What Do You Think?

Here is Isaac at 8 1/2 months old and here is Eli at 8 1/2 months old.
Do you think they look alike?

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Barry and I spent Jan. 15-19th in Gatlinburg, TN with our youth for a ski trip. It snowed off and on pretty much the whole time we were there. We were both so excited and the whole time we kept saying how much we wished we had Isaac with us. I would call to check on the boys and Isaac kept asking me to bring him home a REAL snowman. I informed him that the snowmen had all gone home to take naps, but he just didn't get it.

Well God is good because as we were leaving Gatlinburg on Monday morning it started really snowing and I silently prayed that we would get a few flurries in SC so Isaac could experience it. So as we're driving back Wes pulled out his iPhone and checked the weather and they were calling for snow in SC on Tuesday. I got so excited, but figured it was probably wrong. By the time we got back to Irmo parents were picking up their students and saying that the schools would most likely be closed on Tuesday. I got so excited even though I still wasn't sure about the snow coming or not. So I get home and start watching the news and it really looks like we'll be getting some sort of wintry precipitation, not sure what kind or how much. Well we went to bed and that particular night Eli didn't sleep at all. So being his mother I was the up with him. I was like a kid waiting for Santa to come. Every hour I would go in and peek out the window to see if it was snowing. At 5 a.m. I looked out and still there was nothing and by now Eli had FINALLY fallen asleep and I went up to Isaac's bed to try to get some shut-eye myself. Next thing I hear is Isaac yelling that the snowman had come. I brought Eli downstairs and tried to lay back down, but all I could hear was the excitement Isaac had and how he wanted to play in it. I got back up and got out his snow clothes (two years ago I found a snow bib on sale for $6 at Target; it was 12 months but thought we could use it someday; crazy enough Isaac can still fit in it!). We put on his boots, bibs, jacket, gloves, hat and scarf and out him and Barry went. There wasn't much, but it was enough to make his day. Check out the pictures in SC Snow day folder over to your right. I've also posted a video below.

The Inauguration

I know that I usually blog on here about my family only, but today I want to blog about what took place today in history. Today for the first time in American history a black man became President. Now to be honest, I did not vote for Obama, but I don't want to get into that. Today for me was NOT about politics. Today was about a change that I thought probably would never happen in my time. Not that I didn't want it to happen, but because generations before me have made it clear that it just wouldn't happen. So today I sat and watched the inauguration and actually cried. And I think that the only other inauguration that I have ever watched was when I was in the fifth grade and I believe President Bill Clinton was elected. Our fifth grade teachers made us watch it and so I did. And I'm pretty sure I didn't cry over it either. But today as I watched I sat there and thought about all the trials "blacks" have faced and some continue to face. I do think they sometimes over due their trials, but the truth is that they have NEVER had the chance to to be in such a high power position. Actually I believe its not that they've never had the chance, I think its more so they never had someone brave enough to take on the challenge. But Obama, a highly educated black man stepped up to the plate and TRIED. He tried to break tradition and he did. He has done something no other black man has been able to do before and he has opened a door for young people growing up today. I know people have their own personal opinions on the whole situation, but for once can we all agree that he is has done something that Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of. And notice how ironic it is that we just celebrated the King holiday, yesterday, and now today his dream came true. Also on another side note, I would like each of you who are worried, sad, or even angry about what took place to stop and let God have control of this. I'm not saying I support all of his policies or actually really anything he has put in front of us, but what I am saying is that I trust God in this. And God allowed Obama to be in this position, and even if it wasn't the man I or maybe even God really wanted He will be in control of it no matter what. He is the ruler over all and as long as we all continue to pray for this man and this country God will bless us, maybe not now but eventually. And who knows, maybe Obama is the man to bring this country back to what it was founded on, God. I guess we will see.

Finally!

Here is the only sippy cup that I have found that Eli will drink his milk (formula) out of. All I can say is F-I-N-A-L-L-Y! It really helps when I'm trying to fix a meal for Isaac and Eli is hungry. The small things in life are what makes me happy.

Youth Ski Trip 2009

This past weekend Barry and I took about 45 students to Gatlinburg, TN for our annual ski trip. It was awesome. We got there Friday afternoon and got to go skiing/ snowboarding. And then about 15 of them got to go again on Saturday. We had a blast! It was very cold. Actually it was probably the coldest weather I have ever been in, or at least since I can remember. When we arrived Friday it was only 18 degrees, I think the high that day was 23 degrees. By the time we left the slopes it was only 8 degrees. It was cold. We got to see lots of snow and ice. It was fun. Check out the pictures in the folder Ski Trip 2009 to see more.

Me and Barry on the slopes.

Our one and only injury. Brandon was snowboarding on Friday and a guy in front of him fell and the guys snowboard hit Brandon in the face. I got 14 stitches and it shattered the upper part of his nose. He goes to see a surgeon this week. OUCH!

This is a frozen fountain in Downtown Gatlinburg. Beautiful isn't it?

Check out this video that I took of our Jr. High Pastor, Trevor, and then one of our Sr. High students, Grant. It is halirious!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RdR5uc0U-g

My Little Snowboarder

As some of you know we went on our annual youth ski trip this past weekend. Well while we were getting ready Wes pulled out his snowboard boots and snowboard. Isaac was up there when he did this and he really wanted to try it all on. So Wes being the great big brother that he is, he brought all his stuff downstairs and took it upon himself to suit Isaac up. I walked in and died laughing. The board was bigger than Isaac. Any ways here are the pictures I got. Silly boys!

Eli in His Carseat

So, do you think it's time to move him to a bigger carseat since

he can sit himself up in his infant one?

