Bits of My Weekend-Volume 9

We had such an awesome weekend!

David organized several babysitters and kid transporters to enable us to go to a Christian conference in McKinney over the weekend. I have seen David Herzog on Godtv as well as several episodes of Sid Roth. His meetings are WILD!

Wasn’t sure I could get David to go with me, but with a little bribing he gave in. He would agree with me—we were both so glad we went. It was amazing! Some typical things that happen at his meetings are healings, gold fillings, and supernatural weight loss. All of those things happened in our midst . . . as well as awesome worship and great teaching. Very fun to be a part of it all.


This was the view from the really great hotel we stayed in. Maybe I'm a dork but I just loved the quaint rooftops and church steeple.


For the record I have only twice stayed at a hotel where I loved the mattress more than the one we sleep on at home. I asked at the front desk what kind of mattresses they were, but all the girl could tell me was that it was a pillowtop Serta. Knowing there is a huge range of pillowtop Sertas, I should have just pulled up the mattress and looked for myself. She did mention that they get that question all the time. Que serra serra.

It was just a meeting on Friday night and another on Saturday night, so we had all day Saturday just to have fun in Dallas . . . and we did!

We had lunch at a great little Chinese place—truly it’s my goal in life to figure out how to make really great Chinese food. It’s my absolute favorite . . . and healthy!

We hit a great furniture store, did some outlet shopping, got my hair cut and even had time for a pedicure. Fun, fun, fun.

We didn’t get back until 2:00am Sunday morning and still got up for the early service . . . so we were totally wiped out. Our new babysitters kind of missed the bedtime goals and both Cole and Jonathan were up until 11:30!! So following the service and a quick lunch at Chili's, we all took an afternoon nap! (except for Ashley)

Sunday evening we gave Ashley her first taste of driving down the driveway. This is a picture of her in all her elation.


And this is a picture of the passengers in the back.


Drama, drama, drama.

Break This Mama's Heart!

Nicholas started pre-school today.

Even though he will only be going two days a week, it would be hard to find a kid more excited than him. He has been jumping up and down for days in anticipation.

With Buzz Lightyear backpack and Buzz Lightyear lunch box in tow, he hopped in the van with great exuberance.

On the way to school I prayed for him . . . and then he prayed for me,

"Dear Jesus, please help my mom to not be sad without me."

Bits of My Weekend-Volume 8

On Friday we headed over to Henry's house to drop Cole off for a sleep over. He had such a great time. Hanging with Henry is one of his favorite things to do. This is a picture of Cole on the left, Henry in the middle and his neighbor, Blake, on the right.


On Saturday I said my goodbyes to Nicholas' sweet little baby room as David FORCED me to go shopping with him for a "Big Boy" bed. This was very hard. When did my baby grow up?!


Nicholas was absolutely overjoyed with his new bed. He crawled right in and hasn't stopped talking about it since. I still need to come up with a new theme as he has kind of outgrown little yellow ducks . . . but for now he is loving some old bedding I had stored away from when Jonathan was younger.


You might notice in this picture (and in most all pictures of Nicholas of late) that his arms are crossed with his body turned slightly to the side. My son Jonathan pointed out that Nicholas now poses for every picture in the same way that Alvin does on the cover of "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" . . . which looks like this.


Which would also explain this picture of him taken on his birthday. I'm starting to see a resemblence. You might also notice his new bike in the background. He took one look at it and said, "I'm not getting on that 'cause I'll fall on my head!" So, he's been sticking with his tricycle . . . maybe he'll be ready in a month or two.


On Sunday after church we headed out to visit some friends of ours who live in Henderson. Because they're moving off of their 30 acre farm, they are parting with their two white pyrenees, Michael and Angel. They are wonderful dogs and our children are really hoping we make them ours . . . a decision we're weighing very carefully.


We made a final pitstop on Sunday late afternoon to buy last minute necessities for school which started today. This was tax-free week-end in Texas (which I try to avoid at all costs because the crowds are overwhelmingly chaotic) . . . but we braved the madness for the sake of desperately needed volleyball shorts (or so we were told) for our daughter. Every pair of shorts in the store were $5.99 . . . except for the pair required for the team which were $25.99 . . . whatever!


Nonetheless it was fun trip as The Sports Academy is quite close to my sister's house . . . so we got to pop in and say "hi" to sweet Lily Faith—which made all the driving worthwhile.


My friend, Michelle, is the inspiration for so many of us to be sharing "Bits of our week-ends." Be sure and check out what everyone else has been up to at Six in the City.

Celebrating Once Again!

My little Nicki-bop turns four today!

Such a wonderful, unexpected, amazing gift to our family four years ago. He is just like a burst of sunshine lighting up the world everywhere he goes.

On such a special occasion I thought I’d totally copy my friend Danielle’s post on her sweet Isabelle born just a few days before Nicholas.

Nicholas @ birth


Nicholas @ 8 months or so


Nicholas @ one


Nicholas @ two


Nicholas @ three


Nicholas @ four—today!


Love you sweet baby. God so overwhelmingly, so unexpectedly, so amazingly blessed us with you. You are such a joy!

Spreading Joy

The other day I was shopping in the mall and pushing Nicholas in his stroller. While walking through a beautiful display of draperies we noticed a lady sitting behind a desk where you place custom orders. She looked rather stressed and I think her day was going south.

Just as we were passing, her countance changed very suddenly and she started laughing outloud . . . my son was the culprit.

Though I couldn’t see his face because I was behind him, she said he was making the best pirate face at her.

Oh that boy!

He gets his pirate faces from that Veggies Tale movie . . . so glad he was able to bring some laughter to her day.

He does that to me all the time.

Bits of My Weekend-Volume 7

Our weekend started off with my three boys wanting to make Ashley breakfast in bed for her birthday—so sweet. Totally their idea with no coaching or help from me. You might notice Nicholas was more or less supervising . . . when he wasn't distracted with his gameboy.


On Saturday Ashley got a manicure (french zebra) followed by dinner with lots of relatives at The Olive Garden—her favorite restaurant.


She's now loaded up with lots of moola (we have LOTS of relatives), a really fun camera, and excessive amounts of girl accessories necessities.


Can’t leave out this sweet picture of Ashley with my new niece Lily Faith . . . oh my goodness she’s the cutest thing!


Finished up the evening with a few more gifts at home—these were suppose to be for the next party . . . but who can win an argument with a 15 year old?! Besides, if I had won the argument, I wouldn't have realized how much my bookshelves could use some serious help from Heidi and Leah!


On Sunday we had the afore mentioned party at Teen Mania’s pool with some of Ashley's friends from school and youth group (1st year we invited boys—yikes!)


And here's the "Okay, let me appease my dad with the camera" shot.


This was followed by a slumber party for the girls.

Note to self: If you have a slumber party for your teenage daughter, you will not get any sleep. Your husband will not get any sleep. AND, you'll have lots of grumpy teenagers at your breakfast table. But they ate heartily nonetheless and it was a great time had by all.

Happy extended birthday, Ashley. I think we can officially say it’s over now . . . at least until next year!

The inspiration for "Bits of My Weekend" is my good friend Michelle . . . she could use an encouraging word today if you have time to stop by.

15!

Really.

She’s 15.

Ashley's ecstatic . . . this is the year she gets her driving permit!

It's such a special day, we're living it up big . . . all weekend long. Bits to follow.

Happy Birthday Ashley. You have been such a gift to all of us!