After Twelve Years of Marriage…

Marriage

…I am happy to report that I am still madly in love with my husband.  He’s the one in a crowded room I most want to talk to.  He’s the one who makes me smile when our eyes meet.  He’s certainly the most handsome.  His words of “You look beautiful” far outweigh the same words from anyone else (even if he might be biased).

He is an amazing father.  I’m thankful beyond words that HE is the one God gave me to partner with in raising these three Littles.  When I have nothing left to give them, I don’t have … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: August 3, 2011

Wednesday Wit

Eli: Ada, guess what.  At school we saw the play “Beauty and the Beast” and the Beauty kisses the Beast!
Grace: Ewww, that’s just scary gross.
Ada: Well we got to go see Princesses on Ice!  Eli, you should have come!
Grace: Yeah Eli, we got to have cotton candy!  Boys can come too, you know.
Eli: I know, because there’s terrorists.

Ada: I want to listen to the Chicken Dance!
Me: I said you could when we’re on the way home.
Ada: But I’m not patient.
I wish you could have … Read the rest

My TV & Movie Soapbox

Parenting

Disclaimer: This is not written with a heart of judgment, but rather defending the choices in our family.  I’m feeling the need to stand up for the parents’ right and responsibility to choose what their children watch.

I’ve gotten comments before from acquaintances and even people I don’t really know about the fact that my kids are easily scared of movies, and refuse to go to the theater.  In fact, when they saw a preview for Kung Fu Panda 2, Eli said, “I can’t wait til that comes out on DVD!”  They just can’t handle a giant black room … Read the rest

I Lost My Little Girl

Kids, Parenting

We went to Pine Lake Saturday afternoon for about three hours and had a lot of fun.  Well, the ten or so minutes where we couldn’t find Ada weren’t so fun.  In the shallow part of the lake there are two kids’ slides.  Chad and I were in the water watching the kids go down the slides over and over again.  Then Chad said, “Where’s Ada?”  I looked around, not worried, this happens all the time when you’re out-numbered.  But as the seconds passed my worry grew.  Chad got out of the water and looked around the slides.  He looked … Read the rest

Camp Lakewood

Kids

Grace went to Camp Lakewood last week with our church for the first time.  This camp is for kids going into 3rd-5th grade.  She was one of the youngest and I swear she was the smallest.  She was “excited and nervous” about leaving us for 5 days (and even bigger, 5 nights!), but decided she would do it.  We went shopping for everything she would need, bought fun things to make it even more exciting and special, and didn’t talk about it too much if we saw the nervous part gaining a grip on the excited part.

We drove her … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: July 27, 2011

Wednesday Wit

Ada: When I get to heaven I will see Jesus.
Erin: That’s right!
Ada: And I’ll ask Him for a magic lamp with a genie.  A girl genie.
It’s a work in progress.

Ada: I want a ponytail.
Me: I don’t think it’s long enough, honey.
Ada: Well it’s almost long enough, and almost long hair is perfect for a ponytail.
I can’t even tell you how often we call her “our little problem-solver”

Eli: I haven’t had bacon this good in like, three years!
Good old Oscar Meyer.… Read the rest

Stop Bickering!

Parenting

Yes, we have reached the tipping point of summer vacation where my children bicker non-stop.  It truly drives me insane.  Yesterday they were whining that it was “rest day” (um…. it’s Biblical!!!), which also means no Wii, and they would not stop.  So I gave them an activity to do – clean their rooms.  I thought it was a great idea, they disagreed.  Nobody’s room is any cleaner, but it got them away from each other for about 45 minutes.

I try to have one outing a day in the summer so we get out but aren’t crazy busy.  This … Read the rest

My Ada

Kids

At work today, I was preparing the media for Sunday and I came across some Father’s Day Quotes from two years ago.  I found this little gem from Ada:

Question: Why did God make dads?
Ada: Because God makes people.

She was three.  Three.  She’s so logical and literal.  For a long time she wouldn’t name her stuffed animals or dolls because “they’re just toys”.  Other kids answered this question with things like: To help us, and To teach us, and To love us.  Not Ada.  And she is just quick.  She has an answer for everything.  Even when
… Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: July 20, 2011

Wednesday Wit

Grace: It’s not like you’re a boy, and you want to be a chef, and POOF! you’re a chef.  It takes a lot of practice.

Eli: I had a nightmare last night.
Ada: Don’t worry, it’s just a pretend scary picture in your head.

Ada was at a friend’s house, they didn’t know what they were in for…
Ada: You’re interrupting me again.  Do you know what interrupting is?  It’s when someone is talking, then you talk at the same time.  It’s impolite.  You have to take turns talking.

Ada: Eww!  My arm pit is… … Read the rest

My Balancing Act

Parenting

Grace is at camp this week.  All week.  Five nights.  I sort of thought this would make our home life a breeze.  She and Eli are the two that fight the most, so if she is removed from the equation things will be easier, right?  I’m not sure anymore.  Today we need to get groceries.  I’m already thinking this won’t be so bad, I only have TWO kids to take with me instead of THREE!  Already less work.  I’m ready to get on it. But the TWO at home are slow and whiny and don’t want to get dressed.  Really? … Read the rest