It's a....

GIRL!!




We had our ultrasound two days ago, after much modesty she finally showed us the goods. Mady and Jim went with me to my appointment. During the ultrasound the technician let Mady run the machine over my belly. She was talking to her and saying "Hi Sissy!" and everytime she would say "Hi Sissy" she would punch her little arm out. Mady was so excited, we all were actually, it was quite a moment being all together. I cried when it was over because I wanted a sister for my sweet little girl so much. I love my sister so much and couldn't imagine my life without her and really wanted Mady to have theat bond. Jim didn't cry but he was disappointed a little but was happy that I was so happy and said that that made up for any feelings he was having. There is a 5% chance it is a boy with girls they never like to say 100%. So he might still be holding out hope. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me over the past few months. We are looking forward to August and meeting our new little girl!

ps this is not picture of her just a utero picture of baby at 22 weeks.

The Bride and the Race Car Driver

Our Weekend

Our weekend was good we took the kids down to the tide pools in La Jolla. It was Aslan's first time being able to explore, which he did to the fullest measure. He didn't quite understand that you weren't supposed swim in the little puddle of water. He was soaked head to toe, we had put rain boots on Mady so she was perfectly fine, Jim and I joked that we had put the boots on the wrong kid. Not that they would have stayed on with all of the falling. hehe. Sunday we went to the beach again after church, was a little windy, but still a good day. This weekend we are getting new carpets put in all of our bedrooms so we are going to stay with a friend a little north of here for the weekend. It's been a mixed blessing because it's kind of like moving in that everything has to come out of the rooms, but good in that it's forcing me to take stock of what I have and organize those closets and get rid of lots of stuff we don't need. Oh and I booked my tickets back to Virginia for the summer, I will be there June 11th- June 24th. We have a beach cottage in the Outer Banks for part of that time but i am excited that I get to see my dear friend Ginger's new baby! That's all for now, have a great weekend everyone.

It's Christmas Time

Last night we went and got our tree, we got it home and unpacked the decorations and then forgot that we threw out our tree stand last year. SO I had to make an emergency run to Target, by the time I got back Aslan was too tired to help decorate(sorry buddy maybe next year). So Mady and I decorated the tree and Jim watched for a little while and then fell asleep on the couch. Then Mady and I snuggled under the tree and read a book and we both fell asleep. She is so excited for Christmas to be here. I can't really put presents for her or Aslan under the tree until right before Christmas because the temptation is too much. We started our Advent Calender it has little prayers in each box so we get to pray with her everynight, most of the prayer are about being grateful. I still haven't finished my Christmas cards need to get that going this week. Lots to do and fun to have this is one of my favorite times of the year.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We spent some time with friends over the weekend. Thanksgiving we spent Thanksgiving with the Shirley's. Jim was sick though and did not come to dinner so it was just Mady and myself and Aslan came later after his nap. We did have a good time of just relaxing and dinner was delicious, but we did miss daddy being there. We went to the beach all day on Saturday and then had friends over Saturday night for game night. Sunday was church and the guys went golfing after, so Jenna and I just hung out at my house and read magazines and then had some dinner and fun with the kids. Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving, I tried to post on Thanksgiving but our internet was not working.

Happenings

Jim and I have decided to pull Mady out of her preschool. I had had some reservations since the beginning of the year after a few incindents that happened. Then last week I helped in her classrooms and afterwards I just felt a pit in my stomach all day and night. There are just a group of boys in her class that are just way out of line. They seem to really dominate the atmosphere in the class, and it makes the rest of the kids suffer. It is not a learning based preschool so the emphasis would be on the playing/creative aspect and my thought is that is if she is not being built up and encouraged as a person then why bother. Jim has been supportive and thinks that it is the best decision. I haven't told the teacher or the director of the school yet, I thought I would wait until after Thanksgiving break. I am going to just start schooling her at home and doing more crafts with her at home. I do need craft project ideas though for anyone out there reading this far!!! We will use some of the money were were spending on her school to build a craft corner in our house. I am sad that it is not going to work out however this next year of her development is so important to much to risk being feed the wrong things/ideas. I know God is sovereign on all things and that will still work all things for good in Mady's life i just feel it is too early in her life to have the discussion of pointing out differences in people with gospel in their lives and people without the gospel in their lives.

