"Say-t-belt Mommy!"

I have this terrible habit. It is putting my seatbelt on after I've already started driving. Granted, I usually have it on before I get a mile down the road, but still... I know, terrible. Now, I *always* make a big deal about Madelyn having her seatbelt on before I put the car in gear. I don't have to worry about Greyson because I phsyically put his seatbelt on him, Madelyn does hers on her own. I guess the "big deal" about Madelyn having her seatbelt on has really sunk in, at least for Greyson. About two weeks ago, Greyson starting noticing that I don't have mine on before we take off. All the sudden I've been hearing, "Say-t-belt Mommy!", from Greyson at a polite but very LOUD tone from the backseat. I always say, "Yup, Mom should have her seatbelt on. Thank you." It is double terrible when your two-year-old is telling you how to be safe. All the sudden, after years of my bad habit, I don't seem to have a problem with buckling my seatbelt before I put the car in gear.

Cold Crops

Today I planted the cold crops - ones that can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked but before last frost. That meant getting out the tiller, preparing the soil (sidenote: Madelyn surprised me with this word today. She says she learned it on "Sid the Science Kid". Love that show.), mark the rows, plant the seeds (carrots, onions, spinach, pea, and broccoli), and then water. It was a couple hours worth of work but I loved every minute of it! I love gardening... I can't wait until mid-May when I can get everything in the ground!

I did get the strawberry plants planted earlier this week (not pictured). They seem so tiny now but from what I hear, next year and every year after I will be fighting to keep them contained! All I know is that I am looking forward to home-grown strawberries!

Coloring in the lines

Madelyn has finally given in to the “right” way to color! Ever since she started using crayons to color, instead of scribble, she has had a hard time staying the lines. Not only that, she has also had a hard time coloring a picture to make it look like it would in reality, like a tree with a brown trunk or green leaves. Instead the tree would end up with all black colored so that you really can’t make out it was a tree to begin with… and she liked it that way! Now, hear me say this, I’m not complaining – REALLY, I’m not! I love that she has her own ideas of how things should be. She is a very independent thinker! (And God, please, please!, may that work out in YOUR favor!) But I’ve had this thought that she needs to know how to color to be successful in kindergarten. I don’t exactly know why. And I’ve also known that if I pushed her to color “right”, she would continue to bulk at the idea. So about week ago I challenged her. I told her, “I don’t think you can color without going out of the lines.” I listened carefully (without looking at her) to see how she would take this. I knew she’d either agree with me (dead end) or she’d decide that she could and show me! I’m SO GLAD that she chose the latter. It really was a gamble on my part. The second part to coloring “right” was thinking about what color should be given to each item being colored. I casually pointed out a couple of days ago that each thing in the picture could be a different color and that she could try to make each thing look like it would “for real” if she wanted. And that was all it took! And that, my friends, is how we went from this:

To this:

I also figured out this week that Madelyn REALLY doesn't like it when I tell her that she has done a "great job!". Wow... I've been saying this about everything since she was a baby... so I've been trying to stop and instead say things like, "That is beautiful!" or "Way to go!". It's been hard but I'm seeing a big difference in how she is responding to it! Thank you, God, for this marvelous insight into my daughter!

a bea-UUUUU-tiful day!

Yesterday was just gorgeous! God really blessed us with a great day... short-sleeves were on order!

Here are the kids taking time for one of their favorite pasttimes. They LOVE to "read" (or make up stories to a book's pictures)! And they really do get along enough sometimes to do it TOGETHER!

After dinner, we made smores. And those of us that finished our dinner (unfortunately Greyson didn't) took part in this tasty treat. I tried to tell Greyson that he was going to miss out on something really good but I guess he didn't believe me until we started eating ours. It was really hard, but as a parent, I stood my ground!

The wind was starting to pick up and the cool air was returning. We noticed that the smoke from the chiminea was going up and heading straight back to ground. Ben said that Native Americans say this predicts rain. I guess they are right because the rain came in today. And boy, did the earth around us need it! Everything is looking much more green today!

Holy Sexuality

Today I went a women's seminar on .... holy sexuality(, Batman! - this is what I add in my head every time I say these words! :) It was put on by the church where I attend a Mom's group. I found the topic very interesting and very timely for me. I think it is very interesting that people equate the word sexuality with the word sex. Sexuality is NOT JUST sex. It is what makes a person not the other gender. Most obviously, it is the organs that make them the gender they are, but it also the way God made us man and woman. Men and women have God-given differences in the way we are made-up. Our physiology is different - from the size our brains are and the way we use them to the way that our eyes literally focus. Our hormones are different - women have different hormone levels about every week of the month while men's hormone levels stay MUCH more stable. Our temperments are different - women are more nuturing and empathetic and men are more protecting and conquering. We even experience relationships differently - women find it easier to love, while men find it easier to respect. And SO MUCH MORE! Today, I have decided to embrace my womanhood more tightly and experience what it has to offer me. I am proud to be the WOMAN that God made me to be! And I have so much to learn....

