Career Day

Today is career day at Lucy's school.  She had to dress up like what she wants to be when she grows up.  Here she is...can you guess?

Yep - she still wants to be a cowgirl!  Her plans are to go to school "on the computer so that I can stay at home with Mama and Daddy and not have to leave home ever"  She plans to attend Georgia Tech for her cowgirl degree and own her own horse (with real legs) one day.  Aspirations of a 5 year old!

just a mom

There's a show on TV called "Untold stories of the ER"...here is my version but it would be titled "Untold storied of a Mom who is also an ER Nurse"

It would start with showing up the babysitter's house in the morning with a grocery sack - contents - one dirty onesie, a cup of almond milk, leftover rice and black beans from SEVERAL days ago...and no diapers....she would be so thankful to God for the AMAZING women (and families) who watch and care for her kids during the day and then call her husband just to say hey since she hasn't seen him in a couple of days except for those 10 minutes around 3 am when the baby was up and they both held her and fed her a banana and prayed for her to sleep.

It would pan to a scene where she cares for a guy having a heart attack and gets him to the cath lab in under 12 minutes, takes care of all manner of sickness and craziness And after her 13 hours on the clock punching out to head home.

It would end with her putting away the dishes in the dishwasher at 1am when she got home, reading notes in school bags and signing papers - looking in on her sleeping children and wondering about their days.    She would sort through the two baby bags she found lying around and find

1. Frog Bag - two pairs of purple pants, one tiny used tube of baby sunscreen, one toy hedgehog.

2. Jean 'Samuel' bag (Has Samuel's name on it because we don't have one that says Lydia - it helps throw off nursery workers who can't find the girl's bag) - one shoe, one head band, one bag of half eaten cheerios, a hat that hasn't fit for months.

She would make a note to clean out those bags in the morning.  She would be grateful for her sweet husband who cleaned the kitchen and had the kids pick up the play area.

Pan to the next morning - she dresses the baby for a trip to big brother's school because in looking at his bag earlier that morning she discovered he had an event in his classroom that parents could come to where the first graders read stories they wrote.  One sister needs pig tails to complete her spider girl outfit for school because it's "dress as your favorite character day".  Watches one year old throw herself on the floor and pitch a fit - (really kid? - you're 12 months old).  AND one mom who realizes the best part of her crazy life is when she gets to be home with those precious kiddos - choosing to be grateful for every minute and not dwell how she falls short or what she can't do...choosing to live in the messiness of life...grateful that the gospel is sweet to this broken mama.

T-ball

After a week of tournament playoffs and a game Saturday described by Jeremy as "t-ball as good as it gets" Samuel's team, the Hornets, won second place out of the 16 teams playing.  He has had a wonderful time, learned so much about baseball and had wonderful coaches.  He is batting from both sides of the plate, has overcome his fear of the ball and will get in front of it and even knows where he's supposed to throw it when he gets it.  I'm grateful for this experience and look forward to cheering on my little guy for years to come.

Friday night fun

Qwarkle with the kids = funtimes

Mother's Day

just because

Pot Holder Making

Lucy got a pot holder making kit from Aunt Erin and Uncle Casey (THANK YOU!) for her birthday and we finally got around to making some pot holders with it this afternoon.  Lucy did great and had a wonderful time.  She was very intent on keeping the pattern and taking her time.  We had a great time and I look forward to making more with my little creative cutie!

PS - yep, that is an 'almost' black eye.  She and brother had a run in and she wears the bruises to proves it.

For the Love of books

Mothering Moments

So...is it bad that

1. My five year old came to me this morning while I was in the kitchen and said
Lucy - "what is that?"
Mama - "A mop" (wondering did she really mean the mop, could my five year old really not know what a mop is)
Lucy - "what do you do with it?"
Mama - "Clean the floors" (disappointed that yes, my five year old has no clue what to do with this contraption, do I really not use the mop that much?)
Lucy - "Could I use it to clean the carpets when you are done?"
Mama - (yep, this is as bad as I thought)

2. That my one year old went to the ball park to Samuel's game in only a old pull up found under a seat in the van because she had an explosion on the way and the hubby said the clothes had to stay in the garbage at Burger King but no time left to make the return trip home before the game.

