Project 365 – Day 21 (Weekend Re-cap)

January 21, 2007 KME 2 Comments

This has been a busy, people-filled weekend. After co-op on Friday, we brought home one of Joshua’s friend. The boys were having a birthday party sleep-over but the birthday boy himself had gymnastics until evening time. We had dinner, played some games, and then sent the boys off to their party. The house always seems empty when one of the children are missing – changes the dynamics all around.

I slept in LATE on Saturday morning. It was lovely! Tim got up with the children and let me stay in bed. Such luxury!! He and the little boys went to the park to try out Daniel’s remote control helicopter. I don’t think they got any pictures – I’m still trying to recover from the shock. In the afternoon I took Daniel and David with me to pick up Joshua. We met another friend at the birthday party house and traded Daniel and David for two sisters. Not content to bring home just two girls, I decided to invite the two older sisters of the birthday boy. They eagerly accepted and ran off to pack. Poor Joshua, he was the only boy in the house with six girls! He was quite outnumbered.

I wish I had recorded Rachel’s giggling. I’ve never heard her giggling quite that much in a weekend. It was very contagious. The girls were kind and let Sarah join them in their play. I am so pleased with the friends the children are making – bright, fun, polite, cheerful, interesting, all around lovely kids.

Tim and Joshua worked outside on our broken down fence. Hooray! They fixed two sides and now there is just one piece that is still broken. The windstorm of several weeks ago did quite the number on our fence.

At some point in the afternoon we got a call from some old friends who were in the area. What a treat! They were able to come by and join us for dinner. Thankfully I had started a big batch of bread and already had a menu all planned for supper. We talked up a storm and enjoyed a delicious dinner. Since the children outnumbered the grownups and the dining room table was covered with my Christmas decorations (still piled high, I hate to admit), we let them have the kitchen table and the adults ate in the living room. We had a wonderful visit with Tom and Casey. Thanks for coming!!

I think the girls slept some Saturday night but I can’t be certain. Tim woke them up in the morning singing (at the top of his lungs) Oklahoma. Oh what a beautiful morning, indeed. Ha! There was much flurry of getting dressed, eating breakfast, packing clothes, etc. Finally Tim headed out with Joshua and the older girls. Sarah and I came along after them in the other car.

Tim taught our Sunday School class on 1 Corinthians 6. We had so much discussion and lively conversation that we only made it through half the passage. It was a good study with lots of interesting input from the group.

After church we met up with Jennifer and returned two girls in exchange for Daniel and David. Good to have everyone home again. Tim and Joshua went to Gig Harbor to pick up the recliner – the match to our “new” sofa. Tim is already referring to it as “his chair.” It’s beautiful and so comfortable – I can see the entire family is going to fight over it. Hopefully it won’t get too ugly.

Tim took this picture of Rachel and Daniel sitting on the recliner INSIDE the van. See, it’s already in hot demand and they haven’t even taken it out of the car!

Tim and Joshua carried it inside where David and Sarah quickly took up residence. I’m afraid the Orange Chair is going to feel somehow replaced.

In the afternoon Tim’s parents came by to return some things and pick up their cell phone. We had a lovely short visit with them. It’s always so nice to connect with family. The kids grabbed quick hugs and talked up a storm.

Our Bible study met at the church this evening. In order to use the church facilities we have to hire two babysitters who have gone through a Risk Prevention training. It took quite a bit of work finding sitters – but was worth the effort (and cash) in the end. We normally let the children play among themselves (the older ones help with the little ones) but it’s quite LOUD!! It was so nice being able to listen and concentrate on the speaker this evening and know that the children were being well cared for in the other room.

We went through the second session of Love and Respect. It is a fascinating study. I am enjoying it and will blog some of my thoughts later presuming I don’t forget it all. Lol! Our entire group was there this evening (except for the two husbands who are serving in the military overseas and four of the children who were home catching up on school work) which meant we had 12 adults and 18 children present. A big group!!

