Other than watching the hysterics of small children doing martial arts, in general, the best part was when Abi said, "Wow! That guy (the instructor) talks alot -- almost as much as me!" At least she knows she's a chatterbox, I guess!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Kickin' It!
Nick wanted us to do the P90X Kenpo workout with him one night. Abi was totally into the workout, and so was Cam! My children selected the strangest workout wear they could find -- not that Nick was exactly modeling great workout fashions himself.
Other than watching the hysterics of small children doing martial arts, in general, the best part was when Abi said, "Wow! That guy (the instructor) talks alot -- almost as much as me!" At least she knows she's a chatterbox, I guess!
Other than watching the hysterics of small children doing martial arts, in general, the best part was when Abi said, "Wow! That guy (the instructor) talks alot -- almost as much as me!" At least she knows she's a chatterbox, I guess!
Laughing Through the Terrible Twos!
Camryn, at the ripe old age of 17 1/2 months, is now smack in the middle of the "Terrible Twos!"
While I'm not laughing too hard, at least she's entertaining people everywhere we go.
Just today:
Almost immediately after walking into the dentist's office, Camryn found a not-so-private location near to an older gentleman in the waiting room and proceeded to grunt her way through her "stinky business." She does not like the feeling of poo in her diaper anymore, so she comes to me, walking across the entire waiting room, stench following closely behind, holding her bottom, pelvis pushed forward and nose scrunched up. I discreetly said to her, "Did you poop your boo? We'll change it in a few minutes." She started to stomp her feet, obviously thinking I didn't understand her booty-holding charade. So, I quietly repeated to her that I knew she'd pooped and that we'd change it in a minute. So, she then clenches her fists by her sides and lets out the loudest imitation of "I'm having a ginormous b.m." grunt I've ever heard! I thought the man was going to fall out of his chair he was laughing so hard!
Then, less than 30 minutes later:
We're having lunch with friends at a local restaurant, and Camryn drops her crayons in the floor and gets down to retrieve them. She decides that she'll just stay down in the floor, instead of getting back up in her chair. I asked her to get back in her chair, and she just gave me the silent stare and stood there. So, I began counting (she knows that if I get to "3" she'll get a spanking). I said, "One." And she put up one finger and said, "One." and then opened her hand a bit and said, "Two." and then spanked herself on the bottom! And then climbed back up in her chair and went about coloring. The grandma and mother in the booth next to us just died laughing.
Nice.
While I'm not laughing too hard, at least she's entertaining people everywhere we go.
Just today:
Almost immediately after walking into the dentist's office, Camryn found a not-so-private location near to an older gentleman in the waiting room and proceeded to grunt her way through her "stinky business." She does not like the feeling of poo in her diaper anymore, so she comes to me, walking across the entire waiting room, stench following closely behind, holding her bottom, pelvis pushed forward and nose scrunched up. I discreetly said to her, "Did you poop your boo? We'll change it in a few minutes." She started to stomp her feet, obviously thinking I didn't understand her booty-holding charade. So, I quietly repeated to her that I knew she'd pooped and that we'd change it in a minute. So, she then clenches her fists by her sides and lets out the loudest imitation of "I'm having a ginormous b.m." grunt I've ever heard! I thought the man was going to fall out of his chair he was laughing so hard!
Then, less than 30 minutes later:
We're having lunch with friends at a local restaurant, and Camryn drops her crayons in the floor and gets down to retrieve them. She decides that she'll just stay down in the floor, instead of getting back up in her chair. I asked her to get back in her chair, and she just gave me the silent stare and stood there. So, I began counting (she knows that if I get to "3" she'll get a spanking). I said, "One." And she put up one finger and said, "One." and then opened her hand a bit and said, "Two." and then spanked herself on the bottom! And then climbed back up in her chair and went about coloring. The grandma and mother in the booth next to us just died laughing.
Nice.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Superhero X-Ray Vision
Brandon now has Superhero X-Ray vision because he can see his "teef" on the computer!
The double good news for Brandon, besides having a new super-power, is that there is no portion of the tooth left and it looked broken on the edges because his teeth are already starting to resorb. That means that he might lose his baby teeth early anyway, so he might only have a couple of years, as opposed to 3, of looking like this . . .
He also pulled at the heartstrings of the tooth fairy, who paid out big time because of his traumatic tooth loss. He is beyond excited to have a police car that transforms into a robot policeman -- and three "monies" (aka dimes). He has told everyone we've passed today - stranger or not - that he lost his tooth and that the tooth fairy gave him a police car that . . . . yeah, the whole story again!! :o) 
And the other good news is that the tooth fairy has to come back again tonight to claim the tooth since we had to have it for the dentist visit this morning!
