Can you guess who?

Can you guess which one is Noah and which one is Karis? These pictures were taken very close to the same age. I'm sure that the clothes might give it away, and the fact that the exersaucers are different (Laura will easily know which one is which since Karis is in her excersaucer!).

In case you weren't sure, the first picture is Karis and the second is Noah. I do think that they look a lot alike at this age, but Noah seems to have more facial expressions. Their noses and mouths look exactly alike, but to me their eyes look very different, except the color! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week. I got a special morning to spend just with Noah. Karis went to play at Hannah's, and I took Noah to the YMCA to workout and then we hung out for awhile before his nap. I then cleaned out our closets while he slept before I went to get Karis. I didn't know I could put up winter stuff, go through all the drawers, and rearrange our closets in an hour (that is how long Noah sleeps in the morning). I guess not having Karis here helped a lot! Thanks Lori!! I know Karis had fun and so did I!

Please feed me so I can go to bed!

I think this picture says it all. It is very funny to see how Noah tells us that he is really tired. He puts both hands on his head and grabs it. He looks like he is in total distress. The first time he did it a few weeks ago, we laughed, but now we know it is time for the bottle and the bed when those arms start grabbing his head. He was so tired this night that his hands never moved the whole time he drank his bottle.
Children are so different. Karis was always, and still is, and eye rubber. When she gets tired, she rubs her eyes with her hands. God sure makes all of us unique even from birth!

Good Friday, Easter and Friends

We had a very fun and friend filled Easter weekend. On Good Friday, our friends, the Cherry's, came over for dinnner. We enjoyed some BBQ chicken, cole slaw, and baked beans, along with some cross cupcakes. We had a great time of fellowship, and the children had fun playing outside and in Karis' room. Saturday we just hung out together as a family. Sunday after church, you can check out Justin's sermon on our church website http://www.christbc.com/ along with me this week since I served in the nursery during church this week. After church, we headed over to the Brook's house for lunch and fellowship.

Family picture in front of the Brook's house.


Karis pointing to the cross cake that I made and decorated for desert. She was reenacting how she licked the icing the day before after I was finished icing the cake!

Full view of the cake, it was almost gone after lunch.

Our Easter was good spent with friends. We also got to spend some time with Lori's sister, her husband and their new baby boy. It was fun to chat and have a leisurely lunch with our friends. It is always good to celebrate the death of our Savior with like minded friends.

Pondering the Cross

I have been reading all the gospel accounts of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Christ the last two days. I was again awed and reminded of my own sin, that I too would have been one of the ones mocking our Lord along with the crowd. Christ still died for those who mocked and reviled Him. Hallelujah, what a Savior! As I was trying to think of what to say about the cross, one song came to mind. Here are the words of a song that clearly, powerfully, and wonderfully explain the cross.

The Power of the Cross

Oh, to see the dawn

Of the darkest day:

Christ on the road to Calvary.

Tried by sinful men,

Torn and beaten, then

Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Christ became sin for us;

Took the blame, bore the wrath-

We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh to see the pain

Written on Your face,

Bearing the awesome weight of sin.

Ev'ry bitter thought,

Ev'ry evil deed

Crowing Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;

Now the ground beneath

Quakes as its Maker bows His head.

Curtain torn in two,

Dead are raised to life;

"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name

Written in the wounds,

For through Your suffering I am free.

Death is crushed to death;

Life is mine to live,

Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Son of God-slain for us.

What a love! What a cost!

We stand forgiven at the cross.

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Spring Baskets and Egg Hunt

On Saturday, we had our spring baskets and egg hunt day. Justin made waffles for breakfast and we celebrated the beginning of spring by getting a basket full of fun stuff and having an egg hunt. I got this idea from Carolyn Mahaney (she and her daughters have the girltalkblog and I have read all her books). We wanted our children to still be able to have an egg hunt and get a fun basket every year, but we didn't want it to interfere or be at all connected with our Savior's death and glorious resurrection. For us, Easter is about Christ and Him alone, and we didn't want anything to distract us or our children from that. So, the spring basket and egg hunt seemed like such a great idea. Here are a few pictures of our fun time!

Karis is looking at her new stickers. By her basket was a book, Go Dog Go, for Noah. Karis really enjoyed reading it to him once I read it to her a few times. (There are only a few words on each page.)

Karis also got a BOZ puzzle. She is really into puzzles these days!

Noah was very excited about his new book, especially when Karis read it to him!

Karis is hunting her eggs in the front yard.

"Where are the rest of the eggs?"

We had a very fun day, Karis and I did her new puzzle about 5 times. I love spring time, I can't wait to see all the flowers blooming. It reminds me of how God's grace that continues to give to His children despite our sinfulness. After a cold winter (which has not really been the case this year), God reminds us that all things become new again like when we trust in Christ. We pray you have a wonderful Christ filled Easter!

Rolling Over and Loving Sister!

I would have to say that Karis and Noah look a lot alike! Noah is growing so fast, he is exactly 3 months old today. The time really has flown by! On Saturday morning, Justin and I awoke to a very loud crying Noah almost an hour before he usually gets up. I decided after a few minutes to go into his room and make sure he was okay (usually he goes back to sleep for another hour when he stirs that early) and to my surprise, he was turned over on his back! We decided to give him some belly time Sunday afternoon, and in about 5 minutes he turned himself over. This is a great milestone, except when he wakes himself up and won't go back to sleep. I was thinking it was a little early for this but who am I to say, Noah has a mind of his own.
Karis is really enjoying Noah now that he is starting to play with some of his toys. He loves watching her and is mesmerized by whatever she is doing around him. Most of the time if he is upset all Karis has to do is go and smile at him and he will stop crying. It is nice to have someone else to entertain him. I am so blessed to have these two wonderful children. God is showing me everyday new things about myself and His grace towards me and my family.

We haven't been up to much these last two weeks, just living one day at a time. I did take Noah to the doctor on Friday, and he is growing like a weed and very healthy. It was supposed to be his two month check up, but he is almost three months (12 weeks last Monday). He weighed 12 lbs and 12 ounces. He has grown 2 inches and is doing very well. Karis finally rode her bike this last week with Justin's help. She did pretty good for the first time.
Here are a few pictures of our growing boy and Karis riding her bike.

Noah's hair sticking straight up!

Noah laughing at his sister. It is so neat to see how much he adores Karis. If he is unhappy or crying, all Karis has to do is walk over and talk to him and he starts smiling again. He watches her all the time. What a special bond God is giving them. Of course, Karis doesn't always want to talk to him or help me with him. She keeps saying, "a few more days and then Noah can play with me." I have tried to explain to her that it will be a few more months until she can play with him, big difference!

Karis riding her bike with Justin holding on. I'm not sure what Calvin is doing, he always seems to be in pictures that we take outside.

I pray everyone is having a good week. God is giving me strength and patience this week, and I am so thankful for the cross.