Preschool Work with Reece

Reece loves this little school activity. If we don't do it everyday he gets upset.
I have a set of Upper Case Letters and a set of Lower Case Letters. Each letter is on it's own card and Reece has to match the lower case letter to the upper case letter. We're working through the alphabet and we're up to I. He has most of them down, but still gets messed up on B, D, and H.

Ummm....okay

Sitting at the desk and Wyatt walks up behind me, whispers "mom", I turn around to find this....

Yeah, he takes after his dad.

No Stinkin' Way!! (Also known as...Reece turns 4)

Reece, my precious boy, turned 4 a week or so ago. I kept meaning to blog about it, but the bitter cold has gotten to my mood and I've stayed away from the computer. Anyway, here it is...
Dear Sweet Reece,
How in the world has 4 years flown by since you were born? Since you were whisked away to to the NICU before I got to hold you, since they stuck an IV in your head because all your veins kept collapsing, since I prayed and prayed and prayed some more that you wouldn't get a feeding tube and since God mercifully answered my prayer and you ate like a champ.
Oh my word how you have changed in the last four years. That stubborn streak that I worried so much about for the last two years has given way to the sweetest personality. You no longer stare me down with eyes that say you'd rather walk on hot lava than do what you've been told to do. Instead, you are quick to obedience and you work diligently at your tasks. I never thought you would be quick to do anything, much less something you don't want to do. You have become a thoughtful little man. You always wait for me on the stairs and say "Ladies first" as you hold your arm out for me to pass by. I can count on you to be right by my side when I'm making a meal and you're always asking how you can help me. Again, I never thought I would hear those words from your mouth.
You have changed so much in the past four years, especially this last year. You amaze me daily and I can't wait to see the big things God has in store for your life.
I love you Reece's Pieces.

How Do I Fight Injustice

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. I've been thinking about this a lot and I have so much on my mind.
In 2008 I visited Washington, DC with Jerad. I wrote about our trip and promised to come back and write more about my visit to the Holocaust Museum. But I didn't, I just couldn't. Now I will.

Visiting the Holocaust Museum rocked me to my core. I wept as I walked through it and saw the horrific movies and pictures showing lifeless bodies in massive graves in concentration camps. I wept as I stood in a boxcar that carried men, women and children to their death. Then I realized that while I was seeing this through pictures, videos and exhibits my grandfather saw this first hand. At the age of 21 he was a soldier in the 104th Infantry Division. His group discovered the Mittelbau Dora Concentration Camp. My grandfather said that there were normally 25,000 inmates in this camp, but when they were arrived there were 6,000 and 5,000 were dead. The remaining living inmates were all near death because of starvation and beatings. I can only imagine what this would do to a young man. How this must have changed him. I wept for my grandfather.
There were signs and posters throughout the museum that said "The next time you witness hatred, The next time you see injustice, The next time you hear about genocide THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAW." In my naivety I didn't understand. Here we were in 2008 and this kind of thing doesn't happen anymore. If it did happen then the United States would step in and do something about it. Wouldn't they? I was so unbelievably wrong. It still happens. All the time. It happened in the 1990s in the former Yugoslav Republics of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and we did nothing about it. It happened in Rwanda and we looked on. It happened in Sudan. These are not the only places it is happening. Where is the United States? What are we doing? I was so angry as I realized that the country that I live in and love was letting people around the world be murdered.

It was then, August 2008, that I said I would do something about this atrocity. I would take action and stand up for the oppressed. Here's the truth though and here's why I never wrote about my visit to the museum. I haven't done anything. I'm ashamed as I write that. I haven't followed through with a promise that I made to myself and a promise that I feel like I made to people around the world. I can't believe I've done nothing. I was so shaken when I left the museum. So, consumed for days, weeks and months afterwards with thoughts of what I saw. But still I've done nothing.

Here is my struggle. How do I do something? How, as a mother of four small children, do I fight for the rights of the oppressed? How do I give of my time, my money, myself to stand up against murderers? In Isaiah 1:17 I am told by God to seek justice and defend the oppressed. How am I supposed to do this so that it really makes a difference?

I shop for items that are fair trade. I buy cute things for my kids that help women rescued from sex trafficking. I support my friends' adoptions. But, how can I do more? I feel like it's not enough. I feel like I am not even making a dent in the problem.

On a day when I am remembering the Holocaust I am overwhelmed with regret and sorrow for what I am not doing. For the actions that I've not taken. But I don't know where to start. I don't know what to do.

Wyatt Loves His Daddy

Wyatt left this on Jerad's desk for him to find when he got home from work.

**Just in case you need a translation: Surprise!!!!!! A Biker. Happy Day Dad. Dear Dad, I love you so much I will give you this so you know I already won. Love, Wyatt!** What did he already win? Having a great dad.

