Family Fun!

We had such a great mini vacation last weekend up north visiting Aunt Mel, Uncle Bryan & all the cousins! G-ma and G-pa were brave enough to host BOTH of our families, for a grand total of 6 kids. We were so glad to be able to spend some time with the cousins while they were visiting, not to mention spending time "Up Nothe" with G-ma and G-pa is always right up Elianna's alley.

On Friday we went to visit a man who had the coolest miniature train. He let all the kids take turns riding it, and the daddies took turns driving it. It even went through the woods and over a little bridge. The kids were all given conductor hats, which made for a great photo-op... Okay, maybe the hats were a bit too big, but they'll grow into them!

There was also a real rail car to climb in and explore.

The rest of the weekend we spent lazing around and making sure none of the kids fell in the lake. The kids spent their time exploring, playing in the water, playing "King/Queen of the Sand Pile," jumping on the jump-o-lene, and a hundred other games they made up on their own.

Elianna really enjoyed having four days with Daddy not having to go to work! She is such a Daddy's girl...

The evenings wound down with Uncle B hosting a group bath.

As all vacations do, it ended WAY too quickly. Now we are just crossing our fingers that they can move closer in a couple years... Then we could make our lake trips a regular thing!

Are You Ready To Consider Homeschooling?

As many of you know, I am an avid supporter of home education. Now, with the cost of gas so high, think of all the money you would save not having to make long commutes to private schools, charter schools, etc... Here is an example of how it would work:

Mom starts the day off supervising breakfast


When it's time to begin class time, it helps to give everyone assigned seats.


Keep the day exciting by including fun games, such as "Where's Waldo."


There are a wide variety of classes a home educator can offer. Here are a few examples:

Health Class


Computer Class


Sewing Lessons


Art


Swimming Lessons


P.E.


An advantage to home educating is the mixed age setting. It helps to have the bigger kids help the little ones.


And everyone's favorite part of the school day - LUNCHTIME!!


After all the learning and excitement, everyone will be tired and ready for nap.


At the end of the day, it's time for baths. Make sure everyone is thoroughly dry before bedtime.

Take a Stand

In a day when it is getting increasingly frowned upon to take a stand against the homosexual lifestyle, we conservative Christians need to be willing to defend our beliefs. The American Family Association is circulating a petition countering legislative efforts to make teaching against homosexuality a hate crime. I personally don't care what people do in the privacy of their bedroom, but don't push your lifestyle on me or try to force me to accept it. We Christians are so often accused of pushing our beliefs down people's throats, when in fact I think we are very often the ones suffering from people's intolerance. I suppose tolerance is only for perverts, artists, wife-beaters, etc..., not us "crazed" Bible-thumpers. If you disagree with me and think I'm a right-wing religious nut, well, that's okay with me. Just be sure to extend to me all the freedoms you are so willing to give to others.

P.S. As I've mentioned before, I like to use Snopes.com to look up the background of many of the e-mails I receive. Snopes has this petition and the supporting stories labeled as "false." The AFA isn't perfect, and can get a little carried away like all activist sites. (But then again, you should see some of the pro-gay activists! They aren't exactly saints, to put it mildly.) Anyway, here is the AFA's Response to Snopes

Days of the Week & Counting

Elianna is just starting to grasp that different days have names, and also that different days are associated with certain activities (Sunday=church, Tuesday=Grandma Day, etc...). Today was the first day she asked what the day's name was! She woke up and said, "We go Nothe today?" (She knows we are going back up north, and I get asked about 200 times a day if we are leaving yet.) I said, "No, remember what day we are going up north?" She thought for a while, then said, "Today is Mon-yah?" I told her, "Today is Tuesday. Yesterday was Monday." She looked puzzled, "Toos-yah?" (For some reason, she says the "day" part as "yah," like a German would say "Yes.") This is progress, since she remembered my telling her yesterday that it was Monday. So she says, "Toos-yah?" and I said, "Where do you go on Tuesday?" She grinned and said, "I go Papa's Hah-vey's house!" Although it's actually GRANDMA that picks her up, the house and all the rooms are Papa's Hah-vey's. (Yes, she adds the "s" to both Papa and Hah-vey.)

