Jude is a master chef in the making. He likes to pour in the ingredients, stir things, measure things, put cheese on things, and now.....cut things. I gave him very explicit instructions with lots of caution. He did great! He cut all of the cucumber circles into halves. There was no blood and we had a tasty salad.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
a four year old and a knife
Jude is a master chef in the making. He likes to pour in the ingredients, stir things, measure things, put cheese on things, and now.....cut things. I gave him very explicit instructions with lots of caution. He did great! He cut all of the cucumber circles into halves. There was no blood and we had a tasty salad.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
randomness
~Today is Chinese New Year. Fun times at Yinghua Academy!
~Josie likes hot sauce.
~I visited RiverTree school the other day. It is a Charlotte Mason School. How they do school there is very interesting!
~Lost. Season 1. I'm six years late, yes. It's addicting.
~I have been enjoying my Wednesday morning job at church. Love that I can take my kids with me to a job I get paid to do...and the kids love it. It satisfies the people-person side of me too.
~Steve started working overnights again. It's working better so far this time around.
~The kids have declared that they will be famous traveling singers (together) someday.
~Google Translate is fantastic!
~I want house plants. I need house plants!
~I continue to be refined daily. By God. It's hard.
~Reading aloud to Jeneva is very important to her even though she can read on her own. She prefers being read to. It's a relational thing for her.
~Josie is doing pretty much everything a tad bit earlier than the other two.
~I got a duvet cover that perfectly matches my bedroom at Ikea for $7.99
~Jude gets cold sores on his lips just like me.
~I love Frank Asch books.
~We are having orange rolls and smoothies for breakfast. I can't wait!
~We just Skyped with the Morse's in China, but the sound wasn't working.
~I just ordered the book "For the Children's Sake" on Amazon for 1 cent.
~I'm not really enjoying following the curriculum I have for Jude's homeschool preschool.
~We are watching "Heidi" as a family. It's good, but I wish we would have read the book first.
~We ordered ants for Jude's ant farm today. They will arrive in the spring.
~I have two loads of laundry staring me down right now, and the next episode of Lost. Better get to it! Steve will be home soon from Cub Scouts with the kid he mentors. G'nite!
~Josie likes hot sauce.
~I visited RiverTree school the other day. It is a Charlotte Mason School. How they do school there is very interesting!
~Lost. Season 1. I'm six years late, yes. It's addicting.
~I have been enjoying my Wednesday morning job at church. Love that I can take my kids with me to a job I get paid to do...and the kids love it. It satisfies the people-person side of me too.
~Steve started working overnights again. It's working better so far this time around.
~The kids have declared that they will be famous traveling singers (together) someday.
~Google Translate is fantastic!
~I want house plants. I need house plants!
~I continue to be refined daily. By God. It's hard.
~Reading aloud to Jeneva is very important to her even though she can read on her own. She prefers being read to. It's a relational thing for her.
~Josie is doing pretty much everything a tad bit earlier than the other two.
~I got a duvet cover that perfectly matches my bedroom at Ikea for $7.99
~Jude gets cold sores on his lips just like me.
~I love Frank Asch books.
~We are having orange rolls and smoothies for breakfast. I can't wait!
~We just Skyped with the Morse's in China, but the sound wasn't working.
~I just ordered the book "For the Children's Sake" on Amazon for 1 cent.
~I'm not really enjoying following the curriculum I have for Jude's homeschool preschool.
~We are watching "Heidi" as a family. It's good, but I wish we would have read the book first.
~We ordered ants for Jude's ant farm today. They will arrive in the spring.
~I have two loads of laundry staring me down right now, and the next episode of Lost. Better get to it! Steve will be home soon from Cub Scouts with the kid he mentors. G'nite!
well before midnight on new years eve...
We were with our friends, the Coronado's on New Years Eve. Here were the kids at about 9:00. Perhaps in a few more years we'll be able to make it to midnight. The mock New Years countdowns you can find on YouTube work fine and appease the kids, but just aren't quite the same as the real thing. :)
Friday, January 20, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
1,2,3 today
1 kid with pink eye.
