The Langford Update

The WILDLIFE

2011-04-27T19:15:00.002-04:00

We have four baby robins nested in our laundry room window. The kids have taken down the blind to watch them. How awesome it is to watch the mother bird go find a worm and bring it back to feed them. In just three days, we have also seen the babies go from waiting with mouths open for the motherGod's beautiful provision.

Picture of half-dead snake in garbage can

No matter what Elisha may have told you, we did have a snake, but it did not bite him and it wasn't a rattlesnake. The kids came to tell me there was a snake. I assumed they were joking, but when I went to look, I found a half-dead snake. I knew it wasn't poisonous and thought it would die from the wound Kit Kat had given it, so I took by stick to the garbage can. Later we took Rusty to show him and the snake was crawling out of the can. I guess it faked us out. It eventually stole away, hopefully to eat all the bad mice and rats, not our chicken eggs.

This dog came to our house one Sunday afternoon, and since it wasn't wearing a collar, Caleigh decided to adopt it and rename it Sally. I figured it was Pepper, the neighbor's dog, and it was. But, Caleigh spent the afternoon holding it. It was even in the house, which is a "yuck" for me, but can the dog really be worse than the kids. Before we left for church, she said the dog must have went home, which was a sign to me that she had trapped it in her bedroom. After I freed the kidnapped dog, Caleigh loaded in the van and said she renamed it Winn Dixie since dogs named Winn Dixie get to go to church. He didn't go to church with us though. A few nights later he came back when Aunt Diane was babysitting and refused to go home. He even followed Rusty and the kids home after trying to return him. Maybe Pepper enjoyed Caleigh's "special" attention.

We found five caterpillars on our porch at once.

David and Goliath Party for Lisha's 3rd Birthday

2011-04-26T22:35:00.003-04:00

Happy 3rd Birthday, Elisha!

Lisha with his birthday breakfast: bologna, orange slices, and leftover muffin with candle. Sorry, we were in a hurry to get to baseball pictures.

Elisha couldn't decided what kind of theme he wanted for his party...Batman, motorcycles, tractors, camo...So, finally we led him to the David and Goliath theme. He likes the story, but not so much because of David. He is fascinated by Goliath. We had planned to have the party at the park, but due to almost flood conditions the day before and wind, we moved it to the church last minute. He didn't mind.

Everyone made it to his party, except Grandma who was battling the stomach bug. (Granna, Poppy, Cole, Meme, Nana, Aunt Katie, Angie, Geez-Paw, Jess, MawMaw, Diane, Jimmy, Ashley, Derek, Poppa, Johnna, the Bruces, the Whites, the Martinis).

He received so many awesome gifts: lifetime sportsman's license for Tennessee (hoping he will be close to here), fishing pole and tackle box, cowboy costume, road rug, logging truck and horse trailer, clothes, money, plastic cowboy and Indians, baseball bat, guns...

What should Mommy do with all of it?

Again, I spent many hour making Elisha's cake and cupcakes. I'm not a professional, will never be, but I understand why professionally made cakes cost so much -TIME! I made homemade marshmallow fondant and homemade icing, but went with the boxed cake mix for time's sake. I iced on the faces for David and Goliath and gave them candy eyes. The swords were made with gum wrappers. It is not original. I totally stole it off the internet.

Caleigh having a little fun with the balloons before the party began..barefooted as always.

Actually aggressively blowing out the candles...Maybe too aggressive with all the slobber

Reminds me of last years birthday cake pictures. He was so bashful, but here he is so excited.

A few months ago Elisha fell in love with Mikey, Uncle Jimmy's dumbie. He had immediately said he wanted him to come to the party. We had forgotten, but when we had to cancel the park thing, we remembered. We were so glad Uncle Jimmy could do it for him.

Aquarium Again

2011-04-26T22:13:00.003-04:00

My parents had planned to take the kids to the aquarium for weeks, but Lisha came down with strep throat right before. Thankfully, he had a miraculous recovery after a quick trip to the doctor. Within a few hours, he was out in the grass mowing.

The boys catching a few ZZZs before we arrived

Caleigh curled up in a display of some glow-in-the-dark walnut somethings

They were trying to touch stingrays and sharks. I almost include this picture only for the opportunity to share a story. This little girl fell in the water right beside the kids and started pitching a horrible fit. Her grandma immediately pulled her out and striped her out of her shirt. I guess she thought there was a difference between touching the shark and swimming with it.

What is Granna doing here with Josiah and penguins? She looks so much like Katie right here.

Too cute...Josiah holding his blankie in front of the big tank, and you can see his reflection in the glass. He just happened to see his blanket in the strolled and NEEDED it.

Our family and Co-Co in the shark tank

THANK YOU, GRANNA AND POPPY, FOR TAKING US TO THE AQUARIUM.

Around Here Lately

2011-03-08T22:41:00.010-05:00

Cool Dude in Stride

She has the cat...

About as much moves as she got in dance camp

Attack of the Underwear Monsters

Awake and Static

Mom and Dad actually went on a date for Valentines, dinner and a movie. But, like last year it was only the predecessor to the stomach bug. Yuck!

We are high class with this trampoline in our front yard. The kids love it, but Josey is really not balanced enough to manage it. The big kids were smart enough to move the step ladder outside to use as a ladder, but my little climber figured it out too. DANGEROUS!

More Power Ranger moves

Caleigh before her first basketball game. She is on the Navy team.

Lish on the trampoline

Josiah going after his basketball. I've never had much trouble keeping the other two out of the road, but not him.

More climbing

Caleigh ready for Crazy Hair and Clothes' Night at AWANA

Elisha ready too...but his fohawk didn't work.

Daddy dressed them up like Batman. Didn't he do a nice job?

Caleigh:

completed 100 Easy Reading Lessons. It took 7 months, from August 2 to March 2. At times I wasn't sure we were going to make, but I'm so proud of her and so relieved it is over. Now she wants to read basic reader by herself. It is a delight to hear her say, "Mommy, look. That says, 'food.'"
She went to dance camp, which was more painful than anything. The teacher was prepared to teach children her age, and while I think Caleigh can dance, she didn't necessarily cooperate with the instruction.
She started playing basketball at the Y, and Rusty is her coach. For PeeWee league it actually looks like they're playing ball.
She has had her first tee ball practice, and my former geometry teacher is her coach, Mr. Miles. Sarah, her cousin, is also on her team.
She has also begun piano lessons with Ying Chang, a pianist and violinist. She seems to enjoy the lessons, but we're waiting to see if it is worth the time and money for a four-year-old. Right now she needs to learn to clap quarter notes and half notes.
She is also a professional cat torturer. Poor KitKat can't escape. She has been locking her in her cage the past few days. I've even tried reading Caleigh the book about Duncan and Dolores to show her that cats don't want to play with people who bother them, but it hasn't sunk in yet.

Elisha:

is officially potty trained. Knock on wood. He had been going peepee and poopoo in the potty pretty consistently for about a month, though I have found myself scrubbing poop off of underwear in public restrooms a few times.
talks so much better. I think other people can actually understand him now.
The other day when we told him he had to finish his glass of water before he could have any lemonade (which we didn't think he would do), he told us, "I can't drink because my belly will blow up like the exploding shark on Batman." Hilarious!
is still teasing me by giving all my kisses away to Granna or whoever else may be near.
Teases. Teases. Teases. Tonight he told Rusty to put on a vest from Caleigh's dress up clothes because he knew she would scream "No!" And, the other day I found him in the nursery at "school" putting his feet on another boy just to so the other boy would pitch a fit and get in trouble. But, what can I say. He comes by it honestly. Rusty actually has to watch himself from encouraging with Caleigh.
has been sleeping with a stuffed Woody. Cute.
actually watches movies with Caleigh. I never though I would see his eyes glaze over like hers do, but it has happened. Praise the Lord they only watch TV on Saturdays (mostly).

Josiah:

had his 15 month check up today. He weighed 24 pounds and 10 ounces, putting him at the 5o percentile, and he was 30 1/4 inches, putting him at the 5o percentile as well.
has become a professional climber: the ladder to the slide and the step stool to the trampoline. Yesterday I found him on the top of the dining room table, and today, there he was on top of the bathroom counter. He had gone up Elisha's potty stool, on to the commode, and on to the counter.
started saying some more words --maybe. I heard him say "Momma," but I don't think he was referring to me. I also think he said "book" at the doctor's office.
loves to read books, especially if you make animal sounds.
stands at the cabinet and grunts for food.
runs in place while shaking his arms.
still loves his blankie.
tackles anyone he finds in the floor. He has learned to wrestle from his dad, brother, and sister.

7 Days of Snow in....Cleveland, TN

2011-01-15T19:49:00.005-05:00

After 7 days, we still have snow on the ground, but we haven't been out in a few days. Snow is fun, but have you ever tried to dress three small children for it? It takes longer to dress them than they are willing to stay out in it.

Josiah dressed as Rapunzel

During the day, he had told me a secret, "I'm going to give Granna all my "sug" and he tried, but he'll never be able to give it all away.

Elisha on the phone and Kit Kat in the basket.

Caleigh as Rapunzel, frying pan and all

Elisha shoveling snow

Josiah actually down in the snow. The first day he kept crying any time I put him down. The third day he actually got down, but kept toddling, then plopping, toddling, then plopping.

No, snowman. A snow motorcycle, but Elisha didn't like sitting on it. I'm sure it was freezing his crotch.

We didn't have a sled. We tried a garbage can lid, cardboard, and several other objects, but the turtle sandbox lid worked best. Rusty would push the kids down the hill. They would spin a few feet and stop, but they had fun. Josiah and I even tried it.

Caleigh, Little Red Riding Hood. She despised getting bundled up. The first day I left her in the house crying, but she finally decided come out.

Josiah warm in his jammies next to Elisha cold in his undies

Christmas at Dollywood

2011-01-15T19:35:00.005-05:00

Season Passes to Dollywood were about to expire...We had been planning to go to Dollywood since September, but we hadn't been able to make it. We wanted to go when the Christmas lights were up, and we finally did. We got down to the last week, and we were planning around the weather, and the weather kept changing, and our days kept changing. Finally, we planned on the 31st, but thankfully, I checked and it was closed. Glad we didn't make that trip.

So, on the 30th we headed out in the mini with our family plus Grandma, Geez-Paw, and Cole.

Under the heart posing, but not quite as perfect as Katie and Dave

The family minus Josiah. My mom kept him for us, which was great considering the freezing temperatures, but I missed him since we were separated two nights.

Everybody but me.

Elisha making a face while Rusty and I were trying to upgrade MJ and Steve's tickets to season passes, which didn't work.

We went to watch Dollywood's Babes in Toy Land, and Elisha passed out. How sweet.

Caleigh and Cole waiting to watch Polar Express. Caleigh didn't wear a coat for about the first two hours in the park. When we got out of the car, she had a Caleigh tantrum over putting on her coat. She was left with Grandma, and I hoped Grandma would sweet talk her into wearing it with me having go down to the battle of the wills. That didn't work out. Grandma let her go with out, thinking she would relent in the cold and put it on. No. Not her.

All of us with the conductor at the Polar Express

Other interesting points of the trip.

Steve and I walked a mile (almost) to procure chicken fingers for the children. I came back with drinks strapped to my blue jeans.
I rode in the front seat of Blazing Fury with Cole. Somehow I ended up drenched. My hair, my shirt, my jeans, and I had to walk around in the 30 degree weather like that.
The kids made it in the car back and forth very well until about the last hour and a half when Caleigh wanted to lie on Cole and he didn't want her to touch him.

Christmas Bliss

2011-01-08T12:16:00.004-05:00

Rush. Rush. Busy. Busy. Isn't everyone's holiday season as busy as ours? We started December with 3 church function in less than a week, which only led to more parties, cooking, baking, shopping, wrapping--exhaustion. While we were busy and had to put off some of our normal activities, we tried to point our children to the birth of Christ and the significance of his life. We did a daily, simple advent calendar and the construction paper Jesus Christmas tree we had done in the the past. Even Elisha could say, "Jesus is the bright morning star. Jesus is the lamb of God. Jesus is the Good Shepherd." (I shouldn't be surprised that he is able to do this, but his reluctance to learn his ABCs makes me wonder sometimes.)

The week before Christmas the stomach bug hit, though mildly praise the Lord. I figured all my ungodly anxieties about us all getting sick that I had been having for 2 months were coming to fruition, but thankfully, all were well for the start of Christmas gatherings, which began Christmas Eve Eve with the Mitchells. It was the first of 8 with the other 7 occurring from 4:00 Christmas Eve to 10:00 Christmas Day.

I don't even know what to say about what the kids received. No one needs near as much as they got. Caleigh received a camera, princess suitcase, and a princess barbie-type doll collection. Elisha received a real toolset, camo, guns, and a train set. Josiah received a ride toy, a pushable tricycle, and a Little People zoo set. Rusty was surprised by a Kindle from my parents, and I was surprised by a Shark steam and vacuum, which I took back in hopes of purchasing a Kindle for myself. We are too blessed. I pray that the Lord helps us to bless others in the same way. He is so good.

The Barn at the Langfords

A white Christmas in Chatsworth (and Cleveland). We woke up at about 7:00 Christmas morning and it was snowing. By the time we left our house, we had almost 3 inches in Cleveland. It really didn't lay until later in the day in Chatsworth, but because of the potential for slippery spots on the road we stayed with my in-laws until Monday.

Although everyone dreams of snow for Christmas, our family realized that it can have its negative aspects. My father-in-law and brother-in-law had to work until 3am Christmas Eve and almost all day Christmas day for the city of Dalton cleaning the roads. Not until 8:30 in the evening were they finally convinced by my prompting and reminding them the kids wanted to open presents that it was time to ask to come home.

