Surprise!

We finally told the kids that our trip to Des Moines this weekend is to see the Laurie Berkner Band Animal Party Concert. I wish we would have taken a video. Joe was jumping up and down until we took note of it, then he started acting like he was too cool for it all. He is really excited, but doesn't want us to know it. Lynn seemed to be in a state of disbelief for a moment and then was nearly jumping out of her skin. Yes, kiddos, we are going to see the real Laurie!! I think we scored on this one! Thank you Laurie for coming within driving distance of KC!!!

As a side note, if you have or know little kids that love music....get them some Laurie Berkner Band DVDs or CDs! You might end up liking it as much, or more than, the kids do. They are amazing:)

Kids say.....2nd edition

I said I would add more to this as I thought of them or as they came up. Well I thought of a one and a couple just showed up.

Joe is a pro at saying dinosaur names. However, there is one that he always struggles with in a really funny way. Pachycephalosaurus tends to come out Penicephalasaurus. Yes, we need to work on that one.

Conversation in the car today on the way home: I said, "Wow, something really smells bad here." Joe replied, "I don't smell anything Mom, 'cause I'm pickin' my nose." I know, something else we need to work on, but that was funny enough to make me worry about my ability to drive for a moment.

Last but not least, Lynn was feeling a little crummy tonight, so we gave her some Tylenol. She used to be great at taking medicine, but tonight she gagged it down and whined a lot. Joe said, "She learned that from me from when I was three."

Quick Thought/Lesson

Thank you Lord for blessing us, not with fairness, but with mercy and grace. We are blessed to not be given all that we deserve.

Faith

So the last year or so, I feel like my faith has grown and really become a part of me again. Then I got some bad news about a friend today, and the first thing I did was get mad and start to cry like everything was already done and decided. That shook me, rattled my cage a little. Once I realized what I was doing I started praying. If you are reading this, please pray for my friend and her doctors, her husband, kids, and grandkids. A full and final diagnosis hasn't happened yet, but she needs prayers for healing none the less.

Help us all to have full and unending faith, even in the worst of times. Amen.

haiku

weekend in review
I want Daddy to come home
yeah, no joke, me too

week two of dance class
tap shoes too loud for Joseph
Lynn can't get enough

friend who blogs blessings
we all need to hear the words
he never gives up

Mommy is tired
Murphy's Law, nap ends too soon
can't wait for bed time

blanky left at church
must embark on a mission
blanky recovered

hubby in 'sconsin
keeps sending pictures of cheese
oh, I'm so jealous

getting too goofy
it would be best to stop now
7 haiku, what?

Kids say.....

Things my kids have said that I don't want to forget:
Dadoo
Mom-mom
Ambleeance
Fableeous
Fateeous
Polka-nots
fry donalds
blue fry donalds
Kidney (Joe's name for our cat Sydney)
beep-beep (fork lift)
Eyes!Eyes! (Joe when a light turned on or the sun got in his eyes)
Cookiemon (Lynn's word for Pokemon)
Strawberry Sportcake
Baa (stuffed sheep)
Ooo Ooo (stuffed gorilla, who had to have socks on for the longest time)
Pinkorilla (Lynn's name for the pink gorilla mascot at VBS)
Stop please mommy! (both kids anytime mommy tries to sing or dance)
Bee Cereal (Honeynut Cheerios)

I will be adding to this as I recall them and as new terms come into our household vocabulary.

Awesome Weekend in Review

Lynn went to her first dance class and was asked to join the "older" group of girls next week because she was "so focused." If you know LynnAnn, you know why that is funny. She really was awesome at class. I was pretty sure this would be her thing. I am now convinced.

Joe had his birthday party on Saturday afternoon. Star Wars cake and everything else. We went to a bounce house place to play with his friend Ryan and Ryan's family. The party ended when Joe was tired of bouncing and just couldn't wait any longer to get home to play with the new Imaginext Dinosaur toy Ryan gave him.

The big day (Sunday Sept 11) started very early and ended with lots of new things. All the gifts were opened by 7 a.m. and the first round of birthday money was spent before noon. The highlights this year are the Imaginext Dragon Castle, several dinosaurs (figures and Imaginext), and the Cars 2 boat. He has been enthralled with all of his new things. I love seeing his imagination at work for such long periods of time. The afternoon gave way reluctantly to much needed naps, and Dan got to watch the 1st Bears game of the season. One of the best moments of the day, that I am sure no one else noticed happened when Lynn woke up from her nap. There is just something about a sleepy little girl crawling up into the lap of her Daddy for a snuggle that really makes me melt. So sweet! Auntie Jill and Uncle B came for dinner, brought more smile inducing gifts, and finished our day out on a great note.

Joe is officially 5 now, and I have officially loved being a mom every minute of the last 5 years (even if I didn't know it at the time). My family is my joy.

Cuz I'm Almost 5

Joe-He is almost 5. It is the end of an era. Mommy can no longer give hugs and kisses with out being in "big trouble." There is no need for the special bedtime song because "that is for babies." Star Wars movies are now allowed...."Why do the aliens speak Spanish?"

And "I can do everything 'cuz I'm almost 5."

In a nutshell, that is the current phase we are living in. I have a feeling that this is a mini-practice for the inadequacy I will feel when the kids are teenagers. I love seeing the independence, but it is so sad that time just keeps going so fast. Mommy isn't as cool as she used to be. I am sure I just better get used to it, right?