our date...

Thanks to our great friend and Middle School girls teacher, Brenda, and her 8th grade son, Timmy...Jeremiah and I got to go on a date this weekend.



Now, don't laugh, but I had been craving (no, I'm not pregnant) a burger from Red Robin. I know, not the most romantic dinner spot...but it hit the spot =) If you've never been to a Red Robin...you should! They have the best and most creative burgers and chicken sandwhiches.

After that we headed to finish up our "get Jeremiah stylish" operative that I had attempted a few weeks ago. I don't think we have EVER gone shopping for him together. I always just "fill in" his wardrobe at birthdays and Christmas. We had a blast picking out some new duds for him.



Side Note: It's amazing how the fashions of our high school years have already cycled through. We saw that corduroys and rugbys are the "in" thing this year =)

We finished up the night with some cozy chatting at the coffee shop. My favorite way to end the day!



Ella had fun with Brenda and Timmy and even was able to convince them that "Mommy lets me stay up" =) We did get one concerned call during dinner because they couldn't figure out how to get Ezra out of the high chair. What is so funny about this is that our high chair is probably the most minimal high chair you can possibly buy...and we removed the safety belt looooong ago when Ella was more interested in chewing on it than eating her food.

You literally just lift him in and out of it. I'm sure they wouldn't have had any problems figuring it out...BUT...Ella kept telling them that they "just haf ta take da tray off to get him out". I can't even remember if I have ever taken the tray off with Ezra, so I'm not sure where she got that one =)

What were they thinking?

Our good friends Josh and Tasha Via are getting ready to release a new worship album. We've gotten to hear it...and it is incredible! (You can check out some of their music here. )

I can say that their album cover is much better than these...

The worst Christian music album covers of all time

Daddy does the best ponytails =)

Ezra's new face...

He does this face all the time now...it cracks me up!

2 in 2

While weeding one of the front flower beds yesterday I was faced with two of my greatest fears:

1)Snake

2)Black widow spider

When we moved to the farm with all its land, pond, outbuildings, and grassy fields, I knew it was just a matter of time until I had an encounter with a snake. Jeremiah has had several already...but yesterday was my first. Now, it was just a little thing, probably of the garden variety...nothing to get all worked up about. But the fact that less than 2 minutes later I found the black widow spider kinda overwhelmed me =)

I know, I'm a wuss.

to market, to market...

One of my most favorite things that I rely on (almost) daily is just not cutting it anymore...



My Swiffer mop

I got my swiffer when I was first married and have absolutely LOVED it (as much as you can love a mop, that is). In seminary my best pal, Tasha, had one too and we would talk in amazement at how easy it was to use, how it made mopping fun, how we would look for opportunities to pull it out of the closet and let it do its magic.

I know, I know...I'm a freak. But, if I have a friend that felt the same way...what are the odds that we both are freaks?

5 years, countless batteries, boxes of refill pads and containers of cleaning solution later...I am becoming rather disappointed in my old faithful. Yes, he still does a great job at little spills and quick clean ups. But, with the baked on goodness that Ezra creates it is just not doing the job.

So...I am looking for a heavy duty mop. One that will allow me to scrub at spots. Any suggestions?

Why do I feel like I am cheating on my swiffer?

count them up...

1,2,3,4

4!

The number of days Jeremiah has off in the next five days!

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13

13!

The number of things I put on his "to do" list while he is off =)

please stand up...

please stand up,

will the real slim shady...

please stand up

When my sister Catelyn was first adopted, included in her limited english vocabulary was this eminem song.



I still smile when I remember her walking around singing that in her heavy Russian accent

more rainy day activities...

Muffin maker Ella. Yes, some did actually end up in the pan =)

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Adventures on a rainy day

A rainy day and some grocery shopping to do.

We loaded up the car and packed the bags















The Teeter of Harris has cool race car carts that the kids love to "drive"

Watch out though, I can't seem to control those things to save my life and I leave a trail of destruction in my wake =)












Three pictures that say it all:


























After getting drenched loading the kids back into the car, unloading them at home, unloading the groceries...what would a little more rain hurt?











and finally...cuddles in the bed leading up to naps for everyone.

we're walking, we're walking...

we're walking along...1, 2, 3, 4....

