dog visitors

We've had some dog visitors here lately.

The kids got to dog-sit Papa and Nana's dog, Zach, for the weekend while they were gone.

He was treated like royalty.

And got all the best care, love and attention.

He rotated as the guest of honor in each bedroom for the night.

Poor Anni got kicked to the curb.

The same weekend we had another dog visitor.

This one was uninvited.

He came through the gap in the fence that has been cut so we can get to the Smith's house easily.

He just mozied into the yard.

He was BIG and HAIRY.  And later found out his name was Harley.

And as much as our kids love dogs, they were backed up to the house, shaking in their skin.

Taylor said she was a little confused and thought it was Zach who had grown a whole bunch (in a matter of minutes).

His owners (who we know) found him shortly.

But before he left, he thought he needed to cool off in the kids' pool.

I'll admit, I was freaking a little.

Dog claws hitting a blow-up pool.

When he got out there were big clumps of dog hair all over.

And the next day the high was suppossed to be 100.  I knew the kids would want to swim.

I knew we'd have to dump and refill the pool eventually, but I didn't expect it to be neccessary less than 24 hours later.  And this particular pool doesn't really drain anywhere.  And when it's full, you can't move it.

So being a good mom, at 10:30 the next morning, after my kids had their swimsuits on already, I got a bucket and started scooping out all of the water.  My first attempt was to have to kids do it.  But Mason lasted one scoop.  Taylor did pretty good, although half of her buckets she poured out onto the wall of the pool and most of the water came right back in the pool. When we got near the bottom I was able to move it enough to get it dumped over the side of the deck.  I was exhausted the rest of the day.  And my legs were sore all week.  This pregnant mom can't handle that kind of extreme exercise right now.

And sitting here typing this, I now am wondering why I didn't just release enough air to be able to collapse one side of the pool down enough to let all the water drain out over the edge.  Although that would have required me to figure out the air compressor to fill it back up.  Silly me.  All that work for nothing.

Next time should be much easier.

Or hopefully Anni and her dog friends will just stay out.

cubbies

This past school year Taylor got to participate in our church's AWANA program on Wednesday nights.

She was in Cubbies.  And she LOVED it!  She memorized her verses every week and begged to do the home apple tree activities.  Not having been in preschool this year, I think this was a FABULOUS thing for her!  It has been so precious hearing her learn God's word and be so excited about it.

We got our first taste of dropping her off and seeing her become independent and thrive around others.

The smile on her face every week as she walked into church, and the same smile each night that we picked her up, was priceless.

Last week was her awards night.

Her name was the very first name called to walk across the stage.

She was told she could go hug Cubby Bear (a guy in a big bear suit) at the other end of the stage, but she chose not to.  She was the only child that didn't.  Which is surprising from our little curageous one.  But being first is tough.  I don't think she had any idea what to expect.

And there's no better way to celebrate than ice cream with friends afterwards!

Way to go Taylor! 

Your first milestone of success, your first "graduation", your first completion of an activity.

As you start to step out and experience little tastes of this world on your own (even as simple as Wednesday nights at church on your own), we pray that God will be your beginning and your end.

This is only the beginning.

first swim of the summer

We decided the little pool we've had for the past few years wasn't gonna cut it anymore for our little waterbugs.

So Mason wanted to use his birthday money to buy a new pool.

The anticipation as Daddy got it ready was just too much to handle!

I kept telling them the water was going to be cold.



So we got the pool out, it got up to 100 degrees one day, and high 90's another.

And in good ole Kansas fashion, a few days later it was in the 50's.

So the pool sits lonely for now.

But that taste of summer was nice. And I think we are ready, so bring it on!

a book for the kids

A few months ago I ran across a special deal at Picaboo for a free classic custom photo book.  All I had to pay was shipping.  I knew right away what kind of book I wanted to make.  I was inspired months ago by the book my friend Andrea made, along with a discussion in my bible study of teaching our kiddos bible verses to live by. 

