Incoming torpedoes!

There's nothing that beats the entertainment of $1.50 goggles bought at Walmart to divert the attention and allow me to finish the grocery shopping. The kids have been going bonkers this week begging me to fill the pool so they can use their new goggles. They were wearing them around the house to play until I finally allowed them to play with them during bath time! What a gas!

The boys sporting the goggles!

We got a pack of diving torpedoes to go with our goggles so Kai could practice holding his breath and searching for things underwater. Eli has been attempting this skill as well :)

Ready for their mission........all goggles on and torpedoes strapped to the side of their heads!

For love of a green turtle sandbox

Sand is a love and hate relationship for me. 

I can't help but think, brown rings and gritty tubs= more cleaning for me. Sand in the hair and in between the toes (and every crack and crevis in between those places) = more baths for me to give. The fews glory days before more sand is OUTSIDE the sandbox than actually housed in it= more $ for me to pay for more sand. (You catching my drift here?)

HOWEVER,

the countless hours that have been spent in that green turtle since it was given to us 4 years ago can't be counted as anything other than a blessing, a cheap babysitter on occasion and pure summer fun! So here's to the green turtle sandbox that resides in our yard----SHOVELS UP!

Happy Dirty Diggers!

Kai digging sewer lines throughout the sandbox.

Addie forming the top of her castle.

 This picture was taken before much of the sand made its way OUT of the sandbox and onto the tarp!

Hard at work with a different project for each....sewer lines and a castle, and the wrecking of sewer lines and castles :)

My kids are drawn to the sand wherever we go. Addie in her dress on her birthday IN THE SAND.

Addalyn turns 3!

Addie had a 3-day birthday extravaganza for her 3rd birthday this week! We spent the last few days eating cupcakes, cake, and ice cream and showering her with love and attention. Of course she was diggin' it! Derrick and I decorated the house with PURPLE streamers, cut out her name from some pictures the kids had painted earlier in the week and a few other goodies to SURPRISE her when she woke up on her birthday! She was a very happy girl.

Day 1: We had our last bible study potluck and we brought PURPLE frosted cupcakes with PURPLE sprinkles! Her fav! We also put new sand in our sandbox and let the kids have at it! Very sandy you could say.....along with brown water and a gritty tub at bath time!

Day 2: The real BIRTHDAY, May 15. We had plans to meet friends at the park and eat more cake! This girl woke up to a PURPLE paradise and gifts and excitement to wear her garden fairy dress all day....even in the sand (I just had to grit my teeth a little and remember this is what washing machines are made for. Besides, who could resist this smile?).

Later in the day Addie had several special friends bless her with cute PURPLE gifts and all the Skate Church crew wished her a "happy birthday." More friends meant more cake!

This is Addie and her friend Evie enjoying their cake!

Day 3: Addie got mail (hence the beautiful pink ballerina dress she is lovin' in pic below & a few cards. Thanks for thinking of her!)! An evening ice cream cone party was planned with MooMoo and Papa and Aunt Mimi. This girl is so blessed by all her grandparents! In the below pic, she had everyone at the table working hard to open new girlie gifts----in ridiculous packaging may I add  (that subject may just be a blog post some day, "How many adults hands does it take to open a toddler toys?").

A happy 3 year old with new PURPLE princess PJs and several other fun girlie things!

Here's Kai and MooMoo helping to dress the princesses!

Grandpa and Grandma sent a new pink bike for Addie to practice! She's so proud to have her own....now we just need to log some practice time!

The younger years are sweeping away from us much faster than I'd ever imagined! I tried to take some time this week to reflect on Addalyn and our last 3 years as parents to this beautiful girl! She has some sass (although if you don't know her too well you've not yet seen this side much) and swing (dance moves) but she's so sweet and nurturing to others. 

As she becomes more interested in girlie stuff....princesses, dressing beautiful, make-up, nail polish or hair styles, Derrick and I want to stress where her true beauty lies. My prayer is that she would know and value she is beautiful from the inside out. Lately I've been asking her "Addie, where are you most beautiful?" and she answers "In my heart." 

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Proverbs 31:30

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

1 Peter 3:3-4

Putting on my blog faces!

Just really loving being a mom of these little faces today!

Before buzz cut

New hairdo...handsome as ever!

Happy as a lark to do crafts! Gearing up for birthday #3 next Tuesday!!

Busy "building camp" in the yard with Scotch tape around the tree :) Like I've said before, a boy of many ideas!

Our pooch, Scout

Once you have kids it's a new life for your pets. Scout (our dog) has been scheming up ruckus lately. Not that this is really unlike her. But there have been 3 separate incidences to speak of:

-1- I naively took all the kids and Scout to the dog park by myself (Dumb, I know, but I had a plan for the kids to play just outside the fence in a sand and silt bed with their pails and shovels). However, I DID walk the kids through the dog park and ended up carrying Addie and Eli because they were scared of the large dogs that were greeting them. Then before I knew what had happened we were in a dog pile. Yes, I fell with Addie and Eli in hand and we all ended up in the poopy dirt. Kai was walking right beside us and got tangled and fell as well. Everyone screaming or crying, including me. Ultra embarassing. I was surprised that NO ONE came to help me fend off dogs and pick up my 3 disoriented children in the middle of a dog park with pails and shovels spread all over. Sad and disappointing in my fellow dog owners :)

-2- Scout got a squirrel in our backyard! She stalks and chases them all day long and I never imagined she'd actually have one in her mouth. Although she IS a hunting dog, so why question the instinct. Where's the listening instinct is what I want to know!!? 

-3-She dug a hole under our fence and crawled into the neighbors new garden they spent all day yesterday planting. Yeah, really nice way to meet your neighbors. Sheesh.

A quick take

I lost my camera cord for the time being, so bare with me in a few pictureless posts.

A few quick happenings at our house:

1. Tonight Kai prayed for Derrick and I to "be cooler." I expected this, just not for 10 more years. A little slap in the face from a 4 yr old when you're still under the impression you ARE cool.

2.  In the car on the way to the grocery store, Addie found a old sticky note on the floor and reviewed it stating she was prepared to buy "broccoli and food" while we were at King Sooper (she's not my broccoli lover by the way). She also wore her princess dress-up dress without clothes underneath. A women awkwardly commented on her outfit in the store and it wasn't until then I realized her whole chest was showing because the dress isn't her normal size (it should go OVER the clothes). It had a nice little sag in the front right below her nipples. (Mostly funny because she's been insisting on playing with her shirt OFF like her brothers and we are working on teaching her that girls keep their shirts on for privacy and modesty. Nice mom, way to drive home that lesson!)

3. Addie or Kai have gotten Eli out of bed 3 out of 5 days this week. They greet him, help him out of bed, carry his blankies for him, and get him his morning juice. So sweet.

4. Imagine the scene: 5 kids under 5 for 8 hours. A fun playdate with 2 friends so their momma could rest. 5 carseats in my van, 5 bodies to check in at BSF, 5 little snacks and 5 little lunch plates, 5 or more small arguments. But 4 superheroes marching around the house with weapons in hand to protect 1 little princess trailing behind. They were all chanting about how great they were at their job and the phone number to reach them at (random numbers included). Pretty stinkin' cute!

5. Not really note worthy, but welcome to the summer bath schedule. Boo. The feet are black and stinky. The hair has sand in it. The hands are sticky and the fingernails are dirt packed. The tub has a brown ring and the water is instantly discolored. Honestly it's a love/hate relationship. :)


Enjoy the weekend!