Quotes of the week:

Mady-

" Mommy I like my new Hello Pitty bandaids you got me"

Swinging on the swing out back I am explaining what the word cordinated means, I say "to have control of your body", right as I finished the words, she accidently does a backflip off the swing and lands on her back, she is crying for moment and then realizes, " That was not cordinated was it mommy" We both were crying with laughter.

" Mommy will you sit with me outside while I finish my lunch" "Sure" I reply. After I sit down She looks out at the sky for awhile and the looks at me and says,
" Mommy I love you all the way up to heaven"

Aslan-

He knows the sign langage for More and Please and Thank You. Most of his day her points to what he wants and then signs more please. He says MaMa ALOT, but everytime he says it I love it because he really doesn't say much, except NANA for banana, DADA, swng for swing,
I sing to him every night and every naptime the same song, so now when he's tired he will come up to me and hug me and start to sing the song to me:)

He loves his Sissy and loves to wrestle with her. I am so happy that she likes to wrestle too! They really make each other laugh so much and don't really fight much. I am enjoying this season with them so much.

Fire Update

We have been spending lots of time indoors as the air quality is pretty bad. When you go outside for any length of time you feel as if you have just smoked a few cigarettes( yes unfortunatley I know what this feels like). Aslan has had a bad cough over the last few days that have kept him up at night due to the air. It seems to be hitting the little ones harder than Jim and I. This picture was taken the one time I did let the kids go out so I could water the lawn, it was very dry from all the smoke. I couldn't stand to see their little faces looking so longingly at the hose so I let them out for just a few minutes. Alsan especially enjoyed holding the hose. Now having the swing set in the back yard is like having a carrot dangling in front of them every day since they can't go out and play with it. We hope and pray that this will be over soon and life can return to normal for all of us. I am headed to get some pumpkins today and let the kids paint pumpkins then maybe Jim will carve them later with the kids.

Fire Storm

As most of you know we were evacuated for a couple of days from our house in San Diego. Although we are still under a mandatory evacuation from our neighborhood we are back home as of last night. The big witch fire is north of us about 8 miles and to the east of us about 10 miles. Jim and I both feel okay about being here for now, we obviously are watching the tele for updates. So far all the families in our church have been accounted for, and no one has lost their home, PRAISE GOD! A few are on the border of the fires and there is concern now about another fire north of here called the rice fire that could get homes up in north escondido. Also the fire south of here is threatening homes in east county. But as for us we are safe and are home today just cleaning up all the ash off of our back patio, spraying down all the furniture and swing set,etc. I accidently left a window open so there was ash in the house as well that I just finished cleaning up. It's pretty dirty and I constantly feel thirsty from the air quality being so poor. Thank you all for your prayers, Jim obviously is not working right now so please pray for the Lord to provide for us finiancially as there is no money coming in now or in the near future, a bit scary as the first of the month is rolling around. We are trusting in His faithfulness to us. I will keep you posted. Love to you all and am so grateful for all the calls and emails.

My Little Princess

I gave Mady her Dress Up Day costume a little early. The girls had so much fun on Sunday playing with them and twirling around. Sweet reminders of all that is truly important in my life. It also prompted me to think, maybe her pretend world is what is real, and the world I live in is the one that is filled with falsehood. In her world she ready's herself for a prince, dresses herself and adorns herself with jewels. Waiting in anxious anticipation for her prince. In her world he really is coming and she delights in the waiting, twirling and dancing and singing. She lives more heavenly minded than she even realizes, what an example to me to anxiously await my prince Jesus and to delight myself in him while I wait to journey back to my REAL home.

photo by carissa batten

My Week

Last week was one of those weeks that I look back on and breath a sigh of relief that it is over. I am thankful that nothing serious happened however it was a rough one to walk through. Saturday Mady slipped off the counter and split her lip, lots of blood and crying, then after church the next day she started throwing up on me, the floor, turns out it was just the beginnings of a bad cold. Next day she opened the TV cabinet on Aslan's face and chipped his front tooth. He looks like a little redneck now. That same night as Mady was geting undressed for the bath I was wiping up popcicle off the floor and bending down right abover her. When she stood up she smashed into my eye with the back of her head. Lots of blood, lots of crying from myself, Aslan, and Mady just shell shocked saying, "I'm sorry mommy, i'm sorry mommy" over and over again. When the smoke cleared I had sustained a significant gash over my right eye, and had to go to Urgent Care and get a few stiches.

