Captain Underpants!

I am sure he will kill me for posting this picture some day, but I just have to brag on this little boy for a minute... and the picture was just too great not to post. :-P

On May 1 st we started potty training. After two days I almost quit, but on Day 3 it clicked and by Day 5 he had it DOWN! And about 3 weeks ago we stopped wearing pull-ups all together, not even at night.

This kid is awesome!

Naomi: 15 Months

Taken downtown a couple weeks ago.

Taken at Rick & Tonia's wedding, right after she split her chin open. :)

A soaking wet little girl at my in-laws... it started raining and Ben ran inside and Naomi ran out into the rain. :)

Naomi is 15 months old now! She is growing so fast! I don't know how tall she is but she is taller than most 2-year-olds we run into. :) She is going into size 7 shoes, and thanks to cloth diapers some of her 2T clothes are a bit snug. :)

She babbles all the time, but the only real words are NO! & Uh-oh. She LOVES animals just like her brother, while reading she wants you to identify each animal with name and sound. :) She very enthusiastically will tell you what each animal says... and in case you were wondering... EVERY animal says "mmvvvvvpppphhhhh." She also knows her body parts with her belly button being BY FAR the favorite one to show off.

She understands EVERYTHING, and wants to be a part of everything. Whenever I ask Ben a question (like do you like your sandwich?) she will poke me until I ask her the same thing and then nod her head vigorously. She is a very determined little girl and likes things her way. She is also VERY jealous of her mama, not letting anyone sit on my lap or touch me for that matter, without her voicing her opinion and clamoring to get my attention. :) She has brought so much fun to our house with her constant antics and love for life, we love our little girl!

Outtakes. :)

I really did try!!

A Few More Pictures from our Charlotte Trip

Downtown Greenville, it has a great paths along the river and some really cool bridges.
If you go before about 8 in the morning it isn't too hot out. :)

Wasting time with Dad while Mom & Ben are rehearsing. :)

Naomi Grace.

Faces.

I just love taking pictures of faces. Places are fun, beautiful even. But nothing compares to faces.

Ben: Mom, I am done with pictures!
Naomi: He is so cool!!!

Sweet siblings.

Naomi. :)

Baby girl.

The radiant Bride.

Ezra.

McKenna.

Benjamin.

Kaylan.

Kiersten.

LAUGH... Or You Just Might Cry...

There are so many words that come to mind when thinking about last weekend. Fun. Hotel. Wedding. HOT. Ring bearer. Teething. Ice. Croup. Sucker. HOT. Clean. Blood. Stitches. Museum. Cartoons. And so much more.

Last weekend was a wonderful weekend because we were able to see... and participate in... the wedding of my amazing friend Tonia... the weekend also presented its fair share of challenges... and we needed a vacation after our little vacation. :)

So here is the story in pictures:

Andrew had a staff meeting in Hendersonville Wed/Thurs/Fri of last week. So on Friday morning we went with him since his meeting was half way to Greenville, SC where the wedding was. The kids and I visited Sam's Club (to buy a swimming suit for daddy so we could go swimming at the hotel pool!)... and then we headed downtown Hendersonville to the Hand's On Children's Museum.

If you haven't been to downtown Hendersonville, there are these odd bears all over... and my animal loving kids had to of course stop and hug each one. :-P

The kids, especially Ben, had a blast at the Museum. They had painting stuff, a huge bubble blowing thing, rice that was like sand with all the toys to go with it, play dough, slides, slides for lego cars you built, a kitchen, a grocery store, a stage, dress up everything and so much more!

And that is when the weekend started to go south. :) Naomi decided she was a big girl and tried to go down some wooden stairs... I caught her about 2 seconds too late. She managed to save her teeth but split her chin wide open (being the horrible mother I am, my first thought was "there goes the nice family picture all dressed up from the wedding). After talking to my nurse mother I decided to not go to the Urgent Care but to CVS instead for alcohol wipes, steri strips, bandaids and all that good stuff.

Thanks to Andrew's travel schedule we had some extra hotel points and were able to get a cool hotel in downtown Greenville. The not so cool part was that they didn't have a pool. Note to self: Never Promise Something until you KNOW it will happen. Instead we got to the rehearsal a little early and I sent Ben running up and down all the isles to burn off some energy. :)

Well, shortly after that he decided to run up the stage. He then fell off and got a bloody nose.
But LAUGH, don't cry... right??

