Poop Talk

Dear Jake,

You are infatuated with looking at your poop while you are going. You will very much dislike that I am blogging about this, someday. But, I have to get on the record all the funny things you say while on the toilet. Usually you just comment on the assorted shapes of your poop(ice cream cones, sharks, etc.). Lately, you've been commenting on how much they splash. Tonight made me laugh a lot though. You asked "Mommy, why are some divers and some floaters?" My response..."I have no idea."

Love you buddy,
Mommy

Labor Day Weekend

Packing up all the STUFF for a one and three year-old and heading up to a small cabin is not something I always look forward to. I know, a lot of people would love this opportunity. So, I try and put my personal selfishness and laziness aside and go for it! And I am almost always glad we did. This weekend was no different. Jake LOVES going up to the cabin. He especially enjoyed taking daily trips out to Grandpa's tree stand on the golf cart, and I bet Grandpa never thought he'd be building sandcastles in the woods with dirt, sticks, and moss next to his tree stand. They (Grandpa and Jake) also decided to make shadow monsters outside on the deck, the one night the sun happened to be shining. We also roasted marshmallows that night. Jake insisted on doing it all by himself.

I can only hope to pass along to our boys the wonderful memories as my parents did for us, and it makes me appreciate them all the more.

Happy 1st Birthday Caleb

Before it's super far beyond the fact, we celebrated Caleb's first birthday (twice actually) last week. I decided to go easy on the budget and make the cakes for both parties, and yes, out of a box! I actually like box cakes, maybe I just like cake in general. Pair it with good ice cream and we're good to go. Party #1; the home-made frosting didn't turn out as it should've so I had to mix it with store bought, oh well. Party #2; I went with a different frosting recipe, and the cake went in the trash an hour before the guests arrived! So, I resorted to my emergency Costco size brownie box for a quick back-up. I vowed I would never make frosting again, but I probably will.

Caleb had his one year Doctor's appointment on Friday. He is measuring 30 inches (59%), 24 lbs, 8 oz. (74%), and head size is off the charts in the 99th percentile! Doctor's comments, "well, since he's developmentally not behind, we won't do a head scan!" I guess it runs in the family, have you seen Jake? And P.S., I'm not concerned. We just say that it's packed with brains.

It's hard to believe one year ago were will still waiting to bring him home from the hospital. I had good intentions of making a video of the first year, I started weeks ago, but of course never finished. But, the baby book is almost done!

Happy Birthday Caleb, we love you!

Wedding

We are very excited to have an addition to our family, Mrs. Morgane Van Voorst! We had the most fabulous time spending a week out West to share in the excitement of my brother's wedding. The house we stayed in was more than what we could've asked for, with one whole side of the house facing the Teton Mountains.


Our sleep deprived Jake had the most fun seeing the buffalo (that move, not the statue we tried to appease him with), riding Trav and Morgane's horses, climbing the mountains, and riding in the airplane. My Jake highlight was watching him bust out his breakdancing moves during the wedding reception, now I KNOW he learned this at daycare.


We missed Caleb, but he was in excellent hands with Aunt Kate and Memaw. It was tough leaving this guy behind, but it was for the better as we got to be a little more flexible during our trip.

I look forward to a lifetime of trips with our entire family out to Jackson, and seeing our little outdoorsmen flourish.

Jake's 3rd birthday

Last Saturday Jake turned 3. Since his birthday fell on the weekend, it was only perfect to have a party! Since the early stages of telling him about his birthday party he was most excited about what else, cake! My Mom and I took him to Costco the day before to pick it up. While riding around in the store cart, he kept saying it was "the biggest cake EVER!" The cake excitement was no different on Saturday, the day of his party. As soon as he woke up and I sang happy birthday to him in bed, he started asking for the cake. So...as you can see from the pictures, I think the wait was worth it.

Now...if we could only get this 3 year old interested in potty training. Funny, the only time he is interested in trying to go potty is before bed. King of procrastination!

Loved

I just need to spew. Not even sure how this is going to come out. After 8 long years of investing in one particular student, tracking her whereabouts from foster home to foster home, camps, retreats, one on one mentor appointments...she shows up today to our lunch appointment, with a baby! What? Really? I just saw you 5 months ago.

She lives in the Upper Peninsula now, so we don't regularly visit except probably 2-3 times a year when she comes down to visit. O.K., she's almost 21, not a kid anymore...but, really? Then the details follow, the Father is no longer in the picture (surprise) and she already has another boyfriend. This guy has no job, no driver's license, and they started dating as soon as the baby was born. Really? All that is within me wanted to scream, partially at her, but more just scream. Instead, I held her baby and we gushed over the miracle of little toes and hands. Then I got in the car and wanted go put my resignation in...rapid thoughts enter my brain - "what am I doing this for? no difference is being made! the cycle of brokenness continues, what happened to all the goals we set during our one hundred mentoring appointments?"

Then, I took a deep breath and called my Mom. We landed on that this now 20 something former student of mine just wants to "be loved." But, but, but, I told her she was loved. God loves her. Didn't she or doesn't she know that? Can't she experience that? Did she or does she not fully understand?

I don't have the answers. I have lots of questions. I feel unequipped lots of days to do my job. Today is one of them.

I'm definitely not looking for pity. I just need to unload my thoughts. There, I did it.

On that note...vacation, here I am.

River Bank Run and Youth for Christ

This is LONG overdue. I realized that this long awaited run has come and gone and I never posted ANYTHING! Just goes to show how crazy life has been. This event was such a success. We raised almost $14,000! It's all because of the support of a huge group of amazing people. They worked so hard to achieve their personal fitness goals and also surpassed goals to raise a large amount of money for the ministry of Youth for Christ. I cannot say enough about this bunch of people! They have been a blessing to us personally and more importantly are making a huge impact in the community to reach lost kids for Jesus Christ. Thank you!!