Jacob's:
Me: Jake, take this diaper outside to the trash can.
Dan: Mom, can we just put it in the kitchen trash?
Jake: No Dan, it's bigger outside so it doesn't smell bad.
Me: That's right Jake! Dilution IS the solution to pollution!
Dan's:
Dan: Mom, what's in my heart?
Me: It's a big muscle.
Dan: But what's IN it?
Me: Blood.
Dan: But what's in blood?
Me: Cells and water.
Dan: What's in water?
Me: Molecules.
Dan: But what's in mol-culs?
Me: Atoms.
Dan: But what's in atoms?
Me: Subatomic particles.
Dan: But what's in subatomic part-culs?
Me: Quarks.
Dan: But what's in quarks?
Me: I don't know.
Dan: Oh, okay. Can I have some Goldfish crackers?
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Summer Flashback
We trekked to Texas for the first third of summer this year and though I've been too lazy to blog this until now, it's been in the back of my mind. Every year that we've ever (and I mean ever) taken Jacob to Texas, he has found a new and exciting reason to go to the emergency room. It started out simple enough as a newborn with an eye infection and HMOs that don't allow you to go to Urgent Cares when out of state. We had a couple other nice random illnesses in there and then in 2007 he stepped it up with a broken leg. Not to be out-done he pulled a skull fracture on us the next trip and we got to go to 3 ERs and overnight in the PICU with a couple ambulance rides in there too.
That being said, I was nervous about our trip this year. My dear father wanted to take the boys to do fun stuff at his office and I thoroughly reminded him of my reservations. I was promptly assured they would be kept out of harm's way. And then I see these pictures from that day.
That being said, I was nervous about our trip this year. My dear father wanted to take the boys to do fun stuff at his office and I thoroughly reminded him of my reservations. I was promptly assured they would be kept out of harm's way. And then I see these pictures from that day.
Pump jacks, blow torches and air compressors. Nice, Dad, totally safe. I love the progression of Daniel in the last 3 pictures though! First thing Daniel said when he got home was "I cut steel with fire!" Love you Papa!
The Calling is the Coolest
We really like our Sunday school class. It's called The Calling (Erik and I ate alot of Pazookie at BJ's while trying to come up with a name) and it is for the 23-30 year-old crowd. And for two more months, I'm still technically in the age range and then I don't know what's going to happen. We had a really fun BBQ for Labor Day because we are good Americans and here are some of the extremely adult, career-oriented, mature folks eating popsicles. Um hm. Jolly Rancher popsicles I might add!
Most of us swam, except for Erik and Brad. This is Brad, he's nice, plays a mean guitar and recently discovered motorcycles are dangerous.
Here is Erik. Scoring a kiss from a cute girl.
I got to be a floating bus for toddlers! I love hearing people yell, "Mommy's a bus!" when I'm in my swimsuit!
Happy Labor Day!
Most of us swam, except for Erik and Brad. This is Brad, he's nice, plays a mean guitar and recently discovered motorcycles are dangerous.
Here is Erik. Scoring a kiss from a cute girl.
I got to be a floating bus for toddlers! I love hearing people yell, "Mommy's a bus!" when I'm in my swimsuit!
Happy Labor Day!Friday, August 20, 2010
Do You Fondue?
When you don't have family nearby, sometimes you have to invite yourself into other families (well, several other families if you're us). One of the families I have invited myself into is the Smith family and I love them and for some reason they still open the door when we show up, which is alot.
One of the hobbies we share with the Smiths is a deeply passionate and absolutely well into the dorky realm love of books. So when we decided to have a girls' day in Pasadena we headed to this neat Christian bookstore called The Archives. You should check it out!
First meeting of Book AA...
In closing, my birthday is in November and I don't own a fondue pot.
One of the hobbies we share with the Smiths is a deeply passionate and absolutely well into the dorky realm love of books. So when we decided to have a girls' day in Pasadena we headed to this neat Christian bookstore called The Archives. You should check it out!
First meeting of Book AA...And since we were in Pasadena and it happened to be birthday month for two of the Smith ladies we headed to The Melting Pot. If you haven't been start saving money and stop eating now so that you can afford it and fully enjoy it! My blueberry sage lemonade was so pretty I took a picture.
The Smith girls...notice our fondue pots empty and anxious in front of us!
First course: One pot 'o cheddar and one pot 'o swiss and artichoke with breads, veggies, chips and apples.
Second course: Salad. Who cares.
Third course: Meat! Now how to cook it?
Melissa here demonstrates the proper strategies for fonduing meat. First, dump in the veggies and forget about them. Then, skewer meat and let it simmer. Wait as long as you can stand it, remove meat, take a bite and realize you are too impatient (notice Becca in the picture), put it back in for another minute then scald your mouth and enjoy its lava hot goodness. Is that a run on sentence?
