Metro Park Field Trip

My friend Pam and I took the kids to one of the metro parks in North Dayton. It was probably one of the last days for an outdoor excursion like this, and it worked out great. Have you ever tried to have a conversation in the car with 4 kids in the backseat? :) We had a great time!

the oldest

So, I'm always telling my oldest sister Tanya (who is almost 45! sorry Tan!) that she is just too good-lookin' for her age! :) While we were in Indiana, Meg and I stopped into see her and Kami (her youngest daughter) at their photography studio. They were working all day to prepare for a big expo they had on Sunday. I'm always amazed when I walk around and see all of the work her and Kami have done. It is so beautiful and so artistic, and it's been so neat to see this side of Tanya. And I honestly never knew she had this much creativity stuck inside of her! I think her and Tabby stole all of it!!! None of it got saved for the 8th kid... Oh well. That was one of the highlights of the wknd.

boys, boys, boys

We went to visit my sister Meagan and her husband Ryan last wknd. Henry loves seeing Levi & Cam, and Wyatt really enjoyed himself this time too. He is big enough to get in on some of the play... and when they are being too rough, he can tackle Avery who is catching up to him in size. Somehow, I never got a picture of her! The 4 adults went out Saturday night and we took the older boys to a gymnastics night -- they loved it... that picture of them in the car is at 9:30pm at night -- and they were wired! Fun memories for them!

Copycat

We have been wondering why everytime Wyatt eats at the table, he puts his hand on top of his head. This particular night, we were standing in the kitchen watching them and I was telling Jonathan how Wyatt is always doing this. It kind of bugs me b/c he keeps getting food in his hair. As I'm telling Jonathan this, we're watching them. And then it dawned on us... duh! Somehow, we have allowed Henry to eat with his elbow always propped up on the table. It's one of those things that we weren't allowed to do when we were young, and I'm not sure how we've overlooked it... probably too busy paying more attention to all of the temper tantrums! But he does do it - and Wyatt apparently wants to be just like his big brother. Before we tackled the 'elbows on the table' issue, we wanted to document the cute stuff!

Don't Ask, Don't Tell - Volume 6

The 'blubber' escaped the other night... not sure how. I swear I sealed that ziploc tightly when I put it on top of the refrigerator... hmmm...

Memorable Things Kids Say - Volume 5

Tonight at bedtime, I was laying with Henry. I got a little too comfortable and ended up being on his bed for about 1/2 hour. I thought he was asleep. All of a sudden he opened his eyes and looked at me...

"Mommy, are dinosaurs nocturnal?"

"Umm... I don't really know. But I think they eat during the day and sleep at night. So that would make them not nocturnal."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking."

Then he turned over and really did go to sleep. I wonder what he was thinking about for that 1/2 hour??

Hayride

We went on a hayride yesterday. It was so fun and the boys loved it. Got some fun fall pictures too! This was well worth the $5 ticket - you stopped in the middle and got pumpkins from a pumpkin patch. The ride was almost roller-coaster like... a little scary, but fun!

Imperfections

I spend a lot of time documenting the "good" things. Here is a post dedicated to the days when I feel very frustrated. I took the boys over to see my friend's new house that had just been built. I gave Henry VERY specific instructions about how he was to behave in the house. He didn't obey. After we were done, went outside to get in our cars and she and I stood and talked for a few minutes. This is what happened to Henry in about 2 minutes... He walks through the muddy lot across the street. I was so frustrated... I just wanted to 'ring his neck' as my mother used to say. When I put him in the car, he just kept saying, "Mommy, please have mercy on Henry... please show Henry mercy..." :) All in all, I was disappointed b/c it was one of those days you really 'expected' more out of your almost 4-year old. When we got home, he did receive discipline for the disobedience in the house... but not for the mud. I did remind myself that he is a 4-year old boy -- and I didn't tell him he couldn't go in the "dirt" with his new $18 tennis shoes... And I did realize that this was a perfect opportunity for me to talk with him about the Proverbs which we spend time in each morning. To help him realize that with his shoes, he could have used better judgment... he could have exercised wisdom that God can give him... he could be a wise 4-year old :) :) The last picture is just what Henry wants to wear everyday now that he needs his 'fall boots.'

Memorable Things Kids Say - Volume 4

After an intense discipline session, Jonathan was sharing the gospel with Henry again. It was one of those times while you're in the middle of the discipline, you feel discouraged and frustrated. But at the end, you see where God was leading you to a place where Henry's heart was very soft and he was very interested in the gospel. And you're thankful God gave you the grace to persevere through.

Jonathan: Henry, do you see how you can't change your heart? Only Jesus can change your heart. You will never do it on your own. Only Jesus can look inside your heart, take out that sin, and give you a new heart that loves Him and serves Him.
Henry: How does He do that? With His hands?