tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68547319826519262672024-03-12T16:38:43.879-07:00Five Bees in the TriangleFive Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-52735188102628521292013-05-08T05:29:00.001-07:002013-05-08T05:29:05.066-07:00A Stellar Read: My Review of Once Upon a PrinceHey, romance readers. I posted my first book review over at my new site today. Click<a href="http://bit.ly/ZH25i5"> here </a> to read my review of Rachel Hauck's Once Upon a Prince.Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-10523758931694715732013-03-29T17:09:00.001-07:002013-03-29T17:09:47.853-07:00Change Is GoodWe interrupt the irregular programming of this blog to inform you...(drum roll, please)<br />
I'm now blogging over<a href="http://heidimccahan.com/"> here </a> at my new site.<br />
I hope you'll drop by and join the conversation.<br />
Thank you!Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-69870293622238610802013-03-22T11:00:00.001-07:002013-03-22T11:00:07.881-07:00Five Minute Friday: Remember <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's Friday once again. How can that be? Come join us as we free write for five minutes on the word of the day...<i>remember</i><br />
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Wanna join? Come on. If I can, you can. Click <a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/">here</a> for details.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXReYd0mSbO088yyy6P60RcuUNKkqKXGwU6Z5CP4BshKIbZIz8SnnrEcUGniDQvNy-sF3TXL1AVnjmTPF2Sp4I7NG1B0yXxrTkGfmTn8RhKvER0m0KfC6G2faEPaQUMma9qwPvRgHcsT6/s1600/celebrate-parade-picture-009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXReYd0mSbO088yyy6P60RcuUNKkqKXGwU6Z5CP4BshKIbZIz8SnnrEcUGniDQvNy-sF3TXL1AVnjmTPF2Sp4I7NG1B0yXxrTkGfmTn8RhKvER0m0KfC6G2faEPaQUMma9qwPvRgHcsT6/s400/celebrate-parade-picture-009.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of wdwmemories.com</td></tr>
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It was December, we rode for what seemed like an eternity from Pennsylvania to Florida in my grandparents' sedan. Me stretched out across legs or squished against my sister, fighting with her over our new prized possession: a portable Pac Man game.<br />
I remember the monorail and walking for miles, getting yelled out for spilling my soda. Probably because one little root beer cost $14. And I'd probably spilled my drink before. A lot. 'Cuz I was six and I was good at it.<br />
My favorite ride was It's A Small World but my parents said we had to try other rides, too.<br />
Space Mountain brought a whole new meaning to the word fear. Mom squeezed me so tight I was certain I would break. And the characters. The freaked me out, with their giant heads and perpetually happy expressions. I can still see a giant red headed one in my mind, dressed like she's going on safari. I was terrified and tried to hide somewhere. Anywhere. I've never figured out who she was supposed to be.<br />
It's funny what sticks in your mind from an epic family vacation. We're going again soon to the happiest place on our earth with our little band of brothers and I can't wait to see what they love the most...Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-88650720212110666652013-03-20T11:31:00.001-07:002013-03-20T11:31:07.993-07:00{Almost} Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWfd3pHXJ6-YZdgfovmxrQ7IBQEWpo25AfaSVKqH5K_6VNn3z3U2vHQsDSAWMVbmBFrRAFL2-r4oG9SPkAo1y8nNEd2Qz8bWlwzBIMBFIJLrEOwT5EbFM4g8nqx0z909gkZDfWJvTii42/s1600/2013-03-20+12.32.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWfd3pHXJ6-YZdgfovmxrQ7IBQEWpo25AfaSVKqH5K_6VNn3z3U2vHQsDSAWMVbmBFrRAFL2-r4oG9SPkAo1y8nNEd2Qz8bWlwzBIMBFIJLrEOwT5EbFM4g8nqx0z909gkZDfWJvTii42/s640/2013-03-20+12.32.44.jpg" width="473" /></a></div>
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My favorite sign that spring has arrived: the tulip trees are blooming in the neighborhood. </div>
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I love the blooms, the amazing color, the promise of a new season. I raced around taking pictures this morning because its supposed to be 20 degrees tomorrow night and I don't know how these trees will look come Friday morning. </div>
Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-30304792092782512232013-03-18T17:51:00.003-07:002013-03-18T17:51:55.643-07:00On The Money: It's All About the Penguins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0thY1U45ZH9qTvSi-Lzh0TeBy46OnmcDQxgwaHL5dzuULm0nBYC4J5xOOuffgojnQvyP_90SMSpR8mdZUKqmJwS9qoz0MyihI2RkBgSmTe2lQ0hjXNagvUfpH0Gqj__Fsehct3fTVNMd/s1600/2013-02-25+12.38.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0thY1U45ZH9qTvSi-Lzh0TeBy46OnmcDQxgwaHL5dzuULm0nBYC4J5xOOuffgojnQvyP_90SMSpR8mdZUKqmJwS9qoz0MyihI2RkBgSmTe2lQ0hjXNagvUfpH0Gqj__Fsehct3fTVNMd/s400/2013-02-25+12.38.09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Since I started thinking about and researching the best way to teach the kiddos about finances, numerous "teachable moments" have presented themselves in our daily lives. Imagine that. While Steve and I thought we would deal in real currency, it seems the boys had something else in mind.<br />
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Penguins. Yes, that's right. Penguins. As in their school mascot. They earn perfect penguins for demonstrating good behavior, both individually and each classroom has a collective total, as well. In the upper grades, penguin passes become the currency of the classroom: both good behavior and high achievement can earn a penguin pass. On the other hand, passes are confiscated for incomplete assignments or poor choices.<br />
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In our house, paper penguins have become such hot commodities, certain members of the family have taken to swiping the coveted penguin (while one's brother is too sick to notice) and taking the penguin back to one's classroom to add to the collection.<br />
I know. It's wrong on so many levels. But I must admit I secretly applauded his covert operation. And his guilty conscience got the better of him and he 'fessed up. Which led to much venom spewing on the part of the offended. Oy. Like I said, teachable moments are cropping up right and left.<br />
