Soccer

I chose this snippet because it is a good representation of how play goes, oh yeah and because it is cute. And funny.
(It also shows Jaden being a good sport and making an assist!)
(I didn't catch any of his goals on video, but I did get a picture of him scoring (see below) with my camera.)

Soccer

Celebrating after his goal!

Soccer

Due to the snow and cold and lack of activity this winter we signed Jaden for soccer. We had no grand delusions on how it would go. However, he has taken a shining to the sport. Why not? He gets to run and kick and take the ball from other kids. It is quite comical watching 3 years olds trying to play an organized sport.

Responsibility

In an effort to teach Jaden responsibility and that everyone helps out, honors, and serves each other in a family, Jaden has certain "jobs." Today after lunch I said,
"Jaden can you please come here and do your job?"
(which is pushing in all the chairs after a meal)
He responded with, "that's not my job anymore"
"Oh no, what is your job then?"

"Killing lions and eating mustard."

Wonderful Maker

Wonderful Maker

You spread out the skies over empty space
Said "let there be light"
Into a dark and formless world Your light
was born

You spread out Your arms over empty hearts
Said "let there be light"
Into a dark and hopeless world Your Son
was born

You made the world and saw that it was good
You sent Your only son for You are good

What a wonderful Maker
What a wonderful Savior
How majestic Your whispers
And how humble Your love
With a strength like no other
And the heart of a Father
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God

No eye has fully seen, how beautiful the cross
And we have only heard
The faintest whispers of how great You are

Thankful

I am feeling completely overwhelmed and thankful these days. It seems we are so blessed, and I truly don't deserve it. Have you ever expected to have to pay for something and then out of nowhere someone else picks up the tab? Isn't that the best feeling? That is what Christ did for us. Amazing. We received a gift - life, and He paid the price. He paid what I owed. A free gift.

Manna

While reading the biblical account of how God provided food for the Israelites while wandering in the desert of quail in the evening and manna in the morning, Jaden remarked, "Manna? That sounds like human bodies."

Sweet Baby

Or this!

Sweet Baby

Or this...

Sweet Baby

Probably only if they look like this.

Sweet Baby

Seriously, do they come any cuter than this?

This many parents

Jaden recently informed me, "Mom you're going to have to go to work."
"Oh really? When?"
"Like probably when I'm six."
"What if we have another child?" (that is not the plan by the way...)
"We can't have another child. If you have this many children (holds up three fingers) you would need this many parents! (holds up three fingers)"

I think he's on to something.

Budget

Jaden asked, "Mom what does budget mean?"
(I gave my best effort at a reasonable definition.)
"Do you think you could show me how it works?"

If only you knew how hard it really is...

Grow Up

From Jaden 3 1/2:
"I'm gonna grow up someday. I'll still be your baby though. I'll come visit on birthdays and Christmas but not Thanksgiving."

Thanks buddy.

Lover of Words

This was from Jaden's fortune cookie today,
"You are a lover of words someday you will write a book."
Boy the first part couldn't be any truer could it?

Stinker Gene

I have always referred to the slightly oppositional/defiant/contrary to what you say gene in Jaden as the "stinker gene." I know this well because I too am in possession of this very gene. My mother loves to tell the story of teaching me my colors, "the sky is blue," (and my response) "no it's not it's green..."
Just the other day I overheard this gene in action as Jaden was "reading" to Ailia from a book of animals. The sheep says "meow" the dog says "moo" the cat says "woof..." You get the picture... Stinker Gene. Poor Ailia.

Words

It seems like every day Ailia is saying a new word. I was trying to think of all her newest words this month. Here's what I came up with for 13 1/2 months:
Phone (doone), bubble, down, banana (nana), more (mo), snow (no), tree (tee), bottle, ball, cup (dup), door (doo), uh oh, shoe (soo), bye, papa, and all done (a don) besides all the obvious, mama, dadda, Jaden...

Special Thing

While driving in the car the other day Jaden asked me, "Heh Mom, do you know that special thing that bees do?"
"uh, buzz?"
"No, the special thing that Bees do!"
"uh, sting?"
(I am starting to think this is some sort of riddle and I am failing miserably...)
"NO! THE SPECIAL THING THAT BEES DO!"
"I don't know buddy, what is the special thing that bees do?"
"you know, they make more flowers."
I am seriously starting to think he will be smarter than me in just a few short weeks...

