Dollar Store Treasures

Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart is also."

Apparently, some one in my family has their heart at the dollar store. And it's not me.

Our family has been working together every night during family worship memorizing the Ten Commandments. It's pretty funny to listen to Ya-Ya try to get her two-year old pronunciation around number 7: Do not commit adultery. It comes out: do not tome it ah dole ti wee. It's really cute. The pronunciation, not the sin.

When they each recited them last Sunday for a proud Mama and Daddy, we promised them that they would each be able to pick out a treat from the dollar store. When we went today, they all picked exactly what I would have predicted. Here they are with their treasures:



Gi-Gi picked silk flowers, Bubba picked pirate dress-up and Ya-Ya picked a fairy dress-up skirt. Yup, couldn't see that one coming from a mile away.

I have to admit, like any sane Mama, I had to guide their choices. I honestly had to stand in the aisle explaining to one of my children that we don't buy art work at the dollar store because it looks cheap. "Of course it looks cheap. It is cheap," was the reply.

They get their intelligence from me.

Thankfully, another decorating crises averted.

I have to say, I think it's pretty ironic that Bubba chose to dress up like a person who routinely commits sins number six and eight.

Thankfully, it's from the dollar store. It will have disintegrated by tomorrow. I hope.

Our "Day-Cation"

Like many people, this year's vacation has had to be put on the back burner.

Bummer with a capital B.

That being said, the month-long cruise around South America had to be cancelled. That okay. I'm not much of an ocean type of girl anyway.

We got to do something better. Much better.



My hubby knew of this fabulous swimming hole in Eastern AZ that would be perfect to take the children to. We were going to have to hike to get there. I was up for it! I'm a rugged kind of mountain girl.

Do I hear scoffing?

Just because I have to be close to a Tar-jay and Walmart...

And besides, Eastern AZ is one of my favorite places in the world!


So, we headed for the swimming hole. Here's the count: two families, four adults, nine (yes, nine) children, countless water bottles, one pair of ugly walking shorts (mine) and a partridge in a pear tree.


This swimming hole was well worth the hike! Oh, my goodness. Talk about God's country! To see my children's faces light up was priceless. It's a gift to be able to share the joy of God's creation. Are you wondering why Ya-Ya is carrying around a stick? That's her walking stick. Yup, can you see how it is assisting her? It was about 11 inches long.


Those kids (and dads) swam and swam and swam! Friends, let me tell you! That water was cold!!! The mamas and babies were chickens and didn't get swimming. At least, I was a warm and dry chicken.


The perfect end to a perfect day! ICE CREAM!! Hey, I had hiked off all those calories. Smiles + swimming hole + only a few owies + ice cream + best friends = perfect day!

Ju-Ju at Five Months

Isn't he muy delicioso? Oh, my goodness! Wait, is that drool on his jammies? That's embarrassing.

Anyways...

My boy is such a heart-stealer. Just like his - wait, I'm not sure who he's like! Well, I guess I'd just have to say me; if I was being honest, which I'm not. Because if I were totally honest, I would say he's in the the deep end of his Daddy's gene pool. But I'm not bitter or anything. *ha!*

He's now five months old and a ton of fun. And he's so advanced. He's now sitting up. He beat the previously held family record of earliest sitting up, held by Gi-Gi. She's only a little miffed about that. Okay, not really miffed. The competitive streak runs deeply in our family, though.

This has been my favorite stage with all of my little duckies. I can still put him down and he doesn't go anywhere - for the most part. He laughs and smiles, coos and generally entertains us all.

Oh, and he also eats. A lot. He's like off the growth chart. Yeah, that's the way we make 'em out here in the West. Big and beautiful. I mean, handsome.

God is so good!

Back to School!

It's that time of year again!

Time for bouquets of sharpened pencils (no. 2, of course) and the smell of new books.

Aaaahhhh!


Being homeschoolers, we don't really get into that whole back-to-school thing. There are no new clothes, backpacks, or lunch boxes. Being the product of public school, I have a tendency to feel sadly about this. And then I remember that the first day of school is only the first day. Then reality sets in. It's in this "reality" where you would find our reasons for homeschooling.


Anyhoo, I do try to make it special, but I think my attempts go overlooked. To them, there's no difference in the way breakfast tastes or the fun-level in making their beds, no matter how I try to convince them. They remain skeptical. And I get the feeling that my kids do get tired of me saying, "It's the first day of school!" over and over in an attempt to make them feel like we should be celebrating in some way.

They do, however, appreciate the brand-new sharpened pencils.


This year we have a third-grade veteran and a preschool newbie. Of course, Gi-Gi, being more experienced at this "school-thing", is so gracious and encouraging of Bubba. For example, while he's coloring a picture she says, "Oh, Bubba! That a good job, for a preschooler." Or perhaps while he's putting beads on a string, "That's great, Bubba, for a preschooler."

Catch that?

What are big sisters for?

I'm just waiting for the comment, "That was a good meal, for a Mama."

So we're off on our grand adventure of learning this year! Ready to go with us?