Funny, Runny Noses...

So... here's the quote of the day... from yesterday... from Ian, "Mommy, my nose is poopy!"

What he meant was that his nose was runny... hehehe... That child cracks me up lately!

Here's a quick video clip:



Lisa

For Wendy...

... But just as a word of explanation:

The CD "Perfect Change" by Dakona pretty much got me through the most cynical time of my life. Sometimes when you hurt it helps to know that someone else understands. These are the lyrics for, "In God's Name" which is posted below:

Hear the crack of a bullet down on seventh avenue tonight
Man lies bleeding on the floor
Hear the cry of the cop car as the streets are filled with blue and white
They all rush into the clinic door

And I'm never gonna know how you ever get to sleep at night
And justify the things you do
With your hand on the Bible, you say you killed a killing man
Well mister what does that make you?

And it's all in the name of God
And it's all in the name of God

See the crosses burning, lighting up the southern sky
Feel the hatred in the air
Slip into your white robe, to cover up your blackened heart
You don't become that cross you wear

And it's all in the name of God
And it's all in the name of God

Hear the newsmen talking, but they don't help me understand
No I can't claim to comprehend
See the buildings tumbling, so I drop a knee and say a prayer
For the city that'll never ever sleep again

And it's all in the name of God
And it's all in the name of God

And we all got our ways to justify the things we hate
We all got our ways of throwing the first stone
But if you wanna hate, then please leave God alone

Lisa

Oh, by the way... this is just an audio file, so when you click play there won't be any video or anything... just the still picture of the most beautiful place in the world... in case you wondered...

PS Since it took me several hours to post this, I now also have a fantastic, completely unrelated quote of the day by Phil, "I'll always remember... what's his name..."

L.

I Pretty Much Hate Forwarded E-mail...

... However...

This morning I got an e-mail that had a quote from Rick Warren in it (by the way, I am not a huge Warren fanatic, although I did read "Purpose Driven Life", and I think he's a good guy). Here's what it said:

"God didn't put me on Earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings."

I liked that. And to be honest, it's exactly what I needed to read this morning.

Speaking of what I'm doing... blogging at 8am... As it turns out, we stayed out kinda late last night, enjoying the Illuminate/Journey Christmas Party, which was the most relaxing party I've experienced this season! The kids were supposed to have a Christmas party this morning for music class (well, actually I guess it was Caleb's party, but everyone was invited). However, there is a sheet of ice covering... well... everything! So, of course, the party has been canceled. The kids are going to be totally bummed out about this when they wake up (they are still asleep... amazingly... due to the late night), but it's actually kind of a blessing, because now I don't have anywhere to go today, so we can just stay home and hang out!

I do have one little (uh...) problem. For the upcoming Super Seek-ret Sleepover, we are supposed to be making knot blankets. However, the fleece I ordered has still not arrived! This is not (or knot... hehehe) good! I am going to have to make a run to Wal-mart... or Hobby Lobby... or somewhere to get fleece if it doesn't get here today. That is, if the ice clears. If not, I am clearly not going anywhere!

Lisa

PS I am going to try to get some pics. up from the zoo. Check back at the zoo post (a few days ago) later today! L.

Aquatica...

... Amazing!

Day Seven...

We have long been anticipating our trip to Aquatica... like since the day SeaWorld announced it was being built! Sometimes when you set your hopes too high, you are disappointed. We were not disappointed today!

It's hard to know where to begin. The slides were incredible... from the little kid slides... to the bigger kid slides... to the racing mat slide... to the tube slides... to the funnel slide... to the family raft slides... to "Dolphin Plunge", Aquatica's signature slide that actually goes through a dolphin habitat! Just... Wow! I actually rode that one twice, because the first time the dolphins weren't swimming near me, so I didn't see them. The second time I saw one, and it was just awesome!


Over the course of this trip, our kids have really discovered a love for pools in general... and specifically for wave pools! Here they are, having a blast:


One of my favorite parts of the day was when I took Caleb down all of the "big" kiddie slides! He had so much fun and was very animated. He actually stopped to tell a stranger that he got wet, which cracked me up!

