Our Baby turned 3!!

Notice the trucks on the cake.....carefully placed by the b-day boy himself:)

Sarah, Luke and Andrew decorated these cookies with Grandma:)

Present time!! He couldn't wait!

"Shaw kids" wrapping paper:)

Grandma (taking pic) and Granddad were here to join us for Andrew's b-day dinner

Menu: Steaks, baked pots, mac n cheese, and salad

Definitely a meal fit for a prince!

Andrew modeling the outfit that his daddy wore as a little boy

Sarah's lovely decorations for the b-day boy

Happy Birthday sweet boy!! It was so surreal to celebrate your 3rd birthday this past week....how could you possibly be 3 already? What a joy you have brought to our lives these 3 years. It is such a privilege to be your parents and be a part of God's great plan for your life!!

We love you so much!

3 year old Andrew:

-loves to laugh
-has a belly laugh that is just adorable...I think you got this from your big sis

-adores cars, trains, trucks
-enjoys working puzzles

-loves playing outside on the swingset and riding your big wheel

-a good bunkmate with Luke (you have not complained about being on the bottom once)

-misses big sis and bro at school during the day

-loves to run...inside and out! (Especially backwards!)

-jumps all the time on both feet....we call him "froggy" a lot

-enjoys music and dancing

-gives the best hugs

-loves books (favorite topic: trucks and cars....who would have guessed?)

-loves playing Hullabaloo, hide n' seek, Hi Ho Cherrio O and Little People

-likes hot dogs (only child who does in our family)

-still likes his pacifier at nighttime....working on this one!

-loves to talk and tell you about his day at school like big brother and sister

-very independent like his brother

Roomie's Wedding

Blake, Nikki, me and David:)
Hanging out at SU with Mr. Beeson

Hugging the beautiful bride

Reception....love the flowers and ice sculpture!

Sending the couple off with UT, Alabama and SU pom-poms waving

David and I were able to attend my college roomate/dear friend's wedding in Birmingham last weekend. A big thank you to Grandma and Granddad for coming up to WF to babysit the kids so we could go! We love you guys!! We stayed with our friends Nikki and Blake. They were such amazing hosts!! They chauffered us around the entire weekend! We are so blessed by you guys!!

We had so much fun catching up with lots of college friends, visiting our old stomping grounds (Go SU Bulldogs!), eating good ole' southern BBQ at Jim N Nick's and attending Sherri's gorgeous wedding. She came down the aisle with her daddy singing the word's "Praise to the Lord God Almighty" as the choir and congregation sang. It was just beautiful!! Congrats, Sherri and Justin!! We are so very happy for the two of you!! What an honor it was to celebrate with you both on this unforgettable day!!

Fall Decorating

Leaves lining the front step
Chair decor (even the legs were adorned with rocks and acorns:)

Our "Fall" Welcome Mat

No need to buy one...nothing better than the real thing!

Happy Fall everyone!! Don't you just LOVE this time of year? Today I could not resist purchasing a pumpkin at the grocery store for the front porch. I have been noticing that a lot of my neighbors have started decorating for fall. Gotta start getting my house decorated for fall, right? I prefer going to a local pumpkin patch and picking out some pumpkins and gourds, but I just couldn't wait. We will have to do the pumpkin patch thing soon.....gotta have more of them!The cool breeze today and beautiful blue skies just got me very much in the "fall spirit."

After the kids got home from school they noticed the pumpkin right away. They immediately asked if they could help decorate. Before I was able to get down my "fall decor" box from the attic, the kids had gone out into the yard to collect their fall decorations....leaves, acorns, grass, ornamental grass, rocks, sticks, etc... They strategically placed them all around the front stoop. I did not know what they were up to until they were finished. Not exactly what this mom had in mind at first, but I immediately fell in love with it. It was nothing spectacular or ingenious, but it brought such a huge smile across my face. God showed me clearly two very simple truths today.

