Pumpkin Patch

Yes, this is another catch-up post.  We went to the pumpkin patch at the end of October.  It was one of those freaky cold days and I took along our hats, gloves, scarves and big coats.  By midday, it had warmed up nicely and I was glad to have a big stroller to lug all that stuff around.

C was thrilled to ride a real horse!  I thought she would be terrified, but she was the only one who really wanted to do it.  And she grinned the whole way.

Photographing Z is like trying to nail jello to the wall.  He has so many fun expressions and loves to make faces, and he sits still for about two nano-seconds.  I must have taken a hundred photos of just him and this is what I got.

He had a blast, though, climbing around on that old truck and the piles and piles of pumpkins.  The corn maze was kiddie-sized and I nearly panicked about losing him while we were in there.  (Can you spy him in the photo below?)  That's probably the closest I've come to wanting a child leash.  I can't imagine how many kids get lost in the full-size Texas-shaped corn maze.  

My girls were slightly easier to catch on camera.

Can I just say how refreshing it is to go from photographing all of the above to snapping pics of a teenage girl?  Takes five seconds, she knows how to smile, how to pose, listens to instructions...something to look forward to with my girls.

We had lunch on the lawn in the warm sunshine, picked as many flowers as we wanted, fed the goats, and ended with homemade ice cream.  It was a great family day squeezed into a really full schedule.  We didn't get to do the pumpkin patch last year because we were knee-deep in moving boxes.  I think that made it more fun this time around.

Changing Rides

For the last four years, our family has ridden the roller coaster that is entrepreneurship, with exciting highs that take your breath away and scary lows that make you want to close your eyes.  My husband is a remarkable man, gifted with the confidence to make every twist and turn smooth and carefree.  His capacity for learning new things, solving hard problems and negotiating relationships keeps him ahead of the game.  And though his capacity is far beyond what anyone else I know can absorb, he too has a limit.  You can read his own words about leaving Snoball on his blog.

So we found ourselves stepping off the self-employment roller coaster and settling into more of a traditional ride.  He didn't have to search long before companies started lining up to interview him.  I'm not the only one that recognizes something special in him.  At the end of November, he started a new job with Indeed.com.  I had never even heard of them, but they are apparently the largest job search engine on the web, even surpassing monster.com.  Shows how long I've been out of the loop.

His title is "labs hacker."  Doesn't that sound like him?  If I understand it correctly, his team comes up with new solutions to site-wide problems, and makes sure they work on a small subset of the traffic.  Then they pass it off to the development team to make it work site-wide, and start on a new problem.  So he gets to learn new things and solve hard problems without the CEO-ness that never really fit comfortably.

We were riding the roller coaster together and I was excited with him, but I felt the weight of it too.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a smidge relieved to step off.  I know we'll take that ride again sometime.  He has way too many incredible ideas to not try it again.  But we all need some time to recuperate. And I'm equally as excited to see him have the opportunity to decompress some and get out from under what was never intended to be a burden.

Only God knows where this new adventure will lead.  But I don't think it will be quite so white-knuckled.  I'm honored to be a passenger with the man that is immeasurably more than I could have asked or imagined when I prayed for a husband.

Houston, We Have Tourists

I've been sick this weekend and missing out on all the fun Christmas things my family is doing, so I'm trying to console myself by catching up on blog posts.  Here's what you should have seen back in October!

We went to a family reunion near Houston at the beginning of October and decided to make the most of it by taking H to see some sites.  J was so gracious and offered to take Z home straight from the reunion.  This turned our trip into a girls' weekend and gave us soooo much more flexibility.  

I tried to plan some things that you wouldn't really see in any other city.  All big cities have museums, zoos, old buildings, and she's seen lots of those.  But there's only one Johnson Space Center.  

I was worried it might be a little too abstract for my little girls, but there were plenty of things for them to see and enjoy.  Not to mention, the Space Center boasts a 5-story playscape that would have been a total nightmare without a teenager along who was willing to track down my hysterical, screaming C and show her how to get back down.

The highlight of the Space Center for the over-four-foot crowd was definitely the tram tour to mission control.  We almost didn't do it.  The line was super short when we first got there, but we weren't sure what it was for and it took 90 minutes.  That was a big unknown commitment.  So we saw some of the other things first and then went back to the line only to discover we now had to wait over an hour to do the 90-minute tour.  It was worth the wait.  I was so proud to be an American as I listened to the guide talk about all the history that had happened in that building.

