A Few More Summertime Pics and NEWS!

We've been having a busy summer playing, visiting, eating yummy summer food and enjoying the outdoors.

 Splashing in the water is especially fun.

 We like to try on new hats often.

 We are also learning many valuable lessons. Like how to share.

 And make up after a fight.

And Peter is learning how to dress himself.

Even with our moving disaster earlier this summer, I would still say it has been a fun-filled and good summer. Everywhere we go, it seems the Lord has ministry opportunities for us. And that is pretty cool.

And one final thought, just in case you haven't heard: Baby #3 will be joining us sometime mid-March! Yay!!

A Little Summer Fun at the Thomsen's

Okay, so this is not at the Thomsen's. This is at home. On my awesome huge island!

This is the Peter, "I'm watching a movie, Mom" face. :)

LOVES his train tracks.

Waiting with Karla for Peter's tractor ride.

Peter and Dustin on the tractor. Oh, my was that exciting!

The wheel is bigger than me, Mom!

Another Chance to Shine

I love how the Lord so often provides us with opportunities to allow Him to shine. :) I oh, so often, in these circumstances, want to worry, fret and try to find a solution myself. The Lord helps those who help themselves, right?????

Wrong.

He delights in those whose delight is found in Him. He takes great joy in our patience and utter dependence on Him in good times and tough times. So often, however, I only have utter dependence on Him in the tough times. But, I was reminded in Sunday School last Sunday morning that God is able! He has done it before, surely He can do it again! Surely. I look back on my life and see all the ways that He has provided and all the things He has done and I am instantly chastised for ever doubting that He cares. That He sees. That He even knows. Because He does know. He does see. He does care.

When we were trying to move to Ramsey earlier this summer, we signed a contract with our apartment company agreeing to pay a certain fee for them to sublet our apartment for us. Well, since all that ended as it did and we are still living in this same apartment building, we assumed (and since no one ever mentioned the fee to us again) that it was all void.

Wrong again!

We received a statement in the mail today for the fee. And it needs to be paid by a certain date to avoid legal action.

Oh, brother.

And so now, lovely friends, we are praying. Not necessairly that the Lord would graciously provide the funds needed (although that would be wonderful!), but instead that whatever does happen, our attitudes are honoring to Him, we would be molded more and more into His image so that others may see Him in us and ultimately that HE would be glorified.

Will you please join us in prayer?

Anniversary Date Night

Four years ago (July 27), my handsome, and oh, so wonderful knight in shining armor and I tied the knot! Where has the time gone? Time flies when you're having fun, I guess! Or moving a million times. Which can also be fun...

ANYWAY, for our anniversary, we had a lovely little picnic dinner at a most gorgeous flower park about a half hour away. Thank you to my parents for watching the boys so we could get away for a few hours!

Any guesses as to where we were?

Potty Training Update

Yesterday, Peter earned 8 stars on his chart!

Yesterday, Peter also pooped in his underwear. Twice.

Yuck. I almost threw the first pair away...almost...

This morning he woke up DRY! That's a first! Yippee!!

So far, we've got two stars on the chart. And no poop. Yet.

This morning while I was washing the dishes, David found a dirty cup and very carefully carried it over to me.

Earlier, he slipped on a rug and hit his head on the floor. Then he slipped/tripped over his feet and hit his head on the floor. Then I let him up onto our bed - he promptly feel off. Rough morning.

More summer fun pictures to come soon, I promise!

TMI - Potty Training!

We have been working on potty training on and off all summer. Well, it started in May for a day. Just a day. One frustrating, accident-filled, oblivious two-year-old day. And then I quit.

Then, I got brave as I thought about how much money I could save on diapers if I actually bucked up and did the deed! So, in July, we tried again. So frustrating! He'd sit on the toilet for FOREVER, and I mean F-O-R-E-V-E-R and do nothing. The second he was off and happily playing on the brand new living room carpet I'd hear him say, "Uh-oh! Accident!!" Forget saving money. Back into diapers.

And then this week, I just decided that, unless I wanted to have a child who was still not potty trained by the time he entered middle school or high school or college (that's why they make Depends, right?), I needed to get it done!

Monday was typical to the previous tries. We'd sit in the bathroom for HOURS it seemed. Reading books. Singing. Drinking lots of water! By the fourth pair of underwear (which, by the way, toddler underwear is probably one of the cutest things on the planet), I was feeling a little drained, and somehow persistent all at the same time. Thank you, Lord. And then, after not being able to go ALL day on the toilet, he yelled, "I hafta pee!" And he did! On the toilet!!! (Well, I should say, IN the toilet.) I just about did a little song and dance!

And then I left for the evening and dad took over.

Today we had one accident in the morning and then DRY, DRY, DRY the whole rest of the day! He'd just hold it until I said it was time to go again and voila! He'd go!

WHAT A GOOD DAY! So now there are 4 beautiful stars on his chart from today. I am looking forward to tomorrow.

Oh, PS - he was even dry after his nap. Yippee!

Ice Cream

Okay, so I've been a blogging fool lately. :) Guess I'm just in the mood to write!

So today I discovered, quite by accident, a super yummy desert. Banana ice cream. With only one ingredient - bananas! Here's how you do it:

Cut up some bananas (as many as you'd like).
Freeze.
Toss into food processor and turn on.
Scrape down the sides often.
It turns into little chunks and then.....ice cream!

I promise, it works! Just don't let it get all melty or else it turns into banana slime. Yuck. Who likes that?

Couple tips:

1. Don't use too far gone bananas. Yuck.
2. Don't use too green of bananas. Yuck.
3. Add anything that you like to eat with bananas: chocolate, peanut butter, nuts, etc., etc. 

I think this is something we'll definitely be eating again!

Bon Appetit!