Tonight, my daughter Alyna, who is almost 4, was sitting at her little picnic table eating a snack. She turned around toward me and randomly said, "Mom, God is even in Strawberry Shortcake Land. God is everywhere," and she spread her arms out wide.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Luke 18:16-17
Thank you God for the creativity and imagination you have blessed us with. May we use it to grow our faith, and receive your kingdom.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Road Trip 2012 - Part 1, Headed East
20 days, 5 states, 4404 miles
Trip Outline - Hobbs, NM --> Keller, TX --> Columbia, TN --> Roanoke, VA--> Gordonsville,VA --> Virginia Beach, VA --> Gordonsville, VA --> Washington, DC --> Lexington, VA --> Columbia, TN --> Searcy, AR --> Gurdon, AR --> Hobbs, NM (home sweet home)
Day 1 - May 31, Just me and the kids, pack up and head out by 8:30 central time, 5 minutes later it was already 9:35 as we crossed the border from New Mexico into Texas.
We stayed in Keller, TX (suburb north of Fort Worth) that night with my cousin's family for the night. 30 minutes from her house we stopped at a Chick-fil-a because the weren't at their house yet. We played and ate ice cream.
5 minutes away from my cousin's house, Kellyn threw up. She's been known to get car sick since she was 4 months old, but had done much better not getting car sick since we moved her car seat to the middle where she can see out the windshield.
The next week when we were eating at Chick-fil-a again, I thought to check the ingredients of their ice cream. The cashier printed out a full list of ingredients on the cash register, and sure enough, whole eggs is listed in both the ice cream and the ice cream cone. So she wasn't car sick after all, it was her allergy to eggs that did it.
The kids had fun playing with their extended cousins, 2 girls of elementary school age. We also had dinner with my aunt and uncle who live in the area. It's always great to keep those family connections alive.
Day 2 - left my cousin's house at 8:30 central time, and drove through Arkansas to my parent's house in Columbia, TN (just south of Nashville).
The kids traveled great, and we made great time until we got stuck for an hour in construction on I-40 between Little Rock and Nashville.
My parents actually met us about 2 hours from thier home, so my mom could drive the rest of the way. Being tired from driving that far by myself with the kids, I didn't want to drive that last hour on the windy, hilly TN back highway in the dark, watching for deer.
Day 3 - Saturday, lazy day at Grandma's... it's so much fun to watch the kids play with the toys I grew up with. I love the old style of Fisher Price little people sets.
Day 4 - Sunday, church with Grandma and Grandpa, except I stayed home with Ryan who had a 100 degree fever all night. He seemed fine by lunch time.
Day 5 - play date at McDonald's in Spring Hill, TN with a friend of mine from college and her 5 year old boy. We mostly just keep in touch with Facebook, so it was fun to catch up face to face.
That evening, I went out shopping, and had dinner and a movie all by myself. It was nice to just go on my own schedule, and not have to take anyone else to the bathroom or share my food.
Day 6 - Nashville Zoo at Grassmere with Grandma - they had a dinosaur exhibit that scared the kids some, but that's what they still talk about from the zoo.
Here's how we traversed the zoo... double stroller with a hitch hiker board attached to the back for one of the big kids to stand on.
They also enjoyed seeing the elephants, giraffes, gibbons, and petting the goats.
Day 7, 8, and 9 - lazy days at Grandparents' house because the kids all had constant coughs. Grandpa got it too.
Day 10- Saturday, left at 8:30 am to drive to hotel in Roanoke, Virginia. Grandma rode with me in the van, and Grandpa followed behind in his car.
I had ridden through VA as a teenager, but never realized how beautiful it is there. The thick woods around everywhere give a small town feel even to the bigger cities.
We went to Panera Bread for dinner but found out that just about everything there that kids will eat has egg in it (breads and mac 'n cheese). So we left and went to a Cheddar's restaurant around the corner. It was delicious food, and had lots to order that Kellyn could eat.
Day 11 - played at a park, and then at the indoor play area at the mall in Charlottesville, VA wasting time until checkin at our resort later in the afternoon.
We did grocery shopping just before going to the resort and I cooked chili for all of our arriving family in our cabin.
Barry (my husband) flew into Charlottesville that night, and my brother-in-law graciously picked him up. The kids and I were very glad to have him with us on the rest of our adventure.
