big foot!

Tonight Peter wore his fleecy footed PJs for the first time this season (its COLD!).

We bought him a 5T last year so he could wear them this season too... 

and his feet were JAMMED in!  

Love my big boy (and hubby!).

He wore his shoes like this last week and I was THRILLED!  He put them on all by himself without any help (he can usually do it 90%) without any concern that he needed me at all to adjust that last little whatever.  YAY!

Go, Pete, GO!

Physical Training this week...

up this hill and back

"RUN, Pete, RUN"

I "timed" him on my watch... trying to be very serious about it.

 After each run up the hill and back, we'd balance beam it around the play sets....

 He was so into this and so serious about it... We did the "course" over and over and over and over!

 I was SO proud of him!  Look at this face!

 good and sweaty--- the goal!

 So very handsome!!  
I love this boy.

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him ... so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12: 1a-3

He provides Strength

from this book (thanks, Sarah!)... this is just what I needed this morning to reign in my thoughts/emotions....

As for your days, so shall your strength be. (Deut 33:25) You must not excuse yourself from the battle because you are weak, for the Lord strengthens the feeble. Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-3)

You can not serve Him in your strength. You can only serve Him in the strength He gives as you need it. Here, take the bread, take the fish, and feed the thousands. Never say that it is not enough (Matt 14:17). He will multiply both the bread and the fish as it is broken and consumed. There will be more than you need.

Listen, you who profess to me in Christ, you who love Him, you who have a work to do. God will give you the necessary strength and grace.

A lot recently, I've needed to reign in my thoughts and emotions and worries b/c they are spiraling. AND HE HAS HELPED ME! I hate to say it, but this has been a surprise to me! Its an ongoing thing that will need to re-happen in like minutes.

Can you picture Peter as a 16 year old?

He's a handsome one!

from Luke's birthday party this summer

(Thanks, J&T!)
*I just posted about Peter's birthday party here and Mike's here*

First Day of Preschool

Peter started preschool today!!

We are really excited about the year!

His hair is not as blonde as it was at the start of school last year.  (Yes, important, I know.)

Lily was sad b/c we'd left her bunny inside :(

real life... 

 But we pulled it together and all had a great morning!

I am really excited for this school year... I feel like we have a clue about our routine and what preschool looks like, what's expected, things we need to learn, etc.  And we now know that we have to work hard... so we'll do that!  

Recovery

I've felt a little post-partum as Peter recovered from his surgery last week.

We've stayed inside for days and battled to eat, drink, and take meds.

Poor guy, I know he felt puny for so many days and probably got sick of feeling that way.  And I was sick of being inside & coddling.  Lily was sick of hearing about all of Peter's pudding, ice cream, jello, and popsicles that she couldn't eat as frequently as I forced him to.

He had a fever the first few days that got up to 102.4 so we started antibiotics to kill that before it could do us any harm.  On Monday, I was unsure he would be able to go to school today but he finally turned the corner yesterday.... HOORAY!  for all of us! 

While this was sorta hard and exhausting, it felt so small in comparison to the stress and anxiety what was January thru April of this year.  We'll take it and we are thankful!

Two & Four

Their Well Visit Stats from this summer (July & Sept visits):

Lily at 2:
Wt: 25 lbs  (25%)
Ht: 34 1/4 in  (50%)

Peter at 4:
Wt: 42 lbs  (90%)
Ht: 42 3/4 in (90%)

They've flip flopped.  
Peter was a little baby but is a big boy.  
Lily was a chubby baby but is a petite girl.