Lake Ida Minnesota!

We're back from "my side" of the family reunion in Minnesota.  We had a great time being together and the cousins had endless fun.   There was all kinds of activities to be shared... fishing, frog catching, botchy ball, smores, monster (Titus was the honorary monster all week), tickling and lots random running around.  We got to visit a water park and a state fair where on a whim Jarrod and I put Josiah and Titus on a cute and seemingly  harmless "little kid" roller coaster.  The boy's deer in the head light look remained in tack the entire ride and Jarrod and I never laughed so hard.  We never truly could decipher if they enjoyed it.  

And the last night there everyone but myself  (didn't feel well) attended the demolition derby.   It was Jarrod's first and he said he loved it.  I think it's true-men never do grow out of smashing cars into each other.

Cousin Willy and Titus

Madeline and Grandpa

Grammy and Steve

Uncle Jarrod

Aunt Steph and (Percy) Priscilla

Titus and Uncle Dan

Cousin Henry to whom I am the proud Godmother

Aunt Deb and Madeline

All the cousins, but Henry

Grandparents and Grand kids

I had to include these last two photos.

  This is Titus at the local restaurant where we enjoyed dinner one night.  I think grandpa took this picture of him.  (Take note of the folks behind him. )  The next I saw was Titus taking pictures of Grandpa with the camera.  But, apparently, he wanted to try out his photography skills on some other dinner mates.

Because the next day I was perusing my photos and found..... 

this picture...of the folks.... we don't know...

I've pondered over this, so many questions left unanswered here..  

Done

Preparing a house to sell while simultaneously caring for two rambunctious and perpetually hungry children....

I wish it for no one.  

Thankfully, I've survived to tell about it.

The only concern now is that the boys haven't experienced any residual scarring from the unusually large amount of time left to play unattended, learning to prepare their own food at a young age or the heightened impatience of a certain someone :(. 

What's that about children being resilient???

So, we're moving.

There I said it.  I feel better now.  I have been contemplating how to break the news on my blog.  There just didn't seem like a good way, but that was easy.  Simple and straightforward.

Now the only thing left is an explanation.  

And I hope to do that soon, but I'm afraid I can't right now.  I am knee deep in getting our house ready to put on the market, and I just don't believe I have the emotional energy to write about it or figure out how I want to say everything.  

I will say that it's very exciting!  What's happening is an amazing God story.  And there is so much to look forward to.  But it's very emotional too, saying goodbye to so much and so many.  So, it's complicated.. not the situation... my emotions I suppose, which then translates into my blog post.  wow, you get the point, don't you?

Even still, something happened tonight that I had to share.  Jarrod and I have been trying to break the news to the boys about moving. Really Josiah because I'm not sure Titus would completely understand at this point.  Anyway, the other night, Jarrod told Josiah that we were going to move to NY and have a new house.  He mentioned being close to Grammy and  Grandpa and also making new friends.  Josiah looked at Jarrod intently the entire time and when Jarrod was done there was a brief pause.  "Daddy, can we play fight?"

That was it, no acknowledgement of the life altering news just shared.  Just a request to wrestle.  So as you can see, we weren't so sure it was sinking in.

But tonight the boys and I went to target and on the car ride home, out of the blue Josiah said, "Mommy, I am going to have to tell David and Tyler (friends at church)  goodbye because we are going to a new house." 

Me:  "That's right buddy and you could give them a hug and tell them you are so glad you are friends and that you will miss them."  

Josiah:  Yeah.

Josiah again:  Will we have to get a new Jesus?

 That's right, he really did ask that.

Me: "No, baby, Jesus will be with us where ever we go. And He'll be the same Jesus.  He never changes Josiah."

Four year old's have the funniest thoughts sometimes, but after reflecting on it-his question was pretty legitimate.  I guess he is thinking it through after all. 

 And honestly answering it was a great reminder.

Almost every inch of life will change, but His book says He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  

My God will never change and He will never not be with me.

* Double negative intended ;)

  

Relive it with me.

So would you mind joining me in ignoring the fact that I have been ignoring my blog?  I haven't even visited my friends blogs from the guilt that would follow from my neglecting my very own. oh so sad, or is pitiful a better description?

 

Well, for those of you still hanging in there despite the lapse in posting, here are some pictures from our trip to the beach.  It was last month some time.  i don't care to look at my calender to find out exactly when since that would require me calculating how long it's been since blogging. 

The beach was divine.  Maybe that's why I haven't blogged?  It was too hard re-entering reality after I got back from our trip.  Yes, that's it.  It was just too much for me.

 

The trip though was prefect timing in our summer schedule with jarrod being gone so much.  It was a great time of sunning, swimming and..  i'm trying to find another S word here, but it's not coming.  Jarrod's mom came too, which made it extra special.

