Choir Girl

At Easter our choir sings "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tomb, bestowing life". It's Tuba's favorite and he rocks out to it and cracks everyone up. Sis has taken to singing it all day...every day. Here she is singing it for Tuba. Not bad for a 2 year old!

Video

I just don't get it....video games that is. I've never played them. Never been interested in them. When I was a kid the first video games came out. Okay, I did play an occasional game of PacMan and one or two games of Space Invaders at a friend's house. Oh, and there was a time when Cam and I would go play a race car game at a local tavern. Picture this...I was pregnant, we'd go in at lunch time, play a few games, laugh our heads off, and go home (and yes, I was super competitive and beat Cam lots of times). :)

Truthfully though, I just don't get the video game craze. I know...I don't have enough testosterone! Ironically, I now live in a house full of boys who LOVE video games. UGH! And...a house stocked with an XBOX and all the games. I've had many disagreements with my lovely hubby about which games our kids are allowed to play/watch. I've also had many fantasies about throwing the XBOX off a very high cliff! The violence is one problem but actually the language is more offensive to me. Many of the games would be okay for my boys to play except for the language. Not any big time swearing but things like "what the he**" and a few name calling words that I certainly don't want repeated from my kids.

So, the boys have games that are rated for their age, approved by me, and they have a time limit each day. I set the timer and if I forget...you can be sure they do not remind me. It doesn't matter how much time I allow them to play...it is never enough.

Mr. P has been asking for a DS. Fortunately for me Cam was the first to say "no" to this request. For once I didn't have to be the bad guy to say no on the video game topic. He still wants one REALLY bad and asks for one each birthday and Christmas. Of course now Busy Guy is in on the asking too.

My sister J and my nephew D visited recently. D brought his DS. My nephew D is 3 years older than Mr. P so we told Mr. P that maybe when he reaches that age he can have one too. All the boys were so fascinated with the DS. Even with an extra boy in the house it was amazingly quiet. Hmmm....maybe I should re-think my position on the DS? I could buy each kid one and I'd probably never see or hear from them until they were starving? He-he!


Even more fun than a DS....a doggy! Sis chased the poor pooch around the house trying to catch him.
All the boys sat and watched how to play. My nephew made sure that Tuba got in an the action too.

God's Heart

Pain

Here is my sweet girl while still in Ethiopia at the orphanage. We are so blessed that she received such great and loving care while we waited to bring her home. This morning I am feeling good. Last night I was in terrible pain. I have a bladder infection....OUCH! By the time I went to the walk-in clinic, saw the Dr., went to the pharmacy and got home to take my meds I was feeling really bad. But, this morning I'm pain free. Thank God for antibiotics and that I have access to them. As I laid in bed last night I thought of the millions of women around the world who suffer in pain because they do not have access to a doctor or to life saving antibiotics. Every human should have access to health care. I pray for those suffering around the world. I am thankful today and even more aware of how lucky I am.

Field Trip

Last week I got to go as a parent chaperon on Mr. P's classroom field trip. Mr. P was thrilled to ride on a school bus...me? not so much! Despite the nauseatingly bumpy bus ride we had such a lovely day together. The weather was so warm and the scenery was beautiful. I am such a lucky mom that I get to do these things with my kids. It was a special day. The kids planted seeds in the garden beds....Mr. P was planting carrots.
Next they fed the salmon fry. Us parents got to scoop and bag the fry into individual bags for each kid.

Mr. P and his salmon friends.

Releasing the fry into the stream. Go little fish, GO!
Looking off the bridge as all the fry swam by and off into the wild.

All Clear

Sound the alarm...the All Clear Alarm. Cam is fine...just a virus that he slept off. Yeah!!!

NO, NO, NO!

Cam went off to work this morning, I made pancakes, I was listening to music in the kitchen and cleaning up while the kids played. And then the phone rang. Cam was calling...I assumed he was calling to say good morning to his family...you know what they say about making assumptions! Well, in fact Cam was calling to say he was coming home. He said he has a fever, chills, and a stomach ache. WHAT!!! Do you know what this caring and loving wife said to her ill husband? I said, "Home? You can't come home! Can you go to a hotel?". You might ask yourself why I could be so mean. Just go here and you'll see why I suggested he not come home. In the end I said come home....but is it mean to suggest he sleep in the garage? When I told the kids that Cam was sick and coming home Mr. P asked right away, "is it the throw up germ?!". Yes, we are all still afraid! I'll keep you posted...if I'm away too long you'll know that it's not good. Pray everyone...PRAY.