To Jocelyn, On Your 9th Birthday

Dear Jocelyn,
           Today, you are nine. And, as you are delighting to tell everyone, it is your "last year in single digits". I'm in no hurry for double-digits, and honestly, I don't think you are, either. I'm glad, too. You are really finding your way, and you haven't lost your joy and zest for life. Everyone always loves to be around you because you are just so happy!

     Don't get me wrong, you have had some blue times. Our move from Colorado this year has been pretty tough on you. You had lots of great friends there, and you especially miss our old church. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it was worth it. But, you have already made so many good memories here, and you asked a lot of great questions about why we thought it was God's will, and I think you are really starting to understand that.

   You are so interested in learning and sharing about God. You were so excited to invite everyone in the apartment complex to VBS, and you could not have been more delighted when the neighbor boy came as your friend to Awana. You love the Lord so much, and you just want to tell everyone about Jesus. You fought your way through the Awana silver AND gold review in T & T, and you made it-it was tough! I am so proud of how you are hiding God's Word in your heart-and also sharing it through your words and life.

    You have matured so much, and it makes me so proud of who you are becoming. School has really been fun this year. You love history and reading, and you attack your subjects and get them done. It is all clicking! You have loved experimenting at co-op and have taken all kinds of things: acting, DIY & problem-solving, science, secret codes...and you are starting to make new friends, even if it doesn't feel that way.

   And the crafting...where do I start? Everything is a creative challenge in your mind...you see a project everywhere! You created an entire nativity out of *trash* during service one Sunday. It cracked me up! Crayons, paint, glue, sewing, taping...and scissors...

   Can I not mention how you sliced your hand two days ago while "creating" and needed FOUR stitches in your pinky finger?! But you took it in a stride, even smiling and joking with the doctor while the anesthesia was injected. You cried some, but you were so brave. And now you are happy to display your "cat's whiskers" for all to see. You don't let much get you down!

    In all, you have had quite the year. You learned how to swim, you stayed a week at Grams', you have become great friends with cousin Autumn, you are learning cursive, you are typing, you are reading so much, you sold all the baked goods at the youth yard sale, loved on Billy and George and you have endeared everyone to you with your cheerfulness and happy smile. And you made me love you even more than I thought was possible.

    So here's to another wonderful year: of learning, of loving, and as always with you, laughing. May you grow to love Jesus even more (if that's possible) and continue to spread your Josie-happiness everywhere you go. I love you so much.
                                                                                     Love,
                                                                                           Mom

To Josie, on Her 8th Birthday

Dear Josie,
               I suppose maybe I should have started this letter with "Dear Jocelyn", because mostly that is what you tell people your name is now. It is funny that I am the mom, and I am not using your full name, but I suppose that is because somehow it makes you seem a little less grown-up. I wouldn't say I am dreading you growing up (I know the opposite would be much worse-*not* growing up) but it is coming faster and faster. The beautiful thing about you, though, is that you are not really trying to rush it at this point.

   Because if there is anything I can learn from you, it is about enjoying the moment. You were so excited for your birthday, but you didn't beg and plead for it to come more quickly. And today, you were your usual cheerful self, helpful and happy, without being a nag. I love that about you. Everyone tells me how happy you are-and I am so thankful that you are so positive and sweet. You don't let much get you down!

   And I know that your joy really comes from the Lord. You just can't seem to get enough of Him, or His house or the Word. You have a zest for all those things that is inspiring.Last week I asked you about going to breakfast for your birthday and you told me, "Mom, can we just pick up donuts on Saturday night, so I don't have to miss church?". You thrive on Awana, and Sunday School, and VBS- you would be there any time the doors are open, and often your perception of spiritual things amazes me. I am so thankful that you let the Lord have such control over your life!

   I can't wait to see what He has planned for you this year. Eight was one of my favorite years, so many good things happened in my life, and I hope that it is the same for you. You have matured so much this last year. You haven't lost any of your creativity or playfulness-instead you are really learning how to direct it. Watching you sew Barbie clothes from scratch was hilarious-you really have a talent for that kind of thing! You love to make things- and while I definitely don't love the mess, your artistic abilities never cease to amaze me.

    I am looking forward to seeing your relationship with Carson as it changes, too. You were instrumental in helping to lead Carson to Jesus-and that thought makes my heart overflow. You are a great big sister, (almost) always willing to play and teach. You helped him with a reading lesson the other day, and it was so sweet. You sometimes get aggravated with his people-pleasing tendencies, but usually you get along splendidly. I love your love for each other!

    I just really love you. I don't always understand you, but I'm glad that you are such a marvelous creation. I keep praying that the Lord will show me how to parent you just right-because you don't deserve anything less than the best. Your dad is so proud of you- he tells me often how much he likes you, and you know that is saying a lot. We both love you so much, and a day never goes by that we don't thank the Lord for you. I love you, my sweet Josie-girl. Happy Birthday!
                                                                             Love,
                                                                                      Mom

The Tooth Fairy Strikes Again

 

So, basically it has just been a tooth-losing festival around here. Josie lost two teeth last year, and then she told us that she had a loose one back in February. Well, let me tell you, those suckers seem to like to hold on, because she will have a loose tooth for months, and then it will finally come out! The nice part is that her new teeth seem to come in very quickly, though. 