So Thursday I took Aslan to the dentist to make sure there wasn't any damage to the nerve. Oh boy, picture just for a moment a high energy 18 month in a confined space. Oh my goodness was that fun, he was pulling out toothbrushes, floride packets and floss from all of the drawers. Spraying himself with water from the metal tools that are connected to that silver tray that slides over you in the chair. Running up and down the aisle that all the chairs were in, pulling down everything within in reach along the way. I loved how when the dentist finally came in to give my the prognosis he just causually sits there with his legs crossed trying to show the xray. I am trying my best to listen to what he is saying as my 1 and half year old is vandolizing his office, smiling and all the while, I'm thinking will you please get to the point before he does permanent damage to himself. I love how naive most people are to an energetic toddler. The good news is he is fine just going to have a slightly crooked smile for the next 5 years or so.

Our weekend was much quieter, I got my hair done, and Sunday we had a bunch of people over after church who hung out all afternoon and evening. It was great!~ So that's why I haven't posted in a little bit, life has been full of constant surprises and reminders of God's sense of humor.

Aunt Jackie's House

1st - Mady helping to make Noah's birthday cake with Aunt Jackie

2nd - Mady splashing Aunt Jackie with cake batter, very funny!

3rd- Aslan and Big Daddy

4th- I just love his face in this picture

Surprise

Two weeks ago I went on a surprise trip visit to see my sister in Georgia. I just couldn't let the season of fresh zeal, grace and newfound joy in our Savior go by without being there to drink deeply of his love. She had no idea I was coming, I took a shuttle from the Atlanta airport to the town she lives in. When I arrived she wasn't there, she was actually at a dinner at the church. Mady came out from the bushes to say "surprise" when she got home, she was SO EXCITED to see us. From the moment I arrived I could sense the Lord's spirit in her home. Her usual reactions to things were markable different, with her children, her husband, and with life's interuptions to " our plans" for the day. The Lord's peace had come and rested her soul. She was joyous and excited, and so grateful for the books that I had brought with me to give to her. One of which was the Jesus Storybook Bible that I gave to her two sons. She was so gleeful in exclaiming to her oldest son, " Look Christian now Mommy can read to you and teach you about Jesus."

The best moment came though when we went to church together on Sunday. I watched my sister take communion as a believer and follower of Christ. Tears of joy and thankfulness streamed down both of our faces. To partake together in the Lord's supper... to hug her and hold her hand, and look into her eyes, what a blessing beyond measure. Worshiping beside her, and knowing deep in my heart that this is how we would spend eternity, worshiping our God together. God is so good, he is so faithful.

I didn't get a picture with her on my camera but I know she took one on her's so hopefully I will get to post it if she sends it to me. But I do have some others of the kids playing together and making Noah's birthday cake. Oh yes it was my newphew's 2nd birthday while we were there, as if we needed more reasons to celebrate! So I will post some pictures tomorrow. Thanks to all who prayed for me and my sister's time together, it was so very sweet.

