first snow day

It snowed while we were here in St. Louis (yippee!)...well actually it's sleet and some freezing rain on top. Even though this was the boys first experience with snow they seemed to know exactly what to do...and the cold didn't even seem to bother these tropical weather boys (or this tropical weather girl). Jude had to think it over first before he really got into the snow thing. Then he realized that snow tastes really good.
Ethan figured out that frozen sleet was way fun because you didn't even have to use a sled.
And the best part of the snow was hanging out with the cousins who, since the moment we arrived, have been inseparable.

And to top off their first snow experience, they made up their own game of "throw chunks of ice into the street". Apparently it was the best game ever...or at least a close second to "putting pieces of ice on top of their heads to look like different animals"...Jude was really amused.

all I want is my two front teeth

Of course the day we leave for a trip a couple thousand miles away, Jude knocks his chin on the side of the tub and chips his front two teeth. And it happens to fall on a day that is a holiday and our dentist's office is closed. Thankfully he didn't knock them out and after we had a dentist friend come look at it, it looks like a minor chip that doesn't need any repair...Jude just has a little jagged-tooth smile now. But even with two chipped teeth he's still the cutest 2 year old we know.

what are these?

These are socks. As I was packing and getting overwhelmed by the bulkiness of "winter" clothes I suddenly remembered that my flip-flops may not be the best choice for winter footwear...which is too bad because that is all I own now. So I had to dig around my drawer to find these. I almost forgot what socks were since it's been so long since I've worn them. I'm glad to know now that my feet will be warm...maybe a little outdated (I'm not sure if printed socks are very cool anymore)....and no, I will not be wearing socks with my flip-flops. I did purchase a clearance pair of shoes that cover my toes. Apparently "winter" shoes aren't as popular here so you can find pretty good prices.

all checked off

WIC Council meeting...check. Jason's party...check. Valentine fundraiser dinner put on by the youth group...check. Pack winter clothes and anything else warm we can find...check. Has this week flown by or what? We're loaded up on Airborne and we're packing the last minute odds and ends that we need for the trip. Not looking foward to our red-eye flight tonight but St. Louis here we come!

happy (early) birthday

Last night we had an early birthday party for Jason to celebrate is big 3-0 birthday (his real birthday is another week and a half away). Since the boys and I are going to be gone on his actual birthday, we wanted to do something special for him before we left on our trip. There's nothing better then being with friends, laughing, playing games and having great fellowship. We are thankful for good friends...and Jason is thankful for the big pack of Mountain Dew he received as a gift.

happy valentines day!

Our cookies are made and valentine's delivered...

the shaka

Today during our Bible lesson for school Ethan said, while looking at the picture of baby Moses in a basket:

"Look mommy, baby Moses is doing the shaka."

Only a kid living in Hawaii would know what a shaka is. I didn't even know he knew that.

women's ministry in the local church

I just read this in the book Women's Ministry in the Local Chuch by Ligon Duncan and Susan Hunt for our WIC Council meeting tomorrow. It was just what I needed to hear/read. A great reminder:

"If we're not captivated by the beauty and significance of the church, we will lack the motive-force to serve her because when we begin to serve God's people we quickly discover that they hurt and disappoint us. A biblical ecclesiology reminds us that we have the privilege of following in our Savior's footsteps and loving those who are not in and of themselves lovely."

The book goes on to say:

"...we will never be able to sustain the call to service that God has given to us...It is only the grace of Christ that enables us to persevere."

I echo this prayer at the end of the chapter:

"...that He will give me particular love for the place and people where He has assigned me."

project crown

Two more orders filled. My friend wanted me to make some baby gifts for her friend and cousin. So she asked for Winnie the Pooh and blue camo...not my first choice but you have to do what the customer wants. So you can't tell in the pictures but the diaper bag has pockets all around the outside (front and sides) and the babies name is on the outside in a coordinating fabric.


She then wanted coordinating onesies and burpies (I forgot to take pictures of the Winnie the Pooh ones).

And I title this post "project crown" because I am saving up to get a crown put on my tooth...first gray hair and then this. Apparently, even with insurance, those babies are expensive. So the money I make from my projects goes toward a crown for my cracked tooth. I'm 1/8 of the way there! Not quite what I wanted to spend my money on but that is life.

responsibility chart

Ethan got the Melissa & Doug Magnetic Responsibility Chart for Christmas from his Grandma Wood. He loves completing a chore and putting a smiley face by it...he even has done a couple of chores without my prompting, just so he could put a smiley face on the chart. I see a future list maker in the making...like father like son. So after figuring out what chores we wanted Ethan to do, we set it up on his chart. They are fairly simple for him right now (i.e. brush teeth, get dressed, pick up toys, etc.) but we did add a few that are new to him (i.e. make bed, set table, feed pet, etc.).

