Merry Christmas

Don't you love getting all of the Christmas Cards in the mail this time of year, especially the one's that show photos of your friends + family. I cannot think of a better time of year to go to the mailbox.

Thanks to our good friend Ken Kienow for taking our family photos; he's very generous and very talented.

With the craziness of work/kids/christmas shopping, etc we didn't get a chance to have these printed to be mailed out.

So here is our family Christmas Card, just try to imagine this came in your mailbox.

word to your mother

this blog is dedicated to all the mom's out there, and especially my wife (who is currently tied with my mother + her mother for the world's #1 mom. It's a classic 3-way tie).

A couple of weeks ago my wife had to go out of town for 4 days to be with her family in Southern CA, which meant that I was on my own with the kids for 4 days. And when I say "on my own" I mean I only had 2 shifts of people helping me each day (a big THANK YOU to Megan Siems, Jenn Avila, Aunt Jamie, my Mom, and Katie's Mom who all helped me survive). And when I say I was responsible for the kid's well being, I mean that I had to feed them (Katie prepared all of the food), bathe them (optional), do laundry, clean the kitchen, do the dishes. Let's just say there wasn't much time left over to watch Judge Judy.

It was tough. I found myself deprived of sleep, and then they wake up so early in the morning wanting to eat breakfast, then you have to clean them, dress them, and get them ready for whatever comes next. I would realize around 1 or 2 pm that I hadn't even had time to eat. Its like they were holding me hostage, and they weren't following the basic rules of the Geneva Convention on Human rights to eat, sleep, use the restroom, shower, etc.

But it was such a great time with my kids. They make me very happy and proud, so I was very thankful for that extra time I had with them. But I was even more thankful that my wife came home. I came away with a greater appreciation for what she (and mom's everywhere) do each day after day after day. She has the more difficult job by far. It reminded me of that well known Proverb about a woman of wisdom, strength, compassion, integrity, hard work, and inner beauty.

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women have done excellently, but YOU [Katie] surpass them all.'"

Judah's favorie outfit... remember Uzi & Ari?

Halloween + Fall Photos

So Annie was a flower, and Judah was a Baseball Player, which was simple for him since he dresses up like a baseball player everyday of his life.

picture/video update

here's some pics/video/slideshow of the family. enjoy

4 years ago...

I've always loved oak trees...

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord. For he shall be like a tree, planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaves will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will it cease from yielding fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."
Psalm 1::3

Speaking of roots, check out what I found in my nasty pantry this afternoon (iphoto is not loading my pic. but I found a bag of potatoes sending out tentacles that climb clear to the next shelf, yikes). I'm sure there is a spiritual lesson lurking somewhere in between the roots flourishing in the darkness, penetrating a thick layer of plastic to find nourishment. Well, I'll be busy contemplating potato roots, or maybe I'll just throw them away...I guess we won't be having potatoes for dinner.

Oh how He loves...

"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." Ezekiel 36:25-27

This is what it's all about folks... He loves us, he loves me and it makes me want to weep. He loves us to the point of death, so that we can rise, be cleansed, unshackled, redeemed for the purposes of his glory! But really we all stand paralyzed in the enormous 'sea of mercy' unless we really get it... He loves us. That's where our faith can begin to have hands and feet (not to mention brains & and a mouthpiece). Otherwise, our hearts are never freed from that stony birth, and all our attempts at holiness are pure vanity.

Katie

My sweet babies....

I'm feeling particularly mushy about my kids today. Judah has the stomach flu, not the swine flu, don't worry. This is the first time ever that Judah has been sick enough that he has wanted to just cuddle and rest. Its crazy how much your maternal instincts kick in when your babies are in pain. This is my first time dealing with stomach stuff with the kids, so I was really nervous. The crazy thing is, there is no place I'd rather be. I know it may sound sick, especially if you don't have kids, but I just have to be there with him for every "burp".

Currently Judah is begging for water (he can't hold anything down just yet, so little sips are all he gets), begging for a sandwich and me deciding what I can eat that wouldn't be so bad 'coming back up' just in case. I'm having to sneak food, just so he doesn't beg to eat. I guess its at least a good sign that he is feeling well enough to want to eat. Let's just hope he can keep something down soon.

Here are some pics of the kids at their best, mostly just to cheer me up.



