Soccer

I just signed the girls up for soccer. This is a first. They have never participated in a competitive sport, and I am very interested to see how this season will turn out! On Friday we had a short p.e. period in which we played soccer to familiarize the girls with the sport. After about one minute Kylia stopped and declared, "Mom, every time I kick the ball I just have to run after it!" And with that said, she was done. This will be a very interesting season!

Body Parts and their Functions-Part 2

Feet are fun! While driving down the road I overheard this conversation in the back of the car.

Adalie: (to Kylia) Give me your feet. (foot raised to nose) Mmm. That smells good!

(to Zoie) Now, give me your feet. Mmm. Those smell good too!

Then bringing her own feet to her nose.

Adalie: Ooooo! Stinky!

Giggles and then more giggles.

This process was repeated with each girl smelling the others' feet. To the smeller, the feet of the other two always smelled sweet, but hers always stinky. Then lots of giggles, and repeat.

Feet, made for more than just walking!

Multi-Tasking at its best!

I realized today that my girls are going to make great mothers. They have learned the art of multi-tasking. Not wanting to put aside their stuffed animals to help me clean out the trailer, they strapped on their animals with the ever-useful bungie cord, and then proceeded to clean. They moved everything inside quickly, without having to ever put down their toys. Then bungie cords were removed and the girls returned to their play. I was amazed!

Just a side note. A little later that afternoon, Kylia was helping me vaccuum. As she was about to vaccuum around the table she asked her sisters, "Could one of you be a sweety and move the chairs for me." That's a great mother in the making!

A Lot Can Happen in Thirty Seconds!

"Mommy, I spilled!" (Kylia)

"Mommy, I got purple paint in my hair." (Adalie)

"Mommy, I got pee pee in my panties!" (Zoie)

All said within thirty seconds of eachother.

But then the words that made it all seem okay,

"Mommy, I love you!" (Adalie)

"Mommy, I love you!" (Kylia)

"Mommy, I love you!" (Zoie)

All said within thirty seconds of eachother.

My "Piggy Man"

While driving down the road, in separate vehicles, Seth and the girls in one and me in the other, we passed the town of my babyhood, Scio, Oregon. I informed the girls over walkie-talkie that I used to live in this town on a piggy farm. Knowing my desire to have a yard or land of some sort, this is how Seth and my conversation went.

Seth: You should have stayed here in the country. You still would have ended up at George Fox. (Where Seth and I met, fell in love, and got married!)

April: I don't know. I may have ended up marrying a piggy man.

Seth: I'll bring you bacon, baby.

April: YOU could be my piggy man!

Seth: And you could be my little heifer!

Well, all I can say is, "Moo!"

A Story to Delight!

I recently gave my girls the option, as a special treat, to play a game or write a story on the computer. To my surprise and delight they chose to write a story! So here it is, "The Mouse Eats the Cheese!", by Adalie Himes. (Kylia watched!)

p.s. This is the unedited version. Everything you read, was spelled and typed by Adalie.

The Mouse Eats the Cheese

Once upon a time there lived a mouse its name was Cheddar. Cheddar loved cheese he also loved sitting and watching the sunset one day he was watering his garden. As he was watering he saw a girl mouse it walk up to him. She was lovely her name was Rose they were best friends! But something had changed. It was her face.

They went to the play ground first they went on the swings. Then they went on the slide. Then the mouse bars. Then they went back home and had some cheese and watching the sun set. Then they went to bed. Coca a doodle do it was mouse day .they got dressed and headed out the door they had. A shiny yellow new car they went in the car they had cheese popcorn and they watched a show it was a cheese dance it was lovely. After that they went on the cheese ride and then they went on the coco ride. After that they shared a big chunk of cheese. O just to let you now that rose is 5 yr old and cheddar is 7 yr old.

The end

Body Parts and their Newest Functions

With three noses, and three tongues the possibilities are endless! No longer are noses just for smelling, and breathing, and tongues just for tasting. Oh, no! Tongues and noses now also provide hours of entertainment. Did you know that when a nose is pinched funny sounds come out of your mouth? Did you know that licking isn't only reserved for popsicles and lollipops, but can now be done on sisters arms, legs, cheeks, shoulders, and anywhere else one's tongue can reach? I never thought I would have to say, "Keep your tongues to yourself!", but it seems that this is becoming a common phrase in our household. Tongues can also help you make bubbles with your spit! (Only Zoie has figured out this function.) For this week, it's tongues and noses. I wonder what next week will hold! The possibilities are endless!

Like Father, Like Daughter

A girl after his own heart!

Or should I say 3!! Seth has always loved water. He doesn't care if he has a swimsuit, if the water is freezing cold, super deep, really rocky, it doesn't matter. Unfortunately, he has had a hard time finding anyone who loves water quite like he does.

(It's true, I can't handle the snow melt.) But that has all changed! He now has three little adventurers who would follow him anywhere. His excitement at this discovery the other day was priceless. As the girls and daddy were wading upstream,

climbing over slippery rocks, all smiles, it hit him. As he looked at me, I believe the word I heard was, "Finally!!" With that he continued upstream, as happy as a daddy could be!

