In the car this morning...
Kevin singing...
"I know that Jesus is well and alive today,
He makes his home in my heart,
Never more will I be all alone since He
Promised me that we never would park..."
"Kevin, it's 'never would part'... Jesus promised that we never would have to be separated from him or his love."
"Mom, do you remember at Nana's church... when they dipped those guys in water?"
"Yes, that's called being baptized."
"Why did they do that?"
"Because those boys decided that they are ready to follow Jesus' teachings... they are ready to obey Him."
"Will I be 'bantisted' when I am an older boy?"
"If you choose to obey Jesus... if that's your choice."
"That's my choice."
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Marketing at its best...
We recently had Logan's parents at our house for a visit. One early afternoon we went to Chucky Cheese's for lunch. I don't remember going there when I was little (though my dad thinks we did - and I believe him, I just don't remember). So when we walked in I was AMAZED. The marketing they have goin' there is incredible. They have pizza deals with pizza, drinks and tokens included in one of several options. Chucky is everywhere. Lights, moving parts and music are also everywhere. And somewhere along the line Kevin heard someone say, "If you've got one, you've got fun," which is a slogan to go with the tickets. Basically for ten bucks you can buy 30 tokens for which you might win 100-150 tickets which will "buy" you a toy from the "prize" counter that you could get at the dollar store and will end up in the garbage within a week... so you've thrown away 10 bucks.... BUT YOU HAD A GOOD TIME DOIN IT!!! Don't get me wrong. We had a good time. The pizza was good, the soda was endless, the games were a blast and we spent time together with our family. It was a good experience and as far as spending money goes, it wasn't a bad purchase. I digress... So Kevin hears someone say this slogan somewhere along the way because it came back around in the car a few days later...
"Mom, can we go to Chucky Cheese again?"
"Not today, son, that was a special treat that we'll only get to do once in a while."
"It was fun, Mom. I liked the snow bike ride."
"You rocked that game, Buddy."
"We need to get more token money."
"Yeah, when we go again."
"If you've got one, you've got fun."
End conversation as mom contemplates the marketing tools used at Chucky Cheese's...
Nolan-ism:
"Cheezy Jesus" : The place where you can eat pizza, play games, win prizes and have fun!! (Jesus not included in the price of the pizza.)
"Mom, can we go to Chucky Cheese again?"
"Not today, son, that was a special treat that we'll only get to do once in a while."
"It was fun, Mom. I liked the snow bike ride."
"You rocked that game, Buddy."
"We need to get more token money."
"Yeah, when we go again."
"If you've got one, you've got fun."
End conversation as mom contemplates the marketing tools used at Chucky Cheese's...
Nolan-ism:
"Cheezy Jesus" : The place where you can eat pizza, play games, win prizes and have fun!! (Jesus not included in the price of the pizza.)
Friday, July 13, 2007
Bound for Africa
Some day Kevin is going to Africa. This is a fact that we have been aware of for about a year and a half. Ever since our friends, the Grauls, went to Africa Kevin has had his mind set on it. The animals, the land, the people. The fact that Egypt and Moses are REAL and that he could go there... they are all things he is very interested in. And our friends, Jessi, Elice and Tersa are headed there next summer.
We were reminded of this fact this morning when he told a story about his bear ("Zaza") going to Africa...
Zaza went to Wambiti, in Africa. It takes 4 days to get there and he saw all kinds of animals. Now he is done with his nap and he's getting packed to go again. Be sure to take the Spider Man playing cards, the blankie, a snack and a rope. All of the essentials. I don't think that Wambiti is a real place... (Jessi? Ike?) but whether it is or not, this boy (or his bear) goes to Africa in his head nearly every day.
This reminds me of another Kevin/Africa story... This past school year he had the opportunity to raise money for an organization called Heifer International. You can purchase a number of animals in different flocks or herds to be sent to families in Africa and other parts of the world. They provide food and income for the family they are sent to. When we talked to Kevin about it there was no question in his mind about whether he would do it. And he faithfully and patiently sat in a common area on campus for several lunch periods and "asked" people for their change. Everyone was incredibly supportive. We planned to supplement for the cost of the flock Kevin chose to send but it wasn't necessary. Kevin raised enough money to send two orders of animals. - The only disappointment that he had was that he didn't get to take the animals to the people in Africa.
He's going. Start saving your pennies.
We were reminded of this fact this morning when he told a story about his bear ("Zaza") going to Africa...
Zaza went to Wambiti, in Africa. It takes 4 days to get there and he saw all kinds of animals. Now he is done with his nap and he's getting packed to go again. Be sure to take the Spider Man playing cards, the blankie, a snack and a rope. All of the essentials. I don't think that Wambiti is a real place... (Jessi? Ike?) but whether it is or not, this boy (or his bear) goes to Africa in his head nearly every day.
