Elijah-Age 3

I am trying desperately to get back into scrapbooking and have enjoyed looking through some pictures from 2009. When I saw these pictures of Elijah-the three year old nephew- I just had to blog about it.

A few months ago, Gunnar & Missy were in Israel for a worship trip with Gateway Church. I had the joy of keeping the kids for a few days. G & M's living room has a great spot for natural light pictures because of all the great floor to ceiling windows. Elijah did very well posing for me in his natural state. Natural state being all smiles or trying to play a game with you. I thought the pictures turned out well and have been meaning to post them long before now. My favorites include the picture on the top left, the picture of his foot and hand and the picture of he and Maddie chilling on the sofa.

I would love to do this with all the nieces and nephew but somehow I don't think I could get as natural of poses from the bigger kids.

More pictures to come soon.

Happy Birthday Faithers!

Today my niece Faith turns 10! She makes being an aunt so much fun. I love our friendship and the special bond that we have simply because she was the first to call me Aunt Sue Sue.

But I was reminded the other night how fast she is growing up....

This picture was taken after she made a very funny comment to me. Well funny to me but not so funny to her mom and dad. In the middle of telling me about how she will be next year's school Treasurer she let a little confession slip from her mouth.

"And the boy in my life is the President!"

Right at that moment, Missy (her mom) walks by to refill her drink.

"What?!?! The boy in your life! Who is this?!?!?"

And her Dad pipes in and says, "There will be no boys in your life just yet. I am the man in your life and Elijah (her little brother) is the boy in your life."

Faith just laughs.

It's funny to me but also very sad at the same time. These kids sure do grow up fast and it makes me want to cherish every moment with them.

Notice in the picture below her dad's protective hand.


God help him the day she has her first date or maybe I should say God help the boy who is brave enough to knock on the door. :)

I love you Faith Gwen! You are a precious young lady from the inside out and God has great plans for you!

P.S. Mom's birthday celebration was yesterday and I promise you Mom you will get a special post all of your own in the next few days

Motherhood isn't for wimps

I am playing house with the nieces and nephew for a few days while the parents are in Israel.

I had a good chuckle to myself last night once the kids were all in their beds.  They were very thoughtful last night to let me know that it was officially time for bed.  We talked about this in advance.  I asked them to give me a signal when they were ready to head upstairs they said don't worry they will. And lo and behold right around bedtime they all melted down one after the other, just like a stack of dominoes. Aren't they nice to oblige their dear aunt?

Little E was so tired that he even told his sister "Don't you even think about praying for me tonight!"  Faith wasn't phased by this and prayed anyway.  Which may be the reason he slept all night, in his own bed.  Praise Yah Jesus

Anyway the chuckle came when I was dragging myself to bed completely and totally whipped from my day. I just had to laugh at my tired butt since most of my friends live this life 24-7. I mean motherhood is not for wimps.  Thankfully they start small, that's all I'm saying.

On a side note, I would like to take a moment to thank the Lord for a little miracle that happened today. The 7-year old only said "I don't know what I want to wear" 30 times instead of 150.  She sure did get moving fast when I told her that if she wasn't dressed when the muffins were ready that she would have to get cereal.  This girl will do almost anything for a food that can be paired with butter.

Good times at our place.  

Good times.

P.S. the other miracle is happening as we speak, Eli is sound asleep on the couch after falling asleep in the car.  We are now going into the 45 minute stretch 

Meet the Newest Member to the Aunt Sue Sue Nest

Our nephew Jacob Matthew was born yesterday at 8:08 p.m. weighing 7 lb 8 oz, 19 1/2 inches long and we love him.

Yesterday after church Jeff and I headed home to start our traditional pancake dinner and Sunday afternoon nap. One phone call changed the whole course our day. We spent the next 7 hours, cheering and pacing until we were able to see that sweet boy.

Meredith did a fantastic job and while everyone was watching Jacob get bathed and weighed, I snuck off to have a few minutes alone with my sweet sister in law. Poor girl was sitting all by herself staring at the ceiling and reflecting on her accomplishment. I will always stand in awe of how well she did yesterday. She was a champ and 85% of the time was all smiles. She did a GREAT job!

