Wordless Wednesday - Our Blankie Baby

Recent Videos of the Kids

Here's some fun videos of the kids we've taken in the last week. There's one of Luke throwing a hissy, Luke playing with his new Busy Ball Popper, and the last one is of the kids trying out some new science kits we were sent to review. Enjoy! **UPDATE: If part of the video is chopped off on your screen, click on the link below the video to view it. Sorry!**

http://s954.photobucket.com/albums/ae28/MyFourMonkeys_photo/?action=view¤t=2009-11-22115315.flv



http://s954.photobucket.com/albums/ae28/MyFourMonkeys_photo/?action=view¤t=LukeysNewToy.flv



http://s954.photobucket.com/albums/ae28/MyFourMonkeys_photo/?action=view¤t=SteveSpanglerScience.flv

We Have ChickenPox!

Yes, earlier this week we were at the pediatrician's office because John David wasn't feeling well. He ended up having a double ear infection and bronchitis! Now both our boys have chickenpox!! I guess it's that time of year, huh? It seems every year around this time we can't seem to get everybody healthy at the same time. It usually gets better around the middle of December. I'm just praying for some good cold weather to kill the yucky germs!!

Why Am I Surprised?

I found myself experiencing honest to goodness, jaw-dropping surprise last night. We're on our way out the door (the girls and I) headed for a quick trip out to the Dollar Tree and Walmart. Kylie can barely contain her excitement as she has $2 that are burning a hole in her pocket. Caitlyn doesn't have any money, but she's not pouting and actually sharing in her sister's excitement as they talk about what Kylie's going to spend her $2 on. Then from the corner of my eye I see John David hand a dollar bill to Caitlyn, the only dollar he has mind you, and say, "Here, now you can get something." Caitlyn just looked at me. My first instinct was to tell her to give it back to him (after I got over the shock), but I realized that doing that would rob him of the pleasure he was feeling by giving the money to his big sister. I didn't want to rob him of that blessing!

As I was driving down the road to the Dollar Tree, the girls busy giggling and talking in the back seat, I was replaying the event in my mind. And then something occurred to me. I should not be surprised. Not because John David is some magically perfect child, unselfish in every way, but because isn't this what Jeremy and I are constantly trying to teach our children? Don't we spend everyday trying to teach them and live by the example that sacrifice and giving unselfishly are the best ways to show love? I realized that it's not that I'm shocked that something we're saying or doing is actually getting through, but somehow surprised that my work as a mom is really making a difference in the lives of my children. Sometimes, I get lost in my "mother" work, drowning in the repetitions of "Don't touch that!" and "Keep your hands to yourself!" and "No, you may not have candy for breakfast!" I forget that all this prodding and teaching that we do does eventually yield results.

As I reflected on this during our car ride, I started recollecting numerous other events very similar to this one. Times when our kids had brought us a drink while we were sitting on the couch when we hadn't even asked for one, took mine and Jeremy's dinner plates to the sink after we were done without being asked, and so many more. It made me so proud of my children and I also found myself admiring them and wishing I was more unselfish at times. Maybe it's just the fact that the holidays are quickly approaching, but I appreciated being reminded by my five year old what it means to truly love.

Kylie the Photographer

I always think it's fun to let the kids have the camera for awhile and take some pictures of thing around the house and yard. We let them do this every so often and it's always interesting to see what things they decided are worthy of a photo. Most of the time, there are fingers in the photo, or they're fuzzy because they are moving the camera as they push the button. But they don't care. Kylie had my camera yesterday and did a photo shoot with the dog. She took pictures of him walking, eating, and sniffing. Exciting, huh?! :D Chewy, our black lab, is one of Kylie's closest friends so it seemed only natural to her to document his every move. As usual most of the pictures were black and fuzzy, but here's a few from her adventure. Love the up close of her face!

Dressed Up for Sunday School

John David got a new black suit, and he looked so cute all dressed up for church that we just had to take some pictures! God has truly blessed us with beautiful children!

Great Wolf Pictures

We had a great time at Great Wolf this week! Here's a couple pictures from our trip. Sorry for the bad quality. It was dark outside when I took them. :( We will definitely be going back!