It's A Secret

Isaac had a pretty fun day. He picked McDonald's for lunch--to go inside McDonald's. Jay and I are proud to admit that we have never been in our McDonald's...until today.

We kept telling the boys that they were going somewhere special tonight, but that it was a secret. They guessed and guessed and guessed!!! Here are some guesses: the pool, the library (my personal favorite guess-ha!), Wendy's (the restaurant), Texas, Nana's, the park, the movie theater, to get ice cream, to get a "blue drink", to church, Mum-Z's concert, Disney World, Fish World (Josiah's guess--no clue!)...

But first, Isaac wanted a sandwich with a candle in it for dinner. I love his simplicity.

He loved it!

Josiah whispering some of his guesses.

We told the boys where we were while we were in the parking garage. This is Isaac's first reaction.

It took Josiah a little longer to catch on.

Disney on Ice!!

Isaac thinks Donald Duck is so funny--mainly because my dad (aka Buff) talks like Donald Duck when the boys talk to him on the phone. :) We miss you, Buff!

He really took it all in.

We've been anxiously awaiting Cars to come on ice, and they came tonight!!! This was our favorite part and didn't last long enough.

Little Mermaid fish...

Liv really likes fish, so she was hooked. Sorry, I couldn't help it.

Simba and Nala

Thank you, Papa and Nana for tonight. We all had such a great time and have lots of memories stored up!

My Favorite Isaac

I can't believe that 6 years ago (at 2:23 a.m., to be exact) I was blessed with Isaac Joshua. He changed our world completely! We had a rough start with our colicky baby, but he soon proved his name meaning to be true, "laughter". He would smile at anyone and bring us to tears with the funny things he would do.

Isaac says his favorite things are t.v. and food. Hmmm...

His favorite colors are orange (thanks, Dawn :)) and red. He wants to be a doctor and play the drums when he grows up. He says that he loves his mommy and he's thankful that he gets to go to the campground for his birthday (he's right beside me and says, "Love, Isaac").

I love watching Isaac during church. He takes everything in and wants to understand everything that goes on. He has two Bibles that he takes such good care of and he wants to read from them all of the time. He always asks tough questions that would leave a theologian scrambling for words. At three years old, he asked me if Jesus is still dead. I told him that no, Jesus rose from the grave. I explained it all to him, and I saw such a huge light come into his eyes. Isaac always talks about how powerful God is.

I'm so thankful for Isaac's heart. He always makes sure that we are being taken care of and loves each friend that comes into his life. I can't wait to see the man that he will become.

Isaac, God has big plans for you (baseball :))! Happy Birthday, my 6 year old!!

Warning!

I thought about you all today (my fellow bloggers) as I cleaned the kitchen three times, refolded folded laundry, cleaned out dresser drawers that are still too full, ate too much, took a shower at 3 p.m., picked up toys again, stopped fights, listened to screams, refilled drinks for kids, wiped kids, bathed kids, dressed kids, spanked kids, chased kids, played with kids, home schooled kids, read to kids, thought about kids, breathed kids, dreamed of kids--you get the point.

I'm sure I was warned beforehand that becoming a parent is very hard. You don't sleep when you want, eat when you want, or even enjoy the things you want.

I think I just kind of laughed off those warnings.

But I know for a fact I was warned about the love I would feel for my kids. When I heard that warning (numerous times), I didn't really understand it. Now I do.

I seem to be wrapped around kids at this stage in my life, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Each child of mine has such a special place in my heart. Who would I be without them today? I can't even imagine.

So, as I tucked them in bed tonight, I cuddled with Isaac a little bit longer, I listened closely to Josiah's last thought, and I told Olivia how special she is to me and that I hope I can be a good example to her of a godly mother--because I love them all more than I could ever tell them.

I thought about you all, because I'm sure you all feel the same way, if you have kids. If you don't yet have kids, let this be a warning.

Another Beach Day (Post 2 tonight)

Ah, what a beautiful day! Today, we headed out to a beach that we had not yet visited. We had such a great time!