Today's Science Lesson

Ever trace your shadow and then go back later to see how your shadow has changed? We did that today and the kids thought it was neat. The sun has been bright and beautiful the last couple of days. So much so that Greyson got a little pink on his head yesterday and Madelyn got some sun on her legs today. Looks like the sunblock needs to be entered back into our daily routine.

While we were waiting for the sun to move, Madelyn was playing a mean game of hopscotch. It so nice to have another "room" to play in!

I was also excited to get started on the strawberry patch today. I tilled it up to get it ready for planting, hopefully tomorrow or Sunday. I know that we won't get any strawberries this year but they will ready to go for next year! Yea!!

Music Suggestions Needed!

I have been a "member" of Sound and Spirit (a BMG music club) for about 15 years. Being a member has been free with moderate music discounts from time to time. I have wondered how that worked for them. Well, I guess not well, since they are dissolving that club and starting another called mymusic.com. This one will have a monthly subscription and a free CD every month. Since Ben and I get most of our music from Zune Pass (since Ben has a Zune MP3 player), we won't be joining that club. However, I have 12 FREE CDs(!!!) that I need to claim before they close down Sound and Spirit. They have given me until May 31st to do this and then my freebees are gone. I am excited about getting some new music but.... I'm stumped! I have NO IDEA what's new and great in music out there!!! Help! I have been out of the loop for far too long!

Please leave me names of people and bands that you love.

Don't worry about whether you think I'll love them or not. I will listen to each a little before I decide to buy. But PLEASE help me!

Spring is HERE!

Greyson is loving his "hand-me-down" bike. It is a GREAT thing that Madelyn wanted a green and blue bike a couple years ago because it suits Greyson *perfectly*! He loves riding up and down the driveway even though he routinely gets stuck where he can't get enough leverage on the pedals. Just a little push is all he needs though and he is off again! It is wonderful that it is finally warm enough outside for him to get out and enjoy it!

Mr. Golden Sun

I *so* can't wait for the warmer days that are coming! It just seems like FOREVER since we've been able to go outside without asking the question, "what coat should I wear?" We are ready for Mr. Golden Sun! (which is a song that Madelyn learned at preschool and has been singing :) I'm ready for days in the yard, gardening or playing chase or hide-and-seek. I'm ready for trips to the park or wading pool. Ahhh.... just thinking about it makes me smile :)

And here is a similar pic without the sunglasses for you to enjoy....

Book Club Report

December Book/Beth M's Pick:
Strong at the Broken Places by Richard M. Cohen
I had a hard time reading this book. It is about people with chronic diseases and the hardships they endure. It didn't draw me in and it was fairly depressing.... It quit about 125 pages in.


Took January off


February Book/Candy's Pick:
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
This book wasn't a easy read but I found it eye-opening. It is about a man that bonded with a village in Pakistan and then returned many times to build schools for children in that village and many others. It was amazing to read about a man that had a passion for something and made it happen. He reach out to these people by coming to them and befriending them, rather than forcing change upon them. His goal was more about finding what they desired to better their communities than dictating what he thought they needed. It was also interesting to read this book while keeping in mind what is going on in that part of the world currently.


March Book/Korrie's Pick:
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
I didn't finished this one either. I'm not a fan of how it is written and the story is too much for me. It seems far-fetched and not all that interesting to me. I do know that it is about the family history of a hermaphrodite and set mostly in Detroit.

The Easter Spoils

Ben and I decided that we can't continue to spoil the kids every time a holiday comes around. This year we coordinated gifts with GaGa (who was planning on sending gifts anyway) and got it down to this. We really want to be intentional about teaching the REAL meaning behind the holidays we celebrate, yet we don't want to take away the fun either! I think we did well hitting on a good balance this year. They loved their new things but didn't seem so overtaken by *stuff* to forget that what we are celebrating.

You'll see a little New York sprinkled in the spoils. My sister now lives on Manhattan Island and my Mom (GaGa) picked up some souvenirs for the kids while she was there visiting. Madelyn loved her snow globe and Greyson was trying to hit "homeruns" with his NY Yankees little ball and bat as soon as he saw it! Madelyn was also crazy about her new nail polish and and Greyson about his bubbles and shovel. (I hope he's ready to help pull sod up for a new strawberry patch!)

