More Sweetness

This morning when I woke up Ross put his arm around my neck and squeezed and said "I love you Mommy, we're friends". Then he commented on Daddy that "Daddy is on the boat a big ship" and that "Daddy takes me in water". He likes to talk about daddy taking him swimming.

Last night when I was putting Annalina and Gabriel to bed. Annalina said "I want to kiss Daddy" and then I think I heard her say quietly "I want daddy to hug and kiss me".

Gabriel said "He'll come home to naughty children, very naughty children." He didn't like that. He is sensitive to that though and that is good. I said "We'll work on that".  The kids have very strong spirits but balanced with a strong sensitivity to doing what is right. The fine tuning is in the process but we are all sinners and it will never completely be repaired but with God's help balanced to the side of control!! The kids have had unique stresses put on them the last few months and it has started to effect actions.

That is so Sweet!

Ross was sitting on my dad's lap at the table and my dad gave him a Christmas cookie. Ross said to him "Did you make this for me?" My dad said "Yes" and Ross said "That was so sweet of you!" and stood up on dad's lap and gave him a hug!!

I Don't Believe in Santa Claus . . .

My Dad and I and Gabriel and Annalina all went up to Reno today for my doctor's appt. After it was done we went to a mall up there which was fun since it was full of the bustle of Christmas shoppers. A friend of mine had a given me a gift card to See's Candies for $25 and that was fun to spend.[Out of context another friend of mine whose a FA18 and F16 pilot left me a $50 gift card for a spa treatment up in Reno!!! I couldn't believe it!! Wow!] Anyway, while in the long line at the store Annalina just started talking and talking to a man in line telling him about Pippi Lockstockings whom she was wishing the other day was real. All I can say is those 2 would be double trouble if she were real! Anyway, Grandpa told Annalina to tell the man what her daddy did and very matter of factly she said "He is on the USS Feodore Woosevelt and he tells the good guys how to bomb the bad guys." and the man replied "Wow". He got a kick out of her.

We left See's Candy store and one of the sales people that was working at one of those booths in the middle of the mall said something to Annalina about Santa Claus bringing her stuff for Christmas and Annalina looked at her and emphatically [not meanly] said "I don't believe in Santa Clause I believe in God" the lady was quite taken a back but handled it well. Then the lady said or asked about where she got her presents from then? Annalina said "We [or Mommy and Daddy] get them from Walmart". Then as we were walking away Annalina said "Wishes don't come true!" My dad and I were about in stitches. She wasn't joking around! She was serious! At dinner tonight Grandpa brought it back up and asked Annalina if she believed in Santa Clause and this time the answer was even more profound she said "I don't believe in Santa Clause I believe in God the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth." Again, she wasn't joking around she was VERY serious. I am thrilled to see her passion for her God, may that continue throughout adulthood.

Gabriel was just a great kid today in all the places we went. He started reading a 10 chapter book when we left in the van to go to Reno and he read it going there and finished it in the waiting room of the doctor's office! He was discussing with Grandpa on the way up there different civilizations, etc. When we got home he started reading another book and my mom checked it and it was a 3rd grade reading level.

It was a nice day. Ross really enjoys being home with his Grandma Johnson. They are quite the friends which he has told her "you're my friend".

My hip has paid the price for all the walking around. You'd think I was 80 years old but pregnancy does that!!!!

Christmas Program

Today was our church's Christmas program. Gabriel was one of 2 narrators chosen and was QUITE a BIT younger than the other narrator. I was told later by the lady who picked him that when she approached Gabriel on it he didn't want to do it and was "no way" but by the next week he thought "he could do this!" She told him he was a good reader. It was quite a part for a first grader, with words like "salutations", my heart sunk to see this little boy next to the BIG boy to narrate the Christmas program it seemed like so much especially in front of just shy of 200 people! He did an amazing job. He was so clear and easy to understand with the correct inflection. He started to read once at the wrong spot and he had the microphone right up to his mouth and then we all heard "OH, OH" and he stopped. Mom, Dad, and I all started laughing it was incredibly cute and what made me so happy was how he didn't shrink back after that and melt he continued his part with the same enthusiasm! I was so proud of him.

 Unfortnantly, there were so many kids that Annalina was hidden amongst them but afterwords they took the kids back to do a craft and eat cookies during the sermon and they had a contest for quietness. There were 78 kids in the room and besides that she never wins prizes. She told me once very matter of factly "Other kids win the prizes for being quiet but I just keep being good". What a great attitude. Anyway, the leaders were to pick out 6 kids and I saw Annalina being just angelic and thought how sad it was that she never got anything like that (Gabriel does) and low and behold they picked her!! I was so happy for her. What a day.

