Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary!

This past weekend Keith & I celebrated 10 years of marriage! It is shocking how much has changed! How much WE have changed! I am so thankful that Keith & I have grown TOGETHER as we matured. We married very young! He was 20 & I had just turned 21 2 weeks before our wedding! Jesus grace has been all over us as we figured out what it meant to be married, & to love each other no matter what!

I pray that the next 10 years are better then the first 10! And that is a lot to ask because the first 10 were absolutely amazing and beautiful!

Keith organized our anniversary date & he did an awesome job! We went into Seattle & ate at The Melting Pot! Man oh man... is that restaurant amazing! I absolutely loved it! After that we stayed overnight at The Maxwell Hotel. (Fitting huh?) On Saturday morning we didn't get out of bed until 9:00, we went out for breakfast, and by 11:00 we were back in the hotel room, back in bed, watching The Food Network! We don't have cable, so this was a fun thing to do! We had to check out at 1pm, so we laid in bed until 12:45, checked out & headed home to our wonderful boys. (I missed them!) It was fun, relaxing and very much needed!

And just for fun, here are some photos from the past year! 2010-2011 has been good to us!

Thanksgiving 2010

Christmas 2o10!

Winter 2011

Spring 2011

Easter 2011

Summer 2011

Camping August 2011

Septmeber 2011- 10 years!

Fall City Farms- Photos

We went to Fall City Farms a couple days ago with some friends. It was Maxwell's first time experiencing the farm. He went last year, but he was only 3 months old. But this year I let him crawl around and play in the dirt. He loved love loved it! Typically when we play outside he stays close to me, and crawls all over me, and tries to get my camera and phone. I was beginning to worry that he would become one of those kids that I had to FORCE out the doors to play. But after this experience, I think he might like the dirt just as much as Miles does!

Well, he at least likes to EAT the dirt. :)

Happenings

Sometimes life just down right gets crazy!

Last week, and this past weekend has been one of those time! And this week is shaping up to be similar.

Saturday was my 31st birthday! I wasn't feeling 100% but the day was relaxed and good anyhow! Keith sent me off on my own to shop for fall boots. I found a great pair of boots and a couple other things! After the kiddos went to bed we made a yummy shrimp & pasta dinner and settled in for a movie. I ended up falling asleep about 3 seconds into the movie. For those of you who know me well, know that this isn't all that uncommon for me! I remember when Keith & I were dating I would fall asleep in the movie theatres and it would drive Keith crazy! (Money, NOT well spent! Ha ha ha!) So I told him that if he wants to take me to the movies, it's better to take me a movie that starts no later then 7pm and a matinee is an even better idea.

It was a fun an relaxed day and I am thankful to have a hubby who knows exactly what I need and want! Oh- and a shout out to Keith too. He cleaned the bathrooms while I was gone! Isn't he awesome?!? I say YES!

This morning I had some good news at my physical therapy appointment! My therapist told me I can do a 10 minute, 30 second interval run. (Which is basically, running the whole time) and if my hip feels good after that run then my next run I am allowed to run up to 3 miles with out stopping! I am super excited and suspect my hip will be just fine. It has been feeling really well for the past couple weeks!

This weekend Maxwell turned 15 months old! I can't believe my stinky butt is getting so big.

The photo to the right is Max & I on Sunday. He is such a handsome man isn't he? (See above.)

This morning I took the boys on a walk. Miles rode his bike and Max was just happy to get out of the house!

Seriously people. I have the cutest boys ever.

Then we happened upon these beautiful flowers that someone had planted in a potted garden. Is that what you call a garden that is all pots? A potted garden? I don't know. But you get what I mean right? Anyhow- aren't the colors just amazing???

The boys really loved the flowers too! Maxwell wanted to pull at them and eat them. But I managed to keep him far enough away from them so he could just BARELY touch them. He didn't seem to mind though!

Washer Necklace

Last night some friends of mine got together for a ladies craft night. It is always so nice sitting around, chatting, doing something crafty and getting good quality girl time.

