How to Trap a Leprechaun

Last night after Emma’s 20 minutes ‘till bed timer went off, she informed us that she had to make a leprechaun trap so she could steal his gold.  We tried to explain to her that leprechauns were not very prevalent in Middleburg, but she was insistent.  So she went and colored some gold coins and a rainbow to bait the trap with. Jason got a case box from the girl scout cookie sale and the tack hammer and the trap was ready:

Unfortunately, even though a leprechaun knocked over the hammer on his way out, he still managed to escape.  He was nice enough to leave Emma some Lucky Charms marshmallows. Oh, well – maybe next year.

Happy Birthday Jakers!

  It’s hard to believe that our little guy is four years old!  What’s even more amazing is everything he has accomplished. He can walk, run, jump, climb, swim, feed himself, dress (and undress!) himself, and he is starting to put words into sentences.

 Not to mention how sweet and loving he is – there is nothing like a Jaker Monkey Hug!

We were camping this weekend, so he got to share his birthday cake with some wonderful friends, but not before taste testing it first.

 

We are so lucky that Heavenly Father chose to bless our family with such a strong, special spirit.  Everyday is a new adventure for us, and another reason to celebrate.  So, happy birthday, little man! Thanks for choosing us to be your parents.

Caravan Treasure Hunt

  I try to clean out my car at least once a month, usually on a Monday because if you take your church bulletin to the Goo-Goo car wash they give you a $3 discount.  I love the Goo-Goo wash. They not only have free vacuums, glass cleaner, and towels, they have the most wonderful floor mat cleaners.  When I take Emma with me she will usually park herself in front of the mat cleaner and send them through a few dozen times.  

  My sweet husband Jason is driving to the far point of his district tomorrow, so he needs to take my van – more reliable.  I decided this would be a good Monday to clean it out, even if my church bulletin was still sitting on the coffee table at home. That is when my treasure hunt began.

  I would like to make the disclaimer that I very rarely allow my kids to eat in the car anymore, but sometimes it happens.  I also tell them as they are getting out “Grab your stuff, I’m not taking it inside with me!”  Keep these two things in mind as you read the list of finds:

• Two sippy cups, one with juice left
• Three socks
• gallon size ziplock bag
• Jake’s PJ shirt (?)
• Jake’s slippers
• Jake’s crocs (do we see a pattern ?)
• 18 strands of Gasparilla beads
• one ibuprofen tablet (!)
• two pacifiers
• 1/2 chicken nugget
• 5 fast food drink cups (various sizes)
• 2 “Kitchen” cups
• Small Medium order of fries
• Two Jackets
• Three kids meal toys
• empty gatorade bottle
• three lids to gatorade bottle
 

I once saw a onesie that said “Do the cheerios under my carseat count as my 72 hour kit?”  I think I need it for Grady. 

  What is so sad about that list is that the double stroller was in the back of the van, so I didn’t even make it to that compartment – and that is where the kids think their church bags live. 

  Anyway, you can come see my van now – its clean, has a full tank of gas, and a new oil filter with fresh oil. Aren’t I a sweet wife to pretty my van up for its date with my husband?

(And yes, that is Jake on top on the van – I tried to get him to showroom model it, but he just wanted to climb…little monkey)

Zoo Trip!

  We had been promising Emma all week a trip to the zoo on Saturday, so even though Grady woke up vomiting and with a fever of 103.4, we packed the diaper bag with Pedialyte and went to the zoo. (A phone call to the pedatrician assured us it was a 24-hr stomach virus)  As you can tell, he was super excited for his first trip to the zoo.  The poor little guy slept most of the trip, but this was about the happiest he got.

Unfortunetly, I didn’t get many pictures at all because when I packed the camera I forgot to put my memory card in it! You can only imagine the cry of dismay when I got the “No Card” message after snapping a picture of Jake trying to crawl through the fence to pet the giraffe.   I didn’t even remember that my cell now has a SD card so I can take pictures with it and download them until we were close to leaving. I did manage to get a couple of cute ones on the Wildlife Carousel.  I would like to point out that Jake chose to ride Renegade!   We had a good time, and we are looking forward to going back soon – so Mommy can use her new camera! 