Poor Ross had a rough time between staying up very late to pick up grandma and grandpa from the airport the night before and going to church which is very long. He melted.

Quote

From the movie Amazing Grace:
"Seems to me that when you have a bad taste in your mouth you spit it out not repeatedely swallow it."

Nehemiah Chapter 1

In college I had to write a paper of sorts on the principles gleaned in Nehemiah on being a manager or leader. We could not use any commentaries or helps we just had to read the book and glean it on our own. I dreaded the assignment at first but after I got into it I enjoyed it. I decided recently it would be a good time to go back over Nehemiah. With Babe being gone, now more than ever, I am a manager and leader and I feel I have some work to do on that!! I want to raise the kids as best I can.

Just in the first chapter I saw in vrs.2 and 4 that Nehemiah was tender toward others afflictions. Vrs.11 Nehemiah knows how to communicate with God and ask of Him.  Nehemiah asks for prosperity that day. We must know how to communicate with God, how to ask of Him, before we can appropriately communicate with and lead men/children.

At the beginning of the book of Nehemiah. There were notes on the book and it said that "This book affords many instances of individual faith acting on the written word (e.g. 1. 8,9; 13. 1). It is the principle of 2 Tim. 2. [ This out of the notes from The Scofield Study Bible] When I turned to 2 Tim. 2 I saw that I had claimed certain of these verses back in February of 1998 (vrs. 3, 4, 19-21, 24-25). There were things I needed to reminded of in those verses. I typed just a few of them out . . .

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

[The hardness of a deployment with no husband, 3 kids, school, a child on the way, etc. endure it as a soldier to the one who called me to it]

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life: that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

[so much to distract and get my eyes off my Saviour]

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

[This verse definitely reminds me of how to lead the children with gentle patiance and always ready to teach. Sometimes patiance is so hard to display!]

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

[This stung when I read it. It brought to mind a situation with a non-Christian (probably) where I did not use meekness. Lesson learned.]

Christmas through the eyes of a two year old

So here is Ross who has been learning about baby Jesus' birth, etc. the next morning we were at breakfast and Gabriel was praying for the food and thanked God for Jesus "dying on the cross for our sins" well, I didn't hear how the first part of the conversation developed but Ross commented to Gabriel about it eventually I heard Ross say "Jesus did NOT die!!" Ross was quite upset that Jesus now died after all the work up about his birth!!! Well, Gabriel and Annalina got upset that he would say that! I explained to them that Ross was so little and doesn't understand and that he is sad and we have to teach Ross about Jesus dying but also be sensitive to his age and what he understands. Gabriel said "we want him to grow up to know God" and I said yes. Ross is an interesting 2 year old.

Also, that morning we got on the conversation of heaven. And Annalina asked if there would be Christmas ornaments in heaven and I said No and Annalina asked how will we celebrate Christmas and I said that we might sing praises to God with the Angels. Ross said "Ross sing with angels too, black angels. I like black angels." Interesting.

The Christmas Story and Ross

A few nights ago I was reading the Christmas story to the kids for devotions and I could tell Ross was REALLY into it and when I got to the part where the 3 wise men say "Where is he that is born king of the Jews?" Ross spoke up and said "Jesus born in manger Bethlehem". I thought that was histerical he was going to tell them where baby Jesus was! Interesting, that he was answering a question that did not use the name Jesus it said King of the Jews! He puts things together amazingly well.

Tonight I was reading it again so that Ross would hear it. When I got to the part where the innkeeper said there was no room. Ross' face scrinched up like he was ready to cry and his lip pooched out and then he just started BALLING and it went on for awhile and he said "This is a BAD story!" I finially showed him that one innkeeper gave them a place to stay. His face and sentiment were so sweet. I wish I had it on video camera. Interesting, that part should bother him because 2 Sundays ago my pastor commented on that exact part and said the world never has room for Jesus.

Off the subject: We were at Walmart tonight and I saw jewelery for $5 and thought it would be neat if I could find a young looking necklace for Annalina to wear with her Christmas dress and I did find one a perfect one! It was silver looking and had 3 hearts one big heart then a small heart and then a medium heart. I told Annalina the big heart was daddys, the bottom (medium) heart was mine and the heart in the middle was hers. She JUST LOVED IT. She told me later she needed to keep it safe for daddy when he gets home and she thought she should wash it everyday. The washing everyday may not be good for a $5 piece of jewelry but I was thrilled that she enjoyed and treasured it so much. She is such a sweetie.

The Power of Kind Words . . .

