Sweet Moments...

She slept for an hour after the whole "Nap Fiasco of 2009"...Yay! And here is a video from after naptime...such sweet moments...Love to hear her say, "I love you Carter!" and see how excited he is about her all of the time...I love these guys so much! :)

Little Miss TROUBLE

When I was teaching I would do "Glows and Grows" for progress reports on Conference Days...Well here we go with some Glows and Grows for Girly Boo:
Glows:
*She is so much fun and has me laughing daily!
*She has perfected the "doggie kiss" complete with sound effects
*We love to sing together...I can sing a line and she will sing the next...
Grows:
*We have moved back to "Whina-town" and only speak Whinese as of late...we are working on it
*Today when I said, "Make a good choice before I count to 3....1, 2, 3..." and she looked straight at me and said, "4!!!" Oh no! T.O. for that girl! :)
*Working on being obedient...all the way, right away, and with a happy heart...

During naptime just now I thought I heard the pitter patter of feet...hmmm...yes...def feet...then a little later...chatter chatter...then CRASH!!!! I ran in and she looked as if she had seen a ghost...she has never gotten out of her bed before...she always stays in...since Jan...but today was the day to "explore the room"...books everywhere from reading...and toys...and the cubby beside her bed had fallen over as she tried to get more toys out...I'm glad she didn't get hurt and we had a big discussion about how we stay in bed and she said, "I sorry Momma..." Now all is quiet as we begin "Round 2" of naptime today...Hope she stays in that bed!!!!

Wish us luck...she has always been a stellar napper...this could be a whole new chapter in our lives!

Shade and Sneaking a Snuggle

Carter is dressing like his "Old Man" this morning...had to document!

Serious GQ pose...

Love those piggies!

Yesterday after a packed morning of errands and no a.m. nap for little man I snuck a snuggle for our afternoon naptime...He finally took a little catnap on our way home for lunch so I knew he wouldn't be game for another nap at 1 w/o some encouragement from Mommy...All 3 of us were sleeping so hard at 3:30 when it was time to get ready for the bus...what a special treat to wake up with this little guy!

This is what can happen to a poor Brother Bear when Sister Bear wants to share and you are in the other room...her heart was in the right place, but wow...he needed to be rescued! :)

We have shade as we enjoy our playset in a new season! It's amazing to see how fast the leaves are coming in!

8 Months!

Can't believe our little guy turned 8 months today! Where has the time gone?!?!!? And when I was pushing him in the swing this afternoon I noticed a 2nd tooth poking through on the bottom! Stop it!!! He is growing way toooo quick! Here he is munching on a Ritz cracker watching Sissy play in the pool yesterday after the Block Party...yes that's right...we broke out the pool in April!

Carter's favorite activity is to watch his big sister...and Mallory constantly is hugging him and saying, "I love you Carter!!!!" (I often wonder why I don't get the same treatment :) )

He is such a happy little guy and we are so grateful that God gave him to our family. We are loving watching him grow! Hard to believe that in about 4-5 short months there will be 2 "little people" walking around this house for us to chase!

DC and Our Block Party!

Sat. I got to head up to DC to celebrate my dear friend Ginny's B-Day...We've known each other since 96! It was good to get bonding time with her and see different friends from her life (church, work, college) all together to celebrate who she is to us! (click here for pics!) Then Sunday I came back in time for the Annual Block Party in our neighborhood. We moved it back to April since it was sooooo hot last yr w/o luck bc it was 96 degrees here on Sunday!!!!! We had a blast though!

The juggler/magician was awesome and had so many funny jokes that the parents were laughing the whole time! Mike got to do a card trick with him and I (along with three other ladies) each had to throw him a Ninja Knife for him to juggle while riding a super tall unicycle at the end...I was so nervous to throw that thing! Crazy!

New Order...

Our laptop died on Friday so we have been without Internet all weekend! But it is working now! Yay! (Hard to live w/o it! I'm addicted!!!) Here is the new line up at our house...and below is "Black Beauty"...also known as "the motor boat"...she was such a good car to us!

On Friday Mallory headed to MiMi and PaPa's to spend the night and Daddy went to chaperone the Middle School Dance....and after dinner Carter and I headed out to join Daddy and meet his students....

Carter was all sorts of excited to be heading to his "first dance!"

God's Provision...

We are floored and beyond hyper over our new set of wheels! You'd think we won the lottery! We are overwhelmed with God's goodness to us and His provision less than a week after people were praying about our situation! Very humbling! One of the ladies at Bible Study on Monday is a business partner with someone who wanted to sell their minivan (Downsizing bc kids are now in High School)...and we bought it today! For less than our "Tax Break"!!!! God is a God of detail isn't He!?!?!?!
The kids got to stay up late and check it out after Mike, PaPa, and I got back home with it. We were telling the kids about the trips we will go on this summer and Mallory kept saying, "I want to go to the beach!!!" :) It was so fun to think about the family trips we are going to take in it! :)
We are all sorts of "geeked up" that we own a car from this Millennium (2000 Sienna) and it has half the miles of our "best" car! Mike was excited to upgrade to my old car and already switched everything out so he can drive it to work tomorrow. And the weather is supposed to be awesome tomorrow...only bummer...No reason to take the new "bus shuttle" to the bus stop tomorrow morning! We are so grateful...God is so good!

October Yet?!?!!?

Had so much fun at our Neighborhood Playgroup this morning and one of the girls lent us Carter's Halloween Costume for next year...I couldn't help myself...I had to try it on when he woke up from his nap... :)

I love my little lion to pieces!!!

