What State?

It's Beaver Fallsing here... It is gray and dreary outside; actually cold. Our furnace keeps coming on. For the past three days it has been raining on and off all day. Today looks like it might offer more of the same. The past two days have been scheduled for the Father/Son camp out which the boys have been really looking forward to. They didn't go up last night, but are leaving soon to try it out today and tonight. I'm very thankful for the rain. It is just funny weather for June. In two more days it is officially summer and we are wearing sweatshirts and jackets!

Family Field Trip

James has one day per year which he can take off of work for childrens' school related activities. He had to use the day by the end of this month. Yesterday, he came along with us while the kids had their second art lesson (which they love, by the way). We ate lunch in a park and then proceeded to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. We spent a good bit of time in the Space Odyssey section which has hands on exploration activities. We also looked at the Egyptian mummy exhibit and the Western Wildlife and Habitats exhibit. We went to the Planetarium and an Imax show on bugs. We ate supper at "India Express" and got home around 7:30 pm. Every time we drove in the car, Evan had his nose in a Pippi Longstocking book. James and I smiled to hear his giggles... Last night during family worship, we sang Ps. 19 with images from the Hubble Telescope in mind.

Still Clean...

My system appears to be working. Today a 3 year old, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, and 8 year old were all playing together in the basement for about 3 hours total...and the toys are all picked up! This is how it worked: They at first checked out the play dishes and the balls (two cards). After a while, they wanted to play with the toy box toys and the stuffed animals. I told them to pick up the dishes and balls first (with which they were done playing) and they did so and replaced the cards. Then they checked out the other items.

You may laugh at my excitement over such a trivial matter. The mess before to me, though, was so overwhelming that it was difficult to know where to start, much less for the kids.

Battle of the Basement

For the last two days, I have fought the Battle of the Basement. I won! I've gone through boxes, weeding out items for our garage sale this weekend. With the kids, I cleaned up and organized their toys. I put an envelope and card on each container. If they want to play with something, they have to check it out, by giving me the card. I will limit how many toys can be out at the same time. Before supper, or at least before bedtime, they'll have to pick up what they checked out. I'm hoping this will work, because I don't like to spend my time in the basement. That's why it got so messy down there to begin with. I wasn't always aware of how much they were hauling out and all of the little toys (i.e. Tinker toys, legos, lincoln logs, blocks) scattered everywhere became a daunting task to clean up. Now the kids can actually ride a trike and a Big Wheel down there!

Now our Family room is full of garage sale items. I'll be glad to be rid of it.

Our Reptile Exhibit

Matthew pointed out to us that we have a garter snake living in our window well. The kids wanted to put it in a jar, but I pointed out that it already is in a big jar! And it can get its own food. I'm hoping that's the case, at least, and that it'll have enough water. I'm sorry all you snake-haters out there: (like Michelle, who freaked out when I told her about our window well friend and called it "slimy". You can't reason with people who call snakes slimy; it's purely an irrational, emotional response. She also asked me if mosquitoes will be in heaven. I told her that snakes eat bugs!) I think it is cute. It is fun to go check on it every once-in-awhile and see where it has slithered.

President Reagan

I wish I had more memories of President Reagan when he was actually president. From what I understand, I respect his convictions, his attitude, and his leadership abilities, especially his ability to communicate his convictions. I have been very moved by his funeral today and have thanked the Lord for his life and presidency. I am glad that the funeral spoke of the gospel and brought glory to God in that way. As a Christian, I am aware that President Reagan was not America's Savior, but God did use him in some ways to bless us and the world.

Partly, this funeral also represented to me a continuing farewell to my grandparents' generation. I am fortunate to still have three of my grandparents here. When they are gone, I will miss their wisdom, and example, and most of all their prayer. Will our generation provide as firm a foundation for our children and grandchildren as they did for us?

Heat Wave

Yesterday, the 98 degree temp. broke a 130 year record high. At music lessons, the boys' teacher went into the kitchen to get a drink of water during Matthew's lesson. He was supposed to still be playing for her, but he took the opportunity to turn around and tell me that he was hot. His face literally had a green tint to it and his lips were pale. I took his violin and told him to immediately go to the bathroom. Sure enough. He threw up. ...I got him cooled down with water and he was fine. I'm sure glad that he didn't throw up on his violin or in his teacher's living room!

Sophism

This morning, Sophie exclaimed: Why does it always have to be today, today, today?!!!!!!!

Yesterday, her Sunday school teacher gave her a tiny stuffed bear. Sophie named it "Purpley Olsen".

The Kids At Play

Yesterday, the kids were pretending that Sophie was Cinderella. Matthew was a rebel in the court, shouting "Overthrow her! Overthrow her!"

Today, when James was gone mowing the church lawn, the boys got out their woodworking "kits" on their own and built thrones (stools) for Sophie. They decorated one of them with stickers and pictures and labeled it "Princess Sophie".