This boy is somethin else!

So my sweet little Aidie-pots is quite the character and lately he has been CRACKING me up because he will fall asleep just about ANYWHERE when he is ready for his nap! He must be making up for his whole first year of crying and no sleeping. Well....actually, he still does the crying (especially when dadda is gone-this summer's been rough), but the sleeping has improved 100%. He no longer fights sleep nor only remains asleep for short moments at a time, but will fall asleep at the blink of an eye and stay that way for a long time...praise the Lord!! I can't tell you how many times I have left him awake one minute looked back the next minute and he was conked out :) Gotta love him. Precious boy!!

Anyway, here are a few pics of him "sleeping:"


asleep on our bed. i dunno if he was propping himself up with his arm?!!?


This has to be the funniest!! we were eating lunch, he got down from his chair, put his head on his "nite-nites" and seconds later was out!! He stayed that way for at least a few minutes until his legs started to give way and we decided to forsake our laughing moment to put him in bed :)


Same naptime- after Micah moved him to his room, this is how he ended up :) Crazy boy...


He was on the couch watching "toons", his diaper was off, ready to be changed before naptime, when my mom and I got distracted talking...it got REALLY quiet, and this is what we found....HA!!


Couldn't leave Seth out! He stuck his head between the cushions and fell asleep this way!!

It's a Love-Hate Relationship, but first....

Here are a few pics from the trip (I finally loaded them on my computer)!!


Scenery on the way to the province where Lakan's uncle lives. I took this pic from the "window" of the jeepney while we were driving :) Not too bad, eh?


This might seem weird, but this is actually a pic at a cemetery and that building is one of those "enclosed graves." I can't remember what they are called..help me out Ryan D! You know, the coffin isn't buried under ground, rather just freestanding in the building?? Anyway, I thought it was VERY interesting, that some people actually live in those (as their home) because they are to be responsible for being the caretaker of their deceased loved one's resting place. Apparently, it's more efficient to just live in the building than it is to travel there to care for it. As we drove by, you could see house decor and furniture!! Isn't that so interesting?


here is Micah in front of a Jeepney. This was our main means of transportation while we were there.


This was INSIDE the mall we went to in Manilla!! Super cool and Super nice :)


Me and the Rachie girl! Best sis-in-law a girl could ask for!


One of the favorite dessert of most Filipinos- Halo Halo. Yummy Yummy! Its a mixture of ice cream, gummies, coconut, and something crunchy in coconut milk (I think?!?!).


The Micah Mariano Band- :) playing at the concert in Cagayan de Oro. Micah (lead), Boshi (keys), John Bautista(drums), and Rachie (viola).


my hottie rockstar hubby ;)


check out that banner....enough said!


Lakan's uncle that saved him from the flood.


This is where Lakan grew up before the flood. I am not sure which house was his, maybe the middle section? Anyway, you get the idea :)


Here is my hottie hubby again! i totally think he could pass as an Arab sheik or some sort of Arab royalty!! We did decide it might not be best to sport this look in the airport security lines though ;)


Me and the Sweet Rachie again by the beach in Cagayan


HELLO!! Is this sunset amazing or what? The mercy and magnificence of God, the Creator, totally just hit me in this moment....


Can you tell which part of the trip this is? Welcome home.....
Funny..i actually took this picture when we were getting our bags after going through Customs, and APPARENTLY, you aren't allowed to take pictures in that area, as I quickly learned when the guard arrived promptly at my side when he saw the flash...oopsie! Thank goodness he was nice enough to let me keep my camera!!


And now our "Feature Presentation"
I:
*LOVE a clean house...HATE doing the cleaning!!

*LOVE when my hubby comes home from a trip...HATE that he has to be gone :)

*LOVE clear skin....HATE that I have never really had it!!

*LOVE wearing comfy clothes all the time...HATE that as a result, I am not very trendy.

*LOVE the idea of organization.....HATE that I am not organized at all. It's frustrating.

