"What did the momma tomato do to the baby tomato when he was falling behind?"

She stepped on him and said...

"Ketchup!"

Ohhohohoho...hahahahahahhahaa...that joke gets me everytime.  I know it's totally Junior high...but I love it.  Love. It.

But seriously now folks...I have some serious "ketching-up" (hahahhahah) to do...

We'll start with this...

A tooth lost...

A major childhood milestone found...

(And dontcha just love the sweet chubby marker colored hands?  Yeh...I do)

There was blood...

And I'm not sure if there was simply a lot of blood or just the fact that the blood was mixed with spit and it looked like a lot of blood.  Whatever it was...it was pretty gross and I was prepared for the girl to be fah-reaked out.  Nope.  Not at all.  Her excitement won over and only momma was grossed out by the bloody mess where her tooth had been.

 We rinsed...and rejoiced.  Then crawled quickly into bed and fell fast asleep dreaming of the tooth fairy. 

And for the record...the tooth fairy must be loaded.  HE took the tooth and left $5 in its place. Notice the emphasis on HE...Earl is defenseless when it comes to his girl.  It's even worse now that she is sporting a toothless smile.

It's almost Easter.

We all have bunnies on our mind.

The kids talk excitedly of delicious solid chocolate Easter bunnies.

I have been collecting items for Easter baskets as I prepare to be the Easter bunny.

And Sara the cat...

*sigh*

Sara the cat has been killing, gutting, and eating the ears off of real live baby bunnies.

Yup...spring has sprung

Christ conquered the grave

 and Sara cat has been quarantined to the house.

Happy Easter.

I have the bird flu...no...seriously...I do.  My Kindergartner "shared" it with me.  That's what I get for teaching her to share.  Sheesh.

But...if you'll bare with me, I'd like to share with you our first experience with Youth6 soccer.  Grace is on the Bluejays.  Hence the blue jersey.

 And Earl's the coach.  No...really...he is.  They gave him a "coach's bag" and everything.  I think I mentioned in an earlier post that Earl has this freaky ability to understand and play any sport you present before him.  This theory holds true on a soccer field full of 6 year olds as well.  Any sane person would run screaming the other direction...well, at least I would run screaming the other direction.  But not Earl...I'd venture to say he enjoys it.

Maybe it's because he's been wrapped around Grace's finger since the moment they met and he would do anything she asks of him...or maybe it's because he is genetically programmed to delight in all things athletic.  It's probably a healthy combination of the two.  Whatever it is...I'm glad it's him and not me.  I am content to bring snacks and cheer, loudly, from the sidelines.

The first game was 2 weeks ago.  That very same morning I was 30 minutes south running in a 10K run with a dear friend of mine.  (We had a great time...just in case you were wondering)  So when I finished up the run, I went straight to the soccer fields to meet my little Bluejay and her handsome coach.  Because I was not home to help with getting the kids dressed, Earl had his very-first-ever-in-a-lifetime experience of putting hair in a ponytail.  He didn't do too shabby.  I was quite impressed.

 Warming up before the game.

 Practicing kicking the ball in...

 And throwing it in...

 And then the game begins.  5 minute quarters.  4 quarters.

 We played the Orioles.  They were bigger.  And badder.  And more experienced.  Oh...and they were all boys.  Girls and boys are two amazingly different creatures.  And nowhere is it more obvious than on the soccer field.  Earl called the "little" boy on the far right of the picture above a "man among boys"...and he was right.  The kid was a machine.  He kicked soccer butt...I think he may have been taking names. 

Let's not talk about the score (which was something like 0-8, we'll never really know...there is no score keeping in Youth6 soccer) and instead, we'll talk about how much fun Grace (and Earl) had.  It was nice to be outside in the warm air and only worry about which direction a size 3 soccer ball was going.  Those two were truly living in the moment. 

And then as quickly and chaotically as it began, it ended.  There was Gatorade and oranges and pretzels.  The girls were thrilled to have a sort of post game "picnic". The boys sat around grumbling about the score...or really the lack thereof.   I can tell you that at the next game the Bluejays were able to rally and score 3 goals.  Morale is rising.

Before I stop here...I want to show you a few more pictures.  These were taken by Sam.  He sat on the sidelines with me. He hasn't really gotten the hang of cheering for his sister.  He was more focused on getting the hang of using my camera.

I just love the view point of a three year old.  Earl must seem like a giant to him! 

We have 6 more games before the season is up. 

Here's hoping for more goals, good snacks, and lots of "living in the moment"

Oh yes...and a quick recovery from the bird flu.

The goofball turns 3

This is the post when I show you what exactly can happen in 3 very short, very hectic, very crazy, very wonderful years.

In 3 years...Sam-O Whammo went from this floppy little baby....

To this crazy little boy....

We always knew he was a goof-ball.  But he seems to become more of a goof-ball everyday.  We don't blame him...he comes by it honestly....it's the name.  Sam.  Every Sam I have met since my Sam was born is a self-proclaimed goof-ball.  They affirm my curiosities with a pride. 

