Yesterday Was A Red Letter Day

Remember this little guy?

Our precious Justice turned 3 yesterday... seriously, where did 3 years go?  Time is a curious thing- I can't really remember what life was like before Justice was in our family, but I also can't believe that 3 years have gone by since we welcomed him at 7:24 on a beautiful September morning.  I remember thinking the moment I saw him, "Wow, he looks exactly like Howie!" (And imagine my surprise when he was a boy after I had been convinced for months that we were having a little princess named Stella!) Over these 3 years it has been such a joy to watch him grow into his little self and begin to discover who he is.  He loves to laugh and prance around on his tippy toes and squeeze his brother and sister (usually too hard) and play and read and watch Mickey and have awesome conversations.  Josh and I always love hearing what he talks to himself about after the lights are out and Howie is asleep next to him in their bed.  Tonight he was singing Hickory Dickory Dock.  Sometimes it's Happy Birthday to himself over and over again- though the proximity to his actual birthday is a nonissue.  He has a tender little heart, and when he loves you, he loves you with the whole of it.  

We had a wonderful day celebrating yesterday.  He was presented with a Lightning McQueen bike, much to his delight, which was followed by a family bike ride in the dead end street on one side of our house.  He requested dinner at Smashburger, a family favorite, and after that we came back for brown (meaning: chocolate) cake, also at his request, and Oreo ice cream.  Yum.  Looking forward to another wonderful year for this special little boy.

Family bike ride.  Justy was thrilled with his shiny new bike.  Obviously he's got some room to grow into his helmet.

Post blow-out.

If at some point your small pathetic spoon no longer does the job, upgrade to the ice cream scoop.

Words of Wisdom

I want to commend to you a blog post written a few weeks ago by my sister Carrie.  While we were at my parents' house this summer my sisters and I had many wonderful conversations about raising our children and shepherding their hearts- through them I was greatly encouraged and given much food for thought.  Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with the daily grind of having small children... changing diapers, making lunches for school, doing laundry, changing clothes, cooking food, grocery shopping with little ones in tow, etc... It is easy for me to lose sight of the fact that although such a busy and exhausting time these are such important and wonderful years for intentionally investing in our children and beginning to encourage them to know and love the Lord.  Carrie is a wise, godly woman who has thought and studied intentionally about being a godly parent, and you can read her post here.

And So It Begins

We have embarked.  Howie was thrilled to put on his uniform, help make his lunch, and pack into the car to go to school.  Justice accompanied us and we bid Howie goodbye... as we left he was already playing and seemed to be doing fine.  I can't wait to hear his impressions of the first day.  We are so proud of him and are eager to see him grow and develop over this year.  I already miss him horribly but I'll muddle through.  Justice is already apologizing to me that he will go to preschool next year.  Wren and I won't know what to do with ourselves!  Today was a shortened school day to ease the transition for the kids, but tomorrow it's the real deal- we actually have to be on our A-game and out the door early in the morning.  We'll see how that goes!  

P.S.- Who can believe that the football season started last night?  Where has this year gone???

Called on the Carpet

This afternoon I was reading a Veggie Tales book to the kids about lying- I'm not crazy about this book because I think the author's theology of confession and repentance is pretty pathetic.  One of the veggies breaks a plate and lies to his father about who did it.  In the end of the book he finally admits that he lied, and his dad says basically, "it's ok- just don't do it again."  No reference to our need for real confession and repentance.  So it's been my habit through these years of reading aloud to just change whatever I don't like and insert what I do like.  In my new version today the veggie told his dad he was sorry for lying and his dad said some nurturing words that I can't remember about how he forgave him and he was glad his son was convicted by the Holy Spirit and led to genuine repentance and how we find forgiveness in Christ... I don't know what I said.  I say something different every time I read that book, and no one has ever noticed before.  Howie looked up at me with a smile on his face and said, "You just made that up. It doesn't say that."  I was shocked.  He caught me.  But hopefully he absorbed some good truth about repentance and forgiveness through Christ on the many times that I've read and edited that book before today.  I guess I have to be more clever and less obvious with my editorial remarks from now on.

P.S.- we just put the boys to bed a bit ago and Justice is laying in his bed singing Andrae Crouch's song "To God Be the Glory" at the top of his lungs. Somehow Howie has already managed to fall asleep despite the singing, even though they share a bed.

Last Day

What is the significance of this picture?  And the title of this post?  This is the last day we have our dear Howie with us during the morning.  Ever.  Except on weekends and holidays and sick days and summer of course, our precious Howie will be out of the house in the mornings for the next 13 years... he embarks on his school career tomorrow. This is the last movie that the boys will watch together in the morning, having nothing to do but whatever strikes our fancy.  The more I think about it, the sadder I am.  This is the beginning of letting go, and I'm not ready for this.  I know I will be a mess tomorrow as I take him to school and watch him leave my care for such a significant part of every day from here on out.  There's no going back.  Although there are definitely days that I would say I would love for him to be in school, I am viscerally sad that he's moving a little more toward independence.  Of course I know that parenting is a progressive process of letting go and entrusting them to God, and I'm so thankful that our Lord goes with Howie to school.  We will miss him horribly while he's gone, but I know that we will treasure the time that he is home during the day all the more.  Pics to come of him looking handsome and studious in his uniform tomorrow!

And this is just for fun.

Apple Picking

We went apple picking last week in New York state... it was such a fun outing.  This was our first time picking together and I'm hoping that it becomes an annual fall tradition.  I love that God made apple trees to grow low to the ground- they were just the right size for short pickers.  We had 20 pounds picked in no time.  They are fabulous.  There is nothing that says fall is fast approaching like a delicious apple.  We're hoping to eat these and then go back to pick a different variety.

Apple picking on a hot August day in fire boots.  

Look at these beauties!  Now I'm thinking of anything apple that I've ever made.  Applesauce, apple crisp, apple cake... any other ideas?  YUM! 

Even Wren has discovered the joy of a wonderful apple.  (outfit disclaimer: Josh put those legwarmers on her
with that dress.)

Happy girl... a hard apple is also a good teething pain soother!  

Girl Meets Donuts

Yup.  It's a hit.

This is illustrative of how I have changed as a parent.  I would never have DREAMED of feeding Howie a donut at 10 months.  I was more the "this child is never going to taste sugar" sort of parent.  That slowly changed as I was progressively beaten down by the demands of being a mom.  Justice was eating lollipops at 1 (I discovered at this point that a lollipop is a powerful thing... although I feel guilty saying that) and Wren shared some of a milkshake with Josh at about 7 months. Sweet mercy.  Anyway the boys think Dunkin Donuts is so amazing, but I don't really agree.  I feel like the donuts coat your teeth and throat in this weird grainy film.  Is anyone with me on this?  We go get them on occasion but I always need a drink to wash them down.  But Wren was all in.