Things have gotten busy, and crazy, and a little ridiculous around here lately. the dryer broke and an orange candle exploded all over the living room. Chris had minor surgery and every last one of us got a bad cold. Bennett is frustrated because he wants to be able to crawl, Corbin is frustrated because he is still trying to conquer the potty, Chris is frustrated because he has overextended himself time wise, and I am just plain frustrated. Of course all of these things will eventually be resolved. And in the light of eternity none of them matter all that much, but sometimes you just need a little break to rest and rejuvenate. So last weekend we all loaded into the car and took a quick trip down to Atlanta to see our wonderful friends the Hamiltons and just take a little time to chill out. We had a wonderful (but way too short) visit and the Hamiltons were so sweet to plan so many fun activities for us, and to put up with all of our craziness. Here are a few pictures from the zoo and the children’s museum that we visited while we were down there.
Archive for October, 2008
Oh Atlanta
Monday, October 27th, 2008Dedication Sunday
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008Bennett Christopher is an indescribable blessing. I am captivated by his sweetness, his joy, his smiles, his adorably squishy frame, his rosy round cheeks, and so much more. Every time I look at him I just feel warm. He is so full of wonder and innocence. He loves to be held and cuddled and he’s the kind of kid that has never met a stranger. He’ll giggle and coo for anyone who glances his way and he has an uncanny ability to make a person feel important and loved. On Sunday we dedicated this sweet baby boy to Jesus. It felt so endlessly freeing, and wonderfully peaceful to stand up in front of our church body and pray over him together. We didn’t have to promise never to make a mistake in raising him. We didn’t have to lay out our plans and goals for his life. We just had to point to Jesus. To believe that the God who created him is the God who will protect him, love him, and make him into the man that he desires for him to be. Our prayer for Bennett is that he would spend his life falling deeper and deeper in love with his savior. As a mother one of the hardest things for me to accept is that in their lives, my son’s WILL know pain and suffering. They were born into a fallen world. They will know both good and evil. But they were also born into a world where infinite love and grace has been extended to them. They have a helper, a protector, a redeemer and a friend in Jesus. Bennett’s name means blessed Christ bearer. And my prayer for him is that that is exactly what he will be.
Learning to Love Yourself
Thursday, October 9th, 2008I leave Corbin and Bennett with my mom on Thursday mornings while I attend a Bible study. Before I left this morning I kissed the boys and told them I loved them. Corbin replied, “I love you too mommy! And I love Bennett, and Nana, and hey……….I love myself too!”
He’s planning on hosting a few esteem building workshops for toddlers in the new year.
Racing Day
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008I have on my Race for the Cure shirt today and Corbin just asked me, “Mama, are you goin racin again today in this rain!?” The actual race was on Saturday and even though I didn’t technically ‘race’ I really enjoyed doing the walk with my mom and my friend Nicole. It was very cool to see so many people come out to support the cause and the stories I got to hear were incredible. Here are a few pictures from the event.
It was a very special morning for my mom because she was able to wear her mother’s ring (which hasn’t fit her in years) on the day of the race. She was a few years younger that I am now when she lost her mother to breast cancer.
When the race got under way it was pink and white as far as the eye could see.
This is Nicole, me, my mom and Rebecca after the race. Rebecca and her husband Danny actually ran in the race. I tried to get a picture of them running but they were moving way too fast for my camera to catch them. It ended up just being a picture of a cloud of dust with streaks of light running through it.
Fun Fun Fun
Sunday, October 5th, 2008My friend Shai tagged me on her blog to answer these questions, and I think I’m supposed to tag another three bloggers to do the same. So guess what Alisa, Michelle and Jamie…..You’re It!
1. What time did you get up this morning?
The boys let us ’sleep in’ until 7:30 this morning. It was down right decadent.
2. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds…its my birthstone after all.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Iron Man
4. What is your favorite TV show?
The Taye Diggs Show…oh wait, I mean Private Practice.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
Coffee and a protein bar on week days and coffee and pancakes on the weekends.
6. What is your middle name?
Elizabeth
7. What food do you dislike?
eggs, banana’s and any meats that bounce back in your mouth
8. What is your favorite CD at moment?
Corbin hasn’t let me take the Backyardigans out of the car player for a few months so I don’t really get to listen to my own CD’s, but we listen to a LOT of Collin Hay around the house and I like his music.
9. What kind of car do you drive?
03 Honda Pilot
10. Favorite Sandwich?
grilled cheese with crispy bacon and tomatoes
11. What characteristic do you despise?
dishonesty (in myself and others)
12. Favorite item of clothing?
any one of my 6 black shirts
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
India
14. Favorite brand of clothing?
Hah!!
