February 8, 2010 by willing2riskready2go
Last week, we went to Austin to visit Sara who lived in Central Asia for a semester. She is amazing with kids and N especially has a sweet bond with her. Her bedtime stories are unparalleled and I would always cringe when I was putting N to bed and he would ask for a Sara story. My stories don’t even begin to compare!
She had make your own pizzas for N and J. We do this at home all the time but I’ve never let them put on their own sauce, cheese and toppings. They loved it and kept saying, we’ve got to have this at home, Mom! This was topped off with ice cream, a movie and a Sara bedtime story.
Our lives are richer for knowing Sara. My favorite part of the visit was staying up late after N and J were finally asleep. I let Sara beat me in Nertz for the 100th time. She doesn’t know I’m actually a Nertz superstar wiz , I have just let her beat me repeatedly for the past few years so she’ll feel good about herself. J and I would never practice on our date nights in attempt to beat she and Lindsey, just once. We would never analyze their every move to figure out if they somehow cheat. We wouldn’t have to since we’re a power couple when it comes to Nertz.
Until next time, keep practicing Sara!
Tags: Austin, Nertz, Sara
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February 5, 2010 by willing2riskready2go
We took a family trip to the doctor today for my ultrasound to find out if we were having a boy or girl.
N’s first reaction upon hearing the news:
J’s first reaction:
GIRL!
Tags: girl, Inspire
Posted in Inspire | 6 Comments »
February 4, 2010 by willing2riskready2go
Tags: Create, Paint
Posted in Create | 4 Comments »
February 3, 2010 by willing2riskready2go
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February 2, 2010 by willing2riskready2go
As I mentioned last week, my friend who works at a ski resort always said that people leave their brains at home when they go on vacation. Well educated, intelligent customers told to grip the ski pole like so who just stand there looking confused. Seasoned business travelers who can’t find their passport when it is time to clear customs. It happens.
On Carnival cruise lines, they started keeping a list of the funniest things said by carnival passengers. I shared some last week but saved my favorites for today.
A customer in his room has a question. He picks up his phone to call the customer service desk. Because so many employees are from different parts fo the world, they are required to identify themselves and where they are from. Lorna at the ship’s customer service desk takes the call. “Hello. This is Lorna from South Africa. How may I assist you?” Customer responds: “South Africa? Good gosh, how did I get through to South Africa? This is gonna cost a fortune!” Click.
Keeping in mind the large amounts of alcohol typically consumed on these ships, another customer service call: Even before the chance to identify herself, the customer service representative hears a frantic voice saying, “Can you send someone to help me out of my room? There only two doors. One is the bathroom and the other has a ‘do not disturb’ sign!”
One customer service representative answers the phone to hear a sweet old lady asking, “Can you send someone to my room to fix my microwave? It seems to be broken.” Microwaves are strictly forbidden as they are a fire safety hazard and the representative is worried that someone has brought their own microwave. She calls security and has someone immediately check on the situation. The security officer went to the room to find a frustrated lady with two pieces of pizza in her cabin safe!
My favorite, a lady who raised her hand at the end of an informational talk to ask, “What religion are those people with the little patches behind their ears?” Answered by a sarcastic man in the front row, “They must be Apache!”
Tags: Cruise, Laugh, Vacation
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February 1, 2010 by willing2riskready2go
I had intended to write a post about our very fun trip to Austin last week to visit Sara who lived in Central Asia with us. Unfortunately, I still haven’t fully unpacked from the trip, haven’t found my camera yet and therefore haven’t uploaded pictures to post. The highlight for N and J was playing at Jungle Java. Can anyone guess what this is? Jungle Java. Only in Austin. A coffee shop with a huge kids indoor playground so that moms can have coffee and chat while their kids played. And how much do you think moms will fork out for this little privilege? Try $7.50 per kid. Ridiculous. I wasn’t expecting it to cost anything, I mean, they’re all gonna buy an overpriced coffee too. So, unfortunately for N and J when I found out the price we turned right around to high tale it to the McDonald’s I had seen down the street. I tried to smooth the debacle over with telling them they could have ice cream at McDonald’s but, they were pretty much devastated. And, I have to say it was a really cool playground. We left anyway. We were almost to the car, two crying kids in tow, when a high school girl who worked there chased us down. She explained that she had forgotten that it was actually $3 Thursdays. I didn’t want N and J to think their crying was what got them in but at the same time a one time experience at Jungle Java just might be worth $3 so back in we went. And worth it, it was!
