More Thanksgiving...

Check out the kid pics on Jessica's blog :)

...tho it might be that we only read each others blogs...  haha ;)

Finger Paints

So we didn't really get through our letters this summer.  But we are still working on it... slowly but surely.  We are about half way through so maybe before Peter starts Kindergarten. ;)  There's the talk about sensory integration that I wish I understood better so today we wrote and finger painted our J.  Then we just finger painted.  This isn't Peter's idea of a good time.  After therapy this morning, Peter wanted to come home and play Buzz Lightyear and Woody and Lily wanted to finger paint.  So they played for a while and then we painted.  Peter was a really good sport about it.

After each finger, he'd complain "WET FINGER!" and I would wipe it off but then he'd go for more.  

At one point he said:

P:  Lily, are you all done?

L: No

P:  Well, I better do more like you!

So sweet.  I love their finished products :)

Thanksgiving 2012

It was another Thanksgiving at the farm house and so a very country 

(and awesome, refreshing!) time.

JD got an 8 point buck on Thanksgiving morning.  I spared you some details with the sepia effect.

Daddy and Lily working on some cornbread while we wait for the big meal!  I love them.

 Nee Nee came for visits and had a captive audience in Peter when she started reading.

And of course, skeet shooting.  I loved seeing and getting a few days with these sweet cousins!

 Jeff, being the awesome guy that he is, brought along his 4-wheeler.  

Adding a little more country goodness to our Thanksgiving.

 Maw prepared us some good appetizers.  Can you tell by the men who congregated there?!

 It was a full house (and full hearts!) so these two sleeping beauties shared the couch in Maw and Paw's room.  Its been their usual practice in recent visits and I think its really sweet.  Fun memories.

 We continued the tradition started last year of Black Friday shopping.  Clearly, we aren't too serious about it.  I think its more of an excuse for the girls to get out of the house and get some time together!  Holly, Jessica and I hit up a few stores.  The benefit of being in the middle of nowhere is an hour drive to good stores so two hours worth of talking!  We missed you, Emily.  My heart was full as I thought about missing out on sisters growing up but now having three wonderful ones!  Plus two on the P side!

 There had to be stories told in shadows on the wall.

 Good extended time with my man.

 Lily Bug is getting so independent.  This is a new concept for us!  

Filling up her baby's water spray bottle all by herself!

How cute is she?!  Spraying and combing baby's hair.

 I didn't get enough pics of the kiddos!
Favorite memories of Audrey... She's a little parrot.  I love that stage!  J&J have "taught" her to say Barack Obama: "Rock-a-mama!" and hippopotamus, etc.  She'll attempt any word you tell her to repeat... SO cute!

 Girl Pic... missed you E&E!

 Maw had a birthday on Saturday.  Holly prepared her an awesome cake with chocolate ganache on top... uh.mazing.  Everything Holly touches is amazing.

 And we had a mini-party!

Glenda and Grace in pics :)

Maw and 3 of 4 of her babes...  

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mom!!

Happy Thanksgiving!  It was good to be together!

She's Catching On...

When Lily hears that we are going to Peter's "work", she asks him to get her a lollipop.  

Don't Get Dizzy!

Troggie Visits

  Peter's preschool class has a dragon that gets to go home with a kid each weekend.

Peter has talked A LOT about Trogdor and when Trogdor would come home with him.  

 This past weekend was Peter's lucky weekend!  Troggie came home!!

His teacher was really sweet and let me know that Trogdor would be with us at Friday's Thanksgiving Feast.  She said that when she drew Peter's name out of the hat, Peter danced b/c he was SO excited!!  Trogdor jumped in the van with us to head home.

 We had to stop off for an errand and Trogdor came along.

 Trogdor had to meet Jip and Pink Dog.

 And he even gave Pink Dog a ride on his back!

I got to go on a girls get away this weekend so Daddy had the kiddos on his own.  :)

Friday night dinner was CFA!

The weekend wouldn't be complete for Trogdor without a visit to Goo and Pop's house.

Its's Pop's Birthday this week so they had a little early celebrating to do.  

Trogdor lit the candles with his breath.

Also, not a true trip to Goo's House without some audio books!

 On Sunday morning, Peter read books to Trogdor in the church library.

And a trip to the playground!!

