A much needed respite

We went on vacation last weekend with out our boys and even though I missed them I have to admit it was so relaxing and fun. We met some funny folks from Canada. Enjoyed not having to lift a finger. Went fishing. Layed on the beach. Rented some scooters and drove around the island. took only about 25 pics because I was too relaxed to pick up my camera. Laughed. slept. ate weird local food. laughed more. danced. .....the entire vacation was much needed, to say the least. We even stopped calling each other mommy/daddy and started referring to each other by the names we had before the kids came.

Coming in for a landing....the runway was built out on the water to accommodate bigger planes

Our 1st afternoon/sunset...so relaxing

coffee on the beach....what a great morning

Our 1st full day we rented scooters (T-rav wanted hogs but they didn't have any on the island, ha! ha!) and drove around all day. Some pretty hysterical moments in my mind of me yelling and laughing "stay on the left!" while riding with T-rav. This island is owned by the British, so everyone drives on the left side.

Eating lunch at a famous eatery in Turtle Cove. The deck was over the water and you could see all the turtles and their babies below us...so cute! Course, I forgot to take a picture of them

Another peaceful sunset

Where I spent most of my time...in the water laughing and lounging

Our last day, we were suppose to go snorkeling but this was out there with lightning so they cancelled it. funny how it was nice on the beach all day but out on the water was like this for about 3 hours. Never once came ashore, but was beautiful to watch roll by

Before our flight home. I stayed as far away as possible so that T-rav wouldn't have to drag me out

A shot for the geologists out there....for those of you who aren't....the islands sit up on a carbonate shelf. You can see the waves crashing as the elevation in the ocean comes up. I learned a lot of geology this weekend
By the way we went to turks and caicos

Ahhhhhh...

We're on vacation.....

Wait, make that 2

.....TWO strong willed boys, yes that is what we have. I just gave Mr. C some H-E-Buddy Honey Grahams (yes, that's a shout out to my fav store, ha! ha!) and he threw a fit for the box. So I handed it to him thinking he just wanted to hold it....nope! He opened it up, pulled the cracker that he had in his mouth out, dropped it back in the box and then reached his chubby arm back in there to retrieve a whole handful. I'm hoping that in that handful is his soggy one that he put back. Lord have mercy, we have already moved into the "I do myself" stage.

I stopped cooking dinner just to put this on here, so that I could always remember the day that lil stinker started his terrible 2's. Don't let that sweet smile fool ya, ladies.....he's a Kinley boy for sure. ha! ha!

OK, back to dinner.......

Randomness, at best

Ever seen the movie "A Christmas Story"? There's a part in there where the family is eating at the table and the main Character, Ralphie, randomly tells his parents that one of his friends saw a grizzly bear at the local candy store downtown. I can't quote it line for line, despite seeing this movie over a 100 times, but ol T-rav can. He's a movie quoting machine....anyway, sometimes when we are talking....ok, all the time when we are talking, I will have a thought enter by brain and I will just say it to him, whether is off-topic or not. To which he'll look at me and quote this movie line with a smile. In'it he cute? (insert sarcasm here)

It's not like I want to be off and random, but as anyone can attest to having little kids around, this is what my conversations with J are like all day. So you tend to pick up on it and have it as your rhetoric for adult conversations as well. (by the way, did you see that I tried to insert a big person word in there? I'm not even going to go to the online dictionary to look it up and make sure I'm using it correctly here.....my writing skills will just have to suffer until I can grow out of toddlerhood. Poke fun if you must, I love getting a good laugh). I feel like my brain is moving so fast to be ahead of the next teaching moment or lack there of, that having a real conversation takes a lot of brain power.

Dant-da-da-DA!....In walks my new friend! He really IS the God who sees me because THIS girl has got a new girlfriend to hang with that has a lot in common with me including the randomness, plus a sense of humor to boot....jackpot! (ah-hem, Um, I will NEVER tell her about this blog either. Well at least not until she has really gotten to know the crazy me. How would she feel that I was telling the whole blogging world that she is as much as a s-l-o-w and random thinker as me?) Anyway I just wanted to thank anyone who might read this occasionally and to let you know that He is answering prayers. I actually have 3 friends (more abundant that I can even count, is My God!) but this particular one, well it just clicks if you know what I mean.

