Updates

Malachi had his 3 year check-up today. He got some vaccines ahead of time (for some reason), so there were no shots today! Woo-hoo!!! He was 33 lbs. and 35 1/2 inches tall. His vision is great and is up to par on all development. He is in the bottom 25% in height but the 75% in weight. He's built like his Daddy. He's not fat, but I didn't realize until yesterday how short he was compared to other kids his age. After the appointment got started, he did well. I was impressed at how well he did at listening compared to the way last week was.

I put Ezekiel on the scales while we were there, and he was around 21 lbs.!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!

My dog weighs...

90 lbs.!!!

I think its time for us to get her some more exercise and maybe a little less food.

I Need Advice

Somebody, please help me! I don't know what to do.

So, here is the series of events. We finally made our 3 year old get rid of his pacifier (only to sleep with since he was at least 2) just before his 3rd birthday. He still doesn't sleep well. Therefore, he gets up earlier in the morning than he needs to, and he is not napping as he needs to. Someone might say, well maybe he doesn't need a nap. OH, no, no, no, no, no, no! The past few days he has been throwing incredible screaming/flailing "I'm not going to be happy with ANYTHING!" fits. I can't do anything to help him calm down. Trust me. Usually when they come on, I am calm, cool, and collected and rarely raise my voice. I don't give into his whinings, though. He won't take a nap unless I lay down with him until he goes to sleep. Otherwise, he will just play quietly in his bedroom. Then, he will be in a horrible mood later. I can't get him to sleep enough. I don't want to start where he has to have someone lay down with him to go to sleep, but he NEEDS to sleep, and I need him to sleep!

I need good advice, please!!!

Beethovens or Mozarts?

It is Finished!

I finished painting the upper trim work in the living room! We have very high ceilings in the living room and kitchen. We rolled both rooms last summer but ran out of time to do the high trim work, not to mention that we didn't have a ladder that would reach high enough. Yesterday, during nap time, I knocked it out. Now all I have to do is finish the kitchen upper trim work and organize the office. We also bought Malachi and Ezekiel twin bunk beds. Malachi is in one of the twins, and we may move Ezekiel from the crib to the other twin soon. We probably won't "bunk" them for another year or two. So, we moved the boys to the front room which had been the office to give them more room to play and move. In order to do that, we had to paint the room and switch the stuff (not to mention that most of the "stuff" in the office is in piles from last summer. It was a little hairy here for a few days, but it is all coming together.

I hope to be finished with the kitchen this weekend and move to the new office (the old boys' room) to paint on Monday or Tuesday next week. My plan is to have the house mostly in order by the end of next week. If I start worrying about blogging less and work more, I should make my goal. That will give me about a week and half to "rest" before vacation. After vacation, school begins again. What fun!

I hope to finally get some before and after pictures posted soon, since it has taken us almost a year to get the house in order and mostly the way we want it. I'm a painting machine right now. I can't wait until next summer to truly get some time to relax and not have to worry about too much painting or organizing. Wish me luck!

Spray Grounds with a Friend

Yesterday, we went to a local park that has a spray grounds facility for free! Malachi and Kyla had a lot of fun. Ezekiel wasn't too excited about it but did get a little bit wet. There were lots of pictures, but these are some of the best.

My Favorite Picture

"Mommy, I like the taste of chlorine water on this ball!"

Buddies have so much fun together!

More chasing each other in the water

Ezekiel's Dedication

Today we finally dedicated Ezekiel to the Lord. He was dedicated by our Lead Pastor Rick Ross. Great Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw Hinson, Grammy & Grandpa, and Uncle David and Aunt Michelle all joined us on stage to support us and pledge to help aid us raise Ezekiel Luke in the way that the Bible intends for us to do. Ezekiel enjoyed being up on stage and seeing all the new faces but wouldn't let Pastor Rick hold him. Pastor Rick tried, but he lunged for Daddy. We were given some flowers, a certificate, and a small Bible for our precious son.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with Ezekiel Luke, as we make a statement that he is not ours but Yours. You have entrusted us with this precious gift, and we desire to raise Him to always desire to follow You.

Malachi's Birthday Party

Malachi had his birthday party Saturday (yesterday) and really enjoyed it. He got lots of cool toys and even some money. He played with some friends in the water and watched his other friends go down the slide. Even though he likes to go down the inflatable slide, he was afraid to go down it with water. So, he hung out in the small little kiddie pool.