2 clearance items ordered from Lands End this morning..
3 days of school missed in the past week.
4 dentist appointments to be made.
5 people in this family who had fun at family Christmas this weekend.
6 pages of math homework to catch up on.
7 loads of laundry done in past 24 hours.
8 water, milk, juice glasses sitting on my table right now.
9 meals I'd like to plan for in my grocery list.
10 degrees outside.
2 clearance items ordered from Lands End this morning..
3 days of school missed in the past week.
4 dentist appointments to be made.
5 people in this family who had fun at family Christmas this weekend.
6 pages of math homework to catch up on.
7 loads of laundry done in past 24 hours.
8 water, milk, juice glasses sitting on my table right now.
9 meals I'd like to plan for in my grocery list.
10 degrees outside.
Monday, January 16, 2012
uncle mike
Who chases the kids around the house? Uncle Mike!Who scares them? Uncle Mike!
Who teases them and tickles them? Uncle Mike!
Who hangs them upside down? Uncle Mike!
Who puts them in laundry baskets and carries them on his head? Uncle Mike!
Josie is by far our biggest thrill seeker and became a huge fan of Uncle Mike this weekend.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
josie says...
These are a few things I heard Josie say today.
Sweebs up!
Nite Jude. Nite Jevva. Lub ewe.
Go potty downdares. Little seat!
Doin', mom?
Where'd papa go?
I'm hungry.
Play wiff me.
Come on Jude, time a go!
May I be scuzzed tabo?
Sing Jesus lubs me.
Telling papa! (said to mama with a pouty face)
Telling mama! (said to papa with a pouty face)
My do dat!
Need a go potty SUPER BAD, mama!
Sweebs up!
Nite Jude. Nite Jevva. Lub ewe.
Go potty downdares. Little seat!
Doin', mom?
Where'd papa go?
I'm hungry.
Play wiff me.
Come on Jude, time a go!
May I be scuzzed tabo?
Sing Jesus lubs me.
Telling papa! (said to mama with a pouty face)
Telling mama! (said to papa with a pouty face)
My do dat!
Need a go potty SUPER BAD, mama!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
...this day
....in no particular order....
t'was a cozy day at home today.
said good bye to good friends. again.
delighted in jude a lot today.
lost my patience with josie a couple of times.
thought about a few people who God brought to mind.
was the carpool mom this morning and afternoon.
made breakfast for supper.
felt inconsistent.
felt motivated.
thought about how i wasn't doing the things i ought to be doing.
felt grace.
laughed with jude.
paid bills.
washed everyone's bedding.
served left over lasagna for lunch.
washed dishes too many times.
read children's books. many.
folded laundry.
talked with my husband.
grumbled about the cold without snow.
....a regular day in january it was....
t'was a cozy day at home today.
said good bye to good friends. again.
delighted in jude a lot today.
lost my patience with josie a couple of times.
thought about a few people who God brought to mind.
was the carpool mom this morning and afternoon.
made breakfast for supper.
felt inconsistent.
felt motivated.
thought about how i wasn't doing the things i ought to be doing.
felt grace.
laughed with jude.
paid bills.
washed everyone's bedding.
served left over lasagna for lunch.
washed dishes too many times.
read children's books. many.
folded laundry.
talked with my husband.
grumbled about the cold without snow.
....a regular day in january it was....
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Friday, December 30, 2011
i love...
...that josie cut her bangs. (reminds me of our favorite sufjan stevens christmas jingle)
...that jeneva prays for her non-christian friends daily. and earnestly.
...that jude prays for snow every day so he can play in it with jeneva.
...that my house was clean yesterday and that today it's a disaster--life lived here.
...that i'm sitting on my couch recording my thoughts rather than washing dishes.
...that my hard working husband is snuggled up in bed...since 9:00.
...that we discovered memory foam. i can hardly wait to go to bed!
...that living in a city doesn't feel lonely.
...text.
...eating cooked spinach with sea salt.
...that it's 5 days post christmas and i'm still enjoying the light of our tree.