*LOVE junk food and snacking......HATE that it doesn't help my weight loss goals :(

*LOVE the way I feel after working out..........HATE that I won't actually do it consistently, which also consequently does not help my weight loss goals!

*LOVE Circle E candles.......HATE that I only get to buy one 2 or 3 times a year :(

*LOVE when all the laundry is done(or at least the clean laundry put away).....HATE that that NEVER EVER EVER happens at my house.

*LOVE Dr. Pepper..........HATE when it's flat or not ice cold!

*LOVE having a tan.....HATE that I am pasty white right now, especially compared to my dark skinned boys :)

*LOVE knowing that God is absolutely sovereign......HATE not understanding why he created chiggers that seem to derive great pleasure from attacking MY legs!

*LOVE napping....HATE the grogginess that follows!

*LOVE watching my sweet boys grow up.....HATE that they won't be my "babies" forever!

*****thats all I have for now ;) Anyone else have a love/hate relationship you wanna share?****

Jetlag Anyone???

Hello friends! So first of all, I just realized that I completely meant to blog about going to the Philippines before I left, but don't ya know I didn't get to it....oopsie! And then I "planned" to blog right away when we got home, but that didn't happen either! I will blame it on jet lag :) That stuff is a KILLER!! I couldn't figure out what time it was for about 2 weeks! Sheesh! I don't know what my excuse is for the other few weeks?!? Ummmm- how bout......ummmm......nope, I got nothin. Anyone else have an excuse for me?

Anyway, for those of you who didn't know, I had the most fortunate opportunity to go the Philippines for two weeks with the entire Mariano Family (minus the boys who stayed with my momma & grandmomma- THANK YOU)! It was amazing! Micah's dad grew up in Manilla, so we were all able to meet his family-sister, brothers, neices, & nephews- and some of his high school friends. We LOVE his family! They all got up at 3:30am to make sure they were at the airport to welcome us...talk about sacrifice! They were all so hospitable and made every effort to make sure we were well fed :) One of my favorite moments was when we got to meet Lakan's uncle who saved his family from a terrible flood when they were very young; Lakan was 5. His uncle, who happened to not go into work that day and who happened to be a great swimmer and only swimmer in the family, found a garden hose and would tie it from one house to another. Then he would take each member of the family one by one until they all reached that house and then do it all over again until the family was safe from the flood. WOW! It was precious to watch my father-in-law interact with his uncle. I felt honored to have been there. It was a bit of an experience traveling there as we rented a jeepney (see pics) so we could all ride together. Unfortunately, we hit some MAJOR traffic the ENTIRE way to the province and it took us 4 hours for what should have been less than a 2 hour drive. This was one of the few times I was thankful that a certain 3 1/2 and 2 1/2 year old were not with us ;) Anyhoo- it was completely worth the trip and such a blessing to watch Lakan reunite with the man who saved his life. He said several times, "If he had not saved us, none of us would be here. God used him to save our family." Isn't it wonderful how God ordains every event in our lives! Very cool.

We spent about a week in Manilla, then flew to Cagayan de Oro (another island). Did you know that the Philippines is made up of over 7000 islands!?!?! I bet Ashley Honea does! Cagayan was much more rural than Manilla, which I happened to love. There were still a lot of people and CRAZY drivers, but it seemed much more "hometown" to me than the humongous city of Manilla. Micah did a concert in Cagayan to help raise funds for a new building. His brother, sister, and a friend of ours also played with him. I think we were all surprised at how much work and how big the event would be; there were probably about 500ish (maybe more) that attended the concert! They even advertised it on the radio...I always knew my hubby was a super star :) The people from the church were amazing and went to every length to make sure we were all taken care of ;) Ya'll are awesome!!

I must say that one of my favorite highlights of the trip was getting to meet with some people from the Philippines that our church partners with. Unfortunately, I cannot divulge much information via internet for security reasons :( But they were all incredibly amazing people and I am completely humbled by their faith and dedication to the Lord! I will tell you that I "thought" I knew what it meant to claim that Christ is sufficient and that I "count all things loss for the sake of knowing" Him, but good night nurse if God didn't open my eyes!!! These people literally risk their lives to share the good news of Christ and they consider it pure joy ;) And here I am scared to invite the sweet little old man that lives across from us (not you Ryan...you are to our right ;) ) to church!! HELLO!!?!? Anyway, it was a blessing in every way shape and form!