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elevation

Yesterday was the kick off for our new elevation service at Grey Stone.

It was incredible.










2X the amount of people showed up that we expected. 200!










The music was awesome.
Yes, I am biased...but that doesn't discredit the awesomeness =)

Pastor Clay preached the house down.

God was glorified.

It made all the work, lack of seeing Jeremiah all week, work, and more work ALL WORTH IT.

Side Note: With the addition of elevation, there are no more sunday night services at Grey Stone and our NOOMA college bible study has ended for the summer. That means Jeremiah gets to be home with us 2 extra nights a week...happy day!

nah-na-nah-nah-nah-na-nah...

BATMAN!

Fanatic

Coloring fanatic, that is.










Ella has officially become a crazed coloring monster this week.

No exaggeration, she has completely colored through 2 entire coloring books and her crayons are just nubs.

Sometimes her color combinations are quite, well, interesting...

Pink hair and red demented looking eyes on all her princesses and blue monkeys and purple birds =)

However, she has thrown all her white crayons in the trash, telling me that "dey don't work."

snot bubbles

Ezra is a clingy, blubbering, ball of snot today...






I've been spoiled because this is his first real cold since he was 2 months old!
We broke our 9month streak =(

Memory lane

This time last August...

We were getting ready for Ezra's arrival


Trying to stay cool during the hottest summer on record in NC!


Playing on the golf course in our backyard at our old house


Comparing belly size. I won =)


Wow. I can't even hardly remember life before Ezra anymore. I look at these old pictures of Ella and can't believe how little she looks in them. I look at these old pictures of my pregnant belly and can't believe I was that big =) I don't know why I ever thought I was busy with just one child? Hmmm...

What a fun year...I wouldn't change a thing!

mishmash

Tidbits from my week:

Ella has started asking me "why" this week. Oh brother. I'm not sure I'm ready for this stage =)

I got my hair cut today. It had been 4 months since I had last had a hair-cut. It's amazing how getting something as simple as a hair-cut just makes me a happier person.

Ezra is just crazy these days. Crazy. His new word is "uh-oh" and we have plenty of opportunity for him to say it.

I have had a blast with my sister this week. I am sad to say goodbye to her tomorrow.

I will not be sad when I say goodbye to the Olympics. They have been keeping me up way past my bedtime.

If anyone has seen my husband, please tell him hi for me =)

Ella has a new fascination with chewing gum. She is allowed only one piece a day because she still swallows it. She makes that one piece last for hours though...it's quite gross.

Aunt "olly"

My sister, Molly, came in for a visit last night.



Woohoo...some great company(and adult conversation!)for me while Jeremiah is busy this week. She is also going to help me with "Operation: get Jeremiah stylish"

He needs some new clothes pretty bad. And a haircut =)

E.M.

We are in full out "emergency mode" this week.

Emergency mode = a crazy pace of life that we could not/would not sustain on a long-term basis, but, we survive knowing that it is just a temporary phase of life.

Our church, Grey Stone Baptist, is launching a new third service this Sunday, August 23rd...the "Elevation" service. Our family life center has been completely remodeled in order to host this new outreach.



Jeremiah, in addition to his Student and College pastor responsibilities, has been responsible for building a new band for this service, overseeing the stage and sound renovations in the FLC, and generally making sure everything on the music/media side of things is ready to go.

Needless to say, he is one busy guy =)

This week alone he is squeezing in a Kings Dominion trip with our students and adding 3 extra night band practices to his already busy normal schedule.

2 past memory verses are going to be very important to us this week:

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Psalm 54:5
God is MY HELPER. He is the one who SUSTAINS ME.

Despite the busyness, I am excited to see the Lord work thru this new outreach and to see his name glorified in our efforts to share his love throughout Durham. Pray for us, for strength and stamina for Jeremiah, for patience and a servants heart for me, and for all the work that needs to happen this week. Thank you!

Can it be vacation again?

A few more pictures for you =)

My silly husband


Once again, fearless Ella riding the tube with Mommy!


Best buds hunting for treasure