why not?

Some of my blogger friends have been posting this little questionnaire lately and I've had fun reading them, so I decided why not join in.


I'm currently obsessed with:  hmm... obsessed is a strong word.  I tend to not get obsessed with things... as Chad would put it, I'm a classic under-rater of everything, so I don't usually go crazy about anything.  Don't I sound fun?!  However, I have been loving a cup of Tazo's Zen tea in the afternoon.

My biggest pet peeve is:  well, I've ranted about things I dislike on the blog before, but something to add to the list would be oblivious people.  The ones who don't pay attention when they drive and hop over to the new check-out lane that opens at the store, even though they were last in line.  Somehow social norms don't apply to them.

I could eat an endless supply of:  Tomatoes fresh from the garden.  With just salt & pepper.  Or cottage cheese.  Or just about anything.  Sooo good & juicy.

I'm currently reading:  I just finished Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist and really enjoyed that.  I like her writing style and found her relatable.  Kind of behind on the Shauna Niequist bandwagon.

My bedtime has recently been:  I usually don't get into bed fully ready to sleep for the night until 10/10:30, however, it's starting to be pretty rare if I don't fall asleep while putting Beck to bed or on the couch before that.  Yea, it's bad.

The last movie I watched was:   The entire movie (which is an accomplishment for me)... Gatsby on a rainy afternoon during our recent vacation to MX.

I am writing this while:  The boys sleep.  Otherwise Beck would be on my lap asking to watch videos of himself.

The scripture that is really speaking to my heart is:  I'm studying Matthew in BSF right now and been have learning through the example of Christ.  About being content and used by God wherever we are.  About being willing to serve anyone and everyone and not just choosing my favorite people to interact with and help.  About standing up for the truth of the gospel no matter what other's think.  It's been good.

On days when I don't leave the house, I:  Work out in the morning to give me energy & focus for my day at home.  I usually clean and do laundry, whatever I need to catch up on.  I like to spend time in the kitchen cooking or baking.  I try to prioritize the boys over my task list and just enjoy them.  My favorite thing would be to do some sort of organizational project, but those don't happen very often.  I like days at home, but no more than a couple in a row and then we get antsy to get out.

If I could hug anybody today, it would be:  My boys.  They get most of my hugs.

Mr. Beckham turns 3

About a couple weeks ago, or on the 11th to be exact, Beck turned 3.  It happened shortly before we left for a week trip to MX for a 5 year anniversary getaway, leaving it undocumented until now.

In true Beckham fashion, he had 3 little parties (this seems to be happening every year somehow).  We were with my family for a big Pfledderer family thing the weekend before his b-day, so we celebrated with his cousin Keaton and aunt Callie on Sunday.

His birthday was on Monday, so we had a little party of cupcakes and a couple gifts at our house that night.

Beck requested chocolate chip pancakes for lunch, along with reading "If you give a pig a pancake" while he ate them :)

coconut cupcakes with lemon glaze... just what Beck requested - haha, or maybe what sounded good to me!  although Beck and Chad gobbled them up as well!

when I asked him how old he was, I think he said 3, but held up 10 fingers

And of course Uncle Jim and Aunt Sheli (or more like grandma and grandpa in Indy) wanted to celebrate the little man, so we had yet another party on Wednesday night when we dropped the boys off while they watched them during our trip.  She did a much better job of decorating and making it feel like a "real" party. :)

I was thinking today about how I would summarize Beckham and what it's like to be his parent.  He's such a fun guy and a delight to parent overall.  Of course every kid has their things that need disciplined and weaknesses, but most days I love spending the day with him.  I never know what he's going to say, whether funny, intelligent, random or kind... like tonight when he told me thank you for dinner.  He's focused, observant, curious, intense, smart, funny, one-track minded, impatient, repetitive, an encourager, and sometimes soft.  He's social and likes to make friends, but can also be timid and shy in certain situations.  I think one of the things I love the most about him is now easily excitable & passionate he can be about the littlest things (like the garbage man picking up the trash on Thursday's).

He is boy through and through (although occasionally he does put on a headband or necklace and say he's a girl :)).  His loves are construction sites, farms, any kind of machine or truck, books, wrestling, one-on-one play, talking, talking & talking, and being outside, especially digging in the dirt.
He loves being a helper, figuring out how things work and "fixing" them, talking to himself/imagining things while he plays, and likes organization & follows categories well when putting away his toys (No idea where he gets that.. haha!).  He likes to imitate his dad, whether it be playing golf, mowing (he does a fantastic impression of pretending to start the mower by pulling an imaginary string and saying "vrrmm, vrrmm" in a very serious manner), shaving, or using his tools.

