My Sweet Boy

Things Heard Outside of a Christian School #1

"If you call me that name again, you are not going to heaven! I said, 'If you say that again, God won't let you into heaven.'"

Pictures, Pictures and More Pictures

Uncle Ryan requested new pictures last night so here goes.

Chloe has started using Elijah's face as her newest canvas for expression. He is wearing her white jacket because it has a fur lined hoodie - much more realistic for a cat. Elijah doesn't mind the marker going on but hates the scrubbing afterwards.

Micah is growing, growing, growing. We have his 2 month checkup at the end of this week. I am excited to see how he is doing.


Chloe loves to play her new guitar. Now, if we only had lessons so she could actually play.

Elijah "posing" by the tree. He has a hard time standing still. Also, you may wonder why he isn't wearing any clothes. Most days around the house, he doesn't wear them. They must inhibit his ability to move.

Uncle Scott made each of the kids a t-shirt this year for Christmas that expressed something about them. Elijah's shirt has Mike Wyzowski from Monster's Inc. Chloe has a sweet white puppy on her shirt. I chose this picture because Elijah's face makes me laugh. Like I said earlier, he can hardly stand still.

Micah's shirt is a cute little froggie.

Chloe standing by the tree. She is changing into a little girl.

Christmas Blessings

We are so blessed this Christmas season with the addition of our new little man. He is such a sweet boy. I don't have to return to work until mid January which allows me lots of bonding time with Micah. Not to fool you, things are pretty busy in our household. We are still pressing forward with the basement. I have high hopes that we will be mostly done by the end of January. Also, Kindergarten isn't as easy as it sounds. It keeps all of us pretty occupied. Elijah is very active and will be joining some kind of sports team this spring to help him burn some energy. He likes to jump, run, climb and generally get into trouble.

Micah cuddling with Dad in bed.

Micah and Elijah

My three babes

Chloe loves to be a part of everything mom does to care for Micah.

Elijah making a wreath.

Chloe and her wreath

Elijah in the Joseph costume I made.

We made caramel popcorn balls this year. Yum!

Ben and Chloe all ready for the Nutcracker Ballet. Chloe loves this tradition. This year, Ben took her to dinner beforehand at Maggiano's. They shared a large bowl of spaghetti, Chloe's pick.

Elijah ready for his preschool Christmas program. He looks adorable in the bow tie.

Merry Christmas!

Potpourri of Pictures

Micah sleeping in the sling I made. He almost looks like a baby doll.

Here I am trying to catch some of his first smiles on camera. He smiles so briefly, the camera distorts the image a bit.

Chloe and Elijah looking sharp for Thanksgiving service at our church.

Micah is sleeping while on our walk at the Wheat Ridge greenbelt.

Baby Thoughts

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

- The Book of Psalms

Parents of Three

Children are the hand by which we take hold of heaven. - Henry Ward Beecher

All is Well
Timing is a funny thing. I am not always sure I can find the lessons hidden in life's adversity. A couple of weeks ago I came down with a pesky cough that I just couldn't kick. Last weekend, Laura brought our son, Micah, into the world. By then I was quarantined in my house to make sure to the wife and kids were safe. I was able to muster the strength to drive to the hospital, watch Laura give birth (she was amazing) and head back home. Later that day I found out that I had the H1N1 flu virus. The first week of Micah's life was spent at my family's house while I hovered back and forth between a 100 and 103 degree fever.
I got to talk to my family over the phone and occasionally see him over video chat or through a window. I felt like one moment I was witnessing a beautiful miracle and the next I was struggling with one of the worst illnesses I've ever had. I missed a lot: my kids' first reaction to their baby brother, holding him close in my arms, and all the family celebration over him. Anyway, God finds a way to get my attention despite (or, because of) my circumstances. I come out of this knowing that He is good; not just good...amazing! I am so thankful to Him for a healthy son...take a look:

We have much to be thankful for!

It's official, I am Overdue... Again

I have been carrying my third child for more than 40 weeks now. After many weeks of being told, "you'll come early" or "it's your third child. There is no way you'll be over due." It has happened. I think, for the most part, I knew it would happen. I had a small glimmer of hope that I might actually come early, but God had other plans. Because my body grows so much during pregnancy, I think those around me couldn't possibly imagine me any bigger or more uncomfortable. Ben, of course, has seen me like this twice before and has no expectations.

I am going to have to face the office, overdue, again this week. For those of you who run into me: please don't mention how huge I am or how uncomfortable I look. The obvious doesn't need to be stated again and again. No, I don't want to go to the zoo, or on a hike. No, I don't want to meet for coffee, or go shopping. I want to go into labor, and if you can't offer me that, it is best to stay away.

A Few Things Chloe Said Last Night

To Ben during dinner:

"Why is Mommy laughing? Is it because she's fat?"

To Ben as I was preparing to take them to Grammy and Papa's house:

"Is Mommy safe to drive?"

To Grammy after she and Elijah both coughed:

"We are a bit under the wetter."

Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Lesson #3

"Wow Mom! This illustrator did a really good job. Look at these illustrations!"

- Said by my 5 year old, looking at a book, after only a few weeks in kindergarten.

Spirit Day

This week is homecoming week for Chloe's school. Today, the kids were instructed to wear school colors. Uncle Scott airbrushed this T-shirt for Chloe. On the front is the FCA eagle.
On the back is "Chloe" and "class of '22".

I was laughing on the way home after Uncle Scott gave Chloe the T-shirt because it finally dawned on her that Uncle Scott actually painted the shirt. She kept asking how he stayed in the lines. She mentioned that she is 5 and can't color nearly as good as he can.

Elijah Turns 3

Elijah's camera grin

Uncle Scott with Seth, Ethan and Elijah

Playin' the drums

Ethan, Seth, Elijah, Tirzah and Chaeli

Opening birthday presents

We had a jungle themed birthday party. Ben and I strung Christmas lights (blue and white) from the ceiling along with yellow and green streamers. The kids made animal headbands, played animal charades and had a dance off.

Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Lesson #2

When a boy hits you on the bottom with his lunch bag, it doesn't necessarily mean he is being rude to you.