Summer Fun!

With the summer upon us we have begun the season enjoying the weather and friends. This past week has been filled with the beach, a field trip to the fire station, play dates with friends, and water fun. Doesn't get much better than that! :)

You're heading in the right direction buddy! ;)

Jordy hanging out in the sand

We headed down to Doheny Beach for the annual post mud run picnic. This year just Jeremy ran in it. I wish I had a picture of him in the run but I wasn't too comfortable sending him to a "mud run" with the camera especially since I wasn't there. You can imagine though that he and the rest of his HP Team mates were covered in mud!
Ty, Kenley, Logan, and Maya playing in the sand

Logan playing in the fountains at the Spectrum Shopping center. It is a hot spot for Mom's during the summer.

We went with one of my Mom's groups to the local fire station for a visit. Logan loved it!

Brothers just catching up on a little Elmo!

More Water Fun!

"I sure am cute!"

Angel's Game

Just a fun night at the Ballpark! The Angels played the Devil Rays and they gave out Angels Poor Boy Hats, which I love! We decided to take a chance and go to the game despite our boys' usual 7pm bedtime. It can either go really bad or really good and tonight it went really good! Logan had a great time and Jordy always does when there is lots going on. Jeremy and I just kept looking at each other saying "This is fun!" WE were even enjoying the game which can be hard with little ones this age. So here's to many more "Fun nights at the Ballpark!"

A Little Logan Update

I know that Logan's 2nd B-Day is coming up but I feel like Logan has needed a little update and I didn't want to wait 2 months. In the last month he has really taken off with his language. He has always been a talker but he is really starting to form sentences and communicate with us all the time and inject some humor into our conversations. It cracks me up to hear him try to be funny or say funny things. I am really looking forward to our conversations. I know that might sound a little weird to say but it is like he is know a boy ready to be guided in this world, not that he wasn't before but we are now at that next "help me become a good person" age.

Another update is that we have officially "trashed" the pacifier aka "ma . . .ma". The Sunday after our California vacation, I talked to Logan about how we were going to throw away all of our pacifiers because he was a big boy now. I said let's throw it in the trash can and then the trash truck will take them away. Surprisingly, he had no issue throwing it in the trash all by himself. From then on it really was a non-issue. Even as I write this I cannot believe how smoothly this went. Writing this even makes me feel like I am going to jinx myself even though it has been a month already. Every time he cried for it, I reminded him that HE threw it away and that the TRASHMAN was taking it. That seemed to be enough for him and didn't ask for it again. And let me tell you this boy has been pretty attached to his "ma . . . ma" Not sure why he called it that but he did. Crazily he didn't cry once the first night without it. The second night and a few there after, he asked for it but again I reminded him and he told me what he did with it and then he was fine. So one task down, two more to go . . .Big Boy Bed and Potty Training to be taking place in July and August respectively.

He loves hockey these days as our neighbor, Delaney, plays street hockey and is always practicing outside. We found him a stick at a kids consignment sale and he LOVES yo be out there playing too

Helping Dad clean up the back patio

Playing in the dirt!

Girls Weekend

This weekend my amazing husband became Mr. Mom for a little over 24 hours as myself and some great girlfriends stepped away for a little relaxation away from the kiddos. Saturday morning we headed to Palm Springs with a stop at the outlet mall along the way. After an hour or so of shopping we headed to Mission Hill resort where we spent the afternoon and evening poolside enjoying a few drinks and good conversation. It is amazing what a little girltalk can do for the soul. For me it was the first night since Jordy was born to sleep through the night so that was a definite highlight of the trip. On Sunday the resort offered a free yoga class that we went to prior to a great breakfast and then drive home. It was the perfect little get-away for me. By the way we did not plan the hats . . . It was kind of funny to see us all walk in to the pool and we definitely heard a few comments. As for Jeremy, he and the boys' had a good weekend. A funny little story mom's will appreciate . . .So I left him a "typical" daily schedule for each of the boys that included times to eat, sleep, what to eat, ect. as he had asked for a little guide. The funny thing to me was that when I called Saturday evening to check-in, I asked how things were going? His response . . . They have been going great, I am 15 min ahead of schedule. Haha :) I thought that was too cute and I truly appreciated his enthusiasm for his boys' weekend! We all know those "typical" schedules do not happen all that often but I am glad they did that day for him .:)

Our Suite!
Michelle and Ann playing paddleball
Melissa and Nikki enjoying the sun
Ann was a wonderful bartender!

Thanks for a wonderful weekend ladies!

Jordy is 7 Months Old!

If you look real close you can see he his first tooth!

Jeremy and I are still amazed that we have a 7 month old! These times fly so fast. Jordy is really starting to pave his path into our family with his adorable little personality. Logan is enjoying his little brother more and more and I am starting to see the gap between them dwindle. I know it will be only months before they are playing together and I am so excited for the day!

Some things Jordy is doing now:

• He giggles and screams all day long (YES we are in the screaming phase again)
• He likes to have screaming conversations even . . .He screams, you scream, he screams and this goes on and on.
• I haven't mentioned this before (probably because I was a little embarrassed about it) but this child LOVES television and will sit and watch a half hour show with Logan no problem.
• He is sitting on his own but could still fall over at any given moment. He doesn't quite have the base yet to support himself all the time
• He is the smiliest baby EVER!
  