Jo-Jo giving Elisha a ride on the 4-wheeler Christmas Eve

My mom bought me, my sister, and herself the same pjs for our Philyaw Christmas party, and we had our picture made with my lovely grandmother, Meme.

Caleigh in the zone in front of the TV. Question: Who can guess how much time she wasted in front of the TV during the holiday instead of playing with her new toys?

The boys on the sit-n-spin at Granna and Poppy's. Sometimes they have so much fun together.

Caleigh helping me test out the "Kids & Pets" mode on my camera. It worked better than on Auto. I actually caught her jumping up and down in excitement.

Besides a Barbie container, which still remains questionable on what it is, all Caleigh wanted was a Rapunzel. She received the dress-up outfit Christmas Eve, but she had to wait until the last of 7 Christmas gift opening sessions to receive the the doll. After receiving that all she wanted still was a Rapunzel wig. I made her buy that with her Christmas money.

Daddy Walt with his "littler" grandkids and great-grandkids

You should have seen Caleigh's face as the gifts piled up in Granny's lap. Our lectures on how to politely receive gifts apparently had no sunk in. She didn't understand why Granny received more than she did, but she was glad to help her open some of them.

Josiah's favorite Christmas item: tissue paper. Here he was playing peekaboo underneath it.

Angie (aunt), Katie (sister), Cassie, Kristy (mom), Tonya (aunt)

The Philyaw girls decided to provide some entertainment for our Christmas shindig. We all dressed up 70's to 80's-ish and danced to a certain (rather inappropriate) song. Our family didn't know what to think about us, and all my daughter could do was cry because I hadn't brought her any high heels to wear.

Christmas Card 2010

2010-12-08T23:29:00.001-05:00

Vintage Provence Holiday 2011 Christmas 5x7 folded card

Shutterfly has classic, elegant Christmas invitations for your party.

View the entire collection of cards.

Shutterfly: Christmas Card Envy

2010-12-05T22:31:00.008-05:00

Let our Shutters Fly.

Ever since I had Caleigh, I have liked sending out photo Christmas cards. There is some good motivation in doing this. I want my family and friends to see how my children have grown. I also believe it is something more memorable than a boxed card, BUT I must admit there are a lot of other less than good motivations going on.

When I try to put together a card for my family, I am automatically comparing it to the cards on the website's illustrations or cards received from friends and family. All the kids on the website's cards are examples of perfection, clean, matching, and smiling, and the kids on the cards from friends and family are a close second. I'm not a professional photographer and my children are definitely not baby models. So, what do I try to do every year when it comes time to capture those sweet moments?

I dress them in the closest to matching outfits, try to situate them in a location that is the least of an eyesore, and then, attempt to get them to all smile at the same time in the same direction. Does this work? No! And, if it did, it would be far from reality. My kids typically have snot oozing from their noses, drool pouring from their mouths, and ketchup dripping from their clothes, and that is only their appearances. Their smiles look more like a clown's smile or a crocodile's grill. They don't want to touch each other and would rather stand on their heads than look at a camera and say "Purple Pizza."

(Side Note: I know the action photos are in, but who wants to see Caleigh whacking Elisha and him trying to tattle or Josiah bombing himself off the fireplace?)

Anyway, this year I hope to fight the envy that arises when I see everyone else's Christmas cards and accept the beauty of the disarray of my children...I will just tell myself everyone else's kids are just as wild and messy as mine...

But, the main reason I'm writing this post is because Shutterfly is offering 50 free Christmas cards for bloggers. I have used Shutterfly before for Christmas cards and was very pleased, more so than when I used other places. And, I can say praise the Lord for this offer because I really didn't have the extra cash built into my Christmas budget. I had planned to design my own, and who knows what would have come of that? Even if they had been presentable, I would have gotten stressed out, feeling I had wasted to much time. But, now I'm going to get to choose from one of the many splendid designs, such as ones below.

This is one of the options I would consider because it has room for multiple photos and place to add captions. So, I could have a picture of each of the three kids and one of them together and be able to write something like, "Caleigh's favorite Christmas movie this year is A Christmas Carol. She thinks Mommy looks like the Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come."

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/sharing-the-love-christmas-5x7-photo-card-5x7-photo?sortType=1&storeNode=93480

This is a classic option with the black and snowflakes. It also has the perfect template for pictures of three children and a family photo.

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards/snowflake-wishes-noir-holiday-5x7-photo-card-5x7-photo?fg=2304&sortType=1&storeNode=93480

Another option for three children but with a little more spunk. I may even consider putting in snapshots in the rounded photo slot.

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/our-shining-stars-christmas-4x8-photo-card-4x8-photo?fg=2304&sortType=1&storeNode=93480

I had already had an idea for our Christmas card before I saw this design. I had thought about doing a then and now theme, from last Christmas to this Christmas, and with this design I could have a picture of each child from last year and from this year.

Apparently, I want a card that will capture all of my children as individuals, but I also want to present them (us) as a family. With this card, I would be able to do both.

When I decide, I will post and let you know. I guess it will all depend on the photos I find and the mood I want to convey. But, whatever the end result, please don't turn green with Christmas card envy....it is all in the presentation.

VotTWM 5: From His Hand and Back...in Hannah

2010-10-12T22:18:00.005-04:00

In the fifth chapter of Voices of the True Woman Movement, Janet Parshall identifies Hannah as "a woman after God's own heart." I have always loved this story, but as a mother, I now better understand her pain and struggles. She was a woman loved by her husband, but unable to produce a child, which was probably one of the main motivations for marrying Peninnah, who was set on irritating Hannah because "the Lord had closed her womb" (1 Samuel 1:6).

Nowadays there seem to be so many women who greatly desire to become pregnant, but continue to deal with infertility. I personally have struggled in the opposite direction (getting pregnant to easily), so I can't imagine the pain of not receiving the blessing of children. Since childbearing is one of the main ways He has designed us to bear His image, it is a legitimate good desire to want children. Unfortunately, so many women don't want the burden of children. They would rather make themselves great through careers and education and beauty and vacations and so on. Although Hannah was dealing with the temptation to make motherhood an idol, she wanted God sees as a blessing - children.

She was desperate...She prayed to the Lord, pleading for Him to give her a child, looking as if she were drunk. Oh, how she wanted a child, but in that prayer, she made a vow. "I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life" (1 Samuel 1:11). This doesn't make sense to us. Why would she ask for a child and turn around and promise to give the child up? Maybe she realized that the child would not be hers anyway. Everything we have is from the hand of the Lord, and everything He gives is for His glory. He is the one who gives and the one who takes away.

Eli, the priest, saw Hannah's desperation and promised that the Lord would grant her petition; he had seen her faith. But, the Bible says "in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son." The idea of "in due time" seems to imply that she had to continue to wait on the Lord in faith. Like Sarah who was promised a child and who decided to work out God's plan by her own means, she may have had moments of doubt and debilitating pain, but praise the Lord, though our faith may waver, His faithfulness does not. The Lord gave her a son. Hannah did as she had vowed, and when her son Samuel was weaned, she took him to serve at the house of the Lord.

This story personally convicts me because I too often seem my children as mine - not the Lord's. It not even so much that I worry they may be taken from me, but I see them as made for my glory instead of the Lord's. I want them to do what pleases me. I want them to make me look good. I don't want to be bothered with their foolishness. I worry more about how they have sinned against me than how they may have sinned against their heavenly Father. I forget to see them as made in the image of God. I forget his continual patience and steadfast love toward us. I forget my role as a steward of what I have been given, of shepherding my children for the kingdom of God.

This summer I heard a lady speak about daily praying to be able to give her children back to the Lord. I want this to be my prayer each day as I deal with the bickering of brothers and sisters, fits over uncomfortable clothing, and reading lessons gone awry. I don't want my life with my children to be about what I can get out of them, but about how I can point them to Christ at the cross. I must be willing to give them up as He gave us his life on the cross...give them up so His name may be great and not my own. I want to be able to give my children back to Lord as Hannah did.

The story of Hannah has so many great truths, so please don't let my simplified explanation and specific personal application mislead you from what can be gleaned from this particular passage of Scripture. Instead, delve into it, and discover our great God and His ongoing provision and providence.

VotTWM 4: Esther On Time

2010-09-22T21:37:00.007-04:00

Nancy Leigh DeMoss tackles Esther in "For Such a Time as This," taking that commonly used verse and showing how God has a kingdom purpose in all He is doing in our time. You may have seen One Night with the King, but if you read Esther, it is not quite as glamorous as the movie portrays, which DeMoss well illustrates.

Esther, whose name had been changed, was part of a people, Israel, who had been forced into captivity. Then, her parents die, and she is left with her cousin Mordecai. Next, she is sent to the king's harem, luckily being chosen as queen, but queen to a man who had put away his other wife after she displeased him by not acquiescing to his drunken request. Not a daydream story of being swept off your feet by Prince Charming. While she is given the position of queen, King Ahasuerus' advisor, Haman, has a grudge against Mordecai and hatches a plot to have all the Jews destroyed. Mordecai goes to Esther and says:

Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (4:13-14)

Esther decides to hold fast and requests the other Israelites to do the same. She then approaches the king, who had the power to have her killed for approaching him without being asked. Thankfully, he welcomes her, and she twice requests for he and Haman to attend a banquet with her. In the end, the tables turn. She asks that Haman be killed. Instead of the Jews being killed, they are allowed to defend themselves against those who attack them, killing over 75,000 people, and Mordecai took over Haman's position.

DeMoss focuses on the dual kingdoms present in every situation. What happened to Esther and what is happening to us are happening in the kingdom of man, but outside the story of Esther and the story of us is the kingdom of God. Thus, God is working His sovereign will for His good in our circumstances. While God may not be orchestrating our lives to save an entire people, He is orchestrating our lives as part of His redemptive history, His plan to make a people for Himself, if like Esther we go with His plan and not our own.

Concluding the chapter, DeMoss leaves the reader with six insights from the book of Esther.

1) We are in a battle...Our struggles are not simply with people and our circumstances. We are battling principalities and powers, not flesh and blood. When we are having to fight to get our kids to do our homework, we are experiencing the battle between good and evil. The same is true when there is strife in the church or workplace or when our minds don't think on what is lovely and noble and pure.

2) The weapons and tactics of the earthly, human kingdom are different than the weapons and tactics of the heavenly Kingdom...As people we want to take vengeance, get even. We use harsh words to hurt, emotional overspills to manipulate, and physical force to overcome, but God's heavenly tactics are different. Having total power He can do as He pleases, and He calls us to do it with love and peace.

3) God has a sovereign and redemptive plan, and it will not fail....How hard it is to wrap our minds around this truth. He controls everything, and He knows the beginning and the end. We don't see it, but He does.

4) Through faith and obedience, you can be part of God's plan....We don't know God's plan, but we do know that we either contribute to His plan by obeying His Word. If we disobey, it is not like God's plan won't succeed like. Like Mordecai said, the Lord will raised someone else somewhere else.

5) No situation is so desperate that God cannot redeem it....All the Jews were about to be destroyed by edict of the king, but God stopped it. If He can turn around a situation like that, why do we doubt he can bring good from insensitive bosses, lost jobs, unbelieving spouses, and challenging children? In the middle of bad situations, we often "woller" in how bad it is. We can't see beyond right then, and we forget to remember God has the power to change things. Try to remember this when you look at an unbeliever. God change the heart of the worst person and use that person greatly for his glory.

6) Don't judge the outcome of the battle by the way things look right now....When we look at our lives, sometimes everything we see is awful for a few moments. Others times when we look everything is awful for days, months, and years, but God calls us to see the end of the story. He calls us to be joyful, rejoicing at all times, and He calls us to do this because He has given us a promise He will keep. Jesus will return, make us like Himself, and establish His perfect, forever kingdom. I'm not one to say we should dwell on heaven as if God has not given us a life here to live on earth, but if we see what victory, the assured victory, in this battle brings, we will fight harder in the battle. We will not sink into the miry pit because our best friends said they hated us, there is no money in our bank accounts, or the authorities over us are persecuting us because we say we believe in the one true God. We will look at the end. To live is Christ. To die is gain.

Lake Winnie: Oh, Pooh!

2010-09-21T21:48:00.006-04:00

Every year we get to go to Lake Winnie with Geez-Paw and Grandma. This year we went on Labor Day: 75 dollars a carload for up to 5 people. As always, the kids loved it. Elisha is bigger, meaning he was a little more concerned about what he wanted to ride. He wanted to do everything, but wasn't quite big enough. Caleigh is so brave, ready to do anything, especially stuff that spins, but Daddy can't quite handle the spin-ny stuff, so I get to ride with her, which I love since I love to ride. Josiah was a GREAT baby. He stayed in his stroller, never whining to get out, just happy to see what was going on. Poor Grandma, though....Rustywouldn't ride the ship with me, so Mary Jane bravely boarded with me, only to go into a near panic. The people in front of us were somewhat worried over her expression. Although she exited with her stomach upside down, she did survive. Geez-Paw didn't ride a thing, not even the train, but he kept us supplied with Cherry Slushies and was happy to mark Lake Winnie off Caleigh's list.

Going with Geez-Paw to get more Slushies. Wish you could checkout Geez-Paw's shirt--it was shredded. He said he wore it for me.

Already ready to be carried right after entering the park

Going down the big slide...after waiting in the hot line

Silly faces on the new frog ride

Our family at the end of the day

Grandkids and Grandparents leaving the pa

On the way home...before they both passed out. We even had to bathe them while they were half asleep before putting them in the bed.

