Random Howard Happenings

Life is just so full of fun these days. Yes, we have our rough days where I think I am going to go nuts, but overall we are loving this season with the kids and with our friends. 

Something that's really been a fun treat for me to enjoy with friends is the painting classes that are popping up everywhere. One of my best friends in the world- Mrs. Lindsay Schott- had a special birthday in April but we weren't able to all celebrate until May. Us four ladies got to go out for some fun painting and a great dinner. I loved getting to spend time with these ladies. The 3 of them both have baby girls that are under the age of ONE so I did get a little bit of baby fever hearing them talk about their precious ones in what seems like such a distant stage to the one we are in. Maybe one day we will get to experience that season again :) Here is a picture of us with our finished products! Linds is the artist in our group and decided to mark her own trail instead of following the instructor- we all loved seeing what she would come up with! Happy Birthday sweet friend!

This next picture makes me SO happy and very nostalgic. When my brother and I were little we loved to float the bayou in anything that would float (yes, that might be news to you, Mom!!). We would climb in plastic pools, ice chests, anything that we might be able to turn in to a boat! Fast forward many years later... our family was at a church picnic this past weekend and one of our college guys floated across the lake in one of these green lids. Of course our little adventuresome son wanted to try to ride in the boat with his Daddy. Though I was on the side of the lake dreading them sinking, I held my tongue and let them "be guys." They made it across the lake and Asher was beside himself! Can't believe my little son is growing to be a real adventure lover! Love that side of him!!  

Honestly I cannot really think of how Asher and Zoee could be better siblings. They do have their fights but overall they simply love being together. Asher is loving the protector role and I often hear him telling her, "Sissy, you HAVE to trust me." The other day she asked me to hold her and I said I needed to get something done first and that she needed to be patient. Sonny took this picture as he caught Asher trying to "hold" his sister because she wanted to be held! Makes my heart so happy to see them so kind to each other. We pray so much for the Lord to give us wisdom in shepherding them in the truth, wisdom, and love of the Lord and it's moments like these that encourage me to keep going! Love them!!

Little Miss loves her couscous! I am trying to not be as OCD with the kids when it comes to being clean when they eat but this moment reminded me why I am the way that I am. I must have cleaned the floor 5 times when she was done eating to get all of the couscous off the floor... and counter... and walls... and chairs...! She had it in her hair, by her ears, on her arms and obviously all over her face! Silly little munchkin! I am thankful though that she will try and eat almost anything.

Mother's Day 2013

When Sonny asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day, I was eager to say that what I really wanted was a day of rest where we could just enjoy being a family. That's what I love and that's what we got to do! It was so relaxing to get home from church and take a nap, go for a run and just enjoy my sweet family that evening. Mother's Day evening we went to my brother and sister's house and enjoyed great food and family time with them and my parents and Rachael's parents. I love getting to just slow down and hang out with the family!

Here are some pictures I manages to get at church... As you can see, the kids think it's really funny to try NOT to take a great picture! Silly kids!!

Random Howard Happenings...

Somedays when I have time to stop and think I cannot believe how fast time is flying by. In January it will be 10 years since the day that Sonny and I said "I DO." Wow!! In June our son will be turning 4! Double Wow!! There are weeks where I feel like we have not even had a chance to stop and enjoy just being a family. Today we have decided to just stay home and relax (and clean of course). Something that cracks Sonny and I up is seeing what our kids chose to do on our relaxing days... My Dad passed on a little OCD to me and I have unintentionally passed it on to my kids. Here they are lining up ALL of their cars and animals. This is an almost daily occurrence in our home. I will walk in a room and see everything lined up. It cracks me up and makes me so thankful for the fun and interesting personalities that the Lord has given our little ones. It was also funny because I went to clean the kitchen and came back about ten minutes later and Asher had put all of his cars away (I have also INTENTIONALLY tried to pass on my desire for cleanliness to my kiddos though it doesn't always show). I am so thankful for these restful days. We have been watching Pitch Perfect (mainly for the fun music and dancing) and trying to dance along- doesn't get much better than this!!  

Picture from this mornings OCD line-up!

Little Man boxing with Daddy the other day...

The other day we had told Zoee not to come out of her room at nap time. When we went in late to get her up, we found her sleeping like this right behind the door. Sweet girl!!

A few weeks ago we went to this awesome kids place called Wonderwild and our little man could not get enough of all the fun things he could climb on. They both had a blast!

The other day it was nice and sunny outside so we let the kids have ice cream cones and run in the sprinkler. Me and my girl had Daddy take a picture of us in our new shades =) Love her!

 Here is a picture of Sonny and I from a few weeks ago that I forgot to post. We still love every chance we get to have a date night =); Marriage is simply amazing!

First 5K After Kids!!