Another break-through for her was counting. Today she counted on her own to 8. This may not seem like much, but teaching her anything is more like a negotiation. She thinks any number should come next while counting, and if you tell her the correct number she gets annoyed with you. Same for colors and shapes. She dubs an item "blue," and if you tell her it's "green" she'll glare at you and say "La-la want Booh!" However, I think it is dawning on her that there is a right and wrong answer, and she is putting more effort into saying her numbers in the correct order as well as naming the correct colors and shapes of things. I am hoping she develops a more teachable spirit as she grows older... especially before we begin home-schooling!!

Weekend at Co-Co's

Elianna had her first weekend away from us! She and Aunt Co-co picked Cousin "Lan" up from her last day of 7th grade, then they spent TWO whole days at Aunt Co-Co's house. I wish I could say it was hard for her and she missed Mommy terribly... but in fact it was Mommy who had the harder time!!!! Elianna had a blast, although she came home with the obligatory "attitude." (I remember my mom always complaining that I came home with "tude," and now my own daughter is doing it already!! It's just hard for her to adjust back to boring old home life after the excitement of a trip away from home.) She is just getting so grown up already. Even her facial expressions look more like a little girl now than a toddler. *sigh* If we could just slow time down.

Last Day of 7th Grade!


Fun in the Sprinkler

Working Hard at Eating Puffs

*Boredom Disclaimer* This is one of those posts that to anyone but me (and maybe grandparents) will be as exciting as watching grass grow. However, please keep in mind that this blog also serves as my baby books for both girls right now. So, while the following may not be momentous to anyone else, it was cute to me!! *End Disclaimer*

Here is Selah's first time eating anything other than baby food. She is covered in pea soup, which she also tried to feed herself. Then, she worked SO HARD at feeding herself rice puffs! I thought it was pretty good for a first try:

Cuter Every Day

I know, I know, I am biased. But really, isn't she just getting too darn adorable!? Oh, and she has a new skill to show off: sticking out her tongue.

Pool Fun! (Selah Meets the Water)

We had a great time visiting with cousins this weekend, and in addition to all the new people Selah also was introduced to the pool. Although from the pictures it looks like she just floated there with the expression of a grumpy old man, in truth she really enjoyed it. She splashed, played with little cups, and blew bubbles in the water. Elianna is learning to kick to move herself around, and even though she isn't much of a water person she also had a blast! (Mommy even got in, although I didn't dare try on a bathing suit. It's one of those situations where ignorance is bliss.)

Bikini Babe

Just floating around...

Drying off with their new animal towels. Elianna loved it, and Selah screamed and pulled it off.

Snuggling with Papa


Afterward, everyone piled onto Papa's bed to watch some "Little Bear."

All Worn Out!!

It's amazing how exhausting a walk can be... even if she only rode in the stroller the whole time.

Would I Have Held on Longer

Okay, seriously, this is the third tear-jerker post... am I really that depressing of a person?!??! (I hope not.)

Here is a poem my mom shared with me from the book "Rejoice" by Karen Kingsbury. In the story, it was written by a mom to her son who was getting married. (I edited it a bit, to take out the parts that were specific to the story. I just wanted it to be more general.) It has also been made into a children's book, but why would I want to cry my eyes out while reading to my girls!??! Actually, I think it is only really sad if your children are grown. From my perspective, as a young mother with young children, it is a reminder to hold on to those precious moments with your children. Anyway, here it is - hope you like it!

Would I Have Held On Longer

Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you'll move away and leave me to your past
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts.

The last time I held a bottle to your baby lips
Last time that I lifted you and held you on my hip
Last time when you had your binky stuck inside your mouth
The last time you crawled across the floor of this old house

Last time you ran to me, still small enough to hold
Last time you said you'd marry me when you grew old
Precious little memories and bright flashes from the past
Would I have held you longer, if I knew they were your last?

Your last hours of kindergarten, last day of first grade
Last at bat in Little League, last colored picture made
Last time I tucked you in for one more midday nap
Last time when you wore that beat-up Packers cap.

Last time when you caught a frog in that backyard pond
Last time you ran barefoot across our freshly cut lawn
Silly scattered images represent your past
Would I have taken more pictures, if I'd known they were the last?

The last dark night you slipped in bed to sleep between us two,
When I last held you in my lap, read Horton Hears a Who!
Last time I smelled your hair after your evening shower
Last time we prayed together in the nighttime hours

Last few finger-paintings made, last soccer ball you kicked
Last piano lesson, last flowers for me you picked
I never even said good-bye to yesterdays long past
Would I have marked these moments, if I'd known they were the last?