I sometimes find myself lost and confused at Costco as well. Between being over stimulated by all the pretty things that Costco has to offer, looking at all the fun stuff with J, keeping food down C so he doesn't scream and run my moment that is "Costco" (this child is an eater some days), Oh and actually getting the things that are on my list, it can seem down right exhausting. I usually come home from a food shopping experience with my boys mentally fatuged and wanting to do nothing else for the rest of the day. Have I ever mentioned that I think as spoiled citizens of the USA we have WAY TOO many choices at the grocery store? Seriously, it's nice, but when you have chaos erupting amongst the buggy, sometimes I wish there wasn't so much to navigate your way through.

I've also discovered that I'm a sucker for "patent-pending" products. I was noticing in my bathroom alone there are 3, THREE things that I have bought BECAUSE this was stamped on it. Granted they weren't impulse purchases, but I did pick that particular one because it seemed to stand out amongst the others. I feel like if it has something that special about it, it feels like I won't be getting any false advertisement .....it does what it says it will do and no other product will be able to copy it because they have the exact secret to what makes it work the best. Which then made a random thought come into my head.....why don't they "patent" the Bible? I mean, as much as I have learned from it and changed old patterns in just the past 2 months alone is un-speakable measurements. It seriously is a get-what-you-paid-for-instructional-manual in the book of Proverbs alone, just thinking of how much could be grasp in the other 65 books makes my head spin. I know, I know, all you Bible history buffs probably have a whole lesson on why and how, but I was just sharing my simple, random thought.

I have some good and sad news to share as well. Our house in Ft Where sold :-(. My thoughts about "maybe we made a mistake and God is showing us by not letting our house sell" where blown to bits when after the 5th party to make an offer came swiftly, quickly and out of no-where. We had been working with another out of town couple, but they decided they didn't want to move to TX after all. But the next day another couple went and looked at the house in a down-pour rain, saw it in it's glory of a flooding swimming pool, deemed the house as perfect for them, made an offer that was perfect with no extras and wanted to close pronto. God is so good, that's all I can say. Course He's even better in other ways, as to how He keeps our family safe, together, healthy, provides, keeps children yearning to know more about Christ despite my ridiculousness, makes the sun rise......you know, the simple things in life. ha! ha! Most of all I'm grateful for His goodness to me and keeping my joy alive. I still love to laugh and I thats something that had almost disappeared when we 1st moved here. Glory be to God, alone!

K, our little morning person has risen and is getting impatient with me.....need to go retrieve him out of the crib before he starts getting that little leg over the rail. How does he do that?! Climbers will always amaze me!

A month's worth of pictures

A few weeks ago we went to Wyoming to see our family and for them to love on the boys. It is there that C took his real official 1st steps, and additional steps in front of all our family to see. I feel bad that T-rav missed it (he couldn't go with us) but it was irreplaceable moments for grandparents who rarely get to see these adorable boys......so I guess God gave em that one. ;-)

C also started waving "hi" "bye" while we were there and even said the word "hi" for the 1st time. That kid was on a roll!

Did I remember to bring my camera on this fun-filled-trip-of-mommy-flying-by-herself-with-2-little-boys? NOPE! So lame, I know. But hey I got all 3 of us there, in one peace, with NO meltdowns.....course I'm talking about mommy here, not the boys. Our 2 hour layover in Denver turned out to be 4 hours. I took the news in stride but made a comment after J said something about "when we get to Wyoming" and I responded with "yeah, if we ever get there" to which my little encourager said to me "oh, mommy don't be silly. We'll get there". J you are so sweet, buddy! I laughed and said "thanks buddy for keeping me positive". Funny how God can use your 3 year old to keep you level headed.

Some cute things about C:

-He's a morning person and loves waking up. He'll play in his crib for a good 20 mins just giggling and babbling sweet noises.

-I promise I heard him say big brother's name a few weeks ago. Course it sounded more like dat-ton, but he was looking right at him and saying it, so it had to be it. But T-rav thinks I'm full of it....what's new? ;-)

-When he gets sleepy he just lays on his blanket and starts kicking the floor with his foot. Such a strange child, right?

-He's not as voicetours as big bro but definitely came from the same 2 strong willed people.....wow, determined and stubborn, foe sho!