This is Harper. Isn't she just beautiful?! I love that passie. Her mama was in charge of making sure everyone was where they were supposed to be, at the proper time... a big job. :)

Rehearsal time! All the guys in a line.

And now all the girls in a line. :)

So, there were 3 ring bearers and 3 flower girls. And I had the lovely privilege of keeping track of them. :) So, needless to say I don't have many pictures from here on out. This is the only picture I have of the adorable sign Ben helped to carry down the isle. If you can't tell it says: HERE COMES THE BRIDE.

I don't know why I love this picture so much, but I do.

All six kidlets with their stuff. Ezra with a pillow, Ben & Walker with the sign and the McKenna, Kiersten & Kaylan with their baskets. Aren't they just adorable??

Rehearsing. :)

Shortly after this we all headed upstairs for dinner. Where Ben proceeded to RUN into a brick wall... with the side of his face.

Laugh... don't cry... right? :)

And here we are on wedding day. Ben & Ezra. Such sweet friends. :)
And between this picture and the last Ben woke up at 2am with croup. So we ran from the hotel shower to the ac for an hour in the middle of the night. Praise the Lord he was doing fine the next morning!

Me and my ring bearer. :) He walked down the isle like a champ!
I did use bribery though... FOUR months ago I promised him a sucker from the grocery store (you know the big ones by the check-out?) and he didn't forget it. It was waiting for him at the bottom of the isle. :)

The beautiful bride attempting to stay cool on what could have been the HOTTEST day of the year.

Tonia & I.

The 3 ring bearers. It is hard to keep 6 little people clean in the 2 1/2 hours between pictures and the wedding!!

Groomsmen & Groom praying.

Another attempt at keeping the kids clean. Take pictures!
Kaylan (neice of groom), Kenna (daughter of Bride) Ben & Kiersten (niece of groom)

Sweet friends.

Pre-wedding fun. :)

Father-daughter dance.

Bride and Groom.

Sadly this was about the best picture I got of them. Their wedding was beautiful (even if my 1-year-old screamed through it and made my husband miss the whole thing). And the reception was HOT so with kids falling apart we didn't last long. But we are SOOOO happy for Rick & Tonia and McKenna and the beautiful family they are now!!

Motherhood Is a Calling

You know those days when you can't quite remember why we did this whole "kid thing?" :) This article is great, a wonderful refreshing reminder of why we do this... and that our "our hands are full... OF GOOD THINGS!!" Read it!!

Motherhood Is a Calling (And Where Your Children Rank)

A few years ago, when I just had four children and when the oldest was still three, I loaded them all up to go on a walk. After the final sippy cup had found a place and we were ready to go, my two-year-old turned to me and said, “Wow! You have your hands full!”

She could have just as well said, “Don’t you know what causes that?” or “Are they all yours?!”

Everywhere you go, people want to talk about your children. Why you shouldn’t have had them, how you could have prevented them, and why they would never do what you have done. They want to make sure you know that you won’t be smiling anymore when they are teenagers. All this at the grocery store, in line, while your children listen.

A Rock-Bottom Job?

The truth is that years ago, before this generation of mothers was even born, our society decided where children rank in the list of important things. When abortion was legalized, we wrote it into law.

Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get. In fact, children rate below your desire to sit around and pick your toes, if that is what you want to do. Below everything. Children are the last thing you should ever spend your time doing.

If you grew up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood, to think like a free Christian woman about your life, your children. How much have we listened to partial truths and half lies? Do we believe that we want children because there is some biological urge, or the phantom “baby itch”? Are we really in this because of cute little clothes and photo opportunities? Is motherhood a rock-bottom job for those who can’t do more, or those who are satisfied with drudgery? If so, what were we thinking?

It's Not a Hobby

Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.

Christian mothers carry their children in hostile territory. When you are in public with them, you are standing with, and defending, the objects of cultural dislike. You are publicly testifying that you value what God values, and that you refuse to value what the world values. You stand with the defenseless and in front of the needy. You represent everything that our culture hates, because you represent laying down your life for another—and laying down your life for another represents the gospel.