We spent that afternoon at the Keemah Boardwalk.  What a fun place!  It was like a permanent carnival, with more restaurants and less lose-your-money midway games.  I lost my money on face painting, funnel cake, and carousel rides.

Sidenote - Next birthday party that I attempt diy face paint, must add black outlines and swirly details.  Makes a big difference.  And a tiny touch of glitter is apparently what really makes it magical.

H rode some really scary rides that I was grateful to wait at the bottom of.  You can't see her, but she's in the crazy updside-down ride in this photo.

The next day we had to work our way back home and did so via the Houston Galleria.  We didn't see very much of it, unfortunately.  I think it would take all day.  But we did as much mall as the little girls could handle then made a Starbucks stop and hit the road.

I grew up near Houston, so I never really attempted the tourist thing in Houston.  I was so glad to do the Space Center and the Boardwalk.  When Z is a little older and (hopefully) into rockets and space, we'll definitely go back.

Rockin' the Six-Year-Old Vocab

A certain first-grader in our house is thoroughly enjoying her budding writing skills.  She goes through paper like there's no tomorrow, making lists, pictures, books.  Here's a sample of some recent favs with translation (just in case)...

Anna's List (we're working on putting the title at the top) - Duck Duck Goose, trailer ride (bike trailer), piggy back ride, read, make paper snowflakes, play the guitar, play My Little Pony church (the reader will please note that we actually accomplished all but two of the items on this day's list)

Anna's Second List - Rachel comes over to play, sleepover at the cousins, play checkers, wrestle, play chess (looks like we only got to one of those)

 I love you Mom.  I think you are awesome.  Love, Anna

For the Aggie fans - I love my Dad (with a big gig 'em thumbs up and a check mark across it).  Gig 'em wins.  I love gig 'em.  Hey, gig 'em, longhorns lost.  Good job, gig 'em.  Oh no, longhorns, you are in big trouble.  Yeah, gig 'em.  (Loving the mooing cow at the bottom with a big x on its face.)

You should know that the last piece was a real love letter because she has converted to being a longhorn fan since we moved (because she really knows what the rivalry is all about, right?).  But since she loves her dad, she made him a gig 'em picture.

Where Ya Been?

In the blurry haze of culture shock that results from adding a teenager to an already busy household, that's where I've been.

We are really enjoying H and the new things we are learning about what we do differently, what we have in common, her country's traditions, our country's traditions, parenting teenagers, having a big sister, and making the most of every opportunity.  I've told several friends that the culture shock of adding a teenager has really been greater than that of introducing a different country.  And she has been such a trooper when early bedtimes or nap time or early risers have complicated plans.  C calls her "my BSBFF - Big Sister, Best Friend Forever."  We are all going to miss her sorely come February, so let's not talk about that right now.

So far, she has (either with us, friends or relatives)....
*tackled (and excelled at) American high school, including AP English, Pre-Cal, and Chemistry (does anyone read The Scarlet Letter outside of high school?)
*attended several high school football games (the team is now in state quarterfinals!)
*landed a free homecoming dress, made a homecoming mum, and attended homecoming dance
*experienced the most organized family reunion in the state of Texas along with a spontaneous first for said family reunion--line dancing!
*marveled at Houston roadways
*toured the Johnson Space Center
*ridden a wooden roller coaster at the Keemah boardwalk
*sampled the Houston Galleria
*performed as a sideshow freak in the high school production of "The Elephant Man"
*seen the state capitol
*had a couple of sleepovers
*cooked us German food
*loved apple pie
*spent the day at the pumpkin patch
*gone on a youth winter retreat
*served as manager for the varsity girls' basketball team
*attended lots of youth small group Bible studies
*celebrated a sweet 16 birthday, complete with seven teenage girls singing karaoke in our living room
*suffered through family photo sessions
*earned a role in the chorus for the theater production of Footloose
*overeaten at Thanksgiving dinner
*joined the crazy masses for Black Friday shopping at the mall (the mall!!)
*helped decorate for Christmas
*attended one town square tree lighting and one small-town Christmas parade


I'm sure I'm leaving out some details, but you get the idea.  Knowing this is sort of her shot at seeing this part of the world has opened our eyes to see everything fresh, and make the most of what we have around us.  It's good to shake things up every now and then so you appreciate what you've got, even if it leaves you exhausted at the end of the day.

