That's my girl!!

I remember as a child heading out to the car on Sunday morning, and upon exiting the house making a beeline for my bike. It didn't matter to me nearly as much as it did to Mom that I was about to hop on my dirty bike in my Sunday best. I was a tomboy through and through--to this day I still don't care to be dressed up--I'm perfectly comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt!

The other day I got Jordan up from her nap and got her dressed so we could go to Huddles. Jon was working on a project out in the shed so we went out to tell him it was time to go. As soon as we got to the shed, Jordan made a beeline for the hammer and started messing around. She was oblivious to the fact that what she had on today was not her typical 'play clothes' and she's definitely one who plays hard!!

She does love to wear a dress, though, which is so different from her Mommy! She likes to wear bracelets and necklaces and have her hair put up. And darn it if she doesn't know she's cute....

Fun in the Sun

Did you know...

that if your son was eating a hot dog and got mustard on his khaki shorts and you washed them once hoping it would come out but it didn't so you poured a little bit of blue Purex detergent on the mustard spot to let it soak in for a while and hopefully take effect that the spot would immediately turn bright purple?

Now you do! :)

On the Mountain

So all last week we were watching the weather to see if it would be nice, warm and clear Friday night. We were planning on taking the kids camping for the first time!!! We were both so excited--we used to camp all the time, but we've had little kids for a while now! The last time we camped in our tent I was 8 months pregnant with Lawson!!!

It was supposed to be nice, so we packed up all our gear and hit the road--to go 15 minutes to Monte Sano!! We rented a primitive campsite--that means there is a firepit and NOTHING else!

As soon as we got there and started unloading the van the kids headed to explore in the woods! I am so glad they were as excited as we were!!

Jon and I set up camp, including the tent and all our food, drinks and supplies. The kids loved the tent! (Until bedtime, that is....)

After camp was set up, we went out on a short hike to explore and see what we could find. In the midst of the electric/water sites we found a little pavilion and playground.

This kid is strong, I tell you....strong!!
Lawson and Daddy...

Always climbing...
This is fun!!!

Jon teaching Lawson how to climb a tree...

Taking a break and getting a drink out of the new cups Babo gave us....

The sun's going down and it will be dark soon....gotta get dinner started! We're all starving!!!

Lawson helping Daddy check to make sure the burgers are done...
Eating dinner by the warm fire!! We used our supply box for the kids to put their plates on!
Night was rough!! It took the kids a while to fall asleep. When they had finally been sound asleep for a while, Jon and I closed up camp for the night and went to bed. I was freezing and could not fall asleep. Somewhere in the middle of the night both kids woke up crying that they were thirsty--must have been b/c we were by the campfire all night. I was pretty thirsty too! Lawson then woke up at 6:30 because it was light outside, but we told him it was too early and he went back to sleep for another hour, til he heard a woodpecker outside and got all excited!

So, he and Jon got up to get the campfire going again. Did you know this place has a continental breakfast??? :)
Jordan playing in the dirt and rocks...
After breakfast we started packing up camp. The kids explored some more while we put everything up, then we hiked over to the big playground. Here's Lawson jumping across the large boulders...
And sliding...

And the kids teeter-tottering....

We finished up with a picnic lunch before we headed to the overlook to see the valley then back to the car. It was time to clean up these dirty dirty kids and get them in bed for a good nap!!!

We had the most fun camping out Friday night!! While I was putting Lawson down for the night in the tent, we were talking about what he was most thankful for that day. He said "I'm so thankful we had pretty weather so we could go camping. I'm really, really excited about that! I love camping!!"

Me too, son. Me too!

How many times...

does it take to make something a habit? Cuz I thing we're starting something!!!

Yesterday we had the most glorious weather, and in the afternoon Jon called to say he was coming home a little early and did we want to go fishing? YES!!!

We're trying to figure this out, because I think that's a great way for Lawson and Jon to have good 'guy' time, and I am hoping that if Jon starts these activities while L's very young that it will be a good avenue for them to stay close and have good opportunities to talk as he grows older. On the other hand, I also really like to fish and Jordan really wanted to go fishing! So...I think we're gonna do a little of both. Sometimes it will by guys only....other times we'll go as a family! Last night (Thu) was family time!

We went to Madison County Lake--It was just beautiful! Nice and clean and very family friendly!
Lawson got right to it...Jon was trying to get Jordan's pole ready, but she was distracted...
by these...

and this...

But then she got her mind in the game and brought Jon the cricket tube... Lawson and Jon getting down to business...

Showing Jordan how to cast her line...she's never done it for real--just off the front porch!

Lawson got another one!!!

Jordan fishing...

