Oh, The Sweet Words Of My Child...

Emory has been into praying lately. She goes through phases where it is a must to say her prays before her nap and bedtime, which obviously we don't mind. We have a process:

Emory: "Mommy, let's pray"
Me: "Ok Em, you start"
Emory:  eyes closed, hands together "Dear God"
Me: "Dear God we thank you for Emory being a big girl and on......"
Emory waits for me to finish my prayer and then adds whatever else she wants to pray for. Most common prayers are for uncle Ryan, aunt Jenny, Ella Grace, Jonas and Tricia, Owen, Brady, baby Rhett, Carson, Caden and whatever toy she was playing with before going to bed.

But today was the sweetest prayer....

Emory: "Thank you God for our broken house"

Wow, that gave me a lump in my throat. Yes God, thank you for our broken house. I forget to be thankful for the house with all the added decisions and time that take up my day. I find it easier to gripe than to praise. But I need to remember that God gave us the house, God protected us to get out of the fire safely, God provided family and friends to help us, and God is allowing us to do things we never imagined we would be able to do.

Zechariah 13:9,
And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, "They are my people"; and they will say "The Lord is my God."

Having Too Much Fun...

As the summer is coming to an end, we have been having so much fun with our kiddos. Emory is so goofy and she is getting to the point that she knows she's funny and tries to make us laugh. Gabe thinks she is hysterical, of course! We have had many play dates at friend's house since the fire, which has saved our family this summer. We are so grateful to our friends who opened their homes to entertain our displaced toddler in need of fun. One of our friends have goggles, Emory was intrigued so she got some of her own. Note, we have never worn them in the pool....

Our little mad scientist!

Such pretty toenails...

And the jumping continues...

Gabe has been having so much fun with puffs. He can pick them up but cannot open his hand once to his mouth. Still figuring things out!

Emory has a new love. I bought her a Dora the Explorer bike at Target. Here she is talking to Grant while he's driving home from work, sitting on her bike in the box, all because I told her he would put it together when he got home from work. Ooopps! Little did I know that we didn't have any wrenches (due to being in a rental house) and he had to put it together by hand. He is such a good daddy.

This is what happens when you ask Emory to get Gabe a toy...

Silly girl! 

Here is Emory on her bike for the first time outside. It was a hit!!

We are so impressed with Emory. She pedals herself up and down the street and gets going fast. Daddy is never far behind!

The best picture of her on the bike. She would not sit still and smile. At least you can see how happy she is!

Aren't these girls sweet!! We went to dinner with our friends last weekend and both girls got ice cream afterwards. Pure joy!

7 Months Old!!!

Our little guy is such an amazing little boy. 7 months old and fantastic. He has started baby food and is LOVING it. His favorites are green beans, sweet potatoes, pears and bananas. Not a fan of peaches. We have also started puffs, which he also loves. Emory gets in on the fun and like to help feed him and give him his water.

He is usually sleeping from around 8pm to 7am and takes 2 or 3 good naps a day. He moves around in his crib now and rolls over to his tummy in his crib, which means we have to go flip him over.

At Gabe's 6 month checkup (sorry for the delay), he weighed 16 lbs 7 oz (45%) and his length was 26 1/4 in (50%). He got his first tooth this weekend! Slightly more fussy, but still cute.

Gabe still adores Emory. She makes everything better and so much more fun. I am trying not to be offended that I carried him for 9 months, feed him, clean him, etc and she is his favorite. Her daily goal is to make him laugh by jumping off the furniture.

We are so thankful for Gabe. He is perfect. We love him more than words can describe.

When He's Not Jumping....

Gabe is busy looking super cute in his jammies!

Making his sweet little face that Emory use to make too!

I think he looks like a little tough guy....

Probably the best part of the jammies, say beep beep on the bottom. Too Cute!

7 month birthday post to follow soon!

Big Girl!!!

We have tried potty training in the past. We tried before Gabe was born, we tried before the fire, and then we put it on hold because of all the chaos with the fire. She now sleeps in a big girl bed (if you come to visit she will want to show you) and we didn't want to change too much too soon. But this weekend, our little girl got it! Grant started potty training Friday morning, no accidents. Saturday, only one accident where she stopped herself to get onto the potty. And Sunday had no accidents. We still do diapers/pull ups while we are out, but she even told daddy she had to go tee tee at uncle Ryan and aunt Jenny's house! Needless to say we are so proud of our big girl. She has done amazing!

Playing princess dress up as a nice reward! Emory loves to jump all over the furniture at the rental house.  The ottoman is her stage!

What is Gabe doing during all the potty training? Being a good little boy in the jumper we borrowed from our friends Donald and Angela. Lifesaver! He is obsessed, I will put video up soon.

Gabe has been making this silly little face. It reminds me of someone else?!?!?

His big sis!!!

Happy 7th Anniversary!!!

Yesterday was our 7th wedding anniversary. Gesh. Grant surprised me with dinner Sunday night (and pre-arranged child care, thank you Jonas and Tricia!). Anniversary dinners are always funny because you have the "recap" conversation. 7 years of marriage, 11 years together total, he lived in another country for 2 years, 3 job changes for me, 3 job changes for him, we have 2 kids, bought 2 houses, remodeled our first house ourselves, had a fire, rebuilding our current house. Gesh again.

The day Emory was born...

5 year wedding anniversary...

The day Gabe was born...

Pictures from this spring...

7 busy wonderful years. Thank God for such an amazing husband who is the perfect match for me!

Hanging Around the House...

Some of these summer days we just stay around the house to keep cool. On days at home it makes me realize how silly my kids are and how great it is to be their mom.

Emmy tucked herself into the blanket that stays on the couch (don't ask us why, it was like that when we got here).

My aunt Kim made these 4th of July tutus and Emmy has considered it a daily accessory. What little girl doesn't love a tutu?

Breakfast....

Gabe has started to get more hair, you can't see it because it's so light but its there. He also has one super long hair on the back of his head. You can't see it very well but I am still holding onto it in the picture.

They really do love each other!

Like sister, like brother.