Last time you needed help with a math or spelling test
Last time I yelled that your room was such a mess
Last time you made an angel before the snow began to melt
Last night you spent with that tattered bear you held

Time and life moved quicker, taking pieces of your past
Would I have stretched the moments if I'd known they were your last?

The last time you needed help with the movements of a dance
Last time you asked me for advice in matters of romance
Last time you shared with me all your hopes and dreams
Last time you wore a jersey of your high school team.

I watched you grow and never saw the seasons as they passed
I wish I could have frozen time to hold on to you lasts.

One last kiss, one last good-bye, one quick and hurried kiss
One last time to understand just how much you'll be missed
I'll watch you move on and think how quickly your childhood spent past
Would I have held on longer.. if I'd known it was your last?

A Horrible Tragic Story - Baby Kaleb Schwade

*Warning! This is some heavy-duty emotional stuff, especially if you are a Mom. There are some disturbing images of a baby that was abused if you follow the link, but I was just so moved by their story I want to share it.

I am not one to jump on every "sad story" bandwagon that comes through my e-mail, but I have researched this story and found it to be true. (I have to admit, I had hoped so badly it wasn't.) I want to warn you ahead of time, I bawled my head off when I saw this. Not just tears running down, I mean all out CRYING!! I just can't imagine anyone hurting a baby like this.

You can read the story by following the link, but for a quick summary: baby Kaleb Schwade was dropped off at a baby-sitter's house, and when his parents picked him up they found him acting lethargic and not breathing right. They let him sleep, then when they tried to wake him he was unresponsive. Come to find out, he has severe brain damage from Shaken Baby Syndrome (courtesy of the baby-sitter) and even if he ever does wake up, he will be in a vegetative state. I watched the video clip and could only read a little of the blog. Like I said, I was just bawling. Part of it is, his smile resembles Selah (just the smile, not his face) and the thought of someone doing this to an innocent child... Great, now I'm all choked up again!!! I just want to share their story - the more people that can support them the better. I am NOT a fan of My Space, but I'm glad to see it's being used for something good for a change. (Although, you wouldn't believe all the gross people who post in the comments section. I guess that's the downside to having your story in a place frequented by so many perverts and weirdos...)

My first stop when researching stories is Snopes , so click here for their link about the Kaleb Schwade story if you want some verification.

Click here for the story:
Kaleb's Page

Also, his mother updates her page almost daily, so you can keep up with the story if you want. Click here for his mother Kristy's blog.

Okay, just one more click! Fox News did a story on Kaleb as well, click here for the video of that.

Video Clips!!

Here are a couple clips from when we went up north.

Here is Elianna "catching" a fish, much to her surprise.


Here are a couple of Elianna working hard at moving the water from one side of the dock to the other. You wouldn't believe how long she spent doing this...




She does pause long enough to say, "Bless you, Papa!" when G-pa sneezes...

Mystery Solved!

Selah has been battling a high fever for the last three days. She's been getting ibuprofen just to keep it manageable, and then it would spike up to 103. I had planned on taking her to the doctor today, but her fever was significantly lower. She had no other major symptoms other than the fever... until today! We went to Meijer, and Chad pointed out that her face looked blotchy. Sure enough, by the time we were at the check-out, her face was covered in a rash... and by the time we got home it had spread over her body. It's official: ROSEOLA!

(I'm guessing that means Elianna will be coming down with it... I can't remember if she's had it or not.) At least it's just a mild illness - we'll just let it run its course!

These Days

Elianna held up her arms to me, "Dance, Mommy, dance with La-la!" The song that was playing (off a CD that was a wedding favor at a friend's wedding) was a slow love song by Vince Gill, not the type conducive to her dipping and twirling dance style. "You won't like dancing to this song, it's a slow dancing song." I went back to loading the dishwasher. She was insistent, though, "La-la like dis one! La-la dance with Mommy!" So, I picked her up, and just gently started swaying back and forth. I expected her to get bored and want to get down, but she didn't. After a few seconds, she snuggled in, clasped her chubby little hands behind my neck and put her cheek up against mine. It suddenly became one of those moments where time just stands still, and your heart feels so full you can't even breathe. Just me and my little girl, slow dancing in the kitchen. The words of the song just seemed so appropriate,

Oh these days, I'll take these days
Over any other days I've ever known
Cause your sweet ways
Make these days
Feel like home...

