The kids and I spent the morning at the park. We enjoyed an early picnic before the real playing began. Our dump trucks, buckets and shovels were a little harder to share today for some reason, but we managed to play nicely with others without too much persuasion. When they had their toys to themselves, Eden and Levi made roads for the trucks, ice cream sundaes (with rock sprinkles on top) and a giant birthday cake for me - complete with many, many stick candles and a singing of "Happy Birthday dear Mommy."
When we were sufficiently dirty, we loaded up the car for a trip to Daddy's office to bring cookies and lemonade. Eden loved passing cookies out to everyone and it seemed a nice "pick-me-up" for all involved.
And now, I'm home typing this post to a very quiet house. Levi is crashed out in his room and Eden is sleeping in a tent we have set up in the living room for her camp out. I can't remember the last time both of them went for naps. Oh, I spoke too soon. I just heard the zipper on the tent and Eden is heading this way.
Today's Tiny Treasure: When Eden was passing out my pretend cake at the sandbox today, Levi warned me not to eat the sand. "People don't eat sand.", he said. "Only camels eat sand."
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Wood Chuck, Wood Chuck...
Today has been such a fun day with the kids. I have been very intentional about making myself available to them and when I'm invited, joining in on some playtime. We have crammed so much into today that I feel compelled to document everything my little monkeys came up with...
We started the day making homemade stationary: pushing pieces of paper into trays of shaving cream and food coloring, mixed together with popsicle sticks. Then they disappeared upstairs to play. After about 30 minutes they called me up to watch "The Show". They had propped Levi's mattress against the wall and were banging on a xylophone and bowls. Levi was playing a mean harmonica and Eden was making up a song - singing it at the top of her lungs. I wish I could remember the words - I think it was some kind of an Ode to Shamu.
Then it was on to water play outside. We filled up the little pool and they started running cups of water over to the slide to make it super fast. They were perched on top of a slip and slide raft heading down the slide as fast as the water would carry them. Once they were sufficiently grassy, they headed into our bath for some "swimming".
A brief break for lunch and then Eden decorated an envelope for letter we need to send to her friend in California while Levi ran his paint cars over paper. He requested blue and green paint - a departure from his normal demand for orange. Eden, of course, had to get in on the car action as well - but quickly moved on when Levi suggested scuba diving.
So, back to the bath tub they went - snorkels in hand. After they had explored the depths of the master bath, we played a couple of quick games of Sequence, colored some Hello Kitty pictures and read a few books on the couch. I wonder what they will come up with between now and dinner...
Today's Tiny Treasure: We have been working on tongue twisters the past couple of weeks. Eden finally has, "How much wood could a wood chuck, chuck..." down. Not too shabby. Levi's version had me cracking up this afternoon. He says, "Wood Chuck, Wood Chuck" as fast as he can and then looks at me and smiles. Close Levi, Close.
We started the day making homemade stationary: pushing pieces of paper into trays of shaving cream and food coloring, mixed together with popsicle sticks. Then they disappeared upstairs to play. After about 30 minutes they called me up to watch "The Show". They had propped Levi's mattress against the wall and were banging on a xylophone and bowls. Levi was playing a mean harmonica and Eden was making up a song - singing it at the top of her lungs. I wish I could remember the words - I think it was some kind of an Ode to Shamu.
Then it was on to water play outside. We filled up the little pool and they started running cups of water over to the slide to make it super fast. They were perched on top of a slip and slide raft heading down the slide as fast as the water would carry them. Once they were sufficiently grassy, they headed into our bath for some "swimming".
A brief break for lunch and then Eden decorated an envelope for letter we need to send to her friend in California while Levi ran his paint cars over paper. He requested blue and green paint - a departure from his normal demand for orange. Eden, of course, had to get in on the car action as well - but quickly moved on when Levi suggested scuba diving.
So, back to the bath tub they went - snorkels in hand. After they had explored the depths of the master bath, we played a couple of quick games of Sequence, colored some Hello Kitty pictures and read a few books on the couch. I wonder what they will come up with between now and dinner...
Today's Tiny Treasure: We have been working on tongue twisters the past couple of weeks. Eden finally has, "How much wood could a wood chuck, chuck..." down. Not too shabby. Levi's version had me cracking up this afternoon. He says, "Wood Chuck, Wood Chuck" as fast as he can and then looks at me and smiles. Close Levi, Close.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Good Find
This is an article I wrote for a MOPS newsletter when Eden and Levi were younger. I came across it this morning and have decided to take my own advice...