-A lover through and through. If he can sit on you, then he is. If he can climb on you, he will. If he can lay on you, it's a done deal. Touch, touch and more touch is this boy.

-Despises fruit. Fruit make C ANGRY!!! Loves steamed veggies, including spinach (alrighty then), roasted asparagus and can't get enough of oatmeal or pasta. He's a little particular about which particular pasta he'll grace his 4 teeth with, so I guess he's a picky eater, but mommy is too..... so I can roll with it.

-that's right folks.....F-O-U-R TEETH! The 2 bottom are up fully and 2 (maybe 3) are peering out from the top gum line.

-says a few words (that only mom or dad understand of course)....

bird

dog (he's slightly confused about the deer about back and calls them dogs as well)

wa-hoo (says this when brother is jumping on the couch, not sure if he's cheering him on or just excited about the jumping)

hi (he waves like mad and says hi to every new face we encounter....it's almost like he's running for mayor.......shaking hands and kissin babies, lol!)

-walking walking and walking. I started typing this post last week and now as of Tuesday, Apr 26 he's a full-fledged walker. Started on Sunday, he walked most of the day, but yesterday and today so far have not had any crawling action. I'd forgotten how cute the drunken-sailor walk is.

-loves dogs. The same book that spurred on J's 1st word (dog) is getting some slobbery love action from C. He kisses the same English Mastiff through out the book.

-he's an animal lover like his daddy. He loves all animals and wants to touch them if he can. Which makes seeing the deer a pain.....talk about a sad moment when they run like lighting from us because C is squealing from excitement.....then the tears that come because he didn't get to touch them.

And now for the picture roll.........

Outside gettin a swim in

Their new favorite past time....looks innocent enough, right?

to which it explodes into wrestle mania 2011

I wish I would've recorded it.....C was laughing hysterically

About a month ago I caught this little climbing monkey just chillin on the couch. He had helped himself up there through the means of his handy dandy toy chair. Then I noticed he knew how to get down as well. Climbers amaze me at the things they will try. So here he is, just scootin on back down

K, got both feet turned the right direction

and, ya just slide on down.....nothing to it, folks

so proud of himself! Poor kid had eye junk going on with an ear infection again......

Heading to the airport. He was so proud of his new backpack.....mommy does whatever it takes to make happy flyers.....oh, you say a new backpack will help you be a special big boy helper? Done. Don't judge, it worked perfectly.

Apparently this is his favorite outfit, cause I took this picture after we got back home. This is the road to our house (for the grandma's that are curious what the terrain in Austin is like)

Having a little fresh beat band session

He was so tired one afternoon that he fell asleep next to daddy while helping him play a spelling game. Apparently learning is boring enough to put this kid to sleep.....I hope school doesn't make him a narcoleptic. ha! ha!

Loves his new bday chair

Standing like a big boy and owning the remote like a man

J winking at me....so funny! He'll tell me "I'm just teasin ya mom" and then do this. He actually learned winking from mommy.....probably the ONLY thing he likes to do like his mommy....well that and be a drag -queen by walking around the house in my high heals. He'll grow out of that, right?

This picture is what makes all the mess worth it.

Brother's working on their car together....J's filling the tires with "air". A lot more manly than the high heals, no? maybe he's redeemed his man card with ya'll

And now we've started a fill station service....."air" for all the cars with wheels

He has no idea he was handed the short end of the stick...just happy big bro handed him a red truck, no matter it's 1/10th the size of the bigger one J held for himself

and now ticked because it doesn't roll as good as the big one he wanted.

A little birthday cupcake

with the massive balloon bouquet I got at....you guessed it......H-E-B. I just adore me a sweet little grocery store like H-E-B

J gettin in on the cupcake action.....no mind who's bday it is, J is always down for some cupcakes

Reading time has taken on a whole new meaning now that C is involved. Notice how he's perched himself up on daddy?

J's little (and do I mean little) preschool. Pictured below is ALL of the kids from their preschool.....J's teacher, Miss K (or as I like to call her "brunette barbie") is on the right. She is probably one of the most sincere people I've ever met....a HUGE blessing in our life. She has 2 girls of her own, but boys in her class have her wrapped.

