Happy Halloween!

We've gone from Easter to Halloween with a whirlwind of life and activity in between! Our theme for last season was "Celebrate Summer," which we did so mightily that we lived instead of blogged. It was fun. Here are the annual Hobbs Halloween family costumes and pumpkin! I rediscovered a love for Mary Poppins this year (as the kids were introduced to her) and we had fun recreating the characters. Introducing... Mary Poppins with Miss Jane and Master Michael Banks! (Brad was going to be Bert, but was ill that night. Too many tea parties with blokes on the ceiling, I'd say.) And of course, the corresponding Popkin: Bridger quickly figured out how to beg for candy: The costumes mostly came from thrift and craft stores, although Brooke's dress was one of Mom's when she was a girl. (I remember wearing it, too.) We went to Central Baptist's Halloween carnival on Friday night, where we won the prize for the best family costumes. I had several children come up to me thinking I was the real Mary Poppins! One little girl said she saw me on TV. I smiled and said, "Oh, I loved being on TV! It was so much fun!" One of the best moments was when Brooke came around a corner and saw me dressed for the first time. She jumped, stopped, and then looked for a few moments, and finally said, "You startled me!" Even though she had seen me mostly dressed a moment ago, the full picture took her off guard and she thought I was really Mary for a moment. Magic!

It was fun celebrating in Kentucky for a change. (I'd love to write more on that, but I need to go to bed!) Cousin Elizabeth was very cute as Tinkerbell. You can see the effects of the excitement and candy on the kids:

It may have worked in our favor for Brad to have been sick this year. Brooke's solution is that we can all be the same characters next year so that Bert can wear his costume! Especially since that saves me a ton of work and we'll probably be back here among friends who missed the Kentucky fun... that works for me!!! Quite right -- practically perfect in every way! :)

Happy Easter!

I've decided that Easter is my favorite holiday because of the significance of the resurrection. Without it, I and everyone else who trusted Jesus as Lord would be fools. Because Jesus rose from the dead, he is the Christ, my Savior. If he had just been another good teacher or prophet, I could pick and choose what I want to believe about Him. He'd be another good man with good ideas, but with no power to actually save me from God's penalty for sin. Because of His victory over death, I know that He is worthy of my worship and a life fully surrendered to Him.

So, I was very excited about celebrating Easter this year! It's sweet to see Brooke understand more and more every year. And yes, it was fun to have Easter baskets, hunt for eggs, and gussy up the kids! We had a wonderful afternoon at Mama and Papa Ford's house.



Brooke's dress is one of Gran's old dresses from her childhood. Or maybe an aunt's? I'm sure someone can identify it! Gran also supplied Bridger's Easter outfit. I was disappointed to find on Easter morning that he had outgrown his saddle shoes. (And no, I won't dress him up so "sweetly" when he's older, but I will enjoy my little cherub now!) They were absolutely precious together and I'm so grateful to be their mom.

Time for a new post

Funny how every now and then I'll be checking blogs, and then will check ours. I'm secretly hoping that somehow the Blog Fairy will have posted and amazing update, complete with gorgeous photos and dripping with wit. Hasn't happened yet. (Confession time: I also harbor the idea that my keys should always be on the hook, even if that's not the last place that I left them, just because I've seen them there so many times. And, even though we've lived in our house over 5 years, I still have a wonderful recurring dream that I'll find a new door, open it, and discover a full daylight basement....) So, yes, I've just been living in denial for 3 months that our last blog post was of Christmas Day. I've taken very few pictures of the kids the last few months. I have a dying camera battery that will only stay charged for a few shots at a time, and, we've been too busy stimulating the economy, spending lots of money (and time) dealing with house projects lately. More on that later...

Here are a few pictures, though. Enjoy!

Brooke had a wonderful train birthday party (her first drop-off party) with a James cake. She still loves showing everyone her 4 fingers to show her age.



Brooke loves tents! She received one for her birthday, which she quickly named her "tabernacle," thanks to BSF and our Life of Moses study! She slept in it every night, on top of her bed, until it was replaced by Uncle David's Thomas tent from Christmas. (Now the rule is that she can sleep in her Thomas tent if she hasn't had any time-outs that day.) The tabernacle is a great place for a tea party with her big girl tea set, which was her birthday present from us. Bet you didn't know that the train Diesel likes peppermint tea!


