The Birthday Boy!

Last Sunday (I know I'm a little late in posting this!) we celebrated Seth's 2nd birthday! It was a lot of fun having everyone over and Seth had a great time...non-stop fun and love everywhere he went. We played, ate, opened presents and then watched the football game using my brother's projector and 72" screen....life size football players. :) All in all, it was a great day! He also got some fun toys that he LOVES to play with (thankfully...a few things to keep this little rascal busy)!

Blowing out his candles....he decided this was REALLY fun and so we had to do it twice. Then the next day when he got to have a cupcake after lunch he wanted to blow out candles again...2 more times. Who knew blowing out candles would be SOOOO fun?!

This is how he blows...it takes a little bit, but it works. :)

We had plenty of kids, but they played great and had lots of fun...all in all there were 10 kids!

Another one of his new toys...it was fun even before the motor and wheels!!

Now he won't have continue trying to scooter with the 2-wheel versions....

His first remote control car

He's a Vikings fan! Ok...maybe not...he just likes football...A LOT!

Pictures from Michelle

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My Baby is 2....

Just born

Oct. 30, 2007

Happy First Birthday!

Oct. 2009

His 2 year pictures will be coming soon!

I love you Baby Seth...I love that you are always smiling, always open for hugs and cuddles, I love that you adore your brother and sister, I love that after 2 kids I now have a 'mamas boy' (somedays I love that more then others!!), I am learning to love that because of you I have grown in patience and humility, I love that you can make anyone smile and everywhere we go people stop to talk to you because you always say "Hi!" whether you know them or not...I'm certain that you have brightened the days of many people that we've seen. Thank you for being my baby boy...I look forward to seeing what God has in store for you (and for your dad and I as your parents).

I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby Seth you'll be.

Love, mom

Commandment 5

Commandment 5 -- Honor Your Father and Mother

Last year during our Alphabet Verses when we did letter 'O' we talked about, Obey your parents for this is right. Eph. 6:1 Now talking about the 5th Commandment we decided to demonstrate to the kids how this is an everyday choice whether it's with big actions or even simple jobs around the house. Honor is also more then just obedience, it is also respect.

Seth's birthday is coming up on Friday and we are having a party on Sunday for him. Needless to say there are a few things that need to get done before that....we could have put some of these jobs off for a couple days, or chosen for Dan and I to do them at night when the kids are in bed, but instead we asked them to work with us to help get jobs done.

The word Honor we talked about meaning more then just obeying as we talked about in Ephesians...the 5th commandment is also referring to respecting your father and mother. The combination of respect and obeying is pretty huge. Not only do we pray that they obey what we say, we also pray that they would obey God's call on their life....along with that obedience we pray that they respect what we tell them...that they realize we have their best interest in mind.

Last night we had a lot of fun in the kitchen talking as a family about the 5th Commandment as well as just talking in general. After washing their hands, the kids helped me pull green grapes and purple grapes off the stems. They helped cut celery and strawberries as well. Dan cut the broccoli and califlower while I was making a HUGE batch of chili. Once they finished their projects they helped me make chili. Doing all these projects together was a lot of fun. Even Seth got in on all the fun....he LOVES helping and he LOVES cooking, so this was a great family time for him!! :)

Back to life....Back to reality....

Dan and I had a great weekend of relaxing, sleeping in, going out whenever we wanted to, talking, talking, talking (with no interruptions)....yep, it was GREAT!!!

I have to say though...I missed my kids...even the little rascal!! :) Since picking them up though whenever they bicker or if Seth is being rascally...I sing "Back to life...Back to reality"...the 'honeymoon' is over -- we're parents! :)

Remember the Sabbath

Family time last Sunday focused on the fourth commandment, which says we are to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. We took this opportunity to help our children understand one of the unique things we do to keep the Sabbath day holy. Communion is unique to Christianity. It was modeled and commanded by Jesus to his followers in the Upper Room. We tried our best to explain what Jesus said and why he said it. So, we got out a piece of bread and some juice and tried to explain it.

Jesus said, "This is my body." He did not mean it was his actual body but that it represented his body. He broke it in front of them to represent what would be happening to his actual body. Josiah and Alayna already knew about Jesus on the cross but did not know as much about the beating he was given before going to the cross. Even though this beating was brutal it does not make Jesus unique. Others face similar deaths during the Roman Empire.

Jesus also said, "This is my blood." He did not mean that it was his actual blood. Alayna agreed and added, "If it was real blood we would get sick!" This is where Jesus' death becomes unique. Since the beginning of sin in this world God has always connected sin and death. After Adam and Eve sinned God killed an animal and clothed them. All the old testament sacrifices were incomplete. Jesus' blood was a perfect covering for all our sins because He was perfect. His blood did what animal blood could not.

Jesus wants us to reflect on His perfect sacrifice because we need to remember that we are not perfect and have a need for Him. This is one of the ways that we can remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.

Sneak Peak!!!

In August a friend of mine...who is also a blog friend (you can read about her life here http://erhardts.blogspot.com/) had a photo session giveaway and I WON! Ok, that NEVER happens to me, but it did and I was PUMPED! Knowing that Seth's 2nd birthday was coming up I chose to use it to get his 2 year pictures taken. Here is a link to his sneak peek...they are super cute -- even amidst whacking his chin the day before and making a HUGE scab and getting air freshner in his eye the day of his pictures...with some angle magic they turned out GREAT! Check them out -- http://www.kbphotostudio.blogspot.com/