A Normal Night

When Joe returns home from work, our evening consists of a meal, clean-up, some play, reading, and putting to bed.  This is a play pic while I was cleaning up.  Baby Joe always ends up on top.  This is my new favorite of them.  The expression on each face is so lovely to me and how I see them when I am away (which, fortunately is hardly ever)!  A few days after I took this, I cut Baby Joe's hair. When you see him, don't laugh.  He was super wiggly and overall really not cooperative.  He kind of looks like one of the Three Stooges.  Maybe Moe.  Hey, I am new at this!  Little Joe had no hair at this age.  Thankfully it will grow out!

Giving Thanks

We were so blessed to have my mom visit during Thanksgiving.  She and I cooked morning thru mid-day. Then we all sat day to a glorious meal and expressed thanks to our good God.  The boys were very patient busying themselves while we were in the kitchen, although one took a really long nap! Afterwards the dishes waited and my mom and I went on a bike ride.  The next day Joe and little Joe packed up and went camping with Joe's brother and boys.  The adventure took place on Cape Lookout National Sea Shore.  They all had a blast.  I am thinking this will be a yearly event with wonderful memories.

Dogs

Okay. If you are reading this and you are not a dog person, then you might want to stop.  This post is strictly dedicated to highlight the canines in our life, Spurgeon and Gabby.  We are a few weeks shy of the one year anniversary of "the prince of preachers" induction into our family.  Spurgeon will be 10 yrs. old (human years) in February and still has a lot of spunk left in him.  He likes to chase and nip at the vacuum when I am cleaning the floors.  He willingly entertains Gabby when she wants to play. He lets Baby Joe hug, pull, and squeeze him (Baby Joe is his fifth baby).  He loves a good belly rub, too.  We like to call him "high class" sometimes. Once I was handing him a treat and I accidentally dropped it on the floor.  He looked up at me as if to say "are you going to get that", which I did.  Spurgeon is a good doggie, and I love it when he looks up at me with his sweet eyes! We are glad he is with us. Actually, when I met Spurg seven years ago, I thought it would be great to have a dog like him!  Gabby is almost 3 yrs old and settling down some.  She is still real jittery to strange sounds and guests, and she despises thunderstorms.  (Both dogs ended up under our bed during a recent storm).  Gabby loves attention from anyone.  She will even roll over for Baby Joe to get a belly rub.  She should have been a circus dog because she can walk on her hind legs for quite sometime.  Those that see her jump up for the first time are usually amazed, too.  Hidden talent here in NC, folks.

                           Gabby in mid air

                    The coveted pink bed.  Unfortunately, my washing machine destroyed it.

                   Mister high class

              Sweet eyes!

         New, identical beds.

Road Kill and Other Thoughts

Catchy title, huh?  I hit a raccoon Sunday night.  Actually, it ran in front of my back tire right before my back tire ran over it.  I saw the raccoon come across the street. I was taught in driver's ed to keep steady and calm if a small animal runs out in front of you, no swerving.  Cows, buffalo, and deer are a different story.  But this raccoon had no hope.  I did hit the brakes a bit, but everything happened so fast.  Yet, I can picture his round, plump body illuminated by my headlights.  His striped tail was strikingly so that I instantly knew what mammal he was. He didn't stop, so he is dead.  My first road kill.  The boys were with me and experienced the bump.  Little Joe responded that there are plenty more raccoons around and most of them are pest anyway!  Just keeping the population at bay.
Little Joe is a breathing wikipedia.  He has lots of info stored in his little head based on what he has read and shares freely to those that will listen.  He still loves his LEGOS and continues to come up with new creations, lately of ninjas.  Most days he dresses up in one of his "warrior" outfits.   I love that he still does this and is not concerned with what he looks like or others' opinions.  That will come soon enough.  These sunny fall days draw him outside after school for an afternoon of imagination.
Baby Joe is a babbling boy all day.  Although, most people that see him outside our home think he is quiet and laid back.  That would be his opposite.  He is passionate about getting what he wants when he wants it, loves what anyone else is eating, goes crazy over balls (including the big red ones outside of Target), has recently started giving multiple hugs without being asked, enjoys attention from anyone be it person or dog, and easily makes his family laugh.  He is almost 16 months and does not walk.  He likes to walk on his knees, though.  Slowly working his way up.

These boys are a sweet, delight to my life.  I am exhausted at the end of each day and thankful for the gift of them.  Joe continues to be a loving encourager in my ministry to our boys. The Lord knows I need him!

                        Sir Lancelot and a fire breathing dragon

My pumpkins

Time away

My sweet husband gave me a gift of a night away with him a couple of weeks ago.  A wonderful friend graciously gave her time and energy to our boys (and dogs) for 24 hours.  We went away without any agenda except to enjoy one another.  Beaufort is only an hour away, so we were there in no time.  We rode our bikes around this quaint coastal town (that boasts tons of history) for the afternoon. We then returned to our inn room to freshen up for dinner.  The Beaufort Grocery Company is a favorite place to dine that we had not been to in a few years.  We walked from our inn and stayed two hours.  Great food, drinks, and especially the company!  The next morning we slept until 8:30am.  Yes, you read that right!  Early mornings with baby Joe welcomed this sleep in.  We had breakfast brought to our room, courtesy of the inn, and then hit the road again with our bikes.  I was so thankful for this sweet gift from the Lord.  To have time away with Joe was something I really needed.

                                   Fun with the mirror

                                  View from our balcony

                        Consequence for misbehaving in Beaufort