Guess what, we live in our new home! Remember how we thought we were going to get to move in October? Yeah, not so much! God was so faithful to provide during our time of transition, long as it was, and continues to bless us as we dwell in our first home. We've been here just shy of a week now and feel so blessed at what God has provided.
I bet you're dying to see some pictures. Seeing as how we completely overhauled the basement I would be remiss if I failed to tell you how excited I am to show you how great it looks after the hard work of many, especially my dad and Ben! But you'll have to wait:) After I upload pictures after I find my camera cord after I take pictures after I hang things on the wall after I decide what and where to hang things after I have enough energy to do so, THEN I will show you. Don't hold your breath. 6 weeks till baby is due and I am T-I-R-E-D!
Until then, sit back and enjoy this conversation that Ben and I overheard Caleb having with his Larry Boy toy in the van this morning. He was the voice of both and had no idea we were listening.
C: Hi, who are you?
LB: I'm Larry Boy to the rescue. I am a superhero.
C: Oh, but Jesus is a real superhero.
LB: Oh. Who is Jesus?
C: Well, Jesus is the Son of God. He died on the cross to take away my sins. Now he is in Heaven with God.
LB: Oh, what god?
C: You know, THE God who wrote the BIBLE!
LB: Oh, ok.
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them." Psalm 127:3-5
February 28, 2010
February 16, 2010
It's Been a Long Time...
...and I'm still not going to take the time this moment to update you. Please forgive me! Someday I'll post pictures of birthday parties, and Christmas celebrations, and our new house, and where we've been in between, and how baby #3 will come in approximately 8 weeks, but for today you're going to get a cute Caleb moment. And I must say, my children do and say some hilarious things!
This morning I was sorting MOUNTAINS of laundry piled high in our room. I had my baskets all set out and Caleb informed me that he would like to help. He's never really done laundry sorting before so in an attempt to simplify things I asked him to find all of the red things and put them in a certain basket. He did that purposefully for a while, jabbering about super heros to me the whole time, and then asked me where to put a pair of jeans that were, quite obviously, not red. I explained that I was sorting things into 3 categories: bright colors, dark colors and whites. He informed me that he would put the jeans in the dark colors but that the pink shirt he was also holding should go with the bright colors because pink is like red. The whole time we were sorting I was marveling at how helpful he was being, not to mention faithful. He has a hard time completing tasks and THIS, my friends, was no small task. I'm not exaggerating when I say we were sorting for 10 minutes. As I was encouraging him for being faithful to help complete the task we started and how that was God's grace in Him he said, "Yeah, mom, and someday when I grow up I'll have to do laundry all by myself and I'll have to sort it...... Or mom, maybe God will give me a wife and she will serve me by doing my laundry."
God, would you please be so kind to bless Caleb with a Godly wife who will indeed delight in serving You by doing His laundry. Until then, God, would you help me raise this boy to seek not to be served, but to serve!
This morning I was sorting MOUNTAINS of laundry piled high in our room. I had my baskets all set out and Caleb informed me that he would like to help. He's never really done laundry sorting before so in an attempt to simplify things I asked him to find all of the red things and put them in a certain basket. He did that purposefully for a while, jabbering about super heros to me the whole time, and then asked me where to put a pair of jeans that were, quite obviously, not red. I explained that I was sorting things into 3 categories: bright colors, dark colors and whites. He informed me that he would put the jeans in the dark colors but that the pink shirt he was also holding should go with the bright colors because pink is like red. The whole time we were sorting I was marveling at how helpful he was being, not to mention faithful. He has a hard time completing tasks and THIS, my friends, was no small task. I'm not exaggerating when I say we were sorting for 10 minutes. As I was encouraging him for being faithful to help complete the task we started and how that was God's grace in Him he said, "Yeah, mom, and someday when I grow up I'll have to do laundry all by myself and I'll have to sort it...... Or mom, maybe God will give me a wife and she will serve me by doing my laundry."
