Happy 3rd Birthday, Titus Kip!

A wonderful day of giving thanks for the 3 tremendous years God has gifted Titus with!

one final 2 year old snuggle time with daddy!

Grandy and Mimi made a special trip down for the big day

The meal of choice was Hot Dogs over the fire pit

AND...

The long awaited funnel cake birthday cake.
Titus has been asking for one of these since he tasted his
first funnel cake back in August at the fair!
Boy - oh - Boy was it a tasty treat for all of us

a special birthday gift! Some new cars!

testing out the new truck with Grandy

The jolly green giant and little sprout!

Clive stopped by to give Titus some specially decorated cupcakes...and this special new shirt! Now "The White Van" will live on long after these boys realize it is just a vehicle! But for now, these guys are super intrigued and enthralled with all the powered gadgets our van has! May the Brum-Mobile live on and on:)

One tired but extremely happy mommy!
I am so thankful to God for choosing me to
be the mother of this smart, kind, and energetic young man!

Update

Brumbaugh Family Vacation

St. George's Island, FL 2009

the most relaxing beach we have ever visited!
We did this for hours just floating around talking with each other...
I am now a convert to secluded beaches!

the last Brumbaugh kid wedding
took place on the last day of vacation...Congrats Justin and Stephanie

the Cousins (left 2 right)
Ezra 1
Jonas 6
Titus 2
Kate 2
Ella 4
Due to arrive...
(and so excited to all be preggo together!
what a fun few months it has been swapping preggo moments:)
again left 2 right
Isaac Dec 2009
Simeon Nov 2009
Baby Stamper April 2010

The boys first professional picture...
gotta love the picture people getting
on the floor to capture this moment!

Helping dad assemble the bunk bed in their room.

Titus can still tell you the tools he used that
day to help put the bed
together...hammer, socket wrentch...bolts...

One Sunday afternoon...the boys and I drifted off to sleep listening to power tools in the back yard...and when we awoke...VWALLAHH!!

Titus will sleep up top and Ezra will be sleeping on the bottom bunk...
boy oh boy they grow up fast:)snuggle time with the master craftsman

chatting it up to make the time go by...
and boy oh boy can these boys chat up a storm!

Oh, the things you do to entertain a toddler trying to learn how to use the potty. My update on this is: patience produces progress...and last week was our breakthrough week! Hallelujah! Now we just have to keep up the patience during practice to ensure permanence:)

Our library closed down last December in order to renovate...and they finally opened again on Sept. 30, 2009! WE went to the opening party and celebrated by each of the boys getting their first library card! Titus was so excited to be able to borrow Franklin the Detective on his very own library card!

THE LIBRARY CARD!!

Mark's first day of his last year of seminary. He left for class and came home later that day only to inform me that they had canceled his class for the semester...which meant he had to register for another online class....WAHOO!! He has had a full load of classes this semester but has only had to attend 1 week of class-which allows him to maintain a normal work schedule and study in the morning and evenings (after performing his fatherly duty of post dinner wrestling with Titus and Ezra, of course!)...we have enjoyed this break TREMENDOUSLY!

A last minute family photo...we don't do professional photos b.c I hate the hastle of working with another person who thinks if they do something stupid enough my kids will smile...WRONG! Although they are young...they do know when someone is just being dumb...so please just tell them what you want and snap away! So, I decided to get this picture done and the only time they had available was 9:00pm...and my boys go to bed at 8:00pm! However, I must admit that the picture people were amazing and managed to get this shot which I enjoy looking at...but soon and very soon our little family will expand to include another sweet baby boy, Simeon D....and we are ALL excited about that:)

MORE TO COME...

Are we awake? Does the relative comfort and ease of America dull our thinking?

