"Mr. Sandman..."

Mr. Sandman...

Please bring us some sand...

We have an empty rectangle here on our land.

It needs to be filled, so the kids can play,

And build sandcastles each and every day.

Sandman...

WOW! Thanks for the pile...

This definitely will keep us very busy for awhile!

Now, please, we don't need ANY more sand...

Mr. Sandman, we have more than we can STAND!!!!

PS

Mr. Sandman, if you have any advice on how to better keep my kids CLEAN in the sand that you bring, I would greatly appreciate it! (Maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all!) :-)

Here is the before picture (at roughly 1:30)...

Here is the after picture (at about 5:30)...

Here is the sand that we STILL have left to shovel tomorrow...YIKES! :-)

**Thank you, Jason and Lori, SO very much for coming over and helping us get the fabric/plastic down (Lori, I couldn't have done that without your help!), AND helping to shovel and move the sand (Jason, Pat greatly appreciated the team effort there!). We couldn't have gotten this much done today without your help!!! So, thanks so much!

**And, thanks, Pat, for all of your hard work today on this project..I am super impressed with how quickly you put it all together! Great work...we ALL appreciate it!

Trading in the bed...

...for the floor in the room next door!!

The girls have been sharing a room for over three years...so, sleeping in the same room is not considered a "sleepover" or super fun thing by any means over here. Well, unless your little brother, who normally sleeps in the room next door, gets to join you in your room with a bed of blankets on the floor...well, then that has "sleepover" and LOTS of FUN written all over it!!!

Tonight after supper, the three kids were having fun playing together. That was when they came to us with this idea. Caleb, in trying to plead his case, kept saying, "I will be quiet. I won't make lots of noise." We thought that we would give it a try and see what happened. Caleb was so excited to sleep with the girls and in their room. But, what was even more cute was how excited the girls were to have their little brother join them!

I had to run to a Sunday school meeting at church, so Pat got to truly experience the "fun" of this sleepover!!! He said that they all really did well...and yes, Caleb WAS pretty quiet! :-) As I went in to give sleeping kids a kiss when I got home, I couldn't resist some pictures. Oh, wait...maybe it was the other way around...maybe I went IN for some pictures, but couldn't resist giving some kisses to my sleeping kids. :-)

Aren't sleeping kids just precious? No matter how hard the day, how tough the battles were, how frustrated I may have felt at different times, seeing them there sleeping always seems to melt my heart. And, it is such a gift from the Lord that that is true. I heard someone years ago say that it truly is a blessing that we find our sleeping kids so precious. Because, really, if we think about WHAT they are doing when they are sleeping, we really wouldn't think that it was so wonderful. Because, what ARE they doing? They are "recharging" for tomorrow!!! :-)

Here are some pics of the "sleepover" tonight (which aren't great, sorry!)...oh, how I continue to pray for the relationships that my kids form with each other! My heart longs for them to love and care for each other always!!!

Caleb in his "bed"

All three soundly sleeping...at three different heights!

Conversations with Caleb...

There is something so funny about being three! It is one of my FAVORITE stages when it comes to communication. Three-year olds are learning so much and trying to put together (and wrongly put together sometimes) so many different things! And...they can be so random!! Well, maybe not ALL three-year olds...but definitely MINE!!!

Here is just a glimpse at a couple of conversations that Caleb has had with us as of lately...

Caleb: (While going to the bathroom) What if I peed on the wall?

Me: That wouldn't be a very good choice, would it?

Caleb: What if a froggie and a baby peed on the wall?

Me: (Laughing at that odd comment)...

Caleb: What if I peed all the way up to the sky?

Oh, my boy...could you get any MORE random??? :-)

Here is another one - only this time it was an exchange between Pat and Caleb...

Caleb: Why do we have chest-ese?

Pat: (Confused as to what Caleb is getting at) What? Why do we have what?

Caleb: Why do we have chest-ese? You know...(he lifts up his shirt and points to his nipples)...why do we have these chest-ese things?

Looks like we need to teach him the proper name for nipples, huh??

And one more...from just tonight at supper as we were finishing up...

Caleb: Can I be excused?

Me: You need to take a one more bite of both your potatoes and your broccoli, then you may be excused.

Caleb: I'm tired. I can't do the work.