... To be continued...
Trip Outline - Hobbs, NM --> Keller, TX --> Columbia, TN --> Roanoke, VA--> Gordonsville,VA --> Virginia Beach, VA --> Gordonsville, VA --> Washington, DC --> Lexington, VA --> Columbia, TN --> Searcy, AR --> Gurdon, AR --> Hobbs, NM (home sweet home)
Day 1 - May 31, Just me and the kids, pack up and head out by 8:30 central time, 5 minutes later it was already 9:35 as we crossed the border from New Mexico into Texas.
We stayed in Keller, TX (suburb north of Fort Worth) that night with my cousin's family for the night. 30 minutes from her house we stopped at a Chick-fil-a because the weren't at their house yet. We played and ate ice cream.
5 minutes away from my cousin's house, Kellyn threw up. She's been known to get car sick since she was 4 months old, but had done much better not getting car sick since we moved her car seat to the middle where she can see out the windshield.
The next week when we were eating at Chick-fil-a again, I thought to check the ingredients of their ice cream. The cashier printed out a full list of ingredients on the cash register, and sure enough, whole eggs is listed in both the ice cream and the ice cream cone. So she wasn't car sick after all, it was her allergy to eggs that did it.
The kids had fun playing with their extended cousins, 2 girls of elementary school age. We also had dinner with my aunt and uncle who live in the area. It's always great to keep those family connections alive.
Day 2 - left my cousin's house at 8:30 central time, and drove through Arkansas to my parent's house in Columbia, TN (just south of Nashville).
The kids traveled great, and we made great time until we got stuck for an hour in construction on I-40 between Little Rock and Nashville.
My parents actually met us about 2 hours from thier home, so my mom could drive the rest of the way. Being tired from driving that far by myself with the kids, I didn't want to drive that last hour on the windy, hilly TN back highway in the dark, watching for deer.
Day 3 - Saturday, lazy day at Grandma's... it's so much fun to watch the kids play with the toys I grew up with. I love the old style of Fisher Price little people sets.
Day 4 - Sunday, church with Grandma and Grandpa, except I stayed home with Ryan who had a 100 degree fever all night. He seemed fine by lunch time.
Day 5 - play date at McDonald's in Spring Hill, TN with a friend of mine from college and her 5 year old boy. We mostly just keep in touch with Facebook, so it was fun to catch up face to face.
That evening, I went out shopping, and had dinner and a movie all by myself. It was nice to just go on my own schedule, and not have to take anyone else to the bathroom or share my food.
Day 6 - Nashville Zoo at Grassmere with Grandma - they had a dinosaur exhibit that scared the kids some, but that's what they still talk about from the zoo.
They also enjoyed seeing the elephants, giraffes, gibbons, and petting the goats.
Day 7, 8, and 9 - lazy days at Grandparents' house because the kids all had constant coughs. Grandpa got it too.
Day 10- Saturday, left at 8:30 am to drive to hotel in Roanoke, Virginia. Grandma rode with me in the van, and Grandpa followed behind in his car.
I had ridden through VA as a teenager, but never realized how beautiful it is there. The thick woods around everywhere give a small town feel even to the bigger cities.
We went to Panera Bread for dinner but found out that just about everything there that kids will eat has egg in it (breads and mac 'n cheese). So we left and went to a Cheddar's restaurant around the corner. It was delicious food, and had lots to order that Kellyn could eat.
Day 11 - played at a park, and then at the indoor play area at the mall in Charlottesville, VA wasting time until checkin at our resort later in the afternoon.
We did grocery shopping just before going to the resort and I cooked chili for all of our arriving family in our cabin.
Barry (my husband) flew into Charlottesville that night, and my brother-in-law graciously picked him up. The kids and I were very glad to have him with us on the rest of our adventure.
... To be continued...
Thursday, November 24, 2011
A Monkey Trade
Last night Ryan traded his green cuddly monkey, that he has slept with since he was 6 months old, into the box and got a stuffed monkey. The neck on the monkey cuddly was stretching off of the blanket part, and it was about to fall apart. Plus, as he gets older I didn't want his special thing to look so babyish, so I thought it was time to trade it in.
Here he goes putting the green monkey cuddly into the box.
His new monkey (actually a chimp as Barry has informed us) looks like Curious George. I convinced Ryan not to call him George because he has a friend named George that we play with. So his name is Bongo. Ryan loves that he's a full monkey with arms and legs... but no tail because he's a chimp.
