Sunday, March 30, 2008
Happy Birthday Dear House
Our boys occasionally ask how old our house is. Braylen and Kaleb are always delighted that they are older than the house. Aaron is usually upset that he is younger, which delights Braylen and Kaleb even more as they rub it in. Well, today we celebrated our house's 5th birthday. Kaleb broke out in song, singing happy birthday dear house. When I think back to what we went through to build this house, I feel like celebrating right along with them! We made cupcakes (to bring to Bible study tonight) and Kaleb asked if the house could have a cupcake. I told him the house gets plenty of cupcakes--and other goodies--every time someone eats anything. He told me that when I vacuum we should pretend that the house is done eating. What a silly boy!! :) Aaron wants to put a "perry" (cherry) on his cupcake. He told me I'm his sweetie pie and I'm his favorite perry. Another silly boy!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Conversations with Aaron
I'm constantly amazed at what goes through the mind of my 3 year old. Today we had quite a conversation at lunch. He wanted to pray in his head, which is fine; I let him. Then he went on to ask me why he doesn't learn about God in his Sunday School. Our conversation went like this:
Mommy: Who do you learn about in Sunday School then?
Aaron: We learn about other people. You know, like Daniel, Moses...
Mommy: Well, by learning about Daniel and Moses, you can learn how to trust God like they did.
Aaron: Did Daniel kill Goliath?
Mommy: No, David killed Goliath.
Aaron: Oh yeah. We have a David in my school. Did he kill Goliath?
I went on to explain that the David in his class is not the David that's in the Bible, who killed Goliath. Then he asked me if God can hear us talking to each other. I said yes, and He knows what you are going to say before you do! Then Aaron said, "That's interesting." To hear him say that long word was cute.
Aaron's word of the week is "beauties." He'll say, "I want to play with these beauties." He'll be refering to little sponge tablets that turn into spongy animals when placed in water. He also refers to lite brite pegs as beauties. "I need to pick all of these beauties up!" I don't know where he came up with that! Do I say that? I don't think I do! :)
Last night Braylen started his soccer season. Could we have a spring soccer season that wasn't so much like winter? Wow, we froze out there on that field. Braylen scored his first goal of the season, which also happened to be his team's only goal of the game. Nevertheless, he was happy and we had fun cheering for him. Kaleb is just itching to get out there and play. He'll get his chance on Saturday. Aaron fell asleep on the way to the game and Daddy stayed in the van with him until halftime. Then they blew across the field to where we were sitting.
Kaleb came home yesterday with news that he'd been sent to the principal's office at lunch recess. This is a first for our family! He said he and 2 other friends were punching each other in the stomach for fun, but they all got sent to the office. He had to sit in the library and write, "I will keep my hands to myself at recess." I had a hard time not laughing. When I told Derek about at, I didn't try to stop from laughing. :)
Kaleb's always had a sensitive nose, but the other day I realized just how sensitive. Our neighbor Jean came over to talk for a few minutes. She is 80 years old and just a great lady. When she left, Kaleb went to his room to work on a project. I was so impressed! He took initiative and found something to do on his own! Then he started hanging up his creations on the outside of our front and garage doors. It was then that I began to get suspicious. He had written "No Jean" and circled it and put a line through it. When I asked him why he didn't want Jean in our house, he said, "If she's in here, our house won't smell like our house anymore." Talk about keeping a straight face--I had to leave the room and go get my giggles out before telling Kaleb that isn't a very nice thing to do. What if Jean had seen the signs? How would that make her feel? Thank goodness he didn't say anything while Jean was in here talking with me. I guess I should be grateful he put his thoughts on paper and taped them to the outside of our house!
One more thing. When Kaleb saw his Aunt Pam for the first time since Sadie's birth, he stopped dead in his tracks. I knew what was coming. I just didn't think he'd be so blunt. He said, "Why are you still fat?" Oh boy, how thankful I am for an understanding and gracious sister-in-law! After all that she's been through to have that baby, she sure does not need her 6 year old nephew sizing her up like that. Thank you Pam for being so forgiving!!! :) Needless to say, we have a lot of work to do with Kaleb in the days ahead.
