Benjy ate corn on the cob tonight for dinner!!!!!!!!!!
I'd post a pic, but I was afraid to move. I knew if I started snapping pix, he'd know he was doing something right and he'd quit. :) Still, a happy day when he eats a veggie besides ketchup!

alpacae or alpacas?

We're in Wooster, Ohio, today for the Great Lakes Sheep and Fiber Show. OK, so I wasn't so sure about this little adventure at first, but as soon as I saw the alpacas (yes, I looked it up; it's "alpacas"), I knew I was hooked. (No pun intended for you crocheting folks). These llama-like creatures are so sweet, a bit timid, and picture-perfect with their big eyes and innocent faces. So sweet! I want an alpaca!!!!!!





The boys have been swimming for the first time this season. Camden thrives on making big splashes and holding his breath under the water. Benjy counts "1...2...3..." then jumps in to Curt's open arms. The boys are like fish! I call Camden "Shark Boy" and Benjy "Little Fish".

Quick quote of the weekend: Setup: Because Curt has a bazillion points from his many many many nights at Hampton Inns/Hiltons during cat. duty, we have been upgraded for free to adjoining rooms at this Hilton hotel. So the boys have one room and we have another. We've cleverly fixed their connecting door so that it won't close :) Last night, while the boys were playing with Star Wars people in the tub, I was pulling out their jammies and turning down their beds. Camden pipes up: "Mom, would you please leave our room now?" Nicely, respectfully, and yet still insistently. He really wanted to feel in control. The newness has only worn slighly. Tonight he asked if we could "pleeeeaaaaasssseeeee" stay another day. :) It's been a wonderful trip.

Orange x 2

Tonight was Curt's night. I could see he was a bit nervous. Focused. Not impatient, but not exactly in the mood for chasing Benjy around the back yard. Tonight was HIS night - tryouts for his next belt in Tae Kwondo. The big Orange Belt. He must have waited an hour before actually getting HIS turn. So many younger Karate Kids before him and his group. The kids go before the grownups. They were great - young, fast, sure of themselves. Probably not at all as nervous as the grownups who are less secure in the newness of this routine. And then he was on. All those weeks of work came down to this moment. All that practice rehearsing his forms, his one-steps, his pacing, breathing, strikes and blocks. I could picture him here in the family room, the fan humming from the ceiling and the blue carpet cushioning his jump kicks. That look of intensity that never leaves him when he's concentrating. No matter what he's focused on, he's got that same look that tells of a man who plans to not only accomplish something, but also to do his very best.

Well, he got his orange belt. He and everybody else in his class of 4 adults going for that first level. Curt, Tammy, Andy, and Karen did it. They all deserve a high five. But we're most proud of Curt. Father. Husband. Number 1.

Blessings

So much to be happy about today:
* It's Mom and Dad's anniversary - 46 years together. Not many can say they've seen their folks stay married that long. Congrats, Mom and Dad. I'm proud of you, and I love you both. :)

* Camden is an orange belt now! Woohooo! He did a super job at his belt testing tonight. So proud of my Tiny Tigers yells, blocks, strikes, and jumps.

* Benjy went to the speech room all by himself today, and actually talked quite a bit for Mrs. Val. He couldn't wait to celebrate at Wendy's where he ate all his fries and a bite of his chicken nuggets. Yes, one bite. Hey, it's protein!

* I started Day 1 of The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren. Today's thought - it's not about me. It's about God. :)

* I ironed Camden's name into his new ATA bag (American Taekwondo Association) that Curt gave him tonight after he earned his new belt. I felt like such the good mom. :)

* Curt cooked tofu for dinner. OK, so I wasn't crazy about it. But it was healthy, and we are blessed to be in a situation where we can try new things. Maybe one day I'll try it again....

* I exercised! Cardio, strength, and core body. Felt great to move my body, to stretch it, feel it growing stronger, to breathe with the movement and know that I was doing something RIGHT!

* The sun was bright today, skies blue. Beautiful day to watch Camden climb his tree, get tangled in his kite string, and just watch the wind blow the leaves on the trees. A perfect, if a tad cool, day.

Briar Rabbit

This is actually Curt's story, since he witnessed it. I MADE him type it up for me. And he did. :) It's just so darn cute, I had to put it here to share.

"I was out mowing grass on Saturday when my oldest son,
Camden, age 6, came running up and asked about the
rabbit in the blackberry patch in our backyard.
Raising an eyebrow and stifling a burst of laughter, I
asked what he was asking about. He said he wanted to
be able to see "Brer Rabbit" in the briar patch.

While mowing the yard back and forth, I noticed Camden
running into the house and collecting the flashlight.
I asked him again what he was doing and he said that
he was trying to see into the briar patch and see Brer
Rabbit.

