Goin' Campin'

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The Uphues family got a wild hair and decided to go camping with a couple of other playgroup families! Needless to say, it did not disappoint! We had a blast and were extremely happy that Marshall did too...because we all knew we were setting ourselves up for a potentially HUGE outdoor disaster! We ventured down to Meridian State Park, which is about 2.5 hrs south of Dallas. Here's a recap of the ups and downs of the trip.

UPs:
1) We spent an afternoon at Fossil Rim and it was fabulous! So many cool exotic animals that eat from your hand...mind blowingly cool! (Thanks Whitney for letting us use your Mom's membership!)
2) Such great camping company! Three equally brave families made our camping experience so much fun! They taught me I could successfully exist without electricity for 2 days, sleep in a tent with a toddler and smores are better with peanut butter cups! Thanks Miller's, Sawyer's and Aldredge's! 
3) Marshall would say that 2 things were his favorites: being outside 24/7 and the amusement park of unlimited dirt, rocks sticks with 3 boys to share it with....well, we're working on the sharing part!?!
DOWNs:
1) Unfortunately due to all the wild fires, there was a burn ban, which meant no campfires to keep us warm at night.
2) It was unseasonably cold at night, like in the 30's...so it wasn't the most enjoyable temperatures for sleeping outside. Hence, the hats and jackets in all the morning pictures.
3) Marshall got his hand "caught" in a zebra's mouth...meaning, a zebra wrapped his big lips around M's hand, but didn't bite him. He was a little upset, but once we got to the giraffe's he forgot all about it!

I think we've started a new family tradition!!!

Get Your Motors Runnin'

It wasn't very hard to pick a theme for Marshall's 2nd birthday, since all he does is play with cars! I found tons of super fun ideas online and decided to embark on a craft palooza: traffic light centerpieces, car crayon molds and the most fun of all, wearable box cars for each child! The celebration was in the gazebo at Breckenridge Park with plenty of room for kids to room, if not for the not-so toddler friendly pond near by. But it sure was pretty!?! We had such a fun time and are SO thankful to all our family and friends that were able to join us...we couldn't have raised this spunky boy without such a wonderful group of people surrounding us for the past 2 years. We feel so blessed!





Decorating a license plate for his box car

The fleet - all 22 of them!

Yummy cupcakes from Creighton's co-worker, Lisa!

The birthday boy enjoying all the attention

The kids gearing up for their box cars...some definitely favored them more than others!?!

Hudson testing out his new wheels

Jake hoping this is a golf cart

Egan's zooming to a Rangers game!

Wouldn't you know, Marshall's favorite party spot was this patch of dirt...gotta love it!

Mia and Egan

The wagon made the rounds around the gazebo many, many times.



My two favorite boys, makes my heart melt!



Happy 2nd Birthday Marshall!!!

Dear Marshall,
What an absolute joy and blessing you are to us! These last two years have been mind-blowing...every day a new adventure and every adventure, better than the one before. Your spunk is contagious and your sweet, friendly spirit is refreshing. Happiness just explodes from your heart and it's truly an answer to prayer...I hope it never fades with age. What an honor to be your parents! You remind us everyday that God is bigger and greater than anything we can imagine and the depth of responsibility we have to guard and protect that little heart and mind of yours inspires us to be better parents. We are in no way perfect at the job, but we serve a perfect God, so I'm thrilled that he can heal you from any of the hurts we accidentally give you.

This verse is a new favorite of mine, because there's nothing I want for you to know more than there's nothing to fear, because although we love you...there's a God that loves you even more than we ever could...you are His!

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:1b-2

Happy Birthday Marshall, we love you to the moon and back and although we're really quite anxious about you as a 2-yr old, we're hopeful you will use your spunk for good and not evil! :)

Love,
Mom & Dad

We had Marshall's two-year pictures taken last weekend and as always, Miss Whitney did an outstanding job!!! She is always perfect at capturing Marshall's hilarity at this stage, which is what I've provided below...these are the bloopers. I'll save the winners for another post. Enjoy!

March Madness

Here's a little recap of all our happenings in March. Spring is here, so we definitely sprung into action with more outings and fun adventures with our little toddler.

Our playgroup braved the DART Rail and took a little trip down to Mockingbird Station to enjoy a bite to eat. The kids were in heaven and there has been much train talk ever since!

The DART passengers didn't quite know what to do with all of us and our 8 toddlers!

Some of the boys: Zane, Egan, Caleb & Marshall

A man's work is never done

My brother-in-law, Andy, also came in from Afghanistan for his two-week leave and we were SO excited to see him. We are so thankful the Lord has kept him safe the last 8 months and continue to pray for safety and strength during his last 4 months there. We are so proud of him!!!

We took a trip to Tyler to visit Gana & Papa and we went to a cool playground that had an old fire engine, tractor and caboose. Unfortunately Marshall suffered his first major boo-boo when a swing ran into his face...which resulted in a very minor black eye. It's that awful feeling of watching something in slow motion that you know isn't going to go well, but you just can't get there in time to save them. In typical Marshall form, he was happy to point it out to anyone he met...anything for attention!

Driving the fire truck with Gana

Driving a tractor is serious business!

Marshall's first bubble bath, EVER! Even though he looks pleasant here, it took us 10 minutes to even get him to stay in the tub on his knees. He refused to sit on his bottom, WAY to freaked out about drowning, poor baby!

Marshall went to his first birthday party of the season for Miss Lily! It's next to impossible to take any pictures of a bouncing boy, which means he had a blast! Such a fun party for a sweet little girl.

Finally, we headed down to the Arboretum for our annual Dallas Blooms trip and it did not disappoint! So beautiful and so much space to run...the boys were in heaven and Mia did a good job of holding her own. Grandma got to join us and I was so thankful for the extra hands for our little busy bee!

Grandma & Marshall

Marshall & Hudson: our little strawberry blond buddies...they are just too cute together!

Running ahead to check out the toad water fountain

Runnnnnnnnning!!!

Only time he was still was when he was playing with the dirt.

Sweet Mia, she knows how to pose!

Peek-a-boo!