New Swing Set

So most of you know how much I love garage sales and finding bargains. This past weekend we were on our way to a birthday party and I just had to stop at this church rummage sale near our house. As we got out of the car, Mady said mommy this isn't the party is it? I said no mommy just wants to stop here for just a second. ( I think this is going to be one of those things that my kids remember as they get older, mommy dragging them to her sales). Anyhow I have been looking for months on craigslist and sailing around and finally I spotted it outside all taken apart. A BRAND NEW SWING SET! It was all taken apart, I had the man working the sale show me how it went together. Then lady who decides the prices came out to tell me that everything was drastically reduced prices. Apparently the sale had been going for two days and they were about to close in thirty minutes. So I got this brand new swing set with slide and playhouse underneath it for $ 20.00 plus she threw the picnic table and matching sand box with lid that matched the set I had just bought. It's so cute the little table even has an umbrella that goes through the table for shade. The kids love it, they played with it in the dark the other night. Mady is telling everyone that she has a park at her house. Thank you Lord for providing such a wonderful gift for my kids, my children's friends, and all the neighborhood kids. And for making our home a place where laughter and the joys of childhood can be expressed to their fullest.

Del Mar Fair

Every year we go to the Del Mar Fair, it is quite a highlight for me and the kids. This year Mady rode her first roller coaster, she was sreeking with delight. I wish I had brought my camera on the ride, her face was a mixture of freedom and pure horror. Here is Mady riding the horses, this is all she talked about from the moment we told her we were going to the Fair. I want to ride the horses, i want to ride the horses. So here she is riding the horses. We love her thankful and joyful heart, after the ride was over instead of asking to go again over and over, she thanked us over and over again, praise you Lord for your Spirit at work in her life. She is a gift beyond measure.

My Big Boy

Here is Aslan taken just a few nights ago, he and Mady went to hang out with my friend Carissa and she took this picture of him. She really captured a part of his personality in this photo, one that is content and needs no expression, only a look. One that says I've been around the world and this is where I want to be.

Alkire Family Photo

Here is Jim's side of the family, Jim's sister Beth with her husband Matt, and her three kids, Jeremy, Josh and Katilyn. Jim's parents and us with our little ones. It was really great to spend time with them and get to know them better. I feel so blessed to be a part of such a great group of folks. Thanks Beth for being so loving with my Mady and Aslan. And Katilyn, for playing and doing crafts with Mady and for just letting her hang out with you. She really loved being with you, you are a wonderful young lady and I can't wait to see how you will blosom in the years to come. And Matt, thanks for all of your hard work with the party, you did all the man chores I asked of you without complaining, I can see God's mark of humility on your life. And of course Mom and Dad, it was so good to see you and just be with you guys, and thanks for all the toys for the kids. Let's do it again next year!!

Friends for Life

Kindred Spirits from the moment they met

Mady and Lauren

Aslan's Birthday Party

More Pictures...

"A Ball, A Ball !!!!!"

Aslan's Birthday Party

It was such a joyous day of celebrating our little man. There is nothing like a first birthday, it was a memorable one. He loved his carrot cake, he had two pieces! Yesterday he took his first steps, tomorrow he will be walking, I wish I could pause each of these special moments and put them in a jar. And when he is old he could take them out and relive them all for the first time again. May you always have that boyish laugh, may you always light up when you see people that you love. May you find every ounce of happiness that this world has to offer and may you seek to know Him who loved you first. I love you my sweet boy, mama.

ASLAN IS ONE TODAY

WHEeeeeee!!

I'm a Happy Boy

Here I Come

Standing Up

Me and my Sissy



Today is Aslan's birthday. We went ot the park today to celebrate. This year has been the fastest year of my life. I blinked and now he is turning one. When he was a baby all I could think about was him sleeping through the night, now that that's accomplished I am satisified to have him stay this age forever. He has been the biggest blessing to our family. He always wakes up happy and ready to start the day or afternoon (whichever he is awaking too). He doesn't mind his sister's attempts to hold him ten times an hour. He doesn't mind if she takes toys from him that he is chewing on, he is perfectly happy to chew on whatever is available. He loves to play with a ball, bounce a ball in front of him and his eyes light up. He likes to be chased around the house and gigggles really loudly when you catch him. He is shy around people when he first meets them but give him an hour and he's all smiles. He loves to take a bath and make splashes, and doesn't mind his sister splashing him in the face or dumping water on his head... he actually thinks it's funny. I love how God knew perfectly well who would best complement our growing family. So Happy Birthday my Big Boy!! I will post some pictures of his party ( it's on Friday ) later this week. I wish you all could be with us, you will be missed.