It's the end of the year, and we have taken measurements on the kids to record for posterity.
Thomas is 5 years old. He is 47 inches tall and weighs 53 pounds.
Sarah Grace is 3 years. She is 43 inches tall and weighs 44 pounds.
Elizabeth is 2 years old. She is 38 inches tall and weighs 36 pounds.
Anna will be 14 months tomorrow. She is 29 inches tall and weighs 20 pounds.
Until next time!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Reading the Bible in 90 Days
Yep. I nearly choke every time I think about taking in that much history and love and truth in such a short time frame. My head spins, my heart races, and I am simply terrified I won't finish 'on time'.
Why am I doing it? Well, to be perfectly frank, I have never read the entire Bible. I would wager there are books that I have barely, if ever, glanced at. The intrigue for me, besides the challenge of reading through cover to cover, is getting the big picture. All of it.
Why not do it in a year? Or two, or three, or even five? Simply put, my attention span is a bit challenged. I do best with relatively short and intense things than I do with long, drawn out things. Better to pack in all the information at once so that my brain can wrap around it.
I am already making small changes in my daily schedule to allow myself more time to read and stay on track. I am terribly intimidated about the discipline of it all, but excited at the prospect of finding out just what the Lord has in store for me.
I invite and challenge you, especially the folks I know In Real Life, to join in. I was so super excited when Joshua said he was in and would do the reading with me. How awesome is that? I love that man, just in case any of you were in any doubt. He's pretty amazing.
Interested? Curious? Check out the details of this challenge HERE.
Why am I doing it? Well, to be perfectly frank, I have never read the entire Bible. I would wager there are books that I have barely, if ever, glanced at. The intrigue for me, besides the challenge of reading through cover to cover, is getting the big picture. All of it.
Why not do it in a year? Or two, or three, or even five? Simply put, my attention span is a bit challenged. I do best with relatively short and intense things than I do with long, drawn out things. Better to pack in all the information at once so that my brain can wrap around it.
I am already making small changes in my daily schedule to allow myself more time to read and stay on track. I am terribly intimidated about the discipline of it all, but excited at the prospect of finding out just what the Lord has in store for me.
I invite and challenge you, especially the folks I know In Real Life, to join in. I was so super excited when Joshua said he was in and would do the reading with me. How awesome is that? I love that man, just in case any of you were in any doubt. He's pretty amazing.
Interested? Curious? Check out the details of this challenge HERE.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Memories of Christmas Day
Things I want to remember about Christmas Day this year...
...Thomas quietly tiptoeing on the stairs and into our room at 5AM. Then, with twinkling eyes and a whisper of awe, declaring that Santa had been here and there were presents and our stockings were filled.
...how still he could not be when I pulled him into bed with us in hopes of cuddling him back to sleep.
...kicking him out of our bed and banishing him to his own until his sisters woke up.
...wondering if his sisters woke up all of their own accord or if they had assistance.
...the sounds of children happily passing out gifts to each other and to us.
...their looks of pleasure as the adults opened dollar store gifts that the children picked out and wrapped for each of us!
...the traditional monkey bread and the yummy rivulets of gooey goodness that were just too much for one plate to hold....oh, happy place, happy place!
...the space laser gun. It's merciless assault on our ears. It just kept going and going and going.
...the 10AM nap. What a beautiful thing.
...Thomas popping M&M's in our mouths and telling us that they were Super Power Pills as we all rolled around and wrestled on the floor.
...and the gun droned on.
...the hilarity of the pants that I so carefully measured my kids for and lovingly sewed together. All. Too. Big. The children walked around all day yanking up their pants. Except Anna. She crawled right on out of hers, leaving them in an unceremonious heap on the floor.
...singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.
...watching Elizabeth parade around in her pink boots and new skirt (over the too big pajama pants) all morning.
...knowing that Anna didn't care a fig that she only got a cup, a ball, and a toothbrush for Christmas.
