Saturday, February 28, 2009

Cranium Fun

The kids and I played Cranium the kids version tonight. We had a lot of fun. Beau and Anna were able to name three of the five closest planets to the sun and spell the word giggle (I didn't make them spell it backwards.)
Luke was on my team. This is his picture of a monkey. Then underneath it Luke was able to guess a flat wheel (flat tire) from my drawing, it helps that we just had a flat tire on the van a week or so ago and he was able to remember it well.
This bottom picture is Anna's drawing of a tennis racket, I wasn't sure she would know what she was doing but she did great even if her handle is a little wide.
The thing next to it was Luke's drawing of an arm, it was supposed to be an otter, but he thought Beau said "arm". We all had a good laugh over that one.


Friday, February 27, 2009

Just Another Reason I Love My Husband





Feeling Thankful

My feet are cold because our furnace isn't working properly, but we have a fireplace and I am thankful for the warmth it is providing. The furnace guy will be here shortly to fix whatever the problem is and we will be plenty warm tonight. I am thankful because I have warmth and I am feeling badly for all those out there that don't have warmth. They can't call the furnace guy because they probably can't pay him or they don't have a furnace or they are choosing to be cold to save money. I am thankful these concerns aren't mine, but I know there are so many who are in that situation in our difficult economic times and for them I pray. I am so grateful to God for what He has provided our family this year. It is so much more than a home and warmth and food for our bodies, our hearts have become home, we belong to our church here, God warms our hearts in daily prayer and conversation with Him, and He feeds us with His word. And it isn't just me, Ben and the kids have it too and it is palpable in our home. It is bringing tears to my eyes knowing His love is so abundant. Last night Ben walked through the living room with a huge smile on his face and his eyes were sparkling. I asked him what was so humorous (with Ben it could be any number of things), but this time it wasn't humor it was contentment. He was feeling absolute joy about our home, he loves it every bit of it. To see Ben that happy and content makes me profoundly thankful. He worries so much about making the right choices for our family and constantly second guesses himself, but last night contentment was all over his face and I wish I had more than a mental picture because it was so REAL and so God.
I am thankful that we are warm inside and out, we have heat from the only true source and we want to share it.
God Bless,

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

House Warming/Signature Homestyles Party

I have wanted to have a house warming, but without any family around to come I decided not to do it, however, I am having a Signature Homestyles Party so all my friends here can come and see our new home (without the final touches done yet). It is also a good excuse to have a girl's night out (in). I am looking forward to ideas from my friends as to decoration and style because I have very little. Friday night should be a lot of fun and I might actually make this place a little more stylish when it is all said and done. If any of my friends or family out in the blog world would like to order anything from the catalog just click on the link above or below and go to the catalog. If you see something you'd like let me know and we can order it. Or if you see something you kind of like not sure that you want to buy right now, let me know that too because then I have a gift idea for the future. I could always do another party in six months right before Christmas. Just drop me an e-mail or leave me a comment if anything catches your eye.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Bee Movie Explained

We caught the end of The Bee Movie on tv yesterday. The kids and I were watching and at the very end the bees are wearing gloves on their heads. I asked, "why are they wearing gloves on their heads?" Anna answered, "well Mom, they're bees, they don't have hands." Well said Anna thank you for the logical answer, I was looking for a reason more to do with the job they were doing in the movie, but we were all laughing too hard at her logical answer to take the conversation any further. Don't ask a question in our house if you don't want a logical answer.

A Little of Luke

Luke has become quite a backseat driver lately. First he has to point out everything that he knows or has been to. Mom there's a tree, there's my school, there's the playground, etc. Yes Luke thank you. The other thing is that he completely understands stop lights. Mom, STOP it is red, red means stop. Okay I'm stopped. Mom GO it is green you can go now, well we have to wait for the cars in front of us Luke, ohhhh. Mom SLOW DOWN see the yellow light that means slow down mom, you need to slow down, mom slow down, oh it is green okay you can go mom. He is so helpful I'm not sure I could get anywhere without him. I'm glad we have two more years before he starts reading every sign on the road to me.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Hi/Lo Thursday

This post is part of "Hi/Lo Thursday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to read everyone else's "Hi/Lo" posts and for a chance to win $100.

I thought I'd join in again this week on Hi/Lo Thursday. One to share how great of a week I've had and two because this family is so stinking awesome that I like linking my blog to theirs.

Hi-
Ben and I went on an amazing marriage encounter weekend, I love my husband. Luke is reminding me daily how glad he is to have me home.

Lo-
Ben had to go out of town for two nights-three days and I miss him horribly. Luke is having some serious behavior problems since I was gone for three days.


