Calming Baby Sam!

All of my kids hated being strapped in their car seats! The majority of our trips involved enduring a crying baby in the back seat, which would stress us all out! Well, I found a solution for a more pleasant car ride with Mr. Samuel. While still pregnant, I made a family Smilebox slide show with the theme song "These Are the Days" by Tony Van Morrison. With all the continuous editing and sharing it with family and friends, he must have really come to like it there in my zen womb. Fast forward to when he was born...every time I played the song in the car, he'd instantly calm down and stop crying, which was amazing!

"These Are the Days" by Tony Van Morrison

Emma's first choir recital!

Emma started a new school this year. I am so thankful to my parents who are graciously funding her new Christian school!

Bedtime and Morning Songs

Good Night Baby - Emmalyn's Version

Good night baby it's time to go to sleep, we've turned the page on this day and now it's time to sleep.

Good night, baby, it's faster than it seems, I used to be the baby and my mom sang to me.

Good night, Good night. I hope you have sweet dreams. The world loves little babies, and you're the world to me.

Good night, Good night. I watch you as you sleep. The world loves little babies and you mean the world to me.

Night Night - Wenzel bedtime song. Sang to my babies Christian, Maddy, and Sam.

Night night MaDalyn, night-night MaDelyn, night-night MaDelyn, see you in the morNing.

Ga, Ga, and Grandpa say night-night, Ga-Ga, and Grandpa say night-night, Ga-Ga, and Grandpa say night-night, see you in the morNing.

Night night ChrisTian, night-night ChrisTian, night-night ChrisTian, see you in the morNing.

Mama and Dada say night night, Mama and Dada say night night, Mama and Dada say night night, see you in the morNing.

Night night SaMuel, night night SaMuel, night night SaMuel, see you in the morNing.

Ga, Ga, and Grandpa say night night, Ga-Ga and Grandpa say night night, Ga-Ga, and Grandpa say night night, see you in the morNing.

Would repeat verses changing up the names that would say night night (cousins, aunt, uncles, pets).

Morning Song - With zooming nose touch gesture

Good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning to YOU (pointer finger zooms to touch nose), good morning to YOU (pointer finger touches nose again)!

We're all in our places with sun-shining faces. Good morning to YOU (nose)! Good morning to YOU (nose)!

repeat.

My kids always hide their faces so I couldn't find their noses. Silly kids, Mom will find it!

I'm worn

"Worn"

I’m Tired I’m worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes
To keep on breathing
I’ve made mistakes
I’ve let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world

And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn

I know I need to lift my eyes up
But I'm too weak
Life just won’t let up
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn

My prayers are wearing thin
Yeah, I’m worn
Even before the day begins
Yeah, I’m worn
I’ve lost my will to fight
I’m worn
So, heaven come and flood my eyes

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause all that’s dead inside will be reborn

Though I’m worn
Yeah I’m worn

-Tenth Avenue North 

Sam loves to rock out!

Krytonite - 3 Doors Down

Radioactive - Imagine Dragons

Remind me who I am

When I lose my way,

And I forget my name

Remind me who I am

In the mirror all I see

Is who I don't wanna be

Remind me who I am

In the loneliest places

When I cant remember what grace is

Tell me, once again

Who I am to You, who I am to You

Tell me, lest I forget

Who I am to You, that I belong to You

To You

When my heart is like a stone,

And I'm running far from home

Remind me who I am

When I cant receive Your love

Afraid I'll never be enough

Remind me who I am

If I'm Your beloved can You help me believe it

Tell me, once again

Who I am to you, who I am to You

Tell me, lest I forget

Who I am to you, that I belong to You

To You

I'm the one You love, I'm the one You love

That will be enough, I'm the one You love

Tell me, once again

Who I am to you, who I am to You

Tell me, lest I forget

Who I am to you, that I belong to You

Tell me, once again

Who I am to You, who I am to You

Tell me, lest I forget

Who I am to You, that I belong to You

To You

To You

-Jason Gray

Schools out for summer!

The day school got out on June 7th there was so much excitement in the air. I picked up the kids from school with the song "Schools Out for Summer" by Alice Cooper playing. Then we went out to eat at one of their favorite restaurants Panda Express.

So it's been just over a week, and every day when Dane gets home from work, I ask him... "Is it September yet"? They are driving me crazy!!!! Yes, I'm a stay-at-home mom so it's not like I'm not used to them being around all the time. It's just, that with Maddy and Christian home in the mornings, it totally upset the balance of things. Truth be told, for a good hour or so in the morning, I let Sam watch cartoons snuggling on one side of me and Emmalyn on the other (she just realized what the big box we stare at all the time is for). Both usually have a lock of my hair in their hands. And I just sit and enjoy whatever book I'm reading.

Well now, I come down in the morning and Maddy's taken over the morning TV and since I have nothing to pacify Sam and Emma they're usually off making trouble. Christian, however, sleeps sometimes till noon. At about that time, Maddy wants to know what fun thing we're doing for the day. Uh, I'm not your cruise director, it's not every day this summer we're going to take a Zoo trip, or go roller skating. Some days Mommy just wants to catch up on the huge mess that having 4 kids home all the time makes.

Thankfully this summer we're taking 2 big trips. July to Flaming Gorge, Utah a visit with my Dad's side of the family. Then the first week in August, our annual extended family beach trip to Lincoln City. Other than that we'll have to fit in lots of visits to the park, Baskin Robins, and sleepovers with friends.

Time will fly and it will be time to sing "It's the most wonderful time of the year," while pushing the Target cart full of school supplies. Just kidding, I love summer and all it's craziness! Next year Christian starts middle school and Maddy has her last year at the elementary level! I'm not sure I'm ready for that!

"When I Fall in love"

 

My small jazz choir in high school was learning this song. One day while absentmindely once humming it my mom stopped me point blank. "I sang that song repeatedly till you fell asleep as baby"!

I passed along this sentimt to my sweet little niece. One night her parents were working down on my in-law's trail, I sarinated the song to her as she drifted off to sleep in my arms. It was a heartwarming momet that explained why the melody sounded so familar while learning it. 

Night at the Quest

Dane, I, and several friends went to the only club in Portland that allowed minors. This song started playing and I dragged my fellow swing choir friend Eric onto the dance floor.  Dane often reminds me of how he watched me dance with him while watching my every move. He then fell in love with this alternative song...