Ha! I got it!

Okay, so Uri came down with a cold a couple days ago and was SUPER-over-the-top-miserable. He took 3 naps on Sunday, then slept terrible, had to be nursed around 2am, and then took a horrible nap Monday morning. But when we ran Tom to the airport and then picked up some stuff at the grocery store, he seemed much better. At lunch that day I realized that while he still had a cold, I don't think it was as bad as we thought. After months of teething, Uri's first TWO bottom teeth came through. Yay!!


And I thought for sure that I would have trouble getting a picture. They are still just barely through and he has his tongue in the way a lot....but I got it: 

Don't worry, I am firing his barber. Wow. 

In other news, last week Josie sang in her very first performance. Also another challenging photo. It was at Nurture, our mom's group at church, and all the 2 year olds and older came out and sang Joy to the World and Oh Holy Night (I think?). During the week before, the gal in charge of the kids programming sent out an email asking us to practice with our kids so they wouldn't forget what they had learned. When I sang a little of each song and asked Josie if she knew them she insisted that, no, she had no idea what those songs were. 

Okay, I took this picture WHILE they were singing. Obviously, they all knew the song as well as Josie.

And where to look. 

25 two year olds singing in a choir: WOW.

When we are not teething through drool and snot and singing in harmony for captive audiences, we have been hanging out at home. When we don't have time (or lets be honest, energy) to get down to the park, I have taken the kids out to ride Josie's trike. I also brought Uri's cart outside to wear him out for naptime too. And check out the cuteness...

He absolutely loves this activity. We have done it a couple times for at least an hour each time. :)

A sad day.

Today, Tom is in Pennsylvania saying goodbye to his dear and longest friend, Ben. He was the best man in our wedding and an integral part of the Swogger family growing up. Ben is the closest thing Tom had to a brother and he is in enough of their family photos you might believe he really was. I remember when Tom and I were dating in college, I couldn't wait to meet Ben because I had heard so much about him. When I finally did, what I had heard was true: he was genuine, sweet, and very funny. 

When people ask me to describe my husband, one of the first things I say is that he is a great friend, and not just to me. I can't help but believe that this is at least partly because he had a such a good, long friendship through his childhood and beyond. Someone to learn how to be a faithful and honest friend with. I wish I could be alongside Tom today, to say goodbye to Ben in person. I feel so indebted to him for the mark he left on my best friend. 

So although I am very sad to even write this, I am also extremely grateful for Ben's life and the gift of himself he gave to Tom and his family. It was a privilege to know him and call him a friend. He will be very missed. 

This picture is from the last time we were able to see Ben when Josie was just bitty. I had another one in mind but can't find it right now. :(