Snow Day!

We had our biggest snow of the season yesterday (February 28). I was happy for a few reasons...the boys got to play outside, it was a good excuse to have a lazy Saturday morning, and the boys actually got to wear their snow boots that I purchased back in November.
Here's a few pics to celebrate the snowy day.
Levi, Ben and Daddy building a snow man...
Ben got cold (and he didn't like his hat or his gloves, and his boots hurt, etc...) so Levi's friend Davis joined them and helped to complete the snow man...
Here's Levi and Davis jumping on the snow-filled trampoline...
Happy Winter (only 20 days left!)

A milestone

Levi wrote his first note today to his Daddy. Of course, I had to tell him how to spell each of the words, but he decided what he wanted to say and he wrote it completely on his own. Daddy was so excited to see it when he got home from work! These little milestones are just so fun!

Sorry you can't see it very well. His little hand just doesn't press down on the pencil very hard. And even if you could see it, you might have a hard time figuring out what it says. Levi doesn't always get the idea of leaving space between words or writing in a line. It says, "To Daddy, I love you. Graham is sick. You are a good dad." Levi

I can't wait to see what his first note to me says!

A Change of Plans

This is not how I thought I would be spending my week...

Michael and I have not had a getaway for a very long time. I don't even want to write how long it's been because it's pretty pathetic. I guess that's what 3 kids in 3 years will do to you. Anyway, Michael was headed to Dallas for work for a few days, and I decided to tag along. It was going to be a totally free trip and although Michael had meetings in the evenings, he would have some free time during the day for us to hang out, shop and see friends. We were excited to have some quiet meals and to get some rest.

Grandma came to the house Tuesday morning to keep the kids. We dropped off Levi at school and headed to the airport. We arrived in Dallas and immediately went to Uncle Julios...probably our favorite mexican resaurant ever. We then set out to explore the city. it wasn't long until we got a phone call from my mom that Levi was pretty sick. She picked him up from school and noticed he had a very stuffy nose and then coughed the entire way home. Several hours later he had a high fever. Great.

We checked in with my mom several more times and each time the news got worse. By late that night it sounded like I needed to head home. The poor guy was so sick, and I just didn't feel right about hanging out in Dallas while my mom cared for my sick 4-year old while also trying to take care of a 1 and 2 year old. When my mom called to report that he was now vomiting, I made it official. So the next morning Michael dropped me off at the airport, and I headed back to Kansas City, not even 24 hours after I arrived. Bummer!

The title of my blog, Choosing Laughter, was not really an option at the time. I was frustrated and had a little pity party for myself.

But when I got home and saw my sick boy, I realized I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Levi's throat hurt pretty badly so I immediately took him to the doctor, thinking he had strep. He didn't. He was also tested for influenza, which came back negative. I was relieved because I was starting to feel very guilty for not getting the flu shot for Levi and Ben this year. Apparently the doctor said she thought he had a virus that was really going around right now. It has all the symptoms of the flu but isn't the flu. She then added that it is often much worse than the flu, starting slowly and ending slowly. What an encouragement!

I got back from the doctor and found out that ben was also coming down with it. These 2 boys are so sick! They have had a fever for the past few days and have horrible congestion and the nastiest coughs I've ever heard. And now I have a feeling that Graham is getting it also. This week couldn't be any more different than I planned for it to be.

But now I am trying to choose laughter. My boys haven't felt much like laughing or even having fun, so laughter has been hard to come by.

But this afternoon I definitely found something to laugh about. I was cleaning up from lunch and getting Ben and Graham down for a nap when I realized that I hadn't seen Levi for a while. I looked all over...his room, my room, the play room, the basement. I was confused and started to panic a little bit. But then I saw this...
Do you see the blue blanket poking out from behind the chair?

I thought he was just hiding so I tiptoed over to the chair, planning to scare him. But then I heard heavy breathing and realized he was sound asleep. And it looks like he planned this nap because he had everything he needed...his blanket, froggy and of course, something we all need when we take a nap...a packet of skittles.
I will continue to look for laughter in the days ahead because I think we'll be held up inside for a while.

Valentine picture bloopers

Last weekend we were experiencing unusally warm temperatures so we took a little trip to the park. I thought it would be the perfect time to get some Valentine pictures, so I grabbed my camera. Things always seem a lot easier than they are, don't they?

We definitely didn't achieve a great picture, but the 85 photos in the album are evidence that we tried. I would have loved to post an adorable picture of the 3 boys but since that isn't possible, here is a brief summary of our attempts.