Then I just had to put this picture in to show Greyson's skills in levitation. Okay, maybe it's Ben skills in photography. Greyson was enjoying putting this ball on his shovel, popping it up in the air, and then trying to catch it back on the shovel again. He was pretty good at it too! I think we might have a little sportsman on our hands here...

Thank you, God, for sending your Son to die for us. Thank you for guiding us in bringing up *your* children. Thank you for your love, grace, and mercy.

Easter Photo Op

Okay, I admit that I'm not a good photographer, but I thought I'd share these photos. I don't think the photos are great but I love what is in them!! Plus, this is a good way to show off the dress that I announced earlier, too.

New Life

Saturday we had an egg hunt (the plastic kind with candy inside) in the back yard. We started inside reading a kids' book, The Story of Easter by Patricia A Pingry (thanks Mom!). It talks about how spring brings Easter, which is a time to remember Jesus and what He did for us. It is a great and simplistic introduction to a complex story. Anyway, when we were done we talked about how Jesus died and when He came back to life, that allowed us to have "new life". Then we talked about eggs and how when eggs are laid by chickens that they are new life too. And that is why we have an Easter egg hunt. (This was the fun part that they were waiting for!) So, off they went for the hunt!

They both did really well finding the eggs. And they love that now have a new stash of candy since the Valentine's candy was pretty much gone!

Then, of course, we had to let them pick an egg to help themselves too...

Sushi and an Easter dress too

Ben and I got some kidless time today! WooHoo! Not that we don't love our children, sometimes we just need some time to be able to converse and connect without them around. All you parents out there know what I mean, right? We used the excuse that Ben was taking me out for dinner for my birthday (which was almost a month ago). But since we haven't been out for a nice meal since before that, I guess it was a pretty good excuse! We went to our favorite all-you-can-eat sushi place. Such good sushi and plenty of it! [Sidenote: this made me think of Christina and Brandon's visit a couple of years ago. I think this was the last time we went to this sushi bar... we don't get out much anymore!] Anyway, before the sushi, we went shopping, specifically clothes shopping. I had asked for a business casual outfit for my birthday and I wanted a new dress for celebrating Easter too. First we went to Old Navy. Nothing seemed to catch my eye. Then we went to this great consignment stop - TurnStyle. Wow! Everywhere I turned there was something that I wanted! I got a pair of slacks (Mel's got slacks...on the boulevard), capris, a couple tops, and two church dresses for a great deal! I don't think I've ever been to a consignment shop before. I was very impressed by the layout, the selection, and the prices. I think I'll be going back when I find something else that I "need".

Now, to start thinking about an Easter egg hunt, baskets, outfits, service but most of all how to work in the REAL meaning of Easter. Maybe I feel the budding of a family tradition coming on...

Full Plate

I haven't forgotten about you guys! I'm off doing too many things in too short a time. This is my second night up past midnight just trying to get done what needs to be done. A lot of boring stuff (mostly financial stuff) but I *am* working on that dress that I mentioned a few days ago too. I think it is turning out great! Madelyn had a fitting this morning and she didn't want to take it off. I guess that is a good sign.... All I have left now is hemming the bottom and putting the ribbon on the waist. I have been amazed at how long it is has taken me though. I'm just not a throw-it-together kinda girl. I'm telling you, I've tried! It's just not in me!

Well, tomorrow I need to mail our state taxes and do some cleaning in the morning and then Ben and I are going to take in an afternoon together. I'm looking forward to that! Thanks Beth and Joel for watching the kids for us!

Oh, a funny thing Madelyn did today that I want to get down - Ben and the kids were doing "knock, knock" jokes (the really bad, "whatever comes to mind" kind) and the following happened:
Madelyn: knock, knock
Ben: who's there
Mad: banana
Ben: banana who
Mad: banana bread (long pause) MOM! We should make banana bread!

It was like she just said "bread" to finish the joke and then was struck by the fact that she needed banana bread RIGHT NOW! Okay, maybe not so funny in writing, but Ben and I laughed harder than we have in a while... Then, of course, they wanted to recreate it *over* and *over*! And Greyson was so cute saying "ba-nay-nee bed".

Okay, time to find my pillow. Night-night.

Coupon $avings

Sometime in the past year (I really don’t remember when), I started cutting coupons. I didn’t realize then that cutting coupons takes discipline! I was cutting everything out that looked interesting. Then I was going to the store and not comparing the product that the coupon was for to the competing and off brand products. Oops…I could tell soon that this strategy was *not* $aving me much! I ended up spending on things we wouldn’t normally buy (although tasty and fun) and usually spending more than what I would have spent because I bought what the coupon was for. Hmmmm… it was time to revamp my strategy. So I did.