And then there's precious baby sister who has been such a trooper today, with all of our running around! She was so sweet last night when Brandon was crying, and his mouth was bleeding. She kept touching his mouth and looking sad.
The double good news for Brandon, besides having a new super-power, is that there is no portion of the tooth left and it looked broken on the edges because his teeth are already starting to resorb. That means that he might lose his baby teeth early anyway, so he might only have a couple of years, as opposed to 3, of looking like this . . .
He also pulled at the heartstrings of the tooth fairy, who paid out big time because of his traumatic tooth loss. He is beyond excited to have a police car that transforms into a robot policeman -- and three "monies" (aka dimes). He has told everyone we've passed today - stranger or not - that he lost his tooth and that the tooth fairy gave him a police car that . . . . yeah, the whole story again!! :o) 
And the other good news is that the tooth fairy has to come back again tonight to claim the tooth since we had to have it for the dentist visit this morning!And then there's precious baby sister who has been such a trooper today, with all of our running around! She was so sweet last night when Brandon was crying, and his mouth was bleeding. She kept touching his mouth and looking sad.
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Tooth Fairy is Early!
We are receiving an early visit from the tooth fairy, and I think big sister is jealous!
Brandon knocked out one of his front teeth tonight, and will apparently be snaggle-toothed for the next 3 years or so! Now, why couldn't I have had family pictures taken last week like I had planned to do?!?!
He was initially pretty panicked, and we followed Mrs. Sherry's advice about putting it back in the socket until we could talk to the dentist about options. However, he said it was pretty much a done deal. We're going to have an x-ray taken in the morning because it looks like he broke part of the root off that will likely have to be surgically removed.
So, I am eagerly waiting to see Dad in his Tooth Fairy tutu in the wee hours of the morning, gingerly placing a Police Car Transformer under Brave B's pillow!
Pictures to follow tomorrow!
Brandon knocked out one of his front teeth tonight, and will apparently be snaggle-toothed for the next 3 years or so! Now, why couldn't I have had family pictures taken last week like I had planned to do?!?!
He was initially pretty panicked, and we followed Mrs. Sherry's advice about putting it back in the socket until we could talk to the dentist about options. However, he said it was pretty much a done deal. We're going to have an x-ray taken in the morning because it looks like he broke part of the root off that will likely have to be surgically removed.
So, I am eagerly waiting to see Dad in his Tooth Fairy tutu in the wee hours of the morning, gingerly placing a Police Car Transformer under Brave B's pillow!
Pictures to follow tomorrow!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
First Chair
It has taken me a week to get around to this post, and I often just don't post something I intended to post when that much time has passed because something new has come up to post about. But, I'm forcing myself to postpone those other things and step back a week to our pastor's sermon and share with you because it did speak so loudly to me!
Ronnie's sermon was based on Judges 2:7-13 and was about reaching the next generation for Christ.
Ronnie's sermon built upon what God has been working out in me lately -- a tendency toward lukewarmness for Christ does not have effects that are limited only to my own life. It affects my family, my friends, and especially my children.
Ronnie used three barstools as a simple, and very powerful, visual of the consequences of lax faith. The first stool represented where the devoted, committed, faithful, obedient Christian would sit. It's a seat where the people who served God and saw His Works would be seated (v. 7).
The second stool represents where the "lukewarm" Christian sits -- the people who know about God but who don't necessarily have a relationship in which they truly know God or have experienced His Works (v. 10). Ronnie challenged us, as Christians, to honestly evaluate which chair we would be seated in.
The third seat was reserved for those who abandoned God altogether, worshiping false gods and doing things that anger God (v. 11-13).
The point that what seat I'm in really affects those who are watching me, not just myself, is what spoke so deeply to me. Ronnie used the example of King David and the two generations of men following him. David would have been in that first chair, a man who, though sinful and faulty, was committed to God. His son, Solomon, however, was a man seated on the middle stool because he knew about God, but didn't really know God. Solomon's son, Rehiboam, was completely confused and lost when it came to Spiritual matters.
An entire generation is being lost for God. There are so many distractions, so many other things to worship, so many other things to seek to fill the inner void that only God is meant to fill. This generation is seeking something authentic and meaningful in our throw-away society.
However, if they are only met by a group of un-passionate, bored with God, hypocritical, middle-seat Christians, they are going to pass on what we are peddling --- and end up in that third seat. Without the One True God.
God wants us to get off of our stools and move to the first chair if we're not there. He wants a deeper relationship with us. He wants us to live our lives with a true measure of faith. He wants us to make people want what we have through our joy, passion, and love.