Our culture is simply afraid of death. Laying down your own life, in any way, is terrifying. Strangely, it is that fear that drives the abortion industry: fear that your dreams will die, that your future will die, that your freedom will die—and trying to escape that death by running into the arms of death.

Run to the Cross

But a Christian should have a different paradigm. We should run to to the cross. To death. So lay down your hopes. Lay down your future. Lay down your petty annoyances. Lay down your desire to be recognized. Lay down your fussiness at your children. Lay down your perfectly clean house. Lay down your grievances about the life you are living. Lay down the imaginary life you could have had by yourself. Let it go.

Death to yourself is not the end of the story. We, of all people, ought to know what follows death. The Christian life is resurrection life, life that cannot be contained by death, the kind of life that is only possible when you have been to the cross and back.

The Bible is clear about the value of children. Jesus loved them, and we are commanded to love them, to bring them up in the nurture of the Lord. We are to imitate God and take pleasure in our children.

The Question Is How

The question here is not whether you are representing the gospel, it is how you are representing it. Have you given your life to your children resentfully? Do you tally every thing you do for them like a loan shark tallies debts? Or do you give them life the way God gave it to us—freely?

It isn’t enough to pretend. You might fool a few people. That person in line at the store might believe you when you plaster on a fake smile, but your children won’t. They know exactly where they stand with you. They know the things that you rate above them. They know everything you resent and hold against them. They know that you faked a cheerful answer to that lady, only to whisper threats or bark at them in the car.

Children know the difference between a mother who is saving face to a stranger and a mother who defends their life and their worth with her smile, her love, and her absolute loyalty.

Hands Full of Good Things

When my little girl told me, “Your hands are full!” I was so thankful that she already knew what my answer would be. It was the same one that I always gave: “Yes they are—full of good things!”

Live the gospel in the things that no one sees. Sacrifice for your children in places that only they will know about. Put their value ahead of yours. Grow them up in the clean air of gospel living. Your testimony to the gospel in the little details of your life is more valuable to them than you can imagine. If you tell them the gospel, but live to yourself, they will never believe it. Give your life for theirs every day, joyfully. Lay down pettiness. Lay down fussiness. Lay down resentment about the dishes, about the laundry, about how no one knows how hard you work.

Stop clinging to yourself and cling to the cross. There is more joy and more life and more laughter on the other side of death than you can possibly carry alone.

Rachel Jankovic is a wife, homemaker, and mother. She is the author of "Loving the Little Years" and blogs at Femina. Her husband is Luke, and they have five children: Evangeline (5), Daphne (4), Chloe (2), Titus (2), and Blaire (5 months).

New Hobby #2: Running

I know what you are thinking... What? She is crazy!?! Well, you would be right. And I am SOOOOOOOOOO far from being a real runner.... but one day at a time.

My sister-in-law Becki and I started walking 3 miles 3-4 times a week back in May. In June we decided "why not try a little jogging..." and a little bit after that we were addicted. So, we are now on week 5 of a 10 week program to get up to running 20 minutes... and then we will go another 10 weeks to go from 20-30 minutes... which is close to a 5k. I definitely would not have stuck with it this long if I didn't have a buddy, Becki has been awesome and I look forward to getting to hang out with her so much (6 hours a week :).... even if it means getting out of bed at 5:35am. I am still not to the point where I really enjoy the running part... but I am getting there... and I love the feeling of those last three cool-down walking laps. :)

When we started my father-in-law let me borrow his Runners Handbook:


It has been awesome and extremely helpful. It really is The Runner's Handbook... it walks you through EVERYTHING! There is a 40 page chapter on buying your first shoes!

I also liked the 10-week program the best out of all the ones I have read about. It is a "pyramid" so you run the most in the middle of your time, instead of just 1 minute walking - 3 running etc. As an example... this week we started week 5 which is 2-5-8-3 running, with 1 minute walk breaks in between.

It is amazing to see what your body can handle. I never thought i would get even to week 5. At the beginning we started with 1-1-2-2-1-1 with 2 minute walk breaks... and it really was all we could handle, but we have noticed that we recover faster, we can breathe easier etc. a little more each week.

