Lesson Learned

Some lessons have to be learned the hard way.  Through experience, heartache, embarrassment.  The latter was my teacher today.

I was at the local nail salon (which happens once or twice a year) with Lydia.  She's home sick from school today with a fever, but no other symptoms.  We were the only ones in the salon and Lydia was just relaxing waiting for me to finish.  I noticed a plate of apples sitting next to the sink where they have you wash your hands.  I also noticed two Buddha statues.  See the link between apples and Buddha?  Me neither.

Once I settled into the pedicure chair I opened my mouth to ask if Lydia could have an apple.  Lydia looked at me and shook her head no.  I was surprised but in retrospect thankful that she didn't want one.  Because the two ladies doing my nails looked at me, then at each other, then back to me and shook their head.  One of them made a sign like she was praying.  I immediately recognized that the apples have some sort of connection to Buddha and they were NOT for snacking.  I still don't know what the connection is because I was too embarrassed to ask and they didn't speak very good english.

So, if you ever see a statue of Buddha (or multiple statues) don't ask for any fruit that may be sitting nearby.  Lesson learned.  I'm really glad we were the only ones in the salon and that Lydia didn't really want an apple!

Random Thoughts

* I love when you're at a parent/teacher conference for your child and the teacher says she likes your child enough that she would take him home with her!

* I love when you're at a parent/teacher conference for your other school-age child and he says that no matter what teacher your child gets, it will be the teacher that benefits from the relationship!

* I love when your husband is trying to be proactive with your children about what bad words sound like and mean.  Saying the bad words out loud for the child to hear.  Your child might be surprised when he hears what the *S* word actually is.  Because he thinks the *S* word is "Sucks"!

Seattle, WA

I redeemed my Christmas present this weekend.  A 3 night excursion to Seattle, WA without kids!  Tim and I left on Thursday evening after he was done teaching for the day.  We kissed the kids, boarded the plane and proceeded to enjoy our vacation.  We had a small meal on the plane but when we finally got to our hotel we were starving!  It was 11pm St. Louis time and we headed across the street to Peso's Kitchen and Lounge.  Mexican!  I would never eat mexican at 11pm at home, but this was vacation!  It was super yummy and we got appetizer prices.

A side note: my bible study Thursday morning was regarding our lives vs. the world and how/if they look different.  A few minutes into dinner late at night at Peso's in Seattle proved that my life does look different - at least physically.  There I was, no skin showing, wearing a striped sweater, comfy jeans and my TOMS. I felt very midwestern. We were waited on my a woman showing way too much skin.  We were next to a couple almost throwing their clothes off right there in front of us.  A serious make out session right.next.to.us!  It was dark with loud music coming from the bar section and I felt very uncomfortable there.  So we scarfed our food down and headed back to the room.   Their food was really good though, so the next night we ordered take out!

We stayed at the MarQueen Hotel located in the Queen Anne district.  It was so cozy and quaint.  Totally my style!  Hardwood floors throughout and beautiful history in the building.

We went sight seeing on both days and did a ton of walking.  We also learned how to use the public transportation and asked lots of questions regarding where to get on and off the bus!  We never got lost, but found some fun things along the way.  Like this sign that reminded us of our Ann Denny:

The first day (and the second actually) we went to Pike's Market.  Such a fun place to roam and shop.

Making Cheese.

Tim talked to this guy for quite a while.  Beautiful hand crafted boats by "Mark's Arks".

"The Fish Guys" where they throw fish!

We also saw some great scenery, thanks to our friends who are new to the area, but staying in a hotel that night.  They let us borrow their car for the afternoon and we drove to the mountains.  Simply breathtaking!  Thanks Brian and Kim!

Snoqualmie Falls.  Beautiful!

The Space Needle. 

Mountains that we didn't know were there the first day.  The second day it cleared up a little.

Some things I learned from our trip:
*my kids didn't miss me thanks to the fabulous grandparents that took care of them!  Even when they were sick (3 kids sick when we got home)
*I still LOVE being with Tim.  It's so nice to just *be* with someone.  To know you are loved whether you talk too much or just like to be silent.
*When you go to Seattle, don't bother packing sunglasses.  But it is in your best interest to pack an umbrella!

Seattle - you were fun!  Thanks for hosting us as we recovered from wrestling season and full time parenting.  Thanks for having cool stuff to see and providing entertainment for us midwesterners.  You were cold but beautiful and we will never forget our long weekend visiting you!

