payton ~ 7 months

Payton Joy...

 

 

 

 

...you are so full of life!!
We love you to pieces!

At your 7 month mark, you...

• are very picky eater and act so weird when we try to give you anything on a spoon. You totally just spit it out....and continue spitting until the person trying to feed you is covered in your food. Funny...but frustrating too little girl! :)
• totally love that bottle! And...I love just sitting down and feeding it to you...rubbing your legs...and have that little finger of yours wrap around mine. So sweet. :)
• enjoy sitting in the exersaucer and being 'vertical' for a while. You will just play with all of the  toys on there, but quickly let us know when you are done. I think you prefer just being on the floor and scooting around to toys and things you want...and playing with your big brother and big sister.
• continue to want to put everything in your mouth! I have to watch you closely. You can find the smallest things on the floor and it scares me to death!!
• are now sitting up in the cart when we go out shopping and you think you are 'big stuff.' :) And...because you are such a happy, social baby, mommy is stopped A LOT by people just wanting to say hi to you. You get the biggest grin on your face when people talk to you!
• love bath time! You pretty much always have, but are really starting to splash around in the water and play with all your bath toys.
• still take a morning and afternoon nap...sometimes that morning nap is over lunch which makes you eating at some weird times, but whatever works for you sweet girl!
• are now closer to a year old than a newborn...growing up too fast! I am loving this age with you though...you are just laid back and easy going. My favorite part is that you travel well!!

easter is in the air!

We have been busy around the Broady house this week learning new things about Easter and, as parents, trying to explain it in a way for young kiddos to understand. I realized I had some work to do when last week I asked Addison what she thought Easter was and...then I got her reply. :) First she said, "Jesus"...which is technically true...and followed that with "eggs." I knew there had to be some disconnect going on in that brain! I really wanted for her to grasp it this year...to really get it. And...you can ask her now! She knows the details and can tell it like it is.

I have been in a very thankful mood this week as I reflect on what these days would have been like for Jesus. We celebrate Easter and it IS a celebration, but when I think about the distress and agony He went through, even before the cross, I am moved to tears.

Luke 22:42
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

As I ponder, I can't imagine the struggle that he went through internally over what was about to happen to Him. I watched a brief portion of 'The Passion' last night...it is so intense and so....heavy for me. I have trouble even watching it. And to think...he chose to do that.The soldiers did not contain him in their own strength, nails did not hold him to the cross, and the stone did not keep him in the grave. He could have ended all of it at any time, but he chose to do it...pure sacrifice. I never want to be at a place that this does not move me.

Amazing Love
How can it beThat You, my King, would die for me?

Amazing love,

I know it’s true.

It’s my joy to honor You,

In all I do, I honor You.

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,I’m accepted, You were condemned.

I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,

Because You died and rose again.

You are my King

Jesus You are my King

(Chris Tomlin)

So...in order to hopefully make a mark on my munchkin's hearts, we tried to let this be a week of teaching them the meaning of what we are celebrating, what we are remembering.

We made palm branches...

 by coloring them first...

 ...then cutting them out, attaching pipe cleaners, and waving them as we walked around the house. We kept saying, "Hosanna, Hosanna"...explaining what the people meant by that when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. Kaden's sounded like "nana" but oh well. :)

 With their cute little palm branches. :)

 We made these at the kids' music class this week...stinkin' cute.

 

 This little guy liked wearing this around once we got home.

Mom and Dad, and a lot of the gang came over the other night and we dyed some eggs for some fun. The weather was so nice that we did it all outside...great for me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Look at that little face in the background. :)

Yesterday, I did another little project with the kids...explaining Jesus dying on the cross, being laid in a tomb... So, we made a tomb...or something like that.

 

 We painted it all brown.

Then we made a 'big stone' to put in front of the tomb.

 But....before we did that, they colored an angel to glue inside....

 

 Because...when the stone was rolled away by the angel, Jesus was not in there.

HE HAD RISEN!

Thank you Lord for your sacrifice and your amazing love for people like us...who are so far from deserving it. Your grace is unfathomable.

little fella

Keith was going outside the other day to cut the grass and Addison went running after him. The kids love to sit on his lap as he mows, and the first grass cutting of the year was no exception. The other two kids were asleep...so I went downstairs to tackle "laundry mountain." Oh my goodness...there is soooo much to wash. I was sorting the clothes when Addison came running in the front door excitedly yelling, "Mama, Mama, come outside!" She has recently been excited about the flowers that are popping up everywhere, but this was more than that. She screamed, "Me and Daddy found a 'little fella' and he is just so CUTE!" I wish I could have recorded her saying that because that was just so darn cute. :)
I ran out the front door not really sure what the 'little fella' was going to be...turned out to be pretty cute though!

 An itsy, bitsy baby squirrell.

 He sure was cute to look at, but we really think his nest fell out of the tree. :( Poor thing!

 He walked around for awhile and then started very slowly climbing up the big tree.

 
 Addison looked at this picture and informed me that he was camouflaging himself here "just like the chameleon book, Mama." Good 'text to world' connection...ha ha!

Here were the two mowers...Keith had one head phone in his ear...here he was putting the other in Addison's so that they could both listen to some tunes as they rode around. Too much for me. :)

keith's birthday

Keith is another year older now! The big 3-5! He is half of a decade older than me. :) I had been making some plans for his bday for a couple weeks. I love birthdays...just a day to make that person feel special. And I wanted to bless my husband! Saturday was his actual birthday. It was filled with things like folding laundry, dropping off our taxes, buying formula for Payton...all birthday related things of course. :)

We had church Saturday night and then a few people over to have some pizza and cake. And...an awesome cake it was...thanks to the amazing Ashley! Her cake skills are getting better and better!

Police cake with all of the appropriate accessories.

 The handcuffs were sooo real looking!

 Even had a look-alike badge for him. :)

 At the "party" Chelsey read a story to Addison...

 Kylie took pictures...

 Derek fed Cora...

 Chels kissed Stephen...

 Gregg acted...usual! :) ...

 Keith talked to Grandpa...

and Kylie and Addison played together.

I also found this picture on Chelsey's camera that I stole! Very interesting! Didn't even know they snuck outside. Silly Chels. :)

Then it was on to singing and eating!

 

Blowing out the candles.

After the cake, I presented Keith with a card. Inside the card was a 'golden ticket' that revealed his birthday surprise. It said that he was leaving Sunday morning to go to Cincinnati. He would see a Red's game (and other fun things TBA) with his AMAZING wife and the love of his life...with no children! :) He immediately said, "I have to work tomorrow." And I said..."No, you don't." I had called and put up a vacation day for him.

So...after cake and all the craziness fun, Mom and Dad took Addison and Kaden home with them. Sunday morning we met Chels and gave Payton to her and off we went!

In the car ALL ALONE with no one crying or calling our name. :)

 Then...on to IKEA where we bought a few things and got some great ideas!

 Then...on to the Red's game! The weather was nothing short of AWESOME! 76 DEGREES to be exact.

 We had super great seats and enjoyed the great weather and great game.

 With my 'bestest' friend.

 

 RUN!!!!!

 I took this so that no one can complain about the size of my camera any more!! :) I know this is a video camera, but the next time you think mine is big, remember this one! 

 

 Keith told me to take this because I think he was secretly jealous of his job! Hard at work as you can tell!

The result of the game was.....the REDS WIN! It was really a great game to watch and lots of fun with my hubs!

From there, we went to dinner at the Melting Pot. All I can say is delish! Then, it was back home to pick up the munchkins.

A great day it was.

Happy, Happy Birthday Keith Broady!