Discovering my Superpower

This morning Seth was doing a Sesame Street puzzle and didn't know the names of one of the characters. He asked Brad who told him it was Count.
"Count CooKoo?" (aka Count Dooku from Star Wars)
*sigh*
Yes, my 3 year old knows more about Star Wars than I.
Having the boys that I do I am discovering that somehow there is something in their very core that yearns for heroic tales and super powers that are sure to amaze. Jaedon and Seth take turns being (fill in the blank) Anakin or Luke Skywalker, Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and Seth espeically will make up his own Supermen (i.e. CarMan, UnderwareMan, BananaMan...usually depending on what he wearing at the time ;-) They like to pretend they have special powers and 'use them' on each other. It's actually quite a hoot to see them 'using the FORCE' on each other ;)

Today as I was trying to nap(unsuccessfully since I am typing right now and not sleeping...) I was thinking about what power I have. Not said in a "Mhwaa hha haa" evil chortle type of way either. =)
I think my superpower needs to be encouragment.
I can see the headline now: "Supermom with the power to encourage." The oohs and Ahhs are deafening...
ok not so much. But that's ok.

"Encourage one another and build each other up."

What works better for you (meaning me) : 1. Yelling at your kids for...uh..yelling at each other or B. Encouraging them to talk nicer and reminding them how to talk out problems. (neither some days! ;)

What works better for you (meaning me): 1. Nagging your husband to be involved in the lives of his children or B. Noticing something that he did well and sincerly praising him for it.

If I was honest with you (which I am right now just for the record) I'd say that my nagging, complaining, whining, pouting (am I alone here?) does NOT get me the desired response I am seeking (infact usually the opposite) but when I take time to notice the positive, point out areas of growth and gently encourage steps of potential further improvement- well, therin lies the ultimate superpower that may even outrank heat vision!
In and of myself I do number 1 but with and only with a supernatural power- my superpower could be empowering to my superheros.

Frisbee Fun

This picture of Owen cracks me up- anytime someone "chases" after him he crawls as fast as he can then lays down and rolls over on his back and giggles. Such a hoot.

Bucking the Busyness

We've had a busy week this week. Brad had meetings everyday for new teacher training that he in involved with for NHA, Jaedon participated in a VBS at a nearby church (and LOVED loved lOvEd it!) because of Owen's age (12 months) he qualifies for 2 age sets at the baby-food testing place that we do so we've had LOTS of tests lately (which is awesome but a lot of time and figuring out what to do with the other 2 kiddos), Jaedon made some neighborhood boy buddies that were over to play multiple times, and Adrianna spent the night an evening this week too. Needless to say it's been a taxi-ing week.

So last night we decided to visit the Buck Creek Nature Preserve here in Wyoming. It's a trail next to a creek that is full of nature (as in bugs), sand, water, fish and exploring. A boys paradise! Better yet- no one else was around (if you don't count the 44th street traffic heard overhead ;-)

"How 'bout..."

This may not be profound to you but did you know that your children are their own indivuduals?! Shocking I know and sadly enough I have to remind myself of this from time to time. I get so caught up in doing what I want to do that I overlook the fact that they are people with their own thoughts and opinions and ideas too. Not my greatest attribute but being aware is the first step I guess... I'm working on it.
One of my tactics is to be okay with coming up with a compromise on things that really don't matter in the grand scheme of thing. For example Jaedon takes books to bed- another shocker right? ;) He doesn't take stuffed friends...he takes books. We set a limit on how many books he can take (like on a school night he can have 3) or else he'll stay awake until he looks at EVERY single page of EVERY single book. Here is how my plan begins to backfire. Jaedon will ask "How 'bout 6 books tonight?" Sure ok- no big deal- no school tomorrow- whatever. The next night "How 'bout 11 books tonight?" uhmm... k...?
So here's my question to you - how can I be non-authoritative and "demand" he does what I say because "I'm the big bad parent and I've laid the law about a silly rule about ... " and how do I just let things that really don't matter go WITHOUT the idea of compromise coming into EVERY other conversation. My dilemia is because I'm allowing "hashing out" at times- Jaedon thinks all conversations are fair game and there are just times that he needs to accept a decision has been made- end of story.
What works for you????

