Some fun moments for the day…

Champ wanted to get Daddy a kite from the Dollar Store.

  So as we prepared to go, Skeezix ran to get a dollar,

and Angel went and got a quarter.  THEY ARE SO CUTE!

When we got there, we shopped.  And shopped.  And

shopped.  After we’d arrived there, Beau asked if he could

borrow a dollar, too.  So we shopped some more.

Champ DID get the kite. 

Actually – a two pack!  One for him AND one for Daddy.

Skeezix picked out a colorful pack of

40 erasers for the ends of pencils.

Angel chose a “garden pot,” A/K/A flower pot.

Beau found a pair of scissors [we are always losing ours!]

After Daddy got home, we took some photos and

headed to Longhorn Steakhouse for a lovely meal.

  

 

A lady at a neighboring table offered to take

our family photo.  I wish it wasn’t blurry.  😦

She also complimented us on the kids’ behavior. 

That was our clue to hurry up and leave before

things went down hill!  [Seriously, they were awesome. 

My kids are just so great. 

They loved lavishing attention on Daddy for HIS birthday!]

 

At home we opened gifts and ate some cake!

It occurred that for Daddy’s 30th birthday,

I was pregnant as well.

Here I am pregnant at his 40th.

If I am pregnant on his 50th…

Nah.

😉

Five sweet guests.

Two guest’s sisters.

A sister, two brothers, a brothers’ friend.

A birthday girl.

SO MUCH FUN!

   

Before Daddy left for work, we serenaded

her awake with the Happy Birthday Song. 

Big morning hugs from Daddy and Mommy.

Champ had a homemade gift for her. 

He made her a coloring book.

We went to Chuck E. Cheese’s for dinner,

gifts and cake.  We had a LOVELY time.  ♥

Isn’t she spectacular? 

Meeting Angel

Beau and Angel

Champ isn’t so sure.

Skeezix meets her little sister.

Growing family!

First Birthday

Second Birthday

Third Birthday

This week

We headed out today.

First we headed to Greece to meet Daddy for lunch.  We were using up some of our Pizza Hut “BOOK IT!” coupons the kids earn for reading.

As we entered Rochester from 104 West Beau asked, “What is that?”  I looked to my left.  Ah.  Yes.  What IS that?

What kind of answer would I give him.  My no-holds-barred, “That is large pieces of metal the city undoubtedly paid for despite not having enough money for pot holes, the city schools and police overtime, in order to make them look hip to the dozen or two visitors that get lost on their way from the airport to Paychex each year.”

Would I give him the politically correct, gushy answer, “That is how someone used their talents to make our city more beautiful.  Isn’t it nice how we all can offer different things and have different ways to earn a living, honey?”

What he got was, “Art.”
“Art?” Beau replied, clearly doubtful.
“Yup.  Art,” I said.
”How is that art?” he said.
”Haven’t you made sculptures in art classes?” I offered.
”Yeah…” he said, still uncertain.  “Why is it there?”
“To be a decoration.” I answered.
”Oh,” was the last I heard.

The Pizza Hut I’d found on MapQuest turned out to be a Carry-Out only place and we had to drive about 6 miles out of Daddy’s way to find the next closest one in Greece.  It was a great lunch.  The place was quiet and the kids had fun.

We then headed to the Rochester Museum and Science center. 

On the corner of English Road and Dewey Ave. in Greece we saw this, um, gentleman.

 

“What’s HE doing, Mom?” many voices asked at once.

Now.  How.  Do.  You.  Answer.  That?
”Well guys.  Maybe he doesn’t have a job and someone offered him some money to dance like that to advertise their company and he needs the money so he is willing to do it.”

After random comments from the kids, such as, “But why is he the Statue of Liberty?” and “Can I make one of those?” and “I am going to make that costume and dance like that for Claire,” and “Where is the music coming from?” all I could say was, “I hope you guys never have to have a job like that.  I’m glad it is a warm day, huh?”

Since the shortest distance between two points is a direct line, I headed from Greece to the RMSC through the city.  I didn’t have directions, per se, just my “Born-And-Bred-In-Rochester-Instincts/GPS” we headed due south.  I did pretty well.  But the kids were getting rowdy and I was trying to concentrate.  I was trying to focus and get them to quiet down a bit and made the mistake of saying, “Come on, guys.  You need to settle down.  This is not a nice neighborhood and I am trying to pay extra attention.”

“What do you mean not a nice ‘neighborhood?’” Beau asked.  “How can a neighborhood be nice?”

SIGH  –  Did I really start a “meaningful conversation” just when I am trying to pay MORE attention to details than not?  I give a few short-sentence answers about poverty and different living situations, etc., to try to satisfy him/them.  Then my deep-thinking first-born starts looking for evidence to support my statement.  “Oh – that kid is riding his bike in the street.  That IS bad.”  Followed by, “I just saw two people smoking, Mom.”  SIGH

I did do pretty well, going only a teeny bit further south than I needed to.  We corrected it quickly.

We got to the museum.  Our goal was to see the Dinosaur exhibit that is visiting.
It was rather pathetic.
It was a TON of video games, some fake bones and some electronic dinosaurs that have nothing on Walt Disney World.

We did run into some homeschool friends, which always thrills the kids.  Especially in the middle of the day when the rest of the world is at school.

On the drive, I asked Angel what kind of cake she would like for her birthday.  I suggested a Barbie doll cake. 
Know what SHE suggested?

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY!

If you read this blog regularly, you know that when it comes to the ways of the LORD we are committed to
Deuteronomy 6:7:
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

That being said, we do enjoy a few traditions of Easter.

