Category Archives: {F}amily

Read more about the goings-on of our fabulous foursome!

:: My 30th Birthday’s Second Anniversary ::

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Birthday

Birthday celebrations began, in part, yesterday as Garth and I headed for a child-less trip to the farm market and then enjoyed a few hours of the Ultimate Date Night.  I know, those of you without kids will think it highly pathetic that a trip to the farm market is considered “exciting” but really, it was fun!  It reminded me of the way even the everyday things seemed so fun when we were together, you know that phase when you’re newly in love?

And besides, without that trip, I wouldn’t have received my good omen.  See, I’m a sucker for serendipity and the queen of cheesiness, so I was completely tickled to see our total – $32.32.  We’re talking produce here, folks.  An extra sugar snap pea here, or one less pod (?) of okra there, and it would have been completely different. 

Then I got to thinking…

  • I have a 3-year-old and a 2-year-old (I know, Sis, I’m making you slightly older than you are…I’m sorry).
  • March (the 3rd month) is when 2 of the four people in our immediate family celebrate our birthday’s.
  • This is my 302 blog post!  Crazy, huh?!
  • Garth is the 3rd child in his family, and I’m the – oh, shoot, that one doesn’t work, I’m the 1st.

    • OK, enough cheesiness!  Seriously though, I think this is going to be a great year! I am so blessed.  And, I think I just heard that the lotto just hit $32 million!  Gotta run – my winning ticket is waiting! 🙂

    :: Sweetness ~ BSM ::

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    I fully intended to have this little series up last week, but I’m kinda weird and felt like I wanted to wait until after his “official” birthday to share this sweetness.  What?  You’ve seen them already?  Oh, yeah…Flickr! 🙂  I remember last year when he sort of “got” what the birthday thing was all about.  This year, it was more of the same.  He so enjoyed having all his friends come to play – something we need to do more regularly if you ask me!

    Typically, my best shot is at the end of a post, but this one, this precious look of excitement and joy as his family and friends sing him “Happy Birthday” – it has to be my best shot this week! 

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    In fact, I couldn’t resist looking a little closer at his adorable expression…seriously, who couldn’t love this kid?! 🙂

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    He had great fun blowing out his candles.  And with his party being a full week before the actual day, we had to something to celebrate the occasion.  So he got a candle in his cereal (before milk, mind you), a cookies from good friends, and a candle in his pizza that night for dinner.  I do think we’ve created a monster though, because this morning he declared it candle-in-my-Kix day again.  I explained it was just a special thing we do for birthdays and thankfully he was good with that! 🙂

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    The much-anticipated eating of the T-Rex cake!  He finally decided on a piece of the teeth. 

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    Since I try to take advantage of any opportunity that allows us to get a family picture without the use of the self-timer or remote control, a birthday celebration seemed perfect!  I find it funny that in too many pictures our kids are busy looking every-which-way…while we’re desperately trying to stay positive and focused in one direction.  Perhaps it’s because we’ve started reading a very symbolic book with my students, but I’m thinking there’s some life application to be found in this picture…

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    …then again, maybe not. 

    See what’s what for other Best Shots this week!

    :: He’s Turning… ::

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    Three

    I can scarcely begin to think of any words to adequately capture all that is my pre-schooler!  More often than not, I have to remind myself that he is in fact a toddler, despite the fact that words like therapod, omnivore, and diplodocus are frequently thrown around with surprising accuracy.  And I’m learning, albeit slowly, that certain things I think are funny for a moment end up completely ridiculous when dealing with a kid who seems to forget very little.  So you see, while I thought it would be funny to hear him say “flatulate” (because we’ve already agreed to be a “toot” household as opposed to “fart”) well, now it’s nestled nicely amongst his other everyday phrases. 

    While he soaks up the world around him like an absolute sponge, the slight misunderstandings and imagination that make me stop and smile are the very things that I adore, and will so desperately miss when he grows out of this stage.

    C: I go to the doctor.
    M: You sure do, buddy. Your doctor’s name is Dr. Israel.
    C: {quietly thinking} Yeah. ‘Cuz he’s not pretend.

    —————————————

    C: {mouth full from the backseat} Mom! My -nds all d-n—ry!
    M: {tentatively} they’re what?
    C: {emphatically} di-n-sry!
    M: dinosaury?
    D: What’s “dinosaury?”
    C: You know, when you eat dino grahams and you’re hands get all “dinosaury!”
    M: {to Dad, quietly} duh?! dinosaury, Dad!

    You are becoming such a couragous and kind-hearted boy.  Whether you’re busy exploring the yard for creatures and treasures (and of course testing the boundaries) or offering kisses, hugs and congratulations to your sister for a job well done.  You listen intently and ask a million questions, which is both exhausting and exhilarating. 

    Looking back over this past year, I’m astounded by how much you’ve grown.  With all the changes on the horizon – new friends, starting school, summer fun – I can only imagine how much more you’ll change right before my eyes.  Today, more than ever, I am reminded of the blessing of you.  Happy Birthday, Buddy!

    Love,
    Mom

    :: Craft Tuesday ~ Party Time 2::

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    After spending a wonderfully productive weekend with fellow NWP colleagues in Kansas City, I arrived home very late Sunday night, reconnected with my women’s Bible study group on Monday night, snuck in Seneca’s well-visit Tuesday afternoon before baking cookies for the Empty Bowls fundraising dinner I helped coordinate at our middle school.  The much-needed breather on Wednesday evening, was followed by all-day training meetings on Thursday, travel shots for our upcoming missions trip to Panama, pre-school open house for Calder and worship band practice. 

    Amidst all this chaos, I was thrilled to have Friday afternoon completely free.  A leisurely lunch followed by naps meant “Let the Baking Begin!”  Cookies baked and bagged, the favors were pretty near done.  I forgot to snap a picture of the cute little dinosaur song and story (Five Enormous Dinosaurs) that we printed on bright cardstock. 

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    I’d never used a shaped baking pan, so I admit I was a bit nervous that it wouldn’t work exactly as I imagined.  My neighbors were probably wondering what the squealing was all about when I saw that I didn’t have major holes or chunks missing!!  This was a yummy Peanut Butter Marble cake – a favorite Betty Crocker recipe.

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    Despite the hours it took to actually complete frosting this terrible T-Rex, it was totally worth it to see Calder beaming.  That, and hearing “Is it cake time yet, Mom?” about eighty-billion times between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning!  While I didn’t get a great shot of the cake itself, you get the idea of how it turned out below. 

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    {Love that sweet little dino face!  Too bad I didn’t think to move that stupid silly lighter!  Ugh!}

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    He kept going back and forth between “I want the eye, Mom.  No, the teeth!  I think I want to eat the tail!”  All told, he ended with a sweet tooth (literally).  Guess he’s a boy after his Momma’s heart! 🙂  I think I’m sold on the shaped pans, which means we’ll be needing some crafty help to figure out how to use these for future celebrations! 

    I’m just barely sneaking this little bit-o-craftiness in today, but be sure to stop by Carrie’s to see the other fabulousness she and other lovely ladies have going on!