Yep, this boy loves his dad and apparently I'm chopped liver because I never get anything like this. My feeling aren't hurt though. Really, they're not. Seriously. Okay, maybe if I just keep saying it I'll actually believe it.

It's Crazy Around Here...

...just the way we like it!

Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Eli

Dear Eli,
Oh my goodness. How is it that you are already 1 year old? This year has flown by.
Sweet boy, you are so precious. You have been such a blessing to our family. One day I will tell you the impact you've had on me in this your first year of life. How you made me realize that I could do the baby thing all over again even though I thought I couldn't. Not only could I do it, but I could enjoy it. How your smile this last year has brightened my days. How I cherish every moment that you stay a baby and don't grow up. I didn't get to enjoy the baby time with your older brothers because they were so close together and I was so overwhelmed. God gave me a second chance when He gave me the gift of you. Eli, you are a joy. You make everyone around you smile. Your daddy says you were put on this earth to bring joy and you do. Oh how you do.
You already have your quirks. Your favorite toy is an empty milk carton. You squell with delight when we get a new one out of the fridge and scream with anger when we put it away. You are so shy, but will smile at anyone. I'm interested to see what it's like to have a shy child. you love your brothers and get so excited when they play with you. You love your daddy and his hats. I know you love me and you love to cuddle in my arms.
Happy First Birthday Sweet Son. I love you more than you know. I'm so glad I'm your mom. (Now if you would just say "mama" that would be the best).

How have you gone from such a tiny little baby to such a big boy, so quickly?

Ten on Ten

Today I participated in Ten on Ten for the second time. I love this project and wish I got around to doing it every month. I know there's Project 365 (take a picture a day) and another one where you take a picture a week. But, ten pictures in one day just works for me. So here we go.

Eli is so happy that he stole not only the remote, but his brother's toy as well.

Math Work for Wyatt

Reading and Writing work for Seth

Spelling Work for Wyatt

At IKEA (one of my happy places) to buy a birthday present for Eli

At the YMCA so I can spend some quality time with the Elliptical Machine

It's decided! Moroccan Chicken and Lentils for dinner (from the Eat Clean Diet Cookbook)

Dinner is finally ready

Wyatt reading about amphibians

Daddy reading to Seth about Star Wars

Muffin Tin Monday!

That right folks! It's time for another edition of Muffin Tin Monday! You don't know about Muffin Tin Monday? Oh no! That means you haven't been reading my blog very long. To find out all about it go here to find out all about the Muffin Tin Craze.
This week we were only supposed to use muffin cups (not the actual tins). I found these great polk-a-dot cups at Target so I decided to go with the dots and used that theme through out the lunch.

Here are the boys plates full of muffin cups

See, aren't the muffin cups cute?

And finally, here's what we had to eat: Circle Crackers (Ritz) with Circle Cheese (I used a biscuit cutter to cut the cheese), Ranch (okay, not really a circle), Carrots sliced to be circles, M&M's (I just happen to see these on a shelf at our house and thought "Why Not? They're circles after all), Mini Circle Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches (I used the biscuit cutter on the bread as well).

Do You Like My Hat?

Are you familiar with this book?

My boys LOVE it. Like, seriously love it. They quote it all the time and I think Seth likes it the most because he can actually read it by himself.
Anyway, there's a character in the book that always says "Do you like my hat?" and for some reason it just strikes me as really funny. So, when I got this hat for Eli I couldn't help but think of this book. Isn't Eli so stinkin' cute? Just ignore my weird face in this picture. I think I was chewing gum.


Of course I love his hat. It came from here. "Eternal Threads is dedicated to improving the lives of women and children most at risk of extreme poverty, trafficking and other forms of exploitation by providing sustainable livelihoods through income generating projects." from their website If you're looking for a cute hat so that you can go around saying "Do you like my hat?" make sure to check them out.

Jump!!

Two days after Thanksgiving we got a trampoline for the boys. It couldn't have been more perfect timing. We had been planning on getting them one since March, but Jerad wanted to do a lot of work in the backyard before we got it. Finally the yard was ready and we were able to order it online and get free shipping. We had no idea when we ordered it just how much our family would need it when it arrived.
Thanksgiving night Jerad's grandmother suffered a stroke and she passed away a few days later. He has some cousins that are much younger than he is and they came here to be with her before she died. The trampoline was such a great escape for them and for us. We would all just get outside and have some fun when we needed a break from the hospital. It was a great bonding time for our kids and Jerad's cousins.
I am so thankful for God's perfect timing. Even with trampolines.

Crawling around on the trampoline causes crazy hair!

So much fun!

Fun for big kids too!

Jump!!

The Resolution List

As I posted earlier I want my New Years Resolution List to be different this year. I want it to be comprised of things that really matter and that I believe will be life changing. Thus, making me actually follow through with them.
So, without further ado....

Heather's Life Changing 2011 New Years Resolutions:
1. Spend time in God's word every day.