Which chair?
Ronnie's sermon was based on Judges 2:7-13 and was about reaching the next generation for Christ.
7 The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel. 8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heres a]">[a] in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
We just finished a study of the book "Crazy Love" in our life group, which really challenged me about the concept of "lukewarm" Christianity, and God has called me to choose whether I'm going to be hot or cold for Him because lukewarmness is not an option.Ronnie's sermon built upon what God has been working out in me lately -- a tendency toward lukewarmness for Christ does not have effects that are limited only to my own life. It affects my family, my friends, and especially my children.
Ronnie used three barstools as a simple, and very powerful, visual of the consequences of lax faith. The first stool represented where the devoted, committed, faithful, obedient Christian would sit. It's a seat where the people who served God and saw His Works would be seated (v. 7).
The second stool represents where the "lukewarm" Christian sits -- the people who know about God but who don't necessarily have a relationship in which they truly know God or have experienced His Works (v. 10). Ronnie challenged us, as Christians, to honestly evaluate which chair we would be seated in.
The third seat was reserved for those who abandoned God altogether, worshiping false gods and doing things that anger God (v. 11-13).
The point that what seat I'm in really affects those who are watching me, not just myself, is what spoke so deeply to me. Ronnie used the example of King David and the two generations of men following him. David would have been in that first chair, a man who, though sinful and faulty, was committed to God. His son, Solomon, however, was a man seated on the middle stool because he knew about God, but didn't really know God. Solomon's son, Rehiboam, was completely confused and lost when it came to Spiritual matters.
An entire generation is being lost for God. There are so many distractions, so many other things to worship, so many other things to seek to fill the inner void that only God is meant to fill. This generation is seeking something authentic and meaningful in our throw-away society.
However, if they are only met by a group of un-passionate, bored with God, hypocritical, middle-seat Christians, they are going to pass on what we are peddling --- and end up in that third seat. Without the One True God.
God wants us to get off of our stools and move to the first chair if we're not there. He wants a deeper relationship with us. He wants us to live our lives with a true measure of faith. He wants us to make people want what we have through our joy, passion, and love.
Which chair?
Monday, August 24, 2009
I Made It!
Ahem -- I meant, she made it!
Abi had a fantastic experience on the bus today -- one of the two favorite things about her day.
Abi had a fantastic experience on the bus today -- one of the two favorite things about her day.
Skeeek!
That is the sound Abi made as she looked over her shoulder boarding the bus this morning. It's the exact same sound she makes right before she goes down a waterslide, attempts to climb across monkey bars, or swings high on our tire swing -- "I think I want to do this, but I'm a little scared!"
I used to have nightmares as a kid that I was trying to get my shoes on in my room to go catch the bus and would end up missing it, only to awaken in the dark of night. Knowing she is so much like me -- always asking when we're on our way somewhere, "Mom, are we going to be late?" -- I didn't want her to be anxious about rushing to the bus. So, we went to the end of the driveway with plenty of time. She was pretty jittery while she waited, dragging her toes in the rocks and constantly reminding Brandon that he shouldn't step past the black rocks. When she saw the bus coming around the curve, she was so excited!
Brother walking toward Abi's next adventure with her -- I hope they always share life's adventures with one another!
This is right before the "Skeek" comes out!
My baby is on that bus!
I used to have nightmares as a kid that I was trying to get my shoes on in my room to go catch the bus and would end up missing it, only to awaken in the dark of night. Knowing she is so much like me -- always asking when we're on our way somewhere, "Mom, are we going to be late?" -- I didn't want her to be anxious about rushing to the bus. So, we went to the end of the driveway with plenty of time. She was pretty jittery while she waited, dragging her toes in the rocks and constantly reminding Brandon that he shouldn't step past the black rocks. When she saw the bus coming around the curve, she was so excited!
Brother walking toward Abi's next adventure with her -- I hope they always share life's adventures with one another!
This is right before the "Skeek" comes out!
My baby is on that bus!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Kindergarten Girl
Abi had a fabulous first day of Kindergarten on Wednesday!
When I woke her up she said, "Oh no! Is it raining outside?" I told her that it was not, and she said, "But it looks dark like when it's raining outside." I don't think the kid has seen the sun rise since she was about 10 months old! So, we got her dressed and went outside to watch the "sunset but in the morning." Precious!
She ate a good breakfast -- again, something I worry about because she rarely wants to eat for at least an hour after she gets up. The good news is that her teacher has a mid-morning snack time, so I know she won't absolutely starve before lunchtime.