Mommy: Who do you learn about in Sunday School then?
Aaron: We learn about other people. You know, like Daniel, Moses...
Mommy: Well, by learning about Daniel and Moses, you can learn how to trust God like they did.
Aaron: Did Daniel kill Goliath?
Mommy: No, David killed Goliath.
Aaron: Oh yeah. We have a David in my school. Did he kill Goliath?
I went on to explain that the David in his class is not the David that's in the Bible, who killed Goliath. Then he asked me if God can hear us talking to each other. I said yes, and He knows what you are going to say before you do! Then Aaron said, "That's interesting." To hear him say that long word was cute.
Aaron's word of the week is "beauties." He'll say, "I want to play with these beauties." He'll be refering to little sponge tablets that turn into spongy animals when placed in water. He also refers to lite brite pegs as beauties. "I need to pick all of these beauties up!" I don't know where he came up with that! Do I say that? I don't think I do! :)
Last night Braylen started his soccer season. Could we have a spring soccer season that wasn't so much like winter? Wow, we froze out there on that field. Braylen scored his first goal of the season, which also happened to be his team's only goal of the game. Nevertheless, he was happy and we had fun cheering for him. Kaleb is just itching to get out there and play. He'll get his chance on Saturday. Aaron fell asleep on the way to the game and Daddy stayed in the van with him until halftime. Then they blew across the field to where we were sitting.
Kaleb came home yesterday with news that he'd been sent to the principal's office at lunch recess. This is a first for our family! He said he and 2 other friends were punching each other in the stomach for fun, but they all got sent to the office. He had to sit in the library and write, "I will keep my hands to myself at recess." I had a hard time not laughing. When I told Derek about at, I didn't try to stop from laughing. :)
Kaleb's always had a sensitive nose, but the other day I realized just how sensitive. Our neighbor Jean came over to talk for a few minutes. She is 80 years old and just a great lady. When she left, Kaleb went to his room to work on a project. I was so impressed! He took initiative and found something to do on his own! Then he started hanging up his creations on the outside of our front and garage doors. It was then that I began to get suspicious. He had written "No Jean" and circled it and put a line through it. When I asked him why he didn't want Jean in our house, he said, "If she's in here, our house won't smell like our house anymore." Talk about keeping a straight face--I had to leave the room and go get my giggles out before telling Kaleb that isn't a very nice thing to do. What if Jean had seen the signs? How would that make her feel? Thank goodness he didn't say anything while Jean was in here talking with me. I guess I should be grateful he put his thoughts on paper and taped them to the outside of our house!
One more thing. When Kaleb saw his Aunt Pam for the first time since Sadie's birth, he stopped dead in his tracks. I knew what was coming. I just didn't think he'd be so blunt. He said, "Why are you still fat?" Oh boy, how thankful I am for an understanding and gracious sister-in-law! After all that she's been through to have that baby, she sure does not need her 6 year old nephew sizing her up like that. Thank you Pam for being so forgiving!!! :) Needless to say, we have a lot of work to do with Kaleb in the days ahead.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
back to normal
After a fun-filled spring break, it was time to go back to school today. Aaron, who doesn't go to school, woke up bright and early at 7am. That figures. Braylen took a while to climb down from his bunk bed. Kaleb moaned and said, "I didn't sleep at all." Are they like me or what?
My sister-in-law is back home from the hospital after 9 long weeks. PTL! The missing piece in our family is not missing anymore. Now we just need to get little Sadie home and all will be complete.
The other day Aaron said something that made me want to freeze him as he is right now. He said, "Mommy, you are my favorite girl." I remember the other boys saying similar things at his age. I just love the age he is right now. Kaleb is starting to notice that he doesn't want to kiss me goodbye in the van if we are right in front of the 5th grade crossing guards. Braylen gave that up a long time ago. If I want a kiss goodbye from him, I have to settle for one at home before we leave. But Aaron will unashamedly give me kisses and hugs no matter who is around.
