The Latest

There have been seemingly insignificant yet feels like life-shifter moments around here lately. When I manage to slow down the, "I must get this, this and this done," train, my kids do some pretty amazing things.

Aubs is incredibly creative and bases most of her art on realistic, orderly things of life. She loves doing legos as long as she can follow the directions with the right color and size of lego. If she doesn't have the exact piece the directions call for, she cannot finish. Enter a problematic scenario:

Bryant receives legos for his birthday. Lego cars to assemble. Imagine Aubrey's excitement when there are 3 to assemble! And then imagine her disappointment when Bryant has the little black piece she needs to finish her car. He is using it to build...gasp...a car of his dreams, not one listed in the directions!

Differences in their make up and design. And I love it. Aubrey is very precise. Bryant is...not.

Playdough with Aubrey turns into a bake shop with cookies decorated to the hilt!

 I bet you wouldn't guess this guy is teething.

 "Hi my name is Bryant and I am ready to fill out a college application."

 Oh my beauty. Inside and out.

 "Say, what?! You want to take another picture of me?"

 "That sounds like fun!"

 "This is me saying, 'How you doin?"

 "Alright, enough is enough, Mom! Aaaccckkk!"

 Handsome handsome boy.

 Cheeser.

 Stu-bear. Also growing up oh.so.quick.

Who is this big kid?

 In the whirlwind of life-shifting, we have decided to homeschool Aubrey this coming year. So we are trying to get serious about a few must-haves in our house. Step 1: The Brag Board.

We try to catch each other doing hard things. Good things that merit attention. Jesus-pleasing actions that we can acknowledge. It's working! There has been much less, "MOMMY! _____ is blah-blah-blah tattling..." and there has been much more, "WOW! I just saw _____ doing the right thing!" Oh blessed peace in our house. :)

 We've also incorporated a cash-flow system in the house. And by "cash," I mean pom-poms. Chores earn pom-poms based on difficulty and popularity. They can be spent on a cartoon or a movie when saved up.

 We have a super-saver (Aubrey), a super-spender (Bryant) and a super window-washing squirter. Keep the spray bottle away from Stuart or the house will smell like Windex. And he will probably smile and earn a pom-pom for his hard labor.

 I did not make this. Our sweet 6 year old daughter has a new job and a new found hobby. And she is quite good at it.

I am blessed.