World Famous Cooking

I haven't posted here in WAY too long. I have pictures to post and stories to write but this is something I have to get down before I forget.

Right now we are living with my parents in Marysville Washington and while we are here we are helping out around the house. I help with... something, I promise. Logan helps with dishes and cooking and each night when we sit down to dinner the boys tell my mom and dad, "This is Dad's World Famous (fill-in-the-blank)." It doesn't matter if it is pork chops, chicken or french toast; it is both world renowned and delicious to them.

They think very highly of their dad. Not only is his cooking fantastic but he is the rock of our family, they know it and they love him.

So do I.

Zip Line Tours

Tonight Kevin and Nolan made a zip-line in their room. First I should say that we took Kevin's bed down and put it on the floor (just for something different - which they love). So their beds are parallel now, which makes for longer giggle sessions at night. But tonight they took a rope that they play with often and tied it from the foot of Kevin's bed to the foot of Nolan's bed. Then we heard them sending their "buddies" (stuffed animals) down the zip-line and having a blast.

After a firm warning about the dangers of hurting the family jewels on the zip-line, I returned to see Kevin upside down on his shoulders with his knees over the top of the rope.

I walked away thankful for Aflac. I know I say that a lot, but if you have kids that often get hurt and Aflac, you know why I am thankful.

Little adventures like this make me think a lot about what they will be like as teenagers and men. I wonder whether Kevin will be as daring as he is now or whether Nolan will ever take a chance. We joke that Nolan will be an engineer that builds a rocket and Kevin will be the pilot, but if their personalities remain the same, that's not much of an exaggeration.

In this case, the adult version would be that Nolan would design a zip-line to install somewhere on our lodge property and Kevin would give the tours.

I can just see it now.

On the way to church on Sunday we were talking in the car. Kevin asked, "Dad, could I eat an ant?" to which Logan replied, "...Well, I guess you could, buddy, but there are other things that would be better.... and so the conversation went...

Kevin: Yeah... crickets... I heard you could eat crickets. 

Logan: You can eat crickets. There are other bugs you can eat too.

Kevin: Like what?

Logan: Like grubs...

Kevin making a face: Only with ranch.

*snort* Logan: Yeah, buddy, I guess you could eat anything with ranch.

Kevin: even rocks.

This morning at the breakfast table we had a conversation about who would win in a fight between a buffalo and a gorilla. According to Kevin the buffalo would win because he has "those spiky things", he is bigger and he can run faster.

Glad that's settled.

Nolan and I had a picnic today. After finishing lunch he laid down beside me and nestled into me. He was so content and peaceful. And after a long moment he asked,

"Mommy, when do we get to live with God?"

I cherish moments like that. 

Kevin's Bed Time Quiz

As we were saying goodnight this evening Kevin decided to quiz me...

"Mom"

"Yeah, buddy."

"What is the scariest part of a monster:

A: The Teeth

B: The Arms or 

C: The Feet?"

"Uuuu... the teeth?"

"Yep. You get a medal."

The First

Here is what Kevin created tonight. His first Lego Creation all by himself

From This

To this

And....

Did I mention he did it by himself

A New Chapter

Kevin began going to school yesterday at the Christian school adjacent to the college campus where we live... AND BOY WAS THAT A GOOD DAY!!!

After several months of home schooling we finally decided that sending Kevin to school would be the best thing for our entire house hold for several reasons. 

From Kevin's perspective: I had so much fun! I played spies out at recess with the guys. WE HAVE TWO RECESSES! And I got to go to the library and we had reading... We did math and writing too... and I made this for you and Dad... Did you see my new book mark? It is a ice cream cone with lots of scoops. And we didn't have gym class today, that is on Friday. And my show and tell is on Wednesdays. This week is "S" week so I have to take something for show and tell that starts with the letter "S". Can I have a snack, Mom? I am so hungry....

I am grateful beyond words at the opportunity to send him to a safe place to transition into the world of going to school. Usually if anyone asks me how I feel about it I just start to cry. That's all I can do because I am so intensely grateful. So after just one day, I am happy that he has buddies to play with, that Nolan and I get to spend some time together, that there is enough capacity in my mind to give good attention to other things at our house & in our church and that there is better opportunity for me to fulfill my job duties in a more complete way. 

Lord, thank you for providing this opportunity. Thank you..... Thank you.... Thank you....