Thankfulness

This morning I asked Kara what she was thankful for. Her first enthusiastic answer was "books!!!". A couple months ago Ben's mom gave us a big stack of "Magic Tree House" books for the kids. I figured I would put them on the shelf for future use, thinking that maybe we would read them in 3 or 4 years. Well, Kara got one off the shelf the other day and asked if we could read it. I smiled and said sure, certain that she would lose all interest once she saw the absence of pictures on every page in these "big kid" chapter books. Much to my surprise, she sat and listened intently to the first chapter. She followed the story-line completely and begged me to read another chapter to her. Today we finished our 4th book, and it's been less than a week. With help from the Magic Tree House we have visited the jungles of Africa, the prairie, the Civil War and the Revolutionary War. If you ask Kara who our first President was, she will excitedly answer George Washington, and she will tell you all about the Revolutionary War. She will then proceed to tell you how Clara Barton founded the Red Cross during the Civil War. I love watching her learn, and more than that I love watching her LOVE learning! Ben's parents have given us more books than I can count for the kids, and I am so grateful! Our children already have a love for reading that Ben and I are excitedly cultivating. So, thanks for the books Grandma and Grandpa Gerth!! We love them!!

Oh, and don't worry...right after Kara said she was thankful for books she quickly followed with Grandpas, Grandmas and Jesus! :)

Thoughtful

One day last week my husband went out to run a few errands, and this is what he came home with. A rose that thrived beautifully for over a week, and my favorite white chocolate mocha from Seattle's Best Coffee. These may seem like little things, but they are not! He knows me so well. He knows when I need a hug, a listening ear, to be put in my place, encouragement, to laugh, or a rose and a yummy white mocha. Marriage is an amazing thing! God has grown us so close together, through joys and trials. Mostly the trials I suppose. They are not fun, but God does miraculous things through them to make us one. Ben has chosen to love me despite my faults, and they are many! Thank you my hub for your thoughtfulness and for continuing to be a learner, lover and leader. I love you!!

Wedding Bells

Conversation between Kara and I this morning while we were washing dishes together...

Kara: Mom, I am all ready to get married.

Me: Oh, really? Tell me about it.

Kara: Well, I have a wedding dress already. The one from Uncle Josh's wedding! (this was over 2 years ago, and Kara was the flower girl...might be a wee bit small :)

Me: Yes, that is a beautiful dress. I hope it still fits. You might need some alterations. :) (now I'm giggling!) Umm, who will you marry?

Kara: Oh mom (with that, "isn't it obvious" look on her face), I will marry Daddy of course! He's the best Daddy and Husband.

Me: I agree completely! He is amazing! Who will you invite to the wedding?

Kara: ALL (with great 3 year old emotion) of my friends...Shelby, Shanna, Isabelle, Kailyn, Shiloh, Amber, .....(the list went on and on...and on)

Me: Well, that sounds really nice Kara.

Kara: You'll come too, won't ya mom?

Me: Wouldn't miss it!

I love the conversations we have, especially when I see our kids picking up on how amazing their dad is!! We are so blessed, and I pray that our little girls will find husbands just like their daddy!

Cuteness

Ellie's first pony tails...not for lack of trying on my part! This is the first time I could get her to sit still long enough to get them in. It makes her look so old!

My polka-dotted princesses!

A laundry basket full of love and laughs :)

Dizzy-ing

Luke has officially mastered walking, running, walking backwards, climbing, dancing and now...drum roll please...SPINNING!!

mmmmm mmmmm good

A few weeks ago I ventured into the world of pie baking.

Until I took this brave leap, I had "baker's block", as I like to call it. There are certain things that I have never tried to make, simply because I have never done it and am not confident that they will turn out. I had never made a pie crust and had convinced myself that it would be a flop! One evening I had been shopping in Meijer and found a glass pie plate for $1.99. The week before I had seen them, but they cost $5.00. I wanted to buy it but thought there were many more important things that $5.00 could go towards. Well, when I saw them for a mere $1.99 I thought it was time to conquer this crazy fear of "the crust." I was amazed at the results of my attempt! A delicious apple pie, and a very happy hubby! I foresee many more pies in my family's future!

What was I thinking?

This morning I had the fantastic idea of making sugar cut-out cookies with my kids. You see, Thanksgiving is approaching, and I'm starting to get that warm, fuzzy holiday feeling at times. So, I thought this would be a way of doing something kind of festive, without really doing something Christmas-y too early. Doesn't that sound fun to you?

My goal was also to accomplish some educational goals. Kara is learning her shapes right now, so I thought it would be fun for her to be able to cut shapes out of the dough and then get to eat them later. What better way is there to learn your shapes? And, of course Luke and Ellie would enjoy the whole adventure too, right? We would make wonderful memories for years to come! Well, it took the WHOLE morning, and the twins cried nearly the entire time. The house was basically destroyed by the time we were finished, not to mention flour EVERYWHERE which tends to happen when a three year old is baking. What made me think that they would be OK with stopping at just one, or two, or in Luke's case three cookies? They knew there were more, and I could not distract them from this fact. At times I just laughed, and a few times I nearly cried. They were out of control! There were a few positives to this fiasco. Kara behaved marvelously. She tried to help me by logically explaining the situation to Luke and Ellie. She told them they would get tummy aches if they ate any more and that cookies were just once in a while treats since they are not very healthy for us. She had one cookie, and asked for no more. Phew!! This was a highlight! And, I suppose, God was supplying more opportunities for me to train Luke and Ellie's little hearts.

The drama is over. The cookies are safely put out of sight, and now it's just the "normal" chaos taking place with my three little cherubs :)