Rainy Day Reading

There is one lamp on this dark morning.
I am listening to one of my favorite sounds, the rain ever so gently hitting the window beside me.
I listen carefully as I read one of Paul's letters because that quiet sound cannot be heard when children are up and about, which they will be soon.
This day seems like it will be a good one for couches and books and blankets, even though Brian said it felt "beachy" outside.  Still, a rainy day invites snuggling up with a good book.  Maybe some cookie baking, too.
Here's a conversation (as best as I remember it now) with Jack from yesterday.  He was working on one of his papers, this one about Lewis and Clark.  He needed a synonym for expedition.  So, I checked the thesaurus and found "peregrination."  I am sure I wrinkled my face as I repeated the word  and said, "What's that?"
"Oh.  It has to with with wandering or traveling.  You know.  Like the peregrine falcon."
"Really?  How do you know that?"
"Mom, you learn a lot when you READ."
Alrighty then.  His vocabulary is better than mine!

Speaking of reading, here are a few books that have filled our hands lately:
  I am rereading Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson.  I love her fiction.  This one is different from the rest, a little depressing even but I like the characters.


The kids and I have a new read-aloud for the mornings.  Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.  So far Rebecca has made us laugh and her aunts have made us shake our heads.


Jack and Kayla are into The Great Brain books by John Fitzgerald and really enjoying them.  I like to hear them talk with each other about the stories.
Kayla is also reading The Whipping Boy for school.  This one gives lots of opportunities for discussion.


Sam and Lucy love Chickens to the Rescue .  It is a cute book- they laugh through most of it- and we've read it a LOT.

Contentment

She stressed each word as she said it.
"Contentment has nothing to do with our circumstances."
This, after several weeks studying the Matriarchs in Sunday school.
And of course, I agreed.  God's call to contentment does not come with a promise of easy circumstances or even a change in them.  Take a look at Hagar (whom my heart went out to...she had it rough) or Rachel(who seemed to have a lot going for her).  In the middle of a hard day, or week, or even year, we can be content in our hearts because of who He is not because of what's going on around us.
So, I was a little surprised last week when we were having good days:  cheerful attitudes from the kids, productive days, parties, etc...  and my heart was not content.  It was grumpy at times, a little downtrodden.  And guess what?  It had nothing to do with my (pretty good) circumstances.  They do not pacify my sin.  I was reminded (after I caught on) that those "good days" that I long for are good things but they are not the recipe for a content heart.  This is:

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:11-13

A Warm Day

Have you noticed the birds and the sun waking us up a little earlier these days?   Spring is just waiting to make its appearance- giving us hints here and there.
We got out and enjoyed it this afternoon after a pretty good day of school.  Why is it a nice day outside helps us so much to have a nice day inside?  Maybe it's just the anticipation of getting out in the sun and not freezing!  Whatever the reason, I'll take a warm day whenever it comes.

  "Mom- you're pretty good at baseball."

Then I missed the ball a few times.

"Well, maybe not so good, Mom."

She spent time cleaning out some of the flower beds.

Snagging the balls and eating an apple at the same time.

Throwing balls over the house for Sam to find.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

"He could be stern enough with the children when he needed to be...but by preference he was their playmate or their toy.  I have seen them crawling on him like so many pet coons, playing with his hat or his hair, going through his pockets, unfastening his buttons, looking into his ears and nose, feeling his whiskers and wrinkles."  from Wendell Berry's Hannah Coulter

When I first read that quote, I thought immediately of my dad.  That pretty much sums him up when it comes to his grandkids.  They love him.  And so do the rest of us.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

These guys call him Papa.

He loves to hold a little one...

and play around with the bigger ones.

She loves her Papa.

Filling water balloons- maybe he brings some trouble on himself??

Have a great day, Dad!

The Star Wars Party

I have to do a little more on Sammy's birthday.  I love the look on his face in this picture!  He really wanted something remote control- now he and his cousin Jonathan have something else in common!

Sam wanted to have a Star Wars party.  It was his first "friend" party.  Here's what we did:

We made rocket ships out of cups and rubberbands.  The top cup has rubber bands tied at the bottom.  When you push it down on the bottom cup and then let go, the rocket shoots up.  We used stickers with Star Wars characters for the pilot.  I found this idea at Family Fun.

The birthday cake was supposed to be Luke Skywalker's ship.  I have no idea what the name of the ship is and Jack said it didn't look too much like it but Sammy loved it.  I found the idea for this cake online, too.

The kids made lightsabers out of pool noodles and some duct tape.  

We set them loose outside and you can see what happened.  

I had hung balloons from the deck for the kids to hit (instead of each other) but the wind was so bad that the balloons got wrapped around the poles and popped.

Oh well.  I don't think the kids minded one bit.

Turning 5

The first words I heard this morning:
"Mama, am I five yet?"
"Yes!"
Saying hello to five and not looking back to 4.  He's been waiting for his birthday "forever,"  according to him.  This has been a big year for Sammy.  He learned to ride his bike without training wheels.  He started writing his name and reading the names of his family.  He tried soccer and began CC with the big kids.  He has proved himself to be a champion wrestler.  He has learned more about being a good big brother to Lucy.  He loves to read books and do copywork.
My favorite- his hugs.  He's already decided that kisses are gross but hugs are ok.  I still kiss his cheeks even though he wipes them away and laughs.
His belly laugh is contagious.
I can't wait to see what this next year brings for Sam.  If it's anything like this last one, there won't be many dull moments.
Happy Birthday Sammy!  We love you!

This and That

I've got lots spinning around in my head tonight.
My heart aches a little that Sammy will turn 5 tomorrow.  Saying good-bye to 4 is bittersweet.
I think he's going to have a fun birthday party, though.  It's his first one to invite friends to.  Pictures tomorrow!
Crazy weather this week.  Eight inches of snow on Sunday and close to 70 degrees today.  Not complaining!
Here are a few shots from the week.

 I could eat her up.

Sometimes I don't know what I would do without my Kayla.  She's a sweet big sister.

 I don't ever see a little girl in sunglasses without thinking of my cousin Crystal.  There's one picture of her around three when she was wearing sunglasses and looking so cute.  I think she still wears fun ones.

One more of my basketball star in action.