Pancakes & Park Dates

This week was jam-packed with fun times. Some weeks we get bored wondering what to do and other weeks (like this one) we don't seem to be home quite enough. But, we're thankful for times with our friends and the summer sunshine.

We didn't see any sunshine on Wednesday, June 9. It poured and was in the 60s that day. We had been planning on doing Oregon Dairy with Julie, Jude & Kate that morning and then going to play on the playground right there. But, as luck would have it, it was cold and rainy. It has rained the last half a dozen times we've been there. Every other day this week has been nice except Wednesday. Oh, well!

Kelley, who I also worked with at Masterpiece Marketing, also came along that morning with her 2 1/2 month old, Lincoln. We missed getting a picture of him & us Mommas, so here's the one from my party. He slept in his car seat carrier through breakfast and then everyone came back to our house to play.

Our waiter that morning was really slow (although I think he was actually a host person who just picked up the table to help out the wait staff since they were super busy that morning). The kids were ready to go long before our breakfast came out, but Joshua noticed I still had the DVD player in my bag from the day before. So, they all huddled around Mickey Mouse's train adventure while us gals caught up. Then when we went home, they played and played with toys - from Daddy's corn table invention to trains to cars & animals. I think they had a great time. And we're going back to Oregon Dairy next week for their farm days. I'm looking forward to it!

The following day was nice again, and we had plans to meet our small group friends at the park. Unfortunately, Lisa works during the day and Melanie didn't make it either since Abby wasn't feeling the best, but Angie & her two girls came and so did Becca & her daughters. Once again, I missed getting a picture of the moms, but I think I got a shot of all the kids.

We met at Overlook and it wasn't all that crowded. Yesterday (Thursday) was the last day of school for Manheim Township, so I'm assuming it was probably busier today. The kids had fun playing, and we had fun chatting. Here's Alayna & Kyla:

I had packed strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and canteloupe to snack on and share with our friends; and Angie had packed their lunch and brought it. I think Becca also came stocked with Cheerios & gold fish for the girls. We sat in the shade and enjoyed the gorgeous day. We left around lunch time to come home, and later that afternoon, the boys & I went over to Grandma's house so she could fix the straps on a dress for me. When we went to go for a walk afterward, Joshua fell and skinned his elbow something fierce. He's prayed several times asking Jesus to make it all better, and last night he told Daddy that he was going to sleep in his bed all night long so his ouchies would go away. As luck would have it, he also got stung by a bee that night while we were playing outside. Poor little guy! Here are Lael (going to kindergarten this year...wow, time flies!) and Alonna:

Last night Daddy made spaghetti for dinner, and I so appreciated him cooking that I mowed the yard afterward so he could play with the boys. It may sound like role reversal, but it's nice to have a relationship where we can both bless each other and do whatever work around the house. I set the table and cleaned up after dinner, but while he was cooking I was able to hold a little snuggly Caleb Luke. Then Shawn was able to play soccer with the boys out back while I was mowing the front yard and played more inside while I was finishing up the back yard. After the boys went to bed, I went to Walmart to pick up a few items we needed like laundry detergent, etc. We went to bed after 10 pm last night, exhausted from a busy day and week. :)

When we grow up...

WE WANT TO BE JUST LIKE DADDY!

Love the 'Skins' You're In!

Yesterday, I took the boys at 10 am to the Picture People. I had gotten a coupon for a free 8 x 10, and I have many friends who say they go in and just get that one. For a long time, I never did that, and then I thought to myself "why not?" So, I made the appointment and got these pictures in hopes of surprising Daddy for Father's Day... only the boys are so cute that I can't keep them to myself that long. So, Daddy will get another gift along with the picture I already gave him.

I dressed the boys in their Redskins outfits since that's Daddy's favorite football team and the gal on the phone had said they had some sort of cute touchdown background (which they told me didn't exist when I got there). It didn't matter. I thought they looked adorable!

Caleb did NOT like getting his picture taken, but Joshua did a good job overall. And I thought they turned out decently well. I also took Joshua's little DVD player with us, and I think every child in there came and watched with the boys while us parents got to pick out our pictures in peace. Another mom told me she was going to get one and bring it next time. Sometimes an 'electronic babysitter' can be a good thing if used sparingly!

