Snack bowl!

My friend Gabe has this awesome snack bowl on her counter. She fills it with stuff and the kids know that when they get home from school, approved snacks are in the bowl. I have always thought this was brilliant, and I guess I mention it at her house a lot.

Today when I got to the church office, my friend Gabe presented me with my very own snack bowl! What a great, unexpected gift! She made my day, and Kate's too, as evidenced in the picture.

This is brilliant. Everyone should have a snack bowl!

I've been Amy/Jaime-d

When I was a kid, Amy Comtois and I ran the show at ye old Baptist church. (Others thought they were in charge, but no.) Amy and I were inseparable and ran all manner of relatively harmless schemes.

One of our favorites was to try to con our families into eating lunch together after church. Some weeks, they'd come up with this on their own. But when they'd say, "No, not this week. We're just going to go as a family." That's when we got to work.

It was pretty easy, really. One of us would find out where the family was headed for lunch. "Oh, Captain D's sounds great, Mom!" Then the other would gently persuade (insist) that the only place she wished to have lunch was innocently the same. Voila! Everyone had lunch together and we were happy.

Today at church, I heard Sam talking Stu into Freddy's for lunch. Sounds good, I thought. But as I'm walking out the door, my good friend Gabe says, "Collin really wants to go out with you all to lunch sometime but we just can't today because we have these other plans..." Wait, I thought. I didn't invite Gabe to lunch. That's right. We'd been Amy/Jaime-d.

My legs

Walking home from school, Kate was complaining about distance. We talked about her day and mine. I said I've been busy working, "kicking butt and taking names."

"My legs are the butt you're kicking!" she cried.

Toothless wonder to the extreme

Another night, another tooth. That makes 3 in less than a week, if you are keeping track. She has another that's a little loose, but we should be a few weeks off. How she'll eat, I don't know.

Unfortunately, she pulled this one over the sink. Not such a bad idea for messiness, but the tooth went down the drain. Dad is working on it now.

I added a picture to the blog. This is the book we are reading now. Look similar?

Another one down

"My teacher needs to have her tooth chart done, 'cause this girl just lost a tooth!"

Soaked to the bone

I decided to walk to pick up the kids from school today. I saw some grey clouds overhead, but they didn't look too ominous, so I continued. About a third of the way there, huge raindrops sprinkled down. Oh well, a little light rain. So, I continued.

Then it really started raining. Again, I figured, how bad could it get, and stayed under the trees. Now I was late and wet, but I tried to convince myself that it was a nice summer rain and that we'd have fun walking home together.

When I got to the school, the kids were gone. As I started up the hill, it was pouring. I continued home (what else could I do), soaked to the bone and blinded by the rain in my eyes. Finally, a good samaritan mom picked me up. Turns out her daughter is in Sam's class. So nice. I rejected her offer initially because I was dripping wet, but she said, "no problem! I have leather seats!" I explained I was worried about my kids and sure enough, we found them huddled together, walking home.

We picked them up too and made it here safely. We had to strip off the soaked clothes-- my running shoes may never be the same-- and take warm showers.

Kate just sat down next to me and said, "Sam told me we'd survive, and we did. He was right, God did have a plan for us to get out just in time!"

So cute. God does have a plan. (I think it includes no soccer this season for Kate, unfortunately. Haven't had practice in 3 weeks due to rain. In the desert of all places!)

First day of Kindergarten! (oh yeah, 3rd grade too)

It's finally here, the long-awaited day when both of my kids would be in school at the same time, same place even! Wow! I've been waiting for this day for so long, I expected to throw a parade or leave the school skipping and singing while the wind swept through my hair and the diet coke fairy bestowed a fresh, bubbly beverage in my hand and throngs of mothers everywhere would line up on the side of the street and say "Well done! You made it! Free at last!!!"

So I know you're as surprised as I am that I was a little emotional about the whole thing. It didn't help that our morning was a little, well, off-plan. But, when we got out there, and headed on our way, the kids looked good, Stu joined us for his first 1st-day experience, and all was sunny and warm. I felt bad when we dropped Sam, which became sort of an afterthought to the big FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN thing for Kate. He was fine, though, and told his new teacher he was ready to go.

