Little one's Prayers

There aren't many things I love more than listening to my children talk to God.  They are so honest and sweet :). Last night, however, they both had serious requests that made me giggle quietly to myself...

Grace: "Dear God, thank you for giving us grain to eat, help us to eat grain, but not too much."

Collin: "Dear God, help Grace not to fall out of her bed.  Help her not to dream she is rolling down a hill and just keep rolling and rolling and rolling until she really rolls out of her bed."

Love these little ones!

20 Weeks!!

Where have the past 20 weeks disappeared to??  I feel like I blinked my eyes & the pregnancy is half-way through.  I am feeling great, and am feeling our sweet boy kicking inside of me all the time!  I am one of those people who are blessed with easy pregnancies, and I am cherishing every little moment and movement...especially knowing this is likely our last baby.

Here is my 20-week "bump" picture :)

We have officially decided on a name for our sweet baby boy:

Mason Tyler Vuong

Can't wait to meet him!!

Baby Talk

A few of my favorite questions/comments from Collin & Grace about the baby...

(While leaving a "sample" at a recent doctors appointment)

G: why are you using that cup?

Me: the doctor checks it, and it can tell her if the baby is doing well.

G:  is that baby Mason's pee pee coming out in the cup?!?!  Is he peeing in that cup??

**********

(After noticing that there's not quite as much room to sit comfortably in my lap)

C: I know that your lap is disappearing, but it's okay, it will be back after the baby is born.  I learned about that from Berenstain Bears.

Baby #3

We are thrilled to announce that we are expecting our third sweet blessing!  Collin & Grace will welcome their baby brother in September :)

Final score:

Boys - 3

Girls - 2

I told Grace that it was a good thing...that just means more boys to spoil us and take care of us :)

All About Collin

I cannot believe that this sweet boy will be 6 next month!!  

He is in Kindergarten, and as much as I was dreading sending my first baby to school, it has been a wonderful experience for all of us.  He absolutely loves his school and his teacher, and I am loving being a PTA mom :)

He is still super-hero obsessed, and loves pretending to be a ninja.  His favorite movie lately is Big Hero 6.  He also loves art, soccer, and playing outside!

Favorite food: corn dogs

Favorite animal: shark

Favorite color: blue & green

He is a very sweet and affectionate boy, who loves to snuggle - this makes mommy so very happy :).

We have started reading chapter books at bedtime, his favorites so far have been The Boxcar Children, Hank The Cowdog, and My Fathers Dragon.

Now that we are in Arkansas, we have had some actual snow, and Collin loves playing in the cold!  However, he also asks regularly when we can go to the beach or the pool.  I think he is as ready for summer as I am!!

Mommy loves this sweet sweet boy!!

All Things Grace

I am ashamed at how long it has been since my last post!!  First I feel like an update on Collin & Grace are overdue.  Up first...Princess Grace.

Her current obsessions are gymnastics, Daniel Tiger, babies, and Dora the Explorer.

She started Awana Cubbies at our new church & loves it!!  She feels like such a big girl doing her lesson and memorizing her verse each week just like her big brother :). She also loves going to BSF weekly with mommy, and calls her BSF class her "school".  She asks regularly when she can go to Kindergarten and be in Mrs. Moses' class :)

She is strong-willed, and has Daddy wrapped around her finger!  She knows that if she's upset that Son will do anything he can to fix it...even if mommy already said "no" :)

Much to mommy's disgust, she loves mixing her food.  Dipping strawberries in spaghetti sauce, putting taco cheese in her applesauce, and anything mixed in Mac-n-cheese are normal for her.  Grosses me out, but she will eat almost anything like that, so I try to look the other way :)

Favorite animal:  horse

Favorite food: Mac & Cheese

Favorite color: purple & pink

She is my sidekick and constant companion.  We are enjoying our time at home since we moved & mommy is soaking up every moment until she starts Pre-K part time next year!

It's A Pink Kitty!!