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This penguin madness got me thinking: is cold hard cash the currency little kids need in a society that's gone almost cashless? So many parents employ a variety of strategies: tokens, marbles, stickers, on-line money management sites, apps...<br />
What about you? Do you reward your kids with an object they can later exchange for cash? Does it work or do you find that you get bogged down in managing/supervising?Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-90060041659408588222013-03-15T11:05:00.002-07:002013-03-15T11:07:22.939-07:00Five Minute Friday: Rest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">"This is where a brave and beautiful bunch gather every week to find out what comes out when we all spend five minutes writing on the same topic and then sharing ‘em over here. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right." -Lisa Jo Baker</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">The word of the day is: REST</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><i>photo by Jeanne Claire Maarbes</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">Rest. I'm craving it. This spring forward business was definitely not invented by a parent of young children. We can't fall asleep and then we drag ourselves out of bed in the morning. I've never had to wake children up to get to school on time and I must say it isn't at all what I hoped it would be. The late sleeping only adds to the chaos of our mornings. I'm weary from meeting the needs of others and aggravated by a mysterious virus in which the only symptom is a fever that comes and goes. Little boys with viruses are slowed dramatically but the trade off is an increase in bickering. I'm longingly staring at my rocker on the screened in porch and praying there will be time to enjoy it tomorrow, when the weather is supposed to be beautiful. </span></div>
Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-59529124226522793002013-03-13T10:54:00.000-07:002013-03-13T10:54:25.656-07:00{Almost} Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-66i7rEvQdI8HwKXWR-LEwwJzM-QUhrIjNX0cbx0Y8u102GpuWeo_dC_cF1hLS5zqqTmhDCY4CjZeRPqXFWS6cCSP0-ZglT0Q6no4rp_4SpNVNxRHV57E0boRZvOOxRPJE6OyVEs9Op7H/s1600/2013-03-13+12.54.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-66i7rEvQdI8HwKXWR-LEwwJzM-QUhrIjNX0cbx0Y8u102GpuWeo_dC_cF1hLS5zqqTmhDCY4CjZeRPqXFWS6cCSP0-ZglT0Q6no4rp_4SpNVNxRHV57E0boRZvOOxRPJE6OyVEs9Op7H/s640/2013-03-13+12.54.30.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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Opening day for the sand and water table sans water. </div>
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Because that sunlight is deceiving and it wasn't nearly as warm as I thought when I started this whole endeavor.</div>
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And I was too <strike>obsessed </strike> focused on taking the picture that I missed that little gem dangling from his nose.</div>
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Just keepin' it real. Motherhood is messy, no? </div>
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Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-24644802927168058572013-03-07T11:24:00.003-08:002013-03-07T11:24:34.502-08:00When You Long For the Easy ButtonBack in the day, when our first baby was our only baby <strike>and the Mariners were still worth watching</strike>, we would sit around watching television and daydream about his childhood. Because when you only have one baby and he's content to stay in one place and shove toys in his mouth for hours on end, you start to assume that maybe, just maybe you've got this all figured out. <div>
Well. True confession time: I never anticipated that third grade would be the thing to knock me off my high horse. </div>
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Oh my word. The anxiety this year has brought. The expectations, the homework...FRACTIONS. Let's not even go there.</div>
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A lot of mommy bloggers like to talk about how God uses motherhood for our personal sanctification. Let me just say that I think they might be onto something there. Nothing teaches me about dealing with my own anxieties like helping my firstborn prepare for his first presentation. </div>
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He practices his speech with his notecards, tries on his outfit, rehearses some more, but I that deer-in-the-headlights expression remains on his handsome little face. </div>
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My stomach clenches and I try to conceal my own emotions. </div>
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<i>What if the kids make fun of him? </i></div>
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<i>I should have driven all over town looking for a Fedora and bow tie. He needs a better costume.</i></div>
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<i>He looks so grown up. How did we get here? </i></div>
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As I'm making dinner and breaking up squabbles, his anxiety is evident in his body language. Isn't there an easy button, a formula, anything to fast-forward through the hard stuff? Quick. Let's go back to sitting on a blanket and drooling over plastic keys. That was better than this. Easy. Comfortable. The desire to shield and protect, to enable him out of an uncomfortable situation is overwhelming. And I'm embarrassed at how easily I forget God's promises of His faithfulness. A good mom would bust out a verse from memory, probably even kneel and pray. But tonight I'm not that mom. </div>
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There's miles to go before we sleep and can't we just be done with this already? </div>
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He couldn't fall asleep last night and he woke up with dark circles under his eyes. Even though he looked quite dapper in his quest to impersonate FDR, my heart hurt a little as I dropped him off at school. Is this going to be a total disaster? I'm anxious for the school day to end. The carpool line starts rolling in seventy-three minutes and I can't wait to get there.<br />