...cuddling with my sweet Sarah Grace and listening to her tell me about the birth of Baby Jesus and how she wanted to be a Mommy when she grew up and have four or five or six kids.
...tucking in four sleepy kids after bedtime devotion. Handing out extra hugs and kisses because they 'just wanted to.'
...watching a much loved movie with my husband as we collapsed and took some breathing time at the end of the day.
...Thomas quietly tiptoeing on the stairs and into our room at 5AM. Then, with twinkling eyes and a whisper of awe, declaring that Santa had been here and there were presents and our stockings were filled.
...how still he could not be when I pulled him into bed with us in hopes of cuddling him back to sleep.
...kicking him out of our bed and banishing him to his own until his sisters woke up.
...wondering if his sisters woke up all of their own accord or if they had assistance.
...the sounds of children happily passing out gifts to each other and to us.
...their looks of pleasure as the adults opened dollar store gifts that the children picked out and wrapped for each of us!
...the traditional monkey bread and the yummy rivulets of gooey goodness that were just too much for one plate to hold....oh, happy place, happy place!
...the space laser gun. It's merciless assault on our ears. It just kept going and going and going.
...the 10AM nap. What a beautiful thing.
...Thomas popping M&M's in our mouths and telling us that they were Super Power Pills as we all rolled around and wrestled on the floor.
...and the gun droned on.
...the hilarity of the pants that I so carefully measured my kids for and lovingly sewed together. All. Too. Big. The children walked around all day yanking up their pants. Except Anna. She crawled right on out of hers, leaving them in an unceremonious heap on the floor.
...singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.
...watching Elizabeth parade around in her pink boots and new skirt (over the too big pajama pants) all morning.
...knowing that Anna didn't care a fig that she only got a cup, a ball, and a toothbrush for Christmas.
...cuddling with my sweet Sarah Grace and listening to her tell me about the birth of Baby Jesus and how she wanted to be a Mommy when she grew up and have four or five or six kids.
...tucking in four sleepy kids after bedtime devotion. Handing out extra hugs and kisses because they 'just wanted to.'
...watching a much loved movie with my husband as we collapsed and took some breathing time at the end of the day.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Pictures
Because I seem to be more wordy than anything lately... and because I have not gotten my act together enough to get Christmas pictures made... and it's not looking like I will... here are a few pictures of us just being us.
Two up!
Future Baby Wearer.
And this one...she needs lessons on baby care. See the doll behind her back? Her favorite trick is to slam it to the ground and yell at it then chew on it's head.
Should I be concerned?
Two up!
Future Baby Wearer.
And this one...she needs lessons on baby care. See the doll behind her back? Her favorite trick is to slam it to the ground and yell at it then chew on it's head. Should I be concerned?
Monday, December 14, 2009
The New Reindeer Games
A few festive photos for your fanciful felicity.
My little reindeer.
My little teether.
My little reindeer.
My little teether.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Little Moments
We are at my parents house for a long weekend visit. I tell you, I relax the minute I hit my hometown city limits. I know that ahead of me stretches a time of catching up, of letting the children roam about in the new familiarity of Memum and Pepop's place, gatherings in my Dad's garage next to a wood furnace, perhaps even a few moments in the hot tub. I let my guard down and look forward to a time of softer rules for the kids.
Mom and I went to The Big Box Store after the kids went to bed last night. It's a great time of day to go, after bedtime on a school night. So much less crowded. We meandered around and took our time. We finally headed back to the house.
Our return found Thomas and Sarah Grace both piled in bed with my Dad, Thomas whimpering over something that had scared him and Dad and Sarah Grace sleeping through it. And then Sarah Grace woke up. It took a few moments to get both kids calmed down. I hadn't told them I was leaving, and they were both a tad discombobulated over Memum's and my absence.
