Jen-Jen's 30th Birthday!

Ready to skate!!

In the rink

Cute little skater!

The cutest 30 year old skater ever!

The guys...none skated except for Jared!

Micah "swinging" Bradley

(he LOVED it!)

Matching hairdos :)

Today was Jen's 30th birthday! (Rachel calls her Jen-Jen.) She decided to embrace her inner child and go roller skating! We were only too excited to be included in this fun adventure. As it turns out, the whole skating experience hasn't changed that much since I went when I was in Elementary school,,.even some of the music! I don't think this particular skating rink has changed that much either. It looked like it hadn't been updated OR cleaned in several years! :) But, that didn't keep the crowd away...there were LOTS of kids and adults there. And, it definitely didn't deter us from having a REALLY good time! Rachel thought it was so neat and wanted to just do it. She didn't remember that she doesn't know how to skate and still needs to take it slow. She just wanted to GO! We took her Dora skates with us, and I was so glad we did. Because, Rachel had NO interest in wearing the 20 lb. skates that they handed me to put on her from the rink. I don't know how she would have picked up her feet with those big lugs on her little feet. We started out with me holding her hand and walking/skating around the rink. That was quite a workout for me, since I was solely supporting her little 40 lb. body from hitting the ground. She kept wanting to jump up and down with her skates on or move her feet as fast as she could. Of course, this resulted in her feet going out from under her and me holding her up so that she didn't fall on the floor. I'm glad I didn't pull her little arms out of their sockets. I'm pretty sure I'll have some sore muscles tomorrow where I never knew I had any! Rachel and I finally discovered that she did much better by herself than with me holding her hand. That way she could get her balance better. I still hovered, because I was so afraid of her falling and really hurting her bottom (or something) on the floor, but she did great! Unfortunately, the rink was too hot, so we were all sweating profusely! Jen said it was a little cooler when you skate faster, because you built up a breeze, but Rachel and I didn't quite get to that point! But, everyone had a really good time and Rachel has a new love for skating! After we skated, we all went to eat 5 Guys Burgers and Fries and ate some yummy burgers and fries. It was a really fun day!

Happy 30th Birthday Jen! We love you!!!

GeGe's b-day and Rachel's new bike

A little help from daddy...it's

a big hill!

Look at her go!

Bradley fed Maggie and Toby SEVERAL dog biscuits

Rachel is so happy when she sees her bike!

The beautiful Barbie Bike!

Looks yummy!

Make a wish!

Yesterday was Deborah's b-day, so Rachel and I made her a birthday cake. Rachel had decided to have a "Tinkerbell" theme, so we got some special decorations to go on the cake. We went over to GeGe and Papa's and ate chinese food to celebrate. While we were celebrating GeGe's birthday, she and Papa decided to give Rachel one of her birthday presents...a big girl Barbie bike! It has purple and pink streamers on the handles and even a small pink barbie bike and barbie doll that attaches to the handlebar. Rachel thinks it's so cool that she gets to ride with Barbie. She was so excited and started riding it all over their driveway. She really did great...especially for her first time on anything other than a tricycle. She LOVES her new bike and opted out of running errands with me this morning so she could stay home with Nick and ride some more. It was definitely a nice surprise to get a birthday present early! She's been patiently waiting to get her birthday presents! I can't believe she'll be 4 tomorrow!!!

A cry out for Bay

"A Portrait with Bay"

This afternoon, we were all outside and Nick was planting some flowers. The kids were having fun playing and running around. Rachel was "mothering" a worm that she had found where Nick was digging. She took care of the worm for a good 45 minutes...finding him a home in one of Dixie's empty treat containers, putting soil and grass in there and a little water. She talked to the worm, carried it around and kept asking Nick if he could find it's mommy and daddy worm. Nick kept looking dilligently for mommy and daddy worm. Anyway, Bradley was having fun doing his own thing...playing with a ball, picking up dirt, running around, etc... He had on his crocs and had already stumbled on the driveway once and scraped his little leg. But, he was fine and got up and played again. About 10 minutes later, he was running again and fell on the sidewalk. This time, he really scraped his leg and his little hands. It hurt pretty bad, so I took him inside to clean him up and calm him down. He calmed down very quickly once I gave him some juice and started his favorite movie of the week: Ice Age. I was making some dinner and I heard him saying something. I peeked around the kitchen entrance and saw Bradley standing in his bedroom doorway, calling, "Baaay." It was about the cutest thing I've ever heard. He was actually calling for his Bay. (Like it would answer him or get up and come to him.) So, I said, "Bradley, are you looking for Bay? Here it is." Bradley came running over and said in the sweetest voice, "Baaay". It was so cute! I love his affection for Bay. He really finds comfort from his tattered, dirty, stinky little blanket! What a precious baby doll! I love him so much!

Funny Girl Pt. 4

Rach is constantly saying cute things as she learns all the confusing sayings in our language. Today, she had to go potty, so I told her I would go after her. So, she finished up and then said, "it's your turn mommy," and walked out of the bathroom. I sat down and then she popped her head back in and said, "mommy, you need some company...I'll shut the door." I said, "yes, Rachel, I need some privacy." I thought it was cute that she meant privacy (which I NEVER get while using the potty), but she was actually offering it to me, with the wrong word.

