My Composer

Who would have thought it....

Jaden likes music!

Here are a few of his recent compositions:

On Piano

On Harmonica

Make a Smilebox slideshow

On the Drums

Vote for your favorite!

New Games

I saw this idea on another blog and thought Jaden might like it too.

I traced the outline of some kitchen utensils (although I wished I had larger paper) and set him to matching.

He LOVED an excuse to play with the things mommy cooks with!
Don't ask me what the black thing is though! I just found it in the drawer and it fit on the paper. Any ideas?

I've also been trying to be a bit more deliberate about transferring activities.
Beans have been a favorite.
I put out rice yesterday. He had fun with that too - until he tried to eat some. For some who have commented on how their kids would eat things like that.....

Well, we talked about how it wasn't cooked so we couldn't eat it. And, I knew it wouldn't injure him if he tried it. He played with it off and on most of the day before he tried to eat some. And....he realized QUICKLY that it doesn't taste good!

I guess this falls under the idea of letting your kids make decisions when the consequences are "affordable" (a book I'm reading) or allowing them opportunity to discover without trying to protect them from everything. (a reading/discussion blog I'm following).

Central TX

For Oma's funeral we made the long trek to Central TX. While it was a sad time, there was also a lot of joy. All of Stephen's brothers and sisters were able to come and it was the first time in a LONG time that we got to see a few of them. (Stephen's brother and wife had never even met Jaden although their kids had come to "grandparent camp" when he was a baby).

Of course, there is nothing better than sun, fresh spring air, and COUSINS!

After lunch the boys had to play in the drainage canal (dry of course)
Boy was it fun to run up and down that steep ramp
Jaden playing ball with Grandma H

We stayed in Oma's house. It has been mostly empty since she came to live with Stephen's parents although they had been there a few times to fix odds and ends. Stephen's sister and uncle spent a lot of time getting it ready for us to come.

And here Jaden had to help daddy and grandpa tidy up before the other cousins arrived
Playing games
all the cousins (plus Stephen's uncle's grandkids........I don't know what those are called! In my family I still call them cousins!)
Silly boy, silly mommy
Not maybe the BEST picture of the three of us....
Stephen's sister Laura's family
Stephen's sister Teri's family
Stephen's sister Angela's family
Stephen's brother Philip's family
Mom, Dad, bros and sisses......never a dull moment
a shot at getting everyone.....

there was a photographer....

hopefully his are better!
chillaxin' with a tootsie pop (having newly discovered candy I think this one might be an addict!)
checking out the river

telling stories
walking (running) home
playing at the park
and even a tractor to ride (don't tell the construction company working on the courthouse!)
Oma's house with SERIOUSLY the COOLEST TREE in front of it
doesn't it just SCREAM to you - CLIMB ME!!!

Oh the possibilities

So, I´ve never crocheted anything but a straight line (aka something like dishcloths)

But, for some reason today I was feeling inspired - creative. So, I decided to see....just SEE IF I could pull off this pattern. I was skeptical that I could do it but, it was SO easy and SO cute.

Now there is a whole new world of options if I can actually follow at least a SIMPLE pattern!

Woohoo!!!!

Oma

Shortly into the new year after our return home from our MN trip Oma (Stephen´s Grandma) passed away. She had been struggling with the progression of Alzheimer´s for some time and had been living in our town with Stephen´s parents for the last 5 years.

While it was wonderful to have her with us - and Jaden always had fun entertaining her! - we know that she is truly at home with her heavenly father and her loved ones that have gone before. While we are sad that we can´t spend time with her we know that she no longer struggles with the confusion and failing body that she had here on earth. She is now where all things are perfect, in heaven. Her life was an example of a strong and vibrant faith - to the very end.

We were blessed to spend her 91st birthday with her in early December - celebrating life - and singing some of her favorite songs.

The funeral was held in Blanco, TX where she was buried next to her husband.

She loved flowers and grew many varieties throughout her life. And, she had beautiful flowers given in memory of her life.

From her grandkids

from her great-grandkids
- from her children
we had some photos up of her. from left to right - her wedding picture, her and her husband Wilbert, a picture taken of her this fall
various pictures of her with her kids, grandkids and great grandkids, and one of her as a young woman
we put pictures that we had of her living here for the last 5 years on a digtal frame so those from her hometown that hadn´t seen her much since her move could see what she had been up to
there was a beautiful worship service complied by her daughter that celebrated her life and the assurance we have of a heavenly home
it was a rainy, windy day
so the gravesite ceremony was brief


We rejoice that she is free from the burdens of this world and at peace, living in joy with her Father God

Burrowing

I always find Jaden in interesting sleeping positions. It seems he likes to have his head covered.
Nearly gives me a heart attack every time and I search frantically to make sure he can breathe. But, I'm getting used to it. Somehow, in his sleep-burrowing, he always has a clear path to the nose!

Higher Higher

Jaden has a favorite song on the Watoto Children's Choir CD - Higher Higher. He watches the video at Grandma H's all the time so we've been working on the actions. Actually, he's teaching me how to do them right.

First of all, I just think it's funny that he's sitting in this laundry basket WITH a giant beach ball. I thought he'd get mad at the ball once he got in but I guess he just wanted to be a sardine.

And here's the dancing