Once they were soothed, they both declared they needed to sleep with me. We decided that Sarah Grace would sleep in the bed with me and Thomas would sleep on a pallet on the floor. I got them settled in and went to the bathroom to ready myself for bed.
It was a smidge after 11 PM.
When I re-entered the room, it was to laughter. Thomas, my reading child, had noticed the letters that had been carefully placed on the foot-board of the bed many years ago. Letters that spelled out a phrase that I am certain my Dad and his brothers heard often throughout their childhood. Letters that nobody had ever removed. Letters that have brought about many smiles over the years as we imagine my freckle-faced Dad as a youth carefully placing, probably while he had been banished to his room for not adhering to the simple instruction of the phrase.
'B Good'
In silver lettering. The bed stood in my Great Grandfather's house for all of my memory. As a teenager, I cleaned his home every week. It never once occurred to me to peel those letters off. The wisdom of the women before me had deemed it appropriate that the bed stay as it was, in it's slightly marred state. And so it moved to my parents home, graffiti and all.
And now my children had discovered it. In their slightly loopy state, they got a massive case of the giggles as they quietly chanted 'The bed said B Good. The bed said B Good!'
I crawled into the bed and let them giggle for a moment or two longer, then shushed them. Their silence lasted nearly two whole seconds before the uncontrollable giggles came bursting forth again. And I felt those giggles bubbling up inside me. I couldn't help it... the kids merriment was contagious!
We laughed for longer than was strictly necessary. And then we laughed some more. Each time we would calm down, somebody would start up again.
I drank in the moment, knowing that I normally wouldn't have allowed it to drag on as long as it was, and mentally kicked myself for being too busy to take time to get the giggles with my kids more often.
And, I was grateful for the decision made 40 years ago to leave those silly letters on the bed stead.
Mom and I went to The Big Box Store after the kids went to bed last night. It's a great time of day to go, after bedtime on a school night. So much less crowded. We meandered around and took our time. We finally headed back to the house.
Our return found Thomas and Sarah Grace both piled in bed with my Dad, Thomas whimpering over something that had scared him and Dad and Sarah Grace sleeping through it. And then Sarah Grace woke up. It took a few moments to get both kids calmed down. I hadn't told them I was leaving, and they were both a tad discombobulated over Memum's and my absence.
Once they were soothed, they both declared they needed to sleep with me. We decided that Sarah Grace would sleep in the bed with me and Thomas would sleep on a pallet on the floor. I got them settled in and went to the bathroom to ready myself for bed.
It was a smidge after 11 PM.
When I re-entered the room, it was to laughter. Thomas, my reading child, had noticed the letters that had been carefully placed on the foot-board of the bed many years ago. Letters that spelled out a phrase that I am certain my Dad and his brothers heard often throughout their childhood. Letters that nobody had ever removed. Letters that have brought about many smiles over the years as we imagine my freckle-faced Dad as a youth carefully placing, probably while he had been banished to his room for not adhering to the simple instruction of the phrase.
'B Good'
In silver lettering. The bed stood in my Great Grandfather's house for all of my memory. As a teenager, I cleaned his home every week. It never once occurred to me to peel those letters off. The wisdom of the women before me had deemed it appropriate that the bed stay as it was, in it's slightly marred state. And so it moved to my parents home, graffiti and all.
And now my children had discovered it. In their slightly loopy state, they got a massive case of the giggles as they quietly chanted 'The bed said B Good. The bed said B Good!'
I crawled into the bed and let them giggle for a moment or two longer, then shushed them. Their silence lasted nearly two whole seconds before the uncontrollable giggles came bursting forth again. And I felt those giggles bubbling up inside me. I couldn't help it... the kids merriment was contagious!
We laughed for longer than was strictly necessary. And then we laughed some more. Each time we would calm down, somebody would start up again.
I drank in the moment, knowing that I normally wouldn't have allowed it to drag on as long as it was, and mentally kicked myself for being too busy to take time to get the giggles with my kids more often.
