Mr. C has officially graduated from crib to "Big Boy" bed...it was such a smooth transition that I'm still leery of it!

I'm so proud of everything he does, great or small!

Britcoms....

Rick and I have a little tradition that started before we were parents and so now sometimes we have to DVR the programs...but each Sunday night we pile into bed and watch the Britcoms that PBS offers. It generally starts with Keeping Up Appearances...Rick usually "passes out" just after As Time Goes By but I always have to finish up with the Vicar of Dibley.

Last night we were watching and I mentioned again my dream to live a few years in another country. I really think (for now) I've settled on the idea of England. We can live there as I've explained to him for a couple of years between the boys having college and actually having grandchildren...and enjoy life!

The more I watch International House Hunters and the more I read books on those that have decided to tackle this from Peter Mayle to that other guy...oh, what's his name? I think, this is on my top ten list for things I want to do before I am called home.

Having spent the equivalent of only 3 weeks (give or take) in London and surrounding areas in my life, I can say it truly is one of my favorite places on the planet. Granted, my traveling has been limited compared to a lot of people but for some reason I instantly fell in love with the British culture upon my arrival. Although I don't think I'd choose London to reside, too expensive, too big and too much...would be nice to have speedy access to though.

I'm not claiming to know the ins and outs of anything over there but a chance to live over there would provide some semblance of what we know and yet much of what we don't with access to the rest of Europe. The hint of mystery is part of the draw!

Last night's House Hunters International was a British couple seeking a home in Spain and while I did fall in love with their selection and it's "love nest" qualities as well as the price tag! Very reasonable in my opinion! I still don't think I could just pop into a culture where English is not the primary language. Call me lazy but if I'm going to jump headfirst into another culture and "set up camp" so to speak for a few years, I don't think I want the language barrier to be part of the equation.

And after all, I can take a quick jaunt down to Paris, Rome, Madrid, what have you just that much more easily calling Great Brit home!

It all sounds like pipe dreams...I know. But I'm quite serious about it all.

And let me add, I do love that Dame Judi Dench!

Don't kid yourself

Yesterday evening it suddenly became clear to me that not only do I teach but I am taught. What I mean by this is that I felt God whisper how He's helped teach me so much as I try to teach my children.

I got to really thinking about it last night after everyone had found their beds. With Ethan, I learned so much being that he was my first...I learned the basics, how being a stay at home mom really was my calling in life and how to verbalize everything in a more basic way so that he could understand. I learned so much about how God loves us in the simple facts of the relationship. I also learned what it was like to be a kid again, something I didn't realize would be part of the process of becoming a mother.

With Caleb, things have been slightly different. I knew mostly what to do when he was a baby and even though he presented new challenges because well, he was new...I had most of it down pat. But yesterday I found myself reassuring him about how to love himself and how smart he is and things I know I did with Ethan but for some reason it struck a chord with me. I heard God whisper "And remember this about yourself as well, Child."

For those of you that have followed me a long time via my prior blog, etc. You know I struggle as I believe everyone struggles with loving myself properly under God's perspective. Recently, an elder in my Bible Study small group pointed out to me and the rest of the crew that as Baptists we've been good at reciting "Once Saved, Always Saved" but we truly struggle with the truth that that also means "Once Loved, Always Loved." She really hit this on the head for me with that statement.

How keen is it that as mothers we go about teaching the next generation to love themselves as God does, to take care of themselves and to see the world properly according to His plan but sometimes we miss the boat in taking our own advice or rather His advice!

This weekend I will go away with some dear friends and attend the Statewide Women's Conference and from there we'll spend the weekend in Tejas just for fun. I've felt like I didn't deserve this time simply because of the economy and other odds and ends reasons. But I was wrong, I need that time. I need time with my girlfriends. God has blessed me with that opportunity and I must take it.

I know in the past I've written much about this internal struggle. The balance between loving one's self and being what I call "selfish" about it. It's a delicate one. I'm still learning. More than anything though, I'm seeing that seeking Him first on the opinion I am to have on myself is truly the greatest resource and reservoir for this struggle.

More like brother and sister

Libby and crew spent some of the weekend with us. And as usual, these two found many ways to entertain themselves. I think the picture speaks for itself.

Kelly sent out an email with pics from when our play group first started meeting...and this one popped up on the screen and I lost it. Look at how little he is. My BAY BEE is all I could think, okay, I said it out loud (too verbal for my own good, trust me!).