August Rush...without Daddy

2010-09-16T22:45:00.004-04:00

August was an interesting month. I learned I'm a bigger woman than I ever thought I was. Rusty left us for two weeks to attend some classes in Philadelphia. I didn't think I could make it that long without him. But, I did do it all by me-self (as Elisha would say)...almost....Honestly, I accepted all the help I could get.

went to MawMaw's for supper
had supper with a very generous family in our church
were visited by Granna and Poppy
kids spent night with Grandma and Geez-Paw
went to Granna's for Meme's birthday since the boys were too sick to attend church
let my friend Suzanne babysit while I went to the funeral home. She helped with bath and bedtime, which was the most chaotic part of the two weeks. Everyone screamed and cried and wanted Daddy. After a week, they were over him being gone.
had a lady from church come visit one morning
The same sweet family from church came and helped me with the housework and hedge trimming. Praise the Lord for people like that.

So, I can't say I did it by myself, but now I fill more confident about doing it if I have to do it. (I still don't want Rusty to go anywhere for a year though.) My prayers go out to single moms. Thankfully, I am blessed to have a good husband who helps so much. I know he always hears me nagging (which I know isn't biblical), but I really do think he is the BEST-EST.

Josiah learned to crawl and pull up during the 2 weeks Rusty was gone

Granna having to push the kiddies in the wheelbarrow

Co-Co ordered to babysit Josiah (aka thug baby)

Sailor hats from VBS at Salem. Caleigh needed two.

Chuck E. Cheese...no, please

A picture of me with the kids....Take it in. I'm usually left out of the pictures. It's the missing mom effect, always behind the camera.

9 months and 4.25 Checkup

2010-09-08T22:40:00.003-04:00

We went to the doctor today for Josiah's 9 month checkup and Caleigh's 4.25 checkup. We ended up leaving there with 6 total shots and a finger prick. Caleigh got 3 scheduled shots and a flu shot. Josiah got 1 scheduled shot and a flu shot, and Elisha got a flu shot. He didn't realize he was going to have to get a shot, too, but I went ahead with the flu shots, so we didn't have to go back. Josiah screamed with both shots, but quickly recovered. Only later did he seem upset with a fever of 101.6. Caleigh said she was going to be brave and not cry, but she cried, forcing me to hold her down. One spot bled badly, but she didn't cry after the poking stopped. Elisha cried and kept crying, but the offer of a sucker made it somewhat better.

Josiah weighed 22 pounds and was 29 1/4 inches long, putting him in the 75 percentile for weight and the 70 percentile for height. He has slimmed up some. Caleigh weighed 37 pounds and was 41 5/8 inches long, putting her in the 60 percentile for weight and 80 percentile for height. Caleigh also had her hearing and vision check, which were both on target. The nurse said she obeyed perfectly for the tests, and I bet that was due to the fact I didn't go with her.

Taking three children to the doctor is always an adventure. They really behaved very well, even allowing me to fill out paperwork without an onset of crying, but it is a wonder what havoc they can inflict on an empty doctor's office: books everywhere, ripped paper...Are my children the only ones who can do this?

Josiah upset that I set him down.

Caleigh and Elisha holding there big baby brother.

What a silly face and a mean face.

(As of Sept. 21, 2010)

Caleigh:

helps fold and put up laundry
can read with some patient coaching from mom. We have completed the first 30 something lessons of Teach Your Child to Read in a 100 Easy Lessons
can write her alphabet with a mix of upper and lower case letters
likes to listen to takes, especially Pengu
wears the tackiest things imaginable if she dresses herself
has learned to hide messes under her bed
is great at memorizing her CC work
doesn't nap
is going to Sunday School with Ms. Stephanie and Ms. Rolydia
needs prayer concerning learning to sit in church

Elisha:

is learning to potty
loves to ride the motorcycle
still fixes everything with his tools
often repeats what you say when you ask him a question
any book is a Bible and he wants to preach from his papers (or notes)
talks on the phone more than Caleigh
likes to wear light-up shoes
can't wait to see Mr. Doc at church for candy
screams "Jesus" during family worship
is starting to love to draw
loves his tractor book
enjoys sleeping, but occasionally coaxes Daddy to let him sleep on the couch
likes medicine

Josiah:

crawling, chasing after me if I leave the room
pulling up
says da-da, bye-bye, and hey (probably not intentional)
sleeps on his belly
waves
does Indian noise on his arm
makes driving noise when playing cars with Elisha
crawls to the stairs, but wisely hasn't attempted to do down them
eats everything he can pick up and put in his mouth: leaves, dirt, dropped food, etc...
likes to eat in general
declared as the happiest baby people have ever seen
likes to bit my chin
has 8 teeth
can sleep in his stroller unlike the other 2

Caleigh's First Day of School (at CC)

2010-09-07T22:55:00.005-04:00

We have OFFICIALLY decided to homeschool, and the Lord blessed our decision and prayers by allowing us to discover the Classical Conversation program here in Cleveland. It provides two things that were very important in our choice to homeschool: the classical model and group interaction and accountability.

Caleigh's first day was yesterday. She was in Ms. Brittany's class along with six other children. They learned a song about Charlemagne, practiced skip counting by 1 and 2, learned hand motions to the first 8 cards of the history timeline, tested thermometers in a sunny and shady location, and traced a bug and tree using curvy and straight lines. She also did a great job giving her presentation on "All About Me." She told about her favorite doll, Snow White (I don't know where that came from), her favorite color, pink, and her brothers and parents.

Everything went great until lunch and playground. Three kids going in three directions is hard to deal with, especially after Elisha had been cooped up in the nursery for three hours.

Even though she only had to take a snack, she had to carry a backpack.

She looks pretty excited about her first day of school.

CC is a whole family experience. Here we are already to go. Rusty took the picture. He had stayed home to see us off on our first day.

Caleigh getting ready to watch presentations.

Caleigh giving her presentation at the end of class.

Play Days

2010-09-05T15:16:00.003-04:00

Walking the balance beam barefooted. We leave shoes all over the world. We actually lost a pair in Trees and Trends and had to go back and pick them up later.

Elisha is not so sure he can make it to the top of the wall with Daddy, but he is getting braver and braver about trying

Flying a jet plane

The kids shucking corn at Bible School

Loving each other. Every day they are learning to play more together, which also means they fight together. Everything goes swell as long as Elisha complies with her plans, even if they are super mischievous.

Do Moms Really Vacation?

2010-08-31T22:25:00.007-04:00

We went on vacation to Gatlinburg in the middle of July with my parents, but I hesitate to call it a vacation. It took us four hours to make the two and a half hour trip after several bathroom stops, including ones for Elisha saying he needed to potty, which meant he pooped his pants.

Being a mom of three, you basically have the same work to do at home as you do when you are vacationing: meals, naps, snacks, baths...and the list goes on. The only difference is you have to add preparing for excursions and dealing with skipped naps. The first few days Rusty stayed back so that he could preach, but my parents were there to help me. The only bad part was that their condo was about a half mile away and several flights of stairs.

We went to Dollywood twice. The first time we set out in the rain. We went on in at Rusty's urging (against my better judgment). The kids rode one ride, and the solid downpour set in. We attempted to watch a show, but after waiting thirty minutes, they cancelled it. Rusty, being the good and brave dad he is, then headed off to take Caleigh down the log flume. He hiked the mountain only for them to close it when he got to the top. I was forced to leave that area of the part due to lightning, which meant pushing Elisha and Josiah through torrential rain. We were soaked to the bone, and finally, wisely, we decided to leave the park, only to go in for nap and turn around and go back.

We spent another day at Cades Cove. My stepdad thought it was only a few minutes from downtown Gatlinburg. Not so. We were in the car for several hours with me sitting in the floorboard. We saw about four deer and a snake and some horses and turkeys. We assume there were some bears because of the line of traffic we got stuck behind, but we didn't see any. Thankfully, the kids were pretty good, and we got to enjoy a nice picnic in the woods.

The last day we returned to Dollywood, and even though I started the day in a pretty bad mood, we really had a nice time. My parents and grandparents kept baby Josiah, and he was really sweet for them. Uncle Cole hung out with us a bunch. He was such a good uncle. He rode the kiddie rides with the kids, and I teased him that I was going to post pictures of him in a the duck for his friends to see. All went well except when Elisha cried himself to sleep because his daddy went to do a ride and then woke up screaming so hard he threw up since Rusty hadn't returned.

All I can say is I'm still wondering when I'm going to get a vacation....If your answer is in 18 years, please don't respond.

At a cabin in Cades Cove

Caleigh posing....after a whining episode

Rusty and Elisha in the creek. Caleigh refused to get in the water after seeing some fish, even though she had played in it an hour a few days before.

Using the 3 dollars Geez-Paw sent for the dryer.

Leaving Dollywood after the flood. Not a thing on us was dry. (Taking kids to an amusement park while it was raining...against my better judgment)

Josiah in the pool with Granna...I think we may need to buy stock in sunscreen with this one.

Josiah playing with Co-Co after many hours crammed in the van at Cades Cove.

Downtown Gatlinburg

DottieWood Again!

Back Shot!

4 and 27 instead of 24/7

2010-08-11T22:44:00.002-04:00

Happy Fourth of July with the Collums! We waited a long time for the fireworks to start. Every year I wonder if it is worth the wait, but we enjoyed the fellowship with our new friends as we tried to keep our children from being plowed over by moving traffic.

Josiah: Red, White, and Blue

The girls

A kiss from a sick brother to a sick brother

Happy 27th Birthday to me! My sweet parents made lasanga and brought it to my house. The lady at their church couldn't make an Italian Creme Cake, so we settled for the Bi-Lo one. It wasn't nearly as good.

June's End

2010-08-11T22:38:00.002-04:00

Josiah learned to sit up by himself

He likes to play with his toes, too!

Happy Father's Day, Poppa!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Josiah's first trip swimming

TWM: Man! I Feel Like a Woman...Really???

2010-08-11T22:03:00.007-04:00

"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"

I'm going out tonight-I'm feelin' alright

Gonna let it all hang out

Wanna make some noise-really raise my voice

Yeah, I wanna scream and shout

No inhibitions-make no conditions (no self control)

Get a little outta line

I ain't gonna act politically correct

I only wanna have a good time (typical hedonistic attitude of our era)

The best thing about being a woman

Is the prerogative to have a little fun (fun, fun)

Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a lady (no need to be proper

Men's shirts-short skirts

(Be as powerful as men; possess sexual freedom)

Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style

Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction

Color my hair-do what I dare (I-define-myself mentality)

Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel

(freedom from any societal norms, but also freedom from God's beautiful design)

Man! I feel like a woman!

Read the lyrics to that song, and if you're discerning and biblical wise, you can't help but see how the feminist movement has warped our view of womanhood. What can I say? I heard that song on the radio tonight and almost didn't realize what I was singing and had sung along to many times. But, when I stopped and thought, I realized I was supporting the downfall of biblical womanhood.

In "You've Become a Long Way, Baby" in VotTWM, Mary Kassian provides an educated overview of the development of feminism. Let me summarize her history lesson. Basically the Feminist Revolution began in the late 1950s as Betty Friedan started to question the happiness and freedom as wives and mothers. She found many women to be dissatisfied in those roles based on the discoveries she published in The Feminine Mystique, calling women to trust on other authority than their "own personal truth" and overturn the male dictated image of womanhood. Thus women had to reject Judeo-Christian beliefs regarding truth and gender.

As the Feminist Movement gained momentum, women renamed/redefined themselves, and with this came "1) full self-determination, 2) freedom from biological distinctions, 3) economic independence, 4) total and equal integration not the workforce, and 5) sexual freedom" (VTWM, 61). The movement gained support through "conscious raising" - bringing women together to share their frustions with in hopes of breeding a collective bitterness that would lead to political activism. This bitterness spread through the country, which resulted in the mentality that women were actually better than men. Societally everything changed as women's studies programs popped up and the doctrines of the Feminist Movement trickled down from the higher institutions of learning to the kindergarten classrooms. They also questioned the identity of God. THey couldn't accept the God of the Bible because He is male, so they began to say they were to the ones to define God--making themselves gods.

How ridiculous this all seems to me now. Ten years ago I was, "I am woman. Hear me roar." I was convinced I was just as good as any man and could do anything I wanted to do. I may have even believed a girl could do anything better than a boy. I was ready to make my way in the world. I didn't realize I was contradicting myself as I stood in my cheerleading uniform waiting for whichever boy I happened to be dating to pick me up. I wanted the power of the feminist movement at the same time I wanted the love and protection of a patriarchal society (though my desire for this love and protection was also perverted).

As women, we don't realize how we have bought into the lies of the Feminist Movement. We believe a joy, freedom from children, and

sexual freedom will bring us happiness. But look around...Are women happier with these things than they were before? No! They're torn. They hate being left to work and care for a home - two full-time jobs. THey hate men who want provide or abandon their families. Most women have what they want when it comes to being equal with a man, but still they are dissatisfied... just like the women Betty Friedan interviewed.

They are dissatisfied because they don't have Jesus. We all have areas where we fill unfulfilled due to sin. I am single, so I want a man. I am married, so I wish I were single. I don't have a baby, so I want a baby. I have children, so I wish I had waited longer to have children. That is why we have to accept God's design though we live in a sinful world. He created us male and female, and He did this to teach us about the Trinity and about Christ and the Church. Kassian points out Romans 9:20-21: "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?"

We shouldn't question our Maker. If you believe God is all-wise and all-good, you won't reject the beauty of true womanhood. Man, you can feel like a woman, a woman who is pleased by her Maker and in turn is desiring to please her Maker, not please herself.

TWM: How Inscrutable!

2010-08-04T22:11:00.002-04:00

I feel bad (because I have sinful guilt issues) that I have not blogged about the second chapter of VofTWM, but it just hasn't happened with vacation and VBS and my husband, who left the computer at church the one night I set aside time. So, let me start with, How inscrutable are the ways of the Lord.

