Strategically Scheduled Saturday Flows Into Perfect Sunday

This weekend, while Jason was at COSM Conference in Orlando, I intentionally loaded Saturday's schedule with the intent of keeping Sunday FREE! We all needed a down day, a day to stay in our jammies until it was time for bed again (if we so desired).

We started the morning at the Daniel Boone Regional Library semi-annual Children's Book Sale. This sale is "epic" (to coin a phrase from the uh, younger? crowd). We had a mission: to search only for treasures because one of the last things we need in this house with 13 overflowing bookshelves is more books. But I went anyway (like any good bibliophile would). We found 45 books, mostly hardcover, for $21 (including four Where's Waldo, Graeme Base, Berenstain Bears, Dr. Seuss and some beautiful picture books). Seriously. You can't BEAT THAT! While in line we found out that Nate's EEE summer school teacher will be Mrs. Elletson--his friend Alex's mom! Fun!

We arrivd at the Woodcrest North campus prayer event just in time for a cinnamon roll, coffee and a tour before the more formal ceremonies started at 10:30. We left with cool chalkboard prayer mugs to write the names of the people whose stories we hope to see changed, "change their story...change out story...change MY STORY!" Exciting times for Woodcrest and the Northside community.

From prayer to sparring. Saturday taekwondo to make up for the class he missed Wednesday with his ear infection. He's looking strong during practice. He's getting back into his groove after the spring break...just in time for belt testing next week.

As taekwondo was ending, I called an order in to Vici at Flat Branch for the new residents luncheon. We arrived just before our food arrived. The timing was spot on. We briefly met Tiffany and her husband, Wes. They had a full schedule that weekend and had to leave shortly after we showed up. I caught up on a little of the ENT resident gossip while Nate and Jake looked for Waldo.

Home for a short stint outside on the trampoline and iPad time.

Then we left for 5:15 service. Home by 6:45. Love it.

What I loved even more was sitting outside on a BEAUTIFUL Spring Sunday morning sipping coffee in my jammies...with NO WHERE TO BE! Throughout the day I did yardwork, cleaned my paper piles in the living room, entertained the new neighbors, chatted with almost the entire cul-de-sac, bbq'd venison sausage on the grill, and, yes, stayed in my jammies until bedtime!!

Every Now and Then...

...my heart sings!

Out of the blue (well, after a particularly honest conversation about mistakes on Nate's big black chair), in the process of brushing his teeth, Nate announces, "Mom? Have I ever told you that you're the best mom in the whole wide world? In the whole GALAXY?"

Awwww, not in a long time, Nate! Not in a long time.

Another One Bites the Dust!

Nate lost his big front incisor tonight. (Maybe that means his other incisor--the one he had pulled when he was FOUR years old, the one that's been missing for 3 1/2 years, maybe THAT tooth is going to grow back soon?!)
As for these current teeth, he either doesn't notice or he has a fast process; but, again, when he left for school, all was normal. When he got off the bus, he excitedly announced, "Mom, I have a loose tooth!" Boy, was it loose! It was gone after dinner (Jason wanted to pull this one!) Here's a pic of the toothless wonder and the nice note he left for the Tooth Fairy.

Crazy Lovebirds

Happy 43rd Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

I posted this picture on Facebook this morning as an Anniversary surprise. It generated A LOT of traffic and reminiscing amongst Mom's Facebook friends and family. I hope that made Mom and Dad's celebration a little more FUN!

:)

Slowing Down for the Season

Whew! The week is over--parties, teacher gifts, Christmas cards, Christmas programs, etc. Our household is exhausted. In fact, we got home from the taekwondo test results (yellow belt, decided!) & potluck by 7:00, changed right into our jammies, cuddled under the blanket for "It's Christmastime, Charlie Brown!", opened the next Advent door and we're ready for bed by 8:30--all of us!!
It's Friday, so Nate and Amelia were having a sleepover in Nate's loft bed. I had just finished the last of the night-time to-dos and crawled in bed myself when I heard little voices from across the house shout in unison, "Mom, will you sing us a lullaby?" Of course I was exhausted, but what would any mom in the trenches do at that moment? I rolled out from underneath the covers, put my slippers on and walked down the hall to sing soothing Christmas carols and the final request, "Hush Little Baby." I returned to my warm bed (I'd left the electric blanket on in my absence) a little after 9:00. Jason was already asleep and I soon followed.
We must have been in a deep slumber! We woke up in the morning with Nate snuggled comfortably in our bed (we typically carry them back to their beds after a few snuggles when they come down to our room at night). Neither Jason nor I woke up when Nate snuck in last night. He said, "I came down here so Amelia could get some sleep. She kept tickling my feet and being silly and she needed sleep because she's sick. The clock said 9:53 when I came running down here in the dark." Hmmmmm, we were O.U.T. and it felt G.O.O.D!
I DID go to Target this morning--at 10:30 on the Saturday before Christmas--that's sort of the opposite of slowing down and relaxing; but we survived. Tonight? Saturday service at Woodcrest followed by Christmas lights and cocoa!!

12-12-12

So, we wanted to make today special, which in the eyes of a child means a PARTY!! A pizza party to be exact. And then, just to make the day memorable, Nate and Amelia tried a Twinkie for the first time. Nate's observation? "Twinkies are just little cakes." Amelia said, "yum! I like frosting."
It was a sort of farewell party--the end of the world (according to the Mayans) and the end of the Hostess Twinkie (since they went bankrupt last month). And if the world is going to end soon, why not fill your belly with pizza and processed sweets?! ;)

DOES Mommy Know Best?

Amelia is struggling with her strong emotions right now. We hear "I hate you!" a lot. We remind her that those are strong words. They are hurtful words. Her response? In all innocence, "I know, but I
just hate you right now." Then today she was upset about one of my decisions and after stomping her foot and shouting "arghhhhh!" she starts singing, "Mother DOESN'T know best" (a play on the song from "Tangled"). I must say, that girl has a quick wit.