no matter what and has learned all the church language but who is really doing a lot of pretending. I am sad to say that really identified with "the church lady" and have felt like a plastic person on more then one occasion.

After introducing to the church lady, Angela talked about the truly beautiful lady. The lady who walks into the room and just radiates God. The type that you want to be next to just in hopes that some of that godliness will just splash on to you.

I have met a women like this and I wanted to take just a minute to let her know the wonderful example she has been to me.

Maria is Nathan's step-mom and Grammy to my two boys. She is the first person that comes to my mind when I think of a real godly woman. Maria exudes the fruits of the spirit. She is always loving, and joyful even in suffering. She has found a wonderful peace even though things seem uncertain at times. She is by far the most patient person I know. I cannot say enough about her kindness...always thinking of others. Even when she is struggling through chemo she finds the strength to write me encouraging notes and to call and check on our family. She is both good and gentle. I have rarely met a woman who is so faithful in her time with the Lord and just her love for others. Self control....she can be the most poised and beautiful woman and at the same time she knows how to have fun on a giant slide with all of her grand kids. Maria is truly a beautiful woman. I am so thankful that I can call her family and that my boys get to have her as their Grammy.

Happy 4th of July!

Every year we spend the 4th of July with Nathan's family. In the last couple years it has turned into quite a celebration. This year was no exception. From the giant slide and obstacle course, to the barbecue, tons of desserts, fire works, family time, and even some karaoke, the day was great. I am not sure I have ever seen the kids play so hard. I am sure they all feel asleep before their cars left the drive way. Nathan has a wonderful family and I am always so thankful for the time we get to spend with them. Here is a look at our day...

Karter enjoying Camron's Birthday cake with Papa

Kaden ate TONS of watermelon
Two cute boys on the slip and slide
Sweet Grammy and the boys
Our annual picture...you have no idea how thankful I am to have two little boys in the picture this year!
The GIANT slide...notice that it is as tall as the house!
The obstacle course
Karaoke
Kaden and Ethan enjoying a snack

A Day of Milestones!

This evening I heard Kaden yelling...mommy, mommy, Karter is standing up!

I came running around the corner and this is what I saw...

I think I am in trouble now!!:) He is still working on crawling. But after saying mama and standing I would consider it a pretty eventful day!:)

Music to My Ears!

Today is a day that I have been awaiting for sometime now.


For the last few months our sweet little Karter has been babbling all sorts of sounds...including Dada. So naturally I have been trying relentlessly to teaching him to say Mama. So far my lessons have not been successful.





Until....this morning Karter woke and said the sound I have been waiting to hear...Mama. Now I will admit that he probably did not know that Mama is my name, but I will take what I can get.



All day today he has been making that sweet sound. It's just another reminder of how great God is and how thankful I am that Karter is here and getting more like his older brother everyday!