God, would you please be so kind to bless Caleb with a Godly wife who will indeed delight in serving You by doing His laundry. Until then, God, would you help me raise this boy to seek not to be served, but to serve!
November 14, 2009
Caleb's Big Day
You might recall from last year that Caleb loves combines. Ever since my Uncle Ronnie had us to his farm to pick corn in October '08, Caleb has not stopped talking about, dreaming about, and pretending that everything is a COMBINE! You might call it a bit of an obsession.
As harvest time rolled around this year, Caleb excitedly talked about the opportunity to "go pick corn" again at Ronnie's farm. We have watched the lone remaining farm by our house in the suburbs these past 12 months and discussed and learned together about more parts of farming than I would have imagined possible for a 2 year old. From plowing to planting, to seeds sprouting and growing, to finally the combine coming out of the farmers shed in preparation to pick "the brown corn stalks because they are dried out now". (That was an exciting day.)
We have sat alongside the road in our van watching (you might call it [corn-] stalking, pun intended) the farmer as he went up and down his field with his massive "Red Case Combine" picking soy beans and corn. We have moved closer to watch the farmer empty his load into the wagon. We have done a u-ie to follow the tractor down the road to the grain bin. All this because I love my boy and my boy loves to farm!
The farmer we have been stalking, I mean watching closely, was finishing up his harvest around the same time we got the call from my dad to say Ronnie only had 50 acres left. We better come soon. So I packed the boys up and we drove to Iowa to pick corn. And Caleb's dreams came true :) And he hasn't stopped talking about it.
Here are some pictures of our day at the farm, well, more precisely, our afternoon and evening on the farm-- nighttime only added to the fulfillment of dreams. To drive the combine at dark with the lights on, WOAH! What a blessing to make memories with my little farmer man! Here are the best shots of our time with direct quotations from the man himself. He sat on my lap and told me what was happening in each picture and I wrote exactly what he said! Enjoy.
"I'm driving in the skid steer. I was scooping Grandpa Kenny up using the orange levers and the black levers. And I lift it up and dump Grandpa Kenny. And Grandpa Kenny said Uncle Ronnie could give me a ride in the skid steer but I said no I didn't prefer one."
"This is me standing by the bean head. I just saw it right there. It was this big" (motioning with his arms.)
"Me driving a tractor."
"Look! There's the combine right there. CORN HEAD! COMBINE! And there is a cat and Lady under the corn head. "
"Now I'm climbing up the ladder."
"COMBINE!!! I'm just staring at it."
"Look there's me driving a combine! Pretending to drive the combine. And I'm just driving Elliott. Look, Mom, I'm pretending to drive a combine."
"Grandpa, Elliott, and me. We're in the combine."
"Picking corn in the field. Look, I'm picking corn. When I was in the field I saw a tractor bailing hay. A John Deere. Grandpa said it wasn't John Deere but it was green so it was a John Deere."
"Elliott is just standing in the corn cobs."
"The shoot is coming. The auger. We're getting ready to shoot the corn out into the wagon in Uncle Ronnie's pick up truck."
"The corn is coming out."
"Why is the door still opened? I'm driving the combine."
(He had nothing to say about this one. At one point, Grandpa Kenny, Grandma Lou, Caleb, Elliott and myself were in the combine picking corn. This is Elliott thinking "What in the world is going on?" He doesn't share the same affections for combines as Caleb, at least not for riding in them. I think it was too loud for his taste.)
"Look there is a night combine. It has a corn head on. And I'm in it."
"The night combine still."
"That is the corn coming out of Uncle Ronnie's wagon and going into the grain bin. It goes through and then up up up up."
"Uncle Ronnie and me and Grandpa.
Dear Uncle Ronnie, Thanks for letting me drive your combine. Thanks for letting Grandpa drive your combine.
Dear Grandpa Kenny, Thanks for letting me come to your house.
