2nd snow of the season (already)

First of all - this first picture is of my baby. We cut his hair last night. It was getting so long in the back and covering his eyes. I was all ready for it. And as soon as I did it - i regretted it. he looks so grown up and different to me!!!!!!! I was so sad. he is still a cutie though!!!!

Last night it snowed again! Exactly a week ago we had like the same or a little more amount of snow fall. But then, the leaves were still on the trees so tons of trees fell over and stuff. This time it wasn't quite so bad. Wow! I'm psyched - the first snow falls are so much fun.
But I must admit today - I really wanted to just stay inside and lay on the couch. But with two toddlers - that's not really an option. And I'm almost sure that Carson knew that b/c he has had SUPER amount of energy today!!!!! Our poor neighbor below us. :(

Anyways - the sun did come out, so I started the process of putting on the snow gear! (which btw - last week we didn't even have out or know where it was. :) ) But now we are prepared. And my plan worked b/c as soon as we came in and took off all the "stuff" Carson said, "I'm tired" and went and laid down on his bed after cleaning up his toys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trucking through the snow

the parking lot of our apartment Complex

I love his tongue out in this picture

Brothers

Last year Carson hated the winter. He would not even go close to the snow and cried all the time. he would not even walk outside - we had to carry him to the car all the time, and into buildings. He would just stand there cold!!!!! This year is another whole story - he loves it. He was throwing snow balls, walking through it, chasing me with snow! It was fun to watch. Now if only one of these times we can go sledding with daddy! That will be so much fun!

I hope you're having a good Wednesday!!!!

Pirates and Lions Oh My!

I'm one of those party pooper moms who hates dressing up. :( I never have enjoyed dressing up for parties and almost hate doing it. I like to think I'm not creative at all - but really it's b/c I don't like to put the effort into it.

Also growing up in Ecuador - Halloween was not celebrated and really dressing up and costumes is not really part of the culture at all. So I'll blame it on that too.

 And now to think I need to think about it for my kids too - ugh! was my first reaction. i also did not want to spend a lot of money, but didn't want just one of those suits you buy in the store either. So I perused the shelves and just hoped that I would find something cheap and that I could make work. I also had no real intentions of doing it up big and no party was planned so I knew it was no big deal. As time came closer my friend, Jamie (who has a 2 yr old), told me that "Old Town" (downtown area) was having a time for stores to hand out candy to kids from 10am-1pm on the 31st. So i decided to go, but then I sorta had to get serious about costumes too. 

Hat and vest - $1 from target's $1 sections
Bandana -1$ at thrift store
White shirt -$1 thrift store
and i wont' tell you the sword b/c I hated spending that
much but we needed it for the outfit - then
I lost it anyways and had to buy another one - which was cheaper :)

They did so good

Carson with his friend Noah (jamie's son)
A pirate and a Monkey 

My little lion
Jamie let me borrow the ears and tail
They were lioness accessories but we didn't use the bow :)
yellow pj's -$1.50 thrift store
(It was actually a bumble bee but I cut off the bumble bee part, his feet
actually say BUZZ on them :) )
Black eye liner -$1 (b/c I don't have any )

I think they look pretty good and cute for our
first halloween Trick or Treating :)

He did so good just taking one - and saying thank you
and following me.
It was so much fun for me to see him
really though - he just wanted to eat that piece right away
he didn't get the concept of getting more candy
He just kept wanting me to open them right away
But it was still so fun!

He really wanted more and more candy
(have you seen this kid eat??????)
so I tried to appease him with saltines
thankfully it worked ok

My friend Jamie
The only person I knew before coming here
And I'm so glad for her friendship!
(and we live in the same complex so
I hang out with her ALL THE TIME)

I had so much fun during the day with the boys and with my friends - that i decided we would go out that night around our neighborhood so that Richard could join us.  I was like a little kid so excited about this whole experience.

I think the funnest part for me as the parent was everyone's reaction to your kids. They all say how cute they are, and are so happy to see them. It was so much fun watching the boys try to pick out one candy, and the adults just thinking it was adorable when Carson would say "thank you".  

I also thought - What a perfect way to meet people in your community. We stopped by an older ladies apartment who I've met and talked to - just to say hi with the boys, and she was so encouraged and thankful that we would stop by and see her for Halloween. What a great testimony to her that I actually care about her and think about her. Another lady - remembered handing candy out in "old town" (she works in a store) and remembered our boys and then talked about where we live and was so friendly. It really was great!!!!

We walked around for about an hour or so with Jamie and Gary and just laughed at the boys and had a great time! By far the funnest Halloween ever!!!!!

I'll have to post pics of our night out once I get copies of them - we took pics with Jamie's camera. :)

Blog Bash 2011

I love a good party - and since we just moved  - These are the only parties I'm invited to lately. (hahha, i'm just kidding, people here are so wonderful and we are fitting in nicely). I'm linking up over at Women Living Well Blog bash!

