Fun Filled Fourth Brithday

Gideon couldn't wait to turn four.  We started the day with a special birthday breakfast --donuts!!  After that he got to open his presents, a car carrier from Grandpa and Grandma Buys and a Bingo Game, Cars dominos, 2 hot wheels, and a paint book from us.

 

He got to run an errand with Dad and they stopped at the new Cabella's store in Grandville.  When the worker heard it was Gideon's birthday he game him a cool hat!  And there was some semi famous hunter there signing 5x7 pictures of him with a huge buck, so Gideon came home with two special souvenirs!

  

 Instead of a cake, we made a big birthday cookie to decorate.  Gideon has been talking about a tractor cake or a car cake for a long time . . . and I've been teasing him about a princess cake for just as long.  He was very concerned about getting frosting on the car, so I had to be careful, but overall it turned out pretty well :)

 

 Our big boy is 4!!  WOAH!  Gideon is lots of fun to be around, he has a ready smile for anyone :)  He loves being outside, playing cars/trucks, and throwing balls.  He has a caring heart and is growing in His love and understanding of God.  We are blessed by our big 4 year old!!

 

I've Been Reading . . .

I guess I was on a reading break . . . like in college when they give you have coupe of days off so you can 'catch up on homework'  (OR see how many people can fit in a car and travel 100s of miles in a few days).  Well, I really have been reading. A LOT.  I thoroughly enjoy reading of many kinds and have stacks of books around my house.  I thought I'd share a few favorites in case you were wondering what I've been up to OR are looking for some good reads.

**LIES Young Women Believe by Nancy Liegh DeMoss and Danah Gresh.  These ladies had surveys completed by 100s or young women and focused on the most popular lies that young women believe about God, sin, themselves, relationships, etc.  They counter these lies with the truths that scripture teaches and end each chapter with reflection questions.  I would highly recommend this book to young ladies.

**The Look is small booklet by DeMoss about modesty and appearance and seeking what God teaches us in these areas.  A very short read, would be wonderful for a girls group or mom and daughter to read/ discuss together.
 
**Set Apart Feminity:God's Sacred Intent for Every Young Woman by Leslie Ludy addresses modesty, but also talks about how the daily life of young women (their thoughts, interests, friendships) should all be set apart for God.  I really enjoyed this one as well and think that it would be a great blessing to young women as well as a challenge to strive for a holy life lived before our holy God.

**A Woman’s Wisdom—How the Proverbs speak to everything by Lydia Brownback is another excellent read for women of all ages.  She takes several themes of the Proverbs and sets out what these principals should look like in our lives, encouraging women to live out the teachings of the Proverbs.  She is the author of Fine China is for Single Women Too a wonderful, sincere, biblical view the life God calls to those who are currently single.  Her devotionals : Joy, Trust, Contentment, and Purity are awesome books with brief biblical devotionals that I would highly recommend.

**Morning Will Come by Sandy Day and Little One Lost by Glenda Mathes both address issues of infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, and early infant death.  They share many stories of couples who have walked these difficult paths and share the confidence and hope we have in a loving God that carries us through the sad and confusing situations of life.

**Love to Eat, Hate to Eat by Elyse Fitzpatrick is another book I would highly recommend to anyone who has food/eating issues . . . if you have been on diets and tried to lose weight or if you struggle with anorexia or bulimia.  She clearly teaches what the Bible says about food, eating, and all related issues.  She includes a checklist of questions to ask about eating, a list of several issues/temptations that lead us into sinful eating habits and scriptures to help encourage us along the right path.


**Disciplines of a Godly Family is written by Kent and Barbara Hughes.  We are using this in our church parenting group and everyone is enjoying it.  They are practical, biblical, encouraging, and realistic.  The back of the book includes various tools and appendices that are full on helpful information.  Kent wrote Disciplines of a Godly Man and Barbara wrote Disciplines of a Godly Woman that would also be great reads (I've read the woman one, but the the man one ;).

Off to a slow start

After I typed the title I realize it could refer to many things . . . Asher finally walking at 17 months, me finally posting for a second time in 2013, the piles of snow finally filling up your yard.  So, here are a few things that have been happening around here in the past few weeks.

I made a cute owl taggie for my newest niece and decided her sister who loves purses should have an owl purse :) It was so fun to make these . . . love practicing on new projects!

 

Winter in Michigan has been slow to start.  We barely had a few inches even fall before Christmas and non of it stayed around  . . . and then a few weeks ago we started to have snow storms. a lot.  Last week Briella only had one day of school because Monday and Friday were snow days (she only goes Mon Wed Fri).  Gideon loves to be outside no matter the temperature and he can usually talk Briella into joining him.  Asher can't really get around much out there, so I brought some snow in for him to play with . . . he found it interested for a few minutes and then grunted towards the window wanting to be outside.  He has been out a few times since then, but he isn't always happy to be out in the snow either.