The Rock House, Part 4 (of 4)

I guess the last thing to say about saying to goodbye to my childhood home is that it is no longer my home.  After six years of marriage, J and I bought our own house for the first time.  It was the tenth time we had moved as a couple.  We've added four more transitions to the tally in the last nine years.  All the moving around has really helped detach me from the idea that a structure is home.

This side of heaven, J is my home.  Wherever he is, is home.  In a hotel, the van, apartment, living with family, in a house... if he's there, I'm at home.  When he's not there, no place--however comfortable or familiar--is quite home.

And on the other side of heaven, I know my Savior has a beautiful place prepared for me.  So any roof I find myself under during this lifetime is just that--a roof.  It's the relationships that make home for me, and why it really will be okay to say goodbye to the rock house.

The Rock House, Part 3

On my last visit to the rock house, Mom directed to me a card table stacked with papers and photos.  She said I could have any of it I wanted to keep, that most of it had been duplicated somewhere else and it was headed for the recycle bin.  Everyone else who had come for a last tour had already sifted through and kept what they wanted.

It took me a couple of hours to go through the piles.  It was all familiar, and yes, I already had duplicates of some of it.  One folder grabbed my attention, though.  It was the master copy of a notebook my Grandma had made for her grandchildren.  She photocopied one of those fill-in-the-blank template books with writing prompts to complete.  She had filled it all in, personalized for each of her 14 grandchildren, and gifted it to us in 1990.

I was 13.  We had been living with her for a year.  Sure it was cool that I lived in Grandma's big, fancy rock house.  My friends always wanted to know what it looked like inside.  Yes, the cookie jar was never empty.  But I regret that I completely missed the opportunity to harvest her wisdom, to listen to her stories, to tell her my own problems, to ask her advice.  I was young and didn't know better, self-absorbed and arrogant, thinking adults were clueless and couldn't possibly add any value to my circumstances.

My copy of the notebook piled up with other keepsakes and moved to a few new houses over the years.  I don't remember ever reading it.  At least, when I started reading the pages this time, it was very new.  Maybe it was seeing her original handwriting, or the years that added value, or my own experience as a mom wanting to impart meaning to my children.  Whatever the reason, her words were much weightier, more personal, valuable, significant.

"We still remember when you...'all were together at home and it is so hard to be alone now that Grandpa is gone.'

"I am happy that we all...'have so many good times to remember.  I hope that Grandpa and I have taught you all good things to remember.'

"I think our family is special because...'we all love each other so much and are all friends.'

"I was proud of...'the way my family could work and play together.  I was proud that I had learned to oil paint when all the children were in college and away from home.'

"I was always sorry I didn't...'travel more and get Grandpa to go with me, but he didn't like to travel as much as I did.'

"I felt very strongly about...'my family and home, and would not leave if I thought someone at home needed me.'

"I've changed my mind, and now I think...'women should have some time to do what they want to do, once in a while.  Don't wait until you are too old to go and do things.'

"My wish for the future is...'that all my family, children and grandchildren, will stay friends.  I want them to know each other and be able to play and work together.  I hope and pray that they are all Christians and love the Lord Jesus Christ.  May we be able to all be together often.  May none have to go to war.  May we all be proud of the name Grandpa gave us and keep it clean and good.  God bless each of you.  I love you all.'"

It is encouraging to me as a mom to read her words.  I never would have cherished them as a teen.  And this is another reminder that learning is a lifelong journey, not to be demanded immediately.  What I didn't grasp then, I am starting to understand now.  And it is the same for my children.  They can't fathom the depths of emotion those words stir, and I can't make them understand.  I can't demand that they value the blessing of grandparents nearby.  I can't force them to cherish every story.  I can't guarantee they won't take it completely for granted.  It will only be their own years and experiences that will prove these values in their hearts.  Like those who have hoed this row before me, it is mine to sow the seeds and wait patiently for the harvest, trusting the yield to Him who is able to give much more than I could ask or imagine.