Friends, why are we so eager to shut out disaster as if we are invincible? America is on the verge of being destroyed from the top down and we have let it happen. We the people have become complacent and lethargic. No longer do we consider the nation of our children and the future of America and its impact. Our days are filled with work and pleasure so that our kids can work and be pleasured. How often do we consider the land in which they will work and the country--presently still the best country in the world--that now affords for us so many opportunities for good fun and enjoyment, but may very soon evaporate in the coming 'change' that is being forced upon us? It is not difficult to draw comparisons from our nation and the corruption of Rome centuries ago. Yet so many of us do not care to take the time and think about government, history, politics, and YES our involvement. Our founding fathers gave us a republic...if we could keep it, as Benjamin Franklin stated. I ask, "Are we keeping it?" We still have a voice. It will be sacrifice if we are to speak. It will be difficult if we are to act. It will require us to consider the difficult choice to give up time, pleasure, and ease to voice our authority as a nation governed by the people for the people. The burning question in my mind is this, "Are we willing? Am I willing?" Our voices can be heard and shared far quicker today and on a much broader scale today than in the days of our founders. Dare we use our resources? We must.

America, friends, family are you willing to pause and ponder your current attitude toward our nation and our government? I beg of you today to stop and think about this country, your aspirations for your family, your personal efforts to build your home and life, your future, and how integrally related they are to the government that we have allowed to develop and to whom we have handed over almost complete control. Today after you stop to think just for a few moments about our current government and the possibilities of our future as a nation please ask yourself what you might be able to do to prevent the fall or even the 'change' of our great nation. You can write to your newspaper, begin a blog, research the history of our nation, or just begin by reading our constitution and remember just what kind of nation we have. You can call your representatives (if you never call and only stop with one call you are letting your voice go silent amidst the winds of 'change'). You can write letters to your local and national governments (a letter demands thought and time--it will have to be researched and will drive you to action). Whatever your choice or method (there are multiple other opportunities to begin to influence our nation and the choices that it is making--use some creativity and do not be suppressed by fear) you are in the position still as an American to act and to impact the future of our land. Will you stop today and consider the opportunity?

Our fore fathers took their opportunities and forged a nation of opportunity for us--for you and me. We are living in ease in the best country in the world for the present time. Are you and I willing to keep this nation and retain the environment, philosophy, and opportunity for which it was created and currently continues to provide? The length and breadth of our nations ability to sustain itself is measured by the people and their involvement in its inner workings. We must act to sustain our country and its foundation.

Baby Simeon Live

yes...call me an over-excited mommy...but I love the fact that I could get a recording of our 20 week ultrasound with Simeon. We were able to get a VHS recording of Ezra's 20 week ultrasound...but I have failed to get it transferred over to DVD as of yet...(which my sweet father will be doing for me on my next visit to DC!).
So...bear with me as I make this post for the family who are interested...I hate talking on video...but I wanted to make a few comments so my family would know what they are looking at. Plus...I just couldn't help myself...when you see this little boy squirming around in there...it makes me just want to squeal and touch him. It also makes me so very nervous about having another BUSY BOY to follow after and train. The entire DVD is about 13 minutes long...so I just taped the highlights for you all to enjoy.

Video #1 - It's a BOY! You can see his spine for the first few seconds...and his little heart just pumping away...and then it gets blurry as Sue (my ultrasound technician) moves around to find out if we are looking at a girl or boy...It is obvious if you keep looking towards the left side of the image. I am so glad she did not make me wait until the end to find out! I was so nervous and excited for this appointment that I told the nurses my blood pressure was probably through the roof...and it was definitely higher than normal:):)

Video #2 - His busy feet...I love see his little feet floating. They come into and out of view because he was feeling the nervous energy his mama was emitting!

Video #3 - his heart...I kinda zoomed in too close...but you can see his heart just going to town doing it's thing!

Video #4 - Is going to take too long to upload at this moment...so I will post it tomorrow!

July 4, 2009

Titus, Ezra, and myself spent this past weekend with my parents. Mark had to stay home to work on school work ( and was greatly missed by all!)...but the rest of us had a wonderful time visiting family, eating yummy food, and relaxing together.

Aunt Becky reading the new lighthouse book she got for Titus

Fireworks by Grandy!

does he look ready for bed??

Video #1 - the fireworks were quite alarming to Ezra...even though last year he loved them. Titus eventually started liking them...but we had to remove Ezra's influence in order for him to not be so fearful!
Video #2 - we ended the evening by watching Uncle Jason's band perform for the fireworks in DC. (no we did not travel into the mess of traffic and people...we just watched the live performance from the comfort of our living room!) Uncle Jason will not be so pleased that I included this video as this was just "another performance" for him...but we were so excited to see him playing the Herald Trumpets (I love these instruments!!)...and I managed to catch a second or two on the video. I know Titus will be excited to see Uncle Jason playing the trumpet on our blog...

