BW had an amazing time at the Shepherd's Conference this past week.  It was so fun to see how much fun and growth he had - for him, it was literally like being on vacation all week!  He would come home (of course I had been home with the kids ALL day so I was wiped out) around 9:30 and talk talk talk about the amazing teaching he received (from John MacArthur, Steve Lawson, Al Mohler, RC Sproul), pastors he met from across the country, the great food (they even had the In-N-Out trucks on campus one day! No fair!), the solidifying of friendships with other seminary guys.  But between getting some tutoring assignments and the late nights of the conference he hadn't been home much this week and he was eager to get in some good solid family time. 

Saturday morning CJ had her second spring soccer game.  Here's a picture - don't ask me who picked the color, but she looks beautiful in anything!  Her team is the Angels.

Didn't notice a certain siblings backside in the picture until I just downloaded it!  Not quite sure what he's doing there, but it gave me quite the chuckle!  So her game was at 9:05, meaning she had to be at the field at 8:45 and we all slept in until 7:00 and then BW had to make his traditional Saturday pancakes so needless to say we were running behind and ended up having to take two cars.  They really have some talented players on her team.  No goals scored yet, but she did kick one off the goalpost and a teammate got it back & kicked it in giving her the assist.  I am loving this season b/c another hsing mom that I had met recently has a daughter who is also on the team. She has a younger sister who is 3.5 yo, making her the perfect playmate for EF which means I actually get to WATCH the game!  Probably why she hasn't scored a goal yet - mom is watching.

Back at home I got to take a nap with AF which doesn't happen too often.  Nothing like napping with a baby on you.  Then AK got hurt climbing on the fence & EF fell off the cozy coupe onto the patio - not a good week as far as injuries around here, but no permanent damage done, nothing that some licorice & bandaids couldn't cure.  We had a nice spaghetti dinner and then watched Bugs Bunny together.  We borrowed Bugs from the library & the kids are just LOVING it!  They are even quoting lines from it now.  What's up, doc?

This morning after church, I picked up AK from Sunday School and he told me that he had been in time out.  Once we had everyone in the car & we were on our way home we asked questions to try to piece together what had happened.  From what we can tell, they were about to play a Moses game with a paper baby moses??? and a boy in a blue jacket with black pockets (he never remembers anyone's name!!) said he was going to go first and then AK said he wanted to go first and the little boy hit him and AK hit him back and they both got a time out.  BW & I were looking at each other trying to figure out if further punishment was in order when AK from the back seat says "Mom, I want to tell you something.  I'm really sorry for hitting."  And he was so sincere!  We talked about asking God for forgiveness and what to do if something like that happens again.  Then he said "That was a very silly thing to fight about, being first in line."  I had to really try to keep from laughing, but so glad he's starting to realize these kinds of things himself.  Then he said, "You know what I was wrong."  I said "about what?"  He said "I really like going to church!"  Wow!  For the past 8 months since we moved, every Sunday he has complained about going to church and today (ironically the day he got in trouble) he has finally decided that he likes it.  That is an answer to prayer!!!

Later in the afternoon, we went to the park as a family.  EF rode her own bike to the park for the first time ever!!  BW & CJ practiced soccer, AF fell asleep in the stroller, AK & EF played in the sand and there was even a rainbow overhead!!!! Couldn't have been more perfect!  Then another little girl went over to EF and pushed her and stepped on her sand castle (I couldn't seem to find a parent anywhere) and before I could do anything, AK stood in between EF and the girl in the most protective stance he could make! No one was going to mess with his sister!!!  He may not be very nice to her most of the time and really doesn't like to share with her, but he will protect her!!!  I was beaming with pride....until he shoved the girl back -- guess we still have some work to do? 

We decided to take advantage of Domino's $5 pizza b/c BW didn't want to try the experimental meal (turkey meatloaf) that I had planned (thank goodness, I really wasn't in the mood to try it either hee hee!).   We went through 2 whole medium pizzas!!!  Wow is our family growing -- BW's going to have to come up with some more tutoring assignments if this keeps up!  Then we notice that AK is eating the WHOLE pizza - usually he just eats the crust and picks off the pepperonis!!!  Then he ends up eating 3 PIECES all by himself!  He says "I like the whole pizza now, mommy!"  My little boy is becoming a man before my eyes!!!!!!!!  I jokingly said "Wow, liking church & pizza all in one day!"  Then he piped in with "Maybe we should have a pizza church!"  BW & I bust out laughing - there's a seeker sensitive idea if we ever heard one!

Let's see, everyone got baths, kids watched a little more bugs bunny & BW read to the olders from Little House in the Big Woods which he hasn't been able to do all week.  He came to a part where Pa goes out to get some honey from a tree and runs into a bear.  AK, who usually doesn't act like he's even listening, said "Wow, dad, there sure are a lot of bears in this book!"  Even CJ laughed at that one.

So ends a great weekend in our house and lots of moments watching my baby boy become the fastest growing 5 year old in the west(both inward & outward).  Excited to see what God has in store for us this week....Hope yours is full of little blessings and lots of growth too!

-J