I don't have my pictures on my computer yet, surprise....but if you are on Facebook, you can check them out on my profile via my mother-in-law's photo album. I will work on posting some on here as well!

Hope all of you are doing great! I have missed keeping up with all of you ;)

Look at these CUTIES!!

Just some pics of the boys for this post :) No marathon stories for now ;) I know, I know...you are all so upset...hehehe!


ummmmm, yes, he does think he is this cool!


sunglasses, friends, and fun! (the other little one is Jackson Moore)


ok- seriously, does he not have the greatest smile in the world?



sweet boys :)


my little camera ham!!



Remember the story in my last post about waking up cranky from his nap? He did it again, but his time I captured it with my camera for some serious blackmail someday!!


Rough life for the cranky-pots!!!

A little funny....

This weekend I ended up taking Seth on Saturday to the Shannon Pediactric Clinic because his little tonsils were crazy swollen and I didn't get him in to our pedi on Friday. Anyway, Dr. Wehner was on call and I am so glad because he was wonderful!! So Seth did super great and even opened his mouth nice and big so the dr. could see his throat without having to gag him with that oversized popsicle stick! BTW- does that thing have an official medical name?!?! By the time is was all over, Seth hadn't cried once...remarkable, I thought for a 3 year old with tonsilitis. Well, actually it was some other "itis," but I don't remember the name, so tonsilitis will have to do for now...heheehe! Okay, so we were in the car driving home and I was asking Seth if he liked Dr. Wehner and he said, "yes." So I said, "He was VERY nice wasn't he?" To which Seth replied, "Yes mommy he was VERY nice.....AND shiny!" HA! Trying not to bust out laughing I asked him why he thought the dr. was shiny and all he said was, "because he was so nice." So I don't know what he was trying to say... but it sure was funny :)

And Mr. Aidie-pots, as we like to call him, is quite the little crack up as well!! He has a memory like a steel-trap door (whatever that means) and doesn't let anyone forget anything!! He can remember the smallest little details about the most random things and times! The other day I was cleaning out some toys and I found a ball that he immediately picked up and said, "member dis ball mama? daddy bought it for me at Sarge's house (my dad) and we frew (threw) it down the stairs? member?" Yes I did remember, and the crazy thing is that the last time we were at my dad's was for Thanksgiving!!! UM, yeah- he remembers that silly little ball from like 5 months ago!! He can remember just about anyone after he meets them one time, and randomly recites scenes from movies! Yesterday, he woke up from his nap SUPER cranky and after trying every trick known to man to appease him, I finally put him on the floor and said, "go for it....throw that fit!" Which seemed to work because he almost immediately stopped crying and began telling me about the "big bad bird" in Horton Hears a Hoo. We haven't even watched that movie in weeks but he told me word for word all about it!! Crazy kid! I just love him!! He is too smart and too cute for his own good and for my patience ;)

Oh yeah, and one last thing. My husband is so amazing and tells me all the time that I am beautiful (even though I beg to differ), but he has also been telling the boys at random times to come over and tell me the same thing. It is the sweetest thing! Anyway, they both will come up to me and say it now without being prompted, and Seth definitely gets it right and says, "mommy, you are beautiful!" And I say, "Thank you sweet boy, and you are so handsome!" He just smiles! And then sweet Aiden, will come over and say, "mommy, I love you..... I so beautiful!" :) I totally get what he is saying, but it's just so funny! Especially with his little personality! Of course I tell him that, yes, he is beautiful!! Can you imagine him pulling that line on some gorgeous girl someday? Hey there...I noticed you from across the room...and I just have to tell you that......I am so beautiful!! HHAHAHA! Bet he won't score a date off that line :)

Here are a few pics. Kinda random for this post, but I forgot that I took them and wanted to post them :) The cute chunky monkey is Corban (one of my best friend's little boy). The boys LOVE him!!! So sweet...it almost makes me want another baby....almost.








no baby corban here...just MY baby :)

HOLY SCHMOLEY GUACAMOLE!!!..Has it REALLY been over a month?

