Uploading...

I promised to be better about uploading pictures from my phone more often...so here we go!

We sent this video to Nathan on his birthday...he loved it according to Michelle and had her play it 5 times. :)

Ryker and Camden playing farm animals before bed one night.  Ryker thought it was pretty cool that Camden wanted to play with his tractor...so sweet!

Ryker put these on and said, "Look, I'm dressing up like a Mommy."  LOL!

I love watching them interact.  Ryker will sit and talk to him and Camden just loves it.

Playing Legos with Daddy

Cowboy Camden

Playing Angry Birds on Daddy's phone

He was so excited for Pajama Day at school last week.

Nana rocked Cam right to sleep.

Sweet cuddly bear!

Proof

Camden is officially rolling all over the place!

Wrestling

Today we went to Garyn's wrestling tourney at New Pal High School.  This was his second tourney and we were eager to see him in action.

Aunt Karen brought some entertainment in the form of knitting.  Ryker helped her with this scarf that she's working on.

Ryker loves taking pictures and snapped this one of my handsome hubby.  <3

Garyn getting ready for his match

After wating for over 3 hours to watch him wrestle, he pinned his opponent in 30 seconds flat!  GO GARYN!!  He was so excited!

Ryker has now decided that he wants to wrestle too.  He said he would "just get 'em on their back and pin 'em."  We told him he could practice with Daddy for now and then we can get him into wrestling when he's older.  Coming from the wrestling family that I do this excites me!  Uncle Dave has already promised to give him a few lessons.  Oh, the things we have to look forward to!

Perfect Date Night

Perfect Date Night

...strolling through Super Bowl Village

a hubby who gives me his hat to keep me warm...

Rock and Worship Road Show concert...

laughing and singing with my favorite guy

more strolling through Super Bowl Village

...sharing a delicious fish taco from a truck on the circle...

All in all....a PERFECT night with my love



A Slice of Heaven

We spend the day at Uncle Matt and Aunt Lisa's farm today.  For Ryker, this is like heaven on earth.  It was a great day to visit.  They had over 60 lambs and a few were born right before we got there.  My cousin, Lindsay, is moving to Ecuador as I mentioned in this post.  We were glad to see her one more time before she left.  She started a blog for her trip, if you'd like to follow along you can find it here. 

Holding one of the new lambs...SO happy!

Cam loved looking around at all the action in the barn

These little guys were born right before we got to the barn.

Ryker and Lindsay

I love to hear the new lambs' little bleats....it is the sweetest little sound.

While we were there we witnessed an adoption story unfold.  Uncle Matt keeps all his pregnant ewes in one area of the barn.  Then, as they have their lambs, he takes them out and puts the Mama in a smaller pen with her baby(ies).  The set of twins a couple of pictures up were separated and put in a pen with their mama, but this little girl was on her own.  Uncle Matt couldn't find which ewe had given birth to her and the poor little thing was wandering around searching for her mama.  One of the other ewes who was still pregnant started mothering it right away.  She was licking and pushing it between her legs to keep the lamb safe from the other ewes running in and out of the barn, and letting it nurse off of her.  We all watched for about 10-15 minutes to see if the birth mother would come around and claim the lamb, but the lamb stayed right with the adoptive mama and eventually Uncle Matt said, "All right, you can have her."  He took the lamb out and put her in a pen and the adoptive ewe followed right behind and took up her mothering again. 

Something about watching this unfold really spoke to me.  Robert and I have talked about adopting since we were engaged and have been talking about it even more lately.  We are still too young, but are praying for God to show us His will in this area and lead us in the right direction in the future.  So, for me, with a heart for adoption, this little adoption story in the barn, touched me.  The more I've thought about it though, the more I've realized what a wonderful illustration it is of God's love for us.  We are all His children and He is willing to "mother" us when no one else can or will.  In fact, He loves us in a way that no one else can or will.  He protects us and provides for us and cares for us just as the sweet mama ewe did for that poor little lamb.  She wasn't about to let another ewe take that lamb from her and God is the same way!

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  I and the Father are one."- John 10:27-29

 

Walking down the feeder to get a better look.

Holding yet another lamb...this lamb was so soft and had such a pretty face.

Helping Uncle Matt feed.

Camden had fun playing with Bentley's toys after we came back in.  Aunt Lisa, Uncle Matt, Lindsay, and Collin were all able to go to lunch with us and it was so much fun!

Questions

Over the past week or so, I've been inundated with prayer requests from friends and family that just make life seem so unfair! 

...Ryker has a classmate who has suddenly become unable to walk and the doctors think she may have a degenerative bone disease that will render her crippled for the rest of her life.

....A high school classmate of mine is battling an inoperable brain tumor and has lost function on one side of her body.

....A young mother is battling cancer and is hoping to make it to February 10th when doctors in California will perform a surgery that is her only hope at survival.