The Rock House, Part Two

You're probably tired of photos of my parents' old house, so I'm sorry to say that part two of this min-series is much like the first.  Only these pics were taken by my 6-year-old.  I gave her my phone and asked her to snap photos of the things she wanted to remember about Grandma's house.  A few of the things worth remembering from her perspective...

the kitchen linoleum

the sago palm in the backyard 

that shady swing overlooking the yard

and the pavers underneath it 

the riding lawn mower that gave many a ride around the yard 

the screen door

Grandma's wind chimes

bicycle highway and chalk canvas

really gross bug-zapper

short person's view through the screen door

family photo wall

Grandpa's screen saver

toys on the red carpet

To be continued...(but I think that's all of the photos)

The Rock House, Part One

My parents closed on their new house this week, one day after signing the papers on their old home.  I am incredibly excited about them moving closer to us...within walking distance, even!  There will be many memories to come as they weave their wisdom into our daily lives.  But a new chapter can be best embraced when the old one has been carefully reviewed, paying attention to the little details that burn the story in your mind.  With that in mind, please indulge me this sentimental rambling as I close this chapter of my family's history.

This is the family homestead, designed and built by my father's parents in 1951, for a family of seven.  By my best guess, her children were 11,  9, 6-yr-old twins, and 4.  Makes me tired just thinking about it.  Those kiddos moved into that house and broke it in for the rest of us.  Those five kids had 14 grandkids and now, I don't know how many great-grandkids.  This house has sort of always been the family anchor.  So it is very surreal to think of it not belonging to "us" anymore.

I remember weeks at Grandma's house in the summer with my cousin; Christmas with all the extended family; gumbo dinners that I turned my nose up at; the smell of oil paints, chocolate chip cookies, and dusty farmers.

This oak, this mighty oak.  How many children have climbed its branches?  By the time his youngest grandkid came along (me), Grandpa had propped a ladder on the lowest limb to make it easier to get into the giant center.

How many brown grocery bags of juicy Satsuma oranges have been picked from these trees?  How many hours of hard labor invested to keep them producing?

How many feet smoothed those pavers as they pushed back and forth under the shade?

And this door.  How many welcomed, hugged, invited through that door?  Can you hear it slam when the children run out?  Can you hear the slow creak as she tempers its speed and says one last goodbye?  Maybe the old chime that sang when the wooden door was closed again?

How many nervous jumps off those steps?  "Can you do it from the top one?"  How many concerts sung, recitals performed, tricks displayed on that stage?  Me and my cousins, then my children and their cousins.

That frustrating gate latch!  It took me years to be able to lift that latch high enough to swing it open.

Same for those cabinet pulls with built-in childproofing.  I see their genius now; but good grief, how many times must a child pinch their finger in the button before figuring it out?

Apparently not enough to keep us from playing in the hamper.  "Welcome to Jack-in-the-Box.  May I take your order?"  You know, I played in that hamper many a time, but it was my own girls who showed me the side panel came open (for plumbing access) and the hole on the other side was large enough to sit in!

And what can we say for the floor heater?  Many a warning about that floor heater!  So grateful it was "just for show" by the time my little ones were mobile.

Speaking of warnings.... how many little children warned not to leave their toys lying about?  You never know where they'll turn up!  "Look what happened to your Daddy's toys."

How many more caresses did those toys get for being preserved in that wall?

 How many years planned and arranged on the inside of that cabinet door?

Oh, the very many dishes washed at that enormous sink with the built-in drainboard.  And the stories that sink could tell of the conversations shared while doing dishes.

Then there's the awfully avocado oven that's baked up thousands of batches of loving kindness.  And I do believe there has always been a Bible on that corner shelf.  More wonderful is that I think there has always been someone to read a Bible every morning in that kitchen before the sun comes up.

You get the idea.  Every nook and cranny of that house has been loved by lots of people.  It's been showing its age for awhile now.  Memories don't usually share the ugly parts, like all the maintenance and upkeep that comes with a house that old and that loved.  That's why I'm glad my folks can close the chapter on this part of our family history.  It's starting to be a not-so-fun chapter to read every day.  And it's much more exciting to be part of our daily chaos.

To be continued...

What I Learned This Summer

I don't ever remember having to write a report about what I learned during the summer.  Maybe that's just in the movies.  You get my first attempt.