So fun.  It was fun to hear Peter's stories as he helped me write what should go along with our pictures in Trogdor's journal.  There's been some sadness this week that Trogdor is back with Mrs Notley.  ;)

his heart

This a a little vulnerable to post but also such a sweet story that I want to remember... I've been a little sad this week.  There have been a few triggers, I think.  I have and continue to have plenty to repent of regularly.  Peter is my dear child that I struggle with a lot but also in the most blessed of ways.  We work together through the messiness and irony of the gospel so quickly and so often.  There is so much fussing and complaining and sometimes its just near impossible to be who and what we should be (yes, I fully claim that for myself too!).  But in the midst of it, he is SO quick to say "Will you forgive me?  Can you forgive me?"  And its dug forgiveness deeper into where it should be for me b/c it really is just that.  Forgiveness.  Not the condition that I am going to do better (tho we ask God for that all the time) but just that you are forgiven.  I am forgiven.  The slate is clean without offense.  And its a split second transaction for him, as it should be.  He fully expects that I am going to forgive him.  And that just convicts me.  I have to.  Then I have to believe it for myself the next minute as I ask for forgiveness.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

As we've been working through my messiness this week, a lot of it a response to grief, Peter has so cared for me.  As I sit stewing on lots of things this morning and thinking of God's sovereignty (in a 'help us' kind of way), Peter says the dearest thing.  Although we weren't talking about the miscarriages at that moment, we had talked about them earlier this week.  I don't generally talk with the kids much at all about our miscarriages, knowing it would just be hard for them to understand and I don't really want to bombard them with grief.  But while we were taking the infant seat to sell, they asked questions.  I decided that it seemed like a more "concrete" moment to tell them a little about it.  So I just told them that we have two babies in heaven who would be their brother(s) or sister(s).  And that God hasn't given us more babies on earth so we don't need our baby seat anymore.  Their response was really sweet.  They were a little sad but also excited... and their first conclusion was "one for each of us!" in heaven...  

So back to this morning, I am stewing and internally discussing my mess with God.  Peter says the most understanding and intuitive thing.  Full of frustration, love, anger, more love, desire, affection, and disappointment he says,  "I'm upset too... about those two babies in heaven."  The way that he was so intuitive about the real frustration and so with me in it, in the grief, really ministered to me and blessed me in a way that few things have lately.  He wasn't trying to manage my grief, or move me through it, he wasn't uncomfortable with it, he just simply felt the emotions with me and for himself.  It must have only been the Holy Spirit who could bring something so close to where I really am.  
"I will come to you." John 14:18b 
Not in just a physical way, but in an intimate, emotional, feeling way.

Thursday Traditions

Excited to go to Goo's House!

 Chubby little bunny.... 

 Buckled in and ready to go!

Thanks, Goo and Pop.  We are SO thankful for our Thurs eves!

My husband is so generous.

I lost our camera lens.  I mentioned this before.  I've searched high and low.  He totally didn't give me a hard time at all.  When he totally could have.
Now I've used up all of my cell minutes.... same thing again.  No fussing.  Only the go-ahead to get more minutes.  Well, technically he hasn't but I just know him. 
This may be a way that God uses my lack of working to bind us together.  I've got nothing to offer financially (for the most part).  I can only be thankful for how he covers me without grumbling and reminds me that we are one.  
I am thankful for my patient, generous, understanding husband.  I have a bit to learn from him.  Thank you, Michael.  

You show me that... God's kindness leads {me} toward repentance Ro 2:4

To See an Ape.

That was our mission yesterday.  One of Peter's current favorite songs is this one from Veggie Tales.  His favorite TV show right now is Wild Kratts.  He's been asking us if we'd take him to see a "real ape".   Mike had a little vacation time to burn.  It was Veterans Day and so an option to take the day off.  To the DC Zoo we went!

Mission Accomplished.  

The orangutans were on the O-Line that goes between their two "houses"!

 It was a beautiful 70 degree fall day!

 Getting eaten by a dinosaur

 Reading a book about tigers :)

We saw lots of creatures!!

 Checking out the lions and tigers

 On our way to see the elephants.

 It was a little anticlimactic :(

 We headed home by the DC Monuments.  

 And it was 'the prettiest time of the day'

Thanks, Babe, for such a fun day away!