Photo Shot attempt 1

For Father's Day I was trying really hard to get a picture of all three boys together and it is super hard.  These were my best shots of the day.

Happy Father's Day!

Ryan's Wedding

What an amazing weekend.  Our dear friend (and roomie) just got married.  We have walked with him through this journey to find the perfect girl for a long time.  We have been there through the fun exciting, " I just met this really cool girl" times, the frustrating "we broke up, again" times, the sad "why didn't it work out" times, the lonely times and the growing times.

I say we because Ryan is one of Chris' closest friends from college but is definitely the closest friend of us as a married couple.  

Ryan moved away after graduation but just couldn't handle being away from us (he he) and came back.  Ryan and Chris actually lived together for a month or so before we got married.  Ryan goes to church with us and is one of the few friends we see weekly sometimes two or three times in one week.  This is kind of amazing given that we live 40 minutes away from each other.  Ryan has had a standing date at our house for food and games every Friday night for about three years now.  He is such a close friend we even gave him our families stomach virus and let him stay here while it passed.  Yep we have been friends through it all. Oh and for three months leading up to the wedding he moved in with us. 

I say all of that to let you know that this was a much anticipated wedding.  And it was beautiful and precious.  I know that precious is a word typically reserved for babies but at the same time this was a new birth, a new beginning.  A new family has formed and we are so thrilled it is finally here and we get to watch it grow. We have prayed for this family and God has provided.  Yippee for Ryan and Alison!

Sadly I failed at taking any pictures.  So for now I will share the pics that a sweet friend (Big Jen) took.

They love to laugh and laugh often.  It is one of my favorite things about them.

Her dress was gorgeous.  And just a silly side note Ryan had never eaten a strawberry (ever in his life) until his wife fed him one.  It was a much anticipated moment, and a source of many jokes over the years.

a group shot of some of the college friends at the wedding, what a fun evening of dancing and catching up (oh and good food)

Aquarium, again

After the wedding awesomeness I took the boys to the aquarium with our Miami friends and a local but soon to be out of town friend.  Sadly Chris was under the weather so he couldn't join us.

Matt, Stef and T.Jack, both of these guys are Chris' former roommates

Bum Bumm Bum Bumm, the shark looks much more menacing from below

clearly he is comfortable with the Aquarium.  We had awesome timing and this huge "room" was practically empty

Stef was super sweet and showed Caleb around.  She even went through the penguin tunnel which was uber crowded by the time we got over there.  Thanks Stef for loving on my boy

I just love this picture.  It was completely unposed.

Caleb loved the attention from all the adults.  I think Matt is pointing out the sting rays.

Me and the boys.  I hate pictures of me but in case you wanted to see pictorial evidence that I exist, here it is

Back to reality

Have you ever had someone say something to you that stopped you?  It stopped everything you were doing or thinking because they were right. Their words pointed out everything you were doing or thinking that was wrong and you could not argue with it.  This has happened a few times to me this week and it is not fun. But ohh so necessary.

Today Caleb said to me "please be nice to me, mommy".  Ouch that one hurt.  I was so wrapped up in what I wanted to do and what I needed to accomplish that I had been snapping at him, yelling at him and disciplining him. But hadn't played with him in over an hour.  He was right.  So we stopped what we were doing and we prayed together.  I was reminded how my heavenly father loves me unconditionally, no matter how I am acting, no matter what I say, and even when I ruin his schedule by trying to do things my way.  My heavenly father pours out his grace lavishly upon me and I am so undeserving.  God thank you for being the perfect parent to me and to my children. 

This week has been a bit crazy.  We are in the midst of potty training Caleb and poor Micah has a double ear infection and just got switched to a stronger antibiotic.  I am a bit tired and weary so I'm not surprised I was unloving.  But I am thankful that in all circumstances God is showering me with His grace and love.

Lord, please help me to be more gracious to my family.