The not-so-much-WINDY-as-stinking-HOT-City visit...

We thought (I should just stop right there...)
that a day trip to Chicago would be fun. Actually it started as a "hey Brad, let's go to Chicago tomorrow" spontaneous idea in early May and turned into a whole planned out shebang with the Gurk family. Probably better because it's just fun to do things with them and spontaneity is not Brad or my spiritual gift. ;)
I love to visit Chicago but visiting it enough for me. Growing up where 4 cars equaled a traffic jam- 7 lanes of backed up traffic one way is just over my mental capacity and patience quota. oye!
We went to the Lincoln Park "free" zoo ("free" because you don't have to pay admittance ...just $30 in parking ;) It was a neat zoo though. I'll spare you many details because a zoo is pretty much a zoo... My favorite was the underwater polar bear display. Very cool.
We then drove (if you can call 5mph driving) over to Rainforest Cafe. A cool place to shop and eat- oh wait- that's their slogan. My slogan might be a crowded place to eat overpriced food... oh well. It was fun (altho the girls were scared of the "rainstorms" and Seth wasn't sure what he thought about the gorillias that beat their chests.)
Overall it was a good day with good friends and good memories made. We MAY even be crazy enough to do it again ;)

The whole crew.

8 years and counting

Don't let the drooping flowers fool you-
I think this bouquet is just perfect!

Brad gave me a rose and poem beginning last week- one a day for each year of marriage.
yup- he's a keeper. =)

Say what?

The following are some things I've heard lately that I've found rather amusing. Hope you get a laugh or two too.

"That'll be $17.02." (for McDonalds?!! Are you kiddin' me?!)

"Thanks, Dad, but I only have one head." (said by Jaedon when Brad was giving him multiple pillow options.)

"Mommy, I need to get up and excercise." said by Jaedon while traveling at 73.5 MPH down the highway.

"Would you like whipped cream with that?" Is this rhetorical? What a dumb question.

On a bumper sticker: "Debt is normal. Be weird."

"Mama, if I fall in I'll just float to the top anyhow." Remarked Jaedon as I was chiding him to kindly get off the edge of the fountain.

"Confession- a habit of humilty." ok not a chuckle but a good thought anyway.

We took the boys out for Cold Stone ice cream last night. Ok, first off how in the hey do they get off charging that much for ice cream? And more importantly why do I keep paying for it?! ;) So this was a special treat (a potty incentive reward number 29574). Typically when we go out for ice cream (you know..the other 2 times we've gone this spring) they get to choose between vanilla, chocolate or twist even though most ice cream places have about 29 flavors... whatever. And typically if we are at home they will choose the same things: Jaedon wants chocolate and Seth wants mint. Well, we thought it would be fun to let them see all the ice cream and let them choose whatever they wanted last night. The choices were great! Cotton Candy, Watermelon, Cheesecake, Strawberry, Chocolate pudding, Coffee... ahhh... every childs dream come true right?!
Jaedon chose Chocolate.
Seth chose Mint.
After just chuckling to myself about the irony of paying $*#&@ for the same stinking choices we have at home I was thinking about the comfort of the familiar. I do the exact same thing. I choose what I'm familiar with or what I know works. Makes sense right? In my all-together- too practical mind I understand this to a core. Which makes faith a challenge for me at times. Trusting in the unseen and stepping out of the zone of comfort I find myself living in. But we are not called to be comfortable but to be conforming- to his image and his likeness.
That means going out on a limb - talking with people that are not like me, relinquishing my own selfish desires, investing in the lives of other people and maybe JUST MAYBE...
choosing a different flavor of ice cream.

Same outfit- different baby-

Recent Seth-isms

"Memember, Mom. Iz not Seth wight now. Iz unnerweere man cuz Iz got unnerweere on my head! (insert fake laugh) Thats so funny. Iz a funny boy huh, Mom!?"

