Snow Days

After a couple of days of snow. James and I went out and braved the cold for a few minutes. We did go out yesterday while it was still snowing, but James wasn't too sure about. Today, he was much more interested in it. I think we got about 7 inches and the wind chill today was -14. We were out briefly. Long enough for James to experience the snow.

Relaxing in the snow. Then it was time to go inside.

21 Months

He just keeps growing and growing. This past month he has been talking and saying many new words. This past week he is starting to put two word phrases. He likes "NO MORE" from no more monsters jumping on the bed, odder sigh (other side), and outsigh (outside) to name a couple. He is literally saying several new words each day. He is such fun and a joy.

We had a busy Thanksgiving and had fun seeing family and shopping in preparation for Christmas. We still have some more shopping to do, which hopefully won't take too long for the sake of James getting antsy.

They started framing this week. So maybe at Christmas we will actually have some walls to show. Can't wait to see everyone at Christmas!

Colorado Vacation

We made a quick trip to Colorado Springs to visit Jonathan's sister Sarah. It was a quick trip. We were there for two days, so we crammed alot in.

Here is our navigator so that we didn't get lost finding our way.

We went to a park the first day because Jonathan was sent to help Sarah get a washer and dryer later. We also wanted to watch the Husker game later that day. It was a fun park and James played for a long time. It was good for him to stretch his legs after being in the car most of the day.
We hiked the second day up in Mueller State Park. It was pretty cold at first but then warmed up as the day went on. We did see a small amount of snow. After a while, James needed a break from all of his hiking and rock climbing. We hiked a couple of miles that day. We stopped and ate a picnic lunch and hiked some more.
The great hiker.

Happy family.

The Bird Whisperer.

Papa and Ma-Ma (second syllable is accented with emphasis for a distinction.)

Us.

The real hiker.

The top. James really enjoyed climbing over all the rocks.

View from the top.

We found a park going up the mountain/down so we had to stop to play.

Tired after the long day of hiking.

Climbing the rocks at Garden of the Gods.

Fun vacation. It came to an end too fast. I have way more pictures of our trip, but thought I would spare you with sharing them all. It was great to see Sarah and the mountains. Hopefully, we will make there again sometime soon.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

James is a little monkey. He climbs and goes all day long. He also will copy everything he sees and hears. For Halloween he was a sweet little monkey.

We tried on the costume early to make sure it fit okay. He was not a fan of the hat. Playing in the leaves with his costume.

We spent Halloween in Colorado Springs. We didn't do much for it because he doesn't eat candy(mainly I haven't given him any yet). I brought his costume with us and took some pictures of him at the Garden of the Gods.

He took a few shots, but was ready to climb on the rocks. So the costume was short lived, but as you can tell we enjoyed it!

20 Months

James is growing, growing, growing. It seems that he is changing, learning, and talking more everyday. It still amazes me at how quick and how much kids change. James is starting to put two words together. He will say "Hmmmm, let's see" and "whats zis". He also seems to say a new word each day. He of course is still busy. Unfortunately, winter is coming so we aren't able to play outside as much as he would like. I better prepare myself to be out in the cold this year because he loves the outdoors so much.

Fun in the leaves. There aren't alot so we had to work to get a little pile to play in.

Busy mowing.

Running to the park! What fun!

"There's no place like home"

Back when we were moving to Lincoln I was blessed and encouraged by a ladies luncheon from friends in Hastings. Aside from great food and fellowship we had a little devotional on what a home is. I came across these papers the other day and thought that I would share some of their thoughts.


A home is...


-where you can come in without knocking, where all your "stuff" (makeup, hair supplies, etc.) has ITS own home.


-my dog running to greet me after a long day of work, my very own bed, my very own pillow, and the smell of the bed linens after being washed and hung outside to dry.


-where my family is, where I can be ME and nobody cares how weird I am.


- comfort, love, family, a safe haven, a loved one who welcomes you with a smile, a hello, a hug-it is not always a place like your home but something you held inyour heart.


-where I can relax, and enjoying coming to after being away.


-a comfortable place to put on you sweatpants and take your shoes off.


-where my family/roommates are.


-my house when all of our children are home for a visit.


-Hugs and kisses from thos you love, homemade chocolate chip cookies, summer breeze through an open window, watching snow fall while you are cozy inside.


-where I can be however I feel-completely silent and restful, giggly and silly, or busying myself with projects. Its whereever I am free to be who God made me.


-where the laughing never ends.


-the smell of my laundry detergent, a clean counter ready for bags of groceries. Home is Christ.



Do we dedicate our homes to the kingdom of God, for His use and plan? We use our homes in the Godly traing of our children as Deuteronomy 6:5-7 tells us "Love the lord your god with all heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. These commands are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up". How priviliged am I to teach my child in my home and to be home with him to do so. We must maintain unity in our homes. Matthew 12:25 says, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand". We are to be Godly women in our homes: "Encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their ouwn husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored" Titus 2:5. Also, we open our homes to serve others. "Do not neglect to show hospitality to Strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it" Hebrews 13:2. In all these things we should be conforming to the image of Christ as we use our homes to serve Him.

Do we live as if we truly believe that this early home is temporary? That heaven awaits us, the perfect home. "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" Phillipians 3:20.

What great reminders and encouragement. Thanks Jan and to all the others. Now I leave you with one more question.

What is home to you?

Rise and Shine?

James woke up the other morning at 5:30. Way too early. I attempted to put him back to bed later in the morning, but he just wouldn't go back to sleep. He was so tired. I decided we should eat an early lunch so that he could take an earlier nap. He made it half way through his lunch and fell asleep while reaching for his milk. He was completely out. I wiped him up and then moved him to his bed.

So sleepy.

Decisions

Now that our home has wall for a basement and the plumbing is going in there we are making some decisions about what we want the inside of our house to look like.

Walls.
This is the kitchen counter top with birch cabinets in rouge, the wood floor, carpet and paint color. It looks better in person. We are thinking of having the trim match the color of the wood floor ( but I like the cherry color too). We went to a parade home this past weekend, which had the same counter and I was quite pleased with how it looked.

This is the tile backsplash we are considering. We saw a different tile in the parade home, which I may like better and will have to look into it.

This is the bathroom counter (the counters are a solid surface with a molded sink, cupboard, and the floor choices. I can't decide between the two. The darker floor is very rich, but I worry it will be too dark in a small space, so I am leaning to the lighter floor which is just your average floor.

We still have lots of decisions to make, but I am enjoying the process as things are coming together and happening.

What's been happening lately

The past month James has been busy outdoors with the cooler weather.

He is now 19 months and is trying to say more and more. Some of his new words from the past few days have been circle and lets see. Its fun to hear talk in his sweet little voice.

I want the camera.

We've been golfing.

Frog hunting. (He uses the end of the croquet mallet to lift the bushes in search of a frog.)

Climbing the dirt piles at our house.

Mowing.

Playing at the park. So busy. He's usually wiped by nap and bed time.

The Bestest of Friends

James and his"dee-dee" are nearly inseparable. They can be separated momentarily to go in a store, while playing (most of the time) or to play outside. Needless it is never far away. "Dee-dee" is great to cuddle with, hug just because, to comfort when he falls, to go to sleep, or is sadly told he can't have something.

"Dee-dee" makes everything better.
The other day while I was in the car driving I could hear James laughing and moving. Then he says,"mama". I turn to look and see that he has made "dee-dee" into a turban, and is just grinning and laughing. Silly Boy!