Parenting is never a BORED-game

"But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23 -(NIV)

Being a mom, is like playing a board game somedays. I have all the pieces (kids in this case) lined up and a strategy: survive the day and have fun while doing it. But along the way, there are obstacles that keep me from finishing (ketchup on the carpet, playdoh in the toilet, fire in the toaster oven) and a whole lot of guessing takes place in a 24 hour period (Will the kids wake up at 6am or treat us to sleeping in til 7:30? Will Lillie want me to hold her all day or will she test the independence waters and insist her ballet tutu and Cinderella wig look good for our trip to the grocery store? Will Parker fall off his bike and get a small scrape or an all out bloody gash while trying to imitate Spiderman diving off the deck?

Back in January, out of the blue I was laying in bed one night and the above verse from Galations came to mind and would not leave my mind. Then, 2 weeks later the kids came home from church having spent the morning talking about the Fruits of the Spirit. About a month later, I was reading a parenting book and the whole premise of the book was The Fruits of the Spirit as it relates to raising children. Then, just last night my sister and I were out running and she tells me that she has really needed the verse at work and has been reciting it to herself throughout the day. Coincidence? Probably not. I am pretty sure, just like with many messages, God has chosen to speak to me using a variety of vehicles. I LOVE when He does that! Sometimes I have to struggle to hear His voice and figure where He is leading me, and other times it is so blatantly obvious. I don't mind the challenge when it arises but with preschoolers, everything is a game and so much requires guessing and logic, that I appreciate the fact that God in His infinite wisdom and understanding, chose a less exhaustive method. I have felt so convicted lately about living out the Fruits of the Spirit and demonstrating what they look like to my kids. Everyday I see them playing out in their little lives and I am sooo grateful for the opportunity to spend each day with Parker and Lillie. Their physical growth is evident as they outgrow their clothes. Their emotional growth is evident in the more mature ways they handle situations. Their intellectual growth is evident in the way they are grasping tougher academic concepts. But most rewarding is the evidence of their spiritual growth. The kind ways they treat each other and their friends. The compassion they demonstrate when they see someone hurting. The sweet spontaneous prayers that come so easily to them.

My prayer is that this game of life is as rewarding for them as it is for Trev and myself and that when winning or losing they trust God for the outcome.

One fish two fish...girl fish boy fish...

I am not exagerating when I say my kids are fish (Trout, I think. although Parker resembles electric eel). They LOVE love love the water. If you are going to take a bath at our house(visitors be warned), goggles are a prerequisite, as is staying in there for a minimum of 45 minutes and practicing every swim stroke known to man.

So, this winter we signed the kids up for swim lessons so they could swim every week during the cold months. In previous posts, I have complained about Lillie's need to imitate everything Parker does, but in this case it was a huge advantage. Withing 20 minutes of the first class, Lillie had jumped into the 13 foot pool unassisted, treaded water for a minute and swam to the ladder on her own. There was no way she was going to let her big brother show her up. I have to admit, as a dancer, Lillie could use some work...as a swimmer and an athlete, the girl has got some skills. Anyway, the 8 week class was over on Friday and both kiddos got their certificates of completion! We celebrated with blue icecream from UDF!

Flag. Football. Fun.

Flag football season has begun around here and boy are we having fun! Parker has scored a touchdown in each of his first 2 games (we won't mention the 1/2 dozen times he accidentally ran toward the other teams goal when he got the ball.. it's a minor detail) and seems to especially love getting muddy (go figure). Lillie is a supportive little sister and is absolutely adoreable when yelling, "Gooo Parka! Go Bowboys(cowboys)."

Every little boy needs to play a sport that requires a cool green mouthpiece



The spectators

Problem Solver

Parker while digging for "treasure": "Ooohhhh... Look at this rubberband I found. It's mysterious."

You are what you wear

After getting Lillie dressed, I hear Parker tell her, "Lillie your shirt says You're a Cutty. Hmm? You're cute but I dunno what a cutty is. Oh wait.. hahaha (cracking himself up) You're a cutie!!! Yeah yeah... you are."

Digging

Parker's favorite outside activity these days is digging. For what you ask? Name it. Worms, spiders, snakes (yes, snakes! thank goodness he hasn't found one yet), "treasure" (old paper clips, random pieces of metal etc). At any given moment, he can be found with his magnifying glass, a bucket, and numerous digging tools. I LOVE having a little boy! He makes everyday suburbia living so fun and entertaining (and a little muddy). I also have a new found affinity with my mother in law who probably has a lot of the same memories and experiences of Trev as a child.

Sibling Chivalry

As I talk with other moms, it is apparent that we all have the same desire for our kids to not "just put up with each other" but really love one another. My sister and I are super close so I have always prayed that my children would be good buddies and enjoy each others company. For right now, God is answering that prayer abundantly and I am sooo thankful! This past year has been full of changes with 2 moves, a new house, new friends, new school... and thru it all Parker and Lillie have had each other. This winter tested that relationship on a new level with lots of cold weather and being stuck inside for days at a time. Lesson learned: sharing is like breathing in our house and there is nothing off limits that cannot be shared in some capacity. Parker has also taken to sleeping in Lillie's room every night which has also grown their friendship. When we moved into this house, it seemed so big (especially after our 3 month stay in a corporate apartment) Both kids were feeling lonely in the evenings and out of place. I can still remember so clearly the night Parker asked Lillie if he could sleep on the bed in her room and she answered him with a HUGE hug. It is funny to listen to them on the monitor after we tuck them in. Their conversations (if you can call them that) are so cute and sweet. Parker usually tells Lillie it's time for bed and he'll see her in the morning and Lillie usually asks Parker to whistle her a song (his newest talent) and or tell her a knock knock joke. I love how they think of each other even if the other isn't around. Whenever Trev takes Parker to the library, he always comes home with a Dora book or an Elmo video for Lillie. If Parker is at school and Lillie gets a treat she always saves Parker a few Skittles or a cookie. I don't know if it will always be like this. I get a lot of people commenting to me at the grocery or at the mall to enjoy it while it lasts b/c they won't always love each other this much. I of course am hoping they are wrong. I want Lillie to adore her big brother and I want Parker to always watch out for her and protect her. Here are some pics from the past few days... Oh, how I cherish these moments!

Lillie Quote of the day

Lillie insisted on being carried while walking around the mall today. After a 1/2 hour of toting her around I put her down and told her she would have to walk a bit to which she replied VERY dramatically,"But Mommm... Me have baby legs... they soooo tired walkin!"

Brother cam

Parker tried and tried to get a pic of Lillie. He bribed her with M&M's, money, a silly dance... you name it but she wasn't having it.




and then... she just gave up!

April Showers

Tonite, Trev announced he would start the kids bath so I could rest for a bit (nice guy right?) So, the kids strip down and start doing their "naked dance" and Trev yells, "last one in the bath is a rotten egg!!!" So, the kids make a mad dash for our bathroom and jump right into the tub... FULL OF ICE COLD WATER!!!!! They start screaming and squealing and jumping all around.. It was hysterical and totally mean (if you ask me).

Apparently Aprils fools is not just for kids:):) Dads are the worst offenders!