That afternoon while the boys napped, I received a nice phone call. I had tried out for the LCBC worship team, and the worship leader called to tell me that he could use me on the team. I was so excited! I hadn't heard anything for a little bit and had assumed I didn't make the cut, but I had prayed about it and gave it to God. I love to worship at home, but I know I'm not as skilled as the musicians who play for the team. Still my heart's desire is to praise the Lord and glorify Him. I want to be available to be used by Him, using my talents that He's given me. But, if they didn't need me (after all, there are a LOT of people who go there) then I wanted to also be content to serve in some other way. I had recently volunteered to be a back-up for a gal who volunteers in the nursery, just to give her an occasional break. I felt like I did my best at the audition, but I wasn't sure what the outcome would be. But, I was okay either way. And I was thrilled to hear that they could use my help. I so enjoy worshiping God and playing the piano and learning new songs to praise Him with.

I almost didn't post it on the blog, because I don't want it to be viewed as prideful. Instead, I'm joyful and thankful. I love the Lord and am looking forward to serving Him. I haven't been asked to play any specific Sunday yet, so Shawn told me I shouldn't count my eggs before they hatch. That said, I was still glad that I didn't make a fool of myself trying out (although, I know God gives grace to the humble).

 

So far, 30 is turning out to be a good year (at least four days into it!).

After the kids woke up from their nap, we went to Root's and got some fresh fruit. Shawn made dinner that evening and I washed off & cut up all the watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, etc. and put them in the fridge for meals & snacks. I LOVE summer! It was a beautiful day with a high in the 70s and a nice occasional cool breeze.

We ate our dinner out on the deck, then the boys opened a special box from Mamaw & Papaw from Florida. It had Toy Story cups, crayons, socks, stickers, etc. and they were thrilled. Joshua has carried around the crayons and kept telling us Papaw was nice to send him crayons, thank you Papaw. (Thanks so much!)

Touchdown!

That night I gave them baths and cleaned the house while Shawn watched a little baseball & basketball (and I do mean just a little... he also helped clean and put the boys to bed). It was a good, productive day.

One Month Left of One Year

Happy 23-month birthday, lil Caleb Luke! I simply cannot believe my baby will no longer be one year old next month. In the world's eyes, this is considered to be a big boy - he'll need his own plane ticket, his own paid plate at the buffet, his own entry pass into theme parks, etc. He is becoming a big boy in so many ways already that this too makes me sad even though I do love this age of sheer cuteness.

One thing I'm thankful for about this age is that he can now climb into the car himself. While I don't mind lifting him, the fact that he can get in keeps him from roaming around the outside of the car while I'm unloading my arms with whatever we're bringing along for our outing (be it toys, drinks, a diaper bag, etc). He even can buckle the top part of his car seat already, which is something Joshua just recently learned how to do. But, since his big brother is doing it, he insists on doing it, too.

Caleb is also sleeping with a big boy pillow, which we got him a couple weeks ago. He now wants two blankets on to sleep, and he often asks to cuddle in our bed before going to his own bed (which we've limited since we don't want to create the same issues we've had with the Bean).

We always sing before bed as we rock, and now he sings along, pronouncing most of the words and singing pretty well in tune. His favorites are 'Sunshine,' 'Wonderful,' 'God Song' and 'Goodnight' (his names for the songs).

I've also noticed some differences as he grows older. He's eating a bit more variety of foods. For example, he likes hot dogs now and will eat them if we cut them into small pieces. We haven't really pushed meat for him since Joshua detests it, but Caleb is actually a pretty good eater now and will eat at almost every meal. He prefers water to juice (which is good!), loves milk (and especially chocolate milk), and will drink fairly well out of a straw now.

The other day when I handed him his cup, he said "PURPLE!" I think he's starting to recognize colors more and more, but I know that doesn't really typically happen until age three. He will sit down and spend time coloring whereas before he was always on the move. He'll sit a little longer for TV than in the past, and his favorites are Curious George and Veggie Tales. He really likes Veggie Tales, which makes me happy.

