How to Celebrate Your First Birthday the First Time

Handsome Cap'n turned one just two days after his Papaw died. So much of our family was missing that we couldn't bear to have his first birthday party while away.

But, he did manage, at 2:00 in the morning, to celebrate his 1st birthday in a way I think most admirable.

With chocolate.

It was the first time he'd let another family member go near him. Chocolate seemed the perfect bribe birthday gift.

He was surprisingly skeptical at first.

He decided he'd chew on the matter for a few seconds.

Just how much chocolate do I get, MeMaw?

After imagining it might be a whole chocolate bar, Cap'n decided this was one cool way to celebrate his first year. Of course, he didn't know his big grins gave my Mom the best gift of all.

Tomorrow he gets celebration number two. :)

Do I Dare?

Do I dare leave the house and run my many errands when the morning starts off by first making tea without any tea leaves and then making tea and adding a bunch of salt instead of sugar?

I'm thinking it could be dangerous.

Maybe you should pray for me. :)

Love,

Girls' Day Out

One good thing about neglecting forgetting to buy your girls shoes right when they need them is that, at some point, they'll all be needing them at the same time.

That calls for a Girls' Day Out, of course! So, we picked a day last week just for this special occasion.

So excited and ready to go!

Then we stopped to have Whistler and Boo's hair cut. 

Like sister, like sister, like sister...

Then it was time for the shoe shopping. Shopping for shoes with four girls is lots of fun. It's also a bit crazy. I asked God to please provide some great deals with having to buy so many shoes at the same time, and I'm extremely thankful He cares about those details. He provided very nicely.

The last stop was for lunch. Chick-Fil-A! Now wouldn't this picture make you want to eat there even if you hated chicken??

I love you, my daughters! Thank you for a wonderful day!

Thank You, LORD!

Only God

can create eyelashes like this.

This Morning's Good Morning

What a sight to wake up to...this spectacular reminder that we serve a God who always keeps His promises!

And while I'm switching lenses, the second one appears. :)

"When Noah stood that first day in the new world, a sign appeared in the clouds--a rainbow. On the last day in this same world there would be another sign in the clouds! All Noah's descendants, all the people in every part of the earth, would see that sign. Jesus Himself said, 'At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn' (Matthew 24:30). "

~Nancy Ganz, Genesis: A Commentary for Children 

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away."

Mark 13:31

Just Like Daddy

Pass the chips, please!

A Day in the Life of a Two Year Old

and you thought your clothes got dirty....

Just one of the 492 reasons that I'm best friends with Zout and Oxyclean.

Turning Nine

Reaches Up's special day started with his making us all pancakes. :)

The celebration was even sweeter because one of Reaches Up's favorite guys was staying with us. Christian and Little Big Man were fighting over those yummy pancakes.

Later that day, we made his birthday cupcakes together. It was no surprise that he wanted the skittles and m&m filled ones.

There was time for some football.

The birthday dinner requested? Tilapia. Reaches Up is a seafood lover.

What a blessing to have Whistler do all of the wrapping now!

What a look of adoration from Clairesy!

For the inventor in Reaches Up

He wasn't too sure about those kisses from his sisters.

And Reaches Up's favorite kind of picture....a silly one!

Nine Things We Love About Reaches Up

1) He loves to know "why."

2) He's creative and likes to put on plays.

3) He asks thoughtful questions about the sermons at church.

4) He loves to laugh.

5) He's got an amazing ability to memorize Scripture.

6) He loves the outdoors.

7) He's got two different colored eyes. :)

8) He loves to cook.

9) He's a gift from the LORD.