If the Phone Doesn't Ring...It's Me

Recently at a Junior League meeting, we were all asked to use three pipe cleaners to create an identity chain.  You had to choose three things that defined who you are and link them together.  I immediately chose a cross for my faith and a stick person for my family, but I hesitated with the last.  Finally it occurred to me...the telephone.

You see, for this stay-at-home Mom, the telephone is what gets me through my sometimes long days.  Some calls are quick..schedule a play date, organize a church event, plan Sunday School, check on a family member.  Some calls are long...seeking advice over the latest developmental stage, sharing the joys of raising children, comparing recipes, or just chatting about the days events.

I have two special friends that I can always call upon for those "long" phone calls.  Two people that have their hands full with small children too.  So, it was Caroline and Mary Dawson that I was thinking of at that Junior League meeting.  How lucky was I to have both in town this weekend!

On Saturday, we welcomed Caroline and her clan of four to a pancake breakfast.  Chris (and William) did the cooking!

We had a blast playing and catching up.  Breakfast is a fun time to get together because everyone is refreshed from a good night's sleep.  The boys loved seeing baby Betsy. 

For William, it was love at first sight.  He wanted to hold her... a lot!  He did great.  It was a fun preview of the months ahead!

On Sunday, we had MD and her clan along with Susan and Rob for dinner.  The kids had a ball running around the house.  The sisters had fun catching up!

I feel blessed to have these special friends in my life.  Their friendship is invaluable to me.  It brings me much joy to see my children get to bond with theirs.  Life is good!!

Impossible

The other night I tucked both boys into bed. I went back to check on them around 8:00. I've been doing that ever since we moved them from full beds to twins. Without rails, I want to make sure no one is close to the edge. Both boys were happily asleep in their own beds.


I then stayed up late sewing (can't wait to show you some spring projects I have been working on!). I checked on them again around 11:00 and found this!

The next morning I asked Philip where Daniel was when he woke up. He said, "In his bed, Mama. It's where he always is." I told him that I had found Daniel in his bed in the middle of the night. His response..."impossible!"

Neither he nor Daniel had any recollection of Daniel getting in or out of Philip's bed! Good thing I had a picture. I'm not sure either would have believed me!

The Joy of Boys

As a female that was raised in a house of mostly females and now lives with four males, I am sometimes overcome with the differences in males and females.

Seriously...how does an afternoon of Ring-Around-the-Rosie...


Hide and Go Seek...(which by the way is quite humorous to watch...Philip, who is never shy about his intellectual capabilities, loves to close his eyes and count to one hundred. He never misses a number. The only problem is Daniel hides and then gets terribly bored! He generally comes out of his hiding place long before Philip is done!)


Leap Frog...

and races...


turn into wrestling?? Happy wrestling...where no one gets hurt. Just lots of rolling around and giggling. Seriously, this is fun???

I won't pretend to understand it, but I have to admit that their energy and happiness rubs off on me.

It's also days like this when I feel a little bit confirmed in our decision to hold off on organized sports. So many of Philip and Daniel's friends are into soccer, t-ball, and basketball. I am thankful that for now our days are filled with silliness and huge blocks of time to decide for ourselves how to spend it!

Transitions

Happy 1st Day of Spring, friends!

I had to snap a picture of William this morning in his spring finery! Another favorite hand-me-down! Hard to believe, but our azaleas are past full bloom. They are absolutely beautiful. I have enjoyed looking at them while the boys and I are outside. Sad to think they'll be gone in a week or two!

Well, the seasons aren't the only thing changing around here! We've been busy with some changes of our own.

First, William woke up Friday morning ready for breakfast...as usual. As I fixed him a bowl of cereal, he climbed up in a chair at the dining room table. He demanded to eat there. So, I got the booster seat down for him...no more high chair! He's quite proud of himself!

The weekend here was spent getting beds ready for Philip and Daniel's new room. We (really just Chris...he worked pretty hard!) had to move out a double bed and move in recently purchased twin beds and mattresses.

The transition has been successful. The boys have slept well in their new arrangements. The first night they stayed up for a little bit talking. It reminded me of my many nights talking to my own sister before bed. I loved sharing a room...so much so that when three rooms in the house became empty neither of us wanted to move! I am thrilled that they get to have that experience too! I am also happy to have one project down before baby arrives.


William's move is next...stay tuned!

Along the lines of transitions and growing up, I'll share one story. This morning when Daniel wandered downstairs he somehow looked bigger to me. I said, "Daniel, I think you grew a foot last night." He immediately looked down at his feet (and seeing only two feet there), he said, "No, I don't think so." Too funny!!

Happy Spring!!

This Week....

We

have

enjoyed

the good

weather

and

our time

outdoors!

The Joy of Three Boys

I pulled this out for William to wear to church on Sunday...


The outfit alone (okay, maybe the wild curls too) took me back to this photo shoot almost four years ago!


I love hand-me-downs. I love pulling out a "new" outfit for William to wear and remembering times...moments...where the other two have worn the same thing. Maybe it is the time I put into making their clothes...maybe it's just the way my memory works, but an outfit alone can take me back immediately.

So tonight, after looking at these...


Philip - October 2005

Daniel - July 2007

William - May 2009

I'm left wondering...will #4 wear the same gown in a few short weeks or will I get some wear out of these things I made six years ago??

