Here are some pictures from our family dinner after Ruthie’s Graduation. CONGRATULATIONS RUTHIE!! WE LOVE YOU and are SO PROUD OF YOU!!
Hannah & Aunt Ruthie:
BRENDAN AND AUNT RUTHIE:
SILLIES:
SHE REALLY LOVES HER AUNT !!!!!
Brendan and uncle Carter:
AND A FEW OF CLARA- 10wks old and ALL SMILES :
I just have to say - I love my family so much! Each and every member of our family is so special and so wonderful. Where would I be without them? The Lord has blessed us so much. I can’t even find the words to tell you how uplifting the last week has been. My grandparents came to visit last week so they could celebrate my sisters graduation with the family. They are so full of wisdom and every conversation we have is so inspiring. Their fascinating stories about all of their mission trips- wow! All of the stories of people they have met, places they have been, obstacles they have overcome, things that they have learned over their many years! And the kids- they absolutely were beside themselves having “maw maw and paw paw” here! Brendan would crawl up on their laps and just cuddle….. Jack would tell him all about school when he got home…and Hannah–hannah taught Mawmaw how to play NINTENDO DS!!! haha The minute they walked out the door for the airport.. Hannah asked “Mom, when can we go visit them, I already miss them!” 
As most of you know, these are actually Jacks grandparents, but I have adopted them as my grandparents as well. :) Who wouldn’t?? I learned so much this week its overwhelming.
One more thing I have to share about their visit. Yesterday, Jack and I went to the local bookstore. He loves to read and we had to kill some time between my eye appointment and Church. While there, Jack told me he would like to read the Bible cover to cover!! WOW again! Of course, we have several at home, but I wanted more of a student type Bible. We didnt’ find one at that bookstore, but after we got home I ordered a special one online and it should be here tomorrow! It’s geared towards his age. I’m just as excited as him. :)
CHURCH LAST NIGHT…….
Once we arrived at Church last night, Hannah told me that she had brought money for the missionaries from her piggy bank. So, I asked lil Jack “Jack, was your class asked to bring in anything?” His response…. “Yes, but I didn’t” “Ok, Why not?” Jack: “Because it was for missionaries in Egypt, and they don’t accept our money there” 
What a lil thinker! He even continued with “It says right on my quarters-UNITED STATES”
The Perfect Toy
It moves, (no switches, batteries, buttons or wind-up keys required).
It talks, makes music, plays back baby’s first coos and calls.
It’s cuddly (provides security and hours of pleasure).
It’s intelligent and thinks for itself.
It’s entertaining, encourages curiosity, fun for the whole family.
It is made of resilient, flexible, nontoxic, 100% natural materials.
It’s a special toy, crafted to meet your individual child’s needs.
It is not available in any store!
To find the nearest dealer:
Check your mirror!
-Author Unknown-
Just adding on to the last post. This past week we went to the zoo twice (we really enjoy the animals and the splash pad play area too), Mothers Day Craft playdate at the park, Mommy’s brunch, a library storytime, and I attended a very good friend’s baby shower–that plus all the normal day to day activities. Before I add pictures, I wanted to share some very exciting news :) Our Church is beginning to offer Kindergarten this August! We are so very excited as I was back and forth with what to do with Hannah for Kindergarten–It was between homeschooling and joining her brother at a public school….. I will be getting all the info from the Childrens Ministry leader this week!! I can’t wait to read all about it and see if it will be a good fit for Hannah.
Ok on to pics:
CLARA 5 week picture:
Zoo Visit:
Randoms:
We have had a busy 2 wks. Playgroups and outings, plus Awana’s and other Church activities. Whew. I will probably make a few posts today so I can gather up the pics from the past week.
I took Brendan to a playgroup this week. The theme is Mothers Day this week. So, the kids painted pots for mom. Brendans first attempt at painting went well. (haha) First he painted Ashton, the little boy sitting next to him, then he painted the table, his arm and then reached for another moms WHITE-yes WHITE pants….but he missed…whew. He finally got the hang of it:
The final product, my camera died, so this was the only pic I got of it 
I will charge and retake later:
I’ve been writing these down and scrapbooking them, but thought I’d share a few from the last week or so:
There was SCREAMING coming from the kids bathroom, Jack comes running out: “MOM, CALL POISON CONTROL” mom- “Ok, honey, what happend?” Jack- ” I accidentally swallowed some of the toothpaste”
Hannah: “Mom, my hair doesn’t smell good today” Jack: “Well, have you been using enough shampoo?” Hannah: “YES!” Jack: “You know, you’re supposed to use no more than a quartersize in the palm of your hand” Mom: “Jack, how do you know that?” Jack: “Sometimes I get bored in the shower and read the shampoo bottles”
Hannah: “Mom, WHAT is alcohol?” (uhoh, where did she hear this-is what Im thinking) Jack, replying before I could “OH that is VERY bad stuff- it can make you go CRAZY, don’t even talk about it Hannah!” Hannah: “Well, then why did God make it if it’s bad?” Jack(again, before I could answer): “It was a BIG Accident, he didn’t mean to”
Mom to Brendan: “Brendan, say mommy” Brendan replies: “Barney” Mom to Brendan: “Brendan, say Barney” Brendan replies “MOMMY!” (this is a game he made up himself, he thinks it’s hilarious)
After reading over Jacks work from the schoolweek, I show him 2 of the papers and ask him why they are sooo messy? The rest were legible, these 2 were not. His response: “Oh, mom, most Gifted kids write messy. Their brains work REALLY REALLY fast, much faster than their hands can keep up. We’re very smart ya know-so there’s nothing I can do about it”
Report cards came out on Tuesday. Jack did awesome. All S’s (satisfactory)- perfect report card again. We celebrated with sundaes. I really like his teacher. As much as I tend to complain(out of the kids earshot of course) about the amount of homework and how difficult I think some of her assignments are, I admire her for challenging the kids. Jack has learned so much this year. I can’t get over some of the conversations he has with us. And the questions he asks….sometimes….often….I find myself having to look up the answers myself! I love to watch him get excited over learning. We have been frequenting the library lately-at least once a week, sometimes more. Each visit, he gets about 5 books….and reads them !! ;) I don’t know how many times I have borrowed a book and had to return it before I finish the first few chapters. This week he borrowed 5 books about baseball stats & records!! So, while watching the games he will often tell us stats for players & teams. He is amazing!
OK enough gushing :) The Lord has blessed our family in so many ways. Jack has such a bright future. I can’t wait to watch him use all his gifts
This pic was taken 10 minutes before my water broke AT THE MILLENIA MALL !!! I was standing in front of a mural in the mall. Jack & I had already dropped the kids (Jack and Hannah) off at my sisters house because I was going to be induced the following day. Brendan had other plans. We watched a movie at the mall, grabbed a churro, and were getting up from a table to head back to the car- SURPRISE - my water broke.
This pic was on Jacks phone for almost 2yrs, we didnt know how to take pics off the phone until recently:
I forgot how much fun it is to dress up baby girls. Hannah helped pick out the dress :)
These are a few pictures from the last week. Im going to be taken some more today since Jack is home and I will have some help getting them all together…