So I created this book and gave it to the kids for Easter...

The kids LOVE it!  They have already memorized and made a few of these applicable in daily life all on their own.  There is nothing sweeter than hearing our two precious kiddos quote God's word and begin to really understand how to use it in their lives.

Thanks for this cute idea Andrea!

mother's day

Thanks for all the congrats comments about our new little one!  We are VERY excited!  It's fun actually having kids that can understand (a little), and be excited.  When Mason was born, Taylor was 16 months old.  So she had no clue that my stomach was big, or that I had been sick for the first 3 months, or that a new baby was coming.  This time I get to answer questions.  Like...

how many more days till the baby comes?  (Mason asks this one every other day)

where is the baby at?

can the baby hear us?

can I feel the baby?

can we name the baby ______? (insert various names such as Bobby, Big Bird, Goody, and same made-up names) 

And of course they ask how the baby will come out.  For me that's an easy one.  All my babies get cut out of my tummy.  So that's easy to explain.  Some day when Taylor finds out it happens another way, she'll be shocked.  They are just concerned about the knives that the Dr. will use.

Official due date is Dec. 1.  We usually get to pick the date one week prior for a scheduled c-section.  That just happens to be Thanksgiving Day.  So we'll see what we end up picking.  Either way, I'm sure this child will have a Thanksgiving birthday some years.

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Our whole Mother's day weekend was fun!

Out to breakfast on Saturday morning.

Garage sales

Barn Sale

Car Show

Nap

 Handmade cards from the kids and Dave along with a SWEET surprise gift Sunday morning.

Lunch after church in Wichita (would have been better had Olive Garden not been almost a 2 hour wait)

Logan's Roadhouse was NOT even comparable and I don't think will see us ever again.

New DVD player for the car to help with our loooong road trip that is coming up

And then dinner cooked by my sweet hubby, along with the company of his parents too.

Pork Tenderloin, yummy potatoes, and corn on the cob.  And I didn't do a thing.

 Then Monday I felt awful.  The worst yet.

Thank goodness it was warm enough for the kids to swim.  They were in their swim suits at 10:30am and I planted myself outside on my comfy lounge chair all morning.

It was such a great weekend to reflect on the privelege of being Mommy to these 2 sweet kids.

And it was even sweeter to think of the little baby that will be joining our family in November.  Not only a precious gift to Dave and I, but such a sweet and exciting gift for Taylor and Mason also.

What a beautiful example of God's amazing love, grace, and goodness.

one more thing from easter

Taylor and Mason decided to make some cute Easter cards for their grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles.

They wanted to share with all of you too...

They can hardly wait for Thanksgiving time to get here!

easter memories

It was a special treat to have my parents come visit for Easter this year.

They got to spend the whole weekend with us.  My dad and Dave cooked a fabulous steak dinner on Saturday night and Sunday after church we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the golf course.

Some year I will be on the ball and plan to dye eggs while it's still daylight out, so we can have some nice, bright, colorful pictures.  But who am I kidding - I'm a night before kind of person. 

Before we dyed eggs, we did these Resurrection Eggs with the kids. I had wanted some of these for the last 2 years, and my mom brought me some!  She had no idea I even wanted them. Thanks Mom!

We also made some Easter cookies, from a recipe my my sister-in-law sent me.  They were so easy and so meaningful.

Each ingredient represented a part of the Easter story.

The kids beat the pecans in a bag with a hammer just as Jesus was beaten.

Then we mixed in vinegar and talked about how that was what they gave Jesus to drink when he was thirsty.

And egg whites represented Jesus's life. Then salt represented the tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitternes of our own sin. Kind of a yucky combination.

But the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us and wants us to know and belong to him.  So we added sugar.

Then it beat into a white meringue to represent purity in God's eyes when our sins are cleansed by Jesus.