His was really excited about it, and ready to sleep with it, until time for sleep actually came. Then he wanted the green monkey, but he was gone into the box "because he was old" Ryan said.
Bongo ended up sleeping at the end of the bed which was actually a blessing when Ryan woke up at 2 am throwing up. Yes, our Thanksgiving feast will be greatly pared down because not only is Ryan sick but so is his dad today.
But even though Ryan is sick this morning he hasn't cried for green monkey like I thought he would. That's a good thing because he's already in the trash can in the alley.
It went so well, that we let Alyna pick an animal this morning on Amazon.com to trade for her bear cuddly. She picked a plush white dog. I'll let you know next week how that trade goes.
Monday, September 26, 2011
littlest singer
Alyna sang her first recognizable lyrics to a song when she was 15 months old... I thought is was remarkably cute and smart of her to sing "row row row bo" over and over again.
But Kellyn, who is very verbal already, is only 13 months old and sings multiple lines of multiple songs.
"buh rou rou rou" (while rolling her arms in a circle)- wheels on the bus go round and round
"bee bee bee" - horn goes beep beep beep
"row row row bo" - row row row your boat
"upa buh buh wa" (while opening and closing her hands) - up above the world so high (from Twinkle Twinkle)
"a face, ooray" - face will surely show it, if you're happy and you know it shout hooray
:E-I-E-I, ah ah" - E-I-E-I-O, and a dog says "ah"
She also knows where her eyes, ears, mouth, belly button, hands, and feet are. She's a sweety too, and loves to laugh and be tickled.
It's amazing to watch God's development plans for each child as they differ. Each child seems to have talents that also compliment their personalities. I look forward to seeing all their talents develop further over the years.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
fall clothes
Grandma may remember an outfit Alyna wore at Christmas when she was 15 months old, playing on the slides outside... it's a long sleeve white shirt with pink and green hearts all over it, and a green fuzzy hooded vest over it. Kellyn wore it today and looked so cute.
I also realized on Monday that the capri pants Alyna was wearing were starting to look more like bermuda shorts. I looked at the tag, and they were 18 month size (she's so skinny). So after washing them they became Kellyn's and she wore them yesterday. Alyna had a little trouble with that at first but finally relinquished them to her sister's wardrobe when I told her she had lots of capris but Kellyn needed them.
Kellyn is also about to outgrow the really cute shoes I just bought for her 2 weeks ago in Austin... I guess I should have gone up a size, but she needed some to wear right now.
We're having a gorgeous fall day today with a high of about 70 degrees, a cool wind, and lots of cloud cover. I love when seasons change and the kids get to wear things for the first time. Ryan and Alyna looked super cute this morning in their new light-weight zip-up hoodies I found on clearance at Target earlier this summer. Alyna's is chocolate brown with a pink sparkly stripe down each sleeve. Ryan's is royal blue with a yellow car on the left side.
I feel very blessed for the clothing choices we have for our children.
Monday, September 19, 2011
big kids now
It's very different only having one toddler, even though I still have twin 3 year olds. With Ryan and Alyna I always worried they would take off in different directions and one would get hurt. With just one toddler I can keep an eye on her more closely, and her siblings are now old enough to know what they should and shouldn't do. That doesn't mean they don't often need assistance or supervision, but it's at a different level.
Kellyn is walking all over the place, and falling often right now. She's testing her balance and strength daily. She now giggles and eagerly complies when I put her shoes on because she knows we're going outside or away from home. She's always eager to go out that door. S
Alyna and Ryan are acting a lot more like preschoolers now and have lost that toddler look altogether. I'm working with them a few times a week with worksheet pages on colors, shapes, patterns, etc. They love when Mommy is the teacher and we do "school" at the big table. Last week we got out a bucket of coins and counted pennies and quarters. They liked playing with the "moneys". We also use some online educational tools for preschoolers. I also use their toys to have them find things of certain colors and shapes. Their newest favorite activity is painting with water colors. They actually don't make as many messes with it as I was expecting, aside from the occasional spilled water cup.
We recently visited my cousin's family in Keller, TX, and my brother's family in Austin, TX. It was a wonderful trip, and also very tiring. The kids loved playing with their cousins all week, and Ryan didn't even want to come home.
The smell of fall is in the air as the temperatures are finally starting to cool off, at least at night. It's wonderful to be able to play outside with the kids without worrying so much about the heat. I'm looking forward to the fall as it gets physically easier to take the 3 on outings since Kellyn is walking now. It is such a blessing to watch my kids grow and explore their world.
Kellyn is walking all over the place, and falling often right now. She's testing her balance and strength daily. She now giggles and eagerly complies when I put her shoes on because she knows we're going outside or away from home. She's always eager to go out that door. S
Alyna and Ryan are acting a lot more like preschoolers now and have lost that toddler look altogether. I'm working with them a few times a week with worksheet pages on colors, shapes, patterns, etc. They love when Mommy is the teacher and we do "school" at the big table. Last week we got out a bucket of coins and counted pennies and quarters. They liked playing with the "moneys". We also use some online educational tools for preschoolers. I also use their toys to have them find things of certain colors and shapes. Their newest favorite activity is painting with water colors. They actually don't make as many messes with it as I was expecting, aside from the occasional spilled water cup.
We recently visited my cousin's family in Keller, TX, and my brother's family in Austin, TX. It was a wonderful trip, and also very tiring. The kids loved playing with their cousins all week, and Ryan didn't even want to come home.
The smell of fall is in the air as the temperatures are finally starting to cool off, at least at night. It's wonderful to be able to play outside with the kids without worrying so much about the heat. I'm looking forward to the fall as it gets physically easier to take the 3 on outings since Kellyn is walking now. It is such a blessing to watch my kids grow and explore their world.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Road Trip TIme
We leave tomorrow for Kellyn's first road trip. We flew with her to Tennessee in March, but she's never done a trip more than a 2 hour drive away for shopping or appointments in Lubbock or Midland. I suspect she'll be as good a traveller as her siblings who love to go places, and only occasionally get so tired of their car seats that they start screaming about it.
I took some of toys over to a friend's house this morning and brought some of their toys home with us to take on the trip. With those "new toys", and the DVD player in the van, hopefully the trip will pass quickly.
We're off to the Dallas/Ft Worth area first (about 6 hours away) to visit my cousins, aunt and uncle, and some old friends for a few days. Alyna's been asking to go to the zoo all summer so, weather permitting, we will go to the Ft. Worth zoo on Tuesday. After that we'll have nap time in the car as we drive the 3 1/2 hours south to Austin. We're staying with my brother and his family through the weekend, and plan to also spend some time with Barry's brother and his wife while we're there.
Ryan and Alyna are very excited about spending time with their cousins, and that includes my cousins' kids whom they've never met before. We also plan to have their 3rd birthday party while we're in Austin, it'll just be a few days early.
Pictures and more descriptions are sure to follow after the trip...
Other News:
Now 1 year old Kellyn is walking all over the place, except when I put shoes on her. And she's gotten her 4 front teeth in last 4 weeks. Fun times...
Alyna is starting to understand math concepts like that a $20 bill is bigger than $1 bill. So smart.
Ryan is still not pooping in the potty very often despite being pantless all week at the house... not sure what to try next.
I took some of toys over to a friend's house this morning and brought some of their toys home with us to take on the trip. With those "new toys", and the DVD player in the van, hopefully the trip will pass quickly.
We're off to the Dallas/Ft Worth area first (about 6 hours away) to visit my cousins, aunt and uncle, and some old friends for a few days. Alyna's been asking to go to the zoo all summer so, weather permitting, we will go to the Ft. Worth zoo on Tuesday. After that we'll have nap time in the car as we drive the 3 1/2 hours south to Austin. We're staying with my brother and his family through the weekend, and plan to also spend some time with Barry's brother and his wife while we're there.
Ryan and Alyna are very excited about spending time with their cousins, and that includes my cousins' kids whom they've never met before. We also plan to have their 3rd birthday party while we're in Austin, it'll just be a few days early.
Pictures and more descriptions are sure to follow after the trip...
Other News:
Now 1 year old Kellyn is walking all over the place, except when I put shoes on her. And she's gotten her 4 front teeth in last 4 weeks. Fun times...
Alyna is starting to understand math concepts like that a $20 bill is bigger than $1 bill. So smart.
Ryan is still not pooping in the potty very often despite being pantless all week at the house... not sure what to try next.
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