Sweet Rewards

Recently things have not run so smoothly in our home in a couple of areas so we decided to make some changes. Some are physical and others are personality traits. Many a nights I would like to give into this, letting Kamden sleep in our bed, and just soak it up knowing that it does not last. But there are other parts of me that know I can not give into it every night and create a habit out of it. So we decided it was time to move Dustin back into the boys' room. Kamden longs for someone to be in his room with him, Dustin talks of wanting to be back in his room again, and Skylar could use some space. So we moved the beds around and made animal land in Skylar's room in the top bunk. Who knew we had enough stuffed animals to make a whole mattress out of? And the boys started their evenings like this some nights for about a week. Sound asleep in Dustin's bed. One of those 'personality' traits I was talking about is Dustin's automatic response to doing something he should not have done. He has a natural desire to want to deny doing anything that may cause an undesirable response, even if the penalty is not too harsh. So we have been working on accepting responsibility for his actions. If he earns 5 smiles in a row, at school, then I choose to say thank you and show him that positive actions get positive responses. This is something he earned for the entire family.

"Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another."

Leviticus 19:11

Good to the very last drop!!! But I know how to get some more. Watch this...

Always time for a little ball at the Dairy Bar with daddy. Dustin taught him well.

Kamden wanted to take daddy for a walk to see the giant puddle we found on the way to the potty. There is just something so sweet about a father hand in hand with his child.
Found it!!! Check out the splash.We went out for Mother's Day on Sunday afternoon. It is amazing how much changes in one year. From dropping Kamden off last year at my mother-in-law's house to being able to take Kamden with us this year. It was nice to be with the entire family for a tasty meal.

Anyone care to try a bite of lemon?

After lunch we went home to plant the flowers for my 'Love Garden' that the kids were making me for mother's day. A place of beauty to show they love me. It was quite cold for early May but not a single one complained. (Not even Skylar who, apparently had strep.)

Such hard workers.

All In a Days Work

Ok, so since there are only 3 days left of the month, I figured I would catch up on some blogging. It has been a wonderfully busy month. But all of the activity have been good. We literally started the month with our first game for Dustin's little league, Farm Team (level). His coaches are real excited about the group of kids this year and are eager to be at the field rain, cold, or heat. Ok, so Wednesday's heat did not boad well with the head coach. We all know I don't like that kind of weather, 99 degrees for our last practice in May. But everyone showed up for practice and the kids had fun getting wet by my water pitcher and stayed hydrated. This is our Assistant Coach/Pitcher. And his son, Dustin in the background. Fun!!

This is the Coach and photographer.
This is one of the loyal fans, shows up to every practice and game.May 1st was also a big deal due to Dustin's 7th birthday party. When asked what he wanted to do, he responded, "I just want everyone to play soccer for my birthday." Ask and ye shall receive. We had young and older, athletic vs. not so athletic, those that could breath after playing and those that could not. But we apparently had the teams fairly equal because it seemed like forever before someone won. EVERYONE had so much fun. I am not sure when the last time was that Deb and I laughed so hard with each other (and we weren't even on the same team.) Wow, does soccer bring out the competitive nature in people. Ha.
Pictured below from left:

Nana, Caroline, Dustin (on the ground), Aunt Heide, Adam, Jeffrey, Brian B.

Aunt Heide wanted to know where these little red headed boys kept coming from. Kyle is quite the player. Nice keeping up with him, girl.Dustin scored the winning goal against Grandma and Grandpa Sherwood. And they didn't even give that one to him. It was a blast.Someone instigated a water fight...

By the way the next two photos are facing, I bet you can figure out they are aiming at the same person. Teamwork...

The intensity on that face lets you know, he means business.

Before You Go...

Could you please...

Come to my school for my First Grade Primary Pride play and watch me sing and show off my world that I made all by myself.
Clean my hands because I got cereal bar on them and then you mistakingly gave me a tissue to clean it myself. ...And could you hurry because it is no longer fun... "I no like it." (Is what mommy heard you cry from the backseat of the van as you mashed the cereal bar into the cordoroy on your jeans, then into your carseat, your hands and face followed.)