Matt, Jeff's little brother did a great job supporting his wife too. I loved watching his face when they wheeled Jacob down to the nursery. His smile stretched all the way across his face.

I will never forget the look on Jeff's face when he asked his brother "Well, how was it?" The brothers have been keeping us girls in stitches as they talked about the dynamics of bringing a baby into the world the past nine months. Matt's response, "It was AWESOME and not scary at all!" Jeff, now can you be a little less of a worry wort when our time comes?

And I think Jacob's cousin Hayley is a bit smitten with the new addition (a huge answer to prayer). After she held him, she came up close to me and whispered, "I love him and he is perfect!" I almost cried tears of joy because that is exactly what Jeff and I have been praying for that sweet girl for the last few weeks.

God is faithful. God is good. God's timing is perfect. Today I am thankful for all that God is doing and all that God is going to do. I also can't wait to go back to the hospital and love on my sweet nephew!

My Little Man E

I stole this picture from Missy's facebook and here is why.

I came here today to post a cute picture of E and me but I can't find them on the computer. I typically file my pictures in a folder by the month and then do another folder inside with the event. Well the folder marked October 2008 is gone. I can't find it anywhere. I am going to have to see if my super computer hero father in law can find them for me. I will not flip out yet. :)

But...

Let me tell you about E! As you can tell from the picture above, he is not lacking in personality. While we were at dinner the other night celebrating Missy's 30th birthday he asked me to help find the mints. And since I am the aunt I decided to help the little guy out. As we were walking back, he grabbed my hand and said, "Thanks, Sue Sue!"

Melted my heart right there and made me a sucker, it did. The next time he asked, I gladly went and held out my hand as he placed a mint inside for everyone in our family.

"One for Nanny, one for Jeff, one for Mommy, one for Dad, one for Kay-tee, one for Fay-TH, one for Lynnie, one for Paw Paw, one for MeMe, one for you and one for me-eeeee!"

Later when we were leaving, he came out the door with a huge handful of mints and says, "Sue Sue help me put these in my pockets." I swear there were 15 on each side. I made sure to tell his mom they were there and to his credit he continued to pass them out to everyone in our party.

I just love that kid! yes, I do!

Elijah's Laugh

I am understanding a little more why God gives us laughter.

It for those of us "moms" who are tired and worn out from running after a nearly two year old. But your weariness is washed away when the child starts to laugh. Doesn't it seem to make the world a better place to hear a child laugh.

Let me tell you, I am at a complete awe for mothers who work full time. I am at more of an awe for those of you who work at home and succeed. Jeff and I may have one more thing to add to our prayer list because working at home with a toddler is IMPOSSIBLE. Fun but impossible.

Anyway, I don't want this to sound like I am complaining because the truth is I have soaked up every minute and the best part is the point of all this post.

Eli has the greatest laugh.

He puts the babies on You Tube to shame. It is so sweet! Oh and when he cackles, melts my heart like butter.

Today I was holding him and a friend did a post of her babies laughing at each other. He heard it and pointed to the computer screen saying, "Babies? Again." So I played it over and over and over. Finally because I didn't want them to think I was camping out at their blog I pulled up You Tube and played a few of their babies laughing. He laughed right along with them.

Later we were playing "Tickle Monster" an Aunt Sue Sue speciality. Oh to hear him laugh was just so sweet. I am staying up late tonight to finish today's work but it is all worth it. Because today my day was filled with a nearly two year old' laughter.

And I tell you another thing that melts my heart. Before the tickle monster debut, he was sitting in my lap having a bit of cuddle time that is another favorite for me. He leaned up to me, hugged me tight, and kissed my cheek...just because. Oh how I will miss my daily tickles and pecks on my cheek from sweet little E.

So this ends Camp Keep the Kiddos post.

I will be laying low the next few days trying to get caught up on all that has been pushed to the back burner this week so I can play with my nephew.