We had one scary incident while riding "Roa's Rapids", an incredible action river in which no tubes are allowed! The current is very strong, and as we went to get on, Grace got scared and held back. I tried to wait for her, but I was holding Ian, and even if I hadn't been, there was simply no possible way to swim against this current... so down the river Ian and I flew... and so did Phil and Caleb, because they got in before us! The only thing I could do was to scream, "WAIT HERE" to Grace (and Seth, by the way, who wouldn't come without her, which I found surprising... but I was rather proud of him nonetheless...), and I made eye contact with a life guard who I saw move their way. But we really didn't know if we would find them there or not until we rode the entire river! Thankfully, Uncle Brad, Aunt Sheri, and Abby were in the river (although we didn't know it) and came out and found Seth and Grace long before we got around to them! Uncle Brad even took Seth into the river to try to find us. In the end, Grace got a pretty good chewing out, and then we all managed to catch the current (which I am now fondly referring to as the E.A.C... if you haven't found Nemo, that won't make any sense). I have some video footage to upload, but blogger is giving me trouble tonight, so hopefully I'll be able to put it up sometime tomorrow...

"Loggerhead Lane", the lazy river, was pretty good, too. It went through a small fish grotto and the Commerson Dolphin exhibit. Ian kept telling me that he needed "more fishies"... a phrase we've heard a lot this past week! Here are a couple of pics. of us riding the river. The one of Ian with the fish is my favorite picture of the day:



Aquatica is... by far... the best waterpark I have ever visited! And that's saying a lot! By the way, I counted up all of the water parks our kids have been to, and it comes to ten! I then told them that I didn't go to a water park until I was 13 years old, to which Seth replied, "Mom, when you were thirteen, did you even know what water was?" Of course I told him no... that when I was born, all there was on the Earth was dirt... hehehe... Oh, comic relief for a very tired Mommy!

Steve, Nancy, Elizabeth, and Audrey arrived tonight, and we're off to the rental house tomorrow for the next week of our trip! Disney, here we come!

Lisa

"Calebisms", Part 1...

Last night I told Caleb he had to eat his apple if he wanted anything else...

He responded, "I'm half done with part of one piece of my apple!"

You might have to read it a couple of times, but that's just worth posting...

Look for a post about the picture he drew yesterday, soon. Phil took my camera again...

Lisa

Changes

"It just seems like a complete departure from everything..."

"And... this is bad, why?"

Lisa

Quote of the day, "I don't want to be a clown... Well, at least I've got something in my life figured out."

Lisa

Today was busy...

...but actually quite fun... in a lot of ways. It wasn't all fun (rarely is), but I think I'll talk about the fun stuff... mostly.

This morning I actually spent time with each of my three "big kids", talking about God... and reading the Bible... and praying. That was a real plus, because it doesn't always happen in the individualized way that it happened, this morning, and it doesn't always happen first thing. I think it was a good way to start the day.

After breakfast, I introduced them to TaleSpin... great cartoon! You may notice that that is not what I've listed under "currently watching". Please... go ahead and make fun of my choice of entertainment. I was ten years old when "Saved by the Bell" made it's debut, so clearly I was obsessed with the show. I am enjoying the flashbacks to the late '80s/early '90s. So, sue me...

But I digress (per normal)...

We went on to paint and color the driveway, which is always fun, and we even stayed off of the "grass".

Later in the day, I found out that Caleb's 3 year old pics. were in, so we went to get them. Here they are:

You've gotta love the "stinky face" with Thomas...

We had a bit of an adventure at Ponderosa, and I have to say that I do not intend to ever eat there again. It also came to my attention that my kids are utterly unaware that people in this country do not only speak English. Apparently, Seth heard someone speaking in Spanish, and he asked (rather loudly I might add), "Why would someone from Mexico come to Ponderosa for lunch?" So I sat there wondering whether to laugh or crawl under the table, and in the end I didn't do either. It's not that Seth had a problem with Spanish speaking people eating at Ponderosa. He just honestly thought they'd come all the way from Mexico, and he couldn't figure out why! It wasn't a fantastic dining experience, or anything. We are clearly going to have to talk about this...

But the quote of the day came from Caleb, who has become increasingly interested in school busses over the past few months. It was, "It's the cheese... Hello, cheese!" Yeah... He's pretty funny...

