Christmas: Part 1

Ready to build his dream home

Working with daddy is the best

The masterpiece

Opening gifts

Ohhh, what could this be?

score!

Trying out his new bike

Christmas is hard work

Last weekend my brother came up for a quick visit for Brandon's birthday. We also celebrated the boys birthday while he was here. Here are a few pictures of our short, yet sweet weekend.

Waking up on the wrong side of the bed...

To assuage my guilt over not posting any of the things that have been going on around here lately, here is a picture of how we found Caleb sleeping a couple nights ago. Now I know why he is so cranky in the morning. :)

It has been awhile since I last posted. I lost my camera about a month ago and with it quite a few pictures to share. We dragged out our old camera and have started snapping again. I will share soon. In the meantime here is Zachary practicing his memory verse.

A Perfect Pedicure

Several weeks ago when I was having a particularly difficult week Brandon and the boys surprised me with the perfect pedicure. Brandon ordered me to sleep in (which I am incapable of doing but a lovely thought), and relax while he took the boys to the park. When they got back I was whisked up to bed to read (which is my favorite thing) while they made me yummy Cinnamon rolls and set up a little pampering station. They soaked my feet, rubbed them with sand and carefully applied sweet smelling lotion that they helped pick out just for the occasion. It was such a special and unexpected gift.

A much needed weekend away...

Last weekend Brandon and I got to go to Los Angeles to visit my brother and sister-in-law. Thank you mom and dad for taking care of the little monsters while we were gone. We desperatly needed some time away to just be. We went to Disneyland which was a first for me. the weather was lovely and the company was great! We had such a good time! Thanks for having us Stephen and Heather. We love you!

At the airport ready to go!

Visiting with my friend Robin from college

Dinner at Cheesecakes on the beach.

Enjoying Its a small world at Disneyland

Stephen and Heather posing in their dream car

The mandatory picture pose

an intense game of Bocce Ball

Yummy Preztals that Heather and I made.
I am planning on making them with the boys when it cools down.

Camping

Are we there yet?

Bliss

Picasso

Snuggling with Daddy

Building sandcastles

Running from the waves

A special moment

Can you tell that I kind of like him?

B playing with his shadow

Lately I have been reading about the origin of hymns and the people who wrote them. Today I came across a short verse written by Fanny Crosby that humbled and encouraged me. What courageous spirit. If I can choose to live my life with half of her character... May it be so.

Oh, what a happy soul am I!

Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be

How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don't;
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't!

Written by Fanny Crosby at the age of 8.

Sometimes you just have to elicit a little help.

Swimming Lessons

The boys completed their first session of swimming lessons. They really enjoyed the water and all the attention they got from their teacher. It was really neat to watch Caleb blossom as the week went by. He "graduated" to the next level and had so much fun in the process. Now, if we could only get a pool and thwart some of this heat, life would be grand!