31 Days to Clean

Hmmm....

I've tried (and am fluttering) FlyBaby. I like the system as a whole, but if you've been following this blog for any length of time you know that I'm working on consistency in 2011.

I've tried my own random methods.

Perhaps 31 Days to Clean might be the source of inspiration for me?

Check it out...if you post about it today (using some social media method) and provide her the link, you'll get a free ebook!

We'll see....I'll try it out for a few months (you know, as long as it will actually take me to do it for 31 days.  I'm guessing that will take a bit longer than 31 consecutive days) and I'll review it!

Scripture Memory (Verse 8)

July 7th update: Let me just go on record by saying I'm a dork.  I have already used this verse.  In fact, it was used for the March 15th verse.  Apparently the Lord felt I needed a double dose of this verse.  So, the updated verse it at the bottom of this post. 

"I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Jesus Christ."

Philippians 1:6 (GNB)

Here's the link to the LPM Blog with their verse 8.

How are you coming with your scripture memory?

****************
Be still and know that I AM God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Resurrection Cookies

On Saturday I was reminded of an Easter preparation activity that I usually forget to plan for and do with the kids...Resurrection cookies.

My friend Melissa has blogged about these cookies for a couple of years now, and every time I read about it, I think to myself, "I'll remember that activity next year."

I hadn't remembered so far.

But this year, I was determined.  Not that I remembered any sooner than in years past, but I just decided to go for it.  Luckily, when I looked up the directions and needed ingredients on Saturday afternoon, I had a friend who just happened to have pecans, and her hubby just happened to be coming over to pick up some dress shoes for their daughter for her Easter outfit.

So we went for it.

You will need:
1 cup whole pecans (or pieces)
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
ziploc baggy
wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible

To be made the night before Easter:
Preheat oven to 300

Put the pecans into the ziploc baggy.  Let the kids beat the pecans with the wooden spoon.
Read: John 19:1-3
Explain that Jesus was arrested and beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Let the kids smell and/or taste the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into a mixing bowl.
Read: John 19:28-30
Explain that when Jesus was thirty on the cross, he was given vinegar to drink.

Add egg whites to vinegar.
Read: John 10:10-11
Explain that eggs represent life and that Jesus gave his life so we could have eternal life.

Sprinkle salt into the kids hands. Let them taste it and put the rest into the mixing bowl with the vinegar and eggs.
Read: Luke 23:27
Explain that when Jesus died, his followers mourned and cried for him and the salt represents their tears and all of our sins he died for.

So far the ingredients are 'yucky'.

Add 1 cup sugar.
Read: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16
Explain that the sweet part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us and wanted to provide a way for us to live with Him in heaven.

Beat with mixer on High for 12-15 minutes.
Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
Explain that the color white represents purity in God's eyes. Those who have accepted Jesus and have been cleansed by His sacrifice are viewed as pure in God's eyes.

Fold in broken nuts.
Read: Matthew 27:57-60
Explain that each cookie mound represents the tomb where they laid Jesus' body.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven. Close the door and turn OFF the oven.

Give each kid a piece of tape and have them seal the oven door with the tape.
Read: Matthew 27:65-66
Explain that the tomb of Jesus was sealed with a large rock.

Go to bed.
Read: John 16:20 & John 16:22
If they're sad to leave the cookies, explain that the followers of Jesus were sad to see him die and placed in a tomb.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. Discover that the cookies are hollow! 
Read: Matthew 28:1-9
Explain that on the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Taken from Annie's Resurrection Cookies Page.

The kids certainly didn't stay in the frame of mind that I would have liked for them to during this activity. I think at certain points in time it took all their daddy had to keep a straight face and try to get them back on track, but I still think the message got through. I would imagine that some families manage to do an activity like this perhaps without having to correct their children, or have them stop laughing at some random thing one of them did, but I think what's important is that we're doing things to try and drive home the true meaning of the holidays.

Favorite?

I simply cannot pick.  I posted a picture preview earlier this week, and got my pictures (speedy lady!!) today.

I cannot pick my favorite.

Jacey

Tatum

Kellen

Kellen & Jacey

all three kids

Daddy and kids

Mommy and kids

Mommy and Jacey

Mommy and Tatum

all of us

This is just a sampling, but there are entirely too many adorable pics to choose from. 

So glad I don't have to!

Pictures

So we had pictures taken this weekend...some total family, some of the kids, and all other random combinations of our crazy crew.

Our photographer Brandy posted this preview. 

If the rest of the pictures are this great, I absolutely cannot wait to see them!

9 months old

What??

How is it possible that it's been nine months since our bookend baby...our sweet peanut...our darling Jacey Victoria was born?

As of yesterday, she's officially 9 months old.

She celebrated her 9 month "birthday" by cutting tooth #3...the top right *finally* came through.

And today she had her well check.

Weight - 17 lbs, 8 oz (40th %)
Height - 28.75 inches (90th %)
Head cir - 90th %

The doctor still isn't concerned with her food intake (or lack thereof, actually), since she's maintaining her height growth curve.  His thought is that she's simply finicky, has sensory issues, both of which she'll likely outgrow.  Our action plan is to simply keep doing what we're doing, and actually have her eat next to the other two, so they can 'show' her what to do. 

