tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47269759410013507242024-03-05T17:20:26.383-05:00Texans and HoosiersA day in the life of Texan parents and Hoosier kids...Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.comBlogger354125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-49976728797270648772010-06-10T17:00:00.002-04:002010-06-10T17:22:39.663-04:00Heeeeeeeeere We Go!!!<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>, the silence has gone on WAY too long. And so, with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">encouragement</span> from many of you to get this party started once again, here I am! =)<br />So many things have happened over the last several months. I have learned more than I could possibly record in the short time I have to blog this afternoon, so some of that will have to wait. I am actually going to try to go through my photo files and back-blog important things. It's either that or Elias' entire first grade year be missing when I order my blog printed in book-form someday. =) And there have been some GREAT moments! Don't get me wrong- this season has been REALLY difficult and trying, but we are exactly where we know we are supposed to be in this moment. And there is just an unexplainable peace in that.<br /><br />So I greet you once again, sweet friends, with a funny story (which I recently said on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Facebook</span> was so funny and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">blogworthy</span> that it would end the 6 months of silence on my blog)...<br /><br />All four of us were sitting at the dinner table when something came up about Elena turning four soon. Elena began to talk about, as she regularly does, "when she was a baby". The conversation them moved to when Elena was in my tummy and Elias used to talk to her. All of the sudden, Elias began to ask questions about how Elena got out. Normally, we just answer questions like this on a truthful, but age-appropriate answer such as, "Well, when God decides it's time for the baby to come out, the Mommy goes to the hospital and has the baby. Then the doctors make sure the baby is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ok</span> and eating well, and they both come home in a couple of days." Typically, this type of answer is completely satisfactory. Not this night. No way, no how. The boy wanted answers. And he wanted them right there at the dinner table. As we kept straight faces and continued to re-word our answer over and over, his questions got more intense. His progression went something like this...<br />"How did Elena get out of your tummy though, Mommy?" *insert simple explanation here*<br />"Did she come out your mouth? Through your throat?!" *insert Mommy gagging on food from both hilarity and complete disgust at this idea. Then repeat simple answer*<br />"Did she come out your belly button?!" *Again, trying not to laugh, explaining (because he REALLY does want to know!) why we all have belly buttons. Talk about how babies get all their vitamins and nutrition through the tube that attaches the inside of Mommy to baby. Hope he forgets original question.*<br /><br />*Pause* Hope that scientific explanation and distraction really worked...<br /><br />"I just don't get it, Mommy! How did she get out?! Wasn't there a HOLE?!?!?!" <br /><br />Me: "You know what, Elias. When Elena came out, she was really gross and slimy. And I don't really want to talk about it at the dinner table." *rush to Amazon.com and order the next book in the Focus on the Family sex-ed series*<br /><br />See, aren't you glad I'm back!!! ;)Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-55829311508637012072009-11-09T13:51:00.001-05:002009-11-09T13:53:06.993-05:00Friday Five!last week’s friday five had a challenge rather than a question:<br />try to incorporate dancing into your week and tell us how it goes!<br />let’s see how the five did…and feel free to share any dancing adventures of your own.<br /><br /><strong>lissie- </strong>so…i can think of 4 times i got to dance this week.1. i babysat ethan a little on sat morning to give brent and meredith a small break and we played a kiddie cranium game that involved some dance moves.2. halloween night at nathan’s turned into a kitchen dance party. it started with couples being goofy and turned into everyone moving around. that was a blast!!3. chris twirled me around a little at the joe nichols concert on tuesday night.4. my class got canceled last night so i joined tracy and some friends for some bday dancing downtown. while it was good to hang out with girls, djs refused to give me any 80s, ac/dc, or bon jovi so i went home early. punks. i thought of cory getting his groove on at 80s/ladies (or however that goes) and wished i could teleport to columbus.<br /><br /><strong>kimi- </strong>Kinda a lame dance week for me. I was expecting to have more to say. Went to a group lesson at the studio wednesday night. It was a pretty standard lesson, with all stuff that I already know, but I impressed my instructor with the stuff I had been working on. Then he gave me the CD to listen to for the solo I am going to do in December. The song is cell block tango from Chicago and I have to test out the edits he made. We have been planning out the choreography and which parts of the song I would be acting out. We’ll start the actual movement work on that tonight. The best part however, has be designing costuming for that event in the style of the musical. Lots of black fishnets and gothic-y looking clothes. Fun.<br /><br /><strong>Jen- </strong>I had a week that I was completely unprepared for. In the midst of unexpected events, I wish I had remembered that our challenge this week was to dance- maybe it would have made it all more fun!<br />As it was, I danced a few times with my 3 year old (which is pretty normal). My favorite dance time was when she was hooked up to a breathing machine getting an albuterol treatment at her doctor’s office and we were dancing around the exam room together while she sang an impromptu song about medicine smoke coming out her nose. hehe. And I don’t mean sweet dancing like me holding her and swaying. I mean both of us on our feet, boogie-down, rock-out dancing. With breathing tubes and mask and all. =)<br /><br /><strong>Rachel- </strong>There was not enough dancing in my week! On Monday we had over a professor and he brought his two-year-old child, and we danced. After dinner we cleaned up the kitchen and put on fun music and shook our booties a little while putting away our mismatched plates. I know Jill Scott songs were involved. That was super fun.<br />I think the only other times I danced while was preparing cookies or brushing my teeth. That seems OK. You just have to be careful that you don’t hurt yourself with the toothbrush. Hygiene is dangerous!<br /><br /><strong>Cory- </strong>about dancing, mine has been irreverence. i didn’t go out dancing or anything this last week, but there were a few times when i was being talked to, and i didn’t really like how the talk was going, so i just started to shake it. dance as protest.Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-17696515023448024662009-10-31T22:23:00.003-04:002009-10-31T22:37:02.494-04:00Happy 7th Birthday, Elias!I know this post is a couple of weeks late, but I thought I'd at least get it up while we are still in the month of October. =) (I have about 3 hours left...) <div><div><div><div>Elias had a great birthday this year. As usual, it was more like birthday week with the celebration of both of our birthdays ran on and on. We ate at Spaghetti Warehouse, which was major excitement since his favorite food ever is spaghetti. He opened gifts from the family on his actual day and then had a birthday party a few days later at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gattiland</span>. </div><div>I honestly can't believe that I have a 7 year old. It just doesn't seem possible that he could be that old. Not that it's old, but it just doesn't seem like that amount of time can possibly have passed with him in our family. What a joy he is to us! I thank God every day for allowing me to be his Mom, and I can't wait to see what his future holds.</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398957622068683554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN39YiZ3VAwL4GwhW2CWk2IklK-Fcd9uB1KvnZKpA6Kc3dFGaZxdZO6rNxvEd96d_cczo-dwbBxxwEVa8CH8Ge4KluHPTde8jK-uZLAofee_PS_PEJEw5XUchKebIUBnshIZS2yw96LD0/s400/100_4926.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Elias was excited about his new "Bee-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">noculars</span>" from Honey & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Raun</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398957626784491026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UC9dWFgOtqrHY15JBsXjHfAvSJCvgPYQKxPUBp0R16shWD03W2sdE79btnsxhANGhWLYFhFe3m1bL818GzEi7O_9AwwghlwD_1VmFIP56ttXh2JrEpX4MGzGgvsdYBm4BZ05yxx6ops/s400/100_4935.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">We got him a Nintendo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DSi</span>, which he has wanted for about a year</div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398957633607282162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5iu6enCSZ72wcz2zf6xkJ_JpHoVtqhuzBacwsLRqScDrJlhQRijlQFyoHFSCM47l_YnDEisSfmHK95bToQMDfyNZgod2M63c26DK6vEybAbrp3FQin5m-Dy869G5Gq9NQQZ7Lp1J3a4/s400/100_4947.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><p align="center">He also got this case to hold his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">DSi</span> and games, etc. He opened it, read the package, and exclaimed "YES!!!! My very own UNIVERSAL TRANSPORTER!!!" He still calls it that. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">heehee</span></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398957634515960450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTb6zV3LnV0DhH8_x8ELT-m8HQRQMCscb29eJ63ML9MBFCONtjlw7qTArFFNMKYGrn_b63uuwLp3dPeaXq5Rj4sOA6UJaJbPmKkpTlLhbInt9SYWSdZhYQXJgr6pXuLIv8MJc3u0FCRk/s400/100_4952.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Party with friends at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Gattiland</span>. What a great time!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398957641811875250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsT3KY1hGgtAH83NgGoSQG0QuJGfyfWQ5oG2_GUr6FwY-oiBIDdsw_zgyjzD2ldLtyIV5D6I2DT8wre_VO2dDTrZ9fUfMtryjaZ2nI-XQ9ZyE5ihYXWGfuYacMGhuP7V9rObrSWXPDqk/s400/100_4955.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Star Wars birthday cake.</p>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-84611170307877459712009-10-24T12:39:00.003-04:002009-10-24T12:47:15.661-04:00Friday Five!Hey friends! Life has been a little crazy here the last few months, and I have- once again- fallen off the blogging bandwagon. In an attempt to start the habit of blogging again, I am participating in something called "The Friday Five", in which five different bloggers tackle the same question or experience. We actually started this last week, but I couldn't get it to post. Maybe I'll try again in a bit...<br />*note: even though my answer this week is super-wordy, I am pretty sure mine was the shortest answer last week*<br />I hope you have fun with this and feel free to share your answer as a comment (or even in your own blog!) as well. =)<br /><br /><strong>This week’s question:<br /><em>When was the last time you stayed up all night or most of the night? How was school or work the next day? What’s your stay-coherent technique on days like that?</em></strong><br /><br /><strong>Lissie: </strong>the last time i stayed up all night, or practically all night, was two thursdays ago for my cousin’s bachelorette party. we got in and slept for about 3 hours before we were up and running for day-before-wedding festivities and prep.