Family Circus

Heath was chasing Jacob. Jacob was chasing Annabelle. Annabelle was running as fast as her little legs would carry her from the back of Lowe's all the way to the front of the store. I was yelling, "DON'T CHASE HER!! SHE'LL ONLY RUN FARTHER AND FASTER IF YOU CHASE HER!!!!!" Oh well. Too late. I jogged to the front of the store with the rest of my crew. I got there just after the collision. According to Heath, Jacob tackled his little sister at the front entrance. Annabelle was giggling with delight. Jacob was sporting a new busted lip, compliments of the giggling two year old when her head bumped his face during the tackle. What a nice little family trip to Lowe's. At least we provided entertainment for the other shoppers.

These days a family trip to anywhere seems to turn into a circus. Even on their best behavior, Jacob and Annabelle are live wires. The world is their playground. Literally. No matter where they go, they will find something to play with, play on, or play around. Give her any running room at all, and Annabelle takes off like she's in the Olympics.

With these two little energizer bunnies, I've been loving the beautiful weather we've had lately. We've spent a great deal of time playing outside in the sunshine...and burning energy. Lots and lots of energy.


One of the kids' favorite things to do is have a picnic, even if we're only in the backyard. They love picnics. They eat a little, play a lot, eat a little more, play a lot more...until the food is gone and we're all tired and ready for a nap. Good times.

Annabelle likes to climb trees. I am confident, she'll make it to the top one day soon.

Jacob might be on a soccer team, but lately, he's taken a heavy interest in T-ball. He can hit the ball across the yard now.


Thank you, God, for this beautiful weather. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Easter 2011 (continued)

Several weeks ago, I read a magazine article about how to dye eggs naturally. "That's interesting," I thought. the more I read, the more I was intrigued. I wanted to give it a try. So I did.

An extra trip to the grocery store was in order. I guess many people might have all the ingredients on hand to make these all-natural egg dyes. I did not. And I can tell you, if you don't have the necessary ingredients already, dying eggs the natural way ends up being quite a bit more expensive. But, still, I wanted to try it.

So, for this year's Easter eggs, we used turmeric to make yellow dye; blackberries for lavender; pomegranate juice for red; and spinach to make a green dye. I bought some other things for other colors, but quickly found out I wouldn't have the time (or the patience) to make ALL those different colors.

The process took a lot more time and effort (and was considerably more messy) than opening up a package of PAAS, but it was fun. Although my husband might speak otherwise.


The results? Well, our results weren't great, but I'd still try it again.
The turmeric worked out the best, turning our eggs a bright yellow in no time.


The blackberries worked fairly well for lavender. Notice the cracked eggs. Any egg dyed by Annabelle came out cracked. She threw them into the containers with such force, I 'm surprised they weren't smashed to pieces. She was really excited about this whole egg dying thing.

Now. The pomegranate juice. I expected a beautiful, vibrant red. What we ended up with was -- to use Annabelle's favorite word -- a "yucky" brown.


The spinach turned out to be a dud. Our eggs came out not green, but just as white as they were when we put them into the container.

My little experiment may not have been 100 percent successful, but we still had fun. Maybe we'll try again next year with a few different ingredients. I know of at least two we won't be using -- spinach and pomegranate juice.

I bought a set of resurrection eggs this year -- something I've wanted to do for a while. The kids loved them. I don't know that we used them quite the way they were intended, but we had fun. The Easter story was told...numerous times...and the eggs were opened and reopened again and again.


And since I haven't posted this picture yet, here you go...the 2011 visit with the Easter Bunny. Jacob ran right up to him. Annabelle wasn't running. She was a little hesitant, but Jacob managed to coax her over. She didn't really seem scared, just unsure.

The kids are way cuter than the Easter Bunny. Wouldn't you agree?

Just Mommy and Me

Mommy took me shopping a couple weeks ago. Just me. Not my brother. I love my brother and all, but he likes to aggravate me...a lot...all the time. He takes toys away from me and yells at me when I put his Legos in my mouth. He makes me share my fruit snacks with him, but he won't share with me. That's ok though. He may be bigger than me, but I know how to fight. I'm pretty good at hitting and if he really makes me mad, I bite him. But, I have to be careful about fighting. If Mommy or Daddy sees or finds out, I get in trouble. I have to go to time out. Or sometimes get a spankin'. Getting a spankin' is yucky. Time out is yucky too. If I don't like something, I tell Mommy, "Dats yucky."