This particular night we made washer necklaces. I found the idea on pinterest and one of my friends saw that I had pinned it and thought that would be a fun idea for the craft night! So I did a little research and found that it is really easy and would be lots of fun!

The tutorial on how to make a washer necklace is here.

Here are the necklaces that I made!

They literally took 5 minutes to make and the possibilities are endless!

I will definitely be making these again!!!

First 5K

I had the FUN and pleasure of running my first 5K with a bunch of friends from church. If you live in the Seattle area and do not have a church home, you should check out Blue Sky! It happens to be one of the coolest, awesomest churches I have ever been a part of!

Anyhow- I only got a little nervous about the race the morning of the race. I guess there wasn't any pressure because I had to interval run the race. My physical therapist wanted me to walk the event. But he knew that I wouldn't be able to contain myself and gave me the go-ahead to interval run. I ran 3 minutes and walked 1 minute through the whole 3.1 mile course.

The course was a combination of road, trail & grass. There was mostly trail, which I didn't mind so much except for the fact that I almost twisted my ankles a few times.

I (unlike some of my friends) thought the weather was perfect, sunny, warm (not too hot) and wonderful for running. It would have been brutal to run this course in the heat of the day yesterday. But at 8:30am I found it rather comfortable!

I shot out of the gate with a pretty good pace. I looked back at my friends a few times (the ones who were also interval running it, the ones who were not interval running it were well ahead of me!) When I stopped my initial 3 minute run and started walking they were a pretty good distance away, so I kept on keeping on. I did have a goal in mind. (Under 35 minutes.) But I had no idea if that was realistic or not.

This course was described as "rolling hills" and that is exactly what it was. The hills just so happened to fall on my running section of the interval. I walked many of the down hills. (Boo)

When I saw a sign that said "2" I thought "hmmm... if this is mile 2, then I am making pretty good time!" If this means I have 2 miles to go, then I am SLOW! Thankfully it meant that I only had 1.1 miles to go and my time was better then I anticipated! I made it in 33.32!

My goal for what should have been my first 5K in May was for 27 minutes. This will again become my goal for my next 5K which I hope to run either this winter or next spring.

And to note, my hip is feeling great today! I am surprised that it is holding up so well! I am very excited about the fact that it feels great and pray that this means I will be able to increase my intervals and mileage over the next few months!

Here's the crew! I am number 313 in the dark blue shirt. And in case you're an "Office" fan. My shirt has the following on it: (Which is totally appropriate for a day such as this day)

And here is the Blue Sky Team:

Maxwell

Please don't judge me by thinking that my Maxwell is the absolute cutest little 14 1/2 month old on the planet. I mean... look at his face, and his frizzy yellow hair and his big brown eyes... and those cheeks! By goodness gracious, those cheeks! I chomp on them all the time, giving him the slobber-iest kisses ever on the planet. One day he won't let me do that, so I have to get it in while I can!

Maxwell is turning into quite the little toddler these days. He still isn't walking (not that I mind at all, and he seems to not be in a rush either!) But he is standing up like a champ, with out holding on to anything, and he goes from sitting to standing, and standing to sitting with out any help.

I try every once in awhile (ok, like a bazillion times a day to be honest) to get him to walk to me. But he thinks it's a game. He will either lunge forward and face plant into either A) Me or B) the floor. Or he will look at you with a little sparkle in his eye, pretend that he's going to walk to you, and then fall to the floor and crawl over to you while snorting... it's really cute, and I can't help but laugh! I suppose that is why he keeps doing it!

This past weekend Maxwell decided he wanted to say "Veggie Tales." I authenticated his "veggie tales" words by having him say it for a few friends.

I didn't want to be one of those Moms that is like

"hey, my kid can say supercalafragalisticexbealadoshesh"

and then my kid says "goo goo gah gah"

and I'm like "did you hear it?"

And my friends nod their heads and say "yeah!"

but in their minds their thinking I am lost my mind!

