"Oh How I Love Jesus"

My grandmother, who we called "Mamoo," passed away five days before my daughter E was born. It was a bitter-sweet week that literally began with the death of my sweet Mamoo and ended with the birth of my sweet daughter.

My Grandmother, "Mamoo"

E, Shortly After Her Birth

My grandmother left an incredible legacy of love and service, and I hope to be able to pass that on to my daughter.  One of the many things I remember about my grandmother was her singing, "Oh How I Love Jesus" to me one time when I was sick.  I was way too old to be rocked, but she put me in her lap and rocked me back and forth and sang, "Oh How I Love Jesus" until I fell asleep. 

Shortly after E's birth, I was rocking her to sleep and I started singing "Oh How I Love Jesus".  I've continued to sing this song to her every night, so, although my daughter never got the privilege of knowing her great-grandmother, she will always know that her great-grandmother (and mother) loved Jesus.  On the 2nd anniversary of my grandmother's death (today) my daughter sang, for the very first time, "Oh, how… love Jesus… Oh, Oh… love Jesus." 

Many have said, E has her Mamoo's smile and I agree!

 

The Skyfort Cedar Playset

The Skyfort Cedar Playset

After viewing hundreds of playgrounds, reading reviews, and seeking advice on message boards, we decided to purchase the Skyfort Cedar Playset from Sams.com for the kiddos.  The price of installation was almost half the cost of the playground, so we opted to do it all ourselves.  It took at least 5 days (many of which lasted 6-8 hours), but the project is finally in the last stages (only a few minor things remain).  Here's the process in pictures...

The Play System Arrives!

The Boxes and Boards

Building- Day 1

The Bolts, and Screws

L, on the Skyfort

E, Hanging Out on the Slide

Putting Together the Ladder

Working After Dark- End Day 1

L, Ready to Play- Day 2

Working On the Picnic Table

The Slow Progress

Day 2 End

Day 3 Progress: Swings!!

Finally Taking Shape

The Kiddos on the Swings

Working on the Crows Nest

Climbing Wall

My brother and L up in the Crows Nest

Day 4 Progress

Almost Finished- End Day 4

Finishing the Roof- Day 5

Almost Ready for Kiddos!

E, Climbing Up

E, Loves to Slide!

The (almost) Finished Skyfort

View from the Yard

 

Back View (Monkey Bars Not Attached Yet)

Ready for the Kiddos!

If you're interested in this playset, I'm sure my husband would be happy to share our experience (all positive).

When My Son Cuts His Own Hair...

His Own Haircut

Oh yes, my 4 year old gave himself a haircut.  He'd been in the other room when I heard my husband say, "What did you do to your hair?  You look horrible!  Did you try to cut your own hair?"  Then L emerges from the other room with a few tears in his eyes, a guilty look on his face, and chunks missing from his bangs.  I would have been really upset, but it was pretty obvious, from the minute that I saw him, that he knew he was guilty and knew he'd done a very bad thing.  His reason for cutting it was because he had "one piece" that was in his face, but from the amount of hair he cut, he looks like he had more than "one piece."  

The Hair and Scissors

My husband told him to go look at himself in the mirror, but he couldn't even bare to look at himself. The poor guy felt so bad that he laid down, to hide his face, and was asleep within minutes.  I have no doubt that he will NEVER attempt to cut his own hair again.  He's been awake for a little while now and he'll still get teary eyed if I mention his hair cut.

A Guilty Smile

Trying to Sleep Off the Guilt