The Growing Gant Family...

For the past year (pretty much a day after he turned 4), William has been requesting his birthday party at the beach.  It's become an annual tradition that Grandma Marsha rents a get away for us, the "other" Gant family and her and Bruce to escape for a few days of family time.  It's become a great tradition-one that not only Curtis and I, but our boys definitely look forward to.  We have spent the last few years at the beach.  This year, we were going in the complete opposite direction-Redmond.  I asked William if he still agreed on the location for his party and/or if waiting until the end of the month would suffice.  He wholeheartedly agreed on the plan-just as long as cousins would be there. So, that's what we did. Well, we celebrated a bit on his birthday too... Here he is with one of his favorite breakfasts: homemade donuts, "no frosting please!" And this year he WANTED candles! Crazy kids!   Thank you Grandma Marsha for my nifty ...

It's not every year William gets a backyard full of snow to play with on his birthday!! When it does, you must take full advantage of it... The makings of... Meet "Snowman Sam"(as William called him)   What's snow without a four wheeler ride!?! And snow angles?! When it snows around here, you have to take full advantage of it... I love how the snow looks under the Filbert trees...Makes for a great family photo!

What is it about kids that they like to run around naked?  Literally, any chance they get. This is how I found the boys after their shower tonight... Warming themselves by the fireplace. I thought it utterly hilarious, that I had to snap a picture.  You can totally see the stark difference between the boys body types.  And those cute cheeks...who can resist?! Just don't lean forward boys...I'm not sure how I'd explain that one in the ER.

SOME OF OUR EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS... Today, while we were riding in the car, Calvin said something to William (and for the life of me I can't remember what it was).  Here's the conversation the ensued... William: "Calvin, are you lyin'?" Calvin: after a long pause, he lets out a big Rooooaaar! William: "No, Calvin, not that kind of lion!" ...as he busts up laughing.  "You're so FUNNY!" The whole rest of the car ride was full of William questioning Calvin's truthfulness followed by big Calvin roars (o;  I got a good chuckle out of this one. *** Every night before bedtime it's Curtis or I's turn to lay with William for awhile in his bed before he falls asleep.  Usually we have little conversations with him (whispering of course so we don't wake up little man sleeping below us) and most often we remember to say a bedtime prayer.  William's gotten better at praying by himself (he always asks us to do it for him)....

William was pretty lucky this year for Christmas.  Not only did we get to travel down to California, but we got to bring back a William sized four wheeler (o;  Our William boy takes to new adventures with a bit of caution.  He requires some much needed time before warming up to any new idea, which didn't prove any different when it came to his new toy (DESPITE the super excited conversations he was having about riding the four wheeler before he actually sat on it).  It was about the point that he put the helmet on that I think he realized he wasn't too sure about it (I know...we'll one day look back on these moments and chuckle). This was a "before the helmet" picture.  Although you wouldn't have been able to tell, I was nice enough not to take a picture of the sad look he had after the helmet went on.   His first ride?  Well, we managed to get him to go around the blueberry field a few times.  Although, he was quite reluctant. Fast forw...

God's Word has really come alive to me since I've had my boys.  I think once you become a parent, you realize the incredible responsibility you have in teaching your kids...about everything.  Whether it be the mundane every day things to those big life lessons, they rely (mostly) on you to learn EVERYTHING.  You ask how does that makes me feel?  If I was honest, I'd say a bit fearful.  I know I don't know it all and I know Curtis doesn't know it all (although he knows quite a lot!).  And thankfully, we don't have to.  I find this verse popping in to my head a lot, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart.  Lean not on your own understanding.   In all of your ways, submit to Him and He will direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6 There's such a comfort in knowing that despite all my good efforts, I'll fail...And yet if I seek the Lord, He is always there to lift me up.  My role as Mommy has proven this verse time and time again. ...

Truly, the holidays are incredibly more fun when you've got little ones to share them with. They just get SO excited about the little things. William always gets excited about our tree hunt... Plugging his ears cause the chainsaw was "TOO LOUD!"...as if he's never heard it before! One day buddy...One day... And the decorating...You should have heard Calvin, with every ornament he pulled out of the box, "Mama!!!  LOOK!!!!"  (and why didn't I take a video of this?) And the present opening...SO exciting! There, I managed to get all five boys in one picture, even though Calvin's a blur cause he's running around! We're thankful for our Lincoln Logs... And SpiderMan Jacket... Most of all, I pray that our boys, even at their tender ages, would begin to grasp the true meaning of Christmas-A celebration of the birth of our King, Christ Jesus.  Thank you Grandma Marsha for always reminding us of his story before we open o...