I managed to get everyone up, dressed, fed, and groomed and pictures taken in time to go take our turn in the infamous Greenwood morning traffic. It took us 35 minutes to make a 12-minute drive to the school, which is why on Monday morning, Abi will have another new adventure and board the big yellow bus -- which is what she is most excited about! She was pretty disappointed when I told her that Mommy and Daddy were taking her to school on her first day. So, more pictures to come of the bus-boarding on Monday -- she's not really old enough to be too embarrassed by mom's picture-taking obsession.
We walked her into her classroom, where we were met by her teacher, Mrs. Canada, who is an absolutely sweet woman! Abi hung her backpack up and immediately climbed into the reading nook with her friend Paige.
I was no longer needed at this point.
I did coax her out for one hug and kiss, though, before her cursury "Bye, Mom!"
When I woke her up she said, "Oh no! Is it raining outside?" I told her that it was not, and she said, "But it looks dark like when it's raining outside." I don't think the kid has seen the sun rise since she was about 10 months old! So, we got her dressed and went outside to watch the "sunset but in the morning." Precious!
She ate a good breakfast -- again, something I worry about because she rarely wants to eat for at least an hour after she gets up. The good news is that her teacher has a mid-morning snack time, so I know she won't absolutely starve before lunchtime.
I managed to get everyone up, dressed, fed, and groomed and pictures taken in time to go take our turn in the infamous Greenwood morning traffic. It took us 35 minutes to make a 12-minute drive to the school, which is why on Monday morning, Abi will have another new adventure and board the big yellow bus -- which is what she is most excited about! She was pretty disappointed when I told her that Mommy and Daddy were taking her to school on her first day. So, more pictures to come of the bus-boarding on Monday -- she's not really old enough to be too embarrassed by mom's picture-taking obsession.We walked her into her classroom, where we were met by her teacher, Mrs. Canada, who is an absolutely sweet woman! Abi hung her backpack up and immediately climbed into the reading nook with her friend Paige.
I was no longer needed at this point.
I did coax her out for one hug and kiss, though, before her cursury "Bye, Mom!"
I thought I was going to hold the waterworks in until I got to the car, but then her sweet teacher hugged me and said, "I'll take good care of your baby. I promise." I lost it. That's right -- she's MY baby, and I don't want to turn her over! I know she'll love it, though, and I will survive.
In the reading area with Paige.
Abi will go back to school on Monday and is having a last stay-over at Grandma and Grandpa's house for a couple of days before she's a full-time student.
Brandon is already seeing the perks of Abi being in school. Yesterday it was very rainy in the morning, so he and Cam and I stayed home and played games, sat on the front porch and watched the rain, watched a cartoon together, read books . . . at lunch I said to him, "Hasn't this been a wonderful morning, just playing at home together and having fun?" Brandon said, "Yep! When Abi is at school and at Grandma's house, I can play whatever I want to and not have nobody bossing me!" Hysterical little man!
In the reading area with Paige.
Abi will go back to school on Monday and is having a last stay-over at Grandma and Grandpa's house for a couple of days before she's a full-time student.Brandon is already seeing the perks of Abi being in school. Yesterday it was very rainy in the morning, so he and Cam and I stayed home and played games, sat on the front porch and watched the rain, watched a cartoon together, read books . . . at lunch I said to him, "Hasn't this been a wonderful morning, just playing at home together and having fun?" Brandon said, "Yep! When Abi is at school and at Grandma's house, I can play whatever I want to and not have nobody bossing me!" Hysterical little man!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Backup Plans
Brandon is not a big fan of water. Up until about a month ago, bathtime was an excruciating experience for anyone within earshot! Even the thought of a drop of water in Brandon's eyes made him scream in a way that would get DHS called if we lived in a subdivision! He has not wanted to get in the pool at my parents' house, content to sit nearby in the little plastic pool with Camryn. We were swimming at my parents' house a few weeks ago, and Brandon decided he was ready to venture into the big pool. So, understandably, we put a one-piece swim suit with a built-in life jacket on him. Then, he wanted arm floaties. Then, he wanted to sit in an inflatable ring. Then, he wanted to float, in all of this gear, on top of an air mattress.
He is a man with a Backup Plan -- or three!
I was thinking about that when I read an excerpt from a book we've been studying in our life group called Crazy Love. The author writes, "I wrote this book because much of our talk doesn't match our lives. We say things like, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,' and 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart.' Then, we live and plan like we don't believe God even exists. We try to set our lives up so everything will be fine even if God doesn't come through. But true faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God's fidelity to His promises."
We are generally a people of "Backup Plans," much like Brandon had himself layered up in the pool. As Brandon's mom, standing three inches from the lad telling him to "Trust me!" it seemed ridiculous to me for him to feel the need to nearly suffocate himself in stuff that probably wouldn't save him anyway.
