Mall Mayhem...

This afternoon the four of us went to the mall to look for a few things. While we were there, Matthew and Mason went into a shoe store while Ellie and I went into the Bath and Body Works that was next door. While I was looking for soap, I thought I heard a child screaming out in the mall that sounded an awful lot like my son. But no, it couldn't be my son because he and Matthew were quietly looking for shoes next door. So Ellie and I continued on until we met up with the boys at Sears awhile later. As I approached them I noticed Mason was holding a wet rag to his mouth with a sad look on his face, and when I looked up at Matthew, his shirt was bloody, like there had been a mini massacre on his shoulder. What!? It WAS my son that had been screaming out in the mall! Apparently he just tripped over his flip flops while he was walking and landed flat on his face, and Matthew carried him on his shoulder to the nearest bathroom. Mason lowered the wet rag to reveal a double busted lip--one on top and one on bottom. The picture doesn't nearly do it justice. Poor guy.

Fun With Infant Mobility...

Ellie is such a busy girl, and she is into everything! Some of her favorite places to get into mischief are the coffee table and my ficus tree.

This...

Usually results in her getting stuck underneath like this...


And this always puzzles me: My silly girl refuses to eat baby food, but I catch her trying to eat this mossy ficus stuff all day long...

And that usually results in something like this...


(It's true...only a terrible mother would stop to take a picture while her helpless child is caught underneath a house plant. But hey, I'm confident it will be a great picture to show her later!)

Swinging...

There's not too much that needs to be said about these photos--Just the kids enjoying their swing set on a pretty day!

Photography, By Mason...

Over the past year, Mason has become very interested in taking pictures with our camera. His favorite subjects: his "buddies". (These are the plethora of stuffed animals that he sleeps with at night.) Apparently it was a special occasion today. According to Mason, it was Bear's 5th birthday, and he was having his picture taken with all of his buddy friends at the party. In attendance were Lion, Puppy, Dog, Tenguin-the Penguin, and Wecko-the Gecko. (As you can see, Mason likes to stick to the basics when naming his animals.) Anyway, we've discovered that Mason actually has a knack for posing his subjects, and getting them centered in the shot. Here are several pictures he took (all by himself) of Bear and his friends at the "party", and one other shot he took of his other little buddy, Ellie.


(He even used the camera timer to pose this one of himself.)

So if your childrens' stuffed animals have an upcoming memorable event, such as a birthday party, a stuffed animal wedding, a dolly prom, or perhaps even a teddy bear graduation, remember Mason for all of your picture-taking needs. You won't find a better 4 year old photographer!

Happy Mother's Day!...

On this Mother's Day, there are so many things that I'm thankful for:

Thank you, Mom and Elaine, for being such wonderful mothers and grandmothers in the examples that you are, the sacrifices you make, and the love that you show to your families.

Thank you to my girlfriends--my fellow mothers in this journey--who edify me and exemplify what it means to be Christlike wives and mothers, and who constantly challenge me to be a better wife and mother as well.

Thank you, Matthew, for being such a great father and husband. Thank you for being such a hard worker and sacrificing many things to allow me to stay home with our children--a job I am most thankful for.

Thank you, Mason and Ellie, for providing me with more love, joy, pride, laughs, hugs, and kisses than anyone could ever be blessed to have. I'm so thankful to be your Momma. You two are my heart!

And above all, thank you Father God for giving me this amazing charge of motherhood, and blessing our family in ways that we do not deserve. Thank you for so graciously allowing me to have a part in bringing your children into this world, and entrusting them to my care. Give me wisdom in teaching them, and let me always be an example of You to them.

Happy Mother's Day!

Dedicating Ellie...

Today was a special day for Ellie, as we dedicated her at church. And it was a special day for me as well because, not only did I get to celebrate Mother's Day with my family, but I got to experience the beauty of our entire church praying over my child, and her precious little life.

"I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life."

Proverbs 4:11-13

Happy Birthday, Matthew!...

Today my wonderful husband turned 31! We had a fantastic day, as his whole family got to come up for a visit, and we got to spend the day together catching up, and enjoying some birthday cake!!

Matthew blowing out his candle, and Mason licking off the icing!


Aunt Natalie, Mimi & Pop with Mason, Ellie, and cousin Raleigh