Me: What work? (Wondering if he is going to say what I think that he is going to say)

Caleb: The work of eating my food. My tummy said, "I'm full." God says, "No more."

What can you say to that?? :-)

Here are some pics of my GOOFY boy!! We love you, Caleb!

Tuna-rific Breakfast!!

Sorry that it has taken me so long to get back to you all about my "fishy breakfast" mystery...we have had a super busy, yet very fun weekend with family in town (my sister, Katie, and her family were here visiting...more pictures of that later!).

Thanks so much for all of your fun guesses and answers to my multiple choice question! It was entertaining to me to read your thoughts...so, thanks to those of you who shared and responded to my wonderings about tunafish for breakfast!!!

Before I let you know the WHYS behind it all, I just wanted to clarify a FEW things...

First of all, I am NOT pregnant. Eating tuna at 8:00 am is NOT a weird pregnancy craving (even though it may be "weird"). I am NOT pregnant! :-)

Secondly, my tuna-eating for breakfast was not the result of a new religion conversion, Heather and Laura!! ha ha ha :-) Plus, if I WAS doing the no-meat on Friday thing during lent, I would be a bit late in the going since lent occurs before Easter... :-)

Although a few of you guessed it, this was not some sort of "dare," bet, competition, or challenge that I had with kids from youth group or anyone else. I could see Pat doing something like this, but this time, it was not the case!!

And, although I AM considering some 1/2 marathon training (thanks to the encouragement of my fellow blogging friend, Amanda), my tuna for breakfast had NOTHING whatsoever to do with that. Let's just say that I wouldn't double-whammy myself like that...super long, tiring runs AND tuna for breakfast? I am not that much of a "die-hard"!!

I am not doing a nutrition study, PRACS study, on the Atkins diet (that one made me laugh as well) or anything of that nature.

And, just to clarify, I would NOT being eating this smelly, fishy breakfast if it didn't involve some sort of monetary payment.

Now, no one is DIRECTLY paying me money to eat tuna for breakfast. I don't have a contract with "Catch of the Sea" nor am I their new spokesperson! They are not paying me money each day to eat their water-packed tuna in hopes that I turn into a mermaid to enhance their advertising. Although that would be exciting, I am sure (well, not really turning into a mermaid!), that is NOT why I opened a can of tuna at 8:00am when I could have been enjoying a huge bowl of cereal - one of my favorite foods and a completely separate food group over here at our house!

My college friend and roommate, Mck Mama, was the closest in her guess of my new Friday morning breakfast. I WAS trying to eat lots of protein for bloodwork that was going to be done that day. Bloodwork in which I needed to show an adequate level of protein in my blood. So, GREAT guess, my friend...I am totally impressed!!

You see, twice a week, I head over to Biolife Plasma Center, get a huge needle put into my arm, and donate the plasma from my blood...

Here is a picture that I took with my cell phone last Friday while I donated (sorry to my friend, Lori, and others of you who get queasy at the site of needles deeply embedded in veins)...

In order to successfully qualify to donate, the protein levels in your blood need to be at a certain amount. I think that in general, my levels are good. However, after donating twice a week, week after week, my body seems to get depleted a bit of protein. A couple of times I have actually been deferred for a bit in order to get my levels back up. So, I always try to make sure that I get a good chunk of protein in the morning for when I donate later in the afternoon (which I usually do on Fridays).

It is really important that my protein levels are above the line because on Fridays when I donate, I get paid $40!!! The first time one donates in a week, it is $20; the second donation in that same week is then worth $40! SO...to answer my own question to all of you, I eat the tuna in order to make sure that I get a great surge of protein in my blood so that I can "pass" and make my second donation and get $40!! So, that is what that $.50 can of tuna is worth to me!! :-)

I know that there are other sources of protein that I could eat; however, one can of protein supplies me with 25 grams of protein...the equivalent to eating a little over four eggs! And, yes there are protein bars available and I have looked into those as well. However, most don't seem to have 25 grams of protein and cost significantly more than my $.50 can of tuna. So, tuna it is, I guess!

And, really it isn't THAT bad (although my kids would argue; they seem to flee the kitchen in disgust at the smell of tuna!), I will admit that is not a big bowl of my favorite cereal!!!

But, would I eat the tuna for breakfast if it didn't involve some sort of compensation? NO WAY!!! :-)

A Fishy Breakfast...