....A dear friend of mine lost her 14-year-old cousin suddenly and unexpectedly this week.

....Another friend's mother was rushed to the emergency room with great pain.  Turns out she has cancer (again).  In her liver and all through her bones.

One of my best friends (who is praying for many of the same situations that I am) posted a blog today that spoke to my heart and was the balm I needed to soothe my heart and calm all those nagging questions going on in my head and heart.  Like "Why, God, why?" and "How is this Your will?"  You can find the entry here.

Mother to 3 (For a Day)

I found out what it's like to be a mother to 3 little boys today.  I watched Kainen today while Emily helped her mom out at the Home Show. (Her mom and step dad have a business, Hoosier Closets, that has a booth there every year.)  Anyway, Ryker and Kainen had a great time playing and kept each other very well occupied.  In fact, it was a relief for me.  I was actually able to get some stuff done! 

They even played with Cam a bit

Kainen was showing Camden how his toys worked...so sweet!

I had lunch long after they were done with theirs, but they decided they needed some pretzels and hummus too.  This is Ryker's favorite snack and Kainen loves it too.  I think it's hilarious they love it so much...I can't even get Robert to like it!  (which if you know Robert and his eating habits is a major shock!)

Rolling Over (In Secret)

I mentioned in this post that Camden may have rolled over from his back to his belly.  This morning I went in to wake him up for church.  Typically, he is up before anyone else and gets me up before my alarm ever goes off.  Today was different though.  I went in to his room and turned on the light.  Typically he will move and grunt right away because of the bright light, but this time he didn't make a sound.  Let me tell you- panic quickly ensued!  Because of the mattress still being high and the bumper being on the crib you can't see into the crib from the doorway.  I ran over to the crib to find him asleep...ON HIS STOMACH!!  Apparently, he rolled over at some point in the night.  So, I'd say he's definitely rolling over whether I've seen it or not!

Uploading...Finally

I realized today I haven't posted pictures from my phone since October!  I have a ton, but hopefully I'll do better about in the future and put them up more often.  I take a lot more random, everyday kind of pictures with my phone since it's always with me.  Enjoy!

11/27/11- Camden all dressed up and ready for church

12/5/11- Big Bro and Little Bro ready to head out for some pizza!

12/20/11- One of my favorite outfits (this was the last time I squeezed him in to it)

Later that same day in a new outfit (he goes through a few in a day)...he fell asleep in here two days in a row.

12/22/11- Go Colts! (Clearly Ryker wasn't into it...who can blame him though after the season we had!?!?)

Sleeping on Mommy while modeling his new outfit (12/23/11)

Watching Mickey's Christmas Special in Mommy and Daddy's bed Christmas Eve morning

He LOVES his new elephant from Aunt Chelle and Uncle Robert

Practicing his driving skills (12/24/11)

Robert modeling his "favorite" Christmas presents (12/25/11)

Ryker LOVES his new robe and slippers (12/27/11)

He cut a Christmas tree out of his slice of cheese (12/28/11)

"Boy Genius" 12/29/11

Shopping for new furniture (12/30/11)- We are now the proud owners of 2 of these beauties! YAY!

Ryker wanted his picture taken on the loveseat

Finally got Robert to hang up all my little projects on Camden's wall....That tree has thumbprints from family and friends as the leaves...it's my favorite!

Camden ended up in bed with me early one morning (1/4/12)

All bundled up in his puppy hat and gloves later on that day.

Ryker wanted in on the action too.

Snoozing away (1/5/12)

I hate ironing, but do it because I love my hubby.  I sent him this one day at work with the caption: "This is love!"  haha

Found this in my egg carton while making breakfast one morning...it was a great way to start my day!

I love my new calendar that I got in my Bible Study gift exchange.

Camden was fussing and Ryker climbed into his crib with him to comfort.  Cam calmed down immediately.  It was so sweet!

Busted out this teething toy the other day....lifesaver!  He LOVES it!

Once again, Ryker wanted in too.

Enjoying the nice weather we had 1/10/12...this was Cam's first time in the stroller like a big boy....he clearly thought it was pretty cool. :-)

Ryker heading down the slide

He was so happy to get to play at the park one last time until spring.

1/11/12- I'm fortunate to have a cousin who is a dermatologist.  She's always willing to take a look at Ryker's skin for us.  That boy has some serious skin issues!  I sent this to her one night after it flared up really bad.

"Chicks Dig Me" 1/13/12

My mom and Kate found this for me to put our blankets in...it's perfect!

Camden is obsessed with this GloWorm.  He can be fussing so bad and the second you turn it on, he calms down.  I just wish it would play nonstop! lol!

1/16/12- Fussy boy wanted to be held all day and Mommy had stuff to do!  Moby Wrap to the rescue!  Yes, I had just gotten out of the shower...please ignore my bleh-ness. :-/