Easter

 I guess I took a break from blogging? Then, I realized I took a break from uploading pics to Facebook. Fail. And fail again.

So, I'll catch you up on life this year. :)

Easter was a lot of fun! JJ understood last year about why we celebrate Easter. However, this year he has learned even more on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights that he could verbalize even more. It was so neat to watch his tender heart. Yes. Tender. Remember when I blog about my strong-willed boy? Guess who has the most tender heart and is always worried about people and their feelings, etc? Yes. Oh how God has formed him to be such a sweet little boy. He really hated that Jesus died on the cross for us because we did wrong things. He was excited Easter that He arose! He understood and it was such a neat time of hearing him talk about it that day.

At bedtime prayer we ask the boys to name something they are thankful for that day and one thing that they want to pray for. (i.e. something they want God to help them with or something they want, etc.) For about the month before Easter Ty began thanking God that "Jesus died on cross for our sins." Although I know some of it is a repetition for him I believe that in him saying this and us discussing this almost every night he realized a little more of what Easter was about. His favorite song right now is "I'll Fly Away." It's a song for VBS this year and even though we haven't listened to it in awhile I can often hear him singing it in the back while I'm listening to the radio. (how kids keep a totally separate tune while another is going is beyond me!)

Thank you, Lord, for dying for us. Thank you for these kids who remind us daily of why we will get to Heaven one day.

 Oh and yes- the day before we were busy dying those Easter eggs. Such fun! (okay, maybe it's not my very favorite thing to do and I'm forever grateful that Hubby steps right in and takes care of it for me while I hide behind my camera. ;)

Happy 6th Birthday, JJ!

Dear JJ, 

One week ago you turned six. You woke me so excited and said, "I AM SIX NOW!" As excited as you were I was a little sad that the big day had come. Your fifth year was a big year for you. You loved most every event in your life this past year. I knew the day would come when you would be six but I hoped maybe five could last a little longer.

We have even seen little seeds that Jesus has planted in you that have been sprouting. The latest being when you asked to pray for some specific favorite people out of the blue during our bedtime prayers. We hadn't seen the people in awhile but they were on your mind. That evening I texted the person and let them know that you had wanted to pray for them. Turns out they needed the prayer that evening. It had been a long, crazy weekend for them and they needed those extra prayers. I believe that God laid them on your heart for that moment. He knew that they needed that. One of your favorite things to pray for now is a baby sister. You don't care how you get one, but you want one!

Then, you had your graduation from preschool. As much as you loved preschool we knew it was time for you to move on. You were ready. Your teacher even talked at your conferences at how well you had improved through the year. She had seen so much growth in you. All of this made you ready for Kindergarten and you couldn't wait for that day to come! 

You enjoyed our family vacation to Destin. You loved running into the cold waves and shrieking your JJ shriek. You loved flying kites. Everything was fun! You started Sunny Start soon after we got back from vacation and you loved it! You loved Ms. Dean and never complained about going. In the middle of Sunny Start we went on a road trip with Grandma to New Mexico. Once again- you had so much fun! You boys were country travelers! 

Finally the big day came! You were off to Kindergarten! You were so big as we all walked to school. You walked in your room and sat down in your chair and soon we were gone. There were some tears on the part of me but you sat so bravely as the rest of the parents said good-bye to their kindergarteners. You had some adjusting to your teacher, as she's not the warm, fuzzy kindergarten teacher, but you really love going to Miss E's classroom. She knows how to challenge your little mind and expects a lot out of you. You are on List 14 out of 15 lists for sight words right now. You only needed to do three. We are so proud of you! I love holding your hand on the way home from school when we walk. Suddenly, it feels bigger and yet you will still hold my hand! I know the days are numbered where you will allow me to do that so I really cherish those moments for now. 

Your physical growth has been fun to watch, too! Although you are 50%, you are one of the smallest in your class. You haven't seemed to notice. However, when you stand by me I feel like your so much bigger than you should be. You also lost four teeth this year! The first came in October. Then, you lost your next a month later. The next a day later you lost another tooth. (at school- you were quite the talk of Kindergarten lunch going to the nurse when you lost your tooth so I hear. ;) Then, the following day you lost your fourth. The tooth fair was so very busy!

Some of your favorite things these days include Star Wars. I'm sure you like other things but Star Wars have triumphed all lately! You had a Star Wars birthday party. You wanted Star Wars toys for your birthday. You have watched Star Wars. Played the video game with Daddy. You just love them! 

JJ- you have grown up so much! We had a few hard times when you were younger, but you have come out of those years with such growth! You have become my little man. You care for others. You love your brother and always include him in what you are doing. (including making sure Grandma got him something when you picked our your birthday toys since he had been such good boy!) You want to do the right thing and have such a guilty conscience when you don't. I am honored to call you my son! 

Love you,

Mommy

2011 Year in Review

2011 proved to a blessing of a year for our family! The year before had been a great one, but 2011 was our settling year. We settled into our life with a few changes, but change is always going to be there so we consider it normal. :)

**sadly I have no pictures from the beginning of the year due to our hard drive dying last year**
January
January began the change that has probably been the biggest for Hubby. He started his new job. The last three months of 2010 had been crazy with a few job interviews (not counting the handful he had that summer) He ended up with two offers on the table. We were blessed. This job has been an incredible blessing.

February
Our big boy turned FIVE. A whole hand. How did that happen? He had first official big party with his friends. He was pretty pumped to turn five because he knew Kindergarten was starting soon.

