Toothbrushin' Time

Book Worm

Tar Heel Family

What Does the Lobster Say?

My dad always used to do this with us. Haven't gotten him to do the fish face yet. You also get to hear Josiah's baby (aka grating) voice.

Carolina in My Mind

We took the boys to see the Tar Heels play Boston College in basketball yesterday.

Aspiring to greatness.
We also got to explain to Josiah that his existence depended on Daddy proposing to Mommy at that place.

I'm a Tar Heel born; I'm a Tar Heel bred...

Josiah Says

Josiah's had a couple of good ones lately:

To preface the story, we had just heard Dad Moseley tell a beautiful story as part of his sermon. He was talking about the promises of Christ in the Old Testament, and he told a story of a promise he made to Jonathan as a baby. He recounted how he'd been walking baby Jonathan in the middle of the night, and he began promising him that he'd always be there for him. It was so touching, and I cried through the whole thing.

I was getting Josiah out of the bathtub tonight, and we were having our normal towel snuggle. Josiah said, “Momma, I love it when you snuggle with me. It makes me feel all warm.” I said, “I love snuggling you too. I love being around you.”

Then I tried to channel Dad Moseley’s sermon and added, “And I will always be there for you, Josiah, I want you to know that even…”

Josiah interrupts me with a genuine laugh. “Oh Momma, don’t be silly, you’re not God!”

Wow. I can’t believe my 4-year-old understands the truth that God will be there for him when Momma or Daddy can’t. It was humbling. Of course, if he’d heard how precious the story in the sermon was, he might not have interrupted. One again, God uses the mouth of babes to teach me important truths.

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To preface this story, we've been listening to an awesome CD that Parker and Rachel gave us Slugs and Bugs: Under Where? And one of the songs is called, "God Makes Messy Things Beautiful." Earlier, Josiah had picked me some flowers, really just buds. Later at lunch, Josiah went through a whole story telling me how if he had a flower that was broken or dying, he would take the flower and go right up to Jesus and put it in his hands. Then he would take the flower back down here and give it to me.

He Shoots...He Scores!

They love their basketball hoop! Thanks Mimi and Granddaddy!

Anna Came to Visit

My Attempt at a Christmas Card Picture

On the way to Christmas Eve service with Trinity Fellowship Church

We ate take-out Chinese food afterward. I think this might become a new tradition; I loved it! Unique, memorable and tasty (and I didn't have cook after a 5:30 p.m. service).

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas Day at our home, just the four of us.

Delving into the stocking.

Our kind neighbor gave this to us. It's sort of a music box with a train the goes around in the middle. Both the boys love it. Micah plays it and dances to the music. I might put it away except it occupies the boys so well!

With one of his gifts: Finn McMissle from Cars 2 that transforms into a spy car, submarine or hydrofoil.

Our children's nativity at the end of the season. Josiah was really into setting it up in different ways when we first brought it out. My favorite set-up he did was baby Jesus in the middle with everyone else with their backs toward us, facing Jesus. As it should be.

One of Micah's favorites: a Little People fire engine. He loves the boat he has in the bathtub that's similar. He's really good at stacking the blocks and sticking them in the holes. Blocks and puzzles are two things I perceive him doing better than Josiah at this age.

Micah wanted to go outside barefoot in his pajamas in the cold. And here he is regretting his decision. Aren't we awesome parents?

Our Christmas feast: homemade chicken fingers, mac & cheese, sweet potatoes, homemade honey mustard. Since it was just the four of us, why would I bust out a ham or turkey? My family was much happier with this meal, and I rarely do homemade chicken fingers because they're time-intensive.

And we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus with apple crisp. Because I was tired of throwing away 3/4 of a cake each year. I think Jesus would be pleased with apple crisp (and so was the rest of the family).

We started a new tradition this year, a Jesse tree. Each ornament has a symbol of an Old Testament foreshadowing of Christ. Josiah really got into it. Some of the stories were easier to connect than others. What I learned from this was that Josiah can handle long readings directly from the Bible, as opposed to storybook Bibles. I think we'll have to start incorporating more direct readings this year. I don't know if absorbed as much, but he seemed to listen intently.

More Christmas in Atlanta

Being silly with Aunt Rachel

Too much Christmas fun=tuckered little boy

Tuckered out boy #2

Gabriella and Deana came for a visit and gave Josiah and Micah these cute critter hats. My favorite moment was when Josiah came up to Gabriella as she was leaving and said "Feliz Navidad" and scampered away bashfully. We'd heard the song on the radio, and I told him if he met someone who spoke Spanish he could say that to them. I prompted him, but it was still really cute.

Loves dogs. Allergic to dogs.

Loves yogurt. Wears yogurt.

Wind chimes

Wagon ride with Pa and Sandy

My favorite memory of our time there was at dinner on Thursday night. Ryan, Susan and Davis came over, and it was time to say the blessing. Josiah requested to sing his preschool blessing, as usual (it's the Johnny Appleseed song). We said he could after Nana said the blessing. Nana started, "Dear Lord..." and got choked up and paused for a while trying to continue. After about 10 seconds, Josiah bursts into " "Oh the Lord's been good to me, and so I thank the Lord..." It's really what Mom wanted to say anyway, right?

Cutie Abigail

Just before Christmas we got to spend a few day in Atlanta with Mom and Dad, Parker and Rachel, and of course - Abigail!

I wooed her with my funky glasses.

Josiah giving Abigail a kiss.

With her pretty Mama.

I think her Dad is pretty great too.