Around Here

Things around here have been rolling along...nothing too exciting.

The kids are still enthrolled with baby brother and loving that he's coming to life...

They love entertaining him during tummy time...

We broke out the bumbo and are giving him some sitting up practice from time to time...

Miss Patty Cake came to our church and this was a major event for the kids!  

This 3 disc set is our favorite -- for sure for ages 1-5, maybe 6 max for girls?!  

Kirkley's class went to the zoo and she wanted all of us to come!

It was a super blustery day so Mac looks like Captain Mac...

This was 100% tiring, and I was so thankful for mamas that chased Jay down, held the baby, etc.
But of course, the kids had a blast!

 In other news, there was also a wedding at her preschool...the wedding of the year!  

Q and U got married!  And Kirkley was the Woman of Honor, taking Miss W to the wedding!

Woman of Honor and the Flower Girl at the ceremony...

 She also carried the cross at school last week -- so serious!

We didn't get to stay long as brother didn't find sitting at chapel all that entertaining.  Thankful for iPhones!

 I ran in my first "post Mac" 5K, doing the Finish on the 50 race.  Fun to finish on the 50 yard line with Libby's mama! 

I started attempting running at 6 weeks post Mac.

3 months post Mac, I'm still having to take a few walk breaks!

I listened to this sermon this morning as I ran...such a good reminder of our freedom in Him!

Loving this little nugget and his big cheeks...

"I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   Your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well."

Psalm 139:14

K's Five Year Old Questionnaire

 

Not as entertaining as I thought it would be, but cute nonetheless!

{Birthday questionnaire found here}

Mac's Dedication

The weekend continued with another special event -- Mac's dedication.

Don't worry that our pastor definitely introduced Mac as an "underfed baby."  Note how big his cheeks look on the huge screen behind us -- the screen adds cheekiness I'm sure!

This was such a sweet time for our family.

That morning was of course a bustle of getting everyone dressed, out the door, family situated, etc.

But the moments on stage with our pastor were a great refocusing time as he reminded us dedicating is such a major commitment to the Lord and our children.

That we are to live out the Gospel in our daily lives and wherever that may take us/them; pray for their salvation, mate, etc.; and plant seeds of His wisdom for Him to grow.

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. 

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” 

And he worshiped the Lord there"

I Samuel 1:27-28

I always thought that verse from Samuel was sooo sweet, until I realized last year in CBS that Hannah, Samuel's mother, truly gave him to the Lord before the age of five.  Like over as in, then she went to visit him on occasion as he served at the temple as a boy.  As parents to these three little ones, are we really prepared give our children over 100% to what He calls them to!?  Could I really send them anywhere??  Praying also that He prepares Alex's and my heart for what's to come with each of these kids, whatever path it may be, and that we truly trust Him with each of their futures.

Hard to imagine these sweet cheeks will one day be a grown up stinky teenage boy! :)

The day was even more special as we had lots of family there with us...

Great grandparents and Grammy

Four generations...

Grandparents, aunt, and cousin

Aunt and soon to be uncle!

Cousins!

"We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
His power, and the wonders He has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel,
which He commanded our forefathers to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds
but would keep His commands."

Psalm 78:4-7

Five!!

This big girl turned 5 over the weekend!

She'd been planning and anticipating her birthday for months!

I wanted to do the super cute Pinterest idea and cover her floor with balloons that morning, but she beat me awake, singing away in her bed at 5:15am.  So they were out with her presents!

Her requested blueberry coffee cake for her breakfast...

Then it was off to her party!

I steered her toward a girly theme and our first all-girls party -- super fun to have flowers and pink everywhere!

She and I picked out several different crafts and stations to do with her friends.

I have a whole new respect for preschool teachers that have to have all supplies cut and prepped! :)

They made flower crowns...

Did some flower arranging...

Jay lived at that station as our token little boy!

Watercolored flowers with sucker centers...

Got their face painted...

Decorated their own cupcake...

And decorated bags with stamps and thumbprint flowers to put their goodies in...

Some of the girls' art will go off to Uganda this summer along with supplies they brought in lieu of gifts...

We have several college students from our church going.  I am really excited for them to get some pictures of the children there using their gifts -- I think it will make much clearer where this stuff goes when we collect or donate.

Flower snacks made by my mom and aunt were a hit!

Several fun Pinterest ideas -- the M&M flowers and the ice cream prescooped with flower sprinkles!

Love cheese shapes for a party!

The birthday girl's cupcake...

She loved getting sung to!

We had some great party helpers!  "The college students" as Kirkley calls them and Miss Jessica!

And any mama that stayed instead of dropping off was also given a station :) 

I underestimated how much help they'd need!

And it was super special with lots of family in from out of town, including cousin (aka "sister") Elle!

Love those blue eyes and chunky thighs!

We had a super fun day celebrating our big girl!

Celebrating continued after nap with a fun new present sure to bring lots of summer fun!

And then off to birthday dinner!

Celebrating again at school with "z is for zebra" cupcakes and marshmallows!

Oh how sad she's going to be to see the letter people go at the end of this year!

She loved getting to do the "birthday coins," getting sung to, and having a special blessing at chapel at school...

This has been such a sweet year -- can't believe our girl is getting so big!

I've always been really daunted to choose a verse to pray over my children for the year...like where to even begin!?  Seeing this reminded me how much I need to focus in on something for her.  I heard something so wise that basically said one of the most important qualities in your children is a grateful heart.  This has been a struggle for us lately with K.  I love these verses -- may her heart trust Him, seek Him for strength and protection, experience His joy, and be so grateful that she will sing of it, bringing Him glory -- our precious performer!  May we trust Him to bring this to fruition in her!

"The Lord is my Strength and my Shield;
my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to Him in song."

Psalm 28:7

"I will praise God’s name in song and 

glorify Him with thanksgiving."

Psalm 69:30