'Night Little Bum

Look at those scrumptious little toes...

Before heading to bed tonight, I stopped in to check on the kids. Hayden was in his usual sprawl and sleeping soundly. I tiptoed into Noah's room to avoid waking him, he is our lighter sleeper, and found him also sleeping soundly in the above position. Too cute to leave alone, I ran down to get Chris to take a peek and the camera too - notice his head underneath the pillow, but at least turned sideways which assured me he could breathe. Amazingly, even with the flash of the camera, he didn't budge and not wanting to risk waking him, I crept out of his room thinking how easily my children slumber and in the oddest of positions too. Praying for a peaceful rest for all of us, I ventured down the hall towards sleep myself.

So Long Soccer

Hayden & his coach

See my new trophy?Jacob, Hayden, & Karlie

This evening, we met for an end-of-year pizza celebration with Hayden's soccer team, "The Lightning Bugs." We met at the same park where the kids played their games, survived the 100+ degree temperature with a few bumps and falls that led to a sand burn on Hayden's forhead and a bruised elbow for Noah and together said so long to this soccer season. Our little Pele has come a long way this year with his confidence and ability and we were so proud of how well he did this year, playing and scoring in all seven games. Sad to see the soccer season end, but excited to get his new trophy, ribbon, and certificate. Hayden's already talking about next year and has mentioned too that he'd like to play tee-ball. Only time will tell what sport is in store for him next ...

Radar

I have to share a funny conversation that I overheard at the breakfast table this morning between my two sweet little boys .... it's so fun to sit and listen to them talk to each other. It's amazing what you hear when you really just take time to listen ....

Noah: "Mama, I have hot tea in my cup."
Hayden: "Noah, it's not tea. It's milk."
Noah: "No Haynen, it not milk, it hot tea. Right mama, it tea?"
Mama: "Sure Noah, it's tea. Hayden, let him think what he wants. We know what it really is in his cup."
Hayden: "Well mom, I have radar. I have it here (pointing to his forehead), here (pointing to the back of his head), here (pointing to the right side of his head), and here (pointing to the left side of his head). Oh yeah, and here and here (pointing to both his eyes). Mom, I have six radar and it's telling me Noah has milk."

Well, how does one argue with that logic? I am telling you, we have a little boy who is SO ready to go to "Kingergarten" ... radar?? He is so inquisitive about so many things and the latest is knowing about radar. I better start reading up now so I have answers for all the questions that are sure to come once he starts school in August. As I write this, I smile thinking about Hayden pointing to all the parts of his head and his eyes and calling them his radar. Hayden, mommy's radar says you are one smart boy and we are sure blessed to see how much you care about learning. To all of you reading, stay tuned as I am know more funny conversations are on the way.

A Boy of Many Colors

How did I get so lucky to have this little boy in my life? He is such a blessing to our family and seeing him standing with this hat of oh-so-many colors reminds me of what a colorful little boy he is .... funny, sweet, loving, stubborn, smart, friendly, outspoken, intuitive, and don't forget, super squeezable. I had to just share this picture with you - I can't help but smile when looking into those dark brown eyes and I know you won't be able to either. Noah - what a true gift God has given us!

Sneaky Sleeper

I can't believe I forgot to blog about what happened here, because it's pretty funny. One night, about a month ago, after we had tucked the boys in bed and settled in our positions on the couches for our nightly routine of TV, Chris happened to notice that Hayden's bedroom door was open. Upon further investigation, we realized Hayden was not sleeping in his bed, but on the floor, behind our end table which is tucked into a corner between the couches. The kid had snuck out of his room, crawled into position on the floor probably hoping we wouldn't notice so he could catch some of the TV we were watching, but ended up falling asleep instead. I have no idea how long he was laying down there, but as you can see by the time we found him, he was sound asleep. Needless to say, Chris and I both got a good laugh about it and after snapping a few pictures, Hayden was hauled back to bed and tucked in again for the second time that night, all the while still sound asleep. What a sneaky little sleeper!

Children's Museum

This weekend, the boys and I had the chance to visit the Children's Museum of Phoenix to help celebrate a 1st birthday with a little friend of ours. Lia, my friend/teaching partner Jennifer's daughter, turned 'ONE' on April 23rd and her party started off with a birthday breakfast on Saturday followed by a caravan of friends over to the museum to finish celebrating. Wow - this place is amazing! The boys had a blast exploring, playing, pretending, and checking everything out ... every major city should have this kind of hands-on, completely "kid friendly" place for children to visit and truly just be able to play! Hayden and Noah's favorite area was the "Noodle Forest" - an area set up with pool noodles hanging from the ceiling in which you just run back and forth and through over and over and over ... they loved it! Noah also liked the grocery store area, where he got to push his cart and go shopping.

We didn't get to stay as long as we all would have liked, unfortunately, but we will definitely be heading back to make a day of it, this time bringing Daddy along. The boys are also excited at the thought of taking their cousins, Sammy and Lily, to the museum for a visit when they come see us this summer. We can't wait!

Here are some fun pictures from our visit:

breathe ...

"Be still, and know that I am God" Psalms 46:10

Over the weekend of April 17, 18, and 19, I had the opportunity to join my dear friend Nicole, and her sweet baby girl Jaelyn, for a women's retreat hosted by the church we've been attending, Christ's Church of the Valley. It was held up in Williams, in beautiful northern Arizona (cooler too!) and was my first time away from both the boys, but a time that was much needed and well worth it!

The theme of the weekend was "breathe" with Psalm 46:10 as our objective and reminder throughout the days we had together. It was a wonderful chance to worship in community with other women, to celebrate the gift we are to each other, and to praise God for everything we have in our lives. An adorable couple, JJ and Dave Heller, led our worship time each day with their Christian/Folk music (check her out - JJ Heller - amazing voice!). Our keynote speaker for the weekend was a wonderfully funny woman and novelist, Susan May Warren, who used stories from her life as a missionary in Siberia to give us faithful reminders of God's beauty, power, and grace. We were able to take note of the "worldly voices" that tend to overcome us, i.e. voices of comparison, doubt, shame, greed, dread, perfectionism, etc. and how when we (as women) listen to these voices, and not to God's voice, we easily forget the beauty, and power, and grace of His love for us. I came home renewed, refreshed, and ready to tackle those voices by exhaling them out and inhaling in all that God has planned for me. The weekend was full of wonderful fellowship, yummy food, singing, worship, and reflection, only to be topped off by an evening on Saturday of "BLING" Bunco and Left-Right-Center (a new dice game I learned that was super fun).

I went up to this retreat, having no idea what to expect, or what the weekend had in store for me. After it was over, I came home knowing that if I am still, and if I take time to listen, I will hear and know what God has in store for me, and for today, believing in Him and knowing His love surrounds me is enough.

Saturday Night's Event: "Bling Bunco"
Young Life Camp in Williams, AZ