He'd still prefer to play and be active more than anything, and my boy has NO FEAR! He will climb heights and has already displayed his athletic ability to us. We can tell he has a bit more coordination like his Daddy and is a strong little bubba!

Caleb loves water and doesn't mind his head getting wet. He loves to splash and play in the water. He loves his summer-time Crocs and put one on by himself the other day (backwards, but still a good effort). Caleb is solidly in 24-month clothing and he can get mostly undressed by himself. He's also speaking in pretty good sentences these days. He told Daddy that he had to go to work this morning, which we laughed at.

One of my favorite things about Caleb is his all around sweetness and soft-spoken personality. He speaks so softly and gently and is so cute to listen to. He's also really kind (even though we've seen a stubborn streak coming out in him). I love when he talks to Joshua and says "Thank you, JOSH!" His Joshua sounds almost like a Dubois accent. He adores his older brother. He also loves his momma & dadda and is still a bit strange around other folks and 'unsure' as my sister Jen said one day when I left the boys with her for a little bit. He doesn't dislike other folks, but he just prefers his immediate family. I understand that that's part of this age, too. We love our lil' Caleb Luke - and he now says "Tay-leb" and "Bluke." Happy last month of your one year!

Power Of Your Name

I heard this song (The Power of Your Name by Lincoln Brewster) the first time when I went to National Day of Prayer this year, and it spoke to me... to love a world that's broken, to be Your hands & feet ... going beyond religion. All of it was powerful! I heard it in the car again the other day and had to look it up. Enjoy this powerful worship song! Thank God for the power of the His Name!

Go Fly a Kite!

If you said 'go fly a kite' to Joshua, he wouldn't take it as an insult - he would LOVE it! In fact, that's exactly what we did on Sunday.

Backing up a bit, on Sunday morning since I hadn't slept all night, I had the unique opportunity of watching the sunrise over Lancaster City in our 19th floor hotel room and it was amazing. Shawn was up by 20 'til 8, and we quickly peaked at the pool, exercise room and spa area before checking out. When we got home, we were happy to see our boys. Both of them were dressed in outfits they had picked out. [Earlier in the week, Joshua had picked out funky multi-colored plaid shorts that are adorable with a solid colored shirt - only he also chose his striped 'Lightning McQueen & Doc Hudson' shirt to go with it. Unfortunately, I hadn't gotten any pictures of this miss-matched happy guy!]. The first thing Joshua had picked, according to Uncle Tim, was the Thomas swim trunks borrowed from Cousin Grant. They don't quite fit yet, though, so Tim suggested he pick something that didn't fall off his waist. He agreed and was wearing a pretty normal-looking outfit. Caleb, on the other hand, looked hysterical. He can't reach his entire wardrobe, but he was SO excited to pick his own outfit, according to Aunt Becky. He grabbed long corduroys pants from the very bottom of his armoire (I didn't even realize they were still in there!) and a pajama shirt that's a little too small.

Caleb was starting to sit down to breakfast when he walked in, and my sister (who you can tell does not have kids) had given him a full adult cup (no lid, no sippy) FULL of water. He kept dumping it on himself accidentally, then saying "OOPS!" then "WIPE!" and then after patting himself with a napkin would exclaim "ALL BETTER!" She said this pattern had been going on for awhile, which we could tell since he was completely soaked when we walked in the door. But, everyone was happy, safe and having fun and that's all we cared about.

They left shortly after we got home to go get ready for church, and we met Grandpa Georgia at "his" restaurant (according to Joshua) for breakfast. Afterward, we went to the second service of our church. For the most part, we thought the service was a little on the lame side, but we could have been tired. I can always get something out of the worship & message, but this felt very much like an advertisement for an upcoming event they're hosting. Either way, I felt like we did the right thing going to church. When we got home, we all napped.

We woke up more groggy than when we'd laid down. Eventually we got in the car and I suggested we take the boys to the park to have some fun. As we were there, Shawn commented that the wind was good for flying a kite, and luckily for us, we had bought one and put it in my trunk. I walked back to the car to get it, and Joshua highly enjoyed flying it. Shawn & I took turns showing him how and staying with him in the field while the other played with Caleb on the playground equipment. The Bean LOVED the kite and the wind was great in that it went up in the air really easily. While we were at the playground, we ran into my orthodontist from when I was little, and he told me to smile for him and 'approved' of my teeth. His son & daughter are both practicing with him now (good money, I'm sure!). I told him we'd probably see him in the future with our boys and chuckled.