And do my kids have beginner's luck or what? Jordan caught her first fish last night!!! Here's Jon showing her how to stick her thumb in the fish's mouth to hold it up...

She was SO excited!!! She wanted to touch it so bad, as soon as it came out of the water!!

I love it!!!! What a fun evening!!! And guess what? Tonight we are planning on going camping...so check in a few days for more pics!! :)

All Things New

The year I started grad school I was living in a 3-bedroom apartment with two of my girlfriends. I somehow drew the straw for the smallest bedroom so there wasn't much room for furniture or other decor. There was, however, one little spot that was perfect for a plant stand and a potted plant. At the local 'big store' I browsed until I found a simple plant with lovely leaves. I brought it home and it began its journey with me.

That was August of 2001, 7 1/2 years ago. That December was when Jon proposed to me. That May we married and I packed up all of my belongings to contribute to the merger and begin our new life. Of course my plant came with me. Eight months later it moved to another apartment with us. Five months after that it came along for the ride to Huntsville. Apartment number one, house number one, apartment number two and finally house number two--we've packed up and moved an extraordinary number of times.

Through the years my plant has grown long and viney, been transplanted to larger pots as needed and cared for. At our current home, it has lived on top of the fridge, right next to where I wash dishes. A few weeks ago I noticed that it had started browning. I tried to water it, but it never really came back. Finally, when there were only a couple green leaves left on it, I decided to give it one last shot. I peeled off the leaves that still had some life in them and put them in a small glass of water. In only a couple weeks there are new roots sprouting off in every direction.
It's amazing to me how something so close to death can be saved and given new life. This plant can now be re-potted and flourish once more. Amazing in a plant, but even more amazing in our own lives.

At any given time anyone you know can be going through a personal storm. Life--no, Satan--has a way of breaking us down and making us feel as if we can't go on. Even if we wanted to go on, it wouldn't matter to anyone else, he tells us. It can be easy to let hard times pound on us and take the life out of us. Life has caused my heart to become pretty hard over the last few years. When little things here and there happen, sometimes it's easier just to put a wall up than to deal with situations. The problem is, when a wall's up that part of me just starts to brown--just like my plant. The browner it gets, the less hope for revival.

All it takes, though, is for one last green leaf to get some water and to start feeling renewed. New life starts sprouting out. Days start to seem brighter. God's word really does start to bring comfort and encouragement. Relationships start to mean more again. And before I know it, there is growth and I feel that I can flourish once again.

He really can make all things new.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,

to put off your old self,

which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

and to put on the new self,

created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22-24

Easter 2009

Can you handle another Easter post? It just seems like one of the holidays that warrants the most pictures!! So many fun activities and traditions are involved with Easter! We had a wonderful weekend!

It started Wednesday for us--usually at lunchtime Lawson asks me to read them stories out of the "real" Bible (as opposed to the Bible storybooks we have), so I chose to read them the stories of Jesus' passion week, starting with the Triumphal Entry. I then talked to them a lot about how Easter was almost here and there would be a lot of fun things to do, but the most important thing about Easter was that Jesus was born and lived and died on a cross so that we could go to live in Heaven with him. Everytime we talked about a fun Easter thing all weekend, we remembered about the most important part of Easter first.

Friday after the boys went fishing we dyed Easter Eggs. What fun!

It made me laugh--Lawson chose a pretty wide array of colors for his eggs...

While Jordan made room for one oddball...

And after every white egg had been dyed, Lawson decided he wasn't done and went back and re-dyed all of his eggs (and stole some of Jon's) to coordinate his plate:

Saturday morning we went to the Easter Egg hunt (like all of our other friends! :) and had a good time looking for eggs....

Lawson was the ambitious one. Even with 400 eggs on the ground in the grass, these are the ones he wanted:

So with a little help he succeeded:

They were so excited to see the Easter Bunny come out...but honestly this bunny kinda freaks me out a little! Those eyes. And that weird nose and mouth. A little creepy!!!

Checking out the loot...

Saturday night we opened an Easter package from Babo (my mom).

Such fun gifts!!! Jordan wouldn't dump anything out...just kept putting her head into the bag to see what was down in the bottom!! (Jon and I were there the whole time...no suffocating going on here!)

The Easter Bunny came...and had taken a risk and only gone to the Dollar Tree!!! This Easter Bunny is BROKE! :)

"Why are we awake this early???"

They loved the cheap treats!!! Writing books, bug trappers, chalk and holders, Dora/Diego stickers and some candies....

But maybe the Easter Bunny should have just bought Easter Grass...

Seems like getting a good picture of both kids these days is such a feat...

Overall, we had a great weekend! Fun times on Friday and Saturday and great worship on Sunday! After church we had roast with some friends then the kids and I enjoyed much needed naps!!!