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Liam and Puggles

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This year Liam got to be a part of a new Awana program called Puggles. He had very few rough spots but for the most part his teachers adored him (okay, so one of the teachers was my best friend…but believe me she showed no partiality to him…he actually had it worse off than the others because she could discipline him more strictly). He loves talking about God’s Word more and more every day. After one of his crazy stunts (and believe me, I’ve got a couple to share), Mark always tells me he can’t wait to see what God is going to do with Liam.

Um, and yeah, he was about the only one without his Puggles shirt on. I looked all over (the day of) for the shirt but couldn’t find it. Which is okay since it’s a little small on him and his tummy would’ve been sticking out. And the camo…not a battle I wanted to fight since it was more about my vanity than his comfort.

Liam Singing in Puggles from Abbie Character on Vimeo.

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FYI

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A few months ago we had a problem with a horrible comment someone left on a video of one of my children on YouTube. It shook me up pretty bad and Mark almost broke the computer. He was very angry. I’m putting that mildly.

So, I’ve swapped from YouTube for my videos and am now using Vimeo. I have passwords on the videos, so if you would like to view them, please email me and I can give you the password if I like know you.

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Zoe’s Awana

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Our children start to memorize verses when they turn about two, or when they can put together 4 to 5 words for a sentence. We don’t militarize and force them to memorize them. We just ask them to repeat after us as we say the verses. We do this at mealtimes and since I stay home with the kids that’s three times a day they hear and repeat the verses. Since Zoe is reading now, we still go over the verses with her like, but towards the end of this school year, she hasn’t need that much of our help. We love Awana because what we teach the kids at home is reinforced through the Scriptures and Bible time they have there. And they don’t just memorize a verse one year and move on to more…it’s repeated throughout their years in Awana.

All that to say, we are very, very, proud of Miss Zoe and her determination to glorify God through Awana. This was her first year in Sparks. She not only worked through her first book and completed all the sections, she went back and reviewed those sections and then memorized and worked through another set of sections in an extra credit book! Because of her dedication to memorizing and knowing God’s word, she was given a merit award as well as a Book One award. She also was asked to say the Sparks Key Verse for everyone at the Awards time last Sunday!

Since Zoe accepted Christ as her Savior, we see her growing more in Christ everyday. We know everyday that she is a blessing and sweet gift from God.


Zoe’s friend, Laura, as Mark was making faces at her!

Zoe and Awana Awards Night from Abbie Character on Vimeo.

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I love you, Sweetheart

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Just wanted to let everyone know that 9 years ago I married the most beautiful and amazing woman on the planet.

Thank you so much, Abbie, for loving me over these years. Each day I find more things to love and cherish about you.

I love you!

From Abbie: I love you more each day, Mark. You make me laugh, smile, and are always a shoulder of support for me…especially during battles of wills with toddlers! Thank you for putting up with my moods and crazy whims. You are a blessing and the best husband in the world.

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We don’t have to take our clothes off to go potty

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I’m trying to see how long a title can be in blogger…not bad so far.

Yesterday, we hit the ground running with dentists appointments for the 2 and over crowd (that’s Zoe, Ace, and Liam if you’re not sure who’s three). They had great check ups, great teeth, and all that. They even told the dental hygenist that they were homeschooled instead of saying they didn’t go to school which is their general response when someone asks them where they go to school! They’re learning.

We then hit an office store since I needed whiteboard cleaner and an eraser. Ya know, since school is almost over and I’ve been using paper towels on the board. I’m a little behind on my school supplies. We made it to check out and the announcement came, “I need to go potty Mommy.” This time it was from Liam.

So we asked where the restroom was and headed in that direction…stopping and looking at other things that they all got interested in. Since I had my items to purchase, the diaper bag (aka a purse) and four others, I sent Ace in with Liam. Five minutes pass and Ace saunters out of the bathroom announcing that he had to go potty too. I told him that was great but where was his brother?

“Using the potty.”

“Okay, why aren’t you in there with him in case he needs help.”

“Oh.”

Five more minutes pass.

I decide to take a peek in the bathroom (there was no one else in there…they had one of those automatic light things and it came on when the boys went in and no one else went in while we were standing there) and I noticed shoes, socks, and no Liam.

In my most calm and controlled voice I called his name. He appeared in the stall doorway in nothing but his shirt.

Again, in my so calm and controlled voice (cuz I’m just that good of a mother) I told him to get dressed. I asked him (calmly, I might add) why he had taken his clothes off.

“So you’d have something to blog about mother. I don’t know” was his reply.

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Rockin’ the Van

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I’m into things rocking today. I told Mark about the dentist telling me about putting sealants on the kids adult molars to help with preventing cavities and asked if he could check to see if insurance covered it. It does. So I said, “We’re rockin’ the sealants!” I don’t know what’s gotten into me…

Oh, back to the story…

We passed a friend and his daughter a couple of weeks ago as we were coming to church for Awana. They were walking. The daughter looked at her daddy and said, “Daddy, they’ve got a fancy car.”

When the friend told us, I just pulled out, “Awww yeah, we’re rockin’ the van!” Mark got a kick out of that one.

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Ceili Rain’s Two Months Old

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Don’t mess wit’ the best!

Stats:
12 lbs (80%)
23 3/4 inches long (90%)

Her head is a little small measuring less than 50% but she’s hitting her developmental milestones so Dr. B is not worried. She said that some kids just have really small heads. She is a petite little thing. I know some of you are looking at her numbers thinking I’m lying but all my kids have been in the 95% or higher for height. So, she’s petite for us giants! Looks like she’ll take after my mom’s side of the family (love ya mom).

More interesting Ceili Rain facts. She can go from a coo and smile to a scream in 2.5 seconds or less! We still can’t figure out her eye color. It ranges from a gray blue to green to a light brownish color depending on the light, what she’s wearing, and time of day (actually the latter has nothing to do with it but I needed a third thing to balance out this extremely long sentence). She is the only one of our babies who does not have a cleft chin. It’s kind of odd seeing one of my babies without one actually (oh, and that is a genetic trait passed down from me for anyone curious…I gotta claim somethign on my babies since they look so much like Mark).

Josiah started running a fever yesterday afternoon, so while we were at the doctor’s office, she checked him out (have I mentioned lately how much I love our pediatrician). He’s all clear except he has sores in his throat which means…hand, foot, and mouth disease has descended on our house again. Zoe and Ace have already had it but I’m not sure if Liam has. If he has, then we didn’t notice it. So, he may get it soon. Also, if it’s a different strain then Zoe and Ace could get it as well. Those non mommy’s who read my blog (if you are out there), not to worry, hand food, and mouth (not hoof and mouth) is a viral infection that toddlers love to share with each other. They can get sores/bumps on their hands and feet. My kids never really did but they did get them in their throats and it hurts, a lot. They can also get a little fever with it.

Ceili Rain says, “Thanks Aunt Heather for the cool shirt! It rocks the house…and the swing! My nurses raved over it!”
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