Mom......

I thought it would be fun to share the things my kids ask me or say to me throughout our day. Frequently!!!

Asha: "Mom, what's for dinner?", "Mom, Luke just hit me!", "Mom, where are you?".

Luke: "Mom, watch me go Superman fast!", "Mom, can I jump on your bed?", "Mom, where is my.....", "Mom, can I help you in the kitchen?", "Mom, can we go to the park?", "Mom, how much longer until...." (he is a boy of many words!).

Lana: "Mom, can you put my hair in a pony tail?" (she is a girl a few words).

Jeffrey: "Ma ma, watch watch!", "Ma ma, rock a boy." (meaning he wants me to rock with him on the rocking chair), "Ma ma, mint? banana? cheese? cookie? peas..... (meaning anything please)!!!!!"

Got to love all the sweet little things they say...even though some days it can drive me crazy! =)

Friendship

When I think of friendship I think of the Micheal W. Smith song, "And a friends a friend forever..." (now I actually joke about that song). But, I remember going to a Michael W. Smith concert in college and singing this song as I held hands with my dear college friends. Those were the days. Now that I'm married and have four kids, friendships with my girlfriends have changed a little. Friendships seem to take a bit more work. Time is an issue as I juggle life with four small children. But it is all worth it! Friendships are so important - and I realize each year how much I need those friends! I have special friends that go back to when I was in 1st grade to friendships with people that I just met a few months ago. Each different, each with challenges and blessings.

Today I was reading in a book that shared about an extraordinary friendship (I will type it below). It really made me think more about my friendships. Would I be willing to go out on a limb for them. This is the kind of friendship each of us desire. Right?

"I heard of a story of a young soldier in World War 1 who asked his officer to allow him to go out into the no-man's-land between the trenches. He wanted to bring back one of his comrades who lay grievously wounded. "You can go," said the officer, "but it's not worth it. Your friend is probably dead, and you will throw your own life away." But the man went. Somehow he managed to get to his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder, and bring him back to the trenches. The two of them tumbled in together and lay at the bottom.

The officer looked very tenderly at the would-be-rescuer, and then he said, "I told you it wouldn't be worth it. Your friend is dead, and you are mortally wounded."

"It was worth it, though sir," the soldier said.

"How do you mean, 'worth it'? I tell you, your friend is dead."

"Yes, sir," the boy answered, "but it was worth it because when I got to him he was still alive, and he said to me, 'Jim, I knew you'd come!'"

 

Forever Friends!

Listen to this!

This is what I sound like when I sing in the shower. Ha ha!! =)

Some Girl Time

 

It is so fun having girls (most of the time)! Today the girls and I painted our nails blue! It is in remembrance of the Nittany Lions! Go Penn State! In case you didn't know, that is where Matt and I met. A very special place in our hearts! =)

Innocence

 

Isn't this a picture of innocence? My sweet Lana who thinks the world is made of pigtails and purses. Who is content to play with dolls or blocks all day. Who sits on my lap listening to books and pointing out who she wants to be. Whose only concern is if heaven will have pretty clothes or not. I struggle often with wanting to keep my kids innocent forever, yet knowing I can't! My oldest daughter came home from school telling me of inappropriate things 1st grade boys are doing and saying in her class. I'm shocked because I can't believe this is already happening. I'm shocked at how much it causes me to hurt. I never thought I would want to protect my kids so much from the filth that is out there! Yet I am. I don't know if I'm ready for this. Ready or not....I have to face this tug! Lord, help me not to run or hide!

Crazy Red Juice

Last night we got out our juicer. We had gotten this juicer as a wedding gift, but sadly have only used it a handful of times. This week, though, I had a bunch of left over fruits and veggies that I needed to use up before they went bad. What better way to use them then to throw them all into the juicer! Here is what I added! We called it the CRAZY RED JUICE.

Cabbage
Spinach
Carrots
Kiwi
Beets (reason we called it RED)

WE actually all liked it! One way to get your kids to eat veggies! Check out the CRAZY RED JUICE on the kids!

 

 

 

 

The Shoe Room

We have a room next to our garage that we call our "shoe room". It holds shoes (obviously), coats, hats, and umbrellas. It is a wonderful little room, but oh so very ugly! In this room was a beast of a wooden work table. It was literally nailed to the wall. My dear sweet husband, who does not always enjoy doing projects around the house, denied himself and took it out for me! Not only did he do it well, but he got the kids involved! They loved it! See below pictures! Thanks Matt!

 

They have their hammers ready!

 

Whose that hot guy??

 

New Year's Resolutions or Inspirations

My sister gave me a book for Christmas called, "Lists to live by". Funny thing is, I really do keep a lot of lists. I have a list of things to do for the day, list of groceries I need to get, list of people I need to write to, and others. In this book one of the subjects was, "A list of four ways to grow old gracefully". Of course, I don't think I'm getting too old yet. Ha ha! But, I decided to use this as my New Year's Resolution, or better yet my New Year's Inspiration. Here is it:

1. Fear less; hope more.
2. Eat less; chew more. (I would add exercise more)
3. Talk less; say more. (I would add listen more)
4. Hate less; love more.

Oh, to be inspired to do this all year!!

Mater Obsession

My youngest son, Jeffrey, is obsessed with Mater (that's tuh-mater without the tuh) from the Cars Video. He hasn't completely watched the movie because he doesn't really watch t.v., but somehow he has fallen in love with Mater. Jeffrey has four Mater books that he asks us to read to him over and over and over and over. Literally I read them in my sleep! Then the other night he insisted on taking three of his Mater books to bed with him. He snuggled them under his arm like a teddy bear. When I went to check on him before I went to bed he was asleep ON his books. He is a very loyal kid, and I can see that by how loyal he has remained to Mater. If we ever can't find his mater books the world has really come to an end! Below is a picture of Matt reading one of the Mater books to Jeffrey before bed.