Things That Make Me Smile 8/12/11

Here we are at week two of Things That Make Me Smile. It's hard to believe that a week has passed since I posted the first one.

1. Jake woke up sick on Monday. The poor boy felt absolutely miserable. During one of his trips to the bathroom, he asked, "Can you pray that I won't be sick anymore?" It brought a smile to my lips and tears to my eyes. We prayed right there in the bathroom.

2. He asked a little later, "Am I just going to be sick today." After being assured that this was probably the case, he said, "Then I can't wait til tomorrow." (He was actually feeling 100% by early afternoon and no one else even felt queasy. Prayer works!) 

3.  I was trying to explain to Alyssa and Zachary that Jake had a stomach bug and didn't want them climbing all over him. Alyssa asked, "Is it like a crawly bug? Did it climb into his mouth and crawl down his throat into his belly?"   

4. I've been trying to incorporate more fun into their lunches. I like using our cookies cutters to make fun shapes in their sandwiches. This week, I made Alyssa a flower using Clementine orange segments for the petals and a cucumber stem. It was a hit! We've done it multiple days since.

PB&J sandwich with edible gel face, mandarin orange petals, & pickle stem

5. Zac and I practiced letter recognition using the letter pretzels. We got in some learning and a snack! I love listening to him say the letters. "Eeeeeee! Oooooo! Sssssss!"

6. While Jake was cleaning his room: "This room is going to be as clean as an apple!"

7. Jake finally figured out how to pump his legs on the swing! Now he can really get himself going without a push. He's always loved swinging, but needed someone to push him. It makes me happy that now he can have fun even when I'm too busy to play.

8. Jake woke up and cuddled with me on the couch for a few minutes. When I yawned, he asked, "Why are you tired?" I replied, "Well, I've already been up for a little while. I read my Bible and prayed. I made my bed, cleaned the bathroom, emptied the dishwasher, and folded some clothes." His eyes got huge and his jaw just about hit the floor. "You did all that while I was sleeping?!?"

9. Alyssa was picking itty bitty flowers (weeds) for me. Jake came over with a flower behind his back too. He said, "I just had to stop swinging and pick it for you since it was the prettiest one."

10. Zac's nose had been running all day. Like a typical toddler, he'd let the snot drip down without a complaint. I walked over and wiped  his nose. He cheerfully said, "Dank Do!"  (thank you)

11. Alyssa fell off Jake's bed and hit her head on the bookshelf. As I was comforting her, Jake decided to cheer her up by "spraying" himself in the face with whipped cream, pretend banging his head on a chair and falling over, balancing toys on his head, and such. It didn't take long before she was laughing so hard that she was falling over on the floor (no head hitting this time.)

12. Jake and Alyssa were playing that they were getting married. They both got dressed up. While Jake was laying out a red blanket for a walkway and constructing a Lego cake, Alyssa was extremely giddy. "I'm getting married! I'm getting married!" She was giggling like it truly was her wedding day.

Things That Make Me Smile 8/5/11

Yesterday, it hit me. Out of the blue, it hit me. I was preparing breakfast for my kids, and it hit me. I am incredibly blessed, like blessed-beyond-measure blessed. I'm married to the man God created me to complete. Together, we've been entrusted with 3 precious souls to raise. I have phenomenal parents, who are our best friends. Our every need is supplied by the God of the universe. 

I could go on and on and bore you for days with my innumerable blessings. Instead, I'll give you a highlight of the Things That Made Me Smile this week.  

1. Jake rubber banded (Is rubber band a verb??)  two pencils together. He would twist the top pencil and watch it spin once he let go. He was proud of his "science experiment."

2. Zac's newest phrase before performing for me: "Mom, wa dis!" (watch this)

3. We pulled out ALL the pillows (and bean bag) in the house and put them in a big pile in the living room. The kids had a blast jumping and wrestling on the cushy mountain. They all enjoyed jumping off the couch into the pile, especially Zac. They played for over an hour!

4. We pulled out our Berenstain Bears collection (48 books!) and are enjoying a reading marathon. We read 7 books the first day and 4-5 books every day since.  Most of them are from my childhood. I'm glad my kids love them too. Plus, I get to re-read them. Bonus!

5. I painted Alyssa's fingernails and toenails. Zac desperately wanted his painted too. He settled for blowing on his hands and feet right along with his sister. It was so cute watching him raise his foot to his mouth and blow.

6. While reading one of the Berestain Bears books, Too Much Birthday, Jake argued with the authors:

          Book: "Papa felled the tree."

          Jake: "You mean the tree fell."

          Me: "No, Papa felled the tree."

          Jake: "No, it's the tree fell."

          Me: Fell can be a different kind of verb, too.

          Jake: {Looks at me in disbelief as I continue with the story}

7. Zac has carried one of Alyssa's purses around all week. And what does he keep inside? Cars. Lots and lots of cars.

8. Zac grabbed a box of macaroni noodles off the counter as I was preparing dinner. He opened them up and tossed an uncooked noodle in his mouth before I could stop him. "Mmmm!" Then he ate some more and "mmm"ed the whole time.

9. I walked into the living room and Blue's Clues was playing on the TV. 

       Me: "Who turned this on?"

       Jake: "I turned it on for Zachy."

       Me: "Why?"

       Jake: "He asked me to."

       Zac: {pointing} "Bue's Cues!!!"

10. We went grocery shopping. The kids were ecstatic when I grabbed a bag of red delicious apples and a bag of Clementine oranges and placed them in the cart. They were cheering in the middle of the store. Yea for healthy snacks!

11. Zac has a cell phone obsession. He gathers all the unused phones and hordes them. He's been "talking" on a phone for a while now, but this week, he started mimicking. "Hewo, ummm. No. Nope. Nuh-uh. Shhh." 

Thanks for letting me reflect a little on my week. I hope some of these events made you smile, as well.