Oh the things they say and do.....

**So this morning my gate wasn't working.  We have a gate that keeps the dog in the kitchen and the daycare kids out of it.  I got a brand new one this year because I think all of us had suffered some sort of injury the past year climbing over the other one.  Our family is obviously not made for running the hurdles.  So I invested in a really nice one that has a swinging gate.  I. Love. It.  And it wasn't working this morning.  I couldn't/didn't have time to fix it.  So I mentioned to Nate (the only one left at home) that it wasn't working.  Within two minutes Nate had it fixed for me without me even asking him to take a look at it.  So I gave him a huge hug and was having a mom moment...ahh my son is growing up and maturing....what a wonderful moment.  In the middle of the hug and compliments and I love you's Nate pipes up and says..."You're welcome.  That will be a dollar mom (long pause while I look down and give him a raised eyebrow)....or love, lots of love)".  Sigh.....I gave him 50 cents for making me laugh.

**we have been going through Genesis in our family Bible time.  We are at the point where Jacob has left with his entire family and possessions and is about to see Esau again.  Yesterday Joe read about how Jacob asked God for help and then sent everyone ahead of him to meet Esau.  Then Joe asked the question...What did Jacob do that was good?  There was silence for a time and then Ashley spoke up complete with jazz hands, "Well, he provided entertainment for the entire desert. It probably looked like a circus." 

**yesterday was picture day for my older three. My girls were having a slight, ahem, discussion about shirts and whose were whose,etc.  Somewhere in the discussion the subject of a white turtleneck came up.  Nathan had been observing and listening and decides to join in....."I LOVE turtlenecks!  They are super yummy!" He's says with that everlasting twinkle in his eye.

****with a family of six and then having six additional kids coming in and out of the house with my daycare, my kids have gotten used to me going through for or five names before I get to theirs when I am talking to them or simply being called a name that is not their own. I called Ashley "Amy" yesterday...just flat out, didn't even stumble over it.  There is no one that goes in and out of my house everyday named Amy.  I have a good friend named that, but know no children named that. I have no idea where it even came from and neither does anyone else.  The whole room went silent as all the kids just looked at me and the look on Ashley's face said it all "Amy? Mom? really?!"  It was like they were ok with all the other names, but I had definitely crossed a line.

And these pictures are a reminder to me that my girls really do love each...they were hanging out together yesterday afternoon.  Sara even had Ashley look over her math for her. (They are basically in the same math class). Cannot even express how much I love these moments....

A long weekend.....

We had a long weekend.  It started like this on Thursday evening...

Joe's grandmother passed away this past week and so we took off work and school early on Friday to head to the funeral.  Soooo we had to work on catch up homework Thursday night since they were going to miss some classes.....chemistry.  Do you know how long it has been since I have done chemistry?  It has been a loooonnnngggg time, so Sara and I read the book together to figure it out.  I was feeling very accomplished hat I figured it out. It was 8th grade science so I am not really sure what that feeling of accomplishment says about me.  Maybe it doesn't take much for me to feel accomplished..

Friday around lunch we left for our native land.  After a brief greeting of extended family, the kids and I went back to the hotel and they got some swim time in.

Ashley and John really enjoyed the whirlpool....especially after I turned on the bubbles.

On Saturday we attend Joe's grandmother's funeral.  This was really the first funeral our kids have ever been too and it was really a good one for it to be their first.  Joe's grandmother was a strong believer and a woman whose life reflected her beliefs.  Joe did the message for her funeral and did a phenomenol job of sharing the gospel message.  His grandpa and grandma would be just as proud of him as all the family members who were there to hear him.

There were a couple of silver linings to a sad weekend.  We got to visit with many extended family members on Joe's side.  It was wonderful to catch up with aunts, uncles and cousins.  The kids enjoyed meeting all of them and hearing stories of days' past.  We also got to see Joe's sister and family for the first time in 2 1/2 years.  They are here from China so my brother in law can get the medical care he needs.  We were able to reconnect with our nieces, hug the necks of those we love dearly, and spend a short but quality amount of time with them all.  It was so great to sit at the dinner table with all of Joe's siblings and his parents and all the kids....it had been too long. It is one of those weekends that completely drains you, but you return home with your soul feeling full and missing them already.

....a special hello to all those relatives out there from across the country who we talked to this weekend and are now reading this.  We love you and miss y'all already!