  

We found a little bay where there were no waves and you could walk out forever and still only be knee deep in water.   The boys LOVED it.  It was so great seeing them enjoy the beach.  We went to the same beach last year, but the boys were a little too young to play as they did this time.  

I was surprised though that Josiah actaully remebered the conference center that Jarrod's camp/event was at.  He seems to have a keen memory for those things.

We just had a few mental connections that needed rewiring for Titus.  

First was helping him remember that despite his last several encounters with the water (swim lessons), it was not neccessary to cry as soon as he saw water, and that pre touture lessons he really did enjoy playing in the water.

And second, that sand, although having the appearance of snow, was in fact not snow at all.   

 It took the 1st couple of days, but both eventually down loaded onto the hard drive so to speak.

Enjoy the beach!

                                          

                                            

                                            

 
                                                 

  
                                          

Update

So, I gave Jarrod our silhouette's and I think he really liked them (as much as a guy can be excited about silhouette's!)   The only thing was the look on his face when he saw his portrait confirmed my suspicion that his needed just a little more editing. :)

Here they are revised.  It's amazing how the tiniest slivers took about 150 pounds off Jarrod. Much more accurate now.

                                            

Trading candy or iron for silhouettes

This weekend marks 6 years of marriage for Jarrod and myself.  As a gift to us I decided to stretch my creative juices and make silhouettes of us to hang above our beds.  That part of our bedroom has been barren since the beginning of time for us,  and it was about time I found something to put there! 

Jarrod is driving home from Texas today and I have not given him our presents, so if you read this today and for some reason happen to be in contact with him, please don't spill the beans!   Jarrod  if you are reading this before you get home stop here!

okay, so here they are.

   

                                      

These are actually not hard to make.  I think I could have been more precise with my cutting, but then again, I am no perfectionist!

With out getting all mushy gushy, I can truly say I am so thankful for our marriage.  It is in fact a gift from God.  Although not always easy or perfect, it is great.  And it has actually only been uphill since we shared vowes 6 years ago.  I say this not to boast, but to be able to say our marriage is what it is today because it's based on the author and foundation of love, Jesus Christ.  Colossian 1:17  says, He (Jesus)is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Jarrod performed his 1st wedding  (his cousin Kaley's) a few weeks ago and there was a part where he urged the bride and groom to love Jesus first so that they might love one another as they deserve (I think he got that part from our pastor).  It is true that God is the author of love and with that He has the prescription for making love work.  I am just grateful He gives us the strength to live out the prescription, otherwise it would just be words.

Thank you God for my husband and the 6 years shared!

By the way, if you are ever looking for a great marriage resource, I enjoy this ministry.

Wordless Wednesday-Vacation Bible School

Titus and friends, Averi and Joshua

Enjoying a cookie with icing!

Josiah on the playground (doing what he loves most).

A major archaeological find-a dinosaur tooth.

Titus and Co. during craft time.  Picture frames!

I'll never know.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were convinced you just knew how future events were going to play out?  You just had a hunch based either from instincts or past dealings that somehow made you "know" what lied ahead? Yes, me too.

Well, this story is not about one of those times.  In fact, quite the opposite.

This is about Titus and how he continues to surprise me.

About two weeks ago, my friend Lydia told me about the swim lessons she had signed her girls up for.  They sounded perfect and I have been wanting to get the boys in a class for sometime. So I decided to follow suit an inquire about getting them in too even though it started the very next week.  The only other tiny snag was that the children needed to be potty trained.  

And then there was silence....

If you remember about a month or two ago Titus and I attempted Potty training 101 and it turned out more like Potty train-wrecking 103.  

Needless to say, I told Titus that if he wanted to take the swim lessons he needed to learn to use the potty.. all within 4 days.  (I sometimes like challenges.) 

Mommy: "Titus, if you want to take swim lessons, you need to use the potty from now on.  Do you think you can?"  

Titus: A slow nod in the up and down direction

Mommy:"Okay, let's take your diaper off."

And here is where the story pretty much ends.  

Titus never looked back.  He had a few minor accidents the first two days, but overall there was no training involved.  No liquid force feeding.  No reward stickers or incessant candy consuming.  No potty bear video's to watch.  No bribery at it finest.  Really, not even reminders or asking if he needed to use the potty. 

He just did it.  One day a diaper consumer, the next a potty professional.

Was it the swim lesson incentive?  Or maybe it was that he had just turned 3 and three seems to be the magic number with many boys?  Or maybe both?  Really, I don't know.  And I'm okay with that.  After all, I haven't changed a dirty diaper in almost two weeks.  Why get bogged down with needing all the answers?

