"Sam-n-Ella"

Oh, schools going great. We are extremely busy getting ready for a birthday party and my brother's wedding. But tonight I just have to post a few of the pictures of our "sam-n-ella".

Here they are on the way to school Monday!

in front of their school and church

I get a lot of "super mom" comments. A lot of "I don't know how you do it." These are very sweet comments from very sweet people, but I think this blog, especially, paints a one-sided picture. We naturally blog the good things--the things we want people to see and the things we want to remember. Well, I am NO super-mom. Case in point: I sprayed my children with perfume this morning before church instead of bathe them--and it had been 3 days. I could list more faults, but one, my mom would worry about me, and two, I wanted to get to bed earlier tonight. But take my word for it, I mess up regularly. I reach the end of my rope too fast. I don't accept help very well. I depend on coffee more than I depend on God. God has been so gracious to us through this deployment, and it's obvious as you scroll through this blog. But I just wanted to clarify--our success has been God's grace despite my faults, not because I'm anything special!

Along those lines, since I know most if not all the readers of this blog pray for us, here are some things you can remember.

-That Jess will finish well. That he will be encouraged and strengthened by the chapel services he is able to attend (I know he misses IPC).
-Ella starts pre-k tomorrow! I know she's really excited, but sometimes our drama queen can be unpredictable.
-Sam seems to be experiencing quiet a bit of insecurity lately. He has cried in unexpected places. Pray that I will have wisdom about when to have extra compassion, and when to push him a bit. Pray for him as he begins kindergarden.
-Our trip this weekend to my brother's wedding! Not too long by Curry standards (it's in TN) but I just want us to be a blessing to those around us! And pray for Dave and Esther as they begin their life together!
-Pray that I will not get so busy that forget my purpose is to glorify God. I have been meditating on this verse in Isaiah: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." God's people were trying to do things their way, and they were failing miserably. It was a good warning for me, and I am trying to work out what this verse looks like in my own busy life.

I know this was a more serious post. Sundays are the days I feel the most stares and hear the most comments about my super-strength (I'm sure there are equal amounts of people out there saying I'm crazy.) I'll be sure to post about school tomorrow. Both kids are sure cute in their uniforms!!!

The Weekend

Friday-first day of kindergarden. An excited Sam is up at 6 and goes and gets his sleeping sister out of bed so we can go! I can't believe Ella didn't slap him.

Friday night--I allowed the "big kids" to stay up ON PURPOSE (as opposed to all the nights they stay up, but I am yelling at them to quiet down and sleep!) Now that we're in school, I told Sam we should experience a real weekend. Ella only made it til about 10 and fell asleep on the couch. Sam wanted to stay up all night. he complained when i finally put him to bed at 11 so I could sleep. We worked on this puzzle:
and set up the GI Joe "giants" with the "Loving Family" people and took turns taking pictures.
Sam followed weekend rules and slept in. Si did not. This morning I had a happy Addie and decided to take some pictures. I don't have many with ME and my favorite 4 month old!
couldn't you just eat her up with some chocolate sprinkles!

can you tell I love her a little?
so far, she's a thumb-chewer, but not a thumb-sucker.

Happy 6th Birthday, Sam!

Here he is, our big 6 year old.

Although we're extending the birthday through cupcakes at school next week and a party with mimi and papa after the wedding, today was still a special day. Sam woke up to one present, and the rest were saved for his party. He got 2 GI Joes (from Daddy who got them from Mommy who got them from a garage sale--but they are really cool!)

He chose our meals: McDonald's breakfast, Mac and Cheese lunch with COKE! (I'll admit, my kids call it soda--their father's bad influence), and Scrambled eggs and bacon for supper with chocolate ice cream for dessert. Pretty easy. We ran a few errands as Fay approaced. Got caught in a couple of downpours and waited out some of the rain in Toys R Us and again in Target. During rest time we baked our birthday cakes, although we are freezing them and bringing them to Tennessee. During a break in the rain we caught some tiny jumping beetle-y things in the backyard to feed to the lizard and the walking stick Sam caught yesterday. Then we worked on a new 300 piece puzzle. I thought a puzzle would be good rainy day fun, but this is one where there are thousands of tiny pictures which make up a big picture--it's hard! We really need Jess for this one. And the drop leaf table I reluctantly passed up at the garage sale last Saturday. It would have been perfect for puzzles, cause now, we have no where to eat.

This one's for Grandma

Tonight I made dinner (for the first time in ages but that's beside the point). Honey Mustard oven-fried chicken breasts with corn and spinach from Grandpa and Grandma's garden. All of the kids ate it up, but Si--he loves spinach. Here is a picture of him on his 3rd (or maybe 4th) helping. I actually had to remove the bowl of spinach from the table and hide it to get him to try the chicken. He came close to throwing a tantrum over when i took it away.

Although I'm fond of green leafy vegetables, I was honestly just trying to get through dinner to get to dessert. At about 5:15 my cookbook magically opened on "White and Dark Chocolate Pies" and I had to have them. I made our own version lickity split--and almost sugar-free. Here's what i did: Crumbled some vanilla wafers in the bottom of individual ramikins. In a mixer, combine 4 oz softened low fat cream cheese and a couple tablespoons of splenda. Spread over cookie "crust". Top with prepared chocolate pudding (we used instant sugar-free). Top that with a squirt of whipped topping. Top THAT with some chocolate shavings to be fancy. Make a big deal about it being a surprise and the kids will LOVE it! Here they are closing their eyes and waiting for dessert:

Tomorrow my baby turns 6. I'm going now to decorate his room. . . and cry.

Pure Sweetness

no words necessary. just enjoy.

Art Schmart!

Sam, the creative one, comes up with some AMAZING things. And, by the way, he is more brilliant when left on his own than when I try to guide him in a project. Today he came out of his room after quiet time with this:
Can you see it? Can you see the cute pig in the mud in the hay. And the horse with it's long tail? Here. Look closer.

and here's the farmer in the barn:

wondering how he got the barn to stand up like that?

lasagna noodles of course!

now this is a little embarrassing. Anyone recognize this symbol? And this dog? Wonder what it says about our errands that he can draw this from memory.