<br />the next day wasn’t awful like going in to teach kindergarteners has been after an all nighter. i had enough shots of espresso and family drama to get me through the day. it was saturday that i paid the price. word to the wise: don’t spend 8 hours walking around and dancing in 3 inch heels if you have to wear heels at all in the following week. your feet will hate you!<br /><br /><strong>Kimi</strong>: The Last time I stayed up all night was last March. I had gone to see Dirty Dancing on stage in Chicago that day and then ended up talking in my friend’s (now boyfriend’s) apartment until about 6:30. This was a Saturday night. I do unfortunately work on Sunday mornings because I work at a church. So I drove straight from his apartment to my church which took about 1 hr due to the nasty road conditions. It was one of my busier days at work so I was running the entire time, but I remember very little of that day, except several kids telling me that I looked really really bad and asking me if I was sick. I got home from church around Noon and then slept until 5:00PM, when I headed out with him again to see another movie.<br /><br /><strong>Rachel: </strong>I got 2.5 hours of sleep on Monday morning after getting home from Manhattan at 2 a.m. My pals and I went to see David Bazan at the Bowery Ballroom. He didn’t start until 11 p.m.! That’s late for us old people! The show was super awesome, and it was totally worth exhaustion throughout the next day. We drank coffee on the car ride home and so I didn’t get to sleep until 3:30. I was up by 6 to write more on my paper and to get to an 8:30 a.m. class. Woooo!<br />My stay-awake plan: drink lots of water, drink lots of green tea, don’t rely on coffee, eat very little sugar and eat light meals. Sugar makes me get really tired. Oh – stretch a lot, too.<br /><br /><strong>Cory: </strong>well, as it happens, i stayed up most of the night last night. sadly, no Ladies/80s, but i helped a friend move some furniture and talked, then i went home stayed up watching movies on AMC with way too many commercial breaks. i just can’t not watch Stargate…<br />my coping techniques are going to be drinking lots of water, and since it’s friday, i might put some music on at work. i will probably hit the breakroom coffee machine a few times too.<br /><br /><strong></strong><strong>Jen: </strong>I thought I was going to have to write about a few months ago when both of my kids alternately puked all night, but, alas, I remembered a more recent late-nighter that is much happier and less gross. =)<br />Our church has an annual girls retreat at Log Country Cove near Marble Falls. 20 or so log homes are rented for the weekend, and there are 10-18 women assigned to each one. There is a “hostess” (who makes contact with each of the women assigned to her cabin before the retreat and generally keeps the weekend moving along) and a “presenter” (who presents the actual teaching sessions planned for the weekend). I have served as a hostess for two years now, but this year held a bit of a surprise. =)<br />I got my list of ladies in my house a couple of weeks before the retreat, and there were only a couple on the list who I didn’t already know. One was “Mary Smith”, and her contact info was all the same as my presenter’s info. I thought that was a little weird, but my presenter told me she was a friend from out of town and that she would forward any correspondence from me to her.<br />Soooo, we all arrive at the retreat on a Friday (this was about 3 weeks ago), and a car full of girls pull up to our cabin, As I walk over to give them a hard time about taking so long to get there, etc, I notice that one of the girls in the car looks eerily like one of my best friends, Jenna Spears. But Jenna lives in Atlanta. As I got closer and realized it actually WAS Jenna, I laughed and cried and exclaimed “shut UP!!” all at the same time.<br />All that to say, that night was pretty much a school-girl slumber party. We stayed up till the wee hours of the morning chatting and laughing. And then my ridiculous body decided it should still wake up at 6:30am in the spirit of routine.<br />My coping mechanism the next day was pretty much to just keep the adrenaline going. I SOOOO could have used a nap, but instead rented a boat with a bunch of girls and went skiing for the first time ever. I even did a backflip off the boat (just to prove that I really AM still young and hip…. or something…).<br />There came a point that night when I hit the wall though. I pretty much knew that if I didn’t go to bed right then, I was either going to get really mean or be reduced to tears over nothingness. So, off to bed I went, followed by Jenna, where I feel asleep in the middle of a conversation. =)Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-24111008719519978462009-08-27T22:00:00.006-04:002009-08-27T22:38:30.049-04:00The First Day of First Grade<div><div><div>Anyone out there ever seen the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">VeggieTales</span> Jonah movie? You know the "Billy Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">McGuffrey</span>" song they sing in the van on the way to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Twippo</span> concert? I have been singing that song ALL week. Only we made up our own words and verses about "Elias Daniel Jordan" and the first days of first grade. It's been a GREAT week! </div><br /><div>First of all, I recognize how blessed we are to be able to send Elias to a Christian school. It warms my heart to hear staff from last year speak highly of him and know that they have been praying for these kids all summer. </div><div>I love that this morning, as Mrs. Baker taught one of their summer books "The Three Little Pigs", she explained to them that this wasn't just a story about pigs. It is a story about us. About how well we listen to instruction from God (In this version, the mom pig tells her 3 sons to build their houses out of strong materials but only one pig does so. The other 2 actually get eaten, which I thought was a little harsh until I heard her tie it all in.) About how if you build your "house" out of things that won't last, the wind that <strong>will</strong> eventually come will blow it down. Wow- I am 32 and sometimes need that reminder! How great to hear at 6!</div><div>I love that, every morning, Mrs. Baker takes prayer requests from the kids and begins the day asking God to guide their little minds. I did have to stifle several laughs as I listened to some of their requests while I did some filing in the classroom yesterday. :)</div><div>I love that Mrs. Baker didn't just tell them where to put their backpacks, water bottles, and lunchboxes on the first day. She explained to them that God is a God of order (just read the Genesis account of creation and try to argue that one!).</div><div>I love that when Elias was given the opportunity to participate in the gifted and talented program, we were able to go to the leadership of the school and ask them to join us in prayer about God providing the funds to make that happen. And that I knew they would actually pray! And that today, less than 24 hours later, someone came to find me to say that a gift had come in to the school specifically to help a GT student. I have seen God move people's hearts so many times that it is ironic that this would surprise me, but it still did! I wish I could write that family a letter telling them of the journey we have been on- praying for God to provide a way or to fill our hearts to overflowing with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">contentedness</span> with what we have. I really can't express the appreciation I feel that such a thing was done for my child. Makes me wonder how God must feel when we do nice things for His children.</div><br /><div>So here are some pics from the first day. It was a great, great day. Elias' first favorite things about first grade were that he is in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kelii's</span> class (and they actually sit right next to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">each other</span>- brave woman that teacher is!) and that Mrs. Baker likes to say "BINGO!" when someone gives a correct answer. :) </div><div><br /> </div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oDlUJIvbBk0AUXZzIlY_x5iQaKAEDgqyN76NXFgzPqMPJ4LXAPKfy1bu-_U0SIsZZWoQ9bav6HE8J8wPkFmS8Z3o2P5ru4QM6HgO0yjuzOfaMN8ysrFgVaiLjaFpwwgwvNiiLdpHs_g/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374829167138601250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oDlUJIvbBk0AUXZzIlY_x5iQaKAEDgqyN76NXFgzPqMPJ4LXAPKfy1bu-_U0SIsZZWoQ9bav6HE8J8wPkFmS8Z3o2P5ru4QM6HgO0yjuzOfaMN8ysrFgVaiLjaFpwwgwvNiiLdpHs_g/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374829174087704130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLZ2QURRftUC3ToVSZbDZDql-wCYcKAx39iwmXIIAa_w5k7i0z8PshtVomGTG0rBgRSibIO_WYMdRbEgmBCV3Q49Yd1La_g-Wv9SSQILmaF4JvTeskyYw7Y1Qqr990Vx39juoCvcwUmk/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374836099403885826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigS0Cm-yWX1eR4QzhP9b22C4lVrKEO0R6ebLFzp8JV-A6DdDhFUhh-vOXBhN-qkjjasJRYi02EQXFKBaZGMjlMtItyqtMbJ-36zWZ7egckWcFoBaz9DQ8lR8FsL_QCwZDjexMo4RV3wnE/s400/007.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374834666722457394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4k9r0euOsd1gW3RfiL6WhzNCBgmBTgH2VhrgAZYoe9RGW2vrXR8o9DdxN5uppA0RR_7S8IxaiozA2_ynV_9z2iS5ggtsve0nC2H_zXfzt_3ib2wvGifSbNANqo3LarXs2aJHAvVSlyps/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-25275921010403512522009-08-24T21:10:00.002-04:002009-08-24T21:20:21.476-04:00Here We Go Again!The first day of first grade is tomorrow! I can't even begin to explain how excited I am about Elias' class- his teacher, his classmates, the parents! I absolutely LOVE our school and feel so blessed to be able to be a part of the community there.<br /><br />Quick, funny story: A little birdie told me which class Elias was going to be in for first grade, but I didn't pass the information on to him knowing that there was a chance he could be moved between classes. As the summer progressed, we decided to start praying about his first grade class. One night, at the dinner table, we had the following conversation:<br />Elias: "I know which class I am going to be in. I am going to be in Ms. King's class because they had their Camp Watermelon tents setup before any of the other classes." <br />Mom: "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hmm</span>. Actually, Ms. King won't be teaching first grade next year."<br />Elias: "Oh. Well, I know I am going to be in Ms. Gates class."<br />Mom: "Remember last year when we prayed and asked God to put you in just the right Kindergarten class? He did a GREAT job with that, didn't he? God already knows who your teacher is and we don't have to try to figure it out, but we can pray for whoever it is going to be and that it would be just the right one for you."<br />Elias: "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ok</span>." *places his hands over his heart and looks up at the ceiling for about a minute. maybe two.* *laughs* "I was wrong!!! It's Mrs. Baker! I am in Mrs. Baker's class!"<br />Mom: *totally looking confused* "WHAT?!"<br />Elias: "I just asked God, and He told me it is Mrs. Baker!"<br /><br />Well, God and Mrs. Baker, we can't wait for the year you have in store for us!!!Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-9525665741256369162009-07-17T17:43:00.007-04:002009-07-18T18:53:14.173-04:00AlarmingMonday night was an exciting time here at the Jordan house. We had hosted our first night of Backyard Bible Club, so the kids were up a little later than normal. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Adaryll</span> and I were wound up from the evening and stayed up until around 11:30. Needless to say, we were dead tired by the end of the night! <div><div><div><div><div><div>I was awakened at 12:30 to something beeping. As I sat up in a stupor, trying to figure out what that sound was, I realized there was also a child screaming in terror- "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Moooooommmmmmmmmyyyyy</span>!!!!!!!!!!!" I got out of bed and walked out of our room to quickly realize that beeping was in Elias' room, and the child screaming was Elias. As I opened his door and turned on his light, the beeping suddenly stopped. Still not fully awake, I went over to his alarm clock to check and see if it could have accidentally been set to go off in the middle of the night. Even though I fully knew that was NOT the sound his alarm clock makes. Nope- still set for 8am. I then began to awaken and asked my crying curled-up-into-a-little-ball child, "Was that your smoke alarm???" He didn't know. But that HAD to be what it was, right? What else would possibly be s<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">o</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">friggin</span>' loud and obnoxious??! So I told him I needed to check the house. (meanwhile, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Adaryll</span> is still fast asleep)</div><div>I walked the entire house, sniffing deeply for any sign of smoke. I had a hard time discerning between real smoke and the bacon smell that was left over from dinner, but I didn't see any fire anywhere. When I went back to his room and sat in his chair to think, the alarm started again. Seriously, these things are like the loudest, highest pitch, ear-piecing sound I have ever heard. Elias begins to scream and cry again- I think he thinks the house must be burning down??? After a couple of minutes, it stops again. I realize I am not equipped to handle this on my own (ceilings are too high!), so I go get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Adaryll</span>. </div><div>We go together to Elias' room with a step ladder and proceed to try to disassemble/destroy the alarm. Meanwhile, it continues to alarm off and on as it darn well pleases. Finally, I give up and go downstairs to call the fire department and ask them how the heck to make it STOP!!!! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Noone</span> answers. (Obviously, I did NOT dial the emergency number!) So I call the police non-emergency number and tell them what's up, and they transfer me to the fire department. Pretty quickly, the guy on the phone asks me how many people are in the house and tells me that we all need to evacuate immediately. He says there is already a truck on the way. WHAT?! "No, no, no", I say. There is no fire! He then explains that there can be fire in the attic or inside a wall, and we would not even know it. So, I hand the phone to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Adaryll</span> and go wake Elena up to take everyone outside. </div><div>Minutes later, a GIANT fire truck, 4 fully decked-out firemen, and all their gear/tools arrive. They go into the house with heat detectors, axes, etc. And then ANOTHER GIANT firetruck arrives. They turned off the sirens at the neighborhood entrance, but the lights are enough to wake the dead. Needless to say, neighbors began to emerge to see what was going on. We told them it was nothing. And 15 minutes or so later, that was confirmed. A faulty alarm, they said. Still, the kids thought it was the coolest thing ever.</div><div>We came back in (an hour has passed now since the alarm first started), and we put the kids back to bed. Elias gets a pallet on our floor because I seriously think he may have a heart attack if this alarm wakes him again. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Adaryll</span> and I vacuum out that smoke alarm in case it has dust inside (which it thinks is smoke) making it go off. Finally, we head back to bed. Which is where I lay awake for the next TWO HOURS. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ARGH</span>!!! </div><div>Then- you will not believe this- the alarm in OUR room begins to "chirp". Are you kidding me?!?!?! I throw back the covers and wake up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Adaryll</span> to tell him our alarm needs a new battery. Seriously, is this really happening?! I go get the big ladder from the garage (our ceilings are even higher than Elias'), march it up the stairs, get a battery, and switch it out. (note: Elias slept through this whole drama)</div><div>We decided to take cookies to the firemen who came to our house, since we probably woke them up too. And I can't even fathom the amount of needless paperwork we created for them. Poor guys. So we went to Costco and bought cookies (because those of you who know me well know that had I actually baked cookies, there might have really been a need for the fire department). The kids carried the box of cookies in together, and they were invited in to see the trucks, tools, kitchen, bedrooms, etc. It was such a neat experience for them, and I am grateful for how friendly the firemen were. Overall, the while ordeal turned out to be a very positive thing for the kids. They got to experience real-life fire response in a completely safe environment. They got to see the guys in all their gear, which can look pretty scary, and realize that they are here to help us. Plus they got to do something nice for their local firemen. :)</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359935942570058210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdOpwtGR_E4OukFWswP-r53G1f1AN7GapJre7qer13iAyQe3C6Mr0IlZFVGY407xLsixDjya8RTelL4Ze1Bad6QdIpwUUnNM062HHx0-aZHPSylN1KGWhF-XmsbezamZ8qgGmBBLYvD8/s400/059.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359935947704365346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHgqqwxf3rJaHgA3jWWY5oHnlp6RvoPatqnMaHVOan98A-aTW0w-4lKPEr72PmpUR5fMX5KiWHmJycs9fQGICEsUFnC8OlZYv1cEt3hU-SGqwWikQnWLm3CiUhy_7xnKcwsiRhNjIf54/s400/060.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359935957252452130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DdvCoKjAUYWmMHpSNhHqJdIuSqP_y2uGQ-47VLPAUirbIuSj9UdXwVkLG5izJS3vfoTBP6azaek4NdIvDcUKTRRxHGKAxPfHC_3iPVEkkAlXjApfJjuTnn5ZXWJ8f_F_taCjyn-GlYw/s400/069.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359935950076682994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIktXrLNC44EgT8TnTu4tg6BrdhKNcLxxi1pInRgv_zPS_dUVM3A3AtPo0N08CmUT2LjDpRXZoWW7u0YVeXHcK1R4EuG3RclIVxM97XSUJgPIYAeW76OJejZvBw_B58KOVfnpkdt8uis/s400/068.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359936190337924482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09E8nN_dxekHCr_HSAkDLMEHVldz3ZUzdisvxNty_Gf6_vX7KyzcwQqr3dTZPl8OoVIyD5HpJQ_Gl3znOFPvWAUnomWcxQvblpDqJJuPOETwY9VKSZFh1ew970-Vuw9EAz4p0w_VgS_A/s400/073.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359935958562679810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36XSGdf1g8Zp6mzokUn4hyphenhyphenRCHNMsBD92JADXSApLpdKzm2XrkwUd2dwx7UptmSdI9kprbOCbeHGgVrJ98n3FDs761bHqdbchH5FPN_ZUG6juHyWTZ49_MkSbrKmDW1ooVkubV8pe_0Rc/s400/072.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-26350264156295557632009-07-14T22:33:00.005-04:002009-07-14T22:56:46.673-04:001, 2, 3, Goooooo Redwings!<div align="left">Elena decided she wanted to play t-ball this summer (like brother, like sister!). She is playing on a 3-year-old team through the YMCA, and she is the only girl on her team. Since she didn't actually turn 3 until the 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nd</span> or 3rd week of the season, she is also the littlest one out there. Does <em>she</em> know that? Doubtful. She LOVES playing with "my boys", and she also loves being the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">representative</span>-of-pink of the team. In fact, when we talked about signing her up, we dug out Elias' first glove for her to use. She quickly pushed it away and said confidently, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ummmm</span>, I think I need a <strong>PINK</strong> one. And a <strong>PINK</strong> hat." After a quick trip to Academy, she was set to go. (aren't you proud, Kirsten?!) </div><div align="left">Her team is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Redwings</span>, which is pretty cool considering her fascination with birds! Here are some pics from the most recent game...<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358511783379315346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEyklEr0Y9gIOAkuW5xeISGIlQs6_hyqqD3HYXwIala3NllpK1f7IeOmRB9h8HQtfjQef1NlmzTK0njoSgcagcKLTcSBEf6eTko_T5j1c9racqzGmf6MI_JgR2pMb1VYk621XK5rlFbg/s400/Picture+006.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Saying the YMCA pledge</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358511785534553154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj-oXr_7_KRBg8MJDYzXaKWO7973aRYBQHePD3wMmcIEMdhCF9n9xLzvCabJupdO7C0r-DlWKmPEcOcIA_ytstfXtAJmgFH-bHW6nTKoNbIyIIlo3dpQdcVYCpIWqD3CIbYqOC14YaA0/s400/Picture+007.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Bow-head</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358511796191465826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMAbPhIPFV7vRCEHJ_Fq6Z6k_f6FkuQxXhZJi3juHNeJaOe93tmSlCpj9AOIIKJLryoBBRxm46D4SSaVB4CX1g2qDksl8UMOqlwCcvkdRp_KvQFTpg_u4yoLK0-1jh15D3QYeBEo6l0Y/s400/Picture+019.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"Hi Mommy!"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358512711821586642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9E0QRTQFlKgBFlQ9pbbqhK5xbp9FNZlkJAA3gJH4fPDFGXhnl0mXTSOyYZl50Nw_eXHhsyynNbKNxC35ND3ShZ7XlutA99qzvuTwclfuH0Ks6txmMFmJJT-sRZU8qoGTZ0BizaDP2Q8/s400/Picture+020.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">C'mon</span>, ball!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358511805275576738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSNacgv3H-4-ICx3iARCYwXegy6yMqgM22cBirwySwBKV43V4BMjb7IY9raFC52CiaVtAFbEhCwd8Ov50baCr5mqehnhjlBw39sqyKutKblXBd_yNjE7F6dWPmICDPKVG7xmquBctJf8/s400/Picture+022.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Got milk?</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358511808042160914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCFeo6pXQ9A7HoX1ZKameXudd-EzGPstb1u9PRvZQVmso_GZABkwLYnB1_Sp2TnPLbkucqdsN2Egj1_bQLu_cWgt8WTVIW50ZmrnzDP0_DUhTgnhxfe_447iOu3z1ltJx1iaidOQiQks/s400/Picture+024.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">All the moms thought it was great that she gave me a little pose before her swing.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358512716878440434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfTqNpW5H35oT9LtDRRdePOZTBfqqGRDCm1JNF_PLNqSTLYmNkAHvGkbyfhZbH2oTAPfAA_7tpXLy0eEr8Jkw1GMaHXMNH3BgQjaG_AdHcN0aIv3HnEBHG2R5kqc5Z496VBWSQUB8Hw0/s400/Picture+026.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">BAM</span>!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358512718936458226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9S8uHhJsAWILKkasrxW4EzjjMpccy6VW3H_GhDAXJB76GimnJfcnsEzJdnxtIfr4ZZmfbMohlnRHISJw_ROokgrFMNNEi_Ogi6HZ5uBnvFhXIhtN3IHcB1dPeXwLdW0r7uyRNfhE2JYg/s400/Picture+027.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">This is FUN!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358512725347961682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK07HP06JL2h_sO3qDf__D1U-q2eIAi2BxqnWw-zBlJV5M6Slvx5CG9t1pgKGaV1ji78PL-WIpbswWNIFxJUBL25WzmSzJxodCrsjiEmqodP8TR5RAYz9-ZeujnysZnR-vjBRB0zYEK2c/s400/Picture+029.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Running to 1st base</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358512733020085586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZETD3wVwN3tpDXrxlaaSu4sBNT2DEon2LM70hE7MBPo_1jXHLTlN-jhHYQbcr-eEdYyGBZKUOdxPkZAPRHPiKB0kNFg5VWKrDngoUDHUjpEYObPXzSova0gXGFeZaflf8b2wkYUQZ2w/s400/Picture+010.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Made it to 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nd</span> base!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358513573938532834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQhHhXJHSq2pCVJAHr-OZ77kQgd-oYRtfgchmDB55N21MjB_g6IKH-rOdHs7SIvd_XxmJv-x4_ho6oi-KZ-l2poQzdnE1tPluA1l4oRa05wHZkK4VbRLR-6eZlvkcHpCGHMb5-wfCsDs/s400/Picture+014.