Sean whipped together this cute little bench the other day. I finally stained it and put it inside yesterday to see how it looks and I love it. He was able to use the table legs from our old table and the wood on top is extra from when we built the table. That Sean, he's a handy guy to have around I tell you.

What? Who's the strange guy sitting on the bench you ask. Let's have another look...

hmmmm.... he looks familiar. How about one more look.....

Yep, he's no stranger. It's Sean, beard faced Sean. He's getting pretty woolly. I think he's getting used to my tourette's syndrome of screaming every time I see him. :) According to Sean the beard makes him more manly and he's pretty certain it has made his voice get a little deeper too. I have no comments to such claims as those.

We were watching a show on AE called Dog the Bounty Hunter. If none of you have seen the show, this is what "Dog" looks like. Woof woof.After the show was over Sean says, "he's my new hero." Beards I can handle, but if Sean starts wearing muscle T's and starts growing out the back of his hair but keeps the front good and short....so help me.

That time of year...

I don't know if it is just a Washington thing, or because they tend to have sales on produce this time of year or what, but I do know around this time it is a fruit fly frenzy. They are everywhere and they are one of the most annoying bugs ever. They hover around and they're just plain gross. Well I happened upon a little fruit fly cocktail last year, thanks to my sister. It gets rid of the little pests because they are so attracted to the smell that they jump into the liquid and die. So this little post is for those of you who might need some help in the fruit fly department. Here's what you'll need:

Water

Cider vinegar
Liquid dish soap

In a small sauce bowl or cup add the three ingredients, you only need a few drops of the dish soap. Then sit back and watch as the little flies come and gather around the bowl. I mixed a new batch last night and when I checked it this morning there were 10 fruit flies floating at the bottom and the number continues to rise.

A Child of God

Ava Evelyn's Dedication
September 14, 2008

I've got the itch....

...the home improvement itch. My poor husband, he just shakes his head at me. I mean, in all reality, it's not like I have nothing to do around here. The LAUNDRY MONSTER is back in full force and he's brought along a friend that has taken residence in our bedroom. But taking care of those tasks really isn't my favorite. I'd much prefer working on fun stuff like painting and decorating. Next on my list of 'to dos ' or 'to wants' :) is to paint a monogram in Stella's room with the color pink similar to what's in the picture below and maybe make a cute circle of dots around it (to match her polka dot sheets).I also have been wanting to paint my kitchen for quite some time. I'm thinking something in this family of colors. I think it would look good with my counter tops and also with my kitchen curtains...sigh... Oh I can definitely find (make) the time to do these things, but finding the money, well yeah, that could slow me down. Soooooo....who wants me to make them a sign??? Anyone?

Can you smell the goodness?

This morning the house was permeated with a yummy smell reminding me of Fall. I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the cinnamon rolls that were baking in the oven. I don't know why I associate cinnamon rolls with Fall, it could be because I don't usually make them in the summer, they're more of a cold weather treat. Nevertheless, the house smelled good. The cinnamon rolls were made in honor of Sean, and no it has nothing to do with his beard :). Today marks one year in his apprenticeship to become a Lineman. So Sean thought it would be a good idea to bring cinnamon rolls to work to celebrate. It's hard to believe it has been a whole year already. Only 3 more years left. Keep up the good work Sean, we love you!

right out of the oven

and topped with a generous layer of frosting (my favorite)

Quote from Jonah during breakfast:
Jonah: "Mom I'm still hungry"
me: "You still have half of cinnamon roll on your plate"
Jonah: "Yeah, but when I'm done with this I'm going to be hungry for one of those" (pointing to another cinnamon roll)

A little cinnamon roll, a little coffee...yep my morning was pretty great.

Is it February yet??

So Sean entered a beard growing contest on Friday. Yipee. The contest ends in February. There apparently is several different categories for all sorts of beard winners. I'm not sure what category Sean is going for, I don't think the 'scraggliest beard' is an option ;) Here he is on day 4 of beard growth, only around 144 days to go......pray for me.

