My Winsome William is Three!

Will is three! He was so excited, he was telling random people in line at Costco a month before his birthday, "Hey, I've got a birthday coming up!" We had a great party with our family and the grandparents...a special day for our special boy. William is such a winsome mix of sweetness and mischief! Full of affection, a twinkle in his eye, and "built on springs" - like I hear his Daddy was at this age! He loves playing and reading and singing and pretending with his sister, playing with and pushing around and "taking care of" his brother, wrestling with his daddy, and cuddling with his mommy. He is a jumper, a climber, a mover. He is articulate, and constantly saying things that make us laugh. Impulsive. Strong-willed. Winsome! SO excited about construction trucks right now!!! He knows a lot about them, can tell you what you want to know! I love you, birthday boy, and I am so thankful for your love for me!

First Day of Preschool!

Eleanor began homeschool pre-K this week! We will be participating in something called Classical Conversations (which I am really excited about) one morning a week beginning near the end of this month, but Eleanor could NOT wait any longer! So I did some planning and purchasing and we began on Tuesday. I think she was made for this! When our hour is up she moans and groans - "Why can't we do preschool ALL DAY?" I am thankful for her bright mind and motivated attitude!

This is what we are doing right now:

*I sit on the couch with all three kiddos and we read a book together.
*We go to the piano - they each get to choose a song we know, and then I am working on teaching some great hymns. Right now we are singing through the first verse of "Grace that is Greater than All our Sin."
*I take the boys upstairs for "roomtime" - Jack with some toys and books in his crib, and Will in his room.
*Eleanor and I go through our lesson from "Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons"
*We do something from the curricumlum "Handwriting without Tears" - build "Mat Man" (pictured below) and draw him and sing as we go, or write letters on a slate, or color/write in a workbook....etc. She loves it.
*I get the boys, or at least Will if Jack is still having a grand old time, and Will joins us at the table.
*We do something numbers oriented....a workbook or more of a manipulative - for Eleanor.
*I have Will color or paint, or do some alphabet flashcards with me, or let him play with a barrel of little cars/trucks/planes etc for counting and sorting. The first day William was doing these and Eleanor came to get a closer look, and he said "Eleanor, don't touch these! This is my preschool!!!" *grin*
*We learn or review questions/answers from The Catechism for Children.
*Ta-da! the hour-ish is up!

I am having a wonderful time and I know this is a great thing for our family. I am so thankful to God for the opportunity!

Copycat

So, I have a Yellowstone post coming, I really do.
But Jack has been so funny, I just have to write this now!
Two days ago he climbed up on the top step of the bathroom stepstool, TURNED ON THE WATER, and washed his hands. By himself!
And yesterday Eleanor and Will were watching a PBS episode of "Clifford", and when Todd turned around, Jack was sitting in the rocking chair, rocking, and watching TV! By mid-afternoon he had progressed to STANDING in the chair and rocking like a crazy man. A big grin, too, at every "No" he got.
He also finally learned how to drink out of a straw when we were at In-N-Out with Todd's family on our way home from Yellowstone, when we offered him a sip of chocolate milkshake! As soon as his lips touched that thing, no kidding, he was Straw Master and demanded half my dessert.
He climbs the small slide in the back yard, just like the "big kids". He is watching everything they do and is becoming able to DO it! And SO close to walking on his own. I am going to have my hands full very soon...as if I don't already!!

Independence Day, Birthday Cake, and The Plague

We headed to Lake City this past weekend to celebrate the 4th and Jack-Jack's first birthday! 15 of us at my parent's house made for a fantastic time (and quick showers)! My wonderful in-laws were with us, and we joined up with Andrew and Diana, and the Frevert family from California. We hiked, played games, swatted mosquitos, ate great food, shopped, hung out around the campfire (lots of mosquito swatting there), jeeped, sung around the piano, and celebrated the 4th of July in grand Lake City style: an outdoor church service, a parade (with lots of candy throwing!), games in the park, ice cream, BBQ, and fireworks. We had a little party for my sweet baby, and generally just enjoyed fellowship with a lot of dear people. Also, on our last day THE PLAGUE (also known as the stomach flu) hit us - taking down 10 out of 15. Ugh. To see more photos of the fabulous weekend - we have hundreds, I think - see facebook in a day or two!


I want to praise God for Jack's first year!! He is a special boy. Content, active, snuggly, happy, funny, verbal. He has 6 teeth, stands well on his own, and "walks" by pushing anything he can find around the house! He loves the pool, and baths with his brother and sister. He says a number of words - Dada, Mama, sssss (sister), MMMMM! (food), puffs, muh - muh (mr. monkey), dog, off, light, honk-honk, fish, balloon or ball. He calls his blankie, which he loves DEARLY, "tz". He does sounds for fish, and for things that go - cars, trucks,trikes, planes, trains! He points everywhere and wants to know what things are called. Mostly what he eats is table food. He rolls with the punches and puts up with plenty. He is sweet, sweet, sweet!!! Jack adds so much to our family. I love you, Buddy!!

