The Graduate

May 22, 2009

Nolan's kindergarten graduation was bittersweet for me. He's growing up so fast!! I can't believe he will be in 1st grade next year! He looked so adorable in his cap and gown (which for some reason they did not wear at the actual graduation, only in the pictures).

He had a GREAT year in kindergarten - Mrs. Fisher was a wonderful teacher, and he is more than ready for 1st grade.

Sweet Dreams

Madi was playing with her baby dolls during quiet time yesterday, and when I went to get her to load up the car so we could pick Nolan up from school, this is how I found her and her babies.

So long hair

Madi has been bugging me for a couple of months to get her hair cut short, and I kept putting her off because I like it long. However, I caved at the last hair cut and she now has a cute bob that she LOVES! I like it too, but I'm thinking I want her to grow it back out. I can see where this kind of stuff will only get to be more of a battle as she gets older! Aye yie yie!

Happy Birthday Baby!

Morgan was sick with another ear infection on her actual birthday, so she was not feeling all that festive. However, we had a small celebration anyway. She really wasn't interested in her cake - I'm sure Nolan and Madison shoving it in her face didn't help! She did love the doll we gave her to go in the stroller Grandpa & Grandma gave her. She was quite protective of it, and did not want to share it with her sister!


Happy birthday sleepy girl

She was feeling a little better for her big birthday party, but was a little overwhelmed with all the people. Her Daddy decorated a monkey cake for her that turned out super cute (thanks Daddy). And she LOVED her big monkey balloon. Happy Birthday sweet Morgan - we love you so much!

I May Have Missed My Calling

We try to read a children's devotional each morning at breakfast (doesn't always happen), and the other morning we were talking about Jesus living in our hearts when we make the decision to become christians. Nolan asked me if Jesus really lived in his heart. As I very seriously tried to explain that Jesus' physical body was not in his heart, but that his spirit lived there, Nolan says, "Mom, you should be a preacher!"

Easter 2009

We started our Easter celebrations this year by dyeing eggs with the Harrison girls. Ms. Kimber and I decided next year we want to have a grown up egg dyeing party so we can have a little fun ourselves!!











The kids each had egg hunts at their schools which were fun to watch. Nolan's was even educational - all the kids had certain things they had to look for on their eggs (ex. blue with squiggly lines).













Nanna came over the night before Easter and we had fun dyeing eggs with her! Easter morning was drizzly, but that didn't stop the Easter bunny from hiding eggs all over the backyard. I think Nolan was a bit disappointed that he didn't hide the eggs in the house. We had a damp egg hunt, then made resurrection rolls (yum), and headed off to church.

He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. - Matthew 28:6

Thursday's Thought 4.16.09

Train Them Up

When people ask me "what do you do" (meaning what job do you do) and I answer, "I'm a stay at home mom", I sometimes get a quiet response as if the person is thinking well, that's not a job at all. And I do occasionally find myself falling into the trap of wondering what do I really do as a stay at home mom?? Am I really making a difference in my children's lives?

And then He speaks to me! I have a little daily flip calendar on the bar above the sink in the kitchen with quotes from Dr. James Dobson's books. And although I've read it almost daily for several years now, each time I flip through it, there is a fresh realization from God just waiting for me (He's good like that). Today the quote was: No job can compete with the responsibility of shaping and molding a new human being. (from Dr. Dobson's book, What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women). Wow!! It was as if God himself was saying to me "you may not get paid for it, but you have a very important job as a mother".

When you think about all the responsibilities a mom (well, not just moms, but parents) have to their children, it can actually become overwhelming, especially if you are a Christian parent. And sometimes it seems like you try your best to train up your children the way God instructs you to, but those children are rebellious little creatures, and it seems as if all your training goes in one ear and out the other. However, there are occasionally moments that make you realize your hard work is paying off. Like when your 6 year old (who attends public school) announces that he and his sister were playing school, but their school was a special school because you could learn about God there! Then there's your 3 year old (who attends a christian pre-school), who announces during the dinner prayer that we really need to pray for her friend's dad who is in the hospital. They have been listening to all your training! They are getting it! It's enough to make a proud mommy cry her eyes out!!

I thank God for allowing me to have the best job in the world, because there is no other job that could be more important than training up the children God has blessed us with!!

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

Our baby is not a baby anymore :(

Morgan turned 11 months old on the 22nd! Don't know where the time went!! She is getting so big and much more challenging for her mommy and daddy to keep up with.

She can now . . .


feed herself


climb the stairs


walk behind the walker


"talk" to us with sign language (but screaming is mostly her choice of communication)


she's really not interested in her toys (unless she's "trapped" in her pack & play)

She would much rather be . . .



getting into cabinets and drawers


or climbing on and under things

She still loves to sleep (thank goodness!)



She's a mess, but we wouldn't trade her - she's brought such joy into our lives. Stay tuned for her 1st birthday update in 3 weeks!!

Happy <3's Day!

Toby and I were blessed today to each receive a homemade Valentine from Nolan. He made them entirely on his own with no help on spelling. *His class just had a writing assignment where they had to tell what they liked about each other, so as you can tell, that carried over into our cards. We love that boy more than words can say. :-)
Happy Valentine's Day!