One more thing. When we were driving over the Platte river after being in Illinois, Aaron said, "The river has shapes in it!" He was seeing the dry land areas in the river. In Illinois there is so much water in the rivers that he was not used to our dry-as-a-bone river here at home. In Illinois he loved looking at the buoys in the water, and noticed that our river didn't have any buoys. That made Derek and me laugh!
My sister-in-law is back home from the hospital after 9 long weeks. PTL! The missing piece in our family is not missing anymore. Now we just need to get little Sadie home and all will be complete.
The other day Aaron said something that made me want to freeze him as he is right now. He said, "Mommy, you are my favorite girl." I remember the other boys saying similar things at his age. I just love the age he is right now. Kaleb is starting to notice that he doesn't want to kiss me goodbye in the van if we are right in front of the 5th grade crossing guards. Braylen gave that up a long time ago. If I want a kiss goodbye from him, I have to settle for one at home before we leave. But Aaron will unashamedly give me kisses and hugs no matter who is around.
One more thing. When we were driving over the Platte river after being in Illinois, Aaron said, "The river has shapes in it!" He was seeing the dry land areas in the river. In Illinois there is so much water in the rivers that he was not used to our dry-as-a-bone river here at home. In Illinois he loved looking at the buoys in the water, and noticed that our river didn't have any buoys. That made Derek and me laugh!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
vacation stories
WARNING***this is long and detailed to help me remember our visit***
Much has changed since I last wrote on Sunday afternoon. After a walk with the boys and Grammy, my cell phone rang at 7:23 pm. It was Pam telling me she was having her baby at 8:00! She sounded scared. I was shocked. Last I knew we were anticipating a March 31st delivery. Circumstances changed, and my littlest niece was born at 8:33 pm on Sunday, March 16th. She is 10 weeks early but doing so well! Her name is Sadie May. Pam went downhill fast, and what happened during the next 12 hours about changed our family forever. I have never been up all night pleading with God before. I prayed so much that night--by myself, with my husband on the phone, with my mom, and with my sis-in-law Sarena on the phone. I prayed and I read scripture and when I could no longer pray, I sang. Sometimes I spoke lyrics, other times I sang them quietly to myself and to the Lord. My mind could not, and would not, wrap around the fear of losing Pam. God knows the numbers of our days; He has them all mapped out. I was praying that Pam's days were not meant to end that night. God's sovereign plan included sparing her life, and I cannot describe how I felt when I heard that she was stable in the ICU. Many, many praises lifted up to God!!! "Oh God will make a way, where there seems to be no way...."
In the days following that big night, I have been able to stay in touch with family and friends who prayed for Pam and are still doing so. I will see her and little Sadie soon! I trust that God had me here on vacation for a reason. The boys and I have had so much fun! At home I think they would have been swallowed up in all of the uncertainties. Here, we have been partying. :)
Monday we went to Awana headquarters and I think they would like to play there all day long, everyday if they could. Air hockey, derby car track, totes on the shipping lines,...they were entertained! Aaron's first comment when walking in was, "Wow, look at that huge hamper!" (It is a LARGE hopper full of bubble wrap hanging from the warehouse ceiling) They all rode around in totes. Seeing where their Awana awards come from and knowing Grammy works there is neat for them. Kaleb scooted along in a chair with wheels from one end of the warehouse to the other. He called it his wheelchair! That night we celebrated St. Patty's day at IHOP. We all had breakfast for supper except Aaron. The boy does not like pancakes, waffles, or french toast. Never has! He loved his burger.