Keeping Them Close

Seth has had it on his heart to begin dating his girls. He has taken them on a few dates throughout the last years, but he really desires to do it more regularly-one girl every Friday! (He’s got four, so it works great!) He desires to build a strong relationship with them now so they will remain close as they grow older. He wants to keep them close to his heart. Last week the dates began. Adalie was the first to go. Preparations for her date were the highlight of the week! The girls were giddy by the time Friday rolled around and Adalie was beyond excited for her special time with daddy. I know because at 7:00 a.m. Friday morning, she walked downstairs dressed quite nicely, hair brushed and accessorized, and a smile on her face that asked, “What do you think mommy, will daddy think I’m pretty?” Her expression was priceless, and the time they shared together, precious. It was a simple breakfast at McDonalds, but to Adalie it was time alone with just her daddy, a new memory, and a foundation strengthened because of a daddy’s heart to really know his children. (Kylia, it’s your turn next week!)

The Green Ribbon

This is a green ribbon. It was found on a very hot, 100 degree day. All adults were relaxing in front of the air conditioner. The children however were unfazed by the heat. There was a ribbon and it needed to be used. As they scanned the room their brains were whirring, “What can be done with this ribbon?”

Suddenly their eyes locked onto an object! Should they? Would they dare? Of course! They began to close in. Having little energy, or desire to move, this "object" just sat there.

Within minutes, hair was standing on end, ribbons were made into bows, and a grandpa was left wondering what had happened.

Mission successful! On to the next adventure. What's this? A dog crate, My Little Ponies, and Barbies? Hide the dog, this could get messy!

Creativity of a Child

While on vacation we explored Crater Lake National Park. It's a beautiful lake that draws much attention to itself because of its clear, blue water. But what my children discovered was not the beauty of the lake but the joy of its surroundings. As we were eating lunch the girls found a perfect area to build a house. It started with a tree that had three trunks growing from it and within minutes it was no longer a tree, but a car, and then a guestroom, bathroom, office, party room, and a kitchen. (Excuse me if I left out a room. There were so many! The house was like a mansion!) There came a point when we decided we were going to have to leave. Thunder heads were beginning to roll and we knew that we would be as wet as the lake if we stayed any longer. So, much to the girls chagrin, we had to leave their home behind. Now, a week later, that “home” is still talked about. In fact just last night Adalie commented that when she grows up, gets married, and has a family of her own she would like to live there!

These are the pictures of the various rooms the girls “built”. Can you guess what each room is?

This is the very first thing the girls worked on. This actually is not a room, but is definitely an important extension to the house. This would be the car. Doesn't Kylia look beautiful sitting atop the hood?

This would have to be my favorite room. The girls call it "The Party Room". How fun!

This would be the fireplace. I believe the girls are on their way to becoming excellent girl scouts!

The Guest Room! The girls are welcoming their guests to this beautiful room decorated with care. (Well, at least in their minds!)

This is the bedroom. The roots make three little beds in a neat little circle. Don't the girls look exhausted?This is the room that every woman must have, a kitchen! Notice how nicely they are eating their food around the table?

Here we have the Potty Room (as the girls have named it). Don't worry this is simply a dramatization. No actual potty is taking place!

And that is the house! I hope you enjoyed the tour!!

Our Little Hero!

While "roughing it" this week on our

vacation, Aunt Jackie came upon a BIG BUG. Aunt Jackie is an amazing person, wonderful mother, and fabulous wife, but she is not very fond of bugs. As she was heading back inside from the great outdoors she encountered this very large, very ugly bug blocking her path to the door. She couldn't move around it, it was too hot to stay outside, and she just did not know what to do. Luckily her little hero came to the rescue. Zoie Faith was right there and with all the courage she could muster

exclaimed, "I'll Save You!" With that, Zoie took her foot and stomped that bug to smitherines. Even after it was obviously gone, she continued stomping, feeling quite proud of her accomplishments.

Aunt Jackie was relieved and granted her hero a kiss on the cheek.

P.S.

The day after the $2000.00 arrived in the mail we received an anonymous envelope with five 100 dollar bills in it, and a message. "Go have fun on vacation!" WOW!! We must have a God that is looking out for us, and some amazing friends that listen closely to His voice. Thank you Jesus for loving us so, even though we are unworthy. We are humbled. We are exhuberant! We are in awe of YOU!

Daily Discoveries

My Zoie, just barely three, is discovering new things daily. While on our vacation she thrilled me with her newest discovery. After dark I put the girls to bed in the cabin and went outside to sit by the fire. About a half hour later, Grandma went to retrieve something from inside and when she returned she was holding a Zoie. Apparently she had been out of bed, wandering about, when Grandma walked in. So, instead of getting grumpy and returning her to bed, I figured, "Hey, it's vacation!" With that Zoie climbed onto my lap, and turning around exclaimed quite loudly, "SPARKLES IN THE SKY! MAMA LOOK! SPARKLES IN THE SKY!" Her excitement was adorable. The joy she found from the "sparkles" brought a smile to all who heard. She continued looking around at the sky, which was hidden in patches by the trees, and realized that there were sparkles in lots of places. It was wonderful! I was so thankful that on this night, I was willing to disrupt the usual "back to bed", and experienced with my daughter the joy of being three, and the discovery of new things.