Meeting Some Great-grandparents

Back in September my maternal grandfather and my step-grandmother came to visit. Since they live in Florida they hadn't met either one of our boys, so it was exciting for them to meet for the first time! Unfortunately we weren't able to get a photo with just them and Tennyson, but I did get some cute ones of them with Raleigh.

Friedel and Raleigh

My grandfather, Papa, and Raleigh

Friedel was absolutely taken with him and asked several times if he could go back to Florida with them. I think she was joking.

My parents with Papa waiting at the airport

My uncle coming in for a landing

Watching the planes

Tennyson loved watching the planes land and take off.

Posing with Daddy by the plane

A Little Time to Steal Away

Well, I had decided a couple weeks ago that I needed my toes to look nice for our anniversary. (Like we women need an excusse to go to the spa!) I had a gift certificate and some birthday money, so I went and had a wonderful, relaxing pedicure at the Beauty Spa before Tom and I left for our little get away on Friday.

This is the best photo I could get (because I can't actually SEE my feet anymore), but I love my watermelon-colored toes!

We were heading to the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton to celebrate our 5th Anniversary. After leaving Tennyson with my sister, Courtney, on Friday evening we headed to Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse for dinner. It's one of our favorite restaurants, but since it's usually a $50 check we rarely go. So it's a good place to go for special occasions. On the way there I realized I had forgotten the camera, so we figure we'd swing by home on the way to Staunton. We checked in with Courtney after dinner to let her know we had to come back by, and since Tennyson was fussy (due to another tooth and bad diaper rash) we decided to walk around Target and Old Navy until he went to bed.

After picking up the camera we headed to the hotel. We checked in to the hotel and put our bags in our room, and decided to go ahead and exchange gifts. I don't know if it's "kosher" or not to say what we got each other, but Tom's gift was SO thoughtful and sweet that I have to share! Since we honeymooned in Disney World this was just the perfect gift, and I was so thrilled I couldn't stop crying.

Isn't this precious!?

The gift I got for Tom was something I felt was special enough to be an anniversary gift - a Bible. To be more specific, the The American Patriot's Bible. For anyone that knows anything about my husband you know that he is "Mr. History," and the great part is that since he's been out of the Christian bookstore loop he didn't even know this Bible existed! One point for me!

Once we exchanged gifts and cards we decided to go grab some ice cream. Blackfriar's had just finished a performance so getting out of the parking garage was fun, plus there was a wedding reception at the hotel that people were beginning to leave. But we got to Kline's and back to the hotel in no time. We settled in for the night and I had to remark to Tom that it's no wonder we will have 2 kids in 2 years (and almost by our 5th anniversary). We don't have a t.v. in our bedroom and no king-sized bed! Haha!

The next morning we enjoyed a delicious buffet breakfast in the restaurant off the lobby. Then we walked around Staunton for a while, and came upon a little farmer's market downtown. We didn't buy anything, but it was good to get out just the two of us. I have to admit it felt a little strange to not have a diaper bag on my shoulder or a little boy holding on to my finger as we walked. But we know it's good for our marriage, especially on our anniversary, to just be with each other. It was great to be able to talk about whatever we wanted without interruption. And the funny thing was we were still finding out things about each other we didn't know. Is that great or what?!

But as fun as our 17 hours away was it was great to get home and be greeted by a little boy, who came running, wrapped his arms around our necks, and kissed us when we walked in the door. And I only cried a little as I showered him with kisses. ;-) Of course it will be a while before we'll be able to leave overnight again since the baby will be here soon. But it gives us something to look forward to!

Here are a few photos from the downtown area and the hotel:

The lamposts in downtown Staunton

Duckies on parade in a window display
The hotel lobby

A display case in the lobby with Stonewall Jackson artifacts

Artwork outside the Shenandoah Ballroom

The lounge, Sorrels, named after Jackson's horse

What a special time Tom and I had, remembering that beautiful day our life started as husband and wife five years earlier. We are excited to see what God has planned for our marriage in the future!

FIVE Wonderful Years of Marriage!

As I sit here writing this I can't help but become overwhelmed by emotion (not that it takes a lot these days) because I am reminiscing about what happened five years ago today -Tom and I got married. It seems like yesterday and I remember that beautiful day so clearly. We were remarking last night that it was raining, just like it did the night before we got married. But on our wedding day we had p-e-r-f-e-c-t weather!

Even though our marriage relationship has come easily, we have faced many obstacles since becoming husband and wife. But we were blessed to have come through them stronger, closer, and more in love. God has truly blessed us beyond belief. And after (nearly) two babies and five years later we are looking forward to our future with hope and anticipation.

