Every parent who has a child who has developed an obsessive affection for a particular stuffed animal dreads the moment . . . the moment when said stuffed animal goes missing, lands in the mud, or GETS A HOLE!!!
Such was the moment we had the other night with Caleigh's beloved elephant, Buddy. Buddy has been through a lot in this past week. She was left outside for several hours, stuffed in a dirty wagon. She was puked on by Caleigh. Subsequently, she was sent into the washer for a tubby. On Saturday night Caleigh drew my attention to a large gaping hole just below Buddy's ear. Now surely if you had a hole below your ear, you would be in pain, so Caleigh assumed Buddy was too. So Dr. Mom got out her needle & thread & began the very delicate procedure. Caleigh & Peyton offered Buddy moral support throughout the surgery. Buddy did quite well & is recuperating nicely. Aren't kids great!?!
On a more serious note, we are in the home stretch for this semester of seminary. Jason has a 3-hour presentation to give in one of his classes today. Then it's a few more projects, a few more papers, one final exam & we're done!! His last day is May 7th & we can't wait!!! And being the wonderful wife that I am, I'm completely bailing on him this weekend! Actually, I'll be away at our church's Ladies Retreat, so MomMom & PopPop are going to graciously step in again & help out with the kids so Jason can get his work done.
We are really looking forward to Jason finishing school. He only gets a short break though, as he will be taking Hebrew for 2 months over the summer. But we've been able to plan some fun family activities to get the girls & Mommy some quality Daddy time!!
Thank you to all of our friends & family who have supported us with your prayers through our first year at seminary!
No need to panic -- we have not fallen off the face of the earth. And now for my famous phrase . . . "life has been incredibly busy for us here at seminary." I sound like a broken record, but it is oh so true.
Things got a little crazy & out of control shortly after Easter. Jason had gotten behind in some of his work due to illness (the "family flu" that we all passed around) and moving into a different townhouse. Just a few weekends ago, the girls & I had to seek refuge at my in-law's for a few days so that Jason could write 30+ pages worth of papers. And then there's the reading . . . A friend from church asked me if I was planning on reading all of Jason's textbooks when he is done with them. I looked at that friend & tried to be as polite as possible when I said, "No, I'm going to burn them." Not literally, but it is a tempting thought. I've become very familiar with Jason's profile as I often see him with his nose in a book :)
But God is good. The weather is beautiful & the girls & I have been enjoying the gorgeous campus. It seems as though God is teaching us lessons at every turn & drawing both of us into a deeper relationship with Him. It's quite cool.
As for the girls, they're great. I was able to share a very touching moment with Caleigh at bedtime a few nights ago. Anyone who knows Caleigh knows her obsession with being a princess. As I was putting her to bed, she asked me to sing her a Christmas song. I chose "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" which ends with "Glory to the Newborn King." Of course, she wanted to know who the "Newborn King" was. I went on to explain how Jesus is the King of everything. And then I said, "And do you know who His princess is? You!!" The excitement on her face was priceless.
Spring has sprung . . . well, maybe not outside, but it certainly has in my kitchen!!! The girls have been ogling over the flowers that are for sale at the entrance to the grocery store. So, being the SuperMom I am, I picked up a few -- in purple & pink, of course -- & promised the girls that we could "plant" them. Now, you're not allowed to actually plant anything at the seminary, so we settled for the next best thing . . . nifty new pots! As an added bonus, Caleigh got to plant marigold seeds that we will get to watch grow (hopefully).
So here are a few (if you can call 25 a few) pictures from our gardening experience.
Peyton is eager to get her hands on some dirt -- Mom is not so sure.
Our first spill
"Mom, quit playing with my dirt!"
Nanoseconds before our second spill
"When can I put in the seeds??"
Pat, pat, pat
Patting down in the dirt in preparation for seed-planting
More dirt
Peyton had a great time -- can you tell??
Mommy offers some assistance
"Look, Dad . . . DIRT!!"
