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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The Gospel according to Zoe

One day, Zoe was thumbing through the illustrated children's Bible that I used to read when I was little. I heard her mumbling to herself, and peeked around the corner to see what she was up to. She was reading to one of her stuffed animals. When she noticed that I was watching her and listening, she smiled and came over to show me what she was looking at. Then, she proceeded to "read" the Bible to me (backwards, of course - it's the best way). 

This is the Gospel, according to Zoe. (Sorry for the awful pictures.)

"One day, God died on a cross."


"Then, they all ate some food."


"Then, Mary rode on a donkey."


 "And he put some dirt on that man's face."


"And then they saw a MUMMY!!"


At this point, I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. Poor Lazarus! I'm hoping that we'll get a chance to do the Old Testament next time. Can't wait to see what she does with that.

What it's like to live with us: Part V

EPISODE ONE: NOT A DOG PERSON

We were in San Antonio, visiting my brother in-law, sister in-law, and our new nephew in the hospital just after he was born. There were no children under 12 allowed in the mother/baby area, so we took the kids outside to run around while Nathan and I took turns going to see the baby. The outdoor area was called The Zoe Garden. Two people were sitting down there near us, and they had a dog with them. Zoe is completely terrified, and will not take her eyes off the dog.

ME: Zoe, that dog is not going to come near you, I promise. He's going to stay over there with those people.
ZOE: I don't want that dog in my garden.

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EPISODE TWO: TERROR-IFIC

I'm getting lunch ready for the kids, and I hear a commotion at the table.

ETHAN: HELP!
I turn around to see that Zoe and Nicky have picked up their plates and are taking turns whacking Ethan over the head with them.
ETHAN: HELP ME! They're terrorizing me with paper plates!!

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EPISODE THREE: TIME LIMITS

The kids are at my parents' house one Saturday, playing. Grammy goes into the boys' room and informs them that it's getting close to nap time and they only have a few more minutes to play.

GRAMMY: Okay, guys, you have ten minutes.
ETHAN: No, we want eight minutes!
GRAMMY (smiling wickedly): Okay!

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EPISODE FOUR:  SLEEP MODE

We're in the car, headed home from the store. Suddenly, a voice randomly pipes up from the back of the car.

ETHAN: Mama, I forgot to tell you that when I was taking a nap today, I had a problem.
ME: Oh, yeah? What happened?
ETHAN: Well, I crossed my eyes while they were closed, before I went to sleep, and I had a problem. They were in that mode and I couldn't get them out. They were just stuck in that mode.
ME (confused): You crossed your eyes and they got stuck in that mode??
ETHAN: Yeah, they were just in that mode and I couldn't make them go back.
ME (trying not to laugh): You probably shouldn't do that anymore, then. We wouldn't want you to have crossed eyes forever.
ETHAN: Yeah.
I start snickering.

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EPISODE FIVE:  CAPTURE THE MOMENT

We are sitting at the kitchen table, eating lunch. I look up and see that Ethan has his eyes squinted, and is randomly blinking them while looking around at everyone.

ME: Son, what in the world are you doing? Are your eyes injured or something?
ETHAN: No. I'm okay!
ME: What are you doing? You're supposed to be eating.
ETHAN: I'm taking pictures with my eyes.
ME: Uh huh. Got it.

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EPISODE SIX: IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY

We're all on our way to church on Easter Sunday morning.This is a rough (and short) version of the conversation that happened on the way.

ETHAN: Is today Easter?
ME: Yep. Today is Easter! Do you know what's so important about Easter?
I figured the answer would be simple, given the fact that all the kids had heard the Resurrection story at least three times on the previous day.
ETHAN: Yep.
NICKY: We get CANDY!!
ZOE: In the Easter eggs!!
ETHAN: We have to go find the eggs, because they're hidden.
ME: Yes, we do that on Easter, but what is Easter really about? Why is it important? Do you remember?
ZOE: Will the eggs at Grandma's house have candy in them?
Nathan is cracking up.
NATHAN (sarcastically): Yep, the Easter bunny lays the eggs and they're full of candy!
ME: Guys, do you remember the story about Jesus, and how he died on the cross and then rose again? You remember us telling you that story?
ETHAN: Yes.
ME: That's what Easter is all about. That's why it's important, and that's what you'll learn about at church today.
ZOE: Are we going to Grandma's house?
ME: Yes. After church.
ZOE: Is she gonna have candy at her house?
I sigh and give up. Nathan is still laughing. I chuckle and shake my head in dismay.
NATHAN: Oh, good Lord.
ME: Well, at least we tried. Another holiday ruined by commercialism.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Easter 2012

Our Easter weekend was really busy this year! I think the kids had a lot of fun, though. That's all that matters, right?

