Another one to help me remember..

I was thinking today about the funny, funny things that toddlers do and say..lots of that going on around here. In an ongoing effort to remember the little things..here are a few for you.

Anytime we go somewhere, and someone says hi to them..Nathan immediately points to Noah and says TT..( his name for Noah) as if he is introducing him.

Right now we are obsessed with Thomas the Train, in particularly the "Lion Of Sodor " and "Creaky Cranky" but Nathan calls that last one "cranky cranky" Noah LOVES our Thomas the train sets..he has started saying Train, Choo Choo and Shake ( for the Shake Shake bridge) . He is always bringing me track pieces and trains to hook together. He has gotten really good at putting his trains away!

Noah likes to put himself in time out... If I come around the corner and he is sitting in the time out spot, I immediately look for something spilled or broken.

The other day, we turned in to ChicFila.. and Nathan clapped his hands with joy and said "oh, yeay! Nuggets!" ( oh dear)

Noah still wakes up almost every night around 3 am..he calls from his room Momma, UP, Momma Up.. and 9/10, I go get him and we snuggle and fall back asleep. Until he wakes me up pulling my hair asking for fireman sam. (sigh) The other night, he slid out of my bed, walked around and turned on my ipod alarm clock Nice way to wake up at 4am.

Both of them love a routine. When we go upstairs, one of them has to turn the light on, and Noah always goes first, then Nathan. And they always ask me to hold whatever it is they are holding.. milk cups, Nathan's frog, Noah's train...when we get to the landing, they both lay down and laugh...every.single.time.

Sometimes I think Nathan might be a little OCD.. he has a thing about doors.. he is always closing bedroom doors, bathroom doors..and now cabinet doors. If he is eating and a cabinet is open, he says "close it Mama" Weird, right?

Guess thats it for now!!! Pictures coming soon!

Faith Like a Child

I tend to complicate things. No, really I do. ( Yes, I know, some of you are thinking, "tell me something I don't know") The last couple of weeks God has put some very "child like" thoughts on my heart.

I don't do resolutions any more. Because I think they just set us up for failure, giving us another system to live an manage life by. Yeah, no thanks! But I am sort of resolving to simplify my life. I look at the sweet and sneaky faces of my two year olds, and wish for a simpler life, when BAM, I realize it is mine for the taking.

I think Jars of Clay said it well in their song "Faith Like a Child"....

"They say that I can move the mountains
And send them crashing into the sea
They say that I can walk on water
If I would follow and believe
with faith like a child"

There are many things I can think of that I want to see or do through the eyes of a child, the sweet simplistic life.

I want to play. With abandon.

I want to run just because I want to. Because it is fun. Or because Mama is chasing me!

To eat ice cream, outside and let it melt all over my fingers, and not worry about being sticky or messy.

To know that if I wake up in the middle of the night, crying from a bad dream, somebody is going to come get me, and hold me and to know in my heart of hearts it is ok and that it was just a dream.

To sing (worship) like nobody is watching, just because I can and I love it. And to mean it with all my heart, and to not worry about how it sounds.

To believe...

So goodbye to smelly old complicated 2011, hello 2012.

I am ready to walk into this year free of baggage and complications. To see the sweet small joys of every day. To snuggle with my little boys, to savour my beautiful friendships free from fear and worry over what they think, to love my family and to enjoy my time with them. To worship, and not worry how I sound, or how I look. To sit and be still in the presence of my Saviour, resting in the knowledge that He loves me, despite my tendency to complicate. And to eat ice cream, outside. And not worry about my sticky hands.

Lacey <><

Tanks are TWO

I cannot believe my sweet babies turned TWO on the 14th. I may be wayy behind, but here are some bday pics, and some FALL stuff too. More to come!!!

We had a Halloween Party, complete with a pumpkin patch and a costume contest!

Pumpkin Decor!

My Favorite, the Mantle and the Candy Corn Birthday Banner I made.

Cupcake!!! He loved it!

He wouldn't touch it!