Mom's planting the flowers, but PeyPey's still fascinated by the dirt.
Peyton doesn't quite have the concept of "sniffing" down yet.
Caleigh thought the flowers smelled "yuck."
What a big helper!!
"Are we done yet?"
We are so proud of ourselves!!
This is Caleigh's "thrilled" look.
I don't know -- I can't explain it -- I'm not even going to try.
Caleigh watering her half of the flowers.
Peyton (with assistance from Mommy) watering her half of the flowers
Our finished product!!
If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then this picture says it all!!!
So . . . Peyton is going to be 2 years old in May. It's getting to be that time. But to be quite honest, I have been in no hurry to potty-train.
When Caleigh was younger than Peyton, I couldn't wait to get her potty-trained. I tried every reward system (read "bribe") in the book! I remember (not so fondly, I might add) going through 15 pairs of panties in one afternoon, only to wash them & go through ALL of them again that evening. When I had finally conquered potty-training (and let's face it -- it's training for mom & dad as much as for the child), I quickly realized that it was not all that it was cracked up to be. There was no longer such a thing as a quick trip to the store. What is it about kids that makes them have to potty once your grocery cart is full or when you are standing in the world's longest line at Walmart? If we were planning to go out, there had to be a visit to the potty right before leaving. And if we should happen to forget that little visit . . . uh oh! I remember holding Caleigh on the side of the road on the way home from church because she just couldn't wait & there wasn't a potty around for miles. Her aim could have used some improvement as she ended up peeing on her panties, her pants, & my shoes!!
I thought it would be a good idea to wait until Jason was finished this semester of seminary & had a break before summer language courses started. Things would be a little less hectic around here & I would have some sanity support in this venture. However, Peyton has other plans. She has been asking to use the potty & to wear panties. I have been reluctant to indulge her, but I do realize that when they're ready, they're ready & you better take advantage of it.
So last night, there she sat, trumpet in hand, & sprinkled on the potty. What a big girl!!! I guess I'd better go pick up some Pull-Ups (which will undoubtedly include a visit to the public potty right as we're ready to checkout).
It seems as though every time I post an update, I mention how busy life is. Well, this year's Easter season was no different. But despite all the busyness, we had a wonderful Easter season.
Jason's last class before "break" was on Wednesday. The seminary began "Reading Week" which we have re-named "Research Week." Jason will be spending a lot of time with his other girlfriend, Rosie (our affectionate nickname for the Rostad Library). He will be back in class on April 1st. He had the wonderful opportunity to preach his first sermon at our church on Maundy Thursday. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Maundy Thursday, it is a service where we remember the events that took place in the Upper Room & includes a foot-washing service. Jason did a fabulous job delivering 2 messages: "The Beautiful Scandalous Night" & "The Last Lamb." It was truly a precious moment for me to see him up on the platform among the other pastors all dressed up in his suit. And then to see him completely in his element, delivering the Word of God -- it reminded me what we're here for. Thank you to Jason's family & Marcee & Nate for coming to support Jason.
The girls were very excited about this Easter season (mostly because it involved new dresses from Nana). But we did have several opportunities to share with Caleigh what makes Easter so important. It was precious for me to be in the nursery with her on Good Friday & hear her pray, thanking Jesus for dying on the cross. Jason & I got her a little pre-Easter gift -- a pink princess dress -- that she has barely taken off in the past 2 days.
Peyton wasn't quite as theologically minded this Easter season, but she has been keeping us in stitches!! She has recently developed a love affair with our vacuum cleaner. Although she has been afraid of the vacuum in the past, one day when we were leaving the house she said, "Bye-bye vacuum" over & over again. The next morning, she came down the stairs & said, "Morning, Vacuum. Vacuum hug? Vacuum kiss?" And proceeded to hug & kiss the vacuum. For her pre-Easter gift, there was only one logical choice -- a play vacuum cleaner. And it was a hit!!!!
As for me, Easter was wonderful as always. It was a good time of remembrance & spending some quality time with family & friends!!
