Oh, summertime. We are loving it. Finding my son outside looking like this is just perfect:



There are so many new things the boys are getting to enjoy, the warm weather together this season has opened up a brand new world. It's a pleasure to be able to see them do things like this:

Dear Lewis, I know you are going to be a tuff little bro. Look at that good-natured face while getting shoveled over by your big brother. Keep up the good work, child. Your Mommy is proud.


That's it, RUN, my pigeon toed toddler, as fast as you can!



And down he goes again:



But look at the joy:



And so it goes until someone get's hurt, or else finds a ladybug in the grass. Jackpot:


We had Colson's cousin Q over for a few days last week. He loves my boys and they love him. In fact, having him freed me up so much to be able to do things around the house that I normally don't get a chance to do. Look at this handsome boy:





And this photo, to me, is perfection. Not because it's technically perfect, by any means, but because it sooooo fitting. Colson, what am I going to do with you?



A dear friend is getting married soon, very soon, hence the tux. A 4-year-old in a tuxedo is irresistable.



Speaking of irresistable:



Lewis, oh!!!! Why do you charm me so?



I am enjoying this age tremendously with him. I am thankful for the camera and the ability to capture some of this magic, in part, at least. It will help me remember later.


These are good times. I am a full mama and wife. I can feel the Lord's blessing on us, by His grace, no doubt, and I'm filled with thanksgiving.

Death by Cuteness

I had to share this one sweet image of the boys. It speaks for itself.

Happy Birthday Brother

This is Nan. She's my grandmother. Don't call her grandmother. It's Nan, got it. And she's a spit-fire. I'm glad her blood pumps through my veins. She keeps things exciting and keeps us laughing. It was great to see her yesterday.



The occasion was a birthday. Mitch, my oldest brother, he's getting older. He hates having a camera pointed at him, but I love this picture. Mitch, I love ya, even if you are ornery. and Happy Birthday.



And here's my brother Nick. I love this guy.



My boys love the grandparents house because of this. KC at one point found Lewis laying face down, happy as a clam, in the sand. What a dirty monkey boy.



What would a post be without Colson? Right now he should be sleeping but we can hear mischief coming from the room. Who knows what this one's given mission is at any time. Just look at this face.



And this one of him was taken a few days ago, but captures his new present from Disney World from his Cousins Alex and Lauren. Yes, he loves it. Suprised?

Rumrey News

I am thrilled and utterly overjoyed to announce the prediction via ultrasound of a little

*girl*

growing strong in my womb.

The Lord is kind.

When I think about my own mother and the special bond and friendship we share, having a girl makes me so excited for the possibilities to experience that with a daughter of my own. If she can love me the way I love my mom, I will be a blessed woman. Lord, please let it be.

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KC and I recently celebrated 6 years of marriage. What a blessing and journey it has been. We raised our glasses to 6 full years as husband and wife, 2 wonderful boys at home, one babe lost in pregnancy (and now with Jesus), one little girl on the way, and to a rich year ahead.

Indeed, the Lord is so ever kind.

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On a more casual note, Colson, on Rootbeer, says,

"It feels kinda bumpy."

I couldn't agree more.

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I suppose it's true I'm a bit more ravenous for food these days, for Colson recently asked me, "Why do you want food all day?" and "What does 'withering away' mean?"

Hey, when Mama's hungry, get outta Mama's way!

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Tonight I took the boys out for our first bike ride. I am so thankful, for I happen to be the blessed recipient of a hand-me-down, double bike trailer to haul my chipmunks in around this hippy, bike lovin' town. Thanks Swan family! It felt so free and fabulous, not to mention the great exercise. Colson is getting heavy! It made my heart smile seeing both boys strapped up side by side ready for a ride. This is going to be happening close to daily, if all goes as planned.

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And right now, as I type, I'm able to breath easy, that end of a full-day-kind-of-deep-breath. There is something very calming and therapeutic about the children being in bed, asleep. Knowing that tomorrow we'll be doing it all over again, but right now, I can kick up my feet and anticipate new mercies that come to us every morning, as faithful as the sunrise.

This was taken last night. A rare photo of us all together. Thanks Ellie!

A Story, A Birthday, Pictures, and Rambles

I wanted to take a break from my regular schedule of blogger absense to bring you a little taste of current Rumrey happenings...

Once upon a time there was a mommy that sometimes would spend time in public places running around (literally) with her now 4-year-old boy. First, they would search and carefully choose their weapon of choice. With sticks for guns, they were off, weaving and dogging, running, and bobbing around the park with their sticks, never a pulled trigger without homemade sound effects. With trees for dragons and bushes for monsters, together they slayed every ferocious beast in the park.

Their mission would end when they needed to go check on prince Lewis who was alseep in his royal crib. The prince would hop back into his chariot stroller and they would jog on home with smiles of victory.

Stories would be told to the Daddy King of the day's adventures, and the potential embarassment of being seen acting crazy in the public park would be worth the boy's overflowing cup.

