Work & Play

With a few more days of summer vacation under my belt, I'm still here and I'm still sane. :) A little irony occured on Friday. Being the first official day of summer break, I thought it would be smart to stock up on large bandaids. Standard-sized bandaids never seem to be big enough for my boys' injuries. Sure enough, that evening Braylen had a whopper-sized injury. I was on a girls' night out when Derek called to ask me a question. "Sarah, where do you keep the athletic tape?" Poor guy--I wouldn't give him the answer until I heard why he needed athletic tape. :) Braylen learned that railroad ties to the shin never ends pretty. Being the great Daddy that he is, Derek fixed up Braylen's wound exactly the way I would have done it. (And being the good nurse that I am, I had plenty of gauze, ointment, and coban wrap on hand.) I'm so glad I stocked up on large bandaids that weren't even large enough for our first summer injury, and it all happened on the first day of break. Sheesh!

Memorial Day weekend brought beautiful boating weather for us. Yipee! Braylen caught 6 fish while Derek and Aaron caught 1. Kaleb got his line wet and will have better luck next time. I'm hoping to do some skiing and tubing next time we go boating. The water was just too cold for me to jump in. Kaleb and Aaron had other ideas, so we tied the ski ropes to their life jackets and let them splash around in the water. So I fished for kids while Derek and his dad fished for fish. ;)

Our fence is going up, the doghouse is freshly painted, and our puppy arrives in THREE DAYS!!! We've been talking about names, and have narrowed it down to 4 choices. In no particular order, we're deciding between Baylee, Ginger, Shadow, and Pepper. I really liked Wrigley, but it didn't make the cut to the final 4. (Kaleb has a bit of a problem pronouncing it.) Aaron's suggestion was this: "How about Cute? When it grows up it can be Big Cute." He still insists Cute is his favorite name. Silly boy. :)

Speaking of cute. . .here are Aaron's latest Aaronisms.

"Amelope" antelope

"Bixtix" biscuits

"Tulops" tulips

"You-member" remember

Finally, some pictures of our latest adventures. :) Happy Summer!

Kaleb teaching Aaron how to pump.

Kaleb paints the doghouse floor--he's just the right size!

Derek and Braylen cutting wood for the fence

Aaron's job is to look cute!

Summer Groove

Okay, so the big news right now is SCHOOL'S OUT!!!! Let me just say that I am not one of those mothers who dreads summer vacation. I love summertime! I know my kids will fight more as we adjust to our summer groove, but such is life. At least they're old enough to punish with hard work. :) When the backpacks were dumped out, this is a sample of what my living room floor looked like.

Remember, this is only a small piece of the actual chaos. It took a good chunk of the afternoon to find homes for these treasures. With all that behind us, we are ready for a fun weekend of boating to welcome summer! We'll see if the weather cooperates.

Grandpa's funeral ended up being a really special time for our family this week. Derek and I debated about pulling the boys out of school for this, but I'm so glad we did. Many memories were shared of Grandpa, and I believe we honored his life with much love and laughter. Our boys spent lots of time playing with second cousins who quickly became new friends. I got a little nervous when they kicked a soccer ball in a room with stained glass windows, but nothing broke. Derek has 2 cousins currently in the military, and the boys think they are larger than life. We've prayed them through multiple tours in Iraq, so it was special for our kids to see these men face-to-face. One even wore his uniform, and that impressed my boys a lot. The 21 gun salute for Grandpa at the cemetary sparked more questions from Braylen and Kaleb. Hearing "Taps" played for Grandpa brought tears to my eyes, but I know we will see him again one day. All in all, this day is one I hope we never forget.

My handsome husband with his beautiful grandma

Me enjoying a visit with my sis-in-law Sarena

Yes, the boys were petting a snake at the cemetary--ewwww--I hope they remember more about this day than that! Notice they ditched their khaki pants for play shorts? Lucky them. :)

Grandpa

Derek's beloved grandpa went home to be with the Lord this past week. A man who loved the outdoors, Grandpa instilled that same love in Derek. Fishing, boating, hunting, camping. . .Grandpa's influence is in all of it. He also loved to laugh. Oh, I will never forget his laugh! He adopted me as one of his own, and for the first time in my life, I had a grandpa invest in me. He loved me for who I was, loved interacting with my kids, and literally lifted us up in prayer every morning. He'd give me the biggest bear hugs, kiss my cheek, and say the exact same thing to me every time we were together. He'd hold onto my arms and say, "Sarah, you just keep getting prettier and prettier every time I see you." Isn't that what grandpas are for? I was robbed of my own Grandpa as a 6 year old girl. The thief? Colon cancer. It left me with fragments of childish memories, and I always wished for more. Joining Derek's family gave me the unexpected gift in the person of his grandpa. I will miss you so much Grandpa Stan--but I will look for you in my own sons as they grow and mature into young men.

