DEAR Time

Everyday after lunch I have the kids sit and have DEAR (drop everything and read) time. They love reading books. I have to make Harper sit in his saucer to read his books, but that just teaches him he needs to sit still to read!! Here is a little clip of them reading. They are so cute, I could just squeeze them.

Grocery Store

Today we went to our usual Monday morning grocery trip, and of course the girls needed it to be exciting. They love going to the grocery store, so there are times when I could go by myself, but won't because they all love going so much. Well, Harris Teeter has the little shopper in training carts (the girls tried them a couple of months ago and Carly turned her's too fast and toppled the whole thing over and since then they have been scared to try them again), so today they wanted to give it a try again. I got them all buckled up in the car and then they proceded to tell me they needed pocket books and keys (my mom gave them some fake keys that look real and they think they are their car keys). I knew that would make the trip so special if they got to bring their pocket books. They were so cute marching into that store with their pocket books, keys, and got their little buggies. They did very good pushing them around and enjoyed getting all their groceries. I love doing fun things like this with my kids!! (oh Harper was happy as a clam with his balloon in my buggy)!

Notice the Vera Bradley pocket books (oh yes, they are the same pattern as mine, so they are really like Mommy when they shop)

Michael and Shawn

I love watching the Olympics!! Matt and I have been watching them every night before we go to bed and last night the women gymnastics was on really late so I taped them. This morning the girls woke up and we were snuggling watching Michael Phelps win some gold medals in swimming and Shawn Johnson on the bars and the vault. The girls were so into it!! So they stacked up some pillows and were reinacting Shawn vaulting! Then we went to the pool and they decided they were Michael. So of course they made me call them Michael and they were swimming all over with their faces in the water!!!!! I was so excited - of course they rarely stick their heads in the water and today they wouldn't come up for air!! I loved it! I had to explain to everyone that they were Michael Phelps because I was calling them both the same name. They are so funny how they absorb everything they see.

Is that a sand castle mom?

Tonight we went downtown to see 2 babies that were born, Ginger's and Courtney's. They were so cute!!! Courtney's baby had a little bit of light brown hair and Ginger's baby had a head full of black hair!!! Lilly was asleep and Madelyn was wide awake! Well, on the way to the hospital Carly was looking out the window and said, "Hey Mom, is that a sand castle?" I looked to see what she was talking about and she was looking at the Charlotte skyline!! She saw all those big buildings and thought they were sand castles!! Matt and I couldn't stop laughing. They have such an imagination and they are so observant. They take everything in. Then Chloe was telling me to stop driving when my light turned green because there wasn't a man - she was referring to the crosswalks. The hand was up and not the man!!! We went down town a while back and we told them we couldn't cross until they saw a man, so I guess she thought I couldn't drive either. They are so funny!

Walk with Faith

Today Harper and I went out back to play while the girls laid down for their nap. He walks non stop now and is getting quite fast. Well, our back yard is by no means flat!!! So it was so tough for Harper to walk around out there. He fell so many times and he was so unsteady. It reminded me of a Sunday School lesson (see TJ - I listen!). He talked about how our walks of faith are just like that of a child learning to walk. Harper had to have faith that his legs would hold him up. But just like life, he had so many obstacles in his way (rocks, uneven ground, the swing set base, slipping on pine needles, etc.). We have to build our faith in God in order for us to be successful in our walk. God is always there (just like Harper's legs), we just have to learn to trust that He will hold us up and let Him do his job!!

Pedicures

Today Carly, Chloe, Grandma, and myself went and got pedicures. We needed some girl time relaxing and getting our toes painted. The girls got to stick their toes in the water for a while and then they took them out and ate some marshmallows on our laps. Then they got painted - of course they got pink!! They love getting their pedicures done - they are hoping to get a manicure, but I am holding that over their head for when they are through sucking their thumbs! I hope that is soon!!! It was so nice spending some girl time with my 3 favorite girls!!

Grandma and Carly relaxing!

Mommy and Chloe enjoying our messaging chair!

Harper stayed at home with Daddy - Matt sent me this picture of him hard at work mowing the lawn!! The boys had some guy time too!

Let the Children Laugh

I was reading my Bible today, and came across and insert by Walter Wangerin, Jr. from Little Lamb, Who Made Thee? It reads:
Let the children laugh and be glad. O my dear, they haven't long before the world assaults them. Allow them genuine laughter now. Laugh with them, till tears run down your faces - till a memory of pure delight and precious relationship is established within them, indestructible, personal, and forever. Soon enough they'll meet faces unreasonably enraged. Soon enough they'll be accused of things they did not do. Soon enough they will suffer guilt at the hands of powerful people who can't accept their own guilt and who must dump it, therefore, on the weak. In that day the children must be strengthened by self-confidence so they can resist the criticism of fools. But self-confidence begins in the experience of childhood. So give your children (your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews, the dear ones, children of your neighbors and your community) - give them golden days, their own pure days, in which they are so clearly and dearly beloved that they believe in love and in their own particular worth when love shall seem in short supply hereafter. Give them laughter. Observe each child with individual attention to learn what triggers the guileless laugh in each. Is it a story? A game? Certain family traditions? Excursions? Elaborate fantasies? Simple winks? What? Do that thing. Because the laughter that is so easy in childhood must echo its encouragement a long, long time. A lifetime.

After I read this, I just smiled, because that is my favorite sound in this whole world - my children laughing!!!