Our New Home

When we moved into our apartment community to serve as a CARES Team, we decided to live in the smallest two bedroom offered to save money. It was perfect for us because it was just us and Joshua. However, when we found out that another baby was on the way, my thoughts immediately went to the need for another room. Did I mention our apartment was on the 3rd floor. It was already a challenge to drag Joshua up the stairs along with whatever belongings we had on that particular trip (diaper bag, purse, groceries, lunch kit, etc.). I decided that we needed to move around October or November of last year, which put me in the last trimester of being pregnant with Gabe. When the time came, we just didn't feel a peace about moving, so we kept putting it off. Once I realized I could make my big pregnant self go up those stairs, it wasn't as big of a deal. I was a little nervous though about taking two babies up the stairs once Gabe came. Somehow God gave me super powers because we we made it for 4.5 months...me, Gabe, Josh and all our gear.

I don't know why I am giving so many details except to say that it was a HUGE blessing when Peter told me on my birthday in April that his present to me would be a move into a 3 bedroom apartment as soon as one was available. We were able to move into a 3 bedroom in June and it is on the 1st floor! It has literally changed my life to be on the 1st floor, not in an eternal sense (except I don't curse on the way up the stairs), but in a convenience sense! Not only did my husband give me this great gift, he also packed our apartment while I was on vacation in California with the boys AND moved us while I was at work the day after we got back from CA. He worked so hard to give us this gift, and we are enjoying so much having more space, and not having Gabe live in our room anymore! Thank you, Peter...you never cease to amaze me with the sacrifices you are willing to make for our family.

Where to start?

This blog has been silent for a long time and so much has been going on this summer! I am going to try to go back and post for the last two months!

The very first week in June I packed up the boys and we headed to Califironia with my parents to see my extended family. Peter wasn't able to go with us because of many things at work going on, and he was packing our apartment for our move the end of that week. My dad drove to Dallas so he could fly with me and the boys...let's just say it ended up being a necessity for him to help me! Here are a few plane pics...

Grandpa and Gabe got a good nap in together...

We had many great meals on my grandparents back porch while we were there...
Here is my sister, Alicia, Joshua, cousin Janet, Dad, Uncle Tim, and Grandpa

My mom loved getting to spend extra time with her grandsons that week!

Joshua had a dance party on the stage in the backyard (really just a part of the porch)...

Joshua ate all of his meals in a high chair that my dad used to eat in...let's just say that we're lucky the wood hasn't rotted! Just kidding, Dad, and Happy 60th birthday!

Joshua loved hanging out with his 2nd cousin, Stephen. They are walking along old railroad tracks behind my grandparents' house. I remember the trains going by when we visited as kids and waving to the conductor from my grandparents' backyard.

The boys got lots of kisses from Greatgrandma!

My grandpa loved playing with the boys and even spent some time on the floor with Gabe...

It was so fun hanging out with my Aunt Diane all week...

One morning Alicia and Joshua made donuts from scratch...it was pretty impressive and they were decent tasting. Joshua loved cooking with his Auntie!

One afternoon we went to a park and a duck pond. Gabe loved the slide and swing...

Joshua enjoyed feeding the ducks...

Alicia and I at the park...

My sweet boys humoring me for a picture...

My dad and Joshua loved the teeter-totter...

The second day we were in California, most everyone went to Muir Woods, which has tons of Redwood trees. Gabe and I didn't go because he had a fever. Joshua got to stand inside a tree!

My dad, grandpa, and Joshua looking up at the huge trees...

After Muir Woods, they went to this lookout point to take pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge...

Another day, we went to San Francisco for the afternoon and evening. We did all of my favorite touristy things while in San Francisco...Pier 39 Boardwalk and sea lions, and Ghiradelli Square. Here is Joshua looking at the sea lions that gather on the pier...

Gabe and I enjoyed a quick look at the sea lions, but it was very cold and windy!

Here is a small view of the sea lions. There were hundreds and they are very loud when they talk to each other. Joshua's two comments about the sea lions is that they were "noisy" and "smell like poopy diapers" and both of those things are true!

We then went to Ghirardelli Square and ate an "Earthquake" at Ghirardelli Ice Cream Parlor. It had about twenty scoops of ice cream and tons of toppings...it was wonderful!

Since all of my grandparents' grandkids and greatgrandkids were all together, we got a picture taken for them...

