Happy Birthday to Jake

A little over a year ago I struck a deal with my children. For those who were at least 7 years old, they could choose between having a party to celebrate their birthday or having a fun day with a friend and getting $100. For the last year my older children have decided to opt out of having a party. This year Jake was allowed to choose and he decided to spend the day with his friend Danny and take the $100.



Last Saturday we celebrated Jake's special day by first opening gifts from his grandparents, friend Danny, and siblings. As you can see, he was a really happy guy. Jake even helped design his own birthday cake. He drew a Nerf gun on the cake with a toothpick and I piped the colored frosting. Needless to say it was "AWESOME."



Jake also went to see Yogi bear with dad, Danny, Joey and Sara. (Apparently Rebecca and I didn't miss much.) What a great day, and in my opinion, totally the way to go. I think I am getting old. Small parties seem to be more my style. I can't believe that Jake is 7. Happy Birthday Buddy!

Tea Party

There's nothing like good friends, good food, and a whole lot of fun to end a long hard day at preschool. For the past three weeks all of the lessons have focused on the 5 senses. To end the unit the mom who had been teaching decided to have a tea party.



My incredibly cultured 5 year old decided to stick to trying things he was unfamiliar with like, ahhh "Hot Cocoa." (Yaa that was it.) At least the families were all invited so that Amy's time and hard work didn't completely go to waste.



The kids may not have eaten much, but they definitely enjoyed themselves. I don't know how many of them had ever seen a "Real Silver Tea Set" before. They all seemed fascinated. Thanks Amy for being so creative.

A Conversation with Joey

As I was lying down on my bed resting for a minute, Joey crawled up next to me and the following conversation occurred.

Mom: Joey are you tired too.
Joey: Yahh
Pause
Joey: Mom, you're hot.
Mom: Thanks Joey.
Joey: You know like an oven is hot, you're hot.
Mom: Joey if you tell your wife that every day, she will love you.

I don't think we were referring to the same things, but hey, I can humor myself right?!

Just one of those days

I hate to cry in front of people. I guess a part of me just never wants other people to know when I can't seem to keep myself together. Today at church was one of those days.



When Josh was in the hospital I didn't know whether or not he was going to make it and so I would often think, "if this is the only time I have with my son, what do I want him to know." I would tell him about our family. I would tell him what I've come to know about life and God and being happy. I would tell him how much I loved him and I would sing to him.

The two songs I would sing over and over again were "I am a child of God" and "I'll go where you want me to go." Now, when we sing those songs in church, I have a hard time containing my emotions.



"It may not be on a mountain high, or over the stormy sea.
It may not be at the battle front, my Lord will have need of me.
But if by some still small voice he calls, to paths that I do not know.
I'll answer dear Lord with my hand in thine. I'll go where you want me to go.
I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord, over mountain or plain or sea.
I'll say what you want me to say dear Lord. I'll be what you want me to be."



I don't know why this hymn. I guess a part of me knew there was a chance that Joshua would be asked to go down roads I have yet to travel. I wanted him to know, that whatever the Lord had planned, I would accept. If Joshua needed to go, I needed to let him.

Now it's my to turn to do and say and be whatever it is the Lord needs me to; so that one day I can return to Him again and to Joshua. I miss you baby, I really do.

Christmas, New Years, and playing in CA!

Christmas morning we love to torcher our children.

First we make them wait until a designated time before they are allowed to go downstairs and look at their presents.
Second we make them eat breakfast and get dressed before they are allowed to open anything under the tree.
And last but not least all gifts under the tree are opened one at a time in age order from the youngest to the oldest.

This Christmas we stayed home until the Tuesday after Christmas and so Christmas day was spent playing with toys and enjoying a yummy meal with my sister Karen, her family, and a family from church. We had a great day, and to make the day even better, Chad found out last minute that he wouldn't have to go into work Christmas day. Merry Christmas to us.

The Tuesday after Christmas, the kids and I piled into the van and drove over to California. Several of my siblings were planning to be there and so grandma and grandpa's home was filled with lots of fun and chaos. (Only Carrie and Karen's families weren't able to come and we missed them tons)

Grandma likes to plan fun activities and so every day is a new adventure. We went to Chuck E Cheese, the movies, Balboa, played lots and lots of games, and ended our stay with several trips to Disneyland. For those of you who enjoy strategy games, Dominion and Ascension were the games of choice this holiday season.

New Years day we made a feast of a breakfast with puff pancakes, donuts, eggs, bacon, and juice. After gorging ourselves, Cindy and I have started the first week of the new year trying to follow a plan that includes healthy eating, calorie counting, and exercise. We are both trying to get back into shape and for some reason the older you get, the harder loosing weight becomes, but so far so good. We will see how things go over the next several weeks. Happy New year and here's to an incredible 2011.