Tuesday we went to the firestation to visit Grampy's work. Another fun place for 3 boys to play! They rang a firebell, climbed on fire trucks, and toured the sleeping quarters. Kaleb liked the talking fireman cookie jar: "Step back, get away from the cookie jar" Aaron liked the candy dish. Braylen liked telling us he went to work with Grampy last summer when he visited on his own. After the firehouse we went to see "Horton Hears a Who." Cute movie! Stadium seating with lights all over each step--the boys LOVED it. They had to walk to the top of the stairs before we left. Kaleb even loved the bathrooms. He walked in and said, "Wow, this is a HUGE bathroom!" to everyone in there. I wanted to wear a sign that said, "Yes, we live in the sticks, and this is the biggest bathroom my 6 year old has ever seen!" After the movie we had a snack at Dunkin' Donuts and went to buy new shoes. Kaleb was undressing the mannequins and my mom had to point that out. Then he ran around in his socks and slid on the wood floors, saying he was practicing for baseball. After all that excitement, and a walk to the hobby shop and christian book store, this mommy had had enough fun for one day. :)
Wednesday we drove to St. Charles to visit my grandma. When we got to her condos, Aaron said, "Wow, your grandma has a huge house!" I think he kept wondering where all the space was once we were inside her place. I was SO PROUD of my boys that day. They don't know my grandma or aunt well at all, and yet they were happy and polite and not shy at all. That is pretty amazing for Kaleb and Aaron. Usually when they don't know a family member like that they are withdrawn and whine to me that they want to leave. Not this time! We stayed for a few hours. Braylen and Kaleb sprayed water on the squirrel that likes to eat the birdseed on grandma's balcony. Aaron invented a game to play in a bedroom with Kaleb and they entertained themselves. Kaleb and Aaron took turns coloring. I'm telling you, this visit was blessed by God. The boys even wrestled on Grandma's living room floor and nobody got hurt and cried. Grandma was thoroughly entertained, and they let out some energy!
Today (Thursday) we ventured out to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch. 2 hours was enough fun for me :) Thankfully it wasn't that crowded and each boy traded in their tickets for a toy they liked. They each had their favorite games. Kaleb: jet ski. Aaron: "jet ski like Kaleb", but also anything that earned him a ticket. Braylen: ski ball and basketball. After that whole experience we went bowling!!! It is a new bowling alley and of course NOTHING like the one back home. Again, the boys were amazed. :) Bright lights, no smoking thanks to Illinois law, clean and new; it could not have been better! My score could have been better. But that is not new. :) Grampy had 194 points or something high like that. Grammy: 101 Braylen and Aaron: 84 Kaleb and Mommy: 62. Yeah! We went home feeling like we'd conquered the world with all the fun we had today. The boys raked leaves (yes I know it's March), played basketball, and ran around like wild monkeys. Snow is coming tonight :(, but at least we had today to celebrate the first day of spring on a day that felt like spring!!! Tomorrow is our last full day here. I'd better rest up for it. :)
Much has changed since I last wrote on Sunday afternoon. After a walk with the boys and Grammy, my cell phone rang at 7:23 pm. It was Pam telling me she was having her baby at 8:00! She sounded scared. I was shocked. Last I knew we were anticipating a March 31st delivery. Circumstances changed, and my littlest niece was born at 8:33 pm on Sunday, March 16th. She is 10 weeks early but doing so well! Her name is Sadie May. Pam went downhill fast, and what happened during the next 12 hours about changed our family forever. I have never been up all night pleading with God before. I prayed so much that night--by myself, with my husband on the phone, with my mom, and with my sis-in-law Sarena on the phone. I prayed and I read scripture and when I could no longer pray, I sang. Sometimes I spoke lyrics, other times I sang them quietly to myself and to the Lord. My mind could not, and would not, wrap around the fear of losing Pam. God knows the numbers of our days; He has them all mapped out. I was praying that Pam's days were not meant to end that night. God's sovereign plan included sparing her life, and I cannot describe how I felt when I heard that she was stable in the ICU. Many, many praises lifted up to God!!! "Oh God will make a way, where there seems to be no way...."