Ponderings

I love a window into the thoughts of my kids.  Today while driving in the car with the three girls I got a little peek.

Annie: "mom, does God have teeth?"
Me: "I don't know.  What do you think?"
Annie: "I think yes."
Maria: "Does maw maw have teeth?"
Me: "Yes, Maria.  Maw maw has teeth."
Annie: "Where is heaven in the sky?"
Me: "I don't know, Annie.  But God knows."
Lydia: "I know.  It's so big it takes up the whole sky."
Annie: "I can't wait to get to heaven."
Maria: "I can't wait to get to heaven."
Annie: "I love God."
Maria: "I love God."
Annie: "Mom, do you know God is always with us?"
Me: "Yes Annie.  You're right.  God is always with us because He lives in our hearts."

Lessons from peeking through the window:
1-Annie is a thinker.
2-Maria is a parrot, and asks obscure questions.
3-Sunday school at Riverside Church and AWANA at Brentwood Bible Church is teaching my girls about Jesus and I love that they think about these things!
4-I don't have very good answers for Annie's deep questions!

Who do they belong to?

Today after morning school, the girls headed outside to jump on the trampoline.  Only when I went to check on them I found them doing this:

Digging in the dirt!  I'm not sure who's daughters they are because they certainly did not learn dirt digging from me!

Yesterday they helped Tim turn the soil over as he began to prepare the garden for early season planting.  They helped him then and must have thought they could do daddy a favor while he was at work today!  They are claim-able and I will always claim them as my own, but wonder at their preference for activities at times :)

Valentines

2/14/12

Our family celebrated Valentine's day with new journals, magic towels (the kind you put in water and watch them grow) and Juicy Fruit gum.  All of which greeted the kids at the breakfast table.  Very romantic!  Tim got a card and we're leaving for Seattle next weekend.  Cannot.wait.!

There were also 3 school parties, two of which I helped with/attended.

Lydia with her decorate-your-own-cookie at her party.

The kids made glow stick valentines this year.  Annie and Lydia shared an idea and Ahren went with an all boy idea.

Ahren's Star Wars Valentine (source HERE)

I didn't get pics of Annie and Lydia's, but they came from HERE.  Glow sticks with a heart that says "You make my heart GLOW".  

We also made some valentines for the local adult day care center here called Sarah Care.  We painted hearts and made heart suckers and passed them out after school.  I wish I would have taken pictures because those sweet adults were SO excited to see the kids.

Source HERE 

Truly a Happy Valentine's Day just seeing their smiles!

We ended the day with a homemade heart pizza that was quickly devoured by my four growing valentines!

And a little brother/sister love:

The Break Up

If anyone knows me at all, they know that I love Mt. Dew.  We've been in a relationship since my teens that got more serious in college.  By the time I had four kids under 5, we were inseparable.  Every morning Mt. Dew would greet me as soon as my feet hit the floor.  We met together 3-4 times/day.  It was a great relationship.  Except for the fact that Mt. Dew wasn't healthy.  It tasted good and got me through the day, but so very unhealthy.  The dependency, the driving out of the way to a good gas station to get one more, the sugar, the caffeine, the 15 ingredients I can't pronounce.  Not good.

So, I decided it was time to end the relationship.  Cold turkey.  I woke up one morning and looked at the two-liter sitting on the counter and said 'not today'.  It's been 12 days.  Yesterday I dumped out the remaining soda in the two-liter.  I wasn't even sad.  It's been up and down without my Mt. Dew, but I'm making it.  I still drink a coke a day, but at least I can pronounce all the ingredients in a coke.

I don't see us getting back together.  I may have a one here or there, but there will be no more dependency on a drink.  My dependency needs to be on Jesus to get me through the day, not on a soda.  I'm trying to live an obedient life in all areas and my soda habit was an area that needed attention.  Obedience begets fellowship - try it!

Maria's Sayings

Maria is getting to the age where she is starting to say funny things, and sweet things!

Yesterday I told her she was a special girl and her reply was "You're a special mommy!"  *heart melts*

This morning she said at the breakfast table: "I'm not Maria, I'm a headache!"  She has no idea how right she is at times :)

When referring to the smoothies I made this morning, she repeatedly called them "Smoots".

She is only two.  If history repeats itself, four years is the age when quotes really start becoming hilarious.  Can't wait!