Anna's Artwork


Can you guess what this is? She painted twice yesterday during school, she loved it and was very proud of her masterpiece.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A Little Part of Beau

Beau is a celebrity now. He made the newspaper of our metropolis, and of course his answer was scientific. We completely forgot that he was going to be in the paper so we didn't go out and buy three copies of the daily news to have proof to send to grandparents of his endeavours, but thankfully we have friends. More than one person cut it out for us and got it to us.
This other little piece of artwork is so Beau. He is constantly drawing and making little comics out of whatever he draws. This one says "The kid is shocked cause he heard pop quiz." His z is backwards which is very common for him and his grammar could use some help with the cause but it is humorous and I have so many more to share that I finally got one scanned in is a real accomplishment for me. I have a stack of Anna's stuff waiting to be shared too, maybe someday.



Tuesday, February 17, 2009

A Marriage Renewed, Restrengthened, Restored

Ben and I had a good marriage, we loved each other and we spent time together, but this weekend our good marriage became a great marriage. We attended a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend and renewed our love for each other. We fell in love deeper than before we left and we discovered each other again. We renewed our vows, and I wept with tears of extreme joy that were filled with strength that Ben gave me this weekend. I would encourage and challenge anyone that reads this to consider giving themselves and their spouse the greatest gift you could ever give each other by attending a weekend encounter and reigniting your flames. I feel on fire with my love for Ben, and I'm not sure Ben would use the same words but he also really enjoyed the weekend together. We both learned a lot that will carry us through the next 50 years, or until the next time we go on a weekend retreat.
I will be posting more this week about the retreat and different aspects of it that really spoke to me, but right now I am still basking in the warmth and blanket of love that I feel towards Ben and I know he feels towards me (he told me so.)
God Bless, and for all marriages in strife I pray.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Today's the Day

Today I am cashing in my Christmas present. Ben and I are on our way to our Marriage Encounter Weekend, I am so excited/anxious to spend the weekend remembering just how much I love him and finding ways to better communicate that. I am looking forward to reaching out to eachother and God in preparing for the next 50 years together.
May God bless us this weekend and a few extra prayers our way and over the kids would be greatly appreciated.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Hi/Lo Thursday

This post is part of "Hi/Lo Thursday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to read everyone else's "Hi/Lo" posts and for a chance to win $100.

I have had quite a week so I thought I'd join this fun.
My hi this week is the prep and planning for a weekend away at a marriage retreat with my man and THE MAN. To overcome all the obstacles the one from down under throws into the path to try to dissuade us from becoming stronger as ONE IN HIM is extremely uplifting. Not to mention the amazing ordinary Sunday I had with my man last week just got me in the right spirit for this upcoming weekend.
And the los, oh too many but can't be outdone by the love of God. To begin a sick husband (he's better now), a sick kid and friends going through more suffering that I can't fix but I know our heavenly Father can.
This is such a great way to get perspecitive on the truly important things in life.

Count it all Joy

It warmed up just slightly last week and the kids took advantage of it. Beau found some melted ice that had made a huge puddle and he proceeded to walk through it for a long time until his boots were soaked and they took days and days to dry. Anna spent her time chasing the cats to hold them, that is when we had two cats. It seems one has disappeared. The theories are a coyote got him, or maybe a bird (Beau's thought), or Oscar (he has a taste for cat, we've caught him with them before), or he just took off, or he ate a mouse that had eaten poison, or mine is that he climbed in the UPS truck and went for a ride, he was always climbing into vehicles.
Anna is very upset that he is missing and looks for him all the time, we will probably have to replace him. Beau hasn't talked about it much, and so far Luke is clueless. But the kids will move on and find joy in the present, like taking a bath in the middle of the day, or watching tv in daddy's bed when your sick, or eating candy hearts and reading what they say. If I could just be more childlike and look for joy somewhere else or in the little things even when everything else just seems joyless. Like today things are pretty rotten for many of my friends, but Luke made me smile by befriending a little 20 month old and giving her first tea party. I can't stop smiling with the memory of him pouring her tea and her spilling half of it and then just enjoying having a cup with no lid. It was too cute. Joy is always all around us we just have to open our eyes and see it through the suffering or around the suffering or in spite of the suffering.




Beau testing the limits of the strength of the ice. We all test the limits of the strength of our foothold, but our God is always there to lift us up and carry us when we need Him to. Praying for all my dear friends who are suffering and need carrying right now.


Artistic Fun

The kids love to paint. Any random time you can find one of them painting downstairs with at least one spilled cup of water next to them.
On Saturday Ben and I were working in the garage, when I went in to check on the kids they were all three working on a project.

Beau read the directions to them and they all followed along. It was so cute and heart warming to see. The project was making a bug out of a rock. Beau had gone outside and rock hunted to find each of them a nice round rock to paint into a bug. Unfortunately the paint in the above picture was bought after this because they only had water colors. The next morning I went and bought the proper paint and each of them sometime during that day painted their rocks. Only Luke managed to spill the water.


