my heart could burst

I don't know how my girl would feel about me posting her personal items, but this time I couldn't help it. One Sunday morning I couldn't quite get my body working in time to make it to church (it can take several hours). Kylee begged to stay home and help to "take care" of me and I explained to her that we were not going to spend time playing, but reading and praying. She agreed with the plan and ran upstairs to return moments later with her Bible and notebook. After we prayed together, we each journaled for a bit... this is what she shared with me a little later. Brought tears to my eyes.

Fall is here!!

The kids have been noticing all the signs of fall around us in the brilliantly colored trees as we drive about. They'll scream, "CHANGE!" from the back seat, nearly scaring me to death. They've been asking incessantly when we'll be able to have a pile of leaves to jump into, and I have assured them it was coming. Well today was the day. Jim and I noticed our neighbor's tree had dropped just enough leaves on our lawn to rake up a small pile. Once the kids awoke from their Sunday rest time, they were thrilled to find the pile awaiting them.

"Fall is here!" Kylee squealed. From that moment on, the kids enjoyed "fall" for the rest of the afternoon - true bliss.

Dinnertime Drama

Apparently, my kids have little to no experience eating meat on the bone. Because their mama is not a fan, I suppose they have become accustomed to the boneless, skinless version of meat instead. Well, yesterday afternoon as I poured chicken from a bag into the crock pot, I was quite surprised to find bony little chicken wings pop out rather than the breasts that I thought they were. I kept the recipe the same and thought my husband and kids could enjoy the uncommon dish while I ate something a little less bony. At the end of the day, as I served the marinated chicken wings for dinner, we were in for quite the scene.

"Wow! Bones!! Yummmmm!" Kaden grunted as he chewed them viciously then licked his fingers clean.

Colson ate his very cautiously, concerned that they were "bleeding" because of the veins that often accompany the bones (I understand completely... did I mention that I am not a fan of meat on bones?!).

"Bones? We're eating chicken bones?" Kylee asked with great concern. Jim explained that we don't eat the bones, just eat the meat off the bones. After studying a chicken wing for a short time, Kylee looked up with her big blue eyes and asked completely serious, "These are not baby chickens, are they?"

"Oh no, sweetheart, just normal adult chickens," I answered, thinking, erroneously, I would calm her fears.

"What!?!?! We're eating poor baby chickens mommy and daddy? Who is going to take care of the babies then? We can't leave the babies all alone!" Her mouth quivered and then pinched tightly, as she tried to keep her pooling tears from falling.

Jim and I looked at each other baffled - was there a right answer? He convinced her that these chickens were neither mommies or daddies so we would not be leaving any baby chicks as orphans by enjoying our dinner. Eventually, she calmed, and we finished our meal. But, oh, the drama! I don't know if we'll be eating chicken wings again any time soon. :O)

"gim"

On the front of our church brochure, there are many pictures of people and families representing different age groups and ethnic groups - a common approach, I'm sure, to demonstrate that all people can belong. The other day as we were waiting in line to pick up Kylee from school, I was trying to keep the baby from getting too antsy in the car and continuously handed him a variety of objects to keep him distracted. Getting frustrated, he would quickly finish with one and be ready for the next thing to keep his mind off of "I just want to get out of here and run around!" Until, that is, I handed him the church brochure, still sitting in our van from a few days prior. He looked, turned it around many times and studied it. Then, a smile spread over his little face. "Gim - Dada!" He stated, and pointed to the brochure, looking at me with big, bright eyes. Wondering what on earth he saw that made him think of Daddy Jim, I looked at where his chubby little index finger was pointing. And there it was - amidst several other photographs, little A. had found a picture that touched his heart and relayed a beautiful message of the relationship he felt with Daddy Jim. Can you see it?

You've got to laugh a little

Most things have been much harder for me having arthritis flare ups as a mom of little ones, but occasionally, my little ones can make the heavy load a little lighter. I love the laughter they bring!

Kaden - "Here, Mommy, hold on to my shoulders and I will help you to walk!"
"Mommy, I think you might need to go to walking school to learn how to walk again!"
"Mom, my (s)tuffed little froggy walks just like you, watch!" (then demonstrates a hunched, slow, shuffling gait with a limp that the kids see me with every morning)

Colson - (while playing duck-duck-goose) "Mommy, if I tag you as goose I will only walk for you and not run so that you can still catch me, OK?"

Kylee - I asked her if it was hard seeing me walk like "a grandma" in the mornings... "Oh, Mommy, you don't walk like a grandma because grandma's don't walk like that. I think you walk like a great, great, great grandma, 'cuz you have to be really old to walk that way!"

Squeezing in some end of summer fun

Every year as the summer draws to an end, I always find myself grasping for more time - more long summer evenings, more carefree summer mornings, more fireflies and poolside, but mostly more fun times and memories with the kids. I believe, in the midst of our circumstances, we made the most of what time we had, but that last week we really tried to pack in some extra fun.

Our friend, Pete, giving the kids a joy ride during a day at their home on the lake

Kaden enjoying his time with sweet Caroline

Kaden pretty excited about the jet ski ride he had just taken with Daddy

Kylee and Colson - swimming past sunset

Kylee loving on Daddy during some front yard game time

Jim worked on several projects in our home over the summer and the boys really got into it! Anytime he started working, the boys would grab all their tools and ask what they could do to help. Here they had just returned from the hardware store with Daddy.

Kylee is also a big helper and loves to care for the baby and help with the cooking!! After making a family size quiche, I let her make her own personal one.

One of our favorite parks! It has a wonderful lake and sandy beach front, with a path that winds all the way around for bike riding and walking. We love to spend our evenings here!

Cole and Kade were cracking up about something - I realize that boys have a humor that I just don't get, but they sure are a lot of fun!!

Some of our dearest Wisconsin friends - Abbi and Olivia. We just adore these girls and are so grateful to have them and their family in our lives!! What a tremendous blessing!!