If any of you are secretly upset I have gotten off easy, I can assure you it's all been made up for at those swim lesson that Titus has so been looking forward to.  We have had three sessions and he's cried and protested at every one of them!

In the words of my sweet mother, "If it's not one thing, it's another." ;)

Here are a few pictures from Jarrod and Titus' favorite passtime...CAKE!  They shared a birthday cake at Meme and Poppy's house! 

Yes, you are seeing a 2 and a 7 on the cake.  Jarrod prefers to keep his age private from now on. :)

Cousin Mattie!

Josiah and Aunt Tidy (Tyree).

Cousin Josie and MeMe!

Speaking his language...

Happy Birthday my Love...

You are the honey on my waffle with peanut butter.....

You are the blue cheese in my salad.....

You are the cream and xylitol in my coffee...

You are the lemon and cilantro on my tilapia fish....

You are the brown sugar in my oatmeal....

You are the artichokes in my pesto pasta....

You are the soy sauce in my stir-fry....

Bottom line___________________________________________

Everything is better when you're in it.

Food in the hierarchy

Several nights ago,  Jarrod was out of town and it was one of those days that warranted a blue chicken dinner.

Josiah was in heaven.  At the end of the meal he said, "Thanks for dinner Mom.  I love this dinner." 

Trying to be cute, I replied with "and I-love-YOU."

Josiah said, "No mommy, I didn't say I loved you, I was saying I love the chicken and the bread and the lettuce."

okay..well then...

I know my place in this family.  Food always comes first.

Happy Mother's day...to me

I've been blessed with a sweet mother's day-probably the best yet. Now I know as I write this it's not actually mother's day yet. And it is only my 4th time experiencing the holiday as a Mom, but trust me... it's been a good one.

To tell you about it I must first fill you in on last thanksgiving. In particular, Josiah's school thanksgiving program. The preschool he attends put on a thanksgiving recital type thing and about 25 or so of the 4 year old's sang a few songs for the parents. As I sat in the auditorium with all the other Moms and Dads, I was prepared for a sweet mommy moment, but a few minutes into it I braced for something quite different. As Josiah made his way up the bleachers I noticed he had a deer in the headlights look on his face. His big eyes were scanning back and forth the auditorium looking for me. As soon as we made eye contact it was all over. Tears started forming and his little face read fear all over it. He tried to wade through, but the terror only worsened and he broke into full fledged crying. After what felt like an eternity, the director walked over and lead him off the stage. We spent the rest of the program sitting in the audience watching the other children sing.

As soon as we left and headed home, I called Jarrod who was out of town at the time, and shared what had happened. In a classic mommy moment I tried to conceal my tears, but lamented about how his fear of being on stage was some how a result of my poor parenting skills, blah, blah, blah. Jarrod in no way minced words and basically told me to stop being ridiculous. I think his exact words were "Christie, you need to repent." :) I love my husband, really.

Fast forward to last month, I got a newsletter from the school announcing the children would be hosting a Mother's Day Tea. My heart sank after learning that yet again they would be singing songs.

Needless to say, Josiah consistently came home practicing his songs. We talked about the tea and what it meant to be brave even if we were scared. We prayed about the tea. I wouldn't be surprised if we dreamt of the darn tea party.

A week before the tea, Josiah finished practicing one of his songs and said, "Mommy, you'll be so happy if I sing the songs?"

Yes, I will be so happy."

"Mommy, you will be so sad if I don't sing them?"

I'll be a little sad, but I'll love you no matter what Josiah."

"Mommy, he said, I'm going to sing them."

Of course that conversation was enough for me no matter what the outcome. But what unfolded at the tea will always be one of my most prized memories.

As I approached the classroom, Josiah's teacher was standing at the door, and before I knew it Josiah came darting out the door to meet me. His smile was gigantic. I could tell he was a little nervous, but more excited. He took my hand and lead me into where we would sit. I think his teacher had instructed the kids to pull out the chair for their mommies. However, when we got to my chair we just stood in front of it for a few seconds and then Josiah looked up at me and said "I love you Mommy." I'm speculating that he forgot about the chair, but was remembering he was suppose to do something nice at the moment :) And nice it was indeed.

As we waited for the other mom's to arrive Josiah told me all about what was to happen. He was going to bring punch from the punch bowl and then bring me four cookies. I can't describe the joy I felt watching my little man bring over the punch and cookies. I think what made it so special was the skip in his step and what appeared like the pride and joy he had in serving his mommy. (at least that's my story which I'm sticking to.)

As we enjoyed the punch and cookies, of which he ate 3 and half (he is after all a boy), I received multiple unsolicited hugs. I felt like an adored queen.

And then the time had come....to sing.