Bridger loves balloons. In fact, he woke up crying in the middle of the night last week and I went in to check on him. I picked him up and asked him what was wrong. The reply? "Boon! Boon!" For the record, kid, I do NOT appreciate being dragged out of bed at 3 in the morning to hear a request for a balloon! (And no, he didn't get it. Mean old mommy, not letting him sleep with a choking hazard!)

Check out Bridger's "Balloon Game." This is the mild version! Fortunately, it's not always directed at Brooke. He just loves to swing balloons as violently as he can. Maybe Elizabeth can teach him the calmer game from the Waggener sisters' childhoods during our visit next week.

Christmas Day 2008

Merry Christmas! What a wonderful, magical day! Christmas with an almost-4-year-old and 15-month-old is a special, sweet time. We were blessed with a happy, peaceful day at home. Scott, Nancy, and David stopped by for brunch and more presents! We’re all feeling rather spoiled! Thanks for all of the great gifts, everyone!

Opening presents with Daddy (note the matching jammies from Aunt Amy -- too cute!)

Our kids must have been very good, because Santa sure did right by them. He brought Brooke the four things on her list: a bike, a tennis racket, and Jack and Alfie (two Thomas the Tank Engine characters). Bridger got a 4-wheeler riding toy, a T-ball set, and the classic Fisher Price garage from when we were kids. He knew just what to do with them all, too!

Santa came!

So who remembers this classic toy? An oldie but goodie!


Bridger tries on Brad's new hat.

Here's a video of "the Best Present of All!!!" (so-called by Brooke... score for Uncle David)!


The only time we left the house was for a swinging and bike-riding break!
Our tough little guy (Note the warm weather! No white Christmas in Atlanta!)


Livestrong, Brooke Armstrong!

One of the sweetest times of the day for me was our Christmas dinner tonight, just the 4 of us. We even used the fancy crystal. We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and enjoyed the cake we had decorated for Him. I had asked Brooke what kind of cake she thought was Jesus’ favorite. I was going for chocolate or vanilla or strawberry or something like that… but I’d forgotten that a child doesn’t think in flavors (e.g., her favorite ice cream is “pink” ice cream – not “strawberry”). Her sweet 3-year-old mind went to the best cake ever for Jesus – a Thomas cake! So, a Thomas cake it was!

We had lots of fun decorating it yesterday and it was a good way to teach her that even in all the hustle and bustle of the season, Jesus is worth taking the time to make a birthday cake. (Okay, so we didn't get all of our wreaths hung this year, but Jesus had a cake!) I think I see another tradition forming... I wonder what Jesus’ favorite cake will be next year?
"Peep, peep, Jesus!"

Yesterday she asked me, “How will we get the cake to Jesus?” I explained that Jesus lives inside of us in our hearts, and when we eat the cake, he gets some, too. It worked for her! She told us tonight that Jesus was getting the cake inside of her. As we ate the cake, Brooke was in a very sweet, contemplative mood and was asking us lots of questions about God and Jesus. It was a precious time. I am honored to be married to a man with such wise, gentle answers to her sweet questions.

I feel so very blessed; the material goods are only the smallest beginning of all we've been given. God has done a great work in me and our family.

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Fabulous Fall

Even though we're all in the swing of the Christmas season, technically it is still fall until December 21, so I'm right on schedule for a much-needed Fall post! Our trip to Boyd's orchard in Kentucky was very fun! After all, what's better than wagon riding with cousin Elizabeth and playing in hundreds of pumpkins?



Thanks to our neighbor's oak tree, we were blessed with lots of very pretty leaves! Brooke was a good raker and pine cone gatherer, but her true talents shown in leaf compaction and wagon riding! Bridger enjoyed toddling around and sporting his Kentucky pride. I try to get the kids outside as much as I can when the weather cooperates. The most-requested activity is swinging "super high in the sky" and "super high for a baby!" All swing-pushers are extra-welcome to come visit! Thanksgiving was lots of fun. Brooke and Grandmother had made hats together for the occasion and everyone was a good sport. The food was very yummy and we were very thankful! And finally, check out Bridger's new favorite game! He'll go into the bathroom and turn the sink on himself.

Yes, he was fine from the little tumble at the end. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the part where he leans over the edge of the counter -- feet dangling -- and sticks his face in the water, then looks up at himself in the mirror and laughs and laughs... and then repeats it all over again! I have to remember to close the door unless I'm up for changing a wriggly, soaking toddler who didn't want to stop his fun!