There's Just Something About Little Boys...

...with their umbrellas and rain boots...

...finding delight in a rainstorm...

...and all the muck it produces in the sandbox...

...arranging army men...

...building bridges...

...enjoying the simple things in life...

Yep.  There's just something about little boys...

...that I...

...just...

love.

Wordless Wednesday {Pink Is Her Signature Color}

Words

I recently took an in-house census.

And do you know what the results showed?

I have four girls.

Four girls.

Cute aren't they?

 Know what else?

Girls use a lot of words.

A
lot
of 
words.

With each other.
About each other.
In love.
Sometimes in anger.
Occasionally through tears.
Often with drama.


Three of these girls sleep in the same room.
And do school together in the same home.
And have many of the same friends.

That's a lot of time together.
And a lot of words.

And then there's the other little girl.
She may only weigh 25 pounds but I'm convinced 24 of those pounds are pure lungs.
She's got words and she's not afraid to use them.

And lately, it seems we've spent the better part of our days learning to let [our] conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6) instead of always full of self-righteousness, seasoned with jalapenos.

Because as we're also learning, words can sting.

So while it's becoming increasingly apparent that all the girls in my little census sample (present company included) need to guard our tongues more carefully and check the source from which the river of our words flow (that is, our hearts) I have to say that it is also quite encouraging to see how words, full of grace, seasoned with salt can make home a wonderful place to be.

 
 

Beating the Heat...

The sun has reappeared and temperatures have been rising.

Unfortunately, our pool doesn't open for a couple more weeks.

Until then, these guys have managed to improvise.

What started as a dog washing opportunity quickly morphed into 4 very big kids in 1 very small plastic pool.

It really was comical watching them through the window.  I thought about going outside and getting some pictures.

But 4 kids playing happily outside on their own for a couple of hours?  Who am I to interrupt that?

I wasnt' sure how Lily was going to handle wearing a bathing suit.

She is ULTRA modest.  In fact, she often reacted like my Lands End swim catalog needed to come in a brown paper wrapper.

I wasn't sure if we'd even get her dressed for the pool, let alone in one.

But if this first water experience is any indication, I think we have one more fish in the family.

This Easter...

This Easter, I'm thankful for the fact that a simple platter of Krispy Kremes greeting the kids on Sunday morning brought about the biggest smiles....

Notice the fruit?  I do have a conscience you know...

I'm thankful that Wal-Mart is open late giving me time to begin my Easter shopping around 8 pm Saturday night....

I'm thankful to see this one double-fisting her breakfast.  She so needs to put on the poundage...

I'm thankful for the six kids who gave me 10 minutes of their time and managed to look at the camera and smile simultaneously on a beautiful spring morning...

I'm thankful for my sweet girls...

...and my suave boys...

Waiting for their turn in the photo shoot

I'm thankful that I get to see these precious faces every day...

This was his "cool" shot.  Just had to throw that one in there.

I'm thankful for this loud, crazy, messy, growing, learning, beautiful thing called a family....

But most importantly, this Easter, I am thankful for Jesus...the most precious gift, from the most holy Father, to the most undeserving of recipients..me.

“The highest act of love is the giving of the best gift, 

and, if necessary, at the greatest cost, 

to the least deserving. 

That’s what God did. 

At the loss of His Son’s life to the totally undeserving,

God gave the best gift – 

the display of the glory of Christ

who is the image of God.”  

John Piper

Found him

Last post I wondered where my "little" boy had gone.
Tonight I walk into the kitchen and find this...

Looks like that whole growing up thing isn't occurring quite as fast as originally suspected.
I'm OK with that.
I think...

Excuse Me...

...has anyone seen my little boy?

He was just here a minute ago.  Or at least that what it seems like.


Wasn't it only yesterday that we were sprawled out on the floor together learning our ABC's and reading "Go Dog Go" for the 1000th time?

Building Legos.  Watching Blue's Clues.  Playing in the sandbox.

Today he was all decked out for a special school assembly and as he sat beside me in the van... all arms, legs, and facial hair...critiquing my lack of  driving skills with vocabulary words I've never heard of, I realized that my little boy is quickly growing into a young man.

And although those days when I was smarter than him of dump trucks and dinosaurs are a thing of the past...

...he will always, always, always be my little boy.

Wordless Wednesday {Lia and Friends}

Workin' It...

Most of our Sunday was spent outside.
We pulled out some old toys that were new to some.

Seems like some much needed sunshine put a little bounce in all of us...

Well, almost all of us...

We were plum worn out by dinner time.
So when the kids asked to make s'mores over a fire for dessert, I wasn't surprised to hear Scott answer that another night would be better.

That's when they made their move.
"But Lily's never had s'mores before."
"Ever!"
"Please!"

Not missing a beat, she cocked her head, batted her eyes, folded her hands and chimed in "Please!"
"Please, please, pleeeeeeease!"


Oooh they're good.

And as for the s'mores...

...a half-dozen marshmallow covered faces indicated that they weren't too shabby either!

Not- So- Lazy Sunday

Time on the trampoline is fun.
Time with Daddy is fun.
Time on the trampoline with Daddy is...

...well, I'll let you be the judge....