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Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-73889334899041755152013-03-04T10:13:00.000-08:002013-03-04T10:13:23.939-08:00On The Money: Parental Supervision Required<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eySRJ3vYwCgxGf1ketDh8Ti2T_8dpsQQmrMbTBkZXUNEbNkz8EeQ4JdYQp6hLv1FdTdcQFdFEydVD4T1eBS9tkbUNu7uMN1eb0rANujKjpC8DPVwFvVgvpv9OZKJYD7-zrCMlVnhVR42/s1600/2013-02-25+12.38.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eySRJ3vYwCgxGf1ketDh8Ti2T_8dpsQQmrMbTBkZXUNEbNkz8EeQ4JdYQp6hLv1FdTdcQFdFEydVD4T1eBS9tkbUNu7uMN1eb0rANujKjpC8DPVwFvVgvpv9OZKJYD7-zrCMlVnhVR42/s320/2013-02-25+12.38.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well. It seems our youngest missed the memo on spend, save, share.<br />
I guess he isn't reading the blog.<br />
Or maybe he inherited his mother's "spend" gene because he now owes us a Benjamin and change.<br />
Yes, that's right. Our resident three year old tech genius downloaded more than $100 worth of upgrades to Angry Birds and Bad Piggies apps while playing the Kindle unsupervised. Who needs an $18 sling shot?<br />
Apparently Eli does.<br />
Can you say <i>password protect in-app purchases? </i><br />
Good grief. I think we'll file this under epic parenting fail.<br />
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<br />Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-31188746163568774372013-02-25T11:29:00.001-08:002013-02-25T11:29:15.725-08:00On The Money: Where Do We Go From Here?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ztqnk3mSfoGKxSSKdqZYuJdUsPqjnmzDmx5Ass7tO5Dw-G27E1FIFDAKs-_B9VNnYRge3wkRB-sRu1y5wIyPd-49qZZGPj7fO_4lfHQucXaCwEbvCCNXUnMDl-N4m2w5_-buGE_RWjxh/s1600/2013-02-25+12.38.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ztqnk3mSfoGKxSSKdqZYuJdUsPqjnmzDmx5Ass7tO5Dw-G27E1FIFDAKs-_B9VNnYRge3wkRB-sRu1y5wIyPd-49qZZGPj7fO_4lfHQucXaCwEbvCCNXUnMDl-N4m2w5_-buGE_RWjxh/s400/2013-02-25+12.38.09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
They trail in my wake, lingering in the toy aisle and launching their incessant requests.<br />
<i>This is why I shop alone. </i><br />
Then the eldest calmly asks, "When will I be able to spend my money for myself?"<br />
I don't know. Maybe when you're eighteen and two weeks from leaving for college, when your father and I are in full-on freak out about all the things we haven't taught you yet?<br />
Kidding. I didn't say that. I mumbled something about soon. Avoidance is my default strategy.<br />
Even though we've had this interaction dozens of times, his question stayed with me. I've thought a lot lately about what it means to be mediocre as a parent. I regard mediocre with great disdain.<br />
This is not an area where we want to fall short.<br />
This is our responsibility. They aren't babies anymore. Much like everything else in childhood, the boys need ample opportunity to practice and make mistakes under the umbrella of our guidance and influence. Ron Blue, money management guru, states "more is caught than taught". But demonstrating good choices isn't enough. In <a href="http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/parenting/foundations/character-development/teaching-your-children-to-handle-money#.USul_TBQFqU">this</a> post, Ron says children need to understand three key concepts to successfully manage their money: limited resources, delayed gratification and the benefits of a strong work ethic.<br />
I don't know about you, but everything in our little world rails against those concepts. We are bombarded with images telling us that we deserve to be happy. Now. And acquisition of more stuff equals happy.<br />
So how do we begin training our boys to be good stewards?<br />
<a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/article/money-lessons-kids-arent-taught-in-school/lifeandmoney_kidsandmoney/kidstext2/">Dave Ramsey</a> is a strong advocate for giving kids a commission based on the work they complete. Simply put, if you don't work, you don't get paid. I believe this concept is Biblical and one we are willing to embrace in our family. I grew up in a family business and while I strongly resisted completing my short list of chores, I did learn the importance of doing a job well and earning a paycheck.<br />
I feel like I can't talk about Dave Ramsey without mentioning his give, save, spend strategy of financial management. We want our children to give joyfully, as well as to understand the concept of saving for a significant purchase or a big adventure. At the same time, I have no idea how to go about implementing this in real life. The Mason jars are a popular method but I have some concerns about long-term effectiveness. I perused several virtual options, including <a href="http://www.threejars.com/home">three jars</a> where the money management and task completion is tracked online. Once again, I'm overwhelmed by the daunting task of getting started.<br />
<b>How about you? Do you have effective strategies for teaching your children to manage their money wisely?</b>Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-19319461662066875412013-02-18T17:52:00.001-08:002013-02-18T17:52:45.522-08:00Big Fat Flakes and Classic Cars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We were at the gym early Saturday morning for Andy's basketball game, and when we came out, huge, fat flakes were falling from the sky. It was pandemonium as thirty kids realized what was happening. We hopped in the car and raced home to dig out our winter clothes and quickly get outside before it disappeared.</div>
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As the morning progressed, it became evident that we might actually have some time to enjoy this unexpected storm. Andy made snow angels over and over again. </div>
