Who He Says I Am

We are having an awesome week at Vacation Bible School.  In the five years that I've been teaching at VBS, this is the very best theme we've ever had.  Saddle Ridge Ranch rocks!

The boys and I have been singing VBS tunes all week - at church, in the van, at home...  Our very favorite is Who He Says I am, so when I discovered this fun art lesson, I knew it would be a hit with my boys and would perfectly compliment our week.

As we worked on our self portraits, we talked about who God says we are.  How we are His children.  How He made each of us unique.  How we're special.  How He will always love us.  How each of us has a purpose.  And on, and on, and on...  I never tire of this discussion!

I wanted these projects to be more permanent than a sheet of art paper.  I also wanted to include the song lyrics to Who He Says I Am.  So...  I dug out some framed canvas that I had in my scrapbooking room.  To add color and interest behind the portrait (that the boys would be doing) I used Mod Podge to glue some pieces of scrapbooking paper down, and then I let the boys go to town!

For the most part, they followed Patty's instructions...  I, however, never know what I'm supposed to do when their imaginations start taking over!  Luke's neck started out as a neck, but then he turned it into his body.  Tiny body for that huge head!  If there are any artists reading this...  Am I supposed to "correct" them??  I always feel as if forcing them to do it a certain way would be to take the art and creativity right out of the art project.  Then again, he's gotta learn that people have necks!  (I told him.  He knows.  He just wanted to draw a body!  He's my Picasso.)

Drumroll please....

My boys.

Zach.  Notice his orange dimple.  Nostrils.  His two front lower teeth, smaller than the others because they're still growing in.

Luke.  He has tiny brown ears, and an enormous purple mole (that is on top of his ear in real life).  He has blue eyes, but no pupils.  His red lips are open wide, showing his black teeth that are not rotten.  He has a yellow neck that could easily be mistaken for a chin.  He has a tiny orange body, long green arms, and short blue legs.

Every artist has a creative signature.

Brothers.  They are who God says they are.

Craft Saturday

Because this woman totally inspires me.  Because the kids and I were home alone and trying to avoid technology.  Because we had all the supplies, and no reason not to.

I looked for an art tutor or art class for the boys last fall.  I am not the least bit creative and I wanted them to be exposed to art.  But, I didn't find anything that really excited me.

Until now!

As long as Meg keeps doing Craft Thursdays with her kids, we'll keep having an at-home weekly art class.  I fully intend to do exactly what Meg does with her kids.  I hope she doesn't mind.

***Update:  I've since reread Meg's post and clicked the link to where she got this fabulous idea.  My goodness!  The awesome things we'll be doing at our house this summer, compliments of Deep Space Sparkle. ***

The kids drew their own drawings in pencil, then sharpie, and then used water colors to paint.  As Luke picked up his pencil he asked what mine was going to look like.  So...  I grabbed another piece of paper and a sharpie of my own.  The kids enjoyed painting mine together as much as anything...  Fun stuff.

Zach's castle...  Complete with vicious animals sitting on ledges, flying bats, an alligator and a shark, and flame-throwing buckets and catapults.

Luke's castle...  Where it rains fire and there's a nice shark and a mouse with a long blue tail.

And my share-castle...  Nestled on a hill, surrounded by a moat.  Painted by my boys and me.

"Way back when" friends

We've recently had the pleasure of catching up with friends we haven't seen in a long time.  People who knew us way back when.

Two weeks ago, Eric and Kellee called on their way into town to see if we wanted to go to the zoo with them.  Bryan and Eric played two years of college baseball together and have countless baseball and nights-out-on-the town stories to keep them talking for days on end.  Eric and Kellee live an hour away, so we don't see them often - certainly not as often as we'd like!  They'd never met our boys, and we hadn't even seen them since the birth of their daughter - now two years old!  It was great to catch up, and a real treat to see them in Mom and Dad mode.  They're a fun family!

A week later, our family headed out to a parade that we go to every year.  It was at the parade that I ran into a sweet little girlfriend from my childhood.  We were best friends, 3rd-6th grade.  We shared many little girl secrets, had crushes on the same boys, and were forever daydreaming as we sat on Kile's backyard fireplace as children.  We walked home from school together everyday, played on weekends, and were in Girl Scouts together.  I hadn't seen her since my family moved in the 6th grade.  It was wonderful to catch up at the parade and meet her lovely family.  So fun to see her again after all these years and get a little glimpse into her life.  I look forward to a planned get together next time!

Walking in the parade was another childhood friend, Kristin.  She only had a minute to stop, but we were able to hug and say hello.  I hadn't seen her since 5th or 6th grade - we're planning a park playdate soon!

