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2 shirt Titus

Titus loves to wear layers....I hate for my boys to layer:) He thinks it looks cool....I think it is a waste of clean laundry. However, now that the weather is cold, I don't mind if they layer up for Sundays (since they don't usually get filthy while at church). Last Sunday, I walked into the dining room and thought Titus' newest expression of fashion should be captured on film....

my first glimpse

love this stage of misaligned buttons.
It's so hard for him to grasp that
the bottom button is an extra button and doesn't have a hole
...it really bothers him *giggle*

I finally convinced him to try it with the sweater on the outside.
I *think* I sold him on the end result~

Merry Christmas

From the Brumbaughs

Titus-5, Ezra-3, Simeon-2, Levi-3months

Up Close with Simeon

Cuddly

Funny

Bold

Perceptive

Stubborn

Full of Pizzaz

Fast

Athletic

Engaging

Surprising

Short and Stout

All around a bundle full of mischief and surprises. You just never know what this little guy will do and/or say. He puts together the funniest sentences and often wows his audience with his specific and detailed requests. He is by far our shortest boy...still in 18 month clothes at 2 years old (and Levi is in 6 month clothes at 3 months), but this little boys packs quite the personality punch. I'm so thankful for this lithe boy and can't imagine my life without his funny antics and adorable expressions. And, by the way, this cocktail of personality traits has most certainly added a new dimension to the wonderfully complex toddler years.

always has a ball....and i mean always

blonde blonde blonde

did I mention happy??

long curly eyelashes

funny teeth

loves to give this innocent look....but don't be fooled!

still has no neck

chubbbbby cheeks

his version of "try not to get crumbs everywhere"

totally unaware

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble Bread

a thanksgiving post in December is a bit odd...but hey, at least I'm updating, right?

This was our version of turkey this year. It was our first Thanksgiving at home by ourselves. What a wonderful day we had together. Mark actually decided to rearrange furniture in just about every room and we took the opportunity to move Levi into his new room.

We played, ate, talked, sang, and enjoyed a new tradition together.

Our meal was at 3:00 and the menu was simple:

Green Bean Casserole

Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes

Corned Beef and Carrots

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble Bread

Our menu did not include turkey this year for various reasons. As I was preparing to shape the rolls on Wednesday night, the Lord brought a wonderful idea into my mind to shape the dough into a turkey. I shaped it Wednesday night and covered it in the refrigerator all night. I took it out Thursday morning and let it 'grow' all day long. Before I popped it into the oven I let the boys paint it with egg yolk paint, and needless to say, Tom was colorful and enjoyed by all! We will most certainly be including this Gobble, Gobble, Gobble Bread tradition in years to come.

I just love it when the Lord extends creativity to me. What a joy it is to have the Creator of this universe as an intimate friend!

Audio Resources

I simply can't resist sharing these resources, as well as 5 new exciting additions to my iPod playlist.

edit: there were a few issues with the links, but they should all be working properly now.

Last year, I was so excited to discover RC Sproul's children's books:

The Prince's Poison Cup

I bought this one last year and
we all enjoy reading it
over.and.over.and.over.and.over

The King Without a Shadow

The Lightlings

This year, I was pleased as punch to look online and see that he has written 3 new ones:

The Priest Who Wore Dirty Clothes

The Barber Who Wanted to Pray

The Donkey Who Carried a King

(release date 01/16/12)

I also found this Christmas CD The Word Became Flesh which I highly recommend. I didn't care for the style of music, but the Biblical narrative from creation through the fall to redemption drew my heart, soul, and mind to worship Christ.

Last night, I added these 4 free Renewing Your Mind podcasts to my iPod playlist (via iTunes). The first 4 are audio recordings of 4 of the above books and the 5th podcast is a partial airing of the Christmas CD by RC Sproul.

These podcasts will only be available for download for a few more weeks, so I imagine these links will become useless by the end of January. However, each year, they rebroadcast stories around Christmas.

The Barber Who Wanted to Pray

The King Without a Shadow

The Lightlings
The Priest with Dirty Clothes

The Word Became Flesh

Hope you enjoy listening!!

Justin Taylor interviewed RC in 2008 about his (then) newest release The Prince's Poison Cup. I have linked to it here and I hope you will take the time to read it...as well as possibly purchase one of these wonderful resources for both parents and children alike.

Up Close with Ezra

Helpful

Busy

Silly

Quiet

Expressive

Passionate

Inquisitive

Resourceful

Loving

crooked hairline

always using his hands

often has a dirty shirt...no matter how many times I make him change:)
.this kid is HARD on clothes!

often kissing Levi

rarely looks at the camera...but when he does, it's oh so worth all the effort!

Up close with Levi

He is such a sweet baby.

Happy

Content

Patient

did I mention Happy?

Snuggly

Smiley

Sleeps great

Eats great....

VERY active *sigh*

I have been blessed with a 4th wonderful baby boy. However, as was just mentioned, this is my 4th, so I know just how quickly these "honeymoon" months go. (I consider the 5 months before mobility to be the "honeymoon" phase *smile*) I have held this little guy so much that my body often aches...but it is oh so worth it! Every pound of him just makes my heart melt as I try to soak in as much as I possibly can. Children are such a gift. anybody else agree??

his lips are so perfect...and those dark curly eyelashes are delicious!

most certainly another dark eyed heir

chins

squinty eyes

soft skin

I'm as determined to keep him from sucking his thumb as he is to suck it.
it's so adorable, but such a horrible habit to try and break!

chubby cheeks

Mohawk monday

They all love a good mohawk now and then

Ezra kept was trying to cross his eyes for the picture...but this was the best he could do. He can cross his eyes randomly, but now yet on command.

Up Close with Titus

kind

sensitive

happy

dramatic

obedient

tender

leader

strong

talkative (to put it mildly)

imaginative...

He is my precious son who makes this busy mama's job so much easier. I often just wish I could sit and soak up his thoughts on life...but I'm usually trying to get to many things done at once and I find myself not even hearing his voice amid the noise in my home and my brain. Oh, how fast he is growing and learning.....5 years have flown by and my heart winces at just how quickly these little years fly by.

I simply can't express my mother's heart with words, but I'm so thankful for this calling and I am asking the Spirit to continually flush out the busyness of my life so that I can be truly listening for His work in Titus' heart and life. What a joy this young man is to me.....*tears*

Everyday Life