Dates

I've been trying to be more intentional with one-on-one time with each of the kids. They thrive on the focused attention and it is so much fun to just soak up each of their little personalities. This past week I was able to sneak in a date with Grace. She really needed a haircut, so we made a date out of it. I gave her a couple of choices in the Garland area for lunch (near the hair salon, Missy's on Post, where my good friend Andrea works), and she chose the Milk Bottle. I had never been there & we discovered it has as much character as it appears. She's not much of an eater most of the time, but inherited her mother's sweet tooth and happily sucked down most of our milk-shake. 'Atta girl, Gracie Belle! I loved listening to her sing, tell me stories, and just talk with me as we shared the morning together.






Eli spent the morning with Coco, playing at her house & having lunch at Whitworth with Landon, Sarah & Nicole. He was eager to tell me all about it.



We've also been enjoying time recently with our new little buddy, Sydney Smith! Sydney was born to our good friends Kyle & Mindy at the end of January and has quickly become one of our new favorite people.


And, I had to throw in this picture because it captures some of the fun of sibling play taking place at home these days. All week last week the kids decided they wanted to trade jammies. Here we have Eli wearing Grace's pj's, Grace wearing Isaac's, and Isaac wearing Eli's! Funny kids.

Jungle Fever!

It was a festive weekend around here with Grace & Isaac's birthday party. Our little buddy AJ's party was at the church last month and I thought it worked so well (preschool tables & all) that I ran with their idea. The kids looked through my cupcake book and chose a jungle theme, in part because they love animals and in part because this way Grace could have pink cupcakes and Isaac could have blue & green cupcakes. Funny kids, gotta love their logic! We had about a dozen little friends there to celebrate with us and spent the morning decorating binoculars, playing jungle games, going on a lion hunt, listening to Henry Explores the Jungle, dancing to jungle music, playing outside & of course, eating cupcakes. It was a great time!



Proud Mama with my two FOUR year olds!!


Grace & Addi

Belle checking out her binoculars


Pretending to be elephants pushing peanuts with their "trunks." This game was a riot!


Our good friends, brothers Adam & Colin. We had these "pith helmets" for everyone, but it wasn't until the end of the party that Adam wisely pointed out that the rims should have been flipped down - instead they looked like sombreros! :)


They're a little hard to see here, but my mom AND dad made these awesome animal print placemats for each child, laminated & with their name on them as party favors. They were a hit, as were the jungle cookies they made. Thanks G&P!


And, the cupcakes. We had a ton of fun making these the night before. Flamingos, hippos, and aligators. No, I'm not this creative, the book tells you exactly what to do. I am discovering Eric has secret talents even HE doesn't know about. :)


A few friends have shared the idea of interviewing kids each year on their birthday in order to capture who they are at each stage. This is our first year of birthday interviews and it was pretty funny to hear some of their (unexpected) answers. Grace went first, which may have influenced a couple of Isaac's answers.

Grace
Favorite color: pink
Favorite food: pizza with pineapple
Favorite drink: smoothies
Favorite song: Jesus Loves Me
Favorite book: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Favorite thing to play: princess (has she ever played princess?!)
Favorite thing to do with Mommy: play games
Most excited about turning four: opening presents
Favorite thing about preschool: friends
Favorite place we went this year: ocean
One thing you want to learn before you turn five: Count to 100 and write every letter
Place you most want to go this year: camping

Isaac
Color: Blue & green
Food: rice & beans
Drink: ice in juice
Song: Jesus Loves Me
Book: Berenstein Bears Lend a Helping Hand
To Play: whole world (?), or trucks
To do w/Mommy: projects
Most excited about turning four: going to kindergarten (sorry buddy, not yet!)
Preschool: friends
Place we went this year: camping
To learn before turning five: Count to 100 and to read
Most want to go this year: Costco (ha!)

I sure am proud of you Gracelynn Isabelle & Isaac Justice! I am excited to see how you grow in the year ahead. I love you!

Just Plain Fun

These three have been so much fun recently. Yes, we still have our moments, but in general they are in a really enjoyable stage and I am soaking it up! I don't take this lightly since we're border-line cabin fever around here. We've managed to get out in the fresh air at least a bit each day, snowshoeing over to Whitworth in the 12 degree weather last week (maybe not my best parental judgement) and going out for a night walk with flashlights in hand last night, among other adventures. Come on spring, I'm running out of ideas!!!

As you can see above, Grace, Isaac & Eli are finally having a lot of fun playing together. There are afternoons when I pause to just take in the fact that they are in the other room playing together without me, for more than five minutes. Can I get an AMEN?! Dress-up, coloring, painting, racing cars, and playing preschool have been their favorite activities as of late.

