11 and 35, and new rooms.

Isaac and I celebrated our birthdays together by having a pre-birthday dinner at Mambo Grill and a birthday breakfast date. Afterwards we went to all the antique shops in uptown looking for nautical decor for the new boys room. We have moved Isaac and Daniel into the girls room and because the walls and furniture will be white and medium gray, I thought a ship, ocean sort of theme would be cute and make the white furniture more sailboat like and less girly. We found some really fun things.

The girls have moved downstairs, allowing them more privacy and a bathroom of their own. Joshua is in the middle bedroom with the built-in crib... when he is ready for a big bed in a year or two, we'll but him in the other room with Daniel, and Isaac will have his own room. All this room shifting has been a MAJOR undertaking, and a slow moving process! But it is so good to have things cleaned, sorted, and have every square foot of the house being put to good use.

Horsing Around

Lauralyn started at a new barn in March, and loves going to ride 2-3 times a week. She is able to be dropped off and then spends several hours soaking in all things horse. She wants a saddle of her own, and is earning money by babysitting Joshua an hour or two a day so I can get things around the house done, or edit photos. She is a pretty great babysitter when motivated by a saddle. ;-)

I am really proud of the young lady she is becoming.

Looking back at Joshua's birthday.

I wish I posted more on my blog, I've spent a lot of computer time editing client's pictures, and the mild chaos of my life is persistent, but if truth be told, I waste my free time on facebook.

We have been busy, though. I have pictures to prove it.

First, I need to back up to April and Joshua's first birthday. We celebrated with friends, and he got his first taste of cake... he was not impressed. However, his blue car is a huge hit. The past 2 months he has been cutting a mouth full of molars. Poor boy. He was a bit fussy the day of his party. Growing teeth is no fun.

2 years

I will never understand why God has laid this path for us. He KNEW Joshua was meant for us and Joel was not. Maybe we'll understand it fully someday. 

Yet such a precious gift to allow us a child as happy and endearing as our Joshua. I feel he is the cherry on top... an unexpected joy. A sweet bandaid on our broken hearts. Joel laid down his life for his brother. Not by choice but by divine intervention. My simple human mind cannot understand, but HE knows. Thank you Lord, that this year, my Mother's Day sorrows are shadowed by grins, laughter, and love.