while watching a movie Friday night

Avery and Charlie had their own bowls of popcorn. Charlie finished his very quickly and then crawled over to sit next to Avery. He asked me if he could have some of her popcorn, I told him he had to ask her. He asks Avery and she replies, "Sure help yourself. Dig in Charlie." Some of the things that come out of their mouths...

Flashback Friday

2 years ago Stephen and I were invited to a destination wedding in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. It was our first vacation since having children and we had the most wonderful time. Part of the trip was in PV, the other part was in a remote part of Mexico called Yelapa, only reachable by boat.

The day after Matt and Dee's wedding, while still in Yelapa, we went on a snorkeling excursion. On our way out to a snorkeling sight, we saw some weird water movement, so the 'captain' (to use a term very loosely) turned the motor off and we sat and watched. A few seconds later our tiny boat was bumped and a humpback whale surfaced about 10 feet from us.

It was so amazing and scary all wrapped into one moment. I remember shaking, feeling the awesomeness of our Creator and all of His creation.
This is a moment I often go back to when I don't understand what is happening around me. I was petrified of these beings 4 times the size of our boat, but at that same moment I was peaceful, trusting and in awe of God's work, He is in every detail of this world.

Kristi's diagnosis is not good. But I go back to this moment with these same feelings. And this hymn comes to mind:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Urgent prayer

My friend Kristy, my MOPS leader from last year, has just been diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. It is in her bones, her hips, her spine and liver. They are still running tests at UNC.

She has been in a lot of pain this last pregnancy and they decided to deliver the baby early b/c of her pain level. Once she had the baby, there was still pain, so they ran tests. That is when they found the cancer.

Please keep her in your prayers. As well as her husband Chuck, her 4 year old, 2 year old and 9 day old, all boys.

Please pray.

He rolled!

Jackson rolled for us this afternoon. What was thought to be a random throwing of his head motion, turned into his first roll from his belly to his back. Now every time we put him on his belly he flips right over and smiles at us. I was ok with the milestones of smiling and laughing...but the motion milestones make me very afraid. That smile of his is so darn cute and so much trouble all mixed together!

4 is an awesome age! While the boys nap in the afternoon, Avery and I play, I mean play school. Last week we tye-dyed shirts for the entire family, even a onsie for Jackson. She loved learning about mixing colors "more purple mommy!" and enjoyed getting messy (our hands were blue for a couple of days).

Our new home. Pics of the inside to come soon.

The kids have colds and we are about to try Jackson on a round of Zantac for reflux. The boy has some wicked pain many times a day, where he just seizes into arching his back and tightening every muscle in his body. When we pick him up, he burps and then pukes. He just can't get comfortable and it is only getting worse. Our pediatrician reassured me it is nothing I am eating and also said it tends to show itself after the babies are 2 months...exactly when we started noticing these episodes. Some friends also recommended trying ProBiotics as well. Hopefully he'll be feeling better soon.

Eating more veggies

I tried this recipe this week from WonderTime Mag and we all LOVED it!

1/4 C extra virgin olive oil divided
1 medium onion diced
2 lbs. of cauliflower cored and finely chopped (or pulsed in food processor) (I used 1 head and it was a good amount)
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 C plain dried bread crumbs toasted in oven until golden brown
1/4 C. chopped parsley (I only had dried, so i did it by eye)
1 lb. bowtie pasta cooked and drained
Parmesean cheese grated

Cook pasta. Throw bread crumbs on oven to brown.
While pasta is cooking heat 2 Tablespoons of oil in large skillet (the wider the skillet the better) over medium-low heat, add onion and cook stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. Add cauliflower, salt, pepper, and remaining oil and continue cooking (I added chopped carrots at this time too) stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. Stir in bread crumbs and parsley, then add pasta, tossing to coat and heat through. Serve with parmesean cheese on top and extra bread crumbs if desired.
DELICIOUS!!!!!

New beginnings

Amazing what a new day can do for ya!

Jackson's first sleeping through the night. 9pm until 7am and even then I had to wake him up! Feels so wonderful to have a full night's sleep.

I have so much to post. So many pics and a yummo new recipe.

And I am so blessed with my wonderful hubby. Thanks for putting up with your very hormonal wife:)

Ingenious park

My sister-in-law Jenny kept raving about a park in the area called the 'tot lot'. Raved to the point of almost sounding fanatical. Stephen and I kept asking each other "What could possibly make this park THAT great?"
And then I took the kids there.
Nestled in the middle of a neighborhood, it is a super junk yard of kid things. You know all those outside playsets you can buy for your backyard? They are there. Cars, trucks, kitchens, houses, rocking horses, you name it, it is there!
This is besides the regular playground equipment.
Someone had the ingenious idea that instead of selling or throwing away old outdoor kid play things, throw them into this park.
The kids love it. And every time we go, I meet such nice people there.
It is one of our favorite places to visit right now, while we are having such beautiful fall weather.

Tracy's birthday

Forgot our shout-out to Tracy! Hope you had a Happy Day!

home inspection

Today the buyers of our home have their inspection. We don't forsee anything being THAT wrong, but we pray all goes well.

Grandma, Grandpa Doninger and Aunt Leigh are stopping by today! They are on their way to DC and will have lunch with us. The kids are so excited to show them their new room.

My brother runs the DC/Marine marathon this weekend, Go CHRIS! Stay warm and hydrated!

Stephen and I have a datenight tonight - really looking forward to a nice dinner with the three of us (Jackson included on the invite:)). We're going to celebrate Stephen's birthday! The older kids are going to play at their gym for a few ours.

And we also have a party in Delaware on Sunday - Jason and Cathy's wedding reception.

Should be a fun weekend, and we're hoping for some better sleep. Charlie is getting up a few times a night to go to the bathroom and he seems to get up in between Jackson's wakings...making for very long nights.