I have a confession...I take a lot of pics these days

J just chillaxin on the couch after a hard day of playin with a new bro. Love the way this kid relaxes

This is how the K fam rolls....C chowing down his fried catfish at the Annual Daughters of the Confederacy Reunion just down the road from us back in June. It was a ho-down like I've never experienced before. People come from miles away with their RV's to camp out for 10 days during the "reunion". They have something going on every night, course we didn't hear about it till the last night they were there, but is was educational to say the least.....as T-rav said "the stars and bars were flying high". I will admit that the people there where above and beyond friendly. 

J on his 1st carnival ride at the....well we'll just call it the "reunion" 

J on another one with a friend. He put his arm on her and said "don't be scared, I'm right here." I personally think he was being just considerate like he is with his brother, but his daddy said "na, he's just super sauve". Whatever!

A saturday afternoon trying to keep the older one quiet while the little one sleeps. Making shapes out of marshmallows and spaghetti noodles

Course the over achiever had to take it one step further

The boys went out one afternoon to run some errands while I took a nap....glorious! Later that night I discovered what daddy had bought them at the store 

Strawberry cheesecake ice cream and multi-colored cones to eat it in

C's face is hilarious! The boy likes the ice cream

These next series of pics are from me just holding the shutter down and getting what happens in stills. It's comical

Here's C doing his ice cream dance.....rhythm is not his gift

oh, hay mom....I, uh, didn't see ya standing there

Oh, you have the camera. I love taking pictures!

 walking towards me saying "cheese!"

K, now let me see (he learned that from J)

T-rav was teaching them to say "cheers" to their ice cream 

My big boy, seriously is he really this big now? 

And see it's not always roses at the K casa. Case in point. C throwing a fit because he dropped his ice cream cone after cheers-ing. So he runs about 10 ft from where the cone is and throws himself down on the ground.

Looks over to see J saving the day as usual

Looking at T-rav with anger because he was making fun of him

And J bringing it back to him cleaned off and ready to eat. I fear he will always let J solve his problems and I try to discourage J from giving in or rescuing him when he throws those fits

and all is well with the world again. what a stinker!

He was saying "aaaa" which means take a bite brother! One good thing is that he loves to share his food with J

J getting a better grip so the bite will be bigger.....I know how this works!

still same bite, but I think some tugging was going on

and now trying to get mommy to take a bite. He can't figure out why I use that word "no" for ice cream. Cause I don't like it, kid! J will tell me "you have to try it mom, just one small bite" because that's what I tell him when he tells me he doesn't like something

J after he told me to "try it, just one small bite" The look of satisfaction because I had to practice what I preached to him.

J, buddy how did you get so big? Glad I got him to hold still for a picture

Then I asked him "J, what do the Wild Kratts do at the beginning of their show?" to which he jumped into this position and said "WHAT IF?" I guess you'd have to see the show to get it

Playing with brother

Yes, this gigantic bear went home with us, but NO I did not pay for it. Papa had sent some $$ down with Gramie and since we didn't really "need" anything mommy was weak and fell for that smile...AGAIN! Seriously, look how happy he was. And this thing was less than $30. C loves on it everyday and J kicks it's @$$ every night....hours of entertainment.

We took the boys to Padre/Corpus a few weeks ago. While I don't have any pics of them on the beach because I was too busy chasing fear-less around (C) I did get some of when we went to see the Aquarium. This is from the bridge (name, uh, I don't know) but I do know that the boat pictured is the USS Lexington used in WWII and is now a floating museum in the bay. We didn't get to go on it because it's not C friendly...too many tunnels and ladders, but we plan on doing an annual trip to the coast to go fishing so maybe next time.

At the aquarium....who doesn't love trained water jumping porpus'? The announcer told us all three of their names, but T-rav said that J re-named all of them "bumper".

Or flying flippers?

How bout this little dude? He was waving to us

J was interested in our friend's daughters food...what's new? That kid says "eat" more than "mommy"

She's only 18 months older than him and completely a girl. She's making sure he's not eating pieces to big for him

Down in the middle of the screen is J with T-rav

C watching the dolphins jump. What? Not impressive enough for you? You've seen cooler things in your 15 months of life?

J reaching out to pet the stingray....gross if you ask me

J and his friend getting some stingray love

After that little adventure, C was beat so we decided to drive the long way around the bay, through port Aransas to let him sleep and decide where we would stay next year. Here's us coming up on to the ferry. J was so excited that our truck got to go boating for a few minutes.

