"pride goes before the fall"

In an attempt to update you on the mundane happenings of our home, there is something I must confess. I have lost a sock.

Ever since we got married, I have been priding myself on not being one of 'those people' who can't keep track of their sock pairs. "I mean really!", I used to think, "There are only two of them, and you have to wear both of them and if you wash both of them, how hard can it be to put them both back in your sock drawer again---Right?" Also a house is finite. There are a limited number of places the missing sock can be. So, if you loose a sock, then just FIND it! Socks don't dematerialize!

As in all things, this sad little single sock sitting on top of our dresser illustrates very clearly that I am one of "those poeple" and pride does indeed go before a fall!

Cole's Guided Tours: Seattle Science Center

This blog has been growing on me for months....I take care of the most adorable little boy named Cole for about 14 hours a week. Somehow the Science Center and my time with him have become fixedly combined in his mind. This means we go to the Science Center very often, sometimes several times a week. It is a very fascinating museum. However, I now know it very, very well.

So does Cole. This is partly because he is a little man of thorough consistency. Our route through the Museum rarely varies. We do things in the same order every time (and heaven help us if we have to leave before we have accomplished the entire circuit) Anyways, I found it so fascinating that I brought my camera and decided not to interfere at all with where we went when. And so, without further ado, I present.....

Cole's Guided Tour of the Seattle Science Center
Welcome to the Seattle Science Museum.

First we wait in line. While you wait in line, you may wish to play with the other children, walk in dizzying circles around the poles, or jump up and down in un-contained excitement.

On the first floor is a great indoor playground that looks like a tree.

You can also dress up. Here is the Cole moth, joined by his friends the red cardinal and miss butterfly on a flight around the forest.


Next we climb the stairs all the way to the second story. "come on, come on!"

And head straight for the digger and dumper. If we have to, we wait our turn because it is always worth it.



Tips from Cole: Sticking out your tongue can really help when you're in a bind.


The Robot who plays tic-tac toe is next.

Usually the Robot wins, but it is always exciting!


It is great to check your grip strength here....the lights are just fascinating.

Yep, the bicycle is still to big for me!

Here we go! Molecules, Microscopes!

Protein Pinball!


And on to the toddler play center!
Bubbles first,

then the hand dryer.

It is best to drive the helicopter to Fred Meyer next, but if that is occupied....

...driving the police car to Home Depot is your next best option.


Last stop in the Toddler Center, the Music Room!

And you thought the pots and pans in your kitchen could be noisy!


Just outside of the toddler center is the reason I bring my knitting into the Science Center. Why you ask? The first time Cole discovered this contraption he literally wanted to stand there throwing balls for about 45 minutes before he was ready to leave. I'm usually fine with that, if we have the time, except that for this he wanted no adult interference, thank you very much! So now I bring my knitting and settle in for a good solid 20-30 minutes. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that throwing an endless supply of little black balls is the definition of excitement for a three-year old!


After the balls, I usually suggest a snack, which is promptly accepted. After the snack, Cole usually asks if we can go outside to see the ducks. Here we are looking hard for the ducks--they like hiding!

Looking for ducks leads to the water works!

Now it is time to go have lunch and take our nap. Which is sad. Here are some tips for leaving the science center in a good mood:
Take a drink from the drinking fountain. Take two or three!

Also, Cole recomends taking the elevator down. It is always easier to leave a place you love when you get to push an elevator button on the way out!

Goodbye Science Center, until tomorrow!

Thank you for experiencing this uniquely guided Cole Tour!

Counting Blessings and Stitches.

Last night, I grabbed a broken ceramic bowl (I didn't know it was broken) and cut my finger on the glaze deep enough for stitches. So we wrapped some gauze around it, picked up some books to read in case there was a long wait, and headed to the emergency room. There was no one else there. 30 minutes later, we were picking up Thai food for dinner on the way home.