...that it's warm out and there's no snow (okay, i lied, i REALLY want snow).
...that so many people send out christmas photos.
...the quietness and calmess i feel right now.
...that i have such great parents who i enjoy visiting.
...jesus who is the giver of all good things that "i love" in this moment.
...that jeneva prays for her non-christian friends daily. and earnestly.
...that jude prays for snow every day so he can play in it with jeneva.
...that my house was clean yesterday and that today it's a disaster--life lived here.
...that i'm sitting on my couch recording my thoughts rather than washing dishes.
...that my hard working husband is snuggled up in bed...since 9:00.
...that we discovered memory foam. i can hardly wait to go to bed!
...that living in a city doesn't feel lonely.
...text.
...eating cooked spinach with sea salt.
...that it's 5 days post christmas and i'm still enjoying the light of our tree.
...that it's warm out and there's no snow (okay, i lied, i REALLY want snow).
...that so many people send out christmas photos.
...the quietness and calmess i feel right now.
...that i have such great parents who i enjoy visiting.
...jesus who is the giver of all good things that "i love" in this moment.
random thoughts as we enter a new year
I have blog posts swirling around in my mind of all the things I want to say about my three little loves. I've been writing on this blog for 4 years now and the first two years had much more content than these past two years have. I just don't want to forget it... the funny things they say...the changes they make...the growth I see in each one of them personally.... spiritually.... emotionally.... physically. This is really the only place I record it besides my piles of photo albums (not scrapbooks, just albums with plain pictures) and a few random baby books. So, I guess one of my New Years Resolutions would be to be more consistent with recording the stuff I want to remember.
The only thing is, I don't make New Years Resolutions.
BUT, if I did, here is what I would choose from (the exhaustive list):
1. Catch up on printing pictures and be sure to record milestones.
2. Go on a 10 day juice fast.
3. Read the Bible and maybe even STUDY it?!
4. Paint the dresser that is in my living room a fun color. Green?
5. Work through the My Father's World curriculum with Jude (we have started already).
6. Organize my recipe file and print off recipes I've saved online.
7. Volunteer at school more.
8. Try and spend more time with my immediate neighbors. Community building?
9. Recover my dining room chairs with oilcloth.
10. Label bins in my basement with a label maker.
11. Plan some field trips with the kids.
12. Paint the trim and the walls in the hallway.
13. Get a small group going (mostly Steve, not just me).
14. Sew some curtains for Jude's room and for my room.
15. Work through a personal devotional book with Jeneva.
16. Do Classical Stretch every day.
17. Figure out how to garden in the city with a small yard.
18. Read: A Praying Life by Paul Miller and put it into practice.
19. Find some more creative ways to be thrifty.
20. Encourage, love, and bless my husband more.
And this is why I don't make New Years Resolutions! I wouldn't know what to pick. My list is always too long and I always feel defeated if I don't accomplish things. I am a list maker though and making a list like this for reference is helpful (and daunting). These are things that I would love to accomplish over the next year. If I look at them more as "goals" or "options" I feel better. When I "resolve" to doing them then it's like making a promise to myself that I know I won't be able to keep. God help me. Give me the strength I need to get done what YOU want me to get done. And may nothing be more important to me than spending time with You and seeking Your will for me and for my family daily.
The only thing is, I don't make New Years Resolutions.
BUT, if I did, here is what I would choose from (the exhaustive list):