This is the most recent updated picture of my family

So that's a little about myself already. My name is Jessica. I grew up as a missionary kid in Ecuador since I was 2. I tell you that b/c that has completely shaped who i am today, how I think, and my desires for my kids. My parents are still living there. I went to a small bible college and there met the man of my dreams who took a while to realize I was in front of his nose. :) he finally did come to his senses and noticed one of his best friends would make a "fun" wife, so we got married November 2006. (Yup, soon will be 5 yr anniversary). He is from Western Colorado and we lived in his home town for about 10 months before we moved across the country to Scranton PA. We had a wonderful almost 4 yrs there and met tons of wonderful friends and people who shaped our lives, all while Richard attended Seminary. In may of this year, he got his masters, so we had to think of what we wanted to do next. Oh yeah, we also had 2 kids while we were there. :) Carson is 2 and half, and Landon 13 months. We had a great community of young families in our church and it was the perfect setting for us to start ours with so much wisdom and support there.

To make a long story short  we decided July 2011 to move by faith to Fort Collins CO, to help out a church plant called The Crossing. So August 13th we packed up our truck and pulled out of the place where my 2 children were born.  It was a huge move, and Richard did not have a job at first, and we only knew one couple in Fort Collins. It's been so amazing to watch God provide a job for Richard, and you can read that story here. To be completely calm and sure that God led us here, and watch details work out both in the church and in our lives. To see how God is molding us and changing us and using us, bringing Glory to Himself, has been amazing and just what we needed as a family. And slowly we are gaining new friends. Although we miss our good friends in PA, we have great people here that we are getting to know so well and enjoying that.

I recently wrote a big blog about why I blog, you can go here to read about that. And please do, b/c I really was able to share my heart there.
I usually blog in the afternoon while both my boys are napping. And I truly cherish that time. I love being able to share my heart and read great stories about other's lives. I guess you can say it's my outlet for the day. :)

I love my boys to death but am learning so much about this whole parenting thing. I love staying at home with them and spending my days with them. It's not always easy and i easily get frustrated but I would never change my circumstances right now. It's wonderful to have the flexibilty to go out or help others in need. And I truly want these days that I am at home to be profitable for my boys, for me, and for others.

I would love for you to join us on our journey as we help in the church, learn how to live this life glorifying God, and living in Grace that he graciously bestows on us. I would love for you to watch as we make Fort Collins our new home, and see how God provides for our daily needs. And we absolutely love being back in Colorado!

I'm also linking up at Fall Followers Fest over at "The Wiegands" and that link up party! Lots of parties to attend this time of year. So exciting. Hope to see you back soon. :)

Parenting

Some of you know I've been pretty discouraged lately about parenting issues with Carson. He is a normal 2 year old and he has really been pushing the limits for a few months now, and it just kept getting worse and worse.
There was one night I said to Richard, "I think it really would be easier to just give up, let him do whatever he wants all day and not listen to the screaming fits all day long". I really considered that. I felt defeated, like a terrible mother, and at a complete loss of how to handle his sinful nature and direct him towards obedience. I saw so much anger and frustration in my heart and mind that I was completely discouraged. I couldn't overcome the frustration and patience that had run out!
Richard has been so encouraging to me, and praying for both of us about this issue. I have been seeking God for wisdom and strength every day. I know this sounds a little ridiculous but I just didn't know if i had any more patience in me to go through another day.

Now I also realize that Carson has had a crazy few weeks that hasn't helped the situation. He was sick a few weeks ago, then hadn't been napping or sleeping well at nights, then we had visitors, a trip to MN, a weekend away, and going out all the time. We were hardly just at home for more than a day, and his schedule was all messed up. So I know this played a huge part.

Well this weekend and this week so far, I have really concentrated on the sleeping issue and the routine aspect of our lives. And I can see the fruits of it, I think.

This week I have begged God for wisdom, asked my mom for help, asked friends for help, and Richard and I have talked a lot about it!
Today my friends (and even yesterday) i have seen a different young man. Who knows why, but I'm thankful for the break. He has been pretty compliant, and so very pleasant, playing with his toys, sitting with me to read books, etc. I have made a huge effort to spend some quality time with him, to remain calm and patient in what could escalate to a terrible situation with him, and I'm happy to say, today has been a good day. God has graciously given us all the Grace that we needed and a little break from all these fits and disobedience lately.

A friend from the past sent me a little note on Facebook the other day, and she was so encouraging. She also attached a prayer from a book called "the power of a praying parent". I haven't read the book and also don't know much about the author or anything, but this prayer was so encouraging to me. And I will paste it here for all to read!

