He's Five....

Ethan is going to Kindergarten this coming school year!

...I think he is ready....although he doesn't want to learn to read, he does enjoy writing his letters...
...and counting numbers -frontwards and backwards!-
He loves to draw. His Papaw Kuhn said that he would much rather draw for Landon since he doesn't care if your puppy looks like a dragon, just as long as you draw for him. Ethan, on the other hand, needs to have the exact replica of what he's wishing for you to draw. (Firstborn perfectionist! Now, where did he get that...!?)
What do those school days hold for little brother, Landon...and his little sister, Morgan?
Wonder how they will get by without Ethan?...when you take one kid out of the equation it could turn into less drama for mama....! I'm sure we'll miss him during the school day, but it will be fun to see him learning and growing up even more.

By the third...

I realized that by the time the third kid came into our family I let that child do way more than the two that preceded...well, in the getting dirty department, that is. When I am trying to get something accomplished and that third child is being quite, having fun and not harming it's body, then I just go ahead and let it be.

So I got a few phone calls taken care of. This third child had hands-on experience with the touch/feel of two things: water and mud, and ...we both survived!

Tomboy or Princess

If your brothers are Ethan and Landon, and there were no other girls born before you in your family, you might end up stepping over into boyland every now and then.

You might where your brothers' pajama bottoms....
You might end up with the scary batman mask on....
You might find yourself being a tease....

OR....

If the princess comes out of you for a short time, you might end up with your purse - and don't forget the shoes! - Morgan loves shoes. Doesn't matter if they aren't a matching pair, just get 'em on her so she can go outside! (The "going outside" is the tomboy shining through again!)
But boy, when that princess side comes bursting through, Morgan can sure make mommy and daddy's heart overflow with love!

Sun Time with My Son

Trying to relax and soak up some sun while Landon and Morgan were napping, Ethan decided to join me outdoors. He was going to explore in the woods. He quickly discovered a dead rabbit not far from where I was lying. "Mommy, can I hit it with a rock?" I watched as he nailed that rabbit and sent it scooting a few inches from its former resting place. "Ouch, ouch!" Ethan said. That quickly showed him the rabbit was for sure dead. I told him that he was not to touch the unclean animal with his hands - only with the stick he had found. As I had not given up to catching some rays, I had to add to that listening to his chatter and answering his questions. (Aren't you shocked Ethan would have questions to ask!?!) "Mommy! I can see his eye!" "Mommy! His mouth and teeth are bleeding!" "Mommy! I see his little tiny teeth!" "I opened him up and I can see his food"! "What eats the rabbit?" I told him that the flies would want his blood. I heard him a few seconds later telling a couple insects, "not over there, there!" (as if he was trying to show them where to find the blood.)
So, my afternoon in the sun wasn't blessed quietness. But it was very entertaining listening to Ethan discovering new and exciting (shudder!) things in God's creation.

"A child is the greatest joy,
the ultimate blessing."

Emily Laughton

Here we are after enjoying some hotdogs over a fire....

My boys are so much fun!

Can't Get Much Better Than This

How could a gal ask for more?

I am blessed with a husband who is an incredible father to my children....

...and I have an equally fabulous father who still spoils me rotten!

O Be Careful Little Hands

"O be careful little hands what you do,

O be careful little hands what you do,

For the Father up above is looking down in love,

O be careful little hands what you do."

We make messes. Sometimes we are having fun and don't even realize the damage we are doing. Or other times we might make a huge mess all the while seeing the full picture of "damage" we may be doing.
But God. These two words are powerful. But God, who is lovingly watching us, tenderly scoops us up in His mighty arms and quietly wipes the mess away.
Sometimes the messes are easy to clean and disappear with promises to never let a mess like that happen again. Or other times the messes leave behind a small stain that will permanently mark the future picture.
What are my hands finding to do today, this week, this year?
Will I make mess after mess? Or will I strive to keep a clean slate and if I happen to stumble, will I be quick to tell God I'm done trying to paint this awful mess and have Him wipe it all away?

(Just a thought....these photos got me thinking....)

Just Imagine

Imagine your couch has just turned into a boat. Your oldest son is Jonah and your youngest son is "Dod". (this would be translated to "God" in the English language. But Landon prefers "Dod".") To top it off, you have just become a whale. As Jonah is preparing to make his jump into the cold, tossing sea, "Dod" comes running on the boat bellowing out to Jonah, "Say, I sorry!" Of course, he does like to have a little fun - "Dod" had no problem pushing, umm, helping Jonah into the sea. Later, as Jonah is in the belly of that whale, he prays to God and asks Him to get him out. As I(the whale -yes, I stepped out of character for a brief moment) tells him to say "I will go to Ninevah", Jonah tells me he "forgot that part". Countless times we played this. Along with David and Giant. Have you ever "just imagined" what it's like to be somebody or something else?

Below, Landon must be pretending to be a hairdresser. Funny how the boys loved playing with Morgan's toy at first -New and fun. Now it's old and boring.

Sometimes playing, imagining, and acting can be pretty tough on a big boy like Landon Reese. Here he is at the table eating his lunch...Well, he obviously is finished with lunch and it appears to be nap time! (Actually, all the packing we did just about wore him out. Schedule was crazy!)