Yowser!! I knew I hadn't blogged in a while, but I didn't realize it had been so long...eeeek! Anyhoo...things are great with us! We finally finished the kitchen, minus a few detail things, so that has been a relief! We ended up painting our cabinets black which I WAS NOT sure about at first, but I am so happy I listened to my hubby :)






On to Easter...(It's a little long, but worth the read...I think ;) )
We had an amazing Easter! God is so good and gracious and merciful! I have the most precious story about Seth that actually happened the week before Easter:

Since it was Palm Sunday, Micah wanted to do something really different and focused on the Cross. He and the rest of the staff did an INCREDIBLE job pointing us to the Cross on that Sunday morning! Seth happened to be in the service with me for just a little bit, which was strange in itself because he usually still stays in the nursery. Anyway, the mood was very low key, the lights were down, there were 2 projectors flashing images of the cross and Micah led worship solo (without the praise team). At first I was a little concerned the images of the cross might be a little too much for Seth, but he just asked me who/what they were and I tried my best to explain to him about Jesus dying on the cross. We have had lots of conversations about Jesus so there were some reminders and some new insights :) Anyway, after 15 minutes or so, he was ready to go back to the nursery to play with his buddies, so I took him half expecting a question or two about our conversation in "big church," but there weren't any. No big deal. After church, when we were going back into the sanctuary Seth saw the cross in the entry way and here is how the conversation follows....

Seth: Mom, that's the cross!
Me: Yep that's right buddy.
Seth: That's where Jesus died...
Me: (taken back) that's right sweetie
Seth: (a somber look comes over his face) WHAAAAAAAA (this is full blown crying!!!!)
Me: (concerned) Honey...what's the matter??
Seth: (Still wailing) MOMMY!! I didn't want Jesus to die!!! (more wailing)
Me: Seth...it's okay baby! It's okay to be sad, but there's good news!! Jesus is alive today because God made him alive again!!
Seth: (STILL sobbing uncontrollably) I didn't want Jesus to die.....
Me: (grasping for any ounce of wisdom I may have stored up) Seth, baby, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay (is all I managed to squeak out!)
At this point Seth and I are both bawling now and sitting on the ground in the back of the sanctuary and have conglomerated quite an audience.... and I finally got my bearings and went through the gospel as best I could with a sobbing 3 year old in my lap :)

Me: Seth, when we trust Jesus as the ONE who died to take away all the bad things we do, then He lives in us!! Isn't that great!?!
Seth: (crying..yep..still) He doesn't live in me...He lives in YOU!!!! (more wailing)
Me: (wailing..just kiddin, but the tears were definitely flowing...finally decided to leave it at that for now and just love on my sweet burdened little boy)
*sidenote****where was Aiden in all of this?? Running around alerting everyone it was time to go to the Pizza House (Double Daves)....HAHAHAHA...precious little Aidie-Pie :) ******