So I was happy to go shopping with Mommy. Mommy was excited about it too. She likes to shop. First we went to Lifeway. I got out of the stroller and pulled all the VeggieTales watches off the rack and played with them on the floor. Then I saw a box full of stuffed animals. I took out almost every animal and arranged them on a bench so they could watch a movie. Mommy tried to get me to sit in my stroller, but...NO WAY. I don't like strollers. Would you want to be strapped in a seat being wheeled around a store when you could be running around pulling things off shelves and playing chase? Yeah, I didn't think so. Mommy didn't look too happy. She kept putting me in the stroller, but nothing can hold me down. I can get out of those silly stroller straps in about five seconds. Flat. She said she didn't want me terrorizing the store, so she held me and pushed the empty stroller. I squirmed and yelled the whole time to make her (and everyone else in the store) aware of my discontentment. Mommy bought a few things, then, we were quickly "outta there."

Next we went to the mall. Mommy wanted me to get in the stroller again. Ugh. Won't she ever learn? I DON'T LIKE STROLLERS!! But, I obliged and made her happy for a little while anyway. While she pushed me in the stroller, I kicked my shoes off...repeatedly. I am a good kicker. You should see how far I can kick off a pair of Crocs. It was so much fun watching those little pink shoes fly across the store. It was even more fun watching Mommy run after them. But...I got in trouble. I guess Mommy didn't think it was funny. She put my shoes in the bottom of the stroller. I had to let her know I was upset, so I took off my stroller straps and lunged forward, my feet dragging along the floor. People kept telling Mommy I was about to fall out of the stroller. She said, "I know" and kept right on pushing.

While Mommy tried on clothes, I crawled around on the fitting room floor peeking under the doors where other ladies were trying on clothes. I was meeting new people and saying "hey" to them. I guess Mommy didn't like me doing that either. She gave me some fruit snacks and told me to sit down and not move.

When I'm sitting in the stroller, I like to touch everything as we stroll by -- the dresses, shirts, jewelry on tables, pretty much anything within my reach. One time, I grabbed the bottom of a dress hanging on a big rack. I wouldn't let go. Mommy pulled the stroller backwards and the whole rack fell over. Mommy yelled, "Oh my goodness!" just in time for a lady to turn around and see the rack about to fall on top of her. She caught it with her arm and it took one more person to get the rack back up. Can you believe I did that? That rack was really heavy. Boy, I was proud of that little incident. Mommy wasn't so proud.

By the time we got back to the car, Mommy was exhausted. She looked rough. I don't know why she was so tired. Maybe it was because she didn't eat any fruit snacks in the fitting room like I did. I was having a great time. I wanted to do more shopping, but Mommy drove straight home instead. Oh well. I was actually ready to play with my brother anyway. Mommy says it might be a long time before she takes me shopping again. I guess that's ok. At least I won't have to get in my stroller!

Boy Genius

Headed to the End of the Year Celebration

Last August, if someone would have asked me if Jacob was going to be able to memorize all the facts involved with Classical Conversations, my honest answer would have been , "No way." I thought it was great that he would get so much exposure to history, math, science, fine arts, etc... If he could actually memorize all the facts, great; but, if not, I would be fine with that too. I didn't know what to expect. I quickly discovered that any expectations I may (or may not) have had would be completely blown out of the water. I guess I was selling my four year old short. Jacob has done incredibly well this year and I couldn't be more pleased with CC.

At the end of March, he recited the entire sixth chapter of Ephesians to the CC director and earned the title of Bible Memory Master. I am so proud of him!! I wasn't in the room when he did this, but was told he did a fantastic job and didn't make one single mistake. He has really worked hard this year; although, I'm not sure he would call it"work." To him, reviewing his memory work is fun. He still begs to do it. I thought maybe after the first couple weeks of school, the newness would wear off and he wouldn't think it was so much fun anymore. Nope. He loves it even more today because we have so much more material to cover. The boy is a marvel.

Last night, he received a certificate for completing Foundations Cycle 2 of Classical Conversations. He will begin cycle 3 in the fall. He also received a certificate and a pin for achieving Bible Memory Master. He recited the verses during the awards program and received a standing ovation. Yeah, I admit it. I was proud. I still am. I'm also amazed every time I hear him recite those verses. How does he do that?

Even though he's through with CC for now, he isn't through with school. We'll continue to have regular homeschool days until the end of this month. This week, Jacob is learning to tell time. He is beginning to understand hours and minutes and is becoming more familiar with the clock itself. Fun.