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Steve helped the boys build a snowman, topped with an old Maple Valley t-ball hat</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmScLUD8i57QEhgA02BlbLBhWdRXTiGJeImFlg2AGA9Cm1IgGRida3YPBUWPgnkteK4g2g8XBI8mg2IOWfx-N-86ZKa59ro9FOaRRWi0JytGDnZZ7YkEzq3uaCgRMbKMNw-sr7mHeTxjb/s1600/2013-02-16+10.47.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmScLUD8i57QEhgA02BlbLBhWdRXTiGJeImFlg2AGA9Cm1IgGRida3YPBUWPgnkteK4g2g8XBI8mg2IOWfx-N-86ZKa59ro9FOaRRWi0JytGDnZZ7YkEzq3uaCgRMbKMNw-sr7mHeTxjb/s400/2013-02-16+10.47.15.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most of our limited snow fall this winter has lasted a couple of minutes or not really been fit to play in.<br />The boys were positively giddy when they realized that was not the case this time. </span></td></tr>
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We went to play with our neighbors, who were in the early stages of a major snowball fight. Eli did not want to take part in the fighting, but he was all about the snowball. He licked it and said, "Nummy!"<br />
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Yesterday, Steve took Andy to the classic car show. This kid absolutely adores cars. Every month I think he's going to move on to a different phase, but he continues to draw, think, read and talk about cars.<br />
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Of course, an outing with Andy isn't complete unless refreshments are acquired. His preference this time was a bag of popcorn and a Sprite. A fun adventure for both father and son.Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-30218799427312235432013-02-15T11:17:00.000-08:002013-02-15T11:18:22.461-08:00Five Minute Friday: Beloved<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"On Fridays around these parts we like to write. Not for comments or traffic or anyone else’s agenda. But for pure love of the written word. For joy at the sound of syllables, sentences and paragraphs all strung together by the voice of the speaker.</div>
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We love to <em><strong>just write</strong></em> without worrying if it’s <em><strong>just right</strong></em> or not. For five minutes flat."</div>
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-Lisa Jo Baker, aka the gypsy mama</div>
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Word of the day is <i>beloved</i></div>
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Everyone is clamoring to get a word in, the detrius of Valentines day exploding across the countertops. He is home from a business trip, weary and hacking up a lung. Welcome to my world, I think. But we pause for a minute, shushing the small ones pinging around the kitchen on their sugar highs. We exchange cards and he offers me a gift, one he carefully selected just for this particular day. A box of luscious chocolate stares up at me, 16 bites of scrumptious delight nestled in their little paper beds. He speaks my love language. Then real life swoops back in and he proceeds to fill sippy cups and microwave chicken nuggets. We settle on comfort food for ourselves, Trader Joe's mac and cheese. There won't be any fancy wine or expensive dessert, but there will be us and our family, gathered around the table on Valentine's day. Blessed beyond measure. I am my beloved's and he is mine. </div>
Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-75883610314257023422013-02-14T11:02:00.001-08:002013-02-14T11:02:34.076-08:00And Then They Sucked the Fun Right Out"People are getting just too carried away with their safety rules these days."-Luke, age 8 and 10 months.<br />
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This from my son while we sat in the car pool this morning and lamented the fact that the absence of treats on Valentine's day put a bit of a damper on the fun. Now families with food allergies, don't go getting your knickers in a bunch and zing me a nastygram. This post is not about you.<br />
My complaints about public school are few. For now. We're still new to this party and not super involved, so I'm careful about airing my grievances publicly. But this. I can't let it go. Sure it's petty and silly and in the grand scheme of things, who really cares about celebrating Valentine's day at school, anyway?<br />
However. I had to sign a release form for my kindergartener stating that IF we participated in the class celebration of valentines, my signature acknowledged that my son addressed all of the valentines himself and that he possessed a valentine for all twenty-three of his classmates. Oh, and don't include any treats because we aren't going to do that here. And there certainly won't be a party. We ain't got time for that.<br />
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A release form? For reals? Preventing what, exactly? And by the way, isn't the packet of fun dip and that stick that comes with the whole point of Valentine's day? (Raise your hand if you chucked the fun dip and only ate that sugary stick of candy goodness?)<br />
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So hop in the DeLorean and travel back in time with me to rural Alaska, early 80's-ish, when we wrapped our shoe boxes in construction paper slapped on copious amounts of paper hearts, sliced a hole in the top and prayed that the cute boy dropped a valentine inside. <i> Because he wanted to. </i>Sure the girl who smelled really bad and didn't have running water and was the unfortunate recipient of many a prank didn't get any valentines. And that was mean. I get that. Bullying is real and its awful and it was wrong then and it's still wrong now. Snotty little first graders we were.<br />
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But we also had real teeter-totters on the playground and monkey bars so high I still break out in a cold sweat just thinking about them. And get this. We were allowed to <i>run </i>at recess. And the boys shot at each other with imaginary weapons, flipped the swings over the bar purely for our own amusement and ice skated without helmets. Okay, so that last one was stupid and I had the concussion to prove it.<br />
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I'm digressing, but my point is this: when we create so many rules and restrictions about even the most trivial events in the school year, just what exactly are we trying to accomplish?<br />
