Broken Arrow

(Just added to the Playlist.)  Ok, I giggle a little just thinking about what crosses your mind if you visit the blog and Broken Arrow begins to play by Rod Stewart.  I LOVE this song!  It's funny because I go for long periods of time without hearing it but when I do, the volume goes up.  It seems like such a powerful song and yet Brent and I had a deep discussion in the car one day about what we each thought it was about.  Turns out, we both had different ideas.  So, I welcome interpretations...scroll to the bottom, go to track 23, and turn up the volume.  You have to listen to the whole song because it definitely gets stronger.  Oh, it's even better sung with windows down in the car.  : )  Enjoy!

Tim, I look forward to hearing what you have to say about this one.  : )

A day at the Zoo

We recently decided to get a Zoo membership.  There's truly more than we can ever really appreciate (or Asher can handle) in a day, and living in Lexington, the Botanical Garden entrance isn't far at all.  By the way, I can bring one guest with me so let me know if you ever want to plan a trip!  Children 3 and under are free.  We went one toasty day last week... 

Oh he wanted to get in so bad...and it was hot enough that I couldn't blame him.

He was just as happy playing with a large stick in a bamboo forest.

Love this one.  My favorite part of the zoo is the gorillas.  I could seriously watch them for hours, and I have so many more pictures.  This one is just my favorite.

I was telling Asher about the monkey.  Thanks to Head to Toe by Eric Carle, Asher is a fan of waving his arms like a monkey. 

Brent insisted we go feed the birds.  I never knew about this area and now I'm afraid a trip to the zoo won't be complete until we've given the birds some nectar.

One last ride before heading home.  Asher needed his nap.

Until next time!

WE LOVE PLAY DATES!

So, now that we have settled into a later nap time it's a little easier to get together with friends. It's amazing how being home all day can cause you to crave socialization and unfortunately sometimes I get it from Bravo. It's just hard to balance between the getting out and about and then getting everything done around the house. I am the queen of a "To Do" list, just ask Brent, my problem is that I add to it and change it daily so that it is impossible to ever complete! Ugh! Enough about that... last week we were able to get together with Heather and Morgan Kate. Heather and I have known each other for as long as I can remember. I'm hoping Asher and Morgan Kate can be buddies as well. At this age, there is a little more "parallel play" than interaction with each other but their mommy's sure had fun!

Just look at all the toys!  Asher's looking like, "It wasn't me!"  : )




I don't remember how many times we had to put them back into their chairs.  They're used to being strapped into a high chair and enjoyed the freedom to eat on the go.




I'd say they were pretty sleepy after all the playing.




Time to go "Bye Bye," these guys needed a nap!

Father's Day on the Lake

Let me first show you how Brent's weekend began. I had Shari's Berries delivered on Friday. I had to put my finger in the photo just to show the massive size of these things!

Saturday, I cooked a yummy dinner but didn't take any photos to document. Sunday, Brent and I kept the 2 year olds during extended session and then we ran by the house to grab our stuff for the lake. We joined my mom's family at Lake Murray for a delicious lunch and fortunately we had some time on the water before the storm came in.

Happy Father's Day Dad!

Asher was so comfortable on the boat. He looked like he would have just jumped right in.

Loved snuggling with my baby boy.

He kept smiling so big! I love when he shows off his teeth.

I may look like I was enjoying this but I was a nervous wreck. Brent told me not to worry, he wouldn't let Asher go anywhere without him. I got more comfortable and things were actually smoother when I went faster but it was still a short ride.

Another first! Asher steers the boat!

He was a little more concerned with the horn.

As Asher swims he says, "kick, kick, kick."

What adults do on a large raft when you have no fear of it flipping...

After a full day of church and then the lake, this little guy was pooped!

Happy Father's Day Brent!

At 1:30 in the morning on December 19, 2008, Brent felt a new love...

Oh believe me, this is the tiniest sampling of the many photos I have of these 2 together. I can't explain the pride I feel in knowing that Asher has and will continue to have Brent as his role-model in life. I used to say of Brent, "You're just so capable." I realize some may consider this an interesting way to describe your husband but he can truly do anything he puts his mind to. We laugh at all of the jobs he had growing up but they truly taught him so many things. And what they didn't, he taught himself.
Brent finds the positive in things and would do anything for his family and friends. He is so caring and giving. He is an amazing listener. (Poor guy because I am horrible). He gives the best advice. He knows his priorities and I am thankful that they are where God would want them to be.
Father's Day is a day to show appreciation and thankfulness. Asher is a little young to recognize these things, but one day he will realize how blessed he is to have Brent as his "Da da." Asher will be a better person because of Brent's guidance, protection, and unconditional love. Thank you God for this. I guess we should have more kids so they can all be so blessed. : )
My prayer tonight is for all of those who have lost or do not know their fathers. When you recognize all that you have, it's difficult to not think of those who are without. I pray that they get to know their Eternal Father and find another role-model to guide them in this short life on earth.

Asher's talking even more!

(First Pause Music by scrolling all the way down)

So, I figured out that if I change my settings to the older version of blogger, the icon came back. Enjoy our little guy. Doesn't he just have the sweetest voice? Sorry that my videos always seem to end abruptly but I send them from my phone to email and they won't let me send them if they're over 30 seconds.