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Waiting on 3rd</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358513580775150370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjWyplqM4FTqWEFIAxgbEW97xTHyK2dTJtNrYn-yveCwwVUOl3NivwlHX_Xsp8aJVMbu7wm3BDejbyMP74LhPnJm9XS9scXhf7mJ1asnRheo_Zw3Z4WN5UsZCL7Ox5Nc4kvybjuB_Kho/s400/Picture+016.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Run HOME!</p>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-88576710595897024342009-07-12T13:02:00.005-04:002009-07-12T13:28:21.050-04:00Are You Transformed?This week kicks of The Great Adventure 2009. The Great Adventure is a month-long summer focus on loving and serving people all over the world. We start tonight with the Concert of Prayer, where we will pray for all the teams traveling on GO (global outreach) Trips, the work they will do, the people they will get to meet and work alongside, the Backyard Bible Clubs that will be happening all over Austin this week, the families who will attend them, the Extreme Adventure camp for 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span>-7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> graders, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Summerfest</span> street party this Friday, etc. At the end of The Great Adventure (5 weeks from now), we will close the season with the Concert of Praise, thanking God for all the work He has done, for how He has grown us closer to Him, and for the lives He has changed.<br />The theme this year is "Transformed- More than Meets the Eye". And, yes, if you hear my cellphone ring in the next month, you will hear that my ringer has been changed to the theme song from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Transformers</span>. Elias thinks I am the coolest mom alive. :)<br />To illustrate how we can be transformed by God, Elias was given one of these at Sunday school today...<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357624614707030082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 371px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfLnKSkG28OgerjnQbF1yZLZlUXQcY8h1vB8DtnnD48-t1Tppl7SibNTSDuxnomk7frKnBbXqGphBz1o7XGeEsVAboGWFbEPhHSsnqLxZ8jJfhZOoY1Iu8TB6YESYW8dl4oQRcJAYMD0/s400/mealworms.jpg" border="0" /><br />It's a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mealworm</span>. Thankfully, the nice teachers gave it oatmeal and a slice of potato, so there is nothing else we have to do for it. We don't even have to open the jar. Ever. :) Elias decided it is a girl, and he named it "Sarah". Not to be confused with "Sara", who is a friend from Kindergarten. Over the next 5 weeks, this is what it will become...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357624620600159426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmRees2kwzZXjkDxVfW-chYPalEa2pfUpc_TLfNx1ANeJ8Rj7GZfZtIYBCEaW3fDH9zTlROV1c_zc50g6Tz7Hsmj6XYvfLsczU5Hb-b2Prq3inNMf59y4jTJBpXNRjEvFcFqTSLpZXyQ/s400/mealworm+beetle.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Yep, it's a beetle. Gross? Yes! Am I gonna touch it? No way! Is something gross <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">transforming</span> into something grosser (I know- not a word) going to help teach my son about the way God works in our lives? Absolutely!!! Am I excited about it? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">YAH</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">HOO</span>!!!!Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-74623239195994164662009-07-08T21:56:00.003-04:002009-07-08T22:06:06.985-04:00Mommy, What year were you born in?<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Conversation</span> in the kitchen as I prepared dinner yesterday:<br />Elias: *runs in out of breath* Mom! I was born in 2002! What year were you born in?<br />Me: 1976. (that never sounded like a LONG time ago until i JUST said it)<br />Elias: WOW!!!! That was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">looooooooooong</span> time ago!!!!!!<br />Me: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">MmHmm</span>.<br />Elias: What did they have back then?<br />Me: (thinking- "back then??? really???")<br />Elias: Did they have houses?<br />Me: *laughing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">hysterically</span> now* YES WE HAD HOUSES!<br />Elias: What else did you have?<br />Me: Well, we had t.v. But no DVD. We got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">VCR's</span> when I was a little girl though. (didn't even try to explain BETA vs VHS)<br />Elias: Did you have a phone?<br />Me: (how old does this kid think I am????) YES WE HAD PHONES!!!! Only for the house though. We didn't have phones for the car. Actually, we got one when I was a little girl and it was bigger than this house phone.<br />Elias: What about video games?<br />Me: We did have a video game. I was probably about your age when we got it. It was an Atari. And then we got a Nintendo a few years later.<br />Elias: Nintendo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">DS</span> or Nintendo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Wii</span>?<br />Me: Nope. Just Nintendo. The ORIGINAL.<br />Elias: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hmm</span>. What games did you play on it?<br />Me: Super Mario Brothers.<br />Elias: Oh yeah! Like Mario Cart?<br />Me: Nope. Just Super Mario Brothers.<br />Elias: What did the controls look like?<br />Me: OLD.Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-71890578555296958682009-06-30T20:14:00.007-04:002009-06-30T20:22:17.923-04:00My ModelI don't think I could have found a better model for my bows. And to think that all this one charges is food, shelter, love, and snuggles. A small price to pay for all the bows she sells. :)<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353279422250853794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yxT4YhCQmHt17l1bOpTdIvClM9qVxDpYnkFv3Lf7Qcz6TQJqFMwuAGxIgNSIIljDkm2FaPii_5evmWLG8Citqx_ccDRhRbKVA3cxl2TisIDGhRYUAZgLEbpNwOaRlSBScrkKCfwb1aU/s400/img181.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353279133322288498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 233px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6Y3ms1YIvebkL6moqV7UUrJFasdA858zXXIedhi49bsHVY3IVrVE09XR-_yEuVXy4IHduInj22Ns6MBmM2n8yn2m8YQiqFWMTDn8N1fqw1lzB3g5Xz2mmOqTx-kndL87AUbU8en4BaU/s400/Elena4thofJuly.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353279136497652578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx1vBzE3mCEW25vIiSEWtA7y-GFGMwh1fN4ANAbJw0pwjZB89sIBUycwYxkgbmoNSKNgu7gEpJb7a731MCjOnHz4D_cu1MXKz31iYBLjJGszatcPH5C-jU_P246pxsxHbuSx7Unndqxc/s400/ElenaIceCream.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353279151491993714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AbvyJsvRDabNTi04V-WFIALCYqOwqNr2-a6UM_6REMGH94fEtqSqFZkNEuV6vyLnKd-PZT42tdml6fG_kboiTeUsQAmhn1Z81y4_T4GPNaRFNRQbzAESJKCWu0RWtNlfkDNGp207K0A/s400/img178.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353279412554325394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-JJCNxfVSE9DThe-iNBMVWxgnoee3odYhdFyQmk36TW7SZ6vdLeFVuyqSp-7RHYwDoMKHljsJuNfR5YAmsMAjfhu6kt0bcX5xQhFfREgJjSVtesadMp0pDu5vq4Ok64sNjf0U9OX0L8/s400/img180.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353279159129786418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7bXI7G5Gxah4Nf_kcarxOABBKimE-oqAZyAsJyvYmGkGO1oN_3ras7SzPx1L0qJ5weCoCT7eN9ywOJz42HyhUZhbChdA9AbtTCXV7qnRgqYyhYTs6krtAf6e2L_I2gpmnfd5pg4Uml0/s400/img179.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353279148678876850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Y7xSuoLZLitBVdxzSOL3suNcJhaUIraDcc54orkeyUyLqHuhmfPMAigKbDsY3WS3_WeMSiycbmB6yiXhhj8aoTB72dM9utqRERcRB5yTdk6kt3CA5Zoxf2Kh2L-0HaYs8eQg4qdvzhI/s400/ElenaRainbow.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p>Don't you want to go buy some bows now? :) <a href="http://www.unbelievabow.com/">http://www.unbelievabow.com/</a></p>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-69158713937601314402009-06-29T22:17:00.003-04:002009-06-29T22:51:54.897-04:00Happy 3rd Birthday, Elena!3 years ago today we welcomed sweet Elena into our family. I couldn't have possibly anticipated what a wonderful addition she would be! She is so super fun, sweet, and loving. Tonight, as we were having our rocking chair time, I told her some things I love about her. One of those things is how incredibly maternal she is. She "mothers" anything and everything that crosses her path. I love watching her bounce a baby doll up and down and whisper "Shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. It's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ok</span>, Mommy's here." I love her laugh- the deep belly one that comes out when she is being tickled. I love when her voice gets REALLY deep and she says something hilarious in a growl. And then she breaks out that laugh I mentioned. I love how she converses about EVERYTHING. (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ok</span>, I don't always appreciate this in the moment, but we are talking about overall here!) She doesn't just watch TV, she watches and tells you all about it, play-by-play, as it is happening. She talks non-stop in the car about everything and nothing at all. Her favorite knock-knock joke is "Knock knock", "Who's there?", "A LITTLE GIRL THAT CAN'T REACH THE DOORBELL!!!!!!!" I love her singing voice. And that she knows the songs on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ipod</span> as well as I do. And that, when in doubt of a lyric, she will just make one up. It may not even be a real word. She doesn't care. I love that she messes up her pronouns. ("Her is sad, Mommy." or "I are done, Mommy") I love that she still fits in my lap. That when I rock her, she can still bend her legs and wrap her knees around my waist and lay her head on my shoulder. And that she still licks her wrist when she is going to sleep. I love that she asks, before bed, "Daddy, will you pray me?" <br />This list could go on and on. There is just so much to love about this sweet girl. Instead, I present you with fun pictures from our family birthday party. We had dinner at Chuck-E-Cheese. (which is where she insisted on going, but with the agreement that Chuck-E would not actually come near her. "He is staying in his nest" is what she kept repeating. The "nest" is a little round stage where a curtain opens and the mechanical Chuck-E sings songs. In case you were wondering, she still has a bird obsession.) We had cake at home, thanks to a dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free cake mix from Whole Foods. <br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352940400419081906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsjE66yhT4pS7PgFwW6nJGqmWjhu5t_M4jOIvi3pm0Kq8Q9DnVUQhfQjNvgBX2qlNEpXV4J9l5-SUZ_o9604nzMsCeIwuVc2s7dFAy9zms96RuLZAR0Vv5baxv7oGMmQB9guYUYlgmbg/s400/Picture+063.jpg" border="0" />The guests at her party: Baby Jordan, Baby Bunny, and Lasagna<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352940405797466130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXqY9G3vjPNf0F3G1TG3GozeqMttqhVu8urbe-fF3uMiibTYozcKvwcyiQnFKuK7sZ_2G1htexTPoo6WHN0KazNaIH_PO7UE2RPfavsEL7F_uBiR6XY6RFIBy7iD8HODpvBY42kHZ0GA/s400/Picture+075.jpg" border="0" />"Happy Birthday, Sister!"<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5NB7PUREeCITPJ_avM_ap6wQubKSqwVf07hV8l7NnqY-bGuTVxJa1F998OKuTt0cyDD9GuTf36TN9SHWsoAIYKDUb_jhTNlpxz9lSFwpY19i2CcY40OIisIgLfBSKunDFXcaG7ox-cc/s1600-h/Picture+095.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352940907706343010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5NB7PUREeCITPJ_avM_ap6wQubKSqwVf07hV8l7NnqY-bGuTVxJa1F998OKuTt0cyDD9GuTf36TN9SHWsoAIYKDUb_jhTNlpxz9lSFwpY19i2CcY40OIisIgLfBSKunDFXcaG7ox-cc/s400/Picture+095.jpg" border="0" /></a> Elena playing the bee game<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAYAXOPgNW_GWLfinW6GlVCEgz6fAy4RHbR9LjJr1YuHuzHCmc4pdpbRBNbgygRMBgKBId-I-fglgCvWhrV3mZSod6pNcMSmvWZa_m2rdKZrIHa_QlcILjPnPef3jJxL5cQjxDKww00Q/s1600-h/Picture+092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352940901878789586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAYAXOPgNW_GWLfinW6GlVCEgz6fAy4RHbR9LjJr1YuHuzHCmc4pdpbRBNbgygRMBgKBId-I-fglgCvWhrV3mZSod6pNcMSmvWZa_m2rdKZrIHa_QlcILjPnPef3jJxL5cQjxDKww00Q/s400/Picture+092.jpg" border="0" /></a>Riding the bicycle helicopter<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2poH7Y8mpNdtb_Lzj-IsQlhK2RFG1Q7t8c-_qO5gEBl-NU1NEr9ibPDaZ97pdrRfNmb1rgPnwKky7IGxeQNzV7v0KLhXbUF6ej0sU0Xi03a2UhI5AtS5RxfAlsnuUIg70BKHyA4_ahsA/s1600-h/Picture+088.