Welcome to the family!

Introducing Tyler! Our new nephew and cousin! Born March 19, 2010~ Congratulations Ernest and Crystal!

Let's start our Spring Break!

We started out right. A trip to the beach. It was a last minute decision with my friend Sanseria. We just grabbed some snacks and some buckets and towels and went. It was a bit cold though so instead of swimsuits we were wearing sweats! A little weird but the kids didn't mind at all. I absolutely love the second one with the silhouette of Josiah and the sail boat. He was standing at the edge of the water raising his arms like he was in command of the very ocean. Kind of like Moses! I missed the arm raising part in the photo but it still turned out great!

A night out.

I finally got to have a much needed time out with my friend Rosie. On many posts I have pictures of Mason. This is his mom. We went and got some food and sat at the beach to eat. It was real nice to catch up and talk.

It's all in the technique, son.

Josiah bought this little toiletries bag from a 99 cent only store. Included with the bag was a comb, a brush, a toothbrush, and a little plastic pretend razor. He couldn't wait for daddy to come home so he could "shave". The bag is real cute and looks like real leather and is stamped with "Just like dads" on it. He loves it. He liked the special time shaving with dad, too!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

On daddy's birthday, we set up the water slide and let the kids have at it. It was a real fun relaxing day. Happy 43 daddy!

Awana Twin Night

The other week, we had twin night at our Awanas. I am a Cubbies leader. The kids dressed up and had a great time! Yes, the shaggy headed kid on the left is mine. He won't let me cut his hair. Help!

Getting Better

Josiah's skin is much better. I posted last time that I was going to restart the antibiotic. I did and it was a bad move. Two days later he broke out again in terrible hives! After stopping the antibiotic again I got a new prescription and he did fine on this one. So I think (and all my medical training!) that he is allergic to penicillion. But we have an appointment in 2 weeks for 100 skin allergy tests. Whatever that means. Pray for us and for the kid who HATES shots!

He...can't..seem...to...catch...his breath...

My heart goes out to all those little lungs out there that can't seem to catch their breath. My little guy has been struggling with his asthma for 3 weeks. It's kind of an terrible thing this asthma. At least in Josiah, I have a hard time telling the difference between a cold with a cough or asthma. Since December when he had a pretty nasty skin infection that was linked to eczema and then a bumper crop of hives that we couldn't link to anything, Josiah has been doing pretty good. His doctor wanted us to go see an allergist. But first she sent us to a lab to get Josiah's blood drawn for allergy testing. (According to the blood testing, Josiah is very slightly allergic to egg yolk, dairy, cod fish, & pine nuts. I don't need to keep these foods away from him. He is slightly allergic to some kinds of trees dogwood I think. And he is moderatly allergic to mold and dust mites. Keep his room dust free as possible, minamize stuffed animals, encase his mattress and pillows in an allergen free plastic or something.) Flash forward to 3 weeks ago. Made the appointment with the allergist. And then Josiah started to cough and sniff. Gave him the usual cold medicine and nothing helped. Started giving him his inhaler once a day or so. We went to the allergist on Monday. Very interesting and odd guy. I had a very hard time following his train of thought. He spoke very fast and then would be on the next subject before I could comprehend that he was speaking on something different. Very frustrating. Long story short, we left there with a prescription for Albuterol nebulizer solution for his lungs, flonase for his nasal allergies & augmenten for a sinus infection. Doc also wants us to go back for the skin prick allergy test. Just waiting for insurance to okay this procedure. Anyone had this done?? So on Monday night Josiah can't stop coughing and decide to take him to our own doctor in the a.m. Tuesday morning he woke up with another bumper crop of hives all over his body. What in the world? Take him to our doctor and she is just at baffled as I am. She has me stop the antibiotic and restart it in 2-3 days to see if that makes a difference. (Restarted it today. Will keep you posted.) She also has me giving him pulmicort for 3 days (stopped that yesterday) and claritin. No wonder the school just called. Just got back from picking him up from school. He has a stomach ace. Good gracious. So would I. This morning he had antibiotics, albuterol inhaler, flonase, and claritin. Oh and half a bowl of dry cereal and juice. He's gotta be exhausted too. Keep us in your prayers.

The past two months in photos....

I know that's what you REALLY want!!! Enjoy..

November

One late November morning I glanced in Lilly's bed...to find her missing. After a very brief half second panic I found her in Josiah's bed snuggled up to her big brother. It's times like these that I love!