So after using this chart for a couple of weeks I started thinking that maybe I needed a chart...not with smiley faces or magnets, but a schedule to follow. I've been convicted lately about my laziness. So on my refrigerator I have my morning "chores" and my weekly "chores". And it's amazing to see how I use my time better when I have a plan (a flexible one but it is a plan). And I know that my example is what my children will learn from, so I hope that stewardship, responsibility, doing a job for the betterment of the community (family) and seeing a job that needs to be done and doing it without needing rewards (money or prizes) will be instilled in them...that is my prayer.

pictures

Here's the latest in pictures of the kiddo's...and me. Ethan wanted to try out his picture taking skills again.

have your cake and eat it (lick it) too

There is nothing better than chocolate in the form of cake. Only 1 year olds can look cute doing this.

a great day to fly a kite?

Ethan and Jude got this great kite for Christmas from our neighbors. I'm not sure who was more excited to fly the Stealth F-117 Nighthawk with a 52" wingspan, Ethan or Jason.

After I reminded Jason that this was the boys kite, he let them have a turn at flying it.

First Ethan......and then Jude got a turn.

The strong gusts of wind from the ocean were a bit scary at times and after the kite did a few low ground swoops, which caused mass chaos and us yelling to our children RUN, RUN....we then decided maybe it was a little too windy. The last straw was a very strong gust of wind blowing the string out of Jason's hand and blowing the kite all the way down the field with Jason running as fast as he could after it. I would have put up pictures except I was laughing too hard and didn't get a picture of it.

This is what the strong gusts caused as well...enormous waves. Before we left I went to snap a few pictures of the waves and we ended up seeing some whales swimming around (whale season is from February-March)...quite a treat. So even though it wasn't a great day for flying a kite it was still a pretty fun day.

LOST

Okay, I have to admit that I am a LOST fan (after all it is filmed here on Oahu) and I am really excited about the season premiere tonight...a two hour special. At the end of last season I was as usual "lost" as to what in the world was going on and was ready to give it up...especially when they decided to start season 4 six months late. But J.J. Abrams is a clever guy and has once again captured my curiosity. So I have watched last seasons episodes on abc.com to catch up and I can't wait! How did they get off the island? Did they all get off the island? Who was it that rescued them? Why did Jack want to go back?

proverbs wisdom

We are studying the book of Proverbs in our Bible Study and I read this verse:

"A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." Proverbs 29:11

The Holy Spirit can definitely speak to us through Scripture. That one seemed to be written for me at that moment.

Yesterday A, B and C needed to get done and one child was whining while they other was pulling on my sleeve trying to ask me something. Instead of asking for wisdom and keeping my emotions under control, I had a psycho mom moment and raised my voice with Ethan. I had to ask for forgiveness from Ethan. Thankfully he forgave me and thankfully I have a God that gives wisdom and knowledge (all we have to do is ask and seek) and a Savior that as Ethan says "takes my dirty heart and makes it clean."

random thoughts

Monday seems to bring out random thoughts. Partly because Monday is my least favorite day of the week and I have a hard time getting started...which leads to my wasting time and having random thoughts. So besides my hair turning gray, here is another tidbit.

People say that it takes about a year in Hawaii before you adjust to the heat and find it bearable to live without air conditioning. Well I didn't believe them when they said it because I seem to be the only one that sweats here and is hot...and we're going on 2 1/2 years here. So lately it has gotten rather chilly especially at night and I made a comment to someone that it seems to be colder this year than last year. They laughed and said it looks like my body has adjusted to Hawaii weather. I wanted to prove them wrong so I set up an indoor thermometer we have in our bedroom so I could show that it really is cold here lately. I knew it would at least get down to the 60's at night if not the 50's. Well sad to say it read only 73. I am officially a wimp.

hair dye?

I just found my second gray hair on my head. Is this a sign of a head full of gray hair by the time I'm 40? I'm so against hair dye because of the upkeep and expense, but it might be a necessity soon. Okay maybe I'm overreacting.

pull out your bread machines

Sorry to put this picture back up again. I know some of you were tired of looking at it during my computer crash/lull in my blog. But I can't have a recipe without a picture.

I had to pull out my bread machine and dust it off for this one. But I love it because the machine does all the work and I just had to roll it out. Here is our new Christmas day breakfast tradition recipe (thanks to my friend Janelle):

Clone of a Cinnabon

1 cup warm milk

2 eggs

1/3 cup butter, melted

4 1/2 cups bread flour

1 t. salt

1/2 cup white sugar

2 1/2 t. yeast

*ingredients to spread on dough once the machine is done with it:

1 cup brown sugar

2 1/2 T cinnamon

1/3 cup butter, softened

Place the first set of ingredients in your bread machine in order recommended by manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press START. When cycle is done turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat over to 400 degrees. Bake rolls about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

And the icing that makes these rolls a clone:

1/2 package of cream cheese

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 t. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 T milk

Add icing to warm rolls and enjoy. And no these aren't low-fat, healthy or probably good for your arteries cinnamon rolls, but these are our once a year treat....it's all about moderation.

happy new year

I know this is a little late but this is Jude wishing everyone a happy new year. He is talking more and more lately...most of which can only be interpreted by me. But this one was prettty clear.

can you find the anole?

I just found out recently that the lizards that are in abundance here are actually called anoles...at least the outdoor ones are called that. The indoor ones are geckos. So I found this one out in our backyard while I was taking pictures of the kiddo's and thought it would be a neat picture. Do you see it?