Love, Caleb"
As harvest time rolled around this year, Caleb excitedly talked about the opportunity to "go pick corn" again at Ronnie's farm. We have watched the lone remaining farm by our house in the suburbs these past 12 months and discussed and learned together about more parts of farming than I would have imagined possible for a 2 year old. From plowing to planting, to seeds sprouting and growing, to finally the combine coming out of the farmers shed in preparation to pick "the brown corn stalks because they are dried out now". (That was an exciting day.)
We have sat alongside the road in our van watching (you might call it [corn-] stalking, pun intended) the farmer as he went up and down his field with his massive "Red Case Combine" picking soy beans and corn. We have moved closer to watch the farmer empty his load into the wagon. We have done a u-ie to follow the tractor down the road to the grain bin. All this because I love my boy and my boy loves to farm!
The farmer we have been stalking, I mean watching closely, was finishing up his harvest around the same time we got the call from my dad to say Ronnie only had 50 acres left. We better come soon. So I packed the boys up and we drove to Iowa to pick corn. And Caleb's dreams came true :) And he hasn't stopped talking about it.
Here are some pictures of our day at the farm, well, more precisely, our afternoon and evening on the farm-- nighttime only added to the fulfillment of dreams. To drive the combine at dark with the lights on, WOAH! What a blessing to make memories with my little farmer man! Here are the best shots of our time with direct quotations from the man himself. He sat on my lap and told me what was happening in each picture and I wrote exactly what he said! Enjoy.
"I'm driving in the skid steer. I was scooping Grandpa Kenny up using the orange levers and the black levers. And I lift it up and dump Grandpa Kenny. And Grandpa Kenny said Uncle Ronnie could give me a ride in the skid steer but I said no I didn't prefer one."
"This is me standing by the bean head. I just saw it right there. It was this big" (motioning with his arms.)
"Me driving a tractor."
"Look! There's the combine right there. CORN HEAD! COMBINE! And there is a cat and Lady under the corn head. "
"Now I'm climbing up the ladder."
"COMBINE!!! I'm just staring at it."
"Look there's me driving a combine! Pretending to drive the combine. And I'm just driving Elliott. Look, Mom, I'm pretending to drive a combine."
"Grandpa, Elliott, and me. We're in the combine."
"Picking corn in the field. Look, I'm picking corn. When I was in the field I saw a tractor bailing hay. A John Deere. Grandpa said it wasn't John Deere but it was green so it was a John Deere."
"Elliott is just standing in the corn cobs."
"The shoot is coming. The auger. We're getting ready to shoot the corn out into the wagon in Uncle Ronnie's pick up truck."
"The corn is coming out."
"Why is the door still opened? I'm driving the combine."
(He had nothing to say about this one. At one point, Grandpa Kenny, Grandma Lou, Caleb, Elliott and myself were in the combine picking corn. This is Elliott thinking "What in the world is going on?" He doesn't share the same affections for combines as Caleb, at least not for riding in them. I think it was too loud for his taste.)
"Look there is a night combine. It has a corn head on. And I'm in it."
"The night combine still."
"That is the corn coming out of Uncle Ronnie's wagon and going into the grain bin. It goes through and then up up up up."
"Uncle Ronnie and me and Grandpa.Dear Uncle Ronnie, Thanks for letting me drive your combine. Thanks for letting Grandpa drive your combine.
Dear Grandpa Kenny, Thanks for letting me come to your house.
Love, Caleb"
October 16, 2009
Elliott's 1st Birthday (Two months later)
Elliott Paul's 1st Birthday
September 5, 2009
Nana Joyce & Elliott
Family Picture
September 5, 2009
It has been quite a few weeks since we celebrated Mr. Elliott's big day but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to post about the fun weekend we had! Want to make sure I record it somewhere! It was perfect that it landed on Labor Day weekend so both of our families could come help us celebrate! Though Elliott wasn't feeling quite himself after coming down with a cold, he still managed to have a fun time and so did we!
