First Tooth GONE!

Shelly had a tooth that loosened up a little more quickly than I expected and TODAY it came out. And she lost it, as in, can't find it anywhere. We believe she swallowed it, so she's leaving a note for the Tooth Fairy, since she can't leave her tooth. You can read her version of the events on her blog. Now she's walking around proudly clenching her teeth closed, sticking her tongue into the little hole. What a grown up girl, loosing teeth and her very own blog, it still surprises me how big she's getting!

Good Friday

The day that we remember that Jesus died for us.

The day that starts Spring Break for many students across our country, the day that kids make plans for all the fun they're going to have next week, the day we tell each other "have a good weekend" and go home and dye eggs and stuff plastic eggs with sugary treats and think about where we'll hide them so the kids can run around to find as many as possible and then tell the kids "share!" and try to avoid the tears of one kid who didn't get as much sugar as the other one.

The day that we call "Good" even as the people there that day, Jesus' disciples and family, would have probably told you it was the worst day of their lives.

My refrigerator is covered with Easter crafts. Bunnies, crayon-colored eggs, little yellow chicks. I'm wondering if this is really the best way to remember what we're remembering today, the day that Jesus died for us. I'm feeling an uneasiness about the jelly beans and plastic grass and baskets filled with junk. I'm feeling like, if we REALLY appreciate what Jesus did for us, if we REALLY respect and adore and love Him, is this the best we can do? Candy and a lie about a bunny that delivers it? Why have we bought into this? Why have we BOUGHT this? I'm sure I could do some research and find out the number of millions of dollars that are spent on Easter bunny nick knacks and candy for this thing we call a holiday. I'm sure it rivals Halloween for dollars wasted. And I'm really truly positive that this is something that makes Jesus sad.

We pretend like the eggs are "to symbolize new life" or something. But we know. We're getting caught up in the world's view of what Easter is. And where is Jesus in any of it? Where is our love and appreciation for what Jesus has done? Where is our somber recognition of what really happened on this day, so many years ago? Today should be a day of reflection, quiet, not chaos running around to decorate the last little thing and hide the last plastic egg before the weekend's festivities. What we're doing today is not honoring our Lord and Savior. Let's all try to think a little more on Him today, and a little less on the rest of it, ok?

For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.
~ Romans 11:36


 

Sick Day

It's a sick day for E, thankfully just a fever with no throwing up (so far). We're alternating between napping and tv. He cries when I leave him so I've given in to joining him on the couch. Work, laundry, cleaning can wait. I've got a little boy that needs snuggling.

My Sons

See my matching boys? Aren't they so cute? I mean, handsome. Aren't they so handsome? (All Archer's idea, for the record.)

Our Anthem

Think of Queen, think "We will, we will.. ROCK YOU!"
Got the tune in your head? Here we go!

Got butter on your face.
Big disgrace.
Sticky syrup all over the place.

We will, we will WASH YOU!

Inspired by breakfast with pancakes and plenty of, you guessed it, sticky syrup. You just never know where a meal will take you. We all walked out of the restaurant humming, and laughing over our lyrics. Cause we're so funny, right? Yeah we are!

(Thanks to David for making cleaning up just a bit more fun.)

Double Feature Movie Night

Usually Movie Night is at home in our jammies, sometimes we pull out the sleeping bags. There's always a lot of shuffling around, requests for popcorn, MORE popcorn... E announces "pop" over and over, and then "dote!" Which of course is Coke. That's Friday night at our house.

Tonight we switched it up and went out for movies. The kids enjoyed picking out treats from the concession stand and wandering around between the two movies. Definitely fun, but I miss the jammies. Next week I think we'll go back to our regular routine!

Tummy Love & Horses

About a year ago, Elijah invented a new game. He did this all without words, lots of pointing and gesturing, and the next thing you know I was laying down on the kitchen floor. He sat down, patted the floor next to him so I sat too. Then he gently pushed my shoulders back until I was laying down. And then the fun part... the part that we began calling Tummy Love. He pulled up his shirt to show his tummy. I had to do the same. And then he laid down across me, our bare tummies matched up. This lasted for a short time before he had to adjust his position, fix his shirt or mine, move around a bit and eventually leave to go play something else. Tummy Love now happens regularly, sometimes when we're just hanging around on the couches, sometimes he demands we lay down on the floor, Tummy Love time. He definitely loves the snuggling.

Today he said it. The first time I've ever heard him say "love" and he was talking about Tummy Love. "Tummy yuv!" Of course it was not a convenient time for me, and when I said "not now," there were tears. Maybe I eventually let him talk me into it. Tummy Yuv.

