Disney World

Ok, before I get to this past weekend, I wanted to add a few more pics from Florida. Here's the kids with the characters at the O'hana's Lilo & Stitch Breakfast. (Lilo was out sick this day! She's the one of the few characters we haven't met!!!) Elizabeth and the big cheese, Mickey!
Banastre still didn't care much for the characters. As long as they were on the other side of the table he was fine. But if we got close to them.....
this is how he reacted!

We had other character meals scheduled. How will Banastre react? You shall see!!

Tune in for more Disney pics. Blogger isn't let me post many at a time!

Pics from Florida

These are pics from our first nights stay in Florida. We were in a town called Indiatlantic. As you can see our room was right on the ocean. We even slept with the balcony doors open. It was just like having a sound machine that never turns off. Elizabeth and Banastre were addicted to the balcony. They stayed on it for most of the morning. We walked down to the beach after our breakfast, but of all days, this one was very cold in Florida (temps in the 40s!). The kids and I were still bare footed though and we enjoyed the sand on our feet before we started freezing to death. So, we went back and enjoyed the view from our room until it was time to go.

We're Home!!!

Just a real quick post to let everyone know that we are home from Disney World!! We had a wonderful time!!! The weather was perfect and we enjoyed ourselves immensely!!
Unfortunately, we all came home sick. Matt with a stomach bug, Elizabeth with a rash on her legs that has now spread, Banastre with an eye infection in both eyes, and me with a cold that turned into a sinus infection. Well, now Banastre has come down with either the stomach bug or the "teething bug" and I am completely worn out. So, no pictures uploaded yet. I will try this weekend. But........Guess what Banastre started doing yesterday!!!!!!

Yes, my baby is finally walking. Up until now, he would take one or two steps without holding on. Yesterday he took six or seven steps to Daddy with out us even trying to get him too. At first I thought it might be a fluke, but he did it again before bed to get a toy. Now today, he has practiced it several times. We are still definitely "toddling" but I know it won't be long now until he is running and I am trying to play catch up. I tried to get pics, but I guess either me or the camera is too slow, but I will keep trying!!

Lily's First Birthday Party

Look, I can play ball with someone else. I am practicing up on sharing! (I think this is Jack, Lily had a lot of kids at her party!)
Hey Elizabeth, Lily is opening our gift to her.
Mmmmmmmmmmmm cake. Lily definitely knew how to eat the cake!!!
This is just a sweet one of Mommy and Daughter. I thought Lora might like to have it!!

A quick catch up...

This is just a quick catch up on everything with more detailed posts to follow hopefully this weekend.

Things that have happened in the past two weeks:
Lily's First birthday Party
I put in my notice at work....I will once again be a Stay-at-Home Mom and I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am working until they can find someone to replace me and I can train them, but hopefully it won't be too much longer!!!
We put our house on the market, and within two hours had our first bid on it. So I have been crazily (is that even a word) cleaning the house and trying to prep it for showing.

Coming up next:
A one week vacation in the "Happiest Place on Earth," and "Where dreams come true"; so if you really know our family, that means we decided at the last minute to spend Matt's spring break at Disney World. So, I have also been packing and getting all the laundry done. Needless to say I am completely worn out.

But, I will have to download all the pics on my camera tomorrow and will hopefully be able to update one last time before we leave for Florida Sunday!!!

How the Groundhog Stole Valentine's Day

On February 6, Elizabeth's school and the entire first grade classes presented the play How the Groundhog Stole Valentine's Day. They sang songs and had an actual play. There were only a few characters in the play and my little drama queen was one of them. She was one of two of the groundhogs friends in the end. She was also on the front row for the songs and she took full advantage of this fact and did every song better and more accurate than the music teacher. I swear you could also hear her voice singing over all the other approx 90 first graders. (I don't know where she gets it..what with Mommy's drama and theater background and Daddy's musical talent!) I honestly think she was the best one there. But then again, I may be a little biased.

Here's Little Miss Drama Queen: ( I don't know why there is a white line on some of these!)

