Thankful...

We are truly blessed, there's no doubt about it. I know we get tired and complain and gripe about the lack of time, sleep, free time, the 'non-stop' nature of having 2 very active boys. But what an amazing ride and privilege to be given the task and overwhelming responsibility of raising these 2 boys into God-loving men! We have so much more than we could ever need or want, God is SO GOOD! I often get so wrapped up in our little world that I forget to look out and beyond and see how amazingly He has provided above and beyond...in the earthly realm we have more than we both had growing up, but I also have the amazing blessing of not having to work full time and able to be home with the boys more - a true gift! (Though there of course are days we'd all be better off going our separate ways! :)) And we have been given 2 wonderful, intelligent, healthy boys - there's nothing more we could ask for! So THANKS be to GOD!

Drew is a growing boy - both physically and in maturity! We both swear he's going through a growth spurt because his stomach seems to be a bottomless pit these days...meals average about 45-60 minutes. Granted, we aren't all eating this whole time, but the process takes this long, and just when we think he's done, he'll ask for more! Gracious! He's stopped taking baths and now taking showers...prompted more by the boys ridiculousness getting too out of hand in the bath together, but now there's no going back for him, he feels like such a big boy! He has also stopped sucking his thumb while he sleeps. We've talked to him off and on about every now and then, without trying to place too much pressure on him, and then one day it really made an impression on him, and he just flat out stopped. YEAH! I told him it could change the shape of his mouth and teeth and he didn't like that idea one bit, so that was the end of that! What a funny kid!

He is quite intriguing, our Drew is! I've said it before, and it doesn't seem to be changing, he's quite emotional and dramatic and a bit high maintenance...sound like anyone else you know?! He really holds onto things and has a hard time letting it go. He will be as happy as a clam and as soon as something doesn't go his way, the wrath of emotions are released, ugly words are flying, huge tears are dropping, people are potentially getting hurt...it gets ugly real quick!

While he can be a very helpful boy for us all at times and loves to play with Noah and can do that quite well at times, his defiance is also increasing in intensity when the moment presents itself. We've dealt with some interesting situations at home and at school lately that I hadn't even thought of yet, but none the less, they are upon us! He really can be a good listener and seeks approval through following the rules and being 'first' or the 'best' at whatever it is, but when it doesn't work out that way, things can go sour!

This child is LOVING to play video games...sound like anyone else you know?! Daddy and Drew are enjoying some bonding time playing different versions of the Lego games - Batman and Star Wars are the favorites. Noah tags along, but bounces around and loses interest, and that's ok with everyone. I am a bit torn on the whole deal, but it feels like a battle I've already lost, so my battle now is to have input on the type of games and amount of time played. On days when I'm home with the boys, if I ever ask Drew what he would like to do that day, more and more his response is to play video games...he's either an optimist or just not getting it...that's just not Mommy's thing! So it's a Daddy and Drew activity that they love!

He does also have quite the imagination. He continues to love toys with strings and hooks and will come up with all sorts of different ways to use and play with them. But in general, I'm seeing him like more and more toys and objects that can move and change, or that he can take apart and put back together...mechanical, but not overtly so, if that makes any sense! It will be interesting to see how that develops over the years!

A funny story about Drew...about a week after Halloween, he woke up early after having a bad dream...he told us he dreamed that I ate all of his Halloween candy and despite my efforts and proof that his candy was all still accounted for, he was pretty upset with me for the rest of the morning! HA!

We had a wonderful and super special visit from cousins Candi and Tyler this month and we had a blast! They were able to come for 4 days and the boys enjoyed every minute of it! We kept everyone busy and had lots of playtime and special things to hopefully remember for years to come! We had a great time just playing around the house, and it was fun to see what they came up with together. We went to the zoo one day and on Saturday Candi, Tyler, Drew and Mommy went to 6 Flags! Noah had a great time with Grandma and Papa while we were at the park - we had a blast! It was sad to see them go, but cherished the time we had together!

Daddy had to leave the same weekend for a week (10 days to be exact!) up near DC for work. We were sad to be without him again, but glad it was a shorter trip and what a mental difference it was that he was still in the States and we could talk/FaceTime every night. We had lots of extra help again (LOVE our family!) with cousin Taron coming over almost every night (all parents with young kids know that is the most critical part of the day!), so she was a huge blessing and the boys still talk about her at the dinner table! :) The last night/day Daddy was gone, Grandma and Papa were kind enough to take the boys for a sleepover (they actually slept in the same room and did well!) and a full day of care the next day...so again, much easier this time. Don't we have the BEST family!

