Easter 2013

Easter pictures! Only a month(s) late! 

Well, it was a lovely day nonetheless. We opened Easter baskets in the morning, went to church, then returned home for a family brunch. The weather was sunny-ish, and we had the privilege of hosting everyone in our back yard. All in all, it was a great spring day celebrating Jesus's sacrifice.  

Side note: Steve and Papa were also in attendance, but for some reason I don't have any pictures to prove it. Sorry guys!

On Easter Eve (is that a real thing?), our beloved neighbors Martin and Doug came by with Easter baskets in hand. They're really more like uncles to our kids than neighbors, and they LOVE to spoil our kids! 

Easter morning, rejoicing over a Barbie coloring book from Grammie and Grandpa.

On Easter morning, you get to eat candy!

Nana got the kids to say cheese for a few photo ops...

Golly, they're cute. 

These guys are cute too. Raul, Auntie Beans, and Uncle Monkey.

Why can't we eat crepes with whip cream every day?

Nana, Laney, and Raul

Uncle Monkey and Delaney, with the eggs they dyed together. This is probably the only picture I have of them  smiling nicely instead of their normal zany antics.

The hunt is on! 

And the hunt is over. Jude found a few eggs and sat down to munch on their contents.

She's really into this cheesy face and head tilt smile.

I love these little birdies!

Prayer

Lately, I've found myself uttering the words "I'll pray for you" a bit too much.

I say "too much" because there just seems to be an abundance of situations to be praying for these days. And they're not little things to be praying about, either. They're big, life-affecting things. Death. Sickness. Surgery. Safety. Betrayal. Peace. Healing. My heart is heavy with the grief of the world. My brain is fuzzy with my inability to grasp understanding as to why some things happen.

My very dear friend, Holly Rodriguez, raced in the Boston Marathon yesterday. She is safe, and the sense of relief I felt when I heard that she was OK was immense. I hate that Holly's excitement about her accomplishment was take from her so quickly--taken so quickly from so many. But Holly is a fighter, and I know she will--and is at this very moment--bringing God glory through this experience.

Sometimes I get so bogged down with sadness that I render myself useless to bringing hope and love to others. There is so much darkness lurking around these days, but we can choose to combat that darkness with light. When the people of God go to battle, we arm ourselves with love and good deeds. 

I pray that we would be known by our love. God bless you, my friends.

 Matthew 5: 14-16: 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

John 13:35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."

Delaney's Birthday Week

Wow, Delaney is a lucky kid. She was seriously spoiled with (almost) an entire week of birthday celebrations. Most of you know that I LOVE birthdays, but even I was exhausted by the end of it all. Please bear with me as I now post a gazillion pictures of said celebrations.

Nana and Papa started out the partying on Thursday with a trip to the newly opened Farrell's. It was yummy, fun, and very loud.

And then came Delaney's Backyard Dance Party. It was scheduled for Friday, March 8th, and rain was in the forecast. I've already mentioned how it all turned out, but yes, Delaney's party was wet and wild. I wish that I had better pictures that captured the zaniness. 

Delaney's ice cream cone cupcakes. Printable by Little Deevas. Sadly, this was really the only picture of decor that I took. 

See what I mean about these kids getting down? Rain or shine, baby!

Birthday Girl Boogie 

We tried to congregate inside to sing and do cupcakes. It. Was. Insane.

We were rosy cheeked and chilly, but still having fun celebrating Miss D.

Delaney and Ruby Cash. These girls are more like sisters than friends!

The next morning the partying continued as we made our way to Disneyland! My Grandparents had never been to Disneyland, so it was a very special day indeed!

Delaney with Gramps and Grams, explaining that they would all be going to Disneyland together! We kept it a surprise until the day before we left. 

The Birthday Girl, as happy as could be!

In line for the "train," also known as the Disneyland Tram. Both my kids think the tram is one of the Disneyland rides. 

Auntie Jessica, Uncle Jimmy, Grams, and Gramps

Grammie and Nana with their "Perfect Granddaughter." I love that Papa is photo bombing this picture! 

And there's Papa! We were all waiting in line for It's a Small World. That's how much we love this kid.

Grandpa and Laney make quite the pair.

Grams and Delaney with their ears. I love this picture!

I was even allowed in a few of the pictures! 

Look at this hat that Grams bought for Jude! Mickey Mouse and Lightening McQueen, all rolled into one obnoxious hat! The boy loves it. 

This is pretty much how we all felt towards the end of the night.

After our Oregon family left on Monday morning, we took a day off from birthday celebrations to recoup. But on Tuesday we partied once again, this time at Delaney's preschool. I made cupcakes again for the millionth time that weekend, and Steve, Jude, and I all got to attend her birthday celebration at school. It was fun being there together, and watching Delaney interact with her school friends. And of course, Marshmallow the bunny was a big hit with both Jude and Delaney.

