Today's lesson

How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me ridicule the boogers on your face,' when you yourself fail to see the layers of crust on your own face? You hypocrite! First wipe the crust from your own face, and then you will see clearly enough to to teach good hygiene skills to your brother!

Our new living room/dance floor

Here is our new living room floor! Isn't it great?

When then kids saw it, they immediately thought: dance party!

If you look closely you can also see the new crown molding-
it really dresses up the room!

I wonder how many other families use their living rooms for dance parties
followed by evening devotions?

So, we may not be what you might call a normal family...

but at least this time, they were tired enough to sit still through

an entire Lord's Prayer!

Michigan Highlights!

The kids and I had a great time in Michigan!
The picture at the top shows Seth and Marcus checking out an awesome octopus at the zoo!

Here they are on their brand new scooters!
(An easter present from Nana!)
They have been zipping around on these things non-stop since they got them!

Marcus has one too but it's going to take a little while for him to figure
out how to use it by himself.
So far he's figured out if he stands on it and looks pathetic for long enough he can usually convince someone to push him around in it.

Nana and the boys!

My monkeys and me at the zoo- the perfect place for us!

We ran the kids hard and earned our peaceful naptime hours every afternoon!

We came home to the sweet country on Wednesday night.
(The kids even said they missed hearing the cows and geese at night!)

We have a brand new hardwood floor in our living room- will post a picture of that later today! It is beautiful!
I had another surprise too- my dear husband painted our bedroom! It looks great- and that wasn't even on his "to do" list!

fun with puppy!

Copper is having fun getting to know her new family! Above, she is watching Eldon take his bath. He thought it was just great; even when she tried as hard as she could to get in there with him! For now, she is just too short!

Copper had an extra treat today: she was Lorraine's show and tell! (It is also PJ day for Lorraine!)

What is this strange sensation?

Today is day three of a quiet house. Eldon is taking great naps, and Lorraine is at school all day. So far this week we have been shopping leisurely, two times, we have gone out to eat and out for ice cream, I have caught up on laundry and gotten in my exercise.

Yesterday Eldon and I were wandering around the house and I was feeling ... something... What is this strange sensation? I wondered as I restlessly went from room to room with Eldon on my hip, aimlessly looking around. Is this... could I be... BORED?

How strange! I don't think I have been bored in years!

Josh says if I get too bored I can take the dog to the vet for him, but that's not going to happen. Maybe I will pick up one of the five half-finished books I have here on my bookshelf! Or maybe I will take a nap! The possibilities are endless!!!!

Happy Fourth Birthday Seth!

Seth, our first baby boy, our responsible, smart, organized little man.
You are like your daddy in so many ways!

Seth at age four
Favorite toys: New batman motorcycle toy, train, Lightning McQueen anything, big bouncy ball, tiger bike

Favorite clothes: Seth has strong opinions about clothes. His favorites right now: his "soft pants" (wind pants); his basketball jersey/shorts (he often asks to wear it under his long sleeves and long pants in the winter;) superman and batman pjs; super-fast running shoes

Other favorites: Books: I Stink, Rhyming Dust Bunnies, Wacky Wednesday; games: MarioKart Wii, Starfall; shows: Word World and Super Why; snack and story time, wrestle time, playing with the "big girls" at church, (especially Katie and Bailey!), getting bubble gum from the bubble gum man, learning how to fix things, learning how to read, using your big muscles to help mommy carry things



Seth's boyishness and his analytical nature cause him to see the world in a way unlike anyone else in the family. He surprises me with his insight and has an enormous heart for his family and everyone he meets. I can't wait to see what vocation God has in store for him that will use all his many gifts! As I delight in his accomplishments, and enjoy being a part of his growing-up, I am glad to share this day with him- when life is simple, and he just gets to be a kid. He works hard to be big helper to mommy, to learn and grow and play and have fun, and he does it very well!

Happy birthday little man, we sure love you!

Good idea and tough guys!

For anyone who has family living far away and needs ideas for keeping them in touch with your young kids- check out this idea that I read in Family Fun magazine! See above- my kids are snuggling on the couch reading books with their Nana- on the phone from Michigan! For Christmas I collected 2 copies of several books, gave one to grandparents and kept one for the kids. Now the grandparents can read bedtime stories for the kids whenever they want!

The boys finally got to try out their new tattoos! Wow, what manly men!