Organizing and Easter Crosses

The game cabinet needed some sprucing up so I added it to Sean's to-do list.  The drawer above the cabinet is the catch-all for rogue pieces that don't make it back in the box.  He put every thing back together and straightened the boxes.

I am trying to do different activities with them during Lent.  I want them to look forward to Easter with great anticipation of what it means to us as believers in Christ. 

They painted these crosses with watercolors.  For the first time, I think, they both took their time and made a thoughtful work of art.  We talked about what the cross means means and hung them on the t.v. cabinet.  We use them as a reminder to talk about Easter.

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the 

Easter people and hallelujah is our song."

-- Pope John Paul II

Birthday Adventure

Continuing the birthday celebration, we headed out to Pigeon Forge first thing Monday morning (after loading the car and last minute clean-up!).  We went over the beautiful mountains into Tennessee.  We had fun looking at the frozen waterfalls along the road, the breath-taking views and going through tunnels.  The boys' favorite part was the "biggest nets we've ever seen" (in little boy excited voice!) attached to the sides of the mountain.

We stopped at a place (can't even remember the name) that was known for throwing rolls.  Well, the boys loved the idea.  And that was really the only good thing about it. :)  At least we got what we went for!

Sean is some kind of dinosaur attacking it's prey (his hands are claws).

We got to the resort too early to check in, but since they gave us a free ceramic turtle to paint (as a gift for the birthday boy!) we went to the little pottery shop and let Sean and Luke paint.  That was fun (I've always wanted to do that with them!).  We left the pieces to be fired.  Then we just decided to change into pool clothes and head to the water park.  I did not even bring my camera because I didn't know where to keep it while chasing little people around.

After a few shenanigans getting checked in, we made it to our room.  It was a little crazy getting unloaded and then a nice man trying to sell time shares came up and was talking to us (all the while kids are crawling about and Jeff & I are trying to get food and bags put away!).  We got a free blanket, though!  We got some dinner and Jeff took the boys back to the park while I got Eli down.  And that was day #1.

The next day we got up, ate breakfast and headed to the Titanic.  No cameras were allowed so I got squat from the visit recorded.  We had a lot of fun, though.  At the entrance we were greeted by a "maid."  Sean said "I'm a big fan of the Titanic, you know."  Inside, Sean kept going ahead and yelling "Holy Moly, you gotta see this!"  Good thing we were the only ones there for a while.  They liked touching the cold water and standing on (and sliding down!) the slanted deck displays.  And at the gift store Sean was finally able to purchase his long-awaited Polar, the Titanic Bear (with money from Grandaddy & Shirsh).  It came with the book and some bracelets.  He got the smaller bear, opposed to the bigger, plush one.  He said it was not as expensive, plus it was closer in size to the real Polar (love that boy).  Luke got a puppy and Eli a little polar bear.

We went to a brick oven pizza place (Big Daddy's).   They brought the kids dough balls to play with then took them to bake for dessert.  Sean made a Titanic and Luke ended up with a puppy head. 

We went to some shops after lunch.  Of course, all family trips include a real, paid-for ride on one of those contraptions that kids love.  

Sean kept his Polar with him the whole time :)

We picked up their works of art when we got back.  Sean has 8 black dots on the shell for his birthday.  Luke did such a good job on his heart (my crafty boy).

Jeff took the boys to the park in the afternoon while I was with the napping Eli.  I did some Shaklee work and enjoyed the quiet.  And maybe a little something Jeff got me, too...

After nap and play, we went into Gatlinburg and Jeff pulled up to the Melting Pot for dinner!  Eli was super fussy and I ended up taking him out to the car while Jeff and the boys finished up.  It was a fun experience, though.

We got back and spent some time at the water park.  I brought Eli back early and put him to bed.  I tried to get some pictures of this wild child.

The boys came back and watched t.v. on their sofa bed (Eli was in the other bedroom).  

The next morning we enjoyed breakfast (Pate McMuffins!) and packed up.

My little monkey boys.

We are so thankful to God to be able to make memories like these.  

Our 8 Year Old Wonder

Our precious firstborn turned 8 in February.  We haven't done a traditional birthday party in a few years.  When given the choice between one or a family adventure, he chose the adventure.  That may likely change in years to come, but for now we enjoy our own little traditions.
This year we decided to go to Pigeon Forge and visit the Titanic Museum (with a huge bonus of 2 nights at a water park resort thanks to generous neighbors!).  His birthday was on a Saturday and we didn't go until Monday. So, we got to celebrate his special day at home first.  Jeff had an early morning Deacon's meeting so we did breakfast, but waited on presents.

Cinnamon rolls are a birthday treat!

When daddy got home, we did a scavenger hunt for his 2 gifts.  One was from Nana and Papa Du (LEGO set) and the other was a remote control car from us (he's been wanting it soooo much!).

The pictures are so blurry because he was moving fast!  Look at that face!