They worked so hard even with the wrong kind of paint.
Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The Social Butterfly

Yep, that's me. I had quite an exciting day yesterday. It started out with an early morning phone call from a friend. Prayers are needed in Kentucky so a few sent that way would be great. Then off to Bible study, some good socializing, some great Word, and gracious prayers.
Off to lunch with a new friend, had a terrific lunch full of conversation and really enjoyed getting to know someone better. Off to school to pick up kids with a quick stop at Subway to pick up a sandwich for my sick husband (whom I ignored for the last two days while he was sick, but I'll more than make up for it this weekend at our retreat.) Get a text from a great friend here, her dad is sick in Michigan again, ugh, more prayers sent that way please. Pick up the kids and go over to her house for a quick hug and a little chat, her husband is out of town so a little visit never hurts anyone. Kids love them too so it was a treat for them to play for a few minutes.
Run home...get a call from SIL, she is at her first OB appointment for baby #3 and feeling stressed, she got to see the heartbeat though (found out via text later, love text sometimes), so praise prayers and thanksgiving for new life. Drop off kids, kiss sick husband, change my pants, and back into the car. Into town to meet another friend (I know five friends in one day, my SIL counts as friend too, but she is family too). We had a night on the town, really we left Havre, we went to Great Falls, grabbed some fabulous dinner with fun conversation and then she took me to see The Pajama Game, a broadway musical. SOOOO Fun. I really enjoyed it after the initial clausterphobia, haven't been in a place with that many people in a really long time. So great though, music, dancing, so much talent so much fun.
Then the two hour drive home, of course we talked the whole way, so it flew by, thanks Courtney (if she ever reads this which knowing her she won't love her anyway though).
Home at midnight, in bed by 1, and up at 6:50. Full of energy though amazing how friends can just life you up. Great, great day. Thank you Father for friends.
I really have to step out of my box to meet new people but I am so thankful I have here, I have met some wonderful fantastic forever friends.
God Bless,


Friday, February 6, 2009

What I Don't Understand About My Kids

Why can't they all get sick on the same day? Why do they have to drag it out one after the other?

How come on one day they will eat it and then the next won't even touch their tongue to it?

When does a routine sink in so that you don't have to spell every step out for them every day?

How come they always miss the toilet when they puke?

Why are they always sick in the middle of the night?

Why do they have to play loudly in front of the tv?

How come I can never find the remote after Beau touches it?

Why can Anna read my eyes so well?

Why do I have to get out of the van to get her on the bus? She always finds an excuse to get me out, today she couldn't cross the cattle guard by herself, she was afraid she would slip?

Why after weeks of sleeping with their door shut does Beau now need it open a crack to fall asleep?

Why does Luke insist that the door still be shut tightly?

Why won't Beau eat chicken unless it is in nugget form?

Why won't Beau eat beef unless it is in hamburger form?

Why do they learn our bad habits faster than our good ones?

Why do they grow up so fast?

How did they get so smart?

How much longer until they won't hug me in public anymore? I don't think I'll survive then, Beau is already starting to push the limits, if I ask then I might get one but never without prompting.

How do you capture their joy in a bottle?

How do you hide your pride when they finally behave in church? We are so close.

How does your heart hold so much love without exploding?

Thank you heavenly Father for these gifts I treasure more than gold, my days would be boring without them, even when they are pushing me to the brink of my patience. Watch over them when I cannot and keep them always under your loving guidance. Amen.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Let's Go Fly A Kite

Let's go fly a kite up to the highest height,
and send it soaring, up through the atmosphere
up where there is clear...
Or, we can fly it to the moon. That is what Anna did, she had the greatest conversations with Ben while they were flying the kite. I can't even remember what they all were she just kept changing the topic. But my favorite was when she told Ben the kite was flying to the moon. Then Ben started telling her about the moon being out at night, and Anna said but dad the moon is right there. Oh yeah I guess it is. I didn't get a picture of it because I was too busy listening to their conversation and taking pictures of their rears. I had to lay down to get these pictures of them and the kite but it was totally worth it. I will tresure these for a long time. I love the deep blue color of the sky and I'm definitely going to frame one of these for Anna's room.

See dad the moon is right there...that is what she is pointing towards.



I don't think he could possibly love her any more.


Luke Flying a Kite

We have finally found a good use for Montana's winds. Luke and Anna got new kites this weekend and broke them out yesterday for a short time. Luke really enjoyed watching optimus prime fly in the sky, but he got cold quickly and it really ticked him off when Oscar tried to get the kite's tail.

Isn't the dirty snow just awesome. The wind continues to blow dirt right over the snow, but nothing we can do about it so we'll just fly a kite.