While Stella's Away at School

A morning in the lives of Ava and Jonah...

When we get home from dropping Stella off, it's time for Ava's morning nap. This is pretty much all she does until it's time to go and pick Stella up. I know my days are numbered before this precious time comes to an end. I think when both Stella and Jonah were between 9 to 10 months they started weening off this nap. I'm hoping Ava can hold out until she's one, we'll see how that works out for me ;) Jonah has been using this time to play and of course ask a few (hundred) times if it's time to pick Stella up yet. It's funny because he has yet to go upstairs and play by himself. I'm thinking it's kind of sacred ground for him up there because up until now, it has always been him and Stella who play up stairs. So for now he has been kickin' it downstairs with me, playing race cars on the couch and then watching a little of, yep you guessed it, the movie Cars on my bed. The boy still loves his race cars and he still has high hopes to one day get a real one. This morning he says to me... "mom lets go on a hunt." and I ask, "What do you want to hunt for?" and he says, "Race cars." (should have known) then I ask, "Where are we going to hunt for those at?" and he replies "In the forest."

The Wheels on the Bus...

Stella rode on the bus this morning. Her little friend Rachel who is in Kindergarten, and she also happens to be our neighbor, is going to be riding the bus to school in the mornings. After talking to Rachel's mom last night, I asked Stella if she would like to ride the bus with her and she said, without a doubt, "YES!!!" I of course asked again this morning saying "are you sure you want to??" (hoping she may have changed her mind) and her answer was still the same. So I walked her down the road this morning and she was beyond cute. The walk was filled with a lot of nervous chatter. After she got on the bus, I was really tempted to run back home, hop in my car and follow her to the school so I could be there to help her off the bus. I'm anxious to hear how it went, and get a feel if I think it's a good idea for her to ride again (in other words grill her with a thousand questions). I was telling someone the other day that I feel like my parenting funnel (a term used in a parenting class Sean and I took) is getting huge and it is taking everything in me not to want to make it small and narrow again, and have the control I once had. On the walk home I prayed for Stella. I prayed her and Rachel would become fast friends, because Rachel comes from a good, church going family. I prayed for her tender heart and mind that the Lord will protect it from all the garbage in this world. And I prayed for wisdom for Sean and I, that we would raise her in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. So... is it normal to cry when you daughter goes to school on the 3rd day?? I can't wait for it to be 11am so I can go pick her up.

This picture is blurry but she was just too cute on the walk down

I'm overcome with sadness. Matt Johnson, who I've asked for prayer here and here, has lost his fight against cancer and went home to be with the Lord his Saviour this afternoon. My heart breaks for Jackie, the kids, and the whole family. Please lift up Jackie in prayer that the Lord will comfort her and strengthen her for the tough road ahead. Jackie, I don't know if you'll read this but please know we love you and will never stop praying for you.

My Kindergartener...

Stella had a good first day of school. After being a little too excited to sleep last night, we were still able to wake up, eat a good breakfast and make it to school on time! Although, I do have to ask why, when you want your kids to sleep in they wake up early, and when you need them up early they want to sleep in?? When I went to wake Stella up this morning she looks at the clock and says "mom it's not even 8 yet." And so begins the 'dragging kids out of bed for school' days. Jonah was pretty sad knowing Stella was leaving for school. I think he said "I'm going to miss Stella" at least 5 times this morning before we even dropped her off.

this picture was not staged, Stella wanted a hug from her brother
after he kept saying he was going to miss her :)

It was hard for me to leave her at school. I had a good cry when I got home. It's more than the fact that she's my first one to go, because I'm pretty sure I'm going to cry when each of my kids start school. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that I'm sending her out where she is now going to have to make her own decisions. I pray she will always choose to do what is right. I'll be holding tight to the Lord's promises and remembering Stella, and all my children, are ultimately in the Lord's hands. I pray Sean and I will never take our "homework" of training our children to love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind, lightly.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."