Later on, after Archer and Shelly were home, there was a serious game of Horsey going on. This is an upgrade from playing Puppy, one I appreciate because Puppy usually ends up with two or three noisy puppies huddling around my feet demanding petting. Horsey is a little more self sufficient. I heard Eli screaming "RUN HOO-TEE!!!" from the other room. Shelly always coaching, "No, E, do it more like this. You're the cowboy, say that." "RUN HOO-TEE!!" And then the phone rings.

Work. It was a work phone call, I knew from the caller ID, and shouted the warning, "Work call! Be quiet please!" And of course my most professional sounding voice, "... how can I help you?" In the background an ear piercing scream. Unbelievably long, loud, high pitched. Horses do NOT make those noises, right? "Sorry for the background noise. I think someone's trying to lasso someone else." She just laughed, understanding. I never really saw whether anyone was riding the horsey, or if they were just chasing each other. I'd rather not know, I'd probably have to put an end to the dangerous game. And life goes on. Tummy Yuv. Hoo-tee. Games all around.

Weekend Travels

We told the kids that we were going swimming at a hotel, that was it. But, we also might be doing some walking around so we should really replace the shoes that had missing shoelaces and holes in the bottoms. Our first stop was Target, then, we're off! (Notice the boys have matching shoes. Shelly's are the same style too, just a different color.)

We drove for a long time and then showed up at a theater, not a hotel. Archer was slightly disappointed and wondered when we would get to go swimming. "Just this one stop, then we'll go to the hotel." This one stop turned out to be a Disney Live Music Show and even Archer warmed up to it when the Toy Story characters came out yodeling and doing fancy rope tricks. Elijah tried to claim the entire bucket of popcorn for himself but the rest of us sneaked some while he was distracted by Mickey Mouse singing.

When we got to the hotel the smallest person was put in charge of the heaviest bag and we made our way in. That smallest person was then put down for a nap with Dad while the rest of us checked out the pool. FINALLY! It was a great place, the kids loved showing off their swimming skills and I even got Arch to try out the hot tub with me (the BEST part!). Later, after supper, Dad and E joined us in the pool again for lots more fun. All the way till ten at night we swam, the kids were in HEAVEN. (Sorry, E, for the pink shirt. Its what we had.)

For breakfast we ate at the Sugar Bowl, what a sweet place! The waitresses were all so kind, Archer even commented on how nice they all were, it definitely felt like a small town diner, and the food was SO good! Did I mention lunch the day before was at a McDonald's with a water tower in the parking lot? And supper was at Buona's, another friendly place with fantastic desserts, E didn't want to let a single drop get left behind (and that's why you can see him with the bowl in his face, drinking up every last bit). As you can see the kids' attitudes ranged from "quit taking so many pictures and WHEN IS THE FOOD GOING TO BE HERE???" to thrilled to get so many treats in one day.

Next was the Museum of Science and Industry, the almost-last surprise. We wandered all around for half a day, lost each of the kids once or twice (three of them, two of us, its easy to lose track of where everyone's at!). David and the kids reviewed the map a few times and then...
Rock climbing, an indoor tornado that got Shelly a little nervous, visiting a toy factory, learning about the circus, ships, farming (see us milking a cow?), catching sand with our shadows, what have I forgotten?

We did a coal mine tour which only slightly terrified Shelly, she clung pretty close for that adventure. I don't blame her. Onto an elevator and into the dark to descend 600 feet into a mine. The elevator was dark and noisy. No lights in those elevators, you know! Through dimly-lit tunnels and past noisy machines. It got to be a little much for her, and since it was the end of the day, Elijah was carried most of the time. And rubbing his face against my face, getting ready for his nap. We learned so much!

And now, goodbye Chicago, finally we were on our way home. Just one more stop, the famous Rainforest Cafe. The kids were completely fascinated by every detail, but all three were surprised by the thunderstorms, with rumbling thunder and lightening flashing it was a little too much for Eli. Plus I'm sure he was completely exhausted, and still... more to come... a Volcano for dessert! We kept seeing the waiters walking by with flaming stacks of brownies and ice cream, they watched as the desserts kept passing us by but Mom and Dad said we'd already had enough to eat. And then... the waiter brought one for us! We all dug in and enjoyed this last treat from our trip. And then that really was it, time to go home. Archer and Shelly wished they didn't have to go back to school tomorrow, the fun still lingering and wishing real life didn't start up again so quickly. We got home at 8:30 and were all in bed and sleeping by 9:30. And even Archer slept in a little more than usual on Monday morning.

