Child Labor

Is it really labor if they beg you to do it? And they aren't getting paid?


Currently in our home we are letting our girls help out in lots of ways. I don't bring out the camera for the daily routines...like getting their cups to the sink, Lily unloading the silverware and sippy cups, or Jade herding all the shoes to their proper locations.


The camera came out for their first driveway car wash though...


The best part is that all the work that is back breaking for us, is right at their level.

Tires and fenders? No problem.

Crawl in the van to do the inside windows? Sure.

We sprayed Lily down for good measure towards the end. Work and play go hand in hand.

Her favorite chore inside is dusting. Again her height sure comes in handy. Yesterday she dusted the undersides, bottom legs, and lower shelves on every piece of furniture we own. But as she was doing the bottom of a dining chair she came across a cobweb and that scared all the fun right out of her.

Thankfully that was the last room to do, so the dusting was done. And hopefully she'll forget all about it by next weekend. I want to get some more work out of this free and available laborer while she's willing.

It started out as a peaceful evening at the fountains...

It was Saturday evening. We had worshipped our Lord, filled our tummies and even enjoyed some yummy Corner Bakery cookies. It was time for a quick stroll over to the fountains.

We were enjoying watching them enjoy each other.

Looking into these eyes as they ran by and paused for a second.

Trying to see the world through their eyes for a few moments.

Watching Jade perfect her two footed hop and Lily flirt with the water in the unusually vacant fountain area.

I'm sure most people were on the other side of the shops, playing in the other fountains with the intention of getting wet...possibly with their kids dressed in swimsuits for the very occasion.

Not us though, we were just there to watch, listen, play and enjoy each other's company.

Daughters, sisters...finally friends...running in the evening sunlight.

Parents, lovers...always friends...sneaking quiet moments on the park bench together...thanking God for the two precious gifts before their eyes.

And then it happened. A splash, followed by screams and two, once quiet parents, running full force.

Not even a consoling hug from sister could help.

A busted lip, a scratched face, a scared and very wet girl.

The peaceful evening had ended, but not without a wonderful summer memory having been made. Wet cries and all.

If you don't like "random", don't read this post!

I can't believe it is already Monday evening. Where does the weekend go? I'm guessing this one seemed particularly short seeing that our last "weekend" lasted 10 days. Coming back from vacation is rough.

Do you ever have those weekends when you actually look forward to doing nothing on Monday...and getting some rest? This was one of those for me. Then I had insanely crazy and realistic dreams last night that left me even more worn out. Ugh!

Anyway it was a fun filled weekend to say the least.

Lily got to experience her first real Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus on Saturday...in box seats no less. Someone had donated them to the ministry that my husband works for and there were two left, so Lily and I got to go hang out with some of the kids he serves.

Wow, the circus has changed a tad in the 25 years or so since I'd seen it last. Never mind all the technology, story plot, opera singer, and the motorcycle cage not leaving us deaf nor smelling fumes...the prices...oh my word...the prices. A circus program? $14. Sno-cones? $12. And I heard from a friend that cotton candy was also $12.

I saw a lady carrying 4 sno-cones and thought to myself...wow, you are carrying $50 worth of sugary ice in your hands. I can feed my family for three nights with that...insanity!

Anyway, Lily's eyes were glued to the stage the entire 2 1/2 hours. Quite a show.

When we returned from the circus I realized my Lantana was in full bloom. These pictures don't do it justice, but it is gorgeous.

I thought (or actually my mom thought) that it wasn't getting enough sun. Apparently it just wasn't getting enough water. It rained 6 days the previous week and, Voila!

Bloom, baby, bloom.

Then we were off to a princess party Sunday where Lily also had a blast.

I can't believe she went for purple instead of her usual pink. This day it was all about the length of the dress though. Duh, mom, the purple dress goes all the way to the floor.

I may need to find my own residence during her teenage years!

We also managed to get a good workout in, go to evening church and join some friends for dinner.

It was late after dinner, but Lily was complaining that I had forgotten about her reading lesson. So there we sat at nearly 9:00 doing a lesson out of Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. Have any of y'all used this?

She is loving it...I enjoy it too, but was kind of hoping for a break on the weekends...she will not let a day go by without it though.

And in between all of that, Jade pooped in the potty twice this weekend! She just turned two last month. And yes, I do have a picture with the actual evidence. I am weird like that.

The craziest thing is that she won't teetee in the potty. Strange, huh? We had the exact opposite problem with Lily...and if I had my pick, I think I'm sticking with Jade's issue.

I'm sure it is just all a fluke anyway though. I mean, this is the stuff of dreams, right?

Hopefully not tonight though.

Good night.

3 Cousins and an Old Red Barn

I don't know if it was all the child labor we enforced making them carry their own luggage or what, but our kiddos were tired when we arrived in Michigan. They found a couple of benches and stretched out while we waited on the rental.

Traveling really makes you throw all germ caution to the wind.

Oh, and I can't forget to document Lily and Avery holding hands in the airport shuttle. Those two are either all sweet or all sour.

Finally, we got the van and strapped them in for yet another hour long drive to freshen up at the hotel.

Then we were treated to an amazing rehearsal dinner where I was worried the whole time that they weren't being quiet enough.


Those environments with kids in tow really stress me out. Thankfully good wine was flowing freely. Hopefully it was drowning out the noise for the other guests too.

The next day they got to run freely at my grandparents farm.

More sweetness.

Wide open space...it does us good.

Until mama wants some pictures. They obliged for a while though.

One smell of this barn took me back to being 8 years old when my grandparents raised pigs. So many memories.








The only offending smell that day was my baby's diaper. It looks like she was wriggling it out in the above pictures.

When vacation is over I don't have any more excuses for putting off the training. May vacation last forever...

What we've been up to...

at least according to my digital camera.

Disclaimers: 1) pictures are in no particular order 2) some events/outings missing (ie; first family bike ride of the season and Lily's last day of preschool activities) 3) notice that blogging is not included...might be resolved when my shiny new laptop arrives this week.

getting to know new babies

playing on "spider webs"

hanging with friends

over-feeding fish

posing for pictures

learning the "fake smile"

testing the water

"what? I told you I'd get in!"

practicing the "fake smile" some more

swimming in what could be the best $30 ever spent

making disturbing water gun shots
(i didn't get a shot of the one where Lily had the gun pointed in her own mouth...nice!)

playing princess golf
(see that hot pink bandaid?...that would be a reminder of our little ER trip over Memorial Day weekend...can you say "allergy induced asthma attack" five times fast?)
I just hope the blood drawer dude doesn't send us the bill for his hearing aid.

serious golfing

celebrating Memmy's 97th birthday

taking care of a friend's baby while pretending to still be one

swimming, swimming, swimming

cooling off with sno-cones...it doesn't count if its not Bahama Bucks...open year round

perfecting that silly smile

playing at the "sand restaurant"

your kids play while you eat/drink on the patio...who needs a sitter?!?

admiring sandy piggies

That's all folks!