We went out for lunch and had a laid back afternoon.  Some good friends got married that day, so we went to their wedding.  Sean wanted to know why they were getting married on his birthday. :)  I stayed in the nursery with the boys while Jeff did the music (not taking any chances with them at a wedding!).  We went to the reception, but my active children could only last so long, so we bid farewell and headed to a pizza place for a last minute birthday treat.

Sean, 

You always amaze me with your capacity to love a subject and immerse yourself in it.  You have loved John Deere, weather/tornadoes and snakes- to name a few.  This year was all about the crocodiles, the Titanic, dinosaurs and now, monster trucks.  You are such a good, protective big brother.  When you are not zoned out (what goes through your mind sometimes??) :) you are our best little helper.  You still love to cuddle and have your back and head scratched.  Playing outside with your friends is one of your favorite things to do.  You are becoming such a good reader... I love your little notes.  You like to eat out at Kobe (fried rice with shrimp sauce and California rolls) and Sazon (cheese dip & salsa and rice).   You talk about the One True God and how you want to follow Him all of your days.  We pray for you to know God and are inspired by your child-like faith! You are still my dream come true and I thank God for the gift of you.  We love you, Pooh Bear.

Christmas celebrations

We have always stopped at Waffle House on our way down to Columbus on Christmas Day.

Traveling:

I didn't get any pictures from my mom's house.  I remembered to pull out my camera at Jeff's parents a few days later.

The boys always love their baths at both Nana and Papa's houses.

Jeff's grandfather passed away the day after Christmas.  He was 98 years old and relatively healthy in his old age- what a blessing!  Jeff had the honor of officiating the funeral.  We had a lunch at Grandaddy's house afterwards.  These are all the kids:

My sister took some family pictures since this was the first time Jeff's sister and we were all in Columbus together in years.

The boys had so much fun with their cousins!

The whole crew:

 And we got another sweet family picture.  

We are so blessed to have such wonderful families.

Christmas morning

 We spent Christmas morning together at home.  We opened our stockings and presents.  The big boys each got a sleeping bag and burp gun.  They got a shared gift of a blue race track.  The stockings had a few little treats.

Eli got a bear and a little laptop (from Grandpa and Kozy).

Boys playing with their new toys.

Our tradition is to have a breakfast feast to celebrate the coming of the King.  Jeff made banana bread the day before and we splurged on a fruit bowl.  Of course, there was sparkling juice.

The kids played while we got finished packing and loading the car to head south to Columbus. 

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we had dinner and then went to church.  It is such a sweet service.  Jeff got to do some of the music and lead the devotional.  All 3 boys were with me on the pew and they were so good.  Eli did throw his paci across a row.  :)

I think I was making up for not being a good picture-taker this holiday and got some shots of the boys just being silly.

Yay for messy babies!

 I finally got our annual "by the tree" shot with my little loves. 

Maybe next year we will be adventurous and set a camera timer to do a family shot!

Children's Christmas play

I am so thankful for our church and the amazing people that work with the kids.  Each year they have done a laid-back, but very cute musical of some kind.  I like that it is low-stress and we still get the benefit of worshiping Jesus with this kind of event.

Sean was a wise man.  He wore his button-up shirt because he wanted to look nice.

Proud mommy moment when Sean read his verse.

Luke was a sheep.  He (and others) were picking the cotton balls off of his shirt.  Amanda oh-so-casually scooted up to sit by him.  He didn't last long singing before he was in my lap.  

Other shots of Sean during the play.  

I am so thankful for the memories we are making!

Decorating our tree

  We typically have a snack dinner and sparkling wine to celebrate putting up the tree.  We did, in fact, enjoy this tradition, but there are no pictures to prove it.  Imagine that.

Jeff practicing and look at our itty bitty tree in the background!  It had to be Eli-proof!

Boys playing with the nativity I got after Christmas last year.

Matt and Becca came over to enjoy family time.  Hugs from cute little guys are just a perk.

And apparently she stole my camera at some point.  

 Hugs from cute, big guys are also a perk... I am not sure Matt would agree, though.

I don't know what he was doing, but I love this picture..

And this little guy is the hardest child to get a picture of!  I think he runs when he sees the camera.  Well, not this night, my little offspring!

 The boys decide to try their hand at making a nativity from paper.  Notice there is no "after" because there was... no after.  But it's always fun to cut and glue paper.

Cutie-pie Luke and Matt.  

I love decorating for Christmas and preparing the physical part of our home for richness of celebrating Christ!

December beginnings

For the first time I did and advent activity calendar for the boys.  I made a list of fun things to do and acts of service and tied them up with some chocolates for each day.

Our nature cubbies turned into the advent countdown.

We did a lot of the things and the boys loved opening the packages each day.  Luke was odd and Sean was even.  

Luke kept up with some "green" projects.  He liked the water coloring.  I used a thick wood cutting born his Papa made as the base.  It worked great and Luke's picture was really nice.

 

Sean finished his ETC workbook just in time for a break.

Colder days mean tea time around here.  The boys got way more excited than I expected and pulled all their buddies out and set them a place, too.

Who  says little boys can't have tea parties?  :)