This reminds me of another Kevin/Africa story... This past school year he had the opportunity to raise money for an organization called Heifer International. You can purchase a number of animals in different flocks or herds to be sent to families in Africa and other parts of the world. They provide food and income for the family they are sent to. When we talked to Kevin about it there was no question in his mind about whether he would do it. And he faithfully and patiently sat in a common area on campus for several lunch periods and "asked" people for their change. Everyone was incredibly supportive. We planned to supplement for the cost of the flock Kevin chose to send but it wasn't necessary. Kevin raised enough money to send two orders of animals. - The only disappointment that he had was that he didn't get to take the animals to the people in Africa.
He's going. Start saving your pennies.
Monday, July 9, 2007
On Swimming Lessons
I could teach my kid to swim, right? ~ I better not try... I haven't really swam since my sister and I got toted to the pool in Lynden to be thrown around by one of five uncles. - But Kevin is absolutely convinced that I should have him in lessons right NOW.
"When are my swimming lessons, Mom?"
"Are we going to that big pool with the swimming lessons today, Mom?"
"I really need swimming lessons, Mom."
"Can you call the pool and sign me up for swimming lessons, Mom?"
Pick any of these questions (they are just the ones that I remember) and pretend that Kevin is asking them about 10 times per day.
Should I explain the complexity of a budget to a four and a half year old? He just might be the kid to understand it, but how do you sum it up into three sentences or less?
One thing is for sure; this kid is driven.
"When are my swimming lessons, Mom?"
"Are we going to that big pool with the swimming lessons today, Mom?"
"I really need swimming lessons, Mom."
"Can you call the pool and sign me up for swimming lessons, Mom?"
Pick any of these questions (they are just the ones that I remember) and pretend that Kevin is asking them about 10 times per day.
Should I explain the complexity of a budget to a four and a half year old? He just might be the kid to understand it, but how do you sum it up into three sentences or less?
One thing is for sure; this kid is driven.
On Nolan
Nolan has been an interesting kid since the beginning. The very beginning of him was... a surprise. The having of him was... a struggle. The raising of him, I think, will be something of a miracle. - He's my little introvert with the strength of Bam Bam from the Flinstones. He is quite strong. But he just can't stay upright. This poor kid inheritted his mother's sense of balance. I feel quite sorry for him. - My mom said that she couldn't take me anywhere without bandaids. I fell down ALL of the time. - Now I know how she felt.
I call him my little introvert because he'd rather be at home, in his room or at his table, by himself. He plays with Kevin but not like you'd expect. I'll have to write about that another time. And he definitely has his opinion about things but he is also very loving and very eager to please.
Nolan didn't walk until he was 18 months... he could have, he just didn't care to. He doesn't drink juice... he'd rather be thirsty. He does not like it when his room, or the house for that matter, are messy. And he does not like crowds. Church on Sunday is about all he has ever been able to handle without getting agitated or weepy. And even now he usually snuggles into me and buries himself as much as possible under his Eeyore.
I just don't know what to make of him. And I am not sure if I am doing the best job of mothering him. He is so very different from Kevin... I try not to treat them differently but they are so very different in personality...
I try to think of what they are like... fire and ice or North and South... but that doesn't even do them justice. They are just different... like... an oak tree and a V-6 engine.
I call him my little introvert because he'd rather be at home, in his room or at his table, by himself. He plays with Kevin but not like you'd expect. I'll have to write about that another time. And he definitely has his opinion about things but he is also very loving and very eager to please.
Nolan didn't walk until he was 18 months... he could have, he just didn't care to. He doesn't drink juice... he'd rather be thirsty. He does not like it when his room, or the house for that matter, are messy. And he does not like crowds. Church on Sunday is about all he has ever been able to handle without getting agitated or weepy. And even now he usually snuggles into me and buries himself as much as possible under his Eeyore.
I just don't know what to make of him. And I am not sure if I am doing the best job of mothering him. He is so very different from Kevin... I try not to treat them differently but they are so very different in personality...
I try to think of what they are like... fire and ice or North and South... but that doesn't even do them justice. They are just different... like... an oak tree and a V-6 engine.
Friday, July 6, 2007
363 and counting
"Mom... how many more days until Fire Works Day comes again?"
"363 more days, Buddy."
"Okay, Mom... Good night."
"363 more days, Buddy."
"Okay, Mom... Good night."
She's Talking About Those Kids Again...
I have realized lately that I talk about my boys... A LOT!!! What can I say? They are great kids and I love to talk about them because they amaze me SO much every day. But... that's all I do when I'm with other people. At least that's how it seems to me. And while I know those around me care for my kids I'm not so sure everyone is as amazed as I am at them.
So I thought I would share some of the things that I think are amazing on this blog. That way if you want to know about it, you can read here. If you don't want to... you'll be missing out, but my feelings won't be hurt. ...and I can talk about them all I want.
So I thought I would share some of the things that I think are amazing on this blog. That way if you want to know about it, you can read here. If you don't want to... you'll be missing out, but my feelings won't be hurt. ...and I can talk about them all I want.
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