So.... I had a couple of my friend listen, and they said that he did in deed say, Veggie Tales. It is cute, and amazing... and a little bizarre since the only other words he has are "Mama" "Dada" "Ada" (Which means all done) and "ma" (with means more.) And only reason I know that ada and ma mean more and all done is because he signs them to me and says them at the same time.

ANYHOW... the other bizarre thing that he does is hum the tune to the Veggie Tales them song. Not the whole song, but the part where they say "Veggie Tales" like 4 times in a row.

As a matter of fact, he was up at 2am last night practicing.

(Please note, the photos in this post were brought to you by Jennifer McCully.)

The end.

Sometimes a photo makes me feel all mooshy inside

My sweet friend Jennifer captured this photo of Keith & Maxwell yesterday. It is one of those photos that makes my insides feel like jello. It's one of those moments in time that will be cherished forever.

Somebody turns 4 today!!!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Miles! Happy Birthday to you! I cannot believe that 4 years ago today I was holding Miles in my arms for the very first time. I was gazing into his dark big brown eyes. I was enjoying his little whimpers and cries. I was admiring his mouth, his nose, the shape of his face. His adorable little body all bundled up in swaddling blankets. I remember how skinny and long his little legs were, and how the skin just hung off of them, all wrinkly from basting in amniotic fluid for 9 months. He sure was a cutie patootie. I was absolutely smitten with him from the second I saw him.

Through the years he has brought JOY to me that I didn't know existed. I remember the first time he said "mama" and "I love you." I remember his first steps, and how he learned how to jump!

Miles is tender hearted, sweet, loving and caring. I remember hearing him say to Maxwell when he was little "don't worry little buddy. I'm gonna take good care of you." Miles is the sunshine of my day and a reminder of just how big and vast, deep and wide, and how high God's love is for me. Miles, my sweet little man. I am looking forward to next year and all that it will bring!

Preparing the Way for my children

I had no idea what it meant to be a Mom before I became a Mom. And nothing is becoming more evident, as Miles and Maxwell grow up that “Being a mom is more than being a cook, chauffeur, maid, counselor, doctor, referee, disciplinarian, etc. (just to name a few). It’s about molding character, building confidence nurturing, training, and guiding. “ (Quote from Ginger Plowman in her book "don't make me count to three.")

A few months ago I read a book by Tedd Tripp called "Shepherding a Child's Heart." I have heard a lot of great reviews on this book from close and trusted friends. Miles was beginning to show some character traits that I didn't like at all! He was, well, he was a child who didn't know how to act. This was not because of anything that he did wrong. It was because Keith & I didn't teach him, or discipline his consistently. Jesus has entrusted this child to us, and he is expecting us to teach him how to live a life that is consistent with the bible, and consistent with how a Christian is supposed to behave.

Let me step back just a minute and tell you that Miles has always had a heart of wanting to do right. He was generally a well behaved child. When we were in public, and even at home, he listened relatively well and was over all a "good kid." Maybe it was the fact that he turned 3, or the fact that he no longer had all of my attention at home due to Maxwell being born. But what I started noticing was that Miles was ACTING the part. But not BEING the part. In other words, his actions were what I wanted to see. But his attitude while doing what I wanted him to do was one of rebellion, selfishness, lack of discipline etc. So this is what lead me to start reading some of these books on how to get to the heart of the issue.

After reading Shepherding a Child Heart I learned a lot about biblical discipline, and things were going well. Honestly, it is so hard to stay consistent in discipline! But it is so important! Galatians 6:9 says "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." We started to see results in Miles' attitudes and heart behavior. The times that he started giving us a hard time, were the times where I became lazy in my disciplining him. Not only were we disciplining him, but we were also having conversations with him about his heart. When he stole a toy, we would tell him that taking a toy away from Maxwell, when he was obviously playing with it, is wrong and that is shows the selfishness built up inside his heart. We were teaching him that he needs to prefer his friends/brother above his own wants and desires. Then we would discipline him followed by hugs, kisses, I love yous, encouragement and we were on our way.