Me:  "So you're name is Sam too?  Are you an easy going, goof-ball like my Sam?" Random person named Sam: *big grin* "Yeh...I am."

Everyone needs a Sam in their life.

So...my tiny goofball turned 3 this month.  And I'll say it again...I've said it before...I have NO idea where the time goes.  Seriously...it flies out. the. window.  I look at him at night--every night--asleep in his bed...all stretched out...and I wonder when exactly his legs got so long.

This year we celebrated long 3 year old legs with a ridiculous amount of Spiderman themed items.  Spiderman socks. Spiderman bubbles.  Spiderman shoes.  Spiderman clothes.  Spiderman figurines in various sizes.  Like I said...Ri-di-cu-lous.

Oh and a green light saber...you know, for variety.

We did deviate from the Spiderman mania with the "toy" in the below picture.

Little plastic dirt-movers and beans.

You laugh...but seriously, the child loves it.  He can sit for 20+ minutes pushing those beans around, making dirt-mover noises that only boys know how to make. 20+ minutes in 3 year old time is an eternity... 

Disclaimer for photo below: My sister is a cake decorator.  She makes jaw-dropping cakes.  Here's her site.  I think I missed that gene...or maybe she got all of the "cake decorator" gene that was available....whatever.  And then she had the GALL to up and move 8 hours away.  So here I am...with these kids that keep having birthdays and no one to make them a cake except me.  I made the cake below...and stuck a Spiderman on the top of it with some red sprinkles.  Do I get an A for the effort?...

(It did taste AMAZING if I do say so myself!  I can cook a mean cake...just can't decorate it...)

and Emily...stop laughing...

Sam enjoyed the red sprinkles.  Even going so far as to pick them directly off the top of the cake when there were no more left on the slice on his plate.

It's nice to have a child that appreciates your food.  I feel like I spend the majority of my days convincing the kids that carrots and green veges are in fact not poison.

(Can't get the picture turned.  Oiy)

And in this picture above, you see Sam throwing "fireballs"...his superpower.  Yes, it's new.  I know you're jealous.  I am.  I wish I could throw fireballs.  It comes in very handy when your mama sends you to time out....

Again...unable to turn this pic in blogger's photo editor.  But seriously...I love this boy...love love love him.  Goofball.

And then this series of pictures below melts my heart.  I give you "Earl and Sam"...am I a blessed woman or am I a blessed woman!?!?!

Sam got a Spiderman toy from our friend Kristy for his birthday.  You push a button in the middle of his chest and he says phrases like "My spidey sense is tingling"...Who thinks of this stuff anyway??  Are there freaky toy makers in dark backrooms somewhere chuckling to themselves and thinking "Oh the parents will really get a kick outta this one"... (And by the way....Thanks Kristy...I'll be handing that one back when baby P goes through the Spiderman phase.  It's not a question of "if"...it's "when *insert evil laugh here*)nKay...so this Spiderman (and his tingling spidey sense) comes with suction cup webs.  I told the kids if they stuck one suction cup to their head and the other suction cup to someone elses head, they could hear each others thoughts.  They totally bought it...Bwhahahahhaha!!!  OH how I love messing with their little minds.

Happy Birthday my little goofball. 

Mama loves you...mama loves you...mama loves you.

This will be quick...

