Painting

Griffin and Goliath

Sometimes in your life you have to face giants.

Griffin's assignment was clear: guard number 4.

It wasn't until they lined up across from each other that we realized that number 4 was big, REALLY BIG. I'll even say gigantic.

And, well - Griffin is not. Check out the picture - Grif barely made it to his shoulder.

Did that stop Griffin? Not for a minute. He stuck to that kid like white on rice. He seemed to be the only one in the room that did not notice how "big" the task was before him.

I looked up some "basketball tips" online and am proud to say he embodied each one.

1. Defense is a state of mind, an attitude. Your desire, hustle and level of energy are as important, if not more, than your skill.

2. The attitude, concentration and teamwork you bring to the game are key elements to success. The skills of defense can be taught; only you can develop the desire to win.

3. It is essential to defend with a purpose.

5. Be a proactive player, not a reactive player.

The life lesson seemed clear: it is not how big the problem is, but how you react to it.

And on Saturday morning, a six year old boy knocked Goliath down.

The $50 Birthday Party - and it was fabulous!

In the midst of planning Fletcher's birthday party, I also had to get ready for Piper's party the following week.

Fletch turned 3 the week Piper was born. I asked the doctor if there was anyway Piper could come a few weeks earlier or later - since it would be more convenient for our family and he said they have a word for that. It is called "malpractice".

So - the first part of January, we are up to our elbows with party planning. We have tried it a variety of ways, one year we even threw the parties back to back on the same day. In case you were wondering - this was NOT a good idea. It was also the year Fletch picked a space theme and I decided that we should cover one whole room in black garbage bags to create a space room complete with

glow in the dark planets and space ships and we also built our own baking soda rockets (they fly about 10 feet in the air). I seem to take the "At Home Party" a little seriously.

This year I was feeling overwhelmed since Fletcher's party grew so quickly (both in number of kids and cost). Piper wanted an American Girl party to celebrate her new doll, Julie.

As I started to plan, I mentioned to a friend - I think I could possibly do this party for under $50. She didn't out right laugh at me, but she did smile and pat me on the shoulder and say, "I always think that, too. And then when I check out I can't figure out how the bill is for $100.

Well, that got me determined... you just don't tell me I can't do something! I was determined I was going to pull off an AMAZING party for $50. And here it is...

Decorations: I have always wanted to make these darling Pom-Poms that hang from the ceiling. Loved them!!! And all girly colors - pink, hot pink and red. They are so cute - I STILL haven't taken them down!

Table: Being a southern girl, whose mom worried a

bout the table setting weeks before a party... this is important. We made these darling flowers from an American Girl Flower kit.

And then, because American Girls are crafty and recycle - we used tin cans to create vases. The girls at the party would also make their own flowers as a craft and would use the vases from the center piece to take their flowers home. I placed the flowers on top of a mirror to add a little more sparkle (five year olds can never have enough sparkle) and used a pink table cloth.

Food: I walked into Michael's and saw the cutest Mary Engelbreit cupcake holder boxes on clearance. That got me thinking... I had a friend that did a cupcake party and it went well - why

don't we make cupcakes and each girl could bring home 4 cupcakes as her goody bag. I made the take home cupcakes before the party (partially because I knew it only takes one good sneeze from a preschool girl to ruin a whole batch of cupcakes - and it was more fun to decorate them without the help of lots of little hands).

We all made one batch together at the party - taking turns adding ingredients and stirring (lots of volunteers to crack eggs!). We put the

batter in zip lock bags and cut off a corner for the girls to squeeze the batter into their personalized cupcake liner (so there are no mix ups - it is flu season, you know!). Very fun and believe it or not - not very messy! Afterwards they decorated their cupcakes to look like cats with Oreo faces, M&M eye and whiskers. Also on hand we had carrot sticks, pretzels and strawberries to try and reduce the sugar buzz.

Last but not least, I made some darling sugar cookies. I think I had enjoyed making the Lego cookies so much - I wanted to do it again.

Over the past 2 weeks I have used over 5 POUNDS of powdered sugar!!! Piper picked all of her favorite princess cookie cutters - and a heart and stocking (??whatever???). We made some big cookies for the girls and tiny ones for the dolls and stuffed animals that would be attending.

