Saturday, August 30, 2008

Top 7 Things about our Jacob

1~ He has the most contagious laugh. I absolutely LOVE his giggle! It's his real laugh that is just amazing...(sometimes his over the top sillyness can be too much)

2~ He LOVES to worship. I'm pretty sure he "gets it"! It's such a beautiful Joy to hear him singing, watch him listening, oh...and to join in prayer with him is a treasure! I LOVE his heart!

3~ There is something about Jacob's skin. I love touching both of our boys on their arms, face & backs especially at bed time. Their skins are both so different.

4~ He only wants to be called "sugarbug", "superboy", "sunshine", "jakey", (you get the idea) in private. We can use all of those fun, love names around the house but not anywhere else or around other people.

5~ As much as he & Ben may argue, he has such a tender love and seems to feel a genuine responsibility to him. It can be such a sweet thing to watch. He hugs him, looks out for him, and sometimes even misses him when he is at school.

6~ He has a love for learning. He enjoys big words, reading lots, and is fascinated with facts. On a recent trip to the library he told me he only wanted nonfiction books. We left with books about space, man made wonders, tropical rainforests, & amphibians.

7~ He continues to melt my heart in various ways. Just yesterday while we were discussing his day, HE said, "mommy I like it when you hold me this way". It is a rare thing for my 7 year old to want to be held in my lap but wow am I thankful for those occasions! His hugs are huge when he innitiates them.

Oink, Quack, Baa, Moo
Here is Jacob turning 2!

Happy Birthday

My Little Superboy!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Bedtime Field Trip & First Day of First Grade!

A few weeks ago we put the boys to bed as usual and waited for them to settle down. Then we went in and asked them if they would like to head out for a special surprise. Little B was so cute. He had already fallen asleep and if you know his little voice and words, you can imagine his simple response of "sure". Only his "R" sounds don't quite pronounce correctly. Anyway, we drove to the other side of Roanoke to find a CLOSED Krispy Kreme...BUMMER because we were planning on taking warm, fresh, mouth watering...you get the idea up to see the Roanoke star.




Their eyes look so sleepy!


But we can't do anymore late night field trips until next summer because today was the 1st day of 1st grade! I can't believe my boy is in first grade! Last year after his first day of kindergarten I couldn't get him talking about his day until I pulled out snacks and put Ben down for a nap. Today he talked the entire walk home and continued while we all listened...without the homemade chocolate chip cookies I had baked. I was trying to be prepared! He wasn't hungry!


"Aw Mom...You know I don't like cameras anymore!"


Somehow along the walk over Jacob convinced Ben to carry his backpack for him!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

a week too early & a yummy recipe!

I can't believe it is here...ALREADY! First grade tomorrow! aaah! Here in Roanoke County school starts a week earlier than what we are used to in Glen Allen. JM & I were saying we just don't feel like we prepared Jacob enough for it. However, I don't know what else we could have done. It just seems so strange and we just simply aren't "ready" and don't want to go tomorrow! I would LOVE just one more week here. Oh well...on the other hand Jacob doesn't seem nervous at all. I say that at 9 pm and he is still awake. But honestly I believe it is because he LOVES the Olympics and knows the closing ceremony is on. He is hating missing out on it.

Lemon Poppy Seed Puffs

1 8oz brick cream cheese - softened
1 1/4 cups sugar divided
2 tsp grated lemon peel divided
1 Tbs lemon juice
2 Tbs poppy seeds
1 16.3 oz can Pilsbury Grand Buttermilk Biscuits
1/2 cup butter melted

Heat oven to 375. In medium bowl, combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp lemon peel, and lemon juice. Mix well. In another bowl combine remaining 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp lemon peel and poppy seeds. Mix well.

Seperage biscuits in half, so you have 16 pieces of dough. Spread each piece and fill with cream cheese mixture. (about 1 Tbs.) Press edges firmly to seal. Dip filled biscuits in melted butter, coat with poppy sead mixture. Place in ungreased nonstick muffin cups.

Bake in preheated oven 12-14 minutes of until puffed and golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Serve warm. Store in refrigerator.

YUMMY!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

the Return of Thankful Thursday

I am dragging this morning but WOW I have A LOT to be thankful for!

* at the TOP of my list is truly God's Amazing Faithfulness in providing strength to my sweet friend and her family. Jill has been an amazing example of giving God glory even in the midst of hardship. I just heard her say how nice it was to wake up to the sun shining Sunday morning...only hours after hearing about her husband's death. My husband writes about it so there's no need for me to repeat...just read his!


* the words to this song


Faith to Be Strong

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

JM was listening to Andrew Peterson on his way to pick me up from Jill's house Sunday and played it in the car on the way home.

* Andrew Peterson! He came to Thayer's Memorial Service and led us all in worship. He sang More, Lay Me Down, and Family Man. What a Godly, humble man. "Andrew Peterson is my friend."

* i really have some precious boys in my life! time is flying with each of them! JM & I just celebrated 10 years! Jacob will be 7 next week and Ben is almost 5.

* life is GOOD!

* our God is an artist! take a look at his masterpiece all around you!

* this cup of caramel trufle coffee is attempting to wake me

* Jacob is sleeping in!

* a stay home day in the making

* lemon poppy seed puffs! I'll add the yummy recipe for that later.

Enjoy God!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

He gives and takes away...

Those words have been ringing in my ears and I am so thankful for His promises. Then my sweet God reminded me of how "His mercies are new every morning". I have so needed these reminders during the last 24 hours.

Last night the mother of a very close friend of mine called to tell me that my friends husband was killed in a motorcycle accident. WHAT?! I have no idea what was said after that because all I could think about was my girl Jill and her precious boys. I spent most of the day with them today and continue to bathe in God's faithfulness. Thankfully Jill and her family also recognize the Lord's faithfulness and are seeking Him for comfort & strength.

Jill and I grew up together, fought like crazy ;) , were in each other's weddings, swapped maternity clothes, had beach trips, and have play dates with our boys (and were actually planning on one tomorrow since we now live closer to them). Now we are going to love on them through this too.

Thanks for joining me in prayer for them.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Getting Settled!


But first some more pics of a couple of days leading up to the move.














The boys probably did this a dozen times until the movers arrived! Jacob originally thought he would ride his bike down the ramp! AAAH! Thankfully he thought of this instead!













The filled to the top truck!































We made a couple stops to our Favorite places!

APOLLO'S is a Skammer Favorite!

We really used to eat there 2 - 3 times a week right after Jacob was born. Now it's once ever week or two. Much better!












Family Picture at our Favorite Pizza Place

















Another favorite...Gelati Celesti! JM & I have been going there since we were dating! yummy!












we invited ourselves to dinner at the JONES'. It was wonderful to eat some of Kathy's Cooking...we were so tired of eating out!

A couple of the guys wanted to celebrate "their birthday"!












They went all out!












They make a great team!
















Bye Bye Chelsea Brook Lane!










and now we are here in Roanoke! We are getting settled in nicely and really enjoy our new home. Here is the view from our back deck...that is Jacob's school with the green roof. We have already made quite a few trips over there to play, ride bikes, and take picnic lunches.


Jacob's best friend has already made a visit here as well! He has some family that lives about 45 minutes away! Perfect for them to get together.


and for the Olympic Opening Ceremony we had make your own pizza night. The boys did a great job with the dessert pizza!



I don't have much more for pictures yet. We do have some of their cousins' visit but I haven't uploaded to the computer yet. Coming soon! Hope that was good for an update!