Edventure pics

Here is the link to my sisters blog if you want to check out the pictures from our Edventure.
http://expandingtylers.blogspot.com/

Somebody is turning two on sunday!

We are up to our ears in birthday preparations for Maggie's big day this weekend (actual birthday sunday..celebrating with friends on saturday). So, here's a little taste of the cuteness that will be going on all weekend long. Maggie is a little distracted in the video, she is about to watch Elmo and that menu page is so intriguing.

sew good

Sew, I've been going a little crazy lately with this sewing business. I love it, it is so relaxing and fun. Here are a few of my latest creations. I made quasi-matching outfits for Henry and Maggie out of some very cheap material. I kind of think Henry's outfit is somewhat clown-like, but he's a baby and can pull it off. I really enjoy making matching outfits, I never thought I'd be that mom, but I totally am. I think my college buddies saw it coming when I used to wear Christmas pins around the holidays. What can I say I love cheesy.

The two adorable clothing models.
And, this is the "fifteen minute"dress, that Lindsey M. inspired with a forward. It is two bandanas sewed together with ribbon at the top...brilliance. It kind of lays funny, but it's cute and gets a lot of compliments at the post office. And, someone out there may or may not be getting a matching one, I'm not saying who Lucy.

distance makes the heart grow fonder...

Sorry for the slacking on my blogging lately. It's been pretty crazy around here, Tyler was gone to Peru on the RUF missions trip all last week and I was home with two kiddos. Life was just a little wild without my better half. But, we managed to make it through in one piece, Tyler and his missions team, and me and my munchkin crew. Tyler left on February 28th and that just so happened to be one of the busiest days (two parents or one) of the month. We had a birthday party in the morning and I co-hosted a baby shower in the afternoon. Okay the fact that their was only one of me did make that day the busiest. We also headed to Columbia towards the end of the week for some time with Grandma Dot, Grandma, Poppa, Aunt Christine, Uncle John and cousin Brody. I didn't have my camera so if my sister sends me any pics (or if she posts some on her blog that I can steal) I will post them. We played a whole lot of tea party and even ventured to EdVenture during our time there. We packed in a bunch in an effort to distract us from missing our daddy (it didn't work bc we still missed him a whole lot). However we survived and we thank the Lord for His graciousness to our family throughout the week, both here in the States and in Peru.
One of the most creative things I have done in my life (that I didn't even come up with on my own...so I guess not so creative but rather the most crafty). A cake for the baby shower.
My munchkin crew...Maggie actually wanted to hold Henry. She loves her little brother but for some reason is not big on holding him.
I had to take a picture of this...can you guess what she's doing? The wee baby doll is suckling from Maggie's belly button of course. How else do you think baby's eat?

Some of the missions team in Peru. Twelve members total.

At one of the work sites. Those huts in the background are actual homes typical for a family of around five. Can you imagine? I thought we had a small place. Check out www.jwu.ruf.org/ for more pics. God is really at work on this campus and this missions trip is just one indicator of how He is softening hearts and revealing Himself in ways that many of our students have never experienced. Thank you to all of you out there who supported the team. God is good and moving at JWU.
My studdly surfer dude ridin' the waves of the Pacific Ocean. They spent one afternoon at the beach and one day in Lima before they headed back to the US.

And of course what trip isn't complete without some coming home presents. A couple days shy of our third winter storm in Charlotte Maggie and Henry received these fabulous snow hats. Too bad on saturday it was 80. Maybe we'll get a few more cold days this year so the gang can flaunt their fabulous head gear, but they will for sure next winter.

What was I thinking?

So, yesterday I was desperate to stay on my running schedule but couldn't find anyone to watch the kids (I guess 30 minutes notice isn't enough for some people). Anywho I did some brainstorming and decided to borrow a double jogger and head to the park and run with my two children in tow...brilliant idea right? So, what if it was a little chilly, I'll just bundle them up. And, who cares if I've never run with a jogging stroller before, what could possibly happen? It's just four miles right...what?!?! The first two miles were actually a breeze (well a winded breeze), but then all hell broke loose just as I was farthest away from my starting point, my car and my sanity. Henry started wimpering so I slow down my pace and give him his pacifier thinking we're good. Well, three tries later no we're not. It must be the sun I think or the wind (I mean I am super fast) so I pull the visor down, but it's no good. The wimpering is now a sobbing. So, I supposed that it wasn't the shade afterall and lift it up only to pinch Maggie's finger in the process. Keep in mind I am still trying to jog through all of this. But, then in unison they both start wailing. I stop and give some kisses to Maggie's finger she seems to calm down a bit and Henry calms down a bit when we stop too. Things seem to be back in order so I start running again. And slowly but surely Henry starts to cry again and Maggie decides to join him in his "we've had enough of this forever trail" plea. I'm thinking their really isn't anything I can do for them here in the middle of this trail so I guess I'll just have to keep running and they'll just calm down...surely they'll calm down. Nope the entire two miles home I gave awkward smiles to my fellow trailblazers and received several man I feel sorry for her looks as we trekked on to our van. (Had I been timing this particular run I think I could have made quite a fantastic ranking in an actual race thanks to my two motivational sojourners). The crying however did not stop when we got to the car it actually got worse. Maggie was saying in repetition, "I need Daddy, I need Daddy" through her sobbing. Henry was crying like he had just arrived through the birthing canal. And, I was close to tears myself and I think I needed Daddy pretty badly too. I put the kids in the van as quickly as possible and the jogger in the trunk and booked it home. As we pull in they both stop crying. I get them out of the van, into the house and Henry actually starts to giggle and Maggie goes about her normal "baby business." The whole ordeal seems to be over and I breath I sigh of relief and go for my cell phone to call Tyler. It is no where to be seen. That's right I left it on the trail somewhere...ahhh! Thankfully my neighbor Terrence hadn't left to pick up his wife from work yet so he sat with the kids while I rushed back to the park and retrieved my vanished phone which hopefully wasn't dropped on mile two! Thankfully it was right in the parking lot where I dropped it in my mad flurry to get home. I realize that this is a ridiculously long blog post, for me especially. But, just remember as you see all these pleasant pictures on our blog that life actually does get quite out of control in the Dirk's home. I just don't post those pictures.

brother and sister

Dirk's boy version:

Dirk's girl version:

They resemble each other oui (read with French inflection)?

Four Months Old

Check him out folks...he's four months old! Where has the time gone?
It's time to start eating rice cereal. He looks a little concerned, but don't worry I explained to him that he's got to beef up because bathing suit season is right around the corner.
Let's get physical, physical...I can't help but sing that song in my head when I see this picture of Maggie in this headband. It's actually mine, my sister made it for me for Christmas. Maggie wanted to wear it on this particular day though and of course I let her.
Maggie was in a "let's put stuff on our heads" kind of mood that day. She also insisted that Henry wear this flower headband. I'm sure he'll thank her when he's older for this picture.
What little girl doesn't love dancing with her daddy? And what better way to end this posting?