Piano Lessons with Baby

Biscuit is getting an early start to her musical education.  She obviously has seen how her siblings play...with gusto!  I think we sound amazing together.

Many blessings to you and yours this Christmas season.  May the Lord richly bless you in love and mercy.

~Mr. Pilot

How do Babies Worship God?

If you are a little girl, and you can't sing the worship songs....

Then you do whatever you can to participate.

Mr. Pilot's Trip to Guam - Part 1

Well, yes, I was actually in Guam for the past two weeks.  And while the trip was every bit as complicated and tedious as you'd expect, I did manage to get about 2 whole days! off to visit the area.  

This is the view from the hotel that I was staying in.  It's a fairly nice view, and I did go down to the pool (below the picture line) and to the water the first day I was there. Honestly, I was busy every single day after that till next Sunday, and it 'looked' wonderful.  Since I did little more than wade in it, I can't speak for any of its other qualities, but the view was spectacular.

Since I was working so much I only had a little bit of time to 'see the sights', naturally I went to the local yokels...

I'm just kidding...Actually these are the fellow saints I met from Faith CRC on Guam.  A delightful looking group.  They were kind enough to drag along a tourist on their hiking expedition for what we were informed (by our officially 'un-official' National Park Ranger guide, think fishing hat) was not technically called spelunking but cave exploration.  We weren't sure if spelunking technically meant wearing more gear, like helmets???  

spe·lunk·ing

  : the hobby or practice of exploring caves

 HaHa!  

[MOVIE TRAILER NARRATOR VOICE]: Here our adventurers are preparing for an incredible spelunking journey into the abysmal Guamese abyss'sses. 

Unsure of their fates, knowing that God was their determiner, they make preparations to meet the Maker at every turn...

The preparations for this intrepid expedition is about to commence...you could cut the tension with a hankie.

[ADVENTURERS]: Is this gonna be 45min? 1 hour?  2 hours!?!  

[ME]: I better get some more trail mix... 

[NARRATOR]: It doesn't matter if you describe this adventure as spelunking or not!  They bring gloves, headlamps, snacks, and water. Armed with all the trimmings of danger and DEATH!  Prepared for anything...almost.

They fearlessly journey into the pits of doom and despair, never sure if they would return to loved ones again!  

Gut wrenching silence...

[ME]: BOO!

[NARRATOR]: Eerie sounds bellow from the great deeps.

ArrrrgghhhlllassssssppiiiilhmmmmmMMMMM

[ME]: Oops, that was me!  Where's my trail mix?

[NARRATOR]: The view from this perilous cliff could only be accessed by braving some of the most aggressive and persistent blood sucking insects in the galaxy...

Don't be fooled by the look on their faces, they have suffered mental anxiety and physical exhaustion on a level few mortals have ever lived to describe.  It is only because of their fearless devotion to their cause, and desire to inspire comfort in their loved ones that they make a good show despite the proximity to mortal death...

Down into the depths they descend.

Each adventurer knows that the only path to survival is dependent on their ability to congeal into a team.

Down they descend...

Up they climb

And then back down...

And then back up...

oh...

Awkward Silence...

Here they pause to gather themselves.  And tell tales to inspire each other.

It is here that the guide and others tell them that they are actually "out in the boonies"... An urban term to most, rooted in the islands of Micronesia. This is all too familiar territory for our weathered guide, his success in leading numerous parties through the Boonies is only surpassed by his love for the dramatic and dangerous!  Both of which he seeks and encounters on this adventure...(Foreshadowing)

But these explorers have little time to relax and tell stories, important as morale is, they know death is waiting in the next venemous spider's bite.

[ME]: What did you say?

Our undaunted travelers return from the journey through the first of many deadly caves.  There is no turning back now...The only way to salvage a chance at returning to civilization is by continuing on a monstrous assent up the slippery walls of doom!

[ME]:  Hey look...a frog!

The journey has become so hazardous that they must gather food at every juncture, never sure when the next meal will avail itself.

The kids are gonna love this!  Hey guys look, I caught a frog!

Tune in next time for the continuation of:

The Perilous Journey Into and Out Of the Abysmal Guamese Abyss'sesssses

[ADVENTURERS]: Did you eat that frog...?

Never Leave Your Baby Unattended.

There is a sticker monster on the loose!

Bucket is so in love with her baby sister.  She always looks forward to an open opportunity to decorate her.

This kinda reminds me of the time when Butter decorated her little sister.

My Kids are Smart!

They offered to pull dandelions from our yard for just a penny.  Just a penny.

How was I to know it was a "get rich quick" scheme?!

By the time I shelled out over $6, I decided I'll just mow the lawn next time! Ha!

Conversations with Pops

A recent conversation with my 2.5 year old went something like this:

Pops: Mom, say ~Pops, what are you doing?

Me: What are you doing?

Pops: No, say ~Pops, what are you doing?

Me: Ohhh, Pops, what are you doing?

Pops: Watching the Lone Ranger.