Show me the fire truck that is spraying water by our house (but don't bring me too close because I am afraid of it).

Take me for a ride on the bus because Mrs. Kathy thinks I'm cute and she said she would take me for a ride. And then don't let me go because it is all so new to me.

Take me to the park.

Watch me on the monkey bars.

Go down the slide with me.

Share your secrets on how to get out from the web they are going to spin me into.

Watch me be cute, like you always do. And then give me a bath from all this sand that is going to be in my clothes and my hair.

We don't think that is too much to ask, is it?

~

I am glad to do it for all of you. It is such a joy (most days) to be trusted to take care of all 4 of you.

~

"O Lord, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give. You have granted him the desires of his heart and have not withheld the requests of his lips. You welcomed him with rich blessings..." Psalm 21:1-3

Memories Made

The memories were made before we even left New England, on our way to Florida. It started with the littlest traveler throwing-up or in our house we call it 'ekuping' in the back seat of the rental car right about New York area. We figured it to be the activities of drawing and reading so thus began the allowance of many movies watched on our trip. Thank you Grandpa G.G. and Grammy Nome for that wonderful gift years ago.

After being up from 6am to 10pm, then taking a nap for about an hour... Skylar went from this, at the hotel room at 12 in the morning...

To this...

Slept for 5 hours and was ready for more.

For some reason the GPS kept rerouting us around certain areas. At first we questioned it but still followed our dependant 'Sheila' to where ever she asked us. This was a sweet surprise as we wondered why she sent us through downtown Baltimore. Though we are die hard RED SOX fans, it was a treat to drive right through the parking area for this stadium. Bet you can't guess why...

One of the most evident blessings, that I seemed to take for granted before our trip, was this little girl. She was such a cheerful traveler. She was so well behaved and willing to hang out with us girls. She only made a peep when we cut her off from twizzlers after she had thrown them up. This was her the night we got in to my grandparents'. She was thrilled to go swimming every day, including the day we got there. It was so nice to be able to lay next to her each night and read a story, uninterrupted. She was so eager to hear more. I had to stop her from reading on without me some nights. Nana, Skylar and I went right down to the mail to deliver the boys their package.
Our days were filled with little things. One day was BINGO day. We brought everyone along for a rousing game of BINGO. Despite the fact that Skylar was not old enough to play the cards, she still walked out with more winnings than the rest of us put together. (My grandpa gave her a quarter each time she got BINGO on the card I made for her. What a math lesson. She has been able to count to 100 for about a year now. But to recognize the number, locate it and mark it off before the man called the next number was fun for her.)

This was her finding something to do before the game. How nice that she is enjoying herself in looking at the beauty of cool colored rocks.

Nana and Skylar found some generous people who were willing to share some of their bread to feed the fish and turtles.

One of my favorite pictures is my grandma tickling Skylar on the couch. Now grandma, you are not supposed to be leaning over with that back brace. But such fun you both had. Just don't let her catch you eating ice cream on the couch, no matter what she said to you the night before. My grandpa kept sharing with other residents about how he was 'stuck' with 4 generations of girls. I know he loved it. I was so excited to be able to go down there and relieve him from some of the stresses he has been under with my grandma's ailing health. He was so thankful to have someone else to share his life with. We sure kept him busy, from endless trips to the store to spotting a leak in his roof during one of the evening rain storms. I am not sure which drove him more nuts, us or my grandmother. Ha...

He is such a devoted husband and is a sign of true love to her. He has been through much and knows that the hardest parts are yet to come. Yet he still has that love in his eyes and reminds you that he chose her and has such a passion in his voice when he tells of the story of how they met in Germany when he was in the service and she was serving his coffee in the diner. He picked her out and said, "I'm gonna marry her." And sure enough he did.

Kind of funny to imagine that spending a little under a week at a senior retirement community could make me miss my husband but it makes me joyful to imagine what we have to look forward to as the Lord keeps us growing together.

So we took our last walk down 'Bunny Lane' and headed home.

This was the last night before heading home. The times spent together were well spent but sometimes you just know when it is time to venture home again.

"The Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery...Know therefore, that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands."

Deuteronomy 7:7-9