Wednesday, December 9, 2009

POW-WOW!! Catching up Part 1

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Audrey’s school hosted a Pow-wow for the Kindergarteners.  There were lots of cute little songs and dances, playing of drums, eating of sweets, and of course dressing up like Indians.  

Notice the intricate bead work on the bottom of her costume.  Yes, Momma helped with that!2009-11-25 004

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Even though Daddy had a busy day, he was able to sneak away and come see the little Indian perform.2009-11-25 010 

My parents were here for Thanksgiving, so they got to take part in the festivities as well.2009-11-25 013

And each class lined up afterwards so the crazy parents could snap away to their hearts’ content. 2009-11-25 014Audrey is in the second row from the top, close to the left edge of the right teepee.  (Being the daughter of one of those crazy parents who likes to take lots of pics, she did so good just standing there and smiling at me!  I’ve taught her well.)

Funny story closely related to the pow-wow:  The morning of the pow-wow, some Indian dancers (sorry, can’t remember their official name, but I’m sure somebody can correct me) came to the school to perform for the kids.  Audrey was thoroughly impressed.  She was more excited about their performance than the pow-wow itself.  After school she told me she was going to practice real hard so she could grow up to be an Indian and dance like they did.  Ahhhh, the pride I’ll be able to exude when the day comes!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Me, standing on my soapbox

If you haven’t heard the Casting Crowns Christmas CD titled Peace on Earth, I highly recommend it. It has to be my favorite Christmas CD ever, and I am giddy with joy that it’s Christmas time so I can listen to it over and over again.  Last week, I started listening to the words of one song, “While You Were Sleeping”, and it brought me to tears.  (This is Jill writing, by the way.  Didn’t want you all to think Matt got all teary eyed!)  It begins talking about how Bethlehem slept through the birth of their King, and how there was no room for Him in the world He came to save.  I would like to share the last part of the song with you.

“United States of America

Looks like another silent night

As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies

That save the trees and kill the children

And while we’re lying in the dark

There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky

For the Bridegroom has returned

And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping

Will Jesus come again

And leave us slumbering where we lay

America, will we go down in history

As a nation with no room for its King

Will we be sleeping

Will we be sleeping

United States of America

Looks like another silent night”

Oh, it broke my heart, I tell you!!  I haven’t ever--and probably won’t again anytime soon--used my blog as a soapbox, but I’m going to right now.  I feel so sad for our country because it is supposed to be the best, the freest, and the bravest country in the world, and it has slowly deteriorated into a lukewarm, greedy, and split country.  I’m not pointing any fingers or going to lay blame at politicians’ feet…that’s getting too deep for me.  But I do feel hopeless and helpless for our country.  Do I vote?  Yes, but I don’t feel like that makes a big difference.  And I’m too passionate and emotional to get into politics myself (not, again, that I feel like that would make a big difference).  I feel like we’ve become “a nation with no room for its King”, and it grieves me deeply.  This country is in trouble and the only fix is Jesus!  I wish our eyes could be opened to that, but I’m afraid too many are turning their backs on Him.  This Christmas season, will you join me in praying fervently for our country?

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

My behind is growing!

I’m so so SO behind in many things: blogging, keeping up with others’ blogs, keeping up with pictures, Christmas decorating and shopping for presents…but maybe I can get through this Christmas without stressing if I keep my mind on the true meaning of this season. I am not so deluded that I think many people care or even read my blog,  but for those very few, I will try to catch you up on the past month or so sometime soon. I have lots of cute pictures to share and things to say (maybe my words won’t be so cute, but alas, who can compete with kids?) Maybe when my awesome sister-in-law comes to visit for a month in a couple weeks she can sit down with me and help me whip this blog into shape.  *Side note: Bekah, it’s not that I don’t think you’re awesome, because I do, but we both know you aren’t as good about blogging as April is; although I know you have been doing better lately! :)*

But, in following suit with April and Brandon’s blog, I found this post I had written almost a month ago and never had posted. So here’s one to “TIDE YOU OVER”.

West Texas Sunrise and Sunset

I rarely wake before sunrise, but before the time change Audrey was heading off to school in the dark…and so it gave me a chance to catch a pretty sunrise.  And with all the cloudy days we’d been having, it made for colorful sunsets, too.

So here’s to April, Brandon, Bekah, and Kevin (and any other true Texan at heart). You know the vast openness of the flat plains coupled with the fact that we have no trees makes West Texas a beauty when the sun rises and sets!

Sunset on October 16thSunset

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Sunrise on October 28th2009-10-28 054

Monday, November 2, 2009

Never Fear

Your superheroes are here!!  Last year Audrey wanted to be Spiderman for Halloween, but after searching and not finding a female counterpart, we convinced her to be Batgirl.  Well, since then I have discovered there is a female counterpart to Spiderman known as Spidergirl (who’d a thunk it??).  So, Audrey’s dreams of being Spidergirl were realized this Halloween, and of course the ever-impressionable Judah had to take part as Spiderman.  Long live the superheroes!

