They Do Love Crafts!!!

Since it's a snow day, the kids have been "playing school" and we've been doing different craft projects. The UPS man made our day when he delivered a box of clothes I ordered on-line. The funniest thing... Charis wanted a flower shirt to go with her new skirt, and when she couldn't find one, Selah offered to make her one out of paper. She cut it out and asked me for some tape. I looked and realized I hadn't bought any after running out from wrapping Christmas gifts. A few minutes later, I found the girls had come up with another solution. I gotta give 'em credit for figuring out a way to make it work. Selah took her pink sparklie Elmer's glue, and glued the paper shirt she made right to Charis' skin. Funny! Bath time.

Snow Days Again ~ We kind-a like it.

Well, good ol' Oklahoma weather! Here we are on another snow day. The kids were home yesterday, and now today. This is actually #4 for the school year. But we kind-a like it. We sleep in (or I should say that I sleep in). We wake up and stay in pj's and eat melted cheese for lunch (2 of the things Selah misses the most about homeschooling). It's funny... we can't even get a good snow. Our "snow days" are actually nothing but ice, sleet, and a little bit of crunchy-icy snow. We've had fun, but I'm starting to get cranky. I keep hearing the words "Don't do that, guys!" come out of my mouth... whether it's Selah standing on the back of the couch, all of them standing on the top bunk and throwing the regular size basketball from Bryson's bed to the goal they set up in the entry way, the girls using the living room window to remove excess glue from their paper-craft project, running at top speed in figure 8's around the couches, then the bar, the couches, then the bar. After another goose-egg on the forehead from running into the couch (Bryson, of course), once again, those words come bellowing out of my mouth.
Solution: have them help me clean for awhile. Bryson picked up toys, Selah hung coats and picked up shoes from the morning excursion in the icy-crunchy snow, and Charis got to vaccuum the floor. I laid down with Charis to tuck her in for a nap, and overheard a funny conversation between Selah and Bryson. It went something like this...

Selah: We have to clean all the time. It's like we're maids.
Bryson: Yeah we always clean and Daddy and Mommy just play on the computer.
Selah: I know, they never clean. Only us.
Bryson: Yeah well, we clean because God wants us to do it.
Selah: Yeah. (which I thought was said in a sarcastic tone, but nothing came after it, so I smiled and thought I'd let that be the resolve).

Chili and fritos tonight for dinner, and top it off with relaxing on the couch with my Babe watching LOST. Ahhh yeah. Good day.

Little Girls and Great Big Curls

Last night the girls came down the stairs chanting and begging for me to curl their hair. So, we took baths and put their hair up in sponge curlers. This was Charis' first time. And she slept in the curlers all night. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised... after all, she is the girliest little thing I think I've ever seen. Selah is really girly too, of course!! She was so excited about the curls... she didn't even complain once. The girls woke up this morning and couldn't wait to see the results!

And they turned out so cute! Charis' hair is holding the curls like they were natural. So fluffy and bouncy. Selah's curls are so long and blond and beautiful! I have to spray hers, maybe because her hair is so long it's heavier? Anyway, they have had fun with them today. Selah even wore hers to school. This is the girly-girl stuff that I just LOVE!

Bryson's Football Birthday Party... no. 05

We had a Fun Football Bash to celebrate Bryson's 5th birthday. We celebrated with family and friends. We were hoping to tailgate, literally, but the truck wouldn't fit through the gate. But it was okay... we had a fire in the outdoor fireplace, a table full of drinks and "game time" food, cupcakes, a homemade cookie-cake I decorated to look like a football field, and all to the cool football remix CD Alan made. This is 4 out of his 5 birthdays we have celebrated outdoors in early January.
The kids played in the yard, threw balloon-footballs through the goal posts, threw the real football around (he got 2!), and Bryson opened a huge pile of gifts. It was a great party. All the guests went home with a bag of popcorn and one of the CD's to remember his party by. It was a blast. (and a big thanks to Grandma Lou Lou and Auntie Joy for helping get all the food ready and pull it all together! As always!)

Thanks to all our friends and family who traveled and spent the day with us. I think everyone had a great time. I know we did. Birthday parties are my favorite thing!!!

Happy Birthday Bryson!

Buddy-Boo... how are old are you? 5? Can't be. I remember the night before you turned 2, 3, 4. And now 5. Every year on the night before your birthday, I hold you and hug you as I'm tucking you in bed, and ask you to "just skip your birthday this year... stay this age forever"! This year you just laughed at me and said "I can't, Mommy! I've been drinking milk!"

You are the most amazing kid. Too cute, with those huge blue eyes and little splash of freckles across your face. Your raspy voice, and big-kid expressions make me laugh. You are the sweetest thing ever, brilliant, unselfish, active, competitive, driven. You always put others before yourself, and I love it that you're always looking out for your sisters. You're just a really cool kid. You have a pretty big temper for a little guy (which we go 'round and 'round about), but you know when you have done wrong, so we'll keep workin' on it. You already have a little ego going on, and lately I've started talking to you about the word "humble." But in your defense, you do hear people bragging about you wherever you go. You won't let me kiss you unless you are absolutely sure I don't have lipstick on ~ lucky for me, most of the time I'm not wearing any. Oh, and you won't take naps anymore (sigh) :) All in all, you're everything I could ask for in a son. And more. I love you more than a million-billion-invinity-plus-one, and I'm so glad God gave you to us.