Bubble Blast

I have found many, many ideas on Pinterest.  I have pinned them to my board to try at a later date, but I think that most of them will just be pinned there FOREVER!  Oh, well!  They are still good ideas.  I have a section on my board with ideas that I can pull out and try when I am in need of something to do with the kids… things that don’t take a lot of time to pull together and have ingredients that I usually carry around the house. 

Yesterday was one of those times.  I just needed to do something WITH the kids.  Something that wasn’t too complicated or messy but really fun. Something that each of them could do.  I remembered my Pinterest page and a crazy idea with bubbles….water bottles, socks, rubber bands, dish soap, water, a bowl, and scissors!  It seemed easy enough so we gave it a try and it was SO MUCH FUN!

Chores Time!

Chores start right after Danny leaves each morning.  His departure is our signal to start the day.  The girls each have to get dressed, brush their teeth, make their bed, fill their water cup and empty their section of the dishwasher.  They enjoy having a routine and so do I.   They are such good helpers!  They have other chores during the day, but these are their morning ones. Here they are getting the dishwasher emptied.

Even Josiah tries to help the girls… some times they don’t want his “help”!

Hannah asked me to take a picture of her with her head back…

I don’t know why, but here it is! What a nut!

3 months and counting…

Caleb turns three months tomorrow and we were able to get some pretty cute pictures of him this week.  He has found his hands and enjoys sucking on them. He is a VERY droolie baby… he is wet all the time with bubbles on his lips.  It is a really cute look! 

He is generally a very happy and content baby, but he will let you know if he is hungry or is tired.  Otherwise, he is quiet.  He has been sleeping through the night since he was eight weeks old and now he sleeps from 10-7 on a consistent basis (I feel like a whole new woman!!!!)  We are very thankful for him and our whole family spoils him with kisses and hugs.  Josiah loves him, too, but his affection can be a little painful at times for a 3 month old baby!

 

Mommy:  “Caleb, how many games will the Cowboys win this year?”

This is his response….

Wicked Storm

I have said it before, but I will say it again: I have NEVER seen storms like the storms in the Midwest.  Yes, I have seen huge snowstorms in New England and even a hurricane or two, but the thunderstorms here are incredible.  The sky looks like something you would see on Storm Chasers, and the Hand of God and His power is clearly demonstrated. 

On our way to Family Camp last week, we were in perfect view of this wicked storm, but we weren’t in it.  We actually only experienced wind from it while Des Moines was flooded with the sudden rain.  The wind and rain did a lot of damage, actually.  As we drove, we couldn’t get enough of the sky… it was just an awesome sight to see.  The pictures hardly show the stark contrast of colors or the mood they created as we wondered if we would get caught in it.  It certainly was WICKED!

Check out these pictures (taking from our van on the highway!).

“The Heavens declare the glory of God.”

Wedding dresses

Our girls have been asked to be in two weddings this fall – one in September and the other in October.  One is in NH and the other is in FL!  That means that the Lightners will be travelling… again!  Good thing that the kids do well on planes!  :)  We are excited about seeing friends and family on our adventures… that will be the best part.

Both of the brides wanted the girls to wear white dresses that we could add a colored sash to, so I was able to find these beautiful ones for the girls online at a GREAT price!  We got the dresses in the mail, tore open the box, and tried them on in a matter of minutes.  The girls loved them and they are GREAT spinning dresses (which was a NEED!).  They will be GREAT flower girls!

New Perspective

Caleb has always been a pretty strong baby.  He has held his head up pretty well since birth, so just recently we started putting him in the Exersaucer.  He loves it… even though you can’t tell that in the pictures.  We think he likes the new perspective of life.  He is already spinning things – probably by accident – and studying things.  We like having him in there because it protects his vital organs from the foot, hand, body, or head of his big brother Josiah, who likes to show his affection for his little brother with body slams, head locks, full body hugs, chest bumps and love-punches.  (It must be a guy thing!)

Going out for a walk…

Since the weather has been a little cooler (only in the high eighties and lower nineties instead of over 100), we have been getting out for more walks as a family.  We love going to Easter Lake to see the water and the geese.  It seems that every time we bring bread to feed the geese they are not there and the times that we don’t bring the bread the beach is covered with geese! 

Oh, well.  We will keep trying.

Here is Caleb ready for a walk with his adorable hat… I think he is ready for a nap!