YEAH FOR POOP!!!

I mean, poop in the POTTY!! Everett did it today...all by himself! I'm SO proud and happy. He told us he had to go this morning and asked for a diaper. We said, "No, let's go in the potty now." He protested and we did that whole thing about 5 times. Then it was Tate's naptime so I took Tate upstairs to put him down. When I came downstairs, I heard Ev in the bathroom and I rushed to see him!! He was in there, all by himself, SO PROUD I might add, goin' poopy on the potty! And he's done it again 3 times. I think it's for accolades now, but hey...I'm willing to give if he's willing to poop! :D WOOHOOO!!!

Funny Stories

So, a few funnies have been told lately...I thought I'd retell. :)

As we're having lunch the other day, Ev climbs up on my lap and says, "Mommy, you're such a lucky mommy!" And so I respond with, "Why, yes, I am. Why do you say that?" And he says, "Because I'm your boy!" :D Too cute!!

Then I was telling Ev how much Tate loves him...because, of course, Ev had Tate in STITCHES! Ev can crack Tate up like no other. So I asked him if he loved Tate too, and he says, "Yes, but I love Temple Texas better." ?!?!!!?!! :)

THEN...He was standing on all fours with his rear end waving around in the air. He's making a "pppssssstt!" sound, to which I said in shock and astonishment: "EV! What are you doing??!" He says, "I'm being a skunk and I'm squirting Tate with horrible smells!!" Well, OK, sorta! :)

I just had to write them down. I'll remember a few more, I'm sure, but I thought I'd share these while they were fresh on my mind. :)

Pics of New Memories! :)

Shucking corn with the Oltrogges while they were here...that was fun! David and Sarah grilled for us while they were here and it was delicious. They of course helped us move here and then spent some time in D.C. after that. It was SUCH a blessing to have them along; Sarah was a HUGE help with the kids, David was amazing with logistics and unpacking, Ryan kept Ev busy, and it was fun all the way around. I can't tell you how glad I was to have family with me while we made the transition to Charlottesville. Having people who loved us and with whom I was entirely familiar and relaxed was the coolest thing ever.


Tate and Daddy playing on the couch:


Eating the dinner David and Sarah made: SO DELICIOUS!!


Everett swimming at Mint Springs today. It was Helen's birthday party and that was way too much fun!! Helen turned 4, and had a wonderful party with a pinata! We swam, made sand castles...if you get a minute, google Mint Springs in Charlottesville VA. It's gorgeous out there. I'm sure we'll go back again and again.


Tate thinks Noah is good eats! EVERY time he takes a bath, he immediately goes for Noah and puts him right in his mouth. It's rather hysterical.


Just had to post some fun pics. We're enjoying the time...even though we do miss TX now and then. :)

Thank God for new friends!

So, adjusting to Charlottesville has been good...and hard. It's not Texas! :) I say that with a grin, for sure. Texas has a little different flair than Virginia does...not that either one is bad or better, just that they're different. Meeting people has been harder than I thought it would be...I guess that's because I don't work anymore, so I don't automatically have a group of people to meet with whom I might have something in common. We did go to Church last Sunday; it was so great. The service was wonderful, the preaching was awesome. But...no one noticed us. No one greeted us. It was quite lonely. I know Church isn't all about meeting people and all, but...Anyway, I'm sure we'll meet people as we go, but I think what's different is that WE will have to do the reaching out. Which is fine...just...different. Not what I'd expected...

Anyway...So, last Saturday as we were coming back from the City Market (which is FABULOUS, and which we've been to every Saturday so far...) there's a family in front of our house. She's from Oklahoma, so she's had to learn how to adjust to things being different, too. They have 2 kids that are 6 and 5, but they love Ev, so that's fun.

Today, she took us to a WAY cool swimming park in town. It was fantastic. She is gregarious, fun and a great resource, too. She was a missionary for a little while, so she understands me a little. :) We're different people in many ways, but it's been nice to have someone reach out and show me around. I don't feel so alone in a new town, anymore.

The pool was awesome and the boys totally enjoyed themselves. And it was nice for me, too. I got to talk with her for a little as our kids played, and that was fun. It's hard being away from the friends I have "back home" ... I've missed them immensly and calling isn't as frequent as any of us would like; being so far away means no coffee breaks together or going to the gym together. But I'm going to enjoy the ray of sunshine I've got, even as I miss my friends back in Texas.

As I type, Sufjan Stevens' rendition of "Come Thou Fount" is on. "...Come Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy Grace. Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise!! Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the Mount; I'm fixed upon it. Mount of Thy unchanging love!!"

So true!! My streams of mercy are showing up everywhere. Even in little things. Today at City Market, we had a homemade crepe with Nutella in it. YUM! The gentleman who plays music brought his banjo and Everett LOVED it! Tate had a fantastic time throwing Cheerio's and charming the pants off of everyone. Strolling around in the sunshine made us all feel happy and special. Like the sun was shining just for our enjoyment of it. And it was. It was a stream of mercy...

"Oh to Grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be..."

I'm all mushy now. :)