Colin's Graduation!

I made Colin take this picture with the cake. I'm not a very good photographer, and since I know he felt stupid, I only took one photo, lopping off the top of his head. Wal-Mart didn't even put an exclamation mark after "Congratulations Colin", making me very happy that I have completed my cake decorating class and will hopefully be decorating more exhuberant cakes in our future! Because the man deserved an exclamation mark after all he's accomplished.

There's something about a man who can balance putting his family first AND excelling in his career with graduating from college that makes my heart sing. It just takes a moment of watching this man with his son to know that he never put being a father on the backburner.



Here's a few snapshots of Colin with the family at his graduation party:

Congratulations my love! We are very proud of you.

Colorful Colorado

This is Micah catching his first glimpse of one of my favorite parts of God's creation, the Rocky Mountains.

So glad I thought to snap some pictures. So did he!

And it's no wonder! Of course, the following cell phone pictures don't do justice to the beauty of the Colorado mountains, but they still serve as a reminder of all the reasons we have to rejoice in the beauty of our Father's world!




I sure do love Colorado, and especially some of the people in it.

And if you know me, you know I love the mountain goats too. What's not to love about a creature that is always smiling?

This is why I stopped blogging

Tonight I was GOING to finish the ironing, catch up on one of my shows, call my sister-in-law in San Antonio and read in bed. But FIRST, thought I, let me upload all of my pictures so that they are ready for posting, having now re-committed myself to blogging. I did this, and then decided I should at least schedule another post, to help ensure this new commitment will actually be successful. So I did. THEN I thought I'd dapple in a few more bloggy things, and pretty soon I decided I needed the CUTEST BLOG ON THE BLOCK, otherwise known as a hot bliggity blog, or a cutesy wutesy, scrapbooky looking blog. (I'm pretty sure it's the closest I'll ever come to scrapbooking.) So I visited some sites. I searched through some backgrounds. And some more backgrounds. AND SOME MORE!!!

A few hours later, I desperately found one that WORKED. Because my mind is a frazzled mess. It seems to me there's just too many layouts and too little time! Unfortunately I erased the picture of the horizen that I used to display as my title photo before I thought to save it on my computer, so there's no turning back now.

I'm hoping the more I blog, the easier it will become. For now, it's sort of a learning curve that takes time. And effort. And leaves me looking cross-eyed at my computer screen.

Cutest blog in the world, here I come! (Just not tonight.)

Hello out there!

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long. Oh what a year this last year has been! The Lord has brought us through many ups and downs, and looking back we can only be thankful for all He has done. Here are some highlights. More details may follow at a later date, but right now it's late and I am impulsively posting at 11:15 at night because I know I want to continue this blog; it's the first post that's the hardest.

Since I posted last...

Micah was in his first wedding!



We rejoiced with my brother as he married his new wife, Karis! We thank the Lord for the wonderful things He has done. Karis is a beautiful person inside and out and an awesome addition to the family!

Micah made the big transition from diapers to big boy pants! He prefers big boy pants with pictures of Superheroes on them, but Thomas the Train Engine BBP are pretty cool too! I admit this was a chore I had been putting off, because the thought of spending my days cleaning up after a potty-training boy was one I wasn't ready to make a reality. Then one day I met a lady at Barnes and Noble who asked me about potty-training (which I thought was odd), wrote down my e-mail address, and sent me an e-book telling me the Secret to Easy Potty-Training. Though I customized the method into something that worked better for us, my conversation with this lady is what pushed me over the edge and made me get started with what seemed to me like an impossible task. The good part is that it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. The weird part is that I was a little sentimental as I threw away that last diaper. My baby is ALL GROWN UP.

Micah and I went to Colorado to visit the family! I hadn't been to Colorado since I was pregnant with Micah and I have definitely missed it. Micah had a great time playing with my cousins, who he now calls his "big cousins." He asks about them often!

Colin graduated from college! After getting laid-off in March of 2009, Colin was able to focus on school and finish up what otherwise would have taken about three years to complete. I am so proud of him! It's hard to balance family, work and school, but he did it and graduated with honors! It feels SO GOOD to be done. I'll try to post pictures of his graduation party at a later date.

Colin got a job at Enterprise! He's been working part-time there for a little bit, in a position they created for him as he finished his degree. The day after he completed his classes, they scheduled him an interview and then offered him the job. He took it, and starts full-time on Monday. God is good!

