what to do with broken crayons no one will use

A fun project for this week. I'm excited.

our butterflies

are dead, but we enjoyed watching them grow in our butterfly garden

need I say more?

My sister...

is a cooking genius! I'm definitely not a cooking genius, but I love to cook too and in honor of our shared interest, we've launched a cooking blog. It's all about what we're making for dinner. She's providing the adventurous recipes and I'm providing the kid-oriented ones. Well, it probably won't be that cut and dry, but check it out here.

something funny

the warm weather is here

more fun

ABCs and 123s

If you have kids and you like They Might Be Giants even a little bit, you've got to check these videos out. They're on youtube, but I think we'll need to buy the DVD/CD combo sets sometime soon. Thanks to Michelle for reminding me about these last night. Now I'm wondering how we could get the whole family to a concert somewhere.

Check this out. It's part funny, part true, part offensive. Click on it to enlarge and read he text this is a Good Housekeeping article from 1955 and I've had it emailed to me a few times.

What I do like about it is that it encourages wives to put their husbands first. What I don't like is the underlying assumption that husbands shouldn't be expected to lift a finger or that men are somehow superior to women. Obviously, some of the comments are a little over the top. You can't help but laugh at most of it. Thankfully, I have a husband who sacrifices himself daily for me and for our kids. He's very helpful and doesn't get bent out of shape about our cluttered house, because he knows I'm doing my best.

today

This week was Matt's spring break and we just wrapped up our restful week with a very busy work day at our house. I'm lacking the mental power to explain it all, so I'll just say that I'm so grateful for the generosity of the folks who came to share their labor today. We are so blessed with great friends.

And on top of all of this, it's Easter weekend. In all of the hustle to get the house ready for the work day and keep the work day running, I've had no time to reflect or to share the Easter story with the kids again. Even though the kids got to bed late tonight, I kept them up just a bit longer to tell the Easter story to them. I tried to tell it simply, though that's hard to do with certian details. I told them more about how Jesus suffered than I've ever shared with them and thankfully, instead of squirming and being silly, they took it all in and listened with thoughtful eyes. At one point, when I told them about Jesus' loved ones standing close to him as he died, Dana's eyes welled up with tears. He said, "Mommy? Was His mommy so sad?" He wiped his eyes and I couldn't help crying with him. Dana's only 6, but he knows what it cost Jesus to die that horrible death. Thankfully the story doesn't end there and we were able to talk about Jesus coming to life again with a new body, just like we will some day. You know, even with the diaper changes, messy bath times, stomach viruses, and sleepless nights it's my joy to be their mommy and there's little in this world that compares with watching their eyes light up with love for Jesus. And as I bumble through the daily tasks that make up my life with them I'm clinging to the power that Jesus showed when He conquered death and saved us from ourselves. I don't have it all together and my crazy messy house stands as a testament to that. I need my Savior and I'm so glad He lives.

Matt updated our mac from tiger to leopard and now I can't upload pictures to my blog or to anything else... we're working on it, but I have a feeling that there won't be much progress until after Spring break. Both of us are teaching Sunday school this quarter and Matt's finishing up a seminary class and taking an exam.

So no pictures. But, I'll leave you with this fabulous quote from Dana.

I'm ironing in the kitchen and Dana says (as if I'm the child and he's the Daddy), "Wow, Mommy! You're ironing! Good for you!"

Dems haven't given up on FOCA, St. Louis Catholic hostpitals discuss civil disobedience and the possibility of closing their doors

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/religion/story/E6E47067257DB95E862575710014DD57?OpenDocument

joy in the little things

Clara ate a whole English muffin this morning and she's been much easier to handle so far. I know that God worked through our friends and family's prayers, because today feels so much more hopeful and calm. Jonathan even sat happily in his baby swing while I made breakfast, which never happens, even on a good day. Over the past few nights, this bedtime song of ours has been bringing tears to my eyes. I'm sure you know it well, but it's especially sweet to me right now.

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me, this I know
for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
they are weak,
but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.

When my little ones are sick, really sick, the only true comfort to me is knowing that they belong to Him and that He's far stronger and wiser than me. And I'm so thankful at times like these that He works through our neighbors and loved ones to care for Clara and for me. The bonds of the body of Christ are really beautiful to witness, even when it's shown through a phone call or a small act of kindness.

a little discouraged

We've been to the ER twice this week and it's only Tuesday. Yesterday Clara had a fever over 105 and she's been struggling with vomitting and diarrhea. Her fever is gone today and she's doing better, but we're fighting to keep her hydrated and she's been a bit of a tyrant to care for. I'll be honest. I'm wiped out and really weary of the whole thing, but I know things may get worse and I'm trying to steel myself against the possibility of Jonathan or one of the other kids catching this. I'm praying and praying about this, but I know God is good despite the worst case scenario. If you think of it, will you pray for us? I need the grace to get through tomorrow and I would so love to see Clara all better. I hate to see her laid low and miserable and I really don't want to go through this with anyone else.

Four Months

Just read a helpful link about introducing solids to breastfed infants. It's been on my mind lately and I think this time I'm going to try something different. I've always struggled to maintain a decent milk supply into the later months of my baby's first year and so I'm going to hold off on the solids for a bit. I'm going to try to feed him more often during the morning hours and wait until he's clearly reaching for our food to introduce any solids. For a number of reasons, this just feels right for me and for him.

On a side note, Clara Joy is beginning to recover from a horrible 24 hour stretch of vomiting and nausea on top of the chest cold that's been lingering for far too long. Can Spring come quickly enough? I'm praying that no one else gets it and that we can enjoy some blissful good health soon. In the meantime, we're hibernating with some redbox movies and plenty of clear liquids. Peace and health to you and yours.

momentary truce?? ;)

just a little shot from the aquarium today

wherein my blog begins to be more than just text

Well folks, I finally have a camera and even though it's not the one I was drooling over, it's here. AND, just to prove that I can post a photo still, I'll post a picture, demonstrating the effects of no sleep and a lousy cough (and a slightly crooked smile, what's that about?). Lovely circles under the eyes, eh?



Since that wasn't really blogworthy or incredibly interesting, here are a few others from our first day with the new camera...

deal

"Diapers are on sale up to 20% off at diapers.com

And if you use the coupon code THAT2215 you get $10 off, FREE 2-day shipping, and NO SALES TAX

I just wanted to share, I’m sure there are other mommies out there who could use a good deal!"

Saw this on craigslist this morning. Enjoy!

sigh

headache, swollen glands, sore throat... let the fun begin. I think I'll have a cup of hot tea and wade my way through some laundry piles that are mocking me.

The house is a mess, but why not make another one? ;)

I want to make this.