II Chronicles 7:14

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Friday, March 30, 2007

The other day while I was trying to work, Grant decided he wanted to take a bath. I was thrilled with the idea because the bathroom is right outside my office and I knew a bath would keep him busy (and out of my hair) for a little while. However...when I went in to check on him, he had been washing himself with Scrubbing Bubbles! (and he was very proud of himself for washing his own body and hair!) Well, I guess I got two for one that day...a clean kid and a clean tub! Ha Ha!

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Grant loves to walk back and forth between our house and my parent's house. This is how he looked the other day on his way home. SpongeBob jammies, rain boots, umbrella hat and his sister's barbie fishing pole. Ha Ha!

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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

March 28

It's the morning of my 9th wedding anniversary. As usual, I have way 0ver-imagined what my husband might-hopefully-possibly-could have up his sleeve in the "plans" department. I 'just knew' that he had taken off work today and was going to spend the day with me...but to my dismay, things went exactly per the usual this morning and he is off to work while I spend a few minutes in peaceful quietness before I wake the kids up for school. My day will likely consist of a couple hours of house work paired with a couple hours of grocery shopping. Fun, Fun! Really, I don't mean to complain. While it's not the fantasy day I had imagined in my over-active, fairy-tale imagination...I am blessed to be sitting here in my robe and slippers instead of rushing off to a job at the office. I am blessed that I get to spend time with my kids all throughout the day and not just in the evenings for a couple of hours before bedtime. I am blessed that my husband works hard and has been blessed with the kind of job that allows me these luxuries that so many other moms long for. I am blessed that even if I did nothing today in the way of housework or grocery shopping...the only person I'd have to answer to would be myself. I am blessed that despite my imperfections, I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, a husband who is faithful to me and children who adore me. I have every worldly possesion I need and most that I have ever wanted. I truely am blessed! Praise the Lord for the power of the tongue (or in this case, the keyboard) because just by typing this post, I have change my I'm-feeling-sorry-for-myself mood into a Wow-Look-how-blessed-I-am mood!
Woops!! It's times to wake the kids up now...better go! Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Cartoons in your salad???

Kids really DO say the cutest things. Here is one from each of my kids that had me giggling this past weekend.

Grant at dinner "Mom, I want some cartoons!"
Me: "Huh? Grant we are eating dinner right now...not watching TV."
Grant: "No, not TV mom, I want some cartoons in my salad."
Me: (giggling) "oh? These cartoons? (holding up the croutons). Ha Ha

Brooklyn in the car: "Mom, what's it going to be like in Heaven?"
Me: "It will be wonderful Brooklyn. No more sickness, no more sadness, no more crying and Hooray!--no more kids whining and sassing their moms!"
Brooklyn's serious reply: "MAN am I going to MISS that!!" Ha Ha

Thursday, March 22, 2007

B Z B's

Wow! We've been busy little bees the past 3 days! Monday night Matt's little brother, Cale and his wife, Lindsay, and their son, Jaxon, came into town to visit. They were staying at the Radisson so they invited us over to the hotel's indoor water playland to swim with them after we all went out and had a big dinner at Cheddars and ice creams at Baskin Robin's. (YUM!) We stayed and swam (the kids had SO much fun) until about 9:30 pm! Next on Tuesday, my mom and I took the kids to the park to play while she and I had lunch (chinese takeout) at a nearby picnic table. BUT..it started raining only about 15 minutes after we got there...so that fun had to be cut short. After that, I went home and cooked dinner for everyone and then we all headed to the aquarium. The kids enjoyed seeing all the fish but I think the sharks took the cake. They have this tunnel you walk through where you are surrounded by water with sharks in it. Kind of freaky if you let your imagination run wild like I like to do. (pretend I am at the beach and they are coming towards me and gonna eat me!! AUGH!!) but then they swim right on past me and I remember I am only in the aquarium...not at the beach. Whew! ha ha
They spent the night with us on Tuesday night so on Wednesday morning we got up and went to Pump It Up (inflatable playland). Thank God that I had called last week and found out we had to have reservations this week to play there since it is Spring Break here and they are extra-busy. I felt so bad for all the moms and kids being turned away b/c they hadn't made reservations. You could see the disappointment all over their faces (and running down their cheeks!) :o(
But, our kids had a lot of fun there and so did we. After that, we loaded up and went to the Bass Pro Shop so they could see the (stuffed) animals and (live) fish there. However, it wasn't really all that cool after having been at the aquarium the night before, so we didn't stay there too long. (but long enough for Matt to buy some more hunting gear, of course! ha ha) After that we went to Safari's, this place where they have rescued animals that you can get pretty up close and personal with. That is where all the pictures of the lions, tigers, zebra, pig and ducks came from. It is a really nice change from the zoo where the animals are all so far away you need binoculars to see them and they look like statues b/c they don't ever move. At this place, you can actually feed them! (raw chicken) but we didn't b/c it's $10 a package...but we got to enjoy watching it anyway b/c of all the other people who were doing it. They (the tigers & lions) get really excited when they see people walking up with that chicken in their hands!
After that, we all headed to the mall to let the kids do some running around in their play area while me and Lindsay (Cale's wife) did about 45 minutes of shopping. I got the kids some cute summer clothes at the Gap and Brooklyn some more free cotton undies from V.S. (I know those salesladies think I am crazy when I go in there asking for extra-small! ha ha) Next, we had planned on going to Sho-Gun for lunch...but we found out they didn't open till later and they were all booked, so we settled for Ted's Mexican. It was yummy but we all got super-stuffed. (how can you not when they give you free queso and free sopipillas!?!) Finally, we all got back home and the kids played while Lindsay and I relaxed on the couch and watched the big boys (our husbands) play some feirce games of air hockey. How competative brothers can be!!! ha ha
They both won a game, so they called it quits there and then it was time for our company to head home. Grant was so bummed that they were leaving, he wouldn't even give anyone a hug. Maybe he thought if he refused to participate in the good-bye hug ritual...that they wouldn't actually leave...? But of course, they did and we miss them already. It stinks that we live so far apart. Guess that just means we need to be making more trips to our hometown than we do (about twice a year). You don't realize how much you miss everyone until you're with them again and then you never want to let them leave.
So...that's how our spring break has been so far. My mom and my plans to go visit my neices has changed as some medical conditions have come up for my mom. More on that later when we find out what's actually going on but be in prayer/faith with me that the alarm/concern the doctors are having will turn out to be no big deal.
Instead of going anywhere major today, I think I am just going to take the kids to the gym with me so I can do my aerobics class and then maybe try to get out this afternoon and look some more for a bed for Grant.
Tomorrow, my neice and my great-neice(!!!!!) and her daddy are coming to visit with us. I can't wait to get that little cutie back in my arms. She is such a doll and she reminds me of how much I LOVE little babies and how glad I am that I don't have one of my own! ha ha I am more than satisfied just spoiling her for now! (until my other neices have babies--hint hint Rach!)
I hope you all are having a good week!