Before I get to the party, here are some things you might want to know about Elliott at 12 months (remember, this is outdated by now and most things have changed!)
Weight: 18lbs 12oz, not even big enough to turn the car seat around yet, 3rd percentile
Height: 29 1/2 inches
Favorite foods: popsicles, french fries, (can you tell he's not the first born???) soy yogurt, pears, toast with butter and jelly, eggs!
Dislikes: most food that is healthy, dairy (well, he probably likes it but it doesn't like him) and he's officially allergic to bananas, and whole wheat seems to make him spit up
Nursing: still twice a day--first thing in the morning and last thing before bed
New skill: walking and running everywhere, climbing on top of anything (including finding ways to get on top of the kitchen table and inside the refrigerator and up on a shelf)
Signs: more, all done, hi, bye, up, puppy, flower, ball,
Words: Dada, that
Routine: Sleeps 8-7, takes one morning and one afternoon nap, plays hard in between
Loves: dogs, driving Caleb's hot wheels cars, playing outside (especially in the front where it's completely unsafe since the street is like 4 feet from our front door!), and DADDY! Daddy is his all time favorite of all people and all things! Nothing trumps Daddy!
Without further ado, here are some pictures of the weekend:
Before I get to the party, here are some things you might want to know about Elliott at 12 months (remember, this is outdated by now and most things have changed!)
Weight: 18lbs 12oz, not even big enough to turn the car seat around yet, 3rd percentile
Height: 29 1/2 inches
Favorite foods: popsicles, french fries, (can you tell he's not the first born???) soy yogurt, pears, toast with butter and jelly, eggs!
Dislikes: most food that is healthy, dairy (well, he probably likes it but it doesn't like him) and he's officially allergic to bananas, and whole wheat seems to make him spit up
Nursing: still twice a day--first thing in the morning and last thing before bed
New skill: walking and running everywhere, climbing on top of anything (including finding ways to get on top of the kitchen table and inside the refrigerator and up on a shelf)
Signs: more, all done, hi, bye, up, puppy, flower, ball,
Words: Dada, that
Routine: Sleeps 8-7, takes one morning and one afternoon nap, plays hard in between
Loves: dogs, driving Caleb's hot wheels cars, playing outside (especially in the front where it's completely unsafe since the street is like 4 feet from our front door!), and DADDY! Daddy is his all time favorite of all people and all things! Nothing trumps Daddy!
Without further ado, here are some pictures of the weekend:
Grandpa Lyle and Elliott
Nana Joyce & Elliott
Family Picture
Uncle Matt & the boys
Grandpa Lyle & Nana Joyce
Grandpa Kenny & Grandma Lou
Cute!
Elliott loves wide open spaces. He ran back and forth across this bridge forever.
All the cakes--"pup"cakes, Elliott's personal puppy cake, and the large puppy for everyone to share!
Bare feet in the backyard is our families favorite. 
All of our ride on toys ready for the kids to play with at the party. I think we need a few more, don't you???
Don't you love this?
Some birthday attendees: Papa Red & Owey
The world's best babysitters: Sarah & Rachel Poel
Caleb's buddy Zach
Olivia & Tali
The Poel's, Mrs. Andrea & Nana
Ethan & Abby
Opening presents
Stripped down and ready to eat some cake
What a mess! He ate SO much cake but a lot was just smashed in front of him!
So the next day Elliott was very sick. He had a fever and was just not himself at all. He was so exhausted from all the festivities. At one point during the day I went to the kitchen to get a piece of cake to eat and he took one look at it and threw up everywhere. I think he had bad memories. Later that day I was holding him and walked by the cake and he gagged. Sort of funny yet pretty sad! I think that is what you call too much of a good thing! We thank God for Elliott Paul and for blessing our family with such a happy and busy little boy. We love you, Elliott! Happy 1st Birthday!
