December Daily | 18

Congratulations Jadie! And Josh and Erin too! We love you so, Little Dear One, and pray that God continues grow you into the amazing woman and child of God that we already know you are and will be.

I swear I meant to take more photos during the day, but with Ben not feeling well {we left him to sleep and recover at the hotel while we went to lunch at the Carroll's} and trying to soak up every possible minute snuggling a sweet little baby boy, well, my camera was only really out during the baptism!

December Daily | 17

This morning we loaded up the Sequoia and headed down to Abilene for a little weekend getaway - partly for fun, partly for work. Jadie, our friends Josh and Erin's little girl, accepted Jesus as her Savior and is getting baptized tomorrow! To celebrate and to have a little mini-Life Group reunion before the move, the Prysocks and Lyons drove in from Dallas and we all met up at the Carroll's house for an evening of fun and fellowship...

and to enjoy the cuteness of the Little Ones!

♥

Family and Friend Time

This afternoon, when Noah woke up from his nap, we spent a little time in my room while talking with Ben and putting away my clean clothes. While I had my back to him and was hanging up shirts, Noah exclaimed with a sense of urgency in his voice, "Mommy!! Where'd my legs go?!?" I turned around to see him sitting like this, as he exploded into a fit of giggles.

Apparently, trying on Mommy's pants is hysterical fun.

***

This evening, two of our very good and dear friends stopped by to visit and join us for dinner before heading back home to Denton. Jordan was a session leader at a program called Global Reunion, a camp for Third Culture Kids {TCKs} and since school is not in session yet, April came with him. It had been far too long since we had seen them, so I was grateful they were able to spend some time with us before heading home.

I know I've said it once and I'm sure I'll say it again, but I'm so grateful for good friends. Who not only love me and Ben, but adore my kids. Because my kids sure love them. And who'll also endure Chili's with us... yet again.

We miss you guys!

♥

MMM {with the DFW crew}

Early this afternoon, some of our favorite DFW friends came into town to spend some time with us while the kids were away and before Ben deploys. It's always fun to have the Lyons and the Prysocks visit... but it's even more fun when I don't have to cook! For dinner, we took advantage of Monday Mug Madness at Cypress Street Station...

All four guys had at least one mug of Bell's Dubbel Trubbel. David got in trouble with Stephanie... so he got to take a photo with the bubble. {And, clearly, I spelt "trubbel" wrong}.

Ben and Jadyn had a staring contest... Ben says he won, Jadyn says she was the victor.


{I think she was just a little sad not to have Noah and Ellie for company.}

Overall, another good visit to Cypress Street!

Doing Life {with our Life Groups}

April and Jordan left this afternoon after church. It was hard to see them go. I'm so glad that she got a teaching position... I just wish it would have been here in Abilene. When you see someone at least once a week for two plus years, it's a little difficult to switch to only seeing them maybe once every couple of months. Especially when they love on and encourage your kids as much as they love on and encourage you.

We miss you already and will be praying as the "big day" approaches! ♥

After baths and before Life Group, Ben read stories to the kids. I love listening to him read to our children. Reminds me of when we were kids and we would beg Daddy-Man would read to us.

She is most certainly going to be trouble.

We had Life Group tonight at our house, as we do most every Sunday night. Life Group is such an important part of our lives - we truly live life with them. Our Small Group {Life Group} in California held some of our dearest friends. And they walked with us through so much - just thinking about all that they have prayed over us makes miss our time together. The same holds true here in Texas. We've seen couples come and go for various reasons and we walk along with them, whether they are here, other parts of Texas, in California, Oregon and all the other places that God has sent them.

I couldn't imagine not having such a group of people to love on, to be loved by and to encourage one another.

Tonight was our first session back since taking a break for Christmas. Instead of diving right into a Bible study, we took tonight to reconnect, fellowship, and craft.

The guys etched mugs so that we can have a Life Group Dinner Out to Cypress Street soon.

The ladies, since our babysitter cancelled, still worked on some Valentine's Day wreaths, but also kept an eye on the munchkins. Two of whom, were pirates.

And who also made me want another baby...

{Nixon, wrapped up in Ellie's miracle blanket}

Time with Friends

I broke out my camera once today.

