it's girly...

Jackson and I have been attending story time once a week. He loves it and I love the time spent with him. Today's theme was Valentines, of course, and our leader always does a GREAT job.

At the end, they can walk up front and she'll stamp their hand, both if they want, and give them a coloring sheet to take home.

Well, he gets stamped and comes back upset saying "big boy". I'm thinking he's gotten pushed out of the way because he only has one hand stamped and no coloring picture. I encourage him to go back and get his other hand stamped. He walks up and tells her, "big boy", in his loud, tough voice. She and I are both confused and she tries to stamp the other hand but he refuses. After we walk away, his little lip is quivering and it's clear he is very upset. I keep asking him what's wrong and finally he says "dats baby stamp, i big boy, dats girly!"

Hilarious! His stamp was a heart face and it did look a bit girly but who would've thought he'd have such an issue with it! He was very disappointed with his stamp and complained about it the whole way out! Jackson is so FUNNY to me and I just love his little opinions about things. You just never know with him... :)

pulled one again!

Harrison pulled his SECOND tooth yesterday in the van...on the way home from church. he is hilarious! he waited until it was VERY loose. i asked him to wait until we got home so i could get a picture of him in action but, NO, he had his own plans! ;) can't believe he's lost two teeth now - the other bottom front one! his "big" tooth is already coming in on the other side!

i just remember losing teeth being such an ordeal...no biggie for him! maybe it's a boy thing??? i wouldn't know!

Kickoff to Valentine's Week...

So, I love celebrating...especially with the kids. We can't just celebrate Valentine's Day on the 14th!!! We have to celebrate all week long! :) We started with a "heart"cake tonight - chocolate cake and chocolate icing on the inside, vanilla icing, sprinkles, and red hearts on the outside!!! yummy!!! The boys were so excited! Harrison has a party on Thursday at school and Jackson has a party on Friday with some church friends so we'll be working on our Valentine's cards. It should be a week filled with lots of fun and too many sweets! Hope you have a Happy Valentine's week! :)

beautiful day!!!

thank you LORD for this BEAUTIFUL day!!! we spent the entire morning outside, complete with picnic and playing with friends! oh, how i'm looking forward to the spring!!! i just LOVE these days!!!

off to bed discouraged...

do your kids ever say anything to you that just cuts deep? harrison did this tonight and it's like he knows just how to hurt me when he's upset at me. of course, i'm trying not to take it personally and i know he's only 5 but it reminds me of how i hurt my parents many times with my words. i rarely considered their feelings, it was all about me. it's so hard to see myself in him, the parts i don't like about myself, and wonder "how do i fix this???" "how to i help him keep from making the mistakes i made/make???" i'm completely at a loss tonight!

those of you with just wee little ones don't know this yet but it HURTS!!! even though i know he loves me, it killed me for him to go to bed upset. he would not come around, he would not even say a word, i could not reach him. a lot of prayers have been offered up tonight for my sweet boy...who IS usually sweet.

not looking forward to the teenage years, that's for sure.

note from Harrison

Can I just tell you how much I love stuff like this??? My heart just melts when these boys bring home their creations and this one was just too sweet. Harrison made it for me at church this past week and it's a keeper for sure! :)

Upward Basketball

The highlight of this past weekend for us was seeing Harrison play in his FIRST Basketball game. We've signed him up with Upward Basketball. It's a great outreach program offered by a lot of churches around here where they teach them the fundamentals of the game as well as focus on scripture memory, good sportsmanship and developing Godly character qualities. We love it! Each week they get a an iron on star to put on their shirt for different qualities they showed during the game or practice. Harrison got the "Christ-Likeness" star for being a good friend and encouraging his teammates! Of course, we think that's the BEST star to get! :)

Harrison really enjoyed himself, which I was SO happy about. They are just so cute all running around out there. I love seeing them try to defend their opponent. Half the time they are both standing there with their hands up defending each other and not interested in which team is supposed to be going for the ball!!! So Cute!!! It's so fun to see them exposed to these new experiences and learning how to get out there and try. I'm so proud of our boy! :)
The other parts of the weekend were spent cooking (Beth) which I've needed to do for a LONG time and a Super Bowl Party on Sunday night. I didn't take any pictures so I have nothing to document it! Oh well, guess I was having too much fun socializing! :)


His first practice

the "bounce pass" :)

modeling his new jersey! go #4!!!! whooo hooo!!!

shooting before the game on Sat.

checking to see if mom and dad are watching!

don't they look adorable!

get some "coaching" from the coach

they even have cheerleaders! if the girls don't want to play ball, Upward offers a cheerleading program! they were too cute! Jackson enjoyed watching the girls. They cheer for everyone so it's "equal". :) "Go Blue & Gold, Score Two More!!" :)

Prego Photo

OK, here it is. I've had quite a few of you asking me to post a photo of my pregnant belly. I haven't been real excited about doing this but I realize many of you may not see me pregnant at all this time. So, it's done. Carrying very different this time than I did with the boys and still haven't adjusted to it. Not sure why I feel so differently and not sure exactly why I don't like it but that's how I'm feeling! :) Further than half way now, so that's a nice feeling! :)

Friday night at the Barbours

One of the couples in our LIFE class has opened up their home on Friday nights for anyone in the class to come and hang out. Heather & Brian have been very generous to welcome all of us with NO limits! This past Friday is the first time we've been able to make it since they started a few weeks ago and it was a lot of fun!! The guys stayed in the front room pretty much the entire time, the ladies in the family room with all the babies and everyone else, 2 & up, was upstairs playing and enjoying each other (for the most part :)). Thanks Heather & Brian for opening up your home and making us all feel so welcome! We look forward to the next time...

Revelation Song

I hope you all can hear this song playing when you pull up my blog. It's one of my new favorites. We're singing it in church on Sunday and it touches me each time I hear it. It draws me into Him; if I could only grasp how truly Holy HE is and allow Him to really be my EVERYTHING!!!