She did get a finger prick to check on her iron levels, and she's anemic.  So our action plan is to get a daily iron supplement for her to take.  No biggie, assuming I can actually get it down her, since it's a liquid 'medicine', and she's doesn't do really great with those.

The great news is that her ear infection has cleared up, so we'll finish off with the antibiotics and be done with that.  Whew!

And we're a quarter of an inch away from having to graduate her to a big girl carseat.  Luckily, we have one that a friend gave to us (what a blessing!!), and we'll install it rear-facing and she'll ride that way for probably another couple of years.

My baby is growing up!

How did that go again?

I get to Kids Klub to pick Kellen up yesterday and was greeted by the supervisor. With a note. In case you were wondering, those are not good signs.

Luckily, it wasn't an incident report, but an injury report. (As long as he's ok, I would rather him get bunged up than act up...call me crazy).

As I am told the story of the incident, and read the report, I see,

"...the other childs mouth hit Kellen's head."

Proof positive that 1) my kids take after their father with regard to odd and bizarre injuries and; 2) my life will never be dull.

Randomness

So, I've missed 6 out of the last 13 days of work to deal with a sick kid. The same sick kid. And she was dealing with two different issues. First it was a cold-turned-pinkeye. Treatment was a five day course of a rather expensive antibiotic. Now we have a virus - one whose name I cannot remember nor pronounce if I could, which has resulted in virtually a full-body rash, plus an ear infection thrown in for good measure.  Treatment is now a 10-day course of yet another antibiotic.

Thank God for doctors.

Thank God for a job that provides me with excellent insurance and health care coverage.

And to top things off (as if the above trio wasn't enough), Jacey is thisclose to cutting her two top teeth.  There is a huge bulge and the top right tooth is just begging to come through.

I sure hope it does, because she is just miserable.

Unfortunately, I don't know if she's miserable from the virus, ear infection, or tooth.

*sigh*

And in other news, during this most recent home-bound experience, I have managed to wash almost every piece of laundry in the house that had been dirty.  I've also gotten the oil changed in my van, washed and vacuumed it (I think the van might actually be suffering from shock, really), and purged expired sunscreen (I recently learned that it expired...such a great mommy am I...).  I went grocery shopping, experimented with the new Starbucks iced cocoa cappuccino (decaf, of course), and deep cleaned the desk.

I've learned that Jacey is going to be just as accident-prone as her siblings. And she doesn't learn something the first time...another lesson-the-hard-way child, I'm afraid.

She's toppled a metal child-chair on herself. Twice. And the second time resulted in a bloody busted lip. She pulled a wooden photo box off the bookshelf and aimed it just perfectly so that it landed on her ankle, breaking the skin and her little heart, but luckily not any bones.

I've not looked too terribly much at my email coming through furiously on my phone, and will simply deal with it all when I get back into the office.  Sorry work-world, my baby is sick.  And when that happens, the mommy hat comes first.

Water water everywhere....

and I'm still trying to drink it!

So, I wrote a post about my goal for increasing my water intake a few months ago.  I'm pleased to report that, overall, I've done really well with this goal at work!

I'll clarify the 'at work' portion of the above statement.  Between Monday and Friday, it's fairly easy for me to keep up with my fluid intake via the aforementioned 1.5 liter water bottle and cup.  All bets are off on the weekend, when I feel like I rarely have time to sit down and find myself many a time gulping an entire bottle of water, not remembering when I had some last.

There have been a few 'off' weeks, but overall, I like this goal and want to continue with it.  Here are some things I've realized/learned while working on this goal:

• Drinking all of this water isn't necessarily helping me lose weight.  (I listened to a speaker who once said if we all increased our water intake to some magic number (and I don't remember what that magic number was), we would lose 5 pounds in a matter of 2 weeks.  Or something like that.  The details of said specifics are fuzzy.  But it hasn't happened for me.)
• I have to go to the bathroom a lot during the day. (Shocker!)
• The increase in water intake seems to help curb my appetite some, but does nothing for my sweet tooth. Zilch. Nada.
• I'll gulp water at the :55 of an hour just to try and meet my water goal for that hour. Sometimes I drink several glasses at once to 'catch up'.

Overall, I'm not sure if I 'feel better' by doing this, but I certainly feel no worse, and am maintaining my supply for Jacey.  Since it's a healthy habit, I'm going to try and maintain it!

Scripture Memory! (Verse 7)

Another month, another memory verse!

Are you keeping up?

It's not too late to join in!!

The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
Psalm 18:46 KJV

Here is the link to the LPM page for verse 7!

Review of running - March

19 - 3.18 miles (AKA - The Warrior Dash!)
21 - 1 mile
22 - 1 mile

Mileage total = 5.18 miles
Average Mile/day = 0.167

2011 Mileage total: 16.33 + 24 + 5.18 = 45.51
2011 Average Mile per day = 0.5056

*Let me just say that March's running began and ended horribly.  Or rather, it didn't begin at all.  I was still dealing with my sore and swollen foot/ankle, and then throw scheduling issues on top of that and it all equals no running.

Ug.

I'm not going to beat myself up too much about it.  But I'm determined.

April will be better.  April MUST be better!