A very Veldman Thanksgiving...

a day o' fun

We took a trip to the Children's Museum for the day. It is pretty dinky compared to the Appleton version, but it was still a barrel of fun. I think I most enjoyed the quality time spent with my girls. I love watching them in imaginative play!

Then we skipped down the street to the chocolate shop. Lots to look at and choose from. My goofy kids chose the movie box candy over the handmade truffles,

but it was wonderful just the same.

frogger...

I have been meaning to get video of Nora's "crawl" before she starts walking. Well, here it is!

imaginations...

Having Calla home from school for a week provides several new scenarios.

We can sleep in as long as our one-year old will allow.

We can stay in our jammies until crazy hours - all the while hoping nobody plans to drop in and surprise us.

The best part is having Calla and Amelia being able to play together for long periods of time.

Today they were in full imagination mode. They built a makeshift fort on Amelia's bed and proceed to make all kinds of stories as to why they had this incredible fort.

Princesses. Robbers. Secret far-away lands.

On our ride home from running errands, they played a rousing game of "shout-out-any-color-you-see." It was a great idea...until you enter in the fact that our trip home is almost all country roads. Amelia shouted out several colors while Calla kept shouting "brown.brown. brown. broooooooooooooooown." Then she looked to the sky and started into, "Bluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuue." Ok. time for a new game.

At home, more books were read in the fort. Playdoh cookies were made. So much fun.

And there's another day filled with opportunity coming again tomorrow...

Harvest Program, 2010 style...

Every year, our fabulous-o elementary teacher (she is actually the reigning WACS teacher-of-the-year 2010) writes two programs for our school kids. One in the fall and another one for the spring. They are always amazingly written. Wonderfully thought out. Each child is showcased in different ways. We often comment that she could copyright these programs and sell them. They are marvelous!

This year's Harvest Program was no exception. She wrote two different dramatic readings and interspersed several songs for the students to sing. One highlighted the elementary. One had several girls doing sign language in the center of the stage (What a blessing to see my 7-year-old using a skill that is close to my heart!)

And then the clincher...a duet! A surprise duet!

Calla and her cousin singing a duet. It was beautiful. They were so calm. It brought tears to these eyes. I am thankful, and more often than just at Thanksgiving, for a teacher and staff that are helping to instill character traits and spiritual values in our daughter. What a tremendous gift to have a school that reiterates the morals we are teaching at home! What an outstanding blessing to have a daughter who already displays a heart full of talents being used for the Lord...

ouch, that's smarts...

Nora Kate is climbing the stairs now with reckless abandon. I still follow her up, because she has yet to master the trip back down the stairs.

I have always boasted that my girls have never fallen down the stairs. Now, they have had their share of bruised shins from tripping UP the stairs! So I am hoping my baby girl can master the stairs just as well as the other two did.

Their momma, on the other hand, still has some practicing to do. Yesterday, after waking the slumbering cubs, I went to go get breakfast assembled. My sleepy, sock-clad foot slipped out from under me. I didn't fall down the stairs. I flew up and landed straight on the step. I yelped and moaned for a few minutes. Boy, did that make the kiddos leap out of bed! I got dizzy and threw up. I called in the reinforcements to take Calla to school. The rest of the day, I gingerly walked around or sat on a heating pad. No food. A nasty headache. Lots of pain meds. I am feeling better today. Bending over seems to be the most precarious.

So maybe I'll have Cory be the the one to teach Nora how to master her descent on the stairs...

Snowflags...

Oh the signs of winter are all around us! I wish I could anticipate the coming season with as much excitement as my children. Calla started praying for snow weeks ago. She always gets a twinkle in her eye when she asks about the first snow fall. The girls have asked me numerous times, "When is it gonna be winter?" "I can't say. It could be anytime. It's almost here. One morning we'll wake up and it will be snowing," I answer in my best feigned excitement voice. Winter... That first snowfall used to bring such glee. It is beautiful. But I can't help but think of the dreary brown slushy snow days that follow. The long winter months of shoveling my way to the van to start heating it up and scrape the windows. Trudging through the snow every morning with a gaggle of sleepyhead girls and a bundled up baby on my hip. Long, cold days with no desire to take the wee lasses out anywhere. Mucky parking lots. Red, chapped cheeks and hands on my thumb-sucking baby. Winter... So I'll try to take tips from the girlies. I'll get excited to see that first snow. I'll try to get excited about sledding and snowmen. And I'll be thankful for the wonder of snowflakes, or snowflags, as Amelia has taken to calling them. Because I obviously need an attitude adjustment about winter...

an art project...

