Good News!

*typed this yesterday, forgot to post...enjoy!


This week we are learning about THE CHURCH: God's House on Earth. We've been studying about what kinds of things we see in church, how we are to treat these things and how we are to behave. What better way to learn about the things we see at church than to go there? So, we all went to noon Mass today at Our Lady Center. Josiah was incredible and did not have one toy the entire Mass. He knelt with me and prayed most of the time, and showed amazing focus and attention for a 4 year old.

After Mass, driving home I was telling the kids how proud I was of them during Mass. Somehow (I'm sorry I can't remember now) while in conversation with Josiah I told him how Jesus carried his heavy wooden cross "through a whole town and up a hill to where he was crucified." He said, "Mom, I don't like that part of the story. It makes me sad. Do you know why? Because I love Jesus." (He geniunely seems hurt whenever the crucifixion is mentioned -- so I always remind him of the ressurrection.) I told him, "I know sweetie, I don't like that part either, but do you know what I remember every time I get sad about that? I remember that Jesus didn't stay there- he rose from the dead!"... (with a big smile I tell him) "He rose from the dead, and now some day we get to all live in heaven with Him!"

Josiah, calmly but seriously responds... (putting two and two together)...

"I'm so glad He did that. I'm happy He did that for us because now we get to go to heaven and live with Him forever."

Hearing it out of the mouth of a small child, somehow makes this good news even better.

God bless your day!

7 Months of Pure Joy

My little ball of bouncing baby boy is 7 months old (tomorrow). I cannot believe how quickly time passes when you have children, most especially with your third!

Benjamin has filled all our lives with so much joy. Josiah and Lydia adore their baby brother and love to kiss, hug, and tickle him. They knock him over with their love for him... (literally!) and he thinks they are so much fun. He cries when they walk away from him and always smiles when he sees them.

Ben is still nursing like a champ and of course prefers Mommy to anything else in the world. (Ahhh the love of a baby!) He now also eats baby food periodically. So far he has had baby rice cereal, pears, peaches, bananas and sweet potatoes. He loves them all. I can't give you a "height/weight" info just yet, but his next check-up is on October 1st. I'm pretty sure he's a good 19 lbs at least!

"Yeah, so I'm big, you got a problem with that?" ;o)

This face is SO funny- it cracks me up! (There are so many hilarious captions I could put here, looks like he's saying something really funny)

    He still has the most charming smile in the world, (look at those dimples!) and has already started mastering the art of flirtation. At least with old ladies during the middle of Mass. ;o)

You may have guessed by these pictures one of the skills he has newly aquired... sitting up! Yes, but not just sitting up when Mommy puts him there, he is sitting up all by himself. He will be laying on his tummy and then push himself up into a sitting position. This is actually rather funny since he still isn't the most steady sitter and will sometimes plop back down on his head. But then he'll roll over and do it all over again. (This is why I try to toss a pillow behind his head still when I can!)

He also waited until he had some time with his godmother, Aunt Laura, to crawl for the first time. We were outside at Grandma's house last week and Benjamin crawled for the first time on a blanket in the grass. I actually got pictures of him up on his knees at that moment when he crawled for the first time, so I'll have to get them off Aunt Laura's camera and post them. (*wink wink... Laura?) haha.
He has not started really crawling yet, but we've seen him slide a knee forward here and there. Mostly he's happy with his new skill of sitting, and occasionally gets rocking and tries to crawl. It certainly won't be long!

He also is really scared of the sound a sheep makes. Don't ask me, I don't know why, but when I do the animal sounds for him he gets a huge pout when I make the sheep sound. It's really funny and cute! (Atleast he's no longer scared of someone singing, he loves it! Right Nana? haha)

Happy 7 Months Benjamin, you fill our lives with so much joy and we love spending every moment with you. (Mommy even misses you while you are napping!)
We love you sweet baby boy!

My Little Angels...

I just love seeing the world through these eyes...

Because everything is joyful and can make you laugh.

Everything is pretty, interesting, and is meant to be explored.

And everything is so new.

It's no wonder God tells us that if we are like children, we will enter the kingdom of heaven. Thank you my little angels for always showing me the way.

A Hundred Thirty Speedy Miles An Hour

(guess he felt motivated after inventing his first story,  because this one came shortly after...) He's so cute. Can you tell we read a lot of books around here? Anyway, enjoy his story!

A Hundred Thirty Speedy Miles An Hour
By: Josiah Timothy Walk (age 4)


“Once upon a time there was a thunder bike that was speeding by. The thunder bike lost one tire and then he lost his bounce. He lost his bounce and fell down beside the road. And then a car drove on the side of the road and then another car pressed the "UP" button and jumped over the tire. Then the tire rolled back to the thunder bike and then the thunder bike was free again. But then the thunder bike lost it's gas and it didn’t know where to find any. Then a gas station magically appeared. Then the gas station poured gas into the bike. Then the bike was free again but it wasn’t quite free, it just needed a new tire. The tire store gave him a racecar tire in the back and the race car tire decided to invite all the other racecar tires into a race car thunder bike party and they all had whole lots of fun and played lots of games. And then a butterfly flew by and said, “Let’s dance!” and then the butterfly danced with all the tires and bikes. The End.”

The Musical Pizza that Lost it's Truck!