Baptism

Holy Baptism for Children, February 4, 207, Indian Trail United Methodist Church

Pastor Jim:
Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Through the Sacrament of Baptism
we are initiated into Christ's holy church.
We are incorporated into God's mighty acts of salvation
and given new birth through water and the Spirit.
All this is God's gift, offered to us without price.

I present Banastre Alexander Tarleton for Baptism.

Pastor Jim to Matt and Lora:
On behalf of the whole church I ask you:
Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,
reject the evil forces of this world,
and repent of you sin?

M & L:
We do.

Pastor Jim:
Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you
to resist evil, injustice, and oppression
in whatever forms they present themselves?

M & L:
We do.

Pastor Jim:
Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior,
put your whole trust in his grace,
and promise to serve him as your Lord,
in union with the church which Christ has opened
to people of all ages, nations and races?

M & L:
We do.

Pastor Jim:
Will you nurture Banastre
in Christ's holy church,
that by your teaching and example he may be guided
to accept God's grace for himself,
to profess his faith openly,
and to lead a Christian life?

M & L:
We will.

Pastor Jim to the congregation:

Do you as Christ's body, the church,
reaffirm both your rejection of sin
and your commitment to Christ?

We do.

Will you nurture one another in the Christian faith and life and include Banastre in your care?

With God's help we will proclaim the good news
and live according to the example of Christ.
We will surround Banastre
with a community of love and forgiveness,
that he may grow in his service to others.
We will pray for him,
that he may be a true disciple
who walks in the way that leads to life.

Pastor Jim to all:
Let us join together in professing the Christian faith
as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,
Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father Almighty
creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church (meaning God's church)
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

The water was now added to the font. It includes water from the River Jordan, where Jesus was baptized.)

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

Eternal Father:
When nothing existed but chaos,
you swept across the dark waters
and brought forth light.
In the days of Noah
you saved those on the ark through water.
After the flood you set in the clouds a rainbow.
When you saw your people as slaves in Egypt,
you led them to freedom through the sea.
Their children you brought through the Jordan
to the land which you promised.

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Tell of God's Mercy each day.

In the fullness of time you sent Jesus,
nurtured in the water of a womb.
He was baptized by John and anointed by your Spirit.
He called his disciples
to share in the baptism of his death and resurrection
and to make disciples out of all nations.

Declare his works to the nations,
his glory among all people.

Pour out your Holy Spirit,
to bless this gift of water and those who receive it,
to wash away their sin
and clothe them in righteousness
throughout their lives,
that, dying and being raised with Christ,
they may share in his final victory.

All praise to you, Eternal Father,
through your Son Jesus Christ,
who with you and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns for ever,
Amen.

Banastre, I baptize you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Holy Spirit work within you,
that being born through water and the Spirit
you may be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Now it is our joy to welcome
our new brother in Christ.

Through baptism
your are incorporated by the Holy Spirit
into God's new creation
and made to share in Christ's royal priesthood.
We are all one in Christ Jesus.
With joy and thanksgiving we welcome you as a member of the family of Christ.

Members of the household of God,
I commend Banastre to your love and care.
Do all in your power to increase his faith,
confirm his hope, and protect him in love.

We give thanks for all that God has already given you
and we welcome you in Christian love.
As members together with you
in the body of Christ
and in this congregation
of The United Methodist Church,
we renew our covenant
faithfully to participate
in the ministries of our church
by our prayers, our presence,
our gifts, and our service,
that in everything God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ.

Pastor Jim to Banastre:
The God of all grace,
who has called you to eternal glory in Christ,
establish you and strengthen you
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
that you may live in grace and peace.

On this same day, Matt, Elizabeth, and I also joined our church family. We feel so loved and welcomed at this church. It is unlike any church we have ever been to. The Lord is definitely in this place and will take it very far in the near future.

*The water from the River Jordan was collected by Grandma Sue and Grandpa Reg when they visited the Holy Land. Elizabeth was also baptized with some of this water. They keep a small vial in their freezer for this purpose.