This is what I normally have for breakfast (and really what I WANTED for breakfast today...)

However, this is what I needed to eat for breakfast today...

Wondering why?? Well, I will let you know after you play my little multiple choice game here!!!

So, my question for YOU is this...

How much money would you need to get paid in order to trade your normal/favorite breakfast in for this lovely bowl of tuna mixed with a little bit of Miracle Whip??

A. Nothing...I absolutely LOVE tuna and would welcome it at any and every time of the day...even breakfast!

B. $10

C. $20

D. $40

E. For NO amount of money would I EVER consider eating a can of tuna for breakfast. How absolutely disgusting!!

Whether you are regular commenter, a regular blog-lurker, or are lurking here for the first time, PLEASE share your answer with me to this multiple choice question!! I would LOVE to hear from those of you who are reading!! :-) You don't have to have a blogger account...just simply sign in as "anonymous"!!

AND...have any guesses as to why I had this lovely breakfast today (for those of you who REALLY know, please don't tell!)??? :-)

More to come about this later... :-)

Why I need a timer...

I used to have a pretty good memory. I really have never kept a day planner/calendar. I could remember Dr. appointments, dentist appointments, play dates, etc. If I heard the month and date, I could tell you what I had going on. It is just the way that I am wired. Or should I say WAS wired!

NOT ANYMORE!!! :-) I can barely remember WHY I went downstairs once I actually get down there! I am serious...countless times DAILY I go into a room only to get "side-tracked" and then forget why I even went in there in the first place!

I am sure it is a combination of MANY things...the fact that I am getting "older," that I have lost brain cells while pregnant (ha ha), and that I have more things going on and all and all life is crazier now that I have more people/things to keep track of!

So, I have learned that I NEED to make myself notes; that I now NEED to write down appointments; and that WHENEVER I put something in the oven, whether that be a frozen pizza, cookies, muffins, whatever, I NEED to use a timer. I have burned enough cookies to know that this is true!!! :-)

On Tuesday, the kids and I made some whole wheat banana bread mini-muffins. I LOVE banana bread, so I was really excited to make it. It has been a LONG while since I have actually BAKED something at all! I made a double batch and started the shifts of making them (a double batch makes about 144 mini-muffins, so it takes 6 rounds to get them all done!).

Each time, I put the timer on for nine minutes (then ran around the house doing other things while they baked), and wa-la...the muffins were ready. By the sixth round, I was getting pretty sick of baking muffins if I am honest. I was just ready to be DONE! When the timer went off this time, however, I noticed that the muffins weren't QUITE done. In order to use the rest of the batter, I filled these last ones EXTRA full. Being they were bigger, I thought that I would give them an extra minute or so.

SO...I stuck them back in and thought to myself, "It is just ONE minute...I don't need the timer for ONE minute." And, one would think that I really wouldn't!

WRONG!!!

TEN minutes later, it hit me that the muffins were STILL in the oven! I raced upstairs to grab them out only to discover that they were a bit over-done of course! The girls were at the table coloring, watching all of this happen (me sprinting up the stairs and frantically running into the kitchen). So, of course their curiosity was peaked as to why their Mom was spazzing out!

So, I showed them the burnt muffins and took them out of the pan with the intentions of throwing them away. I am not a "fan" of over-done, hard baked goods. The girls however asked if they could try one. I guess that they thought that it would be "fun" to eat something burnt. We all have different ideas of "fun" I guess! :-)

But, I obliged and gave them one. And, they loved it...in fact, they asked me to save the whole batch. So I did.

The next morning when I pulled the muffins out for a little snack do you know what I heard?

"Mom, can I have one of the burnt ones?"

Looks like I don't need a timer after all when I am baking for my kids! They actually like the taste of forgotten-about muffins! This is GREAT for me since I am really good at FORGETTING!!! :-)

Prayer for Steven Curtis Chapman's family...

My heart is aching for this family right now. Yesterday late afternoon, they lost their sweet, little five-year old daughter, Maria, in a tragic accident. She is the youngest of their three adopted daughters. You can read the rest of the story right here...

I have seen Steven Curtis Chapman (Christian singer and songwriter) in concert and have always loved and appreciated his heart for the Lord, for music, and also for adoption. The Lord has used him to touch the lives of so many.