Tonight we are going away.....JUST the two of us! And even though we are a little apprehensive because we've never left Tennyson overnight, we are excited about spending time....alone.....just soaking in each other's love. (Sound cheesy? I don't care!) :-)

Twila Paris is a favorite of ours and this is my favorite verse from "How Beautiful." It still makes me cry every time I hear it because it reminds me of how we were on June 12, 2004, and I know it's how we'll always be - beautifully in love.

How Beautiful the radiant bride

Who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes

How Beautiful when humble hearts give

The fruit of pure love
So that others may live

How beautiful, how beautiful,

How beautiful is the body of Christ

Thank you for five wonderful, beautiful years together, my love. Words cannot even begin to express just how very much I love you.

Baby Update and Then Some

Well, I am officially (as of two days ago) in my third trimester! Welcome Week 28! I had a baby appointment today and all went well. I am measuring exactly where I should be, and by that I mean my belly, and nothing out of the ordinary to discuss with the doctor. I did have my glucose test today and, despite me having enjoyed a bowl of ice cream last night, passed with flying colors. Even my hemoglobin was right where it should be. Haha! Like I was worried about that. :-)

I feel like this pregnancy is flying by. I can't believe that I am already at the point where I will be going to the doctor every two weeks! I told Tom this little boy of ours is going to be here before we know it, especially if he comes at the end of July like Tennyson did. But since getting past the exhaustion and morning sickness of those first 14 weeks or so I have really enjoyed being pregnant. I enjoyed my pregnancy with Tennyson, too (except for that horrid rash, of course). I don't care that I have stretch marks. I don't care that I can't bend down....as well. I don't care that my skin looks like it did when I was in middle school. Every pain, every spotting scare, every restless night and the constant trips to the bathroom were/are SO worth it! Besides what woman with a healthy self-image doesn't feel sexier when she's pregnant!!!

Though it has been more challenging with having a very, very active little boy to keep up with at the same time. I have to note that has been incredibly nice to not have to get ready for work every day and leave the house. And I am especially glad for that now that summer is fast-approaching! Ahhh, I can stay in my nice, cool house all day if I want!

The other exciting thing going on here is that Tom's LAST day of school is tomorrow! We both can't believe his 7th year at BRCS is coming to a close. It's crazy! But the BEST, the very best part about that is he will be home 5 days a week now, with the other two days being spent doing what he loves in Harper's Ferry. I am so excited for him! Tom is really in his element up there, doing living history. If you get the chance to go see him in action do it! He's amazing to watch!

So that's the update from here, excluding all the new things Tennyson is doing. But that's for another post.

Saturday at the Playground

Don't you just love a warm day in February? Ahhh, that brief ray of hope that winter isn't going to last forever and you just can't wait to get out of the house. And isn't it even better when that blessedly warm(er) day is on a Saturday? Tom and I took Tennyson to the playground on the 7th, and he really enjoyed it because he was finally big enough to climb up the stairs and slide down the slide. I just cherish the family times we have together. During the rush of the week it's nice to spend time with just the three of us (for now). Already these days are flying by.

Getting ready to go down the slide

Tom and I just love his many facial expressions

Not sure what he was looking at so intently

Another classic funny face as he tries to put his hand in his pocket

Reaching for the monkey bars

Riding high on Daddy's shoulders on the way home

Snow is Better from the Indoors....Apparently

I am finally getting caught up on some blogs! I don't really need to give a lot of commentary on the following photos. They are of Tennyson "enjoying" the snow day we had on January 27th.

The view out our back door
Watching Tom drop snow

What is all this white stuff?

Taking a stroll with Daddy (as the snow rapidly melts)
Tennyson was singing as they strolled ("Daa doo daa doo")
His little, yellow boots left a smiley face wherever he went
Okay, so he actually hated the snow
Now playing in the gutter.....THAT was fun!
And yes, he was drinking from it! Ick!

Happy Birthday, Tom!

Today is Tom's 45th birthday! As hard as it is for me to believe that, it's even harder for him. I asked him the other day how old he felt and he said 30. I believe my response was, "Awww, then we'd be the same age!" Hahaha! Tom's youthfulness is one thing I love about him. Here are 44 other things that make me fall in love with this wonderful man more each day:

