JustJessie

Body art

Everybody loves fingerpainting.  It's just fun!  I decided it was high time to say "Who cares about the mess!" and introduce little G to the world of fingerpaint.  After all, how much mess can one little guy make, right?  heh heh.  You don't know my little guy!  What started out as a tentative placement of bitty fingertips-full of colors...                                           

Soon became an all-out session in body art!  It started out innocently enough.  A thumbsuck here, an ill-timed thrown kiss there.  Oh, and you know, when your head itches, you've gotta scratch it, right?  Well, the end result looked something like this.

Despite the mess, or maybe because of it, we had a great time.  The end result was a masterpiece which will be given to someone we love very much for her birthday.  Her gift will not only be little G's first fingerpainting, but all the love, fun, and giggles involved in making it, and wishes for the same for her.  We love you Aunt Meg!

That's m'boy!

There's nothing like the first time your child sings onstage in church.  It's different from school programs: partly because they practice so much at school and partly because when they sing at church, they aren't just performing, they are worshiping God.  There's this horrible butterfly feeling while you're waiting, far worse than you've ever had for yourself.  Then when they're all lined up mouth open wide and eyes smiling, there is a joy and pride not comparable to anything on earth.  The quintessential "That's m'boy!"

Since Big G has been able to speak, he has been making up (very long) songs about Jesus and his blessings in his life.  He has a genuine desire to worship God, and we encourage that as much as possible.  On the way to church yesterday, we spoke about how worship is pleasing to God and how it opens people's hearts to hear God's word.  So when Big G opened his mouth to sing, he knew what he was doing, and he gave it his all.  Without further ado, Big G's choral debut...

*the cutest blur in the middle is mine.  The lighting and distance were too much for my camera's digital brain.*

A morning prayer from long ago

                                                               

COMPASSIONATE LORD,

Thy mercies have brought me to the dawn of another day,

Vain will be its gift unless I grow in grace,

     increase in knowledge,

     ripen for spiritual harvest.

Let me this day know thee as thou art,

love thee supremely,

serve thee wholly,

admire thee fully.

Through grace let my will respond to thee,

Knowing that power to obey is not in me, but

that thy free love alone enables me to serve thee.

Here then is my empty heart,

overflow it with thy choicest gifts;

Here is my blind understanding,

Chase away its mists of ignorance.

O ever watchful Shepherd,

lead, guide, tend me this day;

Without thy restraining rod I err and stray;

Hedge up my path lest I wander into unwholesome pleasure,

and drind its poisonous streams;

Direct my feet that I be not enangled in Satan's secret snares,

nor fall into his hidden traps.

Defend me from assailing foes,

from evil circumstances,

from myself.

My adversaries are part and parcel of my nature;

They cling to me as my very skin;

I cannot escape their contact.

In my rising up and sitting down they barnacle me;

They entice with constant baits;

My enemy is within the citadel;

Come with mighty power and cast him out, pierce him to deat,

   and abolish in me every particle of carnal life this day.

Therapy... or something like it

What is it about squishy things in our hands that makes us feel better?  Sculpting, baking, finger-painting... Apparently even painting with shaving cream!  My boys and I started out the morning a bit on the cranky side, and what does Mommy do about it?  I whip out the shaving cream!

After all , who could stay cranky with white fluff smooshed between their fingers...

                                     

And on their arms...

                                     

And their tummies...

                                     

We had a lot of fun.  The boys couldn't believe what a mess they were allowed to make.  I think shaving cream therapy can be considered a great success.  Don't you?

                                     

Yet again, we paint...

Does it seem to anyone else that my creative wheels are spinning?  I want my boys to have new opportunities for expression everyday, yet lately we seem to be stuck in rut.  So, once again, we paint.

                            

This time we made potato stamps, something I have never actually done.  Big G dictated the shapes and I did the cutting. He really enjoyed stamping the shapes, and came out with picture that reflects who he is: colorful and busy, but still with a certain level of perfection involved (no mixed colors, stamps placed with much thought).

                            

His BROTHER on the other hand... Let's allow the art to speak for itself shall we?

                            

Excuse the blurred pic, he chose that moment to begin painting his teeth.  In true Little G fashion, primary colors soon turned to brown, and when he finally got his hands on a potato stamp... HE ATE IT!! (Thank God for non-toxic paint).

