Summit Institute say moo

Spence, Zeke and I had the privelege of hosting some of the Institute students for dinner Friday night. The institute is a really cool thing for college students through our church. They live in host homes, have classes in the mornings, and then work with a ministry area in the afternoons. They also go on two trips during the summer, one of those going overseas. They are actually on their overseas trip right now, so if you think about take a moment to pray for them.
So, we had them over for dinner and to just hang out. What they didn't know until they arrived was that they had to earn their dinner. We made them dress up and go to Chick-fil-A to get free food. It was Cow Appreciation Day so if you dressed up, you could get a free meal. We were able to get everyone free food. We brought the food to our house, hung out, and had yummy icecream pie for dessert.
I am so glad they came over and hung out. We had a blast talking and getting to know some of them better than we did before. Thanks guys for being good sports! Here are some pictures of how the evening went.

Making their cow costumes
Beginning to look like cows...

Some of the group ready to get chikin

Dustin the cow

Katie the cow

Shelton cows

Zeke has already been a cow, check him out! (plus he tried to eat the pieces)

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Beach part three

Here is the final installment of pictures from our week. I think we have finally recovered from the week, and I am finally caught up on blogging. :-)

Final family picture on the beach

Zeke playing in his pool with dad

He looks so confused

The only appropriate sink bath picture

Waiting on a wave

Isn't he the cutest?

Cheering with dad

this is my new favorite family picture of us, look how happy Z looks!

I think he was trying to escape from the pool

Hanging out with some tall people (Uncle Matt and Aunt Tori)

like mother, like son?

My mom sent me some pictures of Spence and I from back in the day (more of those to come soon). She included in those pictures some from when I was a baby. Spencer and I have been thinking that Zeke is looking more like Spence lately. The following picture made us rethink it...

Anyone else see the resemblance? He obviously was born to hit that model pose. It's in his blood.

Beach part two

Our beach daily schedule for most days was to get up, go to the beach for a little while, come back in for a rinse off and nap. Then we ate lunch and hung out inside until the heat of the day was over. We headed back out to the beach for a little more play and then came in for a bath, dinner and bed. We did take a couple days off from this and stayed inside to give ourselves a break. Zeke had a lot of firsts while we were there. He had his first shower, first bath in a sink, first taste of a lemon, first time going in the ocean, first time crawling onto a shelf of a table, first froot loops and frosted flakes, and I can't think of what else. I have included some fun pictures and a video of Zeke in the ocean. Enjoy!

Just after tasting the lemon

First shower

Headed to the water for the first time

Hanging out with mom

He liked dumping the bucket of water

Trying to run to get to the water

He liked when the waves came up on him

I love this picture!

This is Zeke's model pose

5 years

Today marks Spencer and my 5 year anniversary of being married. It also marks 11 years since we started dating. For those of you that do not know our story here is the cliff notes version:
During the summer before my sr. year and Spencer's jr. year in high school we both went on the history trip to Greece. We attended a small high school, but had never met. We could be found together basically from the very beginning. I don't have any pictures from our high school days (hey moms can you send me some of those?), but from the very first group picture we are together. By the end of the trip Spence and I had hit it off and even held hands (scandalous I know). Oh, important side note, I had a boyfriend back home. We got back from our trip, I broke up with my boyfriend with in a week and was out on a date with Spencer shortly after that. Important things you should know: Spence's mom was on the trip as a chaperone so I got to know her as I got to know him. Spencer lied and said he was 16 and had a license, so I had to drive on our first date.
We got through high school, I went to Meredith College and Spencer went to UNC. We definitely did a huge amount of driving between Raleigh and Chapel Hill. During our college years we had our share of fun and not so fun times. We were challenged in our relationship and in our relationship with God. I spent a summer in Gatlinburg TN, Spence spent the next summer in East Asia. I graduated from Meredith, but had to return to student teach that fall. That summer we worked together at a pool.
On June 18. 2003 (5 years from the day we met), Spencer planned a date for us at a park with a picnic supper. While there, we ate, enjoyed sparkling grape juice and chocolate covered strawberries, and danced. As we were dancing Spencer began talking about a book we were reading that was about marriage. I began to think to myself "wow, we are never going to get married, how did he not get this book was about getting married when the title is "10 great dates before you say i do", do I have to break up with him, I really don't want to, I know we are supposed to get married" As all of this is running through my mind, Spencer is getting down on one knee. Yes, I was shocked!
We were married a year later on July 9, 2004 (our 6 year anniversary). We have had some HUGE transitions in our marriage. Moving 3 times, going to seminary, buying a house, getting a dog, expecting our first son, expecting our second son, Spence going full time at Summit, me leaving a full time job for be a full time mom, and so much more.
Spence, I can't imagine my life any other way. I am so glad that God doesn't plan things based on my plans because what He has given us has been so much more than I could have ever dreamed. You are my best friend. I love spending time with you. I look forward to when you come home everyday. I love just hanging out with you. It is crazy to me that we still can find so much to talk about and have fun with. Thank you so much for taking a chance on this country girl. Thank you for introducing me to Christ. Thank you for continuously shepherding me, encouraging me, and challenging me in my walk. Thank you for being an amazing dad. Zeke is so blessed to be your son. I love you with all my heart and can't wait for what God has for us in the future.

11 months

Zeke is 11 months old today! I am a little in disbelief that in another month we will be celebrating his birthday. It makes me a little sad that my baby is getting big, but I am also so excited for what he will do next. He is doing such fun stuff right now so I will tell you a little about what he is currently doing, and then of course on to the pictures.

*takes 2 2ish hour naps and sleeps 12 hours each night (it took awhile to get here, but we are loving it!
*says mama and dada
*can identify by looking or pointing: fan, light, nana, grandpa, yaya, ball, scott, and I am sure I am leaving something out
*loves music and claps or dances along, when he gets upset if I sing it calms him (so there, to my 5th grade chorus teacher, someone DOES like my voice, HA!)
*makes the hand motions for bringing home a baby bumblebee and happy and you know it
*loves watching other kids
*enjoys baths, pools, and the ocean
*sleeps with a blanket, alligator named snaps, and a paci
*pulling up to stand, but still doesn't seem to have much upper body strength
*still army crawling
*not content to sit and play, either wants to be crawling all over or holding onto our fingers and walking
*can sign more and all done, but generally chooses to yell or throw things to let me know these things
*eats pretty much anything, but especially loves things he can feed himself
*is fearful of sudden noises
*has 6 teeth
*his hair is finally coming in and is super blonde
*prefers mom and dad over anyone else
*points to his nose or our nose when we ask where it is, and loves when we tap it and say "beep, beep"
I could keep going, but here are some fun recent pictures...

On a walk in his wagon

after a good nights sleep this is what your hair looks like

He can throw the ball and loves playing with his dad

We are thinking of getting him in the boxing circuit early

he is so proud of his accomplishments, even when I am a bit amazed