Great-Grandpa & Kaleb

Grandpa used to look at my little boys and ask, "Don't you wonder what they're thinking?" Now he's in heaven and he knows the answer to that question. :) He has eternity ahead of him to find out.

Funnies

The kids are counting down the days until school gets out, and I am starting to catch on. Instead of thinking about the extra messes, noise, and fights that 3 children bring, I am thinking about no alarm clock. :) No lunches to pack. Fun times at the t-ball field and swimming pool. I plan on giving my oldest son some more responsibility around the house, which can earn him more freedom if he plays by my rules. We'll see how that goes.

I have the latest collection of funny things my boys have said and done, so here we go!

Aaronisms:
"ta-cainer, ta, ta, ta-cainer. . .whatever it is!" (container)

While trying to say "Danimals" (yogurt brand) Aaron shouts "Dam-inals!"

"I'm tired of being a kid. It takes a long time to be a kid. Even past 9 means I'm still a kid." Sheesh, what a rough life my 5 year old leads. :)

While snuggling on Daddy's lap, Aaron says, "I like it when you hold me in your hands." Awww. :)


The other night at supper, I asked Kaleb what his friend wants for his birthday. Braylen piped in and asked if he'd like Star Wars, or maybe Elvis. Derek and I looked at each other and I thought, "Elvis? Do 9 year olds and 7 year olds talk about Elvis?" We decided to play along and this is how our conversation went:

Dad: Elvis, huh? Who's Elvis?

Braylen: You know, the singer.

Dad: Is he a new singer?

Braylen: No Dad, he's dead! He was a singer a long time ago.

Dad: What's his last name?

Braylen: I don't know. . .

Dad: Could it be Presley?

Braylen: Hmm. . .NO.

Kaleb: Is Hannah Montana before Elvis?

At this point Derek and I got the giggles. Our 9 year old doesn't believe us that Elvis' last name is Presley. Our 7 year old thinks Hannah Montana is older than Elvis. And I still don't have any ideas for this friend's birthday party!!!

Days Worth Celebrating

With Mother's Day yesterday, and Derek's birthday today, we've been having fun around here. Braylen had a track meet on another beautiful Saturday, where he received ribbons in the 4x100 relay and 50 yard dash. I just love to watch him run! I especially like seeing my husband coach Braylen through his warm-ups and prep him for his races. Braylen tells me he wants to be just like his daddy, and their shared love for track is just one way they're alike.

Ahhh, Mother's Day. It's become one of my favorite days of the year. When else do I feel celebrated and honored for all that I do and all that I am for my family? My boys each made me a special gift at school--a canvas painting from Aaron, a potted plant from Kaleb, and a tile from Braylen. Derek treated me to a yummy lunch that I didn't have to prepare, took me flower shopping (joyfully even!), and blessed me with an afternoon of gardening all by myself. I find it ironic that on a day to celebrate mothering, my biggest craving is a break from mothering! Oh well, I enjoyed every minute of my day. Using the webcam, I chatted with my mom and watched her open her gift from me. It made me feel like we were in the same room--almost. I love my mom, I love being a mom, and so I loved my Mother's Day!

Two of my favorite mothering quotes are:

"A mother's example sketches the outline of her child's character."--Mrs. H. O. Ward

"Let a nation have good mothers, and she will have good sons."--Napoleon

some of my Mother's day flowers

I prayed Derek's birthday wouldn't feel like just another Monday for him, and that prayer was answered! Things stayed quiet at work, he enjoyed watching the shuttle launch online, and his coworkers even threw him a little party. Even some of the students wished him a happy birthday. Maybe their gift to him yesterday was their good behavior. ;)

my birthday boy with his greatest gifts :)

Derek and I agreed that in lieu of birthday gifts, our gift to each other this year is our puppy. But I just had to have something for him to open, so the boys and I wrapped up doggy treats, chew toys, and food bowls. Of course when Derek opened his birthday presents, he told me he must be in the doghouse. :) Our Cub Scout's final pack meeting happens to be tonight, so Derek's birthday dinner will be a Cub Scout BBQ. What a great dad. :) Good thing I have his favorite meal planned for later in the week. That way his celebration can continue! Happy Birthday my love!