1. Catch up on printing pictures and be sure to record milestones.
2. Go on a 10 day juice fast.
3. Read the Bible and maybe even STUDY it?!
4. Paint the dresser that is in my living room a fun color. Green?
5. Work through the My Father's World curriculum with Jude (we have started already).
6. Organize my recipe file and print off recipes I've saved online.
7. Volunteer at school more.
8. Try and spend more time with my immediate neighbors. Community building?
9. Recover my dining room chairs with oilcloth.
10. Label bins in my basement with a label maker.
11. Plan some field trips with the kids.
12. Paint the trim and the walls in the hallway.
13. Get a small group going (mostly Steve, not just me).
14. Sew some curtains for Jude's room and for my room.
15. Work through a personal devotional book with Jeneva.
16. Do Classical Stretch every day.
17. Figure out how to garden in the city with a small yard.
18. Read: A Praying Life by Paul Miller and put it into practice.
19. Find some more creative ways to be thrifty.
20. Encourage, love, and bless my husband more.
And this is why I don't make New Years Resolutions! I wouldn't know what to pick. My list is always too long and I always feel defeated if I don't accomplish things. I am a list maker though and making a list like this for reference is helpful (and daunting). These are things that I would love to accomplish over the next year. If I look at them more as "goals" or "options" I feel better. When I "resolve" to doing them then it's like making a promise to myself that I know I won't be able to keep. God help me. Give me the strength I need to get done what YOU want me to get done. And may nothing be more important to me than spending time with You and seeking Your will for me and for my family daily.
Friday, November 25, 2011
a new tradition
...cutting down our own tree for Christmas. We had a blast as a family doing it together on the day after Thanksgiving. Next year we will be recruiting another family to share that tradition with. We loved it! Our day began with a stop at Cabela's--Steve's 2nd favorite place to go shopping...and it was insane due to that awful day called Black Friday.
What on earth do I title this picture? I find it hysterical for some reason.
Calm and cool amidst the chaos in the background.
I love Josie. I LOVE that face!
THE PERFECT TREE has been found and chopped!
Can we ride home in the back of the truck?
Wow! I'm actually in a picture. Usually I'm the one behind the camera.
Free pony rides to follow.
The first time around for Jude was frightening. The second wasn't so bad. He begged to go on the third.
Josie held on to her pony and giggled nervously the entire time.
And that's all folks!
Monday, November 21, 2011
ten people
If you ever have the opportunity to have another family live with you for five or six weeks...do it. Especially if they are completely awesome people.
(no captions. just a few snapshots of what our life looked like in October)
*this one needs a caption: The first Saturday that they were living here, the girls were up at SIX O'CLOCK AM doing their homework. I'm not even going to try and figure that one out.
Packed up. Early in the morning. To China.
We miss the five of them so much!
(no captions. just a few snapshots of what our life looked like in October)
*this one needs a caption: The first Saturday that they were living here, the girls were up at SIX O'CLOCK AM doing their homework. I'm not even going to try and figure that one out.
Packed up. Early in the morning. To China.We miss the five of them so much!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
if you teach your children how to make coffee...
...they just might make it for you a lot. About 3 or 4 days a week Jeneva (and Jude often helps her with this if he's up too) makes coffee for me if I'm not up yet. She usually gets up about 15 minutes before me. This is what was waiting for me the other day. Not JUST the coffee brewing in the pot, but a nice little place set for me at the table! It wasn't Mother's Day and it wasn't my birthday. It was just Jeneva being Jeneva--sweet and servant-hearted. That little plate with black stuff is chocolate syrup just in case I wanted to make a "mocha". The coffee she brewed and poured into the nice pitcher and accompanied it with a bowl of half-n-half and sugar. The tea cup and saucer of perfectly poured coffee with none other than honey roasted peanuts and a candy cane on the side. Mmmm. Interesting choice of breakfast. :)
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
jude is four
The birthday boy at his best...
Every day is a good day to dress up as something!
"I'm not tired, mom!"
Jude likes to help papa demolish things. Very manly!
Hi, I'm Jude. I'm totally handsome in my ring bearer suit and I can melt anyone with my smile!
Happy 4th Birthday, Jude!
Steve: Do you know why we celebrate your birthday today, Jude?
Jude: It's the day I was born.
Steve: What were you four years ago?
Jude: Um....at the hotel.
Steve: Close.....another H word
Jude: China?
Jeneva: HOSPITAL, Jude!
Jude: Oh. Hospital.
Steve: What were you at the hospital?
Jude: A baby in mommy's tummy.
Steve: Who put you there?
Jude: The Doctors.
Steve: No, who made you?
Jude: God did.
Steve: So, then who put you in mommy's tummy?
Jude: Oh yeah, God did that.
Every day is a good day to dress up as something!