October 1, 2009
My (Sometimes) Soft-Hearted Toddler
Ben and I are very aware that our two year old is a sinner. You don't have to be awake long in the morning before you are reminded of that! But we have just been marveling lately at the soft heart God has given Caleb. He is rowdy and rough, but sensitive and sweet all rolled into one. May God faithfully work to harness that rowdy and rough stuff to His glory. Today Caleb has been full of sweet remarks and gestures that seemingly are "ordaining praise" to God! If nothing else, it's causing this Momma to praise God for giving her such a charming little boy (and cute, I might add!) Here are some of the comments:
Last night we babysat our dear friends children, Tali & Owen. Caleb LOVES these guys and talks constantly about them being his friends. This morning, before I heard anything else from his room I hear him saying, "Are Tali and Owen still here? Are Tali and Owen still here?" I go in and tell them that no, their parents came and got them last night and he says, "Why did they only stay for a few whiles? I want them to stay all the time."
Before putting Elliott down for his morning nap Caleb says "Just wait, Mom!" and runs away. Soon he comes back and says, "Ok, Elliott. You can go to bed now. I put my blankie in your crib for you to have while you sleep." Pleased by his gesture I commented on how kind that was to consider Elliott better than himself and he said, "I think I should give him Barn, too." (That's his other beloved blankie!) I thanked him again for being so generous and told him that Elliott only needed one of the blankies and that Caleb could keep the other one. He said, "Mom, do you think when Elliott wakes up that he will give Duck back to me? He might want to have it forever. That's ok." Then he went to entertain himself while I laid Elliott down. After I returned to him, I said, "Caleb. I am cold. I think we should snuggle." He said, "Mom, I have a great idea. You can have barn," as he covered me up with it. It is so encouraging to see him be generous with his favorite of all possessions, something we've never asked him to share.
After building a house with mega blocks, he said, "I'm going to be the big bad wolf." Then, he glanced over and saw Daddy's bible laying open on the couch. He went over, pointed to it as if he were reading it and said, "Feefussions (Ephesians!) 4:32--Be kind to one another. Well, I'm the big bad wolf. But I just read that verse that says I need to be kind. So I will not knock down your house. I will be a kind wolf instead."
On our way to deposit some checks in the bank we drive by a different bank where our church's office is. Since our church meets at a school, it is not available for our pastors during the week. Anyway, we often drive by the bank and comment about how Mr. Tab, Mr. Josh, and Mr. Jamie are all working there. Caleb, who is slowly starting to understand that they are still pastors and not bank tellers during the week, will often ask questions about what I think they are doing right now. Today I mentioned that they might be reading the Bible, or they might be studying, or maybe they are thinking about what they should preach about at Church on Sunday, or they might be helping someone. He was quiet for a minute and said, "Mom, that bank is not called National City (our bank) it is called Sunday Bank!"
We love this sweet, funny boy who blesses our family very much!
September 14, 2009
September 3, 2009
Some Pictures from Summer
Our baby turns one on Saturday. Can you even believe it? Expect lots of pictures from that! I'll give you more of a "what is Elliott doing" update later. But for now, here are some pictures from summer.
We had a fun, insanely busy summer, part of which included me losing our camera for 2 months. Bummer! Thankfully, my mom is gracious and took lots of pictures (and let me take even more) whenever she was around so that we don't have a huge gap in our (hypothetical) picture albums. She even prints them off for me and spares me a BIG expense! Thanks, Mom! So I have pictures from those 2 months but they are hard copies, making it hard for me to put them online for you all to see! But, my very generous parents felt that we needed a camera and surprised us with an awesome one (our old camera was a little slow and stone-aged like!) We LOVE our new camera, especially how it takes the picture immediately. Fabulous! Much more enjoyable to capture pictures when I don't have to keep recreating the moment... So these are with our new wonderful camera (thanks again Mom & Dad!) Enjoy!