Napping

Jaden was supposed to be taking a nap during this time. I heard some noise upstairs so I went to investigate. This is what I stumbled upon. Why the tie? Don't ask me why. Just try to keep a straight face.

Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I thought I'd give this a try after reading all of the McMama "Not Me's" for weeks:

I certainly did NOT forget the ring at my sister's wedding on Saturday. I mean, that is one of the most important responsibilities as the Matron of Honor and I would never do that. I was not so preoccupied with making sure my son was tucked, dressed, pottied, not launching the ring pillow, and being reasonably quiet and appropriate that it completely slipped my mind at the time. I did not spend the entire time prepping him for his role that I completely forgot about my role. I did not have a complete panic attack as my father was walking my little sister down the aisle that I practically lost my stuff. I did not whisper tothe bridesmaid next to me who did not get down off the stage to cover me and fix my wrong. I mean I screwed up and I always totally take responsiblity for my own screw-ups I would never put anyone in that position. I also did not worry the whole time that I had completely ruined her wedding and she would never forgive me.

In other news:
I did look over during the rehearsal dinner at the snot hanging from my baby's nose and being without tissue proceed to use my OWN sleeve to wipe it and then quickly roll it over. That would be totally disgusting and not something I would ever do. Nope not me!

Gift

Both of my kids took a two hour nap today - AT THE SAME TIME! What a gift that was. I was able to get so much done. What a gift.

Spaceship

Spending time in a spaceship with the one you love. Is there anything more special than that?

Valentines Day

Because of our busy weekend we were not able to celebrate Valentine's Day in the typical way (when was the last time we even had a date anyway?) However, I did manage to put together special Valentine's treat bags for the kids and Brian got chocolates and a card. I also made him a crossword puzzle related to "All things Love Regarding Us." He managed to get almost all of them! I was very impressed as he had treats, a card, and a promise of a gift for me. Arriving on the 20th with be my very own portrait lens for the digital camera! I am so excited! Hopefully we get the opportunity to do something a bit more romantic in the upcoming weeks...
Being at a wedding and hearing the Pastor talk about love made me think again of how truly blessed I am to have Brian by my side. I may have the most wonderful husband in the world. He was such a huge help this weekend; charming, appropriate, helpful, and fun! He rose to the occasion and made me so thankful to have him by my side. During the ceremony Pastor Joel reminded us choose to love in spite of... and that is my prayer that I act loving and with love even when I don't feel it, when I'm being selfish, or it isn't deserved. Lord help me to choose to love.

Breakdance

Even at the end of its life this box still had a use - now he can dance!

A Box (continued)

A Boy (and a girl) and His Box

A Home-made slide.



This box (from Ailia's carseat) entertained these two for hours.

Helping

Jaden feeding Ailia.
How sweet is this?

Thankful

I believe the antidote to greediness, selfishness, and discontent is thankfulness.
Today after getting a "treat" Jaden stated he wanted another one. I replied, "remember we are working on being thankful." Jaden responded with, "I am thankful, I just want another one."

Handsome

Often when I am washing Jaden's face after eating I will say to him, "how did you get so handsome?"
Today I asked, "how did you get so handsome?" and he replied,
"you washed some off and there was even more underneath."

Whirlwind

We have had a whirlwind weekend. Hiliary and Jeremy got married! We went up Friday for the rehearsal, dinner, and combined bachelor/bachelorette party. Saturday was the wedding, then a "gathering" at the house, followed by dinner at Tokyo Seoul. Everything was amazing. Hiliary was positively radiant. Her dress, her hair, her face, everything. The kids were troopers and actually did very well. The Crockers watched them during the day Saturday while I went with Hiliary to get her hair and makeup done. Jaden got to ride on the tractor with Tim, Ailia charmed Cathy with her sweetness (and even managed to take a one hour nap!), and Lucian reported that Ailia shared her snack with him by feeding him! (gross.) - he proceeded to tell me this whole story while the biggest, greenest, thickest, bunch of snot was hanging out of his left nostril.
It was so good to see all the people loving on Hiliary and Jeremy. What a great group of people the wedding party was. I love to see when other people love the people I love as much as I do.

Lemonade

Oh how I love watching these two play together. Jaden is making "lemonade" and Ailia is pretending to drink. Isn't this the cutest thing ever?