Tears come to my eyes as I can't even imagine the heartache, grief, and pain that they are going through and will continue to go through for as long as they live on this earth. Please pray for them with me...I just can't seem to get them off my heart and mind...

My "Other" Girls

I have talked (written) quite a bit about my two girls, Mackenzie and Kylie. However, I want to introduce you to my "other" girls...my seventh-graders that I have had the privilege of working with EVERY Wednesday night this school year.

Meet Kelsey, McCall, Sydney, Kjersten, Amy, Angela, Jessame, and Erica (not pictured, Grace and Kim). These pictures were taken last week during a Progressive Mystery Dinner...it was lots of fun! (Yes, as you can tell in the second picture, I was in the middle of talking when the picture was snapped! What can I say...I am not that photogenic!) :-)

These girls have KEPT ME ON MY TOES in many ways and have been such a neat and fun group of girls to work with. Middle school can be such a hard time of life. These girls are trying to "find their place" and identity; trying to build relationships and friendships in the midst of fickle girls who can be very hurtful (I have heard many stories of this); and too trying to figure out what they believe about God and if their beliefs/morals are going to make ANY difference in their lives. During these years, the "rubber meets the road" in so many ways.

After taking the past five years off of being involved regularly (weekly) in youth ministry (hmmm, I wonder why?), it has been GOOD to be back! For one, I love working and interacting with teens. It keeps me "young" and keeps me afresh on the culture and the things that kids are dealing with. And, I love to build relationships with these girls and get to know their hearts.

Plus, it always is fun to hear what the HOT youth pastor has to say too!!! (Oh, for those of you who don't know, he IS my hubby, so I CAN say that!) :-) No, really, it has been so great to be involved again IN ministry with Pat. We met (in college) working at a youth group together...it was in that setting that I really fell in love with him and saw his heart for the Lord and his love and heart for youth too. So, it has been good to be back...

Even though our year is "officially" over, I will still be praying for these "other" girls of mine. And, if you know any teenagers, I would encourage you to please PRAY for them. It is never easy (just being a teen)...but, especially in the culture we live in.

And, it is crazy to think that in FIVE years, Mackenzie will be one of these "middle schoolers"! Oh how I am praying already now!

Dear Summer,

Dear Summer,

I have three kids over here who have been asking me some tough questions. And, one of the toughest ones lately has been, "Mom, when is Summer going to come?"

In fact, my three-year old, Caleb, just asked me this afternoon if we could take the sprinkler out yet. They are excited to go swimming and do other water activities. It gets hard day after day telling them that we can't do those things yet...that summer hasn't "arrived" yet. You don't know just how LONG we have been waiting for you!

You see, Summer, where we live, Winter comes and stays for a LONG time. A LONG, LONG time (in fact, longer than he is welcomed). Fall and Spring are really kind of cold, and well, you are all that we have for warmth, Summer. And, we need warmth. We need sun. We just need to be outside. We need YOU!

The kids are antsy to swim and run through the sprinkler, and I am ready to trade my pasty-white skin for a sun-bronzed look and my sweat shirt for a tank top. We all need you, Summer, and the hot sun that you so often bring with your arrival.

So, I know that you aren't technically scheduled to arrive until the summer solstice, on June 21st. So, I apologize for my lack of patience here. However, I am going to ask just a little favor of you. Could you please come a little earlier?? You would warm the hearts (and bodies) of so many if would please consider this small request.

I look forward to hearing back from you. No need to reply with a letter or an email. Some 80 degree days would be reply enough for me!

Thanks for your time, Summer. I look forward to your warmth (mainly temps in the 90s) in so many ways.

Your trying-to-be-patient, cold friend,
Kristi

PS

Oh, and since I have your attention, would you mind passing on a little message to Spring too? She is a bit late in coming this year. The buds and leaves on the trees are just finally arriving here in our part of the country if you can believe it. Could you ask her to speed things up a bit?? Please?

Winds of Change...

Do you ever feel like life is just going SO fast that you can barely keep up with it...like the "winds" are just blowing you around a bit??? Maybe it is not even the events of life, but just the emotions that life brings as well??

I feel like I am in one of those times right now. As a family we aren't necessarily going through many "winds of change" (no moves, no new babies, no new jobs...nothing like that), but I feel like there is just a lot of change going on around us. And, that in turn affects me, I guess.