He's Growing Up

Here are some recent pictures of Eli. He is really growing up fast. As you can read in an earlier post, he is crawling and pulling up on things. I believe he will be walking in the next couple of weeks. I wasn't as prepared for his mobileness like I was with Isaac. Isaac started crawling at 9 months and walked at 10 months, so I honestly thought Eli would be the same and maybe even later since we all enjoyed carrying him around all the time. Boy was I wrong he started crawling at 7.5 months and I believe he will be walking by 9. Its crazy here now with all these mobile boys.

Any ways here are some pictures of my "baby" boy doing some of his new things.

Eli in the bath. He loves bathtime.

Eli standing at the door watching daddy and Isaac play soccer.

Eli playing with his table. He pushes it around the room too.

Boys and Bathrooms

Okay so Isaac has been potty trained for about a year now. It honestly was the easiest thing I ever went thru with him. He literally woke up one morning, took a bath, and when I went to put a diaper on him he said that he wanted to wait underwears like his bear. He had a bear the Wesley had made him at Build-a-Bear that wore boxers. So I said okay and he's been in underwear ever since. Seriously it was that easy.

Well about two weeks ago I started smelling urine in my bathroom. I had cleaned it and still smelled it. I know boys and men sometimes are bad at aiming, but I had never noticed it before. I also knew that while we were in FL for the holidays that Isaac had gotten a stomach bug had caused him to have some accidents while he was pottying (sh-arting moments= when you pass gas and well...figure it out). So he had started sitting down to pee. I thought maybe he was peeing out the front. I just couldn't figure it out. Well two Thursday's ago I go into the bathroom while he is pottying and I see him standing there peeing....EVERYWHERE, ALL OVER MY WALL!! Now if you've been to my bathroom lately you know that my wall right by the toilet is stripped down to the drywall (I've got issues-I love peeling paint whenever it starts peeling). So Isaac is standing there peeing on my drywall!!! I freaked. Here is how the conversation went....



"Isaac what do you think you're doing?!"

Isaac turns to look at me while he is still peeing, "what momma?"

"You ARE peeing on my wall!"

"Yes, momma." Looking at me like I'm the crazy one.

At this moment I turn him around and swat his bottom, "Isaac Tilton you know you are not allowed to pee on anything but the toilet. You know better! What the heck are you thinking?!"

By now he has stopped peeing and is pulling up his pants, "Momma, I just colorwing wif my wiener!" He is still looking at me like I'm the one that has lost their mind.

I pause and gather my composer. I can't dare let him see me cracking up.

"Buddy, we don't color with our wiener on the wall. If you do it again you're in big trouble," I walk out and bust out laughing.

And so I've figured out where the urine smell was coming from...argh.



What is it with boys and their wieners and peeing?

What's Your Name?

Isaac has known his and Eli's name for awhile now. But last week when Eli started I called him Eli James. Isaac freaked out and tried to correct me with his name is not "Eyi James, it's E-Yi!" I tried to explain, but he just didn't get it. Well a bit later Isaac came up and asked if he had a middle name. I told him yes and ever since he has been saying his name like a big boy.

Side note: if you're wondering why I said Barry's name is Daddy Tilton Russell, it's because Isaac keeps calling us by our names and not momma and daddy.

And He's Off.....

Eli started for real crawling last week. No more army crawl. My life just got a bit more crazy!

Fun in Florida

As you know from reading the earlier post, we headed to good ole' Florida for our Christmas vacation. We had a blast just chilling. I think Barry and Wes surfed or skated every day the first week we were there. I got to get some MUCH needed girl time with my sister, sister-in-laws, and friends from high school. All of the time was amazing. The boys also got some fun time with their toys and cousins as well.

Eli LOVED taking his baths in my parents kitchen sink. It is the perfect size for a little boy like him. I'd love to have one at my house.

They played outside A LOT. The weather was beautiful.

Light's Before Christmas at the Zoo

Once again the zoo had their annual Light's Before Christmas shindig. It is always amazing. We love to go. Last year we happened to go on probably the coldest night of the year, so this year we decided to go during a "warm front" we had come thru. Seriously it had been in the high 70's that week. So on Sunday we decided we'd head down there to enjoy it with out freezing our you know what's off. Well wouldn't you know that evening a major cool front came in. It was extra windy and VERY cold. We still had fun, but didn't stay as long as we would've liked. Isaac and Barry got to roast marshmallows and then Isaac got to sit on Santa's lap. He did amazing with Santa too. Check out the pictures under the Photo File.

Our Christmas

This year our Christmas was WONDERFUL! For the first time since Barry and I have been married, we got to stay in Titusville the whole day. Before kids we would get there and a few days before and then Christmas morning we would get up and do Christmas with my mom and dad and then head to his mom's house and rush thru Christmas with her and his siblings. We would then load up and head to his grandma's house and spend most of the day there and then head back to T-ville that evening. It was always rushed and very stressful. Then once all of us started having babies and Barry working full-time at the church it got even more stressful. We would get up way too early on Christmas morning and drive to Waldo (where Barry's Nanny lives) and get there a bit before lunch/dinner. Barry's mom and siblings would get there a couple hours later and then we would have to eat and run so we could get onto T-ville to do Christmas with my family. Nothing about it was enjoyable, well seeing family was great, but with all the rushing it just wasn't fun. So FINALLY, we got to have a slow moving Christmas day. We drove to T-ville thru the night so the boys would sleep, Eli hates being in the car. We got to my parents house and had to set up everything the stuff we got Isaac and Eli. We finally got to bed about 5:45 am. And at 7:30 we were awakened to Isaac screaming that "he" came!!! Barry was so startled that he that the house was on fire. We got up and went into do Christmas. Isaac was SO into it to this year and that made it even more exciting. Select the Christmas 2008 under Photo Files to see all the pictures from that amazing day. It was a blast! And very relaxing, something we needed this year.