Now I cut only coupons for product that we already use or need and then still compare the after-coupon price to similar product prices. Okay, this might have seemed obvious and common sense to most. And I think that I always knew these things. But somewhere along the way I was “gotten” by the coupon advertising and, because I am trying to save time, I didn’t take the time to do the comparative shopping. Bad idea. My new strategy is actually $aving us more and is pretty simple to do… that is, when you are going to only one or two stores to buy your food and household products! I have found that going to multiple stores can $ave you more but can make it much more complicated and time-consuming! (An upcoming post on that soon!)

Siblings

It has been so wonderful watching Madelyn and Greyson grow up and grow together. I don't think I really knew how much staying home would change the way we interact with each other. We all know each other very well. Specifically, Madelyn and Greyson have gotten to be so close. They know when something is wrong with the other and how best to soothe. They tell each other secrets and laugh all the time. They fight over toys that they don't want to share really well too! :) I'm think that this time together, without much else in the way, will forge a deep and lasting friendship. I'm excited to see it shaping right in front of me and looking forward to seeing it grow more and more over the years!

In Progress

When I was working as an engineer I would have on my status report, such-and-such is "in progress". What was nice about that was eventually those things that were "in progress" would get the classification "complete". I feel like everything in my life right now is perpetually "in progress" and not destined for a "complete" classification. I know, I know, that is normal for a SAHM, but COM'ON! I need a "complete" on my status report! Okay, enough whining, time to get something done...

Goodbye, Uncle Jeff

We received some sad, but not unexpected, news today. Ben's Uncle Jeff passed away about 3pm this afternoon at the very young age of 49. He had been very sick with cancer for at least a year. He was a very kind man and always doted on our kids when we visited Arkansas for Thanksgiving. Over the past year, Madelyn has talked about Uncle Jeff quite a bit ever since we got a call saying that he was in the hospital VERY, VERY sick. She has prayed for him often, asking God to make him better. This picture is where she was able to sit with Uncle Jeff this last Thanksgiving. He had been released from the hospital and was able to join us in celebrating. Madelyn loved sitting with him, talking, singing, hugging, and playing. We also thanked God for making Uncle Jeff better that day and many other days too.


I also pulled these pictures out of the depths of our picture archives. They were taken at Ben's sister's wedding. I think this was the second time that Uncle Jeff was able to meet Madelyn. She is about 6 months and loving every minute she spent with him! It is one of the snapshots in time that I will never forget because I remember her belly laughing and just being entraced by Uncle Jeff. We will miss you, Uncle Jeff....

"Stay Up Day"

Madelyn has ALWAYS been an amazing napper. Heavy, long, restful naps. At 4 years old, she still takes 2-3 hour naps every day... that is until a couple of weeks ago. She was having trouble sleeping every day and I decided that maybe it was time to start weaning the naps. Most likely she will be going to every day, all day kindergarten next year and she isn't going to be able to get the same amount or quality nap in there! I guess it is time. So, she and I made a deal - she can have "stay up day" on Tuesday and Thursday and all the other days are still nap days. She happily agreed! Well, today I gave her the choice to stay up or go take a nap. Of course, she said she wanted to stay up but before I knew it she was "resting" on the couch (her words). Then while I left the room to go do something, I came back to her sleeping. I didn't mind. In fact, I applaud her for laying down when she was tired and getting some shut-eye (about 2 hours of it!). It was funny when she woke up though. She informed me, "No, mama, I was not asleep! I know because I had my eyes open!" Oh, really!

And I came across this picture of when Madelyn and I were planting our seedlings for this year's garden. She did a great job helping me get the soil moistened, filling the pots, and then adding the seeds. She loved it too. I hope that she'll love pulling the weeds too!

Easter dress, comin' right up!

I have the pattern, the ribbon, the bows, the thread... now all I need is the time to get the dress done... I hope to have WILL have it done in time! (it just might be Saturday night before Easter...) I will make sure to get a couple of pictures to share when it is done. Hopefully I can get a good one of it on the intended patron. She is excited that it is pink and has "easter eggs" on it. That's a plus. I am modifying the pattern a bit. Instead of doing a gathered skirt, I'm going to attempt a ... what would you call it... an "A-line" skirt? Oh, I don't know what it is called. Just one that isn't gathered at the waist and twirls well (one of Madelyn's favorite things in the *whole world*!). Then I'm gonna attempt 3/4 length sleeves. All of this is a gamble. I hope that it comes out okay. Really, I hope that it comes out great and Madelyn loves it! We'll see....

Wordless Wed: Enjoying Painting Time