Still No Pink

I am pleased to introduce you to the newest addition to the Brumbaugh family:

Simeon D. Brumbaugh

July 8, 2009 at 20 weeks and 5days

We are expecting to meet him in November. We tried to keep this one a secret...but somehow I had people coming up to me saying...we heard you were expecting...and that it is a secret! Quite humorous to me indeed...people were actually telling people and then saying it was a secret...but we just kept pushing it off. It started off as being a legitimate reason b/c we had no idea when this baby was due. I had a miscarriage in February...and found out on the 18th of March that I was preggo again. However, the time wasn't right. I was so weak and so overwhelmed from February-June that I didn't want to share the news with people until I had mended just a little. But I rejoice today to share this news...yes, 3 so close and in seminary will continue to make these years more and more humbling as we endeavor to finish this season of life. But these kiddos are precious gifts from God and I am going to continue in His strength to fight off my desire for temporal treasures and renew my mind with the task of nurturing these young men to know and love the Savior whom I pray will graciously draw to Himself one day!

If you can stomach this...

I LOVE listening to sermons as I go about my daily tasks here at home. PArtly because I get lonely and enjoy the "adult" conversation...but also partley because I know it is falling on the ears of my 2 young toddlers who roam about unsuspecting as they play. I have my favs that I like to listen to...but toady I decided to do something alittle different...and I made sure it was during nap time because I had a feeling I would not be encouraged by truth as I listened in.

I was presented with the opportunity to listen to a sermon by a man that I would not normally listen too; However, his "sermon" topic and some chatter I had seen on facebook peeked my interest and I decided to listen in to the sermon. Needless to say, I was unimpressed and indeed a bit cynical as I listened to this man rant about why young men are leaving fundamentalism...and my lasting thought was...no sir, you have it all wrong..."sermons"-more like a soap box- like this are the reason so many young men are leaving (running as fast as they can) away from fundamentalism!

Pastor Dan Sweatt from Berean Baptist Church in Georgia. This session, entitled Young and Restless was recorded at the South Regional Fellowship of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International which met at The Wilds, a Christian camp in Brevard, North Carolina April 6-7 of this year.

I was super duper relieved to see that Dr. Kevin Bauder wrote an essay as a rebuttle against this presentation entitled: Time to Speak Up and if this rebuttle were in audio format I would have gladly played both in the presence of my toddlers.

If you decide to listen in to this session, please promise me that you will do yourself the wonderful favor of reading the essay Dr. Bauer wrote after you listen in...if you can stomach the entire session!

ENJOY (if that is the right word!)

I will be tuned in to see what comes of this as Dr. Bauder gives a wonderful call to action at the conclusion of his essay.

Deal Alert

For anyone who is interested in getting a zoo membership or botanical gardens membership for the Norfolk area, I would like to pass along this great deal that was passed on to me. It may seem a little strange, but it works and you can even contact the Norfolk zoo to double check if you want. If you go to this website www.aviary.org and buy your membership to the Pittsburgh Bird place...you will automatically get a year long membership to the Norfolk Zoo as well as the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. There are tons of other Zoos and Gardens that are accepting this pass as well...so those of you who are not from this area may want to check the complete list to see if the zoos/gardens in your area are accepting it!

I was looking forward to getting a membership somewhere this summer...but I couldn't decide between the zoo or the gardens. Both have fun kiddy places...and I LOVE beautiful gardens...so this pass solved the problem! Both places for the price of one (thanks, Dad and Mom)!

Beth Stamper - I checked and there are several Minnesota zoos and gardens that are accepting this pass...but I wasn't sure which ones were close to you! But...it may be worth chekcing into!

