Recent Portraits

 

Pictures we had taken back in October

 

Pumpkin Farm & Fontanel Mansion

 

My parents came to visit in October and we went to a pumpkin farm.  The kids had a blast!

 

Huge slide made of long tubing.  ROUGH Ride!  The kids loved it.  Me not so much.  Definently was not up for going down it again

 

Cow train

 

 

Big inflatable jumping thing. 

 

Micah & Grandma with their hats.  Grandma taught him to say delicious when food is good.  Now when he is eating and he likes something he says, "Delicious, I call grandma."  Poor grandma gets a lot of phone calls now

 

 

We went on a tour of the Fontanel Mansion.  It was built for Barbara Mantrel and is the largest log home in the world. 

 

Famous signed guitars in the living room

 

"Who are you freaky doll?"

Our First Solo Family Vacation

 

We took our first official family vacation with just the four of us back in September to San Diego.  All our other trips have been either "kid free" or with our extended family.  It was fun to see some of San Diego at a slow pace with the kids.  We did the beach, the zoo, and Sea World. 

 

Micah was terrified of all the rides at Disney World back in May.  When we got to the Sesame Street section of Sea World I asked him if he wanted to go on a ride and he said yes.  I didn't think he would actually go on the ride since he screamed riding even the tram at Disney World, but he went on the ride and loved it.  Amazing what a couple of months can do!

 

Isaac loved the beach and was ready to jump in.  Micah was a bit more reserved and wanted to stay a good 25 yards from the water's edge

 

We got to hang out with my college roommate Adrianne and her sweet girl Addie.  Micah liked his new friend

 

 

Isaac loves flamingos.  They had 3 flamingo exhibits at the zoo, which meant that we had to  watch the flamingos for 15 minutes.  Then we pulled him away to look at some other exhibits only to find more flamingos after a couple exhibits.  I saw so many flamingos on this trip!

 

 

 

 

What Would I do for Bananas?

Last week I saw how desparate and humbling it is for people in need to ask for help.  I was taking Isaac to therapy after school last Thursday, and discovered once reaching our destination that I had forgotten to put his lunch cooler in the car.  BIG mistake!  Isaac does not do well on an empty stomach, so I knew I had to get some food.  I then decide to run to the grocery store quick and pick up two bananas.  I drive over to Harris Teeter and realize that I don't have my purse.    At this point Isaac is starting to whine and say he is "real hungry".  I look in my car for some change and come up with 32 cents.  That is not going to buy two banans.  I then think of my options.  Either walk up to some random person and ask for money to buy my kid some bananas or drive back home across town and be 20 minutes late for the appointment.  The thought of having to ask a random stranger for help seemed absolutely humiliating, so I decided to drive all the way home to pick up the cooler.  This made me realize how prideful I am in not wanting to ask others for help.  It also makes me much more compassionate on the mother who comes up  asking for money for a bus ticket home or a man needing help filling his car up for gas.  I sometimes help these people out, but often while thinking about how they are inconviencing me or that they should figure out how to take care of themselves.  I was not seeing how humbling it was for people to ask for my help, and that God was allowing me the opportunity to help them.  God has a way of showing and breaking our judgemental spirits through random situations. 
 

Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Matthew 25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Luke 3:10-11 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

Micah's Birthday Truck

Thanks Aunt Tammy, Uncle Donovan, and Cousin Maddy for the great trucks and cars and airplane.  Micah loved them!