At one point Gabe fell asleep in Steven's arms, so we took this silly picture...

He was still asleep while we were waiting to pick out the pictures we wanted, so my dad laid him down in the mattress section of Sears. We think that we should get royalties for this picture..."sleep like a baby" on this mattress...

We had such a fun time with my family and am so glad that the boys got to spend time with them!

Night, Night

It has almost been a month since I posted, and it's not because there hasn't been anything to blog about! We have vacationed in California, moved to a new apartment, and went with the middle school and high school students on mission trip to Houston. It has been a busy June, but I will have to post about all of that later.

Tonight, I just wanted to post a few pictures of my boys in their new beds in our apartment. This is Josh's first night in his big boy bed, and Gabe's first night in his crib. They have the same crib, but we decided that Joshua is ready to transition his crib into a bed. I wish that his was one that went to a toddler bed and then a full-size bed, but it just goes straight to full-size. This morning Peter and Joshua picked up his mattress (thanks, John!), and took apart the crib. Then the work started with figuring out how to rig it to make it into a full-size bed. Joshua was a big help...he collected the screws as Peter took the crib apart.
































































Here are the sweet "night, night" pictures. They both went to sleep without a fuss, so we're hoping that will last all night. I was brave (or stupid) and took a flash picture of Joshua after he fell asleep. He has never slept with a pillow before, so he really looks like a big boy!


















I'm sure Gabe will sleep much better in his crib, rather than a pack-n-play!

Video Updates

We are constantly saying, "I wish we had that on video" when it comes to new things Joshua says, or Gabe making a funny expression. So here are a few videos of short clips of the boys...

We have recently been working with Joshua on saying his full name...sometimes his middle and last name get switched around...


In a post last week I said that Joshua was singing "Jesus loves me so" and in this clip he added "Up above the world so high".


And here is a clip of Gabe laughing. Elizabeth Riddle had him giggling after church yesterday by tickling his toes. Of course by the time I got my camera out he was through with the good belly laughs. (Sorry that it is sideways...I forget!)

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

I decided to update the blog from the last couple of weeks, so there are lots of posts and pictures to follow...


Friday night we had an apartment event at the Rangers game...it just so happened that they were playing the Astros. As we walked to the stadium, we caught a glimpse of our shadows...I love the pic of us holding Josh's hands. Gabe's shadow is melded into mind...he was in the frontpack.

Peter and I were pretty torn over who to cheer for, but we figured since we were sitting among many Ranger fans, we'd better cheer for the home team! Josh and Gabe were also torn...Joshua cheered for the Astros and Gabe for the Rangers. Little brother proved to cheer for the winning team, as the Rangers won 16-8. It was such a fun game with lots of hits and homeruns. Joshua loved each time the fireworks went off after a homerun.

Before the seventh inning stretch, Josh and Gabe both fell asleep. The excitement was too much!

Sweet Boys of Mine

Here are some random pics of the boys this last week...























Last week at McDonald's Joshua enjoyed his first ice cream cone...it was a little messy. Don't worry, when it started to melt and drip down the side, I helped out!

Gabe's teachers at Kid's Day Out took some cute pictures of him and his friend, Bear. I'm so glad that they are in the same class together with Miss Lauren and Miss Sarah.

His other friend at KDO is Klaire. Today at a lunch after church, Klaire's mommy and I were talking about how much bigger Gabe is than Klaire. Krystal put Klaire in Gabe's arms...she immediately fell asleep and Gabe smiled from ear to ear. His expression in this picture make me laugh!

Outside

Many times a day, Joshua requests to go "ou-side". So we try to make it a point on beautiful days to go to the park or at least take a stroll around our apartment complex. Recently Joshua had a fun park date with Laney and Ella. They played on the swings, slides, merry-go-round, and dug in the dirt.



































With little prompting from the mommies, they grabbed each others hands as we were leaving and walked together for quite a while. It was such a precious sight! They were even talking to each other as they walked. Who knows what they were saying, but it was cute to hear their jabber form into a conversation.


















Last weekend, we got to go to the park as a family for Savannah's 3rd birthday party. She and Joshua have spent a lot of time together at church. Savannah's mom has been Joshua's KDO teacher all year and is also a Kid's Care teacher. Joshua loves Miss 'Chelle (Michelle) and always enjoys playing with Savannah. She was a sweet birthday girl and just beautiful in her party hat!