This year we hid baskets for the first time, per the kids’ request.
Champ found his in the toaster cabinet.

 

Beau found his in the dryer.

Skeezix found hers in the corner of the living room.

Angel didn’t want hers hidden.  She found hers on the kitchen table.

Church was so lovely today.  There is an occasional choir at our church and today they sang two songs with just amazing words.  The boys also paid better attention than usual.  And Beau was delighted to see a gathering of instruments.

After church the Brooks’ joined us for our third annual Egg Hunt.  Last year it was about 40 degrees.  The year before it was snowing.  This year it was GORGEOUS!

The two dads hid them.  It took them quite a while.  So long that some began to melt.

   

Emily helped me prep dinner and we were joined by JB’s Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister-in-Law, niece, nephew, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Brother-in-Law’s mom, Niece, Niece’s Boyfriend, great-nephew, and our friends the H’s.

After a wonderful dinner, we all went outside to SOAK UP THE GORGEOUS DAY!

We celebrated Angel’s birthday with those in attendance.  She had pink cupcakes with orange frosting.  Orange is her favorite color.  She has such a hard time processing that her birthday is not Easter.  We tell her she was born on Easter.  So, instead of fighting, we flowed with it.  She’ll get it one of these years.

She enjoyed some great gifts.  
A dolly, some LOVELY clothes, and a cool gardening set
– complete with amazing wheelbarrow. 

    

It was such a gorgeous day. 
Nan and Nene spent Easter in Canada with Aunt Betty and Dave this year. 

Next year Easter is April 24, so hopefully it will be a warm day, as well.

What a delight to be outside all day.

I hope you were all blessed with a wonderful Resurrection Sunday, as well.

HE IS RISEN!

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!

Just tell Him your plans, right?

I had it allllll figured out.

With four kids still in boosters and a new baby on the way – I knew our Windstars would be jam packed with all the car seats. I spent some time looking at full-sized vans and was really hoping we’d get to move up from the mini-van. After looking for a few weeks in February/March, I realized that doing that would cost more than we had saved up, and because we are personally convicted not to borrow or lease I prayed, instead, for contentment with the vehicles we had. And it was granted. ☺ I became very excited about the prospect of saving up for another year and making the mini-van fit. [Frankly, I LOVE my Windstar. When we bought it in 2001, it was a 2001 with a number of bells and whistles.] I also got very excited about the prospect of KEEPING the mini-van even AFTER we got the big van, next year. We could then use our mini-van to lend to the youth group, or visiting missionaries, or to friends who may need it. I considered that we could pull out the rear seat and use it as a cargo van. I also thought that maybe God’s plan would include showing us a family to give the van to. [We gave away the last car, as well.]

This seems all good, doesn’t it? We were being good stewards. I wasn’t coveting. I was enjoying contentment. We wanted to share. How could these be bad things?

Well, on 3/17 [the day we went to the zoo] I noticed my mini-van was making a slightly odd sound. I mentioned it to JB. I don’t really have to drive much, and the days went by. On 3/24, on the way to CBS in Canandaigua, it made a BIG, chinking noise and then drove funnier. I got it home, borrowed a friend’s car to go to an appt., and then JB got it to his old friend, [and master mechanic] Greg, on 3/25 to look at.

When Greg called us at 7PM on 3/25 he said to JB, “You’d better sit down.”

I will condense the story to three words – “Not worth repairing.”

I cried. A lot.

Now what is God teaching me? Is contentment really NOT good enough? What is wrong with this plan?

I was really, really upset.

See, for the last 4 years we have been saving some money every month toward the proverbial “next car” and/or car repairs. Since we committed to being debt-free, except the mortgage, we have faithfully put money in there. But, it wasn’t enough. Well, at least it wasn’t enough for the used Ford Econolines at Simmons-Rockwell, or Van Bortel, or everywhere else I looked online. To have made those purchases, we would have had to wipe out our savings and use every cent of our income tax refund. And then live on pasta for the next 12 month, and skip things like swim lessons, SeaBreeze tickets and birthday parties.

These disciples would not have liked living that way.

Or we could get a loan. We considered that for a few minutes only.

We prayed.

I cried.

And I couldn’t sleep.

At 2:30 A.M. on 3/26 I went online and looked on CRAIGSLIST of all things. I RARELY EVER use Craigslist.

I also used the Kelly Blue Book site and Simmons-Rockwell. I found 6 possibilities with lots of price ranges.

In the effort to abbreviate, I will share that GOD’s idea was WAY different than mine.

That Craigslist search yielded a hit to a dealership called, “Uncle Vic’s Auto Outlet.” And the next evening, in a series of highly odd happenings [like the owner’s wife giving the kids t-shirts], JB and his friend Greg decided it was a decent van, I decided it didn’t matter what it looked like, and we bought a van for fully two-thirds less than the next best van available.

I wish I could tell you the whole funny story.
I wish I could tell you how God 100%, unquestionable confirmed
our decision when we picked it up and a family of fellow homeschoolers were there.
I wish I could tell you how funny it smells.
Okay – I can tell you how funny it smells [hopefully getting detailed this week!]

What I CAN tell you, is that I never, ever pictured myself in this van. Ever.
To call it “unpolished” is a bit too gentle.
To call it a “beater” is too harsh.
To call it HUMILITY is probably best.

But I have reminded myself 100 times, HUMILITY is not HUMILIATION.

AND THE KIDS THINK IT ROCKS!

So – if you see us tooling around town, honk and wave!