Anyway, Saturday before last, she had her dad pull out one that was hanging by a thread. The "tooth fairy" (see my previous post for why we do the tooth fairy, but no other make-believe creatures!) was negligent and she received no recognition for that one. 

Then, last Saturday, she had another one that was very wiggly. She has really gotten to where she likes her dad to pull them out-she even told us she likes having no teeth! He quickly removed it (I don't do tooth wiggling or pulling! For some reason that makes me exceptionally squeamish-I think it has to do with my irrational fear of losing my own teeth) and she was determined that the tooth fairy owed her something for this one.

So she wrote this note (please excuse the horrible spelling-she is learning, but stubborn thing refuses to do it right except during school):

 Just in case you don't read "Josie" fluently, it reads: Please tooth fairy, take this tooth and I like it if you would give me dimes and nickels. Please! (By the way, "Q" stands for quarters, she said, I guess she must have an agreement with the 'Fairy to read her shorthand. Also, the tissue wad is a "pillow" for her tooth-so it wouldn't get lost. If you like to be grossed out, you can enlarge the photo and you can actually see her tooth on there.)

So, what's a mom, ahem, Tooth Fairy to do? After such a pleading note, and also the horror of the previous forgotten tooth, I knew I better make up for it post haste.

 Ta-da! I shamelessly stole this adorable idea. I folded a dollar bill into a "basket" and then using size 6 font, typed up the tiniest note ever. If you wonder why my basket is not as neat as her's there are two reasons: 1. I did not have any crisp dollar bills. I was ill-prepared for this tooth fairy business! 2. It was 10:30pm, and I was watching the YouTube video on how to fold it on my phone-by the way, YouTube does not orient horizontally if you access if from Pinterest- making the whole venture that much more difficult!

 I also included my own little note. I have seen a number of tooth fairy notes that include admonitions to brush, floss, etc. and I decided that was not a bad idea. I liberally sprayed both the note and basket with the glitter hairspray I used the first time, and the generous sprinkling of "fairy dust" was well-received! I filled up the basket with a dollar's worth of quarters, dimes and nickels (She is filling an old Crown Financial savings book my mom gave her, and it has slots for all the change, hence the request for coins.) Overall it was a huge success. I am not sure how I will top this one, as she has many more teeth to lose and I am out of Pinterest inspiration!;)

 Here is a better "after" shot. She is such a cutie- which isn't something that most people with two missing teeth can claim! I hope those new ones hurry in, because she is already telling me that there are more loose ones. I am thinking I better brush up my origami skills a little more!

Easter 2013

We just returned from a week long vacation ("Vacation", I have discovered is usually more draining than restful!) so Easter this year was really low-key. I like that, sometimes, and since occasionally I go overboard on smaller holidays (Valentine's Day, this year, for instance) I don't feel bad about reining it in on other days. Besides, Easter is really all about Jesus, and I don't think He wants me to be a Martha on what should definitely be a Mary day!

The egg garland for the photos was a last minute idea-I insist on taking photos before church on Easter Sunday, because who really knows what will happen in Sunday School! I bought this little garland for 70% off last year, and grabbed it down. I think I will have to try things like that more often, it really gave the kids something to do other than just say "cheese"!

Our best attempt at a family photo. I didn't have time to mess with the self-timer, and since we were outside, I would have also had to find something to prop the camera on. Thank goodness Joel has long arms! (Although, it is still a little bit of an art-we totally cut Josie out of the first shot!)

Joel's opinion of my garland. He is always the comic relief-so great in dealing with my idiosyncrasies, like having to use props for photos when we need to leave for church in five minutes.:)

Church was wonderful, I didn't take photos, but it is just always good to be in the house of the Lord. We had eight baptisms during our service, which is such a poignant reminder of what Easter is *really* about! A dad and his two little girls were all baptized together and it brought tears to my eyes. What a terrific example!

I decided on a theme for the baskets this year. Themes for gifts like this have pros and cons. The biggest con is that you go all over creation looking for matching items (We bought stuff from the commissary, the party store, the Dollar Store, Walmart and Target!) but the pro is that it helps me reign in my impulses to buy EVERYTHING!

They each got: a coloring book, tic-tacs, jelly beans, a coconut "nest" (thought that was a clever way to tie in to the "Birds"), Angry Bird graham cookies, Angry Bird fruit snacks, stickers and chopsticks (the only thing that didn't really match). Their big gifts were the kites, which were a hit. I also filled their eggs with Angry bird erasers, "Mashables"-gooey balls of Angry bird characters, and Angry Bird Cheese Nips. I even found "golden eggs" to fill, as well as putting candy Russell Stover eggs in. It was quite a successful theme, thanks in part to my sister, who bought several things and revealed the Dollar Store treasures!

They were pretty pleased with their hauls. They really are gracious little people, and it humbles me that they are so thankful for such small things!

Josie is always ecstatic over "stuff" of any kind, so Easter is right up her alley. A big basket full of miscellaneous junk? Yes, please!

