a little somethin' we do

Last night, we took the girls to McDonald's (their choice). It wasn't on the agenda but something happened earlier in the day to warrant the trip to the fast food joint of their choice.

See, My Beloved made a commitment to them YEARS ago, that.... when we get comments from strangers on their good behavior (NOT how cute they are, that would drive us to the poor house :o>) that we will bless them. They are a blessing to others - we bless them.

Yesterday, as I was leaving their school after eating lunch with Chandler and then hanging out with Jaci at recess, one of the teacher's aides (or whatever they call them these days) came up to me and said, "I just want to tell you have DELIGHTFUL your girls are....and I don't just say that to everyone."

Ah, that warms a mamma's heart, ya know?

emotionally unattached mom...

...Yeah, that's me. I think there's something really wrong with me, like I don't truly love my kids or something. I mean, shouldn't a mother who is sending her baby off to preschool feel sad or something? Shouldn't I be sent into emotional turmoil and mama bear claws of protection flare?

But no, none of that happened yesterday. I wasn't one bit hit with a nervous stomach ache as Robin boldly walked up to the preschool door. I was just....happy. Not happy that, WooHoo, my life's my OWN now. But just happy for this next chapter in life - for all of us. And, sheesh, she's been soooo excited about starting preschool, it would seem a shame for me to be sad when she is so stinkin' happy. I'm happy for her. I'm happy our lives extend beyond ourselves into the community.

So, if being happy that my kids have this life of school makes me a bad mom then, I confess. But if rejoicing with those that rejoice and strategically launching my arrows into our planet (with MUCH prayer) is OK, then maybe I'm not such a bad mom after all.

at the edge of my seat

Jaci, ready for 4th gradeChandler, ready for 1st grade

So, today...first day of school! Our morning did not go as well as this lovely families did yesterday. But we made it. Everybody got up in time and was ready but at the last minute it started to rain which meant we needed to take the interstate instead of the gravel road. Which meant we should of left 5 minutes earlier. And when we finally did head to the car, Chandler needed to go potty first. And as I was finally the last one out the door, I realized their lunchboxes were still in the fridge. Yeah, chaos. But, like I said, we made it.

This year is number 2 in public school. Last year was our 'big change' as the older two girls went to public school for the first year. I'd home schooled Jaci from pre-school up through 2nd grade. And just started Chandler on some pre-school/kindergarten stuff. I'd felt God stirring in my heart about not home schooling since mid-year of the last home school year and then last August we took the plunge.

God confirmed that we were obedient through the entire school year and wow, it does a heart good to know you're living in obedience. The kids will continue in the same public school this year and then, as we said from the VERY beginning, we will take one year at a time. (My Beloved said that about kids too - we didn't set a number or not set a number if you please -he said, we'll take them one at a time. And so we have ....three.)

Anyways, this week brings yet another transition for our family, as little Robi-bird will head to preschool for 3 mornings a week. I've never sent any kids to preschool before. Never really thought I ever would. But after living a year in an only child mode, Robin seems to be a prime candidate for a pre-school (as in, pre-kindergarten) life. There's something about how a mother bonds with her last child that may make life more traumatic when the last one 'flies'. And this seems like the best way to make August 2008 a bit more bearable for her and me. She's pumped and has been asking WHEN she starts, for months. Tomorrow can't come fast enough for her.

I'm not sure what this year is going to be like. We still are believing for some radical changes within our ministry - life would change drastically for me then. I'm at the edge of my seat though, waiting for whatever God opportunities 2007-2008 will bring.

9 years ago...yesterday

Yes, 9 years ago yesterday I had just birthed my first child (in the comfort of our own home). After about 10 hours of easy, slow labor and a few more hours of hard, real labor - our first girl had arrived; 7 lbs. 2 oz. and lots of dark hair, she was a beauty. Well after her very-cone-shaped head turned into a nice little round head. :o)

So yesterday we celebrated the 9 awesome years of Jaci's life. She wanted a carnival theme so we cooked up some delicious, fatty, high-calorie, high sugar foods and invited 3 families over to party with us. We put up some outdoor games that she got as an early present from her grandparents so the kids had some outdoor fun while the adults mostly chatted within the air-conditioned haven of our home.

From this angle, the cake almost looks like a hot air balloon, but it's not. Jaci was pretty adamant about having a ferris wheel cake. So even though I told her I didn't think it would be the most fabulous-looking cake we've ever done, she still wanted it - so that's what she got.








This is what we got her. A 'craft bag' filled with scrapbook supplies. She lives up to her name which is 'maker of the beautiful' - Jaci Taylor.
The most unique gift she got was 4 snails... like real aquarium snails. What do you do with snails?









This is Jaci and her aunt. Yes, not her cousin, but her 7 1/2 year old aunt. I told you we were a crazy big family. :o)


Happy Days, Jaci-Mace! We're so very proud of you!

we live too close

So we surprised the kids. At the beginning of summer I had made some plans to make sure the summer didn't pass without us doing something 'out of the norm'. We got in a few crafts and the kids did a gob of reading but most of the plans that required finances - got duped. Except....the Surprise Day which was last Monday.

The kids have been looking forward to this surprise and have had no idea what it could be. We took them to a hotel in the city just 1/2 hour away. And this is why... We stayed in this particular hotel a few times before we moved to this area and the kids dubbed it our hotel. Since we moved here a little over 2 years ago, the kids have asked numerous times, "When are we going to stay at our hotel?" And our answer? "Never. We live too close."

Well, we decided to fulfill their desires and book a room. They didn't have it figured out until I actually went in to get the key to our room. Score for mom's secret behavior! They got to swim as much as they wanted, ate out twice, and got to have Belgian waffles in the lobby for free. All when we could have just driven to our house a mere 30 minutes away. Fun times in the life of a kid.

Even for my hubby and I, it was fun to escape a little bit from the mundane. Of course, we can never use the "We live too close" line again. Dang.

black pieces of poo

In a home of 3 little ladies, you can bet that 'playing house' is top on the list of things to do. They often have every doll and stuffed animal out, thus each having extremely large 'families'. They play what they see - everything as 'real life' as possible.

So, last night I notice Robin cutting smallish bits of black construction paper. Didn't pay much attention. I'm used to her itty-bitty messes. Next thing I see is her pulling a diaper off a doll with...the black construction paper stuffed in it. Hmmm, if only real poopy diapers were that easy to clean up. She did all the antic of a messy, smelly diaper though. "Ew, gross, baby, you stink."

I'm sure that one was a learned trick from her big sisters and, wow, aren't they creative?

'can't forget' phrases

It is really funny to hear a 4 year old say, "Ah, that's gotta hurt." But yesterday, while watching a 'biggest splash' contest at the pool, that's the phrase from Robin's lips. Later that day, it popped out during some show about sharks.

She's learned it from the pool this summer. Too many big kids doing wild flips from the board and too many little kids learning to dive -and not quite making it. Funny stuff.