Camden sat out and watched the briar patch for a while
and eventually went in to collect a lantern to have
more light. I had told Camden that he could catch
Briar Rabbit by having the light out in the yard and
he would come out and see the light and want to play.

Later that night, Camden and Benjamin were in bed
asleep. I stood by the back door and saw the lantern
laying askew in the back portion of the yard. Calling
Wendi, I showed her the hopes and dreams of a boy
captured in the light of a camping lantern."

Funny thing about this story - we got Virginia Hamilton's retelling of the classic Briar Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl at Camden's last book fair at school. I LOVE to read this book. The dialect is rich, but not as tricky to read as in the original retellings. The boys just cackle when Briar Rabbit punches the Tar Baby Girl and sticks to it! So wonderful, the sound of their laughter. Silly and fun and sunny. :)

Things They Say

Camden, while vacuuming the kitchen - "Oh man, I just sucked up an ant!"

Benjamin, any time there's a mess - "Caca did it."

Camden - "What if God didn't make grownups. Then you all would have to serve us whatever we say."

Curt, teasing me this Sunday afternoon - "I'm gonna go to the office for a couple of hours."

Me, responding to Curt - "I don't think so, Dear."

Benjamin, during a song in church this morning - "Hush please. Too loud."

Camden, while chasing Benjy around the house - "FIRE IN THE HOLE! FIRE IN THE HOLE! FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

Curt, while making our second pot of coffee today - "Time for some hair-of-the-dog coffee." Yes, strong!

Ellie - her tail says "thump thump thump" when she sees us

Emma - "Arrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo"

Trying to be creative here, but it's just not hitting me. Instead, ER is. It's the season finale, so I've GOT to watch.
Until I can do better, this'll have to do.
Love to all!

Benjy pottied!

He calls it his "poppy," but I don't care. He marched over to it today and sat on it, peed in it, and grinned! woohooo! I'm so proud of my little bugger in his Star Wars undies! Hopefully we're turning a corner here. :)

After a considerable amount of prayer, thinking, and talking with Curt, I've decided to take the teaching job at Armbrust Christian Academy. I truly believe that this is where God is leading me. Yeah, this is it. Sort of like a "mission" Sandy told me yesterday in my interview. Yes, private school pay isn't what public school is, but that is the only negative. God will give us what we need; and that will be enough. The gain I get from being at this school will be incomparable to anything I've ever experienced at a job - teaching young children, no No Child Left Behind (No Child Gets Ahead...), the ability to reach their hearts through God as well as character, new friends, and my own personal growth in Christ. Yeah, this is it. :)

A Day in the Life of Me

somewhere around 6 am: I hear Curt weighing himself in the bathroom and drift back to sleep where I dream about having to get out of bed to let the dog out.

7:30: Benjy comes to my room, pops his head up by mine and shouts, "Prise!!!"

8:00: Camden is dressed, Benjy is even dressed, and both boys have breakfast. I make coffee.

8:26: Camden catches the bus and I take my coffee upstairs to get cleaned up.

9:00: Benjy jumps in my lap as I read my Bible. We play and play and play. Silly goose. :)

10:00: Kitchen is spotless. :) Rest of the house is not. :( Laundry is moving. :) Benjy has pooped. :(

11:30: Benjy and I decide we need to eat at TGIFridays. I eat the best pasta and Benjy licks chicken fingers dipped in a blend of ketchup and mustard - his own recipe.

12:15: Off to Target!!! Mother's Day is in the bag!

2:00: Home where I lay Benjy down for a nap.

2:10: Benjy's up from said nap.

3:00: Curt comes home early to mow the grass. Benjy goes outside to play in the sandbox while Dad works in the yard. I type up the church service for the PowerPoint projection for Sunday.

3:45: Camden's home! I close my eyes while he hides two surprises for me under his bed.

4:00: Camden can't take it anymore.... He gives me my Mother's Day gifts two days early. :) A beautiful flower in a pot he decorated himself and a caricature of my one-and-only Punkin Head!

4:30: Curt takes Camden to karate. Benjy and I go to the post office.

5:30: Benjy and I come home and he's sound asleep. So I sit in the recliner, tilt it back, and hold my sleeping "baby" for the next hour. Pure bliss.

6:00: Curt heads to his karate class. Camden's on the computer. Soooo quiet.

6:45: Dinner arrives - Pizza Sienna - yummy baked ziti, bread sticks, and cheese pizza for the boys.

7:30: We find Blake and Bussy playing outside so we join them. I chat with their mom, Hope, as she plants bulbs. Hmmm, perhaps I should plant something, I think. Hmmmm, perhaps later. The boys jump on a neighbor's trampoline, play war with light sabers, and ride tricycles, the kid Jeep, the Flying Turtle, and roller blades. I'm worn out just watching.

