Thanks Squints

Swim lessons were supposed to start last Saturday, but the teacher was in the hospital for some reason. We didn't know that until we arrived, so Micah and Jordan got the "Mommy and Daddy" swim session. Jordan is still battling ear infections, so she got a pass for not being able to go under. Normally, I would have blown in her face and completely dunked her...I know, some say it's too early, but I'm a firm believer in getting them used to the water early on. Micah was acting extremely timid of the water which is not like him. In some ways, I was thankful because normally he is fearless and that scares me to death. By the end of last summer he was jumping off the diving board (with wings on) and swimming by himself from one person to another (it wasn't very far though). This time, Paul had to force him off the steps (with slight screaming involved) and eventually dunk him a few times. As long as he had a noodle, he would go anywhere by himself.

At first we thought that maybe it would just take time to get Micah used to the water again. But then the truth came out in the bath tub a few nights later. I was bathing him and asked him to blow bubbles for me. He would barely put his mouth in, so I told him to put his nose under too and then blow bubbles. He looked at me with this serious face and said, "But I don't want to get hurt like Squints." Right then, it all made perfect sense to me. Recently, Micah has been watching the movie, The Sandlot (as he loves baseball) and there is a swimming scene where one of the boys, Squints, jumps off the diving board and almost drowns. So, yes, I can totally understand how that would scare a little boy away from the water. I guess I just didn't realize how observant Micah really is. Now, thanks to Squints we are back to square one ;)

Showing us how to surf ;)

Our little ballerina.

Weekend Visitors

This past weekend we had a house full of visitors, and I would not have had it any other way! Our good friends, the Rainer's, came in town from Nasvhille along with Paul's brother, Nathan, from NC. We all used to live in NC together, and loved those days. Now, it's neat to see where the Lord has led each of us...we are so thankful for modern day communication! It was really a low key weekend where we just hung out, enjoyed the sunshine, and chased our crazy kids around. There always is so much to catch up on and never enough time. Thanks Rainer's and Nate for coming to visit!! Come back soon :)

Playing in the yard.

Micah and Canon (they are a year and a half apart).
Rach and me.
Taking a walk.
High fives.

Enjoying the park.

Jess and Canon.
Dinner and games with the Bordas'! Paul and I went to middle school and high school with Josh and Jess, and since then I've become great friends with their amazing wives. Kind of neat how we lived in NC with the Rainer's and now in AL with the Bordas'. God is so good!
Paul, Josh, and Jess.

Saving the "Cooties" for Later ;)

I have become good friends with a girl at church who has two children, Mady and "big" Micah (as my Micah likes to call him). Mady is Micah's age and is in his Sunday School class at church, which pretty much consists of ALL girls. Every week they get so excited to greet one another at church-it's really sweet. Obviously, neither one of them has realized that the other gender has "cooties" yet ;) Lately, we've been able to get together with them outside of church, so the Micah's have become friends too.

Sweet friends.

Showering the BABIES

Oh my goodness. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about getting TWIN nieces so soon! I was so glad I got to be there for their shower. It was so special and they truly were showered with all sorts of amazing gifts. My sister-in-law, Sara, is just glowing and hardly looks pregnant at all. Not fair :)

Wedding Bliss

It was so good to be home for my beautiful cousin's (Jeramie) wedding shower. Jeramie and I are 5 days apart and have many fun memories together growing up. She is getting married at the end of March and I cannot believe how quickly it is approaching! The shower was in Lexington, at her other aunt's gorgeous home. I enjoyed watching her open all her gifts and seeing the pieces she had picked out for her home. It made me want to register all over again ;) We played a few games, ate delicious food (probably too much), and showered Jeramie with love. It was a great day and I always love being with my Aunt Bobbi and sweet cousin's. Love you JBrooke!

The gorgeous bride-to-be

Cousin's
My Mom and Aunt Bobbi

My Old Kentucky Home

This past weekend the kids and I headed to Kentucky to attend my cousin's wedding shower and my sister-in-law's BABIES (she's having twins) shower. It truly was a whirlwind as we saw lots of family, a few friends, and also got to meet one of my good high school friend's little newborn. We packed a LOT into the weekend, but I wouldn't have traded any of it.

Here are a few highlights...I'll post pics of both the showers later.

We got to see our engaged friend's, Josh and Ashley. Josh is one of Paul's best friends from high school and Ashley is one of my best friend's from college. Ash is currently living with my parents until they get married in May. Micah had fun playing all kinds of sports with "Mr. Josh" and I throughly enjoyed catching up with Ash. Who would have ever known they'd be getting married...such a small world!

We grabbed a bite to eat with the other Akin crew. It's always so refreshing to see Tim, Anna, Levi, and Judah. I'm so thankful for them and love them so much. The two boys below are double trouble! I love watching them together. Sadly, I didn't more more pics of anyone else :(

We got many laughs at playing "Just Dance" on the Wii. Never could convince my Dad to get up there, but my Mom of course jumped right in! Most of the time, I totally got dominated by my sister, but will say I hold the crown to the Spice Girls song. Is that really something to be proud of!?!

And some exciting news is that our little girl is walking...well, WITH assistance. She can only stand on her own for about 4 seconds, but can push this little thing around all day long. I have a feeling it won't be too long until we have an independent walking girl. Boy, does time fly.

Last but not least, I was so thankful I got to go meet precious Madison. Her Mommy, Laura, is one of my dear friends and it was such a blessing to get to spend some time with them. Madison is so tiny and beautiful, and Laura is just a wonderful Mommy! They even had this cute little sign to welcome me into their home :)

Phew, I'm totally tired but am so thankful for a blessed weekend. We all missed Paul though and was glad to get home to see him!

Lessons for Having Kids

About a month ago, my cousin and my Mom sent this to me. I have no idea who wrote it or where they found it, but it is 10 Lessons to learn if you have kids or are planning on having them. I personally thought it was hilarious, because as a Mom of two, there are many days I totally relate to many of these. Hope ya'll get a good laugh out of this too :)

LESSON ONE:

1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home and pick up the paper.

4. Read it for the last time.

LESSON TWO:

Before you actually have children, find a couple who does and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

4. Allowing their children to run wild.

5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners and overall behavior. Enjoy it because it will be the last time in life you will have all the answers.

LESSON THREE:

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static {or some other equally obnoxious sound} playing loudly. Eat cold food with one hand for dinner.

2. At 10PM, put the bag down gently, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. Since you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM, make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Quietly sing songs in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work, go to work, work hard and be productive.

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

LESSON FOUR:

Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jelly onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book and/or photo album. Destroy it.

6. Pour milk all over your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

LESSON FIVE:

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allotted for this - all morning.

LESSON SIX:

Forget the BMW and buy a minivan. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway all spotless and shiny. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it on the glove compartment. Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat making sure you really take the time to shove them as far as you can down into the cracks. Sprinkle Cheerios all over the floor and proceed to smash them full force with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

LESSON SEVEN:

Go to your local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a preschool child. {A full grown goat is an excellent choice}. If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. No leashes allowed. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

LESSON EIGHT:

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half of the remaining into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a 9-month old baby.

LESSON NINE:

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying "mommy!" repeatedly. Important: no more than a four second delay between each "mommy"; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required. Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a car ride with a toddler.

LESSON TEN:

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt sleeve or elbow while playing the "mommy" tape from Lesson Nine above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

Remember that a sense of humor is the most important thing you will need when you become a parent! -So true :)

PS. Happy March ya'll, and where in the world did February go????