pictures from Christmas

Isaiah's new bike

Gabe's new bike

the new tent from Grandma & Grandpa

Gabe sneaking candy from Mychael's stocking Christmas morning

Some misc pics I found on my camera

falling asleep watching a movie together

Isaiah sneaking chocolate milk after bedtime

Isaiah and Ange napping on the couch

Isaiah setting up the manger scene

My Great Dad

Blessing in Disguise

We got back from New York last night. It was great to see the kids but very difficult to feel so far away from my Dad. Isaiah climbed into bed with me this morning like he usually does, but instead of cuddling, he threw up all over the bed. To be honest with you, I hardly even flinched. After seeing my Dad on a respirator, I think I can handle just about anything. I cleaned Isaiah up and brought him out to the couch. I was rubbing his legs and Gabe joined me. I prayed for Isaiah that Jesus would touch his body and take away the yucky feeling. Less than two hours later, he was asking for food and keeping it down. He has been playing today as if nothing ever happened! He kept asking for more and more food, and I kept telling him to slow down so we can make sure his tummy doesn't start hurting again. He said that he was all better and that it didn't hurt anymore, with a smile. It was the perfect teaching moment to show him that when we ask God for something he always helps us. For a child, it helped that our prayer was answered so quickly, I think he really understood. Not to mention what it did for my faith. I was literally able to feel all of your prayers when I was up with my Dad. We saw answered prayer and ask for continued support, as he still has a long way to go. God's been gracious to me, showing me the bigger picture of what is going on. I know that he would never let my father suffer in vain and that He will use this situation to accomplish something beautiful. I also strongly believe that He has granted a special grace and mercy for my father to endure this time. Our hearts have been postured beautifully to express our love for each other and to maybe re-examine our priorities. My Dad is a precious man who loves his family and I'm proud to be his daughter.

answered prayers

I just wanted to update you all on how things are going. Justin and I have been up here in New York all week. My Dad has been diagnosed with an inoperable cancerous brain tumor. They believe the cancer to be aggressive and will be treating it with chemo and radiation. They did a biopsy this morning and had to make a bigger incision than they had planned. When he started to come to after the surgery he got very aggitated and began ripping out his tubes and IV's. It was the doctors plan try to take him off the ventilator after the biopsy but my dad ended up ripping it out himself. Three nurses couldn't keep him from doing it! He's a fighter! It's been wonderful to ba able to talk to him and have him off of the sedation medication. He's been hilarious! Still very hoarse from all the tubes, but much more comfortable than before. He still does not have most periferal vision on his left side. He is also seeing visions of us even after we've left the room. Almost like his brain is remembering images. It will be another week before we know whether the abilities he has lost are just from swelling or from the tumors growth itself. This has been the most surreal experience. I kept expecting to wake up, like from a bad dream. My body became physically ill trying to process all of this. We're all now at a better place, being able to see his eyes open and talk to him. Our eyes are all dried up, no tears left. We need to be strong for him anyway. He does not yet know about the aggressive cancer. That will be a difficult conversation. All he knows is that he had a mass or lesion on his brain. The tumor is actually part of his brain and not removable. This will be very hard to tell him. Right now it's as if the world has stopped turning. All of your prayers have blessed my family in ways I can't describe. For example, let me tell you what happened wthis afternoon. We had been telling my dad how pretty his nurse was and when he looked at her she said, (a whipser voice is all he can get out)"Thank.. you.... very... much.. you are pretty". About a minute later "But my wife's prettier!" my mom was right there to hear that and it was great. We were able to realiz that even though this tumor has taken away some of his abilites, the core of who he is is still there. We're extremely thankful for that and cherishing every moment. Keep praying, we still have a long way to go. Thank you all from the deepest depths of my heart...

Reality check

It amazes me how we've managed to find every disraction from the real reson for the season and focus on ourselves and "getting" instead of celebrating what we've already been given, the Savior. I got some difficult news last night about my fathers health that really shook me up. I would describe it as a silent, stunned, shock. Oh how I need divine direction on how to raise my boys up in this world to have their priorities straight. I guess it would help to have mine straight first. Anyway, pray for my dad. After all, Jesus came to overcome sin and death so that nothing would be impossible.

inspiring

my sister-in-law, shannon, sent me this clip. you've got to check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek1iIOTsiRo

Why is it...?

