My sweet children

So, here's just a general update for you.

Silas is loving Kindergarten! He's getting smarter and more mature every day, it seems.

He informed me that there are three levels in his class: Apples, Oranges and Grapes.

(They're all about the fruits of the spirit at our school.)

They represent the level that they are reading at.

Silas is an apple, which is the highest level. We're so proud.

He will also be testing soon to become a green belt in Tae-kwon-do. 

He could have already tested last week, but we didn't take him because it's going

to be $255 for the testing fee, so we'll save up for that one next month. ;)

Eisley is still boycotting dance. I guess it's just not for her.

She doesn't mind going and acts like she loves it, but then we get there

and she'll only participate if her teacher lets her wear a princess costume.

Who would have known I'd end up with such a girly girl?!

However, she's pretty rough as well.

She and Silas wrestle quite a bit and she has begun making a fist and actually punching him.

It doesn't hurt, of course, but it's hilarious to watch.

I'm enjoying the last bit of baby in her.

She said "swap" instead of wasp the other day. 

Each time she tries to say "all of them" it comes out as "ov-el-um".

They're both so affectionate and kind.

Silas cuddles with me whenever he gets the chance,

and almost every time I am putting Eisley's clothes on, she'll kiss my face and stroke my hair.

They both will randomly tell us they love us without prompting, and each time it makes me want to 

weep right then and there. I just can't explain the feeling.

Bjon and I are doing well also. ;)

We're growing up right along side our children.

All the adults things we dreaded for so long are now routine. It's definitely not as 

bad when you're doing all the mundane stuff with your best friend.

Eisley speaks

I got up yesterday morning and ran up to her to give her kisses all over her neck

and she screamed out, "Yay, you love me!!!"

Date night

I think about that Seinfeld episode sometimes where George keeps coming up with great comebacks long after he has the chance to use them on an obnoxious co-worker. I think about it because I have similar situations a lot.... like last night, for example.
Here's what happened:
My in-laws unexpectedly took Eisley for the night, and since Bjon had a massage to do, Silas and I had a date night.
We decided to go to go to Laser Chase in Cool Springs. After running around and realizing just how old I really am, Silas asked if we could play some of the arcade games there. We were standing in line for the change machine when Silas stepped over to touch what he thought was a toy police station. However, it was not a toy.... it was a cake. As he pealed his icing covered fingers off the cake, an irate woman sprinted over and said, "What are you doing?" Silas had a shocked look on his face, and I was just becoming aware of what had happened. Silas kept repeating "I didn't know it was a cake" to me and the steaming mother. I could see that he was getting upset, so I told him it was okay but he needed to apologize.
He looked at the lady and said he was sorry with a very sad tone. But, instead of turning to him and seeing the sincerity in his face, she said to him "Maybe you should apologize to my son who's birthday you just ruined."
This was the moment I lost all sympathy for the awful woman. Her son came strolling up a second later to see what had happened and when he saw the cake, he looked completely uninterested. Perhaps this is because the damage to the cake was so minimal that you couldn't even tell. The lady turned to smooth her precious cake and I led Silas to the bathroom to wash the icing off his hands. As we walked he said he was sorry about 5 more times, and each time he said it I wanted to turn around and shove the cake in that lady's face.
I look back and see her son laughing with his friends. He could care less about a smudge on a cake, but his mother used him as ammunition to humiliate my son.
We get to the bathroom and Silas begins to apologize.... again. I look him in the eyes and say, "Silas, when we ask God to forgive us, do we need to ask over and over again? He forgives us the moment we ask, and then it's forgotten. If God forgives this way, then we're supposed to as well... right?" He still won't look at me as we're rinsing his hands. I bring him to the paper towels and dry his hands, then I put my hands on his shoulders and kneel down so that we're face to face. "It was an accident, I know. You said you were sorry and that's all you can do. I'm not mad at you. That woman just wants to make you feel bad, and I don't know why. Okay?" He nods at me and falls into me for a hug.
I know I should take my own advice and forgive this woman. But, the lioness in me that wants to defend her cub is enraged by the emotional trauma she just caused in my son. We walk back to get our change and start playing games, completely ignoring the woman. I overhear her talking about all the types of cakes she can make. This wasn't about her son's birthday at all, it was about her own ego in wanting praise for the cake she had made.
Silas spent the rest of the time there trying desperately to get a stuffed animal out of a machine that he thought Eisley would like. I just stood with him and tried my best to ignore the woman.

