BSA Pinewood Derby!

This year Daddy's Buddy chose to be a part of Cub Scouts.  It was a hard choice, but hockey and Cub Scouts were at the same time.  Cloning was just not an option for my boy.  Scouting has been a little nerve wracking for me, cause it is so out of my comfort zone.  Big O Daddy O's work keeps him from participating as much as he would like, so I try to fill in the best that I can.  I am learning all sorts of new things.  And I am learning more about my son as he grows in character and in knowledge of what it means to grow to be a man. 

January means Pinewood Derby time.  Fortunately, I have a bit of experience with the Awana Grand Prix.  7 years to be exact.  So, even though the process was a bit different, I didn't feel like a fish out of water.  I am always nervous about the first year for each kiddo.  Nervous how they will do, and how they will react to the results.  I just want them to be okay, no matter what.

I have this horrid way of going into competitions thinking the worst. 

The wheels will pop off.  I won't be able to help or fix it. 

They will lose and be devastated and cry great big crocodile tears.

They won't have fun.

I have no idea why. 

7 years now and I still get nervous.

We still have fun.

We still end the races talking about next year, what they will do differently and how the next car should be designed. 

 Daddy's Buddy was all business. Serious, matter of fact and watchful.

He was a great sportsman, which made this momma happy.

He was the kind of competitor this momma hoped he would be!

To top it all off, he WON!

Even better is first through third place in each den gets to go to District.

A new change.

Which means all 3 boys in the den get to go together! 

They were all so excited for the news.

Counting...

My Joy Dare finds me at 109 and sometimes I just want to keep counting.  Here are just a few since I left off at 40
43.  A goofy dad that just can't help himself
51. (A grace in the kitchen) no dishes, Dinner is bought for us, a self-motivated princess empties the dishwasher just because!
58.  Lessons learned in washing feet.  The work that is done in my heart.
62.  Learning that Trust is my staff for the difficult parts of the journey
64.  When my mind wanders, He knows and He understands
71.(a gift before 9 am)  The comfort of banking from my warm bed.
72. (a gift before 2 pm) The last minute thought to grab Granny's hat before leaving
83.  20 year old friendships that are alive and beautiful
89.  No stitches needed
92. (3 things overheard) Daddy's Buddy reading aloud while his dad and I are parent-teacher conferencing
93. Christmas carols in February sung by Little Princess
101 Snuggly blankets
102 Birthday mail
105 Paper roses
106 My teapot
109 A new to him car and his joy in sharing in it

They didn't believe me! A Troll in our City???

They seriously didn't believe me! 

Aunt Wendy came to visit and we were talking about going for a walk.  Somewhere from deep in caverns of my memory out popped, "Let's go find Wichita's troll!"

They scoffed and laughed at me.  They didn't believe me that Wichita had a troll. 

I looked up the directions.  Checked out the backgrounds of the pictures, got my bearings and had them load up in the suburban.  Something I had wanted to do for a while now.  Ever since our "relatively new" Children's Pastor told all of us in the 'Awana Kitchen' about the troll.  I  mean seriously, how did this get past me, I used to adventure around quite a bit.  How could I have missed this one. 

Yep, it is right there!  Hiding below ground!  Right where you would expect a troll to be!

Impressed, Little Princess can't help but keep checking out this creature.

Both arms chained and he can't get out.  Someone tried poking him with a stick, I guess.  The kids felt sorry for him and wondered if we could find a way to remove the stick from his mouth so he could talk. 

There he is! 

They believe me now.  Dad isn't much of a believer yet. 
We will have to take him out soon. 

I Love My Maids!

Tonight is one of those nights I am in love with my maids.
I lay here in bed getting things done on the computer and my laundry is being done. The dishes are being washed. Lunch for tomorrow is being prepared and bread is being baked. Before you think I have gone off the deep end and I keep my children up all night doing chores, my maids are my tools.
Over the years I have read about the Proverbs 31 woman. She is a bit on the perfect side. To measure one's self to her can be quite disheartening. Especially, when there is a toddler undoing all I have done and I am tired cause I was up with the baby all night. Now the years have passed and my babies aren't babies anymore. But they make bigger messes.  They forget we don't have a housekeeper designated to clean up after them.  Oh wait, that was suppose to be me, right? HA!  There are weeks, I am only at home in the evenings in time for bed, the day is full of errands, school and to do lists.  To do lists that don't include household chores. 
Somewhere along all these years, my sister shared a gem of truth with me that changed my perspective and loathing of this perfect Proverbs 31 woman who gave her servants their portions each morning.  I have servants/maids too.  They are not of flesh and blood.  But they are no less valuable and important to my daily living.  I do my best to give them their daily portions.  Today my washer has worked hard.  Catching up on the laundry of the weekend.  Ever so grateful for the work accomplished today.  Tonight in the kitchen my daughter joined me in serving up the portions to our servants.  Lunch in the crockpot, ingredients in the bread machine, another load in the washer ready for morning drying and dishes in the dishwasher to be ready for breakfast!
Ever so grateful to the wise words once shared with me.  Maybe just maybe one day, I might begin to look a bit more like the Prov 31 woman from the inside and out.

One Thousand Gifts and counting....

I'm taking the dare and counting. 
I'm not sure how I will post my gifts or if I will share all of them.  I have a bright and colorful composition book I am writing in.  For whatever reason, I haven't been able to bring myself to use my Itouch and the app I loaded.  Maybe down the road.  For now, I like to use paper and ink. 
From this weekend, while I have been snuggled in bed sick:
30. The hum of the furnace
31. Cooperative children making root beer floats
32. The peaceful soft snoring of sick children resting comfortablely
33. My husband prepping for school this week as I rest
34. Daddy's Buddy making breakfast for his dad and me to celebrate our anniversary
35. Fun Mom's anniversary gift.  An album of wedding pictures, remembering my sigh of one day and completing the project for me.
36. Comfy PJs
37. Popcorn and children on the floor watching a movie while I snuggle under the bedcovers
38.  Sharing Little Princess' joy in healed gums.  Removal of braces have allowed for better brushing.
39.  My itching scratchy sweater from Ireland
40. Air hugs given and shared by my children with their Momma.  Noone wants momma's germs, but they still want momma's hugs.
 

Another Flutter Nutter Quoteable

Dinner at IHop with Grandpa before church. 
Plates are being cleared and I see Flutter Nutter's almost perfectly empty!
Me:  Wow! Flutter Nutter, you were hungry, you ate all your dinner.
FN: I wasn't hungry, but I fell in love with it.

Guess so, cause I had a long day and fell in love with this...

and I ate it all up! 

Ordered it in place of my salad. 

Best salad I ever had.

Soft Paws ~ Soft Claws

I have been researching alternatives for my dad and his cats.  Alternatives to declawing.  These are sooo stinking cute ! I sure hope my dad decides to give them a try.  I would love to have fancy cats pitter pattering through his house when I visit!


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