First time on a paddle boat. He even jumped in when we were in the middle of the lake!
Who needs toys when we have mud?
"I'm not tired, mom!"
Jude likes to help papa demolish things. Very manly!
Hi, I'm Jude. I'm totally handsome in my ring bearer suit and I can melt anyone with my smile!
Happy 4th Birthday, Jude!
We couldn't find the video camera when we were singing to Jude and opening his presents. I was so frustrated! We found it after all of the funny stuff was already said. And that stuff just can't be reenacted. I know. I tried. I deleted. Alas, I can try to retell it. Jude is 4 today (November 1). Hard to believe! He wanted a Spiderman cake. I attempted to create one and it was somewhat successful. This is also the last night that the Morse family is with us before they head out tomorrow.....for China. It has been a delightful whirlwind of five weeks having them live with us (I will post about that sometime too). It was also fun to celebrate their last night here on Jude's birthday. We ate pizza and had a bonfire. After opening his gifts, Steve asked Jude several questions (the stuff I wish could have been recorded!)
Steve: Do you know why we celebrate your birthday today, Jude?
Jude: It's the day I was born.
Steve: What were you four years ago?
Jude: Um....at the hotel.
Steve: Close.....another H word
Jude: China?
Jeneva: HOSPITAL, Jude!
Jude: Oh. Hospital.
Steve: What were you at the hospital?
Jude: A baby in mommy's tummy.
Steve: Who put you there?
Jude: The Doctors.
Steve: No, who made you?
Jude: God did.
Steve: So, then who put you in mommy's tummy?
Jude: Oh yeah, God did that.
At 4 years old, this is what he said...
Favorite toys: Rescue Heroes, Buzz and Woody, Lincoln Logs
Favorite thing to do with mom: Listening to stories and going for bike rides
Favorite thing to do with dad: go fishing and go for bike rides
Favorite place to go: To Grandma and Grandpa's house and to preschool
Favorite activity this summer: Going to the park and swimming.
Favorite thing to play with sisters: school and house
Favorite foods: pancakes, rice, oranges, chicken and soy sauce
Favorite friends: Asher and Caleb and Ale and Jeneva and Addie
Favorite color: Black and orange
What he wants to be as an adult: A fireman
Favorite song: Jesus loves me and Starwars
Favorite toys: Rescue Heroes, Buzz and Woody, Lincoln Logs
Favorite thing to do with mom: Listening to stories and going for bike rides
Favorite thing to do with dad: go fishing and go for bike rides
Favorite place to go: To Grandma and Grandpa's house and to preschool
Favorite activity this summer: Going to the park and swimming.
Favorite thing to play with sisters: school and house
Favorite foods: pancakes, rice, oranges, chicken and soy sauce
Favorite friends: Asher and Caleb and Ale and Jeneva and Addie
Favorite color: Black and orange
What he wants to be as an adult: A fireman
Favorite song: Jesus loves me and Starwars
Monday, November 7, 2011
what makes someone...
A couple of months ago I had a conversation with Jude that I couldn't resist writing down. I came across it today in my journal and remembered that I wanted to record it here. Jude had come up to me while I was reading a book on the couch (a rare, but treasured moment!) and told me that I was pretty. It was ironic because I recall feeling rather frumpy at that time.....jeans, greasy hair, no makeup.....so I asked him "What makes someone pretty?" You know what his response was?! He said "a pretty dress and lipstick." Both of which I was NOT wearing. I proceeded to ask him a few more questions....
What makes someone kind?
When they're sharing or caring.
What makes someone special?
Being a ring-bearer (this was two months prior to his job as ring bearer in Matt and Libby's wedding)
What makes someone happy?
Going to a parade or the jungle (of course!)
What makes someone sad?
NOT going to a parade or the jungle and just staying on their couch.
What makes someone tired?
Going for a long drive.
What makes someone friendly?
Talking to grown-ups
What makes someone handsome?
Wearing cowboy stuff and Spiderman stuff
I loved Jude's responses. He turned FOUR a few days ago and I've got a birthday post coming for him.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
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