Off for the Easter egg hunt...nothing like watching a bunch of candy-crazed 3 and 4 year olds sprint across the field for brightly colored plastic eggs.

J running and searching at the same time.....He was a machine

J and his friend. These two are like peas and carrots but get along so well. They were doing a little bartering with their egg bounty

C walking....step...

.....step......

....step. Yeah!!!!

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

1 Corinthians 15:14

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our teaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

He bore my public, and even the most private, sins on that cross, died a horrific death and then God raised Him up again on this glorious day! All so that I, Crissy, could have perfect communion with Him......I got direct access to Him and all I had to do to get it was tell Him I knew Jesus died and rose again and that I'm sorry for my gross, selfish sins.....please change me.

That's it! Nothing more and certainly nothing less.

He did this for you too......you can have direct access to God as well. Love the whole "proximity to power" aspect and the excitement you think that'll bring? Well, here's to you and the best ride of your life with the most powerful God.

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Spot on!

I'm a reading fanatic these days, devouring mostly anything I can download to the handy "Amazon Kindle" app on 'Ol I-rene. Here is the Prologue from the latest book in my reading marathon.....This is SPOT ON and honestly convicted me to the core about my inner thoughts. It all comes down to, come on spell it with me...G-R-A-C-E.

A (Fairly Lame) Ode to Mothers

An ode to the marvelous woman called "Mother"

Though not one of us is exactly like another.

From the second we're born to the minute we die

Our preferences are a s limitless as stars in the sky.

We might have been perfectly gracious before

But childbirth entered us in the Mommy War.

Rather than letting everyone else be

We criticize parenting that isn't exactly like.....me.

So once and for all let me put this to rest

None of us owns the title of "best."

Natural childbirth does not make you a hippy

Epidurals are not just for women who want to feel trippy.

In a bathtub with a doula or in a hospital bed

We all got a baby with limbs and a head.

Nursing is great in nothing goes wrong

But some nipples turn inward and refuse to play along.

This is a choice for each mom-it's her route

So it's just A + B and everyone else can C their way out.

Schedules and timers do not make you cruel

Feeding on demand does not make you a fool.

In the nursery with a monitor or in the family bed

Every chick gets to pick where her baby lays his head.

If I see one more mom roll her eyes at "organic...."

"Partially hydrogenated" throws some of us into panic.

But neither judge Sonic burgers and fries

Some of us just want to enjoy food before we die.

Preschool, home school, public, or Montessori

Listen, my friends, and I'll tell you a story:

Two moms differed on favorite school trends

Their kids turned out pretty much the same. The End.

If a girl gets the title of "mom" accidentally

The worst thing we can do is treat her judgmentally.

How about some love, some help, some advice?

She needs our love and we shouldn't think twice.

Discipline through various methods will prevail

Look, we're all just trying to keep our kids out of jail.

These things are just preferences, not right or wrong

What matters more is teaching our kids to get along-

To love and to share, to speak gently and kind.

To obey so that mom won't go out of her mind.

Showing them Jesus is our common ground

Teaching them how He can always be found.

He's present in public school and Waldorf (so trendy)

He's over at Whole Foods but also at Wendy's.

Jesus never cared about these sort of things

It's our hearts that He wants and the worship we bring.

It's time for us moms to declare a truce

Regardless if we by Capri Sun or 100 percent juice.

My way is not your way, and your way isn't mine

But both of our kids will turn our just fine.

Rather than judging and looking down our noses

Let's enjoy the common ground motherhood poses.

As believers, we all love the same good Lord

We all have children who tell us "I'm bored."

We all need more sleep than those tiny five hours

Most of us struggle to find time for a shower.

We haven't been to the bathroom alone in an age

Our mothers have all told us, "Relax, this is just a stage."

We all love our babies so much we could die

We'd take a bullet for each one without batting an eye.

Though we are different, we're in the same tribe

Motherhood requires a similar vibe-

Love and affection, sacrifice and grace

Laughter, which keeps the whole mechanism in place.

Though different, by the grace of God, I suspect:

ALL our children will rise up and call us.....collect.

She looks well to how things go in her household....Her children rise up and call her blessed

Proverbs 31:27-28 AMP

Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Motherload, by Jen Hatmaker