Summer Cuts

Mark decided it was time for the boys annual summer buzz haircuts. They both did well and although it took a bit longer...we managed to get both boys buzzed with straight lines along the back of their neck's (anyone with little boys knows how amazing this feat truly is!).
These pics were stolen from my friend Nina's facebook. the boys spent last Thursday at Aunt Nina's house (and as Titus so often reminds me...Uncle Michael is not there he is working). They enjoyed the day filled with investigating all sorts of new outlets and knick-knacks. These pics were taken during lunch time...

pb&j in one hand...a pretzel stick in the other.
What more could a 15 month old boy ask for!

notie the PB smeared on each side of his face
from eating right down the middle of his sandwich!

this is just a fun goofy shot that I feel captures one of this little guys favorite tricks. Ezra has a very high roof in his mouth...and he LOVES to stick food up there and save it for later. This picture caught him in the act...if you look closely you can see his PB&J squeezed up in the roof of his mouth. No joke...I could write quite a lengthy post about what I have found in the roof of this boys mouth....and even worse...how long he has kept those things hidden in there!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
to so many wonderful Mom's who read this blog.

to my mom - I enjoyed celebrating with you spur of the moment yesterday. I am glad we are close to each other...otherwise you would be spending my inheritance on plane tickets to help keep me sane! Our frequent visits help ease the loneliness of motherhood and I am so grateful for your involvement in the lives of Titus and Ezra! Your generosity and spiritual perspective help keep me focused on the joy of my little blessings from above. I appreciate you in a whole new way now that I have been a mommy for a few years...

To my mom-in-law: I love having you only a phone call away! Your encouragement means so much to me as I try to figure out the whole seminary wife/mommy thing out. Just knowing you have been there with multiple kiddos helps me know that I will be able to survive on days and weeks when I feel like I have been completely overtaken with books, papers, bills, diapers, and discipline! I look forward to seeing you in a few months in Florida!!

I also wanted to include the poem someone sent me on facebook this week. It truly brought tears to my eyes as I read what I have often thought! My most precious moments spiritually seem to come at moments when I am in the midst of doing so many tasks that seem mundane and repetitive. I am reminded often that even though I may be wiping a nose...or saying no for the 1,000 time that day...I am in a spiritual battle for the soul's of my children. They need to see the gospel in all my actions and reactions...they need to see that mommy knows she is bringing Glory to her Savior in the midst of those mundane and often physically demanding tasks. I am most glorifying when I am serving my Savior by meeting the needs of my family...no matter how lonely or thankless it may feel...that moment is my opportunity to embace my ministry as a servant of Christ and a humble ambassador of His all sufficient gospel and grace to my children!
My spritual walk does not consist of much " deep study" time these days. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have had to study Theology in years past...b/c now is the time that is it being tested moment by moment day in and day out. Children never give you "down time" spiritually speaking, so what a joy to know that my Father gives me the wisdom and grace to meet each need moment by moment day in and day out as I serve Him in the full time ministry of mommyhood!

Dear Lord,it's such a hectic day,
With little time to stop and pray,
For life's been anything but calm
Since You called me to be a mom-
Running errands, matching socks,
Building dreams with wooden blocks,
Fitting lids on bottled bugs,
Wiping tears and giving hugs,
A stack of last week's mail to read-
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet, when I steal a moment Lord,
Just at the sink or ironing board,
To ask the blessings of Your grace,
I see then, in my small one's face,
That you have blessed me all the while-
And I stoop to kiss that precious smile.

Town Hall for Hope

(click on the link above for more info and to watch a short video explaining the event)

okay...I don't want to burn anyone out on Dave Ramsey, but I just had to share this event with all my readers. Mark and I have known about it for a little over a month...but I hesitated to put it on here since some people still have no idea who Dave Ramsey is apart from the fact that he cuts of people's credit cards while he talks.

When Dave dreamed up this event he was hoping for 500 locations to host the webcast and for 200,000 people to attend the event. The event will consist of a 30 minute talk from Dave and then an hour of questions from the live audience as well as twitter, facebook, e-mail and You Tube. Dave will cover facts of the economy because he feels the general public is being fed FEAR instead of FACT and he feels complled to share facts to try and empower people to live without FEAR no matter what the media/government is feeding them.