For Kate, I have wanted her to be a kindergartener for so long, and she's been so ready for so long, that over the last week or so it occurred to me that I wasn't giving her first day the same weight that I did Sam's way back when. But once we were there, on the kindergarten play ground, in line to go into class, it hit me that this is a big deal. My big girl is finally where she belongs, where she wants to be.

I am so happy with her teacher, Ms. Consalo. When the bell rang and the kids lined up, she stood on the chair at the front of the line and yelled, "Good morning Ms. Consalo's pirate class. Are you ready for a pirate adventure? If you are, say "Aye aye mate!"" and then all the kids yelled back. It was so fun! She marched them off to the class room, telling them that the big people who were there (Parents) were all soft and weepy about the big day, so she needed the kids to be super strong ("Show me your muscles!" she told them). She read a weepy story (The Kissing Hand), and told the kids to run and give their parents a kiss and say good bye quickly. Kate looked up from her spot on the rug like, "I'm not getting up. You people can go now." She did finally get guilted into coming back and saying good bye, but she was NOT doing the kissing hand thing. See ya mom and dad. Ugh. My heart. Breaking.

I know, I'm proud she's a tough girl, and I taught her to be that way, but geesh. Just a little kissing hand? Please?

Silly faces.

Happy faces.

First day of school faces!

Our Vegas Anniversary

I really wanted to write something pensive, profound even, about our first year in Vegas. Unfortunately, there is just no time. Suffice it to say, we've made it. And now Henderson is truly our home.

I think the picture attached says all we need to say. Look at those happy faces! (Well, except for Sam who was pouting because Kate won more tickets than him.)

Incredible summer of fun

When Sam said he wanted to have Incredible Summer of Fun: Vegas Edition, I remember hoping that it would be as much fun if it were just the Matthews 3-- me, my kids and I.

In fact, I think I started the whole thing when we moved last year, "Sure, no problem, we'll have Incredible Summer Fun in Vegas too. It will be great!"

So, I came into the season with unrealistic expectations. The only thing really in my favor was that everything was new.

Turns out, I had nothing to fear. First, we were gone for a whole month. Second, it turns out I had a passionate partner in crime. In fact, Gabe planned so many good events, I couldn't even keep up!

We swam. We saw the Titanic exhibit. We went to the children's museum. We did things I can't even remember now, and we did them with friends. Lots of friends. And it was incredible fun.

Royals game with the Weirs

Incredible Summer of Fun: King Putt-- What a group, right?

Outside our "party" room at King Putt

Post-water ride at Adventuredome

Water gun fight!!!

Yes, we are making our own pinatas. See. I can be crafty.

Sam and Kate at the Titanic museum

Slogging

I haven't shared publicly yet what I'm trying as a new fitness regime. I am finally trying Couch-to-5k. Since our JSL provisionals sponsored Girls on the Run a few years ago, I've been meaning to try the program, but haven't until now. I even did my days when we were on vacation last week, which I consider pretty dedicated.

My Maranatha family knows that I refer to what I'm doing as "slogging," short for slow jogging. It's definitely not running, and I think with all the walking mixed in, jogging even seems a bit lofty, so slogging it is.

Today I started week 3, and I got up early to do it before Stu leaves for work. I forgot about the door chime, and it went off not one, not two, but 4 times. (headphones, dog out, dog in, me out) Of course, it woke my early riser, Sam.

When I got back, he confessed that I woke him with all the beeping. I apologized and he said, "It's okay Mom. I understand the chaos of slogging." If that doesn't make you smile, I don't know what would. What a great reason to keep going!

Sweet babies

We've had the privilege of befriending a few families with babies lately. It's so fun to love on them and then send them home!

Our neighbor's kid is a little over a year, and he comes to me on purpose now when he sees me. It's great. He's the one below in the dog crate. (his idea, not ours!)

And another dear friend had her first baby last week. He is so handsome and Kate got to hold him yesterday. So sweet!

Summer Bummer

Sunday night was a long one, as Sam was up frequently in the night with a stomach virus. I won't go into details, but it required steam cleaning at 11:30 at night.

As we were sitting there on the side of the bathtub, Sam looks at me and says, "Why do the worst things always happen to me??" My poor guy had to miss his first day of Lego camp and slept the day away. Fortunately, it was a one day thing, and he was back at summer yesterday. So far, none of us have succumb, so keep your fingers crossed.

Kansas City here we come!

