A Day Out With Thomas

So if you don't already know by now Bo is CRAZY about trains! He absolutely loves Thomas the Train. So I was online the other night just looking up a few "Thomas" things and I saw where he was coming to Cordele, Ga...about 2.5 hours away from Atlanta. I casually tossed out the idea to Jarrod to see what he thought. Surprisingly he came home the next night saying he thought we should go. Now, let me just point out that this meant he would be giving up his opportunity to watch the TN/AL game! I just thought that was the sweetest thing any daddy could do.

So yesterday morning we drove down to Cordele, Ga and spent the day with Thomas. They had so many activities for the kids. Obviously there was the 25 minute train ride with Thomas, they had train tables and legos set up for kids to play on (this was his favorite), they had jump castles, they had food, face painting, a tent where you could listen to a storyteller reading Thomas stories and watch Thomas videos, it was just Thomas everywhere!

Bo had a blast! He was a little under the weather with a runny nose, but I think he forgot about it since he was having so much fun. I highly recommend doing this if you have little ones who are into trains. He doesn't travel just anywhere so it will be something you will need to plan ahead for! We have had a discussion with Santa and I'm pretty sure he will be bringing Bo a train table this year!

Rain Rain Go Away

The past few weeks, really the past month we have had NOTHING but rain...so much we actually considered gathering the animals two by two! So what do you do with a toddler indoors all day every day...besides loose your mind? Well here ya go...

We have lazy weekend mornings watching cartoons with dad!

we do a little artwork!

we play hide and seek...this is NOT one of mommy's favorite games!

maybe if I'm real quiet she won't know I'm here...

we do a little reading!

we watch a few cartoons...

we beg to go outside even though it's raining

we watch a little, I mean A LOT of Cars!

still trying to get outside!

we make a mess

we make very important phone calls (with remote controls) to Mother Nature and beg for the sun!!!

Pumpkin Patch

Last Friday we went with some friends to the Washington Farms Pumpkin Patch! It was muddy, but a beautiful day so we decided to dress the kids in old clothes, take a change of clothes for the ride home, and go! Bo had a great time. It was funny that he liked to look at the animals but didn't want to touch them. He's fearless in every other aspect, but for some reason wasn't into touching the animals. He loved picking out a pumpkin. He loved it a little too much and had a full blown thermonuclear meltdown when I had to PULL him away. It was quite embarressing, but what do you do?? All in all it was a fun day.

Be Little Family

I have gotten some great feedback on our church sermon that I posted the other day. I checked today and they have this past Sunday's sermon up on video and I would like to post a link if you are interested in watching. It was a great sermon!! Even if you can take a few minutes and watch a little bit. I think it's definitely well worth it.

Click Here

Thomas!

So Bo's new thing is Thomas the Train...it's actually trains in general, but he loves to watch Thomas. He even has a Thomas which he carries with him all the time. One of the parks we go to in the afternoons has a train come by every day around 4:45pm. Bo has learned this and now when we are at the park he will start going "ooo ooo" and looking for the train. This afternoon we were at a stop light next to railroad tracks and he immediately started "ooo oooing". One night he wanted to put Thomas in the bath with him, this caused a massive meltdown since Thomas runs on batteries and is definitely not made for the tub...trying explaining that to a 20 month old!!! That night when I was putting him to bed he wanted to take Thomas with him. I had already chosen my battle for the day and said sure. Let me clarify...we're still into Cars it's just now Lightning McQueen has a friend named Thomas!

we sleep with Thomas...

...eat with Thomas

...read about Thomas

and of course watch Thomas!

Family Life

**I actually wrote this last week, but debated on posting it or not, because it's a pretty touch subject, but the most I have thought about it, the more I know that it might be uncomfortable for some, but it's only because these are things we all need to hear. This is from two Sundays ago...

So I have to write about this 1-because I am really looking forward to this new series at church and 2-because I can't believe we're "going there"!

Sunday started a new 7 week series on Family Life. This isn't the simple "Honor your father and mother" stuff that many of us grew up listening to in church. This is down and dirty, honest to God, having it put right in your face, REAL stuff! This is going to be good and scary all at the same time.

We are going to be studying the life of King David, one of the most influential Kings of Israel. However the closer you look at his family life, you will see a large amount of dysfunction. And what was the #1 breakdown for King David's family disfunction..."pretense". Pretending the family problems weren't there. Or as Pastor Kevin likes to say..."There's an elephant in the room and it's now the family pet." Wooow!! Really?? He's really going there?

Pretending the family problems aren't there, pretending that the cold shoulder and silence is okay, pretending that the belittling comments don't mean anything, pretending that the walking on egg shells around the house is normal, pretending that the outbursts are okay. Is this hitting home with anyone? I bet if everyone is completely, totally honest with themselves it will hit home for almost everyone. How many people have been a member of the "Fine Family"? Think Sunday mornings trying to get to church, people running late, kids and/or parents arguing, trying to get everyone out the door, everyone mad, and as soon as you pull up dad turns around and says "Okay we're at church, put on a smile, everything is FINE". You get out of the car, start smiling, and you're all "fine". Hasn't everyone had that at one point or another. I know Jarrod and I have been there!

The "elephants" in a family undermine and destroy. Plain and simple! Pastor Kevin is challenging us the next few weeks to become an elephant-free family! NOT a problem-free family...but to deal with the elephants that have become members of our family. Dealing with the elephants is healthy! He did point out that he wants us to confess our OWN elephants, not our spouses elephants, but our OWN!

I am definitely one to "discuss" the elephants! I say that with a bit of sarcasm because I didn't say I always did it in the most appropriate way, but at least I do it! There are no passive, snide remarks from me...I will tell you how I feel, what I think, and you know where I stand. I do better with people like me because if something is bothering you let's talk about it, deal with it, and move on. Things need to be discussed, it is extremely unhealthy for a family not discuss issues or problems. I can't imagine living like that. I didn't grow up that way and yes we had our WWIII moments, but at the end of the day I always feel like I can talk to my parents about anything.

So here's an outline of the next 6 weeks...

• Belittling
• Affection & Discipline
• Over expecting & Dissatifaction of Marriage
• Inflict, Conflict
• Making a mess with a follish familiy
• Denial Dependence

Probably not the warm and fuzzy, life is great sermons that most of us are used to hearing, but that is why I love this church...it puts it out there, REAL life, there's no sweeping things under the rug here!

If you have time and are interested click here to watch Sunday's message. I highly recommend it. If you are interested I'll be happy to give you the link to where you can listen to all of the sermons in this series just let me know!