Later that night we enjoyed dinner with the Kobi and Dave.  Kobi was one of my best friends in high school, and Dave was one of Bryan's.  Kobi and Dave dated in high school, but broke up in college...only to get back together right around the time Bryan and I started dating in 2001.  Kobi and I, and Bryan and Dave all lost touch in our 20's.  Dinner on Saturday was the first time the guys had seen each other in close to 15 years, but it was as if we hadn't missed a day.  (Kobi and I had a 7 hour lunch a few months ago.)  There's a rich history among the four of us.  Gymnastics, baseball, school dances, mutual friends, fashion pitfalls, crushes, classes, overnights...pretty much everything experienced between 8th grade and college!  I love the past that we have with these guys, and am thoroughly enjoying adulthood with them too.  We are married with children!  I can't help smiling as I recall the dads playing baseball with their boys that night.  The kids looked like small versions of their fathers...while their fathers looked like grown-up versions of the boys we met in the the late 80s.

 Front row:  Bryan #11, Dave to the left of Bryan

8th grade BFF's:  Kobi, Jenny, Tonya

Thanks to Facebook for these reunions.  I likely would have walked right by Kristin and Kile without recognizing them if we weren't Facebook friends!  We'd know Kobi and Dave anywhere; however, our passing would be far less likely since they live 45 minutes away.  Thanks to Facebook for bringing old friends back together again.

Freedom : trustworthiness & competence

Many of my friends have children just a little older than mine...  Early grade schoolers, with parents wondering how and when to start letting the kids venture out on their own a little.  I hear a lot of people reminiscing about how "free" and "fun" our childhoods were, with the standard in most households being "just come home when the street lights come on".  We also didn't wear bike helmets or seat belts, and a lot of parents smoked in confined spaces with their children present -- all of which we know are not good ideas.

Fast forward 30 years - full of statistics, knowledge, and technological advances - and you've got a different looking childhood.  And, many parents are wondering if their kids are able to make the same memories they did, or if they're taking something away from the kids.  Are we being overbearing or wise?

Our family has not come close to a place of complete freedom yet...  I don't imagine that I'd find many adults who think a kindergartner is old enough to be home alone or running the neighborhood unsupervised, but we are approaching newer territory of sleepovers, drop-off sports & parties, playdates with friends whose families we don't know well, school field trips, etc.  In the not-too-distant future, we'll be faced with the desire to bike over to a friend's house or walk to school unaccompanied.

I've written before about how I'd love to homeschool, but that there are just so many great benefits of public schooling right now.  Perhaps the thing we love most about school is how we've seen Zach grow in confidence.  He loves to have Mom or Dad volunteer occasionally, but he also loves to go into school all by  himself the rest of the time!  He hops out of the van blowing kisses and saying silly little boy things, while at the same time seeming like a little man.  Doing things alone builds confidence in our young son.

I don't think I'm in the same camp as the parents who fear that their kids aren't having the same, exciting, fun-filled childhood as they had...  Whatever my husband and I put into place will be our boys' normal.  They won't know any different, so whatever guilt we may feel would be driven completely by us.  They'll have complaints (just like every other kid), but I believe they will look back on their childhoods fondly, remembering fun, happy, excellent adventures!  Is it really a problem that Mom and Dad are a part of all of the earlier year's memories?

Freedom to roam independently will come as the boys display their trustworthiness and competence.  We believe that it's up to us as their parents to make decisions based on wisdom, not driven by guilt, or fear that the kids are missing something, or pressure from other parents in our circle.  I'm reminded with each click of the seat belt that things from my childhood shouldn't necessarily be repeated -- like riding around town, laying down in the hatchback part of the car.  Ice cream for dinner and chlorine bleached summer hair?  Now, that's a must...wearing sunscreen, of course!

Summer homeschooling

I'm really loving the schedule we've had since last Friday -- that's when our summer officially began.  Without any extra children to care for, without work, without school, without soccer.  It's just so nice to be one-on-one with my family.

When we're not at the pool, hanging out with friends, or running around town, we're enjoying time at home.  We're having fun with some video or computer games, playing more board games than usual, or playing any  number of imaginary games - Doggie and School are current faves.  It's just so nice.

We've rediscovered how much we love homeschooling too!  We don't technically homeschool - we just spend time each day with workbooks, science experiments, the globe, educational outings, art projects, and reading.  During the school year - at the end of long days and just before late bedtimes - I was generally not eager to read long books.  But now, with a more flexible schedule and without the pressures of work that must be done, I am reading my first ever chapter book with the kids.  Bryan was the wonderful chapter-book-reading parent long before I was.  I was totally missing out!  I'm thoroughly enjoying The Chocolate Touch.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this time spent with my guys.  When I lay down to read, Zach lays right beside me and is absorbed in the book.  Luke lays with us sometimes, but he's usually wandering the room and listening with one ear.  I read.  We laugh.  Zach smiles up at me and tells me how much he loves it.  I tell him that I love it too.  And I do!  I know that it will not always be this way.  I know that he is growing up quickly and will not necessarily want Mom to read to him in the years to come.

