Favorite Photo Friday

Today there is just one. I call it Baby, Blankie and Bare Buns.

Need For Speed

Well, Jackson has finally outgrown his Gator and Aaron decided it was time to move on to bigger and better things. He did master the art of parallel  parking by the time he was 2 1/2 and by three was trying to find more creative ways of driving his battery operated John Deere - standing up, driving from the dump bed, driving backwards, standing backwards on the seat, off-roading, you name it he tried it. That kid is just amazing when it comes to driving. I fear that someday he will be the focus of a front page newspaper article titled: "Nine Year Old Leads Police on Hour Long Chase. He claims he just wanted to go get his mom a nice cold soda from the store." So to polish up his driving skills Aaron decided he needed to be able to go faster, at least 25!

Favorite Photo Friday

Notice the baby on the cover of Readers Digest. :)  Yes, she is reading the magazine that, for anyone who remembers,  both Jordyn and Jackson were obsessed with at about the same age.

Runners Up: 

River Walker. What a cool dude.

Remind you of anyone else in this family?

Cooling off at Otter Beach!

Eggs anyone?

Real Country Band

Aaron stumbled across this new country band. Here is a couple of their songs. They are releasing an album Sept 2nd. Mom you should enjoy this.

Here is a link to their website. You can listen to some more of their music. Try "Sic em on the chicken". Pretty funny.

Red Headed Stranger

I referred to Aaron as a "Red Headed Stranger" after his barber shop transformation. Jon told me to google it and this is what I found.

YIKES!

Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee...

Won't my mommy be so proud of me!

This morning we cleaned out peanut butter jars and the kids set out to catch bees. May seem strange to some but this was a favorite childhood adventure of mine. I don't know what it is about this that is so fun to a child. Maybe the thrill of capturing something that could possible hurt you and being able to examine it for a while at a safe distance. Even as children we have that daring nature in us that wants to test the limits a little. A healthy fear. What I discovered is that that "healthy fear" is not yet developed at 16 months old. Lucy thought it might be ok to touch the bees. Thank goodness she did not get stung. Aren't we all a little bit like Lucy sometimes. We are warned of danger but go ahead and try it anyway. Thinking if we just "touch" a little bit it won't hurt. I think I have learned more through the actions of my children lately then I have in church. Nothing against church. It is just interesting sometimes how God chooses to work in each of our lives. My lessons just happen to be coming from my children right now. 

The Growing Garden

Wordless Wednesday - What do you say when he comes home from the barber shop this way!

Favorite Photo Friday

Janine hit it right on the head with her notion of Lucy being photogenic. She just has a look on her face that says take my picture. Full of life, wonder, and curiosity. always looking for the next thing she can get into and discover. I love this show of Lucy putting on Daddy's hat. She rips it off his head and quickly puts it right on hers. 

Preparing for the Oregon winter? Preparing my mind!

As I sat in the seemingly sweltering 95 degree weather complaining to myself how I was too hot and sick and tired of being pregnant God spoke to me in that still silent voice. "Remember my words in Ecclesiastes? There is a time for everything." I all too often catch myself complaining about daily life. Pregnancy, fighting and grumpy children, Aaron's lack of a job (in no way due to his lack of trying to find one), the weather, ect. When what I should be doing is praising God for the TIME he gives us every day. 

I thought about my attitude a while and then enjoyed putting my feet in the cool sprinkler. I took in the smiles and laughter of my children as they played "rainy weather". Trying not to think about the upcoming winter weather when the umbrellas will have to be over heads and the mud will be drug into the house and cars and every nook and cranny. focusing on the fact that that rain creates the beauty of Oregon. And then I thanked God for finding such a creative way to remind me that all things only last a season, then they are gone, so I need to enjoy my life through every activity. Enjoy the pictures.

So when the kids finished playing in the "rain" I came in and had a little quiet time. I looked up the verses in Ecclesiastes 3 that had been put on my mind.

The Mystery of Time

There is an occasion for everything, 

and a time for every activity under heaven:

a time to give birth and a time to die;

a time to plant and a time to uproot;

a time to kill and a time to heal;

a time to tear down and a time to build;

a time to weep and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn and a time to dance;

a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;

a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;

a time to search and a time to count as lost;

a time to keep and a time to throw away;

a time to tear and a time to sew;

a time to be silent and a time to speak;

a time to love and a time to hate;

a time for war and a time for peace.

Pretty much sums up life!

I have heard these things so many times but what I never really put into my head was what comes next. This is the part that I think many of us fail to commit to memory and act out in our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:9 goes on to say:

What does a worker gain from his struggles? I have seen the task that God has given people to keep them occupied. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks and enjoys all his efforts. I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him. Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. 

I thought about these words a long time today and probably will for a long tome to come. God is in control is what it comes down to. Always has been, always will be. Nothing is unknown to Him and we need to be putting our trust in just that. 

Copy Cat Joy

My own Movie Monday post. I don't think Jodi will care if I steal her idea. Maybe it will help keep me regular on different posts. 

Yesterday was a hot day and Jordyn and Jackson went to play with friends. Lucy, devastated at being left behind, needed a little distracting so we broke out the hose. Can't beat that laugh.

The Three Amigos

Lucy is not to be left out of anything the big kids do. She is always quick to pick up a sword when the fight begins. One new thing she had decided to do is call me "Mom" instead of Ma Ma. That's what the big kids call me so she wants to do it like them.

A Princess and her New Throne

Lucy has decided she likes sitting on the potty. No real breakthroughs in using it but she sure likes to sit. Must get that from her Daddy. Sometimes I wonder what it is he does in there!

Remodel IS Going Well.

Life came to a screeching halt with the arrival of family. We had a wonderful time while they were here but now it is back to the daily grind. The bathroom remodel was put on hold as was my blogging while everyone was here and we were so busy. Before the visit we has torn out the bathtub and shower surround and gutted the rest of the bathroom: toilet and sink included. We were without them the entire visit but we did have a back up bathroom. 

Jordyn and Jackson had a great time knocking down the horrible pink tile in the shower.

Lucy found her fun in the boxes.

Here is where the toilet sat for a week while the project was on hold. People probably started to wonder what kind of white trash had invaded the neighborhood while Dad and Mom were away on business.

I am not going to show you what the bathroom looks like now to save the shock and awe factor for Dad and Mom when they return. There is a new shower, all new fixtures, new toilet, new lights, new ceiling, new paint, new vanity and sink, new mirror, and a new floor. I will say, Aaron did and amazing job and be prepared to be floored. No pun intended.