Another weekend with The Akins

One of our favorite times of the year is when The Akins come for a music revival in January. This family has been coming to our church for 12 years. One of the perks of being a preacher's kid is you get to spend time with ministers and their families when they come to visit your church. Sometimes, you get the great blessing of befriending some wonderful people. The Akins are some of these wonderful people. They feel like family and we love to chance to visit with them each year when they come.

The Akins have had an exciting year with one of their songs making it to #1 on the gospel music charts. They have a song right now that is #21, too. We are so excited for them and so glad God is blessing them through the success of their newest album!

Max LOVES, LOVES, LOVES the Akins. I didn't think anyone could like them any better than Max but little Wes loves them just as much. Wes only wants  to and only asks to listen to The Akins in the car. He can sing along with every song and it sure is sweet to hear that precious 2 year old voice sings songs that glorify the Father! My parent's had them over to their house Friday night after the concert. It was my dad's birthday so we had a little birthday celebration, some food, and great fellowship. We had a blast playing Band Hero with them and laughed ourselves silly. The newest member of the Akins, Zach, is a perfect fit and felt just like family, too. Nick's wife, Julie, was able to come and she is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. I am so thankful my boys have these awesome guys to look up to as role models. They are truly wonderful men doing God's work and it's so great for young men and even boys to see that with their own eyes. You know they love the Lord and are striving to walk in His path. We always have a great time but this weekend was really a fabulous one! We Love you guys and can't wait until next year!!

The Akins!

Wesley stood up and clapped along with everyone else!

Nick let Wes play his drums!

Max and Eli taking their turn at Band Hero

Rocking out

YMCA everybody!

Zach and Davey's turn

Now Davey is rockin out

Nick and Davey's turn

Wes had to get Paw Paw's man out.

Daddo's bday cake

Zack, Max, Wes, and Eli.

Wes LOVED Zach and sat between he and Eli most of the time.

Nick and Wes

Love this one!!

Max and Nick, with the spy glasses

Waiting for the last concert to start

My sweet little Wes

Clapping away

Not ready for this...

Well several weeks ago a big transition took place in our household. Wesley figured out how to climb in and out his crib and wouldn't stay in his crib anymore. Then, shortly after after he got croup and I had to sit up on the couch with him every night for 5 nights in a row. So ended the sleeping okay in his crib alone. Max has never slept alone and we have tried everything to get him to sleep in his own bed without success.

During the middle of the night after being awaken by a slap to the face from Wesley, I had an epiphany! If both the boys want to sleep with someone they can sleep in the same bed in their own room and not myself in the bed with both boys getting no sleep.

I hadn't planned on taking Wesley's crib down when he was not even 2 1/2 but when you don't get sleep you do what you have to do. I was sad breaking down the crib not knowing if it will be last time I have a crib in the house but thankfully the boys are doing great in a double bed in their room. I told Max that if he could sleep all night long in his own bed for a month, then I would let him help pick out a bed and the bedding to go on the bed. We, thankfully, will be doing that soon. So, here are the last pictures of the crib and Max's first big boy bed.

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Star of Wonder

Both boys participated in the children's Christmas play this year. Max's age group started practicing in October for the program, Star of Wonder. Max was given the part of Falling Star, the comic relief and clumsy star fit him to a tee. Wesley and the three other boys his age at church were the wise men. The little rug rats didn't have to practice but just during the final dress rehearsal the day before.

The directors gave us a CD with the music on it for us to listen to and listen to it we did! Between it and the adult choir cantata that is all we listened to in the car for 2 solid months. Needless to say, both the boys new the songs to each backwards and forwards.

Out of all the children's programs I have seen over the years, this one was by far the cutest one I have ever seen. I'm not saying it just because my precious babies were part of it, it was just all around cute and all the kids did a fantastic job.

The older kids were doing great, they remembered their lines, and were singing out loud and strong. (Except for the 2 sisters/angels that were doing some very entertaining dancing, that is.) The Wee Kings came down the isle towards the end and everyone just lost it. They were so cute and started running around and making noises and just being 2 year olds. All that is except for my wild man Wes. He completely and utterly surprised me. He followed his instructions to the letter. He walked, yes walked, down the isle. Walked, again walked, up the stars onto the platform. WALKED across the platform, placed his gift onto baby Jesus, WALKED back across the platform, stood next to Max, and started to sing along with all the big kids. I couldn't get over it. Where did that wild child go that I had brought with me to practice the day before? The one that ran as fast as he could down the isle twice, ran up the stairs, ran across the stage, threw his present, and stopped to sing at ever single microphone he could get his hands on? Where did he go? I don't know but this precious angel was in his place and I have to admit I cried a little.

Everyone at church is still talking about how well they all did and just how cute it was. They all did excellent and I'm so proud of my 2 big boys!!

Role call

Falling Star

The stars

Wes being so good and singing along

My sweet boys

The whole gang

Wee King Wes and Aunt Shia