I love to see the little wheels turn in the minds of my children. Their thought processes never cease to amaze me. This one isn't horribly profound, but super cute...it revealed the innocence and and naivety of children.
In a local shopping center, at a stop light, there are always homeless people asking for money. It's always the SAME people, they kinda work in shifts. The girls have asked me before why we don't give them money and I just said, "Well, I'll give them food, but not money...I'm not sure if they'd make wise choices with the money I gave them" and kinda left it at that. One day we got the opportunity to bless one of them with some food we had just bought, and that was nice. Although it's always kinda depressing when you give them food and they just kinda set it to the side--he was probably too full from all the other stuff he's been given. Anyway, that's beside the point. Today Abby started to ask, "Mommy...why don't we give...oh yeah, we don't give him money because he'd buy bad food with it...that's why we give him food but not money". I thought it was so cute...like the guy is going to take our money and go buy candy or something equally unhealthy. It just made me smile, she's so cute. Oh if only I could remember ALL the adorable things they say. One of them made me laugh out loud the other day, but of course I don't remember what she said. Or even who it was for that matter!
Oh good, I've got another one to add...the girls are playing with some of Savannah's new toys this morning, and Abby says, "These have Fred in them". Savannah says "LEAD, not Fred!". Hahahaha...I love Abby, she's so funny!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Hip, Hip, Horray....Today's the Day!
Today we celebrate Savannah's 6th birthday!! Yes, her actual birthday is tomorrow, but we're heading up the hill to Papa and Grandma's house tomorrow...so today is the day! We're having lots of children, hot dogs, chips, cake (of course), a pinata and lots of fun! Savannah is so very excited! We're going shopping for all of the last minute stuff as soon as sleep-head Luke wakes up (not counting on that for a while!). I was telling Savannah that 6 years ago today I went to the hospital for my WAY-overdue checkup. I was wondering if she was ever going to come out...and I was admitted on the evening of the 9th and induced at 11pm (after E.R. because it was the night Dr. Mark Green died of cancer and no one at the hospital wanted to miss the show--me included!).
I really can't believe that it's been 6 years--the 6 most wonderful--and challenging years of my life. 6 years ago today I had no idea what a blessing was in store for us. I had no concept of the love a mommy has for her sweet, precious babe. I had no clue how DIFFICULT it was going to be and how stressed I could get...or how tired a person could be without actually dying. :) I can look back now and smile, but man, those early days of motherhood were TOUGH. It's kinda neat this weekend because we've got the party friday, Savannah's birthday Saturday and Mother's Day Sunday. I was released from the hospital on Mother's day when Savannah was 2 days old. Who could ask for a better Mother's Day?? I don't know, but they just keep getting better. This year I get to celebrate with my 3 precious blessings, my mom, my grandma and my sister...so that's pretty special.
I will post photos soon, my card reader on this computer is ka-put, so it's making it a bit difficult for me...but I will post photos soon, I promise.
Yesterday we had tea with some of the neighborhood girls. We did a wonderful Mother's Day card craft (thanks Grandma Karen!) and we made beautiful beaded necklaces for the girls moms. I bought sterling silver "MOM" charms from Brightlings Beads and we used those. They came out fabulously! The girls really seemed to enjoy themselves and each of them ate at least 3 lemon poppyseed scones (we did cranberry juice/7-up instead of tea).
Let's see, what is new?!?! Luke is working on his top teeth...I don't know if I mentioned in another post, but he's got both bottom teeth in now (second one came on on April 22nd). He's running all over with his little push-walker. No steps yet, but he has gone from one place to another with a controlled "fall"! Hahaha. I know it'll come soon, I'm really wondering how he'll be compared with his sisters! (Savannah was 14 months to the day, Abby was 2 days BEFORE 14 months--Luke will be 14 months on the 25th of this month).
Abby has started reading!! Her writing is getting wonderful--she can do all uppercase letters, we'll start working on lower case soon, but the other day I decided to see if she could sound out a word like CAT. She DID it!! :) We got her the beginning Bob Books from the library, so we're going to start on that.
