Life as I know it

Life as I know it at the moment is busy and messy. We are living in a delicate balance of peace and chaos. We are experiencing joy and walking with our friends through some pain. There is so much happening, I think it will take a year to process it all. What I can process easily at the moment is that I have some pretty darn adorable children...even if they aren't sleeping all that great;)

Chloe is taking steps! She's a doll! She is getting playful and silly and appears to be just as outgoing as every other member of this family. Who knew you could have FIVE people that all like to be the center of attention in ONE home. We are FULL of life 'round here to be sure!

I tried to upload video of her first steps but it won't work...so here is a picture of her first ice cream cone;)

Phin is in a run of mischieviousness. He is constantly getting himself into trouble doing the most hilarious things. I literally often have to step out of the room to collect myself before disciplining him. I find him so funny and his face is too precious. He also is starting to have nightmares; no longer do we have one child we can DEPEND on to sleep through the night. He has put himself in the rotation to ensure Marc and I don't get

a full nights sleep.

We thought Phin was in bed sleeping, but NO!, I found him in our shower, with his toys and a bunch of toilet paper. Why? I do not know...simply for mischief I would guess. He certainly though he was well hidden. Unfortunately he didn't take the clear glass shower door into consideration.

Ava is thriving at swimming. I've literally gotten teary watching her in swim lessons. I think we've found something she's naturally gifted at doing. It's such a blessing to watch her displaying such talent and joy in the water. She also is still enjoying her earrings and is all of a sudden looking very much like a young lady and sometimes looks so startlingly beautiful she stops me in my tracks. My baby is far from babyish now!

Ava Playing "chase" with her swimming instructor.

Sheboygan has a fabulous place called Bookworm Gardens. We had a lovely trip there yesterday;)

YIPEE!!!

Anyone who's known me for a bit of time knows one the the highlights of my year is attending the Women of Faith conference. There has been a year here or there that I've had to miss due to things like childbirth;), but otherwise I make it a priority to attend. I have never been disappointed, but always left challenged and encouraged by the speakers. I am counting down the days until this years conference in Milwaukee- SEPT.30. (74 days, if you're at all curious;).

This year, I am especially thrilled to have been selected to blog about the conference. Not only did they give me a couple tickets- they'll get to hear my feedback. I certainly would have blogged about it anway. My goal is always to share the heart on here and that weekend I can guarantee that I will walk away with a full heart. COME JOIN ME! BE encourage, be challenged, grow in you faith!!

Today must be the day of hilarious comments?!

It's a full moon, maybe that makes my kids say hilarious things? I feel like I have been laughing since I got up.

Today after meeting some moms at the park I got sidetracked by garage sales on the way home;) At one, Phin announces loudly, "We see lots of naked kids this morning!" I was mortified, had NO idea where he got this and said sternly, "Phineas! We did not." He replied very matter of factly, "Yep, we see lots of naked boys." I was thoroughly embarrassed and confused and sure that he heard something terrible from one of the older kids today at the park.

As I was driving home, my stomach in knots, thinking about what he possibly was exposed to today, he again says, "Ava, 'member all the naked kids today!?" I said, "Phin, stop it! We did not see naked kids." Again, he replied (totally unphased by my stern tone), "Yep, we did." So I said, "why are you saying that?" He said, "I see lots of naked boys like me by the water." (We were at a park that had a sprinkler playground.) So I said, of course, "Phin the boys weren't naked they were in swimsuits." He finished with, "Yep, they were naked though. I could see all their belly buttons."

Okay- so naked chests, naked bodies...blah, blah- my son doesn't differentiate. I only wish I'd clarified this while at the garage sale! I am sure those present for his exclamation think I am some whacked mother! I'll hopefully never see them again and I had quite a laugh in the car. (Maybe my abs will be sore tomorrow, that would be fantastic!)

Two Year old Flattery

Ava wanted to put in curlers after her bath last night so this morning after breakfast, we were taking them out of her hair. She was THRILLED. Ava said to Phin, "Look my hair is SOOO curly!" Phin replied just as full of excitement, "Ava! You look like a dog!"

There was a pause and I was sure tears were to follow, but then she said, "Oh, you mean a poodle dog. Yep, Phin my hair is just as curly as a poodle.";)

He made them male and female....

A conversation from our kitchen this morning:

Me: Mornin' babe. Oh, You are wearing your new shoes. Very cool.

Marc: Thanks I figured if we were havin' a date tonight I'd pull out all the stops.

Ava: Why?

Marc: I want Mommy to think I am handsome, so I put on my favorite jeans, the shirt she bought me and my cool new shoes. Don't I look handsome? (Picks Ava up onto his lap while speaking.)

Ava (fiddling with his hair): You need a haircut

Marc: But Don't I look handsome?

Ava: You need to cut this hair back here.

Marc: I will take that as a yes.

Me (laughing): That is the difference between men and women; a woman would have freaked out and examined everything about her determined that Ava was saying "no, you don't look handsome."

Marc laughs.

Ava: That IS what is was saying! Papa needs a haircut.

:) Don't worry, Marc found this hysterical AND because he is a man, still strutted through the kitchen in his cool outfit. He let it go in one ear and out the other. (I must add, his hair is totally fine and he IS handsome;)