Now is where I will interject that the Dave Ramsey radio show is now airing in our area every night from 6:00-9:00pm on AM850. The show has been airing for a few months which means that enough people called and requested this show to be aired in our area that they decided to pilot it...and when the numbers and excitement continued growing...the radio station has kept it rolling! In fact, Mark was in a Starbucks a few weeks ago and was pleased to see a couple from the community teaching another couple how to set up a budget and work through the Ramsey plan to debt free living! WAHOO!!!! He didn't interrupt to say anything to them...but it encouraged me to continue to pray for my community and for my boldness to share Christ with them via finances. The potential is unbelievable when people catch how contagious it is to truly live with Financial Peace because you walk with the Prince of Peace!

As I listened to Dave the other night...he was testifying about how God has truly grown this town hall for hope meeting. He said that God had opened up the locations to 6,000!! and the total people signed up to attend one of those locations was already over 1,200,000!! PTL! He also shared that the Fox Business channel is going to air the meeting!! Did you hear me!!! again PTL!!! and also several radio stations that air his radio show are airing the live meeting! again...PTL!

So I ask you all...please pray for your community! If you can attend I would highly encourage you to attend seeing as how you will get a first hand glimpse at how motivational Dave is and how excited people are at his info. I guarantee that if you attend this event and are open to talk with people around you...you will make contacts with needy people in your immediate community who need encouragement and guidance!

Again...please don't just roll your eyes at this post. Pray...even if you think Dave is ridiculous...pray for Mark and I as we are coming into contact with more and more who are open to learning a new way of living...which can open their eyes to their own spiritual debt and the true Freedom they can have through Christ! This meeting will not be a "gospel" event...but I am fervently praying for gospel opportunities to come from it!

Also, please pray for Dave Ramsey. He is a Brother-in-Christ and needs our encouragement and prayers as he continues to share hope to some truly uninformed and scared people. Pray that this webcast will be free of technical difficulties. Pray for clarity as he speaks to many many people...pray for him to continue to grow steadfast in his walk with Christ. He is truly in love with Christ...and we all know that passion for Christ brings indignation from others...

If you are interested in attending, just click on the link above. you can enter your zip code and find a location near you...even if you think no one in your area knows who this guy is...I GUARANTEE you there are people in your area who will be attending with open minds and lots of questions...are you ready? Has the gospel truly changed the way you view your finances! What an opportunity to share your faith and if you are missing it...I encourage you to learn...even if not from Dave...LEARN...
NOTE: just to clarify for those of you local readers this meeting will be on the radio at 8:00pm on AM 850 April 23rd.

My afternoon laugh

Today I spent some time checking my facebook and e-mail. I have been out of town for the last week and I do my best to stay as unconnected and unreachable as possible while I'm away...so this afternoon I spent some time catching up on things...and a friend had sent this to me on facebook. It made me chuckle outloud for a minute...until I was interrupted by my #1 and #2 kiddos who I thought were fast asleep...so much for my "hiding" time today! Even if you don't have children yet...I am sure you have seen this progression take place in the lives of those mommies around you who have multiple kiddos who are close in age!

BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN


1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

__________________________

Preparing for the Birth:

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.

3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

______________________________________________________

The Layette:

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

______________________________________________________

Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.

3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

______________________________________________________

Pacifier:

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.

2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.

3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

______________________________________________________

Diapering:

1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.

2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.

3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

_______________________________________________________

Activities

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, Baby Zoo, Baby Movies and Baby Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaners.

______________________________________________________

Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.

3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if there is uncontrolled bleeding.

______________________________________________________

At Home:

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

just thougth this photo of my boys at halloween illustrated this point exactly!

3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children

______________________________________________________

Swallowing Coins (a favorite):

1st child: When first child swallows a coin (and believe me they will seeing as how by the time they are crawling, you are laid out on the couch with morning sickness from your pregnancy with #2), you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays

2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.

3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!

Northland International University

Gotta say I am so proud of NBBC making this name clarification. I can only imagine all the hype and talk this name change will spark.

The Core values are the same

Honesty
Obedience
Wisdom
Service

They are still pursuing Great Commission Training in

Academics - what we know
Actions - what we do
Attitude - who we truly are

And they are still in love with the same God and Gospel that scripture teaches.

As for my concern of the intent of this change...who cares? The above 3 items (Gospel, Core, and Principles) were my concern. after all the university started as a local camp, then God grew it and they became a regional camp, then God grew it and they changed the name to a Bible Institute, then God grew it and they changed the name to Bible College, then God grew it and they began the Graduate program, then they began opening up extensions of the college on foreign field...so, they changed the name to University.

