Fingerprint Friday

Growing.
Our kids are growing too fast.
It seems I especially notice it in Jobie.
Changes everyday.
New words.
Walking down the porch steps
without holding mommy's hand.
Playing trucks with his brothers.
Taking leaps off anything he can.

There are times I want to stop him.
Freeze time.
Keep him just like he is.
But, he keeps growing.

So my prayer
for him
and Brookie
and Jakie
and Ezzie
is this:
II Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Each week pamperingbeki hosts Fingerprint Friday and uses a song by Steven Curtis Chapman as a springboard. Join in. It's a great way to be reminded of God's love.

Yesterday

Drove to Wichita.
Dropped Brookie off for soccer training.
Met up with Ryan for a few minutes
at the Butler Andover campus student union.
Whooped Jakie at foos ball.
Took the boys to the Andover library.
Picked Brookie up.
Found a nice place for a little picnic.

Let the kiddos play at the park.
Not fun for me.
Too stressful trying to keep track of 4 kids.

Then, a little jaunt to the zoo.
To see the new tiger exhibit.
(Can't believe we hadn't been yet.)
But, of course, we had to see everything else too.
In the gorilla exhibit Ezzie hid himself.
Brookie and Jakie were running all over.
Calling his name.
I was pushing the stroller in circles.
Trying not to panic.
After several minutes,
it felt like hours,
Ezzie suddenly pops out:
I hid good didn't I?
At which point I started weeping.
And that was the point he realized
hiding was not such a good idea:
Mommy, I will never do that again.
No you won't.
Scariest moment of my life.

Before we could get out of the zoo

it rained.

Hard.

It really was a fun day.
In spite of
the stress,
nearly loosing my son,
the rain,
and the achy legs last night.
The incredibly achy legs.

Wow, I'm sounding old.

Flowers

Just a few of the potted flowers
around our yard.

How to Make a Firecracker

Take a shingle.
And crocs (size 5 kid's works best).
Add some broken, plastic toys.
Place sticks in holes of crocs.
Carefully lift "firecracker."
And throw in the air.
While yelling boom.
Apparently the 4th made a lasting impression.

Jake's Day

Brookelynn had her turn a couple weeks ago.
Last week was Jake's day with mommy.

I was bad and let him ride up front with me.
He thought it was great.
The whole 30 minute ride
he played with my phone
and the GPS.
I love how his little legs are just hanging out.

And the whole 30 minute ride we talked about
where he wanted to eat.
I finally had to pull into a mall parking lot.
And wait for him to decide.


Much deliberation went into the choice.
Red Lobster.
Which he once called Blue Crab.
When he was 4 or so.

We talked about soccer and Harry Potter.
School and Harry Potter.
Friends and Harry Potter.

This one just cracks me up.
No idea where he is looking.
After lunch it was off to All Star Adventures.
For some...adventure.
First mini golf.

And yes, I did gloat when I made a hole-in-one.
And when I beat him.
I have to...while I can.
Then it was off to the go-karts.
Only two were running.
They moved at a snail's pace.
But look how intense he was.
There was a little girl in front of him.
Who would not let him around her.

And who's older sister had cut in line in front of him,
while he was waiting his turn.
So got to go before him.
Then, when her turn was over,
got off the kart walked out the gate
and stepped in front of him again.
Understandable if she was 2 or 3.
But she was easily 9.
The mom and grandma just watched it all happen.

My Jakie is so sweet.
He didn't say a word.
The employee told her it wasn't her turn again.
They all acted irritated.
Some people are rude.

We also rode the big people go-karts.
I got to drive that because my little guy
doesn't reach the height requirement.
Then, off to the roller coaster.
Which we rode a couple times.

Look at his face!
I can't remember the last time
I did something just with Jake.
So much fun.
Hope it happens again.
Soon.

Kids' Sale

My kids and three of their best friends
have been waiting all summer for this day.
They have been planning, designing, dreaming.
Working hard.

Yesterday we all got together
to put the finishing touches on things.
And to create a little more.

Creative chaos.

Lots of t-shirts.

A few were iron-ons.

The rest were designed by Brookie.

She was most proud of this one.

Ezzie wanted it.

Lucky him.

It did not sell today.

And he got it.

We loved how these turned out.

But then I washed them.

And the white turned dusty rose.
Disappointing.

Jakie was so excited he got up and dressed.

At 5:00a.m.

And then at 7:00a.m. fell asleep.

9:00a.m. finally arrived.

All set up and ready to sell their wares.

Plus some lemonade and cookies.

Made by yours truly.

See the dusty rose t-shirts (in the basket)?

At the end of the day

we went to a local greasy spoon.

Each of them wearing t's that were left.

Now how will I keep them occupied?

Tip of the Day

Keep your precious chocolates...
in the freezer...

so this doesn't happen.

(Grandma hasn't learned this yet.)

Then you can sneak them out.

At night.

After the kids go to bed.

Or...

When you are cleaning up supper dishes.

And you leave the sink running.

So they can't hear the crackle of the bag.

And if they do.

They think you are dutifully putting leftovers away.

Sneaky.

Sneaky.

Fifteen

This day
1994

I did not know how much I would love you

This day

2009

I do now

Thanks for picking me to love

For a lifetime

I Wonder

Why...
a) It's impossible for little boys to play trucks
without making the appropriate noises.

And
b) Mudholes are kid magnets.

I'm telling ya.
I could watch and listen to my kids play
all. day. long.

The Chair

This is the chair that eperienced it all:
new tastes,
spills,
eating unassisted,
messy little hands,
tantrums,
smiles,
first birthday cake crumbs,
dropping food,
throwing food,
giggles...

For ten years this chair has been a part of our family.

It has been used and abused.

It is ripped, stained and scarred.

This weekend it left us.

As ridiculous as it sounds,

it took me two months to get rid of it.

The first time my guy tried I nearly cried.

Then, a few weeks ago I moved it to the garage.

And, now, this weekend it went to the dumpster.

So long chair.

Thanks for the memories.