It's really not that bad right?  NO...all children happy and accounted for, one sweet husband who cleaned up the one year old and made it to the park and fed all children all by himself while mommy worked all night.  One five year old who is happy to learn how to play in the water on the kitchen floor.  Not too bad.

Well check-ups

Today I took Lucy and Lydia for their 5 and 1 year check-ups.  Lydia has Hand, Foot and Mouth disease so it wasn't such a 'well visit' but she checked out fine.  Here are the stats

Lucy - in the 45%
weight - 39lb 6 oz
height - 42 1/2 inches

Lydia - in the 8%
weight - 18 lbs 4 oz
height - 27 1/2 inches

Birthday girl

For the pure enjoyment of chocolate...

The simple pleasures

Here is Lydia exploring while Samuel and Lucy play.

Wind in the trees

Being outside is delightful this time of year, after the pollen and before the sweltering heat.  On her birthday we took Lydia outside to blow bubbles and watch the wind in the trees...she seems to have found joy in the leaves dancing and the bubbles flying.

Big Brother

It's always high energy around here.  Samuel is a wonderful big brother and for the most part plays well with his sisters.  He thinks Lydia is "curious" and "so cute" and whether he admits it or not he plays well with his big sister too.

Last week I kept him home from school and we did science experiments.  We made a volcano and let it explode - he had so much fun and loved it so much that when I stood up to go inside and check on Lydia he exclaimed "I was so excited about this volcano I forgot for a little bit that I even had a baby sister!"  We went on to make a tornado in a bottle, read about volcanoes and tornadoes and talk about how pressure moves weather systems.  What a great day with my little guy.

Big sister

Lucy loves being a big sister and loves to give hugs and kisses.   Lucy thinks Lydia is "adorable" and "sucks her thumb too much".  She can't wait to share a room with Lydia and be a big sister for years to come.

Lydia's 1st birthday

She has been bringing us joy for a year now and we celebrated her birthday with a few bubbles, some cupcakes and giggles.  We are grateful for this little girl who brings us joy, is a delight to her siblings with her "curiousness about the world" and her excitement each time she sees them.  We are blessed to have her as a part of our family and can't wait to see who she becomes and how we are all changed in the process of her becoming fully Lydia Joy.

1st birthday yumminess

We ate cupcakes before dinner tonight in honor of sweet Lydia Joy turning one.

Boy at play

This is where the serious business of being a boy takes place. On his knees, in the dirt, on the floor, playing, recounting, sound effects and dialogue, wonder and exploration...making sense of his world, creating the stories in his head, making it all come to life in some small way.

Field Trip

Yesterday I went with Samuel on a field trip. Here are some shots with some of his classmates.

Peru

Peru, as in the South American country. I wanted to write a brief line to let you now I was planning to go to Peru this summer with my church on a mission trip - to use these nursing skills of mine and this heart for those different than me and this confidence that Jesus is the Christ. Some of you might have gotten a letter recently about the trip. Well, I just found out we WILL NOT be going. I'll try to contact those of you personally that received letters but it might take a few days so I wanted to let you know the trip has been canceled.

Easter picnic in the backyard

HE is not here..HE is risen!

"He is not here, for He has risen just as He said. Come see the place where He was lying." from the gospel of Matthew 28:6

This is a big deal, important in ways we can't fathom...and made tangible in our little home with little hands and a little yard clippings. The simple things in life to reveal the most profound of mysteries.

Good Friday - lego man wrapped with cloth laid in the potato tomb and guarded by the Roman soldier. Tomb sealed with a rock

Resurrection Day/ Easter morning - tomb is open, rock rolled away, Roman soldier gone, flowers abound and the angel comes to proclaim "He is Risen"



This great Easter idea from this blog and this one.

Here is an amazing song that I am singing this morning - grateful for Jesus.

More Easter Egg hunt

checking out the loot - candy and money!

Easter Egg Hunt

We were invited to an amazing Easter Egg hunt to day by some friends at church. We were overwhelmed at their hospitality and generosity. I think for the 30 or so children there were 2500 eggs - amazing! My children had a wonderful time hunting, playing with friends and enjoying the day...Jeremy and I enjoyed their excitement...Lydia enjoyed the cookies!

Who is that man?

Headband - check
Sports goggles - check
mustache - check
child of the 80's - check

**Disclaimer**No time machine was involved in the making of this picture, no props were used, all characters photographed were photographed in their natural state.