8:15: I finally convice my boys to come home. Curt bathes them. I bathe myself. We all meet downstairs in our jammies where it's decided that we'll watch Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. No surprise there.

9:00: Bedtime for the boys. They do their standard two minutes of complaining, whining, faking asleep, then reluctantly trudge upstairs. They say their prayers and go to bed.

9:46: I'm blogging. Curt's watching Lord of the Rings. And it's very, very, very quiet upstairs. I think the whole house is worn out. I know I am. :)

day 17 - courage

OK, so I'm trying to do my day 17 page - a layout of Camden writing his word family words this morning - you know, "ham", "Pam", "Sam", "Tam", "bam". And now Photoshop is freezing up on me. Drat. And I haven't saved a bit of this layout. Oh well. I'm too pooped to fix it tonight, so I'll do it tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow is another day.

Curt's home. Yippee! So blessed that he has safe travels.

My interview with the private school to which I'm applying is on Monday. So excited. I was looking for a sign, and I got it yesterday afternoon when the director called to see if I could come in. God does move in mysterious ways. I never would have considered a private school 6 years ago. But a lot has changed since Camden was born. Priorities, education, politics. Yuck. That's the big one. Politics are ruining education....

***Edited part: Well, I couldn't just leave well enough alone. I had to finish the layout I'd started before Photoshop quit on me. And there it is. Camden was working on his word families this morning - -am and -at words. He never questioned why, just did them as he ate his waffle with butterscotch chips for breakfast. (Hey, I've gotta give in somewhere!) He just DID IT! And when he was finished he announced that "it wasn't homework." And I believe him. Really, it didn't matter anyway. I got to see him in action. Thinking, sounding out, writing. Next time...I'll trick him into writing a story! :)

Day 16 - more courage

My take on courage today, inspired by my Bible reading this morning.

Let's see, Benjy did such a fabulous job in speech today that I took him to the Olive Garden for lunch. We had a minifight with our breadsticks, wielding them as light sabers. And we played stop-the-choo-choo-with-a-fork while we waited for our food. But the best part, I think, is that he actually ATE something besides bread! He dipped his chicken in ketchup and actually ate it! Chewed-it-up-and-swallowed-it ate it! There's hope, I see. Finally.

This evening Camden was invited to eat dinner with his friends next door. So cute, I know he must have been trippin' out with delight to be having supper with his friends. And he stayed over there till I came to get him at 7:00. Then it took him near forever to make it home. It didn't help that Benjy was with me and he disappeared to play with the kids. We finally made it back to our house at 7:25. I'm worn out.

Things I'm loving right now:
~ Being home with the Benj. So sweet to watch him play, listen to his words spilling out of that cute little mouth. Even if I don't understand some of them. :)
~ Hearing Camden READ. What an amazing thing to hear him sound out words and make meaning of them.
~ Devouring my new Simple Scrapbooks Digital 5 magazine.
~ Reading The Schools Our Children Deserve by Alfie Kohn. So timely, research-driven, and just darn sensible. This is the explanation for what I've always known - the Standards Movement is hurting our kids and our schools. This books explains how. Check it out here.
~ Still munching on Benjy's Star Wars birthday cake. Too bad we're out of ice cream.
~ HBO's new series Big Love.

Day 15 - Courage

Here's today's challenge layout for my art journal. I'm proud of this one. Thanks, Mom, for being full of courage. :)
This kit comes from Rhonna Farrer's National Scrapbook Day kit on Two Peas. LOVE this one.

Day 14 of the {21} Challenge

Working hard on creating a new habit - the habit of doing some form of journaling each day - either through my blog, a digital layout, my Bible journal, or my own journal. Here's to catching up - for I've already fallen behind in the second week!

Sad morning - (happy ending). Curt woke me at 7:30 a.m. asking me to help him with Ellie. I came downstairs to see her lying splayed out on her tummy, not moving amidst a stream of urine and feces. Bless her heart. She couldn't get up. She was looking at Curt with pitiful brown, cloudy eyes. We called the emergency vet, who told us they were open 24 hours a day and how to get there. And that they would help us, and if it was "the end" then they could help us then, too. I was scared, convinced that it was "the end". We had to carry her cradled in the foryer rug to the van where we loaded her into the back. Curt drove her to the vet while I got the boys ready for church. He says Ellie didn't move the entire 30 minute drive to emergency animal hospital. It was an hour and a half later, after I had dropped the boys off at Sunday School and just before I stepped into the church, that I learned that Ellie was OK. Thank the Lord! She was OK. I bathed her this afternoon, brushed her, and laid out a heated blanket for her to lie on. She's there now, comfy and sound asleep. I can see her belly gently rising and falling with her slow breathing. (Yes, I check for this when she's asleep, have for months now.) She is resting, probably dreaming of days when she used to chase squirrels and the one time when she actually caught one. :)

Day 13 of the {21} challenge

Soooo behind on the {21} Challenge - here's day 13. I'm several days behind, so I'll be catching up tomorrow. The theme this week is Strength. See for yourself how I have none now.

