Yep, it's really that much fun!

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 11:30 AM

A hose with water gushing from it is really a lot of fun!

I love these pictures.

I love the joy expressed.

I love these smiles.

Lava

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On at 11:22 AM

We added our lava to the volcano last evening.  Lava consisted of water, red food coloring, dish detergent, baking soda and vinegar. 

Prior to adding baking soda and vinegar the boys for some reason had to look inside.  (Not recommended).

Here is what our lava looked like. After several times our exterior of our volcano diminished into a pile of goo.

Volcanoes and Mexican Flowers

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On Monday, June 28, 2010 at 10:38 AM

Above is a picture of our final product.  A blue volcano with Mexican flowers, Bakugans, & robots.  When it dries we will do the actual molten lava probably this evening outside when Page is present.  I am sure Page does not want to miss out on molten lava spewing onto Mexican flowers and robots.  I know I wouldn't.

To begin, Batman visited while we got all our supplies ready for our blue volcano.

All hands were ready and willing to help.

During lunch we watched how to make a Mexican flower.  So as requested by children I quickly & easily found tissue paper and pipe cleaners and we made them when lunch was finished.

Then after flowers were created, the kids had in mind to decorate their volcano with the flowers and Bakugans and robots (of course, who wouldn't?).  I think it turned out pretty marvelous.  They positioned the flowers in several areas, but the first picture at the top was their finale with the flowers positioned at the top cone of the volcano.

A Heavenly Inheritance

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 5:57 PM

That is what I desire for my children to have a heavenly inheritance. A heavenly inheritance of which has been so readily and freely given to us if we so desire it. Teaching the truth in love right now in my home is basically how I live it each day, not just in what I say, but what I do....of which I fail miserably.  Yeah if you know me....I am pretty stinky....but I have heard that God can sure make all things good!  It's my hearts desire though for them to know and to taste and see that the Lord is good.

I have been reading in I Peter. I Peter 1:3-7 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

What is remarkable to me is that even though I do fail miserably each day (every second of every day), that I have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade........in the New King James it says an inheritance that is incorruptible, and undefiled and it is reserved, yes........my reservation has been made in of all places....heaven! Now that is amazing! So in that I do rejoice.......and yet on this earth in front of all the world to see and even my precious offspring to see for a little while I will experience times of grief & trials that my children will witness. Through those trials I am being refined in a fire so that the genuineness of my faith may be found to glorify God. So there is purpose to those trials. A greater purpose that perhaps I will not even witness here on earth and used for not only my good but for the good of my children. That really impresses me about God, that He has a plan. That His plan is far better than any type of plan I could ever imagine. I know that may sound funny, but that is pretty stinkin' awesome!

Also in this inheritance in loving God with all of our heart, mind, and soul and loving our neighbor as ourselves another verse popped out at me. I Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethern, love one another fervently with a pure heart. Hmmmmm, a pure heart. Oh, loving one another with a pure heart, FERVENTLY........being SINCERE in our love even if it hurts? The truth of the matter is often times we fail at this too. I have. I have had times when I have harbored resentment, made judgement, thought horrible things and have not been sincere in my love for my brethern. Of which equals not having a pure heart. But for me to love the Lord with all my heart, mind, and soul......well then I need to not do such things and be sincere with my brethern so that I am able to love God. Do you do this too? Well, let me say.........oh it is so NICE to be free from that and to have a pure heart and not have that resentment. So whatever it takes even if they are not "real" back.....let it go! It is not authentic nor real when you have sin that needs to be loosed.......instead it just stays in your life and stinks it up.....right? To be free from that and having the ability to love like God wants you to is pretty cool. Let me just say that of course I am not there all the time......remember I am stinky...nor could anyone be but Christ. But it sure feels good to have a freed heart to love. Oh, help me to do so fervently Lord.  So let's move there and reside in that sweet love of God's inheritance so that perhaps my children and yours may live pure, authentic lives toward one another and with God.  What an inheritance on earth that would be. 

The Face I Woke up to this Morning

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On Friday, June 25, 2010 at 11:20 AM

This is the little face I woke up to this morning.  Slurping away on his thumb thumb.  Since Page is an early riser (5:20 a.m.  -- yes, bless his heart), often times I do not get to see his sweet face in the morning......since our room is pitch black.  Instead I hear his sweet voice pray and his sweet lips kiss me good morning.  So I think that is pretty terrific!  But normally I do not wake up to a sweet little face next to me.  Most times my sweet little faces are playing in their rooms awaiting their mommy to wake up these days. 

This cute little face today was right beside my pillow.  Yes, slurping on that little thumb thumb.  Which he calls his "shumb shumb."  Yes, he is a cutie pie and I am partial to say he looks like his daddy.  Boy do I get the best or what? 

