This Child of Mine

This child of mine apparently has a propensity for using scissors in a manner in which they should not be used.





And, because of that, he now looks like this. In hindsight, it may have been better to leave things as they were.



The look isn't quite as dramatic from the side.



He suggested that maybe he shouldn't use scissors for four weeks. The last time, it was two weeks. I haven't quite decided on that yet.

Lord You're True and Holy, I Give You All The Glory

I'm figuring out how to take video with Adam's camera. Here's Abby singing a Sonia Reed song. [she's coloring; that's why she's looking down].

A Circus Clown

Yesterday, I said I hadn't really taken any photographs worth posting this week. I had taken a couple of pictures of Andrew and his self-chosen outfit Friday morning, but they were out of focus and the light was bad, so I only emailed it to my mom and one of my cousins saying, "I have no words." This is what he looked like.



As I told my mom, while I had no words, Adam had plenty. He told Andrew that he was NOT going to school like that. When Andrew assured him that he was, Adam did not hesitate to tell him that he looked ridiculous. When Andrew seemed unphased, Adam looked at me with pleading eyes and said, "You're not going to let him go like that, are you?" I did. When we arrived at school, Andrew was asked if it was "tacky day" in his class. It was not.

The surprising part for me came when I picked Andrew up from school. This is what he looked like.



He was so excited and said, "Mommy! I'm a circus clown!!" Thankfully this had nothing to do with his outfit and most of the kids in his class and some type of face paint.





I was taking his picture in the rearview mirror and he said, "I'm hilarious, itn't (sic) I?"



While it was obvious that Adam was not happy with Andrew's look in the morning, he was even more dismayed in the afternoon. He kept trying to convince Andrew to wipe off the makeup. We had to drive to Statesville last night to meet their dad and we stopped at a Wendy's for dinner. Andrew did try to clean up but the red was not quite ready to come off. This is what he looked like while we ate dinner and while we did a bit of shopping at Wal-Mart. I think there was more than one head that turned to take another look.

I think he's hilarious.

A Little Bit of Sunshine

I haven't taken any pictures this week worth posting, but these that I took last week make me happy. I've tried off and on for years to grow daffodils, tulips and the such but never with any luck. I'm not sure why but the bulbs have always rotted. This year I finally had some success.



This little lady bug just happened to show up at the right time.



Here's hoping these bring a little bit of sunshine to your day.

Wordless Wednesday - Not so Much

I've been sitting here on the sofa watching Abby and looking through pictures. Abby woke up during the night with an ear infection. She was in a lot of pain and stayed up most of the night. By the time it was time to take Adam to school the Ibuprofin had kicked in and she said she was feeling better and wanted to go to school as well. While she wasn't very happy with my decision that she go to the doctor first, I think she's glad now. Her ear was very infected so we got an antibiotic and some drops. Because she didn't have a fever it was okay for her to go to school. She hasn't missed a day yet (in kindergarten or first grade). I picked her up right after school and she was in a lot of pain again. She's now just lying on the sofa and watching the Disney channel.

In going through my pictures, I was struck by Adam's blue eyes. They seem to be getting bluer as he gets older.



I think Kylie likes them too.

If April Showers Bring May Flowers

what do March showers bring? It seems as though the weather in the Carolinas has been extraordinarly dreary this year. The weather forecast for the next several days looks like this: Partly Cloudy for today, followed by Showers, Rain, T-Showers, T-Showers and a Few Showers for the next five days. It's starting to make me feel like this



and this



when I really want to be feeling like this



and thinking about what shade of this I want to put on my toes



or eating some of these



{Sigh}

Spring is Here

Here's praying that there will be blue skies and sunshine (i.e., warmer temperatures) in the days ahead.

My Girl

Last night as we were eating dinner the light was so nice outside. I couldn't wait to get out and take pictures. Actually, I wanted to skip dinner altogether and when Adam suggested on the way home that we have milkshakes for dinner, you have no idea how tempted I was to say yes. Instead we had frozen lazagna and texas toast and I tried to encourage the kids to eat as fast possible. I think it was around 7:30 by the time we finally got back outside and a lot of the light was already gone. I did get these of Abby, and I think they're really her.











This shot is my favorite, but I can't decide which version I like the best. Abby wants to get something printed, so maybe I'll let her decide.

I have to include these two as well, just because I think they're fun and it shows that Spring really is right around the corner.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

They say there's one in every crowd. Recently, in my crowd, that one has been Andrew. He said it was too cold to stand outside for the 15 seconds it would take for me to snap a picture. This is the same kid who insisted on wearing shorts on Sunday when it was cold and rainy. So, being the mature person I am, I decided to give him something to pout about.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A Plea for Help

So there were parts of last week that just weren't all that skippy. If you missed it, check here. Last night and this morning, weren't a lot better as far as how the Triple As were getting along. So, in my frustration, I told them they weren't allowed to speak to each other until tomorrow afternoon. They received this news around 6:45 this morning. I stuck to my guns until around 7:30 tonight when I heard Abby and Andrew talking about playing together. When I said, "You two aren't going to play and talk are you?" they stopped dead in their tracks, looked at me with those sweet little eyes and said, "Yes, please?" This is what I saw after I said yes.