Camp Keep the Kiddos Is Still Moving Right Along

2 hour naps ROCK! Missy, I put him down at 1:00 each day and tell him it's naptime, play a video and tell him he can't get off the couch until the video is done. He falls asleep every time! I thought I would try to get him used to it so maybe he would do it for you too. Wouldn't that be nice?!?! (We can dream can't we?)


Sidewalk chalk is super fun!
Singing with his Praise Baby CD. I turned off the radio just to hear his sweet voice sing. The sound was only coming through his headphones and not the speakers so I only heard his little voice. Best praise time ever! I cried a little but what's new.

Faith has already read her 100 minutes for the week. Rock on sister friend. She says she will read more to get ahead. Now that is one smart chick. Katy showed me the ant trail, "It starts right here and goes allllll the way to here!'
We all 4 jumped for over 30 minutes-that was my excercise for the day.
Playing chase with Uncle Jeff, this was his workout for the day. He told me yesterday that it only takes him 5 minutes to get to work. I think we maybe moving close to you all one day
Walking to school this morning. Katy picked out her clothes. She wanted to look cute. Her words not mine.
Dropping the chicks off, I just had to get a picture. I am Aunt Sue Sue and that's the way I roll.
Elijah and I strolled over to the park. We did so much stuff later I jogged while pushing the stroller, when I stopped to walk, Eli yelled "Go Fast!" Sorry I may have started something guys.

"Sue Sue!"
"Peek a Boo!" Sweet smile

Camp Keep the Kiddos-Day 2

I will have you know, last night I posted a funny post but forgot the pictures. When I inserted the pictures the text became micro size and I couldn't get the pictures right. That post is now in the trash and today I am starting fresh.


Yesterday Elijah and I played, played, played with a few work related things for good measure. We went to the library where he did his tricks for the librarian. My favorite is the one where he says "Whoa" like he is falling and then falls in slow motion. We then went to the grocery store where he helped me pick out yummy snacks for snack time at Aunt Sue Sue's. He say the Goldfish on the cracker aisle and yelled "FISH! Mmm!" Who could resist that logic? In the bag they went. We side walked chalked on my patio and played peek-a-boo non-stop. We watched a copy of Benji that I picked up at the library and the pretended that we were puppy dogs.

The Puppy Dog is starting to get tired.




Then the little puppy climbed in my lap and fell asleep. I moved him to the couch where he slept for 2 and 1/2 hours. Oh bless you Lord! I really got my work done then.

Later when we headed home he started to do his chores around the house, wiped down the tub and washed a few windows. He will be a great husband one day if he continues to help out around the house like he did today.

Now to Katy and Faith



They were very happy to see us. They asked me at dinner if I would pick them up from school. Sadly, I am still working but I promised them that I would give Elijah a nap earlier so that I could be there by 4 instead of 5.



Katy told me yesterday that she had to tell her teacher a few things she was thankful for at school today. I asked here what she said and she said, "Sadie, my dog."



(Pausing for the parents to laugh)



You see fellow readers, Sadie is a dog that Gunnar and Missy had when they were first married and if I remember correctly this dog became an angel before Katelyn was born or when she was a little baby. "But Katy, " I say, "That dog is in Heaven, right?"



"Yeah but I know that if I had a dog I would be thankful for it so I said that."



Hmm, works for me.


This is what she was wearing when I came to the house, MeMe had put lipstick on her. Doesn't it scare you a bit how grown up she looks?



No funny stories about Faith. She has been very, very good. She has been very helpful with Elijah. She was even making her lunch for tomorrow when I came in. She said she wanted to make her morning easier. I told her how proud I was of her for thinking ahead. She is growing up so fast and I love watching this beautiful girl blossom from the inside out.



Okay that is all for now.

Today (Tuesday) Elijah has been very cuddly. We sat and watched Sesame Street and he fell asleep. Lynnie said he was up at 5:30 am this morning. Now after a 30 minute morning nap we are watching Dora The Explorer. I better get to work while he is entertaining himself with Dora.

Camp Keep the Kiddos-Day One

Welcome to Day One of Camp Keep the Kiddos. The head master this week is Lynnie and Jeff and I are the camp counselors. Our mission for the week is to keep them safe and keep them laughing until Lynnie comes home from work so she can take over the night shift.

