The Finished Product

Luke's recycling project turned out great.  Papa was able to tell Daddy how to make the headlights work using recycled solar panels, and Luke's class had fun turning off the classroom lights and watching them glow.  (By the time I took the picture the batteries were dead and the headlights didn't work anymore, but if you look closely, you can see they are there.)

An interior shot.  My favorite part was the seat and steering wheel.

If the kid was this serious about a recycling project, science projects are going to be interesting...

Out of the Mouth of Babes

I'm thinking the Garfield movie is going to have to find its way to the trash can since this morning as we were pulling into his school I heard Eli in the backseat saying, "Damn cat allergies." 

On a less horrifying note, yesterday when we were at the grocery store, Eli jumped on the scale to weigh himself.  Our conversation made me laugh.

Eli: "Hmm...41 pounds.  I used to be 40, but now I'm 41.  I guess I got older." 
Me (with a barely straight face): "Um, you mean heavier."
Eli: "Yeah, heavier.  It must be because I've been working out."

His daddy was so proud of his man talk.

Weekend Fun (With a Little Nudity Sprinkled In)

It was Eli's turn for his class's mascots, Mike and Sulley, to spend the weekend at our house.  At the end of the weekend we were supposed to write in the journal about what we did and include a few pictures of the fun we had.  Judah probably held and played with them more than Eli did.

Yeah, I'd look mistrustfully at this one too, Mike.  Keep your distance for safety's sake if you want to keep all your fur.

I swear, this child is so silly.  He makes me laugh all the time. When I told him to hold Mike and Sulley so I could get a picture for us to at least pretend that he had something to do with them, this is what he did, "See, they're right here, Mom!  I'm holding them!  Look!"

At the end of the weekend I finally convinced him to "brush" their fur and teeth like he was supposed to all weekend and take a decent picture with them.

Judah is becoming more and more aware of when he has to go potty.  He is nowhere near close to being trained, but we are heading in that direction.  Anytime his brothers pee outside he wants us to take his pants off so he can try to.  My favorite part is how he tucks his shirt under his chin to keep it out of the way.

And then he walks around holding himself until we put his pants back on.

Weekends are my favorite.

What Do You Do When Your Kid Is Smarter Than You?

(Disclaimer: Today was "Mismatch Day".  He doesn't normally go to school - or anywhere - dressed like this.)

You call Papa!

Game On

Judah loves the Wii, and he has become quite the master at the sword fighting game.  He actually gets a higher percentage than his brothers.  I don't know that his technique is exactly accurate, but he does really well.  And, it's the cutest thing ever.  I tried to get him on video, but every time I turn the camera on he comes over to me to check himself out, "I'na see!"  I did get a few seconds of cuteness...

Latest Trash Treasure

I've been saying for over a year that I wanted shelves for Judah's room to put all his toys on.  Time, expense, etc has put it on the "one day" list.  About a month ago I was heading to get Eli from school and noticed that someone had put a beat up small shelf on the side of the road for trash pick up.  As I've posted before I no longer have any shame when it comes to picking a treasure out of someones trash pile. 

I don't have a before picture because I honestly had little hope that it would turn out to be something worth showing off "after".  Yet, here it is!  Oh, and the paint was a random gallon that Kris had picked up at the store for $5 over a year ago.

Judah was happy to be able to find his toys.

I love the things that God does for me, especially when I never even thought to ask Him for them.  I am so loved!

Power of the Tongue

Luke has had a wart on the bottom of his foot for months now.  It was really big, but it didn't bother him.  Now me, it totally grossed out, but I'm a girl, and that is to be expected. 

Last week when we were looking at it I thought of the story in the Bible about the fig tree that Jesus cursed because it wasn't bearing any fruit.  In Mark 11, Jesus curses a fig tree because he was hungry, but when he came to the tree their wasn't any fruit on it.  He cursed the tree saying, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." (vs 14)  The next morning when he and his disciples came back by the tree they saw that it had dried up "from the roots." (vs 20)  Jesus teaches them in verse 23, "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says."

When Luke and I were checking out his wart I told him the story of the fig tree and said, "Luke, lets start cursing this wart every time we look at it and telling it to dry up at the roots and fall off your foot."  I told him it could be like an experiment (which he loved) and we could just see what happens.  He said, "Wouldn't that be cool if it just fell off?"

Last night I noticed he was picking at the wart, and he said it didn't hurt to do that, which was a new thing.  So he picked at it for a few minutes, and then he pulled the whole thing off!  Not just the top of it, but down to the root!  That sucker shriveled up and came off! 

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Psalm 18:21

I don't know about you, but I know I have a few more things in my life and family that I need to start cursing or blessing!