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

There she goes…

From my perspective, this past weekend was one of great accomplishments for Audrey.  It started off Friday night when we were helping some friends move.  They have three kids, a boy that is Audrey’s age and who is a great friend of hers, a girl that is a year older, and another girl that is in the 4th grade.  Can I just tell you how awesome it is for kids to have friends that are a few years older than them?!  I had been gone taking Judah to GiGi’s house to spend the night (see previous post: point #4) and when I come back, Audrey and the other girls are telling me they have something to show me.  They then take me outside, grab a bike, take it to the street and send Audrey off—without training wheels!!  I was completely amazed!  She was close, ready to do it, but we just hadn’t taken the time.  And I figured it would be a lot harder with drama and tears.  However, with an older friend teaching her, she set her fear, defensiveness, and tentativeness aside and was very teachable.  Now she has her confidence and is quite the little bike rider.  Here are a few pictures I snapped in our driveway:

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Now she’s smiling!2009-10-28 040

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And it wouldn’t be complete without a pic of the little bro:2009-10-28 036

And the other big thing we are so proud of her is that she scored three goals in her soccer game Saturday morning!  That girl was on fire.  (And yes, being the mother of the year that I am I didn’t have my camera or video recorder with me.  Keep chalking them up!)  She had another game on Tuesday and scored another goal, but she wasn’t as into it as she was on Saturday.  She has one more game this Saturday, so hopefully it’ll be a good ending to the season!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Judah’s Genius

I am not bragging. I am not biased. I am not that mother that thinks her kids are the smartest and brightest kids. Eeeehhhh, ok, so maybe I am. I am bragging, and boasting, and biased. And yes, I tend to think both my kids are very bright and smart for their ages. All that to say Judah can do this puzzle from start to finish all by himself:

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I’m sorry, but that just screams GENIUS to me. He’s going to roll into Kindergarten the first day and know all 50 states and their capitals. Maybe not, but still…have I mentioned he’s 3!!  The cutest part about it is he likes to call this puzzle “Oklahoma City”.  The puzzle will name the state and its capital when you put the puzzle piece over it and he has always loved it when it says, “Oklahoma, Oklahoma City.”  Ahhh, I love that kid.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Audrey Plays Soccer

Well, kind of. She gets out there and chases after the star player on our team. Every once in a while she’ll get to kick the ball, but the girl just doesn’t have an aggressive bone in her (unless, of course, she’s beating on her brother). This is her first time playing so she’s on a steep learning curve, but she’s starting to get the hang of it. Matt kinda got conned into being the coach, and though he says he doesn’t know a thing about soccer (hey, it’s 4 and 5 year olds, really what does he need to know? Just point ‘em in the right direction and say, “Go!” right?) our team’s doing a decent job. In this league we don’t keep score at this age, but according to my record, we’re 3-2. Not too shabby, eh? The main thing is that I think Audrey enjoys it…as long as she’s not sick. We’ve had a couple games in which she’s looked pretty sluggish, only later to find out she’s running a fever (ya, don’t bother turning my name in for mother of the year!)Audrey Audrey action2 Audrey action3Audrey action4 Audrey action5 Team

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Big 3

Judah turning 3 = Thomas the Train party, balloons, cake and ice cream, a gathering of little friends, and presents.  I can’t believe my not-so-baby-anymore baby is 3!! (Can anyone say “It’s time to add another”—NOT!!) 

Anyway, back to the party we had on Saturday for the big boy. We invited 2 little friends that are just about the same age (and happen to have older sisters that are just about Audrey’s age…how convenient). I think Matt may have been just as excited about the party, stating that it’s the perfect age because he’s old enough to understand, yet not old enough to to have attitude.  Ahh, the perfect birthday party age. (Warning: LOTS of pictures coming—but you like looking at our pictures of our kids, right?)

Here he is opening presents:

He got lots of train stuff of course and a bunch of other cool things that he has really enjoyed playing with the past couple days!

Playing with his Lightning McQueen remote controlled car: 2009-09-16 025   2009-09-16 029

His awesome cake.  No, I didn’t make it—good ol’ Wally World, with a James Train (one of Thomas’ friends—duh, didn’t you know?) toy I had to buy because they didn’t have any Thomas kits.2009-09-16 030

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The party crew:

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Enjoying his cake and ice cream:

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Those Moore kids, not sure about them…(don’t miss the snow boots in the first picture of Gideon!)

