Four signs that your child might have "issues"

#4- During a recent boy scout event, they were announcing what some of the scouts wanted to be when they grow up. There were the normal answers like a teacher, a pilot, a doctor, etc. When it was Jake's turn, the host announced to 300 people that he wanted to be a millionaire when he grew up.

#3- While hanging out with some friends, all the boys go upstairs and put on "princess dresses" for the princess birthday party. Andy decides on a purse for an accessory, Jake decides on a football helmet (I don't know which one is worse!)

#2 - While trying to get ready for work one morning, Sofia starts giggling and yells at me to get the camera. I think that it's a little odd for a three year old to request a camera, but I grab it anyway. Sofia (still in her PJ's) decides to wear daddy's boots and act like a model. She posed in a different position for each photo. I was laughing, but Daddy was a little irritated that we were "playing" instead of getting ready. He was only a little late for work :)

#1 - The number one sign that your child might have "issues" could be if he runs around the corner dressed in a mask, no shirt, a cape, and a toy gun and yells "Ta-Da-Da... Captain Stupid!"

Sojourners

Sometimes the best family time is the kind that doesn't cost a thing. Saturday morning, we went walking on the trails at Eagle Mountain Park. The kids had a great time running ahead and pretended to be on a great "adventure."

Jake, "Hey, did you guys see that?!"

Andy, "No, what was it?"

Jake, "It looked like a mix between an armadillo and a rabbit..."

Andy, "It was a rabbadillo???!!!"

Baptism

This past Sunday, the boys were baptized. Joey and I are very proud of them for making that decision. We are very fortunate to have a supportive family that came to church on Sunday to see the boys get baptized. In one week, the boys turned 8 years old and got baptized... they grow up so quick! Hopefully, their relationship with God will continue to grow.

8 year olds ROCK!

Today we celebrated Andy and Jake's birthday. The plan was to have a party Survivor-style at the park. Joey had all these team relay games planned and we were really looking forward to it. But, the weather had other ideas... after four days of rain, the ground was a little too saturated for outdoor fun.

So, in true-Redneck-style... we decided to have the party in our garage. We hooked the Wii up to the overhead projector and the kids played games and rocked out on Guitar Hero. None of it would have happened if Grandma and Grandpa from Louisiana hadn't helped get everything ready. Shirley (Grandma from Louisiana) made the Monster Cupcakes.

All in all, it was a fun party. The kids had a great time and according to Jake, it was "The best day EVER."

Does God prefer Hoover?

God is good. It's an understatement. In our family, we seem to live life at 90 miles an hour. Between Boy scouts, school, work, and church it's not difficult to miss the amazing little miracles that some people call coincidence, but we know to be God's providence.

Recently, we were cleaning the house and I was looking for a way to clean out the window sill. There was about three inches of dirt and dust that accumulated between the screen and the window. I wanted to open the windows to enjoy to nice weather. Our vacuum works fine, but is an upright little dirt devil. It didn't have the attached hose that we needed. Joey and I discussed the need to save up some money so we could purchase a vacuum with a hose. Since it's not a high priority, it's low on the to-do list.

The next day, we were eating dinner at Mom and Dad's and as we were leaving, their neighbors put a vacuum out by their trash. Come to find out the vacuum works fine, they just wanted to upgrade to a bigger model, so they were getting rid of the perfectly good vacuum with a hose.

Even without praying for it, God provided a perfectly good vacuum for free! I know that some people might laugh and question God's involvement in such a small, insignificant aspect of our lives. But this experience has only reinforced my belief that God truly cares about us and he's looking out for us. It wasn't chance or coincidence... it was a modern day miracle that demonstrates how much God love us.

Twins Turn Eight

I can't believe that the boys are eight years old today. Time flies when you're having fun :) It seems like just yesterday when they were wearing Superman pajamas and pretending to be puppy dogs. Andy and Jake are a special blessing from God. Joey and I are very lucky to have such wonderful, creative, entertaining boys.

Goodbye DJ

This weekend, we had to say goodbye to "DJ-the fish". I still don't know why Jake named him, "DJ", but that is what he called his Pacu fish. The Pacu is cousins of the piranha. DJ has big teeth and was supposed to be a vegetarian. However, after eating our $30 Roseline Shark for breakfast and a $15 Clown Loach for lunch, we decided DJ would enjoy a different swimming environment. Jake asked if he could keep the fish on his wall, above his bed... Joey was against paying a taxidermist to "stuff" an aquarium fish.

Note to self: next time, don't get a fish with teeth, no matter what they tell you at the store.