In an attempt to put into practice some of the things I’m learning in our marriage class, I made it a priority to give Tim a haircut this evening before bed (he’s been asking for one since Friday). Just as we were settling in for the night, we received a desperate call from a friend who had 4 (maybe 5) plates of leftover dessert that she desperately needed out of the house — too tempting. I did my duty as a friend and went over to offer solace, comfort, and doggie bags. Yum.

Tom, we have that lemon meringue pie now. Can you come back??

On the way home from Bible study Daniel started listing all the busy activities we have in the week ahead of us. I was already tired from a very full Sunday and totally exhausted by the time he was done talking. Ha! Thankfully a good night’s sleep will help tremendously.

Night!
Kathy

Project 365 - Day Fourteen (Sun-K)

WFMW - Diet and Exercise

WFMW - Computer Game Chips

Musings, Silliness

Christmas Pictures Past and Present

January 20, 2007 KME 4 Comments

I gathered these pictures while I was writing the Project 365 blog for Saturday and just had to post them. What a great look at Christmas over the years. I don’t have pictures scanned in the computer from most of the ’90′s so I’m missing all sorts of memorable shots. I’ll have to see if I can get one of the children to spend some time scanning them in.

Here’s a picture of Christmas in Michigan when Tim and I were dating. Wow, where do the years go by?

I still have this Christmas quilt on the wall behind Joshua. I bought it at JC Penney’s and it looks as pretty now as it did then (although the colors might have been a little darker). Joshua must have been around 4 or 5 in this picture.

The year we moved to WA we didn’t have a Christmas tree (for the life of me I can’t remember why). We put all our presents on an IKEA bookshelf. Our decorations were all packed in boxes in the garage. Kids didn’t mind as long as we still celebrated Christmas. Ha!

Christmas with David as the baby (2001) then Sarah as the babe in arms (2002).

Several times Rachel and I traveled to Minnesota before Christmas to see Nana, my mom, and her sisters. Tim liked to send me off so I would remember what a REAL winter feels like and appreciate the nice, warm rainy temps of WA.

Rachel, Nana, Aunt Stephanie, Aunt Kate, and Mamie.

How is it possible that the last couple of years we haven’t done this adorable pose (from 2003)??? Next year I’ll be sure to get one of the kids sitting in front of the tree. Don’t let me forget!

This was the only picture I could find of all the children in front of the Christmas tree in 2004.

This gorgeous tree was in the church lobby – 2005. What a bunch of sweetie pies – if you look closely you can see one of the children is trying hard not to cry (feeling sick but bravely carrying on for the sake of the photo).

Last but not least, a picture from 2006 of the children out on the property – marching about after opening Christmas presents with G’ma and G’pa. Ah, how the years do fly by. We seem to favor the color red – Very Christmasy (also works for Valentine’s Day LOL!!).

Kathy

War is Oil

Aslan's Country

Freedom from Religion

Events, Project 365

Project 365 – Day 20 (Christmas tree)

January 20, 2007 KME 6 Comments

There comes a point in most people’s lives when they have to take down their Christmas tree. It’s inevitable. Some people put away their decorations the day after Christmas, others wait until New Year’s and then begin the process, and then there’s our family: we try to make it until Valentine’s Day.

Sarah helps by posing sweetly in front of the almost empty tree.

Yes, that’s right, Valentine’s Day.
In February.
The middle of February.

Today I was called Mrs. Grinch, by my very own beloved husband. And why? Because I was taking ornaments off the tree and packing them up.

Last year I convinced Tim and the children to buy an artificial tree. I found a gorgeous one at Lowes after the holidays. It was on sale and turned out to be a great deal. I think the kids hoped I would forget about it and end up buying them a real one anyway. I’m not sure how you can forget about a big huge, eight foot long box sitting in the garage but then I’ve seen our garage, it’s easy to get lost out there.

Tim and Joshua worked out in the garage this afternoon.