 

 I took some pictures of our backyard . . . those posts are 4x4s . . . see the snow piled up on them at least 8 inches high.  Also along the fence you can see it fell straight down and accumulated a few inches on the narrow fence rail.  The way the snow clung to the steps is odd and amazing?!?! Stephan built a fort with tunnels for the kids, it has recently doubled in size with all the snow this week.

 Occasionally we try to do some learning at home and after practicing some sight words and writing numbers Briella had to find the number of things I picked (13 blocks, 17 legos, 16 balls).

 

 Gideon had been tracing dotted lines and his name (never thought about how hard it might be to learn to write a 'G' right now we have slightly imperfect 6s).  Then he had to fill a bowl with objects of the color I told him.  They both thought this was tons of fun :)

 

A few funnies from our kiddos recently:

Back in December we took Briella and Gideon to a hockey game and while downtown looking for a parking spot Gideon calls out, "I see a lizzie-car!"  He was excited. I was confused.  Me: "Where Gideon?"  G: "On the road there"  Me: "What do you see?"  G: "a lizzie car!"  After searching I figured out what a lizzie car is . . . a limosine!

We often give the kids smarties in church and like I remember doing they arrange them on the Psalter into various shapes and patterns.  Last Sunday I made a "G" for Gideon and he ate a few and tried to shove them into some shape and then he said, "I made an underwear!"  (three across with two under them . . . I have to admit there was an undie resemblance)

Briella was watching me change my socks and shoes awhile back and asked me about my long toe.  I asked her what she was talking about and she clarified that my second toe was longer and 'different' (not the correct descending size).  I told her that I inherited a long second toe from my mother and that my father aggravated the situation by frequently pulling on it.  Briella remains confused about this situation.

Most of you already know that Briella attends Zion Christian School, and like most Christian schools they have an auction to raise money.  SO, the other day she was singing a song the Kindergarten class is learning . . . "Zion founded on the auction . . . "  I had to smile and ask her to repeat that again! (I'm sure the auction committee would be thrilled with a new ad campaign).  I am working on "mountain" with her now :) 

WOW: longest post ever?!?!  Have a great night!

It's About Time

 Our family on Christmas morning

 Gideon was pumped to get a couple of new hotwheels

 Asher resting on his new moose pillow

 Sunday we took family pictures of each family and I thought Asher looks so cute in this picture :)  I'm not sure what Uncle Dan was doing to make him laugh?!?!

 Postma Grandkids

 This shot totally cracks me up.  Asher is giggling and then there is Landon playing with his lips . . . taking pictures of lots of kids is always so fun :)

 Briella got this weaving kit and we made a potholder; so fun!

We decided to move the high chair out of the kitchen so we are all sitting by the table now!  It is nice and cozy with a family of five :)

Crazy . . . Messy . . . Boys

 Asher likes to play with his food sometimes . . . usually this is our clue that he is finished eating.  As you can see he is quite proud of his smarty pants skilz.

 Briella and Gideon helped me make these sugar cookie bars...they were very proud of their sprinkling.  Do you see where I realized Gideon would require more assistance while sprinkling?!?  We gave most of these away ...but enjoyed ourselves, too.

This is Gideon's new favorite game to play with Asher: pull him around on his blankie :)  Asher laughs hysterically . . . until he slips ...

A couple more Gideon funnies to share:
**We went to a hockey game Friday night.  Tuesday I was dressing Asher while Gideon dressed himself and then he gets up on his toddler bed and jumps over the foot board and says . . . "Now I can play hockey, Mom"

**While listening to the minister read the introduction to the ten commandments, Gideon turns to me and asks, "What's bondage mean?"  (I found it a little tricky to explain quickly and quietly in church.)

 


 

Thanksgiving Travels to Iowa

 Asher and Andrew met for the first time . . . Asher was not thrilled with the camera in most of these pictures . . .  I was thrilled to meet and hold Andrew for the first time!  However, my arms (which I thought were well toned from my own lug) started going numb after 8 minutes so I had to share.

 Briella had tons of fun playing with her big cousin Emma and Gideon and Aiden had a blast together, too.  The boys played lots of cars and chasing and bugging their uncles.

 Briella and Gideon enjoyed lots of Grandma hugs and books and snacks :)

 Dad and Mom needed a picture taken for their church directory so I thought it would be nice opportunity to take a picture of them with our kids.  Asher was again not pleased with my idea . . .

 Asher loves the steps and when he saw this gate he thought he found a way past the obstacle.  He was quickly frustrated . . . poor guy.

I'm not sure what was so interesting on TV, but these three were in this cozy spot for awhile.  I think Dan was licking his wounds after I beat him at Settlers Cities & Knights ;) or was it Garbage?!?!

We spent nearly a week in Iowa and were so thankful to see so much family, but the time always flies by and by the time we get home it seems like we just left.  We are thankful for safe travels and mostly happy travelers.
 

A year later

 

About a year ago we took this cute picture of the kids.  We kept talking about trying it again, so the other night we stacked them up on the couch ... well a lot has changed in a year and it wasn't as easy as it was the first time.  So here are some of the pictures we got :)  Kind of fun to see the various facial expressions. None of them were very cooperative . . .