'Cuz we LOVE them!

 Now that Anna is 4 months we have begun traveling to the places that have been neglected for awhile.  Both of my sisters and their families live in KC (and Todd's sister, uncle and Great Grandma) so it always makes for a busy/fun trip!   Our first stop was at the Lewis household where we had some fun with our cousin Roman.   We spent most of our time in the great outdoors hunting for worms, going on adventure walks, playing at the playground and my personal favorite roasting S'mores!   The boys get a long so well and even included lil' Anna in some of their fun.  

Our next stop was at the Twenter household with our cousins Brett, Davis and Libby.  It was Brett's first communion on Sunday and unfortunately we had to skip out on the actual service due to naps but you can read about it here and here.  He is such a big boy!!  Brett was actually one of the main reasons we traveled to KC when we did.   It not only was his first communion, but we went to "help" my sister out during one of his sessions of BRAIN BALANCE an intense autism therapy that works on the "weaker" connections of the brain.   You can help support Brett and their family this month during Autism Awareness.   You can read more about his story and ways you can help here. 

While at Rachel's we also received some TLC and honest to good fun!   Eli discovered his love for Alvin and the Chipmunks (so much so that we rented the 'Squeakuel' when we got home.) It has everything this kid loves: silliness, destructiveness, singing and dancing!!   See the pic below of them dancing to the credits (Rachel and I had to rewind the credits several times)   

We continued to enjoy good weather and spent the time outdoors playing sports, swinging, eating popsicles and launching rockets (the last activity had to be strictly monitored due to the high interest).  At one point Eli even took it a step to far...

Finally we had to say goodbye, cuz' it was time to go home and see Daddy.  We always have such a great time and come home with new things that we've learned from our older and wiser cousins : )  (like using the word 'poop booty' but even more important than the potty words was interest in actually using the potty!)  Below are some fun farting....I mean parting pictures!   Can't wait to see everyone again soon!!  

Eli-isms

Eli continues to crack us up.   This age is just so bitter-sweet, but I want to keep focusing on the sweet when I can!

*Eli has started turning everything into a gun (wait for my next blog post for a picture to exemplify this).   No, we do not have guns in our house.  No we do not let him watch Terminator.   I think it comes from this little thing called testosterone.  He also loves pestering his sister.   He took a toy and was shooting it at her and making loud gun noises.  I said, "no Eli.  You need to be gentle with your sister."  So Eli then continued to shoot her, but instead made his gun noises quieter : ) 
*People have started commenting on Eli's height.   When asked, "Eli are you tall?"  His response was, "No, I'm a boy"
*While Todd was getting ready for work he said, "Dad I'm sorry you have to go to work".   They start early : )  (I swear Todd doesn't complain about work that much...)
*At dinner Todd always asks Eli what he did that day.  One night Eli beat Todd to the punch.  He put his hand gently on Todd arm and said, "Dad, how was school today?"  
*Eli's drawings have become a lot more intentional.   Eventhough I haven't a clue what he is drawing, he does.  So I decided to start labeling his pictures with what they are to help people out : )  One day I asked what he was drawing and he said, "Pizza".  So I wrote P-I-Z-Z-A on the bottom of his picture.  He said, "No! E-L-I, Eli".    (He obviously thought I was trying to sign his name and that I had forgotten how to spell it.)
*One night we were hanging out in Anna's room and I was telling him the story of how it was his room at one time, what it looked like, ect.   When I was done he said, "Oh, that's so sweet." 
*Lately he's been getting himself ready and out the door (with A LOT OF HELP).  One day while I was following him to the car I realized he had stopped and was talking to a plant along the way.  I heard, "Hi my name is Eli, what is your name?" 
*In the car on the way home from my parent's house Eli was telling me all about an ant on his window and what it was doing, where it lived, ect.   When we got home thoughtless me was letting him out of his seat, saw the ant on the window and flung him off.   The look on his face was heartbreaking!  I settled him down by telling him that I was just sending the ant home (to the ground) for bed time. 
*Along with the arrival of his sister came some renewed aggression and some renewed timeouts.  After he hurts someone I typically make him go and and apologize and hug whomever he hurt (lately it is his sister 90% of the time).   One day I put him in timeout for turning on the tv after I asked him not to.   After timeout he walked over to the tv and apologized for turning him on : )
*We were riding home in the car one evening and Anna was crying.  Todd and I have learned to tune it out and started having a conversation/turned up the music. (awesome parents, right?) I finally realized she had stopped crying and heard a sweet little voice in the back seat. I turned down the music to hear what was going on and Eli was singing his sister her goodnight song (the same one we sing to him).  When we weren't willing to go the extra mile, Eli took the initiative!   

Anna and Ashleigh

Let me give you a little history first.   I have known Doug since....forever : )   Doug is my cousin (my mom's sister's son) and is 3 years older than me.   I would like to say that we've always been super close but I was the youngest cousin so I am guessing it is just uncool to be friends with the youngest (poor Anna).   Lets skip ahead to 7 years ago when Doug moved to St. Louis (correct me if I'm wrong mom, I know you will) after accepting a job at STAGES.   We started hanging out more and Doug eventually started attending our church.  We joined a "house group" together, and after getting to know him more and more as a friend I realized how PERFECT he would be for my friend, Christi. 