And now, I'm ready to kick up my feet.


***Note: For those of you questioning my mothering instinct, the prince Lewis was not left in the house unattended.

And Now For Your Viewing Pleasure (which is completely unrelated to the previous story)...

I have been wanting to get a pick like these of KC and the boys for a while, so pleased the conditions were on my side to snap these next three...


There's just no cooperation from Colson on the posing department.




This picture was taken before Lewis' last hair cut. He's entirely edible.


Last Sunday Colson turned four! I can hardly believe my baby boy is 4! I remember so clearly the night he was born and how I felt holding him for the first time. What a true gift he's been to our lives. We are so proud and our home is so full of life with him around. He keep me on my toes, he keeps me confessing sins of impatience, and he keeps my heart full of pride and love! The boy is truly one of a kind.


My parents made him an awesome Spiderman birthday cake. Way to go Folks!



On a personal note, my belly is growing and I'm feeling great, being pregnant and all. Food tastes better than normal because I'm hungrier than normal; and sleep is sweeter than normal as I'm quite ready to hit the pillow come bedtime.

I am enjoying Eugene and the time spent outdoors with the boys during the days and walks with hubby in the evening.

Until next time...

Some pictures before Grandma gets mad!

We are loving our new home here in Eugene. The boys are loving the backyard, and I'm loving that they love the backyard too. Like yesterday, when I had raw poultry juice all over my hands they entertained themselves out there and reduced my juggling of little boys and raw chicken (which is always welcome).

Lewis wakes up with the cutest bedhead in the mornings. I love it. Here is a small peak at it:



The ferocious beast, Lewis:




I'm not sure what kind of mad face this is. But it's typical.


And this one i love because it's so genuine. And boys in bug pajamas are irresistable. Thanks to Q for the hand-me-down.


Oregon, we are all loving you, but who doesn't in June?

Cate

I know that I desperately need to update the blog of all our personal happenings (moving, my own brother had a baby girl, Spring time in Oregon, a new home, family, the boys, church, to name a few) but I had some free time this afternoon to work on some of these photos I took before we left Moscow of my Friend Sarah's newest precious little girl, Cate. What a darling. And since I had these finished, I just had to share with everyone. This was my first time shooting newborn and I learned a lot. Sarah was the perfect person to practice with, she was cheerful, gracious, let me not know what I was doing, and was willing to try anything. Thanks Sarah, it helped me a ton to have you be so kind. And the cookies you sent me home with were fantastic.

Cate is 7 days old in these photos. Oh, the glory of a newborn is such a treasure.

A Spring Evening with Dear Friends

Standing on His Own Two Feet

Look who finally decided to start walking:

A Proud Daddy:

Lewis' little personality is really blossoming right now. It must be Spring! He's been so cute and funny, and so different than his big brother.

He loves snuggles and loves from his mama.

He's getting interested more and more in strangers.

He eats just as much or more than his big brother! And eats faster than he does too. This kid is not messing around when it comes to food.

He's no pro in the walking department. I love these toddling months.

Lewis growles. Sometimes I think I'm giong to die from it, it's so cute.

He loves being around his big brother and sneeking off to his room to play with him.

We snuggle in the mornings, every morning, in my bed. It's one of my favorite times of the day.

A Proud Daddy of Another Monkey:

Colson continues to suprise us with his vocabulary and funny phrases. He's amazing. I am so proud of him.

....gotta run!!!!

Rejoice with us, as this is KC's last day of work in manufacturing! God is good.

Praising God for His Plans in our Lives

It seems sometimes that when it rains, it pours, or hmmm, how about a happier metaphor? Is happier a word? (oh well, this is my blog.-no disrespect to you grammer nazis....Lyndsey...htt-hmmmm) I'm looking for something more sunny. Anybody have any ideas? Because we have some more Rumrey life-news on top of our recent blessing of a new child.

This too, is a true blessing, and we are incredibly humbled and thankful. KC has received a pastoral call at Christ the King Church in Eugene, OR.

From Oregon we have come, and to Oregon we shall return!

Living in Moscow has been a tremendous blessing in our lives all around, but it seems that God has seen fit to send us out and use us elsewhere. We couldn't be more pleased about being back in Oregon serving the Saints in Eugene.

Confessions of a Pregnant Lady

This is me, being bad:



This is me, being good:



Being bad, again:



Being good, again:



And so it goes.

Thanks to Tyler Florence: It's what's for dinner.

http://www.truveo.com/Fish-Chips-with-Homemade-Tarter-Sauce/id/3534096638

I have made this once before and it was a big hit. Yum! I'm excited. It's a welcome change from all the mexican food we've been eating lately.

*Confession: I don't make the tarter sauce myself. It's just easier to buy a bottle of it. Maybe if I tried homemade I'd be a changed woman? Any thoughts or experience of your own on the subject of homemade tarter sauce?

Colson Quote

Colson: An excavator!

His weird Mother: You're an excavator.

Col: No! Excavators don't follow Jesus.

*And I chuckle.