In the second chapter of the book, DeMoss doesn't start where you think she would start in a book about women, yet she starts in the best place -who God is. She walks through Romans 11:33-36:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

By looking at who God is, and then believing He is who He says He is, we are able to yield to His plan for our lives instead of doing what we want to do, as my daughter says. God is rich. He possesses everything. He has given us everything we have, and He can give us anything as He chooses. He knows everything, which means He knows everything about me, my past, my fears, my sins, my desires. His ways are inscrutable, and this is the thing that blows us away.

We ask how a good God who possesses all things and knows all things can do something that seems ridiculous or wrong to us. If our financial situation doesn't allow us to go on an exotic vacation or put back a large sum of money for our children's education or pay for a needed surgery, we ask why a God who possesses everything can't provide for us. If we have to deal with the most inconsiderate husband or struggle with ongoing depression, we can ask why a God who knows everything won't make everything better. I assume based on my own experience we all ask these questions of God, but I know when I ask them I am forgetting that I serve a God whose ways are inscrutable.

Knowing who God is doesn't negate our hardships. It only helps us to deals with our hardships in a biblical manner. DeMoss lists several examples from the Bible in which the women involved didn't understand God's sovereign plan, but from our point of view in story of redemption, we see that God was working for His good as well as their good: Ruth, widowed and parted from her people; Hannah, suffering infertility; and Mary, facing a teenage pregnancy and watching her Son die on the cross). Like these women, we have to continue obey the Word when life doesn't seem fair and things don't go our way.

"For from him and through him and to him are all things." All things...it is hard to grasp, isn't it? Any time I grumble and complain about my circumstances it is directed toward God. Why didn't my kids take a nap? Why didn't anyone help me clean up after supper? Why didn't she invite me to go with them to lunch? All these questions reveal the state of my heart, the passions at war within me - mainly selfishness. I am craving something other than God, and in turn, I'm angry with God for not giving me what I want. Thus, we must remember God orchestrates everything, gives us the strength to endure anything, and receives the glory for all things.

DeMoss concludes with three things a woman must do if she is going to ascribe to this marvelous view of God. She must have a God-centered life, she must trust God, and she must say, "Yes, Lord." Oh, how I how struggle to do each of these. I am a me-focused person. I enjoy worrying more about what needs to be fixed in my house than I enjoy thinking about a God who fixed the universe. I don't trust that God will bring good in my situation. What good will come of sleepless nights, disappointing turnouts at a church function, or seasons of spiritual dullness? And, I don't say, "Yes, Lord." I usually say, "But...,Lord?" If you really love me, you'll make my baby sleep, so I don't have to wrestle him all night; you'll help me be more patient right now, so I don't speak harshly with my children; and you'll help my children better receive instruction today, so I don't see like the horrible, crazy parent who can't control her kids. But, instead, I must recall over and over again, "the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!"

The lyrics to "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" by William Cowper

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs

And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust Him for His grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err

And scan His work in vain;

God is His own interpreter,

And He will make it plain.

Oh, How They Grow

2010-06-19T22:07:00.008-04:00

Caleigh at 4 years:

almost 40 pounds
sneaks in to Daddy's bed just about every night
swings by herself
is learning to write her letters
is starting Classical Conversations in the fall
loves to swim and meet friends at the pool
has a shorter haircut
trying to learn to sit in big church
started going to the big kid Sunday school class
loves to sing and dance, especially "A Bushel and Peck"
has learned to color in the lines
listens to Rescuers just about every day at nap time
likes Mommy to sing "Down by the Bay" at bed time
aggravates her brother, a lot
plays dress up
likes to play hide-n-seek and Goldilocks and Monster Bears
plays with her Tag pen

Elisha at 2 years:

29 pounds
still playing with tools
weed eats
hoes in the garden, sometimes taking out plants
likes to wake Josiah up
likes to ride the motorcycle and horse
talks on the phone
can put together simple puzzles
has a "Hey Little Lisha" Song
wants to read the tractor book
jumps when he runs
hesitant about swimming
likes to swing in big boy swing
yells "Jesus" during family worship
wants his bedroom door left open and wishes he could sleep in Daddy's bed
says he is Poppy's boy or Jess's boy
says "Me Noise" when you ask him to make an Elisha noise or says "Granna Noise" when you ask him to make a Granna noise

Josiah at 6 months:

20 pounds 13 ounces - 95 percentile
28 inches - 95 percentile
three teeth: two bottom, right top
rolls from belly to back
can roll from back to belly, but becomes very upset with himself because he doesn't like to be on his belly
screams
laughs at Caleigh and Elisha at the supper table
kicks his feet like crazy when you lay him in his bed
sleeps most nights and naps in the room with Elisha
eats veggies and fruit
drinks from a cup
can sit up some with support
tastes good to mosquitos
gets his fat legs caught in the carseat straps

Is Josiah as big Elisha?

He is not so sure about that...

But for some reason he is really happy about this....

After 6 month shots

God decided to make it rain after we started washing the van (the second time in six months). Instead, Rusty and the kids played in it.

Playing at the Y

Backpack

Another hairdo

Lish on Jaime's Harley. He loved it, but didn't want to ride, forcing Jaime to bring him back when they went for a ride.

White Boy next to Granna and Co-Co

Maidens and Castles: Caleigh is 4!

2010-06-19T16:47:00.003-04:00

Several months ago we saw a castle cake in Parenting magazine, and Caleigh said she wanted it for her birthday. So, to avoid the ridiculous princess craze, we had a maiden party, but I couldn't steer clear of it. She ended up receiving princess hair and shoes and costumes and dresses. All the girls made maiden hats, and the boys made knight helmets. I didn't have as many children come as I had planned. Thus, I ended up doing a lot of unnecessary tracing and cutting to prepare for the craft, but the children who did make them seemed to love them. The girls received wands and the boys received foam swords and axes as party gifts.

She was blessed to have a lot of her family come: all of her grandparents, Meme, MawMaw, the Brysons, the Pritchards, Tan, Angie, Cole, and Jess. A few friends from church came too: the Whites, Hoffmans, and Browns. Too bad Aunt Katie was at the lake, Daddy Walt was fishing, and Miss Mac and Granny were recovering from surgeries and breaks. As always I was overwhelmed by all the stuff she received. She loved the clothes, camera, game, KitKats, TAG books, and garden tools. Grandma and Geez-Paw also plan to send her to piano lessons if I ever arrange it (aka have the nerve to make her sit through a lesson at 4). We had asked Caleigh to tell everyone "thank you" for each gift after she opened it. She added the hug to the "thank you." Some people received loving, gentle hugs. Others received tackles. Overall, it was a good party. A little work for mom, but great for Caleigh.

All the girls in their maiden hats. Taylor, Kylee, Caleigh, Sarah, Annika, and Anna

Hanging on Rusty's neck for the sleeping bag we gave her (the only princess item we purchased).

Poppy and Caleigh

Granna downed

Grandma squeezed

Caleigh in front of her cake

The Cake, topped with sugar rolled sugar and waffle cones, spice drops, hearts, and Necco wafers

Dottie-Wood

2010-06-17T22:52:00.004-04:00

We went to Dollywood, or Dottie-Wood as Elisha called it, for the first time back in May with Rusty's parents. My parents had some how given me the impression that it was really boring when I was a child, but we loved it. The workers was really nice, probably because they were seniors, not moody teenagers. The longest line we had to wait in was for chicken fingers. Dolly was there, along with Miley Cyrus and Kenny Rogers, but unfortunately, we didn't get to see her, even if Steve says we did. We missed the parade. Caleigh was happy because she was able to ride some big kid rides. Poor Elisha though...Ms. Wendy at church had mentioned the train at Dollywood, which I had pumped up to him, but he didn't get to ride it either day. That part of the park was closed for filming of a Dolly Hallmark movie. Since we're planning to go back with my parents in July, maybe he can ride it then.

Other memorable moments from our trip:

going to Hillbilly Village, a Langford tradition; the man in the outhouse didn't say, "What 'cha lookin' at?"
Grandma coming out of her room to ask Rusty for help getting Caleigh and Elisha back in the bed. Rusty found them in the closet playing with the vacuum cleaner and hiding under the bed. He said it seemed like monkeys had escaped from the zoo.
Losing our keys, spending an hour to find them in the stroller
not getting Krispie Kreme donuts

Geez-Paw, Elisha, Caleigh, and Josiah

Wet and not minding it

Hanging out with Geez-Paw

Riding the Pig

Steering with 2 wheels

Grandma and Josiah

Drenched rats in the family-sized dryer. Yes, Geez-Paw paid 3 dollars for us to get in the dryer. We got on what we thought was a little kid water ride and some overzealous grown men attacked us with water guns. Caleigh was very upset; she changed clothes multiple times because she didn't like being wet.

Baby Owl. Josiah was the best baby. He just hung out in the stroller most of the time. Geez-Paw only had to take him for a stroller ride one time to get him to nap.

Geez-Paw and Caleigh in a coffin. Geez-Paw was brave enough to ride a roller coaster with me. Mary Jane worried he was breaking the post-heart-attack rules. While we were riding, Caleigh said Geez-Paw was going to break his leg or get killed.

Happy Mother's Day Birthday

2010-06-17T22:03:00.002-04:00

The weekend of Mother's Day I kept my brother, Cole, so my parents could go out to dinner. Things got a little chaotic because I had to prepare for company, but the kids love having Co-Co stay. They got to watch a big kid movie and stay up a little late. Cole almost went to bed with Elisha in the baby bed, but of course, that wasn't going to work. He ended up in Caleigh's bed, but she wouldn't sleep with him because she didn't like "naked" people. (Cole had taken his shirt off.) She ended up sleeping in the floor.

My family came over to celebrate my mom's 46th birthday and Mother's Day. We had an Italian-themed dinner with Lori's Dish, Chicken Spinach Penne Pasta, and Chicken Lasanga. My sister made a homemade Oreo cake that turned out beautifully, and John John wowed my mom with his thoughtfulness. He gave her Willow Tree figurines to symbolize each of their children: Cassie - thoughtful, Katie - joyful, and Cole - imaginative. He also wrote her two sweet cards, which she read aloud, putting all the other husbands to shame.

What happens when Granna babysits.

Granna with Caleigh and Elisha...Note the ballerina costume. Caleigh changed clothes ten times while we had visitors.

The Cake

Cole and Elisha (pretending) gaming

Co-Co in the crib

Pictures Galore

2010-06-10T19:18:00.004-04:00

I desperately pulled Elisha's hair up before he had his most recent trim. He would have made a pretty girl.

Caleigh rollerblading in her Ariel swimsuit, which she isn't allowed to wear out of the house

Our baby chicks who were living in the house, then on the porch. But, being left out in the pen when we went to Dollywood, they disappeared or were eaten.

Aunt Meig riding Lisha on the motorcycle

Caleigh with her pet chicken Angie

Caleigh and Josiah reading a book

Caleigh and Angie again

Josiah sticking out his tongue

TWM: Don't Be a Wimpy Woman

2010-06-09T22:11:00.002-04:00

I read the first chapter in Voices of the True Woman Movement last week, but it has taken me this long to sit down to write a post. As always, I'm sure the Lord was working for His good in this situation; perhaps He was trying to prevent me from being too longwinded.

In the first chapter, Piper addresses the "ultimate meaning of true womanhood," and he starts with the idea that "wimpy theology makes wimpy women." When he says wimpy, he is not referring to someone who is physically weak or even overly dainty, but to the inability to withstand the trials of life. He lists several examples of true woman, ranging from a woman imprisoned for her faith to two women dealing with disabilities, and each of these women rejoiced in the Lord's sovereign goodness and mercy despite their "tragic" circumstances. One even said, ""I now see that my worst suffering is sin...'"

Personally, I don't feel that I have wimpy theology. I do believe God is in control of everything, and He is working it all for His glory. I do believe I don't deserve anything, that there is nothing good in and of myself apart from Christ. I do believe treasures in heaven will far exceed treasures on earth. I do believe I have to be willing to take up my cross. But, I DO have trouble really believing my strong theology. A lot of times there is a disconnect between my head knowledge and my heart and actions. Sometimes I want to scream, "God, why me? Why won't the baby stop screaming? Why do everyone else's children sleep through the night?" Sometimes I want to one-up someone else, think of the best costume for the kids or throw the best birthday party. Sometimes I want a big house, a new outfit, and better hair, too. Sometimes I would rather not prepare for company, much less carry a cross. That is why I must preach the Gospel to myself everyday. I have a Savior who is what I can't be, who died for me and gave me a new life, and while I may not know today what He is making me, one day I will see Him and I will be like Him (1 John 3:2). It is all about faith, believing in the unseen, believing the Word.

Piper goes on to examine what makes a strong theology - believing the God-centered purpose for all things, most clearly displayed in God's Son dying for His bride, a sinful, rebellious people. Many of us don't realize that in eternity past God decided to make male and female to show the relationship between Christ and the church. It wasn't an afterthought. Married women should display an understanding of headship and submission, allowing their husbands to act as a servant-leader in the home and submitting to his authority, thus imaging forth "the glory of the sacrificial love of Christ for His bride." While marriage was ordained to be a picture of Christ and the church, singles are still called to display the glory of God. Piper lists three ways this is to be done: 1- showing the family of God grows by regeneration through faith, not procreation, 2- showing a relationship with Christ is more permanent that with a spouse, and 3- showing that marriage is temporary, only pointer to Christ and the church. All is to be for the glory of God.

I assume the rest of the book will discuss these specific calls to women more in depth, and I look forward to be confronted with how I can better submit to my husband and enjoy my role as a woman.

Wherever we may be and whatever we may do let it be for God's glory alone.

