Our rambunctious trio of boys...

...I took these pics trying to keep Baysil in my arms and just hoped that no one would get a concussion before the play session was over. They are so much fun and so full of energy. We are enjoying our time home together so deeply. The boys respond so well to structure, attention, creativity and quality time...yet, during a typical school/work week it is so hard to give them that. Since Jason is off and they are home from school, we are able to really soak up being together. Love it.

And of course...a dancing video...I mean, how cute are they??

Just because...

I have to warn you that this is a pretty long clip without much of a plot...but, I had to post it for our family and friends who are far away. Just a picture of the typical and "sacredly mundane" here at our Houston homefront!

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year!

Advent is such a beautiful time. Every year I have grown to more fully experience the anticipation this season demands. Jesus birthday is coming! This sacred moment in our history that resulted in our redemption. What an amazing thing to long for, look forward too and celebrate!! Jason and I desire to embrace the sacred beauty of this time and abandon the "hustle and bustle" that seems to be typical. We have been able to slow down, reflect, and ponder what it would look like to truly celebrate Christ. Our sons have been so helpful in our growth. They want to give Jesus presents on His birthday, after all...that seems only fair, right? So, we are able to tell them that Jesus told us what He wants. He says that whatever you do for someone who is hungry, thirsty, homeless, lonely, imprisoned, orphaned...you do for me. By loving someone who is hurting, we can actually give Jesus a present. It's a wild concept and yet, more and more I see how they are understanding this. Yes, we can celebrate one another as well...Jesus loves that too. With simple and meaningful tokens of love and quality time we can relish the joy of His life here on earth together! This doesn't happen with stress and financial burden (which is often the message and temptation of our culture) but, rather with a peaceful and heart-felt effort. I spontaneously asked Justice about Christmas and held my breath in this video. It's the moment of truth in some ways. "What are they hiding away in their precious hearts?" you wonder so often. "Are they listening?" It's so hard to counter-influence all they are exposed to right now since they are in school. It was so sweet to hear his lil' heart expressed in this way. Enjoy!

Girls just wanna have fun!

So, Baysil and Blythe spend most of their days side by side and wouldn't want it any other way it seems. They like to "help" fold laundry, greet one another after nap time by going to the other's "crib", pretending the boys' walkie-talkie's are phones, and getting in any sort of bin/laundry basket/box they can find together. CUTE CUTE CUTE!





They share so many interests, but one of the biggest things they have in common is their love of the big boys in the house. Justice, Kiah and Boaz, although they love the girls sincerely,they don't really appreciate the way the girls want to do whatever they do, be wherever they are, and touch anything they touch. However, I'm convinced that one day...they will absorb how lovely that reality has been. This video catches the girls driving their buses and trucks minutes after the boys left (they had been doing the same thing, of course!). So sweet!

Shaffer Kiddos...

Boys and girls are inherently different. While my 3 sons take a mud bath in the back yard (and wind up in tears when it's time to wash it all off)...my daughter poses for pictures! HA! We really, really love our kids. They are a ton of work...and I can't imagine my life without this satisfying exhaustion. It's almost time for Jason to be off work and the boys to be home from school so we can be home all together for 2 whole weeks. It's feeling so necessary right about now. I can't wait!

60 something and sunny....repeat.

Baysil Peace turned one 3 weeks ago and has been in a constant state of change ever since. We are all enjoying her in this toddler stage. She says "Hi" (which is A-Dorable since her mouth opens so wide and you can tell it is such an effort), she waves at everyone (when she's in the mood), says "Da-da" "ma-ma" "dog" (<---which sounds a lot like "DAH") and "Jah" for Justice, "Sssssss" for shoes and "N-eye, N-eye" for Nite-nite. She will "shush" me when I "shush" her...which I'm guessing is a sign of what's to come. She points to her sippy cup when she wants it and she points to where she wants to go (which is wherever her brothers are...down the stairs or outside). She has tantrums and likes to do things by herself. She puts her sunglasses on (they are actually around her neck when she does this, dangling like a necklace...and she waddles around as proud as can be), she puts her socks on top of her feet because she knows that's where they go and she wants to do it herself. She is so curious and loves to explore everwhere we go. She takes anything with wheels and rolls it on the floor just like her big brothers (who are also maturing rapidly and impressing us daily with their newfound knowledge...oh, and they now tell on eachother and know what "bad words" are....school has introduced them to loads of stuff and I miss them during the days for sure!). We just adore our kids. It is an unmatched joy discovering each of them. We are having so much fun with Baysil. Anyway...this post is long over-due, so here is a compilations of info and some random photos and a short video. The weather in Houston this time of year is fantastic. We are soaking up a long weekend together, beautiful breezy sunshine and the outdoors.

The Lost Shucken'

Picking the twins up from school is often a favorite part of my day. I pick them up on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Jenni does Mondays and Fridays. All of the pre-K/Kinder classes march outside and sit on little benches at the end of the day. The parents line up around a fence and watch with eagerness, waiting for the gate to open. It's a bit like watching animals at the zoo, but these animals are extremely active. Legs swinging, talking to one another, looking for their Mom or Dad. My heart begins racing when I spot them and they see me. They get a huge smile on their faces and we wave frantically at each other. Then, the gate swings open. I usually find myself pushing past the other parents to get to my boys and smother them with hugs. At some point there going to ask me to chill out in front of their friends, but they invite it now and I'm going to take advantage of it!

Yesterday, on the ride home I overheard a pretty fun conversation between Boaz and Kiah. Boaz surprisingly pronounced, "Oh no, I lost my Shucken! My Shucken is at school. Daddy can we go get my shucken?" As I was trying to figure how to respond to a question that I couldn't understand Kiah piped in, "Oh Boaz, I'm sorry you lost your Shucken." He obviously understood his brother better than I did.

Boaz replied politely, "Thank-you Kiah. Do you have your Shucken?" Then, there was another pause before Kiah exclaimed, "Boaz, it's not a 'Shucken', it's a 'Chicken'."
Boaz wasn't so sure because he had been informed otherwise, "Kiah, Sebastian (a boy in Boaz's class) said it is a 'Shucken'". It was hard to refute that, so Kiah agreed, "Oh, O.K. Boaz, it's a 'shucken'". And that was it. The argument was settled. It was short and sweet and absolutely precious. Then, they moved right along to other things like "I spy" or playing with their cars or stuffed animals. I've gathered quite a toy collection in the car.