Judah with his tool belt helping daddy



Double Trouble



2 Teeth at 4 months, what the heck!?!


Nana & Nanny

Howie and Gina Jenkins

I wanted to be the first to introduce you to my beautiful new sister, Gina. I also have a new nephew and couldn't be more thrilled about my ever growing family. The wedding was absolutely beautiful, the ceremony was so personal and touching. It was truly amazing to witness the sealing of this new little family and especially the father's heart that God has given my brother for his son, Jonah. God is good and I can't wait to see how these three grow together. I have to say my brother's vows were the most beautiful vows I have ever heard, in fact I think it was probably the most profound thing I have ever heard come out of his mouth. Anyhow, it was quite a day, an intimate ceremony with our families and close friends. Here are a couple of pictures. If you know my brother, the exit was so perfect. I was really afraid for Gina, side-saddled on a dirt bike... she really is perfect for Howie. LOVE...

Cuteness

love is risky - Tylenol is not the answer

when you love someone, chances are it will be painful at times, or perhaps for seasons at a time. maybe they don't love you back, or they get hurt, or hurt you, or get sick, or pass away.
risk, risk, big Grand Canyon size risk.

"I've built walls, A fortress deep and mighty, That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock, I am an island." - Simon & Garfunkel

but love, in case you were wondering, is certainly worth the risk.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I usually don't write my thoughts on this blog, but I guess that's what a blog is for. But today I am thinking about love + pain and how they seem to go hand in hand, because yesterday my son Judah swallowed 16 doses too many of Children's Tylenol.

He was rushed to the hospital, while I was in Seattle for work, getting the play by play over the phone in between work appointments.

Praise the Lord for modern medicine & smart doctors & antidotes, & HEALING in Jesus Name, because he is fine. We sent him to rehab today, 60 day detox. No we didn't, he just likes the taste, and he figured out how to open the child safe bottle.

So here is a pic of my boy who is worth the risk

'Nanny Gril'

As Judah puts it...
Annie is a pure joy. We're really starting to see her personality come out. I'm happy to say that she is a Mama's girl and loves to sit around and chit chat. She can be quiet and she can can be loud, but most always toothache sweet.

She is growing so fast and already weighing in in the 95th percentile. She sleeps great at night, mostly just cat naps during the day. It's funny because with Judah that drove me totally nuts, to never have more than a 20 minute break at a time. However, with Annie, I hardly even notice if it's been 20 minutes or 3 hours because now with 2 there's not really much of a break anyway. I'm loving all things girly, which kind of surprises me, but I love to dress her up and especially show Auntie Jamie how I can actually put together a smoking hot outfit, at least for Annie anyway. (Jamie, you're my fashion queen).

My Boys

HELP!

The day has finally come. We've been waiting, but it still snuck up on us like a lion stalking it's prey... Judah climbed out of the crib. What the heck! I woke up yesterday morning in the guest room where I had fallen asleep nursing Annie and what did I see... Judah, peaking over the crib trying to wake up sister. This was not a strange ocurrance, but the next question was "where is your father?" I went to the living room expecting to see Joey snoozing on the couch with Sesame Street in the background but he was nowhere to be found. He was in bed. I was asking him why the heck he got Judah up and went back to sleep, but he was even more confused. The boy had escaped. So all day I was dreading bed time and sure enough just after Joey put him down, out he walks with a huge grin on his face. We decided to try and get him to sleep in the toddler bed, but we keep getting the same result, a boy playing games with mama trying to see a few more moments of daytime. What in the world do we do? I had a complete meltdown last night because the boy cannot be contained. He finally fell asleep with me sitting in his doorway for 30 minutes, only to wake up at midnight forcing daddy to sleep on the floor in his room. I am beside myself. He has been an incredible sleeper and now I don't have a clue how to help him transition. We tried disciplining him, bribing him, and returning him to bed continuously, none of which worked. Please, if any of you have experience with this, I need help! Would it be horrible to lock him in his room? Yikes!