PJ Day in the Rain

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thanks for praying for our car situation! We got a new battery and hopefully a few more miles with our faithful Ford! We will be looking for a better, more reliable car though as Mike continues to have a "religious experience" each time he gets behind the wheel. :)

We had a "PJ Day" here...MiMi came to cook dinner and watch the kids while I went to the bus stop this afternoon with the threat of "Severe Storms" this afternoon...but the sun came out in full force-- the brightest it has been all day! Oh well! Always good to have MiMi around! I finally just got Mal and Carter dressed for dinner :).... PJ Days are the best! Especially with rain pitter-pattering on the roof all day!

Stranded... :)

What a great break! It's always hard when Mike goes back to work...I'm so spoiled! We had a great weekend to finish it off! Above is the scene I left when I went to work "The Space Blast" party on Sat. We had a neighborhood Yard Sale and we put 4 things out (none of which sold)...guess that money won't be be buying our new car! On the way home from the zoo our Ford died...SAD! (So good that we brought 2 cars though so we could get home!) But at 191,000 miles and 10 yrs old that car doesn't owe us a thing! But after Mike spent 3 hours with AAA on Sat. and breaking down 4 lights after being jumped the car is at the shop this morning to see if it is worth saving...Please join with us in praying that it is "savable" or that we would find a reliable mini-van super cheap. It's going to be an interesting walk to the bus stop this morning in the rain since we have no car! A little rain never hurt anyone though and Mallory will love wearing her fun rain boots!

(Photo courtesy of Grandma on her visit in April.)

Mr. Wibbles has a Tooth!

Carter can almost sit unassisted! But he is still a Mr. Wibbles most of the time!! This morning when he was eating his cheerios I saw his first tooth poking through! (bottom right...couldn't get a good pic) The gummy grin is going to be gone soon! Sadness!

He can say "da-da-da" now and can make "zerbert" noises on his arms when he is really hungry!

He brings such joy to our family!

Sun-Kissed Cousins!

Today was the last day of Daddy's Spring Break and with 74 degree weather predicted we headed to the zoo (with the rest of VA apparently...the place was pizzzz-acked!)

Carter's first trip to the zoo awake!!!!! He enjoyed looking at the animals that he could see from his stroller and def had a lot of "people watching" to do while we were there!

The cousins made sure all the animals were good and fed today! And we all got a little sun-kissed! What a great ending to break...and we still have the weekend!

The kids enjoyed the lemurs...I'm so glad we have a Zoo Pass....the gift that keeps giving! Thanks MiMi and PaPa! Can't wait to go back soon! :)

Slumber Party!

Abby and Thomas came over for an overnight last night...the cousins had fun teaching Mallory to climb the front tree before dinner and then the Daddies went out for "Bro Night"!...

When it was time for Carter to go to bed he kicked up quite a fuss and after much screaming I went in and he got to stay up until everyone was in bed...2 hours late! Guess he is old enough now to know when he is missing out! He was a "party animal" and can be seen below watching Thomas and I play ball before the 2 eldest went to bed...he thought it was hilarious! :)

God's "Wonderland"

Earth Day 2009 is right around the corner! I hope you will read this post (click here)...I love how she writes and hope you will enjoy the movie trailer and her thoughts! :)
I love being outside and am obsessed with taking the kids to parks and places to hopefully instill a love of nature and God's creation in them at a young age. Even now when I ask Mallory who made the trees, grass, animals, etc...she will respond..."God!" :)

Today while Carter took his morning nap we had some good playtime in "Park Morin." So nice to be able to get out in the sunshine while he sleeps!

Peeking at our yard from the "Eagles Nest" on the swing set...

We have been making "stew" for yrs with our niece and nephew...now Mallory loves to make it too! And our garden gnome "Mr. Dillywapple" approves of her work!

Belly Boy????

We are at a literal "turning point" with our little boy. He has been a "roly poly" for quite some time during playtime, but has never done it in his crib. Well the last few days he has had longer naps...and we have been finding him on his stomach...maybe he is a belly sleeper! Although it doesn't look too comfy with his arm like that...but hey he likes it! Whatever works! :0)

Love to watch them sleeping...so peaceful...

More "Do-able" Donation...

Today was finally the day...I've been growing out my hair forever it feels like and I can never wear it down bc it is "out of control!!!!"...My hair has been ready for a while :) ...but I've been procrastinating bc of my "fear of change"...I love when people do the drastic cuts and love when my friends do, but never could myself....I'm such a chicken!!! But then I heard of Pantene Beautiful Lengths from a friend and you only have to have 8 inches instead of 10 so I thought I could finally do it!... (She cut 10 inches today though bc I had plenty!!!!!)

Before:
It's time to finally make an appointment when your husband lovingly asks you how many wigs you plan on making... :)

After:
Yay! I am so excited to have hair that I can wear down! And excited about the "Hair Mail" I just sent!

Another reason I wanted to grow my hair was bc of little Ber (pic on my sidebar) bc he and his family are always on my mind and in my prayers as they fight his cancer...They are an amazing family....You can go here to donate money for the much needed research to find a cure for these kids. Thanks for your help!!! :)

"The Eagle has Landed!!!!"

Took the fam to my Sat. place of employment this morning so Mike could see where I am when I work! I'm working as a "Scientist" teaching lessons at B-Day Parties...It's a lot of fun! I was the aide helping out my friend, (sadly she is moving!) but this Sat. will be my first time being the teacher! Mike and Mal enjoyed their "Space Experience"...Carter not so much...hense why he is not pictured...He might think the fam is a bit crazy sometimes! :)

Easter @ MiMi and PaPa's!

We went over to MiMi and PaPas for a nice Easter meal of Ham and Lamb! It was so good! And the kids got Easter Baskets there too and were so excited about their gifts! :)

Puzzles are always a hit with the Mal Pal! :)

And the final hunt of the season...plenty of eggs and no competition!

Here she is!