Collin's First Haircut

Collin got his first haircut today. It wasn't really long, but kind of shaggy around the ears and neck. He sat so good, and was really excited when he got his sucker!! He looks like such a little man now!

Our "Soapdish" Craft

I saw this idea in a magazine and thought it would be a fun thing to do. It was fun, but I think I got the wrong kind of "air hardening" clay, because it is taking FOREVER to dry out and harden!! That doesn't go so good with a 4 year old. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "Is it dry YET?" Ha! Oh well, I tried!

Mother's Day

Collin coming down the stairs ( he doesn't want to turn around and do it himself!)
Going up the stairs...we have that mastered!

I had a super Mother's Day. We went to church, and then Mike ordered from Tommy's for dinner so I didn't have to cook. It was yummy, and I was stuffed! Mike coached Kendra and Collin to say "Happy Mother's Day" to me and give me my gift...a Mom's Devotional Bible, and a Nichole Nordeman C.D.

We went to Mike's parent's for supper, and the kids roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, and played football in the yard. I wish I hadn't forgotten my camera. Kendra looked pretty cute all covered in marshmallow goo!

Monday night we went to my Mom's and had supper with her, and played. It was fun.

Moms

My mom sent me this email when I was pregnant with Kendra...I thought it was so good that I kept it. It is so true...it is worth every penny to be able to spend time with my two, and tuck them in at night. They bring so much joy. Mom must feel the same way if she sent me this, even after all the trouble I have given her! I love you Mom, thank you for everything!

THE COST OF KIDS

I have seen repeatedly the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but
this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's
nice, really nice!!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from
birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk
about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into
$8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 week. That's a mere $24.24
a day! Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice says don't have
children if you want to be "rich." It is just the opposite.

What do your get for your $160,140?

Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

Glimpses of God every day.

Giggles under the covers every night.

More love than your heart can hold.

Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.

Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

A hand to hold, usually covered with jam.

A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sandcastles, and
skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.

Someone to laugh yourself silly with no matter what the boss said or how
your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up.

You get to finger-paint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch
lightning bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to keep: reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
watching Saturday morning cartoons, going to Disney movies, and wishing
on stars.

You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator
magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand
prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for
Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.

You get to be a hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
taking the training wheels off the bike, removing a splinter, filling a
wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball
team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the first step, first
word, first bra, first date, and first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal.

You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a
long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren.

You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice,
communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there with God.

You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under
the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them
forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you,
love without counting the cost.

AWANA Awards Night

We had AWANA awards night tonight. This picture is compliments of Renee, because I was up front with the Cubbies! Kendra got her first year award, and a cool Cubbies cup with the Cubbies finger puppets inside! All of the kids did really good with learning the verses this year.

Sleeping Soundly

I snuck these pictures while the kids were sleeping the other morning. The only sign of Kendra when she sleeps is her feet. Collin likes to stretch out usually!

Sunday Afternoon Fun

Sunday afternoon was really warm. Kendra wanted to swim, so we filled the pool for the first time this year. Then we went to the park. Collin loves to swing!