Father's Day... how my babies' daddy wanted to spend it

Father's Day started for us the same way every Sunday does... we get up and get going to church. We were almost 30 minutes late for Sunday school (just like last week), but I figure we got more out of it than we would have if we'd skipped because we were running so late.

During our morning preparations, My Beloved mentioned that he might want to go get fireworks after church. A friend of his from work sets up a stand about 40 minutes south of us. He delivers, so re really didn't have to drive all the way down there, but My Beloved wanted to go down... if it worked out.

So after church we took our time visiting and chatting and fellowshipping... taking the slow way out of church. It was a lot of fun. Then just before 1, we headed out of the parking lot. Turns out this firework stand was right in front of a yummy pizza shop, so we were going to do lunch too!

We got down there around 1:30 and headed over to say hi before heading in to eat. Sadly, his family wasn't there yet but we hoped that if we took our time eating lunch, we may still get to meet them.

Lunch was good! I polished off this last piece after taking the picture! :)

After we got cleaned up, My Beloved did his big shopping. He browsed, he picked, he read off his list and gathered. I'm pretty sure he was having a good time! I sat in the swivel chair under the tent (where not all customers get to hang out... apparently I look like I'm supposed to have a baby in 6 weeks or so) and watched my kids run around. Our shopping time took a lot longer than a normal person's would have because 80 percent of our being down there was social.

Just before My Beloved was finished wrapping up his order, we were thrilled for his friend's family to arrive! It's always fun to meet the family of a friend... but it gets even better than that. Apparently, a while back, My Beloved told his friend about this little blog of mine... and he told his wife... and they follow! All of this is crazy to me... but I officially met a reader! What a treat!

And it gets better! We talked and chatted all afternoon (until just after 5!) What like-minded people they seem to be so far! We are looking forward to getting to know them better. We still have hours and hours and hours to go before I'd say we know them well, but on the way home My Beloved said to me... "Well, you said we didn't know anyone (locally anyway) who thinks the way we do... we may have just found them."

We're looking forward to finding out! Thanks J and L for a fun afternoon!


And thanks for all the fireworks!

Labels: As it happens..., Prince Charming

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 2:29 PM 0 Comments

Near and Dear

I haven't spent much time talking about it around here, but my husband and I are on the homesteading track! That's right. It even sounds crazy to me... but when I saw the giveaway going on over at Keeper of the Home, I just couldn't pass up one more chance to be entered for it... with a blog entry! Head on over to see the Homestead Blesssings giveaway!

Labels: Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 3:42 PM 0 Comments

A Monster

It seems I've created a monster... a rhyming monster. I introduced Tornado to rhyming this past week as part of our "preschooling." He picked up on it fairly quickly and is running with it! This is great news... but like I said, I may have created a bit of a monster.

I hear from him all the time, "Mommy, fire, tire, hire!" Cue his laughter, and he continues with another run of rhyming words.

My favorite though is when he does one wrong. Occasionally there is a sequence of words that end in a word that isn't quite right. He thinks it's very funny and bends in half saying "oh!!!" really loud. It's great.

Go pre-reading skills!

Labels: as it happens, Homeschooling my 3 year old

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:53 AM 0 Comments

A lesson in giving

Our local (Christian run) crisis pregnancy center does a "Baby Bottle" fund raiser each year. We've never really seen it done, only heard about it. This year our church is participating and distributed the bottles on Mother's day (to be collected on Father's Day). We took one and I let it sit for a while, waiting for the "right" time.

Last week I brought it out, grabbed the kid's "money jar" and gathered on the couch.


We talked about how some people don't have very much money, and can't take care of their new babies. We talked about the baby in Mommy's tummy, and how we already love him, but that sometimes there aren't very many people who love babies when they are in their mommies tummies, so those mommies need help.

Then we talked a little about money, what it's for, and what it can do. (Way over their heads, but an introduction at least.)


Then we talked about their money... what they could do with it... that it could buy them things they want. Or... that they could give it to the babies to help them.

I don't know if they understood and wanted to give, or just wanted to put money in the baby bottle...


...but they dug right in...


...and gave it away.


I also gave them the option of how much they wanted to give away. Again, whether they really understood or just wanted to transfer the money, I don't know... but they gave it all away.

We've talked about it a bunch of times since, whenever we see the baby bottle sitting on the shelf waiting to go back to church. I hope it's a good first lesson in giving to others and helping.

Labels: Learning for Little Ones, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 10:56 AM 2 Comments

Adding #3: Project Sleeping Arrangements

With just about 8 weeks to go before adding a third child to this bedroom (in theory anyway, if not in practice), we're working to make space.

I don't have a picture of our current set up (wouldn't that have called for forethought?!?) but right now Tornado is sleeping in this red toddler bed (which used to live on this wall and not in the middle of the unfinished bed frame) and Sweet Pea is still in the crib (because she doesn't climb out at every moment like Tornado did at a lot younger than she is now).

We were posed with a bit of a challenge when we learned baby number 3 was on the way... and no plans to move immediately into a larger home. That means 3 littles in one little room. Ok... so the room isn't tiny. It works. But the layout does pose us with a bit of a problem, so we're working with it. I'll try to give more details in a future post, but for now it's enough to say that Daddy is building a bunk bed! That's right... in his spare time. He got this much done Sunday afternoon/evening. It takes up a big chunk of the room, especially as it relates to the door, so we will be reorganizing and reevaluating the "stuff" that is in there currently.

The kids think it's great and Tornado is very excited that he gets to sleep on top and that Sweet Pea will sleep under him, and especially that he will get to use a ladder to get in and out of bed. I don't know if he really understands it all to the fullest, but I guess we'll find out.

Labels: As it happens..., Getting Ready for Baby, Prince Charming

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 2:12 PM 3 Comments

Tot School

Labels: Homeschooling my 2 Year Old, Tot School

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:28 PM 4 Comments

Tot School

Labels: As it happens..., Tot School

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:30 AM 0 Comments