Wednesday, September 28, 2011

I Do It Myself!

Both boys have the requisite runny, start of the school year, noses right now.
They're not really sick, just leaky.
Max likes to try and wipe his own nose,
so I told him to go and get some toilet paper to use.



He came back with this!




He wiped his nose quite thoroughly and then put on a little show for me.




This is an entire roll of toilet paper, Mom!




But look how cute I am!
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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

A Friend

I met Sara through a friend a few years ago and kept up with her via her blog. She was an incredibly strong person who was homebound and living with a chronic illness. She was very artistic and had started her own business called Gitzen Doodles. Sara was a faithful person and she tried to share her faith and her love through her art and her blog. I commissioned a small canvas from her before Maxwell was born and she did an amazing job:


Every time I look at this I imagine how difficult it was for her to make. She walked with a walker and couldn't sit for long periods of time. Her joints were very painful and everything she did was a struggle. Yet each letter on this canvas is perfect.

Sara passed away on Saturday. The internet is filled with blog posts, articles and comments from people who never met her but were touched by her life and mourn her death.



Sara Anne Frankl was born May 13, 1973 (Mother's Day) to Mike and Jane (Grandgenett) Frankl of Algona, IA. Sara was baptized at St. Cecelia parish and attended St. Cecelia grade school. Sara graduated from Bishop Garrigan high school in 1991, and received her English Degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1996.


Sara used her degree in English working for a magazine in Cedar Falls, but her disability made it difficult for her to work and eventually Sara became homebound. Over time, Sara viewed her disability as a blessing. It allowed her to go from making a living focusing on professional goals, to making a life focusing on personal goals: I will not be ashamed to stand before God; I will fulfill God's plan by living the best life I can with what I am given; I will be aware and present in every moment; I will love what I have and not yearn for what I lack; I will spread the Joy, not the fear; I will be intentional in all things. Sara taught us that there isn't a situation in life that isn't covered by these goals. This is how her friends knew her, and it's how she wants us all to remember her.


One of Sara's favorite quotes is: "Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have finished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." ~Victor Hugo


Sara lived her life with a strong belief that God can take care of more than one thing at a time; and God thinks we are worth it. There were great sorrows in Sara's life... and He granted her the courage to face them. Sara was able to hold on to her courage and patience by believing with every fiber of her being that God is awake. Sara's life was about "Choosing Joy." Today, Sara's joy is with her earthly and her heavenly father... singing and dancing. (To learn more about Sara and her faithfulness, go to www.gitzengirl.blogspot.com.)

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Wait Staff

Max just walked up to me with a crayon and a pad of paper.

"Hello today," he said.

"What are you wanting today?"

I ordered spaghetti and he ran to his kitchen and brought back a pile of plastic spaghetti.

Adorable.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Soccer Pro



Liam is part of a youth soccer team at the Y this fall.




All of these kids are 4 years old...yes, even that giant one!




He loves it so far, and is doing really well!




The kids are adorable to watch as they try to figure out the game!




Liam's favorite position is goalie...he gets very into it!




Soccer is awesome, mom!




Cute.
One of Liam's friends from school is also on his team, so they get excited to see eachother on Saturdays!
His first game is this weekend...we'll see how that goes!
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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

10 Things...

Ok, so my friend Sarah has tagged me and I am now forced to list ten random things about myself! Here goes:

1. I got engaged 6 weeks after meeting Aaron.

2. I once kept a butterfly as a "pet" in a cage and tried to keep it alive with sugar water. It...didn't work.

3. I used to have a "tail collection" courtesy of my hunter father. It was comprised of squirrel and partridge tails that I kept in our back porch. I brought it to school for show and tell once...my teacher was a little taken aback.

4. I once slid down a huge sand dune on a wooden board during a mission trip to Brazil.

5. My mom french braided my hair every day until 8th grade. Yes, 8TH GRADE.

6. I made my friend cry after a Christmas Sing program by telling him he played the recorder badly.

7. I can't remember the plots of most movies and books. Not like years afterward...hours afterward. I think it's because I get so into the story that it doesn't stick in my long term memory. Or something.

8. I lied every Christmas morning and told my parents I'd seen Santa. They never really seemed to believe me.

9. I have a vivid memory of a huge doll we used to have as kids standing up and walking at the foot of my bed while I tried to go to sleep. I'm still pretty sure that actually happened...!

10. I am a terrible cook. I messed up Hamburger Helper once in college.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Monday

Aaron was getting dressed this morning just after the boys woke up.

Liam: "Dad, are those your snowpants?"

Dad: "Ummm, no? These are just my regular pants..."

Hahahaha. Kids are hilarious.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Friday, September 9, 2011

The Cyclone Experiment



Liam's been wanting to do this experiment forever, and we finally had two 2-liter bottles!
We mixed water with blue food coloring and filled one bottle about 3/4 full.
Then we taped the other bottle to the top, turned it upside-down and spun it a little to get the water turning.




Liam thought it was awesome and the experiment was subsequently repeated...
until the bottles started to leak!

Such a little scientist!
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Thursday, September 8, 2011

2 Ninjas

My sisters and I love the movie 3 Ninjas. It's a childhood favorite that we still quote today. They will be proud to know that the boys have both seen the movie now. And both of my them were running around the yard yesterday yelling, "Rocky loves. Em-ily. Rocky loves. Em-ily."

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Thursday, September 1, 2011

First Day of 4K



Today is Liam's first day of 4K!
He was waiting eagerlyoutside for his first bus ride about 20 minutes before the bus was due to arrive!




Awww...he will miss his little brother.




Is it here yet?




Yes!
Bye, Mom!
Bye, Max!




Bye, Brother...

Have a great day at school, Liam.
I'm going to go and cry now...

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