Swimming!

Not bad for a cell phone pic...

Eating Dirt! Too much fun. :)

Quote of the Week

Do not have your concert first and tune your instruments afterward. Begin the day with God.

Hudson Taylor

Happy Anniversary!

My parents are celebrating 29 years today! Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad, we love you.

From my CF card

Baylee around 6 months. :)

Trash Compactor!

I know, not many people will get excited about a fancy trash can... but I do. I have wanted a trash compactor for such a long time, and finally tonight, my dad and Tony installed it. Well, are installing it. Hopefully my poor dad won't be here much longer! I can't tell you how many projects I've concocted, that my sweet husband and father see through for me. This is a very familiar scene at our house. Dad, doing something, usually very precisely (read: slowly) and Tony, doing nothing, usually slowing Dad down even more asking questions and talking about stuff that has nothing to do with the project. I think it is so much fun. My husband, the eternal optimist, and my Dad, the eternal (we'll just say perfectionist). They are an awesome team. I usually am on kid-control, keeping kids out of the way and away from sharp tools. (Don't read the previous post with that in mind.) Then, after their bedtime, I just do my own thing and sneak in from time to time to check on the progress. It's good to be me. Thanks Dad, and Tony, for all many projects you've done for me. :) I'm so excited to have a trash compactor!

My Little Comedian

I always say I'm going to write down everything Jaden says in the day and blog it. He is so funny sometimes. Of course, that never happens... and it would probably bore everyone but Grandma. However, I am going to attempt to jot down the occasional funny thing he says, just so I'll have it down someday when I'm an empty-nester and bored. (To be honest, I've got myself pictured with a book in one hand, and a glass of wine in the other.) Although that's probably just coming from a mom with 3 very young children! I'm sure I'll miss them when they are gone. :)

So this evening, Jaden cut his leg. How that happened, we will leave out for fear of CPS knocking on my door. It really wasn't that bad. He wasn't even crying... that is, until it was time for a band-aid. I've never known a child who was scared of a bandage. Jaden hates band-aids. He loses it every time I try to put one on him.

These particular band-aids have little pictures of hot wheels cars on them. Jaden always needs to know the names of the cars before they are applied. Usually, if they are red, they are Lightening McQueen, if they are blue, The King, etc. This band aid however, had a yellow car. So, not wanting my son, who is already on the verge of tears to be disappointed, I try to come up with a really cool name for his car. "This one" I say, in my most dramatic voice "is called Yellow Fury!"

Upon hearing this, he bursts into inevitable band-aid applying hysterics. It took a minute for him to calm down enough for me to make out, "But Mommy, I don't want a yellow fairy car on my leg!" :)

How do you get three squirmy kids to sit still, look at the camera and smile? If anyone knows, fill me in. :)

Haircuts!

Today was haircut day at our house. Aubrey got his very first, might I add, overdue, haircut. He was really hard to do because he is so squirmy and his hair is so so straight. It turned out ok though. Tony and Jaden got a trim as well. Here are a few pics.

Before

Having a little fun

After

My Handsome Guys

Baylee being a little mommy :)

Terrific Two's

Two year olds are special little creatures. On one hand, they are the most adorable, curious and imaginative at that stage. My favorite pictures of Jaden are from the two year old stage. He has only gotten more handsome and sweet, but he no longer has the chubby cheeks and the curious expressions. Don't get me wrong, I really do not wish to return to Jaden's second year... it was a tough one. I just remember how precious he was when he wasn't being, well, terrible. On the other hand, just look at the pictures. This is the typical "terrible two's" you hear about, but never fully expect to experience. It really begins around one, and starts to fade away around three. However, the very *best* of it happens right around two to two and a half. It's hard sometimes, but it's a normal stage and I wouldn't trade the good times to avoid the bad. I love these little people so much. This is Baylee from just the other day. The one of Jaden was taken right at two and a half. [and no, neither of them are pretending] It really reminds me how I'm not much different from a two year old. I have a heavenly father who loves and cherishes me, and works all things together for my good. And yet, I find myself in the same stubborn, selfish, rebellious state as my little ones. I think, "if they just knew that I am doing ___ for their good." How often He must think the same thing of me. And yet, when I look at these pictures, I can't help but have a soft spot for my little sinners, even in the midst of their sin. How much more does God love us, even in our sinful state. How blessed we are!

