Wednesday, April 29, 2009
We Knew This Day Would Come...
In unison his parents cry out, "nooooOOOOOOO!"
This occurred this morning. Daddy was awake, but snuggled in bed with Chloe. (Mommy was taking her morning out....ahhhhh.) Then, none-other-than our little E man, makes his way up the stairs, to the end of the bed, up into the bed with Daddy and Chloe.
Daddy says, "Did Mommy take you out of bed?"
Eli: "uh-huh." (umm...no...she is not home)
Daddy: "How did you get out of bed?!!?!"
Eli replies, "I fall down."
It is over gang. The days of letting him talk and play in his bed while we catch a few more winks. Over.
Single tear falls. Heavy sigh.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Family Camp at Sharptop Cove
Here are some (okay...a lot) of pictures from our time there:

Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Oh and Why?
My son has started asking "why?"
Really? Really?! Is it possible for an under 2 year old to really be asking this question already?!?!?!
I know. You think he doesn't understand the question, right?
Well, listen to this:
So, yesterday Little E was placed in time-out for hitting his sister. I told him exactly why he was in time out as I helped him to the step.
He immediately sticks out his bottom lip and bats his beautiful blue eyes at me and asks,
"I done now?"
"No, you are not done now. You are in time out."
"Whhyy??"
"Because you hit your sister. We use gentle touches."
"Oh."
He said, "Oh" in response to my explanation...is that normal?! Am I just asking for it...actually answering his "why-s?"
We already have a very inquisitive almost 5 year old...so many questions...did we create that or are we just blessed to have 2 very inquisitive little ones?
I am laughing at myself right now... look at how many question marks are in this post...
Where do you think they get this question asking thing? :)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
New Words/ Phrases
Here are just a few:
Top-it = stop it (usually directed toward his big sister and me)
I done nooowww = I am done eating NOW!
I down nooooowwww = let me down NOW
MIIIINAH = MINE!
Oh maaaaan (said when something falls or breaks)
Updated 05/10/09
ow wight = all right (said when asked to do something or explaining something to him, with a head nod)
ear go = here you go (when handing something to me)
eh na wowrking = it is not working
i no wan it = I don't want it
Monday, April 20, 2009
Our God Saves
"What does our God do?"
"He saves us!"
"That's right. He does."
I expected it to end there...but she continued:
"God knew that we would be bad and make mistakes...so He sent Jesus to die on the cross to save us."
Tears filling my eyes, I reached back and grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"I am so glad that you know that."
"I am smart, huh, Mommy?"
"So smart. You. Are. So. Smart."
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Confidence


She rocked it and she knew it...as you will read in the following quotes:
As the wedding coordinator instructed Chloe on the "how to's" of flower girl-ing...Chloe smiled and listened and obeyed. Later she whispered to me, "Mommy, they don't know that I am an expert."
And when it was all said and done she and I were in the (small and gross) bathroom stall in McDonald's when she says,
"Mommy, I must be famous."
"You must be famous? Why?"
"Because my bathroom (stall) has a pink door."
"Well, I guess you are right. You MUST be famous!"
This girl, I just love her.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The High
We were most interested in viewing China's Terracotta Army. (Well...not the whole army...a small representation of the 7,000 warriors believed to be buried around Emperor Qin's tomb.) I would love to show you pictures of our excursion, but 'the man who is obviously sooooo over his job AND the terracotta warriors' made it clear (several times) that pictures were not allowed. (boooo.)
Anyway, you will have to trust me when I say that they were really cool and BIG and worth seeing. We hope to see the 'real deal' in China some day...maybe with our Chinese daughter...2 dreams in one there.
A few 'did you knows':
Did you know...
- the Emperor had all the clay warriors, chariots, musicians, animals and rivers built to inhabit his 'afterlife?'
I'm thinkin' he is pretty bummed out at this point...CONFIDENT things did not work out as he had hoped. :(
- the terracotta army is 'larger than life'? Each person is approximately 6 to 6 1/2 feet tall, considerably larger than the average Chinese person at that time.
- the clay used to sculpt the army was a 'purple clay' that is found only in China and has not been reproducible until 1980?
- the name Qin (pronounced Chin) was first the name of the Emperor then his dynasty and is believed to be the root to the country being called China? I know. Very interesting stuff!
- the Emperor was also involved with the building of the Great Wall?
- that he was appointed leader at the age of 13?
- that the statues were originally painted with bright colors? They were! Time and dirt have faded their original colors.
Okay, that is all for now. I hope all that I just said is true...we were cheap and did not purchase the audio tour...we just did our best to read all the signage and such...
So...the previous is true...as best I can remember it. :)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Does this sound like a bad idea to anyone else?
Takin' a Ride on the Crazy Train

