Game Time

Well, college football season starts today. Jerry is more than ready. What does this mean in our house?

Saturdays are football Saturdays.
Loud television.
Sports Center.
A captivated husband.
Screaming, stomping.
Cheering (hopefully).
High fives (hopefully).

U of M has to win otherwise we don't have a happy household, and we like a happy household.

So, Go Blue!!! (for the sake of everyone's happiness in our home).

Added Note Saturday Night: Post Game Update....No good news. This might be a long season.

A Beautiful Heartache

"God whispers to us in our pleasure,
speaks to us in our conscience, but
shouts to us in our pains;
it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
-C.S. Lewis

Words cannot even describe how much I/we are learning these days, as individuals, as a couple, and for our future. So much has changed, and we are liking the change. We are excited. We are alive. Jerry is taking this time to be still, to say no, and to recharge. I am taking this time to/too...

I know that Jerry is longing to speak, but I overheard a conversation on the phone last week asking him to preach at a citywide service, and he turned it down because he said he doesn't have God's permission yet. Jerry is taking this time seriously. He is being restored. God is working on him. He is under construction. But he will be back.

Jerry has these lyrics on his blog from Over the Rhine "What a beautiful piece of heartache this has all turned out to be" and that it so true.

We are starting to hear again...and we are listening to so much.

...and we are grateful.

A Chocolate Debate

We've been to three parades this summer, and our candy supply is overflowing, particularly with dum dum suckers of all varieties, countless tootsie rolls of all shapes and sizes, a few loose pencils from election candidates, and broken peppermints (what kid wants a peppermint?!).

That brings me to my question...

In college, my roommate and I had a discussion about tootsie rolls, you know, those chocolate flavored nougats (we were definitely serious scholars).

Can a Tootsie Roll satisfy a chocolate craving?

Not sure if this is "blog worthy" but it got me thinking when I was eating a few today.

All Dressed Up

Jerry's sister, Jennifer, got married this weekend, hence the fancy clothes, jewelry, and fun hairdo.

The reception was outside on a beach. The rain cleared up and the sun came out just in time for all of the festivities that ran late into the night. Lightning in the night sky was reflecting on the lake and it was absolutely beautiful.

I'm smiling here, but the whole time I am thinking..."I have sand stuck on my feet and it is driving me crazy." Ok, the thought only lasted a second before I started having fun again.

Mariah was absolutely glued to the whole ceremony, as it was her first wedding. She loved every minute of it, but then the princess wasn't such a princess anymore when she figured out she wasn't going to the "party" and had to go home with the sitter.

Mariah and Brianna looking pretty.

Innocence

Whispers and Wishes

Mariah's new preschool teachers came over to the house this evening and Mariah was very excited. She got dressed all by herself early this morning--a nice winter jumper and turtleneck with very sparkly pink dress (play) shoes. She sweat all day long. We even went outside to rollerblade--she was looking sweet in skates, knee pads, and elbow pads...with her winter jumper. Gotta love her.

So, while her teachers were here, they were talking about how they sing and dance in class and of course Mariah was pumped about that. Randomly, she walks over to me and whispers in my ear...

"Mom, I think I am about ready for karate"

(I just raise my eyebrows as if to say "wow" )

"Because I like to kick and punch"

...Preschool should be interesting...

Ouches and Spoons

Ok, I kinda have this thing where I say "ouch" or "ow" several times a day (well, probably more than that). I say it whenever something unnatural happens, but it doesn't necessarily hurt, I just exclaim "ouch" or "ow" sometimes audibly and sometime not. (ie: when you hit your hand on the corner of the wall when you walk by, bite your lip, or step on a stone--you know, things like that). I know, I am totally a girl. So, when something does happen to hurt for real and I use my exclamation, Jerry doesn't come running because I say it all too often (he laughs under his breath I am sure).

So, the other day, we were in the kitchen drying dishes and I dropped a spoon on my toe from counter top level. Umm, yeah, it hurt for real. Jerry started laughing and said "oh, come on, it is just a spoon." So, I said, "you try it."

Ok, so you try it. Drop a spoon at counter top level (vertical position not horizontal) right onto your toes and let me know your exclamation.

(Warning, you might swear, cuss, and/or cry...or laugh when you think of this post and why you are dropping a spoon on purpose on your toe).

Enjoy

Little Whiny Boy

I took Mariah to the video store to get some free kids' movies tonight, and of course, she picks out "Caillou," for some reason, this has been her all time favorite for a few years now (definitely not my first choice, and am hoping she will grow out of this phase quickly).

"Mariah, how about Clifford instead, or even Barbie (another yuck, but better than Caillou)."

Nope, Caillou it is.

Have you ever seen "Caillou?"

I think he is a parent's worst nightmare--a VERY whiny little boy that always gets his way and never gets in trouble (not loving him so much).

So on the way home, Mariah asks...

"Mom, what is Caillou's last name?"

Me: Hmm, not sure. He just goes by Caillou.

Mariah: I bet it is Caillou DePoy

Me: Um, probably not.

Mariah: Caillou DePoy, Caillou DePoy

Me: (no comment)

Mariah: Or Caillou Mithers.

Me: Mithers? (where the heck did she come up with that?)

Mariah: Yeah, Caillou Mithers.

Me: Ok.

Of course, of the four movies she picked out, she is watching "Caillou" Mithers right now and she won't even stop watching it to eat dinner. I'll have my "talk" with Mariah later about not acting like Caillou and explain how he is a bad influence.

Welcome Home, Jon and Sara!!

Our "one big happy family" is all together once again. Jerry's brother, Jon, his wife Sara, and cutie patootie son, Malachi, were in Omaha for 10 weeks and today we gathered again for the first time all summer. So, where else to have this happy reunion, but...the beach (of course)!

The cousins were so excited to see each other and Mariah started jumping up and down and squealing as soon as her feet hit the floor this morning (only to get in a fight with Malachi at the beach and say that she "wasn't going to be his friend anymore!" Welcome home, Malachi).

Later on, Mariah reconsidered, and was friends with Malachi

Having fun in the waves

This picture was actually taken before Mariah didn't

want to be friends with Malachi

Ambria and Alivia taking it all in (I think Livie is eating sand)

Ah, the beach babe bums...it's a hard life

We are home now so the girls can take naps before the excitement continues tonight. Grandma is going to take on the task of watching all 8 grandkids so us adults can go out. Good luck with that one. (We love you, Grandma!)

It is great seeing Jon, Sara, and Malachi again. Next time, don't go away for so long!