Our first fat lip!

Today was the last day of the women's Bible Study at church. Caelyn has loved going and getting to play with her friends and I have really enjoyed getting to go too, especially since I have never been able to go before. The study is on Wednesday mornings and Wednesdays is one of the days I work...but since I have been on maternity leave I have been able to go. One thing that I won't ever forget from this study is that "God is able to go WAY beyond your beyond!!" The best thing you could ever imagine to happen, in any situation, God is able to do far beyond, exceedingly better anything you could ever have dreamed of. He is able!! Wether or not things turn out the way I would like is not an issue of His ability but it is His sovereignty. And wether I understand His plan or purposes now or ever in this lifetime He is always good and always loving. This study has touched my heart and encouraged me in so many ways.

Back to the lip story...well today after her class had been on a buggy ride Caelyn tripped and took a bad spill. She ended up with this swollen bruised lip. Sometimes she gets going so fast I don't think her feet can keep up with her body. She is in perpetual motion and that motion is one speed, fast! It is by far the worst owie she has had in her life but I am sure that it won't be the last. When I picked her up she wanted a hug and kept pointing and saying "lip". Everyone we saw in the parking lot she wanted them to see her "lip". She sucked on some ice chips and when she got up from her nap the bruise was very purple. I think it appears more painful than it is because she played all evening not even acting like it bothered her. Hopefully the swelling will just keep going down all night, we will see in the morning. I got to thinking that this life is full of pain. Not only physical but emotional too since we live in a fallen world. And as much as I would like to shield her and Aliyah from pain, they both will have their share of painful experiences I am sure of this. My prayer is that they will both have a deep abiding love for their Savior and cling to His promises so that they be able to survive the storms of this life. It is my daily prayer that God would grant us the wisdom and knowledge to raise them to love and serve Him with all of their lives. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed, I am a list maker by nature and like to check things off so that I can feel that I have had a productive day. When Jason comes home I like to have things accomplished but there have been some days I don't get anything checked off and a very wise person told me that children don't fit well into a to do list. One day Caelyn isn't going to be asking me to play with her little people with her and it won't have mattered if I got all the loads of laundry done, folded and put away. May I never miss a teachable moment or take for granted the time I have been given to share with them.

Thought I'd share some videos

How could life be any more fun than this!! Yes Caelyn does have some wild hair...she got good rest!!

Aliyah is reading her first book!

Caelyn loves to play the guitar at Pop and Gma's house. Here she is jamming in Bobby's room (and there is a deer head on the wall...she refers to it as the moose in the middle of her song)!

Orchard Pictures

I have always wanted to take pictures out in the Almond orchards when all the trees are blooming. The problems is there is only a short window of time when you can do this. Jason got a new lens for his camera as a Birthday/Christmas present....the day was going to be overcast, the trees were blooming, and it was going to rain that weekend (and we weren't sure there would be any blooms left on the trees) which meant it was our opportunity to try out the new lens. Greg and Alyssa came too (on really short notice) so that we could get some pictures of the 4 of us! Thank you SO much Uncle G and Aunt Lulu. So I thought I'd share some of my favorites...

I love my family! The time that we are given to share on this earth is precious.

Aliyah's photo shoot!

A dear friend, Karen Newton, graciously took some pictures of our family and our newest addition!! She did a wonderful job! How precious these times are, even though at times they can be trying!!! We are so grateful that she captured the greatest blessings that have been bestowed upon us...here are a couple of the pictures she took...

"Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord." Psalm 127:3

Our loves

Already a month old!

I am really glad that I found a tutorial on how to make a Moby wrap...it was really easy to make and very comfortable to put Aliyah (for me and her)...and frees up my hands for my other love!

18 month and she looks so grown up now that we have another one.

I made her some Valentine clips for her hair.

Grammie meeting her great granddaughter Aliyah!

some tummy time with Aliyah

Caelyn is "Happy"

Caelyn loves to say "happy" Anytime she sees something smiling she shouts out "happy"

Caelyns new room

Who knew that a month could go so fast! Yet here we are and Aliyah is 1 month old and we are having the time of our lives with our precious little girls. It has been an exciting adventure with some changes and schedule adjustments but we are all enjoying our newest family addition.

Here is "Big Sister" Caelyn holding her "Sissy"

During the day we keep music playing in our house even during nap time. Most always it is on one of our favorite Christian radio stations. We went in to check on Aliyah and a worship song was playing and with her eyes closed she had peacefully raised a hand in worship.

Great-Great-Grandma Luvena made this apron for Cheryl (Jason's mom) when she was a little one and before Caleyn was born she gave it to us. Caelyn is just now getting big enough to wear it and she looks sooo adorable in it. She likes to pretend that she is cooking - which usually involves making drum noises with whatever she can find. As soon as she discovers the pocket I am sure there will be things put there regularly for safe keeping!

After going to look at some bunk beds I (Jason) decided I could build something that was exactly what we wanted. After finding a free plan online we picked up the materials and I was off to build a dream bed for Caleyns new room.

After getting the base finished I moved it into the room to get a look at it. Of course Penny was excited to get up onto the top bunk and take a nap.

Now I must admit - I knew that I could build it, but I was unsure what the finished product would look like as I was taking a basic plan and improvising for decorative features like bead-board. In the end I am very satisfied with the bed. In reality this bed was much cheaper to build than any of the beds we were looking at so if you aren't afraid to try, anything is possible! For obvious reasons the ladder to the top bunk will not be built and installed until a much later date! Angela was greatly impressed and said that I am her "Ty Pennington" Caelyn loves the colorful bed and I think that has made the transition so easy! Angela sewed the bed skirt with the matching fabric to the dresser really tying the whole room together!

This is the toy box / window seat that I built to match the bunk bed. Also Angela sewed these curtains for the room and they have a blackout lining behind them so it can be dark during nap time! The only downside is that Penny loves to sunbathe in this window (she thinks the window seat is hers) so she isn't excited when nap time comes because she is moved from her location!

Angela painted this phrase to be the focal point over the window.

Some birds flying through the air - also seen is the painted trim and clouds.

This is a look at the tree that greets you as you enter the room. Caelyn loves looking at the birds and especially the tree. Everywhere we go she likes to point out trees - so imagine how much more excited she is that there is one in her room! Also the numbers on the tree mark the height and a lady bug will be painted each year for the girls marking their growth.

Here is the safety bed rail that we got for Caleyn. She has really done great and even when she is up and ready to get out of bed she waits for us to come in and get her. She really does love her "big girl" bed!

We truly have been blessed with these precious little ones and we are trying to enjoy each day together. We have also been blessed with great family and friends who provided meals for us for over 3 weeks while we were getting adjusted to our new routine. God is good and we are so thankful for you all!