Ok, boys, sit here and smile...or not...

Try to keep your eyes open and don't scream...

Definitely not a keeper. We decided to take a break...

Graham became very fascinated with the rubber tire mulch...

So after the boys played for a while we decided it might be a good idea to give Graham some mulch to keep him happy for a picture...
Maybe not such a good idea...
Everyone is looking up, but I didn't really intend for the rubber tires to be the focus of the picture...
They were definitely uninterested at this point, but I was persistent...
They were starting to get goofy...
We definitely needed to stop...
The mission was abandoned, but I'm sure the other parents at the park got a kick out of watching us try and get the boys to cooperate and look cute. Just so I don't have to end with that picture, here are some cute ones from our day...

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Graham's new favorite hobby

I walked downstairs the other day, and this is how I found Graham...

He looks a little guilty, don't you think?

No Greater Love

It was that dreaded evening hour when I’m usually dealing with cranky, hungry kids, and the kids are dealing with…well, let’s face it...a cranky and hungry mom. But this evening was different. It was quiet and peaceful in my kitchen as I listened to music and sang aloud (only because no one could hear me). I could hear the boys playing in the playroom, but I really wasn’t paying much attention.

But then the noise got quite a bit louder, and I turned down the music to hear what was going on. The boys were laughing and not just little giggles but real, hearty laughter. All 3 of them. I listened closely as they were playing and joking with each other. Nobody was crying or whining. There was no tattle-tailing. They were just having fun and enjoying each other.

I had a peace come over me and such joy, as I said to myself, “It just doesn’t get much better than this.” As mothers, isn’t this what we want for our kids? To be satisfied. To be happy. To be full of joy. To be content with who they are and what they’ve been given. To know how much they are loved and to live in that love.

As His children, how much more does our Heavenly Father desire that same thing for us? To be satisfied. To be full of joy. To be content with who we are and what He has given us. To know His love and to live in that love. Can’t you just see Him smiling when He hears us laughing with those we love, when we enjoy the life He has blessed us with, and when we use the gifts He has given us to bless others? And what joy it must bring Him when we are able to say, “Christ is enough”.

Because it is through Christ that we are able to experience that ultimate love, the love of our Heavenly Father. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) There is no greater love than that. And when we know that love, when we live in that love, our life is changed.

The Psalmist said, “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” (Psalm 63:3) Do you see that? Knowing His love, experiencing His love will change us. We will glorify Him when we are content in His love. John Piper said, “God is most glorified in me when I most satisfied in Him.”

He longs to satisfy us, to love us fully and deeply and to bless our socks off in the process. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) Now that’s love. Christ gave His life so that we might live abundantly in His love.

Heavenly Father, you are so good to us. Your love truly is better than life. As a mother, may I experience your love, may I live in that love and may that love be poured out on those around me. Teach me to love my little ones unconditionally that I might point them to You, the one who loves them more than I could ever imagine. And, Lord, may I find life in Your love, may I be satisfied in You so that I can say without hesitation, “Christ is enough.”

Swimming lessons, volume 2

Many of you might remember our swim lesson fiasco in the winter of 2008. Well, here we are in the winter of 2009...same pool, same child, same drama. Why do we do this to ourselves, you might ask? Because we want our son to learn to swim! Is that so horrible of us? (Notice how I use the word, "us". This is always a clue that I am unsure of my decision and not willing to take the blame alone for it not working out.)

In all fairness to Levi, it hasn't been that bad this year. While the saddest face you have ever seen might make you think differently, he really does like the water. He just doesn't like someone telling him what to do in the water. And while getting him there is nothing short of a miracle, he cooperates and is actually swimming pretty well. His teacher, who takes her job seriously and seems to think she is preparing these 4-year olds to swim for the U.S. Army in Iraq, is a post for another day. (I'm hoping to get some video because she really is something you have to see (and hear...wow, she is loud!) for yourself.

Anyway, that wasn't the intent of this post.

Tonight, out of nowhere, Levi says, "Mommy, are swim lessons tomorrow night?"

"No, Levi. Swim lessons aren't until Monday night. But what would you say if I told you yes, we are going to swim lessons tomorow?" (We have been working on less crying and whining and more cooperation - you know, basic stuff.)

"I would say, Oh great, here we go again," Levi said with a roll of the eyes and a sarcastic tone.

I can't believe my 4-year old just said that. That is what I'm supposed to say! Hmmm...I wonder where he learned it?!