The Howard Family: February 2013

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Sweet Friends...

Being a mom is an incredible blessing. I love getting to spend my days raising my children- I know that I was created to raise them and support their Daddy. With all of that being said, times that I get to have little get-aways with my girlfriends are very special and refreshing. This past weekend I was able to go out with some special ladies for a painting class and wonderful dinner & dessert. I didn't have to wipe anyones nose or clean up after any meal- it was so nice to just relax and enjoy time with the girls. Here are a few pictures that captured the night...

Zoee and Psalm 19

Here is the video clip of our sweet Zoee quoting part of our family psalm. The kids have such great memories- it's crazy. This video blesses me so much...

Monday, February 25, 2013

Dear Asher...

Dear Asher,
I never knew how much of a blessing you would be as a son. Daddy and I are so thankful for you and your kind and sensitive spirit. You are so thoughtful. Just this morning, you asked Daddy if you could pray with him. I overheard your prayer and I almost cried. You prayed that he would have a great day at work and you thanked Jesus for him. I pray that you will continue to love others like you do now. You are so full of life and adventure. You have quite an imagination. On the days that you fall asleep during naptime, it will take you a very long time to fall asleep at night and we will hear you talking to your animals and dragons. It cracks us up and makes us smile with delight. You make life more fun! Here are some things going on with you at 3 1/2 years old...

1. You love ice cream like Daddy. You like mint chocolate chip and vanilla. You pretty much like all sweets =)
2. Your favorite animal today is the alligator. You just told me that you do not like real alligators though... you just like pretent ones!
3. You also like lions. You said that was your favorite animal that we saw at the zoo today.
4. You love to run. You run around the house and you love to race with Daddy and me in the back yard.
5. You are a people-person. You love to play with your friends and you often ask me for more people to play with you (I pray that you have more siblings to play with one day =) )
6. You are in a new phase where you love dragons. Daddy bought you the movie "How To Train Your Dragon" and now you are in love with dragons!
7. You are very smart and love to learn. Your favorite book right now is Curious George and Mater.
8. You still love to play with your cars and you love to build things with blocks.
9. You love to drive your jeep and climb on everything! You are so adventurous and few things scare you! It makes my heart jump but I try to let you be a boy and experience "boy stuff."
10. You love to climb in the attic and do "guy things" with Daddy like fix things and work in the yard.

Asher, you are such a blessing to us. You love people. You love to love on the babies that come to our house for bible study. You love to protect your sister and Kinley. You love your sister so much... even though you irritate her sometimes! The other day I told you about your friend that had been in a car accident and we prayed for him as a family. The next 2 days you asked to pray for him during our family prayer time and it has melted my heart. I am so thankful to see that you are learning that Jesus is the Healer. I pray that you will come to know Him as your Lord very soon and that your life will be set on knowing Him. Son, we love you and are daily blessed by you!

Love,
Mommy

You are in a new phase where you don't really like pictures all that much so this was pretty much the only shot I could get of you by yourself.

Dear Zoee...

Dear Zoee,
Oh my precious baby girl! I cannot believe how fast you are growing and how much "Life" you display every single day. I say this often but you keep us seeking Jesus and walking in thankfulness. You have a very, very "lively" personality that can make it difficult when we are trying to "train" you up in the way that you should go (Prov. 22:6). We absolutely love your joyful and spunky personality. You literally light up the room when you are present. Here are a few small things about your little 2 year old self...

1. You love things that are gummy- gummy bears, fruit snacks, taffy... just like your Daddy =)
2. You love all things that are "princess." You love the movie Tangled and your love to wear your Repunzel princess nightdress.
3. You just recently watch the movie Tinkerbell and now your love fairies! So cute!
4. Your favorite book is still "I love you through and through." You love for me and Daddy to read it to you before bed.
5. You love glitter and the color pink. We were having ice cream at the zoo today with Mimi and though I knew you would love the cookies and cream ice cream- you would not eat it because it was not pink and you had seen some pink ice cream! Silly girl!
6. You love your brother. When you wake up, he is one of the first things you like to talk about. You love to love on him and you also love to irritate him at times. I am so thankful for yall's growing friendship.
7. Your favorite animal is either the giraffe or lion. You love animals. You love to ride horses. You are surprisingly not scared at all of them! My little cowgirl!
8. You still love us to hold you. I love that you still give us those sweet moments of snuggling and I try to daily cherish them.
9. You love to dance and jump. You got a trampoline for Christmas from Mimi and Papa and you love jumping...
10. You love to pretend. You love to be a mommy to your babies and to teach "school" to your animals. Everything is full of life to you! Today you told me that your new stuffed owl had hurt her hand but that Jesus was making it better. You said your owl needed to rest and you sweetly laid it on the couch and covered it with your blankets. You are so sweet and tender when you choose to be.

Precious Zoee, we are so thankful for you. Even though you test my patience sometime (you threw a huge fit the other day in HEB and I left the store in tears), I know that Jesus gave you to us to help me cling to Him daily. You are also very inquisitive. You love to learn and find out how things work. That can be great but it can also be dangerous sometimes. The other day Asher turned on the treadmill and you stuck your hand under it and ripped off about 3 layers of skin because it got caught between the belt of the treadmill and the body of the treadmill. I was so horrified. You are doing well though and have turned your leg warmers into a makeshift "cast" for your healing hand. We pray to Jesus for your hand everyday and I am thankful that you are learning that He is our healer (even if the healing is not immediate... we are learning that His timing is perfect). You love to sing In Christ Alone with me and Daddy before bed and you also have recently started to love quoting our family Psalm, psalm 19 before bed. It is so humbling to see you quoting the Word of God. I pray that you will one day realize the Life that comes from the Word. Zoee, we love you and cannot imaging life without you. You are a joy!

Here are a few pictures of your new owl, Olivia, that Mimi (and Papa ;) ) got you from the zoo. We had planned to go to the Children's Museum but when we got there, it was closed! Thankfully we have zoo passes. We got to ride the Herman Park train and then spend the day with Mimi at the zoo =)

I know that we are a little partial but you are absolutely beautiful in our eyes...

Here you are telling me a story about your new Owl...

Lastly, here is your sweet little hand after your inquisitive encounter with the treadmill =( You have been very brave though (most of the time) as we let it heal. The above pictures show your hand in your zebra leg warmers- maybe you will start a new fashion trend??!

We love you baby girl!

Love,

Mommy

Friday, February 15, 2013

Sweet friendships...

I cannot believe that it is the middle of February! Where did January go? I have not had tons of energy to take pictures lately because I feel like we are always rushing... plus it's difficult to lug around a big camera in addition to all the stuff that toddlers require! I did take the huge camera with me a couple of times when we had friends over and when we went to our weekly picnic with friends. We also ended up taking the kids to ride Tripod (Ya-ya's horse) after one park day and I was so glad that I brought it. Here are a few snapshots of the growing kids. They are so full of energy and life. We are so thankful for them and for this sweet season of learning and growing with them...

Our best friends came over the other day with their sweet 3 month old, Hannah Joy. Asher loves her so much. She is such a great baby- so peaceful and precious!

Hannah Joy at her finest... love those cheeks and that smile!

Here is one of our trips to Spring Creek Park...

Wonderful friends! I am so thankful for these boys in Asher's life... The 3 of them are "all boy" when we are at the park. Every stick is a weapon and they even use the bushes as a hideout! I love seeing them play together.