Five Years Ago Today ...

This morning when I was feeding Jake at 4:30, I couldn't help but remember that Brian and I were up at this time exactly five years ago -- Tuesday, Sept. 30. We voluntarily awoke to our alarm at 4:30 a.m. and eagerly put our carefully-packed bags into the car. We had been anticipating the moment for months and it finally arrived! We were heading to Hawaii. It would be no ordinary trip, as we would return home as husband and wife. Today all of those memories come flooding back. So much has changed in the past five years but in some ways it seems like yesterday when we arrived in Maui and walked along the beach.

Brothers Part II

Trendsetter

Sam is quite the goofball and here are a couple pictures to prove it. They were both taken during the past week. Maybe he has a future in fashion design ??

"Two Boys"

Like most two-year-olds, Sam is quite observant and likes to talk about everything. He often says "two boys", and then fills in the blank with whatever. For example, "Two boys ... drinking milk" or "Two boys ... riding bikes", etc. The best was on a Saturday morning when he and Brian were watching cartoons. He turned to Brian and said, "two boys ... in bed". He used to say this about himself and Brian, but now he's starting to say it about himself and Jake.

Fran's Clan

On Saturday, the boys and I walked in the Alzheimer's Association walk in Marshalltown to help raise money and awareness for the disease. Brian's grandma, Fran, has this devastating disease so all the women (and kids) on that side of the family walked together in honor of her. Our team was called "Fran's Clan". It was a lot of fun, and all for a good cause! Thanks, Julie, for organizing this! Hopefully we will hear some good news from you in the next week or so!! :-)

Prayer Request

The son of some good family friends was in a terrible ATV accident on Sept. 6 (this family introduced my mom to Lynn, and I grew up with their daughter). Jeff is doing better than expected, but is not out of the woods yet. It could take a full year for his recovery. Any extra thoughts and prayers for the Moore family are greatly appreciated. You can read about Jeff here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeffmoore.

The Week in Pictures ...

Smilin' Jake

One more video I forgot about ...

Here's the Church, Here's the Steeple ...

I forgot I made this video last week; it's Sam teaching Jake 'here's the church, here's the steeple, open the doors and see all the people'. (At the end you hear him saying "all done, all done". He absolutely loves to hold his baby brother, but whenever there is any hint of fussing on Jake's part, immediately Sam is "all done".)

Brothers

Okay, so Sam had a bad day last week (see "Naughty Boy" post below). But then there are moments like these that make me appreciate that these two, healthy, sweet boys were given to us from God. We truly are blessed. Hopefully we don't screw them up too badly. :-)

Fun-filled Weekend

On Saturday, Sam and I went to the Pufferbilly Days parade in Boone while Brian stayed home with Jake. Then we all went to a street dance in Gilman to help celebrate aunt Sue's 50th birthday. Sam got to dance with his cousins and he kept repeating "dark 'side, dark 'side". He was amazed it was dark outside -- and he was out there! He had fun listening to his very first live band and running around with his cousins. We also got to introduce Jake to his great-grandpa Burchland for the first time. Jake also met most of his extended family on the Knoll side, which was neat. He has another little cousin who's just two weeks older than him so it was fun to meet her as well.

Naughty Boy

Last week, Sam was upset about something ... can't really remember what right now ... but here's a few pictures that Brian took after the 'temper tantrum'. This was by far his worst, but he has been known to pick up his bed a few times recently and rearrange his room. Ahh, the fun times of life with a two-year-old and a newborn! :-)