As His teacher called the kids up Josiah and I looked at each other and and in a blink of an eye he was gone. He was the first one to make his way up there. Who was this child?

Here they are singing "I Have a Friend." (Josiah would be the tall one by the way).

For some reason the Tea was a most unforgettable time for me. I can't find the words to describe it completely. No tangible gift could ever surpass it. I am so thankful.

I am also grateful for Josiah's first real lesson in "facing fears and second trys." I imagine, for him, the experience was triumph at it's best. For me, it was the grace of God epitomized.

Thank you Jesus.

Josiah's Artwork. A self-portrait in the center.

This was taken right before they sang...

Josiah and Mommy enjoying the Tea!

the both-same

I love this picture Jarrod's Dad took.  There is something peaceful about it.  I also love how it captures just how much Jarrod and Josiah look alike.   I am still fascinated by Josiah's resemblance to Jarrod.  Sometimes I'll just stare back and forth at them in awe.  And what's even more amazing is how similar Josiah and Jarrod are in their behavior and personality.  They are two peas in  pod!  
I know that technically and scientifically I contributed chromosomes and DNA to Josiah, but sometimes I wonder....  I mean, I've yet to see any evidence.
Except.. for the "bothsame" discovery that happened not too long ago.  I can't describe the joy I felt when I stumbled upon it.  It was by accident.  I think Josiah and I were snuggling on the couch and I was holding his hand looking at his fingers.  Somehow his thumb bent backward and my thoughts jumped to make the connection.  Josiah has the same double jointedness in his thumb as me!!  The proof is in the thumbs. 

 

I'm sure he thought I was nuts at how excited I was, but I showed him how Mommy and he had the same thumbs.  I'm sorry if this grosses you out a bit, but I need to show you all..

    

          This is my hand.  My thumb use to be more flexible, 

           but has gotten more rigid  in my old age.

Here is Josiah's.  Note the flexibility.

Suffice it to say, I've completely capitalized on this commonality of ours.  I love making a big deal about it.  Josiah's joined in too.  Every few days he'll randomly call out to me and say "Mommy, we have the 'both-same' thumbs." 

 

That's right buddy, you really are mine.

Jones Family van dancing

A classic! Josiah and Titus (and Jarrod) in the van singing and dancing to Mat Kearney's Closer to Love.

for daddy

Dear Dad,

Mommy has told us all about your trip to kigago  (chicago).  She told us that you are very, very busy.  Thank you for working hard so that we will have food and a house and toys.

We want you to know this... 

p.s will you be home tomorrow?

Wordless Wednesday-Easter fun

I know this post is suppose to be wordless, but I need to ask for your prayers.  After we finished decorating our easter eggs I put them in a baskets for both Josiah and Titus to carry around.  A few minutes later I found Josiah (in his type-a, perfectionist manner) sneaking up to the garbage can to throw an egg out!  I asked him what he was doing (of course already knowing).  His reply was "but mom that one had a small crack in it and the other one had part of it's sticker ripped off."   "Oh, Father, help us."

Trust me...it's better

I'd been putting it off a bit and now I understand why.  I knew deep down that it wasn't going to be easy.  At least not as easy as it had been with Josiah.  Potty training Titus that is. 

It's been time for sometime though.  So I got Titus in the car and headed to CVS to pick up some rewards, i.e. candy.   

 He was somewhat enthused at first, but the pictures below tell of his waning excitement.  This being a direct result of my explanation on how he get the rewards.

We started on Wednesday.  At 8am he was all on board to ditch his diapers and trade them for underwear, but at about 8:10am  his cooperation level peaked and nose dived.  He decided he didn't want any liquids fully knowing what that would lead to.  Not only did he not go to the bathroom in the potty, but he had three accidents all before 12pm.  Obviously, in a most passive manner he was aggressively communicating  his thoughts on the matter.  This combined with the all day depression inducing monsoon weather made it hard to stay positive about our crash pottying course.  So I retreated and decided to regroup the next day.

I'm thankful the Lord gives wisdom when we ask, because I was in need.  This was a bit puzzlings to me considering Josiah was trained in two days with no hiccups.  The Lord reminded me of something I did with Josiah which was take out a DVD from the library on potty training.   It's a funny bear that walks through the whole process.  Josiah loved it.   DVD...check

I've also decided to upgrade the rewards.  Ice cream....with sprinkles.  He loves sprinkles.  

Better bribery...check.

So, I'm going to try again after Titus can recite the bear DVD by heart, and the weather gets nicer.

I have a renewed confidence, but still a small nagging suspicion that Titus has this whole thing figured out (namely me).  

And to think, I'm trying to help him out of diapers and into a better way of life as he knows it. Work with me child, work with me....

I'll keep you posted.