I had the students make a "blessings scroll" as part of our art project today. They made a rough draft on lined paper and then made a final copy. We were brainstorming about the types of blessings they could write about. Not a single student had any trouble coming up with a pretty hefty list of blessings. I was hoping they would be interesting and end up as "keepsake" material. With a little hot glue and some twigs, miniature pine cones, and acorns from my in-laws yard, they turned out so cute! Calla's list of blessings had me grinning. They are obviously in no particular order. I was glad that Cory and I made the list in front of the Playstation Move...

if I only had a horse...

Amelia spent the better part of ten minutes telling me how much she wants a horse.

I told her that we don't have room for a horse at our house anyway. She promptly let me know that she wanted to move.

When I told her horses cost a lot of money, she explained that when she gets older and has a lot, and a lot, and a lot (I'll spare you her 2 dozen "a lots") of money, she is going to buy a horse.

She'll feed it and clean up it's poops and braid it's hair.

"I really want a horse. Please, Mom, If you get me a horse, I'll get you a book. Or some flowers. Or maybe just a picture of flowers."

Deal.

a little too coordinated...

So she figured out where my Sunday School bag was hidden. She went straight for the candy bag, found her choice of flavor, unwrapped it and started enjoying her treat. Look at that smile and contentment! Stinker...

taking a breath of fresh, thankful air...

Head out to the van!

Winter coat with the hood pulled up on this balmy fall morning. Nightgown. No socks with last night's dress shoes. We get Calla to school in some of the craziest outfits, but we're usually the only ones who see it. I have resolved to get dressed each morning, because it is inevitable that the morning I have my pajamas and white tube socks on is the same morning my neighbor is out with his dog. Or Calla can't get the school door opened on her own and I have to humble myself and get out of the van to help her. Two or three embarrassing encounters have reformed me to at least make sure I am assembled decently.

On the trip home, I was sighing in contentment. Amelia sang "Oh, be careful little mind what you think..." continually on the 5 minute trip home. She stopped a few times to explain to me what each verse meant. "Like, when we think, 'I don't want to go to church, God!' Right, Mom?" Out of the mouth of babes! I am so thankful for a church full of workers who are teaching my children these theology-laden songs and their meanings.

I also watched as neighbors walked to work and waved at each other. As different city workers and companies were fixing up our beautiful little town. As I realized I can drive home on a route that is all stop signs and rural streets instead of stoplight after stoplight and gridlock traffic. I am so thankful for our sleepy little town. I am thankful for family and friends who live around us.

I am thankful for life today. Thank you, Lord, for the life you have given to this lowly child of yours...

a date with the love of my life...

A girlfriend and I swapped babysitting. We both had a desire to spend some alone time with our hubby. So it was set. Free babysitting. Free dinner through a loyalty program card. An impromptu concert we heard about on the radio. It was wonderful. We were amazed at how quiet a dinner can be without little ones interrupting to go potty or asking a bazillion questions or spilling sodas or generally being children. We love our kids. We love being with our kids. But we love our relationship with each other enough to take some time away. It doesn't happen nearly as often as we'd like it to, but it sure does seem sweet when we do get away. Even just 12 miles away. It is still precious time to sit with my love. Talk without interruption. Hold his hand and listen to music in a beautiful theater. It was nice to be able to remind myself that I am so madly in love...

mto...

Mom's Time Out...a wonderful ministry to the ladies in our church with kids under the age of 10.

It's a break from every day. No kids allowed for about 2 hours. They feed us breakfast. And I'm not talking cereal on the quick as you head to the kitchen or out the door. Biscuits and sausage gravy, scrambled eggs with sausage and potatoes, breads, coffee...yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, deliciouso! (yes, that was a Dora reference in my "no kids allowed" post).

We have a talented lady come in each month and show us how to do or make something. This morning my dear friend and her daughter came to show us how to make those neat, decorative, lighted glass blocks. Plus they had some fabulous tips for giving gifts this holiday season. Remembering to make lists and suggest lists from others...it always sounds so logical, but I often wonder if I sound greedy if I hand people a list. And I often don't receive any lists back either. This year, I have already begun a list and will attempt to have it completed and sent out before everyone is done with their Christmas shopping.