And, if you know me, you know that I don't necessarily thrive on change. I am not an adventuresome person looking for new opportunities and things to conquer. I grew up in the same place (pretty much the same house) all of my growing up years. And, I found comfort in that security of sameness.

Now, I KNOW that change isn't a "bad" thing...and in some ways, I even welcome change. I love the changes of the seasons (especially when it moves from cold to warm to HOT!). I like changing paint color in my house and I look forward to the ways that God is changing my heart and growing me. And I always welcome underwear changes as well (sorry, I just couldn't resist that "dull" one). :-)

However, when it comes to relationships, my kids, and our life in this way, change scares me greatly!!! And, I just feel like these last few weeks have brought about some changes...

** First of all, one of my dear, closest friends just moved away on Sunday. Stacey and her family left for Michigan...it was a very sad, tear-filled weekend and good-bye. It just hurts to share SO much with someone, and then have them "leave" your life in this way (not that our friendship won't continue, because it most definitely will). But, still, a hard change...and one that I know I will feel for quite some time.

** We finished our last day of school last week!!! I can't believe in some sense how FAST this year has gone. I now have a SECOND-grader (that just sounds so "old") and an "official" Kindergartener (although Kylie enjoyed doing much school stuff this year too). And, although this is a very welcomed change in many ways (I am looking forward to a little more flexibility), it is still a "change" to the routine that we are used to and a reminder of just how FAST my kids are growing up!

** I always seem to feel mixed emotions when my kids turn a year older. Although it is amazing to watch them grow, develop, and change, it still is emotional for me too. It especially seems hard when Mackenzie turns a year older. First of all, she is our oldest. And secondly, her birthday just happens to fall right at graduation time. During this time, we are attending open houses, enjoying a super neat Grad's banquet with the seniors and their parents from church, and hearing parents reminisce and share just "how fast the time goes" as they are dealing with the many feelings of their kids moving on to new things in life.

For some reason, I just can't help but feel so many mixed emotions as my little girl turns a year older in the midst of all of these conversations. I look at her and just see how "grown up" she is becoming in some ways; and I know that graduating from high school is really not THAT far off. OK, I know that it really IS (11 years!), but I know that it just goes by so fast too...

** As I have mentioned before, we are still in process of changing and weaning Kylie off one of her meds. Another "change" that has brought about so many different emotions. And, then to top it off, we talked with some people who have a daughter with epilepsy who was on the drug that we are thinking about switching Kylie to (Lamictal). They shared some of the hard side effects that this young girl dealt with...especially in the realm of school and remembering and learning. Now I am totally wondering and second-guessing IF we should switch Kylie to this med or not!! I know that all meds affect each person differently. But, it is just so hard to know...and mentally draining to think about sometimes...

** And, lastly, another major change is occurring at our church where Pat is the Youth Pastor. Our Senior Pastor of 36 years is retiring this Sunday. This is his last week in the office and his last Sunday preaching. After shepherding a church body for that long, you can imagine the many different emotions that our church is feeling and going through with this change. Pastor Vic will be greatly missed and has had such an impact on so many people's lives!! I know that Pat will miss him dearly too as he has been a mentor to him in countless ways...and they always enjoy the good old jokes around the office too! And because we still have no Senior Pastor to replace him (we are in process of looking and interviewing), Pat is going to be taking on more responsibilities (with preaching and other things as well) ON TOP of his already busy summer youth schedule. More changes THERE too...

I have just felt a bit emotionally overwhelmed lately...and, then you throw some hormones in the mix of that as well... :-)

But, I am just so thankful that even though our lives here on this earth will bring us change, uncertainties and unknowns, God is always the SAME. Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

When the "winds of change" blow (and they most certainly WILL in some form or another), God is faithful and trustworthy; He is where we can find our security; and He is our source of peace, comfort, and refuge. I am forever grateful that He IS the "Rock eternal."

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.

Isaiah 26:3-4

You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.

Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

Birthday Festivities...

Wow! What a BUSY last few days we have had over here!!!

The Birthday Girl has been enjoying some days of celebrating...so, I thought that I would just share a few pictures of the festivities that have been going on over here!

Mackenzie started off her birthday on Thursday with a date with Mommy and Daddy at Caribou Coffee...a birthday tradition over here (my mom helps out by taking the other two kids so that we can do this!). It is always so nice to have that one-on-one time with the kids...especially on their special days!!!

