The Park in the Winter

Luke and Lydia love to be outside, and we are fortunate enough to have winters that are not always freezing. So we often get to enjoy outside during November and December. It sometimes snows every other day but melts quickly. Lydia is becoming a risk taker at the playground so it always keeps me on my toes when we go to the park.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo November 2010

We have an annual pass to the Colorado Springs Zoo. We love it there. All the animals are up close, and the zoo rests in the side of a mountain. It doesn't get any better than that. We try to go as much as possible. So here are pictures from our latest trip.

Children's Museum November 2010

I finally took the kids to the Children's Museum to check it out. It was rather expensive but fun. I do not know if I will go back, it was probably a once a year kind of outing. So here are some pictures of the fun day we had.

Reformation Day

Here are some of the pictures I got from Reformation Day/Halloween. I like to call it Reformation Day to keep in mind what our family is celebrating. Reformation Day (for those of you who don't know) is the day the Martin Luther first posted his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Church which marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation and the long journey that led to getting God's Word into the hands of the common man. Before that the Bible was only read by those in high authority in the Catholic Church and they spread a lot of myths and rituals that covered over the truth of the Gospel. Many died for our freedom to know Christ and for that we celebrate Reformation Day. That is way too short of an explanation but will have to do for now. So here are some pictures. Luke of course would not wear a costume for the second year in a row so that resulted in him wearing his VT jersey again.

Visiting Mommy's Office

So I have been way bad about blogging. Partly because I have been working, partly because I have 2 active little ones that never want me on the computer, and lastly because I have had trouble uploading photos for some reason. This is my attempt to catch up over the past 2 months. So daddy brought the Luke and Lydia into visit me at my office and Lyida loved the kids chairs (just her size). And just a side note: Daddy also dressed her that day (:

I have been so busy lately, I have lost all time to do anything but juggle everyday life. My kiddos are growing so fast, and I want to hit the pause button to treasure the moments a little bit longer everyday. Lydia is 14 months old and Luke is turning 3 in January. I can hardly believe how fast it has gone by. They are such a joy. Luke is getting sweeter everyday. I used to think, wow I hope I can handle this strong-willed boy, but now he has so many more moments of obedience and sweetness. He takes time to cuddle now where it used to be only time for moving and doing the next thing. Lydia is starting to talk a little bit more everyday. She is always ready to cuddle with mamma and has recently opened a special place in her heart for daddy. She is fearless and keeps me laughing. Some of my favorite things lately for the two of them are:
1. Lydia walking around talking with her hands flailing. Very important conversations take place!
2. Luke wanting to help mamma and daddy cook
3. Lydia taking off in a run across the room for no reason; just because she can
4. Luke singing the ABC's
5. Lydia saying "ohhmen" formerly known as "Amen"
6. Both Luke and Lydia doing pray hands
7. Luke saying long repetitive prayers and ending with "Jesus pray Amen" (shortened version) of "in Jesus Name we pray Amen"
8. Lydia loving a bed and pillows of any kind to dive into
9. Luke coming to say goodbye to mamma or daddy as they leave for work yelling down the street "love you daddy, love you mamma, see you in a few minutes"
10. Lydia learning how to go down stairs backwards
11. Luke giving Lydia hugs
12. Lydia putting her favorite blanket up to her cheek
13. Luke learning to go pee pee in the big boy potty
14. Lydia eating at every meal more than Luke or me sometimes (:
15. Luke saying "I'm so proud of you" when he takes a bite thinking he will be allowed to be done
16. Lydia walking in a squat position just for fun
17. Luke being a big helper and carrying in groceries with mamma
18. Lydia wanting to get into every cabinet and empty its contents
19. Luke always wanting to brush his teeth so he can eat the toothepaste
20. Luke and Lydia cuddling before bed watching a movie with mommy and daddy

These are a few of my favorite things that I hope I will never forget when they are old and grown. I am glad I am taking the time here and there to write my memories so I can look back a few years from now.

This summer my family traveled to Ocean Isle Beach. Drew and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary. My grandparents had their 60th wedding anniversary and my father celebrated his 80th birthday with all of our family gathered together.

Some things I am looking forward to: my mom graduating from nursing school in December, our trip to DC in January to see my parents and sister. the Fall season in the mountains, running my first 1/2 marathon in October, continuing my counseling at Legacy, and Luke starting pre-school in January.