I am always laughing at what comes out of Collin's mouth, and try to document what I can remember (which isn't much, haha!).  However, lately Grace has been competing with her brother for the title of family clown!  She understands making a joke now, and frequently says the wrong answer to a question just to be silly.  She will do anything to make her brother laugh :)  Today while driving home from Collin's school we were taking turns playing the "I'm Thinking of an Animal" game where one person thinks of an animal in their mind and the others take turns asking questions to guess what it is.

Grace is very smart, and fully capable of playing the game correctly, however she loves to say "YES" to anything you ask her & knows that she can answer the questions incorrectly or make up false information to be funny.  Here is how her turn went:

Grace: I am thinking of an animal.

Me: Does it swim in the water?
G: No.  It has a pink nose!

Collin: Does it live in the jungle?
G: YES!

Me: Is it a monkey?
G: No

Collin: Is it a tiger?
G: No.  It has a pink nose!

Me: Does it have fur?
G: It has pink fur!

Me: I don't know any jungle animals with a pink nose and pink fur.
G: Its a pink kitty!!!  (Laughing hysterically)

She cracks us up, just like her brother does :)

In Collin's Words

While driving, I overheard this conversation that was taking place in the backseat:

Grace: you want to sing a song?

Collin: yes!  I will sing you a princess song, even thought that's sooooo annnoooying!  Because I am a boy and boys don't like princesses.

***********************

Collin's loves to make up games & his most recent made-up game was called "Teenager", where he pretended to be a "Teenager" by running around like a wild man, playing air guitar, singing loudly, and asked if he could "get dressed crazy".  I asked him how he knew what a teenager acted like and he said it was from the "Love You Forever" book...I think he nailed it :)


***************

After school conversation:

Collin:  Mommy, I had a rough day
Me:  I am sorry sweetie, what happened?
C: What does a rough day mean?
Me: It means that bad things happened to you today
C: It was a rough day
Me: What happened?
C: We didn't go to the playground today
Me: Is that all?
C: Yes

LOL - that's a rough day for a kindergartner!

********************

Kindergarten Boy

How did I get to the point where I am taking my child school supply shopping...for elementary school?!?  Wasn't it just yesterday that this was Collin James: 

I blinked my eyes, only for a second, and here we are today:

We had a great time, talking about life and about kindergarten.  I am trying to prepare him as best I can for school.  We talk about how not everyone knows about Jesus.  That we should always tell them about Jesus, but that they may not be ready to believe in Him.  We talk about how not everyone in his class will be making good choices, and I coach him on ways to make good friends and how to tell if someone is a good friend.  I know that God has called Collin to this school, and I know that it will be a wonderful year, but I also know that there will be challenges along the way.  My mommy heart wants to keep him in my little bubble, and we have prayed about many options for him this year, but Son & I are confident that this is the school God has called us to, and I know that God has great things in store for Collin!

Just a few weeks ago we were in the school office ordering uniforms.  It is a small public charter school, however it is a huge blessing to our family since the principal and office administrator are both Christians.  As we were preparing to leave Collin said he had a question.  He was acting shy, but after a little encouragement he decided to ask the ladies in the office.  

He asked, "Do you know about Jesus?"

Wow.  Convicting.  In that moment my five year old is a better disciple of Christ than I am.

I already knew the ladies were Christians, and was glad that they could assure him of how much they love Jesus.

But my mommy heart worries about this first time an adult or a peer he looks up to answers his question with "No." 

But I trust in God.  Collin is not my own but on loan to me from God.  However much I love that little boy, God loves him more!

Of course after some serious conversation & some serious shopping we had to get a treat.

He drank that chocolate milk in about 30 seconds!

Looking forward to a wonderful year!

Half and Half

We were eating Shrimp Lo Mein for dinner and Collin was singing a made up song about Chinese noodles.  Son asked Collin, "Do you know what you are?  You are half Vietnamese."

Collin asks, "And what else?"

I asked him, "What do you think?"

Collin's reply: "Texan!"

I told him he was exactly right! :)

Love that boy, and mommy is training him right!

How Birth Order Is Determined - the scientific reason

Collin -  mommy, do you know why I was born first before Grace?