In school we are currently reading the Illustrated Children's Bible (I started from the beginning since we've read their small child Bible about a billion times from cover to cover, this time I want to cover all the bases in a more advanced form). We just read about the flood and we're on the tower of Babel next. We're also on chapter 3 of the Incredible Journey and on chapter 2 of Bambi: a life in the woods (the original Bambi, it's really good!). I've eased up on Savannah's writing and reading and math...since the school year is almost over, and I'm working to implement a Charlotte Mason based curriculum (see Ambleside Online for more info.) I believe I've been divinely inspired to pursue this type of education with my children and also to start a business utilizing what I've learned. More on that to come later...but believe me, it's good! :)
Anyway, I've got lots to do today...especially since we're leaving tomorrow...so that's all for now.
I really can't believe that it's been 6 years--the 6 most wonderful--and challenging years of my life. 6 years ago today I had no idea what a blessing was in store for us. I had no concept of the love a mommy has for her sweet, precious babe. I had no clue how DIFFICULT it was going to be and how stressed I could get...or how tired a person could be without actually dying. :) I can look back now and smile, but man, those early days of motherhood were TOUGH. It's kinda neat this weekend because we've got the party friday, Savannah's birthday Saturday and Mother's Day Sunday. I was released from the hospital on Mother's day when Savannah was 2 days old. Who could ask for a better Mother's Day?? I don't know, but they just keep getting better. This year I get to celebrate with my 3 precious blessings, my mom, my grandma and my sister...so that's pretty special.
I will post photos soon, my card reader on this computer is ka-put, so it's making it a bit difficult for me...but I will post photos soon, I promise.
Yesterday we had tea with some of the neighborhood girls. We did a wonderful Mother's Day card craft (thanks Grandma Karen!) and we made beautiful beaded necklaces for the girls moms. I bought sterling silver "MOM" charms from Brightlings Beads and we used those. They came out fabulously! The girls really seemed to enjoy themselves and each of them ate at least 3 lemon poppyseed scones (we did cranberry juice/7-up instead of tea).
Let's see, what is new?!?! Luke is working on his top teeth...I don't know if I mentioned in another post, but he's got both bottom teeth in now (second one came on on April 22nd). He's running all over with his little push-walker. No steps yet, but he has gone from one place to another with a controlled "fall"! Hahaha. I know it'll come soon, I'm really wondering how he'll be compared with his sisters! (Savannah was 14 months to the day, Abby was 2 days BEFORE 14 months--Luke will be 14 months on the 25th of this month).
Abby has started reading!! Her writing is getting wonderful--she can do all uppercase letters, we'll start working on lower case soon, but the other day I decided to see if she could sound out a word like CAT. She DID it!! :) We got her the beginning Bob Books from the library, so we're going to start on that.
In school we are currently reading the Illustrated Children's Bible (I started from the beginning since we've read their small child Bible about a billion times from cover to cover, this time I want to cover all the bases in a more advanced form). We just read about the flood and we're on the tower of Babel next. We're also on chapter 3 of the Incredible Journey and on chapter 2 of Bambi: a life in the woods (the original Bambi, it's really good!). I've eased up on Savannah's writing and reading and math...since the school year is almost over, and I'm working to implement a Charlotte Mason based curriculum (see Ambleside Online for more info.) I believe I've been divinely inspired to pursue this type of education with my children and also to start a business utilizing what I've learned. More on that to come later...but believe me, it's good! :)
Anyway, I've got lots to do today...especially since we're leaving tomorrow...so that's all for now.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Our "new" reward system--starting tomorrow.
For a while I've been rewarding the girls for good behavior by giving them "gems" (little glass beads). When they earn a certain amount, they get a reward. First they were working together to earn dishes I bought at IKEA. I didn't want to just give them to them, I wanted them to take good care of them because they had worked hard to earn them. That system worked well...and continues to work well--although I've now made it so they're not working together but on their own for their own rewards (it seemed like Savannah was doing all the earning and Abby was doing all of the losing!).
Anyway, I've collected a nice little selection of items (puzzles, glow necklaces, balloons and other cool stuff) from the Dollar Tree and the $1 section at Target. When they earn 20 gems, they get to choose something. If they do something naughty, they can also LOSE their gems. It's working okay, but I wanted a way to make it more effective. So this is what I've come up with:
I'm going to make a list of all they things they can do to earn gems. Basically it's doing anything to bless another person. Whether it be obeying quickly and cheerfully, getting up in the morning quietly and not waking me (that's a great one!), clearing each others dishes, etc. I just bought them each a piggy bank at Dollar Tree. On Monday, I'm going to give them each $2 in nickels. Every time I have to pick up something of theirs, ask them more than once to do something, nag about anything, yell about anything, etc...they lose a nickel. I'm tired of losing my temper and getting frustrated because they're NOT developing good habits. This way they'll get positive AND negative reinforcement. They can earn the gems for toys and earn money to spend on whatever they want. We'll see how it goes, but I'm rather hopeful. I'll post back in a week and update on how this is working...wish me luck, and prayers are ALWAYS welcome!
