yesterday of their childhood is gone

I awoke in the {very} early morning hours to the sound of breathing close to my face.  As I squinted my eyes open there were 2 little hazel eyes silently watching me.  After recovering from the initial shock of someone watching me sleep I smiled and said,
"good morning.  What in the world are you doing?"
"I thought you might want to play a game."
"A game?!?"  I blinked my eyes to see the clock clearly.
"Any game, mommy.  I know, let's play house."

Now there's a novel idea.  Why didn't I think of that?

A few hours later finds us all in the kitchen..."playing house".  One princess was washing the dishes, one princess was drying them and putting them away, and one princess was mopping all the dishwater up in the floor that seemed to flow in a steady stream.  Another little one is rubbing the broom around the floor attempting to corral the crumbs from their morning toast.  And the crowned Prince?  Well, he's never in one place very long.  Sweet helpers.

he's only 16 months and 5 days....today
toss him up in the air to make him laugh so you can see those crooked little teeth peeking through
snuggle your nose into his neck to catch the faint baby smell...it will soon be gone
coax him to say your name
rock him to sleep… while he still wants you to

she's only 3 years, 4 months and 11 days....today
play candy land… again…and again
read her another story
braid her piggy tails

she's only 6 years,  2 months and 11 days....today
put her hair in piggie tails…anyways
hold her in your lap...soon she won't fit
memorize her smile with the missing tooth

she's 8 years, 5 months and 13 days....today
look her in the eyes when she tells you her story
laugh at her made up jokes
hold her hand

she's only 9 years and 11 months….today
brush her hair
let her cook the recipe herself and then tell her everything she did right
find things to laugh with her about


yesterday of their childhood is gone.  How will you spend today?
count your blessings

(John Truman had to have Eden's hat)

Let it go

Sometimes

 you have to be the sweet little girl watering mama's rose bushes.

And then there are those times

 where you just have to

 let it all go and squirt someone with the water hose!!!

What kind of a day are you having?

 

lesson of the rusty needle

the girls are working on making these cute little felt thing-a-ma-bobbers.  They love making things themselves and feel so proud when they can wear them.

As Moriah was trying to push the needle through the multiple layers of felt she was getting frustrated and making {ugly} faces.

"Mine isn't working" "This is too hard"  "It doesn't look right" whine…whine…whine
Her younger sister was doing it fine and not complaining at all. After a while I had just about had enough of the rotten attitude.

Here is the lesson {more or less} that I solemnly told to her.  One of those life lessons that you just need to learn early.

Dear Little Princess,
        You can sit and complain making yourself more miserable all day long.  No one around you really cares.  When a lady always complains and whines about her problems it doesn't make someone want to help you, it makes them want to avoid you.  True.
       Now, I know your needle is a little rusty in spots.  You live on a tropical island where everything metal is rusty.  In life sometimes things aren't smooth and easy.  Sometimes you have to push a little harder and tug a little tighter to make things work.  Many times everyone else is dealing with their own set of problems.  Twist that frown into a smile.
Love, Mommy

aww, motherhood,

same for young and old

there's just something about Christmastime

makes you stop and ponder things

same for young and old

we become more sentimental and enjoy reminiscing

during the holidays, life has more meaning

we become more aware of others, their wishes and needs

may we never lose the wonder

nor the realization that Christ brings meaning to it all.

Great-Grandma Grace gave us a nativity as an early Christmas present.  It is our family tradition to place our manger scene under our tree.  I came in the room and Eden Grace was just laying by the tree studying the faces of the painted characters. {the wonder of Christmas}

love being a mommy...especially at Christmas,

Memaw Bonnie's Grand-daughter

My lil Brynlee Erin,

you exhaust me and bring me much pleasure at the same time.

sometimes I marvel at where you get your personality from

you are so different from your sisters

you're rarely quiet

you're independent

you have been opinionated from birth

you love adventures

you love new things

you love pretty clothes

I've yet to find something that scares you

where do you get all these unusual character traits for such a little baby girl?

