Stevie Wonder Baby

Hmmm...

Apparently Jake's understanding of Jesus is growing and developing. The other day he woke up from a nap kinda grumpy (like Tyler, Robin) and was huddled on his bedroom floor, cold. I came in the room and he said, "Mom, wait. I'm talking to Jesus." Then, looking up: "Jesus, will you turn my fan off?"

A few days before that, he had come out of the bathroom. I asked if he had washed his hands. He said, "But I asked Jesus to wipe them for me."

Hmmm... I love the earnest, comfortable talks he's having with the Lord. And he knows he can go to Him for help. I did try to explain that the Lord helps us through other people (mommies) and that He wants us to obey when mommies ask us to wash hands. Interesting...

with the birthday cake we made for Daddy (who just turned 33!)

Last few weeks

Just recent little boy pictures:

Jake's swim lessons

Kinda neat - this is how she moved the group from one end of the pool to the other.A favorite lately - "bionicles" - happy meal toys from months ago

The slip and slide is the best invention for a little boy who loves sliding down the hall in his socks. Only $9!
Hat from his b-day party. More for me, though - he yanks it off immediately.
Off Mama!
My phone

"Yeah, just sittin' here with Mom..."
Little turkey...

Yesterday's Activity

Now that it's summer I've been feeling a bit guilty, like I don't do anything fun with the kids - just meals and naps and grocery shopping, etc. I see other moms who have planned fun activities or teaching activies or scripture memorization (ugh - major mommy guilt). Yesterday I was brainstorming and remembered this from teaching preschool:

I squirted it right on the table - Jake still in his spidey pj's.
He had such a blast, it made our kitchen smell manly :) AND it wiped right off with a wet rag! I actually remember that it takes crayon off of the preschool tables...
I like seeing the fun on his little face.

Not quite Bible memorization...

We'll get to that someday...

Max's First Haircut

This was before my trip. (I have a long list of blog entries I've been meaning to post...been slacking lately.) He did so well the whole time. Didn't really watch the Baby Einstein video she put in, but he was happy.

Before:




After!

Can you BELIEVE?!

In case you can't tell, these are BABY HEELS. Yes, you read that right -- at a shop in San Diego. It says, "her first high heels," "size 0-6 months." HA! Oh MY goodness...

More pics from my trip...

My cousin Whitney sent me some of her pictures. (She has a really neat camera that I played with some. I told Andy what I want for Christmas :D)

My Trip!

Whitney, me, Marisa and Kristin

I had such a great time! My mom and I went on a fun 4-day excursion to the San Diego area to visit my aunts and cousins - girls only! It was such a treat. I ate at restaurants and could actually eat my food before feeding others! I did what I wanted...imagine that! It was a huge blessing, but I was definitely ready to get back to see my 3 boys.

The morning of dropping the kids at my friend Amy's house before my flight, Jake threw up on the way to her house!! I planned every detail, wrote out a million instructions (helpful hints...?), packed everything they would need...but couldn't plan for that! Just goes to show Who is in control. It was a lesson in trusting the Lord. Jake was sick for 24 hours, Andy had to take off work and do the take-care-of-sick-kid things I usually do. They were all fine, but it was hard enjoying myself when Andy was dealing with all that! Thank you sweetheart! He did an awesome job. And I was remined once again how our sweet Father is really the One taking care of us...not me and my busy-bodiness.

We spent most of our time visiting with my Aunt Amy (mom's sister) and her daughters, Marisa and Kristin from Arizona and my cousin Whitney (daughter of my mom's late brother) who lives there. It was so good getting to know them better. I hadn't really seen them in 10 years, and we've never really been in touch. We all said that we need to be better at maintaining our relationships. I just had so much fun getting to know them -- such sweet girls. We laughed a lot too -- my aunt and mom do that when they get together.

The weather was mostly nice and it was fun exploring a beautiful place. I couldn't get over 1) how expensive housing was there and 2) the amazing plants! See all my cheesy pictures below - see the crazy huge cactus my mom is standing by? It reminded me of Little Shop of Horrors! And there were gorgeous flowers. We also went to Whitney's graduation, which was neat.

Us mommies rarely get vacations by ourselves - it felt like such blessing/treat. But oh so glad to get back to my 3 blessings here!

JESUS! Sassy Sauce!

Jake's preschool teacher, Ms. Kathryn, told me about Sassy Sauce. Several months ago I was having trouble with Jake talking back, telling me 'no', etc. She said that someone had told her about it, and she wasn't claiming that it was a good parenting tool, but that she had tried it with her little boy (right Kathryn?) and it worked. Sassy sauce is apple cider vinegar sprayed in the mouth or spoon-fed to the sasser. Eeewwww.

Lately we have had quite a problem with our little boy and defiance. He doesn't want to obey, he throws a fit over not getting what he wants or he tells us no. We had reminded him of sassy sauce. So Monday I was shaking rugs out in the backyard and he wanted to come outside, but was wearing only a t-shirt and underwear. I told him to go get shorts on, then he could come. In response, my angelic son pushed past me in the doorway huffing, "but I WANT to come outside."

Uh-oh. Sassy sauce.

I couldn't find apple cider vinegar, only white balsalmic vinegar. Eeewww. He whined and cried a lot but finally took a spoonful from Andy. He cried so hard. Then as Andy was trying to calm him down and talk to him, he cried out in panic, "Jesus help me with sassy sauce!"

In his agony he cried out to Jesus!

We gave him a drink, talked about the offense and hugged and forgave. I was glad to find a consequence that he REALLY dreaded and that he knew Who to cry to for help! And the last few days the defiance has gotten a lot better.

Any thoughts? Are we cruel and unusual parents? :)

Neat Blog

My friend Mommy of 5 has a link on her blog to a blog that I read a lot. It's so good! This old post was listed as a favorite and it really encouraged me. Long, but encouraging and inspiring. Love you mommy friends!

Hope Missy at Almost Naptime doesn't mind! :S

http://itsalmostnaptime.blogspot.com/2007/12/how-was-your-thursday.html