This should be interesting since I am still working and the week before Thanksgiving week is always the busiest week of the year when you sell furniture. (If you read this blog, please don't buy dining room tables this week, wait until after Thanksgiving and save yourself the headache of asking the question "Will I get my new table before Thanksgiving?" The answer is no, it's too late. Some dumb salesperson my guarantee it but they are LYING. They are commissioned sales people after all. All I have to say is just wait. For the love of God, just wait.

Warning: All complaints after you chose not to wait but called to complain that your table has not arrived, before Thanksgiving, will be directed to my two year old assistant for the week Who will happily scream in your ear to show you how annoyed we are that you did not heed this warning. Don't say I didn't warn you.

So...

Here is Day One in a nutshell for the parents who I know will read my blog hoping I will show pictures of their lovely ones but who will be sadly disappointed since I left the camera at home for Day One. Hopefully this in depth report will be an adequate substitute.

1. Load the kids in to the car to head to Cabella's.
2. Drop Uncle Jeff and girls off at door since Elijah was asleep.
(At this point, I am driving because Jeff refuses to drive a mini-van-he says "He just can't bring himself to do it just yet. Something about his manhood still needing to be intact.)
3. Elijah wakes up wants to go inside. So we head in with big man in the stroller. I am a smart Aunt to remember the stroller.
4. Lady tells me I have a beautiful son as we enter Cabella's. I say "Thank you" and walk on because he isn't my son but he is beautiful none the less. We also laugh about the difference between boys and girls because her girls first noticed the beautiful tree where my "son" first noticed the big deer and ducks hanging from the ceiling. "Boys are all the same aren't they?" I agree and walk on. While Eli continues to yell "Look! Look!"
5. Eli and I play look at that fish at the fish pond. "FISH!" "FISH!" While we wait for the girls to get done shooting upstairs at the gun shooting game with Uncle Jeff.
6. I decide to let Elijah out of the stroller to get a better look. I knew he wouldn't go back in so I said, "Katy! Your chariot awaits." And middle sister gladly sits down because she loves to be pampered. Don't we all?
7. The kids and I spend 20 minutes in the aquarium talking about the fish while Uncle Jeff is off shopping. We had so much fun checking out all the fish and trying to identify the different ones. The big catfish made Elijah jump back and scream like a girl when it came to up to the glass. We will have to work on him not screaming like a girl.
8. Walked around Cabella's looking for Uncle Jeff and playing with the popping guns they have for kids. Elijah started yelling "Jeff!" Jeff!" and would hold up his hands saying "Where are you?" (his parents will know what I am describing) When we found him Eli says "See! See! Jeff!"
9. Decide to drive to my dad's to play on the go-carts.
10. Littlest camper falls asleep on the drive there so Uncle Jeff and Grandpa sit by the car so Elijah can continue to sleep.
11. Meanwhile the girls and I are riding all over the grass on the go-carts.
12. Aunt Sue Sue picks up littlest camper and takes him in to rock in Grandpa's recliner while catching up with step mom.
13. Grandpa feeds all of us yummy snacks.
14. Grandpa lives next to a small airstrip so Grandpa, kids and Uncle Jeff head out to watch the planes land in his backyard. They are small, 2 seater planes and lots of fun to watch them land and taxi into their garage at thier own home.
15. Elijah shows Grandpa and Melissa his little tricks. Imagine a little break dancer in the 80's and you have a good idea of what his tricks look like.
16. Head home to eat fish sticks and spinach. Kids love this, because? Oh and Uncle Jeff drives mini-van for the first time EVER! I wish I had my camera to document. It was a little surreal driving a mini-van with 3 kids in the back watching a movie.
17. Uncle Jeff heads off to watch the Charger game with his Dad.
18. Aunt Sue Sue declares bathtime. Two youngest take baths while oldest showers, in the same room. Oh the laughs we had saying hi to Faith in the glass shower next to the bathtub.
19 Girls get out Elijah opts to play a little more. So starts the laugh fest between Eli and Aunt Sue-Sue.
20. Aunt Sue Sue heads home after being tackled by Eli numerous times while trying to say good-bye. I left the house with Lynnie telling Elijah to quit crying he would see me tomorrow morning.

