Zayden's 3 Month Photos

Our sweet prince...

{those eyes}

 {those rolls}

 {dashing sir}

Brother Buddies

My heart...

Puny Little Pony & Curly Girl Hair

Our curly headed girl loves to have her hair fashioned.  She's a bit divalicious with the hair and the dresses and the jewelry.  {Look out, Daddy!}

She's been begging for weeks for a pony like Natalee's.  I couldn't take it any longer and finally gave in today.  The front is still too short but the top was just long enough.  She's so proud and wore it all day.

 That wry little grin.  Be still my heart.

I thought she wanted it out, then realized after many tears that she didn't want the flower.  So then we had to put it back in sans flower.

 The "thank goodness you finally understood me" face.

We started the day with a headband before the ponytail, which she looked just as sweet in.  Mercy, I hope I don't teach her to be vain!

Sweet baby curls.  Xavier had curls like these and I was devastated when we had to cut them.  I'm glad Mia's can stay - I hope she keeps the curl!

We'll See You Again, Stryker!

After Stryker went Home to Jesus I began thinking that I needed to find a way to help our J.A.M. clubbers grieve for and pay tribute to his memory.  Grief is hard for children - shoot it's hard for me - and expressing it is important.  

When I say "I began thinking" what that really means is God began nudging me.  When God nudges you, there are two choices.  You see, He's so gracious that He almost always gives you two choices - to say "yes" or to say "no."  Saying "yes" to His nudging, in my experience, reaps less guilt over wondering if I missed something wonderful by saying no, and usually sends other blessings raining down over me.  I have also noticed, that when I'm following God's nudging, things tend to fall into place rather easily for whatever it is that He'd have me do.  I asked God what is was that I could do to help these J.A.M. children through their grief and the memorial balloon release just came to me.  Isn't that like Him?

It was beautiful.  And, as I said above, I was blessed.  Yes, it was loud.  80ish children + adults generally are loud.  But it was beautiful.  We had approximately 135 clubbers, parents, and church members there, and were additionally blessed to have Stryker's family attend.  Before we handed out balloons Pastor Billy spoke to the children on the story of David.  

David's son was sick, and while he was sick David fasted and prayed.  God did not heal David's son on earth but instead the baby died, and after he died David stopped the fasting and got dressed, resuming life a bit at a time.  Pastor Billy explained to the children that David was able to do this because he knew that his baby dying was not a forever good-bye.  It was simply a "see you later."  When we have the hope of Jesus and accept him into our hearts we know that we'll meet up again with our loved ones on the streets of heaven.  I tend to think of myself as a selfish human, and as such, I wanted to see Stryker healed and running in the mud here on earth, but as it was, God's plan for him was so much bigger.  Even if we had the option we wouldn't wish Stryker back from his most glorious residence - who would want to leave heaven!?  

Walking around, the messages that the children wrote to Stryker were so precious.  My own little girl drew a picture of two people on her balloon - Stryker holding the hand of Jesus. 

 There were tears, but sometimes there needs to be.  Tears are healing and wholesome and real.

So tonight, buddy Stryker, we don't say good-bye.  We are sad, yes, but we say "we'll see you again," sweet boy.

Until then, have a blast up there with Jesus in the sandboxes and mud puddles!

Solar System Unit Wrap-Up

We are wrapping up our unit on the universe.  What fun we've had and we've learned so much!  I say "we" because I learned just as much as the children, I think.  Natalee's knowledge has surpassed my own because she likes to read encyclopedias for fun and she knows random facts like Saturn has seven ring groups and Neptune has thirteen moons (things she spouted off to me today while we were doing our project and that I had to google just now to double check).

At the end of our Science book there was the dreaded super exciting "make a solar system model" project.  I knew it was coming.  I knew it needed to happen.  I mean truly, what fun is 36 lessons on the universe if you don't get to make a solar system at the end??  So, last week when we went to the fire expo and were in a city with a craft store, I went in, armed with my needed list of styrofoam ball and stick sizes, ready to find what I needed.  God smiled at me and, as I walked through the store, there in the middle aisle sat these boxes...

Well, well, well..$10 with a 40% off coupon.  I don't mind if I do.  {That was easy.}

It sat on the hutch all last week, waiting for Daddy, because Daddy enjoys these projects so much more than Mommy.  Alas, all of Daddy's spare time has been spent on the bathroom remodel and Mommy needed to step up to the plate, and so today we did it.  It actually wasn't too bad - the kids LOVED it, and it looks pretty neat.  I mean, painting with youngsters is painting with youngsters, but they did a good job.

I put the names of the eight main planets in a bowl and had the big kids take turns drawing them out so they knew what they were to paint.  It was the fairest way I could think to do it, and no one complained.  We gave little sister the sun and Pluto because we knew she'd be dying to be included.

I got out our Solar System resource book and the children were responsible for looking up their planets to see what colors they'd need to mix and use.

 Xavier was responsible for Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and Earth.

 Natalee was responsible for Uranus, Neptune, Mars, and Mercury.

Luckily the sun was large and took Ameliya a good long time.  She also painted her plate for awhile which kept her busy.

The kit also sent a ring to display the model in, which we aren't using because we're going to hang it, so Ameliya got to decorate it, also.

Waiting for them to dry...

The children did not appreciate the kit's suggestion of assembling the planets in a different way than the order they know them to be in.  Trying to explain to them that the stick length indicated the planet's order more so than the way they were arranged around the sun was fruitless.  To please them and their youthfulness, I obliged them and put the planets in "order." 

As soon as she saw big brother and sister holding the model and posing, here came little britches calling, "me, me, me."

I know you all wish you were going to have a solar system model hanging in your school room/dining room!

 

Next we start a 12 week unit on weather!  Natalee is so excited!

Valentine's Day

Despite chasing the sickness round and round I tried to do a little something for our kids on Valentine's Day.  I had this ready for them when Mike and the big kids got back from church.

A small candy treat, a Valentine, and an Usborne book of course!

I also left my honey a Valentine in the construction zone - because everyone needs lifted up when they are doing home repairs!