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Since my boys had to be content with giving non-edible valentines (or no valentines at all, which is the choice my kindergartener made), I took my disgruntled self to the place where they still know how to do it up big:<br />
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That's right. Preschool. Where they feast on strawberries, juice boxes, sugar cookies with sprinkles and it isn't a party until somebody cries over the empty Pringles can. Happy Valentine's Day.Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-25675047488601677702013-02-06T16:39:00.005-08:002013-02-06T16:39:56.083-08:00Ferris Bueller And My One Thousand GiftsIn the words of the great Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." In an effort to express my gratitude for the many blessings God has given me, I've started writing down one thousand things I'm thankful for.<br />
I'm embarrassed to admit, it's harder than I thought. Let's face it, I live a pretty good life. But somehow I've allowed a season of minor illnesses in our family and the mundane tasks of daily living and raising the littles to derail my progress. While my word for the year is 'forward', it seems God intended for me to spend a few minutes looking backward.<br />
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Last weekend, I spent a few minutes in a place that was once very familiar to me. As I stopped and marveled at all the ways the riverfront had changed, tears began to fall. Thirteen years ago, my life in this little southern city took an unexpected turn. Some might call it a curve ball. At the time I was devastated because things were not going to turn out like I planned. Sitting in my car, I didn't hear an audible voice, but I definitely sensed a quiet, confident reminder that God did, in fact, know what He was up to after all.<br />
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Later that evening, my sister in law and I were checking into a hotel and I saw a familiar face from this same season of life. We hugged and laughed, tried to quickly summarize over a decade of living in three short minutes before rushing off to the evening's events. She joked about how far the Lord had brought her in the many years since we'd been in Bible study together. I knew she was one of the women speaking at the conference and as expected, when she delivered her presentation, she blew us all out of our chairs. Again, the not so subtle reminder that He does work all things for good.<br />
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Finally, before we left the conference, we randomly chose a verse from a basket. I gasped when I read my selection: "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." -Jeremiah 29:11.<br />
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Clearly I'm a slow learner with a short memory because God reminded me of His sovereignty in many instances throughout the weekend. My self-absorption gets in the way far too often. I think old Ferris might have a great point. If we don't stop and look around, we miss far too much.Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-52710953320314000422013-01-19T18:02:00.002-08:002013-01-19T18:02:49.351-08:00Basketball, Thunder Snow and...Jet Packs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv-JEU40tnXoyofRxrsvhyO40dtvkogfxj8CNWWyChsPsDUBHaJvXjZVhq7qjVrpPu0SITFsXwtVbVv9WN2wWpgk07BXoFja_GVLRY5MmXeNNxlArKD1Usrjgx6kUh2GUR0rqhXZDVYz0/s1600/2013-01-05+12.18.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv-JEU40tnXoyofRxrsvhyO40dtvkogfxj8CNWWyChsPsDUBHaJvXjZVhq7qjVrpPu0SITFsXwtVbVv9WN2wWpgk07BXoFja_GVLRY5MmXeNNxlArKD1Usrjgx6kUh2GUR0rqhXZDVYz0/s320/2013-01-05+12.18.31.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Isn't he the cutest thing? Andy and Luke started Upward basketball this month. Eli insisted on wearing one of Luke's old uniforms. When we go to practice, he's the first one on the court. He never cries when we tell him it isn't his turn. That might be because I bribe him with extra opportunities to play Angry Birds on my phone. Just a thought. Today we <strike>had</strike> were blessed with the opportunity to watch not one but two games. Eli only complained at the end. When we ran out of snacks and juice boxes.<br />
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This one whined and fussed and insisted he never wanted to play this dumb sport. Then he begged to wear his uniform at random times. He played well this morning and with a happy heart. Still working on the difference between offense and defense. And he wanted to wear his uniform to bed. Go figure. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Andy is learning to read at school and loves to illustrate his drawings. Kindergarten has changed a lot in the last thirty years. Did we even know how to write at the <i>end </i>of Kindergarten? He couldn't wait for Steve to get home from a business trip so they could read Andy's book about shapes. </div>
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This gym and I don't get along in terms of taking a decent picture. But we were extremely proud of Luke today. He totally rocked on defense and took the ball to the hoop twice. A great start to the season.</div>
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The weather forecast called for 1 to 3 inches of snow on Thursday night, including a phenomenon known as thunder snow. Whatevs. As you can see, they were off by a smidge. Huge disappointment when it stopped snowing after about three and a half seconds. The boys were glad school was delayed two hours...because those roads were <i>so treacherous</i> when it was sunny and 41 degrees. Eli's preschool actually started first and Luke and Andy found the best snow on his playground. They were very excited. </div>
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Begged, begged, begged for hot chocolate. With marshmallows. Please, please, please. Took one sip and he was done. Good times. </div>
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Steve decided to build the boys jet packs this afternoon, just because he could. What a great dad. Luke was at a birthday party so his is still under construction. Eli and Andy were thrilled. I think they would worn them to bed if they could. Looking forward to hearing all about their imaginary adventures...<br /><div>
