Last night, Mark and I went on a date (with Josiah) to see Shane & Shane, Bebo Norman, and Monk & Neagle in concert. Now, for those who are not versed in Contemporary Christian music, they’re singers, strange as their names may be. Mark and I thoroughly enjoy Bebo Norman’s music. I much prefer his earlier acoustic music but that’s just me.

Yesterday was also one of my best friend’s birthday. So, I conspired with her husband to get her to the concert. She had mentioned to me earlier in the month that she liked all of those artist but I knew she would never get tickets to go see them. Her husband arranged childcare and Mark and I got the tickets for her. I believe she was very surprised. Unfortunately, they got to the concert before we could, so I couldn’t see her face when they arrived. Oh well!

It was a wonderful concert. I personally, enjoyed Monk & Neagle’s set the most. We didn’t stay through all of Shane & Shane. We have school today and Josiah was a little gassy and stinkin’ up the place and grumpin’ too. I really enjoyed Shane & Shane too. Of course, Bebo Norman was awesome. All that to say, if you live near where they are going to be, go to the concert! It’s worth $10 to see all those artists.

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA!

I am trying desperately to catch up on my scrapbooks. I’m working on 2006 and 2007 so that I will be all caught up for 2008. My plan was to work on them each month and finish a month at a time (I do family scrapbooks…no time to do individual ones for the kids…I’m good but not that good). Unfortunately, being pregnant, MOPS, and kids got in the way as well as trying to finish up 2005. (I know I’m supposed to start with the current but I can’t just leave stuff unfinished)

So, I asked Mark if he minded helping with Josiah during the other kids nap times so I could try and get caught up. He agreed. Yesterday and today got me caught up through May 2007. I’ve also finished up Liam’s baby book (minus his birth story)! I’m so excited and so blessed that he is willing to help me do this. I’m hoping to finish up June during nap next weekend.

I’m clearing the kitchen table which gives me space to set up 10 page layouts and then I go around, lay them out, and work on each one. So, in about 30 minutes I can finish 10 pages. Not as much fun as cropping with friends but desperate times call for desperate measures.

For some reason (mostly, because we let the kids play with it) we have to replace alarm clocks frequently. Last week, our alarm clock’s digital display went completely out. A little freaky but fortunately, the alarm did go off to wake Mark up a little bit. And, of course, an alarm clock isn’t really good if you can’t see it. I ran out…in the heat…to purchase a new one. We have two criteria for an alarm clock…dual alarm and radio (and a digital display would be nice.).

I grabbed the first one I found. $10 and we got home and set it up. It seemed to work good. The numbers were pretty bright but we thought it would work.

Well, the radio only played in sleep mode. When the alarm went off the next morning Mark and I both about wet the bed! It was loud. You know the alarms they sound in the WWII movies during a bombing raid…that’s what it sounded like!

Since Josiah is sleeping with us and we didn’t want to die of a heart attack early in the morning, we thought it would be good to try a different one. We tried the clock/radio that had been in the boys’ room before the speakers went out on it (and Liam didn’t play with that one). It didn’t work.

So, Mark ran out and got a new clock last night with all the kids…giving me a little touchy feely break (Josiah only took naps in the sling yesterday…and so far today too). It worked great…not too loud and very cool. It set itself! How neat is that. You have to set the day and time and time zone but it was already preset and it came right on when I plugged it in. You can also set the days you want the alarm to go off…Mon-Fri or Mon-Sun or Sat & Sun. Mark is definitely buying our alarm clocks from now on!

When Mark came home on Monday, a nice little package arrived after him. It was from a friend’s mother. I thought for sure it was a gift for Josiah, but when I opened it up, it was a gift for me! In the package were three cookbooks. The giver is an excellent cook and had been clearing out her cookbooks and thought of Zoe and me. When we were at her home three years ago for a wedding, Zoe ate up her cooking! She loved it. And she got equally excited about the cookbooks (one of which contained a picture of a mouse with two big ears and recipes from his theme park).

So, I thumbed through one book and found a yummy recipe for ginger cookies. Now, I’m not a cookie maker. I can bake with some of the best but getting nice made cookies from me is hard…not sure why. We decided to embark on the ginger cookies and along the way, the recipe called for honey. I got very excited. Mark’s brother has beehives and his hives produced over 30 gallons of honey (I believe that’s right) this spring. They brought some with them when we visited back in May. I have used it occasionally but then realized this recipe was just begging for some real raw honey.

The cookies are good. A little strong, since they are ginger cookies but good. Zoe really enjoyed them.

All this to say, thank you Mrs. F, and B&B for the sweet gifts. They are truly being used and experimented with! Maybe I can become a better cookie baker through this!

Just a quick post. I’m behind today and we’ve still got to eat breakfast.

School starts in just six days! Agggghhhhh! We’ve got most everything ready. I’m still waiting for Mark to clear wall space in the playroom area to put up pictures and charts, etc. I’m excited but a bit anxious as to how I’m going to work with Zoe (and Ace some) and deal with Liam getting in to everything. I’m trying to talk Mark into buying a cheap pack n play so that I can put Josiah safely down for naps in the playroom while we’re working on school stuff. So far, he hasn’t budged.

In Josiah news, he’s nursing around the clock every 2 hours or so…I’m tired. I’m hoping he’ll let up a little bit during the night. But he nurses and goes right back to sleep, so I know he needs it and isn’t playing around.

And in Georgia news…it’s HOT!!!!!! Ughhh, I’m trying to come up with indoor activities so that we don’t have to get out. We may have to head to a jumpin’ party place during the week just to get out.

I have pictures from this weekend but I’m not sure when I’ll be able to post them. We are trying to get the house clean, seeing as how that has not been done since before Josiah was born.

Well, Mark, of course. I got breakfast in bed (well, after my shower…he didn’t catch me fast enough). And then while we were out getting ballet equipment, he rushed me to a spa where I had a nice 30 minute massage! wooohoooo! I found out about the massage as he pulled into the parking lot. It was wonderful for my neck and aching bones. What a sweet blessing my husband is. I’m so grateful to God for giving me someone who loves and cares for me.

Didn’t post yesterday because our internet was down which has put me behind on card orders from the home show. Ughhh! I’ll try and post pictures this weekend!

For now, we’re getting ready for Ace’s birthday party and enjoying visiting with Mark’s mother.