Big Kids

The little guy is particularly photographable at the moment, but that doesn't mean his big brother and sister haven't been up to anything exciting. :o)

A couple weekends back we enjoyed "boys' night" and "girls' (+ Matthew) night." Chris and Peter had a blast at our church's Father–Son Campout.

Peter reports that his favorite part was the fire. However, Mommy heard reports from multiple venues that many folks who had previously thought Peter was quiet and mild-mannered discovered that he is very, very much boy with LOTS of energy and a ready stream of conversation. :o) Yep. I could have told you that. ;o)

Since the boys had the camera, Hannah and Mommy didn't get pictures, but we had a blast doing crafts while Matthew slept ... LOTS of bead designs and drawing with chalks. Fun stuff. :o) And the recent most exciting event in her life was the arrival of her big girl quilt from Grandma M! Isn't it beautiful!?!? :o)

Other random miscellaneous items ...

• Mornings have suddenly become very much more enjoyable since Mommy created a playlist of carefully selected music that guides us through our routine. :o) Now, instead of Mommy setting timers and nagging (eh hem, giving regular reminders ...), everybody knows exactly what they need to be doing at all times and precisely how much longer they have until they need to be doing the next thing. It's been fantastic! Our playlist is 45 minutes long, and starts at 6:45 with 5 minutes of cuddle time. :o) It's definitely nicer to be able to wake a sleepy child with "time for snuggle time" than it is "time to get up ... we're running late!" :o} What a blessing all around!


• Hannah and Peter have been thoroughly enjoying having Mommy read the Little House on the Prairie series to them after school ... and after dinner ... and before dinner if we can fit it in ... and before bed ... umm, yep. Pretty much any time there's a remote slow down in the activity level, Mommy is asked for another chapter. :o)


• Daddy's CRAZY before-college-students-return work schedule has somewhat slowed down since the thus mentioned college students have now returned.


• Mommy's been working really hard and is getting really close to having the first year of Missions for Kids ready for printing/publishing. That's been a 7–8 year project thus far, so it's incredibly exciting to see the finish line approaching. Still plenty of hurdles to cross though.

And that's about it. Our days are full to overflowing. And we're very much trying to make sure that the things which are most important (loving, training, snuggling ...) don't get crowded out as we do those things which are necessary (eating, bathing, cleaning ...).

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalm 90:12