A New Year / Family Reunion Fun

"Hey all! Have you heard the crickets chirping over here in ErmoldLife? It has been a long time since I was on here. In fact I think it was last January... A few years ago I did a 365 and didn't miss a day then I decided to take a break. It ended up being a longer break than I intended. While I don't plan on blogging every day like I did then, I do plan on being a bit more consistent. I love the idea of having a daily/weekly/monthly log of our lives. It is nothing special to most blog readers but it is for me.

This past week my family had a reunion in sunny Florida in honor of my maternal grandmother's 90th birthday. While many of my extended family were unable to make it, it was a blessing to be part of this momentous celebration with those who could be there. I know my Aunt put a lot of work in to it to make it a wonderful time for my grandmother and for that I am thankful.

On Monday we went to a kids Museum with my parents. Our kiddos had a blast!

Bekah playing at the "beach" in the kids museum. The sand was actually tiny bits of rubber!

Fire fighters in action!

Time to go shopping.

We took a beach day on Tueday. The weather was beautiful! Apparently it was extra warm for this time of year but I wasn't complaining!

Tarpon Springs! A little Greek community in the area that will teach you more about natural sponges than you ever though you wanted to know.

at the sponge docks

Sitting outside a family favorite Greek restaurant. My grandpa loved this place. 

A presentation of Grandma's life.

A few Grandma's great grandkids singing for her.

Bernier Family Trivia!

Grandma's 4 daughters and 1 of her 4 sons were able to make it to the reunion this year. The quilt in this picture was made from the shirts from our 10 family reunions ranging from 1988 to 2016

Patti, Barbra, Linda, Kenny, Grandma, Chrissy

A Thankful Child

   A few weeks ago the kids and I were on our way to school and in our rear view mirror was the most beautiful sunrise. I told Daniel to look back at the beautiful sky. He gasped and commented on how beautiful it was. Then I heard him say quietly "Thank you God for all the beautiful things." Looking in the mirror at him, I saw him smile and blow a kiss toward heaven. "Thank you" he whispered.

Heart. Melt.

It's in these time that I praise God because I can see the Lord working in my little boys heart. If not for Him my efforts to teach my children to have a truly thankful heart would be in vain.

 

                                     

K4 Here We Come

Daniel and I both started our first day of K4 today! He is getting so big! He's not in my class but I am teaching K4 this year so we'll get to see a lot of each other.

It was a good but long day for both of us.

Each time someone asked Daniel how his day was he nonchalantly said "It was pretty good."

 Daniel was excited that they both get to wear an eagle on their shirts.

Here are some pictures I took of my room yesterday. I made the "log cabin" out of spray painted pool noodles. I am so happy with the way it turned out!

It's Not Just Bed Time

This picture was taken about 3 months ago (Now they have a bunk bed). I was walking by the room with Bekah in one hand and my camera in the other and happened to catch the boys nearing the end of their bed time routine. Down on their knees praying.

Every night Davey puts them to bed. They always start with singing together- typically something like My God is So Big or Running Over. He will also sing hymns to them after they are in bed.

-love-

Then they pray.

If they so desire, each of the boys has the opportunity to pray which is one of the sweetest things a mama could hear. Davey is trying to teach them how to pray like they're talking to a friend balanced with a respect for who they are talking to.

This may be one of the most important parts of their day. 

Not only are the boys having quality time with their daddy but a time of worship as they sing and pray. They may not completely understand what they are singing or that when they pray they are actually talking to a living, caring, holy, God, but they are learning.

Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. -Proverbs 22:6 

Hair Cut!

What is it about hair? I want it long so I grow it out and am discontent with it during the growing out process then after 2 years of waiting for it to finally get to the length I like I decided I'm ready to chop it all off. There is something really freeing about a drastic cut. It's like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders. literally. And there is a whole lot less hair pulling from the little one!

Here are the before and after photos. I love the new cut and am donating the rest to Wigs for Kids !

This is a 15in ruler.

Our Little Musician

Micah is going to be our musician. His lips are always filled with a song and, to him, everything is a guitar. The xylophone, he plays with "a money" because he sees my mom play her auto harp with a quarter when he sings in the kids choir at church.  It's pretty stinkin' cute.

He also really likes to eat black pepper.

Summer

 It's Summer in our little beach town.

 I like to take the boys to the beach in the mornings during the week. If we go too late in the day, it's hot and a little crowded. Most days I "forget" my beach pass and we just walk the board walk.

 This morning we went on the beach and had some fun playing on the pirate ship. I prohibit them from the water. It's just too much with both of them and an infant by myself. So, we stick with playing in the sand which they are content with. Daniel thinks there are sharks and Octonauts in the water anyway. Though I have told him otherwise. (If you don't know what Octonauts are, you probably don't have a preschooler.) 

I'm a pirate!

Land Oh!

 The boys had a great time, until someone made a less than desirable choice and we had to go home.
Oh, hello real life!