May's Pictures and, oh yeah.... a haircut

I have gotten May's pictures out on Webshots now (see pictures url on right). Enjoy! I know that they are late... It has been a busy spring here. Mostly on getting back in touch with the outdoors, friends, and house projects. Ben, being the introvert that he is, doesn't really like this time of year when everybody and their brother is having get-togethers. It is because everybody kinda loses touch during the dreary and long hibernation we are forced into, otherwise known as winter. Although, I love it, being the extrovert that I am...

And it has been about two weeks (or has it been three?), but I have gotten my hair chopped. I was attempting to grow it out for Locks of Love but I failed at my quest. I have been growing it out for over three years and I just had enough. I couldn't do it anymore. I am dealing with the feelings of failure every now and then, as well as the feelings of regret that I cut my hair off or that I got it cut so short.... However, I like that it something new and am having fun with it too. Here are pictures of before and after for your enjoyment.




June pictures will be up soon.... I hope.

Greyson is MOBILE!

I can't believe it.... Greyson is mobile! I am completely surprised by this. He is at least 3 months ahead of where Madelyn was at this age. Not that one is better than the other - it just means that I was completely unprepared! Daily, it seems, I look up and see him doing something new... it is unbelieveable.



Greyson had been inchworming for awhile. Next he started pulling in his knees and rocking back and forth on his hands and knees. Then he started turning over from that to a sitting position. But he couldn't stop there! A couple of weeks ago he started pulling up to a standing position on EVERYTHING - couches, chairs, toys, baskets, bathtubs, toilets, everything.... It is kinda scary.... I try to keep a good eye on him so that he doesn't lose his balance and bust his head open. But surprisingly he has really good balance and seems to know how to get back down to a sitting position safely. What is funny is that he was standing before he was officially crawling. He started officially crawling on his knees on Monday. Now he is getting the hang of it and there will be no stopping him soon! I'm wondering when he is going to realize that he can stand up and take a few steps.... I considering push him over a few times to keep him from walking so soon....



Incidently, Greyson has learned how to "kiss". I use the quotes because his kisses are more of mauling of the mouth than a kiss. But it is so cute! He grabs your cheeks and pulls you in and then plants this huge open-mouth kiss either on your cheek or mouth. Your first reaciton is "Gross!" but then you remember that it is your 7 month old baby and just revel in it. Greyson got the chance to practice on Madelyn's baby the other day. He very much enjoyed it! Watch out girls!



As stated in an earlier post, both Ben's and my parents were in town a couple weekends ago. Both of our dads have mustaches. Greyson was so enthralled! He couldn't figure out what it was! It was very funny.

Summa Cum Laude

After 7 LONG years, Ben has GRADUATED! He is now a "Master of Divinity"! Wow! He also graduated summa cum laude.... I'm so proud.... It has actually been almost two weeks - he graduated on June 2nd. He's been working full-time and going to school (usually 2 classes per quarter) for almost as long as we've been married. There have been times of stress and strain on all of us at times but we've come through mostly unscathed. I don't think it has really hit us that he is done though because Ben usually takes the beautiful Minnesota summers off to spend with the family and rest. It will probably hit us when he doesn't have to go back in the fall. Yea!!

Since about year 4 for this 7-year journey, Ben and I have been discussing the bash that we would throw when it was all over. However, I know Ben and I know what he does when it comes to celebrating his accomplishments. He completely caboshes it!! I also knew that it would be so special to him to have people celebrate his accomplishment though. So, last fall, I started planning his surprise graduation party. I figured if he didn't know anything about it, he couldn't stop it!! I sent out invites to family and close friends across the nation and waited to see who would be able to make it. I was amazed at the response! I knew that not everyone would be able to travel to be here but many people came. And most of those that couldn't come sent a note of congratulations. I was so pysched that so many people wanted to be a part of Ben's celebration! The party went wonderfully and Ben was very surprised! Most of my family came (6 of the 7 extended family members that I have) and Ben's parents and sister came. Ben also had two close friends from college come, Jessica and Stacy. It was great to see everyone and Ben was so honored.



I didn't think I could pull it off at times for a couple of reasons: 1. I don't keep ANYTHING from Ben! He is my sounding board, my ranting partner, my favorite person to talk to! That was HARD! 2. So many people knew about the party that I thought someone would slip. There were a few things that were mentioned that I had to de-fuse but for the most part everyone did a great job of keeping the secret! Thank you everyone!!