Uncle Kevin came up for a day to play before the Spartan Race (that he skipped due to really bad weather) and we all loved having him here too! The boys had a great time and he was the perfect Uncle/Brother - soaking up time with the kids and letting Mommy get lots done around the house! :) Nana and Grandpa came up late that evening and were able to take over care for the kids while Mommy went to work on Saturday. Man, did they all LOVE that! A rare time when they could play and be together without Mommy or Daddy present! They loved it! Sadly it was cut short by the forecast of horrible icy weather that didn't end up coming...stinking weather forecasts! But we were grateful for the time we had with everyone!

Now for Noah...little stinker, he's so stinking cute! He can certainly be a challenge, but he is quite adorable through it all! He's definitely got his Momma wrapped around his finger! :) He can be quite loving and lovable - running up to greet us after being at school or work, telling us spontaneously "I wuv you", singing songs from school, but getting all the words in a different order, telling us "I choking" when you get the hiccups...it's all irresistibly cute!

He is getting better and better at communicating and making small sentences - it's so fun to watch and hear him grow in this way! He does sing more and more songs, lots from school and he'll tell us "That Ms. Amber song" - his teacher! So cute! He's also really good at telling us "Go away...You go time out!" when he's upset and angry with any one of us as well - this part, not as cute! :)

Toys Noah enjoys...large building blocks, balloons, trucks of all shapes and sizes, trains, our castle toy set, specifically the disc launchers, costumes, puzzles and books, and loves to wrestle and play swords with Drew! He really likes music and will dance more than Drew will, so Mommy loves that! He still loves to climb and can do good somersaults now too. He's loved being able to join in the fun of Tumblebus at school!

I feel like I say this about Noah every month, but he does not ever get left behind with anything...he's ready to try it all! For Drew's last soccer game, Noah was running all around with Mommy on the sidelines with our own little game going on. Then he felt like it was appropriate that he should be able to go through the players tunnel at the end of the game as well and made himself right at home on the bleachers with all the other boys while the coach passed out trophies. What a goof! Our friend down the street has a 4 wheeler and we were at the park with him at one point and Noah got on and drove it (with some help from Momma), but again, he has no reason to believe that he can't be a part of everything going on around him! It has led to quite a few bumps and bruises, but once he gets over the initial hurt, he usually goes right back to what he was doing when he got hurt! Love his sense of adventure...that will serve him well!

Noah is getting big too - he can now reach the extended light switches, and really likes to turn lights on and off! He's pointing out more numbers and letters, not always correctly, but he's certainly trying and does get some right consistently! He's starting to show a bit more interest in potty training. He likes to show us his muscles and he does with his fists in his armpits and elbows above his shoulders and a super serious facial expression! He's starting to have more dreams...and goes through spurts of some obvious bad dreams, sometimes waking us up at night. One night, we didn't have to go to him, but I heard him say "No!...Dew took my pancake!" :) He throws a fit when we try to dress him in dress shirts or PJs with buttons on them..."I NO LIKE BUTTONS!" - where does that even come from?! And he likes to drink straight from the faucet after washing his hands and face like a goof.

Cute moment with Noah: while taking a bath one night, he laid down on his back and wiggled his body back and forth and said "I a dolphin"! Another funny one: we were talking at dinner about animal pictures to put in the bottom of the pool we are going to have built and the boys went back and forth like this: D: shark, N: dolphin, D: turtle, N: walrus! The conversation stopped here because Mommy and Daddy were laughing so hard! Can you imagine a walrus at the bottom of a pool - that would be hilarious. And, what a random animal for you to know and think of! Crazy kid! Love him!

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend here in Fort Worth. The boys enjoyed a restful morning at home with movies and the Macy's Parade while Mommy ran the Turkey Trot for the first time! :) We headed over to Grandma and Papa's for lunch with the whole family - everyone was there at some point, so we had a great time! Friday Mommy went out shopping for the morning with Aunt Lynne and the boys had another restful morning at home. We spent the rest of the weekend setting up Christmas decorations (Noah said "We make it Cwismas?!") and enjoying some family time together, juggled with getting some errands run (Mommy and Daddy finalized some things for the pool and went Christmas shopping for the boys!).


So again, we are so blessed, and truly grateful for all we have been given! We know it is not our own, but on loan from Him! Thank you! We love you Lord!