Science projects!

Remember the days when it was exciting to stay up late working on a school project to get it finished the night before it was due?  Yeah, not so much now.  LOL  It is now 1:00 am and I am just about to go to bed after helping my 4th grader finish her science project on Uranus - don't giggle, I know you want to but remember we are the adults, not the 4th graders ;-).  Why the procrastinatin, you ask?  Didn't we have a long weekend to work on it, you say?  Why yes, yes we did.  Unfortunately, I didn't know about the project until Thursday and didn't get the project guidelines until Friday because KK and I were at Scottish Rite for her procedure when the teacher passed them out.  Apparently, KK misplaced the one she recieved when she returned and didn't think about it until late last week.

I made it out alive... barely... and with only a few tears, which were completrly my boneheaded fault.  We did a paper mache  model of uranus and it's 5 major moons and planned to hang it in a black lined boxed painted with stars.  In my efforts to speed the drying process of the paint I popped that bad boy in the oven.  It worked so well to quickly dry the paper mache moons we didn;t get to yesterday but needed to be able to paint.  Totally forgot to pop the balloon before I put it in the oven... didn't even cross my mind what could happen.  We open the oven to a beautifully dried but busted wide open Uranus. MORTIFIED!!!  But, Daddy to the rescue.  He came up with the idea to cut it in half and mount it on the back wall of the box rather than hanging it.  The problem then because how to affix it to the wall... my handy dandy glue gun no where in sight.  It remains to be seen if the liquid nails I happened to scrounge up will hold it but if all else fails... DUCT TAPE!!!  We shall see what the verdict is in the morning.  Until then, I'm going to rest my pretty little head.

Nighty night!

Mrs JD

Growing kids

I feel like I'm tending a garden here and my precious little plants have good root systems and are gaining height. It's important to properly water and ensure they have the appropriate nutrients so that their branches will be strong enough to bear the fruit of much labor and love. But I know that means that at some point as the grow and begin to blossom and those blossoms are pollinated and fruit begins to form that the fruit will be plucked and the plants must be pruned. I don't look forward to my children being plucked from me piece by piece as they begin to go out into the world more and more on their own and independent. I know I have to let go because the fruit they bear is important in someone elses life. I want them to give of themselves to others and have an effect on the world... but they are my babies and it's hard to see them grow up.

The milestones are so bittersweet. I am so very proud of each thing my children accomplish... but each thing brings them closer and closer to independence. I'm trusting the Lord to give me wisdom and discernment to know when to hold on just a little bit longer and when to let them go and do what He has called them to do and be who he has called them to be. In the mean time, the hugs will be a little bit tighter and last a bit longer... and I will enjoy each one, knowing that no matter how independent they become, how educated they get or how far away they go they will always be my children and will bear fruit representative of a legacy of love.

To quote a Nichole Nordeman song - I wanna leave a legacy. How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to you enough to leave a mark on things? I wanna leave an offering. A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically. And leave that kind of legacy.

The person I aspire to be

Somewhere between home life and work life exists this vague concept of my individual self. I like to picture this gal as a social butterfly; a well-spoken, strong, independent woman; a kind hearted caregiver to those in need; an organized and crafty scrapbooker; and a talented potter and painter of pottery. Granted, I fail to live up to these lofty visions, but they are things I continue to aspire to. Unfortunately, home life often gets in the way of actualization of this individual self I speak of. But, who am I kidding anyway? What would my life be without my loving husband and children? What would I have to scrapbook about? What experience and knowledge would I offer to those in need? What would I offer in conversation with those I would socialize with? It’s funny how the very things that make your life richer and allow you to offer more to the world can sometimes be the very things that hold you back from doing so.

As with all things, I am learning that life is cyclic. There are times when you will contribute heavily to the world around you and to the support of your social network. At other times you will need to lean hard on the support system that has been so delicately placed beneath you over time. Right now I’m in a phase between the two. I’ve felt selfish and self-absorbed for a while… feeling like I’ve folded up within my own little world and worried about no one but me and my little family. I’ve had so much to focus on in my own life that I’ve been unable to help those around me. I’ve wanted to help people around me… but it seemed I just never could manage it. Slowly, I’m trying to pull out of that. I’m hoping that somewhere along the way not only will I find the time to care for others but also to do all the other things I aspire to do.

I may be biased

I may be biased but I think my kids are just the cutest things I've ever seen. This little girl just LOVES the water - be it 2 feet deep or 10 feet deep. Definitely time to consider structured swim lessons, because the girl is fearless!!!

Check out this video: Kiddie Pool

Feel like sayin' sumthin

So I have no specific topic or intention in mind with this blog... I just felt like writing. Right now I'm sitting here with my beautiful 3 year old daughter... she is watching Dora and right now is sitting on the arm of the chair because she has to be this (-->x<--) close to me. Which is fine... Ry is sleeping so I've been able to get in some good one on one time with my KK.

Ya know, it's amazing having more than one kid... its like you think you could never love another child as much as you love your first, but then another comes along and it totally amazes you. There is no way I could ever choose between the two... I love them both the most. And although Mr. T isn't even blood I couldn't possibly love him any more. The human capacity to love goes far beyond what you can imagine... if you just open your heart to it.

So today we are going to Dad's... KK calls it "water day" because Papa D has a pool. I love going over there and getting in the pool with the kids. I can't wait to take KK to swim lessons... I haven't called about it yet though, and I really need to.

Well, I hear Ry so times up. Let me go get hubby and Ry and and then KK and I are going to play some games on the computer and then get ready to go to Dad's.

See ya'll later! Have a good holiday... back to work tomorrow. uuuggghhhh!