Lenten Happenings

Yet even now, says the LORD,return to me with all your heart,with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;rend your hearts and not your clothing.Return to the LORD, your God,for he is gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,and relents from punishing. -Joel 2:12-13

Ash Wednesday was our first full day home after our trip. The boys and I enjoyed the rainy weather and stayed inside all day.

When William went down for his nap, I asked the boys what they remembered about Lent. Philip immediately associated it with Easter...Daniel with the color purple. Not bad, I thought.

We soon got to work on our Lenten chain. Last year, we did a Lenten tree in which we read a verse each night at dinner. This year I wanted something a little bit more. I was also aiming for something not done at dinnertime....that time is crazy enough.


I came up with a Lenten chain. Here's how ours works. There are six full weeks of Lent and one half week...so let's say seven. Each week we are reading from the Bible about an event during Jesus' last week. We read a version from each gospel Monday-Thursday. Friday brings a special activity.

So, the first week we focused on Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem. We read the different gospel versions. I found that repetition was good for their memory. We extended the study by reading some versions from our children's bibles. The boys especially liked going back to this book...


My aunt Nancy gave it to them for Christmas. It tells the Christmas story through the eyes of the donkey that carried Mary. Many years later, the donkey's grandson is chosen to carry Jesus into Jerusalem. Very cool!

Next week brings the Last Supper. Then Mount of Olives, Jesus before Caiaphus, Jesus before Herod, and Jesus before Pilate. We finish with the Crucifixion. Heavy stuff, I realize, but they are up for the challenge!

I am busy getting ready for the church's Lenten series. This year the catecheists are providing the program. We are teaching different lessons to the congregation...just as we do for the children. I think it is a great way to introduce Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to our fellow members, but I am quite nervous about presenting (and singing!) in front of adults. Three year olds are much more forgiving!!

Disney World Trip

We woke the boys early Friday morning with the news, "We are going to Disney World." We got about what we expected, "huh?" No, they were familiar with the place, but they really had no idea what that meant.

After an uneventful trip down, we checked into the Carribean Beach Resort and headed to Epcot. We chose Epcot first because we knew it had the least to offer little people and we only had a few hours.

At Epcot, the highlight was the big aquarium. All three love looking at the fish!

We rode a few rides and watched a few shows. After dinner and a few pictures...


we headed back to the hotel.

Day Two: Magic Kingdom

The boys waiting for the bus in their "Mickey" t-shirts


Okay, Saturday in the Magic Kindom may not have been the best idea. The crowds were horrible. We did manage to get on a few rides. The boys loved the Buzz Lightyear adventure, the go-carts, and the PeopleMover in Tomorrowland, and the teacups. Really, that's about all we got to before lunch.


After a lunch break and the only quasi-successful nap for Daniel and William, we headed back to the parks. We got stuck in a massive parade and again huge crowds. We made it to Dumbo and waited there to ride. Quite magically, the fireworks began in full force as we rode in the sky in our Dumbo "car." Really cool!


William loved the fireworks. Chris held him as he gazed up at the sky saying, "oh, Daddy." For days after, he would say over and over again, "hot, down." His own interpretation of the fireworks. The big boys did not like the fireworks and were then ready to go home after that!

I hate to say that there was at least half of the Magic Kingdom that we never saw!

Day Three: Hollywood Studios

On Sunday morning, Chris and I began seeing some signs of exhaustion! At breakfast, William was fussy and Daniel was saying he wanted to go back to bed. I sent Philip and Chris to the park while William, Daniel, and I tried to lay down for a morning nap. No nap ensued, and so after a little quiet time we too headed to Hollywood Studios.

After meeting up with Chris, I handed William over. I had been carrying him and the backpack and was quite tired. Within two minutes of giving him to Chris, William threw up all over himself, Chris, and the streets of Hollywood! Chris and William went back to the room...the boys and I stayed at the park.

We rushed over to the Indiana Jones show and watched most of it before Daniel demanded a potty break! We then walked around looking for a ride or show. Everything I suggested, the boys vetoed. So finally, I gave in to the one thing they were wanting...


They got to build their own lightsaber at the Star Wars gift shop! Our neighbor returned from Disney World last Thanksgiving and brought his lightsaber over to our house. Ever since then, my boys have associated DW with building your own lightsaber! They were thrilled!!

I treated them to lunch at the Sci-Fi theater where we were able to sit in our own car and watch movies while we ate. They loved it!


Back to the hotel we went to check on William and Daddy. After a little rest, Chris and I traded off. He took the boys to Downtown Disney while I stayed back with William. They loved all the Lego sculptures!


Day Four: Animal Kingdom

By Monday, we were beginning to fall apart. The boys were, sadly enough, ready to go home. After a breakfast reservation mishap, I think we were all thinking about it. I got us in at the Tusker House for a breakfast buffet with Mickey and friends.

Chris and I left breakfast rejuvenated and ready to do some fun things. We had to work on the boys a little. They were so hesitant to do anything, but they had a blast once we forced the issue. They loved the safari and seeing all the animals...

We did a few other things and then the boys and I took a break for ice cream while Chris rode the new Mt. Everest roller coaster.


As we left Animal Kingdom, we stopped for our only family shot in front of the Tree of Life.

It was all in all a good trip, albiet an exhausting one! We are glad to be home and to have one more day out of school!!