No Fuss Clean-Up

Don't laugh at my pictures, art is NOT my calling=)

I was reading blogs the other day, as I frequently do;) and read about an idea one of my friends had about making clean-up time fun. She made a picture checklist of all the things that needed to be cleaned up around the house so her kids could check off their accomplishments.

Well, in my endeavor to get to the heart of Zeke's "freak-out" moments I decided that I'd tap into his love for superhero"ish" stuff and try something a little like this for him (and Areyna too of course) since we've figured out that another very common freak-out moment for Zeke is cleanup time. Not so much the cleaning part, but the "end of playing" part.

So, in an attempt to eliminate this particular "freak out" moment, instead of saying "Alright guys, your 1 minute is up. It's time to clean up so we can go take a nap." I said, "Hey guys. I am going to write you each a secret clue. See if you can tell what it is and go find it and put it where it belongs. After it's put away come back to me for your next secret clue"

I mean, what kid can pass up secret clues, a scavenger hunt for the secret clue, and finding "the special place" to put their stuff. The only rule for my game is that you have to have a happy heart doing it. For some reason I've never had to repeat that rule!

P.S. If you've got any extra pads of paper you could spare just send them to Secret Agents Areyna and Zeke Via, because our paper stash is running low as this activity seems to be an everyday favorite now=)

The Pollen Bowl

The pollen count has literally been off the charts the past couple of weeks here. (Believe me, I know...I "follow" WRAL Weather on twitter. Don't make fun!) Our allergies have confirmed this report!

Well, you KNOW I'm a window girl, but this window girl has been forced to close up shop in order to maintain quality air control for my family. The thing is, you'd hardly be able to tell. Somehow, the pollen continues to make its way into our home, leaving yellow/green traces all over the furniture and pollen footprints on the floors. I can't tell you how many times I've vacuumed and dusted this week. Every time the we open the door to go outside the lurking pollen sneaks in.

Zeke has appropriately deemed the pollen as "ewwww, poison!" I tend to agree with him the way it's wreaked havoc on our immune systems but alas, we had a breakthrough last night. Praise The Lord for rain! The color scheme on my front porch is no longer yellow.

Listen For Yourself

Okay, so I'm about a chapter and a half into Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. LOVE IT!

Today I read an interesting point. Let me just quote Foster for a second...

"Human beings seem to have a perpetual tendency

to have somebody else talk to God for them.

We are content to have the message secondhand.

... It is very convenient this way because it gives us

the advantage of religious respectability

without demanding moral transformation."

Wow! This is exactly why God was so saddened by the fact that the Israelites wanted an earthly King.

It made me think about all the times I have relied on what others write or say about God's work in their lives. Sometimes I'll read or hear a good word and think that's enough insight for my day instead of getting alone with my God and gleaming from The Holy Spirit personally.

I'm not saying God can't use others to speak to us or that we can't learn from others. If I were, I certainly wouldn't ever write about what God is doing in my heart. It's just, when we replace the lessons that God has to teach us personally with those lessons that are for someone else's benefit that we sell ourselves short of the lessons we are to learn in our own walk.

Just a thought...

What Does One Do... - Part 4

What Does One Do Without A Computer ~ Part 4

~ The Little Things ~

I painted my toenails (and Areyna's too, of course).

I don't remember the last time I sat down and did that.

I made a lot of phone calls.

I got my hair highlighted

(I LOVE having a sister-in-law who does hair!)

I hung around outside A LOT

We made time for school

The house is SUPER CLEAN

All the laundry got washed, folded AND put away in ONE day!

Spray Painted my rocking chairs

Got rid of all those pesky piles around the house.

I am now officially caught up on mending dresses,

costumes and putting things in their rightful place.

I Still Don't Understand...

We had an unexpected visit to the doctor yesterday. After seeing Areyna's rash spread over her entire body and going in to see that her eye was completely swollen shut and after feeling completely spent from holding and consoling Micaiah for the past couple of days we decided to take them in.

$50 later (and that's not including the money we spent buying out the CVS pharmacy!) we found out Areyna has pink eye and the pollen, in conjunction with the pink eye, has caused her to get an eyelid infection. She was also diagnosed with another infection that I won't bother mentioning to the whole blogosphere world. Micaiah was also diagnosed with full blown ear infections.

Now, do you think it was that much harder to look in Micaiah's ears really quickly after checking Areyna's eye? I cannot figure out why I have to pay 2 co-pays when we are in there for the exact amount of time!!!!

Can anybody fill me in?

What Does One Do... Part 3

What Does One Do Without A Computer ~ Part 3

~ Read ~

I finished up Claire Cloninger's, Dear Abba. I highly recommend this book if you are looking to enhance your prayer life. I was sad to see this book end, but am grateful for the practices I learned. My relationship with Christ has been brought to a new level for sure!

I also finished up Forgotten God by Francis Chan this week. Our church went through a 4-week study about the Holy Spirit which coincided with this book. I love Francis Chan's writing! Humble, confident and convicting all at the same time!

Yup, that was 2 books done in 1 week. But that's not all! I started 2 other books as well.

I decided to broaden my reading realm and read this allegorical story that was given to me by a dear friend last week. I am really enjoying Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard.

I also began Celebration Of Discipline by Richard Foster. I'll let you know how this one is once I get more into it.

8 Months

Weight: 20lb. 3oz.

Can say: dada, mama, baba, nana

Is SO close to crawling -

gets frustrated when he can't get to his wanted destination

Wearing 12 month clothes!

(I had Zeke's 1 year b-day outfit on him last week)

Has perfected his pincer grasp.

Eats: peas, beans, oatmeal, cereal, carrots, mangos

white and sweet potatoes, bananas, pears, apples, avocados.

The boy LOVES bread too!

I started putting Zeke on the futon in Cai's room for naps.

It felt so funny to say, "Boys, I'm serious...NO MORE LAUGHING!"

The REALLY funny thing was that CAI was the instigator and Zeke told me,

"Sorry mommy, I just can't stop laughing at him...he's so cute!" HA!

Has started using a sippy cup.

Makes more of a mess than anything, but he likes it.

Loves music. He is more relaxed when Josh is practicing than any other time.

Fits right in at band rehearsal on the stage watching the drummer=)

I love the way he kicks his legs and laughs and smiles

when I go pick him up from the nursery.

He is a momma's boy for sure!

The Joys Of Boys

(This ISN'T from Josh By The Way!)

What Does One Do?... Part 2

What Does One Do Without A Computer ~ Part 2

~ Gardening ~

We took our Holy Week activity of planting seeds to another level this year. I've been wanting to plant a garden for years and this week I think I got as close to fulfilling my fantasy as I'll ever get! We decided to plant vegetable (and strawberry) seeds this year. It won't nearly have the same effect as the fast growing seeds we've done in the past but we thought it would be a nice change.

We originally planted our strawberry plants in our flower bed...until we realized that it is FULL-BLOWN infested with Red Fire Ants and Flying Ants. I broke my computer fast to read up on some natural solutions to exterminate those pesky little creatures. I tried hot coffee, sugar and baking soda, which are all supposed to be poisonous to ants, to no avail! *sigh*

Determined to have a garden, I turned a section of our backyard into my own garden. Don't laugh, I've NEVER done this before and could use any tips for gardening that you could give.

Now, giving my track record for actually KILLING vegetation I'll be surprised to see if I can keep these veggies alive!