Shawn's last surprise for my birthday was that he had taken off Monday. We didn't do much of anything that day. I jogged in the morning, we went to the library to return our old books and grab some new ones for the kids, we went out for Chinese for lunch, I went shopping at Tanger Outlets with Mom while all three of my boys napped, and Shawn went to the driving range and Barnes & Nobles later that afternoon. Last night I took the boys for a walk while Daddy worked on a few weeds and then we played in the garage and I cleaned the house for a little. We ended the night by going for a drive and looking at repos for fun. When the boys finally went to bed after we read them some stories, I went to sleep, too. It was an amazing 3-day weekend! And, luckily, we charged the batteries in our camera so hopefully I'll be able to take more pictures soon...

30 - Time to Party!

As a gift to me for my birthday, Mom had bought me this pretty white & yellow dress, with coordinating yellow shoes & bracelets. I knew we were going to dinner somewhere and spending the night at a local hotel, but I didn't know where or any real details. Shawn snapped a picture of me before we left since it's 'tradition' to get a birthday shot. Then I took one of him, too, looking so handsome in the shirt he got from his parents for his birthday:

Then our babysitter called and said she was running late, so Shawn told me that I could just meet him where we were going and bring her and the kids. What were the kids doing coming with us? He told me to tell Miranda to meet us at the Eden rather than our house and just get in the car. I asked if that's where we were spending the night and he said no. ?????

When we arrived, Becca (pictured below) & Angel and their girls Alayna & Kyla were there. I saw Shawn get the massive cake out of the trunk on our way out and I knew something was up. WOW! I would have never guessed he would have thrown me such a classy party.

Shawn hand-selected the menu of hor d'oeuvres, including fresh fruit, bacon-wrapped scallops, shrimp, chicken, meatballs, chocolate covered pretzels, snacks, etc. Then there were stations of drinks set up from champagne to milk for the kids to a display of sodas and a fountain of punch. On a different table was the cake.

The event was held in the 'State Room' at the Eden Resort and everything was arranged very nicely, from the lit candle decor to the various sized tables for sitting or mingling. Shawn had selected every last detail, and he did a great job! He also invited everyone without my knowing it... that said, he thinks he may have mixed up a few email addresses and forgot to give his own sister the exact location of the party (whoops!). He's not a 'mail-out-the-invite' kind of guy. But, I was surprised with the mix of people who came.

The next to arrive was Mom & Ken, who I realized I never got a picture with. Whoops! Here she is with Caleb, though.

 Next I believe was my friend Suz, who drove the whole way from NJ with her hubby and baby.

Afterward, my sister Jen and her kids arrived along with Dad and Becky, I think (it kind of became a blur).

Chris & Lisa and their daughter Isabella came thereafter, but unfortunately I didn't get a picture of them. Miranda also came somewhere in that time to help with the kids, and she did a great job of being an extra set of hands for Shawn, taking the kids when they came to me, and also watching all the kids as they ran around the room. After the party, she watched the boys for us while we went to dinner.

I'm not sure who came next, but here are a few more pictures of guests. I worked with Dave at the credit union and he drove the whole way down from Womelsdorf to be there, even though he didn't know another soul since the other two women we normally hang out with couldn't make it. 

I met Julie & Kelley at Masterpiece Marketing. They both have boys now (and Julie has a girl, too, of course) and we're getting together for a play date this week. :)

Margie & her husband Matt and boys Henry & Peter also came to celebrate, along with Valerie & Matt Addy who left their kids at home. Both these girls were in my MOPS group this year. I didn't get a picture of Valerie and her Matt, unfortunately. The camera died toward the beginning of the evening. I think we need new rechargeable batteries.