Fun with Nana

We packed up the car and made the trek to Bakersfield this week to spend some much needed time with my mom, Nana. We kind of have a policy of no Bako trips in the summer, so it was fun to spend a little time over there when it was under 100 degrees. My mom has this great old house near downtown and Judah loves visiting, especially since he gets his dog fix with Winnie. It was a great trip, other than the fact that we all got sick. It was the first time in years that my mom was there to take care of me, sick in bed and, oh what a treat. We still managed to make it to the California Living Museum (CALM), which I haven't visited since I was little. Judah loved it, especially since it was so small and there weren't many people there, he was able to roam around all by himself. It was kind of, well... interesting. Nothing like seeing a ground squirrel in a glass cage. They had a ton a reptiles that Judah got very up close and personal with and don't forget the two skunks that welcomed us. It is pretty cool though, all the animals have been rescued and you can see their injuries that make it impossible for them to survive in the wild. My dad is a veterinarian and when I was a kid he would often treat wild animals that would end up at CALM. We once had a mule deer living in our 'fort' in the backyard while it recovered from being hit by a car. Anywho.... it was a great trip and I miss my mom already. Here are some pics of the kids...

Happy Valentines Day!

To: Katie & Annie

From: Joey (daddy) & Judah:

Be Mine.

=============
Judah & I are very thankful for the girls in our life. So we have a little Valentines Day song to sing in this video.

We love you Katie & Annie!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy

The little love of our lives turns 2 today. With all the excitement of a new baby sister life has been anything but easy for all of us, but we are so proud of the new big brother, Judah. Sometimes in the midst of life I forget how much our lives have changed in the last 2 years and how much the better we are for knowing and loving our little nugget. In honor of his birthday, I decided to write him a letter...

Judah,
Sometimes when I look at you I swell with pride so much that it hurts. I think all parents think their children are genius, but you really are. I look at you and can't believe that you are a part of me, that you were once so tiny that you were contained in such a small place (since out of the womb keeping you contained is nearly impossible). You are such a little man these days showing us love and compassion, making us laugh hard enough to pee our pants. Sometimes when we're hanging out, I want time to freeze. I can't imagine you growing up any more and not seeing the you just as you are right now. You are a so special and so treasured. Here are some things that your mama especially loves about you right now...

1) You are a born entertainer.
2) You are so extremely compassionate with Annie. Every time she cries you try and comfort her and tell her, 'it's alright baby Nanny.' On that note, when we were walking the other day, we saw a 'sleeping' dog on the side of the road and you wanted to kiss her better. so sweet.
3) You are mommy's fierce physical trainer. Whenever I stop to get a breath on a run you encourage me 'run mommy'. You also drop your toys while I'm running so I can get in some much needed lunges. You love doing exercises with Mommy and Daddy, counting all of Daddy's 'perfect pushups' and teaching Mommy better sit up form.
4) You are so smart. You can count to 10 (who needs 8 though, right?) You are learning your ABC's so well and you know all your shapes (thanks Sesame Street!)
5) You love to read and memorize your books.
6) You are fearless. Climbing and jumping are you new past times.
7) You have some hot dance moves.
8) You have an insane ear for music. You can pick out the piano, harmonica, violin, drums, and guitar in music and act them out. My favorite is your harmonica.
9) You already have the ability to give love and make people feel special and valued.
10) You are quite a negotiator, just like Daddy and Papa. I could see you following in Daddy's footsteps.

I dream about you becoming a man it makes me sad to know that it will be so hard to explain to you what you were like as a child. I know that sounds really weird, but I wish grown up Judah could have the pleasure of knowing baby Judah. My precious boy, the day you were born changed my life forever. Just a few months before we found out you were going to be born, I lost a baby. God has used you to help restore things that were lost and to heal some of the pain of that time. Some good friends found this verse about your biblical namesake...

"AND SHE CONCEIVED AGAIN, AND BORE A SON: AND SHE SAID, NOW WILL I PRAISE THE LORD: THEREFORE SHE CALLED HIS NAME JUDAH." GENESIS 29:35

Love you a million,
Mommers

Picture Update

Annie is almost 5 weeks and for the most part it has been a dream. God has answered so many prayers with this little one. In fact, last night she only woke up one time to eat! Judah has been an amazing big brother, super nurturing and helpful. It seems like Annie has always been a part of the family. Joey's back to work and we are figuring it out without him. . The biggest answer to prayer has definitely been my sanity this time around. I only had about 3 days where I couldn't stop crying and since then I've been pretty stable. For those of you who don't remember, I was practically insane for 6 weeks after I had Judah. Every day gives me more and more confidence that we can not only survive, but actually enjoy our days together. Blessings to all, and thanks for all your prayers and support for our family.