Aunt Sue Sue is heading to bed now Day 2 to continue tomorrow.

P.S Tomorrow's post won't be so long. More pictures less talking- PROMISE!

Halloween Flashback and the Kids

I was cleaning out some old photo albums last night, moving my senior year pictures to the same book as my college years pictures. It takes up less space when they are in one book instead of two. Anyway, I found this picture from Halloween my senior year and had to post.

Do you see me? I promise I am in the picture.

I was going to wait until sister posted pictures of her own kids on her blog but I couldn't wait any longer. I just had to show my nieces and nephew off, I am the Aunt, and that is what Aunts do.

Jeff and I picked up a passenger in Galveston. Here I am giving Hayley a piggy-back ride back to our hotel.
Faith aka Miley Cyrus. Her wig for Hannah Montana was gross so Missy vetoed it. Faith didn't mind but we had to call her Miley not Hannah. She also was able to get her face painted while at the carnival. I think she was happy and super cute. Katelyn, wearing the cheerleader costume that Missy wore at that age. On the side of her skirt is says "Missy." Isn't she cute?!?
Elijah who went as Jack Jack from the Incredibles. He was a fast mover too. Once he got into the games there was no pulling him off the games. Later when we went to eat, he was hyped up on candy and would yell, "Hi" to all the people in the restaurant. He also danced a little jig and at one point did a move that looked similar to pelvic thrusts. I wonder where he picked that up?


Okay, I am heading back to the pile of laundry that I am happy to report is almost finished.

All In The Family

Last night I got curious and checked out the site meter to see where my readers were coming from. The site meter is a great thing because even though people don't often leave a comment, I can tell the location that they are reading from and know instantly this person or that person has peeked into my place. I noticed that a few of Missy's family have been looking in because of the name of the location and felt it would only be fair to upload a few pictures just for them. So I hope you guys enjoy!

Faith's list (notice the check marks-that must mean we did a good job)

Check out these action shots and Elijah's great form.
Two Points!
Did you see that?!?!
The little B.F.F princesses who made a quick visit to pick a few things the other day. I think this is the moment that Katy started to get homesick. She looks sad doesn't she? Her eyes did not have her sparkle and I kept telling her that I missed her. I didn't know 2 hours later she would be crying at Lynnie's desk saying she wanted to come home. Again, I am such an amateur.
Eli realizing the camera hold pictures of himself, "Me!" He thought if he could get low enough he would be able to see the picture while I was shooting it on the screen. The pictures do not do it justice of how cute this was!
I snapped a quick picture but stayed very close because I did not trust him not to try to take a jump off the swing. 30 seconds after this picture was taken he tried standing up, but I had a hold of him at this point so I just lifted him up and planted him on the ground...where it's safe
See his little mouth puckered up? I do that! And he would get so close to the picture and again...I do that!

"Hey Elijah! Let's clean up because we are going to pick up Faith at school!" To which he did this pose that you see below, he is saying "Yeah!Nap Time! I love the way he looks asleep...it was too quiet in the car while I sat and waited for Faith to get out of school so I dug through Missy's CD stash, found Kelly Clarkson and turned it up. He never even stirred.
Picking up the little princess at school. We are sitting at Sonic...my favorite place on earth!
Faith and Josh riding bikes. The kids next door are students of Jeff and mine in Children's Church. They stayed over at the house (in the backyard actually) most of the time I was there. When they needed to go home, they would wave and jump the wooden fence. Gunnar and I had friends like that growing up and it brought back fond memories of our childhood home.
Faith smiling even thought she said earlier, "No way! I want to play on the come-put-er!" when i asked her to keep an eye on Eli while I tried to fix dinner.
The kids last burst of energy before we sent them to bed for the night. We were dancing to a song about the "Bernstein Bears."
Okay, that is enough for tonight. I have more but I need to get some things done around the house. I have a few saved for blog material so keep checking back sweet family in far away places and nearby!