And, I was grateful for the decision made 40 years ago to leave those silly letters on the bed stead.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Snow!
Saturday morning dawned bright and sunshiney. And snowy! A real treat for our neck of the woods. We delayed breakfast and sent the kids out to play in the quickly melting snow. I don't think they ever left the back deck, but they made snow angels and snow balls and there was plenty of snow eating!
Sarah Grace took great delight in throwing the first snowball!
Our friend A took great pleasure in chowing down on the snow.
Little Miss Anna enjoyed holding the snow...
...but she much preferred to stand be on the other side of the glass door while the kids threw snow balls at us!
Sarah Grace took great delight in throwing the first snowball!
Our friend A took great pleasure in chowing down on the snow.
Little Miss Anna enjoyed holding the snow...
...but she much preferred to stand be on the other side of the glass door while the kids threw snow balls at us!
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Mapping 101
Deea, girl, this one is for you!
Mapping things is one of Thomas' latest passions. If a state or country is mentioned in conversation, he wants to go check out our world map and find it. So tonight when I was coveting a certain picture my bloggy buddy had taken, Thomas asked where she lived. As the adults were chatting over pictures and snow and real winter clothes, the kids were prattling back and forth about where was Montana?
Joshua gave them some vague generalities, enough to keep Thomas from popping up from the dinner table and go running to the map. A moment later, Thomas was explaining to the girls that Montana was pretty far away from Alabama.
'First you go tons of miles this way,' he said as he ran his finger towards the middle of the table, 'then you go tons of miles that way,' he explained while his finger veered off to one side. 'And then your in Montana.'
Yeah, the kid is on the up and up in giving directions.
Mapping things is one of Thomas' latest passions. If a state or country is mentioned in conversation, he wants to go check out our world map and find it. So tonight when I was coveting a certain picture my bloggy buddy had taken, Thomas asked where she lived. As the adults were chatting over pictures and snow and real winter clothes, the kids were prattling back and forth about where was Montana?
Joshua gave them some vague generalities, enough to keep Thomas from popping up from the dinner table and go running to the map. A moment later, Thomas was explaining to the girls that Montana was pretty far away from Alabama.
'First you go tons of miles this way,' he said as he ran his finger towards the middle of the table, 'then you go tons of miles that way,' he explained while his finger veered off to one side. 'And then your in Montana.'
Yeah, the kid is on the up and up in giving directions.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
In Which Anna Discovers Chocolate Icing
Did I mention that the Baby is One? A whole year of life under her little belt elastic waist band. And what good is turning one without Cake Smashing?
Going...
Going...
Gone!!
The girl enjoyed that cake. Then an immediate bath. And then we all sat around and laughed at her a bit as she sugar buzzed.
Going...
Going...
Gone!!
The girl enjoyed that cake. Then an immediate bath. And then we all sat around and laughed at her a bit as she sugar buzzed.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Snippets
Life had been going at a leisurely pace around here. There isn't much happening besides the daily routine. I find myself wondering what we did on any given day. trying to remember something remarkable or blog worthy. Fact is, we are just maintaining and enjoying each other. I did find a few things that made me smile as I was clearing out the camera's memory card.
Here, you see the independence of a Certain Boy who is learning to write and sound out words. He absconded with a pad of sticky notes and a pencil. Then he proceeded to write 'HELP' on several of them with his signature 'TOM' (he informed me a while back that 'Tom' was easier to write than 'Thomas' and, unless he is instructed otherwise, signs his name in it's diminutive form.) He then stuck those little notes to objects around the house that he had questions about and waited for his Daddy to get home.
When Joshua arrived, I pointed out the little notes to him. He smiled and patiently walked around the house with Thomas answering his questions. They discussed the fireplace and how it worked...
...just how it was that pushing a key on the piano caused sound to come forth (and we all wished for a grand piano to better illustrate the striking of the hammer on the strings)...