And when it was time for bed and I walked into Andrew's room, this is what I saw. Now last night, his closet door was able to close. I know this for a fact. Tonight, not a chance. Grandma, did you say that you were going to come down and help me clean/organize? I think we need it.



He did attempt to get at least two items off the floor.



Adam has made his own plea for help in a letter written to me for a school assignment. I still have no idea what the assignment was about. When I showed this to Adam, he just giggled.



I guess I need to make a trip to Target.

Baptism ~ A Visible Testimony to Faith

It's appears to be a simple body of water, yet represents so much more.

You are "crucified" (standing upright in water), you are "buried" (immersed into the water), and you are "resurrected into life" (raised out of the water). Water baptism is a picture of spiritual baptism. It is the outward testimony of the believer's inward faith. A sinner is saved the moment he places his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is a visible testimony to that faith.

Galatians 3:26,27 - “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”


It was a joyful occassion; a time to celebrate. This was Adam in the choir room before his baptism. As you can see, he was quite relaxed.

A Team Party

Last night Abby and Andrew's basketball team had their end of season party at Xtreme Play. I couldn't believe how clean this place was. We'll definitely go back there. The kids had a great time. We had never been there before (we've also never been to a Monkey Joe's) and as Abby ran past me, I heard her scream, "This is so COOL!" They ate pizza and cupcakes and did lots of jumping and sliding.

The kids really had a great season. They learned a lot and made new friends. I'm kind of sad to see the season come to an end, but it will be nice to be at home more during the week and hopefully getting a little more rest.

Why?

Why when I went to the dentist yesterday did I have to wait for my hygienist for approximately 15 minutes so she could have a procedure started for herself? I was there on time. She finished up a patient as I arrived and then I had to wait. Why? Why did that same appointment take almost 2 hours? They are referring me to an oral surgeon because it appears that I have a "tooth bud" growing where one of my wisdom teeth used to be. Why does the oral surgeon have the same last name as one of the dentists in the practice that I go to?

Why did I find myself having to explain to my 9 year old son last night that it was not a wise use of his resources to spend $19 on a 3-ring binder for school, when he has almost the exact same thing at home and doesn't use it because it's too big? Why did he stand there and cry like I told him something devastating? Why then did he move to the $6 binder instead of the $2 one? Why when I agreed to let him buy that one with his own money did he continue to cry as we tracked from one side of the Target to the other? Why did I have to pull him out of the aisle and remind him that he is 9 years old and ask him why is he is crying like a baby while walking through Target? Why, when we reached the other side of Target, did he suddenly realize he could not use said $6 binder after all and continue to ask for the $19 one? Why would he then stomp his foot and say, "Fine. I'll just ask my dad." when I told him no? We left Target with no binder. Two moms who were standing in front of us in line and overheard me explaining to said son that while I loved him, I would not buy him a binder today or allow him to buy one after the way he acted. They were making a good effort not to chuckle. I was not seeing the humor at the moment. One made the comment that she was glad it wasn't just her and the other smiled and said she could hear herself in me. Sigh...

Why would my 5 year old son, look at his brother in disgust this morning and ask if he HAD to sit by him at breakfast? I answered that one. Yes, you do have to sit beside him; we are a family and this is where we eat breakfast. Why would he continue to cry and whine and continue to say that he wants to sit by himself? Why would I lose control and tell him to shut up? Why would he continue to cry and complain that "they" were looking at him?

Why would I have to explain to them that God tells us to love one another? That our home should be a safe-haven...a place where we should be able to come and not worry about whether someone sits beside us at breakfast, but to be glad that we have someone to sit beside...a place where we should be able to put our art project on the counter and not have to worry that someone would threaten to drop it on the floor so it breaks...?

Why have I eaten an entire 9.5 oz. bag of Dove Smooth Milk Chocolate Eggs in two days? Ah, even the name sounds nice, doesn't it? Smooth Milk Chocolate... Thankfully I've cut off the part of the bag that tells how many calories and how much fat.

And last but not least, why do I continue to count the stairs that I walk up every morning on my way to work? One - two - three - one - two - three (Kristi, you get this, right?) And why do my thighs burn EVERY single morning when I get to the top of those stairs?

Wordless Wednesday - Dreaming of the Dog Days of Summer

Monkeying Around

On Saturday morning, after one of my three children locked my keys in the car, and after a friend took them to school for their 3 hours of make-up for the snow day so they wouldn't be late, and after Andrew and I waited for AAA to come and free my keys, and after Andrew and I had a wonderful breakfast together at the Waffle House, we headed to the zoo to celebrate Kylie's third birthday. Go here for Kristi's account of the day.

I have to admit that it wasn't only the animals I found interesting. I hate that this is blury, but I still had to post it. Don't you just wonder what goes through some parents' minds?


Like father like son, I suppose. I really wanted a shot from the front, but I wasn't that bold.


Part of our group of 13.


It was really nice to see Alexander again.




Caleb didn't have any trouble finding things to look at if the animals were out of his view.


Adam and Kylie exploring an egg.




It was give and take between Abby and the boys. In the first picture Abby was laughing because she was putting her hands over the viewfinder so Andrew couldn't see out. In the second picture, the boys were barking and you can tell by the look on Abby's face that she was NOT impressed.


Andrew had to do a little monkeying around himself.



Happy Birthday Kylie! Thanks for letting us share in your special day.