the men (at least one day they will be!)

When Matt is away Isaac steps up and becomes "man of the house".  He takes his role seriously.

This morning he told me "If any bad strangers try to come in our house I will hit them with this stick."

[Note to any potential bad strangers: he might be three years old, but he's got a big stick.]

And can you tell we've had more than one conversation about appropriate and inappropriate ways to wield your strength?  This is something I need lots of grace to navigate well - this encouraging him (and my other sons) to embrace the God-given desires to assert strength, to destroy evil, to protect others, to lead out.... but also steering those desires in the right direction.  Anyways, I was thankful that at least this once the stick was for the 'bad strangers'.  We've had more than one stick aimed at a sibling :)

I got my little two bundled and loaded up for a quick walk mid-morning.  Quick, as in "you better be quick about it or you will not keep up with Isaac on his bike". 

That double is not as light as it looks.  The boys alone weigh almost fifty pounds. 

And one last picture from this morning... Matt tucked away little notes for each of the children while he was gone. (Well, everyone except Luke.  Luke eats paper.)

Each note has a crayon drawing of Matt doing something with that child ("Daddy has crayons at his work?!?!"  Lydia was incredulous.  Who knew Dad had crayons at work? he he he)