Happy Father's Day! 2011

We are wishing all the Father's out there -- fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, godfathers, stepfathers, adoptive fathers, and Priests--the Fathers of our entire church--a very Happy and Blessed Father's Day!
I am especially blessed this year to have my DEACON Daddy...who is coming over for dinner tonight and will be blessing our (not-so-very) new house! ;o) I feel so close to my Dad this year, in many special ways since he was ordained and I have been growing deeper in my spiritual life as well. I'm honored to call him my Dad and so blessed to have him as my friend in life.

We're also remembering all those who have lost their fathers, and in a special way we are remembering my grandfather, John Joseph "Jack" Faber today... we love and miss you Grandpa! (We know you're having a great Father's day with our heavenly father today)

As I told my husband in his card... we are so blessed. The kids and I love him so very much, and cherish him. Michael is the head of our family, the strength we cling to, the love and support we treasure and the happiness we cherish. He makes us laugh so much, he helps us to be always filled with joy. He provides for us always... working hard and tirelessly to keep us happy and healthy. He brings us peace... we don't feel complete unless he's home with us. Watching Michael be a Daddy has been a blessing to me and continues to be. He has taught me how to love our children more unconditionally and to trust in God's love and assistance in this job as parents. I love him so much... and we are ALL truly so happy and blessed to call him our own!

Happy Father's Day, Michael!

Love,
Lisa,
Josiah, Alex, Lydia, and Benjamin

Josiah's New Bike

This new bike is special. And not because of it's super cool shiny detailed squishy seat, or it's flame covered handlebars and wheels, or it's Lightning McQueen CARS decals, or because of it's fancy bag on the front carrying an entire "racing kit" ...tiny cones and checkered flag included.

It's special because of the little boy riding it.

Josiah is growing up right in front of our eyes. He has always been the type of kid to ask and observe first... then take part later when he deems it is a safe and fun activity. ;)

Take jumping in the leaves for example... Daddy had to SHOW him how to do it and get him to believe him that it was fun, and not just crazy. Now, Josiah will jump in leaves like a maniac until we make him stop.

Bike riding was no exception. Josiah was simply just not ready I guess, until he turned 5. It helps that we finally have a bike his size, but the other day he just hopped on Lydia's and began riding. Before that, it took threats and bribes to get him to try biking on a bike with pedals. He'd happily sit his humongous 4 and a half year old self on a tiny baby schoochy bike (that's what we call 'em!) and he'd scooch around.

I was like, "seriously!?" get with it kid! But anyway...

Now he must've been ready. In his own timing... he has been riding his bike around like crazy now and it so excited to be such a "big kid". He still doesn't like going very fast, and he is still wearing pads on every joint of his body, but hey, he's a big kid. I told him he probably only needed his helmet on to ride around the court, and that he most likely wasn't going to fall off on a flat surface riding slowly, but he insisted on wearing the pads. (He really just feels special wearing them, and will sometimes wear them around the house proudly hollering that he's a "warrior!!!" So you know... whatever.) At least I know if he falls, he'd be basically no better off unless he was wrapped in bubble wrap. These kids do have their mother's clumsy gene you know! Lydia probably WILL have to learn to ride a bike wrapped in bubble wrap. That poor accident prone child.

Back to the point... here is Josiah, on his new bike...enjoy! :)

Josiah helped Daddy assemble his new bike and then pump air into the tires. 

Daddy and Josiah riding their bikes!

(You'd think I planned the yellow shirts... but it's totally coincidence. So cute!) 

Josiah happy... so proud of himself. We are so proud of him too :)

                       ...Riding off into the next phase of our lives... having a 5 year old is new and exciting! :)

Happy Birthday, Josiah!

Josiah- our first camping trip- May 2011

My little boy... my first born baby... is 5 years old. He turned 5 on Sunday, May 29th.
A couple friends have asked me, "So how ya feeling now that Josiah is 5?" and I responded, "totally fine". It's true, but I think that is only because I had a meltdown when Josiah turned 4!! I'm not sure why it hit when he was 4 years old, but something about it hit me like a ton of bricks. Maybe it was because Josiah was doing all the things a normal 5 year old would do, at age 4. Like starting up kindergarten, becoming more independent, and not needing Mommy so much in general... really becoming his own little person. Anyway that meltdown only lasted a few weeks, then I realized I better just enjoy the moment before he turns 15 ;)

Josiah has been such a tremendous blessing to our lives. He is funny and very silly, loves to play with his best friend and sister, and dote and snuggle on his little brother. He loves to make up imaginary names to fancy LEGO cars he builds, and make up fancy elaborate stories as well. He likes to draw and color, especially forming pictures around stickers and making up fancy "machines" and things that do something-or-other. He is very caring and compassionate. He is also very helpful, but is going through a "I don't wanna help, I just wanna play!" kinda phase too. I'm sure we'll balance it all out. ;) He's getting so tall, and watching him run around it makes me feel like he is 7 or 8. His speech and vocabulary of course, make him sound like he's 17 ...or maybe 27. ;o) His intelligence goes without having to say usually... he is very smart. He has completed his kindergarten curriculum, religion, math, and reading/phonics/handwriting. He is reading on about a 1st- 2nd grade level, from what I can tell without an official evaluation. The books he reads from the library are Level 2 readers and he reads those with ease. We've dabbled in science and of course done many arts and crafts, but haven't studied art or music yet. He can play twinkle twinkle little star on the piano- but says he wants to "play the trombone like Daddy!" haha. This year I'm sure will bring many new things... perhaps starting an instrument, and probably starting up a team sport in the fall.

