All My Boys

I just had to take advantage of all the boys sitting so still and in one spot ... we always try for a picture like this and never get it! Finally! And, even with one extra (Cruz). But, he is just like part of the family. The trick: put on a video!

Weekend Camping Trip

On Saturday afternoon we embarked on an overnight canoeing and camping trip. We stopped along the river so the boys could get out and play on sandbars and climb sandy cliffs. They love to play in the sand. We snacked on trail mix along the way. Emmett was fearfull of falling out of the canoe, so he sat between my legs for a long time on the first day. Around 4:00pm we stopped at a sandbar to set up camp for the night. After Aaron built the tent, the windy conditions caused it to blow around. Thankfully, the wind gradually died down as evening approached. After gathering firewood, we started a fire and roasted hotdogs. Aaron gave the kids a bath in the river with biodegradable shampoo. Soon the sun fell behind the trees and darkness descended on our camp. At 8:30pm, we exhausted our remaining firewood supply and headed for the tent for a game of Pass the Pigs. We had a rough night of sleeping. It started out okay, but then discomfort set in. Then the temperature dropped to 45 degrees. In an effort to be minimalists, we brougt only 2 blankets and 2 pillows. At 2:30am we frantically tried to make a fire. Aaron and I trudged across cold, wet sand to gather dew covered branches. Ethan and Emmett woke immediately and joined us. We had a fire going for about 2 or 3 minutes and then we were cold again. The wet wood was impossible to ignite. We returned to the tent disheartened and frigid. We cuddled closely and slept for an hour and a half. Then we tossed for a while and just waited for the sun to rise. As the sun peeked over the trees, the temperature inside the tent rose quickly. Our spirits warmed. We ate breakfast and headed back on the water. By noon we were finished canoeing. Overall, the trip was a great family adventure. We can't wait to do it again...with more firewood and bedding.

I Cor. 10:13

It has happened once again. This morning I was reading from a few different books--I am great at starting books but rarely finish them--and I came upon the same verse in both books.

Last week, as I was reading from Teach Them Diligently the author referenced a scripture verse that could be used in many disciplining situations:
I Cor. 10:13. I jotted it down but forgot about it.

This morning I was reading from Be Angry, but Don't Blow It!. The author quoted a Bible verse: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." I Cor. 10:13. I thought to myself, "This is a verse I need to put on a notecard and place in my house." (The number of notecards I have posted around the house is growing, and Aaron jokes with me about this. So, I am sure he'll be happy to know I have found another). I finished the chapter I was reading and grabbed Teach them Diligently. I remembered I had a verse to look up from the last time I was reading it. I opened my Bible to the passage and discovered it was the same verse I had just read!

This is always so exciting to me and initially so hard for me comprehend. But, then I remember it is God who is revealing this to me and ask myself WHY I am so amazed ... he is God, afterall.

Here I am reading one book about how to work on an area in my life that needs correcting, and at the same time trying to figure out how to use God's word to bring correction to my kids, never thinking the two paths would cross. I just found it amazing this morning that God revealed this truth to me to use in my own life and the lives of my children.

Transferring Activity

I tried a transferring activity with Ethan the other day during nap time. He enjoyed this. I gave him tweezers and put marshmallows in a medicine cup and an empty one for transferring. I thought we'd start with something soft so it would be easier to grasp. He did great! As you can see, he transferring some to his mouth. We did it, too, with chocolate chips.

Today, I gave Emmett and Ethan the opportunity to try transferring water in small metal creamers. They loved this, too, but they fought over it. So, I pulled out the medicine cups again. We tried rice, too, but I had to run the phone out to Aaron and when I came back they were transferring it to the floor! So, that was the end of our educational activities for the day. I thought I should probably have them clean it up, but rice on a hard floor and kids sweeping ... no thanks, I'll just let it be a lost opportunity for teaching them with natural consequences.

Fort Fun

Tonight we are watching my brother's kids so they can go on a date. As soon as I walked away to dry my hair after my first shower of the day (at 5:30 pm) I heard loud dumping noises. I came back downstairs to discover what they call a "barn" being built. This is when they take all the toys and make a big pile. So, I nipped that in the bud. To focus their energy, we made this fort. I just kept looking around for more things to add on to it. We have the papasan frame, a Step 2 slide, 2 folding chairs, a beanbag toss and a coffee table. They are loving it. It is keeping them occupied and it should be a quick clean up! Right now Aaron, a.k.a. the monster, is attacking them.

Ethan peeking out.

My attempt at snapping a picture inside the fort. Here is Brayden and Emmett.

Sweet Corn

Sunday night my parents called to say that my Uncle Bob had an over-abundance of sweet corn to be picked if we wanted some. I mentioned it to Aaron and he seemed interested. Monday morning my dad called again to let us know my mom would help us boil and bag it to freeze it. So, I called my sister-in-law, April, to see if they were going to do sweet corn, too. She was undecided; we decided we could all work together and tag-team with the kids.

At 10:00 I left my house to ride my bike to her house so the kids could play a while. We decided to pick corn with the kids. They had a blast! Unfortunately, we couldn't get any pictures. My Grandma was there and the boys helped her. They were picking corn, knocking down stalks, playing hide n seek, and just exploring the corn field. Now, for those of you who are stressed about kids playing in a corn field ... it was a very small corn field, we couldn't have lost them.

What started as a 1 hour play date, ended as a 12 hour Freezer Corn Fest. We went back to April's, dumped the trailer load of corn, ate lunch, went back and picked another trailer load. Came back and started husking the corn!!! As we started, my dad brought another trailer load over for us to husk. We husked corn for close to 4 hours!! Aaron came right after work to help.

My parents brought over burgers and we ate burgers and sweet corn, what else? Then, we got to work boiling, cutting, and bagging. My mom and Brad watched the kids. My dad manned the kettles, April, Aaron and I cut and bagged (I think we had the most fun). My mom and Brad bathed the kids and put them to bed. My mom took our kids home and put them to bed and folded all my laundry and put bedding on the beds. (I forgot I stripped the beds ... I didn't plan to be gone all day). What an angel my mom is.

We really did have a blast doing the corn. It was a lot of work. Our backs hurt from husking and standing and our wrists hurt from cutting, but we had a great time joking around and sharing in each other's company.

Thanks Uncle Bob and Mom!

From My Devotional

This morning as I was reading from my book, Be Angry But Don't Blow It, by Lisa Bevere I came upon something she wrote that I wanted to share with all who read my blog.

"Though this present world may be filled with depravity and perverseness, darkness cannot shroud or overcome our light. Look up at the stars of this universe--they punctuate a sky of darkness with such beauty that on a clear and starry night it is never the darkness we notice but the small beacons of hope that pierce it. When God looks down at this creation of darkness, it is the light of His children that He notices. Hold high for the lamp of His Word and shine it forth as a beacon of hope and truth for generations to follow."