Lord, I submit myself to You.  I realize that parenting a child in the way You would have me to is beyond my human abilities.  I know I need You to help me.  I want to partner with You and partake of Your gifts of wisdom, discernment, revelation, and guidance.  I also need Your strength and patience, along with a generous portion of Your love flowing through me.  Teach me how to love the way You love.  Where I need to be healed, delivered, changed, matured, or made whole, I invite You to do that in me.  Help me to walk in righteousness and integrity before You.  Teach me Your ways, enable me to obey You commandments and do only what is pleasing in Your sight.  May the beauty of Your Spirit be so evident in me that I will be a godly role model.  Give me the communication, teaching and nuturing skills that I must have.  Make me the parent You want me to be and teach me how to pray and truly intercede for the life of this child.  Lord, You said in Your Word, “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22).  In Jesus’ name I ask that You will increase my faith to believe for all the things You’ve put on my heart to pray for concerning this child.

 

I know that being a parent is such a privilege. God has been burdening my heart with how much a mother's attitude and countenance affects and directs the household, and that is where I was getting so discouraged b/c I felt so inadequate in this area. But I know God gives me grace, he forgives, and gives strength to overcome my sinful flesh - and for that I am humbled and thankful and leaning on Him. Seriously I think I'm learning more about life and godliness than my boys are!

Fall family Pictures

Apparently we were too busy on Saturday and all the events wore my family out! Saturday night around dinner time, Landon started throwing up. yup, you heard that right! I know what all of you are thinking - weren't you guys just sick? Do you not eat healthy? Why are you guys always sick? I know, I know, I'm just as dumbfounded and annoyed at this as you are. Later that night Richard got very sick!!! So no church for us. 

If you can believe it or not, when we were sick 2 weeks ago, we missed our "Porterbrook" session, and Sunday AM we missed another one before church. I think our Pastor might think we are doing something on purpose. Our new church friends must think that we are always sick. And truthfully we are lately. It's so weird, b/c i don't think we are sick this often. 

I know when you move to a new place you are susceptible to sickness, b/c of different viruses and bugs in that area, so i was prepared for us to be "cold" sick a lot this winter. but not stomach sick so many times in the fall!!!!! But oh well. I guess I'll have to swallow my pride and admit that "yes, we are sick again, and try as I might to be clean and healthy it still happened to us". 

So our plans of Porterbrook training, church, then date night were all canceled. And we spent the day inside as a family with football, movies, chicken noodle soup, ginger ale, and saltines all day!!!! YUCK!!

By about 5pm Richard was doing better and Landon was too. We all needed a little fresh air and change of scenery so we got dressed and headed to a near by park. It was perfect temperature out. And we took our annual Fall Family Pictures. I told Richard that I really want to set this as a tradition. I just love fall so much, and I think it will be great to get good fall pics every year to keep our family pictures updated. (but we did find it hard to work with a timer and the boys). I think we got a couple good ones at least.

 
 

Cutie even if he wasn't feeling the greatest

Such a ham

I love you Richard!

Galloping Goose 10K

Today was the "long"-awaited 10K race! I had the privilege of starting off with my awesome Sister in Law! My Goal starting out this year was to run a 10K before the winter came, and when we decided to move I wondered if it would really happen. Thankful that my sis in law took the initiative to find this race for us so we had something to aim towards. :) Once you register there is no turning back. 

I also had been training pretty good until about 2 weeks before the race. i felt confident in it until then. :( B/c we were so busy it was hard to get good runs in, so I was a little unprepared. Also something I didnt' take into consideration was that the course was all gravel. This really makes a difference - less traction or something, i was way more tired than usual. Plus the course seemed exceptionally hilly. With a huge hill on mile 1 and 4 and then many smaller rolling hills the rest of the run! I was pretty exhausted by the end. I had wanted to make it under an hour and i really wanted to do about a 56 minutes or less. Sadly I could not accomplish any of my goals. :( Maybe I should learn to not underestimate running in Colorado, see here. 

I ran it in 1 hour and 9 sec.  avg pace 9:39 min mile

6th in my age category

46th overall

(there were not that many runners) 

I guess I'm happy with 6th in my age category. :) (18-29)

Autumn and I before the race
nervous but ready

Carson had so much fun playing with his Cousin Aspen

 I love these next few pictures: 

Landon 13 months, Axel 10 months (twins) :)

I love how they are looking at each other

I love his hand on landon's back

Finishing very tired
But loved hearing Carson yelling
"mommy" as I came through the finish line

Autumn finishing well

 After our race we went straight to the Denver Zoo! It's a great Zoo! And beautiful weather! The first time we've taken the boys and it was so fun!

See the tiger to the left of them?

There really is a polar bear behind us :)
Look at Landon's great smile!

 

Then they rode the Carousel ride at the end!
It was fun to spend the day with family. We were all tired after a few hours of the Zoo and we only saw about half of it! But it was still such a great day!

Now I'm at home resting. :)