Also, last week at "nastics" she and her buddy, Raquel, were quite silly and didn't listen to their teacher. So, on the way to gymnastics today, I reminded Rachel that she needed to listen to her teacher and not listen to Raquel (who she blamed for last week's behavior). She was very serious and said she would listen to her teacher, she "promised". When she got to class, she was sitting in the circle with the other little girl and her teacher. A few minutes later, Raquel walked in and Rachel got up and said, "I need to tell Aquel something." ("Aquel" is how she says Raquel.) She said, "Aquel, I can't listen to you today...I need to listen to my teacher and you need to listen too." Raquel didn't say a word and their teacher said, "okay Rachel, let's get back in the circle." And, Rachel did behave nicely today and listened to her teacher, but I guess I have to make sure she knows that she's only responsible for her own behavior, not Raquel's. I thought it was funny, though, that she decided to take it upon herself to teach Raquel a lesson that she has not mastered. What a little mess!

Carrier

Well, this has nothing to do with our family, but Nick and I have found the coolest program on GPB. For the last week and (last weekend?) we have watched a new series, a documentary I think, about a Naval Carrier that has servicemen/seamen from the Navy and Marines. I tell you, it's fascinating! I can't believe how huge this thing is and how many people are employed and live on it. They've even had some local seamen, one girl from Athens and one boy from Monroe! We're really enjoying it and it always makes me proud of what our troops do for our country. I think the show has a few more nights to enjoy and then you can buy the whole documentary. It even lists Mel Gibson as a producer, so I guess it's "the" Mel Gibson, unless someone else has that name. Anyway, just wanted to share.

A Poopy Surprise

Today I was drying my hair in the bathroom while Rachel and Bradley were playing in the den. Bradley came into my bathroom with a bus and started playing on the tile floor. I noticed him and thought it was cute that he was playing with the bus so enthusiastically. Then, I noticed that I could see his pee-pee hanging down...he didn't have a diaper on! I was surprised, but I chuckled realizing that he now knows how to take off his diaper. I left him in my bathroom and went to look for his diaper. It was in the den, on the floor next to the coffee table...and it had POOP in it!! I was quite horrified since I didn't have ANY idea where all Bradley had gone and/or where he might have rubbed his bottom before ending up in my bathroom. The only perk was that the poop was somewhat solid, not too mushy. So, I went back to find Bradley, who was now in my closet, and I put on a new diaper. Again, there wasn't much poop on his bottom, but I don't know if that's a good or bad thing! :) Well, I made a mental note to myself that I shouldn't let him wander around without shorts or pants on since he's obviously more aware of his diaper and how to take it off. Unfortunately, my mental note didn't stick very well, because this afternoon, I was in the kitchen, and when I went into the den, Bradley had just (I think) taken off his diaper and was peeing on the carpet. He thought it was pretty cool and put his little hands all in his stream of pee. Thankfully I saw him so I could immediately wash his hands, put another new diaper on him and then clean up the pee. What a little mess!!!!!!!


I know all of you are now VERY leery about coming to our house! I promise we clean up these body waste messes very well...and very soon we'll be getting the carpet cleaned!!!

A Moving Experience & All Tuckered Out

My sweet Rachel...tuckered out

My sweet Bradley...resting!

(He pulled the blue blanket over him)

We made it to church again...3 Sundays in a row! We had such a moving experience today during the worship service. Like I said, we've only been to this church for 3 Sundays in a row and have enjoyed the genuine, friendly atmosphere of the people. The worship service is great and I really enjoy singing praise music with my husband and kids standing beside me. Rachel and Bradley were great again...Rachel taking it all in and noticing everything. The moving part was the fact that after the singing was over, the pastor decided to lead a time of prayer for parents and their children. The prayer was that the parents would be an example of Christ to their kids. The pastor asked that everyone look around and gather around parents and their kids and pray over them. We were honored, touched and blessed to have 4 people gather around us and pray over us. The prayers they prayed were extremely touching and sweet and encouraging and were such an awesome example of God's love flowing through these people. Ironically, the 4 people who prayed were our dearest friends, Jennifer and Micah and Micah's brother and wife, Jared and Hope. So, it was especially touching since we have such a close relationship with them. I was moved to tears and Rachel thought it was so neat and wanted to hold Jennifer's hand and Bradley's hand. I've heard it said all my life that "prayer is powerful and effective" but I think this is the first time I've ever felt the power of prayer over me in such a physical way. I'm sure it has alot to do with how much I LOVE my family and how much I don't want to fail them and let them down by not being an example of Christ's love. I've never wanted to be good at anything as much as I want to be a good wife and mother. And, I know that goes hand in hand with being a child of God. Anyway, it was quite a precious experience...one I won't soon forget and I definitely feel the desire to continue worshipping with these people who love God enough to pray over families during their service. It was pretty powerful!

So, when we got home, we were all pretty tired from a long morning. The kids did great in nursery, although I stayed in there with Bradley. He didn't cry this time, but he was very aware of where I was and I wanted him to have a pleasant experience in there. The more we go, I know he'll grow more comfortable with the whole experience. Poor Rachel was so tired that she fell asleep on the way home and then wouldn't wake up when we got her out of the car. So, she took a nap on the couch, which is totally out of character for her, for about 40 minutes. I took some pictures of the kids...all tuckered out after a busy morning at church.