He's all grown up and though I swore I'd celebrate every rite of passage and not ever wish their little lives away (Thanks for that advice Mimi!)...I find that although I'm thrilled Ethan is going to Kindergarten in the Fall because he desperately needs the learning and exploring all that that brings...I still cannot believe it's here!

Sometimes I have to force myself to stop and listen as he rambles on and on about Star Wars which I used to think I liked but now...now that he's completely obsessed with it, I'm not so sure...and yet, here he is in this pic...so small and so fragile...God is so good to reward us with these gifts. Not only do we learn so much about them and the world by seeing it through the eyes of a child a second time, we also learn so much about who He is and how He sees us. This truth still blows me away....

I am truly blessed beyond measure. My baby will be 6 this summer. And last night when I said..."Babe-O time to go!" after soccer practice concluded and the other little boys on the team started teasing him and calling him "Baby" "Baby Ethan", I realized...time to stop that and time to start embracing him as a little boy and respecting him as such.

He didn't flinch but it was a moment for me to realize...he's growing up! And I'm rather proud and amazed at who he has become in such a short, sweet time.

Our Creative Side

The boys wanted to create their own clipboards because Mommy's with butterflies wasn't too cool. Ethan went with Batman...Caleb despite heavy encouragement from me for John Deere, Classic Cars and Motorcycles chose....Halloween. Mom assured me I needed to let it go. And later explained, we should know it's his favorite holiday simply because it's all about the candy.

Sand Angels in the Tranquility Garden

Our week in Texas...a few pics of The Men...some time in a garden. Time with Kimbo and her gaggle of kids at her home.

We're learning something.

I love doors, gates...anything about passing through.

Caleb took the leap.

Ethan of course is a Jedi Master...

Peace. Oh, I like bridges too...so much symbolism there.

Feeding the Koi

Pointing, as a King family member, you must know how to properly point in a picture.

Saying Cheese...

Comin' at ya Mommy

At first I was put off by this then I decided to see the humor.

Caleb gets the camera for a bit.

Luka practices...Nadia wishes I would stop snapping her pic.

Kimbolinee and her sweet Nadia and Luka.

It's Amazing to Me

Ethan is the funniest little guy and I've been told he's too precocious for his own good and just a smidge overly gregarious (much like someone else we all know and love).

For years now, he's awakened to the tell me either something about what we were talking about just prior to him going to bed or ask to start back at a project he started before he "passed" out.

This morning, he walked in and said "Hi Ju-Mommy." And then quickly told me he was ready to finish the picture he was coloring for Merrell's house.

Recently, Rick and Ethan built a smaller scale version of our house per Ethan. It still sits ready for her to occupy and is waiting on a door. Ethan of course has moved on to the most important part in Mommy's eye, decorating.

Last night, I laid in bed after E's first soccer game and got a little anxious. What will I do when another female enters his picture? What will I do when he stops trusting that I know what's best? What will I do when his sphere of those he listens to expands such that Daddy and Mommy are no longer tops?

I decided finally to resign to just praying about it and turning it over to Abba and going to sleep. What can I do? Nothing really.

First Game of the Season...ahhhh!

Got Paint.

See Little Merrell...she says "That lady and her camera!"

I have to brag on Rick for a minute...shh, don't tell him! ;) Everything you see he built from scratch. Yes, from scratch. We redesigned this kitchen, originally this had been the breakfast/dining room for the house, hence the window issue you see in the pics. We will be remedying that shortly. He and I cooked up the layout (with the help of Kelly and Libby) and our past experiences. He designed the extras and I said, "Looks good" a lot. Although we are still not done and we still have some tweaking, I'd like to say JOB WELL DONE. My man is a man...I always call him a Renaissance man and this is why, he's talented in so many areas, this being one of them.

Yet..and here comes the disclaimer, after this one, I think we're done for a while! I recently overheard him telling Ethan..."We've found a house we can live in a while..."

(I suspect this was more for his own ears and not Ethan's because Ethan has only moved once in his life) and "We're going to stay put!"

Music to my ears!

And of course, to Rick's I am well convinced.

Got Paint?

Daddy and E, the family that works together, stays together

Little E sanding

Little C priming

The sheer chaos of it all

Gotta Prime...It Saves Time

Welcome!

I've decided to shrug off the old and put on the new....so now we have a new and improved and family packed blog on the goings on in our house...from the remodel, to the boys, to what have you...