Here, Isaac is jumping, but he and Josiah had been rolling down this sand hill. "Rolling down the sand hills, rolling down the sand hills. Ooh, ah, whee!" Can anyone name the show that that song is from?

My one and only picture of Olivia. This is all she did...played with seashells. She thought it was too cold to hang out in the water. I was excited for her to strut around in the new bathing suit I had bought her, but she just sat around like a cute beach bum in Isaac's old shirt--"My Dad is my Hero."

I wonder how long just splashing around in the shallow water will be fun for them?

Happy guys!

Josiah decided to bury himself (he saw this on t.v. or something, and thought he'd give it a try.)

He didn't get very far.

Thanks Auntie Rachel...

...it flew high this time!!

They can't stand to not be side by side.

Josiah took loads of sand back out to the ocean.

We found a new place to play!

They thought they were really jumping from high up (reminds me of the time the Dietz cousins did flips out of swings).

One last jump!

What a perfect day!

We also had lunch at a terrific Mexican food restaurant! And then we stopped by Fort Mose on the way out of St. Augustine. It was so interesting. Isaac could not stop asking us questions about slavery after we left. Check out the link...HERE and HERE.

Princess Olivia. This is a princess towel from Gee, complete with a golden crown hood. She felt pretty special.

Eggs-actly

While Olivia was napping a couple of days ago, I decided to show the boys how to dye Easter eggs. We've never done it together before--don't know why!? They were so excited. Really, they were excited, Josiah just looks bored in the next picture.

Josiah hugged that vinegar dye (gag!)

Isaac likes to make faces (and wear that shirt).

Oh, Josiah missed out and needed to make a crazy face, too!

They were looking so nice...

...and then they left me. The neighbor came over and wanted to play. They told me I could finish it up for them. So maybe that's why we've never done this before. :)

Argh!

Today started off great. We got school finished without complaints, Olivia took a morning nap (hip-hip-hooray!!), I got a shower before 10:00, Isaac ran and ran at P.E., the boys were exhausted and took an afternoon nap with Olivia, I also took a nap, and Isaac came in my room after his nap and asked this question, "So, since Santa Claus isn't real--does that mean the Tooth Fairy isn't real? Are you the Tooth Fairy?"

THEN--I sent the boys outside to play. I rarely let them go outside by themselves unless I'm in the kitchen watching out the window. But there was a recipe I needed to get online, so I stole a couple of minutes away from keeping an eye on them. When I walked back into the kitchen, I looked out the window and saw my kinda-sorta grumpy neighbor talking to them (she was in her doorway and they were by her door). Uh-oh. I called them in and asked what had happened. "We were chasing a lizard and picked up the (neighbors) wood chips and threw them at it." So, she asked them to please quit throwing rocks at her house. Okay, don't do that again and go out and play.

Josiah comes in, "Mom, I just ate an ant. It went in my mouth and down to my tummy like this (he demonstrates)." Josiah David! That is disgusting. Do NOT eat bugs. Yes ma'am.

And for the finale--As I was cooking, I could hear the boys playing with sidewalk chalk. They were right by our house, so I was not concerned. I took some trash out to the garbage can and walked right past them. I wasn't really paying attention to what they were doing. Isaac says, "Look, Mom! We are making this all pink." I look up and see that they had just chalked all over the side of the house!!! They had even stood up on the bench to reach the higher parts. AAAHHH!!! Why didn't my kinda-sorta grouchy neighbor come out and gripe at them then?? I sprayed it off and sent the boys out with rags to clean the rest up. It's still kinda-sorta stained. Great! I wasn't laughing today. It wasn't cute enough to deserve a picture--not even for my blog.

Beach Ruffles

We chose a very windy day to go to the beach. The kids didn't mind one bit, but the parents are probably still finding sand in their teeth. Rachel bought the girls matching swimsuits, so we had to give them a try. After Olivia and Sadie got used to the water, we couldn't keep them out of it. They ran towards the waves!

Look at those sweet ruffles.

Their favorite pastime.

Proof that the babies were the only ones wearing the ruffles.

She was smiling because Jay was running towards her, about to lift her in the air.

I can't quit smiling.