Sometimes I try to get the kids to help me clean up the house by appealing to their egos. I asked Allie to help me pick up and decorate Ryan's room because she enjoys "decorating". She gladly set about arranging stuffed animals and toys. We then had this conversation . . .
Me: "Allie, I like how you put the puppy and the bear together -- that looks nice!"
Her: "I know. I'm good at this because I'm an arter."
?
Me: "An arter? Do you mean an artist?"
Her: "Yes, I'm an artist." (This was said very seriously.)
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Wildhorse Canyon
Last Thursday and Friday Ethan and I took a trip to a Young Life camp in Antelope, Oregon. It was interesting, to say the least. Ethan was there for work but I just came along to visit with him. The camp is in the same place where the Rajneesh cult used to be. I guess the people tried to poison the local water supply back in the day and had to relocate, or something like that. Anyway, it's very pretty there and they have remodeled many of the compounds. (Thank goodness!) It would be really strange to live there year round but some of the staffers do just that. We talked to one gal who lives there with her husband and they had to travel 2 hours to get to a hospital to have their baby last summer! I would have been scared to death. Their mailboxes are 12 miles out but someone goes each day to pick up mail for everyone. Antelope is in the middle of nowhere, Oregon, it seems.
One funny thing that the Young Life staff never took down was the gun turret that was there from the Rajneesh days. It's the first gun turret I've ever seen in real life (and the only one I'll probably ever see!) They also have a big lake, a great swimming pool, and an enormous gym with a skate park, weights, rock climbing, and more. Outside there are trails everywhere you can explore with mountain bikes. There isn't a shortage of stuff to do.
I really admire the people who work with Young Life. There are many who do it full time and many who volunteer. There's this big rock pile there that one of the guys told us about. Each rock represents a kid who has accepted Christ. They get to pick out their own rock and add it to the pile at the end of the week. They had to move the pile a year or so ago and there were more than 6,000 rocks in it! And the camp has only been operating 8 years.
All in all, it was a great getaway. It was just enough time to have a break from the kids without missing them horribly. We would like to take them out there sometime too . . . but only when they can handle a looong car ride.
One funny thing that the Young Life staff never took down was the gun turret that was there from the Rajneesh days. It's the first gun turret I've ever seen in real life (and the only one I'll probably ever see!) They also have a big lake, a great swimming pool, and an enormous gym with a skate park, weights, rock climbing, and more. Outside there are trails everywhere you can explore with mountain bikes. There isn't a shortage of stuff to do.
I really admire the people who work with Young Life. There are many who do it full time and many who volunteer. There's this big rock pile there that one of the guys told us about. Each rock represents a kid who has accepted Christ. They get to pick out their own rock and add it to the pile at the end of the week. They had to move the pile a year or so ago and there were more than 6,000 rocks in it! And the camp has only been operating 8 years.
All in all, it was a great getaway. It was just enough time to have a break from the kids without missing them horribly. We would like to take them out there sometime too . . . but only when they can handle a looong car ride.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Tornadoes, pajamas, and pancakes
Allison has recently become terrified of tornadoes. We aren't sure why. Even after we reassured her that we don't have to worry about that around here she still looks apprehensively out the window at bedtime. She also is afraid of coyotes. She is slightly reassured by the fact that she is on the top bunk of the second floor in a house where mommy and daddy keep all the doors shut and locked. She has quite the imagination.
Tonight when she was getting ready for bed I handed her a pink flannel nightgown to wear. She said, "Oh, yeah! I can wear my oatmeal pajamas!" When asked about the name, she explained it's "because they just seem like the kind of pajamas to eat oatmeal in." Hmm.
Today IHOP was serving free pancakes all day. Sue told me about this. She is always my source of places to get free food, although I'm not sure why. :) So we went as a family and played racquetball tonight and then treated ourselves to some shortstacks. They were actually pretty good. It's crazy, I know -- the International House of PANCAKES making good pancakes. But I was still surprised. During the meal two elderly couples came in and made a big fuss over the kids. They were really nice. Then I noticed later on that the couples joined hands and bowed their heads after their meal arrived. It's nice to see other people praying over their food in a restaurant-- I can't think of the last time I saw that.
Yesterday was my birthday. I got a haircut and I think I'm going to like it. The stylist said to blow-dry the hair towards my face but that seems too complicated. I'm going for the "just-stuck-my-finger-in-an-electrical-outlet" look. It's much easier to maintain and works well with the wind we are experiencing lately.
For the record: I'm really terrible at racquetball!
Tonight when she was getting ready for bed I handed her a pink flannel nightgown to wear. She said, "Oh, yeah! I can wear my oatmeal pajamas!" When asked about the name, she explained it's "because they just seem like the kind of pajamas to eat oatmeal in." Hmm.
Today IHOP was serving free pancakes all day. Sue told me about this. She is always my source of places to get free food, although I'm not sure why. :) So we went as a family and played racquetball tonight and then treated ourselves to some shortstacks. They were actually pretty good. It's crazy, I know -- the International House of PANCAKES making good pancakes. But I was still surprised. During the meal two elderly couples came in and made a big fuss over the kids. They were really nice. Then I noticed later on that the couples joined hands and bowed their heads after their meal arrived. It's nice to see other people praying over their food in a restaurant-- I can't think of the last time I saw that.