15. Where would you retire to?
a cabin in the mountains in Montana or BC
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
My last birthday…mostly because I gave birth to Bennett three days later (the little usurper)
17. Favorite sport to watch?
Wrestlemania-family style. When Corbin starts pulling out his Dragonball Z moves and sonic blasting his father across the playroom its just about the most entertaining sport I’ve ever witnessed.
18. When is your birthday?
April 16th, 1982
19. Are you a morning person or night?
Night. Which is unfortunate as all three of my boys love the morning. (coffee is one of my very best friends)
20. What is your shoe size?
8.5 …..an entire size up from before I had babies.
21. Pets?
A Yorkie named Bingley who has been staying at his grandparents house ever since ‘the incident.’ (he sat on Bennett’s head and then peed all over the carpet when Chris yelled at him. If you ever want a good laugh ask Corbin to tell you his version of this story)
22. Any new and exciting news you would like to share with us???
Yes. We are officially DONE having biological children.
23. What did you want to be when you were little?
I wanted to be an astronaut, or a waitress.
24. How are you today?
Excited to go to church and relieved Chris doesn’t have a soccer game this afternoon.
25. What is your favorite candy?
Those small pastel colored chocolate Cadbury Easter eggs.
26. What is your favorite flower?
Blue hydrangea, they remind me of our wedding.
27. What is a day on your calendar you are looking forward to?
On Oct. 12 we are dedicating Bennett to Jesus.
28. What is your full name?
Katherine Elizabeth B. I still haven’t legally changed it to Chris’ name because I can’t seem to get in the mood to pay almost $300, fill out and mail in endless complicated forms and then drive down to INS in Memphis to wait in a very tiny, very smelly waiting room for 4-5 hours only to be treated like a criminal for wanting to change my name on my green card so that I can drive back to Nashville and get it changed on my social security card and license. Stupid not being a citizen. So you see I’m not a liberal, I’m just lazy.
29. What are you listening to right now?
Bennett playing in his exer-saucer
30. What was the last thing you ate?
Three chocolate chip cookies
31. Do you wish on stars?
for serious?
32. If you were a crayon what color would you be?
blue
33. How is the weather right now?
sunny and still warmer than I’d like it to be
34. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
my mom
35. Favorite soft drink?
root beer
36. Favorite Restaurant?
Sake Japanese restaurant. Its Corbin and Chris ‘ favorite too.
37. Real Hair Color?
blond…ish
38. What was your favorite toy as a child?
They don’t have toys in Canada. But I was really into playing dress up with my mother’s old scarves and belts…
39. Summer or winter?
Winter right up until New Years day and then I’m ready for summer.
40. Hugs or kisses?
both (but only from people I know really well, otherwise I’m not so big on the touching)
41. Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate
42. Coffee or tea?
Coffee..with pumpkin pie creamer…mmmmm
43. When was the last time you cried?
I don’t know, maybe an hour ago.
44. What is under your bed?
a magnidoodle, some socks and a colony of dust bunnies.
45. What did you do last night?
Went to a baby shower
46. What are you afraid of?
Snakes, spiders, heights, needles, crowds of people, tight spaces, mold, horror movies, things manufactured in China, teenagers, 18 wheelers and power tools
47. Salty or sweet?
Salty
48. How many keys on your key ring?
3 plus a mystery key that I keep around because I’m sure that the second I take it off I’ll need it.
49. How many years at your current job?
2 years 7 moths
50. Favorite day of the week?
Saturday
51. How many places have you lived in?
Toronto, Ottawa, Chicago, Nashville, Knoxville….so 5.
52. Do you make friends easy?
Easy probably isn’t the right word, but definitely successfully because the friends I have are pretty stinkin terrific.
Arts and Crafts
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008Corbin has been showing signs of sharing his father’s artistic abilities. He will sit for an hour painting a picture, he draws tiny intricate designs on every scrap of paper he can get his hands on, and he will choose coloring over most activities lately. His creativity has inspired me to do a little arts and crafts project of my own.
This is Corbin finger painting with his buddies Joshua and Andrew on Tuesday.
And here is my little project. Its a recreation of a map that I saw in a catalog, and although it kind of looks like something I would have done in 8th grade history, I really enjoyed making it and I’m hoping it will help the boys learn the states. Especially Bennett. His geography skills are atrocious.













