A Mother's Day Surprise

"It's not a real bug, Mom!" Three children bounced around as I opened the box, still not "spilling the beans"...oh my word! They had seen this on a TV advertisement and told Daddy that "Mommy would like that...we should get that for Mother's Day." Let the crafting begin...
just as soon as I figure out how to turn it on! Ted was wondering if he needed to buy a skid-load of paper now...I told him I had enough to start with!!! Thank you to my husband...and his helpers...for over-whelming me yet again with a special gift. I need to get busy and make some cards...it is almost more than Ted can bear to go and spend money on cards "when we have $10,000.00 worth of card-making tools downstairs"! (um...not that much...really) If the girls had been home, he would have supervised them in the card-making process! Our goal is to create a stash of cards for Daddy and Teddy! xoxox to them both!

Blessings

My girls...they can be such a joy to watch! We had a wonderful weekend trip to WI to see our friends and be a part of the Mother/Daughter Brunch. The Lord gave us safety on the road... and a fun-filled time with friends! We ate yummy food, stayed up late, played with fun toys, walked to a fun park, ate more yummy food, and then cried the whole way out of town!
I am thankful for the time spent with my friend, Alicia! She made us feel so welcome and comfortable in their home. It was just fun! Refreshing! Relaxing! I will go as far to say...it was just what we needed! The Mother/Daughter Brunch was so nice! The decorations were so cheery...and yummy! The food was delicious. The fellowship sweet. I enjoyed meeting other sisters in the Lord...friends of my friend. Thank you, dear Alicia, for all your hard work and special touches that made our time with you such a treat!

Contemplating Mother's Day

Monday after all the evening doings were over and showers were done, Teddy and Daddy sat down to have a chat. Ted asked Teddy, "What should we do for Mommy for Mother's Day to show her that we love her and are thankful for her?" As the girls finished their bedtime ritual, he asked each of them. I don't know what their responses were, but Ted was pretty impressed by how much they notice and the thought they put into their answers. He said they were all thinking along the same line! Obviously, he wouldn't share anymore details...so there is something to look forward to! We have both worked with the kids to teach them that it is important to "Honor thy Father and thy Mother". Part of honoring is, of course, obeying but we also need to show love and respect for the parents God has given us...and who else to teach our children this...than us...by our example of how we treat our parents and how we treat each other! Not just on Mother's or Father's Day...but every day! Here it is Friday...and no one has spilled the beans! They are growing up!

I have lost my job!

Ashlynn has been expecting to make her lunch every day! She does a good job and "allows mom to supervise"! It is fun to see each of the kids "grow up" and want to do things "by myself"! And who cares if there is jelly in the butter...it is easily remedied!

88 points worth of loot!

This was the scene around the table this morning...go through all the fun things she was able to "purchase" with all her points! Alisa went through her book once and then did the review section (going through the book again!). Ashlynn has two verses to say on Sunday and her book will be complete too! Teddy finished his second book of Cubbies and is excited to move up to Sparks! Next week is Award Night!

A Remembrance Bouquet

As I prepared for the devotion that I will give on Saturday, my mother told me I should use the idea that Aunt Connie used one time. She made a bouquet of the people that had touched her life and told about each one. The theme of the day is about sowing, watering, and growing. The whole idea fit perfectly! This bouquet was assembled with much thought...and frugality...I bought artificial flowers so I can keep them! It is a beautiful bouquet and the flowers do look very real! I have it on our table all ready to go and have enjoyed looking at it and remembering each and every person that has touched my life. I am hoping to get through the whole process without breaking down into a sobbing mess...people can't understand when someone is blubbering! I will share more when I get back, I don't want to give all the details just yet.

That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest.

Henry D. Thoreau made this statement and I think it is a perfect thought for this mother! Two days in a row I have been on the receiving end of the most beautiful bouquet of flowers a mother could get...perfectly bloomed dandelions with stems long enough to be worthy of a tall vase...and not just any vase! A vase from a friend when Ash was born. This friend took the time to pick out several special "firsts" that I would use as a mother...this vase being one of them...and it holds the most beautiful flowers a little girl can bring her mother...usually viewed as weeds (growing where they are not wanted) but viewed by my girls as "beautiful yellow flowers"! The nicest bouquet from my girls...and from the neighbor's yard!

Mom, What are we going to do today????

Well...you can play play-dough for awhile...or go clean-up your rooms...
and then go play outside...hey, wait...come back and put the play-dough away first!!! (No school last Thurs. and Fri. for the fine arts tournament that our school hosts each year!)
Don't bother Mommy...she has lots to play with...uh, things to do! (The stamping party of a couple weeks ago was LOTS of fun...for everyone...but especially the hostess! Thank you friends...please, someone come stamp with me!)
We must work on our Mother's Day gifts...and Mommy will not touch your gifts...no matter what...I promise...they are from your hearts! (and fingers and arms and etc...)
Mommy will play in her garden...or as Daddy calls it "your weed patch". Actually, the lupine and columbine and lavendar are all making their appearances! And no snakes...whew!!!

Never too young to help!

With two days off school this week and "nothing to do", we took the time to "clean up after ourselves"! Not only did crumbs get in the butter...they also ended up on the floor (does anyone else have trouble with children not eating over the table...ie: position of Teddy pictured above?). The kids are good helpers and I am learning...if I ask them to do it...LET THEM...AND KNOW IT WILL NOT BE PERFECT THE FIRST TIME! As stated before, Cinderella does not live here...Mommy is not everyone's maid...and since "you are part of the family...you will do your part"! SOOO...in order for that to happen...someone has a responsibility of showing them how to do it...correctly! They are "getting it"! And it is funny to listen to them "chew out each other" for walking on the clean floor or not putting something away "when I just fixed that"!
Now on to figuring out how to deal with the couch cushions...once again...there they lay...sigh!

When children make their own toast...there are crumbs in the butter!

Note to self: serve guests something that doesn't require butter!

A naughty dog strikes again...

this time...an un-opened just bought package of Twinkies for lunch snacks...look carefully and you will see the little teeth marks on the box AND three missing treats. Chevy just earned his place in his cage any time we are downstairs now...in addition to when we go outside in the front yard (he can be in the back since it is fenced in). And I earned an hour in front of the cupboard shelf to re-organize what goes low and what goes high!

"The Digger Boy" checking how deep his hole is.
Daddy bounced Mommy right off and went on to the next victim...Ashlynn.
EEWWW...a dead fish...