Ross and I were sitting at the table late afternoon and he out of the blue said to me "I am happy with you." Ahhhh, those were nice words to receive. The kindness may have come from the fact that he was sipping on a chocolate milkshake from Jack in the Box but hey I'll take it!!! :-)

Just Gotta Love'm . . .

I have had an extremely rough week with the kids. I was so discouraged that I have spent so much time training them, teaching them, loving them, teaching them Bible truths and verses and it seems like the last few days they have learned little!! Babe sent me an email saying that God did not call us to results but faithfulness and that I needed to remain faithful to their training. I know they are tired and that they are sinners and are going to have rough times. I did make a new rule for myself this week . . . 2 nights in a row I got phone calls at the wrong time at night and the kids got put in bed late and without their bedtime routine which isn't right of me so the new rule is I don't answer the phone starting at 6:30pm so I don't get caught and don't answer until the kids are tucked in and settled. I really like it and it has created less stress. Anyway, tonight the kids were having so much fun and were so cute! They love each other so much and I am thankful for that. "Faithful is He who calleth us who also will do it."

Dear Heavenly Father . . .

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come tonight because my heart hurts so much. I long to be with the man you gave me to be my husband. I feel as if I almost can't go on. Father you know what we've been through to get me/us to the point of the deep and amazing love we have for each other. We have sought to honor you in our marriage and in the raising of our children. In the areas where we lack I pray you would help us. Brian is the love of my heart and I miss him more than ever. Father, I do pray that you would help him in his job to have wisdom and discernment in how he executes what is laid out for him but I also pray that somehow you could help us make it through this separation it seems longer than what is bearable. I want to have you push a fast forward button I'm tired and heart sick and my endurance is seeming to fail. I know fast forwarding is not an option but I also know you are "The God of all heaven and earth" and that you have all power. I ask you to please help Brian and myself and the kids to not jst make it but to live abundantly. Please help me and Brian and Gabriel and Annalina and Ross and Sprout. PLEASE hold us up.

Thank you for your many blessings and making your care so evident.

Thank you for giving me a husband that is easy to love.

Please help. In Jesus name Amen.

I fell asleep quickly and with such peace after this.

My Evening . . .

This actually happened to me a few nights ago but I want to record it. My night tonight was not far off of it as it is blogged below plus what i didn't write in there is about the toilet overflowing AGAIN, more Ross antics, ETC. Anyway these events took place December 4th.

*wiped up the Sprite Ross purposely dumped out of the glass

*cleaned up the pee from Gabriel trying to leave the toilet before he was done peeing (which is not a common problem with him)

*cleaned up Sonja's crate where she regurgitated something she had in her that shouldn't be there. It looked like cloth.

*picked up the lamp that had broken apart when Ross was gofing with it and then the lamp dropped shattering the bulb on the floor in the kitchen

*Ross split his lip open goofing around and bled which scared Annalina very much especially since . . .

*Annalina feels miserable and had a fever of over 101 degrees

*found the parts to the humidifier that Ross has decided he likes to dismantle

*did NOT get the hundred or hundreds of coins picked up that Ross somehow got out of Annalina's piggy bank. Now he can't sleep in there tonight because it is to dangerous if he put one in his mouth and i wasn't around to see it.

*I now have Ross laying next to me with his foot against me and his hand on my arm so he knows i am near as he goes to sleep. he has been a bit clingy since grandma and grandpa left and he doesn't understand why people keep leaving. Annalina told me the other day that she doesn't like dreaming that she is separated from me.

*Also, today i listened to my very sick sweet daughter say "I wish (I or we) could have Daddy all the time."

Breathe in, breath out.

"God is so good He's so good to Me."

Again, I have not been keeping up with my blogging which I don't like but I do hope to go back and fill in at least a portion. This past week has been CRAZY with 2 kids that got very sick, a van that was not working right and ended up in Reno and I paid over $700 and they didn't find the original problem, and a doctors appt up in Reno and top it off with all the antics of a 2 year old. It is truly amazing to me how everything can be going seemingly wrong and how God is so evident. I get stressed, tired, cranky and think why does there seem to be constant drama and yet on the other hand I see God's care in it all.

Today at church the pastor talked about how parents often consentrate on changing behaviour instead of changing their children heart and i thought that was a great point. I talked to the kids about it today. At dinner Annalina was having a really rough time eating which is unusual at dinner and she was really whinning. I finially told her she needed to leave the table and if she needed to go pray than to do it. She wanted to pray there where we were and as Gabriel and I continued to talk I could hear her praying. Her attitude change no more whinning and she did what I asked. I found out later on tonight why she may have been having a hard time.