Josiah is so SILLY and loves to be SILLY. :o) He loves to make up jokes and is finally able to make up some that actually make sense and are funny. His most recent joke? "What do you get when you roll a witch down the beach?.... a sandwich!"  touche my boy! Good word play.

He's also really dramatic. So much so that Mommy gets preeeeeetty sick of it. Let's just say that I can't wait until his flare for the dramatic can be harnessed on a STAGE perhaps? Rather than in my house? Who knows, maybe he has a calling to the arts. I guess time will tell...  until then we're trying to work on his incessant exaggerating of things and help him just relax a little and chill out. ;o)

He loves God so much and immediately asks "Do you forgive me?" when he knows he has hurt someone or made a mistake. He remembers to pray every time we pass the local abortion clinic in our van... and prays throughout his day for someone he knows is sick or hurting. He stops to pray every time someone gets hurt when we are playing, and likes to ask deep questions about Jesus. Sometimes I think he has the faith figured out more than I do... but children are blessed like that. They accept readily what they already feel in their hearts. The truth that they feel and know, before the world has tried to convince them it is false. I know God has big plans for this little boy, and I can't wait to watch him carry them out!

In honor of Josiah... a little acrostic for his 5th year:

J -  joyful
O - outgoing
S - silly
I -  intelligent
A - artistic
H - holy, happy

We all love you Josiah and pray we get to spend many many more years celebrating the gift of your life!

She is really cute.

It's just not possible to find words to describe how cute she is!

First Camping Trip!

This past weekend the kiddos (Josiah and Lydia) had their first camping trip! We went with Grandma and Grandpa to a nearby campground and stayed with them in their camper. Daddy and Benjamin stayed home to get some work done around the house... and boy did Daddy work! His gift to me this Mother's Day was to clean the house while I was away, and I've never seen this house look so fabulous as when I returned. I don't know how he got so much done! He must've worked really hard, and I'm so grateful for his love and care. It was a wonderful idea and a great gift!

We all had a blast camping. Some of the highlights would be the hikes we took, several different playgrounds we played on (we borrowed Benjamin for a bit on Saturday and he was a lot of fun! Lots of room for him to run) a little animal show that happened on Saturday night with animals brought from the aviary at the nature center, as well as the kids first smores! Lots of fun memories made, and we're all planning to go camping again soon... with Daddy and Ben this time! ;)

Grandpa and Josiah

Eating YUMMY meals at the campsite.

We drove and hiked by this fallen tree... Dad counted the rings and it appears to be (at least) 75 years old!

The kids on one of the playgrounds

Josiah helping Grandpa saw wood pieces for the campfire

Turtle we saw at the animal show

Small owl --one of three she brought...(This was a screech owl I think?)

Roasting marshmallows with Grandpa

Mmmm Yummy!

Lydia's SMORE face :)

Josiah loved his smore!

Mommy invented the GF smore- gluten free pretzel sticks, chocolate and marshmallow. Hard to handle and messy to eat, but delish! :)

Lydia was just so full of joy from being outside all weekend, eating chocolate, and staying up late, that she was just DANCING around... so cute!

Big rock on one of our hikes

Hike to the river. Me and my girl

She's the adventurous one... took off her shoes with me and splashed her feet in the river.

The diva swinging

Best Buds

They would walk around the campsite with their little paper bags I brought and collect "nature treasures"

My big boy Benjamin! He loved the see saw!

Grandpa and Josiah exploring

Grandma and Ben swingin'

We hiked and found a dam! 

(ahem... afterwards we read the sign and saw we weren't supposed to be down there... hahaha- Oh well!)

It was really neat!

Lydia putting her pajamas on her head... this is what happens when you let your 2 year old stay up late and snack on sugar ;o) 

Lydia and Josiah also tasted honeysuckles for the first time... fun! :)

Cat in the Hat

Such a rainy week,

What to do about that?

Why not dress up, 

as the Cat in the Hat?

It'll be fun, so much fun you see,

Mommy has face paint and silly we'll be!

We'll wear big hats and bow ties too,

Dress up in black and white like the Cat would do,

We'll rhyme all day long,

and make funny names,

we'll sing silly songs,

read books and play games!

For dinner we'll eat green pancakes with syrup,

what a wonderful way to make silly kids cheer up!

The Big Day...

My Dad's ordination is coming up this weekend and we are all so excited. I can't believe after 4 years of study and preparation, this day has finally come. We're all so proud of him for allowing God to guide him in this new vocation in life. We're also proud of Mom... being there to support him and share her husband with the church community and with everyone, to promote our faith. We can't wait to witness this event and celebrate with them! ...only 4 more days of life in the Laity Dad...