Deck the Halls 09

Thanks to my mom for letting us borrow a pre-lit space-saving tree!  The boys LOVED decorating and even now, Levi rearranges all the ornaments at the bottom of the tree to his liking...

Here is Daddy giving instructions and announcing that he is the official hook hanger.

Levi likes to hang as many on one branch as possible.

How to reach the high spots:

Ethan is almost 6!

We named our Elf Zart:

Job well done!

Cheesy mommy picture:

Story time :)

A day in the life with boys

My favorite Ben picture so far:

Levi and his night-nights:
"Tickle me, Daddy!"
UP HIGH is the theme of the day:
Like I said, sometimes up high is the only safe to play Legos!
Ethan loves to play Lego Batman
Bryce spends hours setting up people and animals~!
And last, but not least, one more UP HIGH picture for ya!

For Instruction In Righteousness

The book, "For Instruction in Righteousness," (from www.doorposts.net) has become an essential part of my day!  It is an AMAZING resource for using the scriptures to really train my children as I discipline them.  I have been leaving it out and open on the counter or table and refer to it many times a day.  As situations come up, I am able to easily find the  topic I am dealing with (anger, disobedience, lying, hitting, etc) and immediately have access to bible verses and ideas for effective discipline. For example, when Ethan came home from school and had been in trouble for pinching a friend, I was able to have several consequences ready to help train him, and let him see the seriousness of hands that hurt other people.

1.  He did receive 5 spankings.

2.  He was not allowed to play with friends for the afternoon. 

3.  He had to make something for the child he hurt, to show his repentance and love. 

Ethan quotes for September

"Why are we eating Boston's Butt!?"

"Mom, is there such things as leprechauns?  What about walnuts?  What about stars on earth and rockets that jump?"

"ethan, please stay in the backyard" "ok, but first i am going to get the bees." "Where are they?" "In my bed!" "Oh. o.k."

 Ethan: "Mom, you should have cheered for me when I ate all my oatmeal this morning." Me: "Yay." Ethan: "Now say it like you mean it!"

"Benjamin, when you grow up, you can fight like a good guy, OR you can help build your own house!"

Ethan Starts Kindergarden

Ethan started Eastwood Christian School this year!  He goes MWF and is home with me and "group 2" the other 2 days!

Ethan and Tomatos

A great learning opportunity for Ethan happened last week.  On one of his daily adventures in the neighborhood with Danny (his BFF) they decided to begin smashing tomatoes in a yard behind us.  Obviously, this was a poor choice!  Mr. Johnson was upset and he let us know it!  Ethan is in the process of learning how to have fun WITHOUT being destructive, but it is a hard lesson for him to learn and definitely counter-cultural.  The lesson was obviously for me in humility and the nail was driven in when Mr. Johnson brought me a bag of his beautiful tomatoes to enjoy.  He forgave Ethan and showed me what being a neighbor is all about.