Father's Day

A few days late, but I want to express my deep love and thankfulness for my husband, my dad, and my father-in-law - three men who have had and are having eternal impact in and through the lives of their children! Praise God!


"My daddy
Is a very, very, very good man.

He reads the very best books
And sings the very best songs.

He tells the very best jokes.
And rights the very worst wrongs.

My daddy
Is a very, very, very good man."
~Steven Layne

this, that and the other

If you are looking at this photo, I probably don't need to tell you that pipe cleaners have been a big hit with Eleanor!!

Also, a few mornings ago I was turning on a Curious Geroge episode for the kids, and Rachel Ray happened to be on and she was saying something like "delicious 5 ingredient meal in 15 minutes" or something like that, so of course I had to listen! And in the 1 minute I did I got a good meal idea: bring a couple boxes of your favortie broth/stock to a boil. Add refridgerated tortellini. After that cooks, wilt in some fresh spinach leaves for a minute. Once in individual bowls, top with fresh grated parmesan/romano and some lemon zest. Voila! I made it tonight and it was great. Will even ate some spinach!!! (it's like I hear the sound of angels singing when I say that!)

Also, Todd took Eleanor to a baseball game tonight. Isn't that sweet?!! Her favorite song of late has been "Take me out to the ballgame" so it was very appropriate!

Also, a young woman from church was here today discussing wedding music with me, when Eleanor was having some tummy problems and Will ran yelling and crying through the house, "I want to see the diarrhea!! I want to see the diarrhea!!" Hhhmm. I'm quite sure I've never had that thought in my life, much less screamed it in the presence of a houseguest!

Also, Jack is still the sweetest baby ever.

bedtime talk

So, I listened outside the door of Eleanor and Will's room last night when I noticed they were still talking loudly a while after I had put them to bed. They were talking about cows, there was a cow in the room, and they were calling the farmer to get it. Eleanor said she had called that farmer NINE times and he still hadn't come. And Will said the cow was being naughty and saying "MOO!" Will also said he was going to California to see Aunt Polly. Then he said that he was sick but there were no doctor's offices. Eleanor replied that she would call 911, and she and Daddy would ride with him to the hospital. Will said he caught the hospital with a string. Hmm. When I went in a few minutes later to tell them to quiet down, Will had taken his pants - and diaper - off. "They had throw-up on them, for pretend," he said. These kids, what a pair!!!

Jack's new thing

4 years ago

4 years ago, my life changed in a big and precious way...my first child was born! Eleanor's birthday was the 29th, and we had a wonderful few days of celebration. This past year Eleanor has become such a wonderful helper. She demonstrates kindness to and affection for her brothers, has grown greatly in obedience to Todd and I, shows a great sense of humor, and has a tender heart towards the Lord. She is sensitive and has remarkable insight. She loves pink as much as ever, loves doing crafts, and enjoys being outdoors. She makes us laugh often! She can be incredibly silly and loves to laugh herself. She has an amazing vocabulary and is good with letters and numbers.

For her celebration on Saturday she chose cinnamon rolls for breakfast, hot dogs for lunch, and pizza for dinner (actually she wanted pizza for lunch AND dinner but settled for hot dogs!). She asked for a pink cake with purple m&m's, which is what she got! Todd decorated with pink crepe paper and everyone showered her with gifts. She has been excited about her birthday for at least 2 months, asking about it most days! The anticipation was so fun. And she was not disappointed! She remained sweet even with all the attention, and after opening her gifts gave everyone a big thank you and a hug. "Thank you all for everything, I love all my presents so much!" she said when she was done. On Sunday her 3's class sang to her and she told me it made her feel very happy. On Monday, her actual birthday, we sang again and she opened one more gift. On Tuesday she got to go the zoo and invite a friend (anf of course grampa and gramma) along for viewing animals, riding the carousel, and eating cupcakes! Will was such a trooper. He did ask at one point, "Mommy, when is my birthday coming up?"

Just last week Eleanor and I had an amazing half hour conversation about salvation. She asked where people go when they die and do not know Jesus. I told her they go to Hell, which is a real place, the opposite of Heaven, where there is sadness and hurting and separation from God and His Son. She disolved into tears and cried that she did not want to go there. I reminded her that if she loves Jesus and trusts Him to save her from her sin, then she has nothing to worry about! That God's words are true and that He has promised earthly joy and a home in Heaven to those who love and trust in Jesus. I read to her John 3:16, and Romans 10:9. She interjected during Romans - "Yes, I confess Jesus is Lord! Yes, I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead!" She had so many questions, some that made me cry and some that made me laugh inside! What a precious thing to see her responding in this way to what she knows about the Lord.

