here fishy, fishy, fishy

memorial day weekend we went to namaw & poppy's for a good 'ole fishing trip.  everyone looking cool as cats in our hats!

here was one of ben's many catches of the day..reeling it in

 & got it!

gracie's favorite thing of the day was finding a tiny froggy.  one of her newest obsessions.

mr. benj wasn't the only one to catch the fish.  here's gracie with her big one!

 & here's momma!

 mine was so big it needed 2 pictures!

these are my favorite pics from the day...

daddy & big b fishing away

 3 generations

man, was it hot!  i was glad gracie was hot, so we could go back to namaw & poppy's & chill in the ac.  but, we did make several trips out to the lake.

the crew taking a break.

one time, ben thought he was ready to go home.  but then, he got that fifteenth wind & went on to catching some more.

after daddio & uncle rocky saved this snapping turtle from some line, both kiddos were ready to skedaddle.  & we did!

i won't mention what happened to that beast after they saved him...

the easter dragon!

i figured i'd start back up with new beginnings- easter time with the easter dragon.  this sweet dragon made his first appearance about 3 years ago, leaving a trail of bubbles behind so the kiddos would know he had visited.  this year, he visited at deedee & paul's, with lots of good hiding spots for the scavenger hunt.

the dragon always lets you know he was there by leaving a trail of bubbles behind.

it was awesome to watch ben read the clues this year & all 3 work together to figure out where the next surprise & clue was.


finding the prizes was such fun!

here were the clues (along with bible verses) the dragon left at each stop & the surprises they found:

Hell

1.Hello my sweet dragon friends, it’s the Easter dragon back again!  My, how I’ve enjoyed watching you grow this past year.. All 3 of you are amazing- growing up, learning so much and remembering to do the right thing!  Watching you all grow and learn is so rewarding for me.  & while you are learning, you remember to try & do the right thing.  That makes this dragon happy!  Speaking of growing…. Your first surprise is where blossoms bloom next something that rhymes with “tight roast.”   I’ve added Bible verses at the end of each clue to help you remember God’s love for us.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

“You are young, but don't let any person treat you like you are not important. Be an example to show the believers how they should live. Show them with the things you say, with the way you live, with your love, with your faith, and with your pure life.”1 Timothy 4:12

these treats were some dragon flowers to plant next to the light post..

2. You kiddos do a great job of letting your light shine for Jesus – the real reason we celebrate Easter.  In the next spot, go to your mommies’ old favorite hiding spots as kids that have 2 ways in & out.  These goodies will help you to remember to let your lights shine for Jesus!! 

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12      

some little finger lights & a cool led light toy  in the closet between the 2 bedrooms

3.April showers bring May flowers.  & that water makes it hard for me to fly.  These would help me keep dry.  You will find a surprise in the spot where someone might hang up raincoats.  After you are all done with the hunt, you can personalize what you found! (ben & gracie – you did this for church, but now you can make some just for yourselves!)

Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.  Zechariah 10:1 

umbrellas to decorate for the kiddos

4.This dragon doesn’t like being sick one bit.   You can discover these next little somethings to help keep you healthy in a place you get clean.

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave. O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. Psalm 30:2-3

Be Joyful! A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22#2

some hand sanitizer in the bathtub & tissues

5.I love to read & write.  & I know you do too!  Go look for your next surprises in a cozy spot to read some books.  You can write your special thoughts with some very special tools & read some new stories!!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance," Proverbs 1:5 ESV

a pencil & some books we had

6. Who loves their sweets?  Go to the place where Grandma DeeDee always makes her goodies.  They are in a cabinet that has items in it that rhymes with underwear.. & remember when licking that lollipop to share peace on earth! 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

But all who listen to me will live in peace,

untroubled by fear of harm.” Proverbs 1:33

peace lollipops in the kitchen cabinet

7.God made us all – all people, all creatures big & small- even icky- creepy bugs (which I think are delicious!).  Don’t tell her, but I hid them on a pillow of an arachnophobe.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do -Ephesians 2:10

some bugs that walk down the wall

8. & last but not least, some special things I’d like each of you to care for.  You can crack open the big ones, but the smaller ones are for you to have.  I have laid them under a tree near an object that rhymes with ring.   Please take care of them & remember to have a wonderful Easter!  Jesus has risen!  Hip Hip Hooray, or should I say Roar?!?!  I Love you all & remember to keep doing the right things, show love to others, stand up for what is right, say your prayers, thank God for everything & enjoy being kids! Pray for those to come to know our Savior, Christ Jesus, so that they may have eternal life & joy. 

Peace out, my little dragon buddies!

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. God gave his Son so that every person that believes in him would not be lost, but have life forever.”

John 3:16

    at the last stop, the dragon left some special dragon eggs & bubbles just for the kiddos.

they decorated their umbrellas after the hunt.

each one unique & beautiful, just like them!

fun, fun end to spring break & to start the easter celebrations!!

it's been a while..

since i have written anything down.  the poor blog has been neglected. let's see what has happened since my last post.
beano & gracie had their last soccer games.  hurray!