I met Christi my first week at MIZZOU.   She was at Todd's first apartment hanging out with mutual friends and we just hit it off.  We attending RUF (campus ministry) together and eventually met together with a small group of girls on a weekly basis.   I have never met a more fun, loving and loyal friend!   Oh and let me just add that she sang showtunes to herself just for fun : ) 

So I played matchmaker and invited them both to my house for a party (I forget the original reason but neither of them were aware I was doing this) and Christi just happened to bring Doug's fave dessert...gooey butter cake.   Let's just say it was love and first sight and they talked on our back porch the entire night (and no I was not giggling at them from the window.)  

Now they have been married for 4 years and have a baby girl, Ashleigh Grace, born less than 2 months after Anna!   The only unfortunate part is that they moved to Tucson, AZ and the girls just now had a chance to meet.    Thanks to our friend Katrina we had a little photo shoot while hanging out with that same group of girls that met in college (so great seeing you girls!!)  If you are interested in going through 87 photos (narrowed down from 210!) go to our shutterfly site to the right.   If not, here are just a few of my faves!   Enjoy!

**Be looking for the boutique "Anna and Ashleigh" coming to a town near you in the year 2040.**

To read more about the Provosts, (Doug, Christi and Ashleigh) click here. 

Easter Recap

Before I get ahead of myself (I now have 2 more blog posts in the works) I wanted to capture Easter because it was such an amazingly fun weekend.

We kicked off the weekend with a Bunny Breakfast at my parent's church.   They provided games, Easter egg hunts and the Easter bunny!  Eli had a blast.    

Next, the Dad's took all the kids on an "adventure" to Castlewood Park.  They had so much fun seeing dog's, trains, and most of all the great outdoors!!

When they arrived home, Grandma took them on a walk (a. k. a. parade) around the block wearing costumes! 
 The fun day then had to come to an end so we celebrated Davis' Birthday and said goodnight so we could have a good nights sleep before Easter.  

Easter morning after getting the kids all dolled up (eli complete with a hat and tie!) we rushed out the door (without pictures) to make the service by 8:30 am.   We decided to take some short cuts and poor Eli got carsick about 5 min from the church : (   So after we cleaned him up, watched a Dora Easter special (after I tried to read him the story of Easter from his Bible...) the other kids came home and found that the Easter bunny was busy while they were away!  

After breakfast the kids were officially ready to begin "THE HUNT".    The hunt is a serious tradition in my family.  Lets just say I have never NOT hunted...I am 30...I am the youngest (adult).    We even have a rule book that is strictly followed : )  I am beginning to think this may never change and I sure hope it doesn't!! 

 All in all we just had the perfect Easter weekend.   We had beautiful weather, enjoyed family....

... it was pretty much all it was cracked up to be!! 

When the weekend came to an end, the kids were completely wiped out...

...and with the joy of the weekend in my heart I was able to reflect on all the Lord blessed us with through his resurrection.  I love this refrain of "Amazing Grace"  remake from Chris Tomlin, and think it is such a beautiful picture of the story of Easter.   

My chains are gone; I’ve been set free. My God, my Savior, has ransomed me. And like a flood, His mercy reigns. Unending love. Amazing grace.

May the true story of Easter dwell in your hearts all year long!  

March Photos...

....are here!!!  Click on the link to the right...

Happy Easter!

HAPPY EASTER

Romans 1:4-5
And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

Philippians 3:10-12
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me .

Looking like Rock Stars

This past weekend we attended one of the "raddest" birthday parties...ever. Eli's friend, Grayson, turned 3 and his parents decided to do a Rock Star party for him. Knowing Grayson, this party was PERFECT for him. *Sidenote: Grayson sang "Party in the USA" to himself while taking a nap at our house* Eli also loves to Rock it so we were thrilled when we were all invited to the party. When they encouraged us to dress up we were even more thrilled. After a Saturday spent preparing (I'm talking about us, who knows how long they spent...) and some chump change later we were ready to rock out.

 *Eli and Todd arriving to the party...too cool

*The STAR of the show, Grayson

*The schedule of Events:
Gray Sky was the happening night club where there was a black light, glow sticks and loud music...I know.   At one point it was"one in and one out" it was so popular.  

Batman Burgers was a McDonalds drive thru complete with wrappers and happy meals.  Grayson was in charge of taking peoples money and giving them their food.  At one point he turned to his mom and said, "when do I get to eat, Mom?".  

Rock Star Concert were performances by the kids...Eli starred with Grayson as "GRADIO HEADS".  

 Of course Eli's favorite was the drums (once they were unveiled...hidden under the brown blanket above)  I was thinking we should get a set for Grandma's house...

All in all we had a rockin' good time!  Thanks Janous family!!!!!!!