Make a Smilebox postcard

Strawberries!

Since we are moving this summer, we decided the only garden we'd attempt would be a couple of strawberry pots that we can take with us. It's been fun so far - and we already have berries!

Bringing home the pots and the plants


The biggest brightest berry!


More berries spilling over the edge.


We haven't eaten any yet, but will soon! I'm not sure how many we can expect this season, but they are the ever-blooming variety, so we're supposed to get berries all summer. I'm so excited:o), and the kids are having a blast hunting for the new ones. So fun!

Having Fun with Spring

Horses

Our Church had a Cowboy breakfast this last weekend, and there were a couple of horses for the kids to ride - so of course we had to ride!

Awana Awards!

The Kids completed another year in AWANAS! We had a great night with friends celebrating these amazing little ones. Jadon got his first year award for finishing his book, and was so proud & excited! He got to sit by his favorite "beautiful friend," Madidyn, and then stand by his favorite "play friend" Carson.
Elie also completed her book this year, and got her award too - but sadly there was a mix-up and her name got over-looked:o(. She didn't get to go up on stage, but right afterward her teacher found us and apologized. She felt so bad about missing Elie. In the end she got her award and she just beams about it:o)!
They had ice cream for the kids and we spent lots of time chatting with friends while they ran around the gym. SO FUN!!!

The Fishy and the Egg: A backseat conversation

It all started with the announcement that in two weeks we'll be able to find out if the kids will be getting a brother or sister... of course the question "how can you tell if it's a boy or girl" came up. Elie and Jadon decided that you can tell by whether or not it has eyebrows and if it has pecks or boobies. Jadon misheard the word "pecks" for "eggs." That topic led to the fishy and the egg...

Jadon: "I have eggs!"
Elie: "No, you will have fishies. I have eggs. But you don't have the fishies yet. But I have my eggs already."
Jadon: "I have eggs. Right here." (pointing to his chest)
Elie: "No, those are pecks. Only Mommy and me have eggs. You and Daddy have fishies to give to the eggs. That's how Mommy got her baby. But you don't have your fish yet."
Jadon: "I have a fish?"
Elie: "No, I have my eggs, but you don't have your fishy yet."
Jadon: "But I want eggs."
Elie: "No, you and Daddy are the boys so you get a fishy to give to the egg. Mommy and me have eggs, not fishies."
Jadon: "Oh. Cause Daddy and me are the same and you and Mommy are the same."
Elie: "Yup. And when you get your fishie you'll give it to an egg."
Jadon: "Oh. Why?"
Elie: "To have a baby, of course."


Meanwhile Bryce and I are laughing out loud in the front seat!


Oh, and the fish/egg reference originated in a conversation between Elie and I when she asked about how babies are made... and wouldn't settle for a simple answer. That was a whole other hilariously puzzling conversation!

Spring is Here!

It's been rainy and a tad gloomy - but look at what this weather has produced! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!!! I even love the foggy mornings...





Even the grass is green now!!!

Discovery!

I've recently made some wonderful discoveries that help me keep my kitchen clean - and of course have to share them!

To keep the inside of my coffee maker and tea kettle clean there's this wonderful product (which we used the last of today!) called "Dip It." You poor the prescribed amount into the coffee maker or tea kettle and either boil it or run a cycle - then do it once more with clean rinse water and the difference is amazing!

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Then there's this wonderful product from Method that cleans stainless steel, and is both non-toxic and environmentally friendly! (It also comes in wipes, made of bamboo - and those are wonderful too, but tend to dry out really fast.) It makes keeping these items clean a breeze!!



That's my Add section for the month:o) - enjoy!

Easter

Here are pictures from our Easter in Oregon. From painting eggs with Nonie, to my beautiful family!

Moment of Insight from a 4-year old

Standing in the cosmetics isle at Costco, where there are several smiling women selling some product or another, my 4-year-old son says to me, "Mom, know which girl I like best?"

Distractedly I ask him to tell me. Without hesitation he points to a mostly nude woman curled up on a tropical beach who is smiling radiantly,(apparently the razors she advertises not only shave legs, but give you perfectly toned, tanned muscles and are the key to tropical dreams come true...).