My friend Michelle from youth group also came with her daughter, but I missed getting a picture of her as well. She drove the whole way from Reading, as did Mike & Bonnie, Hilary, Alicia & Jordon. Later Gayle came with Grant & Jenavieve. Somehow Joshua snapped both pictures below long after the camera wouldn't work for me anymore. Here's Grant & then Shawn:

Speaking of Shawn, he did an amazing job. I was totally surprised by all he had planned. I knew how much he loved me when he got everyone's attention and led the singing of Happy Birthday. My husband is an amazing guy, but he hates to sing. He sings to the boys since they love it, and he sang to me our song on our wedding night as we danced. But, he'll rarely sing that anyone can actually hear him. He loves music but he doesn't want to be heard, if you know what I mean. However, he led the song beautifully and everyone else sang along. I was touched by his thoughtfulness. Here's everyone singing:

And here are a few of the kids that came that night. I think there were more than a dozen kids there (which doesn't take long since my sister has five and we have two and most of our friends have children). They ran and played and had a great time, and we were glad Miranda was there to help keep an eye on them as the parents talked and enjoyed themselves.

Here are a couple other random shots from the night. The party lasted until 5 pm when everyone told me to enjoy what was coming next. I think I may have been one of the only ones not to know what the next set of plans were. We dropped Miranda and the boys off at our house, along with her little sister, and we left instructions for my sister Becky (along with money to pay Miranda for her time) as Becky & Tim were going to be watching the boys for us overnight. Miranda put the cake away for us, too, which was sweet. 

We left there and headed to check into our hotel room, which Shawn had booked at the Convention Center Marriott. When we got there, I recognized the woman at the front desk, but I couldn't quite place her. I said "Do you go to LCBC?" and she said "Oh, yes! And I just got baptized there." Knowing that it may have looked a little strange for locals to be getting a hotel room, I told her that it was my 30th birthday and Shawn was surprising me and how we'd wanted to check this place out since it opened. She then asked why we were in two double beds (which he had just gotten the cheapest room through priceline), so she went ahead and upgraded it to a king room... ON THE TOP FLOOR!!!! Shawn had originally called the hotel directly to ask for the presidential suite, but it had already been reserved for that night. We had the room right next door and their million dollar view for the cheaper online price. God definitely blessed us through this woman. We were told this was the highest point in the city, and we could see for miles and all the cool architecture of the city. It was amazing. We took a quick peak at the room before walking the block to our dinner reservations.

Shawn had 6:15 pm reservations at the Press Room in Lancaster City. I had always wanted to eat there, but it was so expensive and we never really found the occasion to do so. The outdoor dining had always looked so cool, though. He remembered this fact, and he reserved the table right in front of the water fall. When we arrived, they took us to the best seats in the entire place. We had the water fall all to ourselves, it felt like. Then we feasted on steak, crab, asparagus and a sweet potato (Shawn had chicken cordon bleu with garlic mashed potatoes and veggies) besides our salads, etc. I also drank three glasses of unsweetened iced tea. After not eating one bite all day (including any birthday cake since I was mingling at the party rather than eating), this tasted like sheer heaven. Everything was perfectly prepared and the service was really good. The view was also awesome, but it was the company that was extra special that night. :) While we were there, he gave me yet another gift. He handed me two tickets to the Fulton Opera House.

The show started at 8 pm and the timing was perfect. And while they were calling for rain, it didn't actually come until we were already at the show (thank you, God!). Shawn had every last detail planned down to the minutes it would take us to walk from one venue to the next. We arrived at the perfect time to get our seats before the show. He had paid for the best seats in the house, once again, in the orchestra circle about four or five rows back so we weren't right on stage but close enough to feel like we were. It was amazing. When the Phantom rose out of the stage, it looked so cool, and the lighting effects were neat, etc. I highly enjoyed it. Several people told me how much they loved my dress there, too, which was sweet.

The show ended just before 11 pm, and I was wondering about our own boys. Had they given Becky & Tim any trouble going to sleep? Were they doing okay? Caleb had seemed a bit overwhelmed at the party and not fussy but just a little sad and clingy. I was hoping he was feeling loved. So, when we got back to the hotel room, I called my sister's cell phone. She's usually a night owl, and I figured she'd still be up and that way I wouldn't wake the boys. Luckily she was up and said that both boys went to bed nicely for them and were sleeping happily. That made me feel better. I was glad they were there and I knew they the kids were safe.