Soon she'll be too big for me to hold her and she won't want to slow dance with her mom anymore. But for now, I'll take these days over any other days!

Fun Up North

Go Nothe, Mommy? See Jeepa? See Jeema? Go Nothe now, Mommy?" Elianna asked me this EVERY DAY, she was so looking forward to going up north to visit Chad's grandparents. (They always sign their cards "G-ma & G-pa," hence the nicknames "Jeema" & "Jeepa.")

The girls did pretty good on the drive. The portable DVD player right in front of Elianna's face blaring The Wiggles and Veggie Tales probably helped. Selah, mercifully, fell asleep. She does NOT like car rides of any duration, so an extended drive of any kind is a nightmare in the making.

Elianna couldn't wait to get in the lake. One of her favorite activities was filling her plastic boat with water, climbing up onto the dock, then pouring it out on the other side. I can't believe the effort and time she spent on this very pointless endeavour, but she thought it was great fun.

She was a bit leery of the little fish that would swim up, especially when she reached for one and it didn't move! (I think it was dying.) She picked it up, then jerked her hand back and told us to make "Gamma pick it up!" I really don't think she expected to just pick it up like that. (And EW, who knows what was wrong with it!!!) The fish is in this picture - that's what she's looking at.

On Sunday afternoon G-pa & G-ma took us out to eat. Yes, to a REAL restaurant without a play structure!!! Chad and I have been out to eat a grand total of TWO times in the last year, and both times it was no fun dealing with the two munchkins. I was a little nervous about how they would behave, but miraculously they both kept themselves fairly well entertained! The food was delicious - a big fancy Sunday Brunch at a golf course. Elianna had never seen a buffet before, and her eyes were as big as saucers while we loaded up her plate. So much food, so little time...

Sunday also happened to be G-pa's 70th birthday!

Happy Birthday, G-pa, and MANY MANY MORE!!!

We taught Elianna to sing a rude, irreverent version of Happy Birthday (involving monkeys and zoos) to celebrate the occasion. Also, since it was G-pa's birthday, G-pa and I decided to let G-ma and Chad win a couple rounds of "Hand & Foot," a fun card game. (We just didn't want to hear them whine the rest of the night if they lost.)

When we went to church Sunday morning, Elianna flatly refused to go in the nursery. We decided to let her try sitting in church with us. First was the song service, and she immediately loved it. She grabbed a book, stood up tall on the pew and SANG right out. She had no idea the tune or the words, she just sang away. Whatever the last word of a line was, she would belt it out a second or two behind. With everyone else singing, you couldn't really tell, but then it was time for the special singer. An older woman was singing with a classical operatic style, and Elianna kept trying to sing along. Chad and I thought we'd just ignore her, rather than cause more of a disturbance trying to get her to stop. Well, at the end, the lady hits this super sonic high note, and Elianna gets this wide-eyed grin and takes a deep breath... Chad clamped his hand on her mouth before she could attempt it, though. I had tears in my eyes from laughing at this point. We decided it was time for a potty break - anything to keep her from singing.

We only got to ride the pontoon boat once on Saturday, since a storm rolled in while we were in the middle of the lake!!! Not fun. We could see lightning just beyond the trees, and I felt like there was a huge bulls eye on our boat as we putt-putted back to the dock. Elianna was oblivious to both storm and rain. She LOVED the boat and begged continuously for another boat ride.

Goofing off and relaxing in the house...

In the house, Elianna kept busy with her little table, chairs, dishes and play food. (G-ma found this play food in Alabama that looked so real!!!!) Elianna kept bringing play pears to G-pa, and once he put it in his pocket. After that, she would just run up and stuff random foods into his pockets. G-pa also trained her well: in the morning, he would tell Elianna, "G-pa wants coffee. Tell G-ma to make coffee." Elianna would dutifully run over to G-ma, plant her hands on her hips and yell, "Make Jeepa coffee!" G-pa thought it was great!

Chillin' with Mommy on the dock

Lil Sis was NOT happy about being relegated to the cabana...

Giving G-ma her leg work-out!

Selah loving being snuggled by G-ma

Elianna's first time tackling corn on the cob... she loved it!!!

We had such a great time, and Elianna has been begging to go back ever since. We will hopefully be able to go up for a couple days when Aunt Melanie and the gang are there, so that the cousins can all play together.