The artificial tree was a terrible disappointment to the children. It’s amazing they survived Christmas at all. Joshua would barely speak to me about it. Rachel gave a whole devotional during school, one day, on how people with FAKE trees are like people who have a FAKE relationship with Jesus (definite emphasis on FAKE). It was truly inspiring. Everytime a visitor remarked on how beautiful the tree was and how it looked real (actually touching it to be sure) it was like rubbing salt in a wound. Poor dears! The only thing that helped them get through this tragedy was the large mound of presents that lay heaped under the (FAKE) branches.

When we lived out in the country (away from the convenience of Home Depot tree lots) we drove up into the mountains to cut down our own tree. One year Tim was sick and our neighbors were kind enough to bring us a freshly cut tree. We managed that two years running although eventually they realized Tim was faking it and we had to go and actually find a tree ourselves, preferably one that was for sale.

Kathy, David and Sarah in November, 2003.

We were all very excited about getting our own tree. We were especially proud of Tim as the valiant tree conqueror.

Who gave these children an axe for splitting wood???

When your Christmas tree is real (be it fir, spruce, pine, etc) and you put it up in November or early December, by the time Christmas arrives the tree is standing up by sheer holiday spirit alone. One good breeze and you have a shower of needles on your beautiful tree skirt. No matter how thorough a sweeping and vacuuming job we do, it’s usually not until we move out of a house that we seem to get rid of those pesky tree needles.

Well, who knew that the purchase of a fake tree would result in a rather large, eternal, green living room center piece. I think Tim and the children would have been content to leave our tree up until next year. Mind you, now that I’ve spent half the afternoon taking down decorations, finding the Christmas bins, labeling things, and on and on, I’m more inclined to see their point of view. Lol! Especially since I’m no where near finished.

Stacks of Playmobil Advent Calendar boxes–empty now of their little pieces, ready to be filled next year.

I’m not sure why the Christmas un-decorating falls so squarely on my shoulders (although Tim and the boys do the box/bin hauling to and from the garage, no small task when you have over 10 bins). Does that happen in other houses or just mine? Is it because I attempt to be ultra organized and it’s impossible to follow my directions? Do I micro-manage? Is it that Christmas has passed so long ago that no one really wants to think about it? Putting away of decorations is just another ‘chore’ I’m trying to assign? Is it a passive/aggressive attempt to punish me for destroying the spirit of Christmas in January? Is it only fun to take OUT the decorations (“Yay, Christmas is coming!”) and therefore sad to put them AWAY. You hardly ever hear any one saying, “Yay, Christmas is over.” At least not the children or husbands in my house.

These are questions I ask myself as I wrap up ornaments, go around the house taking down bows, lights, Christmas cards, etc., knowing full well that no matter how hard I look, how organized I am, it won’t be until I stack all the bins neatly and tightly on the shelves (full to the brim with their lids pressed on securely) that I will find the last of the Christmas decorations. I try to stay ahead of the little impish elf who hides these things and keep a half empty bin ready and waiting but invariably I put that container on the bottom of a big stack. Sigh.

On a delightfully positive note, as I was pulling the lights off the tree this afternoon I found two Christmas presents tucked into the branches – both addressed to me!! Two cd’s from Tim that must have been forgotten. Surely that makes all the work worth while. Right? Don’t worry about answering, I’m too busy trying to turn these red bows into Valentine hearts.

Kathy

Charlie Brown

Shilo Sleepovers

Tuesday Tips for Parenting - Notes for Pennies

Project 365, Sarah

Project 365 – Day 19 (Fri – S)

January 19, 2007 KME 2 Comments

Rachel says I have a “million” pictures of Sarah. Ha! I just sent her outside to take some photos of Sarah. Tim is working in the garage – trying to organize things – David and Sarah are “helping” him. I told Rachel I didn’t have enough pictures of Sarah and needed more, since it is her Special Day. Rachel looked at me in utter disbelief. “You may not have enough pictures from today, but in general you have millions of pictures of Sarah.” She is off by a few zeroes but I certainly have taken my fair share of photos of Muffin Sarah.