Eleanor enriches my life in countless ways. Happy Birthday, Eleanor, I love you!

a conversation

I went to pick Eleanor up from Cubbbies a couple of Sunday nights ago. She usually bounces out with a big smile and lots to tell me, but this time she was standing against a wall with a quivering lower lip. In the hall I asked her if something was wrong. Holding my hand, "I'll tell you when we get home, Mommy. I don't want the other kids to hear me." My heart went out to her! I had never heard say something that would indicate self-consciousness in that way. I took her down the back stairs and asked if she wanted to tell me, since no one else was there. She looked at me with big eyes and in a trembling voice said, "Mommy, is it true? Is it true that wicked men put Jesus on the cross and killed Him?? Did that really happen?" My eyes filled up with tears! That was the last thing I had expected her to say right then. I realized that although I talk almost every day about "Jesus dying to save us," I have never talked about Him being KILLED. "Yes, Eleanor, that is true" I told her, and she began to cry, like a friend had died. She asked, "Is that going to happen to me?" I told her that she would not be killed on a cross, but that her body would die someday, because everyone dies someday. And most likely that it would not be until she was very old, but that we never know when we will leave this earth - only the Lord knows. And I reminded her as we have talked about before, that those who trust in Jesus Christ to save them from their sinfulness will spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus. "I don't want to die and go to Heaven, I want to stay here and live in my home forever!" *sigh* Sometimes I feel like that, too, I told her. But we have to trust what God says, that Heaven is so much more wonderful than anything we can even imagine here. No more sin, no more hurting, no more sadness or tears! Being with Jesus! I told her, "Eleanor, Jesus died for your sins so that you would not have to. " "But Mommy, He didn't do anything wrong!!" That's right, He didn't, but you did! I did! We talked about one of her Awana verses, "While we were sinners, Christ died for us." And I reminded her that Jesus didn't stay dead! He rose up from the grave! He is alive now! Then we were back in the church gym, surrounded by people, walking out to the van to sobbing, tired brothers. It was a conversation I'll always remember! I was so touched, and reminded in a precious way of the sadness and enormity of our sins, of Christ's death in our place. I was reminded to pray earnestly for tender hearts for all my children, for the seeds of the gospel to find fertile soil in them. I am so thankful for the tender heart of Eleanor!

Ain't That the Truth!

Mommy's Work

"Mommy, juice!
Mommy, sleep!

"Mommy, books!
Mommy, sheep!

"Mommy, bath!
Mommy, ball!

"Mommy, shirt!
Mommy, doll!"

Bring it, find it,
See it, wind it.

Help me, show me,
Tell me, hold me.

From morning's dawn
To setting sun,

A mommy's work
Is never done.

~Steven L. Layne

Ain't that the truth!
But isn't it wonderful "work"?! Look at these faces!

some recent favs

every day these kids do and say things that are hysterically funny, or sweet, or otherwise memorable in some way. sometimes i am seized with the fear that 20 years down the road - or 10, or even 2 or 3 - i won't remember these things. i have a little journal i write some things down in, and a few things i put on this blog, or even facebook, but it is such a tiny portion of all things i desperately want to remember! *sigh* here are some recent memorable moments:

ELEANOR - listening to a worship CD with the lyrics "the Word of the Lord stands forever", says to me, "but mommy, the Word of the Lord isn't for forever; F is for forever!!" and this girl is a master in the art of debate. a reason for every idea she has, for every request that she makes. and often a pretty logical reason! and she loves princesses. and when her daddy brought her a long stemmed rose on valentines day, she was so enamored that she hauled it around with her for hours. no vase of water for that baby! she held it in one hand while she ate lunch. she unwittingly wacked people with it. finally the blossom broke off and it is now floating in a bowl of water. eleanor loves the name "kate." most anything she can give a name to, it is kate. often "kate jane faris." but recently she had a breakthrough with a tiny toy dog that looks a bit rodent-like....she named it "mousy"!

WILL - his most recent thing he is into is the movie "cars." todd bought it a couple of weeks ago and the kids have watched it in half hour segments a couple of times since then. (side: this is how we usually watch the few movies they see. eleanor was talking to our friend miss amy recently about a movie and asked, "did you get to watch it ALL AT ONCE?!" what a novel idea!) the movie is full of things william loves - most especially orange cones, tires, and tractors. when todd's parents were here this weekend, they bought him some "car" PJ's, toys, and swim truncks. what a hit! will is talking so well. i love his sweet voice. he can be quite expressive and i'm sure has learned a little drama from his sister! when he started his little gymnastics class a few weeks ago the instructor had the kids introduce themselves and who they were with - ie mommy or daddy. when it came to us, will very serisouly said, "william robert faris"...and looking up toward me, "noelle faris." it was SO funny! we have had some real struggles with william the last couple of months....whining, tantrums, etc. but prayer and persistence have paid off, and last couple weeks we have experience the full return of "SWEET william"!! he has been so joyful, so obedient, so helpful....what a blessing to my heart!! a couple of days ago he told me, "my buddy mommy!!" what a precious boy.