The ferry literally takes 3 mins to get across so there was only enough time to hop out, run to the side to see out and then get back in the truck. There are about 7 ferries running across this port and some of them had semi's on them. Well of course they do, how do the stores across the bay get stocked.....why I thought that was crazy, I don't know

J saying "cheese" like he's in pain. I think he feels like getting his picture taken is painful. I pity his future bride already.....imagine what their wedding pics will look like...gasp! So in the background you can see the other ferries getting loaded up

C totally un-impressed

Back at our condo. The pool was in the middle in this atrium that had a retractable roof....hmm, it was pretty tho

The front door to our condo

The next morning while we were getting packed up kept the boys distracted from helping us by watching a veggie tale. I sat C on the bed and walked away only to come back a few moments later to this

Be still my heart

 So when we got back we were still in vacation mode so we showered up, swung through crack-fil-A (seriously what do they put in that stuff?) drive-thru and took daddy to our new hot spot to beat the heat. Course it was early evening so their was hardly anyone there as compared to some of the summer madness I've experienced all in the name of bounce houses. Let the pictures amaze you....yes, yes I have found a gem in this weird city.

C in the toddler only ball pit

C on the toddler only bounce house...notice in the back 2 other rather larger bounce houses and that's not even 1/2 of this place!!!

C loves this little elf thing....every time we go here (really I've only taken them once before this time and then last week to a birthday party....so 3 total) but every time we are here C stops to say hello

and then a kiss or two. what can I say, the boy's a lover

Daddy I think was having more fun than the boys. J was running every where showing him the cool spots

J at the top of one of the slides

 and down....is he excited? I can't tell

daddy and C. If you look closely C's face looks terrified, but I assure you he was far from it. Actually was a little demanding on going down the slides again and again.

There goes J....seriously is this place for real?

And yet even more in the background. We traded off all night with the boys cause truthfully the little one  is buzz-kill. There's just some of those he couldn't master and I wasn't going to let the 3 year beat me up to the top....oh wait I mean I wanted to bond with J and spend some quality time doing large motor skills

The next weekend was our anniversary and I awoke to these and a cup of hot coffee. 12 years ago we tied the knot and despite our issues (yes, we have them just like everyone else) we are closer now than ever. We have gone through a lot of changes the past few years....all by choice, yes, but still they brought with them lots of challenges and through it we continue to grow closer. I love that man!

J will be a negotiator of some sort. Since mommy's not a fan of cake, my birthday (which was the day before the anniversary....32, say what? what?) was a huge disappointment for J because he didn't get any cake. So when we told him the next day that it was our wedding anniversary and then asked him if he knew what that meant, he said no. So daddy says "well 12 years ago mommy and daddy promised each other and God that we would only love each other" to which J replied "so does that mean I get something for our anniversary?" I laughed and said why would you get something and he quickly said in a no-nonsense way "because you celebrate with cake and with your family." Alrighty then. So that afternoon we headed up to the store and let him pick out our cake. He picked at "popstickle cake"



I think C likes anniversaries too

 J telling us that he'll invite us to come eat popstickle cake with him and his wife one day. Ah sweet son, but I think I'll pass.....awkward!

After bath, before bed. J was showing C how he spells on an app I downloaded for quiet time

C lost interest

And now for all the grandma's, gramie's, Meme's, aunts and who ever else reads this thing may your hearts stop..........

I give you C and J in July 2011

and C and J in July 2010

I concur.....the days are long but the years are truly very short

Comforting, random style

Sometimes what I'm struggling with I can't really describe into words. Never to be as one known for my "eloquent way of speaking or writing" so the things that end up on here mostly resemble what some now-Kindergarteners book reports read like, and that's reaching most days.

So as I was sorting through all the junk mail we get (seriously...where's the tree huggers when it comes to this? I say Hippies unite! And y'all join up together to stop the innocent slaying of trees all in the name of weekly sales! I digress......) when I happened along a little envelope which enclosed a small card that was addressed to this girl. ***picture lots of smiles on my face*** To be honest, I'm starting to trek backwards. I dumped FB and since then feel as if I've been liberated from digitalized communication. Between all these ways of connecting with folks I think the art of a hand-written note is lost....I'm mostly talking to myself here because there is a WHOLE slew of people that come to mind regularly but I never drop a line (who uses that saying anymore?) to tell them so, starting with our very own family up north. Oh how 1400 miles will sometimes seems like 1/2 a world away, sorry I really do love y'all up there. Where was I going with this!? Seriously. Doh! Ok back to the note.....so I open the note from  this friend who is praying hard with/for me and had quoted something from a recent blog post. So after all that dog-and-pony show, here's what I'm trying to get at: 

 It makes sense that the Holy Spirit is called a Comforter, because if you actually follow where he leads you, you're going to need one. 

Our suffering here in the great lone star state (oh no I did-ent capitalize that! Bring it, you crazy texans...oh, snap! I did it again!) is NOTHING in comparison to others around the globe. For us? Our family? Living back in what I lovingly refer to our previous city "the promised land" is completely different because, well let's face it...Austin IS weird! But as God has clearly told me....Stop looking back! Stop doubting! Stop looking at yourself! (oh my selfish, sinful heart...augh!)

