While we didn’t plan it like this at first, Sunday ended up being date day for each of our 4 kids. Each child ended up with some one on one time with either mom, dad, or Aunt Karen. Good times had by all!
One of the duties of our church deacons is to unlock the church on Sunday mornings. When Scott became a deacon 3 years ago, he started taking one child with him on his deacon duty mornings.
Love choosing and cutting down our tree…
Love decorating it and passing on the memories to my children of the precious ornaments hung on our tree…
Love the wonder of the lights…
Love watching them play with toys that only come out once a year…
Love seeing them act out the story of Christ’s birth as they play with their nativity sets
And this year I love listening to the sounds of Christmas carols fill the house as my son plays them on the piano
Growing up, part of me wished for a sister… one to share a room with, share clothes and secrets with…. maybe if I’d have had one, I would know better how to braid my girls hair… I had a great brother, and I would never have traded him for a sister, yet part of me at times felt like I was missing out a little…
When I married Scott I instantly gained in my sister-in-law the sister I had always wanted.
Most people think that perfect beach weather is a bright sunny day, but we discovered unexpected joy in a trip to the Florida beach on an overcast evening following an afternoon rain storm.
Shuttle launch in the morning, nap in the afternoon, beach in the evening, and free Chick-Fil-A right before bed… it was a perfect day in Florida… totally worth the 32 hours of driving it took to get there and back.
With Fathers Day approaching this weekend and the kids and I brainstorming ways to make it ultra special for the circus dad, I feel it also appropriate to spend some time reflecting on my own father.
Because, when it comes to dad’s, I have been richly blessed. While in the throws of parenthood, I think many a parents wonders, “Is it making a difference? Do my kids even notice?” And the answer is a resounding “Yes!
When my son was 3, I took him strawberry picking for the first time. It was a special Mommy/Son date prior to the birth of our third child.
The next year, we returned, but this time it was a family affair.
2009 brought us back to the same farm, this time with friends.
And 2010 found me once again at the fields pregnant, with many small children in tow.
This spring I have 3 kids in sports. On 3 different teams. This in addition to the girls both taking gymnastics twice a week and Cub Scouts.
We are busy, busy, busy with games and practices most every night… some nights we’re even double booked.
Many people look at my schedule and call me crazy. Why do you do this to yourself?
The answer is, honestly, two fold. 1. We love it.
Some of you may remember my post last December (as in 2009) in which I shared one of Scott’s moments of sheer brilliance at the dinner table. Well, I feel the need to tell you that 13 months later and my kids are STILL eating their vegetables to spite their Daddy. I am sure this says something of their character… for which we must spend some time rectifying, but meanwhile my mean spirited little children are eagerly gobbling up their vegetables.
A few moments from this weekend which I wish to savor…
1. My son presenting his gift to his extended family. (One nap time he came up excited to share that he had drawn a picture from each scene in Luke 2. On Christmas he gave one picture to each person. He then laid them all out on the floor and recited the story from memory.)
2. Prepping the Christmas Lasagnas with my daughter… it marked a milestone, in which she was truly helpful in the kitchen.
When cutting down a tree, much like when shopping for a dress, there seems to be an unwritten rule of conduct.
No matter how fabulous it looks, you simply can’t go with the first one you see.
One simply can’t drive to the farm, march down the aisle, and stop at the first decent looking spruce you see.
That would be far too easy. Where would the fun be in that?