JACK - well, i guess i just did that little 7 month post. but i will say again, this baby is HAPPY! so content, so snuggly, so sweet. my little friend. his first two teeth have broken through. he waved bye-bye for the first time this past weekend, to his mimi ruthie! my heart melts when he reaches for me.

okay, at least i got a few things down in writing!

Jacky at 7 months

Jack remains our "smile-boy" - he is an amazingly content baby! He enjoys being held and entertained, enjoys watching Eleanor and Will and playing with them, enjoys playing by himself. He had a shot last week and didn't even cry! He's my buddy, my little friend, a snuggler. He reaches for his Daddy and Mommy. And he's becoming a little ham! He does peek-a-boo, "so big", pat-a-cake, and loves to imitate head-shaking. Pat-a-cake is his favorite! He rolls and scoots a lot; I know crawling is in our near future! He sits perfectly steady and loves holding on to our hands and standing. Strong boy!! He sleeps most often on his tummy, snuggling with his tiny blankie. His first tooth is JUST breaking through. He is eating some solid food along with nursing - rice cereal, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, avocado, banana, applesauce, and cheerios. I just started letting Eleanor and Will feed him cheerios under supervision, which they think is so fun! Can't imagine life without this sweet boy.

the past 24 hours (or so)

yesterday i wore pink ballet flats. william told me all day, "mommy, that's BEAUTIFUL shoes!!" my sweet boy! we drove to castle rock and met my mom, who was at a conference in denver, for dinner. eleanor was very excited and made up a song about it earlier in the day. *grin* we had a great time together! hhhmmm, somehow mom and i squeezed in a tiny bit of shopping at the outlets, too! at the restaurant our server seemed vaguely familiar to me, but i didn't say anything. after we left, todd told me she looked familar to him as well. we figured it out and looked her up on facebook - we went to college together! funny. eleanor and will got to watch "curious george" on the way home last night - they were thrilled and GLUED. they hardly noticed when their beloved mimi said goodbye! we didn't hear a peep from them the whole way home, other than the laughter of comradery now and then. this morning the two of them both had gymnastics, back to back classes. todd took will, eleanor and i stayed here a little longer while jack napped, we woke him a little early and headed to her class. hand stands, forward rolls, hula hoops, balance beams... while jack and i watched eleanor, todd and william went to costco and bought all the flooring we need to do our downstairs! i am so excited! they also ate chocolate cake, i hear. quick lunch, the boys went down for naps and eleanor had her rest time. we woke william a bit early to head to jcpenney's for pictures - jack's 6 month portrait (yes, he turned 7 months today), will's 2 year portrait (uummm, his birthday was october), and eleanor's 4 year portrait (march - see, i'm ahead of the game!). we wanted close up head shots, to match what we already have, for a wall collection. i brought one from home to show the photographer, to make sure we got what we needed. the kids were sweet and cooperative, although will was quite stoic and jack "smile boy" was too puzzled to do much smiling! 45 minutes later we had some cute shots....but, well, NO HEAD SHOTS. and a family of 6 was waiting behind us, and we had to leave without ordering ANY photos. and so of course i cried! i had gotten the kiddos clean, the clothes washed, jack was fed, i had woken will up early. so my wonderful, understanding husband went back in (after we had driven out of the parking lot, of course) and worked his magic! we had to wait until the family of 6 was done with their photo shoot, but we got back in and got our head shots. 2 and half hours after we had started, and almost an hour after jack's dinner time, we finished! so we decided to go to chick-fil-a to grab dinner. eleanor and william scarfed their food, they were SO excited to go in the play area! but of course there was vomit in there. gross, gross, gross, and quite the disappointment! after the tears, will said "what's throw-up means??" eleanor helped explain. boy, what a day!

phone calls

The last few nights at the dinner table Todd has been working on having Eleanor memorize my phone number. She has it down pat. So tonight he let her call the cell phone from the home phone - by herself - and hear it ring. Can we say excited?! She loved it! Todd explained to her that she could call it in an emergency.

"Like maybe when I'm 10, and it's Thursday night when you're at choir, and Mommy goes to the store and leaves me home with the boys and I'm in charge because they're only 7 and I get hurt really bad and I can call Mommy and say 'Mommy, I'm hurt really bad, I'll see you when you get home!'"

Yes, Eleanor, I think that would qualify as an emergency on a few accounts!

we are still here!

todd told me i would probably be sad later if i didn't do any blogging in december...he was right, of course. so i can't let january slip by, too! i am coming back! stay tuned!