In the days following that big night, I have been able to stay in touch with family and friends who prayed for Pam and are still doing so. I will see her and little Sadie soon! I trust that God had me here on vacation for a reason. The boys and I have had so much fun! At home I think they would have been swallowed up in all of the uncertainties. Here, we have been partying. :)
Monday we went to Awana headquarters and I think they would like to play there all day long, everyday if they could. Air hockey, derby car track, totes on the shipping lines,...they were entertained! Aaron's first comment when walking in was, "Wow, look at that huge hamper!" (It is a LARGE hopper full of bubble wrap hanging from the warehouse ceiling) They all rode around in totes. Seeing where their Awana awards come from and knowing Grammy works there is neat for them. Kaleb scooted along in a chair with wheels from one end of the warehouse to the other. He called it his wheelchair! That night we celebrated St. Patty's day at IHOP. We all had breakfast for supper except Aaron. The boy does not like pancakes, waffles, or french toast. Never has! He loved his burger.
Tuesday we went to the firestation to visit Grampy's work. Another fun place for 3 boys to play! They rang a firebell, climbed on fire trucks, and toured the sleeping quarters. Kaleb liked the talking fireman cookie jar: "Step back, get away from the cookie jar" Aaron liked the candy dish. Braylen liked telling us he went to work with Grampy last summer when he visited on his own. After the firehouse we went to see "Horton Hears a Who." Cute movie! Stadium seating with lights all over each step--the boys LOVED it. They had to walk to the top of the stairs before we left. Kaleb even loved the bathrooms. He walked in and said, "Wow, this is a HUGE bathroom!" to everyone in there. I wanted to wear a sign that said, "Yes, we live in the sticks, and this is the biggest bathroom my 6 year old has ever seen!" After the movie we had a snack at Dunkin' Donuts and went to buy new shoes. Kaleb was undressing the mannequins and my mom had to point that out. Then he ran around in his socks and slid on the wood floors, saying he was practicing for baseball. After all that excitement, and a walk to the hobby shop and christian book store, this mommy had had enough fun for one day. :)
Wednesday we drove to St. Charles to visit my grandma. When we got to her condos, Aaron said, "Wow, your grandma has a huge house!" I think he kept wondering where all the space was once we were inside her place. I was SO PROUD of my boys that day. They don't know my grandma or aunt well at all, and yet they were happy and polite and not shy at all. That is pretty amazing for Kaleb and Aaron. Usually when they don't know a family member like that they are withdrawn and whine to me that they want to leave. Not this time! We stayed for a few hours. Braylen and Kaleb sprayed water on the squirrel that likes to eat the birdseed on grandma's balcony. Aaron invented a game to play in a bedroom with Kaleb and they entertained themselves. Kaleb and Aaron took turns coloring. I'm telling you, this visit was blessed by God. The boys even wrestled on Grandma's living room floor and nobody got hurt and cried. Grandma was thoroughly entertained, and they let out some energy!
Today (Thursday) we ventured out to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch. 2 hours was enough fun for me :) Thankfully it wasn't that crowded and each boy traded in their tickets for a toy they liked. They each had their favorite games. Kaleb: jet ski. Aaron: "jet ski like Kaleb", but also anything that earned him a ticket. Braylen: ski ball and basketball. After that whole experience we went bowling!!! It is a new bowling alley and of course NOTHING like the one back home. Again, the boys were amazed. :) Bright lights, no smoking thanks to Illinois law, clean and new; it could not have been better! My score could have been better. But that is not new. :) Grampy had 194 points or something high like that. Grammy: 101 Braylen and Aaron: 84 Kaleb and Mommy: 62. Yeah! We went home feeling like we'd conquered the world with all the fun we had today. The boys raked leaves (yes I know it's March), played basketball, and ran around like wild monkeys. Snow is coming tonight :(, but at least we had today to celebrate the first day of spring on a day that felt like spring!!! Tomorrow is our last full day here. I'd better rest up for it. :)
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