Elliott hiding under a basket. Check out the ball in the other hand. This boy has a major interest in playing ball and will play a rousing game of catch. He made up his own sign for ball but it's sort of hard to describe so you'll have to come visit him to see it :)
Here's the E-man showing you his greatest tricks. He is a climber! He'll go all the way up any slide, turn around at the top (scare me half to death) and then go down. Elliott screeches in delight when he sees a park because he thinks we get to go. This kid LOVES the park and has absolutely no fear. If you ever see moms at parks sitting on a bench while their children play nicely on the play set, that will never be me. Not in this season. No sir!
We had a fun, insanely busy summer, part of which included me losing our camera for 2 months. Bummer! Thankfully, my mom is gracious and took lots of pictures (and let me take even more) whenever she was around so that we don't have a huge gap in our (hypothetical) picture albums. She even prints them off for me and spares me a BIG expense! Thanks, Mom! So I have pictures from those 2 months but they are hard copies, making it hard for me to put them online for you all to see! But, my very generous parents felt that we needed a camera and surprised us with an awesome one (our old camera was a little slow and stone-aged like!) We LOVE our new camera, especially how it takes the picture immediately. Fabulous! Much more enjoyable to capture pictures when I don't have to keep recreating the moment... So these are with our new wonderful camera (thanks again Mom & Dad!) Enjoy!
I just like this one because he looks JUST like me at this age. I wish I had my baby book so I could scan in the picture. His eyes aren't brown even though they look a bit like they are in this blurry picture. They are more greenish, bluish, hazelish, swirly. Caleb looks like me and acts more like Ben (thoughtful, contemplative). Elliott is a spitting image of Ben but acts more like me (hyper, flighty!).
Caleb doing some tricks on the swing set. One of his favorite phrases is "Did ya hee that?" (hee=see...still no "s" at the beginning of words)
Elliott hiding under a basket. Check out the ball in the other hand. This boy has a major interest in playing ball and will play a rousing game of catch. He made up his own sign for ball but it's sort of hard to describe so you'll have to come visit him to see it :)
Caleb usually doesn't venture off the swings. He is obsessed. But occasionally he will play on the slide as well. A few times this summer we stuck our little baby pool at the bottom, filled it with water, and let the kids slide down the slide into the pool. They loved it! Caleb thought we were at "a water park." He's easy to please, don't you think?
Here's the E-man showing you his greatest tricks. He is a climber! He'll go all the way up any slide, turn around at the top (scare me half to death) and then go down. Elliott screeches in delight when he sees a park because he thinks we get to go. This kid LOVES the park and has absolutely no fear. If you ever see moms at parks sitting on a bench while their children play nicely on the play set, that will never be me. Not in this season. No sir!
Caleb lives for the hour a day when Ben comes home from work and they get to wrestle. I don't prefer that aggressive side of my sweet big boy when it's just he, Elliott and myself. So the first thing he says when Ben gets home is, "Can we tackle?" Elliott makes a similar sound when the big guys start wrestling as he does when he sees the park and then dives right in. He doesn't want to miss a thing. Watch out--he's a hair puller!
Elliott with Grandpa Kenny. We got a surprise visit from them one Saturday when they zipped over to our house to go house hunting with us. The boys enjoyed getting to spend a few hours with them that afternoon. I'm not sure who loved it more though...
Caleb and Lulu being adorable at a park near our house. Caleb absolutely positively loves our neighbors. We could not be more blessed. If he hears them outside he literally shakes with excitement and is out the door. All day long I hear, "When are Abby & Hee-tan (Ethan) going to come outside? Where is Luly?" They have made some fun memories together.
Caleb and Lulu being adorable at a park near our house. Caleb absolutely positively loves our neighbors. We could not be more blessed. If he hears them outside he literally shakes with excitement and is out the door. All day long I hear, "When are Abby & Hee-tan (Ethan) going to come outside? Where is Luly?" They have made some fun memories together.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)