Visiting Friends

My friend Valerie's husband happened to be away while Mike was gone this go around again.  So, we took a trip out to see them on the coast!  It's fun to hang out as adults, remember being young together and encourage each other in our walks as wives and mothers.  I am so thankful for her friendship and for her sweet children who get along so well with my own. 

The boys had so much fun playing with the sparkle dough Val made.

They also wrestled, played super heroes, built block towers and had fun being boys together.

The girls giggled, played house, and recited the entire frozen dialogue over and over.  In the 24 hours we were together, I don't think we saw much of these two!!

We've come a long way in our 20+ year friendship! 

We look a little different now, don't we?  :)

While Daddy Has Been Gone

While daddy has been gone, Logan has taken up reading to her brothers most days.  They are absolutely enthralled by her ability to read stories to them, now!!

We purchased the digital copy of Frozen and have watched it what feels like a million times!!

The kids and I took a trip to the North Carolina Symphony to see "Music, Noise and Silence."  It was  a part of a kids' series that the symphony does to introduce children to performing arts.  They loved it!!  Logan is ready to start violin lessons as soon as we can get our hands on one that's small enough.

Sweet Lincoln has been lighting up our days with smiles and giggles!

And the kiddos have shown each other extra love in daddy's place.

Lots of snuggling has happened.  Many joint naps.

We've spent a very small amount of time outside when the temperatures aren't freezing!

And we also celebrated a third birthday!!

Of course, Logan has turned into a teenager while daddy has been away.  :)   But in all seriousness, she has grown up and has been such a huge help without Mike's extra hands.  She gets diapers, wipes, puts clothes away, holds her brother, helps when I can't do things on my own.  She's been invaluable and I'm so thankful for her!

Three

Three.  I ask this each time each of my children gets older, but, how is this even possible?  I can vividly remember the day I went to the hospital to have Brody and now he's THREE.  Per his request, we did a superhero photo shoot.  It was so much fun and absolutely captures his little personality at this age!!

Brody is:

Weight: 26lbs (10 percentile)

Height: I don't remember, but he's in the 15% for that.

Sizes he's wearing: 18-24 month pants/shorts, 18-24 month and some 2T shirts.

Favorite activities: Playing dress up (superheroes, fireman, construction worker, etc), playing catch, playing "golf," running, and playing his guitar/singing along.

Favorite TV show: Jake and The Neverland Pirates

Favorite Movie: The Incredibles

Favorite superhero: Depends on the day!  Batman, Spiderman, Superman and now Captain America all make their rounds in our home.  Oddly enough, he's never seen any of them other than on clothing/toys at Target.  

Favorite Book(s): Puff Puff Chugga Chugga, Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site.

What he's learned: Letter recognition (most of the letters), shape recognition, color recognition, number recognition (to 10).  Counting to 30.

What he's learning: Letter sounds.

Brody wants to be a superhero or a fireman when he grows up.

Favorite food(s): Oatmeal, burritos, hummus.

Favorite color: blue

Favorite drink: water that's spicy (sparkling water w/ fruit in it) or ginger ale which he's gotten a few times when he's got a stomach bug.

Brody loves to cuddle, read books, watch movies and sing songs.

He loves to spend time with his big sister and when asked will tell you (depending on the day they're having ;)) that she's his "bestest friend ever."  Not to be confused with his best buddy, who is his daddy.

We are so thankful for the addition of Brody to our family.  He's changed our lives and the way we look at things forever.  He is a blessing.  God teaches us things through Brody that we didn't already know.  Our prayer for him is that the Lord would grab hold of his heart, that he would follow after Jesus and help others know about him, too!

Happy 3rd Birthday, sweet one!!