Memorial Weekend

First chocolate animal crackers- yummy- I know, I want to eat him too

 Uncle Tyler is driving?

Proud little fisherwoman

Cole got baptized in the lake that weekend!

Jenni was showing Noelle and me her Kettle bell workout

Long, fun day

May highlights

"

"And God, you can text us any time you want. Amen."- Payge
"Mommy, I want Peter Pan to take me to Neverland."- Payge

"Dadadada"- Myles

"Whaaaa, my teeth hurt!"- Myles

"Pupunzel!"- Haydee (about her favorite movie Tangled)
"Mommy can you put some hiccup on me?"- Haydee (when I am putting make-up on)

"Streck it"
"Slick it"- Payge and Haydee's cooking words
"Tuck it"- what they do to "serve" mommy every morning when they make their bed.

The One Thing No One Ever Tells you About Sex

A great subtitle to, "What are You Waiting For? by Dannah Gresh,but I got way more out of this than just "one thing" that no one ever tells you. Refreshing honesty that not only the generation facing peer pressure can learn from, but also for those who want answers to struggles they may face from giving into peer pressure of the past. As a mom of young daughters and an infant son, I don't yet have to give the 'birds and the bees' talk, but I feel so much more equipped to answer the questions and fears they will face in the future. Some more conservative parents might shy away from the descriptive words used, but trust me, if your teenager has even seen the cover of today's magazines they need to read this book. This isn't just a book on STD's or teen pregnancy, it goes so much deeper and really answers questions *every* person faces.
Dannah Gresh uses clear references to scripture to back up every chapter topic while weaving in personal stories that help illustrate her point. She even goes back to the original Hebrew/Greek to help explain what God's word is trying to show us.
Trust me, you won't need to worry about forcing your teenager to read this book. Just leave it lying around and they will be sure to pick it up and be hooked.
***"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review***

Super Summer Challenge

My mother-in-law wrote a book based on what she used to do with her kids in the summer. My sister- in-law also has enjoyed doing this with her four kids and so have many other moms who have heard about SCC. I wasn't sure the girls would be ready this year, but when Haydee put the silverware away out of the dishwasher on her own the other day, I thought I would give it a try! After a bit of reading and a little work last night, I had it ready to go for the "first" day of summer this morning.
They already have several points and are really excited about earning their prizes. I made the goals small; weekly then monthly, then one big summer one to work towards. One week is like a year to them these days, so I wasn't sure they would get it, but I hope after this week they will! I gave them some small gifts to help them along with their goals; sewing cards, work books, etc and it was like Christmas morning. I got at least an hour of play time out of them this morning, so I say it was worth it!
Right now, I just have four weeks on our chart, that way I can reevaluate the system and the learning goals. We will see how the month of June goes!

Reminded

I am so grateful for our three day weekend and I am indebted to those who helped make it possible. I thank those I know who served, but our thanks hardly does their sacrifice justice!
I was also reminded this weekend how blessed we are. So grateful for the Lord's protection on a daily basis. Even when things aren't going our way, it could be so much worse.
I have fun pictures to post later, but in the meantime, this is why I am reminded of why prayer is so important for our kids and that the Lord's angels are always at work, even when I don't know to pray.

Sprinklers, a garden hoe, and cousins, not a good combination. Haydee had to have 7 stitches on Sunday and it will leave a mark to remember. Poor thing. It may have been harder for me to have her go through, she was so brave. I am so, so grateful it didn't hit her one inch higher or lower. It really could have been so much worse.
Her black eye is worsening, but she doesn't complain about it much and is happy to remind me about the medicine she has to take after every meal.
I think it has been easy for me to get lazy as a mom, she and Payge are good to watch out for each other and I get in the bad habit of assuming things. While, I can't live in fear or become a hovering parent, I am reminded to double check and be diligent for their safety.

9 months

No. Really, buddy. You've got to stop. Your first year is going by way too quickly.
He is getting around, everywhere and is into everything. Already, I'm chasing after him and constantly trying to prevent disaster. Talk about precious though, will you look at that?

Easter

It is hard to get 9 cousins to all smile at once.

We went to Iowa to celebrate Easter with Spencer's family. It was a short time, but we had lots of good conversation and time together. Payge also lost her 2nd bottom tooth and the new new teeth are already half-way up! I still haven't had the tooth fairy come, I was waiting to find a jar or pillow or something. Funny how those things get put off. I know it might be cheap to just give a quarter per tooth, but I think about all the teeth that we have left to loose between the three of them!