Mostly because I was too busy spending some time with our long-lost, now out-of-town friends, Jordan and April. They arrived in town late last night and we're so glad they are here... and so are the Little Ones. ♥

A "Things that Go" Birthday Party

My baby is turning three in less than a week. I can barely believe it. Three years ago, we had planned a Christmas Party on the first weekend of December and had to cancel and then un-cancel. This year, we almost cancelled another party - Noah's birthday party. I had big, grand plans for his party, but between caring for sick ones and then getting sick myself, well, very few things I had planned, happened.

One thing that I made sure happened? Noah's "3 Train" Shirt.

Noah was sure to have a good time, regardless of whether or not my idea of how the party should have gone happened. Two of his favorite friends came to celebrate with him: Jadyn and Mack!

It didn't hurt that they got to paint either.

Of course, his loving Little Sister was there to help him open his presents.

And Daddy helped entertain him and his friends with the Christmas train.

It's a train. And a cake. And covered with candy.

What's not to love?

I'm thrilled that despite me not feeling 100%, the kids still being easily tired and recovering, and everything else, that Noah still had a blast.

And that the adult "after-party" was a good time to reconnect with some of our out-of-town friends!

All in a Friday

Our friends, April and Jordan, are moving to Denton. April's teaching kindergarten there and we're so sad to see them go. They came back into town last night to finish packing up their apartment and to move it all to their new house. We, along with the Carroll's, met them for lunch at a local favorite, Brick Oven Pizza.

We ate.

We laughed.

I tried not to cry.

April and Jordan, we'll miss you! We're excited for you, but we'll miss you. Come back often and I promise, as soon as Ellie starts the "T-Rex Walk" there will be a video on the blog and a weekend trip planned. ♥

***

I always knew that damage to our house was going to happen due to having a boy {and a girl, for that matter}. I just never knew that it would happen so early in his life.

"Crash, Mommy. Broke it. Mommy sad."

Oh. my.

***

Ben brought home a special present for the kids from work today. Both of them were super excited when they got out of the tub to find this in the living room:

One cardboard box + Daddy = lots of sweet giggles.

Adios Amigos {See you soon, Friends}

After church, we all ate lunch at Taste of Asia. Noah was totally fascinated by the chopsticks and spent some time trying to eat some of Ellie's puffs with them.

It. was. awesome.

Lunch ran into nap time... so Ellie slept for a good portion of it in Ben's arms. I'm not sure he minded.

It's so hard sometimes to say bye. David and Stephanie are, thankfully living closer now, so hopefully we'll get to see them more often. However, Jordan and April are moving too since April got a kindergarten teaching position in Denton. We're {very} sad to see them go.

Thanks for spending the weekend with us, Friends!


You all {especially you girls!!} are some of my favorite people!

A Full House

We had a full house for most of the day today. The guys went to play disc golf this morning, leaving Steph, the kids and I at the house to play and attempt to get a little crafting time in {I actually did get a little project started, but since it's a baby gift, I can't show it off yet! Thanks for the help Steph!!}. The rest of the gals and the guys trickled their way in through the morning and afternoon, and before we knew it, we had a full house.

There was lots of Wii to be played {with working and non-working remotes}.

There was lots of kisses and hugs to be handed out.

There was way too much pizza and other goodies to be devoured.

There was plenty of poker chips to be won.

And plenty of Gleeks to be indulged and Babies to be watched.

A Full House = A Happy Day ♥

A Crafty Afternoon

April came over this afternoon for a little bit of crafty time, and lucky for us {and especially for Noah}, Jordan came with her. She finished up her blankets from Saturday and I actually got to work on my Project Life kit and a little on a second quilt for Project 30/Linus. I guess Noah could hear us talking {and laughing} because when he woke up from his nap, the first words out of his mouth wasn't his usual "Hi Mommy" or "Noah go potty", but "Mizapbil and Jordan here! Mommy, com'on!"

Noah immediately talked Jordan into going to "play tracks" with him.

Ellie enjoyed the extra attention from our friends too.

I just have to say, I ♥ that our friends love on our kids so much. And I ♥ that our kids love them right back!

{P.S. Ellie's 11 month post will be tomorrow!}