We've made it through the first two "travel days" of our journey... Through KC to scenic Hutch. My mom thinks Hutchinson is kind of the sticks, but I really like it. Maybe because I'm not in charge here and I know where everything is. And because of the ranger cookies.

We had a mercifully uneventful trip thus far. We had a fun night with the Wilkerson's last night, and I was able to rejoin book club for a night. Sam made it up for Bill's arrival after the Royals game, but Kate was out cold, and he was talked into carrying her up to bed.

This morning we went to Panera and met friends from church. It's safe to say that everyone has new hairstyles and the kids have all grown a ton. Then we went by Nanny's (she's exempted from that last statement. She doesn't have new hair nor has grown. She's doing well though!), and gave her some love before heading to Hutch. We had dinner and tool the kids to a park. We walked barefoot in the grass and watched a guy tightrope across Niagara Falls on national TV. All in a day's work.

Hot dog!

We went to the Royals game today. It was HOT-- more than 100 sweaty degrees. And unlike Vegas, it was so humid. Really.

We had a great time though, and no one was sunburned! A success. It's hours later and I've finally cooled off.

Preschool graduation

It is finally here! Kate's preschool graduation was Friday morning at a local church near Merryhill. Kate had been talking about the graduation for weeks. We picked out our dress and painted our nails (sparkly!) the night before. Dad took off to be home for the big day. Unfortunately, Sam had school. :(

On the way to the ceremony, Kate tells me: "Soon, I'll be graduating from high school!" Maybe not too soon. Just another 13 years.

The ceremony was quite an event. All the kids were dressed up and fitted in graduation hat (with tassel). The parents staked out prime seats and had cameras ready. They processed in to Pomp and Circumstance and sat on the stage in a line. Could a real graduation be any more exciting, I ask?

It really was a nice program. Each class has their own ceremony, donut was just room 2 and our teachers. They sang their favorite songs and one about being ready for kindergarten. Then her name was announced and we cheered and took pictures for our girl.

We really have had such a great experience at Merryhill, which is a particular blessing considering our rough start elsewhere in Henderson. Her teachers were great, and she learned a lot. (when I asked her what she learned she said "math, social studies, Spanish and phonics too!")

It was sad to be celebrating without the family we know would have been there if they could have, but we cheered as loud as we could anyway and recorded the whole thing to show everyone when we get home. I do mean everyone, so get ready for a home movie bonanza.

Congratulations, Kate!

Restoration

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. (Joel 2:25 KJV)

When one searches for the word "restore" in scripture, dozens of references appear. It's safe to describe our God as a God of Restoration. The dictionary defines restore as to return to an original or normal state, bring back to a state of health or vigor, or return to a specific rank or position. All pretty good stuff.

Restoration is a promise that we've grown up with, but when we were called to leave our life of comfort and move across country, restoration wasn't a promise I was claiming. I knew that if God wanted us in Las Vegas, that His plans included blessings and that it was a life that would honor Him. I expected to grow closer as a family, to make friends, to find a church. Restoration, however, I was not looking for.

But, just like the God of Wonders, He has blessed us with more. Tonight we had nearly 20 people at out house for small group. Some who we would call friends prior to tonight, others who were little more than strangers. But as we grilled hamburgers and talked together, I realized that the Lord isn't providing me with enough. He isn't interested in giving us some friends or a nice church. He is a God of restoration. He is giving us "immeasurably more than we ask or imagine." I can see how He is restoring to us what we've left. He can't transplant our family or our dear friends back home. Our school is different; our Target is still 15 minutes away. But He didn't bring us here to give us enough. He came to restore the fields.

In today's sermon, Marty said that God's gifts are better than the world's. He has provided us with a church home. He is giving us friends, sleepovers, teams to cheer for, summer fun, mentors, men-tees, neighbors. His gifts are good. He is good. I appreciate that so much!

I've always read the end of the book of Job with a little bit of doubt. God restored Job's livestock, gave him a new family, new home. I always think,"Yeah, but that doesn't REPLACE anything. He still misses his real family and his kids just the same, doesn't he?"

But that's not the point, is it? The point is that Job trusted God to be who He is, to be true to His character and to keep the plan He had for his life. The point is a few verses earlier, before God had restored anything.

"I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?'
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know."(Job 42:2, 3 NIV)

This life, His blessings. Too wonderful.

