Super Proud Mom!

Yes, you read these sticker chart titles correctly.

And YES, every sticker on these two charts has been earned!

A couple of months ago we did a youth retreat for some friends.  They had a thumb sucker who is just a little younger than Areyna.  She told me about a thumb guard (Stop Thumb Sucking with Thumb Guard Kit (Size Medium/Ages 5-6) that they got that worked an absolute miracle for their son!  After a couple of weeks he kicked the habit!

After hearing of their success I was determined that this would be a worthy investment for our kids.

We told Areyna that if she could stop sucking her thumb by the time we left for Africa we would take her to get her ears pierced.  She was more than willing to agree to using a thumb guard to "help" her kick her habit too:)

The next week while Josh and I were away for our anniversary, Josh's mom did a little research of her own and found these little hand-made thumb guards for a fraction of the cost.

Now, I had my doubts that these would work.  For starters, they are fabric and Velcro...that's it!  My kids can take them off, and if they were smart enough to get this stuff off then I thought these new contraptions would be a joke.

I have been pleasantly surprised at the success we've had.  The kids got to pick out their own design, which I think has been a big reason for the success.  We also did a 21-day chart to begin a new habit of NOT sucking their thumbs.  As you can tell, Areyna has had a couple set backs, but overall, they have done excellent!  They don't even have to sleep with "Bubby" and "Bear" anymore!

The only rules are that the thumbguards have to be ON and DRY in order to get a sticker for their chart.

Areyna has informed us that she really doesn't want to get her ears pierced...she'd rather have a bunny.  Hmmm...we'll have to see about that, ha!  Zeke has been more than excited to get to pick out whatever he wants at the Dollar Store:)  Oh, the simple pleasure of a child...

Now, if we could just get Cai on board...

Caption Please

A "Very Special" Little Girl

This is Joy, Josh's little sister.

She is carrying a "very special" little girl who's name I will not share:)

This is the day Joy chose this "very special" little girl to be placed in the orphanage.

This is quite possibly the day that this "very special" little girl got a chance at life!

What a sweet memory to have this picture to document the hope that she now has!

And two years later, her story continues...

Fun Facts For Friday

My parents got in last night.  They get to stay the WHOLE weekend.

Josh and I had rehearsal at Journey last night so my parents stayed home with the kids.

Every few minutes the kids kept asking us, "Is it time for you to go yet?"

For some reason they were SO ready for us to get out of the house 

to play with their Nonnie and G-daddy.

We later found out that that "some reason" was to ask 

if their Nonnie and G-daddy brought them anything "surprises":) 

I guess a kids gotta ask.  It's just part of being a kid.

And a grandparent always has "surprises".  It's just part of being a grandparent!

My sister-in-law caught Cai and his cousin, Karis,

playing in our backyard.  This picture was just too cute not to share!

It's that time again!

We pulled out the pool with the cousins last week.

We couldn't figure out why it was taking like an hour to fill up

and then we found the leak in our hose...

I had 6 impatient kids just WAITING to have more than their feet covered with water, ha!

I had the kids help me fold clothes this week.

I don't know how in the world we have so much laundry!

Anyway, this is Zeke telling me, "But mom, I did fold my clothes. Look!"

He was on his way back to his dresser to put them away.

Bless his sweet little heart:)

Being part of the local Via family has its perks.

We had enough kids for a rockin' Easter egg hunt.

Look how cute they all are!

 We had a family game night a few weeks ago.
Cai was surprisingly good (or just lucky) at catching the butterflies:)

I am so ready for this weekend!
Bring on the family togetherness!!!

Happy Friday ya'll!

Words Of Wisdom

Josh:  "Rainy, that picture of you on mommy's blog, when we went out helping the people with the tornado, you looked like such a big girl.  You know you are disobeying me by growing up..."

Areyna:  "Daaadd, I am NOT disobeying you!  I'm not growing up and getting bigger.  God is growing me up."

Josh:  "Then maybe He is disobeying me?"

Areyna:  "Nope, 'cause He is the King and He can do whatever He wants!"

Josh:  "Wow, you just put me in my place:)"

Music To My Ears - Silver

Here's some music candy for your ears.

They are called Silver.

The lead singer is a good friend of ours.  He actually helped us out with our "Resurrection Songs" album!

Their music is tight.

Their stage presence if energetic and fun.

So, get out there and go support your local musicians!

CharlotteONE Season Finale

Josh and I have the awesome privilege of playing for the season finale of CharlotteONE tonight!  Come on out and join us, and the rest of the band, if you live in the Charlotte area.

WHEN:  Tuesday    April 26, 2011
WHAT TIME:  7pm
WHERE:  First United Methodist Church, downtown Charlotte

See you there!

FAQ's

"Is it snack time?"

"Mommy/Daddy, when we wake up do you want to watch a movie on my computer?" the kids pretends like they have Netflix on their Leapfrog computers:)

"Is it lunch time?"

"Is it Journey day?"

"Is it snack time?"

"You want to play with my stickers with me?"

"Is it dinner time?"

"When is it time to get out of room time?"

"Is it snack time?"

"Mooommm...why do I have to take a bath?" (if you helped in Zeke's class on Sunday you know the answer to this one, ha!)

And these are just a few of the questions that I answer on a DAILY basis, ha!

Not Me Monday

I always give my kids what they want.  Especially when it comes to food.

The kitchen is always open around here.

So, when we have, say, six children, who never seem to get full (of snack food at least) I would never barricade the kitchen off, deeming that the kitchen is closed and that you may not enter, under any circumstances, until the curtains are open again, signaling that it is "snack" or meal time again.

Nope, not me!

And seeing as I am just about as domestic as they come,

Always cooking with delight...

a smile always on my face when I'm in the kitchen,

I would never sneak into a barricaded kitchen just to get a quick quiet minute to myself.

Nope, not me!