We folded in the pecans and dropped spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet.  Each mound represented the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

We put the cookie sheet in the oven, closed the door and turned the preheated oven off.  The kids sealed the oven door with tape, just like the tomb was sealed by a stone.

We talked about how sad Jesus' followers were when the tomb was sealed.

And then off to bed.

On Easter morning, we opened the oven and enjoyed the cookies.  The cookies were hollow!!!  Just as the tomb was empty!

It was such a fun little activity.  I'll include the recipe, directions and the bible passages you can read with each part below.

 Easter Morning we made it to the early church service. Which then throughly messed us all up.  The kids thought it was lunch time at 9:15 in the morning.  And I was ready for a nap by 10am.

 Not the best family picture, but our kids weren't being very patient to try some others.

 That evening we went to Dave's parents' house to celebrate some more.

The kids all got to hunt for eggs.

 This little guy would eat candy all day if we let him.

 What I love the most about this next picture is what I caught in the background.

Papa hanging from a tree.

I think I got 7 shots of this.  And not one picture had everyone looking, standing straight, not talking, not turning around.   But this was the best one :-)  Funny kids.

Hope you had a blessed Easter holiday!

He is RISEN!

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EASTER STORY COOKIES

To be made the evening before Easter (right before bed).


1 cup whole pecans
zipper baggie
1 tsp vinegar
wooden spoon or mallet
3 egg whites
tape
pinch salt
Bible
1 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait until you're half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3


Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.


So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.


Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.


Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.


GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20, 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

a short catch up

Man, I guess things have been pretty boring around here.  Not much to blog about.

So what is there to tell you???

Our new house pursuit is over.  As a wonderful 32nd birthday gift on Wednesday, Dave got a call that the seller had accepted another offer.  Because we had a contingency contract, we technically had 3 days to make something happen.  We obviously didn't need 3 days.  So we signed off - and are done.  Our house is officially off the market.  Having this closure is actually really nice.  We felt a load lifted as we now just know that we are staying and can move on with things. We prayed that God would give us clear direction, as the decision on May 11 to extend our contingency contract again was going to be a hard one.  Our prayers were answered.  I love when decisions are just made for us. So now we have some house projects in the works! 

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We love when bad weather keeps Dave home or brings him home early.  A few Fridays ago, he came home and we decided to go garage saling.  We have NEVER, as in NEVER garage saled before.  I've maybe stopped at 2 garage sales in the last 5 years.  Ok, so I guess that isn't NEVER.  But we've never gone from sale to sale.  And to make it more crazy - it was FREEZING, and rainy.  We headed out just to stop at a friend's garage sale, with no intentions of continuing on. But after that stop, we decided to hit Valley Center for their city-wide sales.  It was a sprint from the car to the garage every time, trying not to get too wet.  Despite the weather, we really were having a blast!  The kids were excited.  They wanted Mommy and Daddy to find adult bikes.  But no luck.

We did find some other treasures.

This was Dave's proud find...

And as far as the bike.  Dave ended up getting one for his birthday. So now he has several choices for modes of transportation.

Although this ride will be getting a new home soon.  The big one, not the little one.

We got the 4 wheeler because a friend was selling it and we had to buy it then or not at all.  Dave wanted it for the new house.  And although he's had a blast riding it around the neighborhood and taking rides to pick up golf balls in the trees by the golf course, we don't have room for it.  

The cousins passed down the kids' one. (have I ever mentioned how spoiled we are with all the things cousins pass down to us - clothes, scooters, bounce house, 4 wheeler...wow!) We kind of said we also only wanted the 4 wheeler if we got the new house.  We just don't have room for all this stuff where we are.  But I'm pretty sure that getting rid of this new favorite would not fly with the kids.  So I think we'll just make room for it.  They have way too much fun on it.

So there's a little catch up.