Micah has been imitating Colin's EVERY MOVE these days, which is the highest form of flattery and pretty cute to watch. He will only wear shorts if daddy is wearing shorts, he wears his camo shirt when daddy wears his camo shirt, and if daddy is eating something, it's almost a sure bet I can get Micah to eat that thing too. This flattering imitation of his favorite man melts both his parents' hearts. I agree with him that his dad is a pretty cool man, and one worth imitating.



Now for some random pictures to close this semi-random post. (Oh well, it's a start. Maybe it will be easier to keep up blogging now!) Enjoy!

Micah's getting his Boom Boom on

Micah gets his happy face and his tendency toward being dramatic from me.

He gets his big, "chocolate almond milk brown eyes" (his words), his love for finding out how things work, and his interest in all things gun-related from his daddy.

But Micah is his own person, and some things he gets from neither of us. Like, apparently, his taste in music.

We were on our way to the zoo the other day, and Black Eyed Peas' new song, "Boom Boom Pow" came on one of the radio stations I frequent. Micah, who was busy talking to his friends in the back seat, paused and then requested, "Turn it louder!" Curious to see what would happen, I did, and watched as he intently listened to the music, sort of in awe of it. Since Black Eyed Peas aren't really my thing, I gave him several seconds and then thought I'd change it. As soon as I did, he became a bit distraught. "Turn it back!" he begged. I humored him, mainly because it was humoring me, and watched as he quietly listened and bopped his head to the beat. I endured the next two minutes or so, and when it was over, was surprised to see Micah start tearing up. "I want da boom boom song!" he whined. "Turn it to da boom boom song?" I tried to explain that I couldn't control the songs that came on the radio, but to no avail. Micah (and his friends) begged for the "Boom Boom song" all the way to the zoo. And what do you know, they almost had the title right!

HOURS later, I loaded the kids back into the suburban to go home and sleep, assuming the "Boom Boom" song was long forgotten as I had completely forgotten it myself. But as soon as I turned on the car, the requests began from the back seat. For the next twenty minutes, I listened to my son and his friend beg me to turn on da boom boom song. Who knew my kid had a thing for rap?

For those of you who don't know this "Boom Boom" song, here's a youtube link*:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F444CELomo

Watching the video of this song brought a smile to my face, as it was obvious that these people KNOW they're cool. They just don't know that they're cool in my precious little boy's eyes, which is too bad, because I think that's pretty significant (and very amusing)!

*DISCLAIMER: Not to state the obvious, but if you watch this video, beware that Fergie does not adorn herself in the modest apparel that becomes women professing godliness. But I'm sure you didn't need me to tell you that!

Hello Again!

Well, this summer has been crazy busy. My schedule has picked up quite a lot, and because of that, my blog has been inactive. But six months is too long to go undocumented, what with a two year old who is turning into a little man more and more every day. I'm going to do my best to record these unforgettable days!

I think I'll start with a little preview of what will be happening in our house beginning October 5th. On October 5th, Micah turns 2 1/2 years old. (I know, it's been SIX MONTHS since my last blog entry! Micah's aunties are none too happy!) His doctor told me not to think of potty-training him until he was 2 1/2, so friends, I have not thought much about it at all. However, we have had a few practice sessions on the "big boy potty," and, though fruitless (no number 1, no number 2), it has been fun to watch Micah turn into a big boy and enjoy the freedoms that come with that.

This is how I left him:

And minutes later, this is where I found him:

He figured out his way around the bathroom on his "porta-potty", and apparently decided now was as good a time as ever to explore the undescovered wonders of the bathroom.

This child makes me smile. Let's just hope I'm still smiling when we start potty training!

We're Still Alive!

I know I've already used that title, but it is even more appropriate here. More to come...SOON!

Happy Birthday Micah!

Before we had Micah, our lives were carefree...we could just pick up and go on trips, sleep whenever we want, and we were pretty much in control of our own schedules.

But after we had Micah, everything changed.

Since the moment we set eyes on him, Colin and I have not been the same. Micah immediately started bringing joy into all of our lives!

Suddenly, we couldn't imagine life without this little blessing, and we couldn't get enough of him.

Since April 5th, 2007, he has brightened up every day...

He has made us laugh, cry with joy, and rediscover the world around us.

Watching him learn new things has been one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences!

We know he loves us and needs us and it is hard to believe that our baby is actually old enough to tell us so now.