Why is it that my crying 3 year old isn't as sweet as when he was a crying newborn?
Why is it that my kids don't want to play with something until I'm trying to clean it up?
Why is it that my husband thinks he's doing me a favor when he brings home tupperware with 4 week old Brunswick stew in it that he never ate so I could have my tupperware back? (it went directly in the trash)
Why is it that I can sigh and give an encouraging smile when I see another mom's kids pitching a fit in the store but when my kids are doing that I want to wear their butts out until my arm is tired?
Why is it that a glass of wine never tasted so good after a temper tantrum?
Why is it that after what has happened this past hour, I still want to have a third? ...child, that is, not glass of wine... well, on the other hand... ;)

This is adorable!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uISuvTiTYJA

Silly Sayings

Isaiah calls envelopes "umpelopes", and the buckles on his fireman jacket "clotches". Just thought I'd share with you some of the things that brought a giggle to my day today. The boys were so well behaved today. They got their pictures taken this morning and we had a great rest of the day. I was so proud of the way Isaiah acted today. He used his manners and shared well with his brother and our neighbor. If only this proud feeling would last through the days when I want to find a dungeon somewhere.. oh, no, I did it again. Just kidding, not really, but just kidding! ;) I love them everyday. I love my "job" :)

At a loss for words...

...and trying my absolute hardest not to laugh!

Isaiah's 4th Birthday Party

Photobucket Album

Try not to laugh

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1121001760

The s**t hit the fan last night!

So it started out as a nice relaxing day, doing laundry and getting back into the swing of things since getting back from our trip. I did some cleaning around the house, mopped the floors, bathed the dog, then scrubbed the tub so it would be ready for their bath. Before I could even wash their hair or bodies, Gabe poops in the tub! So I get the two of them and all their toys out of the tub and make them stand on the mat while I scrub the tub out, AGAIN! Of course they didn't stay on the mat where I asked them to. They went running around the house naked. Gabe realized that he wasn't finished pooping so he finished right in the middle of the hallway. Then another small piece fell in our bedroom and Isaiah managed to accidentally step in it. Then I hear the dog scratching at the door to get in... she's rolled in goose poop!!! SERIOUSLY!!! So I lock her outside until I can finish washing the tub and bathing the boys again. Then I bring Angel in and bathe her, AGAIN, and then wash the tub for a third time!!! I seriously think that after roughly 6 loads of laundry, bathing the kids twice and bathing the dog twice I must have used an illegal amount of water today. When Gabe pooped in the tub I knew I'd be mentioning it on my blog, but decided not to get the camera and spare you that image. But when all hell broke loose after that I knew I needed to document it or no one would believe me. So sorry for the images below, but I needed proof!

one can of Comet...88 cents
a little elbow grease... 0 dollars
the honor and priviledge of getting to do it all again tomorrow... PRICELESS

the guilty party

Thanksgiving in Hilton Head

We had such a great time visiting Gigi and Old Bob, Grandma and Grandpa!!! The kids have never behaved better on a trip! It was about a 6 hour drive down and about 7 hours back. No traffic but just a couple of stops. We were so proud of them! Isaiah has really missed my parents and grandparents so this was a great time for him too. He ran right into my mom's arms for a big hug. What a awesome feeling. Grandpa was his same "Old" self :), handsome and charming as ever. Grandma served an amazing Thanksgiving feast. Thanks for all of you hard work Grandma! The worlds best poet couldn't describe the excellence with which you live your life as a Grandma and Greatgrandma. I'm so thankful for you!

The Naughty Virus

I went to the park with two great girlfriends yesterday and we were sitting around talking while the kids were playing nicely. They were sharing how yesterday was a rough day for them as far as behaviour and discipline goes. They asked how my day went, and it was fine, just had to do some stuff for work. I joked that we don't have behaviour and discipline issues at my house... big mistake! Like karma out to get me, that afternoon turned into a nightmare!!! My almost four year old peed in his pants, then later pooped in his pants, constantly yelled and talked rude to me, while I was on an important phone call, he and his brother tore up their rooms. Every drawer was turned upsidedown and emptied. Clothes were thrown out of the closet into a big pile on the floor, blankets and pillows were thrown out of Gabe's crib, the list goes on. It was unbelieveable. When I walked around the corner and saw this all I could say was "you've got to be kidding me". I was already exhausted because Gabe got up super early, so I wasn't even able to respond with a spank, or timeout, or to find a dungeon somewhere... oh, I'm sorry, did I actually type that? Just kidding, not really, but just kidding. So anyway, stay away from us for about 5-7 days. Unfortunately they don't have a vaccine for this.

That was a "Blind Boys of Alabama" CD that we've been "borrowing" for the last year-and-a-half from Jon & Shannon! It's the boys favorite dancing music. It seems the boys might have my rhythm, something Justin doesn't have a lick of! But it's very cute to watch him try. Of course Justin did pass on his brains and good looks!

correction

Major mistake!!! Justin noticed that I left out the main ingredient to the chocolate oatmeal balls... peanut butter!!! I add about 1/3 cup. So sorry if you tried these already!!!

Check out these moves!

