Monday, April 30, 2018

I Want To Remember part 6

Before this month ends... I want to remember...

- We had the most glorious weather, we even pulled out the sprinkler. In the PNW, 70+ degrees, calls for splashing around. We haven't ventured to the beach yet... I'm thinking that'll happen this week (with the arrival of the grandparents!)

- Made our way to pick up our first haul of flowers (both annuals and perennials). We love to plant perennials in the flower beds (so that they come back each and every year... it's like the gift that keeps on giving), and the annuals are for the containers/hanging baskets. Marley was SO excited... she asked if we could add stickers and pretty tape (washi tape) to make the pots pretty. I told her, "Silly, no way! The flowers are going to make the pots pretty... we don't want to distract people from looking at them." I let her and Finn have free reign with the planting of the pots. They did so well... hardly needed any guidance. By the end, Marley looked at the pots and exclaimed, "You're right Mom, they definitely DON'T need stickers."

-  Charlotte started Ukulele lessons this month. Her music teacher offered free lessons to those that had ukuleles at home (that she'd have to bring in), before school starts on Tuesday and Fridays. She's LOVING it. She is so excited to share with me all that she learns when she comes home. It's also something I'm trying to learn alongside her.

- I started a sourdough starter this month... I know what you're thinking... "Karen, that's one more thing that you have to take care of.." but 1. bread and 2. the most amazing pizza dough in the history of ever, was created with that sour dough starter. I used to feed a culture when I lived in Korea, and it was so good to have fresh bread... plus, sourdough is a lot more tolerable for those that have gluten intolerances (don't worry, we are all ok in that department).

- Finn has been very challenging at the age of 3.5... I don't know what it is.. but these last few weeks has been a major struggle with him. Defiant, talking back... three. Burpees usually are our go to... to help them "snap out of" whatever they're struggling with... but, even burpees aren't doing the trick. The more I send him outside to play, the better we all are... it's those rainy days that are toughest.

- A dear friend of mine gifted me a beautiful play kitchen for the littles. It was her littles'... and to me, that's something to completely treasure... and treasure it sure is! The kids have played with it NONSTOP over the last week and a bit. We had it outside a little bit (which helped me get some yard work done or workouts done)... and then moved it into the twins' room. I taught them how to have a "tea party"... they say, "Ca Ca" for "coffee".... and pour incorrectly, but it's okay!  It's so precious how they play together, when they play together. They even hugged each other for the first time last week... they've hugged others, but never each other. I think we might be getting somewhere.

- We are counting down until summer break... We miss having Charlotte home with us during the day...also... how is it possible I'll have a kindergartner this year? (Insert tears flowing, just thinking about it).

- Awhile ago, my feeds were flooding with people sharing how AMAZING, The Greatest Showman's music was... I kind of eye rolled... how good could it possibly be? Charlotte's choir is singing one of the songs ( A Million Dreams) for their spring concert... so I knew it would be fun to rent the movie and finally dig into the movie that all have been talking about. I can't believe it took us so long. I'm a fan... and the music... SO good (I especially am a fan of Hugh Jackman and Zac Effron's "The Other Side"). We've been dancing to most of it... and cleaning to it... it's great.
































Pin It!

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

I Want To Remember part 5

We're almost through with April... and I shake my head in complete disbelief with how quickly this month is passing. These are the things I (currently) want to remember:

- We've had our share of rain the last few days/weeks... April showers, bring May flowers, right? I'm hopeful for the sun to come... and to stick around. I am DYING to start digging in the dirt. I ordered some dahlia tubers from one of my favorite flower farms here in Washington... Floret Flower... I'm dreaming up the best places to plant them in the yard. The babies have really been enjoying "digging", in just about anything... I'm trying to cultivate that, and not extinguish it (even though most of the time it's in my potted flowers, where I really don't want them digging)... so that they can be my "helpers" in the garden in the months to come... through the years to come. 

