One day at a time....

Well she made it all night with out her thumb and baby (well almost).
She really didn't want to sleep alone so we let her get in the bed with Shelby--that lasted for about 15 minutes and then the giggles and fussing and giggles got to be so loud that I don't think they would have gone to sleep.
After getting back in her bed the tears started.  She finally asked for her doll and said that she wasn't going to suck her thumb, just rub her nose.  So I gave her the doll.  She rubbed for a minute and then handed me back her baby and asked for a different one.  I told her I wasn't looking for a different baby and the tears started again.
Then I was at a loss for what to do....get up and look for the doll she wanted, tell her to suck her thumb or help her stick it out.  So I just started rubbing her back and in a couple of minutes she was fast asleep and stayed that way all night.
She was so proud of her self when she got up today!!!  We are all proud of her!!!
Now on to tackle the rest of day (we've made it an hour so far)......

Where has the time gone....

It seems like just yesterday.....

And it wasn't very long ago when we were in Disney with the little ones.....

And it was only today that Casey announced that she was not sucking her thumb any more!!!
Why the change?  She went to the orthodontist with Shelby and Drew today and they talked to her about how sucking her thumb was not good for her mouth and what it does to her mouth.  Then they showed her an "appliance" that they put in your mouth to help you stop sucking your thumb (while telling her about 2 boys who are 5--just a few months older than Casey--who have to use this).  She handed me her baby right then.  When we got to the car she asked me what I was going to do with her sucking babies (nice name, huh?) I told her I could hand it to her (it was in my purse) to which she said "NO!  I stop sucking my thumb!"  She must have meant it because at nap (which she never took) she brought me the one in the bed.  She didn't even cry for it when she hit her head and got hurt tonight at church (and she hit her head so hard, I almost cried).  Well see how it goes in a few when she heads up to bed........


My oh my how I will miss seeing that...holding on to those "last" that my kids are having all the time.....

What you're missing....

if you are not camping with us......

You are missing a quick trip back home yesterday when we realized (after totally setting up)  that someone did not pack ANY pillows....

You are missing the change in the weather report from scattered rain on Sunday to MUNNER and WHITNING starting this morning and then again in the morning......

You are missing the fact that the person in charge of packing should have their pay docked for bringing coffee, creamer and NO SUGAR (well 6 little packs that just happened to be in the camper from the last trip)
Also for packing all the stuff to make pancakes but not packing SYRUP.....
Buying milk and then not putting it in the cooler but I did remember the chocolate milk mix--nice huh?

A teenager who is really acting like one at times.  2 preschoolers who are also acting their age and 1 tween who is you guessed it acting her age at times.  A dog who is being very, very good!!

But you are also missing a nice campground with great people, lots of laughing and a great time!!

I'm sure the adventure is just beginning........

Science at Home....

Okay what could possibly keep kids mesmerized for over an hour?

I've known for a while that Landon was a little confused about which bugs and insects were which but had not paid to much attention to it until today.  I mean a few weeks ago he insisted that there was a caderpider (caterpillar) in the playhouse but it was a wizzerd (lizard).  We got him straightened out on that one and went on our way.  Everyday he looks for his wizzerd in the playhouse and that is that.

Until today.....as we were going in to change his wet pants.  He stopped and said "wade-bug"!  I didn't pay much attention since I was on a mission to get him into dry clothes and he's seen wade-bugs and should know what they look like--or NOT!!

Finally, I looked to see what it was.

Can you guess?

What could possibly be in here?

Well let me tell you...it's our new "pet" (and I am using that term very loosely)!  

See, after I told Landon what he was looking at he started telling everyone else and Shelby and her friends adopted it as our pet.  His name is Harry!  The only problem with that is a.) I don't want another pet and b.)they left said pet with 2 very interested little kids and 1 semi interested one.

Casey and Landon had a blast for the rest of the afternoon.  They let Harry join them in all of the the things that they enjoy best.....

like playing in

a pool that has NO water in it!!