When we got back to the hotel room, a bottle of white wine was there, along with a plate full of cheese & crackers and fruit. From bleu cheese to brie to red & black raspberries and strawberries and fancy bread crisps, it was amazing. We toasted the evening and sampled the plate, which the front desk woman had sent up to celebrate my 30th birthday, complimentary. I had also remembered at dinner where I really recognized her from - she was my mom's old boss from the post office. And she had spoken at Jamie's funeral (the only time I had actually ever seen her). I finally put the two together. When I had seen her at LCBC, the only reason I remembered is because I thought she looked familiar. Now I knew why. I eventually got to tell her so, and I saw she made a comment about my coming to see her on my mom's Facebook page. Anyway, even before knowing that I knew her, she graciously blessed us on my birthday. That late at night the city was all lit up and as we sat there and talked about the day and enjoyed the treat and drink, it was just incredible. The king size bed was comfortable, and yet I didn't sleep again. I had had so much caffeine and so much going on that day that I couldn't seem to quiet down my mind. Instead, I enjoyed watching the sun rise over the beautiful city as I thought about how lucky and how blessed I really am. My husband is an amazing man. My God is an AWESOME God. And my friends and family mean the world to me. I am glad to be alive, and being alive is the only way you get to be older. So, here's to 30!

Turning the big 3-0!

At first I was just going to turn 29 for a second time. Why not, while you can still get away with it? But, as I continued reading about how many important folks in the Bible started their most crucial steps in life at age 30, I realized that turning 29 once again was not what God had in store for me. In fact, it reminded me of the Israelites going 'around the mountain' for years before getting to the Promised Land. Because they wouldn't look to God and what He had for them, they continued to journey in a circle before finally reaching their destination. In fact, the first generation didn't even get to see their true destiny. I don't want that to be said of me. So, no going around the mountain for years for this girl. I'm ready to realize whatever God has in store for my life, and I'm at the prime age to do so!

The last day of my 20s I spent cleaning the entire house. After all, cleanliness is next to godliness right? (Just kidding!) But I do enjoy the feeling that everything is done - the laundry was put away, the floors were mopped, the bathrooms scrubbed, etc, etc. I also took the boys out to swim in our little pool, which they love! I also got some cups and some items to pour, etc, to give them more to play with in there. To watch them slide and swim and pour is enjoyment in and of itself. I put a shirt on Caleb and sunscreen on both boys to make sure they didn't get any more sun while I myself was hoping for more tan. :) :) :)

Friday evening, we were planning on going to 'First Friday' in Lancaster City for the art exhibits, cool shops, and outdoor dining. Unfortunately right when we left, it poured. So, we ended up eating at Carrabba's, one of my favorite restaurants. While I enjoyed the food, I was up all night long with heartburn and a queezy stomach thereafter. It literally kept me awake most of the night. I woke up at 1:04 am on the dot and realized "it's official; I'm really 30." My heart sank. I know it's just a number. And yet as I'd been jogging this week, my knees were starting to ache in taking the pounding. But, I'm reminding myself that truly, the best is yet to come.

When I got out of bed Saturday morning, Shawn let me go for my typical run to and through the park and back. Then he took these pictures of me afterward in my jogging outfit before we took the boys swimming again. After we were done laying out and playing in the pool, we got showered and dressed. Shawn also gave me a lot of amazing gifts from him and the boys. They were all amazing but my favorites included a new chronological Bible, a Bible highlighter, an apron to cook in, a new perfume I had mentioned liking, some hair ties, a reclining beach chair, tweezers, and a gift card to go shopping.

Since I hadn't been feeling well, I passed on the offer for breakfast from Dad and hadn't eaten anything all day. Since Shawn knew I hadn't slept well and hadn't eaten, he bought me a frappe that afternoon when he was running errands for the caffeine and sugar and meanwhile my mom came over to see me for a little and put a snap in my new dress to keep it from being too revealing. Then we started getting ready for our evening... and what an evening it was! More on that to come...