Boys.

Growing up I was a boy at heart. I loved the woods, getting dirty, practicing soccer in the front yard until I could barely see the ball anymore, and building things. KNEX were my specialty and I loved seeing my finished work. I also loved playing with dolls-mainly to fix their ailments, teach them something over and over again, or cut their hair- but I despised getting dressed up and loved being in my umbros and soccer t-shirts.

God saw fit that we have two boys and it has worked out beautifully for me. I love our time crawling through tunnels, building "caves" with blankets and throwing the ball. As they get older, those times will grow few and mom will be an embarrassment, so for now, I'm soaking up my time in the trenches!

jumping on the bed.

skills.

The Natural Science Museum in Raleigh

For Christmas, the boys received a reciprocal membership to Children's museums across the US. It has been awesome, and it has paid for itself already! In addition to the children's museums we took up a chance to visit the free Natural Science museum in Raleigh a few weeks back. Here are just a couple pictures from the visit.

thats one big dino.

Brothers

I love it when they love each other and Im bracing myself for the beat downs--it won't always be Speirs coming out on top!

Fixing things together.

Best one yet.

Typical

Daddy is a FIREMAN!

On December 17th, Craig and 11 of his buddies from the 61st recruit class graduated from the Greensboro Fire Academy! Craig received two awards and was chosen to give a short speech, which was, of course, hilarious. The whole ceremony was awesome and we are super excited that those 20 weeks are over. Despite being really glad that the academy is over, God has been gracious to our family and guided us through what could have been a really rough time on our marriage. When the families gathered for family night back in August, one of the Captains gave us some crazy statistic for separations/divorces during the academy. After the first week, I could see why. Our husbands had morphed into physically drained zombies who had to study every weekend for an exam on Monday morning. Family time was left to the curb if it wasn't structured and almost forced. But, like I said, God was gracious and gave Craig energy to sit on the floor and play with the boys on evenings that he just wanted to go to bed (at 6pm), to eat dinner with the family, and patience to answer my every question about the academy (I had a lot). It was a great time for me to "step up" the helper role that the Bible calls wives to be in and surprisingly and awesomely (new word I think) Im not tired of that role at all. I'm cherishing it. And I love love looooove hearing Speirs say, "Wy Wy! Wy Wy! Daddy is a fireman!"

Burn Day: Craig is working at the front of the hose.

Outside!

Our apartment has a nice little patio/porch area that has been amazing for Speirs. Thankfully, it is a closed space that allows him to go outside and entertain himself doing a world of different things! We recently put up a swing on our porch, which has been a hit with both boys. What kid doesn't like to swing?!

I wept.

Death always always always shocks me. Perhaps I haven't dealt with it enough or perhaps even if I had, it would still make me weep every time. If the person is 85 or 25, I can't seem to wrap my mind around the fact that I will never see them physically on earth again. Last night, my mom called to tell me that a beloved friend from high school, Jon Green, passed away. The initial hit struck hard and after hanging up the phone I sat in shock. The shock only lasted so long before I started sobbing over the life of a friend lost. His smile was contagious and his personality was top notch. No one met him who didn't love him. I haven't seen him in years but I am pretty confident by the notes on facebook that he was still the same Jon, making people laugh and loving life. He was a son, a brother, and a friend who will be missed.

We weren't meant to taste death and maybe thats why it hurts so much. Jesus, we long for you to restore what is broken, come soon.

Getting Big

Wyatt is getting so big. I have seriously been slack about blogging but I have been taking pictures! One post is really all I have time for right now, so this one is for Wy Wy and his astounding growth over the past five months! We had to go to the doctor the other day for a cold and he weighed 18 lbs! It appears he will be following in his big brothers footsteps when it comes to size! He is sitting up, rolling over and downing the solid food!