Carolina's Lullaby

When our first son, Joshua Jr., was born on January 2, 2008, I wrote him a lullaby. I was overcome with God's goodness to me. I couldn't then and I cannot now believe that I am father and daddy. I most certainly do not deserve all the blessing in my life. God is good to me. I have memorized that lullaby, and I sing it now to all of our children. I had thought that I would be able to write each of them a lullaby, but I have just adapted this one to fit each of them. It is pretty much the same lullaby, but I did have to change more this time since she is a girl. Either way, it expresses my heart in life and fatherhood.

**CAROLINA'S LULLABY**

Hush little Carolina don’t you cry

Daddy’s gonna sing you a lullaby

I hate to see you crying red-faced with tears

Let me tell you ‘bout us in the coming years

The joy of rearing you can make this grown man weap

Right here in my arms you can fall asleep

I’ll stare at your face & kiss your chubby cheeks

Watch you start to grow in the coming weeks

God gave you a great mother who takes care of you

In love together we will teach you what’s true

three bigger older brothers you can look up to

You become like them, yes I hope you do

It’s a simple lullaby about what matters in life

Like trusting in God & being a faithful wife

Like serving other people in devotion to the sword

The Word of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord

Baby girl, I wanna teach you to throw and catch a ball

& I can hardly wait until you learn to crawl

We can walk to the park & I can push you on the swings

Raise you up right so you’ll appreciate things

I wanna teach you about pets like cats and dogs

And how to catch lizards, turtles, & frogs

I’ll show ya how to catch fish & how to bait a hook

how a boy should treat a girl and how to read a book

And how to play with kids and not be weak

Playing outdoor games like hide and seek

I wanna teach you about bruises, scabs and scars

take you on a walk at night to look at stars

I’ll teach you how to ride a bike & how to climb trees

I‘ll teach you about caterpillars, birds, & bees

I wanna pick you up when you fall & scrape your knees

Teach you how to pray, and say “yes sir” & “Please”

we can walk to the creek, I’ll show you how to skip a rock

I’ll show you how to play sports & how to speed walk

I wanna teach you how to not get upset by jokes

& how to be grateful & respect your folks

Carolina, I wanna teach you how to love your mom

& how to read the Bible, a daily Proverb & Psalm

It’s a simple lullaby about what matters in life

Like trusting in God & being a faithful wife

Like serving other people & devotion to the sword

The Word of Jesus Christ our Savior & Lord

Little girl, I wanna teach you how to be a lady

How to look ‘em in the eye & not be shady

How to keep your word & always work real hard

How to pay your bills on time & how to mow the yard

I’ll teach you how to keep a job & not be lazy

How to speak the truth in love and not be hazy

I wanna show you how to love & how to be a friend

And when to compromise and when to take a stand

And how to apologize and also how to forgive

Carolina, these are simple lessons on how to live

And life is not easy, it can be quite hard

Keep your eyes on Christ & don’t be caught off guard

It’s a simple lullaby about what matters in life

Like trusting in God & being a faithful wife

Like serving other people & devotion to the sword

The Word of Jesus Christ our Savior & Lord

JJ's First Day of Preschool!

 Time truly flies by!  We are still in unbelief that our oldest little boy, JJ, has started Preschool!  This day seemed so far off in the future, and yet here it is now.  JJ was super excited about going to school, though he did wake up with some nerves on the actual day.

Here he is showing off his new backpack, which his tia Natalia thoughtfully got for him. :)

 The entrance to our boy's first school, and the beginning of his academic career!!!

 I must admit that I was just as nervous (if not more!)...it was a big day for me, too!

 Hard to smile with a bright morning sun...it was early for JJ.

 Here he is, about to enter his new classroom...still a little nervous...

 Yet as soon as he walked in and met his teacher, he went along with everything smoothly.  So thankful for Ms. Ritter!  She made this big day so special for our little boy.  Here she is introducing JJ to his cubby.


 This is a nice view of JJ's classroom.  We were thankful that JJ did so well fitting in, as Ms. Ritter showed him around.

 The door that welcomed JJ, with his own little owl, along with all of his new classmates and friends.

 They told us it would be best if we left quickly, but of course, I couldn't really leave, so I stayed behind the door and peered through a dark window :)

 Busy painting and making new friends.

 Concentrated at his turn to paint his big brown dog. (picture from his teacher, Ms. Ritter)

 A little proof that my boy was enjoying his first day!  (picture from his teacher, Ms. Ritter)

 JJ with his class, all his new buddies.  Preschool 2012 (picture from his teacher, Ms. Ritter)

 Back at home, showing and telling me all about his first day.

Nerves all gone and a big smile from my preschooler...ready for another adventure!  He is truly enjoying it!!

Slide at the KY State Fair

Today we had the wonderful opportunity to go to the Kentucky State Fair. Since we have had children, we have taken them every August. While it is often very hot, very expensive and overcrowded, it always makes for some great memories! Today we went down the giant slide. JJ is always so excited to do these slides. Noah will even go alone. But Eli never wants to. So today, I made him. Here is a picture of all 4 of us sliding.
I cannot believe this life that God has given me. I assure you that I do not deserve to be the Daddy of three cool little boys.

a typical week for the boys

Each week Valeria and I work hard to see that boys "do" a lot. We want them outside, and we want them involved in lots of things.

Valeria takes them to the local Fairdale Library every Tuesday morning for Story Time. Here is a pic of all three of them there.

This past week we took the boys to watch the Fairdale High School soccer team. The team is good this year and has 5-0 record. To celebrate the recent victory over PRP, the boys went out on the field and practiced kicking some penalty kicks.

 

And this final picture here is of Eli posing as Captain America. It is a daily thing for all 3 boys to dress up and play as Super Heroes.

 

 

Summer Fun for the boys

Here are a few more pics of our boys.

This one is from the Louisville Bats minor league baseball game. JJ and Eli caught a foul ball.

This next picture is from just last week when we were at a local playground. Noah does not like to be the youngest and smallest brother. So he is by far the most assertive. And naturally, he wants to do everything that his older brothers are doing. He loves to hang and swing from things. Here he is working on his pullups.

This last picture is one of Eli. He is becoming such a big boy. He is the silliest of our 3 boys. Here is a picture of Eli just hanging out in the house. Eli being the middle child has a good balance of dominating little Noah and looking up to older JJ.

JJ smiling at the zoo

It is incredible to think that Valeria is pregnant with our 4th child. Time flies! It seems like just the other day that we were expecting our first. That was 2007. And JJ was born on January 2, 2008.
Here is a nice picture of him from just the other day at the Louisville Zoo. We are so happy being parents!

All 5 of us in Ecuador!

Our family, all five of us, just returned from Ecuador.
It was so nice to be able to take our sons. This picture is one of the many incredible experiences our boys got to experience.