Micah has an incredibly sweet spirit. He loves people, he loves to try to make everyone laugh, He loves singing Psalms, he loves the outdoors and he loves to learn new things. We are SO proud of him!

We are so thankful to God for giving us these last two years, and we greatly look forward to the future. We know we have so much more to teach our little guy - and though it is humbling and challenging at times, we know it is our duty as parents and that God will be the strength in our weakness!

We love you little Micah! We know you are a gift from God to us and we could not be happier that He saw fit to make us YOUR mommy and daddy! Happy Birthday Love!



Since Micah's birth, our prayer for him as been Psalm 1:

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on that law He meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree that brings forth its fruit in season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

First Two Years

I think his first two years have been good to him...

I just can't believe tomorrow my baby is TWO!

Goodbye Crib, Hello Big Boy Bed!

I'm one of those moms who thought I would have my son in his crib until he was three...or, seriously? Until he learned how to climb out of his crib like a civilized person. Because what's more comforting to a tired momma/control freak than a safe and comfortable container for her child? I can't think of anything!

However, those days are over. My son will never learn how to climb out of his crib with skill because he learned how to throw himself head first over the edge first. And then, he did it on a regular basis, because he noticed a pattern. If he threatened to throw himself over the edge in a dramatic fit, I stayed in his room. Even if it was two in the morning. And I wouldn't leave - for hours. I noticed a pattern too: someone was in control, and it wasn't me. No longer was the crib working out for our family. The time had come for the big boy bed.

Sunday night, March 29th, was Micah's first night in his bed, and I am so impressed with how smoothly things have transitioned! We made a very big deal out of it, and so Micah was pretty excited about his big boy bed. He "helped" Daddy build it (like only a one-year-old can), and then we snuggled in to it for our new bedtime routine, which means mommy or daddy gets to be IN bed with Micah while we read him his bedtime story. Micah thinks that's pretty cool, and he has done so well. He is being so obedient, even waiting quietly in bed in the morning until I come and get him. I didn't even teach him that!

I am so thankful it has been so much easier than I thought it would be. I am convinced parenting will be easier the second time around (I think I see all the second-time moms rolling their eyes). I am just so scared of everything! I really relate to Grover in the book, "The Monster at the End of This Book." (Did I just say that?) The whole book he is scared because there is going to be a MONSTER at the END OF THIS BOOK!!! Well, in the end, the monster turns out to be HIMSELF. I think the greatest obstacle in every new parenting venture has seriously been me. Giving up nursing and the bottle and the crib, etc., would all have been much easier if I had not let fear get in the way. I make things into much bigger deals than they ever needed to be! I wonder if I really will learn my lesson the second time around?

Recent Discoveries

Lately, Micah has been discovering some new things.

For instance, blue paint. A few days ago I left him alone in his high chair for two minutes with a small jar of blue paint and a piece of construction paper. Yes, there was a paint brush, but really, I think it's clear that I haven't been getting enough sleep lately because, what was I thinking? If the paint brush got used, I'll never know. What almost two-year-old wouldn't want to dig right in? Apparently, those two minutes were just that important to me.

Another discovery? Pockets. Micah realized he had them one day and now he loves them. My favorite is when he's wearing his peacoat at church and he's got his hands in the pockets of his dress pants. He looks so Brooks Brothers!

But before you think my son is a preppy snob, let me tell you about Micah's favorite discovery: the river. He can't get enough of it! He and Daddy go down there on a regular basis to throw sticks and rocks into the water and see if they can spot a passing duck or boat. The only problem is that with all the rain, sleet and snow we've had recently, Micah's trips to the river often leave him stuck in the mud. I guess little boys' shoes were made to get dirty.

(P.S. Another thing Micah discovered how to do is throw himself head first out of his crib to manipulate me into staying in his room for hours every night when I would much rather be sleeping. Without sleep, I become a crazy person, and lets just say it shown me a lot of not-so-pretty things about myself! So Micah hasn't been the only one making discoveries around here. I've discovered that I lean way too much on my own strength when it comes to parenting. I've gotten a new glimpse at the depths of sin in my heart, which means I've also discovered a new sense of awe and gratitude at the grace that has been shown me. I've been reminded that really, parenting, and if not parenting, just living, is all about grace, grace, grace, and more grace...where would I be without the Gospel??? So, discoveries get a little more complicated as you get older - but I'm so thankful God isn't through with me yet!)