Memorable Sayings

It has been less than a week since the kids found out they were getting another sibling but there have been so many things they have said that just crack us up. 

• If I say something like "I am going to go switch the laundry out" (really when I say I am going to go do anything) one of them will say "and the baby is going to go with you".   Yes, this baby will go with me everywhere for the next 2 years :)
• Whatever I am eating they will often say "I wonder if the baby likes that".  B got really scared the other day when I put a piece of gum in my mouth.  He knows babies can't have gum but was comforted when I reminded him I wasn't swallowing the gum.  Just chewing it.    
• Right after they found out B whispered to M "you can't give mommy a hug now cause you will hurt the baby".  I quickly corrected him on that one! 
• "B, we are totally going to be teenagers before the baby".  M likes to remind B all the time that she will be a teenager before him. 
• Everyday we hear at least one of them say "I really hope the baby is a girl".  They both want a sister but understand that there is just as good of a chance it could be a boy and we are all totally OK with that.  (BTW, neither Jeff or I care if it's a boy or girl)
• And, one of my favorites.  EVERY morning one of the first things they do is check my belly to see if it's gotten bigger.  It's definitely bigger than it was 9 weeks ago that is for sure.  I seriously look like I am more like 20 weeks pregnant.  I am proof when they say you show sooner with each pregnancy.  Ah well, what do you do.  It's definitely not because I am eating too much seeing that the thought and smell of most food makes me nauseous.  Yes, I am eating enough.  Gagging my way though most meals but I am eating. Just not in abundance.  I am sure that will come soon enough!

I think I am going to enjoy going through a pregnancy with siblings that are older and understand more of what is going on. 

I Have Something to Tell You.

You'll want to sit down for this one.

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And let's just go ahead and answer the obvious:

Is this a joke?

Nope

But I thought you were done.

So did I!  Well at least I was pretty sure.  No tubes have been snipped or tied so there was always a possibility it could happen. 

Here's the story: (I will try to keep it short).  Back in October Jeff and I were talking one night and he asked me what I thought about having another baby.  After I picked my jaw up off the ground, popped my eyes back in and stopped my head from spinning (kinda like I am sure you are doing right now) I had to make sure I had heard him correctly.  I never thought I would hear that question come out of his mouth.  Apparently though it was something he had been thinking about.  We decided the best thing to do would be to pray about it.  And not just for a day or two.  We bathed the situation in prayer for 3 months.    I was completely freaked out about the thought of having another baby but knew the Lord was telling us this was His will.  And that was confirmed just a few weeks later when we saw this

When are you due?

October 10th (I will be 9 weeks on Monday)

What do the kids think?

They are SO excited!  It is pretty funny to hear some of the stuff they say when they don't think we are listening.  That will have to be for a post on it's own. 



Maddy the Super Student

It's been a big week at school for little miss Maddy.  First, it was her week in the classroom to be "student of the week".  All students get a week sometime during the year to be showcased and Maddy has really been looking forward to this.  They get to put together a bulletin board about themselves that they share with the class and then the classmates are able to ask her other questions that weren't showcased.  The board stays up until the following week when it's the next students turn. 

The second big event for this super student was getting chosen for the schools virtue student of the month.  This is an award not every student gets so it always brings out the pride in me (last year she got it for the virtue of compassion).  This month the virtue was fairness.  It is quite ironic when I first heard she was chosen because fairness was something we had been working on at home.  We were going through a process of teaching the kids why it's not ok to say "not fair" because we were hearing that phrase a lot.   I guess the lesson was sinking in with her :) 

Tuesday was the assembly where she received her award.  Carson also got the award for his kindergarten class.  It was pretty cool to see both cousins get their awards.  Congrats Maddy (and Carson)!  We are so proud of you! 

Valentine Crafting

It all started with this felt heart wreath



I liked it so much I added this to our table decor

Those balls of yarn peeking through in the above picture were inspired by Andrea at our craft night a few weeks ago.  Yes, I know, that frame would look better white.  I didn't have one and just stuck it in that brown one for the time being.  Then I forgot about it and never went and bought a white one.   

The crafting has continued unto this

I don't remember where I saw that idea.  Graham especially likes it.  Wish I had a picture of him getting caught licking it :) 

Love is continued through the house into the computer room where old pictures were replaced with some old scrapbooking stuff

Bryson, Graham and Maleigha helped me make these melted crayon hearts one day last week

Always a fun one for the kiddos. I do have to say though that I really dislike peeling wrappers off crayons. 

We made these little guys in Maddy's class this week for art (for the students parents).  They were a big hit! 

Kelly had given me a link to the idea awhile back and I have been so excited to do them.  Simply just 3 lunch bags folded and stapled together.  In the openings are 3 pieces of paper that you can pull out that answered "I love you because".   The pages in between were decorated with hearts and pictures the kids drew.  They turned out really cute. 

