little girl, big words

Last night, Ivy and Mommy were reading books together before bedtime as is our routine. (Owen began reading books with us, but he didn't quite make it through the first one until he zonked right out to sleep...he was a very tired boy!) We enjoyed reading our books and then read our Bible story. As we finished our Bible story for the night, Ivy wanted to take advantage of getting some alone time with Mommy and Daddy. (She craves that time and does her best to establish that time for herself.) So, we let her stay up for some special time with us. We were looking through the rest of her Bible when she came upon her absolute favorite picture. It is a picture of the Queen of Sheba riding on a camel to go visit King Solomon. She explained last night why she liked the picture..."This is my favorite picture not because there's pink in it but because all of the colors are just so beautiful. **pause as she admired the picture** I wonder who the illustrator was for this book. He or she did such a great job." (YES, she really did say illustrator! And, yes, she really did say he or she because she wasn't sure if the illustrator was a boy or a girl!) Such big words for such a little girl! :-)

lounging

Because Nathan didn't have to go into work until the afternoon, we were able to have a little bit of an easier relaxing morning (mind you, we still have 3 kids in the house that wake up ready to go) rather than the rush it usually becomes. This morning, Nathan treated me to a really nice and much needed and welcomed backrub. As I was lying on the couch enjoying this rare treat for a few minutes, Daddy just had to jokingly comment, "What's Mom doing today, Ivy, lounging?" Ivy then remarked, "Yeah, while all of her kids are hungry." There's no rest for the weary in this house...or at least just for Mommy.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. ~Matthew 11:28-30

cheese beans

Growing up, my Mom would sometimes make a special side dish for our family called cheese beans. The dish was really nothing extra ordinary - take a can of green beans and melt Velveeta cheese over them. Simple. Easy. Yummy. My Mom even tells us that on the nights that we had plain, old greens beans, she would open only one can for our family of six, and there would almost always be some beans left over. BUT, on the nights she would serve cheese beans, she would open 2 cans of beans, and miraculously there wouldn't be any left.

Well, tonight...

I passed on an Ochs family dish to my family. (Yeah, Kim!)

I made cheese beans. My family LOVES cheese. My family LOVES green beans. SO, they will definitely LOVE cheese beans. Right? Boy was I WRONG!!!!

Daddy choked down one spoonful of them. I threatened Ivy and Owen with the idea that they would not be excused from the table until they ate ONE bean or until it was bath time, whichever came first. Ivy closed her eyes, ate the bean off of her fork really fast, and then grabbed her cup of milk to wash the bean down. She ate her required bean so she was allowed to get up from the table. And then there was Owen... Owen and his stubborn self or fixated mind was just going to sit there until bath time until Daddy came along to encourage him to eat the bean. SO, Owen ate the bean while Daddy fed it to him and then immediately threw up ALL of his food all over himself and into Daddy's hands! (Don't worry...I won't show you any pictures of that!) BUT, at least Owen ate his bean so he was excused from the table. ;)

Do you think we will be having cheese beans EVER again????

(For the record, though, Letty didn't mind eating ALL of her cheese beans!) :0)

receipt

Since Ivy received a grocery cart for her birthday and now has a cash register that really scans and beeps bar codes from Christmas, pretending to go grocery shopping (or any kind of shopping) has pretty much been an everyday occurrence in this house. Today, Ivy gave me my receipt and commented, "Mom, here's your receipt. It tells you how much you've wasted." :o)

walking

Look what Letty is doing now...

...WALKING!!!!

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. ~III John v. 4