Having expected an answer such as, "You, Mommy!" Or even, "Aunt Ali!" Or maybe "Sissy!" I was a little dismayed at his choice. But he didn't stop there. Oh, no. His precious little voice piped up again, "Do you know why I like her best?"

"Why," I asked, wondering if I wanted to know the answer.

"Because every time she looks at me she's loving me," came his simple but profound answer.

It was then that it dawned on me; out of all the pictures of women featuring products in that isle, she was the only one not completely dressed and showing it all off with a radiantly inviting smile. I turned to my husband, who was listening in with amazement, and asked him if this is how men in general feel about adds like that.

"Actually," he said with a look of wide-eyed revelation, "yeah."

In a later conversation my husband revealed that while he knows adds like that and other sexually charged paraphernalia featuring women are counterfeit to what he really desires, the general idea that those images send is a beautiful woman wants him and that speaks love in his masculine language. Going further, he shared that being desired sexually means he's cutting it as a man, he measures up.

"It starts young," he shared, "for Jadon it's not about sex, it's probably just that instinctive understanding that a pretty woman smiling at him feels good. A lot like Elie getting a compliment from me about her pretty dress. The trouble starts when I believe that those messages or feelings are as good as it gets - like hamburger when steak is available, though it may come at a greater personal cost. Like putting my ego on hold for truth."

I still don't truly understand - and though comforted about my son's choice in favorite women, still a little concerned about raising a son. But I will say, I have a new view of my husband and son, and men in general... and an even grater respect for my husband's wisdom and love for God.

Latest Picture

Here's Baby at 14 weeks! We have our next check-up on Wednesday ~ Yay!

Moment of Brilliance

It goes something like this...

While sitting in my lap, Jadon whacked himself on his head with his fist.

"Don't do that," I said in shock,"Does your head hurt?"
"No, I just felt like hitting it," Jadon responded.
"Please don't do that again, okay?"
Jadon twisted to look up at me before asking,"Why?"
"Because I don't like watching you hit yourself on purpose. Your head is precious."
As he hits himself again he says,"But I like to!"

I'm not sure what mother doesn't get at least a little distressed at the sight of her child hitting themselves on the head on purpose... I was disconcerted, to say the least.
"Jadon, if you won't stop hitting your head you'll get in trouble!"
By now he was laughing at my protests. "But why? It's my head," he reasoned with glee.

"Well, as long as you're in my house that's my head. So stop hitting it!"

Yes, that was my brilliance shining with all it's glory... the best I could come up with - much to my husband and daughter's delight, who happen to be listening in the next room...

At least all the laughing got Jadon to stop hitting his head.

Hair Cut

Jadon's Hair before...



Jadon's hair after!

Daddy Daughter Date Night

Delinquent

There are many reasons for my lack of blog entries... The first one being that I just haven't felt up to it! I am now 13 weeks pregnant, working on my 14th week, and it has been a crazy wild ride of morning sickness, fatigue, dizziness and insane cravings up until now.

I have also experienced a new symptom of pregnancy - depression! Yes, it is related to postpartum depression (called antepartum depression) and happens because of the rapid increase and fluctuation of hormones during pregnancy. It's a much more common symptom than people think - and it is an actual pregnancy symptom. Here is one link that talks about it, but you can find information in many places. My OB was great in talking with me and explaining what's been going on in me - but some OBs are not. Being that this is my 3rd pregnancy but first time experiencing depression as a pregnancy symptom - and never hearing about it before - I feel like it needs to be more widely known!
(Oh, and it's very treatable w/o meds - though there are options for those while you're pregnant too if it gets serious enough.)

Okay, that's my soapbox for the month:o)!

In other news, we'll be heading to Oregon for Easter this year! All four of us are thrilled to see family and be in the NW again. We're all a bit stir-crazy with the cold bleak gray flat landscape here in Michigan... Though we have had a ton of sun lately, which has been wonderful! However, we'll take rain and sleet, if it means seeing family and green again:o).

In general, now that the first trimester is passing into the second life is good. The kids are doing well in school and enjoying the sunny days of outdoor playing, even if they have to bundle. They love learning about the baby's growth each and can't wait to meet him/her. They've been more than helpful with name suggestions, and Elie has already asked if she will be able to babysit. I am thoroughly enjoying this pregnancy & the age difference!