Around late spring/early summer, I was really discouraged with my kids' behavior.  It seemed all three were pushing my buttons and boundaries.  None of them were obeying the way I thought they should and I could not be consistent enough to get the results I wanted.

I turned to the all-knowing google.  Surely someone out there has had the same problem and will have the magic trick that I can put into practice and smooth out all the bumps in this rocky road.  I know, it sounds ridiculous to me too.  But I bet I'm not the only one who's done it.

One of the first hits was this article by Sally Clarkson.  It isn't a new article, but it was new to me.  It really made me think.  And do a parenting overhaul.

Somewhere along the way, I had adopted the first-time obedience mandate as biblical.  I didn't even think about it.  I didn't subject it to scripture.  I didn't pray about it.  The authors of the parenting books I read told me God wanted my children to obey right away, all the way, with a happy heart.  And if I consistently disciplined them, they would.  If they didn't, I was doing something wrong and I was endangering their souls.  I couldn't do it.  They didn't do it.  We were all horrible at it.  No wonder I was discouraged!

So the first thing I learned this summer was that I need to be much more careful about what I allow into my mind and into my parenting toolbox.  Sally's article reminded me that God's word is the best authority on parenting and I can take all of my frustrations to the real all-knowing Source who has power to actually help with my individual problem.  I knew this in my head, but I obviously had not practiced it.  I was shocked at myself and have tried to scrutinize my parenting to see what is biblical and what is manmade.  

I have also traded in parenting books for child development books.  I was referred to this series by Louise Bates Ames by three different sources in about two weeks, so I checked them out from my library.  Very refreshing and encouraging to read about characteristic behaviors at these ages and know that the thing I am battling really is "just a phase" and will likely subside in a few months or at least be easier to address.  

Sally's article also reminded me that righteousness is a life-long journey.  Talking it over with a dear friend, I said out loud what I couldn't seem to put into practice...if I can't get it right, why in the world would I expect my kids to?  It's time to surrender my unrealistic expectation that they will be "done" when they leave my nest.  God's plan for them may be to smooth out that rough edge through their spouse, an employer, a college roommate, their own children.  His is a process of sanctification, not a moment of completeness.  Parenting really is a marathon, and I probably will not witness my children cross the finish line.  They will still be running the good race after I am long gone.  This is so encouraging to me.  What a relief!  

God pricked my soul with a recent daily scripture reading.  I came across 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."  I'm still working out how this applies to my parenting.  But I'm very grateful that God is perfecting me in love and not fear.  

Please go read the article.  Pray about it.  Subject it to scripture.  Tell me what you think.  And tell me, what did you learn this summer?

Isn't it Ironic?

Last winter/spring, we were sick a lot.  Every week, one of us had some kind of symptom that kept us from being wholly well.  I started thinking this summer about things we could do to avoid a repeat of that season.  I'm sure some of it is due to moving and adjusting to a new environment with new contagions and allergens.  Some of it is due to having a baby who put everything in his mouth and is too young to take most kinds of medicine.

But I thought it couldn't hurt to try to beef up our immune systems going into the fall/winter.  I researched supplements and started the kids on probiotics, along with a vitamin c/zinc combo.  I've even gotten J to succumb to the supplement slippery slope.  

I started hearing Alanis Morrisette singing in my ear on Friday, though, as I realized none of the above protected us from getting lice exactly one week after starting all my get-healthy endeavors.  Isn't it ironic?  Don't you think?

First Day of School

Before our house guests arrived, we had our first day of school.  I got our schoolroom all ready the night before with a fun new sign inspired by a Pinterest find.  I don't think I've ever shown you, loyal reader, our schoolroom.  Ta da...

That's my gumball sign.  We added gumballs with our ideas for making school enjoyable (i.e., being kind, waiting our turn, helping each other, listening, etc.).  I can't put much on my walls this year because Z enjoys ripping it all off too much.  Shouldn't every schoolroom have a baby gate, by the way?

These are my craigslist find cabinets.  J and my dad installed them earlier in the summer.  They are fabulous!!  J also installed our roof flashing turned magnet wall.  He's a handy guy.  I like the magnet wall because I can put independent supplies in a pencil pouch hanging from a hook on the wall.  The girls can get to them anytime.  I've also got a planning calendar up and my own notes for the week.  There's also lots of room for posting their creations and school work.