As I was waking up this morning, I was just blown away by the kind of lifestyle we have. It is not that we live extravagantly by this world's standards, and yet even on our "tight-saving-for-seminary" budget, we can waltz into the ER with medical insurance, and then buy ourselves dinner.

It made me start thinking about the incredible blessings in my life. I love my home, my comfortable bed, the tasty food in my refrigerator and my control over the thermostat. I am blessed above that by employment that is enjoyable and profitable, by hobbies like gardening and painting that fill my heart with joy. I am surrounded by beauty and comfort. These are tangible things. Add to that the dear friends that surround me with companionship and care, a family that loves me, a husband who treasures everything about me. On top of all this, I am saved from any eternal harm by a loving, faithful heavenly Father. I am truly blessed among women!

And I have six lovely stitches to prove it!

Sleepover with Cole

Last weekend Jonathan and I spent the night with Cole, who is a very three, little boy that I nanny for in the mornings. He was an absolute trooper the whole time his parents were gone--cheerful and loving and very busy! The pictures we took just turned out so cute that I wanted to share them.
Stamp-o-Rama!


For dinner, Cole and I decided to make pizza. Cole thinks using the Kitchen Aide is 'magic'.

Here he is concentrating hard on his cooking spell. (Some of us think better with our eyes shut.)

"Its getin citing, Keren!"

The right consistency for crazy fun! What a goopy MESS!

While the dough rose, we stuffed some mushrooms.

Good Job!

Now let's add the toppings.

Our Menu for the evening:

Appetizers

Stuffed Mushrooms
Ritz Peanut Butter Crackers
Main Course

Pepperoni Pizza with peppers and tomatoes
Thai Pizza with peanut sauce, chicken and cilantro

Drinks
Coke
Organic 2% Milk

Mmmmmmmmm!

April 4th: Living by Faith

" Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of Faith, not of understanding and reason--a life of knowing him who calls us to go."
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest (March 19th)


Shortly after reading the above quote, I came across Philippians 4:6-7 which says:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. "

These two paragraphs have been bouncing off each other in my mind all week.
I have thought a lot about faith and hope in the last six months. Many times, I have found myself afraid to have hope. Hope is such a risky thing--to let your heart get involved before there is any assurance of what you hope for. And yet I have not been satisfied with the alternative--to walk forward in pessimistic fear. As God's children in this very fallen world we are given many opportunities to choose between these. Faithful hope is very hard to choose, unless you remember who you are choosing to have faith in.

But I think the conclusion I have been coming to is this: I would rather present my deepest and most risky requests to my loving God and have his perfect peace that passes understanding guarding my heart, than try to protect myself from the risk of hope by guarding my own heart with fear.

What do you think?

Spring Scarves

Just thought I'd give you an update on what crafts I have been up to lately....

This one was for my friend Jen, to go with her new gray coat. This was the first for real lace scarf that I attempted...and it did get a little tricky now and then..mostly because I was really trying hard to memorize the pattern so I wouldn't have to keep looking at it. That part didn't go so well. But the scarf turned out quite well despite me.

As for this one, well, there are very few people in the world who can wear yellow, and I happen to be one of them. It matches with very little in my wardrobe. And yet it just makes me just so very happy to wear it!

Necktie Bunny Puppets

Who knew that recycled neckties could be converted into Bunny Puppets?
(You too, can try this at home--even with toddlers!)

Today I got together with some friends to make some of these and the results were even better than we expected. I know Easter is not about cute decorations, but there really is nothing that puts me in the mood to celebrate like a good craft project!

We started with a fine assortment of thrift-store ties, cut out some heart shaped noses from felt, and added yarn whiskers. And, there were indeed googly eyes...no craft is complete without googly eyes!
Here is Stella with her googly eyes.

Here is Sarah hot gluing the ears.

"Don't forget the tail, mom!"

Although they are really meant for little hands....

some bigger hands got into the excitement too!

I was so excited that my bunny actually fit on me!

Here is Ella learning how to make her puppet talk.

As you can see....It was just too much fun to handle!