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Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-6213423335201691562013-01-01T11:12:00.000-08:002013-01-01T11:12:10.497-08:00Falling Forward <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We don't care much for New Year's Eve at our house. We cling stubbornly to the past, turning over memories and analyzing our behavior. Wishing maybe we'd done things a little bit different. There are some (who will remain nameless) that fear change. We don't like resolutions because we'll probably fail at keeping them. We regard failure with great disdain in this here hive.<br />
But having a child in the hospital at Christmas, regardless of the reason or the duration, has been a game-changer for me. The regrets of 2012 are fading and instead an attitude of gratitude is rising to the top. Seeing the many ways God brought us through the hard is a reminder of His faithfulness. Not just inside the walls of this little house, but in the houses of the people I love the most, He's still at work. He hasn't forgotten us and He won't give up.<br />
I read <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/01/when-you-dont-want-a-new-year-but-a-new-you-camera-giveaway/">this</a> post today and I can't stop thinking about it. So I'm taking the joy dare and counting my blessings in 2013, all the way to 1,000. First on my list: these precious, healthy little boys that bring joy to our lives.<br />
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<i>"...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:13-14</i>Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-87789178915543865682012-12-11T16:27:00.003-08:002012-12-11T16:27:57.147-08:00Tuesdays Unwrapped: Linger On the Sticky Places<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This was our craft at MOPS today. A photograph modge-podged on a small block of wood and garnished with a ribbon. Simple, really. Yet so sentimental. An ornament you hang on the tree year after year. I knew this was our craft project, but the tears that threatened to fall when I saw that little block waiting for me were unexpected.<br />
Grief is tricky like that.<br />
Suddenly, I was a kid again, standing in the front hall of my grandparents' home and staring at their collection of "ornaments". Only theirs were not seasonal. Grammie had modge-podged a baby picture of each of her grandchildren on her wooden blocks and hung them on the wall. Other pictures in larger frames were added over time, but the baby pictures were always my favorite.<br />
There hasn't been a lot of time to grieve the loss of our grandmothers. Like everything else in this crazy busy season of life, this, too, gets shoved aside. To be dealt with later. Yet it can't be rushed. And I'm always surprised when the tears show up.<br />
The message of the day at MOPS was to <i>linger. </i>To savor the moments of the season, delight in our children, relish the memories we're making...and try not to micro-manage it.<i> </i>In theory, I want to linger. To stop the rush and the madness. But the truth is, sometimes I like this pace. It saves me from dealing with the messy and the sticky.<br />
It's the first Christmas without both of our Grammies. And though I want to rush through and get past the hurt of missing them, I'm going to try and linger on the sweet memories of these two wonderful women and the joy they brought to our lives.Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-57531714584824386972012-12-08T11:51:00.001-08:002012-12-10T19:57:37.745-08:00How Can It Be...The Little Mister Turns Three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can't hardly believe that our baby turned three. I'm acutely aware of how quickly time moves. Somebody at MOPS once told me, "the days are long but the years are short." So true. Here's Eli tackling the presents like a professional.<br />
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We had two very special guests at the birthday celebration. Grandma and Papa made the long trek from the Northwest. Grandma and Eli share the same birthday so it was fun to have a combined party.<br />
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We can always count on Andy to entertain us. He sang the most beautiful version of Happy Birthday. I was able to capture it on video but he is standing behind an oversized Mr. Potato Head and we can't see his face. Such a sweet brother.<br />
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As usual, it didn't take long for the older brother to abscond with the new toy. This spud family is a big hit.<br />
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Grandma and Eli blowing out the candles on the cake. </div>
Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-13846056377158041042012-12-08T11:26:00.000-08:002012-12-08T11:26:05.643-08:00It's Beginning To Look A lot Like Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are spending Christmas in North Carolina this year, which inspired the acquisition of a real tree. Luke loves his penguin ornament that he received from his 1st grade teacher. I love that my kiddos are sentimental. </div>
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Andy was beside himself with excitement about decorating the tree. He would have hung every ornament if I had let him.<br />
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Eli was very curious about the whole process. He wanted to take the ornaments off the tree and put them back. It took some convincing that they belonged on the tree for now. </div>
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This is our third year in a row attending the Apex Christmas parade. I guess that makes it a tradition. This year had the best weather by far and quite possibly the largest crowd. Steve and I were out of patience long before the first float rolled by. It is so hard to wait for anything with three little boys. But we persevered and it was worth it.<br />