Our little family at FUMPS

Marshmallow and Delaney

Phew! It was such a fun and zany party week. Remind me next year to do something simple, ok?

Delaney, Age 4

Delaney, age 4

4 years old! It's a funny thing, your oldest getting older. Miss Delaney Marie is so grown up now--just ask her and she'll tell you! I know so many people lament the passing of the baby stage, and I have those moments as well. But in general, I think this big kid stuff is a hoot. Having a preschooler under our roof provides our family with free entertainment as Delaney's imagination is just shooting out of her ears. I'm feeling the pressure (self-inflicted, of course) to perfectly capture Delaney 4.0 in this post, which is just impossible. This stage is so fantastic, and I don't want to forget the highlights.

Delaney is the best big sister any kid could ask for. Jude adores her and I like to tell myself that they will always love one another as much as they do now. Jude won't go to bed at night without a kiss and a hug from Na-Nu (Delaney in JudeSpeak). Delaney extends a saintly amount of grace towards JuJuBe on a daily basis, whether he is kicking over her block towers or coloring on her artwork. Sure, Delaney gets frustrated, but she almost always recognizes the fact that Jude is younger than her and less mature. Her gentleness with Jude makes Steve and I very, very proud.

One of the other character traits that I see in Delaney is her love for other people. When planning her birthday dance party, I told her that we should really just invite her friends that could actually dance. I told Steve that I wouldn't go "all out" on this birthday party--just a few friends dancing in the backyard, no big deal. Well, that didn't go over very well with Miss D. When I told her that we weren't going to invite her baby friends, she was devastated. She responded with, "But mom, I just want everyone to be invited!" So of course I relented, because that's what I wanted too. Sorry Stevie! Anyway, we ended up inviting a gazillion friends, and they all ended up coming and dancing with us. In the rain. It was like Woodstock, without the nakedness and whatnot. Her birthday party was such a testimony to me of how much Delaney loves others and is so loved in return. Even though it was cold, even though it was raining, her friends still came and danced. And they stayed for quite some time! Delaney told me that it was the best birthday party ever. Was it what I had planned? No. Did it look the way I wanted it to look? No. Would the Fire Marshall take issue with how many people were on our property? Probably. Did the birthday girl have a blast? Yes. Case closed.

Delaney's quite the little whipper snapper. She's a fast learner, and loves to do school-like activities.  She's a textbook strong, independent, first-born girl. Delaney is past the pre-reading stage and is decoding CVC words. Watching her read makes my teacher-heart burst with pride. I try not to talk about her reading skills too much, because I realize how totally annoying and braggy that sounds. But really, I am so proud of her. Delaney loves to do art, loves to play music, and LOVES TO DANCE. She started dance lessons in February, and thanks to the generosity of her friends and family, she will get to continue lessons for quite some time. Delaney takes her dancing very seriously in the studio, and I love watching her learn something that she seems to love so innately. And I am so out of my element with this whole dance thing. I have always pictured myself on the sidelines and in the stands cheering for my kids--but a dance mom? Oh Lordy, I never saw that in the cards.

The best thing about writing this huge long post about our girl is that I have temporarily forgotten all of the tough, challenging parts that come with parenting Delaney. I am amazed, almost daily, at how difficult a task parenting can be. But now as I reflect on my daughter, I only see the highs and not the lows--which are present, for sure. Steve and I feel so grateful that God has entrusted Delaney (and Jude, of course) to our care. Here's to another full but exhausting year, Laney Cat!

Jude's 2nd Birthday

Today our JuJuBe, J. Billy, Baby Man, Brother Bear, Baby Monster turned two years old.

Nicknames are sort of a big deal in our family.

Oh, Jude, you're officially a two year old. Two year olds like to push the limits and you have been known to test boundaries. Boundaries of space (what can I find to jump off of?), patience (sure Jude, let's throw a tantrum right here and right now!), and sound (your high-pitched scream of agony is pretty impressive) mostly come to mind. But again, your Little Monster face does me in and wins me over every time.

Someday Jude, when your reading skills improve, I hope you'll read this post and know how loved you have been from day one. As far as babies go, you were a pretty typical baby. Not as cranky as your sister, not as docile as those "angel babies" that I hear about from time to time, but pretty much a typical baby. However, toddlerhood has been a bit more... exciting. You fit every boy stereotype out there and then some. You have energy, spunk, and curiosity with no real understanding of cause and effect. I suppose that will come with time and through trial and error. I hope that I can be within earshot during those trials and errors, but I can't keep you under my wing forever, right? Your vigor for life has challenged me to soak up this small window of time that we have together and relearn the art of play. You play hard, you move constantly, and you sleep like a champ because of all of that expended energy.