This picture captures the theme of our day perfectly.
Welcome to the Crazy Train!
So...today is April 15. And guess who is still doing their taxes...yep, us. I. Know. (hold the comments...we have already said it all to ourselves in our heads...and maybe out loud...no, we have used an ounce of wisdom and NOT said them out loud.) So, Kevin's head is about to explode because...well...we don't make a ton of money folks and yet with his calculations...Uncle Sam wants us to pay him over $2,000...NO, SIR...We were hoping it was going to be the other way around!! So Kev continues to try to do them over...and over...and over...he is calling in 'free' reinforcements first...then, if necessary he will pay the professionals to try to scrounge up a tax RETURN for us.
So, there is seat #1 on the crazy train.
Seat #2. I am caffeinated. This is not a good thing. I have a love/hate relationship with caffeine. You see, over the past 4 years or so I have either been pregnant or nursing, so caffeine has been in the "do not touch" category...but, ironically, the season of parenting is one that usually requires and benefits greatly from caffeine. So what is a girl to do when morning comes too early and energy is no where to be found...she drinks coffee...and shakes inside her skin for the remainder of the day. Coffee...can't live with it, can't live without it.
Seat #3: In order for precious children to play train...ALL. I repeat, ALL toys must be dumped out of the "train bins" onto her bedroom floor.
Seat #4: "Train bins" all transferred from upstairs bedroom to downstairs living room.
Seat #5: Burnt grilled cheese sandwiches.
Seat #6: Burnt fingers from burnt grilled cheese sandwiches.
Seat #7: Spilt coffee creamer...a.k.a . "Pure Golden Yummi-ness"... all over kitchen floor and kitchen cabinet...WHILE the grilled cheese burns. (Thanks goes out to Sammy the Dog for his help in cleaning up that mess.)
Seat #8: Helping dear friend who is still healing from getting her tonsils out by watching her precious son. ( I love you both...you did not make the day crazy...you simply had the privilege of joining us on our Crazy Train. Lucky you.)
Seat #9: The phone won't stop ringing!!
Seat #10: Looking for LAST year's taxes in the "room from the evil place". (Seriously, picture me climbing over boxes and bed...balancing on one foot to reach the diaper box holding the world's randomness AND last years taxes...thank you, Jesus!!!)
Seat #11: Well...you get the idea...Calling this one "SEATS TAKEN" - said with Forrest Gump's inflection...
Wanna join the Crazy Train?!?!?
ALL ABOARD!
WOO WOO!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Worshipper
With worship music playing...he tilted his head back and stretched his arms straight out and worshipped.
He isn't even 2 yet. Little blue-eyed, toe-head...worshipping. Awesome.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter 2009
Friday was a beautifully dark and rainy day...it was just perfect to keep me focussed on all our Savior endured on that day to bring us back into relationship with the Father...to heal us...to offer forgiveness...He died for our trangressions.
Saturday was the big Easter Egg hunt at church. We had a helicopter come and drop 2,500 eggs on our property! It was an exciting event! Afterward we came home and the Easter bunny had visited while we were gone! (We ask him to come on Saturday so that we can focus on the REAL meaning of Easter on Sunday...He does not seem to mind...He said it frees up his schedule a little bit for Sunday morning.)
Chloe was excited about her Leapster Game, bubbles, crayons and candy...and candy...and candy...
Eli only cared about the dinosaur monster truck...oh and candy.
We had our own little egg hunt in the side yard and just had a great time!
Oh...and Chloe chose to wear a ballerina costume and tutu over her t-shirt and jeans to the church event...super cute...sooooo 4. Adorable pictures to come. (whoa...that is the second picture promise...what have I gotten myself into??)
Sunday HE IS ALIVE AND HE LIVES IN ME!!!
What an annointed morning we had at church this morning!!! The Lord was there and glorified!! Worship was powerful and our pastor painted an awesome picture along with his message...so great! We serve a victorious King! He is risen!! He has conquered death!!
We had a fantastic weekend. We are exhausted. We need sleep.
Whew.
Our dear friends Shawn, Elisha and their 4 kids decided to vacation on beautiful Lake Lanier in our lovely city...isn't that sweet of them...to bring vacation to us? :) What a great week.
Hours on the shores of Lake Lanier.
Fishing. Skipping and splashing rocks
Gold mining in Dahlonega. (SNOW!!!!)
Letterboxing and hiking. (www.letterboxing.org) Fun and free!
Lounging...okay...not much lounging...we did have 6 kids in tow...
I so enjoyed spending the week with them. It feels good to be with friends from way back when we were young and carefree...and to be together with our growing families and see that we are still fun!! )At least we think so.) :)
Hoping to post a few pics soon.
Monday, April 6, 2009
B12
Thyroid. Normal.
B1. Normal.
B12...LOW!!! (Why all caps??? Because something finally came back 'not normal'...which means we may be onto something here folks!!)
The tricky part is that it is somewhat 'normal' for people to have low B12 levels...(does that negate the previous excitement about 'not normal'?) Anyway, the Dr. (neurologist) is recommending that Kevin come in for some B12 shots.
I have some research to do.
Anybody out there know anything about these or have any insight??? Would love your input.
























