wanting to pause

Now that Grace is sleeping through the night, I wish I could slow down the time...

 

Not my ideal set up for our foyer and formal living room, but I'm loving it.

Ying did a great job capturing some fun in our only real snow day.

 These 2 use to be much closer in height, but Noah hit a MAJOR growth spurt. You don't eat much for lunch, but you sure make up for it during dinner.

 Over Spring break you guys named yourselves the "polar bears in underwear" and ran around the house chanting it.

 I think this has happened before...

 These 2 melt my heart. I love their relationship. Eli loves spending time with Chloe when she comes home from preschool and Chloe does a great job caring for him. 

 And I love this relationship too. Gracie loves. loves, loves how Noah plays with her. He is so sweet and gentle with her.  She too is very excited when he comes home from school.

S'more time with our dear friends! We are blessed with wonderful neighbors!

We got hit pretty badly with sickness for 3 weeks straight in March. Danny was the first to go down and this was Noah's "get well" notes for him. I really appreciated Noah's gospel message to him!

 So this is Noah and Chloe's toothbrushes suctioned to the bathroom ceiling. I'm not sure how this came about. Maybe mommy has been to OCD about keeping them away and separated after 2 rounds of strep?

A busy spring break. Easter craft, egg coloring, and our first fairy garden (thanks to Ms. Lauren.)

 First Costco trip with 4. 

 You guys picked and arranged all these flowers for me after being outside on a cooler morning. Noah said, "Mom we picked so many because you are so beautiful." You guys are so sweet. You made my year! 

 Snuggling with Eli on the porch swing because he wanted to wait for the recycle truck.

And last but not least, this baby is 10 months old!!  I can't get enough of you and your dimples!!



After a post like this, I want you kiddos to remember that I blog all the wonderful memories and graces in our lives. These are just times that I am grateful for, and it is very helpful for me to appreciate and remember these things in the midst of our craziness. We are blessed, but our lives are not always picture perfect. I obviously don't have pictures of the name-calling, pushing, throwing, yelling, complaining, and the list goes on... Our hearts are messy, but God is greater than our heart. His love compels us each day in the midst of ALL the joy AND in ALL the times were we feel like we are striving for each moment.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."  -1 Peter 1:3-9