Finally Friday!!

This week has been a slow picture week with sick kiddos. Here are some shots taken by hubby- love the cool shots he takes from various perspectives. Enjoy the weekend!

The Doctor Is In!

We have had a few sick kids lately.....multiple trips to the doctor and multiple rounds of medicine for two of them. This is not suprising given the number of kids we have and their young ages. Anyhow, today our 13 month old has been running a temperature all day. I never like to see my kids hurt or not feeling well, but their is such joy in your child wanting you to comfort them....to hold them, rub their back and hug them while they sit quitely on your lap. Well tonight my hubby had the stethoscope out to listen to Sparkler's lungs. When he finished Bottle Rocket asked if he could listen to his own heart. This led to him "assessing" his brothers, sister, dada and of course the stuffed crocodile! We were thrilled being in the health field ourselves. A few minutes into the endeavor we heard Bottle Rocket tell Smoke Bomb that Mr. Crocodile had "lajitis". How cute! All our medical and health jargon is wearing off on the kids! Score one point for mama and dada!

Finally Friday!!

Happy New Year!

CONGRATULATIONS!

I am so excited for my sister and (official!) future brother-in-law! They became engaged this afternoon and we are very happy for both of them. I had to keep it a secret for 3 weeks! I have never had to keep a secret that long, much less from my sister who can read me like a book. However, I was very thankful that her fiance included me in the anticipation! In fact, he called me right after he purchased the ring weeks ago and even emailed me pictures of the ring! It was hard, but I kept mums the entire time! He even dropped her hints that I knew, but I stood firm! I also knew that he had been to ask our Mom and Dad for her hand in marriage on Christmas Eve. And then my sister and her fiance spent Christmas Eve with our family! That was hard! He did keep the "official" date a secret which was neat. It was quite exciting to receive her phone call this afternoon- she is the happiest I have seen her in her life. You two are a great match and I wish you many years of happiness and love! Can't wait till the wedding..........!!!!!

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

Tonight Smoke Bomb and Bottle Rocket were playing in their room upstairs when Smoke Bomb "accidentally" ran into a door jam with a toy in his hand. He had apparently hit his eye and from what we could tell probably scratched it. He was alright- we put ice in it and drops in his eye. Dada decided to have him wear a patch for awhile and Smoke Bomb protested right away. A few minutes later Bottle Rocket was overheard telling him that "it would be cool to wear a patch and they could pretend to be pirates together". Even Fire Cracker chimed in and said he would wear a patch. Bottle Rocket had not been solicited to get Smoke Bomb to wear the patch. He just knew it would help his little brother feel better. How cool! I went up to switch the laundry and when I came back, Dada, with his wonderous creative ideas, had fashioned eye patches for everyone. He dug out the left over leather from our couch, garden ties for the tomato plants and whipped them up in a matter of minutes. How clever! And Smoke Bomb had gone from "not going to wear it" to "where is mine". We all put the patches on and Smoke Bomb's eye had a nice break from any strain! Thanks Bottle Rocket and Dada for making the experience fun.
Pulling together as a family is what it's all about!

What is that in Fire Cracker's Playdough?

I am not sure, but I seriously think there is a limit to the number of things you can find in a 2 year old's playdough. I mean Crayola makes plenty of kits with tools and toys for playdough. Of course Fire Cracker does not prefer to use those, of which we have plenty. He prefers to use his own creativity. I love that he thinks "outside the box"! At least he knows not to eat the playdough. The downside is that he likes to feed the dogs playdough! Here is a list - no joke - of the things I/we have found in his playdough since Christmas morning. They are not just on the playdough either, they were embedded in the playdough!

1. lego(s)
2. miniature race cars
3. the motor for Smoke Bomb's Snaptricity set
4. the connectors from Bottle Rocket's Snap Circuit set
5. the lid to a bottle of water
6. the lamp socket for Snaptricity
7. a whistle
8. crayons

Out of the mouths of babes!

Conversation in our car today after Bottle Rocket had attended "big" church with us:

Mama: "Bottle Rocket, what does Pastor T say we all need?"
Bottle Rocket: "A Savior" (pretty good, he was listening in church!)
Mama: "Right, great work"
Smoke Bomb: "Maybe we can go out and get one tomorrow!"
Dada: "Smoke Bomb, we already have a Savior, named Jesus"
Smoke Bomb: "Oh yeah"

Good Times

Do You Know HIM?

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger". Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests".
- Luke 2:8-14


Merry CHRISTmas!

I'll Pass On The Energy Drink, But Thanks

It is 2 days out from Christmas. You would think from our kids that it IS Christmas already! You would also think that we gave our kids a (an) energy drink to start the day, then one with lunch and another for afternoon snack! They are "super-duper" excited and letting everyone know it! We were in the pediatricians office today and ran into the kids regular pediatrician (who is SO AWESOME!). He said he was sure the kids were "hard to contain at this point" for CHRISTmas. I agreed with him 100%! I quickly remarked that I had a new-found respect for my own parents. I mean it is challenging to keep up with all the excitement, questions and ants in the pants. But honestly it really is quite funny and fun to watch! It is also hard to believe that this Christmas excitement seems to grow each year. Fast forward 5 years with 4 kids and the excitement level it gets to is unimaginable!! I will need my own Monkey Joes to contain them at that point! We are enjoying each moment and making lasting memories. We are truly blessed to have 4 healthy, happy and "high-strung at the moment" children! Better run......there is a bunch of singing and dancing going on in the den. Merry CHRISTmas!