Mary's 4th Birthday

This week brings us to our sweet darling Mary Jane's 4th birthday! It is so hard to believe that she is that old! I can easily remember the summer she was born- and she was such a good, sweet baby. She would literally play in her crib for hours, and sit in the middle of the floor watching the boys run around her with a huge smile on her face. Then she turned 1, started talking and has not stopped since! She is such a pretty little girl, but there is just something about her coy smiles, and widely spaced eyes that look at far away places that we have never been, that make her truly beautiful! Jesus made a completely different breed of girl with Mary Jane. But when you look into her eyes you can truly believe there is another land somewhere out there with fairies, princesses and tea parties at all hours of the day (oh yeah and people that never, ever sleep!)
Anyway back to the party! Since her actual birthday is so close to Memorial Day we chose to celebrate the weekend before, and since it is May I pictured beautiful blue sun filled skies. But that is not what we had, so we made the best of the rain. It was a very girly party full of bracelet making (or in some cases- necklaces), nail polishing and princess tea parties. We just had 3 friends, and it made the party down right pleasant! I think it is the first party I really truly enjoyed myself. The only downer was Peter & I painted these sweet little wooden dolls from Etsy like each of the little girls that attended the party, to put on top of the cupcakes. They were beautiful- Peter is super talented and made the hair very realistic! But the cupcakes were horrible looking- since it was so humid outside the cupcake tops were coming off and mixing in the cupcakes. So the frosting was pink with chocolate specks!! Oh well, you win some, you lose some!! What matters is Mary Jane helped me make the very bright pink frosting, and I am counting on her remembering that!!
We ended the party with a tea party on the front porch (with a little rain mixed in), and Mary had a fabulous time serving the girls tea (water), and eating cupcakes. It was beautiful all in all, and I am so thankful for the Lord's provision in adding Mary in our family. We are so blessed!

Morning Conversation with Zeke and Mary

Every morning while I clean the morning mess our kids watch "Sid the Science Kid". They absolutely love it because every day it explores and experiments with a different scientific question. But it also includes catchy little songs and dances. In fact one day at a McDonalds we over heard a Russian man singing to his child what we thought was a folk song. Then we listened more carefully and realized it was one of Sid's songs from the show. It is an international spectacular! Anyway this morning the show was about sense of smell. Here is Zeke and Mary's conversation during the show. Teacher Suzy asks everyone what their house smells like.

Zeke: Mary, what does our house smell like?

Mary: (takes a deep inhale) Poop!

Zeke: (takes a deep inhale) You are right!!! Mom!!

Mary: Mom! Come change Ella's diaper!!

Every girl needs a teepee

We were strolling through Target (on an outing searching for a little bit Spring) about a month ago, when we came upon a tent shaped like a teepee. To tell you the truth, I am not sure who was more excited, Mary or myself. We both gasped and reached for it at the same time to stare at the card board box in amazement. But then reality hit- no one needs a teepee, and it was way outside of our budget. To add to that we have a monster shaped tent at home that was just bought at Christmas time for the boys. So we left our visions of tea parties and sleep-overs (in a teepee) in aisle F39 and moved on.
So two weeks later on a routine trip for groceries I brought home a surprise. We are now proud owners of a pink & green teepee complimented by flowers printed on the flap. We ripped it out of the box and set it up as quickly as possible without reading the directions. Then the 4 kids and I attempted to all fit in the small structure. It didn't work, so we all took turns going in and out, and laughing as Ella walked into the doorway and falling down over and over. She was so happy that she didn't cry, but she still hasn't learned the art of ducking your head. Needless to say the girls (and boys) absolutely love it. We have no use for Mary's bed anymore. She has slept in the teepee for 6 nights in a row cuddled up with her favorite stuffed elephant and her "Aunt Hannah" blanket. You have to appreciate the little luxuries in life sometimes, and the teepee has definitely made that list. I am so thankful for my husband's provision so that we can have little luxuries every once in awhile.
There is an exclusive tea party scheduled for early next week with a guest list that includes 2 beautiful little girls, 2 stuffed elephants and possibly 2 brothers if they decide the don't need to build a Lego empire at that time. It is sure to be top notch with cookies and juice.
And when Spring produces consistent mild weather we will move the teepee to the back porch where Pocahontas and forest animals can visit at their whim.

Lunch time conversation

Zeke and Mary sit together and talk about how old they are on a daily basis. Today's conversation went a little like this-

M: I'm 14
Z: I'm 16
M: I'm 20
Z: I'm 22
Me: I'm 29 (almost 30, in April!)
Z: No, you're not!
Me: Yes, I am

Zeke: No, Mom that's too old. You aren't old, you're young. You are too fun to be 29.

Oh, I love my kids and the everyday joy they bring. God has blessed us. I hope I never forget!

The View Through A Lens

I went to Target today to look at the cameras. I am trying to decide which one to save up for, and honestly I am completely stumped. All I know is that my camera is slowly but surely becoming more and more of a frustration then a joy. I love to take pictures, and am completely amateur, but there is something remarkably beautiful about looking through the lens and seeing what pops up. The camera has a way of making perfectly ordinary things look amazing- and prodding you to do things that you ordinarily wouldn't think of doing.
It is the ability to see the beautiful color and texture of things that the human eye cannot pick up on it's own. I look through the camera and suddenly the shape of Mary's fairy wings looks inviting and it is time to become Tinkerbell. Ella's sweet hats, and Zeke's shiny boots beckon you to go outside for a walk. Solomon's book covers just plead for you to huddle under a blanket and read. And I would probably never step foot into my dear husbands Jeep if I didn't look at it through a viewfinder.
I absolutely love and am completely endeared to whomever designed the magical camera. I am sure that God placed a camera in my life to help me do things that I might otherwise find a waste of time (because I have laundry and dishes or misc. cleaning of some other sort).
~K