And speaking of sleeping, my favorite time of day with you is right before I put you into your bed at night. I sing a few bars of "Hey Jude," and you lay your little head on my shoulder and I forget about all of the struggles that the day held. Our little moment together doesn't last long, but it's enough for us  to wake up and do it all over again. As of right now, I'm your favorite. I know it won't be like that forever, and I need to remind myself of that truth. Someday I'll have to share you, but for now, I'm your gal.

As a two year old, you love a handful of things passionately. You love your sister, Delaney, and wake up from nap time on a mission to wake her up as well. You love your dog, Brun, and you despair over the fact that your kitty Imogene dives under the bed every time she hears your footsteps. You love Mickey Mouse, Veggie Tales, and Cars. Mater is your favorite character and I bet that makes Uncle Jimmy proud. You love trains, trucks, and tractors. Have I mentioned that you fit the boy stereotype? You love playing ball--basketball, soccer, and baseball. I realize that I'm a bit biased here, but I think that your hand-eye coordination is out of this world. I'd love for you to be our ball player, but please don't be a quarterback or pitcher, ok? My little anxious heart is going to have such a hard time watching you under that kind of pressure.

I promised your dad that I wouldn't go all out for your second birthday party. We decided on a letter "B" theme for your party: bubbles, balloons, balls, and your favorite blue engine. Your party was at Hunter Hobby Park, where the little trains run on the weekend. Because we live in Southern California, I didn't even think to check the weather report, and it was a bit chilly. All of our friends that were healthy came out to play with you and they brought balls to share. You did not like the attention you received when we sang to you, but you were perfectly content roaming the open fields and kicking a ball around with your daddy. The day after your park party we had our Riverside family over for dinner. This time around you handled the attention much better and were pretty excited about your presents.

Jude, we love you. You bring so many wonderful qualities to our family and you're just two! I can't wait to watch you grow. Happy birthday, Jude William. You're my favorite little baby man.

Party decor

More party decor

Friends Alex and Abby

Gavin, Conrad, and Maddy 

Gal pal Sadie Joy

A few of the mamas 

Playing on the structure

Dinner with Uncle Monkey, Papa, Aunt Joni, & Uncle Kevin --not sure where Nana was hiding! 

Sister really liked "helping" with the present opening...

A soccer ball from Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Jessica and Thomas from Gramps and Grams--he's happy as can be! 

Nana and Papa got him a basketball hoop! I asked Steve if he wanted the instructions for assembly and this is the look I got! 

Jude shoots and scores!

Birthday brownie! And yes, he picked out his outfit. Undies and rain boots!

On the morning of his actual birthday, we had special French Toast for breakfast to celebrate. Delaney is insisting on a party on his actual birthday, so I guess we'll have to go out for ice cream tonight! Bummer. 

The LA Half Marathon

On January 13th, 2013, I ran in my first half marathon! This has been a personal goal that I've had for a long time, but I've never given much thought to you know, actually signing up for a race and all. However, for the past three years my church has partnered with Team World Vision and has encouraged members to run the race and raise support for clean water in Uganda. Our family has sponsored a little girl from Uganda through World Vision for the past three years, and the money Team World Vision was fundraising would benefit the Ugandan community that our church partners with. I've always liked the idea of doing this race, but I've either been pregnant or just too tired with a newborn to participate. This year I found myself without an excuse. So, I signed up and it really was such a win/win: fulfilling a personal goal while supporting clean water in Uganda!

I can't express how thankful I am to my family and friends that supported me on this little adventure. Many people gave financially, but the support didn't end there! I had so many folks encourage me with words, advice, and cheers from afar. And then there's my husband. He actually trained alongside of me, but didn't participate due to the fact that someone had to watch those kids of ours. Hopefully we can both run next year! Steve, as always, was my biggest supporter, coach, and cheerleader. I couldn't have done this without him.

Now, for the stats--don't laugh if you're a real runner. I met my goal of maintaining a pace of 11:30 a mile. Next year I'm hoping to be in the 10 minute range. Hey, you have to start somewhere, right? People often ask me what I listen to while running. For race day, I listened to the end of The Hobbit and a Simple Mom podcast. Not what you were expecting, right? But I like escaping into books and podcasts--it helps me to forget about my aches and pains.

Finish: 2:27:27 -- Pace: 11:15 per mile

Even though the race is over, it's not too late to support clean water in Uganda! Click here to donate.

My girls Becky and Jess getting excited on race day! 

My view at the start line. We were lined up at Venice Beach. It was cold as far as cold goes for southern California. but it made for perfect running weather.

Terrible pic--but this is mile marker 11. I was getting jazzed being so close to the finish line! 

One of my views during the race. Please forgive how fuzzy these pictures are. I was running a half marathon for goodness sakes!

One of my views towards the end of the race.

And this was me, at the end of it all! Really, I was all smiles most of the day. Seriously, it was so much fun!