Not entirely ready!

Last week reminded me that my boys are getting too big too quickly and nothing I can do is slowing it down.

I was not entirely ready for my little one to be caught scaling furniture solo around the house......

Or for my big one to be big and old enough for a booster seat in the car!

Doing something right?

I make a lot of mistakes as a parent. All the time. On a daily basis. I think the more I come to accept it the less I stress and the more I just pray about it. I really don't want to screw my kids up. Too many kids don't have parents and get screwed up, and I don't want to be the parent that screws up their kid. I also don't want to tick God off in messing up this little human He trusts us with.

In the midst of a fight between MJD and Daddy last night....of course over something ridiculous like wanting ice cream before bed....I stood in the hallway and prayed for them both. "Ugh, really God? Does he have to get angry about ice cream and fight with Daddy before bedtime?!" But in hopes of letting the two of them work it out on their own I kept my mouth shut and put Bean to sleep. They did compromise and tears (which for a male, MJD is great about turning on!) ended and then bedtime routine resumed......as I walked by his room on my way for a kiss and hug I hear the following....

Daddy: " Mason, what Bible story do you want tonight?"

MJD: "The one with the cross."

Most days it feels like we're swimming across the current, in murky water nonetheless, trying to raise these creatures called "Boys" into respectable, God fearing, independent, Jesus loving men.....and when I just want to throw up my hands and shout "I surrender! Take me away!" God gives a tiny nudge that maybe, just maybe it's not for naught. He can work around my failures, through my struggles, past my weaknesses and even when I'm sinking in the muck He's still just right there. I'm going to have to take Him at His word on this one. And keep praying I get the right seeds planted.

"You will always harvest what you plant." Galatians 6:7

Baby buddies

So one aspect of being home with Bean during the day is playing with baby friends. And he boy loves his friends :)

Clap, Tap and Jingle with Trenton

Lunch date with Audrey

And we did some shopping with Olivia but she is too little still and we didn't get a photo of them together yet.

Loving Valentines in 2012

So my life has turned a 180 over the last few years....
with two little boys, and my big guy to care for you can only imagine that romantic candlelit Valentine dates are not happening in this season of life.

And while I sometimes miss the fun adventures Tim and I used to have in our "just the two of us" days, I really do love savoring this season of life with him and our little tornadoes.

So this year to celebrate the holiday my guy took me to dinner the night before, kid free :)

Then we spent the day today with our little loves....

MJD loved that there were presents on the table for opening...and he wanted to open them all :)

Excited about his new Paper Jamz guitar....this is love....Mama allowing him a noisy toy!

Little Bean did actually get to open his own present, much to brother's unhappiness.

We spent some time out with friends and received Valentines...which Bean proceeded to eat :/

While my main love took me out and spent time with me....my little loves knew how to treat my heart....flowers and a tote bag...my boys know me well :)

We spent our family dinner tonight at the boys' favorite spot....Chick-fil-A! Extra special treat...milkshakes and sundaes.

And best of all to top off the day my love rescued my washing machine from imminent peril and I once again have a functioning washer. Praise God for husbands, sweet boys and days to stop and just remind ourselves to celebrate those extra special people in life we love.

Master of Destruction

I don't know what transpires in the mind of a baby boy between 9-10 months old, but I swear there is a switch that is triggered where they go from sweet, cuddly and content to sit and play on the rug children to these little critters who move, destroy, chew on and disorganize all things!

Or maybe this is just my world and all other children skip this in their development!

Super Bowl 2012

Over the past several years our Super Bowl festivities have certainly evolved.

:) Rather than late night parties with friends and cheering in a team in high pitched screams at night we are picking up Publix food, cuddling critters between commercials,

cheering on super heroes and princesses,

calling an early night and listening to the game on the lowest volume setting possible so as not to wake sleeping critters.

My, how life evolves!

LegoLand Adventure.....

My SIL offered us $5 tickets to LegoLand with their home school co-op group. So our crew packed up for a day of fun in Winter Haven..... While it was a fun outing for MJD and a rather cheap one, it was somewhat miserable for our little bean. Unlike Disney, we were unable to take him on anything in the park thus, we took turns doing things with big while one stayed with little. For $15 we can't really complain, but I certainly won't return and pay for a full price ticket.

MJD enjoyed looking at the Lego creations all over the place.

He loved jousting in the Lego kingdom.

Racing cars was his favorite, go figure.

Liam was not so much a fan yet of Legos.

He as did firefighter academy and boating school Lego style.