I also got THIS BOOK from the library last week:




It has some great success stories (they did a 12-week program with a handful of people and then reported back on their results). It is written in a week by week format, so I have found it less helpful when it comes to finding information... espeicially since I am not exactly following THEIR program... but I have found a few helpful things.

So, in case you are like me... and one of the last people on the planet who ever thought about jogging/running... there are a few books for you to go to!

And for all your Ashevillians... we are planning to run the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Morning... and we would love to have a crowd join us! Let me know if you are planning on it!

(So, I guess now that I have posted about it, I had better stick with it. :-P)

Moving In Together

Ben has been telling everyone for the past few weeks (even complete strangers in restaurants) that "Naomi & Me are MOVING IN TOGETHER!" It took us a few weeks, and it isn't completely done yet... but we are mostly there. It has been Ben's room, so we left the bottom brown but painted over the blue on top to a pale green. We also discovered the wonder that are wall decals!!!

Ben's side of the room. The painting was done by Andrew's cousin's husband, and it fits so perfectly. We love it!

Naomi's side! I love flowers.

Where they collide... all the leftover stickers. :)
Thanks Tonia for the dresser and Ben's twin mattress!

This is the view from the door. Ben on the left and Naomi on the right. The white curtains are currently at Grandmas being lengthened and putting some light blocking stuff on the back. If only I knew how to sew... but until then my mother-in-law has saved the day.. yet again. :)

New Hobby #1: Reading

I have a new hobby... I say "new" because it has been many years since I have really read a book. Sad but true. College ruined me. In middle school and high school I would read ALL THE TIME. When my parents built a house I begged and begged to have a light put in above my bed with a switch just above my head so that I didn't have to get up to turn the light off. Well, they agreed and I remember many many nights that I read until I heard my dad get up to go to work... then I would quickly turn my light out and go to bed. :-P In college I had to read so much that when I finished I didn't want to see a book... ever. So now... going on 10 years later (that's right folks, I am coming up on my 10 year college graduation reunion next year)... I am finally getting back into reading...

Here are the ones I have finished lately:
THE HELP: I really enjoyed this book. I read it with my sister-in-law Becki and we had a great time discussing it together. I thought the characters were well developed and the story engaging. I can't wait to see the movie when it comes out in August! For those of you who don't know the book follows three women who live in Jackson, Mississippi during the 60's... one white woman and two black women. The book is fiction but is loosely based on the author's life which made it all that more interesting. I did feel that the end was a little flat, but the author may have intended it that way... I haven't quite figured that out yet.

HUMILITY: My dad gave this book to me last year and I am just now getting around to reading it. It is small and not hard to read It was refreshing and definitely convicting. The main thing I took away from it, is that I need to be quick to see the Grace of Christ in others. And also to begin and end each day with Thankfulness and Thanking the ONE who gives me good gifts!! Read it!

HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY: So, I just finished these three books as well. They were sort of like a bad train wreck... horrible but you can't look away. I think I read all three in about 4 days. They are an easy read (they are considered juvenile fiction), and definitely entertaining. It has been a couple weeks since I finished and I am still trying to figure out what her point was, or if she had one. I felt a little like the characters didn't really change or develop and at the end I was left with a feeling of hopelessness. The movies are being filmed here in A'ville, so I am sure I will go to see them whenever they come out. But the jury is still out on this one...

TREASURING GOD IN YOUR TRADITIONS: I think this book gives you a great insight into making God the focus of your family traditions, and gave you a good look into the Piper family. It mainly talks about Christmas & Easter, but also covers Birthdays and a few others. The thing that I really took away from the book is that her goal for her children was to always "teach her children as much about Christ as they could possibly understand at their age." It is definitely worth the read, I am sure you will get something out of it. I did feel a little bit like she wasn't necessarily writing to an audience as much as she was recording her own thoughts, and some of her suggestions seemed a little too much (I love my husband and he is an amazing father and husband, but he isn't John Piper :). Read it and let me know what you think!

Currently on my bookshelf are: Prodigal God, Give Them Grace & Cutting for Stone. I will let you know what I think when I am done (because i know you want to know!)