sounds perfectly reasonable

Yesterday evening I was folding laundry on my bed while Joey was in the tub in our master bathroom. He was having a great time splashing around with his plastic dinosaur figures. Ranny, the tyrannosaurus rex, was getting the most play time as Joey made him perform acrobatic dives into the tub again and again. It was great entertainment while I folded the laundry. Then there was a break in the splashes, a quiet moment, and I hear:

"Mom, do they kill baby dinosaurs and then paint them to make these toys?"

Can you just imagine those cold-hearted dinosaur farmers painting all the poor, slaughtered dino-babies? I mean, you'd think there would be an easier, more humane and cost-effective way to produce toys for all the dinosaur loving children in the world.

painted faces

Friday was the last night of VBS and the much anticipated festival. Joey had a super time, especially since Adam was able to come because of his new job schedule. At the face painting booth Joey asked to have flames painted on his cheeks so he would look like a fire-breathing dragon.



Katie wasn't able to participate in many activities except eating popcorn all evening long and getting a flower painted on her cheek.

(that's popcorn in her cup)

All the teachers and volunteers did a great job, and made a fun and memorable evening (and week) for all the kids. I am so thankful for all the hours they gave to make it possible.

one tomato

It is times like these, when posting a photo of the first tomato picked from my garden, that I realize what a dork I am.

welcome

We made this poster yesterday to welcome Adam home after he had been away for two weeks to participate in a corporate training program in Columbus, Ohio.

The kids each picked out a piece of poster board to make their daddy a welcome home poster. Katie picked out the red, but when it came time to create, she fizzled out after the little orange scribble at the bottom of the board, so I helped her finish. Don't you love how the tracing of my right foot highlights my beautiful bunion? Ick.

Joey picked out yellow and on one side drew a picture of a huge ocean liner, and on the other he inscribed a lovely message to tape to the front door to greet Adam when he arrived home.




Obviously there was a slight lack of forethought as he began the greeting, but Adam had no doubt that he was indeed welcome. And Adam was certain that the poster was truly intended for him because Joey was sure to write Dad M. It really is best to include a last name initial when welcoming your dad into his own home, just in case another dad would come to the door and see the poster and be confused.


So, welcome home Dad M. Our family just isn't complete without you.

pool in a cooler

What perfectly normal, not weird activities do your children find to do on a beautiful summer evening?

Catch fireflies?
Ride bikes up and down dusky sidewalks?
Relax on a blanket and watch the stars come out?


My children fill up a cooler with the dirty water that has been in the kiddie pool for far too long




jump in with their clothes on

and enjoy!

Which is why I ask what normal and not weird things your children do, because very rarely do my children do the normal thing, and very often they are weird. I'm pretty weird too, so we make great company. (I don't jump in coolers full of dirty pool water though.)

i love her face

on the cob

It is summer. Corn on the cob is certainly a yummy summer treat. Corn straight from the farm (or from the bin sitting in the produce section at your local Giant supermarket.) Either way, yum.

And because photos of my children eating corn are much more cute than pictures of me eating corn, I give you these:

Kate started on the cob

but quickly decided the grab and shove method was much more efficient.

Joey was actually telling an animated story in the first shot, but that was basically how excited he was to eat the corn.

After we were done dinner, I cut the corn off five more cobs. Any creamed corn, corn casserole, corn-y favorite recipes I should make with it? Please tell me all about it.

change

So I said I would let you know about the big change in our family, and a week later I am finally getting around to it.

The big change is......................................we are getting a new health insurance provider!

(Ok, not such a big change, but there's more)


And.......................Adam ordered new business cards! And...........Adam's work hours have changed from all sorts of long nights to now 9 to 5, Monday through Friday. And Adam's commute only takes five minutes now instead of twenty-five. And I am sure by now you have guessed that Adam got a new job!!!!!!!!

That might not seem like such a big change, but for our family it is. But more than a big change, it is a big answer to prayer, and a big display of God's grace and blessing on our family.

Adam had worked at his previous job for seven years, and for seven years it provided for our family's needs, provided health care, put us in a place to build our current home, and for most of that time, was where we believed God wanted Adam to be. Adam used his position as much as possible to be a witness and testimony for Christ. The hours, however, were long. Every Monday and Wednesday Adam wasn't home until nine o'clock, and most Fridays he was also home between eight and nine. Saturday he was scheduled until six, but would often have to stay later. It was a schedule we were accustomed to and had made work for our family, but as the kids got bigger, it was more difficult to be satisfied with three days a week of very little time for the kids to see their daddy, and little time for Adam to be with his kids.

We were always happy to have our family day on Thursday, Adam's day off, but after he became manager, we started to not have that on the last week of every month. In addition to the work environment becoming more crazy and stressful, and the opportunity for advancement coming to an end, the time away from family prompted Adam to begin to look for other opportunities that would provide a position with room for advancement, more hours at home in the long run, as well as a job that would allow him to still be a witness and have a sphere of influence.

To make a long story short, Adam had his first interview in February, and through much prayer, help and guidance from some wise friends and family, lots of hard work and study, and most certainly with the grace and mercy of God, Adam started his new job last week! We both give all the praise and glory to the Lord.

Last week he was home just a few minutes after five every night! That might not seem like it deserves an exclamation point, but in my life it does :) And he had off on Friday because Saturday was a holiday, something that would have never happened at his old job. It has been so wonderful! Our time in the evening as a family is relaxed and unrushed. Adam has been able to help me out with some tasks he had never had time for before. The kids love having their daddy around more, especially Joey, who loves his dad more than anything.



I have just read over this post and it really doesn't do a great job of conveying how thankful I am for this blessing of God, and what an exciting time this is for us. It is wonderful, it really, really is, and if I were a better writer, you would have a better grasp of how I am feeling, but I am not a better writer, so I hope my mediocre explanation gives you just enough to know that this is a change, it is big (to us), and we are happy.

The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Psalm 126:3

crafting excellence

Katie's discovery of the joy of glue has produced beauties such as this:

What?

You're underwhelmed?

You don't consider a popsicle stick, four cotton balls, some torn-up pieces of a Klondike bar wrapper, and two water ice wooden spoons glued to an almost whole piece of construction paper crafting greatness?

Well, you are entitled to your own opinion.

Just don't tell Katie. I told her it was beautiful, and she believed me.