first taste of cereal

Luke is 6 months old! I can't believe it. It's flown by. A few weeks ago we started cereal, and here was his reaction. Not too excited about it!

feel good music

I know, it's January 11th, and I haven't even posted Christmas pictures yet. I cannot deny that I have been a delinquent blogger lately, but I'm going to try and remedy that now (not with pictures, cause I'm on my mom's computer)- but with a post about feel good music.

You know the kind...the music that just feels right...feels like you should be listening to it on a roadtrip in a convertible seeing beautiful scenery with good friends...music that you could just listen to a thousand times and never grow tired of...the kind you have to sing along to.

I know there's lots of that music out there, but I've recently rediscovered some thanks to my dad. Now, my dad is funny about his music. He's the type that will hear a song and then obsess over it for months. Seriously, like he'll listen to it over and over and over. I think his longest fixation was on Hootie and the Blowfish's "Only Wanna Be With You" when I was in high school. Man, he killed that song.

Recently, dad has been on a Billy Joel kick. Over Christmas, we borrowed his car one night and heard "The Essential - Billy Joel CD" playing "Piano Man." Josh cranked up the volume and we sang along...or did that thing where you don't know all the words so you sing nonsense until you can throw in a few here and there. It's good music. Something so amazing about a musician with a good voice who can write good music and play an instrument (or several.) They're the real deal. Doing what they were designed to do. Using their gifts. And they don't have to be fabricated by the industry with all the hoop-la to cover up their deficiencies as a sub-par musician. (Wait...I'd better step off my soapbox and get back to Piano Man...) Anyways, it was just one of those feel good moments getting carried away by the melody of the piano and harmonica.

Another one of my favorites (that Dad is also obsessing over right now) is "She's Always a Woman." oh, and "She's Got a Way." Just so good. So that's why Billy Joel is on the playlist right now. Let me know some of your favorite feel good music...

Baby Jude is here!!!

I'm so thrilled to announce that our dear friends the Bleeckers welcomed their second little boy into the world this afternoon. Sweet Jude Michael was born at 3:06 pm weighing 7lbs 9oz and 21in long. Evan (their first born) and Lily are four months apart and the best of friends (and will hopefully get married someday ;). Luke and Jude are 4 1/2 months apart and hopefully will be best buds as well! 

I am always overwhelmed with awe and wonder at the miracle of life. Just to think that this morning Jude was still snug in Faith's womb and then this afternoon he was out for the world to see- breathing air, seeing light, stretching out for the first time. Probably quite a rude awakening! And just to think that his journey on this earth has begun.

I know that Michael and Faith lift up the same prayer that we pray for our kids- that they will grow to know and love Jesus more than anything else. That the Lord would reveal Himself and His will to them throughout their lives. That theirs would be a life of significant purpose and deep joy. That they would be undeniably secure in who they are in Christ.

Moments like this are so refreshing. Reflecting on the goodness of God displayed in this new little life leads me to worship. To think on Him, which has been something that unfortunately I haven't done a lot of lately. I've slowly crept back into my routine of cruising. Just staying on the surface cause that's easier than plunging into the depths and facing the depravity of my heart. But He is sweet to use this little miracle to draw my thoughts, my affection, my heart back to Him. He is good. Well, I started this post intending to announce Jude's birth, but I guess I had a little more on my heart to share!

Here's a few pictures I took on my phone...I know that Bleecker will have some posted here before too long.

pretty mama


proud daddy


little Jude!
(sorry it's blurred, he was moving)




trying to keep the toddlers entertained


kissy kissy (after the parents egged them on-i'm sure we'll regret that someday ;)

exciting news!

Yikes! I still have Halloween pictures up! Wow, I have been quite the slacker when it comes to blogging. But tonight I've got good reason to post...my sister Melissa (Missa as we call her) got engaged this weekend!!!! Yay! I'm SO happy for her and Jonathan. He is such a wonderful, godly man who treats Melissa SO well. Looking forward to having him as a brother-in-law! You can go here to read about the proposal. Congrats, Missa! Love you!

Halloween 08

Halloween was so fun this year now that Lily "gets it". We went to the Shops near our house for some trick or treating with Evan and Preston. Luke had two costumes that I bought the day before for cheap! Here is his cat costume/onesie. And then Friday night he was a Pumpkin- the typical infant costume- but hey it's cute.

Here's Preston the Bear and Evan as Bam Bam. Originally, I had planned for Lily to be Pebbles but she insisted on being a Ballerina Princess. How could I argue with that?

(Thanks, Missa, for the pics!)

I'm sad to say I don't have any pictures of Josh and me. I'll have to get them from somebody (Bleecker? Kristyn? anyone?) I went as Sara Palin and Josh went as Axel Rose. Wait, I do have some of Josh...from the other time that he dressed up as Axel Rose. But that's a whole other post that I don't have time for tonight. Here's what you have to look forward to...

where does the time go?

no, really, where does it go? at the end of everyday i find myself asking this same question. there is just always something that needs to be done with two kiddos and so blogging has been pretty far down that list. but i know some of you (brandi) are sick of the 4th grade fables staring back at you, so i thought i owed you some cute kid pics. that's about all i can muster up at this point. :)

here's a video of Luke from October. i think he was 11 weeks (he's 13 weeks now). listen closely all the way to the end...

chocolate pumpkin marble cake

i found this recipe and just had to try it out due to my obsession with all things pumpkin this time of year. it's a chocolate and pumpkin marble cake. you actually make two separate batters and then swirl them together before baking. here's the recipe if you're in the mood to bake. it turned out pretty tasty, but my favorite pumpkin recipe is still this one.