Notice a theme here?

Both photos taken this morning. Notice a theme? Not only will he climb on ABSOLUTELY anything and everything but he is constantly playing with things that are not meant to be toys. The spices in my spice rack - toys? Nope. The mini ladder from the basement used to escape in case a fire - toy? I think not. I'm not sure why he has any toys at all...... sigh.....

On another note, I heard thunder today. Loud booming thunder and then, a huge downpour of rain. Hoo-ray! Spring is on it's way!!!!

Scrapping madness :)

It is always a good day when it involves a bit of paper and glue :)

Just thinking

This is a verse that I read today that caused me to pause and think. God was speaking to Solomon after the building of the temple.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

Seems to me that although these words were spoken several thousand years ago, they are very relevant today. Our land could certainly use healing. I am walking away thinking about my part in this verse. What things I need to confess, turn from and seek forgiveness for.

Today

Today, I listened from the laundry room as my 3 boys played hide and go seek in the upstairs. The giggling. The fun. The love. My life is good.

Perhaps, not the best idea

For your 4th birthday, we decided to go all out and get you a Power Wheels. We picked out this one which seems to be a combination of a golf cart and dump truck. It's pretty amazing but.... with 2 feet of snow outside on the week it arrived and Daddy gone for work, there was no driving to be done outside. Instead, I pushed all the furniture in the living room to the side and gave you the entire space to DRIVE. I had no idea how dangerous this would be. Dangerous to the house - just look at the chaos you created. Every stuffed animal and every toy you owned needed to go for a drive in the bed of the truck and it resulted in a HUGE mess of toys on the first floor of our house. And then there was poor Nathan... in order to get him in on the fun, you had him lay on the floor while you backed up and hit him - over and over again. ROAD KILL. You used your big brother, who adores you, as ROAD KILL. I'm not sure what life with you and your Power Wheels will hold once the weather warms up and we can go outside but quite honestly, I'm afraid...

Doing Well

So far, so good. I guess that means we're in the "honeymoon stage". Nathan really likes his new school, has made some friends and usually comes bounding off the school bus with a big smile on his face. We are adapting to greater expectations and definitely more homework but for the first time I feel like we have a handle on what he knows and what he needs to work on, especially with Math. I continue to marvel at how flexible and resilient he is. He reminds me of a calm bubbling brook just moving smoothly along. I am grateful for the easyness and joy he adds to my life.

This is a page that I'll call scrap therapy. I've been working through some of my "stuff" and this photo just brought a flood of thoughts.

ch..ch...changes

On Monday you were a 4th grade student at Old Post Elementary School by Friday you were experiencing your first day at St Luke's. In just one short week, you not only made the decision to change schools but you actually got started there. It's not something we haven't talked about. There have been some problems in the past 2 years at Old Post, mostly with the class size and teaching methods and Daddy and I have been wanting for you to go to a school whose core values more closely matched those of our family. As someone who really isn't a fan of change, to say I am impressed is an understatement. I want you to know, not only what a well thought out, mature decision I watched you make but how brave and adventurous you are. You have a realistic grasp on the the things (especially friends) you'll miss at Old Post, but you have easily been able to separate that from what you see as being best for your education and your future. Nathan, I'm sure during this transition, there will be good days and there will be tough days but we will walk through this together and I want you to know from the bottom of our hearts, we are proud of you!

I have my work cut out for me

Last night was the 2nd night we sent to Caleb to bed without a pacifier. He's four - it's time and we told him that before his 4th birthday but have been lax about the follow through. Then he started pooping in his pants after months of perfect potty. We told him if he pooped in his pants again, the "cork" would go....you guessed, he did...it went. Scott put him to bed last night and when I went to check on him, I found his door locked. Not a good sign. I unlocked it and peeked in to find that he was sleeping peacefully with a cork in his mouth. Yup, he had a hidden cork, for parenting emergencies such as these. He's FOUR! I'm in trouble.