   In other news, my mom came home on Friday night! We are all so excited to have her home safe, and hope that the two weeks of  IV antibiotics and home health will get her all the way healed.  Thanks to all of you that have prayed for her and our family, visited, called, sent dinners and everything else.  We are so blessed to have all of you as friends!

Where’s Jake?

 

So even though Emma begged to have her own room back last year, the kids want to sleep together quite frequently.  I gave in the other night and when I went in to check on them, this is what I saw:

 

So where was Jake?  I could hear him snoring, but he was no where to be seen. I checked under the bed (believe me, I have found him sleeping under there more often than you would think) but no Jake. Then I pulled back the covers:

 

 I am glad my children sleep like rocks, because otherwise my laughter would have woken them for sure.  Notice how Emma’s foot is lovingly curled around her brother’s cheek, and his hand resting on her leg.  Of course, you can also see that big sister has all three pillows. 

I rearranged them and they slept like the sweet angels they are for the rest of the night…oh, to sleep like a child again!

Just another manic Monday....

Thanks to Katheryn, I now have a pretty background. Maybe soon I can learn how to make my own and customize the whole thing. Though I should probably vacuum and finish the laundry first. (and post some pics)

We went to visit my mom tonight for Family Home Evening. She has been in the hospital now for almost two weeks, and mentally she is falling apart. She hates being cooped up, and she misses her grandbabies like crazy. The first couple of times we visited, Emma was a little scared of all the tubes and equipment. We have talked a lot about it, and tonight when we got there she curled up on the bed next to Nina and cuddled for a few minutes. When we were leaving I told Emma that I thought her cuddles probably helped Nina more than anything. Emma replied that Daddy's blessing probably helped more. There isn't a day that goes by that my five year old doesn't make me stop and thank Heavenly Father for the gift of raising her. (of course, I usually have to ask for patience as well.)

Jake's school nurse has ended up on my knit list (like Madame Defarge). This is the second week in a row that I have had to either pull him out of school or keep him home for some imagined illness. Last week it was red eyes and crustys, which the doctor assured us was not pink eye. Today he gets sent home with a note saying he has a rash and can not come back to school until he has been seen and treated for 24 hours. I still can't find the rash. So now I have to spend another $20 and rearrange my day. I love my little man, but I really need the break from him that school gives me. Plus, he has his testing at Hope Haven on Wednesday, so I will have him all day then, too. Oh, it sounds like I hate spending time with Jakers, but I don't! He is just such a handful and needs constant attention. It is almost like having a 40 lb newborn. But when he turns that smile on and gives one of his Jaker monkey hugs it is all worth it.

In happier news, Grady has two teeth now! He cut the first one (bottom right) on Thursday, and the second (bottom left) on Friday. It wasn't there before dinner, and right after dinner I rubbed his gums again and there it was! I am going to miss that toothless grin, though.

By Popular Demand....

I have finally given in. One of my favorite friends keeps telling me to start a blog so I can share all the funny stories of my kids, and post some of the pictures from my new toy, a Canon Rebel.
I like the idea of blogging, keeping a journal of sorts, I just don't know if I can keep it up! But, I will do my best...
Today is Sunday, church day for our family. This morning was special because Jason assisted in blessing the new baby boy of our friends the Jammes. He said that he loved blessing babies because he loves to look down at them while they are being blessed to see how happy and content they are being bounced in the circle of Priesthood holders. He said that it was a special because it is one of the only moments daddies share with their babies that mommies won't!
Later on this afternoon, Emma wrote and illustrasted a book she called "Priesthood Power". It said that the Priesthood could help you when you are sick. She drew two pictures, one of Priesthood holders annointing a sick child, and one of a baby being blessed. She is such a sweet girl, and so bright! I just hope that I can remember to help her spirit grow and not be so hard on her when she gets in her Diva moods....