Garden Spot (#1)

We grew up around gardening, my siblings and I. Every spring, as soon as the grass was greening up, we'd get out the tiller & help mom & dad: weeding, raking/hoeing, planting, watering. It was a family event you see. I didn't realize how much I really did know & love about it, until I was married & we had our own house. The first garden we had was a small little square big enough for a few tomoato plants and a cucumber vine that grew way out of the box.

Last year we had a small little square down on the opposite side of our pond damn. It did pretty well we had a few tomoatos & some great squash plants & a few cucs.

This year, I'm trying my hand at raised bed gardening. So far, we have the box built (thanks to my amazing hubby & young bees) and filled in with dirt. The other night the young bees & I went out to work the dirt around, pull out any weeds, rocks & break up the big clumps of dirt. They found that it was more fun to break the big clumps of dirt with their old bats than the rakes & hoes. They are going to get to pick our some type of plant & watch it grow and harvest veggies from their plant. We'll have some tomatoes, green beans (hopefully) and squash & cucs again.

I love the way that you take a tiny plant or seed; water it & watch God work His miracles under the soil. Sounds familiar huh? Glad He's not finished with me yet either.

There may be rocket launchers...

My youngest bee can be very witty at times. In the midst of our long days with Granny Weyrauch having a set back in her health, we were tired, and worried. But Buzzby, was his usual self coming up with comic relief.

At dinner one night, the kids were all eating dinner when Grandpa decided to join them. Our niece had brought me my coffee cup from the morning so that I could dump it because she thougth it was gross. ( I have the bad habit of leaving my coffee sitting on my sink after I've been getting ready that morning). So, at the dinner table she was telling Buzzby that his mom had left coffee out there. Buzzby (with raised eyebrows) stated that you never know what you might find on his mom's sink: could be a coffee cup, a ring, earrings or maybe even a rocket launcher. So, the next time you are looking for a random item, like a rocket launcher; call- I may have one! :)

muth, muth

for the past few days stinger has been calling me muth, muth (as in the shortened version) of mother! so I often follow it up with ok, "Mik, Mik". it's been so cute for him to make this new little pet name for me......I hope it sticks around! but because he's a boy, I kinda' doubt it will.....but for as long as it goes on, I love it.....I love being their "muth, muth"...what a privelege! even on the hard days! :)

Winning 1st Place in 3rd Grade Math

Last week, I met Stinger's best friends' mom in the hallway after school, she said, "hey have you seen Stinger"?

Youth Auction Suprises!!!

This year, it seemed there were not as many people @ the FBC Youth Auction. It was held at the same time that Daddy Bee was in Barcelona, Spain for work. So, that left me to shop/spend & bid on my own. As Queen Bee one of my favorite things to do is spend money, especially when it means that it is going to help the Lord in one way or another. This year we had our eyes on some big ticket items: Wild Boar Hunt for Daddy Bee & Stinger; Our SS's Photography Shoot for our families Fall Picture, and as a surprise to the boy bees in our family, I bought the Wii for family nights & for the boys to play....(needless to say they have been REALLY enjoying it), and I also came home with an amazing tote of Birthday bags/tissue/bows & wrapping papers.....which is also one of my loves; wrapping & giving fun gifts....so this years auction was so fun & profitable for our family. Stingers face was priceless when he found out that we were the end reciepients of the Wild Boar Hunt for he & Daddy Bee! :) Seeing them hunt or the pictures will be even more priceless! :)

1 Corintians 13

It drives me absolutely bonkers when I hear adults say, "I can't memorize scripture, I'm just not good at it". I'm not either, but I've learned from my former Kindergarten students, and now: both of our boys that it can be done.

Two weeks ago, Stinger had a substitute teacher, and at the same time was to be working on memorizing a passage of Scripture for a speech meet (which he was not interested in being in, but nonetheless, had to do complete for a grade). Therefore, the majority of the work was done @ home. Stinger has an amazing capability to memorize (much like his dad does). Needless to say, he completed the entire passage in 3 days..working at night & in the car before school. By the 3rd day, he had it.....have you read this passage lately, the wording is complicated and very hard to grasp (especially by a 3rd grader) but as a proud momma, I can say he did it and well (since I'm bragging).

Here it is: 1 Corintians 13 (NIV)

If I speak in the tounges of men & angels but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I am nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It alwasys protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

So; as I am challenged to continue memorizing by my boys; I pray that we all may spur one another on as Buzby & Stinger do with me so often!

Jayhawks Win!!!

I grew up a Jayhawks fan! I don't remember not watching a Big 8 season tourney; and rooting for the Hawks! So it brings me great joy to see our boys being influenced by the same person who taught me the true love of basketball & The Jayhawks: my daddy!

Lately, Stinger has become very intrigued w/ sports, players, numbers, stats, etc. I love it when we get the opportunity to be with my parents on a game day. This past weekend, when the Jayhawks played Mizzou, I got to listen to my son & my dad watch & enjoy the game, side by side discussing every move, shot, steal, foul, etc. Stinger loves to ask Grandpa questions, talk basketball, players, and good & bad moves throughout the game. The yelling, hi fiving & constant talking to the t.v. makes me smile everytime. It warms my heart to know that one more Jayhawks fan has Kansas Basketball blood pulsing through their veins. What a great tradition; and awesome thing.

***a fun side not to this post is that both of our boys' teams were the Jayhawks basketball teams were the Jayhawks.

Buzzbee's team was coached by my childhood friend Will C, and his daddy....they went undefeated this season.

Stinger's team was coached by two great guys from Towanda; Justin Romick & Charlie Jacobson....their record was 5 & 5...and had quite a few REALLY close games that we should have won but got robbed on some key calls.