Another Trip Around The Sun

"Here I’m singin’ happy birthday
Better think about the about the wish I make
This year gone by ain’t been a piece of cake
Everyday’s a revolution
Pull it together and it comes undone
Just one more candle and a trip around the sun"

In two days, I will be 32. When I was younger, I used to think 30 was seriously old. Imagined myself married, settled house, kids... 3 out of four isn't bad, right? I have this thing about birthdays. Its a love/hate really. On one hand, I love them, its a day about me, right? Celebrating, cake, presents, people.. What's not to love? On the other hand, there always seems to be a melancholy that surrounds me. Its a time to look back over the last year or so, to think of what is to come. To re-evaluate. And don't even get me started on expectations. I have alot of those, and they never quite seem live get lived up to. ( too high perhaps?) The last two years most certainly have been difficult. By far the most difficult of my 32 years. But I started thinking about all the things I have learned, seen and done. And I started making a mental list, as I do with anything. I like lists. So, I thought I would share it, one more to mark the year gone by.

So, here it is, David Letterman Style.

TOP TEN THINGS I HAVE LEARNED SINCE TURNING 30

10. I like lists

9. I have an awesome family. No really, I do. Like above average, loud messy, get in your business, going outta our way to help you family.

8. I am really really lucky to work where I do, with the people I work with. People who rotate through our department are always saying what an awesome and unique bunch we are to enjoy working with each other so much! I know it nots always easy, but seriously.. its a weird little family, and I will keep it, thank you!

7. I need to stop and rest more. I am really really bad about just sitting, putting my feet up and chillin. I really do need to do this more. I need to write that down.

6.I like teenagers. Its a weird, smelly, bratty group, but they have my heart and I love them. If you are a ground zero kid or warehouser that I know and you are reading this, you pretty much rock my face off. Love you, mean it.

5. I have some really really good friends. Sometimes when you go through a whole lotta crap, people just "poof" out and disappear. I can't say that hasn't been the case, I can't say that friendships haven't changed or ended, that I haven't been hurt or judged by those I loved the most. But I can say that I have such an incredible group of people walking with me, surrounding me and loving me and Nathan and Noah that it literally takes my breath away sometimes. I really hope and pray that I am the same to all of you!

4. A best friend is priceless. I have been blessed to have called several of you a best friend. And while I have lots of best friends, I think every girl needs a Bestest Best Friend, one who doesn't have to ask how you are, they know. They see through your mask and call you out and you them. They celebrate and cry with you. You could see them all day for 8 hours and call them on the way home because you forgot one more thing. They bring out the Jesus in you and you in them. Jen, I thank God for you every day!!! Love you, but you knew that already.

3. I go to a weird church. Yep, its weird, its unconventional. But its not plastic or legalistic. It is a come as you are, is that all you got? kind of place where people are for real and speak truth into my life. I love you GLC.

2. My children are the best parts of me. They are funny and delightful, they are sneaky and smart. They are inquisitive and make no bones about what they need and what they want. Their faces light up a room and light up my heart. Without them, my life would be boring.

1. GOD IS GOOD. No really, He is. If I can say that despite the circumstances that I have walked through, it MUST be true. I see it every.single.day. His Grace, His Mercy, His Plan for each of us. God is good, ALL THE TIME. ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD.

So, bring on 32.

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:13-14

Love, Lacey

Tank-lage

Also known as Turner Tank Language.. We definately have our own..

Here is a list, you know, so I don't forget!

Tee Tee- What Nate Calls Noah

Nay Nay- What Nate calls Nate

Arnie- Barney ( I despise that dinosaur)

Arnie Happy a Barney episode about feelings, (I am not kidding)

Arnie Butter - a Barney about bugs and butterflies

Siiid - Sid the Science Kid, said in a whiny voice

HALP! - Help me, usually Help me get on the couch or to put food on a fork

Eggs and Oddage - Eggs and Sausage, favorite breakfast

Nyugnet- as in chicken nugget

Mimondae- LemonadeIchair-highchair

UUUPPP! Usually demanding to be picked up :) Sometimes, sweeter- "hold u"

Offie- our babysitter Kathi

Achey- Katie

Yayyay- Haley

Aisa- Alissa ( my sister)

Wain- Rain, I just figured this out today!