Pops, watching The Lone Ranger

Me: Ok.  Pops, what are you wearing?

Pops: No, say Lone Ranger, what are you wearing?

Me: So you are the Lone Ranger now? Ok, Lone Ranger what are you wearing?

Pops: Uh, a gurl hat, underwares, and cowboy boots.

Me: Are you a girl?

Pops: No!

Me: Why are you wearing a girl hat?

Pops: A cowboy needs a hat!

Me: And where are your pants?

Pops: Cowboys don't need pants.

Me: oh, ok.

Pops: Say oh, ok Lone Ranger.

Pops, riding his "horse."

So particular!  Jeesh, this kid cracks me up!

Chicken Soup for YOU!

 Hey, it is fresh!

Secret Identity

My boy loves to dress up. Having 4 sisters, I often have to remind him that he cannot wear the Princess Pretty costume.  Luckily, he really loves being a cowboy!

at the park the other day I said "Come here, my child" to my Lil' Bird.

"I am not your child, I am the Lone Ranger!" was his response.

BTW- You pronounce that Looooooohne Rain-ger

Dude, you're awesome!

Proof That She is Fluffy.

Growler must be fluffy.

 She was posing so nicely for me.

and then came along Butter.

Just look at her beaming eyes!

Can't you just hear Butter "Growler, you are SO FLUFFY"

she absolutely LOVES her sister.  

(If this post doesn't make sense to you, clicking HERE will clue you in)

It's So Fluffy, I'm Gonna Die!

I have this precious daughter.  I think her love-o-meter was set on super high.  Even as a young toddler she had to squish other babies to show her affection for them.  I was a bit concerned when I was unable to deter her from smothering babies in the church nursery until a wonderful woman reminded me that squishing babies with extreme intensity would translate into being a good mother one day.

I took her for her word, and have seen the face smooshing in a new light.  I mean, when the baby starts crying and I say "please, let go of her and be more gentle" the reply is "but I LOOOOVVVVEEEEE her, I just love her, she is so cute" spoken with as much intensity as the hug was given. I am sometimes forced to pry little fingers off of the screaming baby.

Said child is now much older, 4 to be exact.  She is still smooshing.  She squashes anything she loves.  Dolls, and stuffed animals, and our dog seem to like it just fine.  Younger brothers, baby sisters, our cat, and little chicks~ not so much.

I recently saw this movie.  I am not really a fan of comparing my children to make-believe characters from Disney movies, but there is no denying there are some similar character traits in this little girl "Agnes" and my own.




These are really short:










I would have snorted milk out my nose, had I been drinking any.

I Used to be a Night Owl.

Why is it that first children to rise in the morning are the ones with the hungriest tummies and the least ability to help themselves?
I am typically greeted in the morning by one or all three of the youngest children and they are almost always asking for food.
It's like a contest for Dad and me to wake-up at least an hour before them so we can have coffee and bible together before the hustle and bustle of life begins. Seems that no matter how early we get up though, the little munchers are right behind us! Since dad has not been here to coax me out from under my down comforter with coffee in the wee hours of darkness, I have been oversleeping (until 7am!) and therefore being greeted by all sorts of 2 and 4 year old bright-eyed conversation.

This morning over oatmeal that tiny hands helped make (by help I mean sprinkle the cinnamon all over the counter, stir melting butter onto the back of the stove, and have a most delightful time doing it! BTW~ the joy they have is totally worth the mess!) Butter (4) decided to give Pops (2) a lesson when I left the table to change the baby:

"Pops, China is a bad place. We don't want to go there. That is where people talk Spanish like "see-da-den-ma-doh" and that is how bad guys talk so China is bad." In a very matter-of-fact-teacher voice.

After a long pause Pops replied "uh, say thank you to me for making the oatmeal."

"Oh, thanks Poppies (that is Butter's newest nickname for Pops), it's soooo good and I made it too!"

Where do they get this stuff? It was so hard to not bust out laughing. I love it!

Silly Sleepers, more!

 Some mornings I might feel as though I slept with my eyes half open, but I never, I repeat NEVER wake up loving my alarm clock! Never.

Just a laugh...

We always seem to have a comedian in our home.  It is currently Butter who is making us all laugh.

Yesterday Dad was telling a (rather long) really funny story.  At the end everyone (including Butter) laughed heartily.  Amidst the laughter, Butter requested "Uh, could you please start at the beginning?" in a rather puzzled tone.  Everyone laughed even harder...

After the big kids finished squeezing fresh orange juice for breakfast, Butter yelled out "Guys, I have a great idea! Next time, let's make ice cream juice!"

During our family discussion time Sis provided the answer "be obedient to God" to the question asked.  Butter clarified for us, "like, if God tells you that your tummy is hungry, you do it.  You eat."

A little laughter always brightens my day!

It's What's For Dinner!

Yummy Pops!

Busted!

"What are you doing with that marker Butter?"

"Uhhhmmm... 

...painting my sister's nails."