Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Charleston, South Carolina

The fam went to South Carolina for a little vaca a few weeks ago! I was just able to get the photos off our old camera...so I thought I'd share.

Brian has been doing work on a hotel down there and this time, we ALL got to go. Brian fell in love with Charleston and has been saying for almost a year he wanted us to go with him...so we did! I too fell in LOVE with the city.

For some reason the photos posted all out of order, but, here they are...

We went to see one of the oldest and biggest Oak Trees in the US. It was AMAZINGLY
Beautiful. The Angel Tree...



Whoops, maybe Matthew didnt see the sign!




I just love this pic for so many reasons. It also gives you an idea of how huge this tree is. Amazing. Really Beautiful.



I took this on the plane ride home. Not posed at all. "Bear Bear", Dad and Matty taking a little snooze! Precious boys.



We also made it to this great Aquarium. Matthew LOVED it. I thought he would maybe be too little, but he was captivated by all of it.



This is the road that leads to The Angel Oak. I thought it was so beautiful. Made me wonder all the stories that this road could tell...if it could talk.



Dad and Matt - just a swingin...




Isnt it just amazing. There all these supports and things holding up the limbs. Some of the limbs that laid on the ground had grown under ground and then back up. It was AWESOME... Some literature at the tree said that slaves use to get married under this tree.


The city has such OLD Southern Charm. Everything you imagine in an old Southern town with a lot of history. It reminded me of huge old plantation looking buildings in New Orleans, but more old school Southern feel. This is the downtown area.



Street after street downtown were shaded by trees like this one. Sort of felt like a movie.


And we are back to the fishies...





This face sums up how Matthew felt about the plane ride after he woke up. He was OVER it to say the least.


Matty loved running up and down the LONG hallway at the hotel.


This was the view of the bay outside the front doors of the hotel. So pretty.


I just loved this charming little house. I want to live here. There were streets and streets of houses like this one. All different and SO cute and charming.


This was right off the water. The Old Custom House where all ships and goods would be registered. Very cool old building. Lots of the houses were like this style with huge columns outside. They were like plantations without the land. One right after another.


I suggest Charleston for a vacation in the US! VERY neat and charming city with lots of rich history.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

The Chapman Family

Steven Curtis Chapman (singer and songwriter) has an amazing heart. His voice and heart has blessed so many. Wether or not you are in to his music, we should all be inspired and challenged by how hard and faithfully he and his wife have fought for orphans. They have fought for and aided countless families find and afford to grow their families through adoption. They have done amazing things for The Kingdom...

Their family has experienced an unimaginable tragedy this week. Here is the story. We should ALL pray for them. Maybe we can shoulder some of the incredible burden.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A little bloggin' game...thanks Stac!

My sweet friend Staci "tagged" me. Go see see her CUTIE family! She is wonderful and so....I am playing along! Love you Staci and really miss you too! Give my buddy Jude a kiss for me. He and Matthew were separated at birth I think!! HA! Don't you just love our passionate boys?!?!

So, here it is...

OK, on to the game. Here are the rules:
1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read the player’s blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

What were you doing 5 years ago?
1. Getting ready to go to Young Life camp with my new husband and our Young Life kids! Well, sort of new. We were still newlyweds for sure!
2. Living in a house we were remodeling in Alamo Heights. Interesting memories to say the least!
3. Teaching 7th and 8th grade English and coaching volleyball and basketball (funny)
4. Had just started attending New Heights and met Scott (our pastor) and Linda (my mentor) and those people have shaped our lives.
5. We were traveling to McAllen, TX house hunting because we thought we were going to be transfered there in September...

What are 5 things on your to-do list today (not in any particular order)?
1. update my blog (check)
2. Grocery shop for our home group coming over tonight
3. Go to the Y and work out (check - and arent you proud of me Staci!?!)
4. Finish cleaning out my downstairs closet and cabinet. I am becoming VERY type A in my 30's!
5. Do a load of wash - mainly Matthew's clothes...
6. Work on my bible study - doing Beth Moore's Stepping Up.