...the meaning of the flag and why it was presented to Granny when Papa Joe passed away...
I have no idea how many topics they covered that evening. But we called it science for the week!
Then there was this picture that depicts an evening of work for Joshua and the girls. They blew and raked and hauled and burned leaves. I captured the girl's favorite aspect of this job and thought I would share it.
Baking day has been reinstated. It's not a particular day of the week, and right now it happens more like every two weeks, but it is back. This makes me very happy. I can bake with the kids all day long. Well, okay, until somebody dumps something or starts whining about how they wanted to do this and so-and-so gets to do it instead. Then I unravel, but I am trying to keep it reined in so that we can all experience kitchen joys. The girls recently helped me make a massive batch of muffins. I am thinking I am in great need of a larger mixing bowl and some of these.
Life is good and we are enjoying it.
Here, you see the independence of a Certain Boy who is learning to write and sound out words. He absconded with a pad of sticky notes and a pencil. Then he proceeded to write 'HELP' on several of them with his signature 'TOM' (he informed me a while back that 'Tom' was easier to write than 'Thomas' and, unless he is instructed otherwise, signs his name in it's diminutive form.) He then stuck those little notes to objects around the house that he had questions about and waited for his Daddy to get home.
When Joshua arrived, I pointed out the little notes to him. He smiled and patiently walked around the house with Thomas answering his questions. They discussed the fireplace and how it worked...
...just how it was that pushing a key on the piano caused sound to come forth (and we all wished for a grand piano to better illustrate the striking of the hammer on the strings)...
...the meaning of the flag and why it was presented to Granny when Papa Joe passed away...
I have no idea how many topics they covered that evening. But we called it science for the week!
Then there was this picture that depicts an evening of work for Joshua and the girls. They blew and raked and hauled and burned leaves. I captured the girl's favorite aspect of this job and thought I would share it.
Baking day has been reinstated. It's not a particular day of the week, and right now it happens more like every two weeks, but it is back. This makes me very happy. I can bake with the kids all day long. Well, okay, until somebody dumps something or starts whining about how they wanted to do this and so-and-so gets to do it instead. Then I unravel, but I am trying to keep it reined in so that we can all experience kitchen joys. The girls recently helped me make a massive batch of muffins. I am thinking I am in great need of a larger mixing bowl and some of these.
Life is good and we are enjoying it.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Anna Joy - 1 Year!!!!!!!!!!
My baby is a whole year old! It doesn't seem possible that an entire year has passed since this precious day. But it has, and her first year has brought much joy to our lives.
I am twelve months old and...
...I am such a cuddle bug. The first real cuddly kid Mommy and Daddy have had.
...I am quite sure of my place as baby of the family!
...I am well aware of the fact that my brother is my biggest fan.
...I wait impatiently as my siblings frequently 'discuss' who gets to help me with something.
...I still have only the one tooth, but I am a champ at using it!
...I am getting to be quite the chatty child, much to my Mommy's delight.
...I love to stand at the door and look out at the falling leaves and the lazy cat.
...I really enjoyed my first lolly-pop! It was a sad moment when I realized it was gone.
...I love to push cars around on the floor as I crawl.
...the telephone and the remote controls are the best toys ever!
...I am practicing to be a vacuum cleaner when I grow up. I almost always head to the table to scrounge for dropped pieces of meals when I am put down on the floor to play.
...I do not like the broom. I have come to understand it is whisking away those delicious morsels of food!
...I am a relatively content baby, so long as my peeps are close at hand and I am doing what I want to do.
...I refuse to deal with a sippy cup or a straw. I much prefer to be held in your arms as I take my bottle.
...Mommy can't decide how she feels about this.
...I am gaining balance and confidence, but would still tend to lunge rather than take steps. Walking is way overrated!
...my family is so thankful for me and my parents are excited to see what the Lord will do with my life!
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