We both eventually collected ourselves, and Seth ran to the front of the church to tell Micah about Jesus and the cross. While we were in the back, Micah heard Seth crying and thought he was in trouble, so when Seth got to his daddy, he started crying again and said, "Daddy...I didn't want Jesus to die on the cross..." to which Micah replied,"You got in trouble for throwing ROCKS?!?!" HA!! Anyway, Seth said it again and as I was walking up, saw both Seth and daddy crying now! Don't ya know I just lost it all over again!!! Man.....talk about heart wrenching! We had just spent an hour or so of intensely focusing on the Cross...just the Cross...the Sacrifice...the Despair our Savior endured for the namesake of His father....the Place where the entirety of sin was heaved on his body so we could be set free....and then our 3 year old comes in, sees the cross, and is completely devastated at the idea of it all. And when I say devastated, I mean devastated. Seth was so completely broken and sincerely troubled about the death of Jesus and God truly allowed me to see true, raw, emotion through my own son. Whoa buddy! Seth, although we talk about it, hasn't had a lifetime of "hearing" about the Cross year after year, and he certainly hadn't developed any sort of callousness toward it. But, rather, in that moment, he understood death and he understood that a man died for him, and he was instantly consumed by grief. I honestly had to ask myself if I have ever been overcome with grief because Jesus died for me!?!? Had I ever truly considered the Sacrifice before I considered the Resurrection? I can tell ya that I was forced to do some major reflection of my heart and I came to the conclusion that yes, obviously I have considered those things. I don't see how it's possible not to consider them upon salvation. But I think God allowed me a precious gift that Palm Sunday through Seth Jameson...a precious moment with my son as he began to realize the events of the crucifixion...and a precious moment to truthfully consider the LOVE he bestowed on me through HIS OWN SON on the Cross!

Since then, Micah and I have had lots of conversations with sweet Seth about Jesus, his death, and resurrection. He now "knows" that three days after Jesus died, God made Him alive again and that he lives in heaven with God and also in our hearts. Although I definitely don't think he has made the all the connections, I do believe that God is already softening his heart to the gospel (obviously..)! I can't tell you what an honor it is to be used of God in your own child's life. I am thankful, more than ever now, for the blessing of children and my responsibility as a mother to nurture their need for a Savior!!

"Pretty Much" Done...and other stuff

Are you tired of my kitchen updates yet???

OKAY!! So we are pretty much finished with the counter top minus a few little details here and there!! Whoohooo! I am working on putting everything back together, but we have now decided that we want to paint the cabinets and kitchen walls :) I know...we are crazy!! I definitely HAVE NOT cooked a meal in over a month and I can't say that I have missed it that much....hehehe! Anyway...here are a few pics of the "pretty much" finished counter with sink, R.O. system (thanks Kim and Lakan!), and super sleek faucet with a pull down sprayer!!







Other stuff:
We brought the family Wii home from Kim and Lakan's house the other night and have been having SO much fun!! The boys love Mario Kart!! Of course Micah and I have the remotes that are connected and the boys have other ones, but they think they are playing too! It is so funny to listen to them tell their cars to GO!! Seth "wins" every time and definitely says "you like that punk? huh? HUH?" Wonder where he heard that...hmmmm...MICAH!! And Aiden usually finds something else to do before the race is over ;) Apparently....I am TERRIBLE at Mario Kart! I remember playing in college and I don't think I was too bad, but I definitely finished LAST in EVERY single race during a 45 minute span the other night!!! REALLY?!?! That just kills the competitive spirit in me! I can usually pick things up pretty quick, but I CANNOT seem to grasp the concept of directing a fictional character through a ridiculous course; some of which, i might add, are stinkin tough! My husband, of course, wins every single race and just laughs when I come in dead last! Sometimes I don't even get to finish the race because I am so far behind and all the other cars finish......jeeeeez!! I am sorta decent at bowling, but not good enough to beat Micah yet ;) That day will come, oh yes, I will be victorious...even if i have to sabotage him!! Anyway, we have had some great family fun! Here are a few pics...


sweet sethers :)


love this boy!!


flyin high..jumping from the chair to the ottoman!


goofin off


daddy winning at Mario Kart (even with Aiden on his lap!!)

And one more thing...
We visited my sweet friend Jenn Moore a few weeks ago :) She and her husband, Myles, moved to Belton and I do miss her a whole bunch!! I took the boys up there and we stayed for a few days. So much fun! The first night we tried to put all three boys (Seth-3, Aiden-2, and Jackson-2) to sleep in Jackson's room on a pallet...we gave up about 10:45!! It was a nice try :) I am sure Myles was cracking up because at any given time it was likely that one or all of the boys were in time out!! HA! My boys just love Gym(what they call her) and Jackson!! I kinda do too :)


jackson was so sweet to share his favorite Cars chair..they all squished in there :)


bathtub fun!


story time with Gym....