We can't protect them from everything and everyone, and that scares me. Even a grown adult with children of her own, will verbally abuse a child if it serves her purposes.
He was mortified by the situation, and I remember feeling like that as a child. He made a mistake, yes, but he apologized and she reacted as a bully.
I'm thankful for these situations because it teaches us both lessons. As much as I wanted to tell that woman off, I knew I had a more important job to be an example to my son.

We put on our coats and walked to the car. Silas was being quiet and had a sad look on his face. I asked what was wrong but knew that he was still upset about the situation. He looked at me and said, "I just really wanted to get a toy for Eisley and that machine took all my money." He had already forgotten about the whole cake thing, and I was still fuming about it.
My son has a beautiful heart. I knew that already, but last night made me realize how fragile it is as well.
I write this partially because I still needed to vent about the whole thing, but also because I'm so proud of my son. He's so silly and can drive me absolutely crazy! But, lately, I have really seen Christ in him. He was so excited about giving to people over Christmas. He even waited until everyone else had opened their gifts before he touched his and said, "I just wanted everyone else to get something first." He has been really taking care of his sister lately, getting up in the morning and making her breakfast. And, I know that he's getting that from his father. Bjon is the most self-less person I've ever known, so Silas has a great example to follow.
So, in a way, I'm grateful to the horrible woman at Laser chase. She made me realize how beautiful my son is.

Catching up!

Christmas was good, very laid back, which is the best thing you can hope for over the holidays.
We did our annual trip to Opryland Hotel and the Ice exhibit in Nashville with the Braun's and Gall's. The Sofka's also joined us later. Brian always does an amazing job with the artwork for Ice and we get to go with him for free, which is nice.
We were able to spend time with all the family, except my dad and Angela. But, they'll be coming here in February and we can't wait!
My mom came in on Christmas day and stayed a week, which pleased us all very much.
New Years was also nice and calm. We spent time with some friends and had dinner with Bjon's family New Year's Day to celebrate Lilly's birthday on the 31st.
Just thought I'd post a few pictures from the day.
I'll blog again soon!

Holidays

We have been going non-stop lately with the busyness of life.
We're thankful and stressed at the same time.
I have been extremely busy in work for the past few months and it has taught me so much. Not only as a photographer, but as a wife and mother.
I have been stretched creatively and have learned so much about my own style and technical aspects of my work. But, more importantly, I've been learning how to manage my time with my family and the Lord when I feel like I have no time to spare.
I've figured out that even if I am in the middle of editing and I'm 4 shoots behind, I need to stop and listen as Silas explains the intricate design of his latest lego creation.
There is NOTHING more important.
I've discovered that when Bjon assists me with weddings, it can be very romantic,
even though we're working.
We've all adjusted pretty well and we're hopeful that I'll continue to get more work,
even after holiday photos aren't in demand.
Bjon has been home a lot lately, doing projects around the house and waiting for things to pick up at the car lot. He's still doing a lot of massage on the side, so we just take turns watching the kids while the other goes out to jobs. He did an adventure race about a month ago with two of our friends, and they had a blast. Unfortunately, though, it was hard on his body, so he's been slowly trying to get back into climbing and working out again.
Silas LOVES school and we love it as well. He comes home every day talking about his friends, he shows me his art, and he tells me about the things they learned about the Lord. What could be better?!
He's still doing Tae-kwon-do and is testing for his yellow belt tomorrow!
He's so incredibly smart, already reading. We just couldn't be prouder.
Eisley is enjoying her alone time with us when Silas is at school. She's a little addicted to movies, though, so we try to keep her occupied elsewhere. She's become obsessed with Littlest Pet Shops lately and it's been fun to watch her as she creates stories for them and makes them interact.
She really likes dance now, although she doesn't do much dancing. She mostly observes but she will participate if props are given for them to dance with. Then she'll come bouncing out of class and run up to me saying, "I'm such a good dancer!"
Through all the craziness, we did manage to get some family photos taken.
Here is one that our dear friend, Josh Reeder, took of us.
This is our Christmas card this year.

Birthdays

Silas is now 6 and Eisley is 3. Where did my babies go?
We had a joint birthday party for them on Silas's birthday, which confused Eisley very much. On her actual birthday we started singing to her and she said, "no I already had a birthday". But, she enjoyed the attention.
Here are the annual pictures from their birthdays.

Eisley is finally dancing!

Eisley got very excited yesterday because her Papa came with us to dance class. They got to dress up in their Halloween costumes and put on a small show for the parents. She really participated and danced with her friend in the class. We were so proud of her!