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Grant was intently watching these 2 ducks have a "honking" fight.

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This zebra was so friendly..and beautiful!

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I couldn't resist a picture of this cute little guy! Oink!

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One of the tiger's we saw today.

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Watch out Jaxon! There's a lion behind you!

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Me & Brooklyn on the big slide.

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Brooklyn having fun at the inflatable playland.

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Cale (Matt's little brother) & Matt.

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Grant having fun at the inflatable playland we went to.

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This fish was so funny. Look at his little buck-teeth! ha ha

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The 3 stooges at the aquarium.

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Blue suckers = Blue face!!

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Brooklyn playing in the indoor sprinkler.

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Grant going down the waterslide.

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Jax & Grant, cute cousins!

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Jaxon, Grant & Brooklyn...so glad to be all together again!

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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

ZZZZzzzzzzzz...

Why is it when you are trying to pray or read your Bible or in my case, do my work at my computer, I can NOT stay awake? I got up at 6:45 this morning to do my work...which should have taken 1 hour. It is now 8:11 and I still have 15 minutes worth of work left to do but I can't keep my eyes open. It seems like it takes me double the amount of time it should (to do my work) because I keep taking 5 minute breaks to sleep.
However...
If I sit down at my computer to surf the web or read peoples blogs or write in my own blog...I could stay awake and keep going for hours. Crazy!
Anyway, it's Spring Break around here and we've got a busy week planned. Sunday night, Brooklyn had a friend sleep over. Then yesterday, Matt's little brother and his family came into town and we all went out for dinner and then to an indoor water park. It was a lot of fun and the kids had a BLAST! I took lots of pictures that I will post in a little while. Between today and tomorrow, we have about 4 more fun places to take the kids. Then on Thursday, I think me and my mom and the kids might go visit my neices (who live about 2 hours away) and stay the night there. Next thing we know, it'll be Friday and the break will be over! :o(
I was really hoping/dreaming about sleeping in some of these days this week...but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. Oh well...Summer vacation is just around the corner and there will be plenty of time for that then.
Well, guess I better get back to work before the kids get up and make it nearly impossible for me to get anything (at my computer) done. Hope you are all having a good week!

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Goodbye Raymond! See you in Heaven!

A friend of ours died last night. He was 31. He left behind his wife and 3 young children. It is a beyond-sad situation, as a rare form of a deadly cancer came on his body in such a strong way that it only took 4 months from when they found out he had it until he passed away. He had just begun chemotherapy last week. It really hits home since their family is the same age as we are and thinking of what they must be going through just completely overwhelms me. How does a 7 year old little girl deal with finding out she'll never see her daddy again? (their daughter is a friend of Brooklyn's) How must his wife feel...I can only imagine. If it weren't for the unfailing, unfaltering Love of God and Hope that He gives us, I don't know how'd she'd face another day. Praise the Lord that He will see them through this and give them the strength to go on. He is in control, despite what we think or how things look.
Goodbye Raymond, we will miss you!

Friday, March 16, 2007

Is this the cutest picture or What? Grant was saying his prayers over his snack at preschool and I caught a picture just in time!

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Grant with his friend/classmate, Logan, with their trophies from the talent show.


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Grant's preschool had a talent show today. Grant got up and sang If You're Happy and You Know It to his Veggie Tales CD that says his name in the songs. It was pretty cute.

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The kids and I just finished watching this movie and it is very cute. I thought I'd post about it since it is Friday and the beginning of Spring Break...so you might want to go rent it. My kids LOVED it. They are actually watching it again already.

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Isn't this sign funny? I was going to give it as a gift...but then I didn't want to offend anyone so I just kept it. I thought it was so cute and true!

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We are STILL filling our pool with water! This is what the inside of it looks like as of yesterday afternoon. It's almost full now, thank goodness! I dread seeing our water bill this month though!!

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I missed my work out yesterday so when I got home from Grant's Talent Show at school, I threw on my swimsuit and dug this LOOOOOONG ditch. Digging is good exercise and good fun! (yes, I am aware that I am a weirdo for thinking that!) :o)

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