They also thought Harry might enjoy going down the pool slide I'm pretty sure that Harry is glad that the regular slide was to hot and they didn't take him down that slide also.  I mean I don't speak caterpillar or anything but I'm feeling pretty confident in this.

There were lots of squeal and giggles as they "petted" Harry.  I'm also thinking that he could have done without all the love.

Finally, they wanted to actually hold Harry.  They were so excited that they were going to get to hold him. 

Landon wanted to be first and jumped into the swing.  He was all about holding Harry.  Until.......

 He realized how Harry was going to climb on him and try to uhm, you know GET AWAY!!

If you look closely, you can see Harry trying to make his escape.  He's on the metal part of the swing seat just trying to blend in.

Casey was next for holding Harry.

She dropped him the first time but wasn't scared to try again.  Landon eagerly watched from a distance but did not care to have Harry climbing on him again.

Poor Harry took all the holding and petting he could stand I think.  He finally quit moving but was still alive just still.  Casey came in to get ready to go to outreach at church and Landon sat with Harry.  He must have started feeling better about "petting" Harry again because that's what he sat on the swing doing while I got Casey ready.  When I checked on Harry--totally expecting him to have been "loved to death" if you know what I mean, he was doing fine and crawling around.

I just love being home with these guys!!!  I would have hated to miss this!!

Free Fun....

well it was almost free.....

we bought the pool in 2008!!  

Notice that there is NO water in the pool--but there was plenty of POLLEN!!

They have had a blast playing in this pool with no water.  One of them is going to be very shocked when there is finally water there!

Happy Easter!!! We're not the family we used to be.....

Yep it's true.

We're not the family we used to be!!  How is that you ask?  Well let me tell you what has happened her over the past few days.....

The kids have been playing with plastic buckets and plastic eggs for weeks now.  We have been playing with the Resurrection Eggs for the past few weeks also.  It has been great.  Casey has also been telling me we need to put the Halloween flag since it's almost Easter.  (I'm not so sure about this but I have an idea.)  Well, last night I finally got their Easter baskets down and set them on the table.  Shelby was so excited to see them (she's been asking for a couple of days) and Casey wanted to know what they were for!  She thought about it for a few seconds and said, "Who is the Easter bunny?  Is he gonna hatch out of those eggs we just colored?"  I almost choked!!  We explained that the Easter bunny MIGHT leave a little treat in her basket and that no bunnies do not come from eggs.  (I see a new science lesson in our future!!)
This morning she was excited to see some candy and a new game in her basket.  After church, we were preparing lunch and she said "do we get to go get candy in our baskets tonight?"  I told her no  we don't go get candy in our baskets tonight and she said "okay so you just get some candy in the morning?"

Just a few minutes ago she came to me and said that Mary Magdalene had sent her and the others to the store.  I asked what Mary needed and she said peanut butter and jelly because they wanted sandwiches.

Now how are we a different family?  Well Drew and Shelby knew all about the Easter Bunny and were excited at this age.  They went to the store and had their picture made with him.  I think we have one of Casey when she was tiny but Landon has not seen the Easter Bunny.  What do I think about this?  Am I sad, do I feel like they are missing out on something?  Nope.  The Easter Bunny still came for a visit.  They are enjoying playing with eggs and having hunts, we have candy but the most important thing is this.  Casey (and Landon is working on remembering) knows why we celebrate EASTER!!  She knows that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus into this world.  She knows that Jesus never did anything bad (how she understands sinless) and that Jesus died on the cross to pay for all of the bad things (sin) that all of us do!!!!  Do I think my 2 little ones missed something this year by not seeing the Easter bunny or even knowing about him till last night?  Nope, our eyes on on something life changing better yet eternal changing.
So how has your Easter been?  Ours has been wonderful and while we are having fun with the Easter bunny we are working to keep our focus on the cross!!!