TWM: Piper's Prayer

2010-06-02T22:37:00.004-04:00

Although I have finished the first chapter in Voices of the True Woman Movement, which was written by John Piper, I think it is fitting to start with Piper's prayer for women that can be found in the appendix. If you have ever heard Piper pray, you know the power of his words encourages you to think in terms of God's glory in all areas of your life, and he does the same in this written prayer.

His prayer encompasses all aspects of womanhood. He asks that we be women of the Book and women of prayer, that we grasp God's sovereign grace, and that we fulfill our God-given roles, be it in singleness, marriage, or motherhood, for the glory of God. Up until that point in the prayer, the content seems to be typical for a prayer concerning women, unless of course you understand the comprehensive effects of God's sovereignty. But, then he asks that women not believe secular employment is more significant than the call to service in the home and ministry in general. Having only read the first chapter, I don't know if the book will have a specific call to encourage women to be homemakers, but I pray that we all see our primary duty to our husbands and children, instead of financial gain.

What most struck me most was the portion on planning for ministry in each chapter of life. Sometimes I get bogged down in being a mother of small children, cleaning marker off the wall and poop off the floor, which accidentally got tracked through the house, and I forget that "finite life is a series of trade-offs." The grass will never be greener. As someone told me the other day: the grass is brown on both sides of the fence. Yet, I am called to minister where I am, and what greater ministry than to disciple my children, showing them the sacrificial love of Christ who is ever patient with us and who provided for us what we could not provide for ourselves. And, even though I will never perfect imaging Christ, that too will allow me to teach them that like me they need a Savior to stand in their place.

Another Piper-esque comment was concerning the wartime lifestyle. Some would be taken back by Piper's continual call in his preaching and writing to give "it" up for the sake of the kingdom, and here he prays that women will give up nicer "whatever" because " it is a "poor and dangerous substitute for the goals of living for Christ." When souls are at stake, who needs a bigger house or a better wardrobe. I have read Don't Waste Your Life, and it really inspired me to live this wartime lifestyle - for a little while. I only pray now that the Lord will renew a passion within me for the lost and stomp out my desires for "better." Envy is a real sin in my life, but when I look at what the Lord has to offer in eternity, oh, what I should be willing and happy to forfeit in this life.

I pray that you too will live for the glory of God wherever you may be and that you may exalt Him as a you live out the life of a true woman.

TWM: Piper

2010-06-02T22:37:00.001-04:00

True Woman Movement

2010-06-01T22:23:00.003-04:00

I attended the True Woman Conference in Chattanooga back at the end of March. I had actually wanted to attend the conference in Chicago in 2008, but I had a newborn, no one from church was interested in going, and it was a pretty big distance to travel. Thankfully, the True Woman Movement has maintained its momentum, and I pray that it endures, that women will allow the Word of God to shape their knowledge of who they are, what they are called to do, and more importantly whom they are to serve.

A few weeks ago I received an email asking if I would blog about each chapter of Voices of the True Woman Movement. I agreed and received my free book in the mail last week. Hopefully, I will be able to keep my word by keeping up with my responses and reactions here on my family's blog. As I go through this book, I plan to weave in my personal experience of discovering what a True Woman is.

If you knew me ten years ago, I was on my way to being a Femi-Nazist. I checked out A Vindication of Women's Rights from the school library, but graciously, the Lord must have prevented me from completing it. When I filled out the application for the Junior Miss program, I think I said my heroes/role models were Oprah Winfrey, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who lead the women's rights movement, Horace Mann, who revolutionized education, and Margaret Sanger, who started Planned Parenthood. In some ways, I was totally ignorant. I didn't realized the paganism in Oprah's New Age theology or the relation between Sanger's call for birth control and abortion. Without the work of the Lord in my life, I would still be ignorant. I would stilll be entrenched in this deceptive worldview. I would still believe that my worth depended on my ability to succeed in a career or to cause a man to lust after my body or to prove myself to be equal or better than men. While I doubt I would have rejected being a wife and mother altogether, I would never have realized the eternal significance of both. Praise the Lord! He has opened my eyes, and I pray He too will open your eyes to your great calling as a woman.

Haw-Haw Party, Elisha's 2nd Birthday

2010-04-21T22:33:00.003-04:00

Elisha celebrated his second birthday last Friday, and we gave him a Horse/Cowboy party on Saturday at his Uncle Jess's house. All of his grandparents were there except Poppa and Granny. Lucas and Cylia were his special guests. Even though their parents were traveling to speak at a church about their mission work, they got to come with their grandmother, Renda. Cole, Katie, Dave, Tan, Angie, Janice, and little Maddie were also there. I made him a horse cake and sheriff badge cupcakes. I decorated with cowboy hat and boots, but Caleigh stole them from the table. Grandma bought bandanas to make goodie bags. He received a cowboy hat and several guns, tools and a toolbox, a wheelbarrow, shovel, and hoe, and clothes and shoes. He was already putting his tools to use when Uncle Jess went to putting the wheelbarrow together. He wasn't really into opening his gifts. He just wanted to "work."

Lisha riding Nellie with Cole. They look like they are doing a better job than I did. I couldn't get her to go in anything but a circle.

Caleigh and Maddie holding hands in the pasture. Caleigh said Maddie was her best friend on the way home.

Daddy helping Lisha ride on Cole-Cole's shoulders

Elisha with Horse Cake and Sheriff Badge cupcakes. He was quite bashful as we sang. He would glare up at us with an "I'm-rotten" expression.

Getting ready for bed with gun and cowboy hat

(Unfortunately, my camera's zoom is broken, so I didn't get many good pictures.)

says "holds-ey" when he wants to be picked up
prays "God help Cole-Cole" every time we pray
sounds like he is talking with marbles in his mouth
loves to climb on Josiah
tattles on Caleigh - "Ca-e hit me!"
loves to chase the chickens and sometimes tries to kick them
carries a hammer everywhere
loves to ride the motorcycle at Geez-Paw's
calls people on the phone and actually talks
loves to ride around the block in the car
wants to put on his work boots as soon as he wakes up
wants to wear his "boo" jeans everywhere
calls his milk "choc-choc"
pee-pees in the potty before bath time
likes to play guitar...He calls the mandolin his "tar"
has gotten his last two-year molars
sleeps 11 hours some nights
loves to eat everything - raisins, bbq sauce, fruit,
is learning colors and shapes and numbers and abc's - little progress
enjoys terrorizing the little girls in the nursery

Josiah's Baby Dedication

2010-04-13T21:48:00.005-04:00

It has only been a little over a year since Elisha's baby dedication. My how things change...so quickly. My how our family is growing so quickly.

There were five babies dedicated, including the new set of twins. Someone who videoed it told me Josiah was so sleepy he nodded off during a prayer as he faced the congregation. Then, he did a head jerk when it got loud again. As parents, we joined in a covenant to raise our children in the instruction of the Lord, and our congregation convenanted together that would would encourage us in this task. Rusty preached a very good message on wanting better for your children, but he focused on how better is not worldly gain. Better is a life of service to the Lord, if on the mission field or in a dangerous neighborhood. Better may mean not being held in high regard in the world's eyes. What a great responsibility we have as parents. May the Lord guide us in the endeavor and give us grace as we fail.

Elisha in his Georgia gear the day before... He has on red shoes, even though they are a little too big.

Lishey piled up on Daddy before bedtime

Caleigh showing off her dress from Aunt Katie and Dave

Josiah in the nursery floor before church

All three kids posed together. It is impossible to get two to look at the same time. It will be harder to get three to do so.

Okay. Okay. They are all looking, but Caleigh has her tongue stuck out.

Using his muscles...or rolls

Caleigh taking a picture of me and Lisha making silly faces

Lisha riding the horse like a wild man

Our whole family after the dedication...but doesn't it look like Katie and Dave's wedding picture with them posed so perfectly in the middle? Aunt Meig, Rusty, Caleigh, Geez-Paw Steve, Grandma Mary Jane, Aunt Katie, Dave, Granny Hazel, Cassie, Josiah, Daddy Walt, Poppa Van, and Elisha. Granna Kristy and Poppy John and Cole Cole were on there way back from Disney World.

Elisha really enjoyed the Easter Basket Surprise Pie I made, made from candy from the kids' Easter baskets.

Aunt Katie playing dress-up with Caleigh...She actually wore this get-up out in the yard all afternoon.

Josiah that evening after eating his first bowl of cereal with the help of Caleigh and Elisha

Fatty Four Months

2010-04-13T20:27:00.003-04:00

Josiah went to the doctor on April 1 for his four month check-up. I already knew it, but the scales proved it. I'm growing a hefty boy. He weighed 17 pounds and 9 ounces and was 26 inches long. That put him in the 90 percentile for weight and the 75 percentile for height. Of course they asked about his development, and when I said he doesn't do anything but coo and smile, the doctor said he must be a happy, lazy boy. He enjoys chewing his thumb, not sucking, hates being placed on his belly, and likes chewing his blanket as he goes to sleep. The Monday after his visit he started picking up toys and placing them in his mouth. This is convenient since he is cutting his first tooth, the bottom right (and Elisha is cutting his last). He is really is a great baby. It will be hard not to want another little baby after him since he is so sweet.

Picture taken on his four month birthday

Pictures of him smiling at me and eating his hands

A little extra: I found Caleigh growing mold in her jewelry box. What would encourage the child to place strawberries in there? I think she had been hiding candy in there and thought it would be a good idea to hide her strawberries there too. I honestly can't keep up with her.

Resurrection Day

2010-04-12T19:09:00.007-04:00

We were blessed as we celebrated Resurrection Day last Sunday, worshipping together with our church family and spending time with family. We woke up the kids and they went to look at their Easter mountain. (We took the idea from Noel Piper's book on traditions). Jesus had risen. The tomb was empty. I also had written a little Easter message on the door window. Caleigh kept pretending to read it.

Aunt Meig joined us at church during which Rusty preached on the power of the resurrection, how we have new life in Christ, and she joined us for a mini lunch at Raphael's. We went to Aunt Katie's for the Philyaw get-to-gether. I made my first homemade ice cream, which was a success. There were a bunch of babies with six great-grandchildren in the family, all under 4. The kids hunted eggs, and Caleigh and Elisha both won 8 dollars in prize money. After that, we went to the Langfords where we enjoyed another meal of ham and chicken and dressing. Some friends of the family came over, and Caleigh got to play with their little girl Maddie. She had a few sharing issues, but she was happy to have a friend.

Caleigh and Elisha digging in their Easter baskets from Grandma and Geez-Paw

Josiah and Granny in the recliner. The near-2o-pound dude has almost out grown her.

Caleigh and Maddie after hunting eggs

Josiah at church

Caleigh with her friends, Annika and Kylee, from church

Elisha looking for eggs. He spent more time checking out the horses and lawnmower than he did searching for eggs.

Granna and Josiah and Caleigh not wanting to share the attention

Aunt Meig telling Caleigh the Widemouth Frog story. She asked me not to put up this picture, but it was a memorable moment.

Our Easter mountain. It wasn't beautiful, but it was functional. We didn't make the chenille people. Instead, we just used little blobs of salt dough. Jesus is purple. The gray ones are the guards who fell down, and the pink one is Mary Magdalene.

Window Marker Message

Caleigh kissing Josiah. Caleigh loved her sponge rolled hair. It was the first time it actually worked.

The didn't really want to cooperate for the picture. Elisha's shirt was already dirty. It didn't make five minutes at church after Mr. Doc gave him a cinnamon candy.

Caleigh...I'm not sure if she looks older or younger here, but she looks different than she usually does.

PRAISE THE LORD! JESUS IS ALIVE!

Scarecrow and Dye

2010-04-09T17:38:00.008-04:00

The Langfords are agricultural. After much time working on the belts on the tiller, having to take it to Mr. Donnie's, Rusty finally got our garden planted with the help of Uncle Jess: corn, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, potatoes, and onions. We still need to plant the okra, watermelon, and cantaloupe. We will only now pray that the Lord grows it. Every year we are amazed that those little seeds turn into food.

Because the birds ate all our corn the first year we planted despite our attempt at a scarecrow, Rusty decided a to make a more real-life scarecrow. We decked him out in Rusty's work shirt and jeans, cowboy boots, and a cap and stuffed him with pine straw, and so far he is doing his job. But, I know he is eventually going to scare/surprise me.

With all the action in the yard, it took me all day to get both kids ready to dye eggs. When we finally got to it, Elisha was more interested in trying to stand on the table than dyeing eggs. He also tried to drink the dye...Caleigh was excited she made Poppy a Crimson Tide Easter egg (a brown egg dyed red). And, Josiah was just happy that he got to get out of his winter clothes.

From scarecrow to scary...Caleigh ran around all day in her oh-to0-short skirt, a green crocodile shirt, striped knee highs, and her (beep-beep) boots. (I am raising the Queen of Tacky!) So, Elisha had to deck himself out in his blue jean jacket and Caleigh's Hello Kitty boots before getting in the bathtub.

March...Madness

2010-04-09T17:22:00.004-04:00

March was another wild month for us, but all I remember was the stomach bug and the True Woman Conference. I was surprised that my kids ended with the stomach bug a second time in three weeks. Caleigh had diarrhea first, and I simply thought she ate too many grapes. Then, Elisha started throwing up. He threw up for four days....He wouldn't stop eating. It didn't get better, so I took him to the doctor. He also broke out in awful hives that lasted for two weeks. I couldn't decide if it was the virus or an allergic reaction to the Bounce stick-on in the dryer. The doctor finally told me lots of kids had some virus that caused hives.

At then end of the month, I (and Josiah on Friday) went to the True Woman conference here in Chattanooga. No one from church was able to go with me. Thankfully, my mother-in-law and her friend went, so I got to spend some quality time with them. I enjoyed the conference, especially the Gettys who led worship. I don't know who wouldn't love singing wonderful hymns with an Irish twang that have such Christ-centerd lyrics.