Anyway, I've collected a nice little selection of items (puzzles, glow necklaces, balloons and other cool stuff) from the Dollar Tree and the $1 section at Target. When they earn 20 gems, they get to choose something. If they do something naughty, they can also LOSE their gems. It's working okay, but I wanted a way to make it more effective. So this is what I've come up with:
I'm going to make a list of all they things they can do to earn gems. Basically it's doing anything to bless another person. Whether it be obeying quickly and cheerfully, getting up in the morning quietly and not waking me (that's a great one!), clearing each others dishes, etc. I just bought them each a piggy bank at Dollar Tree. On Monday, I'm going to give them each $2 in nickels. Every time I have to pick up something of theirs, ask them more than once to do something, nag about anything, yell about anything, etc...they lose a nickel. I'm tired of losing my temper and getting frustrated because they're NOT developing good habits. This way they'll get positive AND negative reinforcement. They can earn the gems for toys and earn money to spend on whatever they want. We'll see how it goes, but I'm rather hopeful. I'll post back in a week and update on how this is working...wish me luck, and prayers are ALWAYS welcome!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
At least I have a "B.F.F."...or two.
Everytime I talk about a friend or a neighbor, Jeremy jokingly says, "Oh, is she your B.F.F.?" (Best friend forever for those of you who are totally out of it!). I was commenting tonight about how I don't have a B.F.F.. The Lord has seemingly taken away all of my good friends that I've had in the neighborhood (the only kind of friends at this stage in my life that I have ever been able to spend any amount of time with). Perhaps He's telling me to lean more heavily on HIM instead of people?!?! Hmmm... Anyway, Savannah looked at me and said, "Mommy, I'll be your B.F.F.!" Awwwwhhhh....how sweet can she be? Then my darling little fuzzy headed Abby chimes in, "Yeah me too...and I want to marry you!" Of course Savannah snickers and Abby says, "Oh yeah, you're a girl, okay...I'll marry daddy!". Awwwhhhh. Honestly. What sweet, sweet little precious blessings we have. That really cheered me up...afterall, those are the BEST B.F.F.'s any mommy could ever ask for...and I pray that when they get older they still want to be my B.F.F..
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Ey, Ey, Ey....
Luke has a new little quirky habit. When he wants something, he reaches for it and says, "ey, ey, ey" (like I, I, I)...think obnoxious seagulls on Finding Nemo, though rather than "Mine", he's saying "Ey". Hahaha...yes it's cute, but also SUPER obnoxious because he starts out wanting one thing...you give it to him, he throws it down and reaches for something else. He's working on tooth #2 now and had me up for a good portion of last night...please pray for good sleep all around. I'll get to updating more soon...right now I'm just trying to stay afloat...why is it that life goes in cycles like that? Maybe it's because those times when I feel like I'm not drowning I take a break from all of the stuff that stresses me out...and then all of a sudden I have to make up for everything I've put off and I feel like I'm drowning as a result...Hmmmm...seems as if I could use a bit more consistency too, Sage! *wink*
For that reference you'll have to visit my friends blog at http://truemyth.wordpress.com.
Have a blessed day!
For that reference you'll have to visit my friends blog at http://truemyth.wordpress.com.
Have a blessed day!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Still working on the "perfect" picture...
I've been chatting with an online friend of mine who does professional photography. Her website is here: Natasha Chalker Photography. She does some really beautiful work and I've been getting a few basic tips from her. I don't know anything about actual photography, other than I really like it and it's definitely something I'd like to pursue. Anyway, I'm going to try to learn some more of the photography basics-thankfully Jeremy also took a photography class in high school, so he knows a bit of the basics-and will work on getting some good shots--hopefully they'll get better and better. For now, here's a couple more I took of the cutie pies.
Note the drool on Luke's chin...he's getting another tooth
This is Savannah's future husband, Ethan. She says she's going to marry him because he's the only Christian in the neighborhood...I guess at least she's got that part right!
Friday, April 4, 2008
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