Dora the Explorer vs YouTube

Why does Sam sound like a mini adult? He is a sponge, a parrot, and super smart to boot! His language explosion can be attributed to his quick mind and time spent with adults and older siblings.
He also watches a lot of YouTube! TV isn't always a bad thing! Unless it's mindless shows like Dora the Explorer. That show makes my ears bleed.  How many times must The Map repeat directions?

Map - "Bridge, lake, tall mountain." "Bridge, lake, tall mountain." Bridge, lake, tall mountain." "Bridge, lake, tall mountain." Dora - "Where do we go first?"

Dora tangent over, back to quality entertainment! Sam has learned a lot about science and language from watching things that interest him on YouTube. But be mindful if he asks you for seemingly innocent household products. Don't assume he is planning on baking cookies! Dane and he watched a video on homemade hand grenades last night!

My not so clean house

I've got 4 sticky, messy, busy, don't care about the state of our house kids. My house is in a constant state of dirty chaos! Wait..make that 5 kids, Dane's a big offender! I'm learning to let go of the picture in my head of what a clean house should look like for the sake of my sanity.

So cleaning now consists of this...

I sweep daily. Because who wants dirty pirate feet from walking around the house.

I clean the bathroom floor ONLY when a tub full of water gets splashed on the floor. It gets cleaned often :)

My two littles LOVE spray bottles. So I let them do the dusting, just wish they didn't use half the bottle!

Dishes are much more entertaining with the help of a 2 yr old and BUBBLES!

Laundry is my never ending story!

The littles think that cleaning the litter box is like digging for treasure. HAVE FUN KIDS!!

(I can't believe I found this picture)

Clean counters, and clean toes!

I'm a perfectionist, but having happy kids is more important than a clean house! 

Daniel in the lions den / The hallways of highschool

This is one of my favorite stories in the bible. I love how God had turned the plan of corrupted men upside down! I can't tell you how many times I've felt like Daniel praying to God to deliver me!

No one outsmarts God! The enemies of Daniel thought they were so smart. They thoughtfully planned and executed a flawless deception and plan. Yet in the end even though everything had gone according to their plan, they did not have the victory they had foreseen.

HA TAKE THAT!

Ever feel like your're in the lions den?

Back from outdoor school!

As I waited outside the middle school with Sam and Emma, other parents arrived with cameras in hand. The first bus pulled up, empty of students, but full of packed luggage. The next bus arrived filled with students waving their arms out the window, screaming witty greetings to  loved ones. When all the kids finally got off the buses, it was utter chaos! Parents were hugging, friends were saying goodbye, and teachers were breathing a sigh of relief. The sound was deafening! Christian, along with several other kids, helped unload the luggage bus. It was comical to see how most parents had the same idea - sent trash bags for used clothing. Christian and his friends formed a line and passed luggage to the curb. Emma, on the other hand, kept whining that she wanted "Brubber". Eventually, she got her way with a big hug! All the way home, Christian chatted about the incredible time he had.

Christian's off to Outdoor School

No phones allowed, those kids will be roughin' it!