*Children are a blessing and gift from the Lord; Enjoy them!

Psalm 127:3

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him."

Matthew 18:3

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

*God much preferred my childrens' decorations over anything I could have done.

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Proverbs 14:30

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."

John 12:43

"...for they loved praise from men more than praise from God."

Monkey Bars

We now officially have a little monkey in the house. The other day I looked outside our back porch and Sarah was swinging across the bars on the playset. She was soooooo excited!! She did not think she could ever do it. I even doubted whether she had enough strength in her thin little arms. In fact she had not tried in over a year. Of course, I whipped out the camera and took some pictures of her accomplishment. She could not wait to show Daddy when he got home. We are so proud of you, precious girl! Amazing how excited we get over the little things in life....of course, isn't that what makes life so sweet?

To the Market with Daddy

Andrew and Daddy hanging out (the older kids were in school)

Farmer's Market in Raleigh

On Thursday night we received some awesome news........Daddy was getting the day off on Friday!! Hallelujah! After working most Saturdays and lots of late nights recently, his boss told him to take the day off:) What did David want to do? Play golf? Sleep in? Work in the yard? Nope....he wanted to go down to the local Farmers Market in Raleigh. Who knew? I think he would be a food connoisseur in his spare time if he could. He loves tasting all kinds of unique foods.

We heard that this was one of the best around, and boy were they right! It was huge......tons of fresh veggies, fruits, meats, cheese, seafood, bakery items, plants, pumpkins, crafts, and on and on. All of it grown or produced by North Carolina farmers. We ate at a country restaurant adjacent to the market and spent several hours looking around. We ended up getting a bunch of random stuff (we were definitely in a random mood that day) Of course we started out getting apples since they were in season and David LOVES them, a quart of field peas with snaps (as I was cooking them the next day our house started smelling like Grandmother Dot's house....mmm..), a bottle of cotton blossem pure honey (soooo good with hot tea!), pastries, homemade cookies, and sausage. We will definitely be back soon....I'm thinking some fresh okra or collard greens.....my "country" ancestors would be so proud!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

We celebrated Daddy's birthday over several days. When you get to be 35, you can't fit the celebration into just one day.....gotta love that!! One morning he got breakfast in bed....french toast, oj, fruit and bacon! The kids got up early and helped in the kitchen. They were so excited and decided they wanted to eat breakfast in bed for their birthdays too. Before we went on our beach trip we surprised him with an "early" birthday present......the Wii! We also decorated a cookie cake and sang happy birthday to him on his "actual" birthday. I love you sweetheart!!
You will always be a youngin' to me!!

Track-Out

Over the past 3 weeks the kids have been out of school. This is why I am really liking year-round school!! Starting school in July really stinks, but the time off during the year rocks!!
It has been busy and relaxing at the same time, if that is possible. The first week the kids and I traveled back to Georgia to be with my mom during her back surgery, celebrate my dad's birthday, visit friends and spend time with grandparents. My mom was such a trooper through her surgery. She is healing well and getting better everyday. We love you Gramie!!
We also took the time to see friends and visit with Grandma and Granddad for a few days. Definitely the thing we hate most about moving to Raleigh.....being 7 hours away:(:(
The next weekend our family of five went on a long weekend to the beach. We live about 2 hours away from the closest beach and we took full advantage! We had a blast playing in the big waves (thanks to Hurricane Danny), visiting a nearby amusement park, eating Britt's famous doughnuts, touring the NC aquarium and playing Wii. My husband and oldest son are now officially addicted!! It was a "must bring" item for our trip.
The last week we hung out at home, went to a Durham Bulls game (AAA baseball team) and hosted my sister and her family for the Labor Day weekend. We had so much fun picnicing at Pullen Park, going canoeing down the Neuse River, grilling out, playing Wii, holding Sunny, and hanging out. What a special weekend!! We love you guys:)

The following posts are pictures from our many adventures over the last several weeks.