But I still felt like I was lacking "something" in my disciplining/training of my kids. Then came along a book that I will consider a life changer in the way that I go about raising my children. I referenced it above. It is called "Don't Make me count to three" by Ginger Plowman. She certainly has a way of cutting to the chase when it comes to what the bible says about disciplining your children! I simply do not have time or the energy to go into all the ways she has helped me! But I will try my best to high light what meant the most to me! The whole goal of the book is to look at the heart of the child and to discipline, train, instruct and teach them in the ways of God. Proverbs 29:15 says "The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother." YIKES guys! This is serious business were talking about here! What Keith & I had been doing previous was really good! Miles was responding (when we were consistent) and we saw a lot of attitude and heart changes in him. But what we failed to do was train him in what the bible says about certain behavior, and train him what the right response should have been! For example, lets take the "who had it first" dilemma. I have used this line so many times I can't even count the number! Maxwell takes a toy from Miles and I ask "who had it first?" It's a natural response right? But listen to what Tedd Tripp says about this issue:

“This response misses the heart issues. “Who had it first?” is an issue of justice. Justice operates in the favor of the child who has the quicker draw in getting the toy to begin with. If we look at this situation in terms if the heart, the issues change. Both children are displaying hardness of heart. Both are being selfish. Both children are saying, “I don’t care about your happiness. I am only concerned about myself. I want this toy. I will have it and be happy regardless of what that means to you.” In terms of issues of the heart, you have two sinning children. Two children preferring themselves before the other. Two children who are breaking God’s law.”

So now, instead of asking "who had it first?" to Miles I would go about the scenario this way: (Taken directly from Ginger Plowman's book, inserted my own kids names for this blogs sake.)

(Me) Miles, Maxwell is playing with that toy right now. Do you think he is enjoying playing with it?

(Miles) Yes Mom

(Me) Do you think it would make him happy or sad if you took that toy away from him?

(Miles) Sad

(Me) Would it make you happy if you made Maxwell sad?

(Miles) No

(Me) Do you think it would be kind or rude to take away something he's enjoying playing with right now?

(Miles) Rude

(Me) That's right Miles, and love is not rude is it? When Maxwell is done playing with it, then you may play with it.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 says " Love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant, or rude, it does not insist on it's own ways; it is not irritable or resentful."

Since reading this book I have had this conversation with Miles multiple times, and his responses are very much like the one illustrated above! But the conversation doesn't end there! After disciplining him I show him how he should have responded by practicing! Children at this age don't always know what the right response should have been and so we, as parents need to teach them how to respond in every situation! The best way for it to become second nature is for them to practice the right response RIGHT after they had the wrong response. Granted, Maxwell is a bit too young for this at his age. BUT, there will come a day, and it will be here before I know it, where this will be very helpful! Miles is doing very well, and even LIKES role playing, and reenacting the scene over so that he can show me he knows what to do next time!

So, I know that was a lot, and I honestly didn't intend on going into all of that! That is just a small portion of what her book talks about!

The biggest lessons I learned were:

A) I need to know my bible better so I can teach Miles the basic truths about life! I want bible truth to be spoken every time I have an opportunity, so I need to be on my A-game when it comes to that!

B) There is so much more the disciplining a child then spanking them. It would be an injustice to my kids if all I did was spank them with out teaching them how to act next time. When discipline is in order I need to talk to them about what the heart issue is, spank them, love them and encourage them, and teach them how to handle the situation next time.

C) To not give up. Ginger Plowmans says it many times in her book. "You reap what you sow, you reap later then you sow, and you reap more then you sow."

I hope that in some way I have encouraged you or give you some insight into what Jesus has been teaching me lately.

I am so far from being perfect, and I am going to make mistakes. I am going to have days that I totally suck at this whole Mom thing. And there are going to be days that I feel encouraged. The only thing I can do is pray that Jesus and my kids would have grace on me as I learn how to be a good mom. And ultimately I can only do what I can do.

The rest is up to Jesus and my kids.