Everybody Going Surfing!

Luke has been a little fish since almost birth, but we never expected him to be such a good little surfer! (Click on the pictures to see them better.)

I was in the beach house with Judah when these were taken, and Mrs. Bonnie came in to bring Eli up and let me know he was surfing. By the time I made it out there it was getting dark and Kris said he was concerned about sharks since that's when they generally come out. I figured he was just kidding around and trying to get Luke out of the water, so I got them to go back out so I could actually see Luke surf. Well, Luke was not interested in going back out because he heard Kris say there were sharks, so he never would stand up for me to see. He had a death grip on the board, and whenever he got close to Mr. Eric, he would jump off the board into his arms.

Right about the time Luke rode the board in for the third time, Kris' cousin, who was fishing from the beach about fifty yards away, caught a shark. And then ten minutes later his other cousin caught a bigger shark. I think they caught a total of ten sharks in a one hour period.

I have no words.

Copy Cats and Black Eyes

Every morning I have the same conversation with Eli.

"Eli, what do you want for breakfast?"
"What's Wuke having?"
"I don't know. What do you want? Do you want cereal?"
"Is Wuke having cereal?"
"Okay, fine. You're having cereal. Do you want milk?"
"Is Wuke having milk?"

One of these days I will learn not to ask. Anyway, Eli is not the only copycat in our house.

Maybe he figures he looks just like him, why not be exactly like him too? Baby, you could do a lot worse than being just like your daddy. I think it's great.

This past Saturday we went to a birthday party for Kris' cousin's little girl. It was absolutely the most fun little kid party I've ever been to. All of Kris' cousins were in town, for one. But there was also great food, a popcorn machine, a snow cone machine and an 18 foot water slide. It was like a carnival minus all the sketchy people. It was definitely against our better judgement to let our three year old go on the water slide, but once he went down the first time, there was no stopping him. That is, until he collided with his cousin's face. Thankfully, the eye is the only damage. He's proud of his black eye, and we're just grateful he's not brain damaged.

Luke's Turn

Luke hasn't gotten much exposure on the blog recently. To be fair, he hasn't been a very squeaky wheel. He has, by far, been the least squeaky wheel in the house. But here are a couple of things he's been up to.

Bedtime stories for Eli

Literature of choice...
Finding creative ways to make going to bed fun

So, he's really not reading the Divine Comedy. But he is reading. He can read the beginning reader books and can spell words by sound that surprise me almost daily. He likes to write people notes. He'll have me or Kris write what he wants to say, and then he'll copy it down so he can give Grandma, Papa, Grandaddy, his friends, whomever a note.

He doesn't seem to notice it, but he is Judah's favorite face, right after Daddy. The second he walks in the room, Judah is turning around and smiling, just looking for him. It's really so sweet.

We are enjoying our break from school, staying in our pj's for a good portion of the morning. Okay, I'll be honest. Staying in our pj's for a good portion of the day. Luke is a lounger. He likes to lay around, watching cartoons and would do that all day if I would let him. I am letting him rub off on me, and I am doing a good job enjoying having three wonderful boys far better than I was doing when we had a daily schedule. The house shows it for sure, but they boys are showing it, too. They are giving me some really sweet moments, and I'm storing up precious memories.

Psalm 121

"I lift up my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip-
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you -
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm-
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore." Psalm 121:1-8

I knew when Eli was very young that he would push the limits and do all kinds of things that would make me cling to God's promises for protection over him (ex. Hanging from the edge of the toy box by his fingernails at nine months old).

While I was in Nashville with Judah, Kris was at the beach with Luke and Eli, along with his parents, sister and her family. They spent Saturday and Sunday nights there. Saturday night Kris put the boys in the bed and went back outside with everyone else to hang out while they slept. They all went to bed a little later. At 4:20 someone knocked on the door and woke them up. Total strangers were holding Eli.

I still feel a little bit hysterical every time I tell this story.

Our best guess is that Eli fell asleep knowing that Kris was outside and when he woke up he assumed Kris was still outside, even though he was really asleep in the bed right next to him. Eli unlocked and opened the door and walked out. The people several doors down woke up and heard him outside their door calling for Daddy. When they went outside and saw him they recognized him as having been with the family a couple of cottages over and brought him back.

Every time I think about it, all the possibilities of what could have happened immediately start running through my mind. The beach one way, the highway the other way. Crazy strangers. Perverts. Good grief.

Then I have to remind myself what DID happen. God woke those people up to hear Eli's voice. Over the air conditioner. Through their sleep. God woke them. God caused them to notice him earlier in the day so they would know where he belonged in the middle of the night. God kept Eli from going to the beach or the highway. And God will keep him for the rest of his days. So, I rest.

And what did Kris do? Once he starting breathing again, he moved the dresser in front of the door.

Lord Help the Mister

I spent this past weekend with my two sisters, hence the title. Fortunately, the only "mister" involved was Judah. And he was a perfect gentleman.

We left Thursday afternoon and flew to Nashville to meet up with Kate and Raeanna for four days of fun. I've never flown with a child before, so it was a learning experience. I had no idea that when you go through security they make you fold up your stroller and put every piece of equipment you have with you through the scanner. Thankfully I was in the "family" line behind a family with more children and way more stuff than me so I had time to watch and then figure out how I was supposed to hold Judah, fold the stroller, and get all my stuff on the table. And, oh yeah, if your baby happens to have a cast on, you have to stand in the glass box like a suspected terrorist and wait for the security people to swab the cast and test the swab in their special terrorist-detecting machine (I'm sure that isn't the proper name, but you get the idea, right?). This is while everyone in the area stares at you in the glass box, certain you really are a terrorist because I mean, come on, your five month old has a cast on. I was sweating by the time I got my tennis shoes back on. I sat down to wait for my flight and had time to stop sweating, but again, you have to unload and fold your stroller while holding the baby and your bags and trying to get out of the way of everyone else pushing past you to get on the plane. Nothing about this was done gracefully. But we did it and sat down next to two delightful sisters who were helpful the whole flight. Even when Judah completely filled his diaper and, subsequently, the surrounding area with the lovely odor. Did I mention he was constipated recently. Well, don't worry, he's not anymore. He fixed that problem right there at 38,000 feet. Have you ever changed a poopy diaper in an airplane?

So, all in all, Judah was perfect and I was fine, too. I was just really sweaty. And by the flight back, we were both pros.

So, we did lots of this.

We also, shopped, got pedicures and manicures, ate way too much, took a painting class (totally fun), laughed lots and slept very little. It was a fabulous weekend. Can't wait to do it again, Girls!

"Sisters, sisters,There were never such devoted sisters.
All kinds of weather, we stick together, the same in the rain or sun.
Two different faces, but in tight places we think and we act as one.

Those who've seen us know that not a thing can come between us.
Many men have tried to split us up, but no one can.
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister,
and Lord help the sister that comes between me and my man."