Getting Ready

Packing snacks and swimsuits, making a list and checking it twelve times. It seems like we are always running off to the next big adventure.

Last week's adventure was the Pinewood Derby with the Cub Scouts. David and I spent five hours helping set up on Friday night and all day on Saturday helping run it. It was a great success, thanks to David's great ideas and the wonderful parents who organized and ran the event. I loved all of the encouragement and good sportsmanship the boys showed with each other. And it WAS a lot of work but the time passes quickly when you're hanging out with great people!

Now we're again planning, we'll leave tomorrow for another little road trip. We're trying so hard to surprise the kids but they ask a thousand questions. Every time I answer I'm in danger of slipping up and ruining the surprise.

Now Shelly and E are playing puppy and she's coaching him on his bark. "More fierce, like this! Fierce! Fierce! Good, now lets go hunting!" Happy Hunting Puppies!

Five Minute Friday: Home

I want my home to be a peaceful safe place, and so often it doesn't feel, or look, the way I wish it would. This isn't just about paintings on the wall, the right curtains, toys picked up and a sparkling clean kitchen. I've lowered my expectations about that stuff. The thing about home is that its messy. Not just the physical stuff you see when you walk in the door. The stuff that happens within these walls. Family life is so messy. Peaceful sometimes, but more often its noisy with laughter and loud playing. Noisy with strong emotions and people who each have their own ideas about what should happen next. Homework or playtime? Shower or supper? This game or that one? Speaking of supper, what are we having? When we don't all want the exact same thing, things get messy. And that's not some magazine picture or self help book. That's real life, messy family life, all within the walls of this place we call home. Sometimes chaotic, noisy, too messy to bear. Sometimes peaceful. Always filled with love.

Linking up with Lisa Jo Baker & Five Minute Friday

Art on the Fridge

A Day in the Life - Spring Break

Breakfast

Helping with laundry

Cowboy lunch

"Hud! Hud!" (Translation, Hug! Hug!)

Playing with Archer's Pez dispenser, after snatching it from Archer's hand and running away, declaring "Mine!"

Arts and craft time while E took his nap - Shelly colored and Archer built a plane.

Studying the paper airplane book after supper.

Elijah doing dishes (AKA playing in the water and making a huge mess everywhere, but he was occupied and happy so it's worth water all over).

Testing out the paper airplanes.

Bed time means run and hide from Mom, E tried really hard to hide under the dining room table but couldn't keep himself from giggling so I was able to track him down and drag him out.

All in all it was an uneventful but fun-filled day. No major arguments/whining/complaints. The kids spent the entire day in their jammies. We got the bedrooms cleaned up a little bit. That's a successful day, as far as I'm concerned! 

For more of what we did today (yes, there's more!) visit the kids' blogs (yes they have blogs now!).

Shelly's Famous Art

Dancing and singing with Shelly

Testing the airplane with Archer

Pinewood Derby

by Archer

On Saturday was the Pinewood Derby. It was really fun. We helped Chris and Maia make cars the week before. I got a third place trophy. I was shocked when they called my name. I came in first place in my first race, second in my second race, first in my third race and first in my fourth race. It was a fun race.

Grandpa came to the race and he helped us make our cars.

I came in third place!

Dad put the weights in and painted my car.

This is the car Grandpa and Dad helped me make.

This is SOOO Against the Rules

But sometimes you just have to let go of the rules. I mean really, what's the worst that could happen?

Through the Woods

It's not every day you get to walk through the woods to get a great breakfast of pancakes and sausages with real maple syrup. What a treat, it was cold but sunny and we explored the woods with friends after we ate. Yum!

Five Minute Friday: Ordinary

Sometimes I think we try to hard to stand out, make sure our kids are THE best at something, and where does that lead? All the kids I remember from high school that were really good at swimming, taking tests, highest grades, fastest times, best scores for the team... we all end up mostly in the same place. Ordinary families, jobs, lives. And what does that mean for what I want for my kids? Is ordinary ok? I think so. They don't have to have the highest grades, the most friends, the best whatever. We're all just ordinary. Except, we're not actually, because God loves each and every one of us in such and EXTRAordinary way that there's just no way we can settle. God loves us so individually and uniquely. And if we remember that as we go through our ordinary days, we'll become more of what He wants for us. Not ordinary. Maybe not extraordinary in the way the world recognizes, but searching for Him moment by moment. And that's the journey I'm on, and that I hope my kids are on, searching for Him, letting His light and love shine through us. We probably won't ever be famous (its probably better that way, anyway). But He has something for each of us. Let's keep looking for Him and see where He takes us on this ordinary journey.

Linking up with Five Minute Friday