Happy birthday little 5 year old!

Fletcher turns 8

Every year instead of things calming down after the holidays, our house turns goes into hyper mode. We usually return from Texas and are immediately faced with the double whammy birthdays for Fletch and Piper.

This year Fletch took a very mature approach - he wanted to take 3 friends to the zoo in Colorado Springs and eat out. Easy! No problem! Sounds great!

And then he decided maybe he wanted to have a party at home. Maybe a Lego party - and then the dream began to grow. The guest list expanded. The wanted a homemade cake that looked like a Star Wars Lego Man. His eyes would get bigger and bigger and he came up with games and plans. And before I knew what had happened, we had a guest list of 18 boys (yes - all in my house, in the middle of winter) and a full fledged party on our hands.

Fletch made a nameplate for the door to greet people. We bought a zillion Bionicles for everyone to build. We made Lego man sugar cookies to hand out and a Lego Sharkman pinata.

His birthday began with a big family birthday breakfast and a menu of his favorite foods (let's hear it for bacon!).

That night the boys (and one girl) began to arrive. Here is the difference between boys and girls. Since many of the kids go to different schools, I had them all sit down and tell everyone their names. A room full of 8 year old boys is well... loud and smelly.

This is how an 8 year old boy introduces himself,

"My name

is" (burp)... ha, ha, ha - exCUUUUUUSe me... hit the guy next to you, "uh, my name is" (laugh, other bodily noises)... ha, ha, ha "SORRY! My name is JOE - Zoinks"!!!!

Then we get around to the only girls represented... Piper and our neighbor, Emma. They are sitting quietly on the couch holding their American Girl dolls. This is how girls introduce themselves, "Hi. My name is Emma. And I think it would be nice if we could also tell how old we are and what our favorite color is". Piper chimes in, "And can we also tell the names of our dolls."

Chris and I looked at each other - seriously! If anyone wondered about the differences of the sexes - here it is!

The girls lived (barely) through the night. The boys had a fabulous and very "boyish" time. And Fletcher went to sleep dreaming of Legos.

My favorite Christmas memories number 2

A friend sent me a quick email. Would I mind finding some things for a baby girl that was born and the parents did not have anything for her. ANYTHING... not even a crib. She left the hospital with a couple of blankets and outfits.

Oh my goodness - I LOVE to do things like this! This is ME from head to toe. I love to ask people to help. I love to explain things like this to my kids. I love to see what is provided and I am always, ALWAYS surprised!

A short posting on Facebook asked if anyone wanted to be a Christmas angel to this little girl. First reply from a generous friend with a huge heart. Second reply from a woman whose very nature is nurturing. Third reply from the single mom whom we were going to adopt her baby (see all the adoption postings - it is a long story), but she decided to keep it.

Yep, the mom and I are friends on Facebook. And here is this single mom who is up to her ears taking care of darling 6 month old Bethany and she wants me to know she has clothes to donate. Seriously - see what I mean by pleasant surprises? I am so proud of that mom! Chris, never a big Facebook fan, told me he wa

s a Facebook believer - with a one day posting we were able to get all the baby essentials.

As people brought things over, I had them drop the bags in the living room - which just happens to be where we put the Christmas tree. There was a stash of baby things: a stroller, clothes, blankets, a diaper bag, the most darling bedding EVER, towels - and with 2 cash donations we even got a crib and mattress. All things baby!!

And that is when it hit me... to me these "gifts" which found their way into our living room were the most meaningful things under the tree this year. Random people giving gifts and expecting n

othing in return - they were just doing it because a part of them loves to help others.

Could anything be more appropriate? A crib for a little baby that did not have a bed, in honor of another baby that was placed in a manger.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

My favorite Christmas memories number 1

Can't believe Christmas is over and tomorrow it is back to school! Really missing "year-round" school when we get a full month off at Christmas!

Went to Texas to see family, played with cousins, took Piper on a right of passage trip to the American Girl doll store, spent a HORRIBLE night at Toy's R Us trying to get some sort of deal on Legos, wrapped a zillion gifts, made cookies, visited with far away friends, saw the craziest Christmas lights, read the Christmas story from a new fabulous Children's Bible.