• He is eating all 2nd stage baby foods and enjoying them all
• His night time schedule is as follows : Bedtime - 7pm, Up at 11pm, Up at 4am, Up at 6am, So we are still working on sleeping through the night :(
• He is cruising in his walker these days
• He is wearing mainly 12 month clothes
• He is getting his first tooth on bottom
  

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

Happy Birthday Jeremy/Daddy! We hope you had a fun weekend with us!

We LOVE you!!

Under Attack

You might think this is an odd topic for me to write about as it is usually not my style to blog about things like this but I feel compelled for one reason or another to write it down. I am convinced that we are under attack and I don't mean physically, politically, or even emotionally. I am talking under attack spiritually! And who is we?? Well, all of us really but especially parents. And how do I know this?? Because the Bible tells us so . . .

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." -Ephesians 6:12

As much as it scares me, I believe more than ever that our world is facing a spiritual warfare all around us. And I think that parents, especially mothers, are facing a full blown assault!

The enemy wants to do everything he can to prevent us from raising faithful children who love the Lord. But it must be a difficult task for him to weasel his way in.

Because we want to protect the innocence of our children, we are vigilant about the media that we allow into our homes (which, in-turn, protects us as well).

Because little eyes are watching, we want to set a good example and "do what's right".

Because little ears are listening, we carefully choose the words we say.

Because we want our children to enjoy God's word, we study it ourselves.

We are guarding our families from the blatant attacks from the enemy that we've seen destroy others. There will never be a time in the lives of our children when we have as much control over what they're exposed to than while they are young. We know this and we are wholeheartedly trying to stay faithful in God's word. In the midst of trying to instill a love for God in our children and preserve their innocence, why does it feel like we still can't claim victory???

It's because the enemy has found another way through our seemingly impenetrable walls...through self-doubt and unrealistic expectations of ourselves.

This has been a huge struggle for me lately. I honestly haven't felt like I can do anything right. I doubt my ability to raise our children to love the Lord. I doubt my ability to make a difference in this world. I doubt my ability to serve. It seems to me that someone can always do "it" better than I can.

A very small part of this, I truly believe, is God using child-rearing to humble my heart. He has taught me to need Him and not to depend on myself. I can't be the kind of person I want to be, or the person my children need me to be, on my own. I must look to His strength, love, and kindness.

But the feelings of self-doubt are not from God. They are Satan's way of attacking me. Because when I feel like this, I am debilitated. I am grumpy. I am irritable and short-fused. I don't want to serve because I don't feel like it. And that's just what the enemy wants...

So...what do I do to win this battle??? I'm not entirely sure, but I think looking to God's word is the right start. And recognizing that it is an attack that I must battle against.

Perhaps I'm the only one who feels this way. But I would venture to guess that I'm not alone. So stay strong Mothers . . . And Fathers and refuse to be defeated if it's the last thing YOU do!

I know this is a pretty heavy post but it has been on my mind and in my heart lately. So here are some smiles to brighten the mood! :)

Logan started swimming lessons this past weekend and he LOVED it!

Day 7 With Grandma and Papa Wright

Friday morning, Jon, Katie, and the boys as well as the Meschke's said goodbye to California and headed back to Kansas. It was such a fun time having them here. Papa Bert and Grandma Cindy stayed one more day with us and we managed to find something else fun to do with them. My online Mommies group put on a little concert for the kids and we had a blast. I took a bazillion pictures over the last week and I know that my blog posts have been long to say the least but I just couldn't leave any of them out! We just had such a great time so here is our last day on our little Cali Vacation!

Ann and I at the concert with our boys

Logan and Kenley loved playing with the instruments with Grandma

Papa clapping along to the music with Logan

Little Miss Kenley doing her thing!

Jordy also made sure to enjoy the music

DISNEYLAND!!!!

Day 5 and 6 of our little Cali Vacation with the Wright Family and the Meschke Family consisted of dinner at Downtown Disney and a very fun-filled and exhausting day at Disneyland all day Thursday. We were there when the park opened and managed to leave when the park closed! The day went by so quickly and yet again I was surprised by how few meltdowns we had. It is Monday as I write this and we are still adjusting to our normal routine and we didn't even leave California. It was an awesome week with our family and friends and we can't wait for the next time!

Mommy and her boys at dinner Wednesday night!

Uncle Jon, Cousin Jace, and Jeremy

Grandma and Papa with Jordy

All the adults minus Grandparents with Matt and Kate's Logan

Wright Family at Disneyland!!!!!!

Wright Family at Disneyland!!!!!!

My little mouse just chillin'

Logan was never too sure about the characters but in his typical fashion was in love with them after the picture was taken and we walked away. He is always so proud of himself and can't wait to look at the picture of him with the character

Ummmm . . . Not real sure

Grandma and Jordy hanging out!

Isn't he the sweetest! I know I am a little biased ;)

Logan loved riding the big boy rides

We are officially in love with Mickey! He didn't even know who or what the Disney Characters were but since our little trip he won't stop talking about or holding his Mickey Mouse doll

Daddy and Logan

With Goofy! He gave him a High 5

Uncle Jon and Jace being goofy

One last family picture

Jaxon and Mason thought Jordy was soooo cute

Our friends, the Meschke family

Cousins!

This picture says it all! He was super tired but had a Great Time with his family and his new buddy Mickey!