Wednesdays With Kaleb

Here we are in the middle of the week already! Today was my last Wednesday to help in Kaleb's class. As the school year winds down, my weekly volunteer time is ending as well. While I'm definitely not meant to be a teacher, I've enjoyed helping in Kaleb's class so much. Sometimes Kaleb would be waiting at the window for me as I walked down the hall towards his class. Other times he'd hear me open the door and he'd sneak a smile my way as he finished his math paper. Oh, how I will treasure these memories from his first grade year. He hugs me in front of his friends and he picks out his special purple pen for me to use. He says Wednesdays are his favorite days because those are the days I come to school. He even sits by the word "Wednesday" during his calendar time each day. He has me by the heart for sure.

While I love all of my boys, I love each one differently. They may be brothers, but they are definitely their own individuals. When Kaleb comes to mind I picture hugs, straight-forward answers, and consistency. He needs physical touch, direct questions/responses, and a consistent routine. If that is provided for him, he thrives. He also needs quiet time to be still. I LOVE providing these things for him. I love kissing his chubby, smooth cheeks, snuggling him up in a hug, and just being still. My laid-back, type B personality meshes really well with his. As this school year ends, I look back at our days together at school and home, and count my blessings for each day. He will grow into a second grader over the summer, and more changes will come with that. But for now, he is my 7 year old boy who loves to be with me. I'm so thankful I took advantage of every opportunity I could. I love you Kaleb!

Speed of Life

Wow, lately I feel like I'm running as fast as I can. May is BUSY! So many things to look forward to this month, so many changes ahead of us. School is turning into more of a party than school--assemblies, flower planting, talent shows, field trips, and parties galore. Friends are having birthday parties, Cub Scouts is going out with a bang, and track meets keep us traveling on the weekends. Speaking of track meets--Braylen had his first one today and it was so much fun! Derek is his very own "personal trainer," and I don't know who had more fun: father or son? What a beautiful day to experience such a fun "first" for Braylen. He medaled in two out of three events, which boosted his spirits I think. I always knew that boy could run--he's been keeping me on my toes for almost 10 years now! His nickname at school is Speedy, and he lived up to it today. :)


Awana wrapped up this past week, and I enjoyed seeing my Cubbie, Sparky, and T & T kids recognized for finishing their books. I will also enjoy a slower-paced Wednesday evening. :) Our puppy search is moving right along, and we just might find our dog very soon. While I have my hopes up for a certain litter, I am praying for unity in my decision with Derek. I think June would be a great month to become dog owners--but I've learned that my ways are just that--mine. I need to be ever-mindful of God's plan for our family, our budget, and our time.

This took lots of time--but it was time well-spent with my boy.

Some funnies before I end this post. Friday night I made one of our family's favorite suppers: taco ring. But I was feeling adventerous, and I decided to switch things up a bit. When we sat down at the table, Derek commented on how good this particular taco ring looked. Little did he know what I had done. :) Once everyone was at least half-way through their meal, I made my little announcement. I said, "This taco ring was not made with any ground beef. What do you think it's made out of?" The boys guessed deer, chicken, turkey, pig--even lion. Ha! That was Aaron's guess. :) I turned to Derek and he guessed elk. Yep! Some friends of ours hunt elk, and she told me it tastes like beef. She was so right! Derek didn't know I had any of it in our freezer, so even he was surprised. I felt super-successful when Kaleb made this comment: "That would be cool if we had 2 tummies--then we could eat more!"


Finally, as our family lives out this speedy month of May, here is how Aaron feels about the whole concept of time. He asked me this: "Mommy, has it been 1 hour since the world was made?" I looked at him like he was nutty. He recovered and said, "100 hours, right? 200?" How can a child know the 10 commandments, the fruit of the spirit, and sign language to a handful of praise songs, and yet think the world was made an hour ago? I just love to see my son as a work in progress. It must be exactly how God sees me.