Rock Chalk love the Jayhawks!

Wrigley Round Up!

I haven't blogged yet about the adventures we occasionally have with our sweet yet onery little Cocker/Bishon Wrigley. She love the neighborhood dogs...and really likes to have visits to their house.

On Friday morning, I was ticked off because once again the neighbors dog came to do her morning business in our yard.......it's gotten to the point where our yard has become very infested with her poop.......and it ticks me off because the volume she produces is much bigger than our dogs. So, at night in the dark, we are constantly having to look for piles of poo. Ugh...well, I cracked the back door to scream @ the neighbors dog to get out of our yard & go back to hers when our little "white lightning" escaped.....we call her "white lightning" because she is rather quick.

Buzzbee treats Wrigley much like a little sister; and is very fond of her. They have a definate love/hate relationship. She pesters him, and he loves on her and sometimes vice versa. So, when she escapes off of the leash outside unattended, I would be watering the term down if I said that he did less than "freaked" out! He had just gotten to the breakfast table when this all went down....no shoes yet, and no jacket. But without hesitation, he busted out the door and headed after her. By the time I got the garage door open, shoes on and out to the street, he had already caught her, guided her to the streetside, and was ready to head across the road. (remember in stocking feet). Stinger came out with the leash, we put her on, and then she slipped out of Stinger & I's hand again. Buzzbee took off like a flash after her yet again, I have never seen him run this fast. He was flat hauling; even faster than I ran in football mom? Was his question: the answer was yes. I guess love sometimes has no price.

7's, 8's & 9's.....

because Math is not "my thing" I'm so constantly amazed at Stinger's ability to do & comprehend math. this past weekend, we found his certificate for completing all of his multiplication facts through 9. amazing, utterly & completly amazing!

Winter Jam 2011

February & March are huge months for our family. Buzzbee's Birthdays are both in Feb (5th & 22nd) & Stinger's Spiritual B Day is also Feb. (27th). Then his actual day of birth is March 2oth.

We have been trying very hard this year to encourage them in a positive way to be obedient at home & school. About 2 months ago, there was a GREAT deal of messing around before school, (while getting dressed, eating breakfast, etc.) It seemed as though just getting out the door for school was like fighting a daily battle. I would get frustrated, Buzzbee & Stinger would continue to play & mess.......finally, one day after a horrible morning, and yelling at them, I had had enough. I decided we were going to try a point system for each morning before school. Every day they had 5 points available to them, if they obeyed, did not mess around/or have to be corrected, made it to the car without making the Queen Bee crazy (which easily happens before a full cup of Joe), and they were not late for school; they would receive the daily points. Finally, this past week they made it to the 75 point goal that we all had agreed upon.

So, the Queen Bee & Daddy Bee decided we would treat them to a night out for their 1st Concert. The young bees had been hearing the Winter Jam concert commercials on the radio for weeks and had really expressed an interest.

It was so fun to see their faces with each new band, Buzzbee of course had to dress the part; I'm in the band guitar shirt, his cool-beyond cool skater dude hat and jeans. Stinger is always constant; KU necklace, t-shirt, and jeans........no extra for him. But they were so in awe of the lights, the special effects, (the sparks coming off the stage for Kutless, and the Newsboys guys moving on their platforms), and the HUGE sound. It was fun to see & hear them singing the songs that we know from the radio & church. It was also so cool to talk w/ Stinger about the thousands of people there singing & praising God & then explaining to him that in heaven, there will be so many more than we can even imagine........and we'll all be praising God together.

I love experiencing new things & seeing them freshly through our two young bees' eyes. It's also so neat to watch them desire to do new things that will hopefully impact their hearts, minds & lives along with their relationships; with God & us. To God Be the Glory for GREAT things He has done.

Peanut Butter Jelly & A Baseball Bat

When all of our kiddos (nieces & nephews included) were much younger, our nephew C. M. started telling his momma that he wanted Peanut Butter Jelly & a baseball bat. (Probably because his momma sang a small portion of the rap song to them & he caught on to it). So, when our boys were around them, they very quickly caught on to the term too.

For years, Buzzbee our youngest; has told us that he wants P.B. Jelly & a baseball bat. It is his mainstay; his go to meal; if given a choice of what to eat (snack or meal) he always asks for it. However, we try to space the times that young Buzzbee has this tasty treat because we do not want him to lose the love for it; it is fairly nutritous, easy & he can now make it himself. Lately, he has not been adding the "baseball bat part on" so I wanted to blog this, while he continued to say it occasionally.

Besides how could you not love the idea of two major American Icons in the same sentence! PB & J......and A Baseball Bat.

Going Commando

those of you with boys will completely understand today's post, but you parents of girls hopefully will not be too appauled.

so yesterday as we pulled into our sister & brother in laws' new drive way, L wakes up from a 10 minute power nap & states "oh, mom & dad- I guess I forgot to tell you today that I went commando for my basketball game"! Daddy & i looked at each other..........and daddy says; "so was that a little wierd; not having any support & flop'n around a little bit"? "Yeh, a little bit, L says "!

After we told the story inside, Grammy said, "it's a good thing he was not a cheerleader"! :)

Look Out World, Here I Come.....

So, here it is my 1st Blog Post, and I have writers block......I'm excited to begin this journey, but also cautious to be overly excited. This is typically something I would start and then do very sporadically just because of time. However, my daily musings may lend themselves well to making it a priority. Especially in knowing that the goal is to remember someday the things my kiddos have said or done. The gals in my life who do it on a regular basis have convinced me, that it is fun & very rewarding. So, look out world, here I come!