Argghhhh Matey

Birthday Bashes

Happy First Birthday, little Evan! A few weeks ago, we celebrated Evan's first birthday with a wonderful outdoor celebration. Here are some highlights:

Hurray for Christmas!

Christmas was wonderful, though John and I did feel a little like a pin ball inside a pin ball machine. We had one family gathering after another. However, we all had a ton of fun. :)

My dad recieved this amazing snuggy. Way to go, Grandma!
Over at the Tyler house (Grandmama and Joe-Joe's) Brody and Evan took Brody's big gift for a spin. I think this will be a common occurance to see for anyone driving by our back yard in the future!

The morning of Christmas Eve our little fam got all bundled up and played at the playground as long as we could stand it. Then we went home and had hot chocolate and watched a Veggie Tales Christmas movie. Later on that evening John sang in the choir at our church's Christmas Eve service. It was beautiful. We lit candles and Brody LOVED getting to play with fire in church. yikes.

That night we went out to the Tyler's and I just had to show off how adorable our boys looked. They love Grand-Daddy Earle and Grand-Mayme. and I think the feeling is mutual :)

Brody kept telling us that when it snows, it will be Christmas. I kept trying to tell him that sadly we live in a place that will most definitely not get snow anytime soon... turns out I was wrong and he was right (sort of..) Woke up the next morning after Christmas and saw a beautiful display! Brody just knew it was finally Christmas time (just had gotten his presents a day early I guess). He still says that in some places it is still Christmas (any yards he sees that have snow still). Since the Dirks were still around, loaded up the kids and drove to my parent's home to enjoy fellowship and fun. Good times.

Evan laughed his head off at the crazy white stuff that people were throwing at his brother. Anytime Brody got hit or fell over, Evan just about died laughing. So cute. Of course Brody loved it too and hammed it up. I love those little monkeys.

Thank you, Lord, for sending your Son. What a beautiful season and time to remember how His wounds have healed us and made us white as snow. His perfect gift of sacrifice and love has set us free. Praise Him.

5th Anniversary Trip

John and I went to Asheville for our 5th anniversary. It was fabulous. We ate delicious food and saw wonderfully eclectic art and walked all over town. Brody and Evan stayed with John's parents for the first day and a half then with my folks for the latter part of our trip.We drove over to the Grove Park Inn (which holds about 550 rooms) and was beautiful. They had a Christmas tree in every corner. I took this picture for Brody's sake. He loves him some tall trees.

The classic anniversary picture. :)

While we were gone the second night, John and I decided to call Brody and say goodnight and tell him how much we loved him. I made some kissy noises over the phone and he sounded a little sad, but I couldn't really tell what was going on so I asked to talk to my mom. When she got on the phone, she told me that he had enormous tears streaming down his face. SO sad! When we got home, I talked to him about it. Here's how it went; I said, "Brody, when you talked to Mommy on the phone while we were on our trip, did that make you sad?" "Yes." "Did you cry?" "Yes-Mommy, you tried to give me kisses, but your kisses didn't reach."

ISN'T THAT THE SADDEST, BUT CUTEST THING EVER???

However, now that we're home he's doing just fine! :)

Almost Christmas...WHAT???

So it has been a long time since I posted and here's the latest happening:
Here is our serious pirate. Absolutely no smiling for pictures.

Just so you can get the full effect.

Evan a Dr. thanks to our friend Dr. Kim who sent this to Evan when he was born. :) Thanks, Kim! I was Evan's patient, but people didn't seem to get it... i must have been too real. ;)

Just thought this was cute.

Here are some pictures from Tristin's birthday party.

Evan's mad skills

These two love each other and it is adorable.

TEAL!!!

She and I duked it out and it was amazing.

And now..... TURKEY day!! We made crafts, we ran around, we ate pies (that almost burned down Carrie and Tyler's home...) and had a wonderful day of fellowship.

The boys, uh, I mean, men played outside.

Brody and Henry were blowing on John's belly until john scared the daylights out of poor Henry! :)

Just a funny pic.

love. The Dirks women.

These kids had so much fun and it was so much fun to watch! :)

Pumpkin Patch

Brody has started a homeschool-preschool group with some friends of mine who also have toddlers his age (and babies Evan's age too). We have been learning letters and doing fun crafts, but once every 5 weeks we've decided to make it field trip day!! SO-this go around it was to the pumpkin patch! SOOOooo fun.

Evan was just goofin off with his friend, Ward Hudgens.

For any readers unaware... this is Lauren Hudgens who invited me into the fun preschool group and her two kiddos Reese and Ward.

I think evan is saying, "I LOVE the fall!"

This pumpkin patch adventure included a hayride getting pulled by a tractor. We went all over their property and past ponds. They had little scarecrows and stuff put out.

These are three of the four kids in the group (Bryson couldn't be there). Yes I am aware that all three of them are making a funny face. Have YOU ever tried to get three almost three year olds to smile and hold still for a picture???

The weather was cool and crisp and the giggles were even better.

Thank you Lord that you have blessed us with children to love and finally cool weather to enjoy!!

A few more happenings

Some pictures from our Small group gathering :) The little ones aren't so little anymore! (all three are within a month of each other)

John and Jason turned 60 recently (30 + 30) so we (Jason's new bride and I) threw them a big partayyy. this is the after party chill out...

I recently got certified to teach Les Mills Body Step. John was wonderful and packed up the boys and came with me to Atlanta. We stayed with his Aunt and Uncle and they had their own adventure while I was away all day Saturday anhd Sunday. They all went to Stone Mountain which was a huge deal to Brody. He ran and ran until he asked to be carried the rest of the way :)

Here is Brody with John's Aunt Sybil and Uncle Tim. Thanks for hosting us guys!!