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352940415843268402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2poH7Y8mpNdtb_Lzj-IsQlhK2RFG1Q7t8c-_qO5gEBl-NU1NEr9ibPDaZ97pdrRfNmb1rgPnwKky7IGxeQNzV7v0KLhXbUF6ej0sU0Xi03a2UhI5AtS5RxfAlsnuUIg70BKHyA4_ahsA/s400/Picture+088.jpg" border="0" /></a> Giddy-up, caterpillar!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjbPwr1mTjbkzA9px7zeGdNLYaGpitXK6Z4aMMQjE8nmLorAd-H-A2rbZGHHdi6k7jZQTSLCKS-KiLaxuNDt3piYUYMwusTxJijfTuaHMVXB8bgoF-E292WKqXdqaqIJvZkIIACJSqos/s1600-h/Picture+077.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352940409834135474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjbPwr1mTjbkzA9px7zeGdNLYaGpitXK6Z4aMMQjE8nmLorAd-H-A2rbZGHHdi6k7jZQTSLCKS-KiLaxuNDt3piYUYMwusTxJijfTuaHMVXB8bgoF-E292WKqXdqaqIJvZkIIACJSqos/s400/Picture+077.jpg" border="0" /></a> "Cheese!"<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_NeJaimDpMfMhJSG96-vLWxcEp1gY-ewXCRYRSfEX7SFbYhqoWckxWgIrExJ3d3-4zodoTTJWjaaleKZSD_NTV-UClflNXqvrD9hI-mHE7zvlspSgpzxofjQ55eBL8zft8mDlBFZfdQ/s1600-h/Picture+066.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352940404364006146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_NeJaimDpMfMhJSG96-vLWxcEp1gY-ewXCRYRSfEX7SFbYhqoWckxWgIrExJ3d3-4zodoTTJWjaaleKZSD_NTV-UClflNXqvrD9hI-mHE7zvlspSgpzxofjQ55eBL8zft8mDlBFZfdQ/s400/Picture+066.jpg" border="0" /></a> "I got TICKETS!!"<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352940908677854226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWKzjhq4kWY1DAFd3RI9HacIJs-RVuZlIUnQ7TGm-1c-VpprqAYrQ9KNzV7HRXGSZE1vr7TIwi6UeIivK1H1EvjZYwU7P36BcfMMbk37ACLavVm2sXwi6h4i8AfYtR6qBQkCIr3nAjaI/s400/Picture+097.jpg" border="0" />Elena-safe cake<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352940919164189442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uZytBffvgBA-lAyQhdnoYxMTTBwItYWgzwOnrvflzqIB73hT-5btmsWCgH7X99_kEwuPr8DEt3K5QtLA-soGdNxZoRwqxi0osrirWo1Uj0_wG48-qW5ojgOueoC7cbrXaLjmLZJ3EYw/s400/Picture+098.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><p align="center">Happy Birthday to ME!</p>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-71886889053871473472009-06-27T23:12:00.006-04:002009-06-27T23:53:20.972-04:00Summertime!<div align="left">I never really had an appreciation for summer until this year, but I am LOVING this summer break! The kids and I are doing really fun things and I am getting to spend some good time out in the sun. It's like being a kid again! Add to that the bonus that I am getting to hang out with some great girl friends on a pretty regular basis, which is always nice!</div><div align="left">We left the day after kindergarten graduation to go to San Antonio for 3 days. We did <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">SeaWorld</span>, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Riverwalk</span>, the Alamo, the pool at the hotel, etc. It was such a good family vacation. The kids had a blast, and I think they are now at the age where they will look back on these vacations as adults and remember the fun we had. </div><div align="left">After San Antonio, we came home for a couple of days and then headed north. We spend a night in Dallas with my sister, a night in Oklahoma City at a fancy-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">schmancy</span> hotel downtown with some friends from Indiana, and then another night in Dallas with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Adaryll's</span> dad and his wife. Again, great memories made for all of us. We got to see several sets of people who have been very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">influential</span> in our lives and who we haven't seen in several years. So, so great!</div><div align="left">Once we got home, I decided I better make a plan for the rest of the summer. (some of you are laughing. stop it.) So I mapped out our weeks and thought out which day we would do swim lessons, sprinkler parks, neighborhood pool, etc. (are you seeing a pattern here? it's 108 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">degrees</span> for Pete's sake!!!) It feels good to have some structure and routine, but still have the complete freedom to do what we want if what's on the calendar doesn't sound appealing that day. </div><div align="left">The kids are loving their swim school. (<a href="http://www.nitroswim.com/">http://www.nitroswim.com/</a>) Elias has been terrified to go under water all his life, mainly because he ends up inhaling a gallon of water up his nose <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">everytime</span> he tries. But these people had him complete submerging himself, without holding his nose!!!, by midway through the second lesson. I am so excited for him! </div><div align="left">I feel renewed and refreshed and energized by all the fun we've had already, and we are really only going into our 3rd week of summer! I've so enjoyed getting to watch Elias and Elena play and laugh together, and I have loved standing outside a room and listening to their conversations. I just love these kids! I'm sure I will embrace the structure and routine of school when August comes, but I am going to eat this up while it lasts! :)</div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352218722667337522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1eSPhpP40x6z4AHGSzuDhjlXcGVqaup6O3AAVefUnT01ufse9KFK-oB1EwJXugDeG5JHjQ9vFAbSUZTN2MCxhuDRZgCH3D3dmd8wjQElFfNH_c9Z11mlGg_BZWxi-YnVSKhIKIWU-Xs/s400/066.JPG" border="0" />Soaking up the Texas sun</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352218720547729810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 305px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYFlYfl3_YhmYxRu0geLeHfGhIzbnZczPwCUqrpk6BwP5Y3l__s2kDo_cbW-Ocu1yoQaGgHOQwHn2Kc1bdSRIpQFtua1fb_GfGwRicUXrSVoYPRiY0KmuKEsfvVBy_HuqvZwbsQlKVqk/s400/028.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">My sweeties! Their friendship has blossomed so much this summer as they spend all day playing together. Elias recently told me he was going to marry Elena when they grow up. :)</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352218733856495826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyW9MZ4-n6EJdIDKWc0n3fw87DaQc5gmTWDhGq90a7vVlyKZ1k6BeyCDDvrYO4coNdc1rsu5CiNgQaNDmc7Iueti1xdlyOyq_T40CyUnob_8T32KqJsUwfr0eljbXNsprNs4eySXy72s/s400/untitled4.bmp" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Elias, Elena, and their cousins Jacob and Wyatt</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352218726306308786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79WWPrFKHSHEIxsiOmQWv6TGpXliPaPwHJT8bdqDeLYrfUlvW8z7ParP-mw3uO9BXsalla_SnUSyLxjUs2smg9lNEZdNZwqopHPHErCDIusJptC5v3OwPtXP74BySbULav70C-X02EYg/s400/untitled2.bmp" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Run from the BOYS!!!</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352218733933219474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUlaH6fXW0avqn-h9LMe0HoFpphe09sxgJMA6COF21yHgb0ui1NnWSPEIIx8ncBNeVziDMY4UumoaELHktz2PKxRIQQjfLU8w9jswyDRJ9p3qRCZcgB_TuE8d-WMg-zHMqRH9Ts2GKzY/s400/untitled6.bmp" border="0" />Go Tech!!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352220919206210098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOF9EWP7EJ0mS4qpBgdGOvYsYw4OO1cGSJMH0N8cqUm9mpH5IdqagYMTIZxeaQYELv32RdAsnEIW82HfUEd-wXsvtTm9GF2eWEQLW9WhyYcPaesN5AX0zmCryOIzYhaVMkKehRNbGoREg/s400/untitled7.bmp" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">My cousin CRACKS ME UP!</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352220921512426962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvi4jtKc0ZJ3wVxp_3YuA7YAw0twVPj5luu-YX5N9MooE-Z_fn1J5j3knw4eaWWSwaeVndMAE6NnUzJmYvZ-s_9ROt28c31Bj6OslX-j1Wlj8GZ7tgebQTac3peqjt2zB6a62sVqnkU4/s400/goggles.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Let's go swimming!!!</p>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-20268491389206680712009-06-27T22:15:00.008-04:002009-06-27T22:56:13.421-04:00Onward and Upward<div align="left"><strong>Disclaimer: This post is way overdue.</strong> </div><div align="left">Elias has graduated from kindergarten! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Yay</span>, Elias! Boo-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hoo</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">hoo,</span> Mommy. Not that I'm not excited for first grade- I really am looking forward to it! And it isn't really the kind of sadness coming from "awe, my little baby boy is growing up" either. It was just SUCH a good year. And it's over. I feel like it will be hard to top. </div><div align="left">Elias had the most wonderful teacher for kinder, and she has become a pretty close family friend. She and I get along really well, she's obviously great with the kids, and she tolerates <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Adaryll's</span> made-for-shock-value comments surprisingly well. I just kind-of feel like she is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">irreplaceable</span>. </div><div align="left">So, in that way, I just feel like it is the "end of an era". And it makes me sad.</div><div align="left">On the other hand, I am completely looking forward to first grade and the teacher Elias is going to have. I know it will be different, but I also know it will be God's best. Another season to be excited about.</div><div align="left">Here are some pics and videos from the Kindergarten graduation as well as the Knight of Celebration the week before when each child was honored with an academic and character award. Elias <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">received</span> the Bible Memory award (I think he has more verses memorized at 6 than I do at 32. No, I know he does.) and the Dependability award. I am so proud of him!</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352200680660426930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqm_V6maJLEARkYS1B0RQ1nN5WI94r6rd4-KI5im56s3EKErtk3HlF5LKA17yaLJmP4cs4pxKsxTW9FMn_b79KhyntKgwBam6JvOSgYiIySOdOy3SP9afoDvyQ39mxBJ9oF5g3GBoRxI/s400/089.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"> Elias, Ms. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Horvath</span>, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kelii</span> (who also is Ms. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Horvath's</span> nephew)</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352201247300914210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVTYtwF8isVC8SdBljzgxqI01wgcQ4HGiEGTOvqZGy6wG3j5tNIxTTu4vIP-uBMIF9RDX-DAu7AVVvo-VXiMBv22h5cFjKDXubQTsdMhTCyycTLUmgVTeNRKjgsETrZevI1zXlPirA3g/s400/091.JPG" border="0" />Elias getting ready for the ceremony<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352200690295581314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxz3yRAmkxoW3PUK_iMwMaj1txm5-net6w6uHKUZIIabZHUB-bkhKS4qwXszIXhaj4RJEQdZXo4EqJP-sF8VQPHhcsnfyjs8jcsXoXY_9VoW1vwa7zgPasPHwLksGFyi1Pvr1t12xFl4/s400/092.JPG" border="0" /> "Cheese!"</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352200695546355778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ArFiDpoVNZVExylEC4bEdYgM7R-wZ0HoW4-LU-KnMS8jVqJFEM9yjCz5AzgLuIt7fgKHDIaHvHYiVdo0N7pDkGM-2qhEGxiAQp3g4Lm5Qu_U_Q0YuuTKUvo_9mFA2xIS9Y9fECWZ8Kk/s400/114.JPG" border="0" /> The Three Musketeers: Holloway, Elias, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Calloway</span><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy36c-Dbtpk9DtyIGoRu6IYBypaaBv6wKfc9SojuWBPpWOw1Me6mKofx1FcRcl-mIxUFa4RghAAWYMKx9UXbQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="center">"I am a Possibility"</p><p align="center">Yes, son. Yes you are!