What are 5 snacks you enjoy?
1. raw almonds
2. a spoonful of peanut butter
3. goldfish and raisins (yes, together, I like how they taste together)
4. strawberries
5. trail mix...wih LOTS of M&M's

What 5 things would you do if you were a billionaire?
1. Move my sister back to the US...ha! Not that money is the issue, BUT, I'd buy them a house here and retire my brother-in-law so they could split their time between here and there. I know they love it there..but I WANT THEM CLOSER!
2. Build an orphanage and feed the oprhans at New Grace School and Orphanage in Uganda
3. Give lots to our church for...Kingdom work...whatever God wanted to use it for
4. Buy a lake house with a fun boat and jet skis...big enough for LOTS of family and friends.
5. Retire my husband so he could do mission work full time :)

What are 5 of your bad habits? (STACI, I TOTALLY TRULY DID NOT HAVE TO CHANGE ONE THING. WE HAVE THE SAME BAD HABITS. I AMENDED THE STARBUCKS DRINK. FUNNY - NOT SURPRISING)
1. over-sleeping in the morning (OR WANTING TO)
2. eating when I'm not hungry
3. getting stressed out over getting things done
4. staying up late doing nothing on the computer, or tv that I have DVR'd
5. Starbucks--ICED GREEN TEA--too often :)

What are 5 places you have lived?
1. Dallas, TX (from birth to 3)
2. Herndon, VA (3 to 10)
3. San Antonio, TX
4. College Station, TX (for school and miss it)
5. And back to SA! I really only have 4.

What are 5 jobs you've had?
1. Retail (in HS)
2. nanny (in college)
3. English teacher
4. Children's Pastor
5. Young Life staff

What 5 people do you want to tag? (I cant do only 5, I am curious about all my peeps!)
1. Stacy
2. Jenny
3. Jessica (three sisters up first)
4. Megan
5. Hanna (cuz I think you are SO funny!)

6. Pam
7. Kim
8. Ryan and Lauren

Come on everyone - play along! Love yall!

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Can I just have a Moment?!?!

Okay, so I was laying in bed the other night thinking of what my life has been filled with...just in the last week. If you are not interested...STOP now. If you are, read on.

1. Great parenting Moments!

a. Brian was out of town all last week, so, it was just me and the little man. The first few days were really fun. We went on long walks, had cereal for dinner, etc...but, by night 4, that is when it got good. Matthew, who I have said since he was born, is VERY passionate. Well, this particular night, he was VERY passionate and I think Mom (that would be me, but its easier to tell this kind of story in 3rd person). Anyway, Mom was, shall we say, at the end of my proverbial rope. Well, Matthew threw his little toy broom at me. At my face. Hard. It whacked me right across the bridge f my nose. It was about the 10th thing he had thrown at me. Anyway, I pick up the broom and, in that voice where your lips are moving but your teeth are pressed together, I say, "WE DO NOT THROW THINGS!" This would have been fine, right? Except for the fact that as I was saying it, I threw the broom across the room. Huh!?!? Great parenting moment...like I said. Matthew just stared at me like, "this woman has lost her ever loving mind!"

b. I cursed at the sippy cup. If you do not understand why, please see Jessica Tootle's blog. She will explain it far better than I can. But, Matthew has two sippy cups that WILL NOT not leak. Why? I have the little stopper deal shoved in as tight as it will go...no dice. Leakage - everytime. And the utter audacity of those sippy cups to have more parts than a top and a cup...why!??! Again, please see Jessica's blog. I was gonna go on and on about it, but, then, I read her blog before I posted and laughed out loud because I had fought with those stupid sippy cups this week! I too, thought I was finished with keeping track of multiple parts when we ditched Dr. Browns Jess...I dont get it.

c. I was playing peek-a-boo with Matthew this morning. One of our most favorite things to do. He never tires of it. We throw his blanket over his head, he pulls it off, we say BOO and he laughs hysterically. Well, being that his head is covered, and he can see nothing, dont you think it would (or should) occur to me (the parent) to make him sit down and not walk around with his head covered up!??! Well, it did not occur to me. So, this morning, head covered, he stood up, already giggling under that blanket...so excited at what he knew was about to happen. Well, he got so excited that he pulled the blanket off his head so hard that it thrust him forward and his forehead came crashing down on the corner of his dresser. Did it leave a mark? You betcha! A big blue line right in the middle of his forehead. Way to go Mom!