I had the opportunity of getting to know several of the administrators as I attended the college...and let me say that their vision was so huge and passionate! Doc O knew he needed someone with more skill to help him flush out his vision...so Dr. Horn came along and completely revamped the academic side of NBBC...which was not welcomed by most students at the time, but has greatly impacted NBBC for the better! Dr. Olson came along with such vision and a deeply rooted love for the local church and missions! Now, they realize that more skill is needed and they are adding Dr. Jack Klem to vamp up their graduate program...and I personally think they couldn't do better than asking him!! Dr. Jim Bennett is the Vice President for Academic affairs (and has been for a few years) which only further grounds my excitement for the potential of NIU in the days ahead. I remember chuckling to myself after hearing a few of them talk about their vision for NBBC...I was thinking...in your dreams! Well...here are some dreams that are becoming a reality...and the advancement of the Gospel is central to those dreams!

So, officially, NBBC still exists as the undergraduate program of Northland International University...whew! At least now I know my memorobilia hasn't lost any of its investment value...and I am also quite certain that their AMAZING (lol) Alumni perks are still valid b/c after all I am a card carrying graduate :)

However, when someone asks me where I graduated from...I will say Northland International University (for SEVERAL reasons but I'll refrain from my soap box right now :) and under my breath I will ask God to continue to bless and grow the vision and passion of Northland as it endeavors to passionately and effectively train servants for Gospel living!

for some helpful explanation the administrators sat down for 2 round table discussions that were recorded and I found them extremely insightful. Here is the link to the chats!

now....I wonder if they would ever consider doing away with DEMERITS! that would truly be internationl! In International countries...well let's just say their forms of discipline seem so much more effective ;)

Blog posting options

I know I haven't given any good tips recently...I promise to have a few ready for next week!
I wanted to explain all these post over the last month and a half. You see...I want to make it perfectly clear that I do not sit down and blog everyday. This was eating away at my time so once I began focusing on how I could better use my time...I contemplated forgoing the entire facebook/blog world altogether.
however, I stumbled upon the post options button right above the "Publish Post" button on the screen where I type my blog posts...what a difference this has made! It allows me to sit down and do all my posts at one time and schedule them to post on any given day I choose. Pretty nifty!
Mark has been working at the YMCA as a fit links coach one evening a week...and I am so lonely when he isn't here at night. Therefore, I decided to do all my blogging after I lay the boys down on the night he worked. Once Mark gets home he studies for and takes his Hebrew quizzes online...so it gives him plenty of uninterrupted study time and allows me to streamline and condense my blogging time each week.
So needless to say, last Tuesday I was a little more spent in my mental, emotional, and physical capacities...thus I opted to do some simple posts for the week.

Don't be alarmed...I have been thinking and considering some new post ideas...so stay tuned!

Pizza Party!

When I was home in DC a few weeks ago, someone - you know who you are - slipped me a $20.00 bill and told me to buy a pizza for our next family night. Well...last week was missions conference for us at Colonial and we decided to stop off at Cici's pizza for some dinner together before attending our missions workshops. We all loved it and enjoyed watching the boys...put away some pizza! I guess Mark and I put away quite a bit as well...b/c I was so full at the missions conference I was borderline miserable! However...Cici's is free for kiddos 3 and under...and they are running a $3.99 buffet special...so we made out with enough cash to do it again!!! Wahoo for round 2 coming soon:)

In case you can't see clearly what is on his plate...I got him some carrots and ranch dip (a special treat for him...) along with his pizza. I figured it was in vain and that he would skip over those orange veggies...but he prove dme wrong and ate all of them first and asked for more! Gotta love the Ranch!

Thank you so much for your generous gift of pizza and family time!

Does Satan Exist?

Mark and I enjoyed watching this online last week as our "date" (aren't we romantic?). I guess the nightline program only aired the highlights due to time restraints, but I would highly recommend taking the time to watch this debate. Mark and I enjoyed it and I hope you do as well.
Nightline Face-off: DOES SATAN EXIST

Happy Birthday Ma-Maw!