</p>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-8466219699702141552009-06-14T22:04:00.002-04:002009-06-14T22:20:23.578-04:00UnbelievaBow!<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>, so I have just had my longest hiatus from blogging to date. I miss yall. I hope the break is over and that I can get back into the habit of posting more regularly. After all, this is the only written record I have of the goings-on as our kids grow and say ridiculously funny things. <br />What in the world has kept me so busy? I'm glad you asked, because I can't wait to tell you. Or show you. :) <a href="http://www.unbelievabow.com/">www.UnbelievaBow.com</a> is the culprit.<br />I made some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hairbows</span> for Elena a couple of months ago, and people all over town began making comments about them. People started asking me where I got them and if I would sell them. I hadn't ever considered such a thing, but enough people were asking that I began to evaluate what that might look like. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Adaryll</span> and I agreed that I should give it a shot. And so the adventure began.<br />I started out by buying a website and having a friend, Mike Meadows (who ROCKS), design the layout. I made dozens of bows to put on the site. All the while, since Elena was wearing the bows most days, orders began to trickle in from people who saw them on her. So then I was trying to finish bows for the site and fill orders. You know- in all my "free time". *wink*<br />So pretty much every moment I got at the computer was spent on the website. I can't even explain how relieved I am that it is up and running! Whew!!! I still have lots of bows to make and add, but at least it is there. <br />Check it out and let me know what you think! Better yet- buy a bow for your favorite little girl! :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.unbelievabow.com/">www.UnbelievaBow.com</a>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-81501219755989108122009-05-13T23:59:00.003-04:002009-05-14T00:19:56.674-04:00First Trip to the Dentist<div><div><div><div><div>Elena had her first trip to the dentist Monday. Well, not her FIRST trip to the dentist, but HER first trip to the dentist. (That would have made more sense if you could have heard my voice inflection and emphasis. You just can't type that.)</div><div>She has been to the dentist with Elias and I each three times now, and nothing painful happened to her any of those times. In fact, she was given a new toothbrush (one of her top 5 favorite things in life) and a toy from the grab basket each time. So, when I told her that she had her own dentist appointment Monday, she was actually pretty fired up! They have toys in the waiting room and everyone there is super nice, so what's to be afraid of, right?</div><div>If <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">yall</span> could only see the acting job I have put on at the dentist's office the last year and a half. I should seriously win a prize. See, I am terrified of the dentist. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ok</span>, maybe not now, because I have been every 6 months since we moved here and we received dental coverage. But I think it had been probably 3 years before that. And maybe 4 or 5 before that. You get the picture. What's interesting is that I have always disliked the dentist, even though I have never had a cavity or a filling. I did have a HORRIBLE experience with my wisdom teeth surgery, but I was freaked about the dentist years before that. Like make-myself-sick freaked.</div><div>But my first appointment with our dentist here was piggy-backed with an appointment for Elias. So I had to act like it was something super-fun. "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Yay</span>- someone is going to scrape 3 years worth of plaque from UNDER my gums with a really <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pokey</span> thing! GREAT! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Wooo</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hooo</span>!" I actually ended up asking for a numbing cream it was so painful. But Elias feel for it- hook, line, and sinker. And he has LOVED going to the dentist ever since. (even when the dentist had ME pull his 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nd</span> tooth using the tooth-pulling-tool while we were there last October. A<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">pparently</span> Elias is lacking in the pain-sensing-nerve-department)</div><div>Elena fell for the act as well and was so excited for her first "tooth shower". (again, I am confused about why she would look forward to this considering she is scared of the actual shower.) The goal was to get her in the chair and count her teeth. Instead, she had a full cleaning and exam by both the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">hygienist</span> and the dentist!! Her teeth all looked great, but we may be concerned about an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">under bite</span>. Beth C.- her bottom teeth were actually in front of her top teeth when she bit down. He wasn't sure if she was being silly or if it was her real bite. YIKES! I'm hoping for silly. Haven't really noticed that before. Any tips on getting a good look at it??</div><div> </div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">btw</span>, the bows on her head are a sample of the bows I am making and selling. i promise a post on that whole thing is coming soon!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335528091238687538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIsNPwzZ55vrf7_94gsTO43El2H4ABFn8LjSbsHiONKc3AH2CmS6awxeIzz5PBL3GX2fzvMOPCfdsACW0qi4q-gpiLK77Lp1whzFzcR78Dxel4PoCs7Vk4v4SQ-326Qktui4QteNxffA/s400/023.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335528089619471282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAKoOlT_kBXVilkQNqHX0o9n4KETfr_74a0zVndkAbwb47ouO-uDyUq9k-di1LCyI9efP_N_OgPatc3NuAUYpX4xtjfC3kkJ89KMP_Av9XbjndwSSy4XGtnN4Euof7I7cJ1j2NmXRrq0/s400/032.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335528094509158786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBO7xbLueBtjXYqhgvrMb8Ot_Asjlfpw3qiOtzxixBB2LTBhDqpAqEQeDqy_xFDlrQRDkkkpUcM6Jz4xJr9TzWbGuLabHNi4oQdJ-pbQ-E96yyoENkTygL-ZAyDaRf1y3srMi2u1YFo4g/s400/039.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335528099151918018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMG-vRCnODfKG5uaxxZ92GYkFuiEOrGgRvZzA_9JNfkmWb8aEflZTQUGdFVtalZdPFHVeNQjS19nMxxLU-vgxiDFv85xWVRSCjdElFIQuDqL47a_uA_ExyHV2vI3m1HCn86oDEr-ubZ8M/s400/040.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335528103054499186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxun2KPMuVSAaRKU1ctTSa4elbPXIxw7MkbuEn22kAzWMvRZ9ImmeItf8t2NorGaU6OKXXf2PTD7NHssbwmaR2qNU7JD7gH97i1JKzKQMUXtXARRu28cWSIBxH5Dywit5eag8uxEustU/s400/044.JPG" border="0" />Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-35793057866481049012009-05-11T17:52:00.006-04:002009-05-11T18:23:58.692-04:00Stinky. A Story In Pictures.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFhyphenhyphenSM8k58XulJMRz4FXU0sJr2G7W3BwIPgppw3QmIkO1d0XJlQKmchZNUCn7ZuwMJM77rOxvxWSZctmMtLw8DALW5ZooZurimnuummKRUEtcmT2G2BM2TKu0sI_DR7cDOiEmbXbuTzc/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334694486604847154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFhyphenhyphenSM8k58XulJMRz4FXU0sJr2G7W3BwIPgppw3QmIkO1d0XJlQKmchZNUCn7ZuwMJM77rOxvxWSZctmMtLw8DALW5ZooZurimnuummKRUEtcmT2G2BM2TKu0sI_DR7cDOiEmbXbuTzc/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQHq25xxuBtA_kS2rAIYiFRjW0QxbpWhiur4yFP30UXKuaGTckiWTy9m4qvqkvpAEpHFxvCwcCDhRj3m-I6C8oLSwDGVBfqQFx4n-J14jKJVmkZMFXsIjJXy9tirNs92yfO-VTeoJaDQ/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334694485020563394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQHq25xxuBtA_kS2rAIYiFRjW0QxbpWhiur4yFP30UXKuaGTckiWTy9m4qvqkvpAEpHFxvCwcCDhRj3m-I6C8oLSwDGVBfqQFx4n-J14jKJVmkZMFXsIjJXy9tirNs92yfO-VTeoJaDQ/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y9FeIVLA2Xd8n5-t7Leum8ax2uwN2r8Fw5vnfEMsucrKGYxre20RIRQEkY-V-FKsWwbOWhRZ8WHQKFOr8YDmILWkJUpAOUnVaYkS0CgYNavQQw-Fq0MSgzMY0tsMjUnuLeoPMPePGa4/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334694479011609970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y9FeIVLA2Xd8n5-t7Leum8ax2uwN2r8Fw5vnfEMsucrKGYxre20RIRQEkY-V-FKsWwbOWhRZ8WHQKFOr8YDmILWkJUpAOUnVaYkS0CgYNavQQw-Fq0MSgzMY0tsMjUnuLeoPMPePGa4/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnjPI7qIXBBJNPvAULYT-bNYxBDNI0i2pQgULaWjFlKMOJY5SlHmHnFWSKlFxYtUZKsox2-2Huc-t2RG2-UV1tSqwlk_Oh8_NZwjZvBKKmKyTyQPA7gPjKMi0eWgEBjYaDoMAP8mKy_c/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334694477086233010" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfczkzZ0xuvp4qqgYmFiV-dw3_iYWnZsMRnj2Edu1QwCfoZNhhPd7AZ0wwyIN2GlKPNgMPuRhyJnzMvYzqPcsvVhlD1I4krh5XBa4CkXPP41tczx2PBoBBkAfSiyvtQpdifPjQ4qcC2Uw/s400/022.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-37253533901025326832009-05-03T14:16:00.004-04:002009-05-03T14:25:17.580-04:00Golden ToothOk, I know I have gone a little overboard trying to catch-up-post today. But if I don't get this one down now, I know I will forget it. And that would be sad.<br />Between the two Jordan boys, we have had all kids of dental drama in the last few weeks. Elias lost both of his top front teeth (with no sign whatsoever of the permanent ones coming anytime soon), and Adaryll had all 4 wisdom teeth extracted Monday. Just that word- extracted- gives me the heebie-geebies. yuck. That's a whole other post! Anyway, because of all of that, teeth have been a hot topic at the Jordan house for a while.<br />Today, on the way home from church, we had a conversation that went something like this:<br />Elena: When I get home, I want some canty. (Elena-ese for candy)<br />Mommy: No. No candy today.<br />Elena: Why not?<br />Mommy: Because you had that candy at church.<br />Elias: What candy?<br />Mommy: (man these kids should be lawyers!) That mint you both had at the welcome center. (ok, it wasn't exactly candy, but whatever)<br />Elias: oh yeah.<br />Elena: I want more candy.<br />Mommy: Do you know what happens when you eat too much candy?<br />Elias: Yes. You get cranky it isn't good for your body.<br />Mommy: And what happens to your teeth?<br />Elena: (listening intently)<br />Elias: Well, you get cavities.<br />Mommy: Right, and then they get rotten and fall out.<br />Elena: And then you have to go to the doctor!<br />Elias: And then you have to get fake, GOLD teeth!<br />Elena: YAH!! And you get to have PRINCESS TEETH! And it will be SOOOO PRETTY!<br /><br />hmm, not exactly where I planned on that going.....Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-75651038782846870552009-05-03T14:07:00.005-04:002009-05-03T14:14:08.153-04:00Easter 2009 in pictures<div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Easter was so special this year. My mom, Raun, and my grandma all got to be here with us. As always, taking pictures of the kids was hugely entertaining. I still laugh out loud when I look at these.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331661517845877842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5usVKX7PbgL5yTzza8wufZSZTp5pRzIE80GYv8BA3T4enuHkBjbShUIWolvtuO_9lwkPlgVIWBjGmbPbpwIsBgJpoUnty_yBcc54IYsQ0SvDkEjXJKRmMBmH9c27ayfM0pTJpMg-JCRY/s400/207.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331661507641983106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tJ0QZ-DC31Xzr4iEORNuFTJpweqM0OAwbduMA3SHQ4b-sLroracbvzkN-by9fbXUrTWoa3jupnvMDFKdPMPKN1SLpWqjhZbts9pPHicwrtgJbYvw7YnihmfoiIH9ifsQzH8pUWZdvNo/s400/205.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331661513514594082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNPjYE16Zjga-HIupfLUFSYgLueFXggKVyr-M2Gq9Ewdvfv1-j2lFWEnNCiHfkaMMHd3HVBv85xHPmCiH17WyUT54zs_XEC0IGS2cUrrvAgEWNjtovuCqMIkkoX3MlhdL-BP9zOhQsd8/s400/206.JPG" border="0" /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331662003799619794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1MUZJRtdB3o9r4tzflw0jeCox560qHdAxn6kUDihv4K6UU8O3yhziXF7R_fPWOUKKTH9Eo6gIwDqw52KpwwhG57DrJmXldQXxL9MmHQ6JVGPog3BH0ioT-UyznA3XkGlFCmypT5qW3s/s400/208.