Three of These Critters is Not Like the Others...

I'm not entirely sure when this was taken...

I found it on my camera chip.

It must have been a "Sister" day.

I love that she takes photos for me when they are being goofy.

An Afternoon At the Park

Sometimes...

the kids just need to leave their own home.

Sometimes...

mom just needs to get away from the mundane.

Sometimes...

we find ourselves at the park!

Tyler...always ready with a smile..

Isaiah...

seldom unsure of what he is doing...

probably best I don't know!

Checking out the competition on the swings...

wondering whether or not it is worth the walk over there.

This little monster was climbing UP the slide ~

not sliding DOWN the slide the way it is intended.

(Do any other moms fight this battle?)

No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I'm not talking about the kids. Their behavior is always normal.

Bill Cosby

Fun times with new found friends!

"Beat you Tyler!"

We have a monkey among us!

With so many kids at the park that day...

it meant there was a good chance that "Tag" would be on the agenda.

Here Isaiah is sneaking around the slide to see who was near him!

Love it!

I love that we have intermittent days of sunshine between the days of rain and snow.

18 Years of Wedded Bliss...

Side note:  This post was started and suppose to be in October of 2010...It is now February of 2011...

Yes, we are still married ~ no, the weekend was not last weekend...it was 4 months ago.

Remember I said I was trying to get caught up?

Colossians 3:14

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (NIV)

Don't we still look 20 and 23?

OK - maybe not.

We spent our anniversary weekend in Sedona.  Tim  let me have free reign over all the plans.  I'm so lucky!

Friday night was dinner at Picazzo's Pizzaria.  If you've never had pizza there...go try it!  It is organic and gluten free (so I can eat there!), and I really like it there!  Then back to the room for endless hours of TV!  We don't have cable in our house.  If you live in Camp Verde that translates into...no reception!  We take full advantage of ignoring each other and having our own tvs (Tim in the living room ~ me in the bedroom.  We had a 1 bedroom suite)!  Not romantic...but a lot of fun.  I ended up falling asleep early!

After sleeping in on Saturday morning,  we made a quick trip to Safeway for bagels and fruit then we headed to a hike that I've been wanting to try.  Devil's Bridge.  It was an amazing hike.  So much fun! 

Back to the hotel for a quick swim while TIM MADE LUNCH FOR ME!!!  Margheritta pizza.  (Have you figured out what my favorite food is?)  More cable tv watching...reading...napping...total relaxation!

Saturday night's dinner was at Dahl & DiLuca.  Our concierge made the reservation for us.  It was heavenly!  We had a private booth with a curtain to keep us secluded from the rest of the restaurant, and they sprinkled rose petals on the table.  Very sweet.  The food was great.  Tim is ready to go back again, but after exploring the restaurant after dinner, we decided that we want to sit "in the open" next time.  The ambience is very open and friendly.

Sunday brought another hike (Bear Sign Trail)...this one was leisurely.  Very leisurely....almost boring!  Time spent with my honey is always nice though.  (Yes, I was a bad girl...I broke our tradition of trying a new church each location we visit.  Being in the beauty and splendor of God's glory both days though...I totally felt Him with us.)

Back to reality...and here's to another 18 years...

The Twins Start School...

The first step of education is to have one's eyes opened and be turned from darkness to light. (Acts 26:18)

The day the twins turned three ~ they became eligible for the developmental preschool at our local elementary school.

We had been planning this for quite some time...

(of course any time you have Special Education children it seems as if that is all you do ~ go to meetings to plan!)

I had been talking to the boys about riding the bus with Tyler,

going into the classroom with other kids,

sharing,

being nice,

not missing mommy,

not crying,

and

not hitting.

I decided it would be easier for the boys to get on the bus and leave me versus me take them to school and leave them.  Not sure if my psychology was correct, but...it seemed to work!

Here they are...all ready to jump on the bus!

Tyler was already on the bus (he's fast!), but he was watching for Aiden...

Up he goes!

By Mom!

Look at that smile!

(ok - so he was looking at Isaiah who had decided to stay on the porch...he wasn't so sure about leaving mom)

All is well...

He climbed right up there.

(sad thoughts pushed away!)

Bye Mommy!

Wuf you!

I love you to my little one!

Keep your love for one another at full strength, because love covers a multitude of sins.

 ~I Peter 4:8

 

Tyler and Aiden immediately grabbed a seat together.

