Thirty Something.....

Well another birthday has come and gone! On Sunday we celebrated my thirty sixth birthday. I was in the shower that morning thinking, "Wow! I'm getting old!" I had a great birthday week leading up to my special day! Tracy and I enjoyed a lunch together before she left for her trip. Then my mom came in from Kingsport and she, Claire and I had a girl's day out! We went to Lulu's Tea Room for lunch and then had a fun filled day shopping at Spoiled Rotten and Marshall's!
I couldn't think of a better day to have a birthday fall on than on a Sunday! I got to spend my birthday at church and a chance to worship my creator! After church, we went to Aubrey's and I had my favorite, Haystack Pasta! Yum!
When we got home, Terry, Clayton and Claire had my favorite cake-Red Velvet! I have a picture of me in this same pose with Clayton when he was Claire's age! Only the number candles were much smaller! When Terry and Clayton went to get my cake, Clayton wanted to buy me flowers! They are beautiful!
Here we are reading the card from Clayton and Claire!
I think I've ruined Clayton with all of my scrapbook and blog pictures- He said, "Mommy, You need a picture of your birthday gifts for your blog!" So here is his picture of me with my new cell phone and my new Vera Bradley purse.
Thanks for making my birthday so special!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1;3

Let it Snow!

Clayton was so excited to see it snowing on Monday! As soon as he saw a dusting in the backyard, he put on snow gear to go outside. Bless his heart he was so excited with the dusting of snow that we had and by the time he got all bundled up, it was almost gone. He said, "I hope I can get outside before it all melts, I'm really hot!". He played around in the "dust'. He wanted to make a "giant" snowball to show his teacher. He told me that she had been praying for snow. By the way, it has been so cold, his snowball is still frozen on our patio! His favorite discovery was finding bird tracks. He was so excited about it that he had to take his own picture. Well ,needless to say by the time Claire woke up from her nap, the snow was gone. Although she did get to see snowflakes!
My prayer for my sweet kids is one of my favorite promises from God that snow always reminds me of.... wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7

My Little Artist

Thursday night our family went to school for the 2nd grade art show. Clayton has always loved to create and draw things, so when he began art class in first grade, it quickly became one of his favorites! Our art teacher is amazing! Her name is Ms. Kirk and the art that she encourages the children to produce is outstanding! First we went to the gym for a slide show. It was set to music and featured the art that they had worked on last semester. It also showed pictures of the students in art class which was fun to see, because you always wish you were a fly on the wall when they are at school! After the pictures, we walked through the halls and looked at the artwork on display. Here are a few pictures of Clayton's art.The one at the top of the blog is of rain forest frogs.
This is "Bubble Fish" . The fish are made with Clayton's thumb and finger prints. They blew bubbles in paint mixed with dish detergent.
Here we have an outdoor scene.
"Fun Circles"" A Beautiful Butterfly"
This is my favorite. It is a city scape after a rain storm. You can't tell from my picture, but the reflection looks real!
Clayton's city scape includes a bank, the sunsphere, Brusters and of course Mr. Gatti's!
We had a great time together as a family! Of course Clayton wanted to take a picture of his sister on his special night!
We are so proud of you Clayton!
Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Ephesians 6:7

Growing Quickly!

My sweet Claire Elise is already 3 months old! She is such a joy in our lives! Look how quickly she has grown!
Here she is in our comfy rocking chair at 1 month and 3 months.
She is so much fun during wake time now! She loves to look at faces and for you to talk to her! She will smile and coo at you. Just this past week she has discovered how to get her hands to her mouth and chew on them for a while. I think she may be a thumb sucker once she gets better control of her hands. When we put her on her tummy, she is very good at raising her head to look at her toys. Clayton thinks she looks like she is doing push ups. She has developed very good control of her head and likes to be nosy and look around a lot. She LOVES taking a bath and I think she will be like her brother and love to swim. Claire is very serious about her sleep! She takes three to four naps during the day and sleeps through the night. She also loves her paci! Sometimes she wakes up around 5:00 and crys for it, but will usually go back to sleep. Her day starts at 7:00. She eats, plays and then takes her first nap. She eats again at 11:00, plays, and takes her second nap. Her next feeding is at 2:00 because we have to go and get Clayton from school. After we get home she plays for awhile, then takes her third nap. She is not as predictable in the evening yet. We are still working on that!
She is recovering from the bronchiolitis. Thank all of you for your prayers and sweet e-mails! Because she was sick for two weeks, they could not give her immunizations. So we are just now going for her 2 month check-up this Thursday. Last week at the doctor, she had gone from 9 pounds, 13 ounces to 12 pounds and 15 ounces!
I'm already having to go through her clothes and change the 0-3 months for 3-6 months!
Wow! She really has grown quickly! We love you Claire Bear!
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! 2 Peter 3:18

Like Father, Like Son!

Since Claire's arrival, Terry has been getting Clayton ready in the mornings and taking him to school.
So when I saw them dressed exactly the same this afternoon, I just had to take their picture. These two are so much alike! I only carried Clayton for nine months, you would think he would look somewhat like me!
O.K. he did get my eyelashes and , sorry Clayton, my athletic ability! I love it that he is so much like Terry! They both have beautiful blue eyes, are both very energetic, and both have a special place in their heart for those in need. This was so evident at Christmas. We were unable to take our annual trip to the Mission of Hope. and Clayton was so disappointed. So when we told him we were going to take gifts to the mobile home church, he wanted to go with us instead of going to his special party night at Awanas. Our lifegroup took gifts to the Hartley Lane mobile home church. Clayton joined in with them on a game they were playing and then after they had opened their gifts, Clayton got right down in the floor with them and ate and helped them put their toys together. I had tears in my eyes as I watched him with those precious kids! My sweet son was showing a servant's heart that night. Joe Stevens said that he was so proud of Clayton, that he joined right in with the kids and truly enjoyed every minute. After we got in the car that night, Clayton said, "Mommy, that was so much fun!". Yes, I love that he has a heart for others just like his daddy!









Clayton has also developed a love for shoes just like his dad! Oh am I in trouble! He wanted to buy basketball shoes with his Christmas money.
Terry was so sweet. He looked all over town for the ones Clayton wanted. But apparently, every kid in Powell is the same size as Clayton. So we had to order them. They came in the mail today. They are the ones that have the color changing cards so you can create "Powell" colors. So as soon as Terry got home, he and Clayton had to try them out. According to Clayton they are going to make him reach the basket better!

In this picture you can see a leather bracelet that Clayton is wearing.
Terry does a devotional every night with Clayton.
Last night it was about being truthful. So they made a bracelet to represent the belt of truth. They made it to be a reminder to put on the belt of truth daily.
Yes, Clayton I love that you are like your daddy, and my prayer is that you grow up to be a Godly man and one day teach your children about our Lord and Savior just like him!


For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just... Genesis 18:19