puppets

this got me inspired,

so the kids and i made these:

christopher wanted his to have a mad face

naomi is loving the yarn hair and pink skirt on hers

another saturday

Lately, it seems, all I have been posting about is our Saturday adventures.  I guess we haven't been doing too much else to report on.  I keep having goals to blog more often, and to make this blog so much more than it is.  I want it to be more about protecting home, and family; about keeping a good perspective on that which is most important.  Also, as I have said before, I am absolutely horrible about keeping a journal, and have actually stopped altogether except for this blog.  So I feel like I should be doing a better job recording my life.  But, then again, I am doing a whole lot better than I was before I started blogging.  Once a week is a significant increase over once a year!  So, I might only be posting once a week, but I will try to make it more often.  Recording my life is a good habit to be in.  I think about the day, and have a chance to analyze.  Hopefully with the analysis, I become a better wife, mother, daughter, friend, and person.  One of my new favorite church hymns is "Have I Done Any Good?".  Some of the lyrics are:

Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Lately, I have been singing these lines to myself at night as I get ready for bed.  It is interesting to think about my day, and think about those whom I have been able to help or touch.  Sometimes I am proud of myself, and glad for the chance I had, and took, to serve someone in need.  Sometimes I look back on the day, and see the opportunities I missed.  I hope that as I think more often about the positive impact I can have on those around me, that I will take more of those opportunities presented to me.  

On to our Saturday...

We cleaned up the house, and Dave mowed the lawn, super fast this morning.  We optimistically got the house show-ready before leaving for our family fun.  It was unnecessary, but nice to come home to a clean house.  Christopher loves to help vacuum with his vacuum popper, and actually cleaned up the playroom pretty much by himself this morning.  Nice!  

He goes through phases of independence, and has been wanting me to do everything for him lately - carry him, dress him, put him on the potty.  All things he can do himself.  I usually feel frustrated when he won't do things for himself, but yesterday I was thinking about how fast he grows, and how he won't be my little boy for very long.  Sometimes it's hard to not get caught up in the daily annoyances.  It's hard to keep a good perspective.  He probably won't be asking me to help him go potty when he's nine (I sure hope not, anyway!), so I decided to just enjoy the stage he is in now, and enjoy the chance I have to be his mommy and help him out.  That mindset seemed to help the day out; we had a (pretty much) tantrum-free day, and enjoyed the time together.  

So, after cleaning, we packed a sippy cup for Naomi and some sandwiches in my purse, and took the kids to see Kung Fu Panda.  I know it's been out for a while, so we're kind of late, but the kids don't know any better! :)  We went all out and got them popcorn and even some candy.  Christopher was so excited he could barely sit still in his seat.  It was so cute to watch.  He enjoyed the movie, and Naomi even sat and enjoyed most of the show.  I had to get up and walk around with her for the last quarter of the show, but still got to see most of it.  My friend Melissa brings her toddler's car seat into the theater with them, which she says works like a charm.  I would have totally done that, except Naomi's car seat is so huge and heavy.  Too much work to get it in and out!  But I think she did pretty well for an almost 17 month old.

My favorite part of the movie was the old turtle

Later that afternoon, Christopher and I made some DELICIOUS cookies together.  I'll post the recipe on the sidebar, but make sure there are a lot of people around to help you eat them - especially if you like chocolate!  I'm restraining myself from going and getting another one right now.  *I tried to get a picture of them, to capture the chocolatey goodness, but I couldn't get one that wasn't blurry.  You'll just have to come over and try one!* Afterwards we played a little Wii, and I got totally whipped by a three year old at boxing.  He loves that he can beat me at that game, so we play it a lot :)  Dave showed us all how tennis is done.  All in all, a very nice day.