And then after that little moment with the Lord I read this a few days later:

Isaiah 43:18-19

The Message

"Forget about what's happened;
   don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new.
   It's bursting out! Don't you see it?
There it is! 

So what I couldn't some up in my own words, God placed it on a prayerful friends heart and had them send it my way. How bout we read it one more time, just cause I like to repeat things to send the message home for anyone needing a little extra comfort:

 It makes sense that the Holy Spirit is called a Comforter, because if you actually follow where he leads you, you're going to need one. 

 g'nite, sleep peacefully

PS in case I may have stirred up some worry, my struggles right now are good ones.....we are stepping out in faith and following Christ to be a light for Him in a dark part of the SW corner of this city. Therefor spiritual battle is real, should not be overlooked as well as over glorified. We are learning and as a great result are growing. I now see why God brought us here, and it's a little difficult to live with the pain of not having my peeps that are in the mommy trenches with me close by, but so much greater to know that we are in His will for us! 

BUT, you know......I've discovered that there are moms here! with babies! That are my boys ages too!....go figure (that's a bit of sarcasm, for those of you who aren't familiar with this mouth)

on a roll

More pictures!

OK, that's just a tease, but I do feel like I'm on a roll. This blog comes in waves....only because I've been writing things down elsewhere and this gets to play 2nd fiddle now. I do want make one quick memory tid-bit...... I wish I had a picture last night because we had another 1st. We were walking into our Bible Study (Effective Parenting in a Defective World by Chip Ingram....HIGHLY RECOMMEND!) and usually it's the 3 of us walking and someone toting C. Well he wanted down to walk with brother, so T-rav set him down and he ran up next to J and was walking right along side him as they led us into the building. It was so adorable, heart-wrenching, and relieving all at the same time. 2 brothers walking side by side, one clearly leading the other trying hard to keep up, showing me a glimpse into the future of bigger boys and realizing that I don't always have to have that growth on my hip anymore........thank you Lord that it does get easier and that they do grow up, but PLEASE always protect them as the storms rage in their lives as they grow.

***there are WAY more pics of C in here than J ONLY because J is on a picture-strike right now and C is still a trained little monkey that smiles when the orange light on the camera illuminates (one for mommy, I used a grown up word right there!)***

C is his father's son.....loves, loves, loves boots. He will get into our closet and try to put on daddy's, which are taller than his little legs.....too cute! Here he is pulling on his camoboots....he's the 3rd little boy to enjoy stomping around in these

He walks so funny in boots

reaching out to pinch Elmo's nose.....he loves the honking sound it makes

He goes crazy for the deer out back

rain, what sweet rain we've gotten so little of. I think this was taken back at the beginning of May

He loves rain showers

Enjoying his first popsicle....I made them myself and I have to admit they are pretty tasty. Agave nectar doesn't freeze very well so you have to eat them fast

J loves the lime ones.....he calls them "lime pop-stickles"

Going birdin.......He loves looking for the little birds in the trees

These little $.50 punch balls bought hours of entertainment. You know where I got them? I'm not even going to say, cause y'all know!

He's getting super skilled with the scissors these days

C found J's boots in his closet. J helping him put them on

1st time sitting together at the "new" breakfast table. This is the reason daddy built the boys one for outside, they love eating together in the mornings

I wished I would've gotten the mirror in here too.....he was checking himself out in it, too funny

sometimes J will have woken up super early and has learned to not wake mommy till the clock says "7" on it. Well on this particular morning C must've woken up early too and J just went in to keep him company. I awoke to the sound of 2 little boys giggling and knew I had to bust them with camera in hand......my trained little monkeys waving as I walked in

C watching J climb out.....oh the examples he is exposed to all day

He stopped at the door and said "good morning, mom!" with such excitement

How this...

...can go to...

....this! Boys!

J playing hide-n-seek with the large gorilla at the zoo in Ft W, where as C is always a little more curious

What in the heck are those, brother?

There is an exhibit of these creatures all through-out the zoo and they move and roar too! I thought they were interesting and so did C

J was a little more apprehensive about getting close to the dinosaur. I pray that he always errors on the side of caution with "giants" in his life. His personality is so that he won't try new things unless he's absolutely sure he will do well at it. It's a 2-sided coin really and comes down to perfection, which can have a very ugly head at times. I'm thankful that God opens my eyes to see these things in my children so I can start asking for discernment now.

C on the train.....he looks concerned and I'm certain it's because I have poor timing with the camera, because I do remember a lot of smiles and squealing.

And Mr. Experienced over here. This boy spent the first 2 years of his life at the zoo....such a great place for kids to run and play.

They have a little play barn in the back part and C loved hitting the button on each of the animals to hear their sounds

back home, eating a snack and expressing the many silly faces of C

leading by example. He was showing brother how to "grrr to get the fronts cleaned."

C hasn't learned the "grr" yet