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Eli was fascinated. He stood the whole time and waved faithfully to every single float, band and car that went by. He was totally freaked by the old cars honking their horns. Then when the race cars revved their engines, I thought he was going to spontaneously combust. The man next to us kept yelling "C'mon, rev it!" Eli would cling to my leg, eyes wide with terror and say, "reb it?" It took me awhile to figure out why he was afraid. Such a tender-hearted boy.<br />
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Everybody but Eli thought this truck was pretty cool. He "rebbed it" and Eli was not impressed.<br />
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Andy asked us about every five seconds if we were going to see Santa. The Apex High School marching band proceeds Santa's float. I was never so relieved to see that band come into view. At last, the big guy in red made an appearance. The grand finale of one of our new favorite Christmas traditions.Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-39295324779039032392012-11-15T17:23:00.000-08:002012-11-15T17:23:03.501-08:00To Elf Or Not To Elf...That Is the Question<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every year about this time, a certain little fellow appears on the shelves at my Happy Place (hint: there's red. Lots and lots of red). I linger nearby, pretending to peruse the Legos while he watches me from his endcap. To tell you the truth, I find the whole concept a little freaky. An elf that spies and reports back to Santa? C'mon.<br />
Then I see entire boards on Pinterest devoted to elf "placement". It's hysterical. And I start to wonder if maybe we aren't missing out on a fun tradition. The boys would love it. On the other hand, I don't like to emphasize naughty versus nice during the Christmas season. We don't connect gift giving with good or bad behavior, because that's not the true meaning of Christmas.<br />
I was surfing the internet for any further discussion about the wee little man when I found <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/14/4986882/although-the-elf-on-the-shelf.html">this</a> article in the Sacramento newspaper. It seems I'm not the only one feeling conflicted. Sarah Cunningham, blogger, author and mother of two, has written a book that addresses this modern day dilemma. How to celebrate Jesus as the reason for the season in a way that builds excitement and establishes tradition, without getting caught up in the commercialism that blankets us this time of year. Based on her own experience as a child, Sarah Cunningham created <i>The Donkey in the Living Room</i> as a way for families to celebrate the advent season from a Christ-centered perspective. Incidentally, it is available as a 99 cent <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A6XDJC2/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00A6XDJC2&linkCode=as2&tag=bleacherseats-20">Kindle</a> download through Friday if you would like to check it out.<br />
I haven't made up my mind yet. Last year we tried something like this with an advent countdown. The boys took turns opening a tiny matchbox every night. When there wasn't a "gift" involved, there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth. I nearly tore my hair out by the 21st of the month. It wasn't about the baby Jesus at all. We missed the mark entirely. I vow to be different this year.<br />
What about you? How do you count down to the birth of our Savior? Are you pro or anti-elf?Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-3846385576070398202012-10-30T13:56:00.002-07:002012-10-30T13:56:41.425-07:00The Cure For Sibling Rivalry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Steve took Andy and Luke camping last week. Funny how the silly bickering that can make a parent lose their mind completely dissipates in the great outdoors. </div>
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Who doesn't find a Pringle duck bill amusing? </div>
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Apparently they invented a game where one sat on the throne and the other had to serve them a plate of Pringles. {what?!} The concept of such servitude completely vanished when the car drove back in our driveway. It's mind boggling. </div>
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Love.</div>
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A beautiful day on Jordan Lake</div>
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Proud of Steve for investing his time and energy in another outdoor adventure. Excited that our boys love it as much as he does. </div>
Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-23138662059478017502012-10-30T13:47:00.000-07:002012-10-30T13:47:01.721-07:00P is for pumpkins, pancakes (but not pajamas)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A big thank you to our friends at Green Street Studios in Apex for sharing these pictures of Eli and his classmates at the pumpkin patch. He obviously had a good time on his first official field trip. {the patch is across the street from the preschool}.<br />
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He couldn't live without these pumpkins once he brought them home. Then they took their rightful place on the mantel and he hasn't said a word about them.<br />
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This little boy's parents are the photographers and they are well-aware of the boys' affection for one another. They attended the same mothers' morning out program last year and were lucky enough to be in the same preschool class this year. Every morning, Eli often starts the day with, "See Sutter?" Andy and Luke went with me to pick Eli up the other day just so they could see this boy they'd heard so much about. It's good to have a friend.<br />
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Cuteness</div>
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The preschool hosts an annual event known as the pancake brunch. The kids get to help "make" the pancakes and then the parents come and we share brunch together. </div>
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Now Eli refused to wear his pajamas to school. I put them on, he took them off. I finally gave up and let him choose his outfit. He didn't want to make a necklace out of fruit loops, either. But he was all about his new place mat. </div>