Fourth course: Chocolate. This is the Ying Yang (white and dark) pot. We also had the flaming turtle but I was too busy eating it to take a good picture.
While I was tempted to forget the skewer and just pull up with a spoon they put this plate in front of me with fruit, rice krispie treats, marshmallows rolled in various goodness, cheesecake and poundcake. I was too full to get up and attempt a decent angle on this picture but you get the point.
In closing, my birthday is in November and I don't own a fondue pot.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Happy Birthday Erik!
Erik is 30 today and as usual, he is out of the country. I'm starting to think he plans his trips around special events so I can't catch him with a big party like he did me. But even though he isn't here so we can make him a special breakfast or give him little presents and we can't call him, it is too depressing to not acknowledge him on his day somehow. 
Last year was our first year of homeschooling and we spent countless hours discussing our goals for our kids and what important things we felt they must be taught. At the end of the year we held a little "kindergarten graduation ceremony" for Jacob where he read his book (about a boy travelling in a camel caravan to Axum) aloud, showed off his math prowess, discussed the artists he studied and shared the lime light with Danny and Libby as they recited poems they had learned in the course of the year. Erik holed up for about 30 minutes before our guests arrived to write what he called "A Commencement Address for My Son's Kindergarten Graduation." I love it and here it is.
You might think it a bit ridiculous to deliver a speech on the philosophy of education at a kindergarten graduation. Well then consider me a ridiculous man.
Believe it or not, I am convinced that the philosophy of education is in fact discussed at every single graduation, though not often directly. Graduation day gives testimony to the entire school year, and the year gives testimony to the educator's philosophy of education.
Some of these educators might dare to declare that they have no philosophy of education at all, but I beg to differ. C.S. Lewis once said that those who fail to study theology "will not have no ideas about God but only a lot of wrong ones." The same is true in education. Educators who fail to study the philosophy of education will simply have a lot of wrong ideas of education.
It has been well said that "education is what remains after the information that has been taught has been forgotten." Over the past year, my son has received much instruction, but I hope that he has received more than that - in fact, the beginnings of an education.
Years from now, my son will not likely remember small details about the millennial-long reign of the kingdom of Axum in present-day Ethiopia and the impact on trade in the Fertile Crescent. But perhaps he will remember that there are civilizations far removed in space, time, custom and practice from his hometown, and that mothers should be insistent, but patient.
Years from now, my son will hopefully remember his simple addition facts (that is, if calculators haven't taken control of the Senate by then), but I expect that he will remember much more, that God has ordered the universe, and that logic applies to the smallest reaches of that universe, even in the grocery store.
Years from now, my son will probably not remember the names of paintings by Benjamin West, but perhaps he will remember that some boys like to paint, and that beauty comes not only from function, but also from form.
Years from now, my son will probably not remember the cacophonous family worship sessions we held before bedtime, but I expect that he will remember that music can mimic the unexplainable presence of God in a household - and perhaps even become worship for a family.
Years from now, my son will hopefully remember the story of Daniel and the lions' den, but I pray that more importantly, he would remember the sovereignty of God over even the greatest of men and beasts - whichever might lie in his path.
Years from now, my son might remember the holes we dug deep into the caliche of our backyard to plant some small trees, but I anticipate that he will remember that perhaps the best sort of play is work - cultivation of the lives of others - and that fathers should be always working, but never busy.
Years from now, my son will probably not remember his Sunday school teacher or choir director or even the name of his first pastor, but I pray that he does remember that there is a Body of believers here on earth and that his place with them is one of joyful service.
Years from now, my son will not remember the surname of our neighbors, but I pray he will remember that God has set the exact places and times in which he will live, , and that there is divine purpose in that providence.
Years from now, I expect that my son will remember his family - those made by blood, those made by marriage, and those made by love alone. He may not yet know exactly where babies come from, but he does know that it involves God, a mother, a father and a social worker.
And finally, years from now, as he lies in his deathbed, he may not remember the name of those he visited in hospitals and on hospice, but I pray, with all my being, that he will have lived with an understanding of what life is, and that he might face death as a conquered enemy, no longer to be feared, longing to see the face of God.
Happy birthday Daddy
Last year was our first year of homeschooling and we spent countless hours discussing our goals for our kids and what important things we felt they must be taught. At the end of the year we held a little "kindergarten graduation ceremony" for Jacob where he read his book (about a boy travelling in a camel caravan to Axum) aloud, showed off his math prowess, discussed the artists he studied and shared the lime light with Danny and Libby as they recited poems they had learned in the course of the year. Erik holed up for about 30 minutes before our guests arrived to write what he called "A Commencement Address for My Son's Kindergarten Graduation." I love it and here it is.You might think it a bit ridiculous to deliver a speech on the philosophy of education at a kindergarten graduation. Well then consider me a ridiculous man.
