NaTaLiE and CaRtEr

Natalie is getting super smiley and verbal. Her jabber is adorable and it's almost as if she knows it and will "talk" just to get the focused attention of someone. She has developed a admiration for Carter and he loves to talk with her which always rewards him more smiles and jabber. he laughs and laughs and talks so sweetly to his little sis and makes sure that Alton is being gentle to her. I love to see how protective he is already.

Those eyes are still blue.

Natalie had Carter in stiches with her loud jabber and cute little coo's.

The end of the week

Thursday morning. Alton is watching Daddy load up one of the shaker's. He jabbers to me about it around the bobby (pacifier) in his mouth, while I do the dishes that I left  from the night before.

Thursday night. The boys are asleep and Lewis has a little bit of that "Natalie time" that he craves all day. Natalie never minds that Daddy is smelly and dusty. She's just happy he's home. :)

THIS is what's for dinner Friday night. It had a great flavor but I remembered why I don't cook pork chops. None of us really like them.  Bummer! I was so pleased that after such a difficult day I had actually gotten a decent dinner together. I was so proud I even took pictures. Note to self: next time do chicken.

These Dahlia's are above my kitchen sink cheering my day. Carter found them in the yard and as he always does when he finds a flower blooming, he picked it. I'm so glad he did. there have been many occasions these past couple of days that I needed the cheering. Thanks little buddy!

So the dreadful dinner did more than dappen my spirits, it ruined my pants. I spilled hot oil all over myself. The boys looked at my quizzically as I hiked my leg up to the sink to wash off the burning oil from my foot. I got lucky. No serious burns. But my PANTS!!! The cornmeal did not work, people.

Saturday Morning Pancakes

I'm trying to redeem myself with my family and make them something yummy after the dinner I made them eat last night. Betty Crocker to the rescue! So fluffy, so easy and so yummy. :)

Smiles. Did it!

Jaden's first soccer game

The enthusiastic fans. "Go number 8!"

After game snack and smiles.

A new beginning...

What an amazing day! I had a great day with the boys. Carter was thrilled that we had finally come around to "cubbies day" again. every morning he asks me, "is it cubbies day yet?". Every Wednesday evening he goes to his Awana class and learns new truths about Jesus Christ and is having a blast memorizing God's Word. Praise the Lord! I did not expect this. Last year he bawled for the first couple weeks till I decided that in my pregnant and tired state I couldn't do the whole Awana thing just yet. I felt a strong determination that THIS year, we would persevere through any tear. :) But to my delight there was not a tear to be seen on that sweet boy.

   When Carter and Alton woke up from their naps they went outside with their traditional after-nap popscicle. Carter and I chatted about how the weather is getting cooler. I told him that I smelled fall in the air. it's time for sweaters and hats and long pants. So he asked me to go and get his hat and scarf, "Alton's too", he hollered after me. Alton did NOT want to wear his though :). He doesn't always follow Carter's program. :)

After popsicles and swinging. We headed inside to fold laundry and watch The Bible Boat, on Alton's request. While watching, Carter out of the blue asks me, "Mom, can you show me how to go to heaven and talk to God? Please, Mom? Please?" "Is this it?, I asked myself. The moment Lewis and I have prayed for since finding out that we were going to have our first baby. Carter didn't wait for my answer before he found something else to do. "don't push it, Kerri" a still soft voice said. "Let me make you see that it is ME and not YOU that draws their little hearts". So I let it go. Only to have Carter bring it up again just a few minutes later. We talked for a bit about the verses that he has been learning in cubbies and I used those to show him that we all need Jesus and can't go to heaven without Him. "I want to do that, Mom" "right now?" I asked. "Yeah, but I don't know what to say. Can you help me?"  So Carter gave his life to Jesus on this cool Fall feeling day in September. September 8th, 2010. I shall never forget this day. Because this is the day that it really begins.

 A new day, a new season, a new life to live.

AWANA TIME!

This is Carter's first week with his vest and cubbies bag. He was so anxious to get them and so excited to wear the vest for the first time. After getting all suited up he asked me, "Can you please take a picture of me, Mom?"

I was planning to anyways :)

he turnes to the side so that I am sure to get the bag in ther too.

When we get home Carter carefully hangs the vest and bag on the back of his chair. These are to precious of items to be thrown on the floor like an unwanted jacket or hat. I hope that he learns to treasure the verses that he is hiding in his heart in the same manor.

A late after-Awana-snack. They are always famished when we get home. Making bedtime around 10pm. I'm sure to have grumpy boys on Thursday mornings. It's worth it.

9:00 p.m...  Yes, definately worth it!

What an amazing day!!!

Monday Morning

We started our morning off with pancakes. My two little helpers at this point aren't any help at all but I wouldn't have had it any other way this morning. How wonderful to not have anywhere we need to be and could take all the time in the world mixing our pancakes and making a big mess. These are the mornings that we will all remember fondly. They are the ones that I remember having with my mom. I couldn't wait till it was my turn to mix the batter. So it is with my kids. "My turn!" Alton cheerfully pipes the entire time that Carter is twirling the handle.

Alton takes his task very serious

they were the best cakes ever!

On to bigger and better things. Out the door we go. What? No mud? No worries Alt! We shall make our own. :)

The mud hole

SO proud of ourselves!

"Look, Mom! Look what we did!"

Alton decided that after makeing a huge mess of himself he would help me out by watering my flowers. Thanks, Alt! :)

As a result bath time came a little early today.

Reflections on Natalie in her Sunday best

Sitting in her swing waiting for us to get our act together and load up for Church. Natalie just looked so adorable and angelic that I had to snap a couple of pic's. It really is something how quickly events come and go. I remember before she was born receiving this dress and excitedly putting it in the 0-3 pile, looking over that a pile a million times before she was born, washing all the outfits in that pile, and then waiting for her tiny little body to fill out to the point that she doesn't completely "swim" in it.

As I walked by and glanced at her in the swing, I realized how quickly we got to this point and how quickly she will soon be to Alton's point and then Carter's and so on.  I want to savor those sweet little moments of content baby Natalie... just waiting...waiting to grow up. As she grows the rest of us are busy bustling around and missing the whole thing. I can not savor the moment enough, I know, but as I blink we are in the next moment and  as much as I don't want to stay here I do want to remember it. 

This angle is the spitting image of Mommy

Block Buddies

It was so refreshing to see Carter and Alton playing happily together.

Alton in the glue

Alton's always wants to "help you" when I'm working in the kitchen. The counter's were a mess and so I set him in the one clean spot I could find on the island. I thought it was pretty safe... I guess I was wrong :).   I turned away for a few seconds and when I turned back to see why he was so quiet, I found him using elmer's as a moisturizer. Ha! Ha!  What a kid!!!

It could have been a lot worse. :)