Never Let an Idea Go!

I just couldn't let the idea go. Yesterday while doing LEGOS with Matt I thought "this would be so much easier if these were sorted by color". So, instead of doing my normal Monday housework, I got distracted while doing the laundry by LEGOS......it was like they were calling me. "Come sort us". Well, I complied. It took me longer than I would have liked and being the crazy person I am I couldn't stop until I was done.

I know what your thinking what 5 almost 6 year old is going to keep their LEGOS sorted. Well, they may get intermixed but at least when Matt asks me to help him build, I'll have a little peace of mind.

Mom, you can help me!

Sundays are a pretty busy and yet relaxing day for me. I have several responsibilities at church and afterwards we head out for lunch. Usually we get back home around 3 p.m. and I'm ready to nap. Thankfully, Dave gives me this time to catch up on lost sleep and get refreshed by doing so. He spends that time doing homework with the kids and then other activities if the weather allows, which today it did. So after doing some Tball practice and a bike ride, it was time for Dave to get our taxes done and review some files from work. Well, Matt had other ideas. He wanted Dave to help him rebuild his LEGO police station. When Dave told him he just could help him right then, Matt headed my way and said "you can help me". He told me I could even bring my computer with me seeing I was on it at the time he made this request. I told him I would come and help without the computer. So, we headed down got the directions and pieces and two hours later we were done. Mind you this only half of the station...there is still a whole jail section, which I didn't know about until the last page of the instructions and got confirmation from Dave that this is correct.

Anyway, we had a great time getting it done and our work got our official approval.

Tonight when I was putting Matt to bed he told me "mom, next we can work on the jail part". I told him maybe tomorrow if we have time after homework. What use to be a daddy and Matt thing has become a mommy and Matt thing, that's what happens during Dave's busy work season.

Oh, and the organizer in me came out when doing this "build". I've decided we need to sort the unused LEGOS into color groups that way when we do a rebuild it won't be so hard to find the right part. How long do you think that sorting would take and last? Too long and not long enough. Still think I may do it though. :)

All Things LEGO

Matthew loves his LEGOS and when he recently got a LEGO reading book it took all but a few seconds to see on the back page that you could get LEGO backpacks. Well, Matt sooooo wanted the fire related one that is didn't take long for me to check the website and see how much this "backpack" would cost me. I showed it to him and said "are you sure that you would want this" to which he said a resounding "yes". Of course, I was also suffering from a little mommy guilt seeing I've been working on redoing Emily's room and purchasing some new items for it. Matt's reaction when the box with her bedding was delivered was "I never get any boxes". I diffused that moment by giving him the popping bubbles to stomp on. Well, I went and ordered the backpack and told him that he would be getting it soon so I wasn't very surprised when I picked him up from school on Tuesday and his teacher told me that Matt had advised her he was getting a new LEGO Fireman backpack. Imagine his excitement when he got home on Thursday and there it was "his box". He tore that thing open and was "soooo happy". So, how does the backpack rate? Two thumbs up of course. Oh and yes, he did use it for school the very next day!

Happy Birthday Dennis

Today is my oldest brother's birthday. So, I've been racking my brain on how to pay tribute to Dennis on this special day (he does a top ten list for family members birthdays) and this is what I came up with.

We are four years apart, which in old age seems like no time at all, after all there is a four year difference between Dave & I. However, when you are a kid that four year difference can seem vast. Even with this age difference there are memories I have that will surpass all time and age.

* Dennis and I could chug ice tea like no ones business. I think for a while instead of blood we had ice tea in our veins.

* He always got to wash the dishes, while the rest of us got the "privilege" of drying.

* We had amazingly, hilarious times waiting for the bus.

* I think he was the one who dubbed me "catalog Kathy". The name stuck with all my siblings.

* He was a great babysitter, except for the fact he would let us watch scary movies and then send us up the dark stairs to our bedroom.....yes, I still remember that movie to this day!

* Shingles....ugh, I so remember that and didn't even have them. UGH!!

* He would stick up for me in a moments notice but I wouldn't always know he did it.

* Dennis spent several summers at Word of Life Ranch. It was just a given he was going.

* How could we forget him breaking his leg the one summer at the ranch and guess who got to serve him ice tea while he got the best tan of the summer!

* He was very loyal to his friends which I am positive has transferred over into his adult life.

* He could cook and bake.

* He just smiled and asked "what did you put on the chicken?" when Lori and I mistook dill seed for basil (mom, reused the spice jar). Of course, now you can find dill on chicken in a restaurant.

As age has come, some memories have faded but new memories have been made later in life. Dennis has actually been a part of 3 very important days in my life. First, my wedding day. He helped officiate and most girls just can't say they were married by their brother. Then, he dedicated both Emily and Matt. Those are such important days in my life and it was amazing to have him central in both parts doing what he does best serving His Lord and God!

Unfortunately, ever since Dennis went to college most of our adult life has been spent in different geographic locations (except for a short time while I went to school in Chicago and he was in seminary a short distance away). One new amazing memory I have was watching him play with my kids during a visit to IL two years ago. Matt loved when he would chase and tickle him.

So, all this being said, Dennis thank you for being an awesome big brother and a wonderful Uncle. We hope you had a wonderful birthday and look forward to spending time with you soon. Love you much!!!

Sleeping in Her "New" Room

Emily was able to get back into her room on Thursday night. Her room is not quite done but enough so that she can get back in to sleep and "live". We've decided not to bring all of her things back in until after her furniture is delivered. This way I don't have to move everything a total of 4 times. Emily also wants to go through all of her things when she brings them back in to see what she can give to others. Love her giving heart.