Believe it or not, I am convinced that the philosophy of education is in fact discussed at every single graduation, though not often directly. Graduation day gives testimony to the entire school year, and the year gives testimony to the educator's philosophy of education.
Some of these educators might dare to declare that they have no philosophy of education at all, but I beg to differ. C.S. Lewis once said that those who fail to study theology "will not have no ideas about God but only a lot of wrong ones." The same is true in education. Educators who fail to study the philosophy of education will simply have a lot of wrong ideas of education.
It has been well said that "education is what remains after the information that has been taught has been forgotten." Over the past year, my son has received much instruction, but I hope that he has received more than that - in fact, the beginnings of an education.
Years from now, my son will not likely remember small details about the millennial-long reign of the kingdom of Axum in present-day Ethiopia and the impact on trade in the Fertile Crescent. But perhaps he will remember that there are civilizations far removed in space, time, custom and practice from his hometown, and that mothers should be insistent, but patient.
Years from now, my son will hopefully remember his simple addition facts (that is, if calculators haven't taken control of the Senate by then), but I expect that he will remember much more, that God has ordered the universe, and that logic applies to the smallest reaches of that universe, even in the grocery store.
Years from now, my son will probably not remember the names of paintings by Benjamin West, but perhaps he will remember that some boys like to paint, and that beauty comes not only from function, but also from form.
Years from now, my son will probably not remember the cacophonous family worship sessions we held before bedtime, but I expect that he will remember that music can mimic the unexplainable presence of God in a household - and perhaps even become worship for a family.
Years from now, my son will hopefully remember the story of Daniel and the lions' den, but I pray that more importantly, he would remember the sovereignty of God over even the greatest of men and beasts - whichever might lie in his path.
Years from now, my son might remember the holes we dug deep into the caliche of our backyard to plant some small trees, but I anticipate that he will remember that perhaps the best sort of play is work - cultivation of the lives of others - and that fathers should be always working, but never busy.
Years from now, my son will probably not remember his Sunday school teacher or choir director or even the name of his first pastor, but I pray that he does remember that there is a Body of believers here on earth and that his place with them is one of joyful service.
Years from now, my son will not remember the surname of our neighbors, but I pray he will remember that God has set the exact places and times in which he will live, , and that there is divine purpose in that providence.
Years from now, I expect that my son will remember his family - those made by blood, those made by marriage, and those made by love alone. He may not yet know exactly where babies come from, but he does know that it involves God, a mother, a father and a social worker.
And finally, years from now, as he lies in his deathbed, he may not remember the name of those he visited in hospitals and on hospice, but I pray, with all my being, that he will have lived with an understanding of what life is, and that he might face death as a conquered enemy, no longer to be feared, longing to see the face of God.
Happy birthday Daddy
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Libby the Graceful
This is another one of those "grandma" posts so sorry to everyone else for the lack of witty comments and pictures of something other than cute kids. But you gotta admit, she's pretty cute. I like this one best, the "I don't want to do that" face.
Now the "Mom, stop taking pictures or I will hide my face."
And finally, "I'm a princess ballerina and I want a pony."
Now the "Mom, stop taking pictures or I will hide my face."
And finally, "I'm a princess ballerina and I want a pony."
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Officially Ours-ness
Maggie's adoption was finalized on July 12th so we finally did her baby dedication on Sunday! It's amazing to finally know she's ours forever and we have been desperately trying to get the video of the court proceedings to load and haven't succeeded as of yet but we'll keep at it!
In the meanwhile here are some pictures of the shindig we held in her honor! We have a ton of pictures but as I started choosing I realized how many families in the church God has raised up to love His cherished little ones who were without protection. Almost every picture had someone's child who is still "in the system" and thus cannot have their face posted online. I praise God for all of our sweet friends in the adoption community who have cried and rejoiced with us, even as they are still struggling through the infamous system with their kids.
My superheroes! Maggie's big day would never have been as beautiful and perfect if it weren't for all the hard work of these two. Love you Trena and Tracy!!!
In the meanwhile here are some pictures of the shindig we held in her honor! We have a ton of pictures but as I started choosing I realized how many families in the church God has raised up to love His cherished little ones who were without protection. Almost every picture had someone's child who is still "in the system" and thus cannot have their face posted online. I praise God for all of our sweet friends in the adoption community who have cried and rejoiced with us, even as they are still struggling through the infamous system with their kids.
My superheroes! Maggie's big day would never have been as beautiful and perfect if it weren't for all the hard work of these two. Love you Trena and Tracy!!!
Sidenote: I took this picture because the flowers were so pretty but now I look at it and it looks like we were having some brightly colored memorial service. Hmm.
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