Catastrophe

Does looking at this picture give you any reason to break down into a 30 minute meltdown? This view caused both of my kids to fall out and cry for a full half-hour. It's the view out our back patio door. See anything?

Let me zoom in. Anything now?

Ah....now...look closely...do you see the balloon?

Since Jon's birthday in February we've had 2 helium balloons that have been lingering around the house. They are the never-ending balloons, because they were still floating--nearly 2 months later! The kids play with them and run around with them; they just love balloons. Anyways...today our patio door was inadvertantly left open....and the white balloon found its way out to the fresh air. It proceeded to casually float up up and away--only to get stuck in a tree in the yard behind ours! So not only is the balloon gone, it's not really gone!!!

And that's what it takes to cause 2 kids to meltdown in this house!!

Go Fish

All week Jon and Lawson had been planning on going fishing tonight after Jon came home from work. We thought the plans would have to be scrapped b/c of the storms that were headed our way, but they were cleared out by 3! Lawson was so excited when he got up from his nap and I told him that when Daddy got home they were going fishing!


Lawson caught his first fish this afternoon!!! Jon said he reeled it in all by himself! You can see it hanging right above the tackle box:

Here's the little fisherman with his first big catch:

I love that Jon takes the time to do things with all of us, but especially Lawson! I know that Lawson will grow up with fond memories of time well spent with his Daddy!

Flowers for Mommy

One day last week I was trying frantically to get a project done, so I sent the kids into the backyard to play because the weather was perfect. The jumped and played all morning, while I worked and periodically peeked out to check on them. Every so often, they would come up to the patio door and then run off, but I never really paid much attention to what they were doing. Finally after a while Lawson asked me, "Don't you like all these flowers me and Jordan picked for you?" And I looked down to the floor and saw what they had been bringing me!!! There were so many--dozens--spread out all over the floor and it was just so sweet! I loved on them a lot for bringing me such a sweet gift!

Strawberry Shortcake

I love it when strawberries come into season!!! We love strawberries around here! Plain, on cereal, dipped in chocoate or on shortcake!!! This year I have started making my own shortcakes and they are yummy!! :) I snapped this picture of J the first time I made them a couple weeks ago--she had leaned down to lick the whipped cream and got a white nose and a little beard!!! It's worth it for a tasty dessert, though! :)

Backyard Smores

Friday night we thought about going camping. We were in a camping mood! The weather was so perfect, but Jon had to be at church Saturday morning and we didn't want to have to pack up in a rush.
Instead, we decided to cook out and have smores in the backyard! While I was fixing food inside and Jon was grilling, the kids got into a muddy spot from Thursday's torrential rain! Notice Jordan's feet...and bottom...

And Lawson! Jordan threw a muddy vine onto his head and it splattered EVERYWHERE!
Jordan loves cheeseburgers (like her momma!) but Lawson has ALWAYS chosen hotdogs....this is his first cheeseburger!!!

Lately, the kids and I love to take our lunch outside and eat in our new swingset's fort. It's such a simple thing, but the kids LOVE it!!! They were excited when we told them we were eating outside, because this was the first time Daddy got to eat up there with us!!!

After we finished eating we started getting ready to make smores. Here's Jordan waiting....

"Hmmmm....why are we waiting? This is how I normally eat marshmallows....yum...."

Daddy, our great outdoorsman!
Roasting marshmallows

And eating smores!!! Yum!

Next baths and bedtime...then....that's a wrap!! :)

Muddy Buddies

Saturday was beautiful weather here--near 80 with bright sunshine! I worked out in the yard all morning while Jon cooked lunch for the church work day, then when he got home we did some yardwork together. We started the process of re-planting some azaleas that we potted last fall. Lawson woke up from his nap in the middle of it and of course he wanted to help!! When we were filling up the huge hole we had dug with water to plant our bush, splashed around in it. Then, when we were putting the dirt back in the hole, making ridiculously gucky mud, Lawson stepped into the hole and sunk as if it were quicksand!!! He was in up to his knees, and the suction made him not be able to get out! Jon had to pull him out by his arms and his crocs stayed in! That meant the boys had to dig down that far with their hands to find them!!! I was groaning....but these boys loved it! :)

Me and my (little) man

I've already posted about the other day when I was trying like crazy to get a good picture for my passport. I posted a good one of me and both of the kids here. That afternoon I ended up having a second attempt at a good passport photo (it's a long story...the first good one didn't end up working out.) Lawson chose not to go to sleep during his nap that day, so he resumed his game of trying to sabotage my pictures. I let him get in a couple without shooing him away, and I'm glad I did because I got a couple really cute ones with him. Looking back, I realized that Lawson and I have a history of taking pictures together....

I gotta say....I love this little boy!!!

Big Church

The other morning I was getting some things done, so I told the kids they would just have to go play nicely in the playroom. There were some crackers left on the table after the previous night's soup dinner, and Jordan had swiped a couple of them. A little bit later I heard them talking about Big Church and the Lord's Supper and remembering His body and singing some Lord's Supper song they had made up. I peeked in, and they were passing the cracker back and forth taking off bites. They told me they were playing Lord's Supper, like we do in Big Church. They ran out of crackers, so I gave them a few more and a plate to put them on. Watching them follow the example they see each week delighted me.

And, of course, I had to snap a picture...because who hasn't played Lord's Supper when they were little?

I can only hope and pray that one day I will see them participate and commune, realizing the full meaning of our weekly action. And I will delight in the peace and gratitude that moment will bring as well.

Photo-Op

The other day I was trying to get a picture to put in my application to renew my passport. I was setting the camera on timer and smiling in front of a white door to try to get one that I thought was good enough to be the official federal representation of me for the next ten years. The kids caught on to me setting the timer, sitting back, flashing a big smile then checking to see how it came out. It became a game, because they kept trying to get in the picture too....Pretty soon we were all cracking up. Finally I got one that I thought would do, so I asked them if they wanted to get in one with me. Of course they did, so this is what we came up with....

Makes me smile...

First of the season...

Last Saturday we officially started our 2009 Grilling season...

Steaks and hot dogs, corn on the cob, broccoli and garlic bread!! Yum, Yum!!

Cooking Lunch

It's definitely more fun to make lunch when there are 2 little helpers right there by your side!! Jon had all the help he needed Saturday when he was making Mac N Cheese for lunch!!!

New Cam

Here is the first picture taken on my new camera:

It was right after Parent's Night Out, and the kids were wired!!! Funny first...but the first nonetheless!!! Now that I've figured out how to get the pics off the camera and into my picture software I'll have more updates posted soon!!!