just wanted to share a real life example of God's prevenient grace.
Yesterday was Sam's birthday (more on that when I get pictures uploaded) and as soon as Earl got home from work, we loaded up and headed to IHOP.  Sam wanted pancakes.  What better choice?  International House of PANCAKES.  But...more on that later....Eeeeeeneway...
The days have been just beautiful so the kids had been outside playing in the cul-de-sac.  When I saw Earl's car pull up, I quickly rounded up the offspring and loaded them into the van.  Somewhere in this process, I put my phone on the bumper of the car.  I think this happened between loading kids and running upstairs to get my purse.  I can't be sure.  Yes...I know this is pretty stooopid thing to do.  I have no excuse save that I have been fairly forgetful lately. 
And we were off...with the cell phone on the bumper of the car....
I had totally forgotten about the phone which was now joy riding on the bumper of my car.  Kinda dug through my purse for it, figured I had left it in the house when I ran upstairs right before leaving, and forgot about it.  Until we got to IHOP.  And my momma called Earl's phone. Hmmm...that's weird.  Why didn't she call my phone? Wonder if everything is okay?...I immediately called her back and she answered with "We have your PHONE!"  Wait.  What?  You live 6 hours away.  How can you have my phone?  I seriously went through that thought process...sigh.  Turns out...God was working in my life through a teenage boy and I was completely oblivious.
The phone had fallen OFF the bumper at the entrance to our neighborhood.  A boy that lives in our neighborhood was driving to lacrosse practice and noticed the BRIGHT LIME green cell phone in the middle of the street.  He pulled over.  Picked up the phone.  And took 30 minutes out of his life to be the hands of Christ.  30 minutes isn't a long time...but I'm certain he was late to practice and if I remember correctly from high school, coach's aren't too keen on late arrivals.  He coulda pocketed the phone...coulda sold it for some quick cash.  After all, it is an iPhone.  They're kinda a hot commodity.  But instead he called my parents.  6 hours away.  Remember the cover is BRIGHT LIME green?  I like it because it's easy to find in the bottom of my purse.  But it also sorta looks like a cover a teenager might choose...and since only paramedics and people over 25 know what "ICE" means he thought the best route to finding the owner of the lost phone would be to call the contact listed as "Mom and Dad"...
Side note:  Do you know what ICE means?  It means In Case of Emergency.  And I have "ICE-Superman" listed on my phone as a contact for Earl.  My husband.  Thinking I need to change how I've listed contacts on my phone...
So he called my mom.  She told him where I lived.  After knocking on my door with no answer...my mom told him to take the phone to "that little red headed girl next door!"...that would be my neighbor Staci. Probably one of the very best neighbors evah.  Really.  She makes ya a margarita when the day has gotten the best of you...or a hot tea if you have a nasty case of strep.  Her husband will till up an entire section of your yard if you want to put in a garden and snow plow your driveway in the middle of a blizzard in return for a case of beer.  Honestly...the. best. neighbors.  She will also rescue your phone....when you leave it on the freaking bumper of your car.  Sigh.  If you're reading this...Thanks Staci....
So I got the phone back.  It was rescued from certain danger and placed in trusting hands before I ever knew it was gone.  It's all a lesson from God.  He works through other people.  This time he chose a lacrosse playing teenager.  And it really wasn't even a big deal.  We have insurance on the phone...it would have been replaced.  And do I really need this fancy high-tech cell phone anyway?  Really?  I guess what I'm getting at here is that there are these small incidences...small moments...that teach us so much about the character of God.  And I think it's important to wake up...look up...and remember that if He does this in the small corners of our lives, how much more will he do it in the big stuff?!  He's working...all the time...moving in our lives.  It is our responsibility to recognize it...to awaken to the beauty of it all.
So to wrap it all up...
Staci got a ginormous piece of homemade birthday cake.
And I called the teenage kid...thanked him a hundred times over and gave him what my dad would call a nice chunk of "walking around money"....I also told him his momma sure did something right raising a honest boy like that.
God...walking around in my neighborhood.  Absolutely fantastic.  I'm kinda glad I left my phone on the bumper.

I wish heaven had a phone

Grace got her star moved.  Twice.  In one day.
Let me back up.
In Grace's Kindergarten class, each child has a magnetic star.  This star starts out on the green every morning.  It is true, even in Kindergarten, that God has indeed created a new day, everyday.  Misbehavior can cause the star to move to yellow--a warning, a reminder to "slow down" and think about your behavior.  If the behavior continues or escalates, the star is then moved to red.  A note is sent home with the child and further action is taken if that is deemed necessary.  Above said magnetic star can be moved back and forth throughout the day between green, yellow, and red as behavior warrents.  It's a fluid system.  And it works fantastically for my 6 year old and her need to please.  The law of the star holds much weight.  And simply asking "Where is your star?" upon arrival home from school can elicit a big smile or big tears.
Wednesday I didn't even have to ask.  With ducked head and weepy eyes, Grace said "Mom...I had my star moved today."  Once for talking and a second time for not listening.  Oiy...  I expressed my disappointment, told her she had to tell her daddy when HE got home, and asked her what she would do differently in the future.  I left it at that.  It was clear to me that the migration of her star from green to yellow was punishment enough.
Later that night...when the children were in bed, Earl and I sat on the couch playing a game (lately we're playing Mancala--an Ethiopian marble game) and I began to talk through the events of the day.  Particulary the movement of our primary offspring's precious star. 
It was then that he told me this story:
"When I was in Kindergarten, I got into a fight--a fist fight--with another little boy during recess.  My brother had to pull me off of him."  Earl sighed...then grinned and looked up at me and said "And that was only half day Kindergarten....it could be worse babe...it could be worse."
Oh how I miss my mother-in-law. 
It's times like these I my fingers itch to call her and ask her exactly what kind of genetics I'm dealing with here...

I wish heaven had a phone.

Another song...

I've noticed I seem to use a lot of song lyrics to narrate pictures of Grace.  And I think the reason I do this is because she is such a musical little thing.  It seems to be woven into her very core.  And music (and often the lyrics that accompany that music) seems to fit her like a nicely tailored dress...or tutu in this case.  Enjoy.

"My baby loves to dance

She loves to spin around

She's only two feet tall

but I don't mind at all

She hears a song in every little sound...

My baby loves me so

She loves me as I am

She lifts her little hands

Her wish is my command

I'll pick her up forever if I can"

--Lyrics from Andrew Peterson's song My Baby Loves to Dance