I had never heard Voddie Bacham speak before, and I like what he had to say. "Don't think your circumstances are special. The Lord can do more with what you don't have than you can do with what you do have." Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Mary Kassian, Kay Arthur, James McDonald, and Jennifer Rothschild also did a nice job encouraging the women present to be biblical women.

I had already shown the True Woman manifesto to the ladies at church, but I was glad such a solid document was presented to the diversity of women there. I don't know if everyone there realized what they were promoting, but I definitely heard the message that ladies need to fulfill their roles as mothers and wives, not career women. They need to be submissive to their husbands and build up with their tongues instead of tear down. They need to support the ministry of the local church. I have been truly blessed to have already been exposed to such theology (which seemed close to reformed theology, considering the speakers present), but I'm glad they are spreading the message. I would encourage any woman to go if she was able at one of the other locations - Dallas/Fort Worth and Indianapolis.

Elisha's Hives

Caleigh and Rusty on the little motorcycle. She was probably tired after chasing them during Elisha's turn.

Elisha and Rusty on the little motorcycle. He wouldn't get close to it if he wasn't riding it, but he loved it when he was on it.

Josiah, bib only

Second attempt at sponge rollers - failed

Rusty made Elisha a board with screws and nails. He quickly went to work, and Caleigh joined him. And yes, he is holding a real hammer and a play hammer.

Smile! I love you!

Hello Kitty boots

Josiah sticking out his tongue

Geez-Paw's glasses upside down

Caught Up

2010-03-10T23:07:00.003-05:00

I am finally caught up with my blogs.

Last Thursday night Rusty was tired and both kids refused to go to sleep peaceably. This is what happened. The night that followed this reminded me, yet again, why we don't sleep with our kids (usually).

Elisha tried on his cowboy suit from Robert's hand-me-downs. He loved it and didn't want to take it off. Rusty wondered why I wouldn't let him wear it to church....

He looks like he is riding a real horse. I love the expression.

We had a party for Poppy, or John John, last Friday night. Katie and I prepared a great meal: meatloaf, pinto beans, green beans, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, cream corn, homemade macaroni and cheese, and cornbread. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. I only wish John had asked for a meal that wasn't my Mom's suggestion. I made him a homemade chocolate chip cookie cake, decorated with my fun, new icing tool. It turned out better than it could have, but it was no where near as good as the Italian Creme cake my mom had made for him. He let the kids help blowout the candles. They really blew...slobber.

We started Saturday with another birthday party. Cylia, Rusty's 3rd cousin's daughter, had her 3rd birthday at Pump It Up. The kids loved it, and I even got involved in the bouncing action.

Snow and Chickens

2010-03-10T23:02:00.003-05:00

I've mentioned how Elisha loves boots. Here he is wearing Rusty's boots. He was quite frustrated when he tried to make it up the few stairs we have while wearing them.

Caleigh ought to be a professional chicken catcher. Somehow she sneaks up on them, and they're hers. I have to run around chasing them ridiculously to catch one. And, honestly, I'm just now getting brave enough to go after one.

The Rooster and One of His Girlfriends: I know my neighbors despise the rooster. It crows at all hours of the day, not just sunrise. I can be up in the middle of the night and still hear it going. Since this picture was taken, we have added two other Bantam roosters, which equals three squawking birds in my backyard. Am I living on a chicken farm?

Our backyard covered in snow

The kids playing in the snow perhaps for the last time this winter

February

2010-03-09T22:27:00.008-05:00

I am almost caught up with my blogs. Yipee!!! And, praise the Lord. Our new computer loads pictures twice as fast as the other one. I hope you enjoy the glimpses of our family during February - messes, sickness, sleep, and smiles.

Caleigh and Elisha painting. Elisha didn't have a craft shirt, so he went without one.

Josiah joined Caleigh on her bed

Granna talking to Josiah. She said she wanted me to post some pictures of her. We'll see what she has to say about this one.

Poppy and Elisha playing Poppy's guitar. My mom says that one night he played it with his toes while he was going to sleep. A grandparent exaggeration? Either way, he loves it.

Big Grin. I'm a happy baby.

Caleigh has to get in on the action

Another painting experience, painting Valentines. I'm not sure if he realized he's not supposed to eat the paint. I never let Caleigh do all this when she was his age, but it is hard to keep him out of it when she is busy crafting.

Caleigh cut her own hair. I had been so proud of her for learning to use scissors...Now, they're ban for a long time. I asked if she did it. Here is the progression of her answers to that question: 1) I didn't do it. 2) I wanted Dora hair. 3) Elisha did it. And, Rusty is really going to get it if one day I wake up with my haircut. He keeps telling her how funny it would be to cut Mommy's hair while she is sleeping.

Making Valentine cookies in our pj's. Can you tell they do everything with me? One under the right foot. The other under the left.

Siah....as Lisha likes to call him

Caleigh ended up getting the stomach bug right before Valentine's Day. Then, Elisha got it. This is everyone piled up on the bed watching TV. Caleigh is learning to use the "I'm sick" phrase to weasel her way into getting to watch TV since we usually don't let her.

Caleigh's photography skills. She loves using my digital camera. This is one of her better shots. Maybe we'll get her one of those kid cameras for her birthday.

Josey...as I like to call him.

Enduring belly time with a smile

Elisha enjoying floor time with Josiah

Getting ready for a walk...even though it was freezing, but I don't think he got cold. That suit is like an electric blanket.

Camouflaged in swing

See his hands

Daddy and Josiah smiling at one another

Josiah in his dog outfit from Meme

Hairy January

2010-03-04T22:32:00.002-05:00

Elisha's new haircut, given by Aunt Katie when Mommy wasn't present. It worked out better that way. I would have been hysterical watching her cut off his sweet curls. Thankfully, the curls are growing back, but he doesn't look a shaggy teenager. And, how many pacifiers does one toddler who never used a pacifier need?

Caleigh being a sweet big sister to Josiah

Caleigh getting ready for crazy hair night at AWANA

Another snow in Tennessee. This time they didn't cry to get bundled up. They realized coats and gloves and hats are necessary for snowy weather.

Who can count the rolls? Somebody takes after his Mommy as a baby.

Why did we chance the life of the smallest Langford to the hands of the two slightly bigger Langfords? They really do love their brother, but they're dangerous all the same.

Elisha's great smile. He is sitting in Geez-Paw's lap at a dinner for Aunt Diane before her surgery.

Elisha has discovered a love for basketball, or ba-ball as he pronounces it. Every time we take Caleigh to gymnastics or go swimming at the YMCA, he wants to play basketball. Sometimes he just tries to roll on the ball. Others times he attempts to shoot. It's adorable.

Elisha playing basketball at home. Checkout the duds Daddy picked out while Mommy was gone.

A little baby

Wide-eyed and Alert

Caleigh must have been worried it was going to rain in the kitchen.

I am loved...

Sporting her new outfit from Aunt Marcia...plus wings...the perfect church attire

Elisha Pre-Haircut 9 (my pictures are out of order again). Could someone really have confused him with a girl?

Christmas Recovery

2010-03-04T21:33:00.001-05:00

Against my better judgment (no, not really, but a phrase Rusty and I have enjoyed using here lately), a few days after Christmas we loaded up with Rusty's parents for a day trip to Pigeon Forge to see the lights. We only stopped about six times on the way there. Elisha only had an equal number of NASTY poops throughout the day, most of which Rusty had to change. Geez-paw had to ride stuck between two car seats for six too many hours. Nobody took a nap, and Josiah cried for about an hour when we were ready to head back home. The kid really pitched one. But, overall we had a pretty good time.

At Three Bears: The Langfords refer to this souvenir shop as a landmark. They saw the bears. I passed. I feel sorry for the caged creatures.

Geez-Paw hanging out with Josiah while Caleigh and Elisha blew his money in the arcade, another Langford past-time I don't support.

Grandma and Caleigh riding the kiddie race cars, which ended up putting Grandma in the bed with a backache

Elisha, dried snot and all, on the carousel. He loved riding the horse.

Recovering

Elisha and Caleigh with Uncle Jess celebrating Daddy's 31st and New Year's Eve

How nice! Daddy got Polar Express for his birthday. Caleigh really lucked up. Rusty had a nice birthday, but the poor guy woke up with the stomach bug, a great way to begin a new year.

Someone was really tired. I don't think I could sleep like that.

Playing on the New Swing Set: We went with the cheap metal one after months of considering which one to buy. I mean really, it is all they need. I don't have to worry about anyone falling

off the tower of the wooden one. They have a slide, and it didn't take a 24 hours to put together.

Getting ready for a Christmas party with some of Rusty's friends

This kid will sleep anywhere with anything happening in the background.

All the offspring of Rusty and his friends (minus baby Josiah).

Children are a blessing from the Lord.

Baby Firsts and Christmas 2009

2010-03-03T22:01:00.001-05:00

Oops. My pictures are out of order. I always forget the order in which the blogger loads them.

All a real boy needs are boots. Every morning he wakes up and boots are what he wants.

A yelping dog that walks. Just what mommy always wanted.

Caleigh and Grandma: the only picture I got of Caleigh looking at the camera. Her hair was beautiful. Aunt Katie curled it for her, hairspray and all.

Caleigh got a bicycle to go along with her 4-wheeler, scooter, tricycle, skates....

I'm glad we can give to our children, but it is a little out of hand. Someone (aka Daddy) always surprises the kids and mommy with a few unexpected gifts, which makes it fun.

Elisha's tool bench that both kids loved.

A real boy needs tools to go along with his boots.

Now he can be like Geez-Paw and Uncle Jess.

He carries his hammer everywhere.

He has lots of work to do.

Granna, Elisha, Tan Tan, Tanner, and Cole

Drums? Really? Does Rusty not know how sensitive I am to sound?

Getting ready to go look at Christmas lights in our pajamas.

Even Geez-Paw put on his Peanuts pajama pants.

Grandma packed a lot of snacks and hot chocolate,

and we saw the lights set to music at a local house.

Josiah's first bath. Checkout the beginning of the fat rolls. They've only multiplied.

Lying on his belly. He couldn't stay awake.

We made a Jesus Christmas tree again this year. We didn't have green construction paper the day we started it, so we painted it with finger paint, which means we redid it several times. What a mess! We skipped several days and had to catch up, but Caleigh still learned some of the names of Jesus. I only wish it was easier to make CHRISTmas more Christ-centered.

I pray the Lord will lead us in celebrating with more Christ-honoring traditions in the future.

The Langford Bunch: This is us before the 24-hour rush - Granny's, Philyaw's, our house, Granna and Poppy's, Meme's for breakfast, Crook's, and Grandma and Geez-Paw's

(not including the Mitchell's and McKenzie's

which we celebrated prior to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)

Month One - Adjusting

2010-03-02T22:11:00.000-05:00

Josiah's first month seems so long ago. He eased right into our family. The kids adapted pretty quickly to the new baby and the feedings. I probably had the most trouble managing meeting everyone's needs. Reading to the big ones while feeding the baby is an interesting endeavor. Thankfully, the Lord blessed me, and I wasn't too emotional. Though there were some moments, I handled all of them by myself starting at week one. The month blew by as we prepared for Christmas, baking, wrapping, shopping, and attending parties. Josiah slept and ate and caught a cold. He cried a few evening with gas issues, or so it seemed, but that didn't last. No colic. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. A good baby.

Dozing on the pretty pink boppy. We didn't update for the boys.

Hope they're secure in their masculinity.

Caleigh and Elisha enjoying babyhood again, pacifiers, toys, and pack-n-play

Sleeping in Mommy's bed. What can I say?

Who knows where people will wake up in our house...

Lisha Baby

Josiah's first bottle and Rusty let Caleigh give it to him

When they were still fascinated by him

We got snow...the first of many this winter.

Josiah in a Christmas outfit

Josiah Crook Langford - First Days

2010-03-02T21:04:00.000-05:00

Yes, Josiah has been here three months, but being without internet prevented me from posting any pictures or comments. So, here goes...

I was given the choice of being induced on the 23rd of November, but I chose against it because I wanted to experience going into labor after being induced with the other two. It didn't matter though. I went into labor a little after 1 am. Rusty and I timed contractions for an hour. They started 8 minutes apart, but after trying to get Caleigh back to sleep and waiting on Mandy to come watch the kids, they were about 3 minutes apart by the time we reached the hospital at a little after 3 am.

I chose to have an epidural, though I had contemplated going natural after my experience with Elisha. I guess, I'm not that much of a woman. By the time I arrived at the hospital, I remembered how bad it hurt and wasn't ready to do it again. Rusty, my mom, my sister, and my mother-in-law were in the room for the delivery, and my John-John, brother, and father-in-law were waiting outside. When I was ready to push, they thought he would pop right out, but come to find out, he was face up, so Dr. Child's had to go in and flip him. Then, he came on out at 6:47 am, 20 and 1/4 inches, weighing 7 and a half pounds. He had a Langford mouth and a dent at the top of his nose. His eyes looked more like Caleigh's. He seemed great, but the nurse said his heartbeat was irregular. They had to take him to the NICU for an hour or so, but when they brought him back, they said he was fine. It must have been from the trauma of delivery.

We had considered a billion names, but we didn't finally decide his name until after the delivery. Josiah comes from the young king in the Bible, and Crook, as odd as it sounds, is Rusty's mom's maiden name, which no one will carry on. And, no, it doesn't mean "thief." It refers to the crook in a shepherd's staff, and isn't that a wonderful image - Jesus pulling us back to Himself in His loving correction?

We chose to stay in the hospital only one night. (We were slightly worried about the possessed television that kept coming on every time the intercom was used.) We hoped to get some rest at home, without interruption, which was only possible because Caleigh and Elisha were staying with grandparents.

