Children's World

Colby loves doing crafty, artsy stuff so she was right at home in Children's World at the Festival of Trees. 

Sign me up!

 
 
 
  In the first photo Colby is entering my name in the silent auction for the tree with the construction paper hands on it--bidding started at $300--I don't think soooo! Colby found an elf to get her picture taken with and then Clifford was hanging around later in the day. Creighton was pooped out by the end of the day and got a lift on dad's shoulders. I know how difficult it was for Greg to enjoy an afternoon at the Festival of Trees, but he was a good sport :) 

Watching Trains

 
 
 
  Creighton didn't get enough trains at the train expo so when we went to the Festival of Trees he stood and watched their train set for about 2 hours. 

Train Expo

 
 
  On Sunday afternoon we took the kids to the Train Expo at the QC Expo Center. Creighton loves trains and could have stayed all day. Greg enjoyed it--Colby and I thought it was pretty boring. But, Creighton has tagged along to a lot of "girly" stuff since he was born. For once, he went somewhere that he was interested in. There were several large train set exhibits, but there were also a lot of vendors trying to sell trains, train sets, accessories, etc. Creighton wanted it all. We did manage to purchase him some things for his birthday without him seeing. And of course he found some Thomas the Train things he just had to have. There were some interactive things for the kids to do, just not a lot. 

Watching Trains

 
 
 
  Creighton could have watched the trains all day long. 

"Train"

 
 
  This was something I had never seen before. Granted, I don't hang out at train enthusiasts' conventions very often, but nonetheless, it was something different. The kids sat on the little cars and "pedaled" with their hands and went around the track. I wasn't sure how they would do it, but they seemed to crank very little and went pretty fast. They liked it especially bumping into the kids cars' in front of them :0 

Balloons

 
 
  Colby got a hat and Creighton some sort of weapon from the balloon man. 

I really like this barn

 
I really like this barn. I have a few more photograph ideas. But, next time hopefully the kids won't be sitting in the car in the middle of a field all the while I'm trying to hurry (and not get caught by the farmer) :) 

On my way home

 
 
 
 
A couple of shots that I took on my way home tonight. I have been wanting to photograph this barn for awhile, but on my way in to town I am always rushed and on the way home it has been dark. I need to be there at sunrise as the sun will be rising just behind the barn. 

Final Product

 
This is the kids' tree - final product. A lot of work, a few arguments, but a memorable night. My tree might just have to wait until next weekend after all. I don't think I will have it in me tomorrow to do this again. 

Juuuusssstttt right....

 
This is Creighton examining the tree to be sure that each ornament was in just the right location. 

Decorating

 
 
The kids enjoyed putting the decorations on "their" tree. I still get to put "my" tree up that will not have ANY Nickelodean characters on it....:) 

Creighton "Helping"

 
Creighton played in the tree box while Colby and I worked on the tree. Trust me, it was better that he did. 

Discerning God's Will

Today I was blessed with the following bit of encouragement:

Discerning God's will has two parts, direction and timing. The direction part is usually pretty easy, God has tuned our hearts to the direction that He wants us to go, but the timing part is usually the part we mess up.

I was given a very vivid example of what we are like as Christians when we are trying to discern God's will for our lives. It is like a dog and his master, the master picks up the stick to throw it across the yard and the dog is half way across the yard before the dog even turns around and looks back at the master to see him standing there rared back, but not ready to throw.

We anticipate God's move and we get ahead of his timing . . . It is time to slow down and wait for our Master to throw the stick before running half-way across the yard, while keeping eyes on Him the whole way.

This was very important to me today.....

Colby

  I just love it when she just sits, watches, wonders, questions, takes it all in. She is a thinker, an analyzer, an intense learner. I love her. 

Mommy's Kisses

 
Creighton has always been a momma's baby boy. It drove Greg and Colby crazy. I am forever hugging and kissing on him and he always had to have his mommy for everything. Recently, Creighton has decided that kisses are disgusting, EVEN mommy's kisses. So at bedtime he hides under his covers so I can't kiss him and he runs from me when I try to pick him up for a squeeze. Last weekend he REALLY wanted to get in his piggy bank and get his coins out. I refused to let him. After lots of begging and pleading he finally said "I'll let you kiss me at bedtime and I won't say 'disgusting'"! That child is way too young to be coming up with bribes that good. Although I didn't give in and I wrestled him for a kiss at bedtime anyway:) 

Early On-Set Dementia

I used to feel like Supermom. I work full-time, have a husband that works swing shift and lots of extra hours, handle the complete care of two kids, responsible for all the household tasks and meals, drive a significant number of miles each day to get everyone where they are going, get kids to practices, attend school programs etc, etc, etc and I rarely missed a beat only requiring assistance when I encountered the impossible. But for some reason I have become very forgetful lately. Forgot to send Creighton with a treat on his treat day at school, forgot to pay his school bill on the first of the month and tonight I picked up Colby at the wrong place. Obviously she wasn't there and I quickly drove to where she actually was and wasn't even late. But still, I forgot where my kid was today! I think it is time to slow down, take a deep breath and find a better system to keep track of stuff. Oh wait, it is almost Thanksgiving, we have school programs coming up, Creighton's birthday in a week or so, then Christmas and all the hustle and bustle with that, then Colby's birthday on January 2nd. There is no such thing as slowing down around here. I guess I'll just have to pick myself back up, dust off and keep going. Is it possible to be 34 and have Alzheimers? Thankfully, I haven't forgotten my kids' names yet. That's probably next.....