I have Easter pictures to share soon.

the little things

I'm pretty sure this was the longest break in blogging I've had.  And there's really no particular reason.
I usually blog about what's going on at our house.  So I guess that means not much has been going on.
Nothing but the normal.

But this week things changed a bit here.  My focus has been in a place it has never really been before.
I have noticed things I've never noticed.  I've cherished things I have always taken for granted.

This week I have watched my husband walk in the door.
I have watched him scoop his kids up and hug them with his strong arms.
I have noticed the way he walks through the yard, playing and working.
I have noticed more than ever the way his arms feel wrapped around me when he hugs me.
I watch as he picks things up around the house that I didn't get to.
Or the way he loads and unloads the dishwasher after dinner, so I could sit and relax.
I have noticed how he twirls his kids around as they dance while watching American Idol.
And the way he is able to serve and love with his hands.
He walks out the door and drives himself to work to make a living for our family.
Things that are pretty normal for most of us.

But this week, simple things like arms and legs have become more meaningful than ever.

On Monday, we were given a harsh reminder at how easily these can be stripped away, when one of Dave's coworkers took one step too far backwards and fell 12 feet onto his neck and head.  He immediately lost feeling of his arms and legs, but I don't think anyone truly was prepared to hear the news the neurosurgeon gave.  They said he would never have use of his arms or legs again.  He is paralyzed from the chest down.
A 28 year old husband, and daddy to 2 little girls. 

Will you pray for Hernan?  Dave has enjoyed so much getting to know him and working with him. 
Work is hard this week.  Hernan was such a hard worker and a great guy.  And he is laying in a hospital bed with a completely different life ahead of him than ever imagined.  While the guys continue working, remembering the events of Monday.

As Easter approaches, I was also reminded of the hope we have in Christ.  And the hope we have in eternity with new bodies- completely perfect.  My heart aches for Hernan and his family as they now have to face this life with such a disability.  The thought of many many years ahead of him, with not even the ability to wheel his own wheelchair, feed himself or hold his little girls...is excruciating.  But in all reality, this life is a blink of an eye, in comparison to the eternity Christ freely offers us in heaven.  We pray for Hernan, that he will know this hope, and know that one day he will have his arms and legs again, for all of eternity. 

family date night

We don't do family nights all that often.  And when we do, they are usually pretty low key.

But last week we decided to go all out.  We talked about our "family date night" that whole day, and the kids were so excited!  They kept asking if they got to go to adult places.  (when they know that Dave and I are going on a date, we tell them we are going to adult places and it's not for kids).  So I think they were more pumped that they got to come along on a "date" when usually they have to stay with someone else while mommy and daddy have all the fun!

We started with Dinner at Cheddars.

And then onto The Alley for some bowling and arcade games.

 After a few rounds, one of the ramps came open so we were able to use that the rest of the game.

Thank goodness!

 Mason was so cute to watch!  He's not one to usually show much excitement, but man, he was excited when he knocked pins down, and got strikes!  It's much better than Mom's finger bowling game on her phone.

 Then onto the arcade games to use just a few tokens.

 If you have little ones, and want a game that never ever ends, a game that you can get the most play out of one token, something to entertain them for a long time...choose skee ball.

The ball never makes it up, it rolls back everytime.  But they don't care.  They keep rolling and rolling and rolling.  Until Mom and Dad step in and help out!  Man, we got some good play time in for those tokens.

 They didn't actually play this dancing game - but they sure thought they were.

And we ended the night at Orange Leaf.  Because of course that's the place to go these days.

It's also the place to wear your Victoria Secret's Pink sweatpants.  I think I saw 6 pair.

SOOO yummy!  And so fun!

Have you locals heard that Newton is getting a frozen yogurt place similar to Orange Leaf??

Someone told me that they know the 2 couples who are opening it.

So it sounded pretty legit.  But we'll see.

It's suppossed to be going in where the Quiznos was.

Don't shoot me if I'm wrong.

We won't need the big city Orange Leaf then.