Thanksgiving pics

I haven't downloaded the pics from IA yet, but here are some my mother-in-law sent me from Thanksgiving. Mike, Phyllis, and Josh's younger sister, Sarah (not pictured oddly enough) drove up from down south to celebrate with us.

Loved the grandmas with my babies

Luke will even point calculators at the TV and push buttons...scary.

Precious face.

Beks lovin' on Papa

My dad with the kids in the backyard

At the park

Luke LOVES to climb up slides

He also loved looking at us and laughing through this plastic

Us with "Ibim"- baby William

We flew back in from Iowa this morning- another 4:30 am wake-up...geez. SOOOOO tired of travel. Anyway, we made another indirect flight back with little discomfort. Rebekah loved telling the Sterners last night that she was going to bed and sleeping in her clothes "because I have an early flight in the morning." Funny girl. On the plane, Luke stretched out in my arms and went to sleep. Evidently, I did, too, b/c my head bobbing from sleep knocked Luke's head and he woke up. I had no idea I was the one who awakened him until Josh told me, laughing. Luke settled down quickly and drifted off again- through landing and even when the armrest nailed him in the head in his sleep, he just rubbed his head and kept on snoozing. Hilarious.

On a related note- yesterday, Rebekah said, "Mama, I'm sad." I asked why. She said, "Today just isn't going the way I planned." I laughed and am still doing so, but these sentiments echo my heart. That phrase has been heard from my mouth too often. I will say, tho, that through moving 3 states up (IA), having 2 diversely crazy children :), moving overseas, flying back and forth at ungodly hours, and either flying or driving all over TX or the States to visit friends, the Lord is FINALLY breaking me. I LOVE routine and HATE unpredictability. I still do. But, now I know to expect unpredictability, and that makes it easier. If I think the kids will sleep, bet on them not. If I think they will be wild, put money on them being angels or fast asleep. I am never right about what should or will happen. So, now I can count on the opposite of my expectations. Seriously though, I feel like I am finally getting better at being flexible and showing a wee bit (and I do mean wee) more grace to those around me and myself in these situations. Just don't ask me to get on another plane with my 2 hooligans right now. :)