Inside Slide...

It was so beautiful this past week, but with the wonderful jets, we were unable to enjoy the outside. So mike brought it inside! The slide is a little small for Logan but that didn't slow him down. Austin also learned how to climb up the back and slide on down! Yes, I was a bit nervous at one point in the clip, but that is because he almost fell backward off the slide. Anyways, it was a lot of fun!

Some thoughts, stories, and a few pictures!

There has been lots on my mind lately, but one thing that seems so awesome to me (and this may be random) is how fitting Jesus's job was before he started preaching....a Carpenter! Think about what a Carpenter does. He created things, pieces of furniture, from scratch. Carved them, fit the pieces together so intricately. He had the plans in His head before the creations were created. Just like us, He created us, weaved us together before time began! A Carpenter creates pieces of furniture for a purpose, to serve others, to be a reason for doing something. Just like us, we are created for a purpose bigger than ourselves. The pieces of furniture are many small pieces made up into one large one. Just like there are many Christians making up one body. My favorite part is this...that when the Carpenter sees an imperfection, or sees that something needs to be fixed, he sands the wood, touches the wood with his hands lovingly to make sure the part of the wood is perfect. He then stains or paints the wood to create a beautiful masterpiece. Jesus has sanded down my imperfections, reached in a lovingly touched my heart and sees me as a masterpiece because of the blood shed for me (the stain or paint covering my sins/imperfections) God is so smart sometimes I just smile and am in such awe of the perfect plan He has had from the beginning!

A FEW FIRSTS

1-I french braided my hair for the first time this weekend! When I looked up how online it said to not do it with wet hair and not in the mirror...well, I did it with damp hair and had to have a mirror...my arms were killing me (those of you who can d

o it are probably laughing) but I was so proud of myself!

2-Logan played outside in the backyard by himself for the first time this weekend! We had beautiful weather and Logan was so stoked to be outside. He had a great playmate, Otis, and they played and played.

3-Logan also had an accident this weekend for the first time in months! It was so strange because he had two accidents right in a row...I have chalked it up to him playing outside and not wanting to come inside to use the potty.

4-I ran 5 miles in 45:39. Can't believe it....!!!

Anyways, the Morris family is doing well. Mike is going away for a couple of weeks for some training soon, hopefully he will be back for the weekend of my 8K and then have to go back to training. Austin is enjoying his new walking freedom and doesn't seem to mind that he tips over almost as many times as he steps! He enjoys "talking" on the phone and I swear he is saying "hello". Logan and Austin have been playing together so nicely lately, mostly making big messes with their pretend food, but hey, at least they are loving each other! We just bought tickets to a Monster Truck Show on the Beach in May. A special date that Mike and I will take Logan on. We were wanting to rent a hotel room with a view of the show for that weekend, but they are all booked...probably booked since the last show! We have also bought tickets to see NeedtoBreathe...a Christian group. They are awesome and have really enjoyed running to their music. We are pumped to get to go to another concert, Mike and I really enjoy those times and always come back refreshed mostly because the music is all about glorifying God! I am stoked to run the 8k in 8 days and have already gotten some "Shamrock" gear to wear during the race. I have been very blessed to have reached my donation goal, actually exceeded it! Thank you to all who donated and supported me and the Lymphoma and Leukemia society! You guys ROCK! Anyways, Austin is awake, so I must go!

I love this picture because it is typical Austin with his phone, and Logan climbing (doing something he shouldn't)
The boys playing together

My almost 3 year old!

He has some pretend food in his hand...I think it is a radish

typical walking stance for Austin...pointing his fingers for balance

The Hurt Locker

What does Hurt Locker mean? Well, it means to be in a place with a lot of pain, or harmful box...basically Mike told me that if you were near a bomb and it went off, you would be in a Hurt Locker or in a lot of pain. I know that Mike would kill me if he knew I was posting on this, even though he will find out, I thought as an EOD wife I should clear some air about the movie. I am glad and interested that it won best picture at the Oscars. Didn't really expect that. We watched the movie in Jan and I thought it was good...very different and interesting. The main character is one of those guys on the team that you would hate to have. No teamwork, in it for himself. Even though he disarms all these crazy bombs, he is ignorant as to how it is affecting the rest of the team. In this I find it unrealistic. Now, don't get me wrong, I am sure those kinds of bombs exist and those situations have happened before, but there are protocols and certain ways to disarm the bombs, not just "lets go!". Anyways, I don't know enough about the EOD job to say anything important...just a wife! One thing that did scare me about the whole movie is what seemed like a lack of security. I mean, Mike and many other techs are out in the open disabling bombs while the Iraqi people can watch and sometimes video tape! I don't know what it is like there, but I pray there is more security than what I saw! I think it is a neat movie, however, I know Mike would disagree...and I can understand how frustrating would it be for me to watch one of the only movies about motherhood that totally misrepresented the whole thing! It was a good action movie and had a lot of intense scenes! Mike said they did represent the country and location fairly accurately. Let me know what you guys think if you have seen it!