We then are challenged, as mothers, through God's Word. I have found myself having a desire to change a few areas in my life as of late. One of them is the words I speak to others. And as He is prone to do, communication was our topic this morning. Just as a fire, when it is controlled and contained, can be a blessing and a help, so can our words be a blessing and help to others if they are controlled and contained. When we allow our words to go uncontrolled, they will cause irreparable damage in a short amount of time just like that flame of fire. We also discussed some of things people have been heard to say out of bitterness or jealousy or anger. Some things are said because of fear. But all of our words come from the "abundance of our heart." What are my words displaying? I also realized that in situations when I feel my words are foolish and I'd love to take them back as soon as they escape my lips, it is because I have not bathed that conversation in prayer. When I speak to a grieving person, or a hurting friend, instead of talking off the cuff, I should be prayerfully considering my words before I speak them. The more compassion and love and prayer I show toward that person, the easier the words of comfort will flow forth. I envy those around me that have a gift of encouragement. How often they have encouraged me through kind words? And I am reminded, their words of kindness come from a genuinely compassionate heart that has been praying for me. If I desire to speak wisely, I must first have a compassionate heart.

I love our church. I love Mom's Time Out. I love my Lord and all He is teaching me...

get ready...

Up the first step...

In the garbage...

Look out! She's getting into mischief. I will point out that both moments captured on film were in the morning before we were even dressed for the day. Wonderfully, she is still at the stage that the word "no" is shocking. She will be set to tears even if the word is aimed at someone else. Oh, to keep that innocence. Her favorite mischief musings are the garbage can - I mean really how many treasures do we throw away, right! - the kleenex box, and the picture frames. A house full of toys, but oh the unexplored is so much more intriguing...

update...simply to reiterate...

See what I mean...time to get off the ol' computer, eh?

A second trip...

Ah, the first day of school. Such excitement and anticipation. Everything was prepared and ready, and she quickly flew through her morning tasks and was out the door in record time. FAST FORWARD to this week...

"Do I have to get up? I barely fell asleep." Calla, eat your breakfast. Calla, get your clothes on. Calla, brush your hair and teeth. Calla, get your coat on. Calla, grab your bags. Calla, did you grab your lunch? No, I forgot...three times this week! Could you please drop it off before snack time?

What to do?

I took one morning last week and told her it was completely her responsibility to do everything without being told. She did wonderfully. But the next morning the novelty had worn off and it was back to poking and prodding for each step. I don't make her do everything. I choose her outfit and lay it out. On slow mornings, I actually aide her in getting dressed like an Indian aya. I make her breakfast and pack her lunch. Lately I have even been brushing her hair and pulling out her toothbrush for her. So why is it so hard to grab your stuff?

Once was a complete surprise. I received an email from her teacher and didn't see it until after lunch. She survived on her compassionate classmates offerings. Then two more times in a row. The meanie in me says, "Too bad! You'll have to not eat lunch today." Then the momma in me grabs the lunch and takes it to school. Grace. God gives me grace.

But He also desires me to be responsible. So there will be a small discussion when she gets home that the "meanie" will win out next time. An empty tummy may be a much better teacher...

wishing...

I am learning in the recent months to be thankful for the little things. My grandmother use to say, "Don't wish your life away." Enjoy what is happening now instead of wishing time would speed up to that one event you are waiting for. I have always been one to look forward to something special and hone in on that single event until it happened. I am realizing the error of that mindset. How much do I miss in the daily happenings when I am waiting for something else? How often do I put things off because I they aren't as important as that one thing I'm waiting for.

Time is flying by me. November already! I would love to revel in this month. Each day. This holiday season will be busy enough. I want to be sure to hit the slow motion button daily to enjoy God's blessings. Every day moments become life's most precious memories...

flexibility...

Yesterday, early morning, I received a phone call that Calla's teacher was sick. Could I help out in the classroom? I would love to! My mother-in-law graciously watched the other two girls so that I could practice being the teacher. I miss the classroom every once in a while. I was able to assist the aide for the late morning and afternoon. I have intentionally blocked out all of the memories of the preparation involved in keeping a classroom running smoothly. Miss Brill has mastered the art of preparation. She puts me to shame. Everything was already written on the board, papers were pulled and in the proper folders, desks were straightened and set for Monday morning. It made a substitute's job easy-peasy-lemon squeezie! I enjoyed spending time in the classroom...for one day at least!