I have an amazing sister in law. She is such a hard worker and she is beautiful and she is such a great wife to my brother. I seriously could not have picked out a better wife for my brother. Period. One really cool thing that we have in common is running. She actually has a running/fitness blog that is very encouraging, motivating, witty, and real- HappyHealthyRunner. While she is definitely more familiar to the racing scene, I try to stay in shape by running consistently at home and at the Y. I have done races in the past (before having kids) but had not braved the racing scene in a few years until yesterday. I knew Rachael would be doing a 5 K run at City Center in Houston AND I knew it was an all women race (huge races intimidate me), so I thought I would join her. Though I was really nervous leading up to the race and even got a little dehydrated later that evening after the race, it was so fun getting to run with Rachael. I felt like we ran very well together. There were times where we both got weak and were pushed by the other to keep going. We ran hard and finished strong and actually came in 2nd place with over 300 ladies running! We were even able to stay together the whole time and cross the finish line together! It was so great. The best part was approaching that finish line with Rachael and hearing all the cheers from the people on the sidelines and seeing our hubbies as we ran through the yellow finish line tape. I am so thankful for Rachael and our wonderful husbands for being so supportive and encouraging. Thanks Rache for letting me join you! Here are a few pictures from the event... 

Pre-race photo with Rachael...

Random candid shot taken by my amazing hubby!

 Here we are crossing the finish line! (The time in the background says we crossed at the 37 minute mark but our group didn't start till about the 15 minute mark so that's why the times don't make much sense.)

Post race picture... nice and sweaty!

 Final race results! 

Game face!!

Easter Recap!!

We are so blessed in that all of our family lives pretty much within an hour or two of us. We love that we can spend holidays with family but att times it can get chaotic trying to make sure we get to see everyone. This Easter we were able to see almost all sides of the family and the kids got SO much candy (and other goodies). They got to do about 3 or 4 Easter egg hunts and enjoy lots of great food and fellowship with cousins and grandparents. On Friday night we headed to Richmond and spent the night with my parents (Mimi and Papa). Saturday the kids got their first Easter basket from Mimi and Papa and then we headed to Grandma (Sonny's mom) and Grandad's house to celebrate with them. We spent Saturday night back at my parents and then Sunday morning we headed to my Grandma's (kids' Great Grandma Dibler). After lunch we headed to Wharton to spend the rest of the day with B-dad (Sonny's dad), Sonny's Grandma ("Great-Grandma with the chickens") and all of that side. All of our family time was great. Here are some pictures that say it all...


Easter at Mimi and Papa's (my parents)...

 Mimi helping Zoee with eggs...

Easter with Grandma (Sonny's mom) and Grandad...

(mouth was full of candy most of the day =) ) 

Grandma with her baby girl!

Grandad with Asher...

Easter at Great Grandma Diblers (my Grandma)...

My Grandma with her newest great grandson, Russ...

My handsome brother and my handsome hubby!

Easter with B-dad (Sonny's Dad) and  "Great-Grandma with the Chickens"

Zoee holding a lizard that Daddy caught...

Cousins with the lizard...

Isn't this the most precious picture! Great-Grandma Howard with Zo-bear!

Here is the best picture I could get of the Howard kiddos =) Happy Resurrection Day 2013! We are so thankful for the death, burial and resurrection of our powerful Lord!

Praying 1 Samuel for Asher...

As I said in the previous post, I have been trying to pray more Scripture for my family and friends. Asher is such a wonderful little man. He loves to please others and is simply a joy. My prayer for him is not as detailed as Zoee's...  lately I have been praying 1 Samuel for him. 

My prayer for Asher from 1 Samuel 1-3... that he would...

~continue to grow in favor with both the Lord and men

~that he would be bold in the Lord and speak truth even when it is difficult

~that he would know the Lord and hear the Lord speak to him

~that he would be used to lead others to the Lord

I am so thankful for this little man who brings our family so much joy and laughter. His kind and loving spirit is already so refreshing to be around.

Praying Esther for Zoee...

In the past couple of months the Lord has really been working on me to spend more time praying His Word for people. His Word is powerful and spoke creation into existence. 

"For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

~Hebrews 4:12

It has been one of the most encouraging things for my prayer life and my walk with the Lord to start actually praying Scripture for people. It helps me to remember His Word more throughout the day and it helps me to spend more time praying for my friends and family. When we were on our little trip to the Texas hill country I was reading through the book of Esther. Almost instantly I started praying for my little Zoee as I was reading about Esther. It was so refreshing for my faith to be looking intently into the Scriptures while also praying for my daughter. Zoee is such a joy but she does have a little bit of a "stubborn" personality which can leave me quite amazed at times! I love her passionate and loving spirit and pray the Lord will use us to help channel her spirit in a godly direction. Here are the things I was praying for her (and that I am continuing to pray for her and for the daughters of my friends) as I read through Esther ...

I pray that Zoee will...

~be bold when led by the Lord to do difficult things

~obedient to authority

~seek wise council 

~be beautiful inside as well as outside (I think she is pretty stinkin' cute =) ) 

~gain favor with others based on her good character and reflection of the Lord in her life

~be patient

~seek God earnestly and diligently

~lead others in peace, truth, and worship of God

I am thankful for the Word of God that gives us great examples of those who have gone before us and lived faithful and God-glorifying lives that we can aspire to. I am thankful for my little lady who continues to keep me seeking Jesus and who strengthens my prayer life without even knowing it yet =).