12 Months of Christmas - Jack

I could wait until all of the kids have had their dates like last month but I thought naw. Let's give them each their own post (and it helps me blog more!) 

Last Thursday night was date night for Jack and I. We had a blast!  This month's dates for all the kids is dinner out at a fancy restaurant.  One we'd not normally (or ever!) take them. 

I took Jack to the Red Snapper.  This has, in the past, been one of Mark's and my favorite places to go for anniversaries and birthdays.  They do a lot of seafood and steak, have a fabulous salad bar and delicious, huge desserts!  And they have salt water fish tanks. 

It's been awhile since Mark and I have been there. They changed their menu a while back and some of our favorite meals were taken off. :( but Jack and I decided to try it again.  I convinced him that the fish tanks would be cool.  

He and the big kids had tried on their fancy clothes more than once in preparation for their dates.  I even found them "practicing" their manners the day of. 

The big kids were helping Jack remember how to behave in a fancy restaurant. 

We got all dressed up and took our pictures.  

I had reserved a table by the fish tank so that Jack would have something to look at during the dinner.  I'm so glad I did!  He was fascinated all night.  He named the fish and crabs. 

During the meal I was trying to come up with a cute lovey name for him.  Babe came out and he immediately said no but I could call him my little love.  So that's what I did.  I went out with my little love. :) 

He decided against the salad bar but picked fish sticks for dinner.

 He ate a couple.  Just enough to make it to the dessert he'd heard all about.  He didn't pick death by chocolate but it was close. He wanted the big piece of mint chocolate ice cream pie. 

All of a sudden he was hungry. Haha! Notice how big the pie was!  And his cute little crooked clip on tie. Love! 

I had the salad bar and tequila shrimp.  It was good. But not as good as my old favorite that's no longer there...

Don't ask me why I took pictures of the food.  I figured you'd really want to know what it looked like I guess. 

Overall he was great.  He behaved like I would expect a well-behaved 5 year old to behave at a fancy place.  We had a good time.  Kate and Mark are this coming week and Kale and I are at the end of the month.  We are all looking forward to our dates. Such fun! 

Such a Saturday

This morning Kale headed off to his friend Michael's house for a sleepover. He was so excited that he packed his bag last night and asked me no less than 10 times this morning if I knew when he'd be going over to his house...he finally left around 10am one happy kid :)

Here's the photo Michael's mom sent me an hour or so later. She said "the Lego marathon begins!" 

After Kale left, the rest of us played Disney Headbanz and drew pictures. 

I drew Rainbow Dash for Kate 

And an elephant for me! 

Don't worry. I've drawn Jack lots of things! 

After lunch we went up to Fort Lewis for the homecoming football game. When we went to buy tickets they asked if we were alumni. Since we both are, we got in free (so did the kids). They gave us blue and yellow beads and said we get free stuff in the tents. Cool! 

Turns out the free food they had in the tents was pretty good! Bummer that I'd just had lunch! 

Here are the alumni showing off our beads. 

We sat and watched Fort Lewis get scored on 3 times before the half. Not much has changed since we were in college. 

This picture of Jack was taken only a couple minutes before the poor guy got stung on his hand by a bee. Boy did that hurt!  He screamed! 

We had to leave right after that. He was inconsolable. 

Thankfully it didn't swell too much. It got him on his ring finger. 

We got him some ice (which he was not happy about) and some benedryl. Even now, an hour later, it is still throbbing. 

We are currently sitting at home watching Escape From Planet Earth and hoping our little guy feels better soon. 

Such a Saturday!

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Had to come back and add this. Jack's been feeling crummy ever since the bee sting. Definitely not himself. We asked if pancakes would help. He said that yes pancakes and syrup would help. 

So we loaded up and headed to town for Denny's. 

Little did we know it was "kids eat free" night. Haha! 

Two fun little "free" favors today. Totally unknown! A little smile from heaven. Love how that happens. :)

Oh and the pancakes did help Jack's hand...

A Very Big Day

Yesterday was a fairly long day. It's wasn't our average Sunday. We had one service instead of 2. We had a potluck meal and business meeting after church instead of going out to eat. Mark stayed at the church to write a couple papers for school instead of coming home. I cleaned house to prepare for a showing today instead of napping and crocheting like I had wanted to. I left for a meeting in Bayfield to pray for an upcoming event instead of staying home with my family to watch what turned out to be, a very important movie. It definitely wasn't our average Sunday. 