Josiah loves to tell me these elaborate stories. Several people (including Uncle Andrew) said I really should write some down. Well today we were out on the patio swinging (Ben is loving the baby swing!) and Josiah started drawing a picture on the easel and telling me this elaborate story about a musical pizza place. I told him to "hold on while I got the computer so I could write this down while he told me." Well, he went so fast that I could barely keep up typing. The end result was really funny and cute. Here is his story...

“There once was a pizza place that made music. Then the pizza place lost its musical pizza! Know how it lost its thing? A truck decided to move the pizza place somewhere else, like in the middle of the city- and do you know what happened? They were driving so fast, that the building of the musical pizza flopped off and got stuck on the side of the road! And you know what happened after that? The pizza turned into have eyes and a nose and a mouth- and it said, “where’s my pizza place?” and then the truck was so far away , the pizza turned around and saw the pizza truck was gone! They were so far away that the pizza could not see them. He could only see dozens and dozens and dozens of cars passing by him. Then he got left on a train track, but the track wasn’t used anymore. Then the truck turned around (it was pulling a trailer) and it went through two switches and then do you know what the truck found? His pizza thing that made music! That went on top of the building. He found it on the train track, but that wasn’t used anymore so he was safe. So the pizza had a new friend now. And then a ducky rode on the pizza. And then the pizza was so happy he decided to have a pizza party with all the other pizzas that made music. The story is over now.”


ME: “What should we title it?”
Josiah: “What does title mean?”
ME: “You know, a name. What’s the name of the story?”
Josiah: “The musical pizza that lost it’s truck”

Hahaha, hope you enjoyed the story, I love his imagination!

Knees...

Well... they are feeling a TAD bit better... (dare I say?? knock on wood) haha... but thank you all/anyone for your prayers! Hopefully they will keep feeling better and better.

We've been loving and enjoying time with my sister in law Laura and our precious goddaughters while they are in town from Texas... so I'll post more after they head home this weekend.

God bless!

Update on my last post: I am seriously...

hoping this cortisone kicks in, because I can't take days like this much longer. Say a prayer for me that it works, will ya!?  Thanks! God bless!

Knee'd a Break

So here's the update on me.
I've been having knee pain... constantly. And it gets bad- really bad.
My hubby came home today around lunch time for a few hours so I could go to my appointment with my rhuematologist. THANK GOD. I have not seen this man in two years and he's wonderful. Not only is he a practicing Catholic (where we used to attend church) but he's also a fabulous doctor and treats his patients very well.

After catching up on the past couple years (and oogling over pictures of my three adorable children of course!) he did a full exam and told me that the reason my knees are hurting so bad is that I am suffering from bersitis (again). The last time it was after Josiah's birth and it was in my hips. He had given me cortisone injections and then wah-lah, no issue with my hips anymore. (Well, until I got pregnant with #3! But that's besides the point) SO- guess what he did today? Yup, cortisone injections in my knees. That was just LOVELY. Okay not really, it hurt a little- but hopefully within a few days, I won't constantly be having knee pain anymore. Yay!

Happy Birthday Lydia!

My baby girl is 2 years old. I can hardly believe it... didn't I just deliver her a few months ago? :) I still remember that labor and delivery- and holding my baby girl in my arms for the first time. I suppose I always will. I'd always dreamed of having a little girl- and boy is she all I could have dreamed and more. She was also my easiest delivery, and right on time. (Thanks sweetie pie!)



Lydia Marie, you are funny, sweet, silly, smart, charming, loving, strong, kind, generous, brave, random, hilarious, snuggly, kissable, precious, faithful, prayerful, and energetic. We can't get enough of you and love spending every minute with you. You have brought to our lives an element that is different from your brother's and is so unique and special. We have loved watching you grow these past two years and can't wait to watch you keep growing and discerning the Lord's plans for your life.
You are our little angel, our princess, our sweet baby girl. (And when you're 30- you'll still be my baby girl!) You love to have your nails painted and wear bows in your hair...
You are brave and strong, and don't mind getting dirty to explore. You're the first of our children to have had a broken bone.
You laugh and play with no care in the world, and I love it.
I do secretly wish you could stay two forever :) (Well, maybe not so secretly!)

Happy Birthday my little girl! We love you so much and may God bless you now and always!

Josiah's First Trip to the Dentist!

Little man had his first trip to the dentist today. (I know we're a little behind on the times here... I've heard you're supposed to take them at age 3, but, oh well- better late than never) They counted his teeth (20) and cleaned them and brushed with flouride. He was very brave and did great! He chose "marshmallow" flavored toothpaste (who knew?) and "Mint" flouride foam, which the dental hygienist thought was pretty funny. I guess most kids choose strawberry or grape- not my boy, he likes mint! :)

He got to dig through the "Treasure Chest" afterwards and picked out a little toy lizard and a tiny paint brush, and got a sticker that says "Brush and Floss" as well as a new toothbrush. He was very excited.
Anyway, I didn't have enough brains to bring my camera, but thankfully there's these handy dandy little cameras on cell phones these days... ;) So I emailed them to myself and here they are:

Counting the pearly whites

Beginning to brush/clean

Brushing with marshmallow flavored toothpaste

Holding the mirror and watching her brush the flouride on

YAY for his clean and pretty teeth!