Visiting our Tyler Rose

Last weekend, we headed to Tyler to see Honey. We had a good time, ate too much food, and played outside in the pretty weather.

Luke rang the wind chimes

We played hide and seek

Went on walks around the neighborhood... the azaleas were still blooming

Honey loved on Luke

Brent brought out the matchbox cars that he had as a child and Luke was enthralled! Pops was too!

When we were leaving Luke brought me my first flower from him (Brent prompted this, but I still count it!)

Pool Time!

Hot day... cold pool!

(check out our boy's Farmer Tan)
This is how he decided was the easiest way to get in...

M-U-S-T S-P-L-A-S-H!!!

Burr! That is cold!

Maybe I'll just play with the hose!

A Million Times, Yes

I slowly walked into the kitchen tonight as Brent was emptying the dishwasher (he's taken, Ladies!) and here is the conversation that took place:

Abbey: (huffy and defeated that I have to leave home after already in my comfy clothes) "We are out of milk. I need to go get more..."

Brent: "This would be a good time to have that Kroger built down the street".

Abbey: "I don't want to gooooo. (pause, pause) I'll do the dishes if you--

Brent: (cutting Abbey off) "A million times, YES!" (Before I could take a breath to finish my thought, Brent abandoned his spot at the sink and was already in our bedroom putting on his shoes).

Abbey: "go."

I hope he just hates doing dishes... I guess I will know if he returns home tonight!

Fly That Freak Flag!

We may be freaks (or just dorks!) but:

1. I like to take hot baths and eat cold ice cream (together)
2. Brent likes to sing about buttercups (the flower) on the highway
3. We choose to eat "sloppy dogs" instead of sloppy joes (a change of the bun makes them much less messy!)
4. We got rid of cable to save $1,000/year and haven't missed it... Gasp! (Don't worry-- we still watch some shows online and subscribe to Netflix... and we havn't gotten to football season yet)

What are your hang ups? Come on, you've got em!!!

How To Pray for Your Child- April

Growing up, I took comfort in knowing that my parents were praying to God on my behalf. They still do! My mom sent me an article (from BSF) that breaks apart 12 ways that I can specifically pray for Luke this year.

This month: Be protected from the evil one in each area of his life: spiritual, emotional, physical (Luke 22:31; John 17:15)

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for being the ultimate Protector- thank you for walking beside Luke where ever he goes... when I can't be there, you are- thank you for giving this worrier of a mom peace that there is nowhere Luke can go that you are not beside him. Please protect Luke's mind from the evils of the world- remind him of your truths so that when he is tempted that he can stand up against the Temptor. Create in him a passion to know you and be more like you. Put in him a desire for discipline to be a man after your own heart- show him that you have uniquely gifted him so that he has purpose in this life. When Satan attacks his emotions, I pray he turns to you- when he is angry, hurt, embarrassed, afraid, unsure, please help him to always come back to you. Guard his body- he only has one... please keep him from harm and go before him every day when he faces decisions involving peer pressure or short lived pleasure. When he makes bad decisions, I pray he gets caught. When he makes good decisions, I pray he feels peace. Help him to respect others and understand that every person is valuable. Please teach him early that insults hurt and that words have the power to build up, and destroy. Show Luke to clearly recognize sin and run from it when tempted, but when he goes through trials, teach him reliance on you. As I watch you work in his life, I pray you keep me out of the way from the lessons you want to teach him and that you nudge me when I need to step in. Most importantly, keep us both dependant on You as only you can protect Luke from the attempts that Satan makes on his life.
In your Name I pray, Amen.

Happy Anniversary!

Something in your eyes, makes me wanna lose myself
Makes me wanna lose myself, in your arms
There's something in your voice, makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts, the rest of my life

If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've been so alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done

Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
And if you knew how happy you are making me
I never thought that I'd love anyone so much

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way the back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

This was our last dance song at our wedding- obviously I choose it, not Brent :)

Brent, I can still listen to this song and remember that same giddy feelling I had that night that I was yours "Forever Always". I look back over these 5 years and realize what a wonderful choice I made that day- to go through life with you is a priveledge, a challenge, and a blessing. Now, five years later, I can speak to the fact that God designed our marriage for you an me... our goals for our future, our finances, our political views, our hopes for our children all line up and I just have to believe He had me wait for you- YOU! It is neat to see all of these things unfold over five years of marriage and I just have to think that the next five will knock our socks off. I love you Brent Brewer and I am proud to be your wife.

