Ever since my son dawned his shin guards and cleats for the first time, his little sister has been eagerly awaiting her opportunity. She’s watched longingly from the sidelines, eagerly taking the field during half time, yearning for her chance to tear up the field. Last fall during his practices, she would call me coach and ask me to assign her drills. I’d have her dribble the ball up and down the field, shooting under a bench as her imaginary goal.

There is a huge pile of bamboo in our backyard waiting for a run to the dump on Saturday. Until then, it provided the perfect landscape for my son to build a fort and play war. He stayed out there for hours and was so proud of his camouflage.  Unfortunatly, his gun kinda gives him away. When I showed this picture to my husband I said it should be called,

My daughter keeps asking me almost every day, “When are we going camping again?” Our family loves to camp. We enjoy it for many reasons… the dirt, the food, the family time away from home, and a cheap place to sleep while visiting our beloved National Parks… Scott and I have gone camping every year since we’ve been married, with the exception of one… the year 2004…when our first child was born.

Ever tried to pack cupcakes in a lunch box? It creates a gooey mess all over the sandwich baggie and takes all the fun out of eating it when your hands are covered in icing. I saw this handy little trick in one of my student’s lunches back in my teaching days. Take your plain cupcake. Slice it in half. Take a glob of icing.  Spread it in the middle of the cupcake.

As we were walking out the door this morning, I heard my daughter exclaim, “Oh it’s raining, better grab my umbrella!”  I wondered what she was talking about since we don’t have any umbrellas in our house. (Who needs one more thing to juggle? We just get wet, it’s the circus way)! Then I saw her walking to the car with her Little People umbrella over her head. She then carried this umbrella over her head into and out of the grocery store.

I know you’ve heard of comfort foods…typically something warm and gooey that reminds you of home or growing up or just makes you feel good inside. Well, this preggo woman has comfort clothes. And they aren’t pretty. OK, let me explain. (oh, how I wish there was a good explanation…) When I was pregnant with my son I got to be so, ahem large, that I started stealing shirts from Scott’s tee shirt drawers…Not to wear in public mind you, but I did wear them around the house so I could save my “cute “maternity clothes for when I saw people.

I was cleaning the bathroom yesterday (I know, miracles never cease, huh?) when my 2 and 1/2 year old daughter came in to use the potty. “Go ahead,” I told her. (Have I mentioned that I LOVE the fact that all 3 kids can use their potty on their own, ah sweet bliss—for 11 more weeks!) Well I turned from scrubbing the tub to see her standing beside the potty. “I want to go this way!

More Wednesday pics can be found here or here.

The other day after quiet time my oldest emerged from his room with his first book. I knew nothing of his project until he emerged but was blown away by what he produced. On the cover page his listed himself as the “osr” and “iliusha” (author and illustrator). For his first book, he pretty much spells out the gospel message in word and pictures. Page One: “God loved us” (I must say the spelling on this one def made me chuckle).

I typically enjoy donning some green (and forcing encouraging my family to do the same) and serving an Irish fare on the 17th of March. I thought I’d share some of our traditions with you today, as well as some new recipes I got from some friends on face book, in case you wanted to try some at your home on Wednesday. I’m always eager to try new traditions and activities at the circus.