2. Matthew is a pre-toddler...who knew there was such a thing. Well, he is! Here is how we know...

a. He loves to throw his food on the floor. We tell him, "no, no" and he laughs and throws more.

b. He loves to walk over to the outlets that are at his eye level. He looks at them, puts his hand near them, looks at us and smiles this fake, all teeth smile. As if to say, "I know you are about to tell me no, but look how cute I am!"

c. He thinks having his diaper changed is some form of torture. Why? And why so dramatic about it? It has happened several times a day, for his WHOLE life! But, he screams, squirms, kicks and cries everytime. The ones that are poopy are the worst! How does he know that if he kicks hard enough and squirms hard enough, poop will end up on his back, on my arms and hands, and on whatever surface we are changing him on!??!

d. He knows how to throw fits. I mean serious, legit fits. He throws his head back, falls backwards (I call it the Neste plunge) and lifts his legs up and slams them down as hard as he can. All the while screaming of course.

e. He laughs every time we tell him no. Laughs - are you kidding? Am I saying it wrong? Why is it funny!?! I've used the word just how "they" say you are suppose to. (Who exactly is they anyway?)

f. I read somewhere that "they" (there THEY are again) say that it is time to start using time out. Are you kidding? How? He will no more sit in a corner than fly to the moon! I am all for time out. I even have a spot picked out. But, how in the world do you make them stay there at 1?? Just a question!?!? I'd love to know how THEY do it.

g. Matty does NOT like paint on his hands. Brian and Matthew did a little art project for me for Mothers Day and Brian said he stared at his hand after it had been placed in the paint and screamed. He did not cry, he screamed and held his hand out to Brian, like, "look what you've done?!!?"

h. MOSTLY though,he LOVES to give kisses, hugs, look at books, wrestle with daddy, take baths, blow bubbles (in the pool and the bath). All day, everyday, he searches for new books in his toy box and brings them to us saying, "bbbbooo".

He is precious and fun and wonderful and SO tender hearted. We are learning that he is equally as sensitive as he is passionate. He is all joy, and all boy - all the time! Even though I only showered 3 times this week, Matthew and I both ate food off the floor this week, and Matthew only got bathed 3 times this week, we made it, and it was fun!

So, Baby Wise...you got anything to say about those pre-toddler years, or months? Bring it on...

Friday, May 9, 2008

Matty, Padre and a shout out to Tootle Tot!

First off, today, I worked out twice. Thats right - 2 times! Why? you ask! Well, tomm, evening we are going to celebrate the little Tootle Tot turning 1! Matthew is very excited to go see Ryan. Mom and Dad are too. So, why did I work out twice?


Thats why! We cant describe how yummy these burgers and fries and nachos and salsa are...oh, ALL of it! Cannot wait to come celebrate you baby boy.

We have had such adventures over the last few weeks...but, of course, the camera is not downloading! This thing is about to chunked out the window. So, we thought we'd update on our life...thanks to the camera phone and pics a few friends have e-mailed us.


There is a great little doughnut place on Main Street called Snowflake. The kids love it..as do the adults!


Ummm, Mom, can I have a doughnut. I so did not come here for a Kolache! Pretty please...



Whoa! I think I am in heaven Jackson...look at this giant doughnut case!!



Our little charmer loves to look out the window and kiss the dogs through the glass. VERY sweet. He is getting the cutest little tender personality.


We went to South Padre in April - WHOO HOO!! SPRINK BREAK BABY! Anyway, we went for a Young Life Regional "Conference". It was very fun and we got to go to a really nice dinner one night.


We did not plan these coordinating outfits...