Tonight at bedtime it was to late for reading devotions because I had talked to my brothers on the phone which I enjoyed doing. I decided to discuss again about what I had learned in church about changing hearts not actions and if our heart is right our actions will be (discussed that aspect of it earlier). Anyway, I talked about what each child struggled with and how we should be praying and then I named what I struggle with. Of course, when I named Ross' he parrots back what I say. Anyway, when we were done Gabriel said "What does Daddy need to work on?" I was impressed by the question because he understood that we all have areas to work on. I told him that if he asked Daddy that he would tell him and that Daddy was very sensitive to doing what God wants him too and will change if he needs to. Gabriel said something like "I do too (speaking of wanting to change if it is not right with God) I already knew this of Gabriel and said "I know Gabriel it is one of the things I appreciate about you." I felt it was a wonderful conversation no one felt beat up on because we were all sinners standing in the need of prayer! We also discussed ways that they would be helping me at the house and when i walked out of the room they came up with a plan for something for tomorrow for helping me I assume and I told them that I will look forward to seeing it tomorrow!

I read or should I say skimmed an article in Focus on the Family and it was speaking about kids Ross' age and how they need to be taught discernment and i thought that seemed like a BIG concept to teach a child that age. But Ross gets into so much and can at times reek havot. So I decided to give it a try. When he does something unwise I will say you need to pray and ask God for discernment that means to help you know if it is right or wrong and then i will ask him if what he did was right or wrong and he'll tell me wrong. Well, today he just started praying when i told him he needed to pray!!!! He needed my help through it but started it on his own. Amazing!

I put the kids to bed tonight and it just seemed to go real well after awhile GAbriel came in and said he had a bad stomach ache and a short time later I started hearing Annalina coughing and she again vomited in her bed (she did 2 nights ago too), then the toilet, and after a change of shirt and moving away from the toilet and after giving her medicine she vomited on my bed. AHHHHHHHHH! I saw that Gabriel had gotten up and started walking around and I was a bit annoid and asked him what he was doing. He quietly said he was "going to pray" ah, man what a response to the situation. He said to me "Why did she get this sick". Then sometime after praying he went and made her 2 papers one was a heart that said I love you the other was a picture of them playing legos together and he brought her a toy zebra (that is her favorite animal in the animal kingdom). After a long process of cleaning up i put them to bed again and she took the papers to bed with her. Oh, I also saw she took the ribbon necklace with a fake flower taped to it that Gabriel had made her earlier to day to bed with her too. They really love each other. Annalina is kind hearted to though at dinner there was only a small bit of brownie left and i was saving it for her and she said Ross can have half. So Ross ate half and she only got a SMALL bit.

More stories I want to remember

I had been having a lot of problems with Annalina's attitude of late and even though I knew it may be a byproduct of stress that is not an excuss.  I had talked with her and prayed with her. She seemed hesitant to want to pray about it. In fact, last Sunday we had a had a big episode with her and when I was dealing with her and it was her turn to pray she mumbled so I could hear her. I told her she needed to speak louder. She said "No, I don't need to" I was curious as to her reasoning so I asked why and she said "God can still hear me". I told her she was exactly right but that I wanted to hear her too!! Finially, I few nights ago on her own at bedtime prayer she asked God on her own to help her be good. The next morning she was cheerful, she started to get ready for school without being asked, etc. That shows character. She was trying hard to do the right thing. 

One of the times I was talking to Annalina about her attitude Gabriel was listening too and encouraging with agreeing that Annalina brings joy to others when she is happy I was also trying to explain how she could not be good on her own she needed God's help and she needed to pray for help. Gabriel broke into this excellent illustration of how Satan is like a lion and God is our Fortress if we pray and ask for help we are put into that fortress and Satan can scrap on the walls but can't get in!! Perfect illustration, he learned it at church and what a perfect time to share it!

The day after we all thought I had lost the baby and had the scare of so much bleeding. Annalina wanted to be right with me. She sat and colored and watched cartoons. She heard me talking on the phone to someone about my situation the night before . . . Annalina interupted and said "I want to pray RIGHT NOW!" I stopped my conversation and she prayed "Please keep baby Sprout alive and help me to feel good. In Jesus name Amen." Amen to that. Faith.

At breakfast a day or so ago Ross had his finger up pretending to shoot Gabriel and then say "you're dead" and Gabriel acted like he died and thought it was funny but then he turned to Annalina who did not find it as humerous! She said "I have a shield, God is my shield!" I thought that was a pretty good thought!! I am glad she thinks about her Heavenly Father that is what delights me. Shortly, after that I played some Christmas music for the kids and one of the songs talked about Heaven and Annalina in a very serious almost dreamy way said "I can't wait to go to Heaven". It took me off guard, of course, I want her to wait a long time to see heaven! but at the same time it touched me to see her faith.