1) I love his intelligence. Tom knows something about everything. Have you ever played Trivial Pursuit with him? Enough said.
2) I love his blue eyes. They were the very first thing I noticed about him.
3) I love his love of mustangs. He gets this sparkle in his eyes when he talks about his old Stangs.
4) I love his ability to think before he talks when he's worked up about something. Since this is not a virtue I possess, I envy him for it.
5) I love his love of all things history, but especially the Civil War. It's one of the deepest ties we have.
6) I love his sense of humor. He can make me laugh, especially when I need it the most.
7) I love his voice. He calls me every day on his free period at school and no matter what kind of day I am having, just hearing his voice makes me smile.
8) I love what an amazing father he is to Tennyson. They have such a special bond and watching them interact is heartwarming.
9) I love that he lets me put my music in iTunes and therefore in his iPod. Sorry, hon, you have Josh Groban and Celine Dion on there!
10) I love the way he smells. Honestly, it gives me butterflies every time.
11) I love that he is in no way sensitive about his height. (Nor should he be.)
12) I love the way he takes care of me. He's so thoughtful, always asking what he can get or do for me. Always making sure I am okay.
13) I love how he provides for his family. We always have food on the table and a warm place to sleep. What more do you really need?
14) I love his diverse taste in music.
15) I love his passion of living history. One of Tom's greatest joys is working at Harper's Ferry in the summer.
16) I love his laugh.
17) I love his facial hair. Oh, baby!
18) I love his hands. They are so strong and my hand fits so well in his.
19) I love his love of the Lord. It was clear from the moment I met him that Tom knew who his savior was.
20) I love how much he knows about theology. Though we don't do it often enough, I love getting into deep theological discussions with him.
21) I love how religious he is about his cups of tea. Can't go a day without a couple cups.
22) I love that he gets distracted doing the simplest things. It's what makes him Tom.
23) I love that if I want to go somewhere or do something badly enough he lets me. :-)
24) I love that he and I have never had a fight. No, we're not sweeping stuff under the rug. We talk about it before it becomes an issue. Period.
25) I love how he can hold a conversation with someone he has little in common with or has never met.
26) I love that he gets nervous talking to small groups but crowds of 300, no problem.
27) I love his hair and I love that he doesn't believe in dyeing it.
28) I love that he saved himself for me.
29) I love that he can hear God's voice speaking in to his life.
30) I love that he loves what he does. He is so gifted, and those kids adore him!
31) I love how humble Tom is about his abilities. Whether it's teaching, public speaking, or his knowledge he always gets uncomfortable when he's complimented. How cute is that?
32) I love the way he's always in the middle of several books at a time.
33) I love that Tom never gets on my case about anything.
34) I love how calm and laid back he is. That's so important when you have a wife that gets worked up from time to time.
35) I love his walk.
36) I love that he's not a handyman, but he sure tries.
37) I love to watch him play guitar. I just wish he had more time to do it.
38) I love what an amazing lover he is. (I won't elaborate to keep it "G" rated.)
39) I love how hard he worked to put himself through college and his masters once he put his mind to it.
40) I love how incredible he looked on our wedding day. I will never forget the look on his face as I walked down the aisle to him. Pure love.
41) I love that he stills look at me the same way.
42) I love that he has more patience than me when it comes to Tennyson.
43) I love his openness when we're alone.
44) I love Tom for who he is to me: a great husband, amazing father, gifted teacher, best friend, lover, and soul mate. And I thank God every day he chose him just for me!

Happy Birthday, my dearest love! I love you more with each passing day, and I can't wait to see what amazing things God has in store for you this year!

Decorations & A Christmas Parade

This is first year ever that I didn't decorate the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I don't know if I just wasn't a Christmasy mood or if I was just procrastinating because we happen to have one active and curious little boy. So.....I finally got around to it last week. I figured I'd do everything but the tree, see how Tennyson does, and amazingly enough he's been very good. Tom and I just love seeing his little face light up when we turn on the lights. He just gets so excited! So I guess we're off to get a tree tomorrow.

The village my parents bought me some years ago

Isn't Tennyson's little stocking adorable?

Tennyson's playing with the lights

I'm sure he was untangling them for me.

At the Christmas parade last Friday (12.5)

The Blue Ridge Christian School float took 2nd place in the Religious category

A reindeer on a motorcycle

The nice lady who offered to take our picture couldn't work the fancy camera. Oh well, at least we have it for memory's sake.

This is pretty much how Tennyson's face looked the entire time. I just wondered what he thought of it all?
The JMU Color Guard

Storytime

This is how my husband and our little boy like to spend a lot of their quality time together - reading. Appropriately, the book Daddy Loves Me is a favorite. I just can't get enough of those little feet! Tennyson often wiggles his toes with excitement while Tom reads. My heart is so full of love for my "boys" I am afraid it may burst!

PS - This is my 100th post! It only took me 11 months to get here.

Fall Photo Shoot

We really needed family time on Sunday with just the 3 of us, so what better why to spend it than doing a photo shoot with my favorite subjects? It was such a beautiful, crisp fall evening and thankfully Tennyson was cooperative.

Enjoy the photos of our little Tennyson Harper!