Today our homeschooling co-op resumed. The kids were all VERY thankful to be back with their friends; starting new, interesting courses. Sarah (age 4 1/2) is in the kindergarten class. I am with her for the second period as the teacher. Last semester I was in the classroom for two periods – an assistant for one class and the teacher for the other.

We did some crafts – bead necklaces on ribbons and Fruit Loop necklaces on yarn. Sarah loved the craft, it was a perfect choice for her. She wore her Fruit Loop jewelry the rest of the entire day, finally eating it this evening.

Sarah has several friends in her kindergarten class – there are some sweet little girls, just Sarah’s age, in the co-op. The teacher for the second two periods wasn’t there today so Sarah went into David’s class. She was tickled to be a “big girl” in Grandma Honey’s class (don’t you love that name!).

This evening, Tim and Sarah played Feed the Kitty again for Sarah’s game time. Right now they are stretched out on the floor, reading I Spy.

Sarah LOVES her Special Day time with Tim. She smiles and laughs, is almost giddy, with the joy of having uninterrupted Daddy Time. I think that Sarah and David have a special bond with Tim because he was home for much of their early years. Sarah was four months old when Tim lost his job with AT&T. His unemployment continued for almost a year and a half. What a blessing for the little ones in the midst of a very difficult time.

Kathy

Tuesday Tips for Parenting - Notes for Pennies

Tuesday Tips for Parenting - Walk Away

Tuesday Tips for Parenting - Throw Out Your TV!

David, Project 365

Project 365 – Day Eighteen (Wed-DJ)

January 18, 2007 KME 3 Comments

You never know what things will impact a child, what special outing or conversation will take root in their heart and be important to them. I started this Project 365 because I was intrigued by the idea of taking a picture every day for a year. As I worked through how I wanted to organize and structure it, I decided it would be interesting to give each person in our family their own day. I could base my blogging around a particular family member and always have some sort of inspiration for my post.

Here’s today’s little star!

As I began collect pictures and journal about our days, I discovered this blog was turning into something more than just a place to share photos with friends and family – it was becoming a family journal where bits and pieces of our adventures (big and small) are gathered together to paint a beautiful mural of our life together.

On Wednesday, when the home was full, again, of children, Rachel said to me, “Joshua, Daniel and I didn’t get our special computer days.” She looked at me very accusingly. Ha! I told her I couldn’t blog about the kids on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. She said, “I know!” and shook her head at me sadly.

I let the children read the blogs after I post them but I didn’t realize that they had started to CARE about them, that they would feel left out that their day had passed and it wasn’t captured in the blog. I overheard Rachel telling a friend about her Matthias post and how much she loved it. Interesting how much we long for special attention, for recognition, especially from our parents. Even if we know we are loved, we want to hear it again and see it demonstrated.

Today is David’s (age 5) Special Day. He will be 6 in February (much to my chagrin as I didn’t want him to turn 5, much less 6) and regularly asks me how many more days until his birthday. We went to Chuck E. Cheese this morning for a friend’s birthday party. The children had GREAT fun riding the different cars and trucks and other rides, playing games, winning tickets, and devouring pizza.

Joshua and Daniel took excellent care of their little buddy, David. Rachel watched Sarah and was in high demand from the other little girls at the party.

In the late afternoon we had swim lessons. David continues to do well. “I think they’re going to move me up soon, Mom,” he told me, “because every time I do something my teacher says, ‘Good Job, David!’” His face was so earnest and pleased. Last session he went from Pike to Super Pike and it was very thrilling to be advanced to a higher level. He’s obviously ready to jump ahead again. He is torn between swimming and wally ball – he would like to stay and play (still working on that serve) with us instead of going off to swimming with Sarah. I don’t give him a choice, just bustle him off to class.

I couldn’t resist this background – nice fierce and then smiling kiddos. Silly!

In the evening, David selected Labryinth as his game of choice. The boys played while the girls went off for a quick visit with a friend. David won which surely makes a Special Day extra-special.