This is the other end of our schoolroom, but it's really more of a play area.  But I wanted to show off my map wall.  Strictly decorative purposes because the maps are from old National Geographics.  Again, I'll go lower with more maps when I know Z won't tear them off.

I told the girls we would be taking first day photos and I loved the results!  A asked to stay her in pj's all day, including for photos.  Then she took one photo and was done.  So very A.

C asked to put on her fanciest dress, wanted a headband and a bow, then wanted a portrait session for the next 20 minutes with silly faces, serious faces, good smiles, bad smiles.  Every bit C right now.

Getting lice the first week of school has definitely put a damper on things, but I'm so glad we homeschool!  We'll keep going, keep practicing our nice attitudes, getting down routines and figuring out realistic expectations.  Hope your year gets off to a smooth, sweet start!

House Guests

So it's always fun when a blog post generates comments, but when a post generates phone calls....!!  Wow!  The announcement of a foreign exchange student actually ranked a few phone calls!  Sweet!

When we decided to buy this big ol' house, one of the things we looked forward to doing was hosting an exchange student.  Because what better way to share the world with our kids than bringing it to our dinner table?  Sure beats traveling internationally with small children.  We have the space to share and just hope we are good representatives of our culture--both temporal and eternal.

We have been complete novices through this process and are learning as we go (like all parenting).  We chose an exchange agency because we had a friend of a friend who was a local advocate.  We chose our student because she is the oldest of several children in her home and we thought she would be comfortable in our chaos.  Other than that, it was a stab in the dark, and we couldn't be more pleased.

You'll be hearing more about H, our exchange student.  She'll be part of our family through the end of January-ish.  She's from northern Germany and is doing great with her English.  We are really impressed!  She'll turn 16 while she's here.  She arrived Thursday night after more than 24-hours en route.  We had great plans for the weekend, including taking a pic of her to introduce her to my huge readership, as well to show her around and maybe take in a local festival, but....

Friday morning we realized we had even more house guests than we thought.  I made the gruesome discovery that A and C had lice!  I wanted to crawl into the fetal position and deny my own existence for the next 48 hours.  Alas, that was not an option.  Our plans went down the drain and I began the overwhelming task ahead of me.

I started with a trip to the pharmacy for requisite tools.  Then, I made my first-ever trip through the Starbucks drive-thru for my own self-medication.  Chai latte has become my drug of choice and it helped me through the morning.  When I got home, I took each girl to the backyard and lopped off as much hair as I was comfortable with.  They both have decent little bobs now.  Then, I used that tiny little comb to go through A's thick, thick hair.  It took over an hour and a half.  C's was not so bad because her hair is so fine.

Then I gave the Cetaphil solution a try.  It was mid-afternoon by the time they were both "treated."  Next we bagged up all the stuffed animals, extra pillows and blankets.  I vacuumed, sterilized, and laundered for the rest of the day.  J came to the rescue by working from home and keeping Z out of the way.  So far, Z, J and I have been spared.  But just thinking about it makes my head light up with imaginary itches.

I'm going to say the Cetaphil trick was not particularly effective for A.  C seemed clear this morning, but A was still just as bad.  My own particular brand of torture is a contagious condition that keeps your children quarantined but at perfectly good energy levels, then re-occurs at weekly intervals for up to a month.  Yippy skippy.  Add to the equation one six-year-old with incredibly thick hair, a sensitive scalp, and a tendency to make mountains out of mole hills.  SuperMommy kryptonite trifecta!

J wanted to nail down where we had picked it up, but I knew that was futile.  Our best guess is the headphones at the library computer station.  A spent about 15 minutes trying the computer game in the kids' section.  C tried it too, but the headphones kept slipping off her head, so she didn't stay as long.  It could have been anywhere, honestly; we just don't know.  But you can rest assured, we will not ever use those headphones again.

I am so indebted to my sis-in-law, CA, who came to the rescue and whisked H away for a teenage girl shopping trip, dinner, and youth group study on Friday.  Then she came again tonight to take H to her first-ever baseball game.  Thank you, CA and R!!  You salvaged this weekend with flying colors!

