Oh my.... Belly!

Yes I am only seven months along. I have pictures of me the day of delivery for Micah with a smaller bump. :P

Our baby (BOY) is due December 17th. Boys, boys, boys...

Uncle Thomas sets the bar high

Van full, we headed to South Dakota to watch Uncle Thomas play his first offical (but non-confrence) game against Georgia Southern this weekend. He came in 4th quarter and did well! He even threw a touch-down pass!!

It was really fun for the boys to experience the excitement of the game... and we look forward to many more years of these games ahead.

I feel so blessed to have Uncle Thomas be a role model to my little boys -- not just excelling in sports but as a person too. Most boys look up to sports heros that they never get to know. What a treat to make these memories as young boys, not only watching the game, but throwing the ball and cuddling with their uncle after the game as well.

Micah's first day at Kingdom Kids Preschool

Someone is excited!!!

More family is always a good thing

Welcome to the family, Baby Moses!

We got to visit my brother-in-law's new baby boy last Friday. He was born in style -- on Labor Day. It was fun to see the perfect newborn, but the boys had the most fun playing with cousin Alana.

Malachi kept coming over to me with a big smile and giving me happy hugs. He's never done this before. There is nothing that my boys like better than being with family. Of course, Grandma was there, which added to the excitement... and uncle Mat and aunt Kristie.

As a kid, nothing ever compared to the holidays with my family. The house would buzz as we played games, shared stories, enhaled some hot food, and enjoyed just being together. No dance, vacation, sleep-over, toy, or school day ever ever compared to this. I want for this for my children. I long for it still as an adult.

There is something about brothers and sisters - aunts and uncles - cousins and grandparents -- coming together, to just be. together.

This is close to heaven for me. Something so deep and rich that just showing up at the same place unleashes a gut-joy. I realized how raw and undeniable this is as my two-year-old "thanked" me with his third and fourth hug for bringing him to this piece of heaven.

I hope that we get to spend more days together like Friday. Celebrating life -- celebrating eachother. Because it isn't living when we are without eachother.

cool kids

This is Malachi gearing up for one of his ULTIMATE high-fives. He turns his body to the side, stares at his target with an intimidating glare, purses his lips, gives out a grand grunt and gives it his all! It always sends me to the floor, rolling in belly laughter. This is his celebration for taking daddy down... see future pics...



I got a picture and autograph (drool and a sticker) with the cool duo.



This is what boy time looks like at our house. The play structure in the blue, we call "daddy." It's really fun now when the boys can gang up on dad. This is their victory pose.




posers.



and the best part is when they go after each other. I LOVE the whole brother thing! So glad God gave me a chance to partake in this special sort of bond.



But really, they are big-ol' softies when it comes down to it... there are definately two sides to the boy-coin. Could I BE more blessed?!

Some random July...

Water fun in street clothes -- a new bunk bed (malachi is in a BIG boy bed!!) -- a visit to wisconsin to see their great grandma -- walking the dog -- golf on the lawn with dad -- summer fun as a kid... is there anything better?

Boys boys boys boys boys

There is nothing better than spending the day with my boys.... all three of them, quite frankly. But having sons... well, honestly, it's quite a stretch for me... but it's a stretch like Yoga. It just feels really good. Playing outside in the cold and wrestling around and lots of dirt and noise and "uh-oh"s... it's draining and filling at the same time.

Parenting isn't sheer joy. I don't want to be too romantic about it... but it's actually a deeper joy - a more raw and yet tender joy. It's tough and tumble and soft and synergistic. It bellows up from a well inside that I forget is there until small moments overwhelm me.

It comes as a belly laughter like today before nap time - as Micah crawled into his bed he told me he loved me, and I wispered something foolish like, "will you always love your mommy?" He didn't say anything... and I gave him a little tickle and said, "you'd better say yes, mister." And so without hesitation he replied, "yes, mister." And I giggled about that for a long time as I lay beside him.

God is so over-the-top and suprising in His love. I see how brilliant He is in the complexities of my sons' intrinsic personalities and abilities. I don't know why I am still so grumpy about what is. At the end of the day, a stretching (yoga-esc) day, I feel empty; i don't feel full and thankful and blessed. CS Lewis said the door is locked from the inside. I too often ignore the love of God in my sons' constant displays of wit, or in my husband's unending patience with me.

These pictures shout God's love, enveloping me in His Brilliance -- through my boys.





Did you see that form on Micah's shot. Nice coaching, dad! Clearly, Micah thinks he's got game.