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And I think it's pretty safe to say he enjoyed his pancakes. What a hoot. </div>
Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-33510792689675730512012-10-22T14:00:00.000-07:002012-10-22T14:00:37.583-07:00Big and Small Adventures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The boys and I enjoyed a grand adventure on Saturday. Our church organized lunch and a play date for families with young children at Pullen Park in Raleigh. The park was closed when we first moved here and then we never made the effort to visit once it re-opened. Let me tell you, it definitely lived up to the hype. There's a huge playground, a carousel (which I wasn't brave enough to try with three kids), a train...what a great way to spend a beautiful fall morning. My camera phone and I are not getting along so these aren't the best pictures, but Eli loved the boat ride. </div>
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Andy is always up for something new. He had a great time, too. </div>
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We also rode the train that circles the park. We had to wait patiently for the train to load and the boys were more than happy to pose. I was very proud of them. They listened well and didn't complain about the long walk to the parking lot. I think they would've stayed all day but Eli isn't quite ready for that, yet. We will definitely go back. </div>
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Steve spent the weekend backpacking a portion of the Appalachian trail with his good friend, Jon. He has many wonderful pictures and great memories of a successful trip. It isn't often that he gets to spend time with his friend enjoying God's magnificent creation. I'm glad he went and we are happy to have him home. </div>
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Stay tuned for more reports of our grand adventures. The boys are on a three week break from school, Steve is on sabbatical as he prepares to change jobs and the weather forecast is incredible. Can't wait to see what the rest of October brings for us. </div>
Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-46838923498073537092012-10-15T12:05:00.001-07:002012-10-15T12:05:22.988-07:00The Pumpkin Obsession<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILEPq7Vy2yrLWhn8wVXKCE9jwDz-VROkOgVininAntL_g8sYSLWuOPAsrsinyEMLQdEiYqyfjZxhdO_bilD2WpkWyQWr1cRRXcHJM6lNyCi33Z6zvUrWRlk8tWAFXCf7Fb-3sDqYrz0F0/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILEPq7Vy2yrLWhn8wVXKCE9jwDz-VROkOgVininAntL_g8sYSLWuOPAsrsinyEMLQdEiYqyfjZxhdO_bilD2WpkWyQWr1cRRXcHJM6lNyCi33Z6zvUrWRlk8tWAFXCf7Fb-3sDqYrz0F0/s400/photo+(1).JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
Eli is fascinated with pumpkins. As soon as they started appearing in stores and on doorsteps, he openly declares his affections. "Punkin!" He shouts as soon as he spots one. His preschool teacher has a small stuffed one sitting on a table outside his classroom. He can't resist hugging it, squeezing, talking about it to all his friends. Last week his class walked across the street from his school to the pumpkin patch. He came home with two more pumpkins pictured here. I don't know what he's going to do when he realizes that his new little friends will eventually shrivel up. Eek.<br />
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I would prefer to have his pumpkins with him at all times. I draw the line at putting pumpkins in his crib.<br />
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This is one happy little boy. </div>
Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854731982651926267.post-75668834598045689422012-10-03T17:59:00.001-07:002012-10-03T17:59:30.320-07:00The Zoo, A Boy in a Basket and Brotherly Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Catchy title, I know. I have I mentioned I'm writing a novel? The title is the hardest part. I'm was on blogging hiatus for a few weeks. Not gonna lie, there's been some heartache in the hive. September was a bit rough. But October is off to a wonderful start. God is good. All the time. </div>
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Friends of ours invited us to the zoo last weekend. Andy and I stayed home to battle a stomach bug. Just keepin' it real. The others were not deterred by a little rain. (By the way, Seattle, you can have your weather back. We're all done here). This is Luke saving his friend from the wicked Bison.<br />
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Eli loves dinosaurs so Steve couldn't resist a photo op in front of this giant poster. </div>
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I sent the camera with Steve and asked for photo documentation of Eli's first trip to the zoo. Perhaps I should've been more specific. On the other hand, you trap a kid in a stroller for half a day and you get what you get, right?<br />
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The elephants. Apparently the giraffes couldn't come out and visit because it's too muddy and giraffes can't walk in the mud??? No one wanted to speculate about what happens to a giraffe that falls in the mud. </div>
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Eli has morphed in recent weeks from sweet, go with the flow toddler to opinionated almost three year old. He has a fetish with containers now, dragging a basket around and filling it with toys until it is too heavy for him to move. We introduced him to the laundry basket yesterday because it is a little more sturdy. </div>
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He is doing very well at pre-school and names all of his new friends in the car on the way to school. Very cute.</div>
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Moments like these are few and far between around here. Luke has a lot of homework these days and it's hard to keep the younger ones entertained and reasonably quiet while Luke<strike> moans and groans </strike>tries to finish before dark. Andy orchestrated a game of dress up this afternoon and they were more than happy to pose. Adorable.Five Bees in the Trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03073557450855722246noreply@blogger.com0