Bargain Shopper

Yep, you guessed it!  It's consignment sale time again in these parts.  And, this girl scored a great new wardrobe for my growing boy.  I didn't sign up to help in this sale, so I had to shop with the other 350 consigners at the pre-sale which leads to some tight spaces and sharp elbows but, here's the final result...

16 shirts, 16 pairs of shorts, 1 swim shirt, 4 pairs of jeans and 5 pairs of shoes 

(including a like new pair of cowboy boots for the Special Kids Rodeo:)

Grand total:  $92.00

Seriously, children's consignment sales are the only way to clothe little ones, especially when the one cardinal sin in my family is paying full price.  A whole season's worth of name-brand clothes for a really great price makes for one happy momma!

Puppy Love

Daycare has it's perks...like Valentine's Day card exchange.  Sam has a bit of a crush on this girl in his class, Emily.  (Although lately it's been hard to convince her mother of this since he keeps biting her, but that's another story.)  Anyway, this was our first year to do something special for his classmates to celebrate Valentine's Day.  So, here are Sam's Valentine's this year...

Valentine's bugs with goldfish and fruit loop wings!

So much fun, and way better than chocolate!

 That pretty pink one...that's Emily's.

Tonight's bath time was also a special one.  We pulled out the 

"big boy" bathrobe and tried it out.  I think he likes it!

...followed by some before bed fun in V-Day pj's!

(In the laundry basket bed, his favorite new hang out spot)

Does it get any cuter than this?

Even Captain Destructo...

...has to sleep sometimes.  

Please notice the path of destruction constructive play 

that leads to a "bed" just his size.

He makes my life so fun...

Your Daddy's Boy

Sam,

Last night you had a bad dream, probably more of a nightmare by the looks of your face.  I had never seen you more worked up and fearful.  When I heard you cry out, your dad and I were on the sofa watching Courageous, which turned out to be a great movie.  It'll be a oldie by the time you read this, but you should rent it.  Anyway, I jumped up and came to you immediately to find you in tears and desperately reaching out of your little crib.  I picked you up and began trying to calm you.

Your dad came in the room just behind me, and as soon as you saw him, you reached for him.  You wanted him.  The tips of your fingers were white with the pressure of your grip on him. You laid your head down on his chest and immediately began to calm down.  It took you a long while to be ready to get back in your bed, but Daddy sat with you, and rocked you and comforted you.  With him, you knew you were safe.  You are your daddy's boy... and I can't blame you.

Your daddy is one of a kind.  He's outrageous, over the top at times.  To say he marches to the beat of his own drum is an understatement.  He's the life of a party.  He's a modern day MacGyver and can fix anything with gorilla glue.  He isn't concerned with approval from others; he does what's right.  He's chivalrous and teaches you and your brothers to be gentlemen. He takes responsibility for this house and leads by example.  He seeks the Lord on his knees and worships Him with lifted hands.  He's Courageous.  He isn't perfect, but his source is...

It is my prayer that you find your source one day and become a strong man who loves the Lord above all.  Your life may bring you more bad dreams, hard times, struggles of all sorts, but your God is faithful to carry you through.  He will never leave you alone.  He is your source for unexplainable courage and peace.  He loves you.  He's your Father.  I want nothing more than for you to be your Daddy's boy.

And what does the LORD require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. -Micah 6:8