Happy Father's Day

The night we taught Layla to ride her bike, it was really Dave that got her going. He put her on the bike and away they went. He diligently ran behind her and steadied her when he needed to. She caught on fast so I thought I'd give Dave a break and step in and help. I couldn't do it. I didn't know how long to hang on to her and when to let her go. He did. He knew when she was ready, he knew what she needed to hear and he wouldn't let her give up. She knew her Daddy believed in her. He's that kind of a Dad. He knows every detail of their care, thoughts, emotions and personalities. I think that says a lot for any man, but especially one that has to travel for his job. He never lets his absences be an excuse for not being aware and connected.

He is an amazing dad!

In the Blink of an Eye.....

...Layla graduated from Kinderprep, learned to read, learned to ride her bike without training wheels and we took a week vacation in Branson with friends. We planted our pumpkins, finished the building project in the barn, are 60% done with the new playground and 3/4 of the way through our house painting project.....and that is just the last 3 weeks. It sounds like a lot and at times it has felt like a lot. But, God is good!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

We use the pond for fishing, but have yet to do anything with it...until last week. Dave brought home a canoe and the kids thought it was awesome!

I Never Know What He Knows

Cooper has come a long way in the area of obedience in the last 6 months. Truly, the blood, sweat, tears, and 52 minute time-out marathons are paying off. I see that his heart is changing, He wants to obey and actually does...most days.

However, he still desires to be his own man and to be in control of certain areas. I get this... I * G E T * T H I S! I have a really hard time evaluating what this boy knows. If I say, "Cooper, can you count with Mommy?" He usually tells me no or that he can't do it. But, if I trick him, he does it. He wanted to know when I would be done cooking his eggs and I told him to count to 10 and they would be done. So, he rips off 1 through 10 and then counts BACKWARDS. That little stinker. I truly never know what the boy knows and what he's just being stubborn about! He has me puzzled on whether or not he knows his colors. The rainbow according to Cooper is Cyclones, orange, sun, grass, boy, girl. HONESTLY, that is what he calls red through purple..EVERY TIME. I guess I'm going to have to work on my trickery skills this summer!

Some New Life

Cooper's Grandma Marcia gave him a great present for his birthday....a butterfly pavilion. Once we received the pavilion, it came with a postcard that we mailed to a company who sent us caterpillars in plastic jars (2 jars, 6 creatures in each). For 2-3 weeks we watched them grow and build their crystallises. Once they were all in, we moved them to their pavilion and in 7-10....butterflies! After a week of watching and feeding the butterflies, we let them go. Cooper bawled his head off, so I told them they were just going for a little cruise to stretch their wings and they would be back. He checks the deck every day and is still patiently waiting for their return. It really was a great gift! I highly recommend it. Here is what we received.

Mother's Day

Oh, what? What's that you say? Mother's Day is long gone? Well, yes, I know it is, but I'm just downloading weeks worth of pictures and it seems I have some catching up to do. I'm not sure why I find downloading pictures so annoying. It doesn't take very long and I don't even have to leave my house to do it!

Mother's Day is important to me. It's a time to express appreciation towards my mom. Every year I'm a mom, I understand more deeply the sacrifices she has made her whole life for her 4 kids. There's no pay check for being a mom, there's no commission structure,no recognition given for most diapers changed or hugs given. There's no corner office (or even a quiet place), there's no fabulous wardrobe or coffee breaks. So Mother's Day is important. And, lucky for me, my family gets that and spoils me!

I think what made Mother's Day so special this year is the very random things my family said to me throughout the day. Cooper said, "I'm glad you here." And Layla said, "I like your face mommy, it's so pretty to look at." And, the best of all, a letter from my husband titled, "Your Sacrifice".

We ended the day with a little fishing out at the pond and it was CRAZY! The kids had to cast and reel in their own lines because Dave and I could not keep up with how fast they were catching. I guess the fish were very hungry, which made for a very happy 5 year old and 3 year old.

One of THOSE Moms

Yup, today I was one of those moms. You know the ones...you hear the impatient way they talk to their kids and judge with thoughts like, "Seriously, they are only young once, enjoy!" Or, "What's so important that you have to be so mean and harsh?" That was me today, not the judger, the judgee.

Lucky Layla, she got to escape me and go to school. But not Cooper, he got to be in my lovely company all day. I know he was only trying to help put our groceries on the belt at the check-out counter. Truly, his little heart was in the right place when he smashed the light bulbs we needed and when he plopped a gallon of milk on the eggs and when he ran the grocery cart into my car. I know he didn't mean to spill his bag of popcorn 3 times on the floor in Target and I know he didn't mean to step on my toes 20,000 times as he was trying to help me with the cart through the aisles. And, I'm sure it was just a rookie mistake that he forgot to hold his t-shirt up while peeing in the bathroom at the eye Dr. And I know he was just trying to be social as he unzipped his hoodie to show everyone his pee spot on his t-shirt that I was trying to hide. "I peed a circle on my shirt. Isn't that silly?" He would say. At least he knows what a circle is, right?

I am so glad His mercies are new every morning! I'm looking forward to my fresh start tomorrow!