I'm Such A Mom!
As my daughter wiped her nose on my shoulder yesterday I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, I am such a mom!” Don’t we all have moments like that? Something as tiny as your child crawling up onto your lap can make your heart skip a beat. Something as complicated as determining the “punishment that fits the crime” can break your heart into pieces. A hundred things happen each day that remind us of our awesome responsibility of being someone’s mommy. Sometimes the enormity of it can be a bit overwhelming!
I'm Such A Mom!
As my daughter wiped her nose on my shoulder yesterday I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, I am such a mom!” Don’t we all have moments like that? Something as tiny as your child crawling up onto your lap can make your heart skip a beat. Something as complicated as determining the “punishment that fits the crime” can break your heart into pieces. A hundred things happen each day that remind us of our awesome responsibility of being someone’s mommy. Sometimes the enormity of it can be a bit overwhelming!
If you’re anything like me you (no doubt) go through days when you wish you could throw in the burp cloth and take a sick day from mommy duties. When I feel this attitude creeping in, I try very hard to put life in perspective. I remind myself how fleeting these precious young years are for my children and how fortunate I am to share in them. Soon my daughter will be more interested in playing with friends than with me. She will eventually become too big to hold and will some day no longer require 3 stories and 5 lullabies before going to bed. Even though motherhood offers many trials and frustrations, I know it also offers great rewards. Hearing your child tell you that they love you, listening to them say their prayers at night, watching them share their treasured “blankie” with baby brother and so many other sweet moments make me realize how incredibly thankful I am that God chose me to be my children’s mommy. My hope for you is that you truly cherish all the joys of mothering young children…snotty shoulders and all!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Ho-Hum
I should totally be picking up the house, but have managed to talk myself out of it. After all, I haven't posted anything on the blog in about a month and have convinced myself that recording our family history is way more important than taking out the trash (even though it is a bit stinky).
Mid-Summer Check-In:
We've had mostly good days. Busy hunting for "beautiful" rocks, making messes, playing at the pool with friends, a trip or two to Sea World, weekends at Grandmother and Granddaddy's and lots and lots of together time. To be honest, I have gotten a tiny bit lazy with my activities over the past few weeks and have turned on the TV more than I care to admit. So, I have decided to declare random "No TV" days for the rest of the summer (complete with an official sign) - in order to get our creative juices flowing again! I see lots of water colors and make shift forts in my future. All in all, the kids have played well together this summer. They build off of each other's imagination and although Eden generally runs the show - Levi is able to contribute an idea or two from time to time.
I can hear them playing together upstairs as I type this. I'm pretty sure Levi is standing on the toy chest and jumping off and Eden seems to be providing pointers on how best to jump. Still, there is giggling, freedom and fun. Really, what else could a kid ask for in the middle of summer?
Today's Tiny Treasures: The wonder of silly putty is a magical thing! Today Eden and Levi got to pick out their own egg! Eden picked pink (which also glows in the dark) and Levi picked orange (which changes to yellow when you hold it). Although silly putty is much fancier than when I was little, it's still captures a kid's heart...and because of that...a Mommy's heart, too.
Mid-Summer Check-In:
We've had mostly good days. Busy hunting for "beautiful" rocks, making messes, playing at the pool with friends, a trip or two to Sea World, weekends at Grandmother and Granddaddy's and lots and lots of together time. To be honest, I have gotten a tiny bit lazy with my activities over the past few weeks and have turned on the TV more than I care to admit. So, I have decided to declare random "No TV" days for the rest of the summer (complete with an official sign) - in order to get our creative juices flowing again! I see lots of water colors and make shift forts in my future. All in all, the kids have played well together this summer. They build off of each other's imagination and although Eden generally runs the show - Levi is able to contribute an idea or two from time to time.
I can hear them playing together upstairs as I type this. I'm pretty sure Levi is standing on the toy chest and jumping off and Eden seems to be providing pointers on how best to jump. Still, there is giggling, freedom and fun. Really, what else could a kid ask for in the middle of summer?
Today's Tiny Treasures: The wonder of silly putty is a magical thing! Today Eden and Levi got to pick out their own egg! Eden picked pink (which also glows in the dark) and Levi picked orange (which changes to yellow when you hold it). Although silly putty is much fancier than when I was little, it's still captures a kid's heart...and because of that...a Mommy's heart, too.
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