Often I will put on music and let the kids dance, dance, dance. They do an interesting interpretive dance to the kind of music they hear.
"Go Josiah, Go Jo, Go Siah!, Go Josiah!

"Hey Ho!, Hey Hey, Lilly's in the house! Say Hey! Say Ho!"



December

Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Ginger come for an early Christmas and to see Josiah in a musical

A rare family portrait. Who are these peeps?

Opening presents #1. Whadya Get? I dunno, Whatya you get?

(Incidentally it was a flock of baby chickens. Okay, a flock of chickens given to children in Indonesia (?) in Josiah's and Lilly's name.

What did YOU get grandpa??

We got Auntie Ginger this new game for her DS system. But she already had it. No biggy, we exchanged it for something else!



This is the musical Josiah was in. It was a community kids performance of The Wizard of Oz. He was a lollipop guild munchkin. This was a great experience for him. He auditioned for the part and was thrilled when he got it. He really had a good time doing this and I think he just might have gotten bit by the acting bug!

He made some great friends during the three months of rehearsing. This being his first professional show, of course the grandparents and Auntie had to come to see it. Even though in reality he was only on stage for all of 15 minutes. For his first time doing anything like this it was pretty hard for him. Although he didn't have any speaking parts he had to learn two songs and a dance. Plus learn things like entrances, exits, cues, and stage etiquette.

These are just some of his fans that came to his show!

This is the totally awesome director. She was just amazing with the kids. I don't think she lost her temper once. A saint!


Our family lit the advent candle this Sunday morning. It was nice to do it all together as a family. Korak wasn't able to join us as he was upstairs doing the sound.

That morning also the nursery kids were bringing a present to the people. (It was popcorn representing joy) This morning Lilly was the only nursery child so she got to do it on her own. Very cute!



Here are those cute kids again!



Family time.

The whole clan!

A cute picture of grandma and granddaughter. Could of been a magazine ad for Cheez-its!

Josiah's school holiday performance. The 2nd graders were elves.

They sang "Up on the rooftop"

This is the first year I have two performers in the school holiday show! Can you find Lilly in the field of snowmen? She's 6th from the left.

They performed a really cute song about a snowman who gets all his parts; warm hat, eyes and nose, scarf of red and buttons on his coat. And then he melts to the ground. All the kids at this point wiggle themselves into a squatting position. Very adorable.


We did something a little bit different this year. Our family and two other families went to a local neighborhood that decorates for the holidays. They close the street of cars and every house is decorated. It was really fun. In this picture Josiah was looking at the train display and then turned and saw something really cool across the street right as I snapped the picture.


Our Miss Diva even in boots, gloves and winter coat!


Wow! Another family picture of those strange people again!

This just might be the first time Lilly's ever sat on Santa's lap.



Maybe Josiah's too!


And I know they never have had a picture taken with the whole Clause family! Santa, Mrs. Clause and Head Elf courtesy of a family in our church. (Shhhh don't tell my kids!)

Christmas Eve
We had our Big Family Christmas Eve over at my sister-in-law's house. Here is Ayla, Jalyn, and Lilly

Nakia and Josiah

Opening presents #2!

Merry Christmas!!!!

One fabulous photo of my kids! I love them!









Who Who Who is the crazy kid?

Opening presents #3! A present for daddy...

A present for mommy....

A tackle for you...

And then one for you!

And a present for you both!

Lilly got skates -

Josiah got a scooter!


New Year's Eve

My God son Mason spent the night with us. And the boys (and Lilly) partied it up until midnight to welcome the new year. Like their 2010 glasses?

I kept the kids awake and happy by playing games, dancing, and being silly.

Happy 2010! (See their fingers?)

New Year's Day

We decided to go to the zoo today. It's New Year's Day - who'd be at the zoo? Apearantly half the city decided it would be a great idea too! It was crowded. Not too bad though and because the weather was on the cool side the animals were out quite a bit.


These Meer Cats were funny. They were sitting on the rock all looking in the same direction as still as stone. Weird.

These Meer Cats were funny too! The human ones!


The funny kids. And best buds.

And just so no one forgets... This mom thinks
(Like all moms everywhere think of their own kids!)

that her kids are

Heads...

and Tails above all the cutest, smartest, greatest, wonderfullest, specialest, most perfect kids in the world. I love them both very much.

Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year