" I Wove OO"

It's funny yesterday I was reading on Tracy's blog about how little Bryson was telling her I love you. I was thinking when is my little E going to say it? I've been trying for a while to get him to say it to no avail. Last night I was laying down with him and I said " I love you Eli" and he said back " I wove oo". Oh it was so wonderful, I shed a little tear of joy, and tried to get him to say it about a hundred more times so he wouldn't forget!! To my great joy he woke up this morning and said to his sister " I wove oo Katy"! Oh how we love this boy!!!

Happy Birthday Elijah!!

We eagerly awaited Elijah's arrival. We didn't know if he was a boy or a girl.

Our first family picture. You can barely see him he is the little bundle on my lap. He was surprisingly 9lb 6oz! I thought I read the numbers backward on the scale! He was ten days early for crying out loud. Thank the Lord he came early!!

This was taken before church, I loved that little outfit.

He was such a little chunker! Check out those rolls on his arms.

This past weekend we celebrated my sweet Eli's second birthday. It is really hard to believe it has already been two years. I know people say that all the time but really... it flew by. Elijah has been such a joy for our family. He is a bundle of laughs and smiles. He is going, going, going all day! I never imagined that he would make such a tremendous impact on our family. I feel blessed beyond words to have been given the privilege of being his mom. I know that God gives us our children and their personalities for a specific reason. He has definitely made me more laid back and not so worried all the time that he is going to get hurt. Boys will be boys and he for sure fits that saying. He jumps off tables, down stairs, rides a skateboard and can shoot a basketball with amazing precision for a two year old. He is fascinated with bugs and will pick them up and bring it to you saying "mom bug". I love that boy with all my heart!! He is so special to our family. His sisters adore him, and he knows it!! We are looking forward to another year full of laughs with this little guy.
Blogger will not let me post anymore pictures right now so I will post some birthday pictures later today.

Random pictures

My best friend from Florida came to visit, here is her daughter Kayden and Katelyn.

This is Faith and her long time friend Chase.

This picture was taken at Thanksgiving. I just love how you can see Katy's hands around her brother. She just loves him.

Here are some random pictures from the past few weeks. It has been crazy around here lately. I don't have time to write out a long post but I got tired of seeing the old post every time I got on my blog to see someone else's!

California

This past week Gunnar and I went to California. He was speaking at a conference at Saddleback Church and they sent me along too! We went to Orange County it was where some of the fires were. The mountains were beautiful, it was nothing like I pictured it to be. This picture is at a park right on the edge of the mountains where the fire stopped.

On the first day I went sight seeing with one of the other wives while the guys were in meetings. She took me to this place called San Juan Capistrano Mission. It was beautiful, it is the largest and oldest ruins in America. It is were the famous Swallows of Capistrano come every spring from Argentina. It was full of beautiful flowers humming birds, and tons of butterfly's. We saw tons of cocoons in all different stages it was pretty cool.

On our last day after the conference we went to Laguna Beach and drove up the coast from there. It was the most beautiful I thought. There were huge houses behind us on the cliffs. I lived in Florida for 15 years and never saw anything this beautiful there!! I guess it is the combination of mountains and the beach that made it so beautiful.

I have to admit before going to California it was one of those places I really didn't care if I ever went. Now I want to go back and see some more. We only got about a half a day to look around. We would love to go spend about a week and see everything.

This is Gunnar with Aimee and Leo. They work with Gunnar in the Stewardship department. It was there first time to California too!

The kids spent the week with Lynnie (Melynda), Sue-Sue and Meme. They had a blast, I think I missed them more than they missed me. I called to talk to Katy and she told me to hold on because she was in the middle of something! It was nice to have some adult time and go out to restaurants and talk to other adults. I am so thankful for the opportunity to go I had a blast!

Opening to the Hillsong Conference

This is awesome, it is about 12 minutes but worth it!

Halloween Pictures

Here is Katy in her costume, this was my cheerleading outfit when I was her age. I was so excited to see that she fit in it perfectly this year!

Elijah walked right up to this game and made the first two shots! I think the guy running it was shocked. Yes, that is a lollipop in his mouth I could not get it out of his mouth.