Mackenzie and I then spent the rest of the morning together (it was so fun!) until lunch time. Then, it was time for a special birthday lunch date with Grandma and Grandpa (also a birthday tradition). Mackenzie then got to spend the rest of the afternoon hanging out with her Grandma...always something that she enjoys SO very much!

From there it was on to get some ears pierced (which is covered in the post below) and then to Grandma and Grandpa's for supper (with the rest of the family joining) to celebrate with them!! What a fun day! :-)

Yesterday was then her birthday party with her friends! She invited over her buddies for an evening of pizza, games, cake and ice cream, and lots of fun!!

We were SO blessed with a very beautiful (albeit windy) day...one of the warmest days that we have had so far this spring! Pat led some games...the kids had fun playing clothes-pin tag, having a three-legged race (that was sure funny to watch!), playing basketball, and just enjoying having some fun outdoors!

Then, to top off the night, she had her buddies Madelynne and Chloe sleep over. The girls were SO excited, had lots of fun, and all did so very well!!

But, needless to say, EVERYONE around here is a bit tired and worn out from the past few days!!! And, with a husband/Daddy who is a youth pastor, we still have many more "festivities" to attend...Graduation Open Houses!!! You know what we will be busy doing these next couple of weekends!!! :-)

But, for now, I am going to go to bed EARLY tonight!!! Why am I so good at saying that, but never really great at "following through" on it??? :-)

But, really. Tonight, I AM going to!!!

Ear-Piercing Scream...

After how Mackenzie has reacted in the past about getting shots (yes, with loud, ear-piercing screams!), you can imagine my dismay when, for the past few months, she has been talking about wanting to get her ears pierced.

Pat and I talked about it and said that if she really wanted to, we would let her get her ears pierced on her seventh birthday. She was super excited...but, really wanted Kylie to do it as well. Having two girls SO close together (16 months is all that separates them), we couldn't let one do it without the other (well, we COULD have technically, but we didn't want to!)! So, we said that was a deal!

Yesterday, ON her birthday, we headed to the mall to get it done! We talked about it all week. She knew the details of what was going to happen. She knew that it was going to hurt...but only for a second. And the moment of pain was going to be worth it, right? She said that she was going to be brave. And, I do believe that she really WANTED to!!

But, upon walking into Claire's, her heart started pounding. My mom came with and said that she could just feel it beating in her chest as I sat and talked with the employee about earring choices and such. Choices were made, earrings were picked out, and we were ready. Or were we???

Mackenzie REALLY wanted Kylie to go first...

But, I was nervous for Kylie to go first for two reasons. First of all, Kylie is super brave when it comes to medical procedures. She has to get her blood drawn for medication levels, so she is somewhat "used" to get poked. My first thought was that it might be helpful for Mackenzie to see Kylie being brave and getting it done first. That is was "no big deal." BUT...what if Kylie cried? What if it hurt more than I remember and Kylie was scared or upset? I knew that Mackenzie would NEVER go for it then.

And, secondly, on Mackenzie's birthday, I really didn't want to leave Claire's with Kylie getting her ears pierced and not Mackenzie. So, I wanted to make sure that MACKENZIE was the one to get it done if anyone!

So, I really wanted Mackenzie to go first. But, with her heart pounding, anticipation/fear on her face, and the lady waiting, I put Kylie in the chair...

And Kylie was SO brave! Although she had some anticipation in her face, she barely even flinched when they did it! :-)

Next was Mackenzie. And then, the ear-piercing screams started. Well, maybe it wasn't THAT bad. But, there WERE many tears and much anticipation. Someone was second-guessing getting this whole thing done!

After about 5-7 minutes of me talking with her, reasoning with her, and helping her to calm down a bit, I put the "ball in her court" one more time. Of course I wasn't going to MAKE her get her ears pierced. SHE was the one who really was excited and wanted to get it done. She said that she was ready!!! So, on my lap and with my hands holding her hands, she did it!!! And, what a great job she did!!! :-)

Yes, there were tears when it was all said and done...but more because I think that she had just worked herself up SO much, that she just needed to release some of that built up anticipation and stress that she had inside of her!

As you can see, she was SOOOOOO thrilled when she was done and so glad that she had decided to do it!!! Kylie was pretty proud too!

