NO MORE TRAINING WHEELS...for Ezra!

Ezras training wheels were taken off on May 20th & we only practiced for 5 mins. Then on 22nd you practiced for about 1 hr. & went pro...days after that, she had the hang of getting the bike started all on her own too! Way to go Ezra...your hard work has totally paid off! Ezra has driven her bike all the way to and from the park on her own (we walked with her of course) twice now!!! SO since May 22nd you have been a REAL BIKE RIDER! I love you!!! Good job! You've only had 2 falls!!! Love you Ezra, Mommy & Daddy xoxo

Don't Make Me Count To Three

I'm reading a really good book right now, my friend Sherri had suggested. Here are a few bits and pieces from "Don't Make Me Count To Three" by Ginger Plowman

"Sometimes I feel like just getting dressed and making it through the day is all I ever accomplish,..."isn't there something more that you wanted me to do today, Lord?.....I was able to dust, organize, clean, counsel, and cook. I kissed away the boo-boos and washed away the tears. I praised, rebuked, encouraged, hugged, and tested my patience, all before noon.

Yes, my greatest accomplishment today was nurturing the precious children that God has entrusted to my care.

God DOES have an important job for me, and it does require much skill. It is my calling, my priority, my stuggle, and my goal. I will rise to the occasion and accept the task at hand. I will love, nurture, and train my children the way that God has called me to do.

...The joys of motherhood (parenting) are rare and beautiful treasures that can be easily missed if we don't seize the opportunity to grab them."

This book is really helping me to raise my children in the ways of the Lord...dealing firsthand with the issues of their hearts!

Jesus in your heart

I am so blessed!

Matthew and I try so hard to be a godly example to our children. We want them to grow up knowing God...and knowing Jesus. Not just knowing about him....but experiencing it, living it.

Just a few minutes ago I was reading a story about praying to Ezra & Matthijs before nap and Ezra asked if God can hear her when she prays in her head. I said that it didn't matter how you prayed, quiet, loud, in your head, whatever - God is always listening! She said, right, because He is in our hearts right? I said yes, right!! Then Matthijs asked, "is Jesus in my heart?" I said, "yes, why don't you tell Jesus if you want him in your heart and if you want to follow him" Matthijs, without hesitation put his little hands on his chest and said "Jesus, be in my heart. I want to follow you."

I am so proud to say that Ezra & Matthijs already at such a young age want to live for Jesus. They want to please him, love him and follow him. How amazing!!!
Matthew and I can only pray that their love for the Lord will grow in time...staying real, forever!!!

Thank you Lord for giving me these precious opportunities. To be home with my kids, and to take part in such amazing conversations with them. Use me Lord for the things you want to do in their lives and the lives of others.
AMEN!

IF IT'S YELLOW....

DON'T let it mellow.....
Isla is INTO the toilet! This morning she was awfully quiet and when I went to find her she was digging into the yellow mellowing toilet and throwing the sopping wet toilet paper out onto the floor....YUCK!!! Good thing Ezra didn't have a number #2, cuz she rarely flushes those......



Our long weekend adventures....
Kakabeka Falls....



We went to the cascades for nice long walk to the waterfalls.....fun!!!


This is the LIFE...Jos Louis in one hand...juice in the other...just kickin' back!

Isla turned ONE!!!

My baby is ONE now!!! Isla celebrated her 1st birthday yesterday May 14th. We had an amazing day!!! Grandma and Grampy visited for 5 days over Islas birthday...it sure made her day EXTRA SPECIAL!
Ezra wanted to make Isla a heart birthday cake...so that we did! Grandma brought waffle sundae bowls and TONS of candy to decorate them with! The kids LOVED it! Isla of course loved her chocolate cake and her pasta dinner that daddy prepared! We also took Isla to wiggles-n-giggles on her birthday...Ezra and Matthijs enjoyed that more than she did!!!
Enjoy the crazy amount of pictures.....Be prepared....cuteness ahead!!!

AT ONE YEAR OLD:
- Down to ONE nap a day - this has been a great thing!
- Cut two MORE molars...now you have all four...for a total of 11 teeth!!!
- Standing for about 5 secs at a time and you have taken a step or so (sometimes, when you're feeling stable)
- You'll pull yourself up on a wall now...anything!
- Now JUST your body is swaddled....and not your arms. Can't believe you did almost a full 11 months of a tight swaddle
- Still nursing 2 times a day (mommy doesn't want to give this one up yet!)
- You LOVE to dance, swaying your body from side to side when you hear music
- You can say a total of 5 words. Ma Ma, Da Da, Ahwa (Ezra), Iee (Hi), Ba Ba (Bye Bye)

Islas 1st Year Collage....



Here are some pictures of Isla the day before she turned ONE...her last day at 0 yr old!!!







Here are her birthday pictures!!!!

Oops, forgot to post about the museum!!!

We had so much fun taking the kids to the museum...they did great and LOVED the Albertosaurus exhibit!!! Such a cool learning experience...can't ya tell!

This-n-That

Isla enjoying her SPAGHET!!!



When Isla is focusing/concentrating...she does almost everything with her tongue poking out of her mouth! She loves her tongue!


Ezra LOVES picking out her own clothes! I'm just thankful it wasn't a school day! PS that shirt is supposed to have a tank underneath it, it's see through!

YAP N SCRAP

YAP N SCRAP....12 Hours of scrapbooking....sounds like fun!
Soooooooooo much fun! Yesterday I went with my friend Jenn and we polished off a ton of stuff! I want to start doing a 12 hr scrap every couple of months...whose in???
We'll do a McDonalds run for lunch and a potluck supper....at someones house!!
This is what I accomplished!
Some close ups to show the journalling...and the detail of my hand stitched paper...I love how that turned out!
Okay Ange.......be inspired and show what you come up with......can't wait!