The Road Less Traveled

• May. 12, 2008 - Puppies are cuddly, puppies are cute...

Posted in Family

The puppy song from the Veggie Tales "Esther" episode keeps running through my head! Last Thursday, we adopted a furry vaccuum cleaner. He is a four month old beagle/dachshund mix. He is very affectionate and energetic! Now, if only I could get rid of the Eau-de-Doggie scent that has permeated my house... It will probably get better when he is fully house trained!

My four-legged toddler will not stand still for long, but I've been able to get a few pictures:

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• May. 7, 2008 - Wisdom from the cookie jar

Posted in Family

My three year old sensed that I was in need of spiritual inspiration this morning. He spoke the following pearls of wisdom to me:

"God is bigger than frogs. It goes small, medium, large, God. Flies are gross." It was just what I needed to hear!

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• Apr. 22, 2008 - Spring time pictures!

Posted in Family

Here are a few new photos:

Today's lessons ended with a reading lesson for the toddler:

We do still have some snow...

...but, rest assured, it's spring time here, too!

Luke, I am your brother:

Sailing the seven seas:

It's...mud season!!!

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• Apr. 18, 2008 - Petition

Posted in Family

For those of you who are not aware, a mother in North Carolina recently had an issue with a particular magazine cover, left out in the open at Walmart. The woman asked the store to do something about it, and they refused. She began an online petition, located at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Walmart-Magazines/?e.

Please take a minute to read and sign this! You should be aware that the language used is blunt and specific to the situation-- you may wish to remove any young children from the room when you read it, if they can see your computer monitor.

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• Apr. 10, 2008 - It's finally warming up!

Posted in Family

I'm doing a happy dance right now. I can see green on my lawn! Most of our snow has melted, and we are now entering glorious mud season. It sounds strange to me, to be happy about all of the mud that is already beginning to move into my house. Doesn't matter! *heeeheeeheeeheeeheee* We can go outside without enough clothing to survive the arctic! We (almost) don't need snow boots anymore!

I had forgotten what the base of a tree looks like:

We really do have a brown, not white, driveway:

My kids can almost use the swing set again! :

We have been celebrating our new-found paradise this week..outside...the windows are open for part of each day...*heeeeeheeeeeeheeeeeeheeeee*....my kids are tearing up the grass instead of our bookshelves...

We are experiencing such a blessed time right now. God is so, so, so, so awesome! My husband is home while there is still daylight. He can play with the boys outside after work. We all get to have dinner together, as a whole family, every night! We are all over that horrible flu that I hope never, ever, ever comes back! My oldest and I are now able to begin to train together for a three mile running race in July. He just finished a study on Eric Liddell, and has been bitten by the running race bug! We are training three times per week. Let me tell you, I am feeling old- the boy runs longer and faster than I do. I actually have to work hard to keep up with him! A month ago, this was not possible. Besides there being nowhere outside to run, my energy level was severely low. I was diagnosed with low thyroid function, which has been helped by medication. The Lord has really blessed each of us. Praise God!

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• Mar. 29, 2008 - Flu, Flu, Go Away!

Posted in Family

I sooooo look forward to the day when our family is done with the flu! Uggg. For the last two weeks, my husband has been sick. For the last week, my oldest son has been down. Tuesday, my youngest became ill. All three of them have needed medical attention. The youngest has both ears infected, and was placed on antibiotics on Wednesday. He seemed to be getting worse, so last night resulted in a trip to the ER. Fortunately, he is all right. The doctor said to just continue the antitbiotics, give him ibuprofen and acetaminophen at the same time (I didn't know you could!) and keep an eye on him. I've had cold symptoms, but praise God, no flu (so far)! I'm so grateful that the Lord has kept this from me. I would not be able to care for the boys if I was laid out!

In other news... The Lord has answered our prayers regarding a long coveted desire. My husband is finally working daytime hours! No more leaving at 5:30 p.m. for work, then arriving home at 8:00 a.m. Yay! This is the first time, ever, that we have existed on a normal, permanent schedule. Before taking his current job, he worked with a company that sent him on the road regularly. For approximately two weeks out of every month, he was gone. He went directly from that, to vampire hours. Now, it's daytime, weekdays, all the time! No more living like night owls, with the boys not wanting to go to bed before midnight because they want to stay up and see Daddy when he comes home. This does take some getting used to!

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• Mar. 20, 2008 - Another birthday!

Posted in Family

My oldest boy recently turned seven. Seven! It seems as if he was just born! How do I slow this down?

Here are some photos ranging from infancy until this year's birthday.

Just born:

Getting settled into home:

Belly time!:

Bad hair day:

Junior computer wiz:

Walking all by himself!:

Formal first birthday photo:

Hugging "Puppy" with Mommy:

First snowman:

Hi, I'd like a large pepperoni with extra cheese...:

Daddy's little helper:

Fourth Christmas:

Couch potatoes in training:

No more training wheels!:

Happy seventh birthday!

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• Feb. 4, 2008 - The Big Game

Posted in Family

Sunday night, our family watched the Super Bowl. Although the Patriots lost, it was a great game to watch!

My 6yo has the game all figured out. During a commercial, he set up two lines of toy cars on the floor, facing each other. When he had my husband's and my attention, he demonstrated his understanding of football. "OK, this is the quarterback, and this is the quarterfront. Are you watching? They're going to play football now." He put one hand behind each line and smashed them into each other! Looked about right to me...

Before the game, my oldest made pennants for himself and his brother:

I'm not sure which aspect of the evening the boys enjoyed more- the junk food, or the game!

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• Jan. 10, 2008 - Appreciation

Posted in Family

Life as a mommy has brought with it many joys. While some of the things on this list were in my life before my little blessings were born, they seem to mean more to me now. Some of the things listed are specific to parenthood. All of them are worthy of my appreciation!

* Prayer.
* The last piece of pizza, when no one else wants it.
* Silence.
* A raging fire, when it is freezing cold outside.
* My first cup of coffee in the morning.
* Unprompted acts of kindness or generosity from my boys.
* Naps.
* Being understood after saying something only once.
* My walkman and CD's.
* Completing a project without interruption.
* Taking video and pictures of the kids.
* Leisure time after chores and errands are done.
* Personal thought and reflection.
* Reading.
* Witnessing a child master a new skill.
* Decorating for a holiday or birthday party.
* Friends.
* Conversation with my husband.
* Sitting all the way through a sermon at church.
* Disposable dishes.
* Easy-to-make meals.
* Outdoor fun.
* Board games.

There are many more things that I could list, but I am going to leave the computer for now. My house is uncharacteristically quiet, as both boys are taking naps. I will take advantage of this blessing to get a few things done- in silence, and without interruption!

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• Dec. 29, 2007 - Happy birthday, sweetie!

Posted in Family

My toddler recently turned three years old. I don't know where the time has gone! My little, tiny (well, he was never actually tiny, having been born at 8 lbs. 9 oz.) baby is growing up. While I am sad that I can no longer hold him in one arm, I am pleased with the boy that he is growing into!

Here are photos ranging in time from his infancy, until now.

Shortly after birth