March
Hmmm...apparently I don't remember well. I have NO idea what happened in March last year. ;)

April
We went on the Children's Retreat at church. The boys had a ton of fun. We got a taste for what it would be like to go to camp for longer in the summer.

We also celebrated Easter, which held a special meaning for our big boy this year. He understood what Easter meant. You could see the Holy Spirit grabbing his little heart and it was a something new we were praising God for!

May
JJ graduated from preschool. He loved his year at preschool and we loved the preschool, too! So much in fact that Ty began as a three year old and I committed to serving as president of the preschool board.

A few days later we headed out on our first official family vacation to Destin, FL. We had so much fun! The boys loved the beach, though it was a little chilly, as they were hitting record lows. The boys did so well traveling. (made me realize we could travel in June with Diana to NM)

During our trip we celebrated 10 years of marriage! Not bad, eh? We still haven't taken our 10 year anniversary trip or a weekend away, but one day we will. For now, I just enjoy being with my husband and our boys. We're in a sweet time of life.





June
JJ began his summer Kindergarten program, which he loved! It was just a half a day for five weeks. He was so excited to go to school and see his teacher. He enjoyed meeting other friends. It turned out to be a great experience for him.

The beginning of June was devoted to VBS. We loved Pandamania and are still listening to the VBS songs. **apparently my computer deleted my VBS pictures. Weird.**

In the middle of June Diana, the boys and I loaded up in our van and headed to New Mexico to move Jacob and Amber (who had been there since January) back. We were gone a week. We had a blast! While we were gone, Hubby and his dad worked on the kitchen. It was a win-win for everybody! (though probably more of the win on our side of things, but the work was able to get done faster without little helpers. ;) It also cut down on the amount of stress I would have felt being here. HA!

July
Ty celebrated his third birthday. Suddenly, there were no "babies" in our house. Life was noticeably easier and became easier with every month.

August
We all went to camp. Hubby was a counselor in the little boys cabin, where JJ was! We had an official camper! I was in the older girls cabin and Ty stayed with me. We had such a fun time at camp that week! It was fun to get to know the girls and my co-counselors.

We had a few days before JJ started KINDERGARTEN! oh my! Those first few days were the longest of my life. My little boy was so excited that first day. The second day he had a tummy ache and I ended up with a migraine. By the end of the week he was back to loving it.

We also ordered our kitchen cabinets. I know this may not feel newsworthy but after having lived with our kitchen for four years we were so stinkin' excited!










September
Labor Day weekend was one of shopping for kitchen stuff, while the boys spent two nights at Lake Of the Ozarks with Hubby's family. They had so much fun but two nights was the longest I had ever been away from them. They did wonderful and so did we! :) We met up on Sunday and enjoyed a night at the house with everybody.

The day after Labor Day Ty started preschool. He is in the three year old class on Tuesday and Thursday. He cried the first two days, but since then he has done great! (yet still runs out of the classroom telling me "I no cry today, Mom!")
The second Tuesday of the month I began volunteering in JJ's classroom while Ty was at preschool. It has been a rewarding opportunity. I have helped the teachers with whatever they need and gotten to know them. I have helped his little friends with their ABCs and sounds.

September may have been our busiest month coupled with the new kitchen renovation!! Wahoo! Love my new kitchen! Hubby and his dad did a great job on it! I have never been so thankful for a handy hubby and father-in-law...oh wait- yes I was last year when they finished off our basement! :)

I was second shooter for preschool pictures. I have never been so exhausted from my side job as a photographer as I was those two days. 46 preschoolers on two different backdrops.

October
Life slowed doooown! We enjoyed fall activities with beautiful weather. We went pumpkin picking, to the pumping patch and then began cheering on our Cardinals as they won the World Series! Such a fun family month!

We also had two field trips back to back. JJ's class went to The Magic House and Ty's class went to the pumpkin patch!

During a break from school he even lost his first tooth!

November
We had a fun time gearing up for the holidays. The boys were already getting into the Christmas season at the beginning of the month.

Ty also began speech! So happy for my little guy that pretty soon we'll be able to understand him better! He has so much to say and we're happy that he is pretty easy going when you ask him to repeat himself or just don't really know what he is saying. (I'm sure I've said yes a few times when I shouldn't have!) He marched right back with his speech therapist and has enjoyed going.

JJ not only lost his second and third tooth but also his fourth- three days in a row for the Tooth Fairy at our house!

Thanksgiving was fun- JJ was excited he was off for FIVE whole days!

December
December was a fun month! The boys were into everything we did! They were so excited!

Ty FINALLY decided to pee on the potty on Christmas Eve (when we celebrate our little family of 4's Christmas) From then on he has been in big boy pants! Wahoo! (and you better believe that this made our list. We have been buying diapers for 5yrs and almost 10 months! (He's still in pull-ups at night but normally wakes up dry!

In the middle of the hustle and bustle I asked JJ why we celebrate Christmas. His answer, "We celebrate it because of love." (we had just finished a book about Christmas that made no mention of the TRUE meaning of Christmas.) Before I could ask him anything else he went on. "We actually celebrate it because Jesus was born. Jesus was born so that he could die for our sins." It made our Christmas season even brighter that our son truly understood Christmas!

We had a truly fun Christmas season! Celebrating Christmas five times!

So, what does 2012 hold?

We can't wait to see!