Katy with her best friend Ariel

You can get a glimpse of Gunnar's costume. He didn't wear the wig and glasses thank goodness! Jenna this might bring back memories, it is the same costume he wore while in Las Vegas! He won't let me get rid of it.

We let the kids have one piece of candy last night and Eli chose a sucker.

We had a huge fall festival at church on Tuesday night. Aunt Susan and Lynnie went along and we had a lot of fun. The kids have gotten more wear out of their costume this year than any other year! Katy went as a cheerleader, Faith as Mylie Cyrus (she was Hannah Montana but the wig was terrible) and Elijah was Jack Jack or Dash, I prefer Dash because that's really what he did if you put him down. Last night we went around the neighborhood, the kids had a lot of fun. There were kids everywhere! Gunnar wore his "costume" and it was great spending time as a family. When we would leave a house Elijah would wave and say Bye. It was really cute.

Here is Elijah riding his skateboard dad made. Thanks Dad!!

Here he is doing a little trick

He was watching Gunnar doing stuff so he tries doing it too. If you look close you can see his feet and the board are off the ground.

You can see Eli in the background watching.

And now Eli is trying it himself

The weather has been so beautiful these past few days. Elijah loves to be outside and Daddy is off today so they have been outside. I love these pictures of them skateboarding together. Elijah will watch what Gunnar does and then try to do it himself. Sweet times!

Here is Elijah with his skateboard that dad made

Here he is in his big boy bed

We went to the air show while we were watching the planes E was watching the girls climb the fence and thought he would give it a try

He was so proud to make it to the top

Well it has once again been forever since my last post. I don't know why I check the thing everyday, but I don't have the energy to sit and write!

1.Gunnar returned from the Quest and he had an awesome time. We really missed him around here though. It is amazing how much you realize just how much you talk to someone when you can't speak at all for a week! I was so thankful to have dad and meme around to help out or I think I might have gone crazy.

2. Dad left for Seattle Washington last week. We really miss having him around here. Elijah misses all of the constant attention. Papaw would play with him all day! It has been an adjustment for me too. I am learning to help him entertain himself.

3. Elijah is officially out of his crib. He climbed out and we have not been able to keep him in it now. He has been sleeping in his big boy bed (sometimes!). The other day I went to put him down for a nap. We have put a gate at his door because he will just run right out. Well I put him in there and of course he runs right to the gate and screams and cry. After about fifteen minutes I am down in my room when I here him coming!! He climbed over the gate!! He is such a rascal. I went up there later to find he used the stool for getting into his bed by the gate and just climbed right over. This phase is proving to be quite the challenge.

4. Faith and Katelyn are doing great in school and really enjoying the chance to make new friends. Faith is in a running club and honor Choir. I am so excited she is starting early with music. She really loves it.

5. Gunnar and I are going to the Elm Creek Manor this weekend. It is a bed and Breakfast north of here. He got me this package for my birthday, I am pumped about getting some time away!! Bonnie-Ruth and Jason will be staying with the kiddo's.

That's about all that's going on in our house this past week.

Is this cold weather great or what?!

Not to much to post about this week. I don't think I even have any pictures! Katy is at home today with pink eye. We are on our way to the doctor this morning. Gunnar is gone all week to a men's Quest you can check it out at http://www.fellowshipofthesword.com I can't figure out how you just make a word link to it!! That is so frustrating! Anyhoo we are here without daddy for five days with no contact!!! Thankfully for me my dad and grandma are here with me and they are so much help. I know he will have a awesome time and I am planning on going to the women's one in January.
I will post some pictures and stuff soon. Be blessed

New Kitchen

here are some before and afters of the kitchen. These two were taken before we moved in but the counters were in.

This is the new kitchen I know I put two of the same picture but I didn't feel like redoing the whole thing so it's on there twice! You can kind of see the color we painted it brown sort of the color of coffee with creamer. That's the best way to describe it.

