P.S.  I think that my favorite part might be Caitlyn in the background. 

In honor of Caitlyn's impending birthday, here's a fun picture I found:

My husband is without a doubt my favorite person in the world, the person I most like to spend my time with and who I never want to be without.  He is so clearly the man that the Lord prepared for me, and me for him.  He truly is the one whom my soul loves.

My children have completely surpassed any expectations I could have had about what a blessing it is to be a parent.  I am continually challenged by them.  I am completely enamored with them.  I don't know why God could have entrusted them to me, but I trust that He has for a reason.

Over the next eight weeks, my children will turn 6, 4 and 2.  Looking at their pictures, I felt it was a good time to write a bit about them.

Being an only child, I've only witnessed from the outside what a blessing it is to be a sibling.  So I never really got it.  But watching my children together, I am so thankful for the fact that he has blessed us with not one, or even two, but three children.  I love watching the relationship between Caleb and Caitlyn, Caleb and Cameron and Caitlyn and Cameron.  Each pairing is something different, something special.  And when the three of them are together, well, I feel as though my heart could just burst.  Cheesy, I know.  But true.

Just recently Caitlyn and I were talking about "best friends."  We saw it written somewhere and I inquired, "Caitlyn, who is your best friend?"  Without even a moment's hesitation Caitlyn declares, "Caleb is."  As if I just should have known.  The funny thing is that she means it.  Completely.  She adores him.  Just to see her face when we pick him up for school - you'd just know right away how she feels.  She immediately wants to know what he did in school and tell him what she's been up to.  And most days she wakes up and asks where he is.  Each day forgetting that he's gone to school early.  She seems to remember almost immediately and her little countenance just falls.  She LOVES Caleb.

If this picture doesn't just tell you what kind of personality Caleb has, I don't know what would. He's got a lot of spunk and just wants to be himself.  He loves to dress himself and he loves to dress Cameron similarly.  He loves to add a tie to his t-shirt and jeans.  He likes to make funny faces and tell lots of jokes.  He's completely sensitive and has a hard time controlling his emotion, particularly if someone isn't happy with him.  He looks after his sister and brother and includes them in activities.  He appreciates accomplishment.  He loves to learn and enjoys school a lot.  And his favorite thing to draw during free art is a little boy giving a flower to his mommy.  Awww.

Cailtyn, oh, Caitlyn.  She is my sweet little girl with a crazy mischievousness to her.  She keeps me on my toes. And she's cute.  You have to admit she's cute.  Praise God that He made her cute.  And she'd better hope she's cute for years to come, or at least until she outgrows the mischievous in her.  Please God, let her outgrow it!  She is smart and imaginative and musical and creative.  She is bossy and wants things done her way.  She dresses her little brother in dresses and heels and tells him where to walk.  She loves to play dolls and princess and she loves to throw tea parties.  And she loves to crash things and chase people and play "super spy."  She loves to sit in the dirt and can't keep herself put together.  She would prefer to only wear dresses and night gowns.  She floats through the house singing and dancing and making up stories.

Cameron.  I call him the perfect little bookend for our family.  And he really is.  Caleb and Caitlyn have their moments of frustration with each other, but they rally around Cam.  Cam is our laid-back, easy going, jovial and sweet baby.  He loves to run.  He loves to laugh.  He would follow his brother and sister anywhere they'd go.  He understands processes and routine and will tell me if I forget something.  He loves to scrunch up his little nose and his smile will brighten up even the darkest day.

Cameron likes to try to help.  I have to emphasize try.  I mean, he's not even 2 yet!  But if big brother or big sister do it, Cameron must try!

We had a good time at church that morning and then Kevin took Caitlyn on a Daddy/Daughter date to a ballet performance at the library.  They had a great time.  For dinner we had fondue.  The kids hadn't had it before and they LOVED it.  Cheese fondue wasn't as big of a hit as we hoped it would be, but Caleb liked it.  Then we had salmon, smashed potatoes and steamed veggies.  To end the meal we had chocolate fondue.  Now THAT was a hit.  A lot of the chocolate ended up on Cate's face.  :)

We started a new tradition at dinner and the kids really liked it.  We took turns telling each other what we love about them.  On one turn Caleb said, "I love Cate because she's so cute.  She's the cutest little girl I've ever seen in my whole life!"  We had a lot of "I love that you play with me," "I love that you share with me,"  "I love that you sing to me," "I love that you follow me around to play."  It was sweet.

So it was very sweet to see this family in our home - happy and healthy.  It's hard when friends move away.  Especially if you're like us and are bad about visiting and creating more shared experiences.  But we will always love them dearly and would do absolutely anything for them.  We have grown up along side them, been there through college, parents' deaths, engagements, weddings, children. 

Sadly, I always forget to take pictures, but her are just a couple. 

To think there was a time when a picture of our families would have just included four of us!

 
Caitlyn loved being around Cleo

 
Seriously, could she be any more adorable?

Anyway, they moved this past summer and Kevin arranged with Amy to get me out there and give us a weekend to just relax and have fun.  I flew out on Friday morning and got in to Dallas in the afternoon.  Amy picked me up and took me to our hotel - the Gaylord Texan.  The idea is that we'd be able to relax away from our kids and our homes and we'd be able to do whatever we wanted.  I know, Kevin is the greatest.

Part of the hotel

 
Me and Amy after exploring the hotel and eating by the "river"

We spent the whole first afternoon/evening relaxing and talking in the hotel room, exploring the restaurants and shops in the hotel and eating at a restaurant next to the indoor "river."  It was unreal to be away from home and without responsibilities. 

On Saturday we went to the spa/salon and relaxed, then headed to one of the malls (uh, hello - "one of the" - very unlike Gainesville!).  We had lunch got a "makeover" at MAC and then just shopped until it was time to have dinner.  We walked through stores like Cartier, Tiffany, Valentino, Lush (need one of those!), Lily Pullitzer (sp?), anthropologie, Williams-Sonoma and others.  And Amy made me go into and try on things that I normally wouldn't.  I loved it!  Oh, and I totally bought myself a belt and buckle while I was there.  Hello!  I was in Texas for goodness sakes!  By the end of the night we were just beat.  We headed to Amy's so I could see their place and then we drove back to the hotel to crash.

Sunday was just relaxing at the spa again.  We didn't have a lot of time before I had to get to the airport (little did I know I'd be sitting on the tarmac for almost 6 hours).

All in all, it was such a wonderful weekend.  I am so thankful to my husband for not just arranging and paying for it, but mainly for thinking of it and understanding what a huge blessing it would be to me, and Amy too!  I love time away with Kevin but there was also something special about time away with a good friend.

Kevin sent me flowers, too!

 
Overlooking Grapevine Lake.  Our original room had a view of, well, a wall.  When I mentioned it, the bellhop arranged for us to move up to the top floor to get a better view!

Gotta love Texas!

In the hotel.  This sweet Harley rider took this for us.  There was a convention there that weekend!

Anyway, we love to go.  If you're in Gainesville and haven't gone, you should!