But hear are the standout memories...

Memory number 1

A friend (and since she occasionally reads this blog - hope it is OK to tell this story) came from out of town and we took a short trip to the mountains. She felt horrible most of the time and wanted to lay in bed eating soup, watching TV and trying to forget her misery (I was downstairs at the spa - the way I enjoy forgetting misery!), but one night she felt well enough to go to dinner. While talking about Christmas she said, "What is the whole thing about the wise men... in fact - what is the whole Christmas story about?"

"Seriously?" I asked.

"Seriously."

"No, really - are you serious?"

"Serious."

So a story that I have heard my whole entire life, I was able to share with someone that was not very familiar with it. She asked such great questions and it was fun to see the story from her eyes. I know that she has heard bits and pieces of it over her life, but the majority of this story that has been ingrained in me and I tell it over and over to my kids - was new to her.

She listened very carefully to the details - that we have a broken relationship with a God that loves us and Jesus was born so that he could fix it.

When I told her about Jesus being born in a stable, she asked if there were any type of supernatural sign for his birth. (Yep, that is why there is the Star of Bethlehem). Did Jesus know that he was going to have to die? If Jesus was a jew, then why would he want to start a new religion? Why was everyone mad at him? Didn't he get beaten by someone? He really promised the man on the cross next to him he would be with him in paradise? You mean the story goes on after he died on the cross? He rises? People actually see him?

And on a very cold and snowy night in Beaver Creek... sitting in a hip, cool restaurant and drinking a glass of wine - I was able to tell the story of Christmas and it suddenly it seemed as new to me as it did to her.

Been a long time...

I realized it had been a while since I blogged when my computer's memory found Craig's List before it found Crawford Journey. There are lots of reasons - but instead of having "Blogger Guilt" I just realize that there is a season for everything.

Some times I go through periods where I just want to write about everything and I can process and think through my life as I type. Some things are to personal (even for me) to blog about - I only allow myself to have "real: conversations about them, and sometimes I even keep them to myself. And some times, I just don't want to. And that is OK.

I laughed when a women recently told me she read my blog and enjoyed it! Ha! She must have not read the dates and have an abnormal interest in improving literacy skills in youth. I can not imagine that the last few entries give anyone a true idea of who I am.

Anyways, it is good to be back.

Piper's first day of school

She did her own hair, picked out her favorite fancy dress and helped me make her lunch. We went to Mrs. Kelley's class, the same teacher that had Fletcher and Griffin. It is our 6th year at Little Blessings and our last.

I love pre-school.

Life should be like preschool, filled with snacks, songs, friends and learning.

Adventure with Auntie Jane

How often do you go on a playdate and have to bring your own gun? That was the order from Auntie Jane... she told me she would provide 3 swords and 2 play rifles, but could we possible bring a rifle to - in case we wanted to go on a bear hunt.

God knew that with our grandparents far away, that I would need an Auntie Jane close by. Auntie Jane and I share a love for Germany, Europe and third-culture kids (she and Sam were missionaries in Germany the same time I worked there for Young Life). My kids think of her as a cowgirl Mary Poppins - the great aunt with the Magic Cabin and lots a creative ideas.

Last week she took us to Garden of the Gods where we picnicked, searched for Indians and hiked. After the little ones were entertained, she made me tea and we talked.

An adventurous afternoon that left my heart filled with her wonderful Texas hospitality.

Hanging out with Fletch

An extra long summer has meant extra time spent with kids. Since Piper started pre-school, the boys and I have enjoy our "boy time" each Tuesday and Thursday. We have become regulars at the skate board park - and if you go around 10am - you will be amazed! Instead of the usual "scary teenage" crowd, the parking lot is filled withe minivans. And "Watch this Mom" is a common saying.

This morning Chris had taken Piper and Griffin to early church and Fletcher and I were going to meet them for a later service. Fletch looked at me and said, "What I really wish we could do is go on a bike ride - just you and me." So I proposed that we ride our bikes to church. He thought this was quite the adventure! On our way up the big hill he looked at me and said, "This is the best day of my life. Thanks, mom."

We arrived at church a little hot and not the best dressed - but very thankful for our wonderful morning.