The love of God is greater farThan tongue or pen can ever tell;It goes beyond the highest star,And reaches to the lowest hell;The guilty pair, bowed down with care,God gave His Son to win;His erring child He reconciled,And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain:Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!How measureless and strong!It shall forevermore endure—The saints’ and angels’ song.

When hoary time shall pass away,And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,When men who here refuse to pray,On rocks and hills and mountains call,God’s love so sure, shall still endure,All measureless and strong;Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,And were the skies of parchment made,Were every stalk on earth a quill,And every man a scribe by trade;To write the love of God aboveWould drain the ocean dry;Nor could the scroll contain the whole,Though stretched from sky to sky.

Quote of the Week

This quote was used tonight at Jeremiah and Lorraine's wedding. It has been one of my favorites for a while.


"The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved by him. -Matthew Henry"

Our Week...

We've gone to great lengths around here lately to keep ourselves entertained while Tony is away. My boys modeled for me this afternoon. Taking their pictures is always a fun way to get them to sit still for a few seconds. Baylee decided she wanted in on the camera time, but she needed a special hair-do first. Here she is with her first set of pigtails. [She was inspired by Miss Abigail.]

Of course, a day is not complete without the unrolling of a toilet paper roll. Why this is so much fun for small people never ceases to amaze me. Here they are this evening watching "Samurai Pie", our favorite Backyardigans episode. They run around the room doing karate moves with their little spoons. It is hilarious.

As you can see, it gets pretty pathetic when Daddy is gone, but we are making the best of it.

They Did It!

Meet Kern County's Men's Doubles Champions! Tony and Mark pulled it off last night and won. It was not the most exciting Final ever. Both of the other "good" teams were out with injuries. They made it through the draw fairly easily. One of their opponents is a Seventh Day Adventist, so they had to play early. It was light and hot! There wasn't as big of an audience as usual, probably for that reason, and the teams were not equally matched. Of course, I'm proud of them anyway! I've watched these two play together since high school, it was fun to see them together again.

A Few Random Things...

Here are a couple of pictures of the kiddos from this week. We have a lot going on lately. Tony is playing in the Kern County Open in the Men's Doubles with his friend Mark Windes. They won the semi-finals last night and are on to the finals tonight. They are having so much fun. Aubrey is pulling up to EVERYTHING and has started to let go and try to stand on his own. He is getting so big. Tony is leaving Saturday for his annual trip to Milwaukee, so I am on my own all week. :] Other than that, it's just random chaos that probably no one really cares about. Keep Tony in your prayers as he travels, and for tonight's match. I'll post the results tomorrow.

Quote of the Week

Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day.-Michael Landon

Happy Birthday Uncle Buddy

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

From my CF card

Jaden's big brown eyes at two years. One of my favs.

Quote of the Week

Both worry and stress communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed.

Francis Chan

My Little Guy

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my dad's birthday. He is well known for not posing for pictures, so this one that my mom took, probably against his will, really captures the "true" Perry. If it only had been taken in his MG... Anyway, I have the very best Dad. My kids love him more than I can describe, and so do the rest of us. He will hate this post, and if I keep going, probably disown me. So, I will stop while I'm ahead. :] We love you Dad and Grandpa. Happy Birthday.

More...

My Dad's Maternal Grandparents, and his Maternal Grandmother and 3 of her little ones.

Treasures

I got a few old pictures of my Dad's family today. I love old pictures. The first picture is of my grandpa with my Uncle Steve and my Dad as a baby. The second is my Grandparents. Aren't they priceless?

Happy 4th of July

From my CF card

Quote of the Week

What irony that sinners consider the greatest problem they face in this world to be the problem of pain. The ultimate insult against God is that man thinks he has a problem of pain. Man, who deserves to be plunged into hell at this moment, and is indescribably fortunate that he is breathing normally, complains about unhappiness. Instead of falling on his knees in the profoundest possible gratitude that God holds back His wrath and infinite fury, the sinner shakes his fist in heaven’s face and complains against what he calls “pain.” When he receives his due, he will look back on his present condition as paradisiacal. What he now calls misery, he will then consider exquisite pleasure. The most severe torment anyone has ever known in this life will seem like heaven in comparison with one moment of the full fury of the divine Being.

John Gerstner