This is typically Tyler's seat, but he was happy to have his brothers with him today. 

He eagerly shared with Aiden.

Isaiah was looking a little unsure of himself so I decided I better take one last picture and get off the bus!

(This is a really cool seat...it has a harness seat belt built into it!)

The kids are only gone a total of 3 hours...

during those 3 hours of the first day...

I...

1. called Tim and told him I felt "weird".  I just felt discombobulated.

2. Picked up my mom and took her to the grocery store.

3. We both did grocery shopping.

4. I hit Starbucks.

5. Ran a few more errands.

6. Took my mom home.

7. Called my friend Tammy and told her I felt "weird".

8. Hit Starbucks again.

9. Dropped off my mom.

10. Went back to Starbucks.

11. Filled up with fuel.

12. Went home, finally.

13. Unloaded groceries.

14. Made lunch.

15. Sat outside waiting for the boys to get home.

They were so excited!

The day went great!

Here they were all showing me their handstamps.

(That means they were good!)

Since it was their birthday...

they were given crowns, a pencil, and of course

the happy birthday song.

My three boys!

He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!

(Psalms 113:9 Holy Bible ESV)

Devil's Bridge

This last October, Tim and I spent the weekend in Sedona for our 18th wedding anniversary.

We love the location because it is close to home (which means less driving and more quality alone time), and it offers a variety of hikes for me to explore!

Saturday morning I chose "Devil's Bridge"

Yup...that's me!

This is the bridge from below.  Isn't it absolutely amazing?

The truly amazing part is how it is being held up...

the rock formation on the right is simply a bunch of rocks piled together.  It just doesn't seem sturdy...

and yet, we kept moving forward!

Here's Tim...exploring the crevices along the trail.

I love the red rock of Sedona.

You can see so much history!

Awww...aren't we cute?

Here we made it to the top of the Bridge.

Tim is on the far side simply "being still with God."

It was very awe inspiring...when at the top, I just wanted to sit and listen.

It was spiritual in the God sense, not the whole crystal cruncher sense.

Christ "is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." (Colossians 1:15-16)

Do you see the crevice to the left of Tim?

What exactly is there to hold this huge slab of rock up and together?

Here we are below again...on our way out.

OK - here is the bridge...now look above it to that weird looking rock...I made Tim find a way to get there...

I'll tell you about it another time...

It was fun...until I slid off the edge!

The Twins Are 3!

So, yeah...I'm really behind in my blogging...I'm going to make an effort to get caught up before Spring Break 2011.  The posts may not be in order, but they will be here!  Onward!  To the Birthday Bash!

It's so hard to believe that the twins are 3!  We are so very blessed to have been given such a gift.  We are thankful each and every day for their arrival into our home.

This year, we decided to take them to a movie for their birthday.  We were fortunate enough to have an appropriate movie showing in the theatre.  :) 

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...that's why you are here, right?

The Movie!

 Aiden and Tyler in front of the BIG poster of their very first theater experience.

 Isaiah, of  course, had to choose a different poster...

can you believe that he spilt water all over himself before we went in?  only my kids...

Here we are...well, we minus me...I was behind the camera doing a lovely job of focusing on the metal railing!

Yep, we separated the boys...it just seemed safer that way!

The theater did fill up...we just like those front row seats so we arrive early.

 Aiden is sure enjoying his first Icee...

Here is Tyler...he was very glad that his brothers had a movie party!

He loves movies.

He loves popcorn.

He loves Icees.

and

He loves being with the family!

Yep, Isaiah is trying very hard to spill, again!

Aiden decided that he was all settled in and ready for the movie to start...

He looked at Tim and said, "Daddy, push play please!"

It was hilarious!

Trying to show mommy three fingers...still working on that one.

Sister, being 16, didn't get a special popcorn box so she tried to share with Aiden.

He wasn't too keen on the whole sharing thing...

Don't worry, we bought Ashley popcorn, plus...she ended up with candy!

OK - so the group photo of all my kids didn't work out.

They were so DONE!

The Party!

Aiden admiring his new train...

Unwrapping...

Chick Hicks!

Getting ready to sing and blow out the candles...

Make a wish!

The three boys with Grammy and Gramps!

No party is ever complete without a tickle session with Gramps...

first Isaiah...

then Aiden...

and the grand finale...

Grandpa and Grandma Betty and Gage all called and sang happy birthday to the boys.

They love that part!

Happy Birthday Boys!

You are loved.