                            

Family Time...Daddy Style

Boxers shorts, t-shirts, and movies in bed.  These are the makings of a perfect night  to Big G and his Daddy, and now they've recruited Little G too.  They even have a name for it, creatively enough it is called "Daddy and Son Boxer T-shirt Night".  As I said, creative, huh?

                                      

Last night they watched the Disney channel movie and hung out in their drawers until bedtime.

                                    

Even though I like to roll my eyes and tease Jeff about these nights, I know they are needed.  Big G feels as masculine lying around with his Dad in boxers as he feels helping in the yard or playing sports.  Watching him identify with this facet of his masculinity makes me smile.  Even as Little G tries so hard to do the same, but can't quite stay away from Mommy long enough to watch a whole movie.  It shows me that Big G is growing up.  There was a time when he would rather be cuddled up with me in PJs, or following me around as I straighten our nighttime messes. Very gently and slowly he is separating himself from my "apronstrings" (I don't actually even own an apron) and learning what it means to be a man.  I am thankful he has an example who teaches him everything, from loving God with all his heart, to taking care of household responsibilities, to lying in boxers to watch tv.  Thank God for Daddies who care.

Fun Friday

What started out as an Easter egg painting craft soon became painting every color on any available surface.  The cardboard was originally there to protect our table, but what's the point really?  If ever a table looked well-loved it's ours.  There are splashes of paint & marker, bits of glitter glue...you name it!

The way I see it, in a few years when my boys are grown, this table will tell the story of their childhood.  Not perfectly neat, clean, or in pristine condition; but comfortable, colorful, and feeling of home.

Happy weekend!

Happy sounds of spring

Music to my soul...that's what we'll call it.  All the wonderful sounds that fill my ears in spring.  A family of birds has made it's home on the grating on top of our chimney.  I can hear their chirping, and I imagine how mama bird is preparing for the eggs she will lay.  Spring rain falls gently down outside, singing my boys a nature-made lullaby for their afternoon nap.

My boys themselves, voicing their delight over each new discovery.  Little G's "weet-weet" as he sings back to the birds, or his "dak-dak" as he quacks to the ducks.  Big G's delight as soccer practice begins, and his plans for the summer sandcastles that lie ahead.

Here I will share with you some of the happiness I get to hear everyday. (Don't worry about the crying in the background at the end...Little G was ready for a nap!)

<a href="http://www.mydeo.com/videorequest.asp?XID=2776&CID=82606">ode to spring.wmv</a>

Happy Spring!!!

                        

Mountain Climber in Training

If there is not a group called Future Mountain Climbers of America, little G should totally start one.  About a week ago, his silly mommy showed him the Wiggles website and within minutes he had figured out that if he climbed onto the chair he could reach the keyboard and mouse.  I came back into the room to find him clicking away, and quite pleased with himself.

                      

Please, no comments on the mess!  Well, the next thing I knew, he was climbing on the toilet seat to reach the counter, and pushing  chairs to the counter in the kitchen to reach the cereal.  The latest thing in baby climbing fashion is to climb on top of the wicker laundry hamper in the bathroom in order to reach the sink.  There he feels free to brush his teeth with whichever toothbrush is closest, wash his hands, get "dooce" (meaning water.  anything liquid is juice).

                           

Sure, I get a bit frustrated wondering what he is doing at all times, but REALLY, with a face like THAT who could stay frustrated long?

Ducks in paradise

It seems that what is foul to a human is perfect to a fowl.  Due to a recent rainstorm and heatwave, our backyard swimming pool is slightly green.  When I noticed it,  I thought I should go ahead and open this thing up for the summer.  It's not like it will be getting cold again here, and this is just gross.  However, that same day, big G and I noticed one Mr. Mallard swimming around in the pool.  To our delight, we also saw Mrs. Mallard waddling about in the yard. We had such fun watching those ducks all morning! 

Well, I was wondering just how long our guests would be with us, but I had not given it a ton of thought.  A bit later, I was coloring with little G and big G came into the room shouting, "Mom! There's something white on the sidewalk & I think it's an egg!"  Now, you should know big G not only has a big imagination, he also loves to play tricks.  Therefore, I totally did not believe him, but I played along and went to look at the "egg".  Well, there it was! We are now host to an entire family of mallards, complete with baby egg.