Covergirl LashBlast Mascara

I recently received a sample of Covergirl LashBlast mascara as a bzzagent. I love it and it is affordable. I doesn't clump the lashes toether, and it makes them look full and long. It is even in a cute purple tube. You should try it out.

Lydia is 1

Lydia turned 1 today and I am so much more emotional about his then I was about Luke turning 1. I don't have any idea why, but I cried today. It just seems like she is still a baby and 1 makes her seems so old. I know it is ridiculous but I couldn't help it. With Luke he was just so ready to be a big boy and already seemed so much older than he was when he turned 1. But Lydia has not been in a hurry to be a big girl and I think that is why it has been harder for me. I don't want to let go of that baby just yet. She is comfortable to let me hold onto it so I will. We are celebrating tomorrow so more pictures to follow. Just a quick look back to my 4th of July baby last year.

2 days old!

Nag's Head with the girlfriends!

I had a wonderful uplifting weekend with my college girlfriends. We talked, relaxed, wen the the beach, went for bike rides, cooked (well they did most of that), and laughed a lot. It was a great weekend. These girls all inspire me in different ways and I am blessed to still have such wondeful friendships in my life.

Trip to South Carolina!

Lydia and I recently traveled back to South Carolina to see family and for me to meet up with my college girlfriends for a weekend reunion. I was also supposed to go to a baby shower for a dear friend. Lydia and I set out to do just that and got caught behind an eight car accident in 110 degree weather. It was not pretty. Needless to say, we did not make it to the shower which made me so sad since that was the reason why I made my trip into a week instead of a weekend. Oh well, God knows best.

Lydia had never met her cousins Reece, Ella, and Emmy, and I had yet to meet Emmy myself. So we got to spend time with my sister who traveled 9 hours to my mom's house to be with us. Thank you Amy! We had a blast just hanging out. We even all piled in the car and went places since my sister has a beast of a car the Suburban XL. It is a sweet ride with lots of room.

Then we traveled to see Drew's parents and Lydia's other cousins and we had a blast. I left for Nag's Head to see my girlfriends and left Lydia with her Grandma BB for the very first time and she did wonderful. I only left for 2 days, but she did great. She slept great and ate great. I was so proud. She was also an angel when we flew on the airplane. I was pleasantly surprised. I am now very much looking forward to our trip to the beach even with long plane rides. I think Luke and Lydia will both manage just fine.

All in all it was a great trip. i did miss Luke terribly but he did just fine with Daddy. He got spoiled rotten because daddy let him sleep in the bed with him. He also took him out a lot and got him a few new helicopters. It was great though when they met us at the airport and he ran up to me yelling mommy! Priceless...

Cousins picture!




Fun times playing in the sprinkler and with Barn. Lydia was not used to the humidity so she was always sweating.




This is how it is done in the south when it is way too hot and humid.


BB and Lydia

Cousins Lacy and julia! Julia wore this dress the entire time I was there and it just happens to be a shortened version of my bride's maids dress which makes perfect fun for dress up.

Luke 28 months old!

Luke is getting so big and so tall. He is talking like a little grown up. He knows his letter and some of his numbers. He loves to learn. He is recently into Barney (yikes) and Sesame Street. He loves his Daddy. He is still infatuated with his luvie. He gives me hugs and kisses rarely throughout the day, but when he does it is whole-hearted. He has a tender heart and lots of energy. He never stops exploring. He loves to be outside and especially at the park. He loves it when other kids come over to play. He is trying to learn to share with his sister and to not be totally annoyed by her presence and her devotion to him. He gives Lydia hugs and kisses now even when we are not looking (I love that the most). He has good manners (most of the time). He is still a milk addict. He is growing up into a little man. I love him to death!

Lydia 11 Months old!

Lydia is developing quite the personality. She is always smiling and talking. She cruises around everywhere. She is my little cuddle bug and she loves her brother and her daddy. She sleeps great. She loves real food-she refuses to eat baby food anymore. She loves new things and she is beginning to become attached to her pink blanket. She wakes up groggy and it takes her 20 minutes to be fully awake. She sleeps with her cute tushy in the air. I can't get enough of her. I love her to death. She is my little baby girl and she is growing up so fast. She is going to be 1 in a month. Ahhhhh! Slow down I want to hold onto this age forever.