Addison Asks About JESUS!

This single conversation makes sacrificing staying at home with our kids worth it; all the extra money from two incomes, all the disciplining and tears I deal with all day, all the separation anxiety, all the challenges...it is ALL worth it.  Not that I ever wondered, but I was EXTRA thankful today that I stay at home.  I cannot imagine missing this moment with Addison.  I cannot imagine someone else being asked these questions.  What a precious moment that God gave me!  Here is how it went....

I went in Addison's room at 8 am to find her still asleep.  I left the door cracked and planned to check on her again in a few minutes.  Around 8:30 I hear her singing so I go in.  Here is how the conversation went:

A: Hi mommy!
K:  Hi sweetheart, did you sleep good?
A:  Yes

(She did not say anything for several moments after this, which is unusual for her.  She is usually jabbering every moment her eyes are open.  I go to her closet and grab some clothes.  She gets out of bed and walks over to me to start getting dressed.)

A:  Mommy, did Daddy die on the cross?
K:  No, but who DID die on the cross?
A:  JESUS of course Mommy.
K:  That's right.  Good!
A: But WHY did he die on the cross?

(Butterflies in my stomach)

K:  Well he died on the cross so that everyone who believes in him can go to Heaven.
A:  Hmm...well how do you do that?
K:  Jesus died on the cross because of all the not nice things we do...disobeying, being unkind.  He did on the cross FOR those not nice things we do.  He died so that if we ask him to forgive us and come live in our heart forever that we can go to Heaven.
A:  I do not nice things Mommy.
K:  I do too sweetie, but we can ask him to forgive us and to come into our heart and then because we believe those things we can go to Heaven.

(She is processing)

A:  So Jesus is in Heaven?
K:  Yes!
A:  Then God is in Heaven?
K: YES!  And you know Papa's daddy?
A:  Yes, is he in Heaven too?
K:  Yes baby!  He believed that Jesus died for him too and he asked him into his heart.  Everyone who asks Jesus in their heart is in Heaven.
A: MOMMY.  MOMMY!  I want to be in Heaven with Jesus TOO!
K:  You will if you ask Jesus in your heart and ask him to forgive you for all the not nice things you do.
A:  Jesus, will you come into my heart FOREVER?  YAY Mommy!!  He is in my heart everywhere now right?
K: Yes Addison, this is so wonderful!  He is in your heart in bed, at school, when you are asleep, when you are awake--EVERYWHERE!
A:  Jesus is in my heart.  Jesus is in my heart!

The rest of the morning she told everything she saw Jesus was in her heart.  She was so excited.  She also kept naming off people and asking if they were in Heaven or would be in Heaven, which of course I do not know.

I realize she is three.  But as much as MY three year old can understand things....she has got this.  I am still on an amazing high that God gave me THIS honor to be there to have this conversation with her!  I am so thankful.  So thankful.  I am also thankful for all the countless family members, friends, church care takers and school teachers that have already loved on her and lived out Jesus for her---especially recently!
God is Good!!!!  This is a day to celebrate and remember!

Monkey Business Bath

The kids bath in the new house! This is the first kid bath we have had so it was fun finally decorating. Total cost was about 25 bucks--a lot of it was from the dollar store :)

They love monkeys so it was an easy pick!










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Swiper the Fox

For those of you who watch Dora this will sound familiar.

Aj "you will never find your grass now. [she "throws" the grass] heh heh heh heh"
And Caleb copies her as the usual protocol....
"Wah wah wah now. Heh heh heh"

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Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom: Ignorance

Ignorance is not the same as stupidity. Ignorance is lack of knowledge. For example, I am ignorant about all things medical that I have not experienced personally. I could learn it and thus-good bye ignorance. Stupidity is lacking intelligence or common sense. I look at stupidity as you nearly choose to not to accept the common sense. To me, stupidity is chosen. Ignorance is not.

Here's the confession part.....

I overheard a conversation today at the park from someone I have to hope is ignorant. The park was busy today; daycares, individuals and clearly stay at home mommies with play groups all gathered to entertain kids. (Kids should I mention that like myself were stuck in a winter that lasted 6 months---we are all desperate to be outside no matter the cost). I can only assume this person was a daycare worker/owner a) based on the number and diversity of kids she had in tow and b) the conversation that ensued.It was more of a ranting monologue as the other parties in the "conversation" nodded heads more than participated.

"Look at these women. All these women who ain't workin' and never been workin'. It must be nice to not be a working mom. I wish I didn't have to be a working mom. I want to sit around at the park all day or just do nothin like that."

Does anyone actually think staying at home is easy? And she's running a daycare, shouldn't she know that taking care of kids is not nothing!? This is a soapbox I realize but come on....are you serious? Clearly the fact that some days I don't change out of pjs means I did nothing but watch tv right? I instantly thought: I had a very successful career and that was cake compared to what I do now. What I do now has eternal value. Sales communications, sales reports, sales contents, sales process is easy street. Easy street. Again, soap box but please tell me people don't actually think this? Ignorance right? She just doesn't know a real stay at home mom right? It's got to be the case. It must.
I should have joined in and rebutted "must be nice to have a job. And be paid. To sit at the park and do nothing".

Hot Dog Dance

Check out Addison and Caleb's moves.....

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What does Caleb think he needs for nap?

What do you need for nap Caleb?
Translation is: paci, snuggle and then night night.

The way he says snuggle (nuggle) and paci (pag-y) and night night (nigh nigh). Melts my heart every time!

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Chore Chart

Why have a three year old do chores? We do have a goal in mind!!!! We wanted to encourage Addison (and eventually our other kid--kids, hopefully one day) to contribute to the family...to a group...as well as have individual responsibilities. I grabbed a fantastic nugget from "on becoming child wise" to not only give your children chores that teach them individual responsibility (make your bed, clean your room, etc.---those things all "benefit" just Addison) but teaches them the importance of contributing to the group (set the table, vacuum, take out the trash, etc). I would have arrived at chores with this variety without the book but I would not have identified the important difference between the team aspect. It's so simple but so important and so easy to glaze over without helping connect the dots for our little ones.

Anyways........funny moment of the whole chore chart: I introduce it as a "chore chart" and Addison tears up and says "mommy, I don't want you to be the mean step mother and make me do chores like Cinderella". LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

After I explain that these are fun tasks to help me.....Addison has LOVED putting her chore "stickers" up each day as she finishes her tasks each day. The stickers are just laminated pieces of paper with Velcro on the back so we can take them off each week. On Saturday, we count them and if she has 20 (she loves counting them too), she gets some coins for her coin jar!!!!! She loves adding coins and counting them and shaking them.

The sweetest thing was she said "mommy I am going to buy Caleb a car with my coins." She thought of him first :)

Next learning opportunity is taking the jar full of coins and giving some to God first.

Hope this keeps up....it's more work for me to have her "help" but it's a great learning time!







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Children's Museum July 2013

We have a great children's museum here and as the kids get older it gets more fun to watch them enjoy the museum. We went last week with our friends Jen, Alexis and Cameron. We had lots of laughs and some tired kids at the end which means success to me!!! However, I should point put these sweet kiddos are partly exhausted because of non stop fireworks banging around of a week. Ug. Another rant for another day.

They made Fourth of July Hats

They made Fourth of July Hats. He looks like Gilligan. Again. Ha.




When you sit in the chair the bells play a fun song!

When you sit in the chair the bells play a fun song!

Tired boy number one

The progression of tired boy number two. Starting to get sleepy

Droopy eyes

Nodding off

And he is out. Fell asleep mid giggle. The sweetness