I've decided you must be Memaw Bonnie's little grand-daughter!

We love you, darling.
You add such spice to our life!

we're lucky

"We're lucky, mom." Alexis
"Why is that?" Mom
"We're the only house on the street with a yard full of leaves!" Alexis

life through their eyes is fun,

birthdays start before daylight

Well...I've stomped my feet.
I've tried to ignore the fact.
I've hide the calendars.
I've tried to persuade them that birthdays are bad but to no avail!
My kids are getting older! {sniff}

Alexis Nicole turned the ripe old age of 7 this week.

She started her day bright dark and early with daddy.
It was a chilly morning here in Northeast Missouri and her birthday just happened to fall on the opening season of Youth Season.  So I sent off a happy but sleepy little girl before daylight and than crawled back into bed.

(Daddy and Alexis)

The saw nine and she even shot at one.  Alexis didn't like how loud the gun was, daddy says she's gonna be the bow hunter.

(camo and hunters orange.....and pearls!)

We had girly presents and balloons waiting for her when she returned.

Alexis wanted gumbo for her birthday meal so I made a steaming pot on the stove for lunch and supper.

Thank you, Lord, for my little Allie.

a camel for my birthday?

the St. Louis zoo is fun.

I enjoyed it now just as when I was a little girl.

it was tradition for my sisters and I to take pictures on this gorilla statue

 each time we would visit as kids.

“Can I have a camel for my birthday?”

“Sure, we’ll have to ask Aunt Rachel if she’ll babysit it when we go back to Jamaica though.”

our sweet Drago

One thing that is hard for missionary kids is leaving the ones you love...over and over.  Alexis is my more tender hearted one in this area.  A week before we left Jamaica she came to me almost in tears and asked, “Who’d going to sit by Drago when it storms outside?”  Our German Shepherd hates storms and always asks to come in when he knows one is coming.  He will follow the girls and I around sticking very close.

Alexis was worried that he would be scared and she wouldn’t be there to comfort him.  It made me cry but comforted me at the same time to see her tender heart to the needs of others.

I recently came across this picture I took of her and Drago right before we left and wanted to record this memory.

 

My Sweet Cowgirl

My Alexis Nicole

humm....

she's quirky questions out of the blue

she's a tender heart that wants to be accepted

she's unexpectedly hilarious comments at just the right moment

she's cowgirl.

she's hazel eyes (like daddy's)

she's Indian braids

she's my bug catcher

She's soon to be 7!

My darling Alexis Nicole,  mommy loves you so.

eat a honey bun

Mom, "Are you excited about visiting the States?"
"Uh-huh."
"What are you most excited about?"
"I want to eat a honey bun every morning." {contented smile}

Alexis Nicole (age 6)

I also captured this secret picture of my genius this week.  Once in every child's life they have to try jumping from a high spot with an umbrella.  It's got to be part of growing up!

Enjoying life's sweet simple pleasures,

count your blessings

ring...ring...it's for me

now, that's a biggun'.

any guesses what it is?

 Eden was acting like it was a telephone.

I don't know where she gets it?

answer: it's a plantain.  They grow just like a banana but are much bigger.  You can boil them when they are still a little green.  (not my preference).  We like them sliced and fried.  They have more of a sweet taste.

bye, little puffer

what's in the bucket that the 6 year old is reaching into?

I'm a little nervous......

whew {wipe brow}

it's only our Puffer Fish

we're taking him home to the Sea today after enjoying his company for 6 weeks

bye, little guy, you were a lot of fun

 

the first clue...

 In all honestly I should have known something was up

 when I was cleaning off the kitchen counter and found this.

  A jar and and sign.
Daddy said, "uh huh, like we always pick up jars that look like moonshine off the counter
...and drink it!

 "it's not yucky, mom!"

 Alexis was so very proud to find him.

Mommy was so very grossed out she found him.

Also, really surprised they held him!