Bike Pics

Couldn't not include these of my cute bikers :)

Love his face ;)

Love her excited face too!

 Team Work to get their bikes up the hill.

And a little fun on the playground before we left. :)

 

 This girl could spend hours on a swing.  

Bike Riders!!

We've been meaning to take Peter's training wheels off for a few months.

Esp after this ride, I thought he may be ready.

And this weekend, Mike found Lily a bike with pedals at a yard sale for $5.

So we went out on an endeavor to attempt just two wheels.  

I think we were only half convinced it may happen.

Friends had told us to try this park.  I thought it seemed too hard to pedal on the grass.  

But it does cushion a fall.  We were sorta learning as we went.

After a few times across on the grass, Peter had it!!

This video is sorta quiet in concentration (except my weird blurt at the end), 

but there were so many cheers the rest of the rides!!

They were starting to get bored with the flat area and wanted to go to the playground part, so Mike enticed them with the hill.  Which sorta worried me.  But they did SO well!!  YAY!!!

I love Peter's excitement!

And sweet Peter cheering for his sis... sweet boy!!

We kept talking all night about how excited we are for them!!

Last Day at the Pool

6 year stats {Peter}

Peter has the most amazing imagination.  

He loves to be in character, whether he is physically dressed up or pretending to be the toy figure(s) he is playing with.

He loves being the hero.  He is guarding the princesses in their castle.

After helping someone (in pretend or in real life), he often responds with "It's my duty."

He has an amazing memory for reciting things.  Since being in school, he is reciting all of the shape poems they've learned, singing multiple new songs, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and the school motto, and telling us silly illustrations his teacher uses... stories of invisible buckets on their head, peanut butter on their clothes. (???)  But he's only been able to tell us the name of two classmates, and those names only came yesterday.

I have been shocked to see that he isn't outright tired after school.  He has yet to take a nap after school.  And he napped daily until 2 weeks before the start of school.  There is some definite limited "instruction" time left so we usually look over and talk about things in his folder immediately after school.  After that, its hard to focus on anything I want him to focus on.  But he loves continuing to play with Lily and with toys.  As one of my friends pointed out, maybe that's what its like to be an extrovert.  I think he really gets energized from all of activities & people at school.

He is strong willed and determined,

sweet and caring, 

fearless and thoughtful.

And finally, his 6 year stats:

 Height: 48 1/4 inches (90%)

Weight: 55 lbs (90%)

Yesterday, I had an afternoon of praise to God for our pediatrician.  She has truly been such a blessing to us.  She is exactly what we needed.  I could clearly see God's hand of providence in taking us in to see her (the doctor doing sick visits) on that dreadful night a few years ago.  Since then she has listened/analyzed, advocated for us, thought through everything with us, guided our perspective on things, and continues to fight for us.  I just wanted to fall on my face in thanks to God that he makes people so smart, so caring, and so generally awesome and then they use that to serve and bless others.  
He truly has provided for us & given us moments to see His purposes, which although have felt hard, we joyfully submit to (I sorta of shudder to type that) as He allows & enables us.  
Then I heard this song, and I was even more undone at His goodness.



"Thy great descent has made me whole!" 

First Day of Pre-K {Lily}

Lily and I went into preschool this morning for an Open House.  

I'm not sure that today is really the first official day.  But we took pics today.  And we may on Friday, as well... because with all of this sweetness, how could I not?!

 Side shot of the pony!

Our mornings are super sweet and low key with the boy off at school.  We snuggled on the couch and read books.  I can't even imagine what its going to feel like to have both of my babies out of the house next year.  :(   

Show me some teeth, girlie!

We've had some fun days together.  I forgot to document that at the end of Peter's very first day at school, she told me to put my hand in for "GIRLS DAY!"  So sweet.  Yesterday we had lunch with another Mom and little girl friend.  I'm loving it.

 Could she be any sweeter?

 She has the same teacher that Peter had last year.  We are thrilled about that.  I think it makes Lily feel more comfortable to know she has Peter's teacher.  She is used to walking up to her room every preschool morning b/c of last year. 

The kids did a little scavenger hunt that she thought was fun.

 Her little buddy, Kate, is in her class... along with several sweet, sweet friends from last year's class.

 I chatted with other parents and she got comfortable playing and dressing up.

We are excited for a fun year!

Ten Years

Today we've been married for ten years.  

I thought it would be fun to look back at what all of our anniversaries have been like.

But first the wedding.  

I had to include a pic with my sweet Daddy, my first man, who showed me what a good man is like.  

We got married at my parents house. :)

1.

Annapolis, Maryland 

2.

We'd just landed for a year in North Africa.

I don't remember really looking at this pic before but it seems to sum up that year so well. I am oh so thankful for this year we had together.  It was wild but such a good bonding adventure for us.  

3.

We were just back and living with Mike's sweet parents til we bought a house.

4.

Peter Thomas was 6 days old.

5.

My parents watched Peter and we went to Williamsburg for the weekend.

6.

Lily Ruth was just about two months old.  Mike's parents let us run out for a anni dinner.

And our new baby girl... I could just die looking at that snuggly sweetness. 

7.

And we have a mini-Mike and a mini-me.

 We canoed the James.

8.

Peter got his tonsils and adenoids out ON OUR ANNIVERSARY.  

But we were so happy for him to be getting it done.  

9.

Our Duck Beach Week, which was just a blast.

 Mike's generous parents came down for the DAY so we could go out to eat.  

They might be a little ridiculous and oh so sweet. 

10.

Turks and Caicos.  I smile just thinking about it.

I love you, Michael.  You are the best man and I'm glad you're mine.