Photo Shoot {Blaine: 1 Year}

I managed to get a few minutes this week, and with Tim's help, I was able to get a few pictures of Blaine for his 1st Birthday.  I think this is one of the hardest ages to photograph because they are always on the go (especially when we head outside!).

 

 Not sure what this look is....

His goofy little smile...

So stinkn' cute!..

.

He is currently weighing in at 24 lbs and is 29.5 inches tall!  In the last month he's gone from 12 month clothes, to 18 months (which are currently tight), and is currently in 24 months!  He is still working on the whole walking thing.  He hasn't picked it up as quickly as we thought he would, but that's ok. 

Photo Shoot {Ben & Shelly}

Last year I was involved in the Steering Team for our MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers) Group at our church and I had the privilege of working with Shelly as a co-coordinator for our craft activities for the group.  Shelly was also about 1 month ahead of me with her 2nd child, Ethan.  I offered to do their family pictures back in March/April and we FINALLY got together to get it done a few weeks ago!

Meet Ben, Shelly, Caleb, & Ethan...

We are so blessed to have met Ben & Shelly!  Ben is also the teacher for our Connection Group at church and he does a great job at challenging us to a deeper relationship with God.  They have a great heart to serve others and to raise their kids in admonition of the Lord.  Oh...and did I mention that Shelly is an A.MAZ.ING. cook!  Anything she touches is GOLDEN!!!  

So glad we finally got together for these Shelly!

Trunk or Treat!

Last year was the first time I had ever heard of Trunk or Treat.  Our church hosts one every year. Have you ever heard of it?  Instead of trick-or-treating door to door, a whole bunch of people park their decorated cars in a specified area and hand out candy.  It's such a great alternative!  Our church also has bounce houses and other games for the event.  We also use it as one of our big community outreaches every year.  I believe last year they had over 1,000 people attend and from what I've heard there were even more this year!

Last year Tim was home on R&R and I had just had Blaine so we didn't volunteer for the event.  It was inspiring to see every one's creativity last year and we definitely didn't want to miss out on the fun this year!  In my blog roaming I came across this SUPER EASY tutorial on costumes for The Incredibles.  It took a little convincing, but Tim agreed!  It was a lot of fun to be able to do a whole family theme!

The boys hanging out eating their pizza before all the excitement starts!

SO glad I brought the play pin for Blaine to hang out in.  And I'm pretty sure he was every one's favorite!

 

 

Candy in hand, ready to pass it out!!!

Some of our friends.  Little House on the Prairie!

Wizard of Oz!

There were SO MANY good ones and I of course didn't get any pictures.  :(  It was a little hectic there for a bit.  There was R2D2 and Darth Vador, Flo from Progressive Insurance (she was selling Jesus though), Angry Birds, Pirates, etc, etc.  I didn't even walk around to see them all.  Wishing I had of course!

And since I didn't feel like I got any good pictures of us, we all dressed up again the following night and took some in our back yard.  It was a lot of fun and a fun way to get the boys involved in serving others first!

Selling Sheep

  
^{On the drive to church this past Sunday morning, the story of Jesus entering the temple and finding people doing business came to mind.  It was soon after Jesus entered Jerusalem and the week prior to his crucifixion.  You can find the story in Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 2.  Below is the excerpt from John 2.}

¹³ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵ So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 

<sup>This story seems so easy to understand, but I highly doubt that you could walk up to a local church and find farmers lined up outside the front doors trying to sell their sheep or cattle.  (Of course that's partly due to the fact that we don't need an animal to sacrifice at the alter anymore because of the ultimate sacrifice that God made by sending his son, Jesus, to die for us!) 

Every story has an application, though.  How in the world could this relate to me?  I don't plan on selling any sheep anytime soon.  Not that I even have any to sell. 

But...there is (unfortunately) PLENTY of other "business" that I take care of at church.  I deliver things to friends, I get things from friends, I track down certain people at church so we can talk over certain upcoming events, etc.  I can think of TONS of business that goes on every Sunday!

