Here are some cute BonusBoy pronunciations:

1. Clippord = Clifford (The Big Red Dog)
2. Pliglet = Piglet
3. hiccup = pickup
4. pack pack = backpack
5. lellow = yellow
6. firteen = thirteen
7. Weagle Church = Eagle Christian Church

There's more but I can't remember them right now. I may come back here and add to these.

BTW, this is my 100th post!!!

Thanks to Julia for this idea!!

Take my Quiz on QuizYourFriends.com!

Labels: fun

"In his story of the prodigal son, Jesus does not dwell on the prodigal's motive for return. The younger son feels no sudden remorse nor burst of love for the father he insulted. Rather, he tires of a life of squalor and returns out of selfish motives. Apparently, it matters little to God whether we approach him out of desperation or out of longing."

From Soul Survivor: How My Faith Survived the Church by Philip Yancey

Labels: devotionals

This is BonusBoy 'playing the piano' and singing about JellyBean.

Today after church our family went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant called El Azteca. After the guy bringing water to our table left, BonusBoy kept asking, "Where's that big, big man?" The man wasn't big, I don't know why he was saying that unless it's because most people are big to a two-year-old. He doesn't say that about other people who are bigger than him... But I digress. The point is that BonusBoy kept asking about the man. We kept giving him answers such as, 'he's working in the back', 'he's in the other room', etc. Eventually BonusBoy stopped asking about his whereabouts and started asking what his name was. After saying "I don't know" several times, I told BonusBoy, "His name is Mike". I knew his name probably wasn't Mike but that's what came out anyway. I figured that was the end of it. I was wrong.

Later he came back to our table to refill the water glasses and BonusBoy started in. "Your name is Mike? Hi Mike." I hoped that the man couldn't really hear what BonusBoy was saying. Later when he was in the room again filling someone else's water glasses Adam was asking what Mike was doing. He also kept asking where Mike was. Rebecca was getting a little embarrassed but since the guy's name isn't Mike he probably isn't hearing much or realizing what BonusBoy is saying.

Finally at one point, when 'Mike' was at the table again, I decided to ask him. I said that my son wanted to know what his name was. He told us, but we couldn't understand it initially. With his heavy Mexican accent we couldn't figure it out. Jim asked if it was some name and the man nodded, yes. Then I said, pointing to BonusBoy, "His name is BonusBoy." "Same as mine," said 'Mike'. Now I was confused but I just smiled, nodded, and pretended like we were successfully communicating. He left the table and Jim says to BonusBoy "The man's name is (whatever Jim thought it was)."

Later the man returned to our table with a piece of paper on which he had written his name. I know it would be funny if his name turned out to be Mike. I mean, what would be the odds of that?? On the other hand, what were the odds that the first person BonusBoy ever cared to wonder his name, ever pestered us to know the name, and kept asking about what he was doing, really was named...BonusBoy?! Amazing!

In the car on the way home, BonusBoy kept saying, "Mike..is..BonusBoy. Mike..is..BonusBoy. Mike..is..BonusBoy." I hope we haven't messed that kid up!

Labels: kids

I foist upon you more pictures of JellyBean!

Get out a new tooth flosser and drop it directly into an unflushed toilet.

What REALLY annoys me?

That I'm the one who did it.

Actually I was talking to both of the "big kids". I was telling PonyGirl (9) and Padawan (7) how that at this particular age BonusBoy (2) is like a sponge. He soaks up all kinds of information and knowledge. I asked if they've ever noticed how a sponge can soak up quite a lot of water. Padawan says, "But if you squeeze it then it all comes out." "Well," I said, "If you just leave it there then it holds a lot of water." Padawan responded, "So if I squeeze BonusBoy he will forget everything?"

Gotta love him!

