The Jolliff Family

I took a few pictures last night of bathtime.  Bubbles make everything more fun:)  I just love this picture!  Andrew was being funny and giving me all sorts of grins. Today we had the opportunity to have Sam's buddy, Max, over for the day.  His mom had a field trip with his older brother, so we were happy to have him come play!  The boys had a fun time together and I must admit, Sam was occupied and I was able to accomplish alot!  However, this little guy felt left out!!  So, I had plenty of opportunities to read to him, play with him and spend some one-on-one time with Andrew.  During Andrew's nap time, I put Max and Sam to work!  Max is welcome back anytime, and not just because he is free labor:)  Happy Wednesday! Half way through this busy week and I am learning to be thankful for each moment of our days.  I have been meditating on this verse and I leave it with you, whatever your circumstance might be! "Rejoice in ...

A couple weeks ago, Sam had school pictures taken.  We received them back today:) This one is much better!!  I am cracking up at the pants tucked in the boots though because he never does that.  Most of the time he is concerned about his pants legs being over his boots!!  Either way, we certainly think it is precious:) This is his class! Front row: D'Shawn, Omar, Hunter Middle Row: Sammy, Elijah, Lilly, Sam and Rayan Back Row: Lucy, Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Friend, Molly Tonight was Sam's first night of swim lessons too!  He was so excited he wanted to get into his swim shorts as soon as possible.  Andrew was hilarious because after taking a picture of Sam, he walked over to the door and said "momma cheese, momma cheese."   There are three total in his swim class.  His teacher is Miss Colleen, we know her from the childcare at the gym.  She likes Sam and Sam likes her, so it was wonderful for him to already know and trust her!  ...

We have had a weekend of celebrating Easter.  As the pastor said this morning though, Easter is something that every believer in Christ can celebrate everyday by living a changed life! Yesterday, Carl and Jessica came over for the evening and night.  We enjoyed a nice dinner outside before the rain started!  Everyone enjoyed great conversation and watching the boys play in the back yard! This morning, the boys opened their Easter baskets.  Both received a movie and plenty of candy!  A little "egg-stra" special fun:)  Sam received some Cars goggles that he can use this week when swim lessons start!  I couldn't get a great picture of the boys this morning, this was the best I have of my dapper little guys!  They were more interested in the baskets than pictures. The boys and Grandpa and Papa Jolliff The morning worship service was awesome, with a powerful message of salvation!  Then we ate a big meal and some play time before the Jol...

The gym we are members of, had an Easter egg hunt and a visit from the Easter bunny this morning.  The boys enjoyed some fresh pancakes and bacon.  Sam took his time coloring his place mat!  They had a variety of crafts available, decorate a chicken, decorate an Easter bag and dying Easter eggs!  Both the boys decorated a chicken!  The Easter bunny showed up while we ate breakfast and Andrew liked him.  Walked over to him and smiled at him, then the bunny turned around and waved and Andrew wasn't so sure!  This was the best picture I could get of the both of them.  Classic!!  haha  Despite the funny smirk, Sam liked the bunny!  Then the boys scored some eggs and candy downstairs.  Since we have received so much rain over the last week, the egg hunt was moved inside.  It didn't stop the boys from having fun though! I know that Easter isn't all about eggs and chickens and a big massive rabbit, but it was a fu...

On Thursday, my mom came over as she was flying out to visit Nathan and Heather for the weekend.  She arrived while Sam was in school, and Andrew didn't mind the undivided attention!  After picking Sam up from school, we headed to Chick-Fil-A for a fun lunch and playtime before bringing my mom to the airport.  Sam didn't want her to go, but I assured him we will see her on Monday!  After a rainy day here, we dyed Easter eggs tonight!  Using hands is SOOOO much easier than that little metal egg thing!  The result... Thankfully, it comes off in a nice bubble bath!! The boys had a fun time working together to dye the eggs, with just a few egg casualties!  Sam asked if we could do it tomorrow, I told him we would have to see:)  It was a fun evening together. Happy Good Friday

Sam typically talks the entire way from home to church.  Last night was no different. He saw the cross in front of our church and said "That is a cross.  That is where Jesus died." I replied that he was right and asked if Jesus stayed on the cross. His reply "No, He is in heaven." Oh, how I rejoice that this truth is becoming real in his life and pray it is in your life this Easter weekend! "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since we have now been justified by his blood how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him.  For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." Romans 5 :8-11

Sam and Andrew are bookworms.  Sam especially likes to look through books and be read to.  During Andrew's naptimes, he often can be found sitting on his bed "reading" books!  Sam wants to read books every night before he goes to sleep, which we gladly do!!  Andrew also likes to look through books, but his favorite thing is to flip the pages. In my sorting through recently, I have donated lots of books and pulled out some favorite as well as books that will grow with them.  I combined three baskets full of books into one basket, and they seem to look through them more since they are all in one place!  We are thankful they like books:)

The boys had their hair cut today!! Before. After.  They look so handsome and just in time for Easter:)

Today we had a great event at church called Taste of Northside and Ethiopia.  Basically, different women of the church made a dish and you got a small tasting of the dish.  This worked out wonderfully, because everyone was able to try everything!!  We had approximately 60 women at the event, a great turnout!  Since the "price of admission" was a children's book to be donated to Onesiumus in Ethiopia, the tables had books on them.  It turned out so cute! The food tables.  We had 4 appetizers, 5 soups, 5 salads, plenty of deserts and some Ethiopian cuisine. Just the perfect size to take one and sample.  Then there was plenty of leftovers to go back and have more if needed.  I had plenty with one plate, everything was so good!!  I would love to have some of the recipes.  I made Cowboy Salsa and included the recipe on the bottom of this post! After Stephanie and I spoke about the 5 organizations we had the privilege of working with...

I feel like this week has been an unusual week and a very busy one.  I honestly feel like I have had alot on my plate this week and have been trying to get it all accomplished before tomorrow!  So, here is our week is review! On Tuesday at Sam's school, they had farm animals come for a petting zoo.  They had two horses, a miniature pony, two goats, some chickens, and rabbits.  Andrew and I walked over to enjoy the petting zoo too!  This is Sam and his friend Molly.  They were in class together last year also and so this year they have enjoyed being together again!  Andrew was fearless on the horse!  He rode it more than the other kids in the class:)  Sam also took his turn, but he was really disappointed to learn they didn't have any "bucking bulls" at the petting zoo:)  Feeding the goats was a favorite of all the kids in his class.  Those goats ate alot of grass while I was there!  On Tuesday we also headed to the $4 m...