MAN A LIVE, ISAAC'S FIVE!!!!!

No way! Really! 5!!!

I told Isaac he cant eat his vegtables anymore.

He just shrugs his little shoulder, smiles that killer smile at me and then pops the broc-a-bee in his mouth. Ugh. He is such a heart throb. He is growing up much to fast.

At 5 Isaac loves; CTR 4 class, dancing, singing, riding his bike or scooter, playing with friends, pizza, french toast, monster trucks, watching cartoons, his family, being outside, imagination play with Seth, all sorts of sports; basketball, swimming, tennis, soccer, T-ball, playing the wii, making Benjamin and Seth laugh, bearing his testimony, company, toys, and Jesus.

He is a smart little whipper snapper, and funny, and handsomes. He reminds me often what Jesus does and does not want me to do. He is our best reminder to pray.

Dear Isaac, we love you so much. When you joined us and made us a family, you eternally changed us and made life infinitely better. You're quick wit and amazing imagination flavors our everyday. We adore you Isaac Lloyd.

HapPy HapPy BiRThdAy!!!

I'm going to Carolina in my mind...

We LOVE it when our children chant, "Screech! Screech! We're going to the BEACH!" and indeed we are.

Outer Banks, North Carolina is our favorite family tradition.

We LOVE it!

And I am pretty sure it loves us also. It was sunny and beautiful and perfect 5 out of the 8 days we were there. My Benjamin got his first sun burn. Boy howdy did I feel like a looser. Isaac got burned also, but his skin has seen the sun before. Plus I think it made him look even cuter. I LOVE rosey, sun-kissed cheeks. Eric came up with a plan to retire in the Outer Banks, and I sully support his plan. The beach was perfect. It's ALWAYS perfect, even when it is over cast, it's perfect. Maybe it's my favorite creation. Actually (by the way Seth says that word in proper context all the time now. It makes me giggle)...and now I cant remember what I was going to write, but I am leaving it in so I remember that about Seth.

So we played on the beach,

Sophie Kate and I swung in "our" hamock swing,

we went to the aquarium,

Luke, Isaac, and Seth took 4 one-hour baths,

we played on the beach,

we saw dolphins,

we ate dinner out-side on the porch,

we played on the beach,

we went to Grave Digger's dungeon (drats that they werent giving rides yet),

we watched a movie,

B "cleaned" our teeth (LaUgHEd while he gave me a shot, and I watched the shot bob up and down in rythynm with his chuckles),

we went swimming in the pool,

oh yea...we played on the beach.

The company was perfect. We like Benj, Carly, Olivia, Luke, Sophie Kate, and sweet Gracie Mae A LOT. And the food was perfect. I want every recipe that little Chef Carly whipped up. Yum-my. (And next time I wont bring a Costco box of candy bars, nor cookies, and cake., and nutter butters, and soda, and rice krispie treats...well maybe rice krispie treats. Promise.)

Family Pictures on the Beach....

are about a million times better than at Sears. :)

Grinches, dogs, and "brodders"

This sorta reminds me of...

THIS!

Christmas pictures?

Wanna know how many pictures Eric & I took Christmas morning?0, Zero, nadda, nich. Ugh! I could kick myself. But I took lotsa cute ones of the secular part of the season...

Christmas 2010

Christmas is full of all the things I love best: family, Jesus, music, kindness, chocolate, purpose.

The two contemporary shepherd boys belong to us. Dear shepherd boys get Luke 2:15-17 in your hearts. Always go with haste to find the Savior and then make the goodness He shares with you known to others just like the shepherds of old.

• Isaac, you were our Shepherd boy. You are acquainted with The Good Shepherd. He will use you to help feed His other sheep. Stay so close to Him and help Him keep his flock safe.
• Seth, you were Joseph. You, naturally, did a fantastic job of loving the baby Jesus. You are full of love, dear Seth. Always always love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.
• Benjamin, you silently played the central roll of the Christ child. Follow His example and be a beacon for others to follow, that they may come to Him whose part you played.

So our creche scene wasn't super duper spiritual. In fact Jospeh got tired of his headdress and left after Mary made him stop petting Jesus' hair, or maybe he just got bored. He came back for a quick picture but couldn't be convinced to put the gear back on.

There has been a truer sense of the meaning of Christmas in our home. It's because of our sweet Baby Benjamin. There is just something about a baby boy this time of year that helps elicite thoughts of the first Christmas and the one who gives it all meaning. I have thought of Mary and wonder how she mothered her sweet baby and perfect Saviour. How she must have loved her baby. Did she kiss his cheek and then kiss it again and then again? I love Joseph. At marvel at the magnitude he must have felt for his responsibility.
For Christmas this year my mom gave us the Little People Nativity. When we opened the box we couldnt find the Baby Jesus ANY WHERE. No Baby Jeus at the Christmas scene? Hmmm. We searched and found the central figure. A day or two later I noticed how Isaac set the scene. Everyone was facing Jesus, even the animals. In that simple act, Isaac , you showed your understanding of the way it should be, not only at Christmas but daily, looking toward the Saviour, making him the focal point of our lives.

Merry Christmas!

HaPpy NeW YeAR ***2011***

New Year traditions included: Fun-do , home made hats, and dancin' "like a rock star." I also love those popper things. I think they are big in Great Brittan. E, could do with out them, but Isaac and Seth are with me.

This little man IS the party. Isaac did a meticulus job on the hat. Seriously careful to make sure all the stickers where evenly spread apart. And his dance moves, well there just aren't words. He rocks the house.

It's about the size of a baseball...and I love it.

E punted the decorating of his hat to Seth. Pre-tty brilliant deco.