I’ll post pictures from the fun time with Sara after I find my camera.
Over the weekend we painted J’s big girl room pink and also painted a bathroom that we had been meaning to paint since we moved in. We worked hard but were able to finish and still fit in a trip to the swimming pool and a good hour spent cleaning up a flourescent light bulb that fell on the floor and shattered, more like exploded!
The highlight of the weekend was a surprise visit from our friends Scott and Abby who were fresh off the plane from an overseas trip and wanted someone to hang out with so that they could delay sleep a little longer and adjust to the American time schedule more quickly. I love surprise visits. It was a part of Central Asian culture that was difficult to adjust to but now I miss it greatly. No one in America just shows up, except Scott and Abby. So, now you know. If you know us, give us a surprise visit sometime and make our day!
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January 29, 2010 by willing2riskready2go
The goal of most of my Friday posts is to inspire someone. Today, I’m just trying to inspire myself! 
I figure by writing about what I want to do, maybe I’ll have the motivation and discipline to really do it.
One of the things I wanted to do with the start of the new year was incorporate scripture memory into our every day lives at home. On Monday, January will be over and I sure don’t have any home videos of cute kids reciting verses. I’ve attempted in the past but nothing has ever stuck. I tried keeping an AWANA book in the car and making driving time a time to memorize together. But, it didn’t go over too well and was soon forgotten.
This time, I found a few key verses that are short but contain significant truths. I’m going to try keeping one a week at the dinner table to be reviewed at each meal along with some type of chart where they get stickers for memorizing the verses and a small surprise when they are all memorized.
I hope this attempt goes better than the previous ones. I know I just need to have the discipline to stick with it each day. I hope I’m inspired .
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. |
Psalm 118:8
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. |
Psalm 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee. |
Luke 1:37
For with God nothing shall be impossible. |
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. |
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. |
Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. |
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. |
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing. |
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. |
Tags: Inspire, Preschool, Scripture Memory
Posted in Inspire | 1 Comment »
January 28, 2010 by willing2riskready2go
We were desperate for a craft last week as we attempted to adjust back to our schedule. I looked online and found this edible play dough recipe. I liked this particular one because it is healthy enough to be an actual meal as opposed to a desert or snack. It became a play with your food lunch and was a big hit!
Mix together:
1 16 oz jar peanut butter
3/4 cup powdered milk
6 tablespoons honey
Store in an airtight container when finished.
At first, they enjoyed, cutting, smashing and enjoying the texture.
Then, their creativity started to kick in. There were mice,
cats,
And cages built to keep these savage beasts apart.
But in the end, the only real solution was to eat these beasts whole, and that’s just what we did!
Tags: Create, Edible Play Dough, Play Dough
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January 27, 2010 by willing2riskready2go
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January 26, 2010 by willing2riskready2go
My friend who works at a ski resort always said that people leave their brains at home when they go on vacation. Well educated, intelligent customers told to grip the ski pole like so who just stand there looking confused. Seasoned business travelers who can’t find their passport when it is time to clear customs. It happens.
On Carnival cruise lines, they started keeping a list of the funniest things said by carnival passengers. Here are a few:
“What do you suppose the altitude is here?”
“Are they using generators on board to supply electricity?” No, there’s a long extension cord reaching all the way from Galveston.
“Does the wait staff sleep here on the ship?” No, they are air flighted in by helicopter when you get hungry.
“Do those stairs go up or down?” Hmmmm
“What do you do with the ice carvings after they’ve melted?”
“May I please request a room on the sunny side of the ship?”
“Does this elevator go to the front of the ship?” No, haven’t perfected that technology yet.
I hope these made you chuckle. I’m saving my favorites for next week, so stop back by!
Tags: Cruise, Laugh, Vacation
Posted in Laugh | 1 Comment »