Me - because that was God's plan for our family.

C - No, it's because when all the babies were in your tummy we were having races and contests, and I was the winner so I was born first.  Then Grace was next.

(Can you tell he's my super-competitive one?  Everything is a contest & somehow he makes the rules so that he always wins.  We are working on a humble spirit & putting others first.)

The Refining Pot

I always thought that I did pretty good handling God's tests.  How arrogant of me.

We are selling our home and had been waiting 2 weeks for an answer that could impact us financially.  I had been fine (or so I falsely believed).  I was "trusting" in God to deliver the answer (the answer that I wanted).

Surely, if God had made it clear to us that we were to make this move that He would make it easy on us.  But that isn't biblical thinking, there is no verse in the bible that says "If you do what I ask you to it will be easy".  Not even close.

While at the pool with friends I received an email with the answer that we had been waiting for.  However, it was the exact opposite answer from what we were hoping for.  I was angry, no longer able to enjoy the morning, more harsh to my children than they deserved as we were packing to leave, and basically acting in a way that was the exact opposite of actually trusting in God.

After putting the kids in bed for naps I sat down to respond to this disappointing emailed answer.  My Bible was next to the computer.  In the rush to get ready for our fun day I had also neglected my quiet time this morning.  I knew that my heart was not right, and I knew that the only thing that could change that was time with God.  I pushed aside the computer and opened the quiet time book.  One of the first verses I read:

"The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests hearts." Proverbs 17:3

Ouch.

I had just failed a pretty simple test - in an epic way.  I can "trust" God while waiting on an answer, but pretty much pitch a huge temper tantrum when I do not get the answer that I wanted.  But my heart was wrong.  My desire should be for God's answer, not my own.

But do you know what the best part is?  That despite my failure, God still promises to work all things for good for those who love Him.  And, despite my shortcomings and sinful nature, I do love God desperately, and deep down, I know that His plans are infinitely better than our own.

I am praying and pleading this verse today:

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 52:10

Thank you God for using this day and this disappointment to teach me a truth about the contents of my heart.  Please help me to have a renewed, right heart so that when it is tested, it is pleasing to You.

I can't wait for my kids to wake up so that I can sit down with them, apologize for my harshness, and read these verses to them and talk about the importance of the contents of our hearts.

Big Brother

This boy has such a heart for his little sister.  He continually amazes me with how much he loves her and considers her in everything.  Tonight at choir he earned two toys from the treasure chest and for one item he chose a ballerina toy that he knew Grace would love so that he could give it to her.  This is not the first time that he has chosen to get a gift for her over a toy for himself.  I could not be prouder, my heart is bursting ❤️

Then, at home he wanted to read her bedtime story for her.

I love how they love each other :). Yes, they often have their fair share of brother & sister arguments...but they truly love each other & it makes this mommy very proud!

In Collins Words

Collin: Mommy, when you get married, do you have to kiss the other person on the lips?

Me: Yes

C: Then I think I will marry Kerrigan!

************************

Grace toots & I asked her if she needs to go potty.

Collin:  no, she's just relaxing and has too much air.

*********************

While driving down the road...

Collin: mommy look!  You are driving 80!!

Me:  ummm, no I'm not.  It just looks like that because you can't see the 70.

C: I think you should go 120!

Note to self: control my speed & prepare myself for Collin's 16th birthday!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Even though I was sick in bed with a terrible cold/flu, Son & the kids still managed to have fun :). And even though I was sick, it was still nice to be in Pensacola and around family (especially since they all took such good care of me)!

Son & his Aunt Yen carving the meat -  I did manage to sneak a few pictures before I was confined to my room :)

My precious loves, Lincoln & Lilo.  They are getting soooo big!!

The kids table - impossible to get them to all smile and look at once ;). We missed sweet Jaeden, but look forward to seeing him soon on our Christmas trip!

I hope everyone else had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!  Now, as soon as I make a full recovery we will be in full Christmas preparation mode :)

Thanksgiving Feasting

Collin & Grace have already enjoyed two Thanksgiving Feasts.  The first event was at their Tuesday morning Mom2Mom class at church.