Last night she made me a necklace with various things she had collected whole punched and threaded on a string it was for mommy. Grandma had shown her the word Joy beautifully typed out in a catalog and thought it would be nice for Annalina for her scrapbooking. Annalina used it on my necklace. I read the word to her and she said "I enJOY you!" What a nut she is.

Out of the mouths of Babes . . . comes cute stuff!

This morning (which is the morning after the day I got put on bedrest)t I was combing Annalina's hair. The night before Grandma had given her a bath and one thing led to another and her hair never got combed out with the comb detangler or sprayed with the detangler spray after bathtime. Which could have meant a tougher time in the morning. This is one of the least favorite parts of the morning process is combing her long hair! She hates tangles and having them combed. Anyway, when I went to comb her hair I commented to her that her hair was not bad this morning. This was interesting considering we did nothing with it the night before! Annalina said to me "did God do it?" I started laughing and said "maybe He did!!" He certainly knew it was a stressful part of the morning process and I had had plenty of stress the day before! Who knows but I thought Annalina's response was cute!!

Yesterday Gabriel came home from school and was telling me about how he learned about Veteran's Day. He had worked on a book for Veteran's Day. He told me that his teacher told the class that if anyone in their family was in the Navy that they should go home and give them a hug. Gabriel started tearing up and fighting back the tears and covered his face, embarassed that he was emotional and I heard him say "I want to hug Daddy". I told him to come to me and I put my arms around him and said "Your Daddy wants to hug you." Then in true Gabriel spirit he got a big smile on his face and said "Maybe I should give him a hug when he gets back." I told him that was a good idea. What a sweet kid.

Yesterday my mom was messing with a flower kit (Amarillis) she had purchased for the kids to watch grow. Ross walked into the kitchen and mom said something to him about it being a flower and he said "Flower? Winter?" What a smarty pants! He doesn't have a hard time putting 2 and 2 together!!!

Needs to remember what is really is of value . . .

Songs:

"You are the strength when I am weak you are the treasure that I seek you are my all in all. When I fall down you pick me up when I am dry you fill my cup. You are my all in all. Jesus Lamb of God worthy is your name."

"Lord, you are my precious than diamonds. Lord, you are more costly than gold. Lord, you are more beautiful than rubies (?) and all I desire is in you."

Wow, its been a rough day to say the least. Emotionally draining really. So many things pulling my emotions. But when I went and surprisingly showed up at Annalina's field trip she PROUDLY and LOUDLY announced "This is my Mommy!" and "This is my baby brother" and kissed Ross on the cheek. Then in the afternoon the dog got to someTHING I really valued. It was really something to look at and say I am going to get to do that hobby in the future and take on the challenge of something I've given up and want to do again. The dog chewed it and ruined it. I was VERY sad and upset. Annalina came to me with the shadow box she had made a short time before and said "This is for you. I want to make you happy." Here is a mother devastated over the loss of a THING. Pretty bad. I am human though and made with emotions I just need to make sure I am focused correctly.

Chugga Choo!! As Ross would say!!!

Ross LOVES the train table his daddy made him for his 2nd birthday! He sits on the top and plays and stands and plays!!! When Gabriel saw what Daddy had made he said to him "Your the Best Daddy!" Babe worked hard to get this done before he deployed.

Another Annalina the Advocate Story

Each day that daddy is deployed we take down one link from the paper chains I made so the kids can see the length of time until daddy comes home! Gabriel started mimmicking what I would say after the link came down "Another day without daddy done!" (another words it's another day we won't have to live without daddy). Anyway, Gabriel said that the other day and then I said "Isn't that nice?"Again meaning that another day was done. Annalina got quite upset and said "NO, it is not nice!" I thought it was funny and explained what I meant and then she understood that I wasn't praising another day without daddy!!! I'm not going to get upset with with being a strong supporter of her daddy.

Ross is Standing on the Promises!

In devotions at night we have been singing the song "Standing on the Promises". Last week during the song Ross would smile real big and say "Ross a singing" and he would! When we held a word long enough for him to repeat then he stood up in bed and said "Standing on Pomises". The best one happened last night after I put the kids in bed and I went to my room I could hear Ross sing the phrase OVER and OVER  . . . "Standing on Pomises God", "Standing on Pomises God". It was too cute!!!