(gasp)"Oh Mom, Yook! I peed in ya potty! Youz so proud of me!" (tis true...I am!)

"Oooohhhh...Bummeerrh" (oh bummer said with a true whiny ooohh in front)

"DeeAn (Jaedon) Iz wight hereah!" (usually said about 5 seconds after a game of hide and seek has begun.)

"Dad! Yook at this! It's totally awesome!" (referring to anything from a dry pullup to a new lego creation)

"Owen- you're just a cutie wittle guy but I a gig boy cuz I go poop in ya potty!"

"Member, Mom, when I poop in ya potty ten more times than Iz go out fer iise keeem!" (ice cream is our newest potty incentive)

(gasp) "DeeAn! Mom says yeah!" (leading me to believe I say "No" too often?!)
He's such a joy!

You know you're sleepy when...

Rated R

Reason why I love our church number 426:

They tackle issues, topics, subjects that many other churches don't.

Point in case:

The new sermon series is called "God's Word Rated R".

It's an entire series on the Song of Solomon! Seriously, how many of us have EVER heard that book being taught from letalone taught on Sunday morning?! Then again, why would it be in the Bible if we weren't supposed to read and learn from it?

http://www.kentwoodcommunitychurch.com/ - if you're interested in the podcast or listen online-

This series has brought up a lot of conversation about 1. the priority of my marriage and 2. how I want my children to be taught regarding sex. HUGE issues if you ask me.
Our culture associates sex with LOVE (or at least lust) but God associates sex with a covanent marriage. Obviously, love is found within marriage because God IS love and created sex but I think our Christian families do a GREAT dis-service to the next generation (and reaffirm our cultures "dirty" view of sex) by NOT talking about it. Of course it's much easier for me to talk about how God created the animals and plants but he created sex too so I had better be prepared to educate my children about it. (And not just once but ongoing as is age appropriate.)
Ok- enough of my soapbox. I'm interested to hear what you think about this! =)

Yep...

Sometimes there are just no words...

All aboard

Another year, another party, another cake. So I'm no artist and Brad and I were in agreement that the trains' engine was rather racecar-esque. But.... it was edible and we had fun celebrating with friends. Nine of those friends were 5 years and under 4 feet tall - busy yard!! =D

Listening

One of my (many) quirks is that anytime I am working in the kitchen (and by working I mean doing ANYTHING for more than 30 seconds) I turn on the radio. This habit as it has become means I get to hear some great things and has on more than one occasion turned into spontaneous dancing sessions.
Hearing though typically is not enough in a lot of cases. I can go all day and hear stuff - kids talking, music playing, dogs barking etc... but it's completely different when I take the time to LISTEN. Such was the case last night. I was doing a (much more than 30 second) job in the kitchen so, of course, I turned the radio on. This song came on and being that I recognized the tune proves my point- I had HEARD this song before but I actually listened last night.
I love when I realize my thoughts, feelings, or ideas are not necessarily unique to me- someone else just had a way of explaining them. This songs lyrics were in my heart before I ever heard it. So if you have an extra 4 minutes- take a LISTEN to this song and be blessed.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8fSjtPLuBQ&feature=related



I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know?
What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories
and I learned to talk aboutHow You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know?
What do I know of Holy?
(CHORUS 2)
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life "its" name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

What do I know of Holy?

Movin' on up

It's offical- Jaedon's a grad-u-tate. Ok so I used to think graduation ceremonies for things like this were silly but now that I'm the one snapping the camera I see TRUE merit behind them ;) Well, at least it's cute. It was fun to see Jaedon in 'his element'. He's turning into such a young man and not just a little boy.

I think his teacher, Mrs. Plantinga, was just perfect for him this year.

For you, Mom since you wanted to be here so badly. =)

Baby Mine

One year ago today
we met a miracle.



And have been enjoying him ever since.

Happy Birthday, Owen Malachi!!