What can I say, the whole experience was a lot less stressful than those before it. It wasn't the first time and the epidural did work. Maybe 3's the charm....We're so blessed!

New Baby

First moments with Caleigh and Elisha

A Family Picture

Getting ready to head home

On the way home

October: Danger and Delight

2009-10-21T22:34:00.000-04:00

I figure if I'm going to try to keep a blog for our family and I'm not going to keep a detailed scrapbook or baby book I ought to record the funny things my kids are doing.

Caleigh:

She caught me saying stupid. She called me on saying a bad word, and a few minutes later she said, "It looks like I'm the Mommy now."
She has learned to read fifteen words, including red, blue, purple, one, two, run, open, circle, oval, a, and the.
She can draw people with heads, eyes, mouths, L noses, and block bodies. She could go through 100 sheets of paper a day.
She is doing a better job sitting through big church and has enjoyed going to children's church a few times.
She told everyone at church that Rusty went to Florida to be a better pastor. (He went to a conference.)
She went to the circus and decided she wanted to be Kayla, the 6-year-old circus girl. She got to ride the elephant, and when she told anyone about it, she included the fact that Daddy didn't get to ride because he didn't have enough money.
She has been watching Shirley Temple, so she dances and sings "He's a Dandy" everywhere we go.
One night without a pull-up ended in two wet beds. Poor Mommy, and I woke up on the couch with her asking, "Mommy, are you still frustrated with me for wetting the bed?"

Elisha:

New Words: juu for juice, toes, boots, socks, poo-poo, pee-pee, baby, nana for banana and apple and other pieces of fruit, haw-haw for horse
We noticed his right foot turns in. We're not too worried about it since most kids grow out of it after a year of walking, but we'll ask the doctor at his next visit.
He is starting to get his 2-year molars, I think. He woke up last night, going, "awww, awww, awww" with his fingers in his mouth.
He loves to stick out his tongue.
He pitches fits when sister takes his stuff or doesn't share.
He dumped a salt shaker in the floor after I had just finished sweeping today.
He blows kisses, pop noise included.
He picks at/kisses my belly and says, "baby."
He has to visit our neighbor's dog every day as if he is going to the zoo. Unfortunately, Buddy, the dog, tries to pee on him every time.
He likes to clean up more than Caleigh ever has, but he may turn around and dump out what he just cleaned up.
He has sat on the potty a few times, but nothing has happened. That doesn't mean he hasn't hit the floor few times though.
He loves raisins.

Elisha trying on his giraffe costume

Caleigh getting ready for Cubbies. She loves it - the bag, vest, and book. She thinks she is so big. She has learned over 5 Bible verses already and hasn't had to sit in the time-out chair.

Another Sunday photo, double toothbrushes, cowboy boots, and Mommy's red belt

I'm a real, live...dog.

Uh-oh...read the next caption.

Can you see the bloody, glued patch on Elisha's head? Caleigh accidentally dropped a fence post on Elisha's head, and we had to take him to the emergency room. He cried about 2 minutes after receiving the injury...until I gave him his milk cup. At the hospital, they glued him up with Dermabond. He was really great expect for the five minutes it took me to wash the blood out of his hair. He hates to be cleaned or dressed. (Side Note: The hospital was slightly creepy. Everyone was wearing masks. They even gave me one since I'm pregnant. The RN consoled me with the fact that the hospital is no more contaminated with germs than Walmart.)

My Birthday and a Half: Eighteen Months

September Silliness

2009-10-21T21:45:00.000-04:00

What can I say? We're a silly family....and a happy family (most of the time).

I caught myself asking Rusty if he thought our kids are happy the other day. Of course, we agree that they are happy children, but he pointed out that that might be the wrong question to ask. The fascination with happiness is such a modern idea. It really only sets us up for disappointment, depression... We only hope and pray that our children grow into godly children who desire to please the Lord and who are content in Him. But, we hope that our silliness produces a loving atmosphere that points our children to our loving Father.

Happy Birthday, Granny!

The Langfords: Joseph, Rusty, Elisha, Steve, Granny, and Jess

Lisha a little happier than Uncle Jo

Camp Out: Cole spent the night, so Rusty set up the tent

(in the front yard under the big streetlight at near midnight).

Caleigh made it about 30 minutes, but she thought

it was really cool to have slept in the tent.

Lisha with DoDo: My parents say Lisha's name for Cole is payback for his name for me -

Ca-Ca, or Mexican poop.

Rusty dressed the kids in garbage bags

Lovingly wrestling in Mommy and Daddy's bed first thing in the morning

If you saw my facebook post about glitter...this is the picture to prove it. She dumped it out, spread it all over everything, proceeded to eat it, and ended up pooping the next day.

15 Month Check Up at 16 1/2 Months

2009-09-02T22:13:00.000-04:00

Caleigh and I took Elisha to the doctor today for his 15 month check up, even though he is 16 1/2 months old. He weighed 25 pounds and 5 ounces, and he was 31 1/2 inches tall. So, he is in the 25 to 50 percentile for height, and the 50 to 75 percentile for weight. Everything else seemed normal. He walks, runs, and climbs, including the equipment in the doctor's office. He has started feeding himself with fork and spoon, which seemed early to me, and he is learning new words. He isn't learning new words at the same rate Caleigh did. She had a 200+ word vocabulary at 18 months, but I told Elisha I would still love him if he potty trained easier than she has. (I'm just joking....I love him just as he is.) He also had four shots, including his flu shot. Caleigh got hers first and didn't cry, hoping to show Elisha how to be strong and courageous. It didn't work though. He cried, but was happy when he got his green sucker, which made a total mess all over the counter while I checked out. (Side Note: Why do doctor's offices not prepare for mothers with multiple small children? They ask you to fill out paperwork while trying to keep two children from destroying anything, screaming....)

Words: Bite, Ball, Ma-Ma, Da-Da, Granna, Co-Co, Jo-Jo, Paw Paw, Maw Maw, Pop Pop, Jess, Thank You, Pat, Bock Bock for Chicken, Dog, Wolf, Juw (for Juice), Mouth Some of these words may only be distinguishable to me, but they have the right incantation of English.
He is learning to point to his body parts, but most often you ask him to touch his eye and he points at his mouth.
He climbs up on the kitchen table, playground equipment, kiddie table at church, etc...
He loves to grab the chickens.
He loves to wrestle with and chase Caleigh.
He stands at the refrigerator and begs for bites.
He does a little sucky sound when he wants a drink.

Lake Winnie

2009-09-01T17:39:00.001-04:00

Rain. The Big One. And the Reeds. They all almost prevented Geez-Paw from taking Caleigh and Elisha (and Mommy and Daddy) to Lake Winnipesaukee this year, but we finally made this past Saturday. We made it there right before the doors opened and stayed until 4:3o.

In that time, Caleigh got to do everything she could do at least once, including the Tilt-A-Whirl, and Elisha rode a lot as well, even though he was hesitant at first. He actually had to ride a few things before he felt comfortable. He ventured on the Spaceships with Caleigh, without Daddy, and while Caleigh tried to comfort him, he was close to tears. When he made it to all the little cars and boats and motorcycles that have been there, exactly the same, since I was their age, he decided he loved it. He loved driving, and it was adorable to see them ride together.

Expression after two rides

Maybe she was happy to ride Dumbo/Jumbo???

Eating a bracelet and giving a confused, woman-driver look

Caleigh's second favorite ride - the Frog Hopper

Showing off her monkey skills on the playground.

They loved the playgrounds as much as the rides.

Unfortunately drinking from the fountain in the water park

Attempting to tickle each other

A picture to prove that I was there...

even though I couldn't ride anything

but the train since I have a bun in the oven

Lisha conked out.

Grandma, Geez-Paw, Mommy, Daddy, and Caleigh

all were ready to do the same by the time we left.

Sitting in the windowsill

August Moments

2009-08-20T22:09:00.000-04:00

Caleigh wearing her new cowboy boots and hat getting ready to go ride Nellie at Uncle Jess's. Don't you like her Eastwood expression.

A little more excited...but she might be ready to draw.

Making a picture to give to Mr. Bert to say "Thank You" for the hair bows and sunglasses

Homemade Martha Stewart Chocolate Chip Cookies - I was so proud of me and Caleigh. I've never made pretty homemade cookies before. Maybe one day I'll really learn to bake, and maybe Caleigh will grow up being able to bake and not just make messes while cooking.

Salsa made with tomatoes and peppers from the garden, but it still isn't like Chili's or a Mexican restaurant's. Anyone have a good recipe?

Caleigh's first braid (I think). Ms. Ashley did it though, not mommy. Caleigh loved going to Ms. Ashley's Beauty Shop during her visit.

What was supposed to be a punishment for Caleigh turned into a picture when Elisha climbed up in the chair with her.

Piled up on the couch

The Flurry Family Visits Cleveland

2009-08-20T21:32:00.000-04:00

We were so glad to have Chuck, Ashley, and Karis visit us on their road trip from Texas to Louisville, Kentucky to Cleveland, Tennessee to Arkansas and back to Texas. We hadn't seen them in over two and a half years when they left seminary a semester before we did. Since then, we have both had additions to our families, Elisha and Karis, who will turn 2 next month.

They arrived Tuesday evening and got to enjoy some very healthy (from our garden)/unhealthy (fried) food. Caleigh and Elisha showed them what wonderful children they are. (Much sarcasm.) Caleigh couldn't handle not being the center of attention, and it was also hard for her to have two younger children to have to share with. I'm sure the spanking given didn't equal the number deserved. Yet, Karis was precious, perfectly mannered, only having to defend herself as toys were yanked from her hands.

Wednesday Rusty introduced Chuck to some of his reformed friends while Ashley and I went shopping. Ashley did great and didn't spend any money, but I didn't do so well as I hit up the sales rack at Kolh's. Even though we were in Cleveland, my new hometown, Ashley introduced me to the Jewelry and Handbag Warehouse - really great prices on accessories. Then, despite the rain, we went swimming at the Y. After that, we finally got the kids (and mommies) down for a late nap before church. After church, we went to Panera Bread since the Flurries don't have one back home, and the pictures below show what we did for the rest of the evening - watched the kids run around wildly until 10:30. (Oopps...hope the parenting police don't get us.)

Elisha making a crazy face in the cowboy hat

Karis posing for a picture

Karis hiding behind the balloon

Karis driving Elisha on the scooter

(Unfortunately, my battery died on my camera,

so I didn't get any of the cute pictures of the kids together.)

Caleigh's 3rd Birthday Party

2009-06-24T22:51:00.001-04:00

This year we gave Caleigh a low key Strawberry Shortcake birthday party. We had it at Deer Park, which means I didn't have to clean up before and after, and we just invited the family. All of her grandparents were there except Geezpaw because he was still recovering from the Big One, and the only great-grandparent was Meme. I made her Strawberry Cupcakes and Strawberry Shortcakes. She got everything she wanted - Converse All-Stars - and more - Tag books, clothes, swimsuit, money, big floor mat puzzle, shoes and more shoes. The only she didn't get were a pair of googles, which we went out and bought that night with some of her birthday money. She also requested a pinata. Rusty yet saying he was going to make one, but at 10:00 the night before the party, he realized it would take a little time and decided to buy one. Unfortunately, he misread the label on the Mickey Mouse pinata. He thought it had candy, but it didn't, so the kids hit it forever for nothing to happen. They weren't too disappointed though. (The Pritchards were happy, I'm sure, since their kids don't get un-organic candy.)

Caleigh about to blow out the candles on her cupcakes

Elisha showing off his new walking skills

Caleigh getting excited about getting to open presents. This time around she knew what was going on.

Grandma helping Elisha hit the pinata

Caleigh's super swing at the pinata

Poppy helping Elisha swing the bat. I believe all of his grandpas are hoping he is the super baseball player, and right now his coordination seems a little better than Caleigh's was at this age. She is still one of the clumsiest kids ever.

Some cute (and not so cute) things Caleigh does right now:

Saying "maybe so" when she means yes. Ms. Pat at church asked her if she colored the table, and she said, "maybe so." Another kid also said he did it too, though.
Using "very" instead of "really" - "I very like it"
Pretending to be a dozen different characters each day - Dora, Penny from Rescuers, Diego, Fieval, Lenny from Wonder Pets, and the list goes on. She doesn't care if they're boys or girls.
Asking us to guess which character she is
Telling Elisha "NO"
Asking for Rusty to get the Bible as soon as we sit down for dinner
Deciding she doesn't like to eat most things. We have to require so many bites and have reverted back to spoon feeding her things she doesn't like.
Praying for Kylee (and some of her other friends) after supper. She always ask God to help her friends feel better and trust and obey.
Calling her grandparents
Telling us which songs she wants to listen to on the radio. A lot of times it depends on whether it is a boy or girl singer.

Caleigh's Very Special Birthday Day

2009-06-18T23:06:00.001-04:00

We started Caleigh's special day for her third birthday with a trip to Build-a-Bear. Every time we've gone to the mall in the past year we've had to go in browse around in there. Rusty thought she would enjoy making a bear because he'd enjoyed making one for me so much (haha). Unfortunately, the lady who helped us wasn't so enthusiastic, but Caleigh still loved it. She picked out a soft, little bear, a Hello Kitty outfit, and the name Isabella, and Isabella sings a Birthday Song.

Caleigh giving Isabella a bath and brushing her fur

Elisha showing off his walking skills as he attempted to destroy the store. (We were the only customers, thankfully.)

