Dad and son......

Mini updates on us.....

Hard to believe it is nearly March! Here are a few updates.

Us: We have our house off the market! After 7 months of trying we felt led to let it expire and not list it again. We felt as though if the Lord wanted us to move he would have sold it and at this time he didn't. We have a handful of house project to tend to and are grateful for all the reasons staying is good. No major projects planned as though have been done but a few that mean something to us and make our home more ours. We love our home so that makes it easy.

Trae: Enjoyed getting to see family recently when they came into town and invited us to join them. His Ipad is one of his dearest friends. ;) Loves all the aspects of having a toddler around. Working very hard as usual and has had a tougher start to the year than desired but as always doesn't give up and keeps trying. Still enjoying his mens group and prayer morning. His grandmother just went into a hospice a few days ago. She is 96 and ready to go home. We had a sweet visit with her just a few months ago so we are very grateful for that gift.

Julie: Grateful and blessed! I am enjoying my days and being home. Each week still like such a surprise to not be homeschooling. I am teaching because I am a mom and a mother is always the first teacher. I am grateful for our new season. I have been trying a bunch of new recipes lately and enjoying it. I am still doing my Titus 2 group and added Home Encounter (Devi Titus) for the spring too. We just book our girls cruise for later this year. Looking forward to a few days away with 9 dear friends.

Andrew: He is counting down! He told me how many days the other day until school is finished and it might have been 53 days until their Sr. trip and no actual school days left. He graduates on May 29 at 3pm! He has been spending some extra time with Jacob recently and they are enjoying that. He quit his job before the holidays and is making really great money selling things on Ebay. He is Mr. business savvy for sure. Makes this mama smile. He is dating a precious young lady from his school. We all love her and Sam thinks they are attached because if he arrives without her he ask where she is.

Jacob: Skateboards are his passion! He is loving everything concerning skateboards and it is such a great outlet for him. He is grateful the snow and ice are gone and we have had a mild last couple of weeks. He is settling into school more and more each week. He is going to Acquire the Fire this spring with friends. Tech Decks are his favorite thing to play with if he is indoors. He is 5'3 now and 120 lbs. He is growing like a weed and has an appetite to prove it.

Sam: He is our little Mr. talker for sure. Makes us all smile and fill our days with so much fun. He is a happy little guy that wants to be connected as much possible. His favorite things are laptops, balls, being outside, laughter, praise and worship, Chick Fil A (we got one 2 minutes from our home!) and church bulletins. Yes, you read that right. His favorite things is our church bulletin. When we arrive at church he walks in greeting the greeter by shaking his hand and than runs to the people passing out the bulletin. After that he runs to try and find a seat so he can start scouring the bulletin before announcements begin. That boy! Mama found a preschool for him for the fall too! I always have my boys in a 2 days a week (1/2 days) by the time they are 2-3. I looked at 3 and fell in love with the 3rd one. It is 3-4 minutes from our home so that will be a nice thing!

Valentines birthday!

Valentines Day is a family day in our home. We don't make it out to be a romantic, parents go off (we go off for date nights just not on that one crowded night a year!) and leave children behind. It is a day to remind everyone about love. To love and be loved. We enjoyed dinner in and had pasta, garlic bread, vegetables and chocolate dipped berries. I decorated the table up and when Sam got up from his name he saw it and yelled out, BIRTHDAY! Decoration reminds him of birthdays. He very much enjoyed the festivity of the evening and playing with the Valentines Day balloon Grandma brought him the week before.

Dancing boy....

When we went to lunch recently with family and they had a fun time where the wait staff did the hokey pokey and anyone else could join in (mostly kids) too! Our waitress must have picked up on the fact that Sam is a dancing boy because she picked him up and took him to the line of dancing. He loved every minute of it!

Love, laughter, dear friends=a great evening!

We went to a Valentine gathering this past week with some dear friends hosted by their church and it was a great evening. Great conversation, yummy food, laughter and next to my favorite man in the world. We played the newlywed game, they have away prizes (we walked away with 4 free dinners!) and he gave a short message on marriage. Life is so much sweeter celebrating along the way with dear friends. Blessed!!!

Just like his mama.....

Sam loves his new little laptop. My mom got it for him for his birthday last month and he loves it. We have to put it up and only bring it out a couple of times a day or he might be on it all day! He does really enjoy it and I loved capturing all his expressions recently when he was using it. His sweet pj's are one of our favorites too! I found them at a resale store and knew he would love them. I found 2 others just like it but a different print at a yard sale and they are just so fun!

Family times....

We were able to spend some time with Trae's family yesterday and we were so grateful for the opportunity. It was a beautiful, mild, sunny Sunday too. We were able to see Trae's cousin stephanie too. Sam had giggles, hugs and kisses for everyone too.