Blah

Today is a blah day...the kind of rainy overcast mundane day where all you want to do is sneak back into bed with a good book and overdose on chocolate. It's that stumped feeling where you want to do something out of the ordinary with the kids only to realize you can't think of anything. At all. Hmmm. Apparently Nicole feels the same way.

Preschool Playdates

These cute kids...how lucky they are to be in preschool together (minus Nikki). Living next to family is our biggest support and blessing. And the fact that all they want to do is be together makes life so easy. The first thing Noah asks each morning is who's house they are going to play at after preschool. I lucked out today.

He May Have a Drinking Problem

This is my bottle loving baby. He walks around with empty or filled bottles for a good portion of each day. They soothe him. For a while I only gave him one in the morning when he woke up, I'd warm up the milk in the microwave in the pantry and he would lay on the floor in drunken contentment. Then he started asking for them more often. "MILK", he'd say, and he'd close the pantry door to let you know he wanted it "on the rocks". When we take him to the doctor they ask if he still drinks a bottle, and I say no...I used to say yes, get reprimanded, feel super guilty, and now I just let it be. I only give him water when he goes to bed so as to not destroy his teeth. And I'm not sure how to wean the little suckers away, or that I'm ready for him to give it up at all. Call me...Mama Enabler.

Nursery Graduate

Today marks a huge milestone for our family. Nicole has graduated nursery and is a SUNBEAM! Not only does that leave us with one in nursery, but it also means we have no more children crying for us to stay with them during the second and third hour of church. Cameron never cries because he is usually busy trying to wrestle his darling friend, Andrew Higginson. Nicole doesn't need us now that she can sit with all her siblings and cousins in Primary. Plus, Nicole loves her singing time with her Aunt Sarah, who even entertains me when I stop in. She did great with her new teacher Sister Dixon as did Mary with the Daltons and Noah with the Robinsons. We are so blessed with fabulous prepared talented and loving Sunday teachers.

"God is love"

I saw the latest version of Les Miserables at the theater last night. The music, the story, the words, the principles of mercy and justice...they always move me and ring such hope and truth in my heart. I left feeling so grateful and motivated to love more like God.

I loved one of the final scenes when the words "to love another person is to see the face of God" were sung. Jean Val Jean, now deceased, walks towards the priest who helped him come to know God, and treat him with love. He was Jean Val Jean's catalyst for a whole new life and relationship with God.

These scriptures connect these thoughts for me...

1 John 4:12 "No man hath seen God at any time, except them who believe (JST), God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."
And in 1 John 4: 7-8 "Let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

Ski Bunnies

Aaron took Mary and Noah skiing today for the first time. They couldn't stop talking about how fun it was the entire evening. Next time I am going to join them on the bunny slopes and learn for myself,
especially with that gorgeous Portuguese-speaking ski instructor by my side.

Sisters

I walked in on these two cuddling today and talking sweetly to each other. I am so grateful to have two girls... I am sure they will be best friends through out their lives, especially when they will have to take care of their aging Alzheimer's mother.