Friday Funnies

Our bible story one week was The 12 Spies (Numbers 13).  Pomegranates are mentioned, so we bought one that afternoon at the grocery store.  Mara was struggling to say the word and ended up calling them "Papa Greg-ants." 



Micah was a bit unsettled when he put on footy jammies for the first time this fall.  He was slowly walking around just staring down at his feet.  He finally looks up and asks, "New shoes?" 

My Birthday

This year on my birthday I reflected on how much birthdays change in just a few short years.  Well for me they have anyway.  I never knew a giant homemade birthday card with scribbles all over it would be the best gift ever.  The next best thing was that this card was made the evening before my birthday while my hubby and kiddos gave me a night out by myself!

We headed to an orchard for some birthday fun with my sister and nephews.  Grandma J was a bit disappointed she was needed in the field.  October birthdays are tough right in the middle of harvest.  My sister and I both share birthdays in October, so we celebrated several childhood birthdays with a cupcake in the tractor.  I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. 

 

Lance organized dinner with my family that evening.  He even brought the cake and DQ ice cream!  He really does spoil me.  Thanks everyone for a fun birthday!

Fall Fun

We enjoyed some outdoor fall fun!

Bull Rides

Lance never ceases to amaze me with his quirky games (and songs, but that's another post for another day).  I think he first came up with "bull rides" before we were even married.  I think his niece may have been the first to experience the first bull ride.  Ever since then, it's been a big hit with the rest of our nieces and nephews and kids of our friends.  A movie would do more justice than these pictures, but I'm pretty sure Lance would quickly end the fun if he saw the movie camera.

 It's a requirement to get your hand in the rigging before the ride begins.  Sometimes the rigging is imaginary and sometimes it's a piece of cloth wrapped around the bull's thigh.  Micah prefers the imaginary kind.

 an 8 second attempt

The second requirement is to put one hand in the air.  "Shake your head when you're ready!"  Oh the look on their little faces the moment they shake their heads.  A little bit of terror mixed with anticipation.

And then pure joy.  Thank you Jesus for giving my kids the perfect daddy.

Mara - JIA Update

So far no JIA symptoms have appeared since the steroid injections!  We are so thankful that she hasn't had to take any additional medications so far.  I continue to pray that the injections will last longer than expected.  Mara has had a couple chiropractic adjustments.  Her hip flexor was really tight, so it would pop and crunch every time I'd stretch it out.  I put off taking her because I was afraid of how it would go.  However, I should never doubt the talent of our chiropractor.  She's amazing!  Mara doesn't make a peep as the chiropractor "gets out her popcorn" as she lays on the floor.  We have changed physical therapists, so she's now seeing a pediatric physical therapist.  Therapy is done in a gym with lots of kid stuff, so the atmosphere is much more motivating for Mara.  She has done really well the two times we've been there.  She has been a trooper with doing our stretching routine at home.  We try to do her exercises 3 times a day.  It gets monotonous for me, so I'm so amazed that she rarely complains.  Our physical therapist and chiropractor comment every time about how they can't believe how compliant she is and how well she lets them manipulate and stretch her.  I know the Lord has his hand on Mara.  There's really no other way to explain it.

Mara was struggling a bit one day to get her stretches done, so we started an incentive jar.  She added a cube to the jar after each stretch.  Lance was gone when she filled the jar, so she called to let him know.  When I asked her what we should do when the jar was full, she said, "Dump it out!"  Well that was simple!  I was thinking along the lines of ice cream or at least a trip to the park!

 In our attempt to eat cleaner, Mara has developed a STRONG love for apples.  Good thing Grandma's apple tree was loaded this year!  Mara eats the entire apple.  Core and all if I'd let her.  I had to stop her on this apple because some of the core was already gone.  Good til the last bite I guess!

Mara's latest habit is throwing unapproved items into the cart.  This may have been an attempt to sneak something unhealthy!  Several times now I've been unloading groceries at home and find a random item I didn't put into the cart.  She innocently admits to putting it in the cart because "We need some Mom!"  If you're wondering how I don't recognize the random item as I put it onto the counter at the store, then you must not remember grocery shopping with your kiddos.  Surely mine aren't the only crazy ones in the store!  I am usually frantically throwing things onto the counter while trying to coral the kids who snuck out of the car cart seat. 

This was an attempt to put on her own shirt.

I have no idea what she was attempting to do here.  Luckily I didn't have to use the scissors.

I cherish the moments that my kids get to spend with their great grandparents.  It's an opportunity some kids don't get.  Mara got to spend some time with Great Grandpa in the tractor recently, and she loved every minute of it.  When I went to pick her up, he had to bribe her to get out!  Papa Mel and Gama Pat definitely has a special place in her heart!

 

Embrace Mud

It started out like this.  Just throwing a couple rocks in the puddle.

 "Can we get a little wet, Mom?"  Mara asked.

I was in complete control of this situation at that moment.  I had a choice to make.

 I chose to embrace mud.

 Embrace the moment.

 Embrace the curiosity.

 Embrace the laughter.

 Embrace the innocence. 

 

 

I have always stopped them from playing in the mud.  I'm sorry kids.  The joy on their faces was well worth the clean up.  I encourage you to embrace mud - whatever your "mud" might be. 

Awana



This is one proud girl wearing her Awana vest!

 Awana is a ministry program created to develop spiritually strong kids at church and in the community.  Our church sponsors this program.  I am a 4th grade leader, and Mara attends the Cubbies class.  She is absolutely loving it!  Not that I should be surprised.  She is quite the social butterfly. 

The little man begs to go with us to "Wana" every week.  For now, big sister has graciously allowed him to try on her vest occasionally. 

Fall Weeked

We took full advantage of fall last weekend!

We visited an apple orchard.

 Micah was really upset he couldn't ride the tractor.

Their first taste of apple cider.  I guess it can make you ROAR!

 We headed to a new park and had a picnic.