Ben will most likely be getting his Ph.D. at some point. However, for now, he will be taking some much needed time for himself and his family. I can't wait until fall rolls around and he finally feels free of the non-stop grind of homework. I'm sure that the next step will be here before we know it though. We are relying on God to show us the next step of his plan and I'm looking forward to seeing it come together!

One benefit of having family here was that they got to spend time with the kids. Madelyn and Greyson had a blast being spoiled by all the grandparents and aunts and uncles. It was awesome seeing them interacting with extended family. God is good....

The week after graduation, we decided to take the whole week off from work and hang around the house. I have to say, that week of vacation is close to the best week of vacation we've ever had! Who knew using vacation to stay home would be so good! We work on a couple of projects around the house, slept some, had an indoor picnic in front of the fireplace (it was 56 deg that day), and just in general had a great time! It is definitely something we will do again!

Mama - the sweetest name EVER!

Madelyn has given me a new name lately.... Mama. I never knew that a single word - a name - could make me feel so good. Somehow it is sweeter than Mommy or Mom. It makes my heart melt every time I hear it! The irony is that my Mom does not like being called Mama AT ALL! I used to tease her about it and call her Mama out of rebellion. The other day she asked me if Madelyn had tried calling me "Mama" and she hadn't yet, so I said "no". Well, the next day she started (did she hear us talking about it?) and it has stuck. I love it..... especially when it is followed by "I love you".

April 2007 and Easter Pictures

I have updated Webshots to include Easter and general April pictures. Greyson has gotten so smiley and Madelyn has started to play with Greyson which has been awesome to watch (and take pictures of!). Enjoy!

Wow - Times flies!

I can't believe that it has been two weeks since I posted last! It is amazing how fast time is flying by these days. I have been fully absorbed into the beauty of spring. Every free moment that we have had lately has been spent out and about enjoying the weather, as is the Minnesota way. You see, up here in the north, you can tell when the first real day of spring has come. This is the day that you see gads of people leaving their houses to take walks and jogs and trips to the park or just hang out in the driveway. It is an amazing sight to see the people that have been hibernating all winter (include my family!) find their way outside and into the sun. Neighbors get reacquainted after along winter's nap....

This spring has been all of that for us. We have already taken many trips to the park to "slide, mommy!!" and sat outside watching Madelyn ride her bike. We have even introduced Greyson to the backyard swing. It been wonderful to get outside and have a whole new world to explore with the kids. It has been fun to attempt to explain to Madelyn how God has created a world that "wakes up" in the spring. She started to ask (with no prompting) at the end of the winter, "where birds go?" So, to her surprise, a few weeks later the birds reappeared and now wake her up in the morning with their cheerful twittering. She has also started to notice the buds on the bushes and trees and ask me what they are. I try to explain that they are the new leaves and flowers that God has made for each tree and bush. I don't think she sees the connection yet, but she will. It has been cool to see her start to acknowledge God though. Since we usually pray before dinner as a family, Madelyn has been asking to pray too. She usually prays "Dear God, thank you for bike. Thank you for riding it. Amen" It is very sweet, and I can't help but giggle a little at what she is thankful for. She has prayed "thank you" for other things too, like "brother Greyson" and "the eats" but usually it is her bike.

Greyson is definitely growing! He is bigger and stronger and wiggle-ier. He is SUCH a wiggle-worm! He CANNOT stay still unless he is sleeping. We think that is why he was staying so thin and always so hungry before we started baby food. His intake just couldn't keep up with his rate of burning calories. Since we started baby food, he is plumping up and sleeping much better! He is almost always smiling and he has taken to yelling. I think he got that from Madelyn. She has always run up to him and yelled at him. I think it was to see his reaction at first but then he started laughing hysterically at him one day. Now it is a game that she plays with him. However, now I not only have a 2 year old that yells at the top of her lungs, I also have a 6 month old that does it too! Let's just say while I enjoy my kids having fun together, I also enjoy the quiet that comes after they go to bed.

I will have April pictures up on Webshots soon. For now, here is a short clip of Madelyn pushing Greyson in our backyard swing.