Notice when he says "thank you" he pretends to hand me something. Love it!







And yes, he's wearing Easter PJ's in June. Hey, why not spread the joy of Christ's rising all year long? Plus...they still fit! : )

     Let me begin by saying how awesome my parents are!  Mom stayed the night so Brent and I were able to have a date night.  Dad is amazing for letting mom come (often) and supporting all the time that she is able to spend with Asher without making her feel bad for being away.  They both love him so much.  I love watching them interact.

    So, I really wanted to try this Chinese buffet and maybe absolutely it wasn't the best place for a date, but they had crab legs on the buffet!  Anyway, won't be going back there.  We were not impressed, but we were able to look at each other, talk, and worry about what was on our own plates and that was well worth it.  Thanks again mom and dad! 

These next photos I just had to include because they're precious!!  This is from this past weekend.  Yes, my son is still in his PJ's.  Oh I can't wait to see all of the wonderful things that they will do together...  : )

On a very different note, does anyone know why my icon to load videos would have just disappeared?  I think it used to be beside the "link" and "insert image" icon and then one day it just wasn't there anymore so I haven't been able to load videos.  : (    Asher's been talking up a storm.  He's at the point where he will repeat any word you want him to... so I'd love to share a video!

This boy loves the beach!

     This photo is from a few weeks ago when mom, Aunt Jan, Brent and I spent a random day on the beach.  Let's just say the glory days of my fully extended chair, with monogrammed towel chair cover, sunglasses on, book or magazine in hand, enjoying the sun, smell, breeze, and people watching are.....well, over.  Ok, so I guess sunglasses on and people watching are still a part of my day at the beach but my eyes are on Asher and no other.  And don't even think about extending that chair unless Asher wants to try and use it as a seesaw.  He's a busy boy and loves to squeal as the wave comes.  It's so cute.  He can't really walk as the waves are pulling back out into the ocean.  Let's face it, it's quite the illusion even for an adult but for an explorative toddler, I believe he thinks he is sliding at a fast speed as the water rushes past his little feet.  And for the observer, one may think there is something other than water in his sippy cup. 
   Well, we're beach bound tomorrow!  I'll be sure to catch some more of these amazing moments to share.  And maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to take a moment to enjoy the beautiful ocean view.

In the beginning...

It all started in 2005.  (Please ignore time stamp on photo.  It was not 2 am : )    ).  We were actually about to head to 5 Points to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  I (think) I had just finished my student teaching at Brent's school.  We just started dating in March so we had not been seeing each other long at all.  We just look comfortable with each other because we knew that this was different.

After dating 9 months, we flew to stay with his parents in Connecticut.  It was the first time I met them, and I loved them right away (of course, they helped make Brent who he is today).  Brent and I took the train into NY for a night.  I won't go into all of the amazing places we were able visit and things we were able to do in such a short amount of time, but the most amazing thing that occurred was our engagement!  On December 19, 2005- the same date that our son, 3 years later, would decide to enter the world- Brent got down on one knee.  Of course, I said YES!  This photo shows us right after the proposal in front of the Rockefeller tree!  Believe me, it was FREEZING, that's the only reason I would have my glove off.  : ) 

Six months after our engagement, on June 3, 2006, we were married at the First Baptist Church, Orangeburg, SC.  It was a beautiful day and I honestly can't remember another day that all of my favorite people were gathered in the same building.  Brent and I both take our marriage seriously.  A preacher once said, "Put your focus and your attention on your spouse, and your children will turn out just fine."  We firmly believe in this.  As Asher and our future child(ren) grow, we have agreed that they will know the value of "our" time.  We will not wait until they go to bed to connect and catch up on our day but do it while they are awake.  We made a decision to be with each other and there is no other option.  We agreed that the "d word" would be removed from our vocabulary.  Yes, we have amazing times and a secure love, but we also have issues.  Best friends have issues.  Families have issues.  We know that no matter the issue, with communication, prayer, and effort...all will be well in the end.  So, we take things day by day, often have to remind ourselves to be appreciative, and after 3 months we're still on Day 4 of The Love Dare. And we're OK with that...

So, why the walk down memory lane you wonder?  Yesterday we celebrated 4 years of marriage.  When I say it, it doesn't sound long at all.  I had a post in the works that would show our past 4 anniversaries but something went wrong after loading the photos and I've just lost motivation for now.  So, instead I'll leave you with:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

                                                                                                              - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7


I heard once to see if "I" can replace "love" in this verse:
"I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I am not rude, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. I always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere."

I've got a lot of work to do!

One of his many talents!

Ok, so I realized there are SO many pictures that I have to share.  I take at least a hundred a week I'd say.  So rather than putting it all off, I'll add a few (I can't promise every day) but when I get the chance.  Asher pulled up his little puzzle box to use as a seat as he created beautiful music.  Thanks Ansley for letting Asher borrow your piano.  I don't see him tiring of it any time soon.  I even played a little "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey.  Oh yeah, 8 keys can provide many musical possibilities.  The Pooser/Petersen crew has quite the musical ear.  My parents said I could take the piano from their house, since they bought it for me when I was 8!  I think I may have to take them up on their offer soon!  Just in case one day Asher doesn't want to share!  : )