He still reads all the time. He can't get enough of it. He absolutely loves books. In the afternoons, while Annabelle takes a nap, Jacob has rest time. Sometimes he sleeps. Sometimes he doesn't. The other day I told him, "Jacob, you can play a game on your Leapster during rest time if you'd like to." He replied, "No thanks. I think I just want to read my Bible." And sure enough, that's what he did. He came out of his room a while later and said, "Mommy, I read the WHOLE Old Testament and I started on the New Testament, but it was really A LOT of words." Before you start to doubt my story (I mean, really...the WHOLE Old Testament?) I should tell you about his Bible. It's a preschool Bible with illustrated Bible stories. Each story is usually no more than a couple short paragraphs. So, yes, he did actually read the WHOLE Old Testament. :)

Jacob also is a puzzle whiz. He enjoys puzzles and especially likes his United States puzzle. It's one of those giant floor puzzles. He's done it so many times, it only takes him a matter of seconds to complete it. Yet, he still does it over and over and over again. The pieces are shaped like the states, and he is becoming quite familiar with each of them. At the dinner table one night he held up a bite of his food and said, "Hey, look! This looks like Nevodio!" I looked at the piece of food on his fork (I don't remember what he was eating) and said, "Nevodio? What is Nevodio?" He answered, " Nevodio. The state, like on my United States puzzle." I looked a little harder at the food. It was shaped like Nevada. "Do you mean Nevada?" I asked. "Yeah," he said. "It looks like Nevada!" He may not remember all the correct names of the states, but he sure knows their shapes!

Easter 2011

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

..."Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!..."
Luke 24: 5-6

Easter. Resurrection Sunday. What a glorious time of the year! I am so thankful to have a living God who is just as powerful and mighty and miraculous today as He was thousands of years ago. "Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name." Psalm 66:1-4

Growing up, I can remember going to at least a few sunrise services. Of course, my dad went to all of them. After all, he was the pastor. I remember standing outside trying my best to listen to what Daddy was saying while also trying to swat away mosquitoes and gnats. By the end of the service, I was covered in bug bites and itching like crazy. BUT, even with the swarming bugs, I loved the sunrise service. There's just something about the early hours of Easter morning. I can't even imagine what it must have been like on that first Easter morning. Wow.


As much as I love a sunrise service, I'm very sorry to say, I hadn't attended one in years...until yesterday. In the almost nine years we've lived here, Heath has attended just about all of our church's Easter sunrise services. For whatever reason, I never went. He has always been involved in the service somehow (i.e. playing in the band, guiding people to the beach with flashlights, passing out programs, etc...). This year, for the first time, I was the one involved. I was the one who woke up at 3:45 AM while he slept for a couple more hours.

I have to admit, I wasn't looking forward to waking up so early, but I was excited about the service. It was wonderful. The weather was perfect. It was a beautiful morning on the beach. As the sun came up, the dolphins were swimming and jumping in the ocean and the birds were flying in formation above. I missed seeing the dolphins, as I was facing the crowd much of the time, but the sunrise alone was amazing. It was a truly worshipful experience.


At the end of the service, a lady walked up to me and said sincerely, "I want you to know, your sweet voice woke me up this morning." She pointed to the hotel in front of us and said, "I was sleeping right up there in that room when I heard you singing and came right out to worship with you." She said she was planning on attending our church later that morning, but hadn't planned to come to the sunrise service. "I am so glad you woke me up," she said. "Your singing was just beautiful and this was just wonderful." Now, I don't know if it was actually my voice that she heard, as I sang as part of a trio. But, I do know God certainly uses us in very unexpected ways sometimes. This singing thing (other than singing with a choir) is fairly new to me. I've been extremely nervous and hesitant about it. I love to sing, but have never been a fantastic singer. After many long talks with God, He is slowly teaching me that He can do anything and if it is His will for us to do something, He will equip us to do whatever that "something" may be. In any case, I am happy this lady joined us on the beach and that the service was so special to her.

While I was singing on the beach, the kids were at home with Daddy discovering what the Easter Bunny had left in their baskets.

As usual (on Sunday mornings), Annabelle had to be woken up.

Annabelle woke up with "Easter hives." Obviously, she had an allergic reaction to something. She gets hives every few months or so for no apparent reason. So far, we haven't been able to pinpoint the cause. Ugh. Super annoying.


Despite the hives, we all had a great Easter. By the time we got home from church, Jacob and Annabelle were tired, hungry and a bit cranky, but I was able to take a few pictures before the whine-a-thon began.

The kids have enough Easter goodies to last them for a while. Well, that is, if Heath and I can stay out of their baskets. Last night, I saw Heath eating a certain four year old's Little Debbie Easter cake. Later, I ate a little bag of Oreos. Hopefully, we won't get caught. :)

The Little Gymnasts

Kids are bundles of endless energy. They run.....away from you as you call their full names five times. They jump.....off the coffee table. They climb.....over any furniture or object in a room. They yell.....and pull your pants leg to get your attention the second you answer the phone. They scream.....when a toy is yanked from their hands by a sibling. They talk incessantly.....about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. They sing.....any song they have ever heard. (If they hear a song once, they have already memorized the words.) They dance.....to any song, no matter how fast or slow. All they need is a steady rhythm. But sometimes, no music is needed. And they never slow down. At least, mine don't. Jacob and Annabelle are constantly on the go all day long. If they aren't sleeping, they are at full throttle.