Whew...we made it through ear-piercing with no ear-piercing screams. Looks like we are good to go...until next year's flu shot, that is!!! Oh...and more birthday festivities to come... :-)

Happy 7th Birthday, Mackenzie Sue!

Dear Mackenzie Sue -

How can it be that my first baby is now SEVEN??? It is so amazing to me to think back to exactly seven years ago on this night (May 14th)...the night that I was in labor with you and anticipating the birth of our FIRST baby!!!

Your Daddy and I greatly anticipated you, had fun guessing and wondering if you would be a boy or a girl, prayed for you LOTS, and were SO excited to meet you. And how wonderful it was (after a LONG, induction-filled labor) to finally meet you and hold you in our arms at 2:58am on May 15, 2001!! You were beautiful...and we felt so blessed!

Well, the blessing continues, my dear girl. You are still such a blessing and joy to our lives. It has been amazing to watch you mature and grow into the little young lady that you are. Your Daddy and I were just marveling the other day about how you really are no longer a "little girl" anymore; you are growing up and looking older and acting older all of the time.

I love that you have such a sweet, compassionate heart...that you feel so deeply and are so sensitive. I loved the way that you cried at the Curious George movie because you seriously felt bad for little George as they took him away. I love the way that you cry because you miss all of our family that lives far away from us.

I love how you are so thoughtful and are such a great "mother hen"/care-taker to your brother and sister. I loved how tonight at church, when you had the opportunity to get whatever YOU wanted at the "store" with all of the points that you accumulated, that you picked out the same things for your brother and sister that you picked out for yourself. (Here is the picture of what she got tonight!).

I love seeing you read your "Day by Day Bible" and wanting to know and learn God's Word. Oh, how your Daddy and I pray that His Word would continue to fill your heart and mind and take deep root within you. I love talking with you about what you are learning and love to read and study God's Word with you too!

I love how now that EVERY time you see the clock numbers adding up, you make it a point to tell me. And, I love the silly grins that we share with each other in that moment of just understanding each other!!

I love talking with you, listening to you, and getting to know your heart. Know that your Mommy and Daddy always want to be a "safe place" for you to turn to talk about any and everything that you want to. We want to know your heart, know your passions and dreams, and your struggles, heartaches and trials as well. We promise to love you through it all and give you the unconditional love that you need...OK?

Well, my sweet girl...I still can't believe that you are now seven. Brings tears to my eyes (actually tears are rolling down my face)...it is just going TOO fast. Know that your Daddy and I are treasuring every minute of it and LOVE being your parents.

We look forward to the next year of your life and are excited to see what God has in store for you. Hopefully this year will bring your FIRST lost tooth, huh? I know how you are waiting and anxious for that to happen!

We love you, our dear Mackenzie. There is only one thing that I ask of you today...can you PLEASE stop growing up so fast??? :-)

Our love always,
Mommy (and Daddy)

6 Months Old

One-Year Old

Four-Years Old

LAST day being six-years old...

Ahhh...where does the time go???

Happy SEVENTH Birthday, Mackenzie Sue!!.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him

and he will make your paths straight.

Wake up...and smell the flowers!!

That was what we got to do today!!

Bright and early this morning we headed out for a field trip to a local garden center here in town. (Well, OK, it wasn't really "bright" as it has been very cloudy and dreary today...and it wasn't really that "early" either being that we didn't go until 9:30!) :-)

My friend, Lori, set up this field trip and we took the kids to get a tour of the nursery, some education in flowers and plants (our Science unit right now), and to see some beautiful flowers. This is my FAVORITE place to go each spring to look at flowers...they are always so beautiful here!

We had a great tour guide and enjoyed seeing many different plants, flowers, and some fun animals as well (ducks, rabbits, birds and fish...the closest thing we have to a "zoo" in our neck of the woods!) and even got to plant our own little flower pot before we left! :-)

Here is what each of my kids said was their favorite part of the morning...

Mackenzie: I liked planting the flowers because we each got to plant two little flowers in our pot.

Kylie: I liked seeing the fish and planting the flower because I love planting flowers.

Caleb: I liked picking flowers and smelling flowers because when we started to plant it, I liked that part.

All and all it was a fun, educational, beautiful and (unfortunately) COLD morning. I don't know about you and where YOU live, but we are still waiting for SPRING to truly arrive here in the northern midwest!