Super Bowl of Safety

Saturday at the Packers Atrium was the Super Bowl of Safety, a free event sponsered by Bellin. What a great reason to get out of the house and have some family time together. The kids got lots of stickers and coloring books on being safe, got their fingerprints taken and each got their face painted.



Then they learned how to wash your hands well. There was a special lotion that you rubbed on your hands and put under a black light to see how well you spread it around. After that you washed your hands with soap and water and checked to see how well you washed the lotion off under the black light. It was pretty cool.



They also got a chance to sit in a seat with a seat belt and be lifted forward by a police officer and feel the seat belt holding them in. It was a good lesson in wearing you seat belt the right way. (When we were leaving, Isaak got in the van and even asked me to help him get his seat belt on nice and tight.)



The boys were very impressed with a simulator of car crashes complete with crash dummies falling out if they didn't wear their seatbelts. Then they got a chance at an obstacle course, a ride through safety town and a demonstration on electricity. The boys also got a personal lesson by a fireman on stop, drop and roll. And I can't forget the inflatable fire truck slide-very cool! Grace enjoyed watching McGruff, Louie Lightening Bug and Sparky walking around.



I was so impressed at all the volunteers and how kind and patient they were with the kids. They each took time to explain things to the kids and talk to them on their level. It was a fun day and even a little learning.

More Berries, Mommy

Grace has started calling most round small foods berries. She had refered to dried cherries, raisins, grapes, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries as berries. The other night at supper she was eating her peas as fast as her hand would get them in her mouth. I was surprised, she usually isn't a fan of vegetables or much of what I make for supper, but tonight she was eating. Then I learned why, when she said "More berries, mommy! More berries, mommy!" I guess she decided the peas fit into the berry category. I told her they were peas, but she still ate seconds and thirds of them, never touched her potatoe casserole. What is a mom to do :-)

P.S. You can guess what her diaper looked like the next day after all those peas!

Family Fun Night

For Christmas we bought the Just Add Family as a gift for the whole family. The box comes with 52 cards designed for a family fun night with little prep time and a lesson on God included.
So we tried one out last night, God is There was the title. It involved showing the kids that even thought we can't see God, He is there and comparing that to air.

The fun was playing with balloons and fans and seeing the power of air. We shared the Bible verses with the kids and the words to remember "Just like air, God is there." Then they wanted to play more balloons.

Down with the Christmas trees

We finally made the time to take down the Christmas tree in the living room. It left a trail of needles out the door, so it was time. I always think it will be so much work, but this time I had lots of help. In one hour the kids and I had all the ornaments, lights and berries off the tree and Jim brought it out the door. I guess the real work is putting away the ornaments and cleaning up, that took me the rest of the day to finish.

I never took a nice picture of the tree finished, but here are some pictures of putting it up.

Downstairs we put up our artificial tree and decorated it with our Promise Tree ornaments. This is based off the Jesse tree idea combined with the advent calendar. Our advent activity turned into a full tree complete with an ornament for each of the kids on each day of December. Thanks to my Mom for making all the ornaments for the kids. Each ornament represents a portion of the Old Testament up to the fulfillment of God's Promise to send a Saviour in the birth of His Son.

The kids really enjoyed this activity and learned a lot of Old Testament stories. Jim and I even benefited from teaching the kids in a chronological order of all the stories we already knew. If you ask them the boys could identify the story that corresponds to each ornament.

Cold Winter Days

During the very cold winter days of below zero windchills we stayed home to play. Here is a glimpse of what we did.

Made towers of tinker toys.

Made a race track for the hot wheels from paper and appropriate colored race flags from paper and straws.

Took the dolly for a walk to get the mail, buy a pizza and get new shoes.

Had a little ice cream break.

Not pictured are lots of play-doh time, Lego day and baking cookies.

What is heaven like?

Tonight as we were finishing supper the boys started asking questions about heaven. I think it was sparked by a song on the radio. Somehow they have decided heaven is up in the air, amazing because I have never given them that idea.
Anyway, Isaak asked if a rocket could get you to heaven. No I answered, only Jesus can get you there. I reminded them about Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the dead. Then I told them Jesus later went to heaven to prepare a room for each us who called Him a friend and had him in our heart. Isaak asks will there be a manager in my room in heaven? And what about the donkeys? Samuel laughs at him and says he is silly, a year in age sure makes a difference here.
I kept the conversation going and asked if they thought Noodles (our dog) would be in heaven. Isaak said no, Samuel said yes. Then I asked about cows in heaven. Saumel said they would live on the farms.
I also mentioned somewhere in here about the streets of gold. Samuel said can we walk on them or are they like little sprinkles. He also said he was worried about walking on the clouds. Isaak returned to the question, Are you sure a rocket can't get to heaven?
This is one of my favorite things about being a parent, not only the cute things they say and do, but watching their hearts grow in knowledge and love for our awesome God.

Y members

So what have we been busy doing since Christmas? Among other things we joined the Y. This is something we had discussed many times and finally decided to go ahead. First Jim felt he needs more exercise and it helps his blood sugar stay more level. He has gone on his own some and seems to be happy with our decision. I have the wonderful dream of time alone to excercise too, but due the the cost of child care, I haven't gotten to do this yet. In time I hope to work it out that Jim or Mom watch the kids for me.

But our main motivation to join was the kids. As members we have access to sports leagues for the boys to join for free and for a fee lessons and more programs for the kids to particpate. We haven't signed them up yet. They have been more excited about time in the gymnastics area and the pool. We are giving up our Sundays out to lunch and instead are spending time playing at the Y. A much healthier choice for all involved, although I have more stress having lunch and play clothes to pack for after church. I will get better at in time. So we have been taking advantage of lots of time in the pool and the gym.

Tractor conversations

Tonight as the boys were playing tractors this is what I was told:

Samuel: I like John Deere tractors. That is what Grandpa likes too.

Isaak: We should have lots of tractors so then we can learn more how they work.

Cute Kid Sayings

The last week has been filled with funny little kid sayings so I thought I would share a few. First, Grace is increasing her vocabulary with lots of innovative words: Mommy has evolved to Mommer, Isaak is Iyik and the the boys are refered to collectively as guys. I think she has a word for Samuel, but I haven't figured it out yet. As she was playing in the bathtub the other night, she was taking a pink cup turned upside down and flying it through the air and saying "Papa's balloon." She was remembering the day we say Big Papa in the hot air balloon

And then there is Isaak, he asked me the other day if it rains a lot in Florida to fill up the ocean holes. He has also refered to himself as faster than a corncob and faster than a combine, I am not sure how he got this idea, but it is hilarious to hear him say it.