Franklin County Airport

Carter's class went on a field trip today to the Franklin County Airport. We got to learn all about how smaller airports work, about the different kinds of planes and helicopters, saw several take-off and land, and the kids even got to sit in an airplane! Cool stuff. I could see Carter's wheels turning...he loves to know how things work!

We wrapped it up with a picnic lunch on the lawn,

enjoying the beautiful weather...fun field trip!

I think Mollie had enough fun for one day : )

Mollie likes to...

Mollie likes to play with her baby doll,

and it's a bonus when they can dress alike.

She likes to be with "Dah-der"

(she's also learned how to cross her arms, which cracks me up)

and she likes to be with "Hudso" too.

Mollie likes to read books.

This was so precious to hear Hudson reading to her (not actually reading the words, but it's one that he's memorized so he could figure it out by the pictures).

And do you see that she's laying her head on his shoulder?!

Stop it. So cute.

Mollie likes to laugh a lot, and she also

likes to play "Mommy" with her purse and baby.

And of course, she likes to be with her big sister!

Mollie likes to be silly.

And I like to watch her.

Entermissions 2012

Entermissions is one of our favorite things N. Wake Church does every year. In years past it's looked like this for our family. Alas, it's February, and around here that means that nasty ol' stomach bug starts making its rounds. So when Kate got sick in the wee hours of Friday morning, she hung her head and cried that we were going to miss Entermissions this year. It was pitiful (although I am thankful to see that God is cultivating a heart for missions in her!)

*It (thankfully!) turned out to be something that she had eaten the night before that made her sick, and not the full-on virus, but we had to wait it out to be sure.

So we decided this year we'd do Entermissions, Team Reed-style.

We pulled out all our Indian clothes and dressed up...

...made the rounds to some of our favorite restaurants for some take-out to add to what we already had on hand, and compiled quite an array of ethnic foods (quesadillas, pad thai, empanadas, spring rolls, fried plantains,

and spaghetti w/ garlic bread)

Josh whipped up some Chai Tea, an Indian specialty.

The kids each picked a country to read about and pray for, and we also continued our family reading of Adoniram Judson's biography.

Although we hated to miss out on all the fun of the auction and the meal and the booths and the games and all the other things that make Entermissions so awesome, we really did have a fun time at home celebrating the nations.

Judging by their faces, I think they would agree : )

Happy Valentine's Day!

"Wittle Wib" (as Kate affectionately calls Mollie)

all dressed up for a Valentine's lunch with the girls.

Mom came up to spend the week with us, and we enjoyed a Valentine's lunch at the Tea Room while the boys were at school.

Josh and I like to be home with the family on Valentine's Day (plus it is SO crowded to try and go out) so we went out the night before and celebrated the day of with some heart-shaped pizzas from Papa Murphy's...

...and a heart-shaped cake!

Jokey-jokes

A sweet day to think on love, and to remember

the unfailing, life-changing love of our Great God that He's shown us in Christ.

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Daddy-Daughter Dance

It's that time of year again! Kate has been anticipating the Daddy-Daughter Dance for weeks now, and today she told me it was one of her favorite days of the whole year. Melt. And this year, it was even sweeter to be able to 'double-date' with the Lyon girls. We went to their house for pre-dance pictures (the property they live on just begs to be photographed!)

Time-out for a little twirling

No twirling for this guy

Let's run instead!

Daddy and baby girl...not old enough yet to go to the dance : )

Kids will be kids, dressed up or not!

Loaded up and ready to go! Red Robin, then the dance!!

Thankfully, our friend Benjamin brought a camera to the dance and caught some action shots!

Hudson's Dude Day

Yesterday was "Dude Day" for Hudson.

I love that Josh makes a point to take each one of them out for some special, and fun, one-on-one time with Daddy. They all look forward to it, and many times I can hear them planning what they want to do on their next one, usually right after they get back from one!

And they're off!

First stop: Waffle House.

This plate is speaking Hudson's love language : )

"Army" came along with them.

There is this massive monster truck parked at a car dealership at the corner of S. Main and Capital, and for the past two years, literally since Hudson could TALK, he's said that's 'his' monster truck. Or, more accurately, his 'pizza moner' truck. He's made up this whole story about it, about how when he gets big, he's going to drive it over to my house to bring me a pizza and pick me up to go for a ride, and he'll have a ladder for me to get in it, but not one for Daddy because he's big. Every time we drive by, which is at least once or twice a week, he's been telling us this story, for the last two years. So when I say Hudson LOVES this truck, I really truly mean that he LOVES it. So much so, that one time last year it was not on the corner, and he thought it was gone and he cried the rest of the way home because somebody got his truck : ) Sweet buddy.

So, Josh called up there last week to see if he could bring Hudson up to look at it. Apparently it's a pretty common request, and they said to c'mon up!

He didn't tell him until they left WH, and he said Hudson's first response was incredulous: "We're going to see MY moner truck?!?! MINE?!!?"

Yes son, we are : )

Another successful Dude Day : )