We gather around the kitchen table every day and work in workbooks.  Zach has flown through almost all of his summer homework that his kindergarten teacher gave him.  And he's halfway through his first grade workbook.  I'm amazed as I watch his little brain figure out how to do word searches, crosswords, complete 5 and 6 letter blended words, and learn the difference between words like bear and bare, or their and there.  He's got a crazy math brain and he comprehends way more about science than I do.  He's so fun to work with!

Luke is too.  He's breezing through his preschool workbook - figuring out mazes, circling items that match or don't belong in a picture, and identifying things that rhyme.  He can write all of his letters, but I think that's more of an artistic talent -- it is not letter recognition.  For example, he insists that an "A" is an "E".  After correcting over and over, I just let it go and feel a tad sorry for Miss Pam who will have him in class in the fall.  His determination will serve him well as he runs a small country as a middle schooler, but it's not exactly conducive to convincing him of something he's certain is not correct!  Still, watching his little brain absorb information is delightful.

If I could be guaranteed that homeschooling would be this fulfilling and enjoyable and wouldn't be at all a detriment to our kids, I'd totally do it.  But our kids thrive on and greatly desire the company of their peers.  Being on their own at school continually builds their confidence and belief that they can do anything.  And they LOVE all of the relationships - with students, teachers and staff alike.  School's good.  And so are summers!

Spring soccer comes to an end

Spring soccer ended a few weeks ago.  It was a cold, often rainy, always muddy season -- and our last game didn't disappoint.

 Zach scored our only goal -- too bad this coach is
blocking my view!

We followed the game up with a picnic -- complete with a trampoline, a garden hose, and colored hairspray!

See you in the fall, Rockets!

Mother's Day

Motherhood - The most rewarding and most challenging thing I have ever been a part of.

Motherhood - Providing more smiles, tears, laughter and headaches than I ever could have imagined.

Motherhood - Leaves me wanting to hold them tight forever; while also eagerly looking forward to the men they will one day be.

Motherhood - Giving me just as much, if not more, than I give them.

Motherhood - Fulfillment of my life's dream.

Thanks to my guys for the joy that is my life - Motherhood.  It was a happy Mother's Day, indeed.

An intentional summer...it's on our horizon!

One of the earliest memories I have of my friend Lori is hearing her talk about strolling the outdoors with her kids and talking about how God created butterflies, and thanking God for His creations.  My oldest was not even one year old yet, so this seemed a bit cheesy to me but worthwhile at the same time.  Mind you, I wasn't raised in a Christian home and was new to this whole parenting thing.  I tucked what Lori said into my bank of "this is what good, been-there-done-that mommies do" and found ways to incorporate it into my own life as Mom.

Lori's neat.  She's wise.  She's really awesome.

And now she blogs!  You really must check it out.

She wrote this amazing post about being intentional, specifically with our summers.  I have been pondering it for the last 24 hours, and I really feel inspired to make our summer really count.  Not that the lazy days in pj's or by the pool don't count - they totally do - but I want to be more purposeful with our days, with our activities, with our thoughts, with our time together as a family.  Especially since we are all home this summer.

I love looking at these three months and seeing it as our chance to teach our boys, rather than our family's break from learning.   

Lori, thanks for your amazing ideas and your willingness to share with the rest of us.  I cannot wait to see who your girls grow up to be - they have such a remarkable example to follow!

2010 for KIDS by KIDS bike-a-thon

"The bike-a-thon is very exciting.  Exciting!!  Woo hoo!"

The 2nd annual for KIDS by KIDS bike-a-thon was a huge hit!

Biker participation was about double, bringing eighty children out to bike for child abuse prevention and response.

 There were 150 people in total attendance, up 50% from last year!

 

We raised a couple hundred dollars more than last year.  Each organization will receive the exact same in impact -- $600!  This little event - hosted by little boys, and attended by their little friends and children within the community - will go a long way, and make a huge impact in the lives of other children all around us.  You raised $1,200!!!

We prayed for sun and no rain, both of which we received.  However, we also received strong, chilly winds.  The end result was more of a bounce-a-thon...  Kids bouncing.  Adults bouncing.  Everyone bouncing and having a wonderful time!

The bike raffle brought in more than $150.  Thanks to Target, WalMart and Bed Bath & Beyond for the donations that made it possible.  And to my friend Pam for the genius idea!

The hot dog stand and impromptu bake sale brought it more than $300.  Thanks to Sonic, HyVee, and Price Chopper for their generous donations.  And thanks to my father-in-law and mother-in-law for slaving over the grill!

Hats off to Kids on a Mission, the Fairchild family, the Shrader boys, and the animal balloon crew.  You kids are really the heart and soul of this event.  We are so honored to know you.  If we could handpick our kids' friends, we'd handpick you over, and over, and over again!!

And to the countless other volunteers...  Thank you!  We couldn't pull this off without your help.  Know that you have made a difference in our community.

Already looking forward to next year...  Brainstorming about how to make it even better!