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331662020031034770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vj66PLNx49ONTuYSRaUrUYEwv-pIguO0ZbakCsjtxo-6xyilYRoqKKcQ84ISx-HeoxEoF1rgDmK-yqaWOdWaE1J-vQQIwMwYIjn6hy1Fns1Bl0KgAmW9mFDKsb49CIZjNeJv7mwH0iA/s400/209.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-82694131414070458772009-05-03T13:51:00.003-04:002009-05-03T14:06:10.877-04:00TTU + UT = ???<div><div><div><div>Ok, so everyone out there knows how we at the Jordan house feel about the UT Longhorns. The problem with how we feel is that we live in Austin, TX now. And there aren't many here who would agree with us. :) I don't remember if I told yall, but when Texas Tech beat UT in football last year, Elias made the Texas Tech guns up with one hand and the UT Longhorn with the other hand. Then he pointed the Texas Tech gun at the UT Longhorn and shot it. The UT Longhorn hand fell over dead. Adaryll and I have had few prouder moments. :) We quickly told him to never, ever do that out in public in Austin though.</div><div>So, the thing about raising kids here is that they make friends. With kids of UT fans. Surprisingly, we have found that there actually are some cool UT people out there. (I know, I can't believe I just wrote that either.) But some of our newest, closest friends have ended up being Longhorns. So, do you all know the signs for the TT gun and the UT Longhorn? Adaryll and I realized that if you put them both together, you get the ASL sign for Love. Who knew? And with that word, I leave you with pictures of what some would consider child abuse, but we are learning to embrace in our new, burnt-orange culture....</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331659750045504914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6qLTgwNBtxZNM6HswjhLlLCs0lG4i42A18xHWEAsS6xmRNIhFzAkNdMcIce6YNFLbzTjUDRgsehu2LGDfALYuVdVZQAiLb2Cp1rAIsppSuxkyGvZLrYXV2h2z8uL3kL4G9bZw76FIyU/s400/178.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331659753589920786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1h9cQZ2lZsth8cP6L_TNgcm1SLQ8hp86m9RLWpZ-VXBa2HhFyiTtmdd67XsPS9Xhls54vi80-Z73LfS2eYyx4v7NwVs6nqNxruGMWstbUqdGqas7fq0gsfRdJOCt5NoxR3iNOzip-FA/s400/181.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331659760486919794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4wvfaIRfeUnG6J-1PmtW0jTDrtHObVqKsAtv0UIaoL5NfOwAO4dVt9MKULuKwGmG6qqj6oVdE5gOU4MSRu9O4xPa_hO5BfY6pI95sF1VTq2-tGynLuDlgRGQesqAG_bjFLIxTehVed0/s400/187.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331659765201900466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_n9HYaaQZ3BLgYSbGUJYBPcS6nLuiMJl-Ya2aesAwyndzsvCpWmkN9RyrwWkvyzGTNQm1MrD-rGmfxJo_hyphenhyphenRrMRygRA09s8NWmWYtzQugcrXIF60ng7w04Cp2b0p2YY0pJ_3A4KByusU/s400/191.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-68169178946867757582009-05-03T13:41:00.005-04:002009-05-03T13:51:25.711-04:00Little GymnastAfter a month in the 2-year-old class, Elena's gymnastics coaches decided to have her try the 3 and 4 year old class. She LOVES it! She totally understands that she has gymnastics on Mondays, so she has started asking about it several times a week. "Is it Monday?" "When is Monday?" "Do I have gymnastics Monday?" "I want to wear my leotard." I get such a kick out of sitting in the hall watching through the window each week. The best is when she makes eye contact with me and just starts waving super-excitedly as if she didn't know I was there. Here are some pictures of the cuteness...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRHm12IRVyDCubj_QJJ8roHEbnaprbUyMc0qjdSIuG8mnmxZgK1cLwAqzbfXRz9QDfrNFUaFoWNbHepg1BwFkCt0WLILIC6U10jWFTlGsYYxo01xq3cBFh6jV1ZUFDKKNvJDAyI4OTUU/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331654896335235202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRHm12IRVyDCubj_QJJ8roHEbnaprbUyMc0qjdSIuG8mnmxZgK1cLwAqzbfXRz9QDfrNFUaFoWNbHepg1BwFkCt0WLILIC6U10jWFTlGsYYxo01xq3cBFh6jV1ZUFDKKNvJDAyI4OTUU/s400/007.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331655558402746994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwAWL4NkK6jrCQ5hb_b_VgQ4rT_X3AFr4mvp9pPozJOFRgQ7pJ-wknAk0mfLHsiMEqpUDySoyQD7SoWrdmhoQxGttAPkzX3USHjhyphenhyphenR1gcZ0Ada2PWH3wIs8gmYtyR3LxPAJQ3aeP7Rd4/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331655280801099698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPplMFYGUzUBS33PvUXcz8BnOGkzaoBhCzDcMPHzDwNUNFrKJ8vzs5Ftbc0c8U4K3vrJg_ztbQbj_DXDeqb21YGfc3exqtysxsGldzGDItUnY8mbxIMH2T-QACEdM9uotkzCmfu6OkkG4/s400/021.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331655558014914578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-tc-dawyVrJBG4neBIuA6KFgXHi_HWB3-kTGtp5LpbEhEeQKYZz1Vzv8b0Ay1TTH0FvvrEkHJDdirrmzWUquaB7NqHuTV0La97Yf-8Va7d-oym_NaOMXdl775Z8DOZbDofIaHp63t1w/s400/038.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331654908578074834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMe5X8AfZ4dy6pazfwTQ8D2Z7pzB-a5HuxetQO2rro5SqwZlLY_Wyd0Bw6xH0pwx-ymBIFivSlFoKlgW8qD896ciJgraoHff8gOtbxTeLyJqcS-amECdnRRQSQszlQfGpUBlvMS40lxQ/s400/035.JPG" border="0" />Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-17642111832429894002009-04-26T01:40:00.002-04:002009-04-26T02:08:39.209-04:00KerPLUNK! Konk! Boing!That is the sound of all the balls I am supposed to be juggling hitting the floor. Clearly, blogging is one of them. I am pretty sure my hiatus is the longest in my blogging history.<br />But I'm back. Don't get too excited as this post isn't going to be worth your 2 week wait. It's mainly just to let you know that all the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Jordans</span> are still alive. In case you were starting to wonder.<br />There is just so much to cover from the last couple of weeks, and it is 12:44am. So I will sum it all up in a list and, hopefully, elaborate later.<br /><ul><li>My Grandma (and the kids' Grandma-Great) got to visit from Tucson, AZ. </li><li>My mom and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Raun</span> came with her and they all spent Easter with us.</li><li>Elena puked all over herself in Sunday School on Easter. Then she spent the next week with intestinal problems which eventually spread to both Mommy and Daddy.</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Adaryll</span> went to a gun show. (I know, you are dying for an explanation, aren't you?)</li><li>Elias had a field trip to Barton Springs and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Zilker</span> Park</li><li>At the suggestions of many friends and the prompting of 2009-2010 tuition for Elias, I have started a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">hairbow</span> business. I have been making bows like a maniac and plan to build a website this week. The official launch will be in a week, but I have already delivered bows to paying customers! </li><li>Elias has been "Coach Elias" on his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">t-ball</span> team because of his broken foot. The cast comes off Friday!!!</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Adaryll</span> played the national anthem at a Round Rock Express baseball game</li><li>Elena did the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">trampoline</span>/bungee cord thing at the Express game. </li><li>Elias pulled out his 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">th</span> tooth. (Completely by himself!!)</li><li>The boys went on their first <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">HCBC</span> Father/Son <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Campout</span></li></ul><p>And that, my friends, is just the tip of the iceberg. There have been dozens of conversations and happenings which brought forth the thought "I need to blog about this". I only hope I can keep my brain cells long enough to get them down. Which will never happen if I keep staying up this late, so goodnight!</p>Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-79041242361899070742009-04-12T23:06:00.002-04:002009-04-13T00:33:10.753-04:00The Rest of the Story<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>, so it's Easter Sunday (Happy Easter!), and that means I better get on the ball and finish these Easter egg posts!! Had I realized that there were actual people out there wanting to do this with their kids, I would have tried much harder to post each day. Instead, I would log on with the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">intention</span> of blogging and get caught up reading all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">yall's</span> blogs instead. So, really, it's your fault. If your blogs weren't so interesting, mine might be. :)<br />At least everyone can copy and paste and keep these for next year...<br /><br /><strong><em>Egg #5</em></strong><br /><strong>Item inside:</strong> A piece of leather cord. The string of leather reminds us of the ropes and whips that Jesus was beaten with.<br /><strong>Message:</strong> Jesus was arrested and flogged, or beaten, even though he had not done what the people accused Him of.<br /><strong>Scripture to read:</strong> Mark 15:1-15<br />1Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.<br /> 2"Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate. <br />"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.<br /> 3The chief priests accused him of many things. 4So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of."<br /> 5But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.<br /> 6Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.<br /> 9"Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, 10knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.<br /> 12"What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them.<br /> 13"Crucify him!" they shouted.<br /> 14"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. <br />But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"<br /> 15Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.<br /><br />What I can't get past in this passage is the reminder that Jesus was INNOCENT! And Barabbas was completely, beyond a shadow of a doubt, GUILTY! And yet, Jesus was the one sentenced to beating and death on a cross. And Barabbas was let go, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">scott</span>-free. I can't help but think about how I am Barabbas. Completely guilty of so many thoughts and deeds that are just <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">despicable</span>. And yet, I am able to walk away without paying the penalty required (like Barabbas) because Jesus did on the cross.<br /><br /><strong><em>Egg #6</em></strong><br /><strong>Item inside:</strong> Thorns. The thorns remind us of the crown the soldiers made for Jesus to wear.<br /><strong>Message:</strong> The soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head and made fun of Him. They did not think that He was really a king like He said He was, so they thought it was funny to make Him wear the crown.<br /><strong>Scripture to read:</strong> Matthew 27:27-31<br />27Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Praetorium</span> and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.<br /><br />Both kids actually got poked in the fingers while handling the thorns. (it was a stick about 2 inches long from a really thorny bush, so just getting it out of the egg was a little tricky) I asked them to imagine thorns much longer and pokier being pushed into their head. It wasn't a pleasant thought. Each night the kids usually start with egg #1 all over again and recount the story up to the egg we are opening that night, but Elena never touched egg #6 again after this night.<br /><br /><strong><em>Egg #7</em></strong><br /><strong>Item inside:</strong> A cross. (you can buy little wooden ones at Hobby Lobby or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Michaels</span> or make one out of broken <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">popsicle</span> sticks) The cross reminds us of Jesus, beaten and bruised, carrying His own cross toward the place where He would be crucified.