Next, we went to Chuck E. Cheese. We had a coupon off the back of the Chuck E. Cheese cheese package, so we got out of there for under 20 bucks. The kids enjoy the little rides and games, but they haven't figured out that they need more tickets to win bigger prizes, thankfully. Caleigh left with a plastic ring and bracelet. Who knows what happened to them by the time we made it home. The only misfortune came with I "let" Elisha fall from a bicycle ride. He really jumped out of my hands, and he didn't even cry very long. All the other moms looked at me like I was a horrible parent though. I guess they thought he would show signs of concussion at any moment. I wish they only knew that the baby puck is common. Oh, and the baby puck actually landed on Caleigh's head. GROSS!!!

Riding in Cinderella's carriage

Big boy driving the monster truck

Caleigh trusting Lisha's driving

We planned to go to the zoo next, leaving Rusty at the hospital to babysit Steve, but Steve got to go home. We drove to the zoo anyway, but because it was nap time, we decided to drive around, hoping Caleigh would go to sleep too. We headed to the aquarium to get a brochure and ended up deciding to go because Caleigh was free before she actually turned 3 (instead of paying 13). We saw fish, sea horses, stingrays, sharks, turtles, macaws, snakes, otters, and much, much more. Caleigh loved the sharks. I'm glad she got to see one because she wanted to see one on vacation this year. She also tried to touch a stingray, but wasn't successful. When we left the aquarium, she had a chance to play in the water, but we had to leave so we wouldn't get stuck in five o'clock traffic. We ended the day with dinner at MawMaw's and a trip to Grandma and Geezpaw's to make sure Geezpaw had survived the BIG ONE.

Looking at the Nemo fish (clown fish)

Riding the escalator with Isabella

Standing in front of the alligators

Playing in the water...somehow she didn't get wet from head to toe...

My Kiddos in June

2009-06-18T22:56:00.000-04:00

Am I a stinker or what? Do you think Mommy can catch me?

"I'M THREE TODAY" and I can hold up three fingers with a little effort.

She makes that look so fun. Elisha wanted to do it too, so he kept chasing her around the room.

Wild!!!

Yes. Evidence that my child eats dirt. He looked like a mud hole after we finished working in the garden.

The Last Few Days in May

2009-06-14T23:05:00.000-04:00

My Daddy Walt started the tradition of taking pictures before church on Sunday mornings when I was a kid. Katie and I always posed in front of whatever vehicle he happened to be driving at the time - I remember the black Bronco the best. Well, I guess, I have continued the tradition, but I don't make the kids pose in front of the minivan (or the Cavalier that hasn't moved from the spot in the grass in a few months). And, the kids really haven't learned to pose yet. That is a good thing though. I was a camera hog who thought I was beauty queen, slightly deceived, and we don't want Caleigh be obsessed with looking good. I just want to capture them as they grow (and the many outfits they have received from grandmas and great-grandmas and aunts).

Elisha sitting in Big Sis's lap. It took a little effort on her part to keep him there.

Caleigh being as dainty as she gets in the dress Katie gave her for her birthday last year

Elisha in the outfit Katie gave him this year for his birthday. Check out the flip-flops.

We joined the YMCA back in January, and while we visited the indoor pool a lot during the winter, Caleigh couldn't wait to get out to the outside pool. We went the Friday after Memorial Day, but the water was still freezing. I made Rusty get in with her most to the time. Elisha got in too, but he didn't really like it. He must be more temperature sensitive than Caleigh. Thankfully, it has warmed up as June has progressed.

Caleigh testing the water, hesitating before getting back in

Lishey cuddled up with Daddy after escaping the iceberg water. Ain't he pretty?

Caleigh's Horse Nellie

2009-06-14T22:49:00.000-04:00

Geez-Paw and Uncle Jess decided to buy a horse. Half of it is Uncle Jess's and the other half is Caleigh's. (Elisha may eventually get to say a 1/4 of it is his.) Together they named it Nellie, even though Caleigh was leaning toward Sunshine at first and I wanted Gingersnap. It works out well for us since the horse lives with Jess. We don't have to feed it, clean it, or keep it up. Honestly, Caleigh has seen it only once in the past month, but she thinks it is pretty cool to say she has a horse at three. I'm just proud of her for not being afraid of it. I loved riding horses when I was little, but I was almost killed by one when I was about four.

Caleigh on the horse with Gee-Paw leading the way in his favorite blue, plaid shirt

pre-the-BIG-one

Rusty riding both the children. Where will new baby go?

Doesn't that look so beautiful?

Unfortunately, Caleigh's messy self doesn't quite fit in with the serene scenery.

Elisha driving the truck earlier in the day at the playground

Rusty helping Caleigh on monkey bars.

After taking gymnastics, she is dying to do it by herself.

Our Fifth Anniversary

2009-06-07T23:02:00.000-04:00

Rusty will kill me, but I had to post these. He posed with about a dozen animals and creatures making silly faces to show Caleigh.

This is as crazy as I get - the sill monkey hat.

Us trying to survive the wind for a quick picture

The Beach

Rusty surprised me with a trip to Destin for our anniversary. We hadn't been anywhere alone, really, since our honeymoon, and it was great. We delivered the kids to Grandma's where they stayed two days, followed by two days with Granna. I had never been away from Elisha for more than six hour (in 13 long months), and he did fine, even though I took him to the doctor for an ear infection the day we got back. And, of course, his vocabulary had grown by 20 works according to the grandmothers by the time we returned.

Rusty and I had the chance to sleep and read and eat without interruption or demands, all things you take for granted before you have kids. The first day the weather was poor with the wind pelleting sand at us, but the other days were sunny, yet extremely windy. I loved it, and I hope we get to do it again in the next five years.

(Oh yeah, I felt the baby move for the first time on the day I turned 12 weeks.)

What We Do At Home All Day

2009-06-07T22:49:00.000-04:00

Yes, people wonder what we housewives do all do. And, yes we wonder that too when we work all day but seem to have nothing to show for it, but if you saw how busy my kids are, you'd know I rarely sit still.

Elisha and Caleigh jumping in the bed together, probably in their pjs at 1:0o in the afternoon

Caleigh making one of the ugliest faces every, and I guess it is okay for a mom to be honest about that.

Caleigh and Elisha piled up on Daddy post-naptime...even naptime is not always peaceful in our house. Caleigh has learned to play leprechaun, running though the house undetected except for the pitter patter of feet while she supposed to be tucked into bed.

And, yes, even I have to admit that my wild children occasionally wear themselves down to the point of passing out in the car.

Easter and the Rest of April

2009-06-07T22:29:00.000-04:00

Easter (or Resurrection Sunday) was a pretty stress-less day for us this year. After church we headed to my grandmother's for lunch and egg hunting. Caleigh was somewhat motivated in the egg hunt, but still didn't get a big prize egg, even though I knew where they were. Elisha hung out in the grass with a little doggie and in the back of my Uncle Phil's truck, and he liked shaking the stuff out of the eggs. Then, we headed to Rusty's mom's for more food and egg hunting. Caleigh had lost interest in eggs for the most part, so Robert and Sarah racked up. She was more interested in fighting with her brother over the green Pooh ball. As always, she won, and by the end of the day, she had only ripped a decent sized whole in the crenolin(?) on her dress.

Here are a few pictures of Caleigh and Elisha before Merriwether's 3rd birthday party, Steven's man shower, and Robert's 5th birthday. The pictures show Elisha hesitating to stand next to Caleigh and Caleigh giving herself some bunny ears.

Lisha Bear's 1st Birthday

2009-06-07T21:50:00.000-04:00

What kind of mother am I waiting almost two months to document my son's first birthday? I guess a sleepy, pregnant, busy one, but that's is okay.

Elisha's bear party went swell, even though it was sandwiched between an egg hunt at church and Easter the following day. The bear cake and cupcakes turned out well. He really liked them. When we put them on the table in front of him, she grabbed the tablecloth to pull them towards him. He devoured a whole cupcake, was given another, ate a good deal of it, dropped it in the floor, and started on his third thanks to his wonderful mothers, Granna especially. His face showed how much he enjoyed his first indulgence in chocolate. Some might say he looks like his mom after cake.

After he finished the cake, he started on his shoe. (The kid will eat anything - dirt from the garden, carpenter bees, sand, old Cheerios...) And, finally, he got to open presents and show off his clapping skills. He received a ton of clothes, little baby flip-flops, trucks, a baseball toy, books, and summer swim gear. About 35 people showed up for his party, not quite the 50 we had at Caleigh's last year, but still a considerable crowd considering it was raining and everyone had to stay in the house.

The BIG news came at the end of the party when I passed out eggs to all the grandmas and great-grandmas with a picture of new baby inside. Everyone was surprised, some more than others.

Elisha and Caleigh playing peekaboo with me at the door.

Backtrack through March

2009-06-04T22:53:00.000-04:00

Elisha and Caleigh sliding together at Deer Park

Elisha climbing on the stairs, his usual play place. Thankfully, he learned to scoot down them quickly and easily.

Caleigh and Daddy with pillow heads after church

My little pirate--ARGHHH!!!

He's Almost One!

2009-04-02T22:25:00.000-04:00

Elisha's first birthday is quickly approaching - April 16. I can't believe it. He still seems like such a little guy. When Caleigh turned one, we thought she was so grown up, but I guess since we have her, he still seems like such a baby.

He is starting to progress in his sleeping. He is been making it to about 6:00 over half the time. We pray that the reflux is disappearing like the doctors suggested, especially since they didn't find any other problems when he had an upper GI x-ray. I'm working on weaning him even though he refuses any type of milk from a cup. Otherwise, he eats like a piggy. He demands to have something to eat with his hands at each meal and loves table food. Apparently, he thinks the best tasting food comes off Caleigh's plate.

Now that he is crawling he is everywhere, mostly on the stairs, which he just recently learned to go down as well as up. In the past week, he has also started waving, clapping, high fiving, and saying "mama" (in the whiniest tone ever). I wondered if he would ever learn to do anything, but he was just waiting to showcase it all at once. Walking is still not on his agenda, but it doesn't break my heart. I'm not sure I'm ready. One joke I've heard multiple times -you teach a kids to walk and talk, and then all you tell them to do is sit down and shut up - may have a ring of truth to it. (I hope that comment makes Lori laugh.)

Here are pictures we took for his birthday invitation. He was in his bear coat since he is having a Brown Bear party. You can tell from his expressions that he is a really sweet kid. He laughs all the time and plays by himself more than Caleigh ever has. Something has to make up for the months of crying, the quick temper, and the continual hanging on my leg.

Riding the tire swing

Climbing up the wood stack Geez-paw cut

Eating a leaf...I'm telling you, the kids will eat ANYTHING. He also likes to eat dirt when Daddy tills the garden.

February and March

2009-04-02T22:05:00.000-04:00

Caleigh cracks us up. She was supposed to be napping....in her bed, but I first went in her room and found her asleep in the rocking chair with her bed in shambles. Then, I went back again, and she was asleep in the floor, and finally, I found her smiling so sweetly at me from the doorway.

Okay, Caleigh cracked us up, and Elisha amazed us. One evening, I think after church, he just passed out on Rusty, and Rusty put him on the couch thinking he would wake up with the rest of our commotion, but he didn't. We even caught Caleigh going over to give him a kiss, getting right in his face.

We're all anticipating Dave and Katie's wedding in July. There getting married on Tybee Island, and Caleigh is so excited. She gets to be the flower girl, and it will be her and Elisha's first trip to the beach. She can't wait to build a sandcastle like Olivia does in her book.

No, she wasn't getting ready to go to the beach. She was just getting ready to go swimming. It may have been helpful if she didn't have on her clothes too and if the swimsuit wasn't on backwards.

Christmas Backtrack - Christmas Day

2009-02-18T22:50:00.000-05:00

Again, these are not in order.

We found Caleigh having a tea party in Meme's windowsill. Has she ever looked like such a doll before? I think not.

Caleigh and Granna taking a bounce on her new ball

Granna discovered Elisha's tickle spot, and he couldn't stop giggling and smiling.

We actually woke our children up for Christmas morning, and neither of them appreciated it. We read our Big Picture Story Bible and headed downstairs.

Elisha driving his Sesame Street car

Caleigh putting on her Dora scooties (aka skates) and knee pads

Christmas Backtrack - Christmas Eve

2009-02-18T22:22:00.000-05:00

I realized that I forgot to mention our Christmas, Elisha's first Christmas, during our time without internet. So here are a few moments we captured during our Christmas extravaganza - eight parties in three days. (Sorry, the pictures are not in chronological order; I'm too lazy and IMPATIENT to reorganize them.)

Finally, Elisha got some rest. Thankfully, Daddy has the magic touch despite all the commotion.

I got to open a zillion presents this Christmas (because I got to help Elisha open his presents).

Granna and her grandbabies - Caleigh can't really handle any of her grandparents giving Elisha attention instead of her.

Elisha's reaction to opening one of his first presents. He didn't seem to excited about it, probably due to the lack of sleep.

Caleigh helping Grandma make pigs-n-a-blanket, apron around neck and all.

January

2009-02-08T22:39:00.000-05:00

Caleigh started taking gymnastics. She is the youngest person in the class, as well as the clumsiest, but she loves it. Her favorite move is the cheese dog, which neither I or the teacher know, but we think it is either rolling down the cheese like a log or practicing a cartwheel. We hope the class also teaches her about obeying other adults and waiting her turn. The past few weeks the teacher has had to tell her to sit on the line and wait her turn over and over again, but she is getting better.

Caleigh decided to try on Geez-paw's boots at Grandma's birthday party, but she didn't make it too far in them.

Aren't they cute? This picture captures Elisha pre-crawl. He finally started crawling last Monday at 9.5 months+, but he just uses his skills to crawl to my feet and cry. He's also pulling up on everything. Tonight we left him in the toy room by himself, and when I heard him whining, I went to check on him. He had made it up the three steps into the dining room by himself. We were amazed. How did he go from barely moving to making it up steps in less than a week?