We love you and are so glad God allowed us to be with you 2 weeks ago! We had such a fun time and look forward to seeing you again in August...or before if you wanna make a trip to Va Beach:)

April Fool's Day

I am not the best practical joker...so today's post will just be a few pics of recent days.

I snapped this picture after church last week b/c it hit me that I have a toddler who is in love with the water fountain. My church back home has a water fountain in the lobby and I can remember watching just about every toddler in the church become infatuated with this amazing machine...and now it is my turn to have an infatuated toddler!

What a mess he makes...but he is determined to learn how to feed himself.
So...we have been working on this difficult task...
practice independent eating...sweep floor....give Ezra a bath
practice independent eating...mop floor...give Ezra a bath...
practice independent eating...sweep floor...give Ezra a bath...
practice...mop...bath...
need I say more about how my days are going these days?

my pink prince...
the picture didn't turn out the greatest,
but Ezra's face was stained from
pink icing off of a cup cake he ate at the YMCA at a birthday party.
I picked him up and just giggled as I realized this
manly little boy had no clue that his
cheeks, chin, and nose were all dyed pink for the day...

I was fixing dinner this last week and was surprised at how content the boys were being...any mommy to toddlers knows that these quiet moments evoke much concern as to what these little ones have found to captivate their energies...and this is what I found. Titus had found a new way to play with his trucks...sitting in the drawer of the TV table. Thankfully this is a marble top table...or else it would have flipped. I immediately told him that although this was a creative idea...it was not acceptable.

A day remembered

Today is a day that I can recall from my memory moment by moment. 5 years ago today I remember what I was wearing, how my hair was fixed...who I talked to before chapel, who I walked to lunch with, who I ate lunch with...i remember skipping dinner in order to finish a project...I remember wandering why Meg was late to meet me after extension...and I remember how Rob Hall so kindly and soberly informed me that there had been an accident.
My heart dropped as I soon learned more details. My precious friend hurt badly, yet my Sovereign Creator was so gracious in giving such peace and joy in the midst of my deepest concern.
Mark was traveling that semester, so I was forced to cling to my Savior.
So yes, today was teary at moments but was an even greater encouragement to me as I reflected on God's perfect plan.

Ancient Stain Removal Tip

Well I guess Ancient isn't the right word...but what do Mount Vernon and baby shower have in common???
Stain removal tips.
The laundry crew of Mount Vernon used to wash the linens and then lay them on the grass or bushes to dry allowing the chlorophyll to react with the Sun causing a whitening and brightening to the dulled linens (what we would call bleach now a days!)
My sister was at a baby shower last weekend and passed along a tip that one of the moms shared with the mom-to-be. She said that no matter what stain her baby had presented her with...water and sunlight had kept every onesie, bib, and outfit spotless. She simply rinsed the stained article in water and laid it in the bright sun for 5-10 minutes...and the stain was gone.
I know this works for white garments that need a whitening pick me up...in fact adding vinegar in the rinse cycle and then setting the items out to dry really brightens those dulled or yellowed whites...
I don't have a stain producing infant right now to try this trick out on...but you had better believe I will be testing it out ASAP on whatever stains my toddlers give me next! What could be cheaper and safer than water and sunlight!


Mount Vernon is one of my favorite historical sites to visit...now that they have added the interactive museum and live interpreters...I could spend days walking around and watching all the informative videos and reading all the history tidbits. In fact, my wedding reception was held at the Mount Vernon Inn and my parents live about a mile and a half from this historic spot on the Potomac River. When I go home and visit...I love to steal away to this beautiful plantation and get lost in the history and entreprenurial endeavors of George Washington. For anyone thinking of taking a trip to visit DC...I would highly recommend taking several hours to visit the Home of George and Martha Washington.
Yada yada yada...here are a few pics from one of my fall visits

the front gates after closing

one of the beautiful gardens

the breath-taking view from the back porch
(and yes...
he actually toured the inside of the mansion with me
...what a great and innocent perspective he had:)

the chairs lined up on the back porch...
allowing visitors to sit and soak up the beauty and stillness of the scenery

what started out as a small run down home...
Washington envisioned and created into this mansion
He owned approximately 8,000 acres of farm land!