Actions Speak Louder

Download "Actions Speak Louder" tomorrow on iTunes! 100% of the proceeds go to His Voice Global to build a fourth orphanage in Southern Sudan. 250,000 downloads will build the orphanage and make it self sufficient. Spend $1, download a cool song, help build an orphanage.  Tell your friends.

Nella Answers Catechism Questions

Nella has been learning the catechism as a part of Redeemer Church's children's program.  We work on it at home during the week and the children review it together on Sunday morning at church.

What the heck is a catechism, you ask?  According to our children's ministry literature, catechism is an anglicized version of the Greek word,  katekeo, which simply means, "to instruct."  The word has come to be known as a style of instruction that teaches the essentials of the Christian faith.

It's a series of memorized questions and answers meant to give someone a general overview of biblical theology.  If you're interested in learning more about it, Desiring God Ministries has a great overview as well as the Baptist Catechism, here.

Anyway, one night I recorded Nella answering the first 10 questions.  She and Silas were in the bathtub, which should explain the splashes and screeches.  I figured at least Granny and Nana would get a kick out of it.  Kid's capacity to learn and memorize is incredible.  Nella is 2 and 1/2.

You'll have to download the audio file because I cannot figure out how to embed it into the post.  Sorry.

Nella & The First 10 Catechism Questions.m4a

Fall Pumpkins: Round Two

We took the kids to Curtis Orchard and pumpkin patch this afternoon for the classic 'kids in a pumpkin patch' photos.  It was a lovely, chilly afternoon but very sunny.  The kids were mostly distracted and not at all interested in having their picture taken.  They had lots of fun though.  Here are a few photos:

I posted the rest of the pictures on facebook. 

Fall Pumpkins: Round One

Nella helped me pick out pumpkins at the grocery store last week. I got a large one, she picked a "little tiny baby" one. I had planned on buying some paints so we could paint them. She was just so excited and could not wait so I grabbed a couple of Sharpies from the desk and we went to town. 

She had so much fun! I did too! 

I still may buy some paints and another pumpkin so she can do it again. There's always room for more pumpkins!

Pumpkins - $6
Sharpies - $4
Watching your little girl enjoy being creative - Priceless!

Silas Turned One!

Our silly baby boy is one!  Silas is a little guy:  19 pounds and 15 and 1/2 ounces (5th percentile) and almost 28 inches long (3rd percentile), but he's in the 50th percentile for head size.

He's active.  He loves dancing and will start bouncing any time he hears music.  He is capable of walking, but usually chooses to crawl.  He crawls fast and with his head down as though he's charging something like a bull.  

He loves cars, balls and wooden puzzles.  He loves playing outside (especially in the dirt), playing in the bath, and watching videos of himself or other babies.  He loves bananas, yogurt, carrot muffins, and almost anything covered in a red sauce.   He loves playing with his big sister and can make her laugh like nobody else can.

He doesn't like green beans or chicken and he didn't really love his birthday cake.  He also doesn't love having his diaper changed, his hair washed, his face wiped off, getting dressed or having his clothes changed.  He hates being restrained in a high chair or car seat.

    

He's said:  mama, dada, baba, and uh-oh.  He shows no interest in talking, but does communicate in other ways, mainly by pointing, babbling and or shrieking.  

He is:  a momma's boy, an early bird, an entertainer, silly, adventurous, extremely curious and a fast learner.

Damage he's done:  scratched DVDs, torn pages out of books, knocked my laptop off of the end table,  spilled beverages, pulled hairs from doll's heads, knocked over a reed oil diffuser which stripped paint off of a wall and piece of furniture, unrolled toilet paper, dropped a shampoo bottle into the toilet, 'highlighted' documents,  etc.

Things he's eaten or we've pulled from his mouth:  a peanut, fuzz, a penny, a button, half of a dead fly, guitar pick, rock, bottle cap, pen cap, clump of dirt, leaf, chalk, twist tie, small puzzle piece, dried old pea/cheerio/macaroni noodle/grape etc. from the kitchen floor.

Silas, you are a handful!  But you are a precious and fun little boy and we love you and can't imagine our lives without you!  

Thanks for the video Aunt Lisa!  She's the only one who got any video footage of the birthday boy!

Stickers and Sad Faces and Hello Kitty Underwear

Nella has improved immensely with potty training in the past week.  I think it's the chart.  The girl is crazy about stickers!

The simple potty training chart is from here.

Visiting Aunt Juicy

My sister Haley (who Nella calls Aunt Juicy) moved to Chicagoland in July.  She attends The Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago.  She may study in the city but she lives and works in the glorious west suburbs.  On Tuesday I took the kids up for an overnight visit.  We stayed at my aunt's house; which is where my sister lives.  The trip was fun, it's always so nice to visit family and Haley, my Aunt Jill and cousin Brett enjoyed spending time with me and the kids.  But it was stressful too.  City driving, road construction, traffic delays, toll roads, teething baby, currently potty training toddler, greasy food, spilt venti latte, heavy double stroller, crowded malls, my aunt's beautiful (but not at all baby-proofed) house full of nice (breakable) things.  Yes, I traveled alone with my two (under 3 years of age) kids.  I do it a lot, too.  But this time was tougher than usual.  But even though I came home with tense shoulders and a headache, the hectic trip was worth it.  The kids had a blast, Aunt Juicy enjoyed our visit, and I came home with memories, cute photos, and some of my favorite Trader Joe's products.  Here are a few photos from our whirlwind trip to the West 'Burbs.

I took the back roads up north.  Mostly because I really like to see the giant wind energy turbines.  There are several wind farms with hundreds of turbines as far as the eye can see.  

They are eerie and strangely beautiful.  

Traffic jam snack.

My aunt let Silas play with Moon Sand.

Nella 'baked cupcakes' on the basement floor.

She said she likes her cupcakes with sprinkles.  She's right, who doesn't like a few sprinkles?

She ate some too. 

Sprinkle stained hands and mouth.

Aunt Juicy with Nella and Silas.

No restaurant highchair can restrain this guy.  No shopping cart either.  If it doesn't have shoulder straps, he's gettin' out.