  

beano was a scoring machine & gave it his all.  good job, buddy! 

with his crew after the game.

 now, for miss g's last game...

she was a body on the field

attached to her daddio's leg.

i thought it was cute.

we had a super fun shower to celebrate the upcoming arrival of kate & dave's baby.  we are all looking forward to that bundle of joy- any day now!

the baby blanket i made for their little nutbrown.

game on lock shirts - justin's idea.  don't ask - i don't get it.

the happy parents to be & all of us!

justin & i had our 7th wedding anniversary.  not a day goes by that i don't love you more, my love.  i can't put into words my love for you.


we've been sick.  a lot.  i think that's the big reason why the blog has been on hold.  the late nights up with coughing, wheezing kiddos can do that. 

one day during their illness, we went out to get some fresh air.  benj wrote me the sweetest note.

i love you too, buddy.  forever & ever. 

playing outside that day was lots of fun.  the kiddos were striking poses for me. 

these are their "angry" faces.

yes, benj, you are bigger!

i love the look grace is giving her big bubby here.  too sweet.

halloween happened. 

the kiddos were mario & tinkerbell.  i curled up miss g's hair & put on some makeup.  she was loving it!! 

visiting neighbor john's house.

mario was bugging tinkerbell.

& she let him have it with her fairy wand.  don't tink her off!

 i was just a mom for halloween.  a tired one. 

& this was ben at the end of the night.  a self portrait he took with my camera.  lovely.

the leaves have been coming down & down & down in our yard.  gracie gets very upset when i bag them up.  they are to be jumped in & slid into & played in & thrown up in the air- not trashed!  they are indeed fun!

that's been the goings on lately.. 

the goings on lately..

soccer.  big surprise!
after gracie's triumphant return, the next game was against the team she played the first time.  & that team was why she didn't want to play anymore.

 

i think the girl standing next to her was one of the shorter ones on that team.  they were good.  really good. and aggressive.  really aggressive for a 4-6 year old league.  they never let up & bit much i thought, but that's momma bear here.  i was proud of our girls for not giving up though.

that game caused her breathing issues to flare up in a major way.  friday, the day the kids had out from school we were planning on something super special while ben was at a birthday party.  it ended up being a doctor visit.  not too special.  by the time we getting the prescription, reality set in that we weren't going to the fall festival or to chuck e cheese (the special things we were thinking about doing).  she was mighty upset about this fact & started crying in the drugstore that turned into a cry you just can't stop.  i was holding her while in line & talking to her, trying to make her feel better.  a lady in her 60's got in front of us in line & told gracie to be quiet, she was being bad & nobody wanted to hear her.  really??  i told my gracie girl it was ok, she is a good girl & i was sorry she was sick.  & i did then tell the lady that my daughter was sick & upset.  quite the drama scene in walgreen's.  another lady about the same age then offered gracie a piece of candy from pocket (that kind that my grandma always carried).  god bless her.  

we've put up a soccer goal in our yard & ben wants to play all the time.  he's getting pretty radical (one of his new favorite words), i must say.  he just kept scoring & scoring on saturday. 

at one point, coach daddio told him to pass it to another teammate or wait for them at the goal to let them score.  & he did.  he had taken that ball down the field & kinda stood in front of the goal, dribbling, waiting on a teammate.  he wasn't showing off, he was really trying to do what coach said. the other team eventually kicked it away, but that was ok.  he was trying to share.   daddio said he gave him a big smile after that.  i love that boy.

 

miss gracie was sporting the tie dye dress we made for ben's soccer games & my sunglasses.  too cute if i do say so myself.

we've started some "chores" around here (help with bed, clothes, teeth, dishes in sink or dishwasher, help with picking up).  the kiddos will get either a quarter or a treat if they do what they are supposed to all week.  of course, benj was immediately trying to negotiate a better deal of a daily payment.   

here was the list ben created of his to do's: 

 what they are.. i'm not quite sure.. those first words no clue... but make my bed was the end of the first one.  

gracie's list she helped make included 5. have fun  6.feed froggy 7. patience 9. pray 10. bed  

 they did get a "treat" for completing their first week of helping more around the house.  the game Guess Who? from the basement stash of toys.  & they love it! (they love every game - especially ben)

today, we went for a scooter/trike ride in the neighborhood.

check out their new shirts.

 

 it's a picture ben made in art class & they sent home paperwork to have it made into a shirt.  we scanned his artwork & ironed it onto shirts we had.  

this yard decoration is at a home in our subdivision.  it just doesn't seem safe to me...

 it's right by the road.  i'm all for shabby (a bit too much daddio would say), but rusty spikes just don't seem like a good idea to me.   

1/2 way through, gracie just left her trike to the wayside & then ben did.  

 pretty typical for our walks.   

gracie had a wipeout too.  she said she wished the roads "were made of pillows to soften her landing." 

racing time.

 

someone got a head start!  

worn out time.   

 she just plopped right down on the road.  silly goose.  she got carried / pushed most of the way back, as she was wiped out & couldn't breath.  at least now we have an inhaler for her.  get strong lungs, grow strong!

& i have to add another going on... toots.  i guess it's a boy thing.  i asked ben if he had to go to the bathroom yesterday.  he replied,"no, i just like to toot a lot."  what a stinker.