As he gets older I'm noticing him already starting to bargain to get what he wants.... like if he knows he really isn't supposed to watch another show, he'll suggest, "Can I watch "Mighty Machines"?  But not all of it.  Just some of it."  Or, "just one show mom, not two, just one."  Which makes me smile, as it's so obvious what he's doing.

I love seeing him start to learn truth from the Bible, sing bible songs and learn to pray.  I love the moments of tenderness he shows his brother when he wants to play with him & include him, rather than take away his toys or be bothered he's stealing my attention.  I love when he thanks me for the things I do for him in a sincere way.  And when we wants to help me in the kitchen, even though it can be the opposite of helpful.  And especially when he responds well to instruction and discipline and learns from it.

He really is such a blessing and I'm humbled that God gave him to us as a gift to parent.  I can't wait to see His plans for Beck's future.

7 months

I started this post and when I just came back to it I noticed that I titled it "8 months" instead of "7 months."  He's growing quite fast enough, no need to rush it along!

What's new with Creighton these days?  Very, very exciting things, in the baby world.... or really not that much.  :)

+ becoming quite the stinker with changing diapers and clothes - trying to roll and arch his back... I don't remember Beck doing this.  might have to start enforcing some discipline  :)
+ enjoying his baby food more and more and developing quite the appetite
+ squealing in delight at his brother
+ clenching his jaw and making a cheesy grin face
+ sitting up by himself, with just a few tumbles here and there
+ reaching and grabbing for everything... like books while we read stories, much to his brother's frustration :)
+ getting frustrated with his brother when Beck decides Creighton doesn't need toys anymore and puts them away... nice of him to put away toys when I don't want him to, but not want to when I do want him to!

then Beck joined the photo session and made some great "cheese" faces for the camera

idols of a mother's heart

I read this article today and found it very challenging and convicting... especially the part about control as a mother.  It's so good to be reminded that nothing is really in our control.

I love this quote by Tim Keller towards the end:

    "Jesus must become more beautiful to your imagination, more attractive to your heart, than your idol. That is    

    what will replace your counterfeit gods. If you uproot the idol and fail to “plant” the love of Christ in its place,   

    the idol will grow back."

I have been convicted about some idols in my heart, but even if I feel like I'm overcoming and not struggling with an idol at the moment, if I don't replace that idol with the love of Christ, it will eventually grow back.

Link to the article:

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-idols-of-a-mother-s-heart

Michigan {part II}

This past weekend found us in Michigan again.  We planned a trip with some of our friends before our previous trip to Michigan was planned, landing us there twice this month!  Although this trip was just two weeks after our other trip, the weather was quite different... a little colder than we had hoped.  However, it did not rain as much as the weather predicted, the house was located amid lots of beautiful fall trees, and the kids were still able to get in a few outdoor activities.

Vacation is always interesting with kids.  I really think there is another term for it, as the typical definition for vacation involves more relaxation than what is allowed with kids.  At times I stop and ask myself, "is this kind of stuff worth the work?  why aren't we just at home doing our thing, rather than in an unfamiliar place and out of our routine?  everyone is sleep deprived, the kids eat too much junk food, watch too much TV..."  But at the end of the day, I decided it is worth it to pack up half of your home and go to a new place for a few days.  The kids have fun together, the adults have fun together, memories are made, and in the end, I think it makes us appreciate home base and our mundane schedule a little more.  I'm pretty sure we would do it again.  :)

Here's a few of our activities:

30 seconds at the dunes to take pictures and say we went... it was quite cold!:

Dave & Jan and their kids, Grace & Henry

Neil & Leann and their kids, Letty & Stelle

a campfire birthday party for Grace & Neil:

the girls day out - lunch at a fantastic Mediterranean place, outlet shopping, and a quick wine tasting:

ok, this is one of those pictures you don't want to post b/c you're not looking the greatest but do anyway... looks like pasty white winter skin as arrived! :)

the guys day out - golf and a visit to a local distillery:

a trip to a local farm that put on a little fall festival:

Beck really did like this place. :)  And if his coat looks a little girly... it is.  Jan lent us one of Grace's since we forgot Beck's.  He didn't care!

taking a train ride