Malachi opening presents and cards

Getting a little help from Momma to blow out the candles

Malachi and Ezekiel playing in the kiddie pool

Malachi's best bud, Kyla, going down the slide

Malachi's cousin, Jasmine, hurling her way down the slide

***Last night when I was laying down in Malachi's new big boy bed (twin bed) with him and talking with him about his day, he said, "I got snot on my suitcase." It took me a few seconds to figure out what he was saying. What he meant was his pillowcase! He caught Ezekiel's cold and after fussing about not wanting to go to sleep, he rubbed his snot on his pillowcase and didn't want me to lay in it. How sweet!

Birthday Fun

Happy Birthday, Malachi! You are 3 years old.

Malachi's birthday presents (Lightning & Mater Chair, Mickey Mouse figurines, and a pirate counting book) waiting on him this morning

This is the first time that I remember Malachi truly interested in opening all the presents himself and looking at them all. He had a blast!

Birthday breakfast with his little brother

Since Malachi's birthday is today, and Wednesdays are always SUPER BUSY for the Honeycutt house (especially Dad), I wrapped the presents that we had for him and opened them first thing in the morning. He'll get lots more presents at his party on Saturday. Since Daddy was busy today, we met Malachi's good friend Kyla for lunch and a stroll around the mall. He seemed to have a really good time. We also turned our free (thanks Pastor A & K) double stroller into a triple. You see Kyla's Mommy didn't realize that the car that she had didn't have a stroller, SO we laid down the back seat and let Kyla & Malachi sit together. They always enjoy that. Malachi opted to get out after a few minutes and walked beside the stroller.

On Monday, we got Malachi the other part of his present. We went to Build-A-Bear where Malachi chose an elephant (only b/c they didn't have an alligator) to make and wanted it to have a race car suit. While we were stuffing the elephant, Malachi put his bop inside the animal. We both knew that he totally didn't understand, but it was time. So, now he is not sleeping with a pacifier. Unfortunately, that also means that he is not sleeping much (period). He was up until midnight Monday night and 11pm last night. He's done a lot of crying for that bop, but we're not giving in. We should have done it a long time ago, but we knew it would be difficult, and we would lose some sleep. Last summer was an awful time b/c Malachi was sick a lot, and we were remodeling our torn-up foreclosure purchase. Now, it is ok if I don't sleep because I don't have to get up at 6am to get ready to go to work. I'm just tired and not getting all the painting and organizing done that I had hoped. It will come, and potty training has been put on hold until Malachi has come to complete terms with losing his bop.

Update

Everything has been going well here at the Honeycutt house. Daniel has been working hard on summer camp registrations for the NC district children's ministry, starting KWASP (Kids' World After School Program), and doing his typical jobs at the YMCA. I have been working a lot on the house and getting that in order. I'm finally going to finish the paint job that I started last July! We were blessed to take care of a 12 mo. old for three days. Boy, that wore me out! Malachi's birthday is coming up on Wednesday, and his party is on Saturday. Ezekiel is finally being dedicated in church this coming Sunday. I'm now the commander of the "older 2s" room at church. We had over 30 kids in the 2 year old rooms last week. Can you imagine if they had all been in one room like they used to be 2 weeks ago!?! Ezekiel has all 4 molars now but not all the teeth in between. We're having a blast hanging out and running errands. Potty training is not going that well, but I hope to focus on it after things calm down. I don't know when that is going to happen, but it will at some point (I hope). We're getting a brand new roof on our house thanks to all the hail storms that we have had (at least 4) in the past 2 months. Ezekiel is doing great from having his tubes in. Everything was clear when we went to the doc last week. I'm not getting much "rest" on my vacation but at least I can sleep past 6:30 every morning. Mr. B (a friend from church) cut down 2 of our trees in the back yard and will probably do one more. Daniel and I had to clean it up, but we will have a much better back yard soon. Woo-hoo! Thanks, Mr. B. I think that is all of my musings. Here are some pictures.

Concord First Assembly celebrated its 50th anniversary on Father's Day in June. To celebrate, they combined their typical Fourth of July celebration and the 50th parties together. On Father's Day, there were inflatables, food, drinks, entertainment (different Christian bands), and to end it all, there were fireworks! Happy Belated 50th Birthday, CFA!!!

"Super powers da res-you" (Super Powers to the rescue!)
I'm not quite sure where he got that from.

Ezekiel signed...

MORE!

This is the first time that Ezekiel has signed more correctly and completely unprompted. I was sooo proud and excited. We haven't done that sign a lot lately b/c he has never really seemed to want to use it. I'm soooo excited. He won't do the sign for all done anymore, but he used to do that one unprompted at times.

Yay!!!