And that's the way they should be. They are kids. That's what kids do. They wear adults out to the point of utter exhaustion. But isn't it fun getting to that point? Well, a lot of the time anyway. :)

A few weekends ago, Jacob and Annabelle were invited to a birthday party at The Little Gym -- a fantastic place to burn off some of that excess energy. I knew they would have a great time. We don't live near a Little Gym, so this made it even more exciting. The kids absolutely loved it. They played, bounced, jumped, popped bubbles, and jumped some more.

Annabelle's favorite activity was walking across the balance beam -- not the little one closest to the floor. She preferred the big one and was adamant about walking it by herself. Eventually, she gave in and let me hold her hand.

Amazingly, she did walk the beam a few times without holding my hand. I walked closely alongside, my hands ready to catch her if she fell. It didn't happen. She is, indeed, a little gymnast.

Jacob ran from one activity to another, jumping, walking the balance beam, hanging upside down from the parallel bars, and he even flipped off the bars once. He loved every minute of it.

I have to say, The Little Gym wore Jacob and Annabelle out. By the time we left, their energy supply was just about drained. Three cheers for The Little Gym!!

The only other time when they're not at full throttle is when they're sick...and that's no fun at all...for any of us. The week after the party, Jacob was sick with a bad cold which (no surprise, here) resulted in an ear infection. As much as he wanted to play, he just couldn't do it. The more he played, the worse he felt. The more he ran, the more he coughed. I let him curl up on the couch one afternoon to watch Curious George. Annabelle, feeling sorry for her big brother, joined him -- a sweet, but pitiful moment.

A week later, Annabelle came down with a cold. She still has it, but thankfully, no ear infection. And it hasn't slowed her down at all. In fact, she seems as energized as ever. Jacob is also feeling better. As I type, both of them are headed for the "elevator"....full speed ahead!!

Running

I am not a runner. Never have been. And I think I'm pretty safe in saying...I never will be. Waaaaaay back when, before Jacob and Annabelle came along, I pretended to be a runner. My husband was a runner. Why couldn't I be one too? Then, we could run together. Now wouldn't that be fun? I went to the gym 4-5 days a week, hopped on the treadmill and ran for as long as my legs could go, or until all the good "running songs" from my playlist had finished playing. Anything by Beyonce always helped me pick up the pace. But even with my best playlist, full of Beyonce and 90's hip hop music, the most I ever ran was just over five miles...and that was on a treadmill. No matter how long I ran, no matter how many days I ran, no matter how good (or bad) I felt after I ran, I can't say I ever enjoyed it. It was never fun, which brings me back to my original statement: I am not a runner...and I am perfectly happy with this truth. Besides, I can think of a million other forms of exercise that I do find fun (i.e. having dance parties with my four and two year old children). :)

BUT, just because I know I am not a runner, doesn't mean I don't ever do it. Ok, so I hardly ever run, but I do give it a try every now and then when I am feeling extra energetic or when I notice I'm having to dance just to get my jeans on...or when there are thousands of other runners (or people who are pretending to be) running alongside me like last weekend during the Cooper River Bridge Run.

I love the CRBR. It's so much fun -- all the people, the energy, the excitement. I love being a part of such a huge event, runner or not. I've done it several times now, always participating as a walker or walker/runner. For me, that's why it's fun. I used to say, "Next year, I am going to run the whole thing." I've stopped saying that. If I were to actually run over that bridge, believe me, I would not be having fun. For my husband, it's just the opposite. If Heath participates, he runs. He challenges himself, trying to beat his time from the year before. That's what makes it fun for him. To each his own. Two years ago, he didn't feel like he was in good enough shape to beat any of his past race times, so we walked the bridge together (along with JoBeth and David) pushing the double stroller. He said he had fun, but I knew it was killing him not to be running the race. Later that day, he confessed those very feelings.

This year, he ran. And I walked...and ran a little. Heath's finish time was just a couple seconds shy of being his best ever. My finish time wasn't so bad for a walker, but boy, was I feeling it at the finish line. Exercise hasn't exactly been a priority lately. Long gone are those days of hitting the gym several days a week. A 10k over a bridge was exactly what I needed to get in gear and start moving. It almost inspired me to take up running again. Maybe train for another big race. Nah. Excuse me while I go crank up the music and dance with my kids. :)