Last week we had our kitchen updated. When we built the house the builders price for granite and the tumbled marble back splash was outrageous!! So I did some investigating and found that we could have it done ourselves for less than half the price. We had them put in the counters that were free (and hideous). They were white they went all the way up the back too. Last week we had them put the granite and back splash and it really warmed up the kitchen. I thought I would put some before and after pictures.

Ok, I love this picture of little Eli sleeping. He fell asleep on the couch like this and I had to get a picture of it.

This is Elijah sitting upstairs hanging his feet over. When he first started doing this it freaked me out. I have checked and double checked and check frequently the railing so now I just let him do it. When he is sitting there he will call for me until I come and look at him sitting there.

Faith and Daddy have been spending lots of time on the trampoline lately. Faith loves for Gunnar to bounce her. He can get her up pretty high. This too at first freaked me out but I don't know maybe I am becoming more mellow or something cuz now I am here taking pictures!!

Gunnar celebrated his birthday this month and we got him a new iphone. He loves it, it is pretty cool it does a lot of stuff. We have also found it to come in handy when we are out eating and Elijah gets cranky. Gunnar just finds a skateboard video on you tube and Elijah instantly is glued to the thing. This night they were looking at some pictures he took and I just loved how they were both there with their heads on his shoulder.

Katy went on her first official field trip this week. It was her first time on a school bus. She was kind of nervous that morning before going to school. We went to an apple orchard just down the road. Who knew we had an apple orchard around here? It was pretty small and the crops were ruined by all of the rain this year, so the kids weren't able to pick any apples. They had a lot of fun though and it was great to be there to experience Katy's first field trip.

First day of School

Here are the girls right before they left, Elijah was not ready for them to leave.

Faith and Miss Wright

Katy and Mrs Diggs

Daddy walking Katy to her class

I can't believe it has taken me this long to get this post up! I have been thinking all week I need to get these pics on here and have been putting it off. I have been checking it regularly of course but I don't know sometimes I don't know what to say.

Faith and Katy started school last week. It was an exciting first day. Katy really had fun and Faith of course had a blast and made friends quickly. For the other three days of the week Katy cried when I dropped her off and when I left after lunch. It was so hard for me to leave her there. She told me that she was just not use to being away from me that long. It broke my heart! Sweet girl, she did better on Friday. Today when we dropped her off she looked to be on the verge of crying but we went ahead and left to make it easier on her (and me). I know she will be fine and will come to enjoy going and playing with friends.

Elijah is loving having all the attention to himself. I was able to get so much done during his nap time I had no idea that it would be this different. I have very much enjoyed my alone time with him. I know it is going to get better as the year goes on.

Last Days of Summer

Here are Elijah and Daddy before the bike ride

This is Faith and her new friend Kamron.

Well the last few days of summer are approaching quickly! We took the kids on a bike ride this morning. We had a great time riding together as a family again. Katy did so good on her bike for not riding in over six months! After our ride we took the kids to the pool. It was the first time for us at the neighborhood pool and we had a great time. Gunnar got a little burnt though. Elijah is a little fish, he loves the water and it is so fun to watch him swim around. Katy is having her last sleep over before school starts and Faith had hers a couple of days ago.

Getting Settled

Well we have officially moved into our new house. We are so enjoying all the room. The kids run around and play all day. Faith has made a new little friend who is the same age and they have been playing together everyday. Katy has been playing with Ariel and enjoying having her over to play at her own house. It is kinda sad the summer is almost over for them. They are just getting time to play with their friends. School starts next Monday, both girls are really looking forward to going actually. I am looking forward to the time with just me and Elijah.
I think it will take me another few weeks to get totally out of boxes. Do you really get totally out of boxes though.
Well I hear little Elijah waking up from his nap.

Tool Time

Elijah is helping daddy hammer

I love this one where his little hand is holding it.

I love this the look on his face here.

We were at Home Depot today looking at stuff for the house and they were having a kids workshop. I've seen this before but have never stopped to take the kids. We decided to let them participate today. We all had a lot of fun. The kids made little art carriers they had a blast hammering the nails in (especially Eli). They all got their own little apron and a pin to put on it at the completion of each project. We will definitely be taking the kids back!