That's it my friends....
I know that if I do this ONE thing that EVERYTHING will change. I know that I will learn more about God's love, grace and mercy than I can possibly imagine. I know that I'll be convicted of sin in my life and repent. I know that I will be shown what a woman of Christ is supposed to be and therefore be a better wife, woman, follower of Jesus. I know the enemy of my soul doesn't want me to do this, so I will have to fight to make it happen. I know it will be hard, but I know it will be worth it.

Here is to a life changing 2011!

Pictures under the Christmas Tree

We tried to get some good pictures under the Christmas Tree this year, but...

it just

didn't

work.

Jerad however, did manage to get some nice pictures of the tree after the boys went to bed.

Resolutions

It seems like every single year I make the same New Years Resolutions. You know, I resolve to lose weight, I resolve to learn how to knit, I resolve to read to my kids more, I resolve to plant a garden, I resolve blah, blah, blah...And every year I don't follow through. As 2010 draws to a end I've made a resolution to carefully consider each and every resolution I think I should make and decide if it's worthy to make the resolution list. So, what is the criteria for making the resolution list? The resolution has to be life changing, either for me or someone else. So, come back on the January 1st and see what my resolutions are.

**Do you think I wrote the words "resolve" and "resolution" enough in the above post? Once I started typing it, I just couldn't stop.**

What?! I haven't blogged since August?!

Seriously, how has so much time passed since I last blogged? Oh wait. I remember. We started homeschooling, the new baby still is not sleeping through the night, the big boys were playing sports. Oh and did I mention that we've had strep not once, not twice, but 12 times among the 6 of us and two rounds with staph infection. Yes it's been a crazy (somewhat nasty) past few months.
I love to blog and my sweet husband has challenged me to do it on a regular basis. When I asked him what to focus on he just told me to write. He said it doesn't matter what I focus on, but I just need to write. So, diving back in and starting back again. I think you'll be hearing lots more from me on a much more regular basis.
And since I know you have no desire to see boys with strep or staph infections here are some photos from our last family pictures sitting.

My handsome boys...

just

keep

getting

bigger.

*photos by the amazing and talented Scott Wade*

Yummy Veggie Burgers

About once a week I make an effort to have a completely vegetarian meal for our family. Truth be told, I would be a vegetarian if my husband wasn't such a meat lover : )
Anyway, back on topic...
A couple of nights ago I made portobello mushroom burgers. My recipe is my own take from a Rachel Ray recipe that I saw on Food Network years ago. Another truth...in my opinion Rachel's recipes are hit or miss, but this this one was good. It was seriously good. So, give it a try. Enjoy!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped and chopped
1 lemon, juiced
4-5 large portobello mushroom caps, stems removed
salt and pepper
4-5 slices mozzerella
4-5 sandwich rolls
Whole baby spinach leaves
Thinly sliced red onions

Combine the olive oil, vinegar, rosemary and lemon in a large ziploc bag. Add mushroom caps and seal. Shake to let the marinade cover the mushrooms and let sit for 15 minutes.
Grill mushrooms for 6 minutes on each side and sprinkle with salt and pepper while grilling (you can grill them on a grill or just pan cook them on your stove top). Top with cheese and eat on the rolls with spinach, onion and red pepper paste. Recipe for red pepper paste below.

Roasted Pepper Paste:

1 (14-ounce) jar roasted peppers, drained
A handful flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 large clove garlic
Salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and grind until paste consistency.

Muffin Tin Monday

I finally did Muffin Tin Monday for the kids again. Truthfully they ask to do it all the time, but I've just put it off. I definitely need to get back in the habit. If I start doing this for them on a regular basis again I am going to invest in some fun muffin tins and accessories.
Unsure of what MTM is all about? Then just hop on over to Muffin Tin Mom's blog and check it out.

In our muffin tin the boys enjoyed mini pb&j and pb&honey sandwiches, goldfish, a little bite of honey graham z-bar (along with their vitamins), banana, grapes and strawberry, string cheese and craisins.

*please excuse the crummy picture. I took it with my phone.*

Ten on Ten

I am joining the Ten on Ten group for the first time. If you're unfamiliar with it just head on over to the blog and read all about it. Basically, on the the tenth of each month you take ten pictures (1 an hour) and then post them on your blog. I love this idea because I've been really slack on taking pictures and hence posting on my blog for the past few months. Yesterday I took 89 pictures and it was great. I think this was just just the inspiration I needed to get back into picture taking and blogging. Enjoy my ten photos from our day.

Good morning!

Eli loves his swing

The boys built a super hero hideout and played for quite a while together with no major fights

Doing some morning school work

Lunch!

Fun brother time on the bed with Reece and Eli

Reece loves to paint and requests to do it almost every day

Painting can sure tire you out

Eli is learning to crawl and loves playing on the floor

Just before bed Eli enjoys time with daddy