After my meeting as I was getting into my car, I saw a text message from Mark. It said, "I'm crying my eyes out with joy... I got to pray with Jack. He just asked Jesus in his heart! I'm undone." 

Before I share the story I have to say that as a parent who desires to disciple and train up my kids in The Lord this is by far the biggest day....ever. It may seem like no big deal to some but to know that my kids understand and want a relationship with Christ is what I long for. Yes there will come a time in their teens or early twenties when they will need to decide if they will follow Him in every way but my own husband made the decision to ask Jesus into his heart at 5 after watching Ben Hur. He submitted his life and future to Christ as a teenager and as been following him wholeheartedly since. That's my prayer for my kids. All three have now asked Christ into their hearts. It makes me happy happy happy. 

So back to Jack's story. Mark and the kids watched a movie, called The Last Medallion, last night while I was gone. Without going into the whole movie (which I couldn't anyways since I didn't see it) apparently one of the main characters dies protecting one of the kids in the movie. When asked why, he replied that years ago someone did it for him (Jesus). Mark said the kids were pretty emotional watching the scene. The whole movie in fact. He said it was a really good movie. 

After it was over and the kids had been prayed for and sent to bed, Jack came out. Still in tears. Legitimate tears and not I'm stalling tears. 

So he and Mark sat down on the couch and Mark asked him what was wrong. Jack kept asking, why did he have to die dad? This part had really affected him. 

Mark explained that he was dying for, and protecting, the kids in the movie. And Jack said like Jesus? 

Yes like Jesus. Mark went on to say that Jesus loves us so very much that He died for us so we can be together with Him. Jack says, for me? Yup for you Jack. 

After a bit of back and forth Mark asked Jack if he wanted to have Jesus in His heart. To not be afraid. To know that heaven is in his heart for real. Jack said yes. 

So they prayed together. Mark asked Jack if he wanted to pray. Jack said yes and then said he was gonna do it with his eyes closed (we ask him at night when we pray to close his eyes so he won't be distracted- this time he chose himself to not be distracted- beautiful!). So Jack prayed and asked Jesus into his heart. Mark said they both were crying. At the end of his simple beautiful prayer Jack said "I know you died for me because you love me." Ugh! Such simple beautiful understanding! 

This morning when he woke up I asked him what happened last night. He played and was shy with me but eventually he told me about his night. Then he said, "There's a party in heaven mom." When I asked why he said, "It's for me. They're partying for me." 

Yes my sweet, sweet boy. There's a party in heaven and angels are rejoicing, just as your dad and I are, because you have made the most important decision of your life. To follow after Jesus. 

Then I looked out the window and saw this 

He rejoices after each and every one. 

Epic Star Wars Party

Yesterday was Jack's 5th birthday. Since his birthday is so far away from Kale and Kate's he usually feels left out of the birthday craziness that is February and March. He's waited 6 long months for his party and he's been busy planning pretty much this whole time. 

Today was that day. 

We got the decorations. 

We got the cake. 

We ordered Pad Wan Pizza. 

We made Obi-Wan-Kebobs. (The bottoms had chrome duct tape to make them look like light sabers)

And we served Vadar-Ade to drink. 

Thank you Pinterest for helping me make this birthday creative. 

We watched the movie Epic with 6, 5&6 year olds. They were a bit antsy during the show but that's to be expected. 

Elias, Norah, Violet, Pax, Darth Vadar (birthday boy), Benen and Josie. Kale and Kate are there too ;) 

Dog pile of love. 

This, along with a nerf gun, a gift certificate, Star Wars Legos, and an epic play date were the blessings his friends brought him. They sure know my little Jedi! 

Sails, Baseball, Play-dates and Mice

Here is some more randomness for your Saturday enjoyment (hopefully).

While I was up in Denver for the bridal shower we went to Heaven's Superstore (you may know it as Costco - I really wish we had one in Durango...) to get food stuff.  I, however, also found some sunshade sail thingys for a great price for our back deck.  We've been looking online trying to find affordable ones but it was tough.  I brought them home and have been begging Mark to help me put them up.  

It was somewhat of a project since we didn't have poles to attach them to away from the house.  Our first try was with iron hanging plant holders.  They looked super nice but turned out they couldn't withstand the gusts of wind we can get {hence the need for the sails -- we have a shredded umbrella that has pretty much had a tour of the neighborhood thanks to the wind).  The stands bent somewhat so we took those down and searched for stronger metal poles.