- The hubby put in a rope climb... and I am going through "How to Rope Climb" training, led by the hubby. Charlotte of course gets right up there... and then likes to say things to me like, "Mom... you just gotta... blah blah blah"... I got about 2-3 feet off the ground... and then I freeze. The idea of being that high, scares the bajeebies out of me... I keep hearing, "As soon as you get to the top, it's totally worth it!" Right now, I am putting it on the back burner... I will train to get up that rope... but first, all my efforts right now, are trying to get a pull up. UPDATE: I got my first pull up on 4/14... wow. Now, to keep up the work on the pull ups, so that I'm not a "one show wonder".

- Charlotte had "Spring Break" this last week..  One day we will venture somewhere... but for now, with all these littles, we had to sell Charlotte on doing a "staycation". We spent most of it outside, at the playground, eating picnics... and just enjoying the calm of what "breaks" bring.

- Mable and Jo are becoming more and more chatty. Their latest, is saying "teeth" when it's time for brushing... They have their own little language, that I can't decipher. It's gotta be twin talk (it sounds like gremlin to me).

- We went to Wilco to check out the baby chicks... Marley exclaimed, "Mom... we gotta bring them ALL home." Next year... it's happening.... chickens will be added to our homestead... this cannot be put off any longer. In the meantime, I'll be spending most of my extra hours, prepping for a big garden and area for the chicken coop. I know what you're thinking, "Karen, you don't need any more things to take care of... " BUT... two points. 1. my family eats a million eggs a week. 2. can you just imagine the photos that'll come with all the littles holding chickens in their arms?



















Pin It!

Sunday, April 01, 2018

Easter 2018

We were in Vancouver, Canada last year for Easter (visiting my Uncle and Aunt).... so this year, was technically our first time celebrating Easter in our home. It felt extra sweet because the weather was on our side here in the PNW... the sun was out for most of it. We were able to retreat out to our pavilion (our outside space) on Saturday to dye eggs.. and then the skies cleared right after church on Sunday to spend time out back hiding eggs and baskets, and soaking in some of the beautiful light.

I want to remember...

how Mable sat and popped each egg open and stuffed jelly bean after jelly bean inside of her mouth, until she had no room left.... and started to spit out a rainbow of color.

how Jo was completely invested in hunting down EVERY egg... and just when you put "easy" ones out for the babies to find, she needed to find the ones that were actually hidden for the big kids.

how Finn so sneakily sat at the window and watched us hide all of the eggs... that boy just can't be surprised.

how Marley wanted to decorate each and every egg in sight... dye, stickers and all... pretty sure she created about 12 of the eggs in the tray.

how excited Charlotte still gets each year for the "hunt"... age hasn't diminished the excitement one bit.

































God of creation
There at the start
Before the beginning of time

With no point of reference
You spoke to the dark
And fleshed out the wonder of light

And as You speak
A hundred billion galaxies are born
In the vapour of Your breath the planets form
If the stars were made to worship so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve made
Every burning star a signal fire of grace
If creation sings Your praises so will I

God of Your promise
You don’t speak in vain
No syllable empty or void

For once You have spoken
All nature and science
Follow the sound of Your voice

And as You speak
A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath
Evolving in pursuit of what You said
If it all reveals Your nature so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You say
Every painted sky A canvas of Your grace
If creation still obeys You so will I

If the stars were made to worship so will I 
If the mountains bow in reverence so will I
If the oceans roar Your greatness so will I 
For if everything exists to lift You high so will I 
If the wind goes where You send it so will I 
If the rocks cry out in silence so will I 
If the sum of all our praises still falls shy 
Then we’ll sing again a hundred billion times

God of salvation
You chased down my heart
Through all of my failure and pride

On a hill You created
The light of the world
Abandoned in darkness to die

And as You speak
A hundred billion failures disappear
Where You lost Your life so I could find it here
If You left the grave behind You so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve done
Every part designed in a work of art called love
If You gladly chose surrender so will I
I can see Your heart Eight billion different ways
Every precious one A child You died to save
If You gave Your life to love them so will I

Like You would again a hundred billion times
But what measure could amount to Your desire
You’re the One who never leaves the one behind

- So Will I (100 Billion X)- Hillsong UNITED
Pin It!