Yesterday was my birthday. I got a haircut and I think I'm going to like it. The stylist said to blow-dry the hair towards my face but that seems too complicated. I'm going for the "just-stuck-my-finger-in-an-electrical-outlet" look. It's much easier to maintain and works well with the wind we are experiencing lately.
For the record: I'm really terrible at racquetball!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
What a week!
I am so exhausted. We are mostly done with the nursery at church but it has been a LOT of work. I think it's going to look nice when it's all finished.
Allie took her first tap class this week. It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment, but she went with Grace just for fun and loved it. She also likes her new tap shoes. I guess we need to decide if this is something she can do right now. She has been wanting to take another dance class forever.
Thursday Ryan, Em, and I went to Grandpa and Grandma's house to stay the night. It was fun and I love how Emmie was so thrilled to see her sister again on Friday. When Allison walked up Emmie just yelled "I-E, I-E, I-E!" They are the best of friends and the worst of enemies too. :)
Everyone is sooo sick around here. I've heard that pneumonia, scarlet fever, strep throat, the stomach flu, and who knows what else are going around. Today at church I scrubbed all the surfaces of the nursery with a cleaner that is supposed to kill everything. Hopefully that will help.
Speaking of sickness, I'm going to go call all my nursery volunteers and make sure they are on for tomorrow.
Allie took her first tap class this week. It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment, but she went with Grace just for fun and loved it. She also likes her new tap shoes. I guess we need to decide if this is something she can do right now. She has been wanting to take another dance class forever.
Thursday Ryan, Em, and I went to Grandpa and Grandma's house to stay the night. It was fun and I love how Emmie was so thrilled to see her sister again on Friday. When Allison walked up Emmie just yelled "I-E, I-E, I-E!" They are the best of friends and the worst of enemies too. :)
Everyone is sooo sick around here. I've heard that pneumonia, scarlet fever, strep throat, the stomach flu, and who knows what else are going around. Today at church I scrubbed all the surfaces of the nursery with a cleaner that is supposed to kill everything. Hopefully that will help.
Speaking of sickness, I'm going to go call all my nursery volunteers and make sure they are on for tomorrow.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Being Number Three and more
It can't be easy being the third child. The other night we got home, put away groceries, tucked the girls in bed, and went into the t.v. room to relax for a bit. I had planned to feed Ryan just as soon as we took care of everything else, but he didn't make it that long. The poor kid just crashed on the couch wearing his little onesie. He looked so peaceful laying asleep there that I hated to wake him, but I did anyway so he could go to bed happy with a full tummy and warm jammies.
The kids and I stopped at Goodwill today just for fun. Sometimes we find the most interesting (and cheap) things there. I asked Allie before we got there if there was anything she really needed. She told me she would look around and then decide. I teased her about already having plenty of toys and clothes, and she just said "Mom, I ALWAYS need something." (Yeah, right!) For the record, we didn't find a darn thing this time, except for valentines. Allie has to bring 35 valentines into cubbies on Wednesday night and the ones we found came in packs of 32. I don't know how much valentines are normally but these were only .99 a pack. :)
Tomorrow we are hopefully going to be redecorating the infant nursery at church. I will have to post some before and after pictures later!
The kids and I stopped at Goodwill today just for fun. Sometimes we find the most interesting (and cheap) things there. I asked Allie before we got there if there was anything she really needed. She told me she would look around and then decide. I teased her about already having plenty of toys and clothes, and she just said "Mom, I ALWAYS need something." (Yeah, right!) For the record, we didn't find a darn thing this time, except for valentines. Allie has to bring 35 valentines into cubbies on Wednesday night and the ones we found came in packs of 32. I don't know how much valentines are normally but these were only .99 a pack. :)
Tomorrow we are hopefully going to be redecorating the infant nursery at church. I will have to post some before and after pictures later!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
My Kiddo's Art
It's funny how much insight you can get from your children's artwork. Allie drew this great picture for me a couple days ago and I really enjoy it. She explained that it was our family out skateboarding together. She pointed out Daddy, Emmie, and herself and the fact that she was holding baby Ryan while skating. I was in the picture, but I didn't have a skateboard. When I asked her why, she replied that I was just coming out to get Ryan to feed him. I guess that's accurate! I look forward to the day when I'm not pregnant or nursing anymore. I know, I know -- someday I'll be so sorry that the baby days are over. But for right now I have my fill of it! :)
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Thursday Morning
After talking to Steph last night I have to agree with her -- blogging is an awesome way to remember all those little day to day things you might otherwise forget. Like this morning when Allie measured me with a tape measure and announced that I "weighed eleventy inches". (Hmm, maybe joining a gym has made a difference!) Or how Ryan pulled my bowl of cereal over this morning into both of our laps. Note to self -- do not hold baby while eating Kashi!
Right now Emmie is cuddled up in my lap admiring her freshly painted fingernails. She has been super interested in personal grooming lately. Every morning she comes in our bathroom and asks to put deoderant on. Sometimes it goes under her arms, sometimes on her belly -- but what can you expect from a two year old? :) I'm just happy that this is her weird quirk for right now.
I could type all day, but we have to get everything ready for home team tonight. Until next time . . .
Right now Emmie is cuddled up in my lap admiring her freshly painted fingernails. She has been super interested in personal grooming lately. Every morning she comes in our bathroom and asks to put deoderant on. Sometimes it goes under her arms, sometimes on her belly -- but what can you expect from a two year old? :) I'm just happy that this is her weird quirk for right now.
I could type all day, but we have to get everything ready for home team tonight. Until next time . . .
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