I know I've mentioned before, but I find it fascinating to watch each of them grow & develop their own personalities. I really think the boy/girl twin bit is especially interesting - same age, same upbringing, same environment, circumstances, etc, but different gender, statures, features, and and VERY different personalities. It has also been fun to watch Eli become his own little person these past few months and begin to enter more fully into the world of play with his brother & sister.

A few things that stand out to me about each of them these days:

Isaac is still very energetic, strong & intense, as I think he always will be, yet he has grown tremendously in his ability to manage his emotions, and in his consideration others. His sharp mind continues to amaze me - he seems to be on the verge of reading and is really interested in letters, sounds, numbers, and patterns right now. He is so busy and on-the-go that I am often surprised with how much he is thinking about and taking in while expending all that energy! And boy, he gives the BEST bear hugs.

Grace is just so dang sweet and a little mother-hen to Eli already. She can definitely put up a fight when she knows what she wants, but she melts my heart with her thoughtful, gentle ways. This girl can sing and she makes up multiple songs each day (think Phoebe from Friends, but Sunday School style and a much sweeter voice). Her recent interests have been particularly girly - clothes, accessories, and more clothes. I credit Coco and Aunt Lindsey for this, but so long as they teach her where I lack, I won't "blame" them to much for adding to her girly-girl flare! ;)

Eli is becoming the comedian of the family. This kid cracks us up daily! Even Grace & Isaac comment on how funny and happy Eli is. And, he is all boy, really into trucks, growling, blocks, and getting dirty. One unique thing about Eli is how aware he is of his feelings at such a young age. He'll often tell me that he's sad or scared, or he'll just start listing off the people he loves. It is adorable to hear him talking about who he loves and helpful for him to be able to tell me how he's feeling. Now if only he would start eating & sleeping better.

I love these three and often still can't believe I get to be their mother. There have been days when I've wanted toss the three of them in the backyard for awhile, but as most any mother knows, they are my deepest joy.

Their big question right now is "how many days left until we get to live with Eric, Mama?!" I know, little buddies, I know...we just might have to make a paper-chain countdown for this one.

Immeasurably More

Why yes, it's true (I keep having to remind myself), that beautiful new ring really is mine and better yet, given by one of the most remarkable men I have ever known. How does a girl get to be so lucky?! Eric asked me to marry him last week and I, of course, said yes! I have had these pictures uploaded for a few days now, but have lacked the words to articulate what is in this full, grateful heart of mine.

Ephesians 3 keeps ringing true in my head, and Paul says it better than I could anyway:

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine...to him be the glory forever and ever. Amen"

I am still awed by the immense gift of this love and the faithfulness of God who gives abundantly more than we can even imagine.

Isaac, Grace & Eli adore Eric and were thrilled when I talked with them about Mommy marrying Eric. I know their young minds cannot comprehend all that this will mean, but the conversation was pretty priceless nonetheless.

What a journey it has been already and the next chapter is just beginning....

Belated but Heartfelt

Birthdays are funny things. I'm sure many parents can relate - in some ways it feels like Eli has been around far more than two years and yet, I feel like I've turned around twice & he went from being a bleary-eyed and wholly dependent newborn to a busy, running, talking toddler who is beginning to seek independence.

The post may be late, but Eli was well-celebrated on and around his birthday. It feels a little tricky with his birthday just days after Christmas - I want to be sure we celebrate, and yet many people are out of town & most everyone has had ample festivity already. I decided to simply celebrate with our Wednesday Night Dinner gang this year, as they are all such dear friends & a regular part of our lives. We went with a duck theme, as "quack-quacks" are among Eli's favorite things right now. Just a glimpse...


A little overwhelmed at all of the attention - at least one of them is


He belly-laughed over these "quack-quack" cup cakes each time he saw them.


Grace adores Mindy & is already quite fond of Baby Smith (arriving next month!)



Apparently I'm making him say thank-you for a present :)




I quickly become teary thinking back on these past two years and the day of Eli's birth. While my heart was instantly bursting with mother-love for my new beautiful boy, I was also beyond overwhelmed at the thought of taking him home and raising three very small children, and in less-than-ideal circumstances. While it has not been easy (as in, hands down the hardest thing I've ever done!!!), God has been faithful and has carried us daily in ways I couldn't have fathomed.

All of that to say, this could have been a very different couple of years if Eli was not the boy that is (his brother & sister too!). I know he is a wee boy yet, but Elijah Hope Matthew is already living up to his name.

Elijah - the Lord is my God (Eli - uplifted & delivered)
Hope - to believe, desire, trust
Matthew - gift of God


You, darling boy ARE a gift of God. You are one of the most delightful, hope-filled, joyful little boys I have ever known. I love to watch you play, to learn, to dance, to run, to mimick your brother & sister. I am your mother, yes, but I am only one of many who know you and love you dearly. Happy Birthday Hope-man!