Our backup plans mostly rely on our own strength, our own abilities, our own understanding. When we stop and think about that, that is such a Backward Backup idea. I can imagine God standing alongside of us, saying "Trust me -- and take all that silly stuff off!"
He is a man with a Backup Plan -- or three!
I was thinking about that when I read an excerpt from a book we've been studying in our life group called Crazy Love. The author writes, "I wrote this book because much of our talk doesn't match our lives. We say things like, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,' and 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart.' Then, we live and plan like we don't believe God even exists. We try to set our lives up so everything will be fine even if God doesn't come through. But true faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God's fidelity to His promises."
We are generally a people of "Backup Plans," much like Brandon had himself layered up in the pool. As Brandon's mom, standing three inches from the lad telling him to "Trust me!" it seemed ridiculous to me for him to feel the need to nearly suffocate himself in stuff that probably wouldn't save him anyway.
Our backup plans mostly rely on our own strength, our own abilities, our own understanding. When we stop and think about that, that is such a Backward Backup idea. I can imagine God standing alongside of us, saying "Trust me -- and take all that silly stuff off!"
Sunday, August 9, 2009
It's Not Like I Haven't Known
that this week would come -- the last full week with my first-born before she steps out into the world every day. I have known since the day she was born that I had 5 years and 4 months with her before she would walk the halls of a school, spending more time with her teacher and peers than with her mom and dad, having experiences every day that I know nothing about and having thoughts that, for the first time, I am not close enough all the time for her to lean over and share with me. I have cherished every day of the last 5 years, liking some days more than others but cherishing every one, nonetheless.
Nick and I decided when we were 16 years old and dating that we wanted to have a family and that raising that family would be one of our ultimate priorities in life. We have made sacrifices throughout the years, including lots of years of schooling and lots of part-time jobs to feed ourselves throughout the schooling, coupon-clipping, consignment store shopping, me putting on hold a career I love, brown-bagging, and often doing without stuff that others around us have, with the goal in mind of being able to raise our children ourselves. We didn't want to trade any time we have with our children for any of those other things. I can't imagine trading one day of frolicking in the backyard, building play-do animals, playing Candy Land, or even a chaotic outing to Wal-Mart for any amount of money in the bank or any material possession money could buy.
With this first day of kindergarten quickly approaching, I am more thankful now than I have ever been for our decision to give our children the gift of full-time family. Those first years go by so quickly, and they are the only years that our children will ever be truly ours.
God, thank you for entrusting these precious children to us. I pray you have found our parenting to be pleasing to you, up to this point, and that we have prepared Abi for this next stage in her life. Please be with her, helping her to continue to live out the Biblical principles she has been learning the past 5 years, in an environment that can be difficult and sometimes scary. Give Abi opportunities to share Love with those around her and the courage to do so. Give us wisdom for how to parent each of our children individually each day. I pray our home is always one that is comforting and safe for our family to come home to. We pray that our desires for our family are Your desires and nothing else. Thank you for our daily provisions, helping us to keep the long-range picture in mind, having the faith throughout that You would make it possible for our family. Amen.
Nick and I decided when we were 16 years old and dating that we wanted to have a family and that raising that family would be one of our ultimate priorities in life. We have made sacrifices throughout the years, including lots of years of schooling and lots of part-time jobs to feed ourselves throughout the schooling, coupon-clipping, consignment store shopping, me putting on hold a career I love, brown-bagging, and often doing without stuff that others around us have, with the goal in mind of being able to raise our children ourselves. We didn't want to trade any time we have with our children for any of those other things. I can't imagine trading one day of frolicking in the backyard, building play-do animals, playing Candy Land, or even a chaotic outing to Wal-Mart for any amount of money in the bank or any material possession money could buy.
With this first day of kindergarten quickly approaching, I am more thankful now than I have ever been for our decision to give our children the gift of full-time family. Those first years go by so quickly, and they are the only years that our children will ever be truly ours.
God, thank you for entrusting these precious children to us. I pray you have found our parenting to be pleasing to you, up to this point, and that we have prepared Abi for this next stage in her life. Please be with her, helping her to continue to live out the Biblical principles she has been learning the past 5 years, in an environment that can be difficult and sometimes scary. Give Abi opportunities to share Love with those around her and the courage to do so. Give us wisdom for how to parent each of our children individually each day. I pray our home is always one that is comforting and safe for our family to come home to. We pray that our desires for our family are Your desires and nothing else. Thank you for our daily provisions, helping us to keep the long-range picture in mind, having the faith throughout that You would make it possible for our family. Amen.
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