I went on to buy several cheap, junky things that will be fun to use outside in the coming days. Other than that, the trip was uneventful.

The rest of the day has bordered on boring, and I'm kind of tired, but I need to know whether or not the Pistons are going to put the Bulls away before I go to bed, so it might be a long night...

Lisa

Caleb's 3rd Birthday...

... Among other things.

And so I make my return to the world of blogging...

First, let me re-cap my last week.

I did not, as I originally intended, have a computer free week. In fact, I am not sure I even had a completely computer free day. Bummer. However, most days I only spent a few minutes here or there, looking at things that Phil wanted me to see or setting up games for the kids. I did have one complete meltdown of my will in which I checked my e-mail. Over all, it wasn't so bad. And please don't laugh about my e-mail comment. I usually check it a dozen times a day. Once in a week was rather remarkable...

Eight days ago marked the anniversary of the most physically painful day of my life. I would not trade that day for all the world and then some, because the result was Caleb's birth. I cannot, in any way, believe that my "baby" is three years old! But here he is:

Oh, wait. That won't do. You can't see him! But this is, indeed, what he looked like while waiting for his presents. Let's try these:

Yes... yes... much better.

Caleb had a fantastic third birthday, which included pictures, lunch at McDs (complete with a playplace), visits from both sets of grandmas and grandpas, all kinds of Thomas the Tank Engine presents, and books! I made a Thomas cake, as well. The tale of the Thomas cake could probably become an epic, if I let it. Let it suffice to say that four cake mixes is a lot, black frosting is not good for the digestive system, and Caleb doesn't quite understand that you do not have to lick the flaming candle to put it out... But here are pics, anyhow:

The day after Caleb's birthday celebration, I completed four final exams and kissed the Spring semester good-bye! It was a very stressful day. Thankfully, Phil's mom stayed to watch my kids. If she hadn't, I don't think I would have gotten the exams done at all! My professors took a while to compute the final grades, but I finished with three As and two Bs. I am quite satisfied with these results, particularly, because I did not deserve these grades. Some of them I earned, but some of them were gifts, and for them I am thankful. When all was said and done, my brain was mush, and I couldn't think or write coherantly...

So, I spent a few days doing wonderful things like playing with Duplos and reading, "The Hobbit". We ate off of paper plates and had more than our fair share of pizza last week! And I do not wish to recall the number of (bags of) M & Ms that were consumed... by me... alone...

T-Ball season began, which is always fun. Swimming sessions are coming to a close again, and I think Seth is the only one we're going to sign up again right away.

Mother's day was super, namely because I got to watch the Piston's game. While I realize that this is somewhat pathetic to admit, you have to understand that we do not have cable... or dish network... or whatever else you can get now. We have bunny ears, so this was the first play-off game I have been able to see. Being the devoted Piston's fan that I am, I put on my way too expensive and now obsolete Ben Wallace Piston's jersey, and watched Big Ben contribute to their defeat (which sort of serves them right, considering the ridiculous display of disrespect down the stretch). It was too bad, really, but now they can come home and win it, so it's alright. Except I can't watch that game, because it will be back on cable... ugh...

And I'll feel guilty if I don't mention that mother's day was also magnificent, because I have the best husband and the four greatest kids ever!

Today, I officially announced that summer vaction has begun to my kids, who countered my announcement with, "When are we going to Cedar Point"? The answer is, "I hope soon, and I hope a lot"...

There have been far more "quotes of the day" and "conversations of the day" than I can begin to put down in writing, but the best quote of the week was probably,
"Jesus, wake up!" (which was not said in a blasphemous way, whatsoever, or you know I wouldn't write it here), and the best conversation,
Phil: "I love to read fascinating things about things of which I have no knowledge. Those are hard to come by". Lisa: "Of course they are, honey". Followed by a bit of stifled laughter...

And now, I must go, because I have things to do...

But look for frequent blog posts, this summer. I'm back!

Lisa

Conversation of the day:

Me: "Now, if only I could play beach volleyball"
Phil: "And if only I could cut off the heads of Orks"

Yeah... I guess you had to be there...

Lisa