Today.

My kids are all home, it is raining outside, I have a thick novel, a warm fire, and a yummy candle.

Pure heaven.

Time to Party.

Today is what I like to call "the Last Real Day of School".  They go for two half-days next week, but that is just kind of a wrap-up for the year.

I've been excited to celebrate this day all week, and this morning I told Will, "tonight we are going to party like it's 1999!!!"

To which he replied, "I don't think there was Wii in 1999."

It appears I still have some parenting to do....

To: Sara, on your 8th Birthday

Sweet Sara, full of Grace.  You are such a blessing to our family.  I love your smiley face and all your bounce.  You are lovely, and sweet, and eager, and athletic, and full of fire.  So much of the time you are so quiet, and I just see in you then so much contentment.  I was beyond excited to add a sister to our little family as child #3.  I cannot believe it has been 8 years already!

We are overjoyed at the little lady you have become and I love seeing God working in your little soul.  You are very dear to us, I hope you had the very BEST DAY EVER!

Kisses.

Profound.

So we had my little nephew to play today and in the course of the day I often heard the two 6 year-olds try to one-up each other in all matters of business.  Along the lines of "my dad is faster than your dad...", you know how it goes...

 

At some point Ben says to him:  Hudson, you should go to my church.

Hudson:  Wait!  I think I do go to your church!

Ben:  Really?

Hudson:  Yes!  Does your church preach that Jesus died on the cross for your sins?

Ben thinks a minute:  Yes it does!

Hudson:  See!!  We do go to the same church!

"Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of your enemies,
That you may silence the enemy and the avenger."  Psalm 8:2

 

"But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come unto Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'"  Matthew 19:14

"Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."  Mark 10:15

Throwback

Last time we were in Montana...Will in proper costume.  How lucky am I??

Um. That would be a no.

Conversation in the car with my Ben.

Ben:  Mom, did you do sports in college?

Me:  Um, yeah, I skied.  I raced on skis.

Ben:  Did you ever win?

Me:  Oh no.

Ben:  You didn't ever win?

Me:  Nope.  Never.

Ben:  So you did win?

Me:  No.  I never won.

Ben:  You didn't??

Me:  Nope.  Never.

Ben, suddenly getting really frustrated:  Did you win or didn't you?  You always say no.

Me:  No.  I didn't ever win.

Ben:  So you didn't win?

Me:  Um. No?  I don't understand what you are saying.

Ben:  I say, did you win?  And you say no.  And I say, you didn't win?  And you say no.  It can't be both.

Me:  Oh, ok.  No, I didn't win.

Ben sighs.  Ben gives up.

Two lovely ladies on the way to the Ball!

Oh my goodness!  We have so much fun getting ready for a Ball!  I love having girls!  So fun!!

One of Life's many mysteries...

So Joe had to buckle down and accept an iPhone for his day job (tough life, I know).  It is this family's first introduction to smartphones and we were pleased to have a new member to interrogate:  Miss Siri.

The kids like to come up with mind benders for the poor gal, and honestly, she hasn't lived up to some of our very-high expectations for smart-robot.  But that doesn't mean we don't try.

Sara likes to have her own iPhone to tote around, and she's perfectly content with the cardboard variety...for now :)

Spring Break!

As promised, I took the kids over to Port Angeles for spring break, with some of our very favorite people.  The weather was crisp, and we spent most of any of our time outside with a bit of a refreshing chill.  I totally get why invalids were ordered to the seaside back in the day.  There is nothing like the mix of salt air and wind and mist and sun to make you feel healthy and alive...the perfect cure for a mid-March case of cabin fever.  It was beautiful and relaxing and refreshing.

The ferry ride is always a nice break in the middle of a long day's drive:

The night we arrived was blustery, but we couldn't wait to say hello to the ocean!

The next day, the wind brought lots of sun, so I bundled up with a really good book and watched the kids make sand castles...

The girls baked some biscuits...all by themselves!

There is no internet, no TV, no phone, and very little cell service.  Which is pretty much my version of heaven.

With the grandma and Aunt Nettie watching the sea.

Evening walk with grandma...

Watching the Waltons on the itty bitty portable DVD player...we make do :)

Adventure on the tide pools....starts with a rock tunnel!

Kayte and Ava spent two hours at Goodwill with the grandma and the great-aunt.  Much of that time trying on dresses  :)

Pretty sure no one in this picture is wearing their own clothes...by the end of the week, it is a free-for-all!

All the kids take turns helping with the dishes at some point during the week...and they actually like it!  Go figure.

The Grandma/Great Aunt always bring lots of stuff to do...beads, Boggle, and painting rocks!

...and back on the ferry.  The way back was so nice!

Such a fun easy way to escape with my kids for spring break.  Away from real chores or homework or any obligation to leave the house whatsoever.  We loved it!