Our Energizer Bunny!!!

Ross is jumping towards 2 years old!! September 19th!!! Ross has long lasting batteries!!

The Joy of Young Children

The other day I went to get a kleenex and when I got to the box the next kleenex was sticking up as it is supposed to EXCEPT on the top of the kleenex was a BOOGER one of the kids had left! Nice, I am probably correct in guessing it was my dear daughter! I have instructed her not to wipe her hands on the wall when they are dirty. She had a habit of wiping boogers or whatever else dirtied her hands on the wall!!!

***************************************************************************************

The other day Babe heard Annalina REALLY crying and went to see what the problem was. Annalina said that Gabriel had jumped on her foot. Then Gabriel said "But she told me to jump on her foot". Then Annalina became extremely angry no longer crying and said "NO, I SAID JUMP ON ONE FOOT!!!!!" She meant for Gabriel to jump up and down on one of his feet!! Pretty funny!!

3 Kids Stories from last week

Ross: Today I heard Ross count to five probably at least 5 times!

Annalina: The secretary at the school said "I have a story for you". I knew it must be Annalina! She said Annalina had a rope during recess and was working on the ground. The secretary asked her if she was making something (I can't remember what it was). Annalina said "No, it is a TRAP!" The secretary wanted to know what she was trying to catch? "A Praying Mantis" The secretary thought it was very funny that she was trying to catch a bug with a very long rope in a circle. The secretary told the principal to be careful there was a trap over there!

Gabriel: We were in the mall walking and Gabriel said "You're a good mommy." I said "Thank you Gabriel". Then he said "You're a good mommy because you love God."

White Senior Belt Gabriel!

Gabriel was VERY excited tonight that he passed his while senior belt test. He kept saying "Yes!, Yes!" Annalina did not pass but she is getting there and Gabriel is supposed to tutor her. She'll get there soon I'm sure!

The kids had to go up in front of everyone for their test. I would have been very intimidated at that age doing that!

Annalina the Advocate

The other day we were in a unique situation with only one car working and a tow truck on the way, a sick dog who wasn't drinking and needed to go to the vet (had a previous day SPRAYED diahrea around the laundry room), a sleeping kid who was very tired, and 2 kids that needed to be picked up from school. I stayed home with the sleeping child (AHHHH) and Babe tackled the others. He was a little late picking up the kids from school. Later the lady waiting with them told me what Annalina said. Annalina was standing with the lady telling her life story. Mr. Tucker came by and asked what kids were left (of course ours!) and he said "call the parents". The lady explained that she had just seen Brian a few minutes ago at an intersection and that he must be doing something. The lady started ushering Annalina to the office to call and Annalina (having heard all this) said "My Daddy would not forget to pick me up!" The lady thought it was pretty funny. I've seen Annalina challenge a 10 year old that she felt was picking on Gabriel!

 The story the lady told me of Annalina reminded me of the time when we lived in England and we were invited over to a home where the husband was Sicilian (he was hilarious) and the wife British (graduated from Oxford with a degree in languages. She was reserved in public but one on one was quietly humerous). As they were getting the table ready the husband asked me if I wanted ice and Gabriel (knowing that he was addressing me) thought he said "you are not NICE". Gabriel snapped back "My Mommy is a VERY nice lady!!!" The man started laughing understanding the misunderstanding and saidin his thick Sicilian accent "Yes, your Mom is a very nice lady!" I know kids shouldn't snap at adults but it sure did me a lot of good!! That meal was a lot of fun. They had 4 kids and lived in a postage stamp. We were crammed around the table with kids making noise, talking, etc. It was wonderful.

On the way home from school Annalina was telling us that her teacher picked her up and pretended to hang her on a hook (which she thought was funny). I asked her why and shesaid  because she thought the class would think it was funny. I asked her if she herself had laughed and she said "No, Mrs. Jung likes her class quiet". Hmm, logic would say it probably would have been ok to laugh in that situation! 

Mrs. Jung did however on the 3rd day of school promote Annalina to the 1st grade because I told her how yesterday at breakfast Annalina came to the table and said to Gabriel "We get to go back again today Gabriel!!" Mrs. Jung just loved that. On my way out of the office I could hear her telling the others that Annalina is the youngest in the class.

Sing Song Duo?

I called Babe at work today and asked for LT Lysne but he wasn't there. They asked if I wanted to leave a message and said No thank you that is ok. Later a guy Babe works with told Babe that he thought that his wife had called because she had a "sing song accent" and you have a sing song accent and are happy and he said he thought we must go together. Interesting.

