interview with my six year old

Mom - What's your favorite food?
Audrey - lasagna

Favorite restaurant?
IHOP

Favorite activity?
crafts and drawing

Best places to play?
friends' houses, parks and home

Favorite thing about Liam?
he's so nice

Favorite thing about Ethan?
he's so cute

Favorite movie?
Sound of Music

Favorite toys?
my treasures, doll clothes, and accessories

Favorite colors?
pink and purple

What do you want to be when you grow up?
cheerleader and ballet teacher - cuz they kind of go together

What's your favorite Bible verse?
Psalm 20:7 - Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God (she recited it to me)

What's your favorite song?
Sound of Music CD #8

What was your favorite thing that happened while you were five?
staying with Nana for 9 days

What's the best thing about being six?
kindergarten

What do you like most about yourself?
that I make everything shine

more snow!

And the kids are loving it, of course!

why rush it?

Those of you who know me well know that my parenting style can pretty well be summed up with "why rush it?" My kids are the last ones to eat solid foods, move out of their cribs, switch to the big tub, eat sugar, watch Disney movies, etc., etc. In a way it's my own personal rebellion against our society. I think we push kids way too fast - to do way too much - way too soon. So I intentionally SLOW things down for my kids. But perhaps the fact that my 7 month old just switched to the big tub might be a bit much??!! This poor guy is not only afflicted with a mother who says "why rush it?" but one who also routinely moans, "but this is my last one..." - and wants to hold on to the baby-stage for as long as possible! Hopefully he won't suffer too badly for it!

Oh - and he loves the big bath, by the way.

audrey is six!

Our little girl turned six today. Hard to believe. We had a wonderful family day to celebrate her! She started her day with the cereal of her choice (a once-a-year treat tradition). Patrick was able to get the day off so we surprised the kids with a trip to Jump Around Fun Zone. It's an indoor play area filled with inflatable toys. Huge slides and climbing areas. It was their first time there and they had a ball! (This was big for me - considering the germ factor! Straight to bath when we got home!) Then she and I made her favorite dessert - lemon meringue pie. Family game of Monopoly. Presents opened throughout the day. Fun dinner of her choice - chicken strips and french fries. Just a great day overall.

My question is - why is it that with each passing year I want to hold on just a little bit tighter??

hillbilly in the makin'

weekend highlights

What a fun, busy weekend we had! Started early Saturday when Patrick and Liam left for Wintergrass - a bluegrass festival down in Tacoma that Patrick and I used to enjoy each year (before kids!!). They met Grandma and Grandpa Oscarson there and enjoyed the day.

Audrey, Ethan and I had a great day at home. Audrey made a list of all the things she wanted to do. We played lots of Monopoly, made cupcakes to take to Sunday School for a little early birthday celebration, read more Anne of Green Gables, walked to Haggen and back (took 2 hours! Audrey did great!), and just enjoyed our time together. Sure love that daughter of mine!

Then on Sunday G'ma and G'pa came up in the afternoon. We had fun together. Liam was thrilled to play checkers with them both. Then we went to Red Robin (Audrey's pick!) for her birthday dinner.

Great, fun weekend. But I must say, I really like Mondays. Maybe it's my age - or just this season of my life. But Mondays are great. Back to routine. Back to homeschooling. Back to just enjoying my kids in the comfort of our home. Ethan's still sleeping. The big kids are at their desks beside me working on a project together. Monday. It's good.

craft club

My friend Kim invited Audrey to join their craft club. We went to our first one yesterday and had a ball! They made butterflies with melted crayons and wax paper, broke a pinata (a pink spider made by Kim's daughter Ari), and ran around and played. What a fun girlie afternoon! Audrey loved it!

uncle luke!

My brother came up today to spend some time with us. He's been so busy with basketball that we haven't seen him much lately. The kids were flying high this morning in anticipation of his arrival. Our time was filled with wrestling, checkers, puzzles, and lots of fun. Then he took A & L to the store and let them pick out some fun lunch treats. Including their OWN ice cream. (Nice choices kids, yum!) Then Luke got to watch a little 10 minute dance performance Audrey did at her dance class. Such a fun day. Liam summed it up best. "I hope we can do that a lot more often, Mom." Me too Liam. Thanks Luke!

kid updates

Audrey - Our little fairy princess loves to wash dishes! Anytime I'm doing them by hand she asks to help. And she wears a different dress-up outfit every day. Our favorite thing to do together right now is read chapter books. Either an American Girl or Anne of Green Gables. We share a love of good books so this is fun time for me too!


Liam - He has become an exceptional house cleaner the last couple weeks. Loves to do chores and was thrilled when I asked him to vacuum this weekend. Last week he got down from the lunch table first and informed Audrey and I that we could just sit back and relax - he was going to clean the whole house himself! Ahhh - what a man!!


Ethan - He's a mover and shaker! Although he's not crawling yet, he gets around very well. He can scoot forward while sitting up. He can scoot backward and spin around while on his tummy. He made it to the toy rack the other day and was quite proud! I keep warning the big kids that full-fledged childproofing is just around the corner.

happy valentine's day!

We had a very nice Valentine's Day. Started off the day with heart-shaped pancakes. Then my Aunt Jennifer and Grandma came up for a nice lunch visit. We enjoyed some family time in the afternoon. Then Patrick and I ordered takeout after the kids were in bed - well, the big kids at least. Ethan ate with us. So it was a relaxing, family-filled, semi-romantic Valentine's Day. Can't ask for more!

trip to seattle

We had such a fun day yesterday. We headed down to Seattle in the morning. Our first stop was to a music store Patrick loves. The kids and I enjoyed a nice walk around Fremont. Then we went to the Deca Hotel and met my parents. Audrey opened some early birthday presents and the kids went across the street to grab a quick lunch w/ Nana and Papa. Then we met Jee Young, her parents, and Jonah and we all went and watched one of Luke's BB games. He is the coach of the freshmen team at Franklin High School. It was great fun to watch (even though they lost). Although, I must say, it's pretty strange watching my little brother coach. He argues w/ the ref's (something my mother hates) - in his half-smile, sarcastic way. And he's quite a yeller. It's just strange to see him do these things he rarely does in his "regular" life. But I know he enjoys it - and he has such a passion for these kids. I'm sure they know how much he cares.

Got home late (for us! 8:00pm!) last night and put kids right to bed. It was a fun family day.

it's beginning to look a lot like...

...Valentine's Day! This has become our holiday tree - it can be decorated for every season. Liam and Audrey worked together to get Liam's valentine's ready for preschool next week. We'll also be making heart sugar cookies next week to give to friends (any excuse to make those yummy cookies is ok w/ me!).

how it should be

Because of Audrey's big decision yesterday to accept Christ into her heart, we bought her a new Bible. Her first "real" Bible - all neat and tidy in a pink floral carrying case. In her Sunday School class this year they've been learning about the books of the Bible and how to find passages. And I'm amazed at how much of it she can read on her own! She has hardly put her new Bible down. She carries it everywhere she goes. She'll plop down anywhere to open it up and pore over the pages. She handles them delicately and can't seem to get enough. And I'm touched - because isn't that how it should be?

the angels are rejoicing!

And so are we!! Audrey Marie asked Jesus to come into her heart today. Patrick and I were able to pray with her this afternoon and what a precious thing that was. There is nothing I want more in this world than for my kids to love the Lord. AMEN!!