Suzy Sunshine

Well, it finally happened. We finally got contacted by the Golden Retriever Rescue about an available dog for us. Naturally, it was right after our vacation and on the same day that Stu's co-workers were planning a surprise roof-stomping at our house. But, nevertheless, when they call, you say yes.

We were actually able to pick between two dogs-- a boy and a girl. We chose girl, much to Sam's initial chagrin, though he agreed quickly that she was a better choice for us (the boy was pretty hyper). Her name is Trixie, and supposedly that's what her previous owners called her, except that she doesn't respond to it at all. I mean, at ALL. We've had her almost 2 weeks now, and the kids have decided to rename her Suzy Sunshine. The sunshine is for her golden color, but I'm not sure where Sam came up with Suzy. It's nice. She answers to it, so we're on our way.

She was spayed last week and is making progress. Her primary issues are running away when given the opportunity and wanting too much love. So, all in all, pretty good problems to have. It makes me miss Maddie a little, but I think that Suzy will be a great addition to our family. Plus, she doesn't sleep on the bed! Woo! (I'm putting that in here for Nanny, who will be very pleased with that.)

Vacation, Day 5: Homeward (Finally!)

Here's my advice: 3 days in Disneyland/DCA is perfect. 4 days, too much.

This was our 4th day in the parks, and we decided ahead of time that we would ride everyone's favorite in each park one more time. It was so empty, however, that we did manage to squeeze a few more in than that, and still left before lunch. (I refused to pay another $12 for a cheeseburger and fries. Just couldn't do it. If you've been there, you know what I mean.)

It was good. It was nice to ride again. But it was even nicer to be home. (And notable that going back to Las Vegas FELT like going home, right?) I was amazed all trip long about how the kids, particularly Kate, when asked where they were from said Las Vegas without hesitation. Everytime I thought, "We are? Oh yeah!" I still feel like a midwesterner, but maybe the kids won't.

It was a great trip, and we all needed and deserved the break from routine. Between the vacation and having company of some kind nearly all April, I think I'm ready to get back to normal. What's normal again?

Disneyland, day 4

Having definitely seen all we needed to of California Adventure, we returned for another full day of Disney fun. We were anticipating the park being much less busy, but there was more of a crowd than we'd thought (and more than on Wednesday, the day we went home). Since we'd seen all the big things on Sunday, we spent the day filling in the gaps and redoing some of our favorites (and redoing, and redoing again). The two most exciting things that happened today were Jedi Training Academy and Bibbidi Boppity Boutique.

The kids both wanted to do the Jedi Training Academy, which is like this show where they train you to be a jedi. Jedi come out and teach the kids how to wield a light saber and they defeat Darth Vader with their strong will. See our 2008 Disney World scrap book for more detail. This version was nearly identical, but scaled to include a larger group of kids. It's amazing how many kids are interested in this stuff, and you can tell it's largely because of the geeky parents like us. Only, some were FAR geekier than others. Including the family that had a manila folder of computer-printed signs that said things like "The force is with JENNA". FYI, they did not all get picked.

See, getting picked is a big deal. There are about 50 kids who want to participate and only 20 or so spots. It's amazing they haven't started selling tickets to this. We're over there sweating it, having told the kids to "go crazy" when they ask for volunteers and to stay in front. Kate (in bright pink) gets chosen right away. Sam, not so much. They move to the other side of the group, and then back, and by the strength of his force, gets chosen at the last minute. Thank goodness. We would have been waiting around for the next group if he'd missed. Sam told us afterwards that since he's done this twice now, he's not really a padawan anymore, but a real jedi. Great.

Bibbidi Boppity Boutique is a phenomenon I'd heard about before our last trip to WDW, but Kate was too young to participate. Basically, you pay tons of money to have them make your daughter into a PRINCESS!!! Fake hair! Makeup! Pixie dust! In addition, you can buy complete princess wardrobes (even in Kate's size, which is pretty tough to find). (Princess dress=$75, in case you were wondering, and that's just the dress.) We stuck with the beauty treatment, and she loved it. I was embarrassed about how much fun this whole thing was for both of us. We didn't do the photo shoot (she actually told me today that she thought that was a mistake), but everywhere she went afterwards castmembers referred to her as "Princess," which of course she loved. Monster creator=me.