Weapons Flashcards

Yesterday, before church Gabriel and Ross were sitting at Annalina's scrapbook table working. After awhile Gabriel came out and showed me that he had drawn a picture of different weapons on 3 x5 cards and he went through the cards showing me each weapon he had drawn. After he had showed me Ross held up his 3x5 card which he had scribbled on and said "water gun"!!! I thought that was hilarious!! Gabriel had asked him questions like What weapon should I draw Ross and Ross would say "weapon". It was cute and a boy thing!!!

Gabriel starts 1st GRADE!!

He is not unhappy in the first picture just serious. Then his friend Ashby wanted a picture taken with him. He was ready for school to start. He read a little over 1000 pages the beginning of the summer and then the move happened. He loves learning.

My Second Baby Leaves the Nest

Today was the first day of school for Annalina. It is definitely going to require more time in the morning with 2 going to school. Annalina is a slower starter in the morning whereas when Gabriel gets up he is awake and ready to go but Annalina was excited! On the way to school she said "I put on my good brain" and she told Gabriel to put on his brain and he said "click" like he was turning it on. Gabriel was telling Annalina what they could do during recess and said something about her getting help from a first grader she said "I don't need help". Annalina for you!

She is quite a bit smaller than alot of the kids but she got a lot of heart and will be fine. She did a great job as school started and took if very seriously. One mother said "she is really listening!" That's good!! Mrs. Jung read the Kissing Hand book and I went over and kissed the palm of her hand. She seemed ready. A parent from the 1st grade class obviously was in that class at the start and told Brian that Gabriel had "done a great job". That was so kind of her to tell him knowing we needed to be in the other class.

I started watching one of the 2nd grade teachers little girl. She had a really rough time but I prayed and asked the Lord to show me how to handle it and he did. With each book that I read I could tell she got more comfortable. I started teaching her to write her name today. She is a four year old. She is funny. Ross was being goofy and she said "maybe you should put him in the cage" talking about the dog crate! Ross wasn't being bad just active! I thought it was pretty funny.

If at first you don't succeed plead another way

Yesterday when Ross got up in the morning he said "hungry too". He wanted to eat breakfast. I was going to make breakfast later but Ross felt he REALLY needed to eat so he pointed at Gabriel and Annalina and said "Kids hungry". I thought that was pretty funny and decided that it was indeed time to eat breakfast!!

The Blind Lead the Blind

Yah, Ross' armour is on backwards and around his neck but he felt tough and apart of the action and that is what counts! The second picture of the boys with the trash cans on their heads reminds me of a few weeks ago when Ross was walking around with that same trash can on his head and causing problems I believe with his sister. I called to Babe that "Ross had issues" (I know not something I should have said and I learned this quickly!). Ross proceeded to walk into our bedroom where his daddy was (with the can still on his head) and say to his daddy "Issues, Issues". Yes, we got a good laugh!!

How to beat Fallon Summer Heat!!

Brian heard at work today that is was 105 degrees. Didn't seem to bother the kids! Ross, unfortunately, was napping during the fun!

Sonja at 7 1/2 months and 90 lbs.!!

Sonja is enjoying a new toy which she very quickly ruined! But she enjoyed it! Gabriel was enjoying hanging out with her!
 

Appreciation

Annalina's room has looked like a tornado went through it because I had not gotten in there to organize it since we moved in. She cleans her room but she really neaded me to get the organization started in this new room. Since Babe is home I finially got to it. Annalina walked in after I had worked on her room for a good bit and she said "It looks nice, Thank you Mommy!" AHHHHHHHHH. Such a sweet girl.

Speaking of tornados. One of the 2nd grade teachers said that the Kindergarten teacher said the other day "Well, I'll have Ross another year in my class. He's the human tornado." She said this in a humorous way not a derogatory way. But that just gives a glimpse at the joy of Ross. He is a joy and everyone just loves him. What a character.

First Sparring Matches

The kids ENJOYED their first TaeKwonDo sparring matches!! It is no kidding kicking and punching! Good thing Annalina had learned the block!! They both really enjoyed it even though they were thoroughly beat which is understandable since they have only been to about 4 classes!!

Last of our Tahoe trip . . . .

Top picture: Babe with the kids at the resort pool we had access too!!

Bottom picture: Gabriel and Annalina enjoying their last trip to the beach!

Our last morning in Tahoe I went out on the balcony to eat breakfast and Gabriel came out to join me. When he got outside he said "This is a nice day. You can smell the pine and listen to the construction." Just got love that kid. I found this hilarious! He was right it was a nice day and it was wonderful to smell the pine but YES you could definitely hear the construction at a resort not to far away!! 