Wednesday night I was lying down in BonusBoy's bed and praying with him. Here is his prayer: (he repeated each line after me)

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for this day.
Thank you for my family.
Thank you for my bed.
Please help me to sleep.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

And then came this conversation:

BonusBoy: Jesus like talkin' a me?
Me: Yes, Jesus likes to talk to you.
BonusBoy: I need Jesus.
Me: You need Jesus?
BonusBoy: Yes, I need Jesus a hold me.
Me: Can I hold you for Jesus?
BonusBoy: Yes.
I'm holding him and then he sits up in bed...
BonusBoy: I need Tigger hold me. I no have Tigger. I need Pooh hold me.
Me: BonusBoy, lay back down on your Pooh pillow and go to sleep now.

Snow arrived in the middle of the night! Hooray! It's going fast though, so the kids had to hurry out to play. We will do school work tomorrow. We've had so little snow this season that 3/4 of an inch of snow constitutes a SNOW DAY! It's VERY bright out. See the kids squinting?!?!? :-)
Gotta go make hot chocolate. Yum.

Welcome June (my sister) and Princess (my sister-in-law) to the world of blogging. Check them out sometime...

June: One Thing Constant
Princess: Fox Tales

Also, I have a new blog: See What God Has Done
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BTW, we had 14 kids in the nursery this Sunday and 6 people helping. It was crazy! It just keeps getting bigger and the nursery room keeps getting smaller. I don't know what is going to happen because it's getting too crowded in there. However, it's a great problem for a church to have. So many kids in the nursery usually means that the church is growing!!

I've given up the nursery ministry that I was coordinating at church. I'm totally swamped right now with all that's going on at my house. I felt like I wasn't really doing the job justice. I'm hoping that someone will step up and fill the gap. Part of me really hates to give it up.

These days I can't seem to shower and get dressed before 1 pm. Some days I haven't even gotten dressed. I have yet to have a day where I:

1. shower AND dress
2. eat breakfast AND lunch
3. get the 2 y.o. down for a nap
4. have school go smoothly
5. do the dishes
6. cook dinner (rather than order in)

Only about 3 or 4 of those EVER happen on the same day. It's wearing me down. I know it won't always be like this but...whew!... I think I've met my match. She is named JellyBean! Actually it's not really HER but the cumulative effect of all the kids. Really, I should say that things are already better than they were a few weeks ago. I went off a little while ago in the comments on a post on Sherry's blog (you can read it if you wish...she had VERY nice, encouraging words for me). Since that time I've noticed that things are better. A testament to the power of praying friends.

Back to the actual subject of this post. Like I said, in an effort to cut down on my responsibilities, I've given up the church nursery. I'm feeling guilty about that because that means that I'm currently not doing ANYTHING church-related. However, I still think that it's probably the right thing for right now. I'll get involved again later. That's o.k. right? I hope so.

1.) I'm so antsy I'm going crazy. I'm ready for a trip to Eugene, OR but I don't think I could take the drive yet. On my own with four kids. I did it before with three kids (one of them 3 weeks old) but JellyBean is so fussy that I can't imagine doing it right now. Actually, I can imagine it...that's what prevents me from going!!

2.) I'm equally antsy to move to the Eugene area permanently. I've been wanting to move back for about 7 years now and there just doesn't seem to be a way. Waiting for God to provide a way and also wondering if it's time to give up on that desire. Maybe God just wants me to stay here. He'd have to do some work to help me be happy with that outcome!

3.) Today is my mom's birthday. I miss her. Wish I were in Eugene... I'd take her out to dinner.

Labels: three things thursday

Three Things From Three Years Ago...

1.) I didn't know it, but I was in the final month of three years of trying to get pregnant. I got pregnant around the middle of March and didn't know it until I had a positive pregnancy test on April 1st. That test was hard to believe since we had been trying for 3 years. Oh, and it was April Fool's Day!!! I ended up taking 4 more tests!!

2.) My oldest daughter and I were in the middle of first grade (homeschooling) and when I would ask her questions from her lessons, I would hear the answers coming down the hall from my 4-year old son's bedroom! Cracked me up!

3.) Three years ago I thought I was really busy and didn't know how to get it all done..... funny, eh?

Labels: three things thursday

I've always had my kids' picture taken at 11 days old (don't know why). Here is Abby's...

Labels: baby, pictures

Cousin K (right) on 12/10 and JellyBean on 12/24.
Doesn't JellyBean look perturbed!?!? J