Slow Fade

I have been absent for a little while, even though I have things I want to write about. The things I'm thinking of take some time to put into words, and time to think isn't there too often! So until I can put some thoughts into words, I wanted to share a song that Josh and I really like.

We don't listen to Christian music much because the messages usually are watered down. However, Josh heard this song first and told me how much he liked it. When I heard it, I thought, "Wow, this song really does have a great message."

Here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-8SYA6rfbs

I can't embed it into the blog for some reason. Oh well - I hope you still watch it!

Here are the lyrics:

Be careful little eyes what you see

It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

Chorus
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

(Chorus)

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

(Chorus)

People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Josiah & Bumbo

Yesterday, we pulled out the bumbo seat for Josiah since he is now 4 months old and we thought he just might like it. We didn't have a bumbo for Thomas, but I wanted one for Josiah and picked one up for $10 at a consignment sale earlier this year! Here are some sweet pictures of our baby boy on his 4 month birthday!

He actually isn't crying here, but squealing - his new favorite thing to do!

I love this little face - he looks so serious!

Everyone thinks he is so much bigger than Thomas was at 4 months, but he is smaller! I looked at Thomas' 4 month numbers and he was 16lbs and 26 3/4". Josiah' s 4 month numbers are 14lbs 15oz and 25 1/4". Josiah is a pound lighter and an inch and a half shorter. I guess it is those cheeks that has everyone fooled!

Vacation Pictures

This first picture is a classic family picture. We were at a harbor and there were tons of gnats. Don't you just love my expression and Thomas covering his face?

Picture with the grandparents - everyone is looking at something different!

Look at my sweet boy - don't you just love those cheeks?!
A good picture of us!

Thomas resting by the pool.

Playing in the sand! I know he looks like a little "gangster" with this hat, but he loves it and it is too big for him. If he wears it sideways, he can see!

View from our balcony - I didn't want to come home!

Josh & Thomas at the ocean. Thomas liked to be held when near the ocean. He said, "Hold Daddy, hold!"

Look at my sweet little Josiah with his stylin' hat! He really didn't care about the beach. He just cares about eating and sleeping!

Josh in the top of the castle at the inflatable playground. This castle was great - 2 slides and there were costume for the kids to play dress up. Thomas just wanted to slide!

Playing with the balls.

Josiah even got in on the action in the exersaucer. This is just like our one at home. He didn't stay in it too long. At three months he isn't quite strong enough to support his weight on his legs, but he sure does look cute!

Trying to show Thomas how to play with the dinosaurs, but he wasn't interested. I think he was a little scared.

Professional Pictures

We had Thomas and Josiah's pictures made last month. Josh and I both love pictures and we enjoy taking the kids for professional pictures every so often. Actually, I have a "schedule" of when I want their pictures taken:

3 months
6 months
12 months
18 months
2 years (and every year following)

Since we plan on homeschooling, we will have to take the initiative of having professional pictures every year since they won't have the infamous school pictures (maybe that is a good thing considering how some of mine and Josh's turned out!).

Without further ado, here is Thomas' 2 year photo, Josiah's three month, and a picture of them together. For some reason they turned out a little fuzzy when I scanned them. If anyone knows how to fix that, let me know!

This is the only decent picture we got of them together and this came after much bribery with candy. We don't normally parent with bribery, but when you are in a hurry, you do what you have to do to get a picture!

We've Been Busy...

Our family has been very busy the past two weeks and therefore, no blogging for me. I wish that I could say things are going to return to a normal pace soon, but it looks as if the whole month is filled with many things to do. Such is life.

Last week we spent a week at the beach! So, really I wasn't busy, but the last thing I wanted to do was blog. We left last Monday to go to Hilton Head Island for the week. It was such a wonderful trip. We had a beautiful condo on the beach (rates are much lower after Labor Day!) and we enjoyed just sitting on the balcony listening to the waves and feeling the breeze.

On Wednesday, Sept. 30th, Josh & I celebrated our third anniversary. Well...I don't know how much celebration we had. We took Thomas to an inflatable playground that morning and then treated ourselves to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. That is life with two small children! Josh's parents joined us on Thursday, and we were able to have a date to a very nice Italian restaurant on Thursday evening.

We returned home on Sunday, but life didn't return to normal until yesterday. Josh & I attended a NANC (national association of nouthetic counselors) conference Monday through Wednesday. Thankfully, it was only an hour away and we were able to be home every evening. I'll post more on my thoughts from the conference in another post.

Now, I'm trying to get back in the normal ebb and flow of life, but there is so much catching up to do! It is hard to take care of little ones and catch up on all the cleaning, laundry, mail, and couponing for two weeks, but I am beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. And for some crazy reason, I have just been so exhausted about 3pm in the afternoon. I honestly feel like I could go to bed at 7pm every night, but that isn't reality in our house.

Thankful for the weekend and hoping for a calmer week next week.

I'll post pictures of our trip AND our new van (we bought a '06 Honda Odyssey and love it!) when I have some time and energy!