They looked adorable in their Turkey shirt :)

Up next was the Thanksgiving Feast at school.

Collin and Cohen being silly ;)

My littlest pilgrim :)

They are practiced and ready for the real Thanksgiving Dinner in Pensacola next week!

Pictures With(out) Santa

So this is how our 2013 pictures with Santa turned out...

Two cute kiddos in Christmas pajamas, but something is missing here...

I can't quite figure it out...

Oh yeah!  Where is Santa?!?!

Poor Grace was terrified and refused to be within 50 feet of Santa.  I knew there was huge potential for a problem, and had worked all week to talk about how nice Santa was, and that if she asked him for that Princess Sophia backpack she really wants he would bring it to her.  She insisted she was ready to sit in his lap for a picture...until we walked in the door.

At that point, no amount of bribery, pleading, begging or threatening could get her anywhere near St. Nick.  I even offered to hold her in the picture, but she was so genuinely afraid that I decided to do the only thing I could think of...I asked Santa to leave the room.   

Yes, I did.

Once Santa made his exit, I was finally able to convince her to sit with Collin for a picture.  Notice her face - she kept her eyes fixed on the door, waiting for Santa's return.

Collin, on the other hand, was thrilled to see Santa and sit with him!

Collin asked for a two-wheel scooter and "mud".  I have no idea where the mud came from.  I tried to get him to ask for other things, but he insisted that a scooter and mud were all he wanted.  Later I asked him about the mud and he replied, " you know, to play in mud outside"!  Sweet silly 100% boy!!

I love both of my silly babies, and am so blessed to spend all my time with them :). We are all so very excited about Chtistmas!!

Officially self-diagnosed "Disney-Crazy"

This past April we took Collin & Grace to Disney to celebrate their 4th & 2nd birthday.  We didn't even make it past guest relations & into the first park without owning our very own Annual Passes.

Months prior to the actual trip, while researching & planning, I distinctly remember telling a friend, "We are going all out on our trip because we will never be one of those Disney-Crazy families with passes who go all the time!"

Well, trip #1 came and was fabulous, and ever since then we have been hooked.  I guess I am now a "Disney-Crazy" momma :). Four trips later and I think it's official!

It's hard to explain why I love it so much - especially since I haven't even been on a single roller coaster or thrill ride (unless you count Goofy's Barnstormer), but seeing Disney through the eyes of the kiddos literally gets me teary :). 

Seeing Collin run up to Donald, and Grace to all things Princess...watching Collin LOVE every single second of the Toy Story rides...Seeing Grace's face when Belle walks out on stage...experiencing how excited and thrilled by every parade float that goes by...it never gets old (at least not yet)!

We have 5 more months of Disney memories to make & we plan to take advantage of all we can!

There is truly something magical about that place :). It is such a blessing to be close enough to make quick trips as Son's work schedule allows.  While Texas will always be my "home" I am taking full advantage of my Florida-Resident status & this is one perk that is hard to beat!

Have a Magical Day!

(Okay, that was cheesy, but I love it so it stays :))

Happy Halloween

These have to be the cutest Trick-Or-Treaters ever!

We had a fun family night and collected way more candy than we can ever eat!  Including the three bags I purchased to hand out...then not one person came to our house!

Collin was so brave and walked right up to the tables we visited...Grace was terrified by any adult in costume and clung tightly to mommy.

Their favorite parts of the evening included:

1.  The man dressed in a gorilla suit chasing the older kids :). Collin loved watching...Grace was terrified.

2.  The glow sticks I bought them to carry.

3.  Seeing all of the other kids' costumes.

4.  Candy, candy, and more candy!

In Grace's Words

"Mommy, I love you more than a bear!  A bear is scary!"

************

Grace came inside from playing with Son & Collin...

G: "mommy, come outside"

Me: "in a minute"

G: "but you are a girl and I am a girl.  And the boys outside are playing football!"

*******************