A Lot of Pomp and Circumstance

About a month ago Jack went through his preschool "graduation" ceremony. Why the quotes? Because, really, who actually graduates when they're 5? We approached the evening with much skepticism, but quickly had our hearts softened as twenty or more  4- and 5-year-olds sang all the songs they had learned about our nation's history and geography.

 

Jack's special song was about land formations.

He got to be the island of Hawaii.

 

Each of the graduates accepted their diplomas from Ms. Heather,

 

then got back in line to wave their caps once everyone had gone through.

Thanks for being such a good teacher, Ms. Heather!

 

Here is a picture of Wesley and Elise with some pirate graduate.

 

Oh wait, I guess that was Jack all along. Wes and Elise were so proud of their big brother!

And we are so proud of our son who is growing up to be a sweet, compassionate, tender-hearted little boy.

Five Question Friday

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1. What is your current favorite tv show?

I hate to even admit it, but I love Glee. Dumb, I know.

2. What's the worst haircut you ever got?

I've had a lot of bad haircuts because I hate paying a lot of money for them. About a year ago, though, I got such a bad haircut from one of those discount places that I actually went back and complained. The manager offered to cut it again for me. Uh...no thanks. They messed it up the first time, why would I let them take a scissors to it again? I opted for my money back and made an appointment at a real salon. Lesson learned.

3. What was something that you did as a child that you thought you were so cool for doing?

Big bangs! Not the theory, the hair. The higher the better, I guess. Super funny now when I look back at those pictures.

4. Do you have any GREAT frugal family fun tips?

We can only use this one about once a year, but we like to visit the Rainbow Play Systems store. There are probably 10 different sets that the kids (and sometimes the adults) can plan on. It's especially good for rainy days. But we don't want to be recognized every time we go in so we limit ourselves.

5. Would you drive across country if you had the money to fly?

Absolutely not. My days of thinking road trips are fun are long gone. Get me to vacation as quickly as possible.

Five Question Friday

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1. What is your favorite summer time activity?

Sitting on the beach by my favorite husband with my favorite book while my favorite kids are napping. Oh how I cherish nap time in the summer.

2. Do you have one laundry soap you stick to, or do you buy whatever's on sale?

Whatever is cheapest - which usually ends up being Target-brand. Laundry detergent is not one of those things I like to spend money on. Though I'm guessing I'm not alone on that one.

3. What is your favorite dinner to make in the summer?

Reservations.

4. Do you have any talents?

Everyone has talents. It's just that some talents are more interesting to blog about than others. If I could juggle or ride a unicycle or balance 50 books on my head or do all three of those things at the same time, then I might have something interesting to say here. But...I can't do any of those. My talents are more business related (read, "boring to blog about, but useful in some way in God's master plan").

5. If you could instantly be an expert in something, what would it be? Why?

I'll take a little parenting expertise please. Not only would it be fantastic for our children, but I get giddy thinking about all the "mom-guilt" it would relieve.

Five Question Friday

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1. If you had to choose, how would you prefer to choose to spend money...on landscaping or a pool?

Hmm...as often as we've commented on a hot summer day that it would be great to have a pool, I'm going to have to go with landscaping. We have some grand plans that would compete with a pool any day of the week.


2. (Scott likes to get things stirred up...) Death penalty, yay or nay?

Choosing not to answer this one.

3. What's the worst thing your kid has gotten into when you turned your back/blogged/showered/blinked?

The street of oncoming traffic! When Wes was really little he toddled after Sean to the mailbox (across the street) right as a car was coming down the street. Lucky for us, the driver wasn't trying to break the sound barrier as most cars are as they rush to or from work.

4. How often do you REALLY go to the dentist?

I'm surprised that this is a confession for many people. I always thought that everyone just went every 6 months as scheduled. I learned something today.

5. What is your favorite animal (doesn't have to be a pet-type animal)?

This one makes me feel like I'm 5. And, really, my answer is very similar to my 5-year-old's because my favorite animal changes with the weather. It's just one of those things I don't give a lot of thought and depends on my mood, I guess.

Pure Joy

Today was a long day...and short at the same time. Ever had one of those? I rushed all day long at work. And when I got home I was supposed to go to the grocery store...where I would have rushed so that I could get home to relieve my parents of kid duty. But by the time I got home, I just couldn't rush anymore. So I stayed. And ate. With my family. I'm so glad I did.

Before I left for work I set out clothes for Elise; brown jersey capris and a lavender t-shirt. When I got home she was in bright pink pants and her lavender t-shirt. In the thick of potty training (one of the worst jobs a parent ever has to do), it's not unusual for her to be in a different pair of pants when I come home than when I left for work in the morning. So I asked, "Did she pee in her pants?" "No," was the response. "Oh, did she poop in her pants?" Now I was a little concerned because she's actually been doing really well lately and hasn't had an accidents in weeks. "No," again was the response. The confused look on my face must have prompted my mom to volunteer the real reason for the change in attire: "She wanted to wear her yellow pants," was the response I got. All I could do was laugh out loud at the insistence of our baby girl in wearing her pink "yellow pants."

Pure. Joy.

And Jack. He's been learning about reducing, reusing and recycling at school. So the last few weeks have been consumed with different ideas about how to reuse the things he has. As I dragged them to the second grocery store of the night, I promised them icees if they could make it all the way from Rainbow to Target without whining. On the way, Jack was telling us all about how he could reuse his icee cup to store worms from our yard to bring to the cabin. And then maybe he'd rinse it out and use it for water if he got thirsty. I admire his determination to use a cup in as many ways as he can think of. I'm not so appreciative of the worm-infested drinking vessel he's willing to reuse a third time.

These are the things motherhood is made of. Appreciating the humor and innocence in the process of your children discovering the world. A world God has created for us to enjoy. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child and marveling at the wonder of it. This is pure joy.

Thank you, God, for these three blessings of pure joy.

On Broadway

You haven't seen her name in lights yet,



but if she keeps this up,

 

it won't be long!

 

Five Question Friday

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1. Tube socks, calf socks, crew, ankle, none?

None! I love summer when I can go barefoot everywhere. I also love summer when my children can go barefoot everywhere and I have six fewer socks accumulating daily in my laundry pile that will eventually need to be matched, folded and put away.

2. Was your child's (children's) name a mutual decision or was it a debate? If you don't have children, do you plan on giving your spouse a say, or do you have a name you MUST have, regardless if your other half likes it or not?

I think it was a mutual decision. The only one I think I may have had more say in was our oldest. Sean really liked "Jack" but I'm a full-name-with-a-nick-name type of person so I really wanted "Jackson." He may have given in to me on that one.

3. What is your favorite type of weather?

Sunny and 73 with an occasional light breeze. Do I sound like a weather forecast? Warm enough for shorts and a tank top (and no socks!), but not so hot that Sean gets sweaty and crabby and refuses to be outside with me.

4. If left to your own devices, what time would you wake up every day?

Probably 8:30 or 9:00. Though I'm so accustomed to being awakened at 6:00 or 6:30 by my children that, even on those rare occasions when I am left to my own devices, I'm awake by 7:00 anyway.

5. Have you bought your cemetery plots yet?

No. And that's all I'm going to say about it b/c that's a depressing topic.

And just because posts are more fun with pictures I'll leave you with a recent picture of our little Viking's jersey fan.

I say jersey fan because, really, she just likes the jersey. This is how she feels about the actual game.