I'm super pleased with the results and have LOVED sitting out on our back deck during the day (something we've never really been able to do in 10 years!). 

Here are the before and after pictures.

I wish I had another one from the back view but apparently I didn't take one and I'm too lazy to go take one, load it on the computer and then upload it to the blog.  You'll have to trust me that it's awesome and I'll post another picture later.  I spent most of the day Thursday planting flowers in my pots and cleaning up the yard.  We (as in me) have more plans for more landscaping.  Mark just goes along with it most times.  Although I did join Pinterest (yes I know...finally) and have gotten a couple cute ideas for landscaping.  Mark seems to think I'm gonna turn our yard into a junkyard.  No I will not plant flowers in a toilet. I promise!

Here's my little superhero, Jack, enjoying the swing on our newly covered deck Thursday morning.  Cracked me up with his goggles on.

 

On Thursday Kate had a play-date with her BFF Madi.  They threw on their swimsuits and jumped on the trampoline (that is now bungeed together and sandbagged down, again, thanks to the wind).  They had a blast!

Kale has had a couple baseball games.  He used to hate to catch and now I think he tolerates it.  He looks like such a big kid in his uniform.

These two are from his game this morning (they lost).  It was a gorgeous day!

 

I snapped a picture of the antics of 8 year old boys during warm ups.  Stealing ball caps.  I'm beyond thrilled that Kale has made new friends on this team and that he's having a good time playing.

 Jack, my fearless one, came in this morning while we were getting ready to leave for the game and brought this.

The kids started yelling "Jack's gotta mouse!!!!"  I didn't believe them at first but I looked over and sure enough he was holding it like a pet in his hand.  *gag*.  I tried not to get grossed out {pretty much failed at that} and excitedly told him to throw it outside and wash his hands!!!! 

I was gonna just throw it over the deck (Mark was gone by the way) but Mishka was far too interested in it so I had to pick it up (with the shivers) and throw him away.  What a way to start off my Saturday.  Blech!

 After baseball we headed to a garage sale and picked up a couple light sabers. My 2 little Jedi Knights were pretty stoked.  Fun light effects eh?  That was natural I promise!

After the garage sale we met friends for lunch then came home for naps.  I did some yard work (we're gonna do the straw bale gardening again and I had to prepare the garden) while Mark worked on his message in the office (aka the trailer - love that thing!).

And that's the last few days in a nutshell!

jklj;kjkljklj;ll

Last weekend in April

I realize that I've been silent for a long time.  Longer than normal. 

Honestly I haven't had a lot to share.  Our life has been pretty steady.  School, work, church, baseball, art class.  Not much deviation in there. 

Mark and I are slowly learning what we need to do as a team.  If you were to ask me what it's like pastoring a church, I'd say based on the past 3 weeks it's a cinch! (wink, wink).  I know that we've not even begun to come out of the "honeymoon" stage.  We haven't been in this position long enough to ruffle feathers and make folks uncomfortable.  That will come I'm sure.  But for now, we have been amazed at the support and encouragement and excitement we've seen from many.  So very thankful for that grace during this time.

This past weekend Mark and Kale headed with our trailer to Canyonlands in Utah.  I will post those pictures when I get them off of Mark's phone.  They had a blast!

Kate, Jack and I stayed home and were busy ourselves.  Friday night I went out with several ladies from various small groups (including ours) that meet on Friday nights.  We had a great time getting together and just hanging out sans kids!

Saturday we did some deep cleaning and got haircuts but then Kate got to go to a ballet recital.  She loved it!  Our friend, Ashley, was performing and although it was long, Kate thought it was so cool and has already talked about going next year.

While Kate was at the ballet (something I'm quite confident that Jack would not have enjoyed) Jack and I had our own little date.  

 We headed downtown for some pizza.  Here we are waiting for our order.  It's hard to take a self-portrait with a 3-yr old!

 Here are the ginormous slices of pizza we enjoyed.  They were huge and yummy!

 That's my kind of pizza!

 After pizza we headed to our frozen yogurt place (fro-yo as our friends call it)

 Then to the park.  Just us.  It was such a beautiful night.

 This is what I saw for a good portion of the time there.  He's always begging me to swing. This time he got to swing to his heart's content.

 This little guy just makes me melt.  He's such a stinker at times but I love those beautiful eyes and his sweet smile.  It was so fun just hanging out alone with him.  A rare treat.