Why do I choose to do all of this on Sunday mornings/Wednesday nights!?!  

Part of it is because it's easy.  Everyone is in one place.  You can kill seven birds with one stone!  You can get results!  My multi-tasking personality LOVES that you can accomplish so much in such a small amount of time!


Yet, that doesn't change the fact that I am GUILTY!  My mind and my heart has not been focused on what it needs to be.  
 It's hard because we do live about 30 minutes from the church and all of our friends.  Our finances are tight (whose aren't!), so we have tried to limit the amount of trips we make to the next town to keep our gas cost down.  A good intent but I think it has also made us try to squeeze as much as possible into our Sunday morning/Wednesday evening trips.</sup> 

 I've noticed the last few weeks that when I have all this business to take care of at church, my mind is not focused on what it is meant to be.  I still listen, and I participate, but I tend to be distracted by the need to take care of business!

Now don't get me wrong.....I still plan on talking to people when I go to church!  ;)

<sup>I believe God started preparing my heart for this realization a few months ago.  (Isn't he SO generous to ease us into seeing what He sees sometimes!)

Based on the saying, "What you put out is what you get back", our Pastor, in his weekly email, challenged us to consider how we were preparing our hearts to receive the message each time we attended.  A few weeks later in our Connection Group (AKA Sunday School) we discussed church/God and the level of priority it took in our lives/schedules.  Tim and I have definitely made the outward commitment to place church as a priority in our lives.  There is never a question as to if we should attend church on Sunday or to stay home.  The answer is always to go.  Along with other services.  Yet, I know we need to work on preparing our hearts throughout the week to receive the message that God wants us to hear.

 It has been on my heart for the last few months and I have been seeking Him and asking him to show me how I can better prepare my heart for Sunday mornings.  I think he gave me the answer a few days ago.  :)

So...my plan for now is to really limit how much business I plan for Sunday mornings/Wednesday nights, and try to schedule other times to accomplish what needs to be done.  That might mean an extra trip, and extra gas, but I believe where the Lord leads he provides.  It will probably mean more phone calls/emails and that also will require good time management.

Some might think this is crazy, or even extreme; yet the Holy Spirit speaks to us all in different ways.  I remember in Middle School the gentle urging to not spit out my gum on the sidewalk/grass anymore, but to always put it in the trash.  Crazy! you say.  I know.  Yet, He also whispered the same request to a dear mentor.  ;)

I have to ask....How much business do you do at church?  Is it distracting you from what God wants you to hear?  In what ways do you prepare your heart to receive the message when you attend?</sup>

One Already?!!?!!

Today was Blaine's First Birthday!!!!

Last night he also took his first steps!  (Cutting it close.  haha.)  We weren't expecting him to start walking till after he turned one, but it was a great surprise!  He took about three steps his first go-around.  I think it was just as exciting that he took his first steps toward Tim.  With as much as Tim missed the first eight months, it seemed extra special that Blaine chose to head for Tim.

Just about a week and a half ago he starting standing up on his own.  As he's done with everything else though, once a new milestone comes around he seems to pick up on it pretty quick and sprint through one or two right away.  He'll probably be running by next week.  ;)

Our normal 1st Birthday tradition is to use bright blue icing so it gets nice and messy and you can see it.  Originally I had plans to made him a blue truck cake, but then thinking about his birth I decided to go with a red ambulance.  You can go here and here to read up on his grand entrance!  Next year we'll do a blue truck. ;)

He's such a sweet boy and he brings much joy to our lives!  Can't imagine life without him!

Photo Shoot: Colin

I finally got out to take some pics of Colin since he turned 3!!!!  I actually went out twice.  Only about 10 minutes max each time, but it was still hard to get him to give me a good smile.

Here's a cheesy one for you... 

 

 Here's a pretty genuine one...

There's his sweet face!

Now I just have to decide which one I want to print and put on the wall!

So Dramatic Already!

I'm always amazed at how dramatic a baby can be!  No matter how little.  Although, this one is on the not-so-young side, it's still quite entertaining.  ;)