<br /><strong>Message:</strong> Jesus carried His own cross.<br /><strong>Scripture to read:</strong> John 19:17<br />So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).<br /><br />Something I would love to do when the kids are a little older is to actually research the size of the typical crucifixion-cross in Roman times. If I could build one or locate one of similar size and weight, it would be a cool experience to have us each try to shoulder it and walk. It would definitely give us all a clearer understanding of this part of the story.<br /><br /><strong><em>Egg #8</em></strong><br /><strong>Item inside:</strong> Dice. The dice reminds us of casting lots, which is what the soldiers did to decide who would get to keep which pieces of Jesus' clothing.<br /><strong>Message:</strong> The soldiers cast lots, or played a kind of game, to divide up Jesus' clothes among themselves.<br /><strong>Scripture to read:</strong> John 19:23-24<br />23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.<br /> 24"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." <br />This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, <br />"They divided my garments among them <br />and cast lots for my clothing."[<a title="See footnote a" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019:23-24;&version=31;#fen-NIV-26839a">a</a>] So this is what the soldiers did.<br /><br />Again, this is another fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy. See Psalm 22:18 and show your kids that God knew all of this would happen long before Jesus came to earth.<br /><br /><strong><em>Egg #9</em></strong><br /><strong>Item inside:</strong> A nail. The nail reminds us of the nails they used to hang Jesus on the cross. They placed one nail through each of his hands and another through his two feet. Then they raised the cross up and He hung there to die.<br /><strong>Message:</strong> Jesus was nailed to a cross and pierced in His side.<br /><strong>Scripture to read:</strong> John 19:18 and John 19: 31-37<br />18Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.<br /><br />31Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken,"[<a title="See footnote a" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019:31-37;&version=31;#fen-NIV-26851a">a</a>] 37and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."[<a title="See footnote b" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019:31-37;&version=31;#fen-NIV-26852b">b</a>]<br /><br />We got to do something neat at church on Good Friday. We were each given a piece of dirty fbris on which to write our names. This <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">represented</span> us and our righteousness, which is like filthy rags. Elias and I talked about how, without accepting God's forgiveness, no matter how good we try to be, it isn't good enough to get to heaven. It isn't perfect. It can't be. The only person who has ever lived on earth who achieved living without sin is Jesus, and that is because He is God! And we just aren't capable of that. So, no matter how "good" we think we are, the cloth representing our life is NOT white. It is dingy and dirty. Actually, it's filthy.<br />We were asked to write our name on the cloth and then nail it to a cross. The nails were pretty big. I laid my hand on the cross and put a nail up to it and Elias and I talked about what it would feel like if he hammered it through my flesh. It took some convincing to get him to put his hand up and let me hold the nail against it. It was a pretty good visual.<br />On that note, if your kids ever have the unfortunate experience of stepping on a nail (yes, I did this as a kid- actually I jumped down onto a piece of lumber with a nail sticking out about 2 inches. It was instantly attached to my foot until one of my parent pulled it off and took <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">me</span> to urgent care), you can use that situation to remind them what it must have felt like for Jesus to have nails hammered into his body. Not right then, maybe. But later. :)<br /><br /><strong><em>Egg #10</em></strong><br /><strong>Item inside:</strong> Spices. (we used whole cloves so the kids could actually touch them and not make a huge mess) The spices remind us of the way the Jews prepared Jesus' body for burial. They used spices and linen, a type of fabric, to wrap up Jesus' body before they placed it in the tomb.<br /><strong>Message:</strong> Jesus' body was wrapped in spices and linen and placed in a tomb.<br /><strong>Scripture to read:</strong> John 19: 38-42<br />38Later, Joseph of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Arimathea</span> asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[<a title="See footnote a" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019:38-42;&version=31;#fen-NIV-26854a">a</a>] 40Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.<br /><br />Elias loved the spices. He loves to smell them. And he thinks it is awesome to think of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Jesus' body</span> being wrapped up like a mummy. Hey, he's 6 and he's a boy. Not sure what else you expected from this one! :)<br /><br /><strong><em>Egg #11</em></strong><br /><strong>Item inside:</strong> A stone. The stone reminds us that the huge stone that sealed Jesus' tomb had been rolled away.<br /><strong>Message:</strong> Jesus' body was placed in a tomb which was sealed with a huge stone. But when Mary Magdalena and the other Mary went to the tomb on the 3rd day, the stone had been moved away and an angel was there.<br /><strong>Scripture to read:</strong> Matthew 28:1-5<br /> 1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.<br /> 2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.<br /> 5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.<br /><br />Elias went to "big church" with us today, and the whole sermon was about the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus. They had a big tomb built on the stage with a video camera inside. So when Tim went in and told us all about what was in there, you could still see him up on the screens. It was really, really cool. When he came out, he rolled the stone in front of the opening. A little later, the lights went out and loud, thundering earthquake noise came. It was loud enough to shake the floor a bit, so the feeling of an earthquake (at least for a 6 year old) was pretty real. When the lights came back on, the stone was rolled away and the body that was in there covered with cloth was gone. Elias looked at me and asked, "What just happened? How did they do that?" <br />If you want to see a video of it, you can search for Hill Country Bible Church Northwest and download it on itunes. There may also be sermon videos at <a href="http://www.hcbc.com/">www.hcbc.com</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Egg #12</strong><br /><strong>Item inside:</strong> Nothing. The last egg is empty, just like the tomb.<br /><strong>Message:</strong> The tomb was empty. Jesus had risen from the dead and come back to life! This is what we call the Resurrection, and it is what we celebrate on Easter.<br /><strong>Scripture to read:</strong> Matthew 28: 6-9<br /> 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."<br /> 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.<br /><br />He is Risen! HAPPY EASTER!Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-26479720628467253842009-04-08T23:36:00.004-04:002009-04-08T23:55:01.582-04:00Will It Taste Like Pee?We <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">interrupt</span> this Easter Egg series of posts to bring you something a little more lighthearted. Actually, downright funny.<br />Last week Elias and I were talking about his broken foot. He has always had lots of questions about anatomy and physiology. Some of his favorite books are "See Inside Your Head" (about the brain and all the different parts), "What Happens to Your Food" (yes, you read that right), and "The Encyclopedia of the Human Body". I know. He's 6. But I think he knew most of the names (like actual medical names, not just made-up-by-mommy name) of most of the bones by age 3. Thanks <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">LeapFrog</span></span>.<br />So we were talking about his foot and how bones heal. I explained that he would need to get lots of calcium, and we started talking about how he doesn't drink nearly as much milk as he used to. He pretty much just wants water these days. Anyway, I told him that he probably needs to drink more milk. The conversation went something like this:<br />Me- You probably need to start drinking more milk again.<br />Elias- What kind of milk did I drink when I was little?<br />Me- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Soymilk</span>. (because he was allergic to dairy when he started milk)<br />Elias- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Yeah</span>. I don't like regular milk.<br />Me- Well, we can get some and you can try it. There is lots of calcium in both kinds.<br />Elias- Why don't I like regular milk?<br />Me- I don't know if you like it. It tastes different from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">soymilk</span> because <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">soymilk</span> comes from soybeans. Regular milk comes from cows.<br />Elias- *confused look, followed by laughter* So, will it taste like pee?<br />Me- WHAT?!?!?!<br />Elias- The cow milk. Won't it taste like pee? *6 year old boy potty-talk laugh*<br />Me- NO!!! Why would you think that?<br />Elias- Because the cow pees out the milk, right?<br />Me- No! No, that is NOT what happens. And no, it does not taste like pee. *smile. i have a 6 year old boy.*Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726975941001350724.post-87690372115281685952009-04-08T17:59:00.002-04:002009-04-08T18:23:39.886-04:00Egg #4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>, so I have completely dropped the ball on the Easter Egg posts, but I plan on getting all caught up tonight!<br />It has been an eventful, both good and not so good, few days. More on that later...<br /><br /><em><strong>Egg #4</strong></em><br /><strong>Item inside:</strong> Coins. (we used 3 dimes since they are silver and together they make 30 cents)<br /><strong>Message:</strong> Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.<br /><strong>Scripture to read:</strong> Matthew 27:1-4<br />1Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.<br /> 3When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." <br />"What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."<br /><br /><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">B</span>oth kids were super-excited about the dimes. Who wouldn't be?! I'm not sure that they actually understand this part of the story though. Elias is starting to, but I think he is confused about why on earth anyone would have done what Judas did. <br />And yet I think about how I do this just about every day. I sell myself out. I betray what I know Jesus stands for. And I do it for things less valuable than 30 pieces of silver. Surprised?? I bet, with a little self-examination, we would all realize how much like Judas we each are.<br /><br />The interesting thing about this is that, really, we can't NOT be like this. The Bible says that "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">No one</span> comes to the Father except through me." So, basically, we can't help it. We are sinners- every single one of us. And none of us can reach eternity with God without Jesus' forgiveness. None of us. I may not have been the one who handed Jesus over to the authorities, but my sins are just as ugly as Judas'. And I am so thankful that I won't have to pay the penalty I deserve for that ugliness, because Jesus already did.Jenibug7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15326368780018745555noreply@blogger.com0