Last but not least, Maddy's class valentines

Brought the red, glittery embossing tools out again this year.  I found this little Martha Stewart kit of 24 of these boxes on clearance at Zurchers for $2. Who cares if they were meant to be wedding favor boxes.  I thought they would make a cute box to deliver a valentine treat.  I really do love traditional valentines but I love putting something unique together more :)

Oh and I also put together one of these again for Maddy's teacher

And, that's all.

This past weekend we were finally able to take a long weekend trip over to see Jeff's side of the family.  We have been trying to make this happen since Thanksgiving when we had to cancel our plans due to snowy roads.   

Seeing that Maddy didn't have school on Friday, we were able to head over Thursday night.  Friday we visited Jeff's brother, Jeremy, at work, ate lunch with Mimi (Jeff's dad was sick so he stayed home) and just enjoyed a quiet, relaxing day.  Although the wait for Belle and Maddy to get out of school was not fun to the kids.  Janell also came in Friday night which was great.  She did have to leave James at home because of work though.  We missed seeing him.

Saturday we got up and went and watched Belle play and Maddy cheer for their Upwards basketball teams.  It was so fun to watch them! 

They both did great!  We lost count as to how many baskets Belle made.  I am so thankful we got to go support them.

The highlight of the weekend for the kids: finally being able to exchange Christmas gifts!

The kids were blessed with a bunch of new toys!  As you probably guessed, Saturday afternoon was spend playing with all those new toys!   I don't think we adults moved from that room for a few hours and just enjoyed sitting around talking. 

Saturday night while the kids were watching a movie, we gathered around the kitchen table playing games.  It was a blast!  As the night wore on, kids were put to bed, Jeremy and Kelsey went home and just four of us (Me, Jeff, Janell and Joyce) were left to play cards late into the night.  We had so much fun! 

Sunday came and it was time to pack up and head home.  Always the worst part of the trip.  And, it gets harder and harder the older the kids get.  I have heard from both of them, several times each day we have been home "I want to go back to Mimi and Papa's". 

Thanks everyone for a fantastic weekend filled with great memories!! 

100% Boy. 100% Girl

The other day, at the exact same time, this is what the kids were doing:



I don't know why but it made me laugh.   

100% boy

100% girly

And I love it!

The Pantry Makeover

One day last week Bryson and I were getting ready to do quiet time.  We had decided on watching a movie together.  Or so I thought when he so innocently suggests "let's clean out the pantry".  Pretty sad when your 5 year old has to suggest that to you.  I had been putting it off, waiting for a good weekend to do it.  I knew it was going to take some time. I didn't want to sacrifice time during the week to do it knowing that it would leave that precious 5 year old a bit neglected.  But, he said he was willing to help.  So, we dove into the horrendous mess.  

Now, I am putting myself in a complete humble state when showing you this before picture.  Granted, this is the pantry at it's absolute worse.  I will admit it was never really organized but it had gotten pretty bad.  Ok, really bad.  Just plain disgusting.  O.k. here it is



"Do not judge others and you will not be judged" Matthew 7:1

Moving right along...

Bryson was a great help at emptying the disgusting pit out.  We emptied every last crumb out of there.  Once everything was out I noticed the contact paper we had on the shelves needed to come out.  Bummer.  I wasn't prepared for that.  The mention of having to go to the store literally brought B to tears.  He loathes going to the store.  So I thought "really, who puts contact paper on their shelves anyways? I will just tear this out and not put any back".  We ripped it all out and there sparkled the 6 1/2 year old paint without one little scratch on it.  Dang.  Stupid new contact paper is going to have to go in. 

So now comes the bribing to get a sobbing 5 year old to accompany me to the store.  He was going either way, I was just trying to make it a better experience for him.  He was a huge help to me after all.  "Hey B, we can stop and get Sonic on the way home!"  B-"no".  "How about I let you pick out a new hot wheel?" B-"no".  "Gum...candy...any treat you want (under $1 :D)"  B-"no".  Seriously, that is how much he hates going to the store.  And then I remembered how much he loves using our new steam mop.  "I know, when we get back I will let you mop out the pantry with the new mop" B-(with eyes lit up and a frown turned upside down) YEAH!!!".  Seriously?!  

45 mins later we were home with a new hot wheel, a green apple slush from Sonic and  ready to reline the shelves and mop. 

Finally, at about 8:30 that night, this is what our pantry looked like

:)

That...makes me happy.  Really happy.   (I think it even looks better in person)

I really wanted to have matching containers throughout the entire pantry but decided to be frugal and just use baskets from around the house that weren't being used.  My ultimate goal was to have everything sectioned off and organized and mismatched baskets did the trick just fine.

And nothing on the floor.  Well, except the box of garbage bags behind the trash can. 

Project #1-complete