Pictures from the Parade

In the hands of the Potter

I was talking with my sister-in-law the other day about how God is humorously trying to reshape my cares and prioroties when it comes to the way my kids look and dress. I will admit, I am probably a bit anal when it comes to things appearances. I try to let things slide that don't matter in the eternal scheme of things but it's hard sometimes. For example, check out this little number:




My three year old insists on picking out his own clothes every morning, and three or four other times a day for that matter, and my heart pounds as I await his always interesting fashion statement of the day. The other day he picked out a great outfit, as seen above, but of course had to throw in my belt to shake things up a bit. Only my parents can appreciate the incredible humor in this. As a little girl I would wear belts with all of my clothes: nightgowns, dresses, you name it, I had a belt on, along with tights and great sounding shoes. I about fell to the floor when he requested my help with this belt. He was completely serious, not just using it as a holder for a sword,which they also come in handy for. He just wanted to wear it.
At the beginning of the fall I had to roll up most of his pants at the ankle, still trying to figure out what size he was going to be this year. Well, he got so used to me doing that, that now he wants to roll up every pair of pants at the ankle, even ones that are not too long. He pairs them with boots that are slightly too big, and shirts that totally don't match, but he thinks he's the man... and he is. I constantly have to bite my tongue and let his personality blossom, as it is a beautiful sight. God's so sneaky. Through my son, He is teaching my the difference between "the cares of this world" and that which really matters.

Who needs toys

This is what my kids love to do - make "tracks" out of every pillow and cushion in the house!!! The toys just get in the way!

Precious Moments

Although these moments can seem few and far between, they're awesome when they happen!

Forbis Family Favorites

Zucchini Cakes

2 1/2 cups grated zucchini
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp. butter, melted
3/4 cup italian style bread crumbs
1/3 cup onion, finely minced
1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning, or more to taste
flour to coat patties
oil to fry with

1. In large bowl combine zucchini, egg, butter, bread crumbs, onion and seasoning. Mix well. Let sit a few minutes.
2. Shape into patties and coat with flour. In a medium skillet over medium heat fry until golden brown on both sides. The slower you cook them the better.

* Justin & I have talked about trying to come up with a sauce for these but they're so good plain! We eat these once a week. The kids inhale them!


No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Balls

2 cups quick oats
3/4 cup white sugar
3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2/3 cup butter softened
confectioners sugar to roll balls in

1. Combine all ingredients in mixer.
2. Roll into balls and roll in confectioners sugar until coated.
3. Refrigerate until firm
4. Don't blink... they'll be gone!!!

Happy Halloween

We went with our neighbors to their church's Halloween Festival. It was a lot of fun. Isaiah was a Clone Trooper from Star Wars and me and Gabe were Batmama and Robin. Justin was working in Washington DC yesterday and wasn't supposed to get home until tomorrow but made it home by about 9pm. He missed seeing the kids in their costumes but I took plenty of pictures. Isaiah stalked the Chick-fil-a cow all night long, while Gabe was terrified. If the cow came in the same room as us he literally began shaking and clung to me for his life! I'm sure next year he'll be stalking the cow with his big bro. He copies everything else he does!

Toe Sucking

Here are some pictures of Gabe sucking on his toe the other night! I guess this is what happens when you try to ween an almost-two-year-old from his passy! Well, at least he had just gotten out of the bathtub!

Silly Mommy tried to sleep again!

It was a great day for a nap today and when I dozed off Isaiah got up and took the container of brown sugar and hid behind the chair. I found him eating it with a spoon. He should only be wired for a few hours, right?

Rainy Day Celebration

After one of the worst droughts in recent years, we finally got some rain... and boy did it rain, and rain, and rain!!! When we said the kids prayers at night we always asked God for rain and we said that we would dance in it when it came. Well, Mommy held to her word and it was a blast!

Halloween Fun

Here's a video of the kids doing a little song they learned at story time at the library last week. It's so cute! We don't make a habit of teaching the kids witchcraft! The lady was just trying to do some Halloween songs.

A Trip to the Fire Station

My sister-in-law arranged for us to take a trip to the local fire station last week. It was great. After a tour through the inside of the fire station the kids got to climb in the trucks and even hear the siren and see the lights. We learned that the new ladder truck they got a couple years ago cost $360,000!!! Cut the truck in half and it would more than pay for MY HOUSE!!! But I sure am thankful for our brave firemen. We had a scare a little too close to home a couple weeks ago. We're in a terrible drought and apparently someone threw a cigarette out their window at the end of our street and it started a brush fire. The entire corner at the end of our street was on fire! We're out in farm country so I was very impressed when several different area trucks showed up and got it under control. It could have been a very bad situation! THANK YOU FIREMEN!!! Anyway, my parents got Isaiah this fireman's suit last year for Christmas so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to wear it and get the kids excited about our trip. You'll notice that Isaiah combined the fireman's suit with cowboy boots for an unforgettable look. He sure thought he was "the man". He's definiately my little hero.