3rd Party Down

Invitations...

Landon Reese is now 4 years old...
A Batman party it turned out to be...we had 'Batman in Blankets' and 'Poison Ivy' punch...
Shawn had shirts made for all the little kiddos at the party...


Wanted for birthday: A motorcycle, a man, a dog, and a horse.
He received all of the above except the motorcycle (which he had bought for himself but I guess it wasn't right!) and a dog. After opening the horse, he said, "Where's the motorcycle and dog?" Crazy kid! He always asked for all those things in a particular order! Gotta love kids!

Recipe for Success

After hours (well, minutes. Felt longer.) of peeling, cutting and preparing apples, the boys and I were finally able to enjoy my Grandma Cessna's Applesauce Recipe.....Ethan said, "This tastes better than the kind you buy at the store." Right on, boy, right on!

Just Be

Be loving.

Be passionate.

Be creative.

Be spontaneous.

Be happy.
...even if you wet your pants and have to wear a boy pull-up!Be joyful.
(even if Mommy tries to trick you into working by saying "Let's play a game"!
The "boat" was sinking so we needed to get the "water" out.
Be content.
Be joyful always...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 &18

Now Go. And Be.

2 Birthdays Down

Sarah Morgan is now a two year old. Normally at this age they say "Terrible Twos". She has already been in the "terrible terror" stage, so easing into this roll has been very easy for her. Already today she has gotten corrected for taking her band out of her hair 3 times, used a marker to scribble on the tablecloth and new notebook covers and I have heard her brother (L) sobbing more than once because of something to do with his "little" sister.

Morgan is not a big dessert eater. She much prefers candy. So I held off on making cupcakes/cake with ice cream and opted for an easier route....candy galore! :-) We also enjoyed a small meal with family before gifts, blowing of candle and eating candy.

Since we celebrated her party a day late, I made chocolate chip heart pancakes and we had her blow out a candle and open her gift from us on her actual birthday.....Now that she has a chef outfit, utensils etc., she can work with mommy in the kitchen and have her own supplies...

After going to her 2 yr. wellness checkup, we have found Morgan is staying close to big brothers and even passing them up. Take a look...

At 2 yrs.
Ethan ... 36 in. ... 28 lb.
Landon ... 37 in. ... 37 lb.
Morgan ... 37 1/4 in. ... 34 lb. 10 oz.

1 Birthday Down

Ethan Chandler is now a big six year old. Since Ethan wanted Spiderman theme for the big day, I was surfing for ideas. Ugh. Nasty. Creepy. Spiderman is NOT handsome. His costume designer must not have been too great. So I asked Ethan if he would like to have a Policeman party (MawMaw had gotten play policeman gear for the boys at Christmas - a hit!)
and he was quite pleased with that idea. (Whew!) Coffee and Donuts were a hit! (and might I add - super easy.)

Our oldest "baby" is reading -- MY ABEKA BOOKS. Just today he read to me one that had "Melly" printed on the front. He does not care to go to school. He says he gets hungry (which is probably an excuse since we know what all he eats during the day) and is super grumpy in the mornings (although an early bedtime works wonders) and he also knows that Landon and Morgan still get to go to MawMaw's house while Mommy teaches lessons. :-) But, he really likes to read and count and is quoting little sayings and....you get the idea. He likes it, just doesn't like to miss out on all the fun stuff going on without him.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

from

The Clemens Clan!

Remembering

Today we are remembering my sister

Sarah Janene Kuhn
11.28.1986 - 8.7.1987

As a toddler of 3 yrs. and then even a teen, I had never really grasped the feeling (can I use that phrase?) of losing a child. No, I haven't experienced it, but I now understand a bit more since I have 3 children of my own. Shawn came to the conclusion that he wanted to name our own baby girl in memory of my sister. I thought about that and later came to the same decision of how wonderful that would be. If we named our baby Sarah, every time we mentioned her name we would be reminded of God's love and the awesome fact that because of my parents strong love in that God, brought them through the toughest time in their life.


Thanks, Mom and Dad, for a wonderful example and also for giving so much of your wonderful love to my Sarah - Sarah Morgan. And by God's grace, maybe one day they will meet! Neat, huh?!

I leave you with the hymn that is dated for August 7th in my Hymn Devotional Book:

O Love divine, that stooped to share
Our sharpest pang, our bitterest tear,
On Thee we cast each earthborn care;
We smile at pain while Thou are near.

When drooping pleasure turns to grief,
And trembling faith is changed to fear,
The murmuring wind, the quivering leaf
Shall softly tell us Thou art near!

On Thee we fling our burdening woe,
O Love divine, forever dear,
Content to suffer while we know,
Living and dying, Thou art near!
Oliver Wendell Holmes