Sophanese

One of the things I love about the stage that Sophie is in right now is her speech. I wish that I could bottle up her little toddler talk to play back for myself when she is a teenager. Sometimes the most normal phrase can make me simply crack up because of her lingo right now. Here are some that I want to always remember...

Pupu Blankee....................................Purple Blankee

Titty Tat..................................Kitty Cat

Surwee Teml......................................Shirley Temple
(She is WAY into Shriley Temple movies right now)

Bubby......................................Brother

Wip Loss....................................Lip Gloss

Juicee............................................Apple Juice

Oda......................................Yoda
(Jacker is so into Star Wars and Yoda is Sophie's Fave)

Bassetball......................................Basketball

One of my favorite Sophanese phrases is when I tell Sophie that I love her and she replies back, "I love my mommy, I love my daddy, I love my Jacker."

I don't ever want to forget this language and how the simplest little lines melt my mama heart.

I Have A Dream

We've been talking a lot about Haiti at our house. My brother and sister-in-law traveled there last year on a mission trip and fell in love with the people. God instantly gave them a passion for this land and a desire to serve there regularly if not in a full time missionary status. Given that connection, when the tragedy of the earthquake came -Jack had a lot of questions about this event. We've spent time praying for the children there, looked at pictures that are appropriate for him to see on blogs that we follow from church and discussed ways that we can help in the releif efforts as a family and an AWANA club.
Recently, in Jacks's class, Mrs. Terrone had the students do an assignment linked to the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday. Jack's version of "I have a dream" hangs in the hallway expressing his heart for the healing of a land that is hurt.
" I have a dream that the people in Haiti are okay.
Because they had a earthquake."
It makes my heart smile that my son has a heart for helping God's people and a burden for when mankind is suffering.

The Big 3-3!

I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!! People say that when you reach a certain age, they aren't such a big deal anymore. Honestly, I can't really imagine. I love the anticipation of them, I love the well-wishes and birthday cards that come in the mail- especially from someone you're not expecting to hear from. I love the cake and singing and that my mom STILL makes my favorite meal for me after all these years. The presents are always fun too, but the real fun for me is just celebrating who I am, who I've become and all that God has blessed me with.

This year the highlights included Jack's present to me, he told everyone that he was taking me to his basketball game for my birthday. Wasn't that sweet of him? :) I slept in until 8:45!! Justin kept the room all dark and the kids nice and quiet...he knows how much I love some extra Zzz's. Mom fixed ham loaf, cheesy potatoes, asparagus and rolls for dinner...many of my mama fave's. She also made this AMAZING german chocolate cake from scratch. YUM, YUM! It was especially fun this year to get so many well wishes from facebook buddies that I don't get to see in person. Another birthday....lots of blessings! Praise God for another happy, healthy year!

*Oh yeah, the patent leather zebra stripe Dansko's were a big hit too!! :)

Sophie and Ella

Sophie loves her buddy Ella! When she pretends, Ella is always a part of it. They travel to Wal-mart, the pool, school, all over town in her imagination. When she gets something new, she can't wait to show Ella or she'll mention that she wants to let Ella play with her new item. Seems so sweet!

Funny part to the story is that Ella and Sophie are not only friends, they are personaility clones! Their temperments are EXACTLY the same. Often when we're together if we hear a shrill scream, we're not sure which of the girls it actually is. While they love to play together, they also love to make sure the other knows who is in charge. It is so funny to listen to them setting the other straight in their little toddler talk.

My prayer is that they will forever cherish their friendship and that through the years and maturity, they lose the temperment. :) But for now, it makes for some pretty tummy tickling entertainment!

The Basketball Boy

Jack started up a new season of basketball this weekend. I LOVE watching him play. He takes it so seriously! The Pregame Huddle

His favorite thing right now is the "fake out." He'll try out his moves on us here at home and he loves to explain the technique to anyone who will listen. He actually got to put it into action today. Way to go, buddy! Your fake out's are awesome!

Jack's also a big one on dribbling...not so much on shooting. He does like to pass. Only problem there is, he only likes to pass to Grant. :) He did have one pretty mean assist into the Grant-man today. It was just like watching the big boys play!

Good news is, we've got plenty of skills to work on this season. Bad news, I kind of like his little basketball quirks. :)

Ringing In The New Year

Goodbye 2009: The loss of sweet Aunt Dianne, Sophie ditches diapers, Jackson takes off as a reader, Matt and Ginger graduate and get jobs...Hooray!, We decide to remodel the kitchen-then decide not to-then decide, sure-let's do it- and finally decide no, not yet, Mom and Dad make it through a rough spell, Sophie gets a big-girl bed, I decide to teach Jack's Sunday School, Awana goes for another year, Changes at the church, Tuesday nights with the Spencers, Justin learns not to work so much in the summer, Trip to Atlanta, Girls vacation in Florida, We ponder baby #3....

Hello 2010: It's hard to say what God has in store but here are some things I'm looking forward to and anxious to look back on at the end of the year to see how they come to pass- Sophie starting preschool, What will we do with the kitchen, Kline/Brown wedding, Jackson transitioning to his last grade at Columbia, Masters Degree?, Third baby?....

This year I'm hoping to blog more. My goal is to post each week whether it be thoughts, happenings or actual pictures of events in our lives. I want to then print our year 2010 off into a book for us to look through, read and remember as we relive the joys, trials and triumphs of a year in the life of this family seeking to serve Him!