Saturday, June 28, 2008

C.C.R.

I love the concentration. This is typical Cole.
Dad, this next one is for you. Playing the harmonica. We actually have been reading him a story about a boy that plays the harmonica, so evertime we read it he goes and finds his and starts blowing away.
The furrowed brow. Excavating is serious business. The other day at a park Colson was playing on an excavating toy and a little girl came over and asked: "Whatcha Doin'?"
"I'm on the excavator."
"Whatcha Doin'?" she asked again.
"I'm on the excavator. You want me to scoop some dirt for you?"
As if all a little girl wants is a scoop of dirt from a boy. haha. So he starts scooping dirt and she comes over with a handfulls and starts helping. It was pretty cute.

Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

LIttle Warrior

Getting this child to take his knight's armor off is at times like getting him to eat raw brocolli. Who has time for brocolli when there are monsters waiting to be slain? (thanks for the armor Nana)!
I've been reminded how important this time is in his life. It's so ultimately shaping. Teach them to be self controlled with the little things when they're 2 and 3 and 4, and they'll be able to do that with the big things as they grow. This time is so important. Right now we're working on his table manners, saying "Yes Mama" after he's told to do something, and to just flat out obey: Obey, right away, all the way, and joyfully. This takes conisistency. This is a day-in, day-out work. One that I can't slack off in, at all! I remember when he started getting mobile and we started teaching him what "no" meant. At that moment I had a weight in my gut knowing that it started. The consistency on my part, that is. What we say is no, must be no, because losing battles to a toddler is not a way of loving him or anyone. Don't get me wrong, we love saying "yes" too, and we do, a lot.
God's blessing is shining upon us and he is a joy to our family. Just thinking about him puts a smile on my face, not to mention this picture of him with his new goggles. It makes me want to have a child with thick, black brimmed glasses someday. I think it's pretty cute.
We're shaping a man out of this little one. It's important for me, as mom, to remember the ultimate picture. I asked KC the other day, "What's more glorious than a baby?" His response: "When they're grown." Oh yeah! :) Train them up in the way that they shall go and they will not depart from it. One of God's promises to us and I believe it. He is not too young to obey, he's not too young to have faith. This spirited little boy, this bright eyed little warrior, has blessed us indeed, and we're excited to see God using him in his Kingdom.
Posted by Picasa

Monday, June 23, 2008

Birthday

Birthday gifts have changed a bit since I was 3!:
Just kidding, no, he did not get an iPod. But the day started out for him and his daddy going out for pancakes and bacon. Here they are in the morning.
This is the only picture I got of Colson at his birthday bbq. I was a little too busy to take pictures. He's having to consentrate really hard to make only 3 fingers stand up.
Here we are singing him a birthday song. He's so pleased and we sang it to him twice. What a cute boy.
Posted by Picasa

Friday, June 20, 2008

It's Official


It's true, we've entered into a new chapter of parenthood. I'm officially a SOCCER MOM! And here's the mini-van to prove it...I'm lovin' every minute of it. Someday maybe I'll even drive a van full to soccer practice. All we know is that the forrester wasn't cuttin' the grade any longer. I think I love the idea of soccer-mom. The term suites me well right now.

Speaking of right now, there is an 80 degree breeze floating through the air and gently massaging my bare arms and legs. Summer is a great gift and we're thankful the chances of snow are zero.

We're gearing up for a birthday party tomorrow for our little boy. He's definately now boy. Toddler is on its way out, and boy is on its way in.
Posted by Picasa

Today's thoughts

How is it that in losing our lives we find them? How is it that when we lay aside our desires we get what our hearts truly long for? The ways of our God are truly mysterious and poetic.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Let's talk about this boy.

This little face. On Father's Day, he approached KC and told him that he was his "special, special Daddy." so cute. He looks HUGE to me lately. Maybe it's the short hair, or the summer clothes where I can see more of his legs than ever before. He turns 3 on Saturday. I think I'm beginning to really understand why my folks made comments like "It goes so fast." It makes me want to really take advantage of the times to train and teach. It really counts while they're young. Letting moments go by will add up too quickly. On the flip side of that taking advantage of the moments will also add up. He shocks us with how much we can teach him and how much he knows. This is something I need to always be thinking of. KC does such a good job in encouraging me in this, and reminds me of all the ways that this little man is benefitting from the little times of training.
What a sweet little guy. I can't squeeze Lewis the way I squeeze Colson, and boy do I squeeze him. I enjoy being a tickling, gobbling, Mommy-Monster.
Posted by Picasa

Saturday, June 14, 2008




Posted by Picasa

Pics at Eve

I saw the light coming through a window in the evening and I knew it would be perfect for some fun baby pictures. Thanks to KC, who let me take his picture over and over. This camera needs lots of practice and KC practices lots of patience. Thanks love.
I'm enjoying learning this process very much. it's a scary mode to get outside of auto, but I think that it will be worth it down the road. Here are some favorites: I particularly love the last one, where you can see KC's strong hands on Lewis' sweet little barrel back.




Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

SNOW!???!

It's June. Of course it's snowing. Why wouldn't it be, with Global Warming and all.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Faces of us - Defying the Odds - and a Book for Wayward Weathery Days

Look at this face. He's still really cute when he's angry.
Oh wow, I have a feeling these two boys are going to raise much mischief in our home. This looks like they are scheming already.

Look at their chins. I love how the shadow shows their matching dimples.

The forcast calls for cool, windy, rainy weather this week. It's June for Pete's sake. BLAH! YUCK! KC reminded me that Hawaii will be that much sweeter in light of this ongoing blah Northern Idaho weather.

-----------------------

In baby news: Go Lewis go! Grow Grow Grow. I took him to the doctor last week. He's in the 95th percentile for heigth. It would be a joyous thing to pass up his parents in this catergory.

-----------------------

In book news: We took a bunch of books to a bookstore that gives store credit and came home with some real gems. I'm currently engulfed in one of them; a book written by Eugene H Peterson entitled, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: a conversation in spiritual theology. It is a beautifully written book, very poetic and full of conviction. I'm sure I'll be sharing some great qoutes and ideas that have really hit home with me.

----------------------

Friday, June 6, 2008

Hit and Miss

No one told me that when your child no longer needs diapers things get worse before they get better. I thought that no diapers meant that "waste" would be designated in a nice and clean fashion in the toilet. This is a false notion in our home. This is an example of what I mean:


I'm reading in the living room when the almost-3 year old comes in and says, with his britches around his ankles, "I went poopoo in potty Mommy. I went pee on the floor."
Awesome.


I have also learned that potty training, for me, would be nearly impossible without Clorox Wipes. Little boys are messy and their aim is poor. I follow up every bathroom break with Clorox Wipes.

Closer to 30.

Yesterday was my 26th birthday. This is what we did:

Slept in.
Breakfast at Old European.
Lazy drive to the Big City of Spokane.
Banana Republic.
Sellas for Dinner.
Cookie Dough Ice Cream.
and
an episode of The Office.

Lewis also gave me a birthday gift: he slept for 8 hours last night. He's a stud.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

This Boy

This little face makes me melt. He is so hilarious. I wonder if he knows how much joy and laughter he brings to our home. Here's an example of what comes out of his mouth:

(in the bathtub)


Colson: Is that my bottom right there?
KA: Yes
C: Is that a hole right there?
KA: Yes, and don't touch it, please.
C: Is that a hole right there, where the poop lives?
KA: Yes, Colson, that's where the poop lives. Did you hear me!?! Don't touch it!

and this one this morning after he tried to pick Lewis up off the sofa (don't worry I promptly intervened):

KA: Colson, no, you don't try to pick up your brother.
Colson: yeah, that's only for womenses.



Sunday, June 1, 2008

The Evolution of a Coffee Junkie

It all started for me with the Starbuck's Frappuccino....isn't that where it always starts? I was in college. I was Baptist. Our version of going out for "drinks" involved what was evoked from a espresso machine and not from a pub or club or bar. Actually, I take that back, I can remember my first espresso dating back to high school. Mulino, Oregon is a town with a population less than 3,000. My oldest friend and I decided to pay the first and newest in-town business a visit, which was a rinky-dinky drive through espresso stand. We walked. I ordered a Latte. She ordered a Mocha. I was a rookie. I didn't know that it would have been a better idea to order a flavor to accompany my latte. I hated it. I liked my friend's mocha a little bit more. (or the chocolate in it no doubt). It wasn't until college, however, that this kind of socializing happened on a regular occasion. I remember moving on from the Frappuccino to the white mocha. I felt more like a coffee drinker with something other than the Frap. It's such a beginner's drink. From there I started dating a hunk (whom I married) who drank Americanos. He liked the real stuff, no artificial gunk, but the rich flavor of true coffee accented with cream. I suppose this is where it became serious for me. Once I could drink coffee for the sake of coffee, and no longer for the sake of having a sweet treat over conversation, I knew that it was here to stay. I still enjoy a 1/2 the chocolate mocha or a 1 pump-vanilla caramel machiatto here and there, but on a normal morning we've been relying on freshly ground beans and our in-house French Press. Rich and delicious without much bitter. Just how we like it.

I'm curious, particularly from those of you that commented on my last post and share a love with me of your cup of Java, how did it start for you? Did you start with a tin of Folgers and a black Mr. Coffee pot? or did you start out like me, with the sweet stuff that evolved into the richness and joy of the pure flavor? Do you still only drink coffee from a "coffee shop"? or, did you start drinking coffee in some greasy-spoon diner somewhere? Let's here it.

Blog Archive