Oh the Things a little man can ask

1. Did God ever raise anyone else besides Jesus from the dead?
My answer, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. No Mom, not Jesus, did GOD ever raise anyone else?
oy vey!!!!

2. Did God ever kill anyone? Yes was my answer along with a brief explanation. His comeback, So why doesn't God kill the Somali pirates?

3. Was Leah a hero? Who were other heroes in the bible? So I told him about David and Moses and Noah.

4. Enough about heroes, he interrupted. What about villains. Who were some of the bad guys in the bible?

5. Why were Adam and Eve kicked out of the garden? Where did they live then?

It's HOT already....

But that doesn't stop us from playing outside.

Where does this come from?


Riding her bike, "All by MYSELF"


Needs a new bike soon. Maybe for birthday #7.


The funky coloring on his face is a combination of sticky sunscreen and sidewalk chalk.

Our own little Gene Kelly.

Conversations and Things

#1 A conversation

J: Mom, I want to have a lemonade stand. I want to charge 50 cents per cup. (Using an actual measuring cup, of course) It has to be homemade lemonade. That means we have to grow our own lemons, too.

Mom: Okay

J: Mom, you know what I'm going to do with the money at the end of the day? I'm going to share with you and Dad. (So Dad won't have to work so hard. Gotta quit telling him how hard Dad works)

A: (who is eaves dropping on the conversation) Whoa, whoa, whoa Mr Smartee. Who's making the lemonade? Who's selling the lemonade? (apparently she wanted a cut too)

#2 Conversation

Upon hearing a scream by the baby of the house (as only a baby can do when he wants to get someone in trouble but he's not REALLY hurt), I enter the room. Now, I know what happened but I 'investigate' anyway.

J: Ansley hit Tee. (Yes he tattled. Drives me CRAZY!)
A: No, Judson did.
Mom: (ever so slyly) Ansley, why did you hit Turner?
A: Well....well....he hit me first.
Mom: Ansley, why did you tell a lie and say that Judson hit him?

The look on her face was priceless.

#3 A brag.

We (Judson, Turner, Sawyer and I) were walking out of the grocery store tonight. We passed a landscaped area that was littered with trash. Judson yelled, "wait, wait we HAVE to pick up this trash" So I tell him he can pick up while I get the groceries loaded. He gets the vast majority picked up. I tell him how proud I am of him. He says, "Mom, if we don't pick up the garbage we'll soon be up to our knees in trash" How come a 6 year old gets it but the rest of us don't?

The other three are doing great too. Ansley had her first REAL visit to the dentist. She did so well, the hygienist said she'd do a fluoride treatment next time. Turner is making huge strides in language. He amazes me how fast he is learning. Sawyer's language is also coming along. He's really taking off too.

Thursday (Post #400, man I talk a lot)

Going to the Dentist!

Eating in the "new" dining room. (Even though it's not finished yet)
The kids LOVE it! (as does Mom)

How Is It....

That girls come up with the 'eye roll, head wag, hand on the hip' sassiness but boys do not. (Or maybe it's just delayed as it hasn't come out in my 6 year old boy yet) Is it a learned action? From whom do they learn this behavior? No one else in the house does it. Is it inborn? Do they outgrow it?

I have to confess, I do know where Tee gets his "finger point, eyebrows raised, lecturing" pose. I'm working on changing that behavior, in him and in me.

A Mission Trip

These teens 'get it'. Awesome to see. Randy is going to go with them this year to help out. What a blessing that will be for Randy. More when the details become available. The video is long but worth watching.

We're Addicted *UPDATED*

Hello, we're the Stricklins and we are addicted to this:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/braingames/castledefense/castledefenseAS2.htm

HELP!!!!!

Update: Judson finally beat the game. Now maybe we can get back to normal. We LOVE the Sheppard Software. They games are great. We especially love the geography games on there. To top it off, it's free!

Way Cool!

Only the best feel good story of the year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Great Cause

http://www.kidmia.org/

Love This (stole it off someone's FB)

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. Helen Keller

Easter 2009

Love Spring!

Azaleas

Dogwoods

Oh yeah, and snow! (You have to look very hard but it's there)

Don't Bother

If you are glaring at me because my 4 year old is throwing a fit in public, don't bother. I'm immune. I am aware my son is throwing a fit. I am aware if it were you, you'd take care of it.

Are you aware that I know my son better than you? Do you know that my son is only screaming because his stroller stopped rolling? (while you may think that is a bad excuse for crying, he happens to think that is a perfect excuse for screaming) Are you aware by talking to my son in a very soothing voice (as opposed to threatening him or 'yanking him up' or taking him 'out') IS the best way to handle him? I know this through trial and error many times over. You don't because you do NOT know my son.

Next time you're out and someone's child starts throwing a fit, give them the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they do know how to handle their child. Don't glare. Besides not being effective, they (like me) probably do not give a hoot what you think.

Dumplings

Serenity Now!!!!!!!!!!

So, I emptied the contents of the china cabinet out and they are ALL OVER. The plan was to move the china cabinet from the kitchen to the dining room while the kids were napping yesterday. However, a plumbing emergency took over. No problem, just do it today. Right? Nope. The plumbing emergency has now taken a life of its own and is still being worked on.

Now, I have a bathroom that is a shambles. (truthfully, it isn't much different than most days) No hot water. An empty china cabinet. A dining room table and floor that is covered with china cabinet contents.

I have 3 kids and a mommy who need a bath but not much inclined to until the hot water is back on.

What to do? Come up with a Plan B!

Pollen

Nuff Said!