Fun on top of the mountain

Pictures from our time up on the mountain and then a picture of the kids looking at the lake on the way down. Ross, along with Gabriel and Annalina, enjoyed climbing on the rocks but he also enjoyed chasing the chipmunks around up there!!

August 5th

Went to a place called Heavenly to ride a gondola up the mountain and get amazing views of the lake!! Ross wanted to ride the "dola" "again". The kids loved the ride and the view which I was happy to see. They also enjoyed roaming around up top on the rocks, etc. It was a GREAT view up there!

August 4th BEACH DAY

Spent time soaking in the sun at the beach and the kids thoroughly enjoyed the sand! Gabriel and Annalina found a bone while digging which they were excited about! They also found minnows and caught one which Annalina called a "zoomy little fellow". 

Afternoon consisted of roasting marshmellows and making samores and taking it easy!

August 3rd

We went bike riding on the trails near the Lake! I loved it fresh air and sunshine and family! I said many time that i LOVED IT while we were riding! I had to teach Gabriel bike courtesy, etc. He was a trooper and listened well. He had 2 BIG wipe outs and didn't cry just got right back up! People got a kick out of it!

We did share food at a Rosie's cafe in Tahoe. Excellent food. Annalina was singing very cute songs in the car! ? The kids caught carpentar ants in our condo and made an ant cage and Annalina decorated the cage with toys. From time to time they would give me the count of how many were dead and how many were still alive. Nice.

In the evening we spent time on the beach!

Am I good at picking restaraunts or what?!!!!

So we are at Tahoe and want to go out for dinner. I see this little restaraunt with an area to eat outside. Nothing big or overly fancy or so I thought. We are seated and we get the menu I said to Babe "Do you notice something?" There were NO PRICES!!! Bad sign!! We all ordered water and just pizza (2 of them) it was a little over $40 good thing that was all we ordered! Pictures above were taken at that resteraunt. We used our kitchen at the condo more after this!

August 2nd, 2008

Thankful Babe was back we headed to our vacation destination--- Lake TAHOE!!!!!

The condo which Gabriel started calling "the hut" for some reason was away from the lake up in the mountains in a pine forest. I immediately thought the smell of pine therapudic and remenisent of my time up at Camp of the Pines in Colorado which over looked the Great Divide. I just started letting down and I got so tired and conked out on the couch and had a great nap. The windows looked out to the pine forest. AHHHHHHHH! Just what I needed!

The kids loved the condo too it had stairs which made for great new games like riding chair cushions down them, etc. We had also brought up some plastic dinosaurs and the game became that Annalina would tell Gabriel how much the dinosaur (she would line the dinosaurs up) was worth in points (75 points whatever) or if the dino was a "loser" or as she would say it "wooser". Gabriel took a ribbon and wound it around a plastic palm tree (toy about 2 1/2 inches tall) and used it to swing around and hit the dino's and try to knock them down! They had a marvelous time with that game! Ross enjoyed throwing balls down the stairs.

August 1st

I decided to change our hotel for this night. The last hotel besides having tacky decor blue walls, purple chairs, and a curtain like a circus as you entered the room area it didn't pass in "family friendliness/appropriateness" (keep in mind this RENO) so we checked out and needed to pass time until our check in at the next hotel. I found a Clay Canvas shop where the kids and I could paint clay stuff. Gabriel and Annalina enjoyed this but I must say it was stressful for me as I had ROSS which is like having a bull in a china shop shall we say (don't let the calm picture of him above deceive)!!!! Nevertheless, we made it!!! And got some neat keep sakes. Gabriel's dragonfly looks like a alien  and Annalinas butterfly is what we call "mono puffy yellow eye". I made a plate with each of the kids  hand print on it. It is fun to joke about the creations!! The kids get a kick out of it.

Our new hotel was FABULOUS and newly updated. Flat screen tvs on the wall etc. The kids and I went to a GREAT restaraunt in the hotel called Rosie's Cafe. I just loved it but we had to leave quick when Ross pooped his pants and it was smelling things up and I didn't want that around other people ruining their meals. As we walked to find the waiter for the check Ross made a mad dash into the waiters work area squealling with delight at his hilarity! A waiter caught him and probably got a good wiff of him but was in good humour about Ross!!! Thankfully!!

We went to the amazing indoor pool with a waterfall!!! That was fun!! As we were leaving that pool an elderly couple said to me "you have a beautiful family" then the kids got to talking with them. They were both retired military and a really sweet couple.

Babe came in late this night. The next morning he took the kids to the pool hence the "Lysne soup" picture at the very bottom of the pictures.