New on my wish list...

I probably collect slings or carriers like some people do purses or shoes. I have acquired about 4 since Logan was born, two were given to me and 2 I bought. I swear by the Baby Bjorn and the Moby Wrap, but I have learned that both of those are meant more for younger babies and once they hit 23lbs like my chunky Austin, then it can be hard to carry them that way. At our church there are many, MANY families with many little ones. They all have their creative ways of toting around their kids and one gal who is about 9 months pregnant carries her toddler on her back with one of these carriers shown below. I was like, if a very pregnant woman could comfortably carry her large child (probably 2 year old), I could comfortably carry Austin! I have come to the conclusion that the carrier may ease many of my outings that I do by myself with the boys. Especially with Mike gone training and then deployment I could use the help! (today's grocery shop sent me over the top!). I am praying and hoping that maybe a new carrier may ease my issues, but only time will tell right?

I have narrowed it down to these two awesome carriers that can also carry the child in the front. Neither of them wear like the Baby Bjorn when a child is in the front and forward facing. If the child is in the front then they have to face the wearing adult. But the Baby Bjorn and Moby Wrap do not carry on the back for heavier kids. I don't know if I will want to tote around a 45 lb (the limit) child, but at least it would be an option! It would just be like carrying a high school backpack full of books! Right?!?!? Anyways, I am going to research the reviews and try and get a good deal, AND of course if Mike says it is ok. I will let you know! Which one do you guys like based on the pictures...which one looks more comfortable for me or for Austin?

This one is called the BabyHawk Oh Snap! and to me looks the most comfortable and easy to get on.

Another view of the BabyHawk

This is a Beco and is the kind the gal at church wears. What do you all think?

Austin's walking progress...

Austin's walking has progressed and I am impressed on how much he wants to do it even though his wonderful older brother seems to think it is funny to knock him down. I got him a pair of shoes and he acted like a dog would if you put them and stepped around real funny and looked like he had cement blocks on.

This is one of Austin walking only in the beginning and then I tried to get Logan but it was fuzzy

Here Logan did his infamous bumping into Austin...kinda funny but not really. Brothers will be brothers

Boys will be boys...

Mike had some camo face paint lying around his shop at work and even though they probably don't use it for his job, he thought it would be fun to bring it home and get the boys painted all up! They had a blast even though I was freaking out about them getting it on our couches. Perhaps this summer they can have fun OUTSIDE with it! This is when it gets good living with all boys...

Lover Never Fails...

Most everyone knows 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, it is read at weddings and comes to mind of when thinking about a spouse or someone you love. But have you ever replaced the word LOVE with GOD? When I heard this song of course I thought of the marriage that I have been so blessed with. My wonderful husband who has exceeded every expectation since the day we met and continues to make my heart well up with love and adoration. The other day we had some intense fellowship and I hopped in the car and this song was playing and totally melted my heart and all my frustrations away. I remember when Mike and I were in our early years of marriage, we were driving along the 5 in CA coming back from his family's in Modesto and we got in one of our many heated arguments during that phase in our relationship. As we were giving each other the silent treatment we both looked up at one of the biggest and most bold billboards and it read: "Need Marriage Counseling? --God" We both looked at each other dumbfounded and very humbled. Needless to say we laugh about that day often.

1 John 4:8 says "Whoever does not Love does not know God, because God is love." God is love, that basically sums Him up! If you put all things together, it all leads back to love in Christ's way of loving. An Unconditional love. A kind of love that we aren't able to do even a little of the time! But think about God's amazing love towards us...so forgiving, jealous, passionate, etc. When I thought about this song and replaced the word "Love" with "God". It took on a whole new meaning for me! It humbled me, made me even more crazy in love with God and those around us, and ignited new passions. I know this is quite personal, but why not talk about God's love and all that he does for us? Why not? It is so great and it effects us EVERYDAY! I hope you guys like the song...I am going to try and get a link up here for youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2HMuADj5mA

Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all
Matters the most

Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep
Locked inside

Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you

Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease
At the end of time

Love will protect
Love always hopes
Love still believes
When you don’t

Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you

When my heart won’t make a sound
When I can’t turn back around
When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater than this
Greater than this

Love is right here
Love is alive
Love is the way
The truth the life

Love is the river than flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly to
Love never fails you