'mote- the remote, usually thrust in my face demanding sid or arnie ( see above)

Minute! -said with hand out, mimicing what we say when we can't handle anymore arnie 5 MINUTES!!!

A-side -outside

pop ubble- bubbles!!!

Gog- Nathan's frog and love of his life

Most of these are said by Nathan.

Here are so Noah-isms..

Whoa! - usually when he throws something

Oooo- "what does the cow say?"

Happy- heard by offie and achey

NoNo- he hears this enough, so he should be able to say it :)

Gotta love toddler talk!

This one is not about the boys

Well, not yet anyway :)

I have been thinking alot about "bullying" lately. Seems funny, huh? Not really. I spend alot of time with teenagers and I watch the news. Seems like its everywhere, and not with just teenagers. I think sometimes we, as adults experience it too. In preparing to teach Sunday School to our church high schoolers, I have thought alot about my "teenage years " ( they seem forever ago, right?) I can't say I was "bully-ed" but I can say, as almost every teenager can, that there were some really mean people who said some really mean ( and untrue things) I won't go into details or use names b/c that was forever ago, and who knows, they may read this. As and adult, I can say that I still know people who belittle or manipulate others, to feel better about themselves. You know those "friends" The ones who are still the "mean girl" The ones who have to feel like they are number one, the best, the most popular, haha. I think we as Mom's sometimes do this, and NURSES are notorious for this, you know, like "nurses eat their young"

My friend Jen and I have been reading a book called "Sun Stand Still" by Steven Furtick. Not sure if I like it yet or not, but it talks alot about finding your "vision" For me, that means what is God giving me glimpses of ..where has He put me, what or who has He put on my heart. My high schoolers, oh how I love you stinky kids! If I had to say I had a vision ( and I really don't like that term) I would say it is for you guys to know who you are, as in WHO Christ has made you to be! That you are loved, beloved, important, complete... I wish I could go back to tell myself that, 12 years ago. That no matter what stupid thing people say about you, that Truth in the form of your Creator Himself is inside of you, and that you would know how powerful it is. That each of you could stand firm with that knowledge. That you would never feel inferior, left out or like the new kid :) That you would remember your emotions don't line up with the TRUTH of Who you are! I pray this for my Sunday Schoolers, my Ground Zeros, my Sister and my Perry Girls, and my girlfriends and new baby nurses!

And for me , the same.. :) And for you , the same :)

From Summer To Fall..

Can you smell it? Fall is coming! My favorite time of year. We have been super busy, as Summer is winding down, but I can't complain. The boys started preschool a few weeks ago, at Bascomb United Methodist, and they love it! They are in a young two's class, with 2 other little girls ( one for each) I think a few more are joining their class. I feel really blessed to have to have them their. Our sweet friend Ms Ann from church works there, and they boys love seeing her. (especially Noah) They really seem to like their teacher, Ms Di. In fact, when I drop them off on Thursday mornings, they literally RUN down the hall to get to their class. :)

Here's some pictures from the first day!!

We have started a new routine in the evening of walking down to our neighborhood playground. They start asking for the "slide" as soon as dinner is over. It WEARS THEM OUT. I love that sweet time playing with them. I feel like I miss so much being at work four days a week, so its my time with them!

Nathan is talking up a storm repeating so many words. Every morning he does this roll call. He lists off people..its like a list of people he loves :) Mama, Offie, Dee Dee, Ran, Daddy, Mimi, Papa, Yay-Yay and Achey ( Haley and Katey) Bob, and Andrew ( Katey's BF makes the list lol) Sometimes he'll add more people, like Nolan, my friend Jen's little boy, because we skype'd with them, or Manna ( Amanda) haha, such a sweet loving little guy!!

Noah is doing better with his speech. He is working on his "O" sounds, like Whoa, and OOOO,

and MOOO ( what does the cow say?) and Ruff, for the dogs! He is becoming more fearless, which can be bad, especially when his class can't go to the playground because he is TOO fearless on the slide (sigh)

All in all, they are making life so special right now :)

Shopping!

Our first football game, GOOO ETOWAH EAGLES!!!

Next up, I am working on our Birthday Party, can't wait.