Tomorrow

Tomorrow I am off to Tanzania for 12 days to visit my sister with my parents.  I am beyond excited about this trip! I can't wait to see her life, experience her life, spend time with her in a place that is so dear to her heart and a place that she has called home for the past 2 years. I can't wait to partner with her in loving the people of Tanzania and bringing them a glimpse of Jesus.
I am also a basket-case today! The tears will not stop flowing! I am incredibly sad to be leaving my kids and husband for that long, despite it being my choice to do so.  I know that this experience is one that I will never again have, and for that I am beyond grateful to my husband for partnering with me to make this happen.  But the sadness of missing them all, especially because I don't think T will fully be able to grasp what's going on, is enough to put me into a tailspin.  Combine that with my (irrational) growing fear of flying-especially on 12.5 hour then 5.5 hour flights just to get there (add an hour coming home) and two other flights on "FastJet" to go on our safari-let's just say I'm freaking out about making it there and back in one piece. And to add fuel to the ever growing sadness fire, Tucker got suck on Saturday. It seems like a virus where he is just bleu with a fever that ranges from 99-102 throughout the day. Most of the time he's been pretty good, but this morning it all hit the fan.  He went to bed at 9:30, woke up at 3:30 and then was up for the day at 8:30. He watched 3 shows and then we went for a run. He was definitely lethargic, but not miserable.  Then when we got home, he lost it.  He couldn't stop saying my name, had no clue why he was even saying it, kept coughing and getting himself all worked up, and then he puked. He's done this a few times before so I'm thinking he puked because of the crying, etc., but then he had a 101 fever and didn't want to eat lunch-just go take a nap-at 12:30. This kid fights his nap every day.  Please pray with me that he would be healed NOW and that Max (who's feeling way less than stellar right now too) can be spared whatever this is. And the same for Brayden and myself.  And if you're up for it, through a pray in for my anxiety level and an immense amount of peace about leaving the boys (all of them) and getting there and back.
I pray I have amazing pictures and stories to share in a couple short weeks!! Eek!

Tucker is 3!!

Tucker turned THREE last week!!  My laptop broke and I just got it back so I'm still missing some pictures from the celebrations, but I still have a bunch.

Tucker is such a joy! He has really become such a compassionate, loving, caring, fun, hyper child.  He has so many sides to him! He's certainly an energetic boy and runs more than he walks. He loves trucks, forts, mac n cheese, and anything outside. He also is always concerned with why someone is "whining" (crying). He apologizes and says it's his fault if he does something wrong.  He throws tantrums and would rather go to timeout sometimes than do what's expected. He is very concerned if someone is hurt or upset. He soaks up every piece of information thrown at him and LOVES to learn.  He's able to count to 11 (often leaving out 10) and has a pretty good ABC song, although the letters are often mumbled and jumbled. He knows his colors and many of his shapes. He is loves to point out  when things are same or different. He enjoy reading and especially likes Seek and Find books. Planes is his favorite movie, with Cars being a close second. He loves Bubble Guppies and PAW Patrol. Molly (BP) is his "best girl" and Ryder (PP) is his "best boy". He absolutely loves school and his teachers and is learning so much there. He loves Brayden and gets excited to share his toys and things with him. Brayden thinks Tucker is the coolest person ever and wants to copy and do everything Tucker does.  He's very affectionate and loves to give kisses and hugs and has lately wanted me to cuddle with him. He is excessively outgoing, saying hi to everyone we see and meet. He has no problem talking to people (not always the best thing) and talking to himself! He is easily entertained and can have fun playing by himself or sitting in his bed chatting to himself (or the imaginary friend we've yet to meet).

I gave Tucker an interview and here's what he share about himself (note-not all of these may be accurate, but they're what he answered!):

Age:  3 ("free")

Makes you happy: people

Favorite Animal: moose, cow

Favorite food: noo-noo's and cheese

Favorite TV show- PAW Patrol

Something you're really good at: Playing Games

Favorite movie: Planes

Favorite Color: Blue

Best Friend: Addie

Best Guy: Ryder (From PAW Patrol)

Best Girl: Molly (From Bubble Guppies)

Things you and mom do together: play balls and outside

Things you and dad do together: build forts

Favorite Sport: baseball (???)

Favorite Place to Go: Restaurants and park

Favorite Toy: Trucks

Favorite Book: Planes book (search and find)

What do you want to be when you grow up: Eat Gum

What's Mom's name: Mama and "your other name"

What's Dad's name: Max

What does mom do during the day: plays

What does dad do during the day: works

 What do you like to do outside: play with red car, sandbox, swing set

Friends at school: Ben, Mila, Maya, Eliza, Cortney, Adelaide, Daneielle, Mason, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Schober

I celebrated my birthday by: Breakfast at Chips (panpakes with spinkles and syrup)

Tonight I thanked God for: belly button, pinecone.

I LOVE birthdays! Tucker had three celebrations! The first was with our family and some close friends. He had so much fun with everyone and was even very polite and said Thank You after he opened each gift (he was reminded about that before opening them)!

our only family photo of the week...thanks for the photobomb Chris!

Tucker had to try out some of his gifts during the "after party!"

This guy has been reaping the benefits of his brother having a birthday! Tucker has been surprisingly great about sharing his toys! So glad!

We celebrated with all of his buds at My Gym the next day! It was pure chaos of kids running everywhere having fun and Tucker had a blast! He was especially excited about the bubble machine...he was jumping and trying to eat the bubbles....weirdo! They also did zip-line rides for the kids which they loved:)  So much fun!!

We inconveniently planned the party for the elite 8 game that UCONN was magically playing in...notice all the dads watching it on the computer:) Thankfully they won in the first 15 minutes of the party!

buds:)

I thought it was so cute-they put Tucker on a little sled and played the Rocky song while they pulled him around to high-five his friends.

On Tucker's actual birthday we went to Chip's for breakfast for the special birthday pancakes. Tucker explicitly wanted "pancakes with spinkles and syrup."

We brought cupcakes to school where his sweet teachers took picture for me. They have this special cupcake thing and candle, and give him a crown. He LOVED it!

We took the family to Habachi for dinner for the first time...it could become a birthday tradition! We went a little early and the place was empty! We had our table all to ourselves. Tucker LOVED the "fire fire" and Brayden was so enamored. Tucker kept asking the chef "why no more fire?" and the nice man kept doing more! Needless to say, Tucker and Brayden love "dubachi!"

They were watching so intently

More fire!!

He had opened so many presents already that he didn't even ask for any from us! 

We gave him a "Marshall" card (from PAW Patrol-that was really just a dalmatian fire dog) that he got really excited about-very cute.

Some new Planes from Brayden

A new Logging Truck!

What would a 3rd birthday be without a bowl of ice cream sundae?!

Oh we just love this little boy SO very much and are so excited to see the complex person that he is becoming. What a unique little boy who captures the heart of all he meets!