Remembering our Jedi

Well this weekend we were able to celebrate the life of our very own Jedi- Noah Larkin. I just can't put into words how beautiful and touching the ceremony was. It really was a celebration of his life and we rejoiced that Noah accomplished in 8 years his mission on earth and was able to join the heavenly host praising God for eternity.



There was an orchestra (Noah LOVED classical music- especially John Williams)- a beautiful, loud choir- Landin sang the "Our Father" as a solo- and the Bishop had the children come sit on the steps in front of the altar to talk to them about being a "real" Jedi in the service of God. We sang Holy, Holy, Holy, A Mighty Fortress is our God, Joyful Joyful we Adore Thee, How Great Thou Art, Ave Maria and Noah's favorite song- Silent Night. It ended with us singing How Great is Our God.

Afterwards we all went to a reception hall and celebrated Noah's precious life. Sadly, we forgot our camera in the rush of packing and had to use Marc's blackberry- thus the lackluster photos.



Greeting us at the reception hall were all the Star Wars characters- we all wore green- Noah's favorite color-



This is my beautiful, faith-filled sister-in-law who is teaching me how to glorify God in all things- She brought the characters for all the children from his school and church that came- she didn't want them to be scared or sad. 





Marc and his parents-



Zaza and her sister, Aunt Susan-

We love you Noah and will always love you.

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
  2 Corinthians 5:4-9

Lady A and Hootie!

What a treat! Tonight we went to see Lady Antebellum opened by Darius Rucker and Thompson Square. Marc and I have had tickets for months to go with another couple who couldn't go at the last minute because of work issues. So....I asked Fashionista Holly and Kaycee to go with Marc and I- BB was going to babysit. Then tonight when BB got to the house, Marc said, "you know- it's really a girl night tonight and I don't even know who these bands are- why don't you take BB?" Done! :) We all went to dinner and met up with Shana and Matt, who also had tickets-



Holly and Kaycee watching Hootie...I mean Darius Rucker...sing his set. Listening to him sing a few Hootie and the Blowfish songs (including Hold My Hand, I only want to be with you, and Let Her Cry) reminded me that there were a few good songs on the radio during high school. :) He oddly sang "Purple Rain" as his last song.



Diet Cokes in the house!



He was singing "Family Tradition" by Hank-



Then it was time for Lady Antebellem- they were SO GOOD! They sounded just like the radio-



At one point Darius Rucker and Thompson Square came out and had a big jam session singing Black Water by the Doobie Brothers-



"This world keeps spinning faster- to a new disaster- so I run to you, I run to you...baby......"

"American Honey"-



And of course the "encore" (i.e. nobody is leaving until they hear it)- "It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone, and I need you now..." (complete with a quick wardrobe change by Hillary-



I will say, for these two to be married to other people they sure do get into the songs and seem to be in love sometimes-



A fun night out with the girls. And here are pics I need to get off the camera from Sunday- Charlie and his favorite person-

Overheard

While reading words with Tucker I was making up sentences. He wanted to make up his own sentences, which cracked me up. A couple:

Mommy: "kick". I kick a ball

Tucker: "kick". I like to kick some cups.

Mommy: "sack". A sack of candy.

Tucker: "sack". A sack of kittens.



While having Marky read aloud to me about Abe Lincoln he gets to a part where a guy wants to "lick" Abe. I say to Marky, "that means he wants to fight". Marky says "oh, I know. It makes me think of Davey Crockett when he said, 'My Daddy can lick any man in Kentucky and I can lick my Daddy.'". The boy doesn't forget what he reads. Ever.

While talking to the kids about long lives and short lives, rich and poor, sick and well, we were talking about which kind of life was best. (the answer being whichever life gets you closest to God and His will). Julia sits thinking and says, "A short life can be a gift if you are a Christian because you go straight to heaven and have less chance to offend God."

Speaking of Tuck Tuck

I guess we weren't speaking of Tuck Tuck, but because he wasn't in the last post let me mention him. :) Last night we had a sitter and had a date night. When we got in she said that she tried laying with Tucker and stroking his hair as he went to sleep. She said he kept lifting his head saying "Don't sleep with me" and "Stop- you are making my hair flat." :)

Flat Tucker hair would be a misfortune indeed. P.S. See he is holding "Emily" from the Thomas the Tank Engine series. Lately he at all times and everywhere has a train engine in his hand.





Also- he is getting tired of me bragging on the big kids' art that they make me and he has joined in the fun. He just brought me this-



"I made this for you, Mommy! Don't you love it?!!!"

"Of course I do, Tuck Tuck- what is it?"

"A cow and a frog. ... In the rain. ... The frog is smiling. ... The cow is saying 'no'."

"I love it you sweet fluffy-haired boy."

VBS finale

Today the kids had their VBS finale- the theme as I said was "Sky" and they sang some songs with that theme including "I'll Fly Away" and "Up From the Grave He Arose." I, of course, with Noah on my mind, cried as I heard 160 children singing "When I die, Hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away."



Marky sang on his crutches-



BB came- don't we love having her live in town?

In other news, Charlie is learning to love books- and it all started with this one he is holding. It, along with its companion book have always been my babies' first books and they all love them!



Also- he finally figured out what I want him to do when I say "How big is the baby?" Sooooo biiiiiiig!



10 months old is a good time to start your tricks-



I'm glad he's liking books- it gives him a reason to sit in my lap. Here's what he does when I try to hold him without having something to entertain him- he doesn't snuggle for free. :)



And here's a quick video of punkin's tricks-

VBS week....

This week the big kids have been at VBS- the theme is "Sky"- I'm sure you've seen it around town- TONS of churches are doing it. They are having a great time and I am loving my time with my two little boys! One day I took them to the McWane Center and just did baby stuff- Charlie had his first experience with the water table. Oh how I remember taking Marky here and standing at this water table forever when he was a baby!

Today I took them to the Southern Museum of Flight's playroom- we were the only ones there and had a blast- we worked puzzles, rode the push toys, read books-



I introduced Charlie to the slide- he'd never been down one. It was a hit!



Earlier this week I took Sissy to get her hair cut into a bob- she looks so cute with a bob- (see last summer)-



BUT- when I got there I chickened out! I just think she has such pretty hair it's hard for me to cut it!



We ended up cutting it four inches- you can definitely tell she's had a haircut, but it's still below her shoulders. :)

I forgot to mention that we bought some new furniture a couple weeks ago. First, we go two new headboard/footboards for the downstairs twin beds (guest room)- so that room looks a lot more finished. Then we had to get a bed for Marky because on crutches he couldn't get into his top bunk. We bought twin beds and put one in the attic and one in the boys' room. I was afraid it would make the room feel too jam packed- three beds after all- but it really doesn't- I love it! We put the new twin bed where Tucker's dresser was-



Then we moved the bookcase to the end of the bunk beds and put the dresser there- no big deal- all the same furniture-



And I have to add that Marky still plays with his playmobil castle and knights all the time- it was definitely worth the money back in the day- it's created years of battles for our big boy! (And Tucker and Julia enjoy it too)-



When I was walking down the hall to get the pictures of Marky's room I passed this- doesn't she look peaceful?



But then I had to get a pic of her haircut. :)

Oh- and I got this painting at TARGET of all places- three little brown-haired boys just like mine- I LOVE IT and put it down on the boys' end of the hall!