Benjy's 3 years old today!

Since last night I've been doing the "three years ago today I was ..." mantra. I remembered when I was in my gifted class at UVa. I remembered when I was at home feeling a as big as a whale. I remembered when my water broke. I remembered when the nurse told me I was completely dilated and I told her I was certainly not. She was right. I remembered when Benjamin arrived and how they laid him on my tummy. I touched him, all slimy and sweet. I didn't know what to do, so tired, so relieved, so deleriously happy that he was here, so amazed that I did it NATURALLY! I remembered how tired I felt in the morning hours, and yet how comfortable I was knowing that Benjy had arrived, that he was healthy, asleep, and so beautifully perfect. I remembered how Camden touched his head so gently, kissed him, and asked to share my Chips Ahoy cookies with me. And, I remembered the 4-star hospital stay I had, the caring nurses and compassionate doctors, the quiet of the night when Benjy slept in the nursery during one feeding while I slept and dreamed of him.

I miss those early days. But I am so blessed to be here in the now, in the days when Benjy is three - on the edge of growing up from babyhood to boyhood.

In other news....
My friend Joanie sent me this hysterical email about Walmart. I'm 4 months into my resolution to NOT GO TO WALMART IN 2006. Sadly, they seem not to have noticed. Still, I feel like I'm accomplishing something in that happy place I visit in my head. Check out this funny "letter".

Subject: Fwd: Fw: WALMART SHOPPER........

Dear Mrs. Fenton,

Over the past six months, your husband, Mr. Bill Fenton has been causing
quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this type of behavior and
have considered banning the entire family from shopping in any of our stores.

We have documented all incidents on our video surveillance equipment.

Three of our clerks are attending counseling from the trouble your husband
has caused. All complaints against Mr. Fenton have been compiled and are
listed below.

Mr. Wally Underpants President and CEO of Wal-Mart Complaint Department MEMO
Re: Mr. Bill Fenton - Complaints - 15 Things Mr. Bill Fenton has done while
his spouse is shopping:

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's
carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute
intervals.

3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the
restrooms.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, 'Code
3' in housewares..... and watched what happened.

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and asked to put a bag of M&M's on
layaway.

6. September 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other
shoppers he'd invite them in if they'll bring pillows from the bedding
department.

8. September 23: When a clerk asks if they can help him, he begins to cry
and asks Why can't you people just leave me alone?'

9. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror,
and picked his nose.

10. November 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, asked the
clerk if he knows where the antidepressants are.

11. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously loudly humming the
"Mission Impossible" theme.

12. December 6: In the auto department, practiced his "Madonna look" using
different size funnels.

13. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browse through,
yelled "PICK ME!" "PICK ME!"

14. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he
assumes the fetal position and screams "NO! NO! It's those voices again!!!!"

(And; last, but not least!)

15. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door and waited a
while; then, yelled, very loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here!"

The fort and a day at home

I woke up this morning with Benjy climbing on the bed with two tiny cars and a play set where the cars could gas up. "Play cars," he said. Well, not quite so clearly. More like, "pay ta". But I knew what he meant. :) I woke up, played cars, gassed up my blue car while he crashed into it with his red and white car, and I crashed his car back. Because that's how you play cars, you know.

What a wonderful beginning to my new life as a stay at home mom - again. I didn't realize how much I'd missed this. This relaxed feeling, nothing but time with Benjy and my creativity which is at its peak in the morning hours. Yes, I'll miss it when (speaking positively here) I find a teaching job, but for now, I know what I'm missing when I'm not here, so I'll treasure each moment of this spring and summer.

I spent the rest of my day driving Camden to school, cReAtInG, making train tracks, going for a fast walk, cooking dinner (yes, I said that), playing outside and talking to the neighbors, and finally relaxing while the kids are asleep. Home is truly the best place to be. :)

Here are my latest digi layouts for Rhonna's challenge. Ohhhh, I almost forgot, I got my PRIZE today from winning Rhonna's contest! She sent me the Autumn Leaves Freestyle book (GORGEOUS, DROOL-WORTHY!) and even a set of her acrylic stamps - just as drool-worthy! I used them tonight on some thank you cards for Camden to take to school tomorrow for Staff Appreciation Week. I'll use the stamps again tomorrow to send her a thank you note for this fabulous prize. - thanks Rhonna!!!

Drat Drat Drat Drat Drat! I just realized I did my Challenge layouts in the wrong size. Rats! I meant to do them in 8x8s, but, curses, I didn't! UUUGGGHHHHHHHHH! Oh well, I'll just have to make more!