Date Night!

Yay for date night!!! This week all the regular youth activites are cancelled for Easter. So that means we have a free Tuesday and Wednesday night this week. Yes mark your calendars friends.... Marc & Leah Beth have some free time. :)

So tonight we had the chance to go to dinner with two other couples. It was so much fun to hang out with friends and chat. Oh and better yet... we didn't bring the kids. We hired a couple of babysitters for all the bigger kids. Carson went to Grandma's and we had baby Gage with us. It was wonderful. I didn't have to take N to the bathroom once the food arrived OR pick up food, toys, or my silverware off the floor because of C.

Today I am thankful for great friends.... even if they are moving or have moved away. :( A good time is definitely in store when the Black/Parks/Richardson clans get together. Next BPR date night will be in Hawaii (hint, hint!!!)

Action Packed!!!!

I know, I know it has been forever since I blogged. But I assure you it is because of a good reasons. The last month and a half have been action packed for us. We have been so busy much of life seems like a blur. Here are a few things that have occurred.

Best friends and ministry partners resigned from our church which meant I planned and organized a large farewell dinner... with the help of a great committee. This also means I picked up additional responsibilities too. Say hello to the director for this year's VBS. :)

Fine Arts for my youth kids is in full swing so at least 7 hours a week I am in practices with a variety of teams like human video, drama, percussion, puppet, and youth choir. I love doing it, but boy is it tiring. Our youth group is also going on a mission's trip this summer. We are going to do community work and children's outreaches on an Indian reservation in Osage, Oklahoma. Missions trips = fundraisers. I am also trying to delegate and organize numerous fundraisers before July. Hopefully we will be able to raise all the money needed. Surely with doing everything from ice skating, spaghetti dinners, passing out pizza flyers, and ice cream socials we will be able to raise it all.

Nolan turned 5 on March 19th. I can't believe he is going to be in kindergarten in the fall. We had a superhero party for him and all his little buddies came dressed in their capes and masks. His big gift this year was a big boy bike with training wheels. He has only had it for a couple weeks now and every day he asks for the training wheels to come off so he can be like his dad. He is growing up too fast. :(

Carson has kept us busy this last month too. He has become quite the explorer and is constantly on the go. He is still a crawler, but man can he get there and get there FAST. He has also recently learned to cruise along the couch. So he is getting better at the whole walking concept. I know it is only a matter of time and he will be off. And if he is like his brother he won't just walk, he will run. Saturday is Carson's 1st birthday. I just don't know where the year has gone. I remember with Nolan that the first year was very long and I was okay with it when he turned 1. Not with Carson... this time has flown and I don't want my baby to get too big too fast.

Nolan and Carson's relationship has also been changing. Since Carson is constantly on the go that means he is also into all of Nolan's toys. For the most part, Nolan doesn't mind sharing with him. Until C starts touching the Legos!!! Then all bets are off and patience is lost. Let's just say this part of their relationship is still a work in progress.

So in a nutshell that has been our life since my last post. Busy, crazy, but still fun.

Today, I am thankful for spring break. I have the entire week off and I am looking forward to hanging out with my boys and RESTING!!!!

The Latest

I haven't been able to blog in a while because we have had a nasty flu bug in our home over the last week. M, C, & N were all down and out this week. So far I have been able to escape it. I'm sure now having just typed that I am doomed to get it soon.

Carson has had a difficult time getting rid of this bug. After being able to finally keep food down, he has been fighting a fever and now possible sinus infection. Poor guy has been so out of it. In fact, the other night while I was cleaning up another sick mess, he was waiting on me in the living room. I found him fast asleep partially standing leaning against N's little couch. Poor baby passed out right there. Of course, the photographer in me snapped a shot before scooping him up and putting him to bed.

Today is Valentine's Day! Last night after the boys went to bed I put up some VDay decorations and put out their gifts. I haven't really done this before for Nolan and of course Carson, but I thought this year it would be fun since Nolan is more aware of the holiday. Nolan was so cute when we woke up. He was thrilled about the surprise decorations and gift. You would have thought it was Christmas morning or something.

Today I am thankful for lazy Saturdays. A wonderful chance to chill out and spend time with my boys. Oh and also for chocolate covered strawberries my traditional Valentine's gift from Marc. YUM!!!

Funny even in his sleep!

Although, up to this point, Carson has displayed a very laid back, easy going personality he is still a funny little man. He has a very cute sense of humor and giggles all the time. Lately, he has even demonstrated that he knows how and likes to make others laugh. He will initiate peekaboo games by hiding behind something and peeking out. Or he will hold a blanket up over his face and pull it down fast to see your reaction. It is so fun to watch his little personality develop. Much to our surprise he is even comical while sleeping. These are pictures are from the last couple of days when I have checked on him while napping. In the first one, he fell asleep on his own and when I checked to make sure he was okay I saw that he had his face smushed in the rails and his arms hanging out. He was sound asleep and I didn't dare move him for fear naptime would be over. :) Who knew he would have so much personality even while in dreamland.

Today I am thankful that I have the opportunity to be a stay at home mom most of the time. I love being home to catch these little moments and watch as Carson grows and develops each day.

I <3 SnOw dAyS!

Today we went sledding again. We found the perfect hill. It was so much fun. Apparently, it had been found by many others yesterday because the snow was perfectly packed and we had ideal conditions for sledding. Here are a couple of pics and a video from our sledding adventure.

Today I am thankful for family time. We have so much fun together and I am so blessed to Marc, Nolan, & Carson in my life.

Our 2 favorite things: Lots of snow and family time!

My best friend!

So much fun!

No Carson did not sled. Just got in on the Kodak moment.

SNOW DAY!!!!!

Well, despite the fact that we had to postpone our big youth outreach because of all the snow. We are enjoying playing in the 7-8" of snow that we received last night. Nolan woke up first thing this morning and asked to get his snow clothes on. Hopefully this afternoon we can bundle C up and let him experience snow for the first time.

All bundled and can't get up!

Can you hear me now?

Carson has been discovering his voice lately. He seems to "talk" so much more these days. Actually it is more like humming or singing. He is very verbal during bath and especially meal time. N was the same way when he ate. A concert during dinner. I like to think of it as C's compliments to the chef. :)