On Friday, I took the four goobers over to Grammy and Granddad's house. Grammy had some hard-boiled eggs ready for them to dye. It was the first time the kids had ever dyed eggs before, and they were really fascinated! When Grammy cut up an egg for them to try, however, the enthusiasm diminished quite a bit. They also learned that vinegar is really stinky.

 Ethan getting his cup ready for egg dipping.

Green!

 Zoe was very slow and methodical about dipping her eggs.
Hers ended up being the prettiest.

Nicky liked the yellow dye the best.

Waiting is so hard!
The eggs had to dry before they could do more decorating.

Anna and I went home, while the older three spent the night with Grammy and Granddad. The next morning, we headed back over there to get ready for an Easter/birthday celebration. Later in the afternoon, we had family and friends over for an egg hunt and some awesome barbeque.
 
  
Micah, giving Anna "Eskimo kisses," (are we even supposed to say that anymore, or is it not P.C.?).
She kept doing this, and Anna thought it was hilarious. 

Anna liked the plastic eggs.

Micah and Ethan, discussing where to find the eggs.

Anna and I were supervising the hunt.

Anna and Judah.

 
 Micah and her mommy (Andee), checking out the loot.

 My sweet Zoe.

Daddy and Nicky.
(Nathan was checking to see what he would be stealing from Nicky's bucket later.)

See? Busted.
Nathan ate all of Nicky's Easter candy.
(He went to the store later and bought him some more, out of remorse.)

Micah was excited about her haul!
 
Mmmm...corn.

 Too much Easter.

The next morning was Easter Sunday, so we got up and got ready to go to church. Anna helped make sure that we would have enough time to get to service by waking me up at 4:30. Thanks so much, sweetie!

 Easter morning - the best we could do.

I'm sure church was wonderful, but I wouldn't know, as I spent several hours walking around the building with an extremely unhappy baby in my arms. I don't think the Resurrection story has changed, so I'm probably safe if I remember last year's sermon.

After church, we went out to the Alexanders' for more food and fun.

Where's the food already?!

 
Waiting to hear, "GO!"
 
"Hmmm...where could they be?"

Nicky found one!

I think all the eggs were gone by this point, but Zoe kept looking anyway.

My nephew, Christopher.
Isn't he a doll?

"I got the last egg, Mama!"

Busting the eggs open and stuffing their faces with sugar.
The most important part.

Cousins!
(Nicky, Ethan, Anna, Zoe, Bailey, and Christopher)
We're missing two - Ian and Axl couldn't make it.

Candy decided she wanted to come investigate. Check out my daughter's face - she is absolutely terrified of dogs. I just think this picture is funny.

Anna was so happy! She had a blast sitting in the grass.

That was our weekend! I hope you all had a very happy Easter!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Photobomb! 4-8-12

3-12-12

Books!
3-12-12

I went looking for my grocery list and found these instead.
I wonder if Wal-Mart carries them?
3-15-12

Looking for bait with Grandpa
3-15-12

 Grandma and Nicky
3-15-12

Grandpa teaching Ethan to fish.
Anna had the bird's-eye view.
3-15-12

First thing every morning, the kids all run to talk to Anna and smother her with hugs and kisses.
It's like they've never seen her before.
 3-21-12

Anna, playing with the "big kid" toys.
3-21-12
 
Anna likes spaghetti, I think.
3-24-12

My new nephew, Axl!
Two day-old baby squish!
3-25-12

Ethan's tiger.
He's getting really good at drawing on the Etch-A-Sketch!
3-26-12

Sister kisses!
3-26-12

Nanner!
3-26-12

Nicky tummy is almost completely healed!
3-27-12