Interesting Article -- Going to Church by Staying at Home

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 11:12 AM

I found this article interesting, so I thought I might share it on my blog. I really do not think many people read it anyhow. :-)

Some of you might be aware that we are worshiping in a home church presently. If you are not attending anywhere and are interested we are meeting in my home this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. If you are presently worshiping regularly somewhere we do not want to take you from that church family. If interested let me know we are having a cookout too.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/03/AR2006060300225.html

Vacation Home 2

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 11:51 AM

No we are not on vacation, but it sure feels like it when you have a neighbor who lets you use their pool while they are "on vacation!" 

Sugar Cubes & Sand

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On at 11:20 AM

We built two types of pyramids today.  A step pyramid, pictured above with sugar cubes.

They all tasted the sugar cubes too.  I remember my mom having sugar cubes in our kitchen as a kid.  The only place Page found them for me was at Publix. 

After we assembled our Great pyramids we ran down to the park real quick to put sand on them.  We brought a bucket of sand back with us.  We glued the sides of our pyramids and sprinkled sand on them outside.  Maggie Beth loved the sand and pretty much was "in charge" of the sand the whole time. 

I thought their deserts and pyramids turned out great!

Pyramids & Mummies

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 10:10 AM

I wrapped some mummies in my house this morning.

We have been investigating pyramids and the ancient civilization of Egypt.  For some reason the mummification was interesting to my boys.



I used two rolls of toilet paper and some tape here and there.  Maggie Beth was interested in getting wrapped as a mummy too, but as I started to roll her she was not interested anymore.

Hezekiah also built the Sphinx and a pyramid yesterday.  We learned the different types of pyramids from http://www.seaworld.org/fun-zone/fun-guides/egypt/index.htm, they also have hieroglyphics and a maze.  We also found an adventure site that was awesome it is called the Egyptian tomb adventure by the National museums of Scotland http://www.nms.ac.uk/education__activities/kids_only/egyptian_tomb_adventure.aspx.  The boys really loved this site.  We played it together last night and learned a lot of neat things about the canopic jars.  Tomorrow we plan on making two types of pyramids a step and a great pyramid. 

Things said......

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On Monday, June 21, 2010 at 5:13 PM

These boys of mine say some funny things at some funny times. 

Last night while we were at Father's Day dinner Hezekiah was not eating very well and said he was cold.  So I asked him if he was not feeling well.  Eli says very loudly, "I sure hope he does not have diarrhea."  He said it so loud in fact Page nor I could bear to even look up and look around to see if anyone was looking at us. 

Later after dinner, the restaurant we went to gives little chocolate mints.  Eli was drinking his apple juice and then he ate his mint.  He holds up his hands in disgust, with this foul look on his face and puckered lips and says loudly, "Apple juice and mint taste bad!"

Well, tonight we were on our way to the store and we were talking about Portuguese Man of War and their stings.  So Eli says, "I got a big steamy boo boo at the beach."

Hezekiah says, "Eli, there are no such things as steamy boobies." 

Page had other things to say that I will not share, but to get him to blush you can ask him.  Ha ha ha!!!

We were cracking up!  Funny kids they are!

Batman

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 6:32 PM

Father's Day Pictures

Posted by Unknown | | Posted On at 6:15 PM

So, I have a movie star on my hands and a couple Bat men in underoos!

I used to have wonder woman underoos as a kid, I even made bracelets out of styrofoam cups.  Oh, I remember those days.  For some reason we got a bit carried away on a trip to Wal-Mart to buy underwear and socks for the kids and ended up getting sunglasses, hats, and underoos too.  I am never one to get carried away....I pretty much stick to my list....but for some reason we got some fun things.  I even got some cute pink crocs!  (not pictured)

So when the boys are not Bat men, then they are rock stars.


I got to pull another tooth today, so it looks like the tooth fairy will be visiting our house tonight.  At least I did not send the tooth home with anyone tonight.  (Last week I accidentally put a little girls M&M's in Hezekiah's tooth bag.  So she ate all the M&M's and found Hezekiah's tooth at the bottom of the bag.  I had to go rescue the tooth at 9 p.m. so that the tooth fairy would show up.)  So no story like that this week.  Hezekiah lost a tooth on the bottom left today next to the incisors.  That is two teeth he has lost in one week. 

We have had a wonderful Father's Day weekend.  Seriously, Page is the best Daddy!  He had some time to himself on Friday since I was at Sea World with the kids.  So that in itself is a present......time to yourself.  We went to the pool on Saturday and had a date Saturday night.  Then this morning we gave him his cool cutting board and Father's day card and took him to dinner this evening.  It was such a beautiful evening out, the kids swam in the pool in our backyard and we just got to sit and enjoy the nice evening air.  Happy Father's Day baby!  I love you and our family.  God has truly blessed us immensely!