Bright Hope 5K

I'm so excited to say that some friends and I will be running a local 5K benefitting the organization, Bright Hope International. Here's a description of the organization taken from their website: http://www.brighthope.org/why_brighthope/difference.php

Bright Hope works to provide holistic help to the extreme poor through the indigenous church delivering basic needs including:

• Physical: food, clothing, shelter, medicine and education.
• Economic: micro-loans and job training to produce a product for fair trade.
• Spiritual: poverty is not just a physical or economic condition. There are emotional, psychological, and relational wounds from living in poverty that only Christ can bring healing to.

If you'd like to donate to the organization I have a fundraising page here - http://www.firstgiving.com/AmyElkins

Resemblance?

This is my dad's grandmother, Miss Mary or also known as Grammy Harper. Growing up people would always come up to me and say, "Oh you look just like Miss Mary!" But I had never met my great-grandmother or seen a picture, so I just had to take their word for it. Then in college I saw this picture for the first time and was like, "Woah! It's like me with a bun, no eye make-up, and a much better nose!"

Cousins

Family came in town this weekend and this was the first visit that the adults were outnumbered... and it definitely felt like it at times. :)

Evan and Micah exploring their artistic side.

Asher gave Micah his truest giggle yet! He just laughed and laughed when Micah sat in front of him. So cute.

So what do we want to do after tummy time?

Lizzie is two months younger than Asher, but you wouldn't think it to look at her! The girl is looong!

Micah earning his keep.

We love our kiddos and are thrilled that they have each other to grow up with!

Please Pray...

for a mom and baby this morning. The mom, Jenn is going into labor at only 26 weeks. We're praying that the baby would, despite it's prematurity, thrive with the medical care it receives after being born. Thank you all.

Just the Boys

Okay Asher, time for a little guy bonding time...

I'm going to tell you everything you need to know about important things... like how to throw a ball; any shape or kind.

Hmm, he doesn't seem as interested as I anticipated.

Oh well, that can't stop me from having a good time.

"Bro Time" is awesome!

But then Evan is shoved aside by another face vying for camera time.

And just like that, the boys club was infiltrated by pink.

Love Him!

Busy Week with Ma

This past week Ben and his dad were camping/hiking in Big Bend. They have great pictures, that I'm hoping to put up here at some point. While they were off having their "man-time", Ben's mom, Susan was here helping me hold down the fort. She was a huge help and we did a lot. In fact by trying to take advantage of the time she was here, I probably tried to fit in too much; shopping, the zoo, book sales, photo shoots and of course laundry, laundry, laundry. :) Thank you, Susan!

Elena and Ma share a love of puzzles!

Asher - 4 Months

- Asher is just at that sweet stage; sleeping through the night, long stretches between feedings, and beginning to entertain himself with watching life go on around him... it's great!

- I think the biggest thing that has changed since last month is that he officially sleeping in his crib. I was finally ready for him to make the big move upstairs.

- He's a spitter-upper. I'm so used to it that I forget not all babies require a bib for themselves and the person holding them.

- He's not taking a bottle... grrrr.

- I think he has begun teething. He can't figure out the paci, but his fists have a permanent place in his mouth. In fact I'm going to make the prediction that he'll have two little teeth just like Elena at 6 months.

- I love his company shopping or working at the computer. Who doesn't enjoy big baby grins coming their way?

- Stats: 15lb and 25in - 50% percentile for both

Asher, you are a blessing to this family!

Evan - 2.5 Years Old

Evan is officially two and a half!

- Swords are SO COOL. Any Bible story with a picture of someone holding a sword is his favorite. He recently fell in a broken-hearted heap on our stairs, sobbing a good 30 minutes, because he was not allowed to take the neighbors sword home.

- I don't know how he gets a good nights sleep. First of all he sleeps in all sorts of weird positions on his bed, but especially because he roosts on his lumpy, metal, Hot Wheels cars as if he was a mother hen... can't be comfortable!

- Of course he can't be too uncomfortable in bed because he obeys the rule of staying in bed beautifully... so obedient!

- He's learning his colors, or at least green, red, and blue because those are the colors represented in the Nutri-Grain Bar variety pack.

- He loves to sing along to the songs we listen to in the car.

- He gives his siblings (or anyone else for that matter) such warm greetings! "Hi Wayna, I miss you!" or in a super high pitch voice, "Hi Asser, Hi Asser!"

- He'll often call motorcycles, "scooters" because of his familiarity with Dad's scooter. I'm sure Harley-hogs would really appreciate him putting them in the same category. :)

- Oh, and on the subject of motorcycles. There is a model motorcycle in his classroom at Kids Day Out. He picks that thing up the moment he walks in the door and doesn't put it down till it's time to leave.

- With Evan, counting is fun. You never know what the numeric order will be that day.

- We pass so many trucks on our way to church, which is just thrilling. In between singing he's saying, "Woah! I see truck!", "Look mommy, der a truck!"

- "I hold you" is Evan speak for, "Will you hold me?"

- The kids have to ask to be excused before they get down from the table. It usually goes like this with Evan:

"Mommy, I be escused?"

"Yes Evan, you may be excused."

Pause.

"Mommy, I get down?"

"Yes Evan, you may get down."

- On our scale he is 32.5 lbs, which happens to be only 2lbs less than Elena!

- Whether it's swinging a bat or golf club; catching or throwing a ball, he's game.

- Grandaddy Mace says, "If he doesn't know the word, he says it louder."

He is uber enthusiastic about life and such a joy to raise. We love him to pieces!

The Reach

Last night Ben noticed that Asher was not just sitting and staring in his bouncer as per the usual; far from it! He was sitting, staring, and reaching for the dangling toys. What an accomplished child we have!

I tell you what, these milestones are no less exciting the third time around. I love celebrating them!

I think I can, I think I can...

the foot grab

Gotcha!

The Infamous Baskets

I stacked mucho tupperware in the bottoms of these suckers for filler. :)

Easter Bonnet

Hot Wheels!

Asher had a little light up toy in his... but he didn't really seem to care.

Resurrection Cookies

Part of our Easter celebration this year included making "Resurrection Cookies." My friend, Kate gave me the idea to do these and sent me the link, ( Resurrection Cookies ). Even though ours didn't turn out exactly the way they are supposed to, they still were fun to make and a great way to get the kids involved as we talked about Jesus' death and resurrection.

No Guilt in Life, No Fear in Death

Happy Easter Everyone! What a day to celebrate the life we have been offered through one man's death and resurrection!

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

‘til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

My Kid's Easter Basket Ate Your Kid's Easter Basket

So many cute pictures from today, but I had to at least post this one before bed. I've gotten so much flack about the ginormity of my kids' Easter baskets... and it is all deserved. :)

Bluebonnets!

Three years we have been waiting! Waiting for a season of enough rain and whatever else is required to make bluebonnets bloom here in San Antonio. My heart is so happy to see all the wildflowers along the road but even more happy to now have these pictures.

I was looking up the pictures we took three years ago and couldn't resist sharing them. Elena was only a few months past her 1st birthday and an only child!