The kites were a huge success. We had a blast with our cheapy plastic dollar kites last year, so we splurged and got the nicer $6 ones. It was definitely worth it. The kids could launch these on their own, but I still joked with Joel that you need two people for every kite!

This is my kite! It was my Mother's Day gift last year, and I wasn't able to fly it until now. I am determined to get my money's worth this year (it was about $20). I launched it several times, but since I was flying it, I couldn't get a photo at the same time. By the time I asked Joel to do it, the wind had died down and I couldn't get one. He "faked" a shot for me!

See how well the kids' flew? The little park we fly them in isn't ideal, because kites in the air take up a lot more room than you might think, and crossed, tangled strings are a nightmare, but we make it work. I love, love, love kite flying!

All the running around helped tire the kids out, too. Josie was reading the coloring book to Carson. They were fascinated to find out that all the Angry Birds have names!

Finally we hunted for Easter eggs. We decided this year to let them hide each others eggs. That was a stroke of genius! Carson was waiting patiently for Josie to finish.

Josie took her job very seriously. They were so cute, looking for the best places. Then they gave each other hints. It really was a good way to get them involved in helping each other, rather than just begging to know it is was "my turn" yet.

Carson had a little help from Daddy. And I didn't get any photos, but the kids organized an impromptu egg hunt for the neighbor kids. They hid 40 eggs that they filled with their candy they had gotten at a hunt in St. Louis. One of the little neighbor kids didn't even know it was Easter, which made me very sad! I thought that was such a sweet, generous thing for the kids to do.

We finished the day with Panda Express so the kids could use their new chopsticks. I guess if other people can eat Chinese on Christmas we can have it on Easter, right?:)

On Being the Tooth Fairy

On our way home from North Carolina (I really should post about my trip to my sister's!) Jocelyn started crying and saying her tooth was hurting. I was initially concerned (and I think she was, too) because she had a particularly bad cavity filled just a few weeks ago, and it had been painful prior to being filled. I had her open her mouth and show me the tooth. No cavity, it was just loose! I don't know who was happier-me or her! She was thrilled to finally have a loose tooth!

 

I forgot how it is when you are surrounded by tooth-losing friends, and you feel left out of their special "club". She was finally a member and she could not have been happier. She spent hours wiggling and wiggling her tooth-she even had our children's minister try to get it out (thanks, Mr. Jeff!). Then finally, about a week and half after we noticed it was loose, she was working on it and she asked her dad to try. He gave it a tiny tug and it popped right out! I was relieved-I had no idea that I was totally disgusted by the idea of pulling out a tooth. I flat out refused to even touch it after I realized it was loose!

 

 

She was absolutely ecstatic to finally have it out! She danced and laughed and practically couldn't even go to bed. I knew such excitement deserved a little celebration. I had already discussed with Joel that I planned on doing the "Tooth Fairy". We don't do Santa, or the Easter Bunny, but for some reason, I just like the idea of the Tooth Fairy. I think because there is no spiritual association with losing a tooth-it is just all in fun, and doesn't take the place of Jesus. Whatever the reason, I was eager to make it fun!

 

 

 

My dear friend, Kristan, suggested several months ago that I spray the money I gave Josie with glitter hairspray. It would make it sparkly fairy cash! Josie loves all things glitter, so I knew that would be a hit. Glitter hairspray is readily available this time of year, and it was only $2, so it was an easy and cheap way to make it fun.

 

 However, I didn't want to just hand over the money. I scoured Pinterest for ideas and came up with a combination of two different printables. First I printed off this "receipt" (I thought it was funny that the blogger says they only do the Tooth Fairy, too!). I thought it was a good way to identify that the gift was from the Tooth Fairy. I sprayed the note with hairspray, too.

 

I randomly decided to give her $3, probably because I had three crisp ones handy. I figured that was plenty for a 6 year-old! I only sprayed the front of the money, mostly because I didn't want a big mess. I would suggest spraying outside if at all possible- the hairspray is sticky and I had to take rubbing alcohol to my counter top to remove it all, even though I covered it with paper towels. Also, the can says to spray "in short bursts" and you should do that. It makes the glitter more even. Anyway, I know you can't really see it in the photos, but Josie recognized that it was sparkly right away!

 

After I had my receipt all printed up, I was just going to put it in a plain envelope that I had sprayed, but I decided that was too easy. After all, it was only 11 pm! I needed something better. I found this adorable set of printables! It also includes a precious note and envelope for the child to leave their tooth in. However, Josie was in bed already, so maybe we will use it next time. Aren't people so sweet to share their lovely work for free with computer illiterate people such as myself?

 

 





I put everything together and left it on the counter where she would be sure to see it in the morning. I was pretty pleased with myself and anxious to see what Josie thought. I don't even think she was expecting anything, and she was just happy to have lost her tooth!

However, when my little sleepy head found it she was very happy! She was not fooled by my tooth fairy act at all,so there was no need to keep up the subterfuge. I think the tooth fairy will keep visiting, though, just because it was so much fun! And she will come back soon, because guess who has *another* loose tooth already?!