Putting his Thomas puzzle together with Gramma. Every time he got a piece in the right spot, he needed to give her a high five.2009-09-16 050

Proud of his completed puzzle:

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And, uhhh, Daddy the engineer just couldn’t help himself??2009-09-16 055

More presents after the party was over when GiGi, Jeri, and Janey came over for lunch:

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And the usual favorite—the cards that sing songs! This card sings the song “Boom Boom Ain’t It Great To Be Crazy”.  Fun song for Judah to sing and dance to (mental note: post video—very cute!!)2009-09-16 063

We started a tradition last year on his birthday where we took some helium filled balloons and release them outside. Audrey didn’t take part this year over reluctance to loose her precious blue balloons (even though there were plenty). But Judah sure enjoyed it!

For months before his birthday, Judah has told just about everyone that when he turns three, “no more plugs” (pacifiers).  So, being the big boy he is, he agreed to go to bed without a pacifier, only to cry and whine until we gave in and gave it to him. Ok, props for at least trying it. It broke my heart and I just couldn’t make him do without. I know the day will come when he’ll give it up, so I’m not worried—I’ll start worrying when he’s in Kindergarten and hasn’t given it up yet (yep, started taping Audrey’s fingers a couple weeks before school started so she’d get out of her finger sucking habit!).  And to the lady at Matt’s office who told me that because he sucked on a pacifier after the age of one he’s got a 90% chance of becoming a smoker…we bought a pack of Marlboro’s just in case.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Ok, ok, we love Judah too

I have been prompted by my guilty conscience (and Matt) to do a post about Judah. I’ve also been spurred on by the fact that we’ve already fallen into the bad habit of not updating our blog… whoops!  So here’s to Judah, the crazy quirky one:

1. The boy can be summed up in two words: TRAIN LOVER!!  He got a train table for Christmas, and is still telling people about it. It has to be one of the best presents ever.  And as of late, he is so into the railroad crossings (also known as the Ding Ding Ding in Judah’s world). He can do a great impression of it by holding his hands high above his head and slowly bringing them down while making the noise, “Whooo, hooo, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!” For some reason text just doesn’t do it justice, we’ll have to work on getting a video. Here he is at the train crossing in the Albuquerque zoo:Copy of 2009-03-19 173

And this is at the Tweetsie Railroad Amusement Park in North Carolina. The boy was in awe of the real train; such a treat for the train enthusiast!2009-07-09 021

And of course when the kids got their faces painted at Tweetsie, choosing the train was a no brainer for Judah!2009-07-09 040

2. He is quite the water dog. He absolutely loves swimming and is in no way afraid of the water. While in South Carolina this summer, he fell in love with the ocean. I would worry about him becoming a beach bum someday, but seeing how he couldn’t stand the feel of the sand on his feet, it’s not likely to happen! Swimming with Daddy pretty far out in the ocean:2009-07-09 152

I love these next pictures of Judah. It shows the sequence of his face when the wave rolls in:

We did a week long swim class with him in July at the WT pool. It was great because we learned a lot of pool and swim safety stuff that has helped us teach him how to swim. Of course he loves jumping in:

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3. He thrives on attention. This can be good and bad at times; bad because he doesn’t really know how to go about getting this attention and has resorted to what I like to call the “sympathy complaints”. “Daddy, I’m just tired.” “Mommy, I’m just hungry.” “Gigi, know what? I fall down.” Keep in mind that these statements really have nothing to do with how he is feeling at the moment. It has worked for him in the past, and hey, if it works…  But it’s good because he can be such a cuddle bug at times. Here he is cuddling with Mommy at one of sister’s softball games:DSC_01604. He has a special relationship with Gigi (Matt’s grandmother). We think it stems from when we lived with her for about 3 months 2 years ago when we were in the process of selling and buying a house. He was one back then, and a strong bond formed between them. This is at Audrey’s preschool graduation:2009-05-15 104

5. He potty trained himself!! That was probably one of the best gifts he could have given me. Since we had such a hard time with Audrey I was not planning on attempting it for a while, but he had plans of his own. Once he figured out candy was associated with successes in the potty, he was on board! There have been accidents here and there (especially when the candy slowly disappeared from the picture), but overall it’s been a great experience!

6. The dude can come up with some pretty stylin’ outfits, ‘nuff said.

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7. Judah has some hilarious faces. He’s very animated, is quite entertaining—and have I mentioned CUTE?2009-04-10 042DSC_01302009-07-09 0742009-05-15 055

8. And of course he is one handsome guy.2009-04-10 147Beach 0134 8x10 edges filled in levels2009-04-10 257 edit

A few other tidbits about Judah: His favorite song is “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and we’ve heard this song sung in about every variation you could think of (train whistle, dog bark, lion roar, froggy, etc.). He could live on Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches (“butter sandwich” in Judah speak). He’s fascinated by the Dell Lollipop commercial and when it comes on he asks to see it over and over again (thank goodness for DVR’s!)

And so this post comes to a close, with an apology: sorry the first two posts of our blog are so super long. We’ll work on keeping it to a minimum in the future, but when the subjects are such as these, you can hardly blame us, right?