A and C will stay home from church with me tomorrow and we will attempt to salvage Friday's schoolwork without Z in the mix.  Monday is a big day as we register H for high school and get a crash course in the public high school education system.

Enough rambling.  Stay tuned.  Our family motto really is "never a dull moment" and we strive to deliver.

Busy Thanks

Just so you know, this is what our week looks like:

• Sunday - church; signed up to volunteer in children's ministry each week; spent afternoon reclaiming house from atomic toy bomb that exploded during parent's weekend project (see below)
• Monday - first day of Kelley Academy (another post); just the fun stuff along with an orientation to our materials and expectations; library run
• Monday evening - orientation meeting for student exchange program (another post)
• Tuesday - more fun back-to-school stuff; our slow day this week
• Wednesday - meet and greet for A's one-day co-op program
• Thursday - first day of actual curriculum for school; church volunteer training in the evening; pick up exchange student at airport 
• Friday - school, and help the newest addition to our family get acclimated and rested and ready for her first day of school in a new country next Monday

Somewhere in there we need to repaint our living room, because we had a total paint debacle last Saturday and ended up with a giraffe print on our walls.  That may be an exaggeration, but we certainly can't leave it with the two-tone polka dots we inadvertently created between three cans of what was supposed to be same color of paint.

Oh, and in the background, I'm co-organizing my biannual family reunion for the first week of October; trying to figure out where we're going to do Awanas this year, and what class I want to help with that.  I'm hosting bunko in two weeks.  My parents are moving into our neighborhood the week after that, and we are thrilled to be helping with that transition.  I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting, but God always brings them back to mind before it costs too much.

I think I might be certifiable, but instead I'm really excited about what's going on in our world this fall.  I'm excited about school, I feel ready and able to serve in ministries that I've been taking advantage of, we're going to broaden our cultural horizons at our own dinner table, the kids are at fun ages, Grandma and Grandpa are comin' to town!  We're in a really good place.  

Yes, there are stressful things going on, and the swirl of activity might make me a not-nice mommy every now and then, but Colossians 3:15 is vibrating underneath it all and I am thankful.  So thankful.

Back to Being Six

I had to interrupt the six-year-old birthday posts with the baby-brother-walking post.  It only seemed appropriate to not make that one wait a month.  But it's been the requisite month (or six weeks) since A's birthday, so I'm getting around to posting pics of it.

-Sidebar- I use blogging as a motivator.  I only let myself post if I feel like I have gotten done what I needed to get done in a certain day/week.  Only, I never get it all done.  Then the blog posts build up to a crescendo in my head and I can't shut up my own inner monologue and I finally give in and do a slew of posts and make something else wait.  That's why I'm always late on milestone posts.   -End sidebar-

We had a bit of a conundrum over A's birthday party theme this year.  She finally was enjoying swimming and decided she wanted a pool party.  But we don't have a pool.  And our neighborhood pool is too deep for her to enjoy.  Not to mention it's crazy expensive to rent a neighborhood pool!  We may have dropped enough hints, manhandled enough conversations, and eluded to enough happy things to convince her that she really wanted a party at our house with a readily-available-at-major-retailers theme.  So, My Little Pony it was!

It was really helpful that her favorite things right now are very simple...duck, duck, goose was her first game request.  Done!  We also pinned the tail on Pinkie Pie a few times.

We had at least a dozen too many cupcakes.  Mind you, they were frosted with each of the six main Ponies' colors.  

The girls were enamored with balloon animals and face painting at several events we went to over the summer.  So Daddy twisted a few balloons and cousin R stepped in to paint cutie-marks on hands.  Although, the boys got spiders and lightning bolts.

J is amazing at his powers of persuasion and imagination.  He spun his two-balloon-trick repertoire from dogs to ponies, then pegasuses (pegasi?) and even a baby dragon.  The kids were amazed!

"What?!" you say.  "You let small children run around your house with wet paint on their hands?!"  Why, yes, I did.  It was a small price to pay to get out of making a piñata, thank you very much.  And I used an old trick up my sleeve and had each masterpiece powered with baby powder when it was done to set it.  It dulled the paint, but since everyone's looked the same, none of the kids complained.  And I haven't found any smears on my walls (yet).

Happy Birthday, A!  May the wonder of you never cease.