A Mid-Week Pick-Me-Up!

Uncle Chris and Aunt Christy came up for some mid-week fun with Luke! He had a ball at the playground:

And feeding the ducks:

They played so hard he even cuddled with Aunt Christy!

Gam-ma (Deb swears Luke said it at Easter with Dwight as her witness!) came up also to give us a night out while she watched Luke... we had dinner and played cards. I can't remember why the sunglasses were so funny, but we had a good laugh taking these pictures!

We bought Luke a whistle to leard how to blow... hopefully this will help with blowing his nose :) He loved it-- have we created a monster???

Family Pictures

29 and holding!

Fajitas with my buds! This was a combination Texas Independence party/ B-day get together...

Leah's sopapilla cheesecake... yum!

My girls at work got me a cookie cake!

Brent got me a cookie cake too!!! I think I will look back at 29 and see I gained 5# if we keep up this pace!

Going to Skoo

Luke's new routine in the morning is to give Allie a treat and say by-bye- He crouches down to eye level with her kennel and waves at her... I wonder what she thinks?!! Brent hands him his bag, Luke opens the door, and they walk out to the car... Luke blows me kisses as I back out of the garage. This is one of my favorite parts of our day! My baby is getting big!

Horsey Switcheroo- Complete!

Luke carried around 2 Horseys the day after he rejected New Horsey... two are better than one, right?!!! That was a mess! Then, I hid Old Horsey under a dish towel and Luke accepted New Horsey as his BFF! Mission complete!

Horsey Drama

Pops and Granna got Luke a new Horsey for Easter... sort of a replacement, sort of a back up that if we ever tragically lost original Horsey, life could go on.

Here are the Horseies:

Same thing right?

Apparently Luke's finer palate would disagree. We tried to pull a switcheroo last night after bath time and Luke looked at the tag and kind of tossed New Horsey to the side. We went on with bedtime sequence as usual acting inconspicuous. I put Luke in the crib and closed the door after our prayer, as always.

5 minutes pass and I hear my child screaming hysterically like there is a stranger in his bed or something... I went back in and he stood up and hugged me (VERY unlike Luke) and looked down at New Horsey on the furthest end of the crib in disgust. We went to the laundry room to get dirty, Old Horsey and he immediately rolled over and went to bed. My plan is to wash them both and have him sleep with both-- Old Horsey really needs to retire-- he smells like a farm, even when I wash him. I'll keep you posted :)

Happy Easter 2010!

We had a great weekend with Brent's parents and sister, Jamie. Here are the highlights!
Easter basket- Great Aunt Holly sent bunny ears... isn't he a cutie! No basket would be complete without some kind of bubbles in there!

Grandma and Granddaddy gave Luke an Easter basket with camo eggs, and super hero goodies. Grandma filled an egg with change for Luke's piggy bank... he loved shaking it:

And dumping the change, then re-filling the egg

Luke colored- this was Sat. night before church-- he got a heavy duty scrubbing after this mess!

The guys smoked a brisket:

Easter Sunday was a memorable one. The sermon was just wonderful- anyone who sat in that service are "without excuse" as to where they will spend eternity. It was a beautiful celebration for us as Christians to remember and reflect on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ- for without that, Jesus would have been a great teacher- but because he fulfilled Old Testament scripture down to the last detail in John 19, John 20 shows Christ's Lordship over his followers. Thank You Jesus for being tempted in every way that I am, but for being sinless so that You could save this undeserving sinner. Thank You for following through on Your promise and thank You for everlasting Life!

Here are a few of my favorite Easter pictures.

Luke not loving his tie at first.

Easter Outtakes: