Showing posts with label EJ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EJ. Show all posts

The Little Punk that He Is!!!

Elijah got a camera for Christmas this year. His grandparents decided to get themselves a new one and for Christmas they gave Elijah their used one, along with any extra amenities that could go with it.

Now, a camera is the perfect gift for my Drama King, especially since it also video records. We download his pictures and videos often and find the most hilarious little stunts.

Last week, when Uncle Chad took the boys to one of the farms, I was on my A game and told Elijah to grab his camera. My previous post includes some of the beautiful pics that he took.

But since he is seven (almost eight mom, with an eye roll) and he has acquired his fathers antagonistic ways, I found many of the following two pictures.

What boy isn't intrigued by a cow patty??? I mean, c'mon its a huge pile of poop, just sitting there, waiting to have its picture taken by a devious little seven year old.

Of course, if cow patties are your thing, then why not capture the EXACT place that they come from? A cow's beee hind.

Yeah, lovin me some good ole fashion cow butt and poop pics. Yee haw! Can you hear a little seven year old punk in the background laughing uncontrollably???

Posted in: on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at at 10:01 AM 6 comments  

Sure... I'll Brag on him for Just a Minute


I enrolled EJ into a science class this year. They spent the entire year focusing on inventors. This was right up his alley, learning about inventions and the people behind them.

To finish off the year, EJ had to put together his own invention. He decided that he wanted to invent a game.

What I love about this boy, is that I can teach him logic and he gets it and thrives off of it. I sat him down and we brainstormed about three different topics he could use for his game. He came up with history, video games, and the body. After discussing them, he chose to use history as his topic for the game.


Using the California Trail, the Sante Fe Trail, and the Oregon Trail as a spring board, EJ formulated that he wanted to make a trail that each player had to follow throughout the USA. He started in Maine and ended in California.


He created a spin wheel, mapped out his trail, added specific things you had to do when you landed there, and thought up his own set of instructions. Then he used pictures of famous history makers, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Betsy Ross, and Harriet Tubman, as his pieces.

What fun it was to watch him create his very own game. He named it... The American Trail.

I watched as he stood in front of the class today, sharing his own invention. He was confident and excited. And I was one proud mama!!

Posted in: on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at at 5:54 PM 0 comments  

Brothers For Life


Never could have guessed just how amazing of a big brother EJ was going to be! Oh how he loves his baby brother!!!

Posted in: , on Tuesday, March 09, 2010 at at 6:40 AM 0 comments  

Write ... Little Man.... Write


I love to write. There is something so relaxing in it for me. I gather my thoughts through my fingers and words and somehow it seems as though my heart is released. I've been a writer my entire life. I have journals dating all the way back to my first and second grade years. It is my outlet, my creative way of expressing myself.

I take seasons off from writing on this blog, mostly because I just can't share the deep and hard things that are going on in my heart and mind so freely. I realized over the last couple of years that I love and hurt deeply. I am not one of those people who mosey through life. I experience it ... all of it, taking it all in strongly.

My Elijah is very much like me, only a boy and age 7. While we were in Disney, each child had $100 of their own saved up money that they could spend on anything they wanted. It took all of three seconds for Zach to figure out what he wanted .... transformers and Lego's. But Elijah, well he actually came home with half of his money. He wasn't super interested in all the flashy toys and clothes. He found himself a book that he loved and succumbed a bit to the Lego store.

I chuckled at my two boys, so different from one another. Then it occurred to me that Elijah is a communicator, a lover of words, and desperately wants to explain life to people.

I've been working with him for a couple of years on how to journal. We started out simple, I would ask him questions, he would answer them, and I would write them down. Then it turned into, "tell me a story" and I would again, write it for him. It doesn't happen all the time, but enough that he remembers it and wants to re-read what we've written together.

This week I taught the boys how to brainstorm, using the bubble method. We explored all the things we loved about Disney. Then, yesterday, during school, I challenged him to write a fictional story. I was thinking it may be five or six sentences.

I hit a jackpot in that little man! Yes, I did! He wrote half of the story yesterday. Today he worked on some more of it and is still not finished. His eyes are twinkling, his heart is fired up with fun little ideas, and he has already read the beginning half to the entire dinner table last night. I believe my little Elijah is a writer!

Now, I'm quite aware that he is only 7 and we have years to go. But I love finding out what makes my children tick. I love capitalizing on what they love, finding ways to expand and encourage them in those areas. Zach is very much a builder. He can understand things spatially and put things together. Elijah, is a reader, a lover of words, a communicator and encourager. And perhaps a writer! I can't help but hope that this is a bit of a love for him!

Posted in: on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at at 12:38 PM 1 comments  

Praying for Forgiveness

This little ham of mine, boy do I love him. He's sweet, serious, demanding, talkative (all. the. time) and such a joy.

Recently he and a buddy of his were having some problems. EJ, admittedly took responsibility for his end of the issue. His little mind truly sings for justice, equality, and true love for everyone. So, when I spoke with him about the conflict, his heart hurt with heaviness for both the injustice that was done to him and for how he acted too. I led him to pray, asking Jesus for forgiveness on his part and toward the little boy who had hurt him.

The beginning of the prayer began in a rote sort of way. Towards the middle real conviction hit him. And in his sweet little six year old voice, I heard him talk to the Lord as if Jesus were sitting in the car with him at that moment. He talked with Him, telling him that he was hurt and that he was struggling with one area, and would God please help him not to do it anymore.

My heart did that funny little twist when it is pained with both pride for my son and sadness for the hurt that he had experienced. I just loved that moment of real breakthrough in prayer, where he stepped beyond the veil and sat on the lap of his Heavenly Father.

Sometimes I wonder, will he ever understand just how much I adore him.

Posted in: on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at at 7:49 PM 1 comments  

Growing Up


He calls me "mom" now. No longer mommy or mama, but mom. It's a big change. A good one, of course. I want him to grow up, to go from being a little boy to the boy he's supposed to be. But sometimes, when he calls me mom, my heart hurts. I loved being mama, to him.

Lately I've found that he craves any and all time he can get with his father. This too is good. A boy should adore his father and look to him for guidance and support. But, I'm his mama. You know the one that hugs him a little bit longer then he probably wants me too.

He stopped holding my hand so much now too. I suppose it's independence climbing out of him. Again, that's good. I want him to be strong, independent, and smart. I do. I even push him sometimes to be that way.

And yet, he's still 6. Acting like a clown, saying goofy things, and bounding with lots of energy. Funny, sometimes I wonder if he's immature for his age, right on, or perhaps ahead of himself. Who knows. And who cares, right?

It's just sometimes, I wish I could make him call me mama again. Just for a bit...

Posted in: on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 at at 7:35 PM 6 comments  

Favorites


At the end of June, I was sitting with the boys at the dining room table doing some "lessons." One of them was a list of favorites. Because Z man is still in the stage of saying the same thing EJ says, it was imperative to ask him first.

I wanted to document it, because, honestly I smiled for the rest of the day after I listened to both my boys little hearts!

Z-man, age 3, list of favorites

animal: cat
ice cream: chocolate
movie: David and Goliath
book: Thomas the Train
song: Joy to the World
food: yogurt
TV show: Tom and Jerry
Season: summer
color: red
holiday: Christmas
cartoon character: Batman
snack: yogurt

EJ, age 5(at the time of questions), list of favorites

animal: kitty cats
ice cream: cookie dough
movie: Leap Frog Videos
book: Cam Jansen series
song: Away in the Manger
food: ice cream
TV show: Tom and Jerry
season: winter
color: blue
holiday: Christmas
cartoon character: Jerry
snack: graham crackers with peanut butter

Posted in: , , , on Thursday, August 07, 2008 at at 10:08 AM 3 comments  

Gimme A Book

When I look back at my childhood, the one thing that I remember the most was all the books I read. I inhaled books, sometimes reading 2 a day. In fact, I distinctly remember my mom sending my brother and I out to play, I would stuff a book down the back of my pants and slip out the door. Within minutes I had found a shaded tree and was lost in my newest novel.


It wasn't more then a day or two after I had brought EJ home from the hospital, that I remember holding him in one arm and in the other, reading out loud, a book to him. At that time it wasn't a children's book, in fact I have no idea what book it was. But I had every intent on having him learn what the melodic sound of listening to someone else read, was like.

When Z man entered the picture, I was a little worried. I didn't have the opportunities that I had with EJ, to read to him from the very start. But soon, those worries washed away as I would hold, again, now Z man in one arm, a book in another, and EJ curled up next to me. Yea, Z man was getting it too.

The biggest collection of anything we own in this house, are books. Bright colorful ones, long and in depth ones, serious or silly, we have quite our own little collection.

Of course a trip to the library, usually yields upwards of twenty or so books, to lug back home. But, oh what awaits us when we sit down and open those first few pages.

This morning, EJ and Z man snuggled up with Diesel the cat, I was off working on something else. I found them like this, EJ reading to Z. Both engrossed on what was to happen next. I stood with a satisfied grin on my face. They got it too!

Posted in: , , , on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at at 1:24 PM 6 comments  

Looking for Wisdom - Fire Edition - Follow Up

Well friends you really helped me gain perspective. Thank you so much for your wisdom and insight on my dear EJ and the stage of ungratefulness that he is in.

This is what I walked away with:

1. Don't take it personally.

2. It's just immaturity...not rebellion.

3. Give him choices.

4. Ego-centrism is a natural phase that they visit and re-visit BUT it is part of their developmental process.

5. Remember that extraordinary grace is required while teaching and modeling during these early years.

6. And last but not least ... I'm a good mama. ( needed to hear that one!)

Aren't those all just really good nuggets of wisdom?! When I read them all, I felt myself calm down a whole lot. Then I was reminded once again that raising children is not some sort of sprint race, but a marathon. Perhaps, I need to slow myself down and relax a little bit.

I did start enacting an idea with him over the last several days. We did some fun family things over the weekend. And during those times, I talked with him before and after, explaining that what we were about to do was a privilege and I expected to see a grateful heart when we were through. I told him up front that I would be asking him to tell me 5 things he was thankful for when we were done. Riding home we made it a family game going around saying what we were thankful for. I saw that it diverted him from a case of the grumpies and gave him an opportunity to be thankful as a family.

It's a start! Overall, I'm feeling a bit more equipped and encouraged. Thanks friends!

Posted in: , on Monday, April 07, 2008 at at 3:00 PM 2 comments  

Creative Worship

The one thing that I am learning about the Lord, is that we have to stop putting Him in a box! He is so much bigger then we can fathom or realize!

I was in the mood to do some creative worship with the kids. So, I turned on worship music and got out the paints. I explained to the children that the person who was playing on the cd, was worshipping the Lord through their music.

Now before you call social services on me for this photo, let me continue on explaining. I was teaching the boys to listen to the worship music and to paint from that experience. Listening requires being quiet. And since my children are 3 and 5, being quiet is not natural for them. They each gently wore a small piece of masking tape on their mouths to help remind them of their silence.

I gave them cups of tempera paint with a dime size spot of dish detergent mixed in. And then let them paint on the glass door in our livingroom.

Plastic covered the floor for sweet little feet and any extra drips of paint.


My youngest is either a super hero or knight right now. So it must be impossible to paint without your other hand holding on to your sword, right?


It may not be Van Gough, but as the boys were painting, I began to photograph the beautiful colors.



And then, I had to try it myself....

Posted in: , , , on Monday, March 31, 2008 at at 8:23 PM 5 comments  

HELP!!!

It's not even 10 am and this is what I'm considering doing right this minute because....

My children are fighting all. the. time. And I'm about to pull my hair out. Separation is the only thing that I have found works for them and me. But that includes whining and complaining.

They are not lacking in department of quality time, as I have spent many hours this week doing school, reading, watching a video, playing outside, special treats, and so on.

Frankly, I'm beat and would love to hand my kids over to a babysitter or daycare center for the day.

Okay - that's honest for ya.

Any ideas on what to do with my fighting kids? I've noticed it is mainly due to a certain 5 year old who feels the need to boss his brother around on EVERYTHING. Z-man has decided that the best way to handle this is to either yell, cry, or whine. I have tried scripture and praying about it. And I'm certainly aware that this is a long term teachable moment. But for the love of pete, is there any sort of quick solution that will bring me sanity??????

Can you feel the love? Because I think I'm oozing it right this second? Or NOT!

C'mon Jesus, send relief....send relief.
****Update: It's now 11am and I'm trying to relieve myself with chocolate and a cup of tea. It hasn't worked yet....

Posted in: , , , on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at at 8:36 AM 10 comments  

Homeschooling, Feeling a Bit Artsy, and Too Cute

I've been struggling with homeschooling lately. Mostly because it is hard to get back on track when you've had holidays, people staying with you, and out of the country trips. My sweet EJ takes it all in stride, especially when we do double time! I really do love watching him learn though!

Z-man is certainly the second child. Anything EJ's doing, he wants to try as well. Unlike his brother, he's not too thrilled with getting his picture taken!

In all my spare time (yea right!), I've been in the mood to mod podge something. So I took our brown ugly can that held every colored pencil imgaginable and slapped some color onto it! How fun! Now, I'm scanning the rest of the house to find something mod podge worthy.


Since, I didn't find anything to mod podge fast enough, I decided to get a handle on the countless pieces of artwork that coat the fridge in our house. I decided that I was limiting the amount of artwork to three pieces per kid. Then I made fancy name tags and had the kids help me make their own magnet clips to hang with.

Here is one of EJ's clip. Very simple and yet fun.


And in case you were wondering what exactly do we during our homeschooling time. Well, here is one of EJ's most recent works. We polled everyone living in our home about what kind of animals they grew up with. Then EJ made a pictograph.


His four sentences, which you can barely read here are the following:
The dogs are first.
The cats are second.
The fish are third.
The birds are last.
And seriously, what mother couldn't resist a face like this one? I told you he doesn't mind posing for the camera!

Posted in: , , on Monday, March 10, 2008 at at 8:57 PM 6 comments  

Winter Stick

I think I have established my love for mail, in previous blogs. So, I'll spare you the details on my little obsession. Of course, if the mama enjoys something, likelihood is so will the kiddos.

Part of our homeschooling routine is to send letters to family and friends once a week. EJ has his own stationary that I made on the computer. Each week, we sit down, he dictates and I write. I have found that this is really good for EJ for two big reasons. The first is it keeps him in contact with the people he loves dearly. The second, is that it helps him to organize his thoughts in a constructive way.

I found this neat idea somewhere along the way, about sending a tube of goodies in the mail to friends. So, today EJ, Z man, and I put together what we termed as a "Winter Stick."

I took a tinfoil box and taped it up real well, inside and out. Then put decorative paper around it.

Next, I filled it with little goodies, like pencils, stickers, tattoos, etc.

Of course, EJ and I sat down and wrote our letter. Z man got in on the action and decorated his letter for the friends as well.




What goodie box doesn't include a treat or two????

I rolled everything up and placed it in the box. Then taped it up real well, adding directions on how to open the box.

I added an address and some stamps, and will be putting it in the mail tomorrow!!!Hmmm... I wonder where its going to???

Posted in: , on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at at 4:49 PM 7 comments  

Making Time to Talk and Listen


I miss my husband. It seems as though in the midst of two kids, 3 college girls, a full time job, full time school, homeschooling, ministry, we just don't see each other enough. Well, I mean, I see him. But I don't get to talk with him.

Last night, we put the kids in bed and asked the girls if we could just run out for an hour or two. They obliged willingly. CJ and I ran out to the local AppleBee's and ordered dessert. We talked and talked, mostly hard stuff. But it was good. We needed it.

On the same lines, I've noticed EJ has been a bit off lately. We call it stinky diaper attitude. He's had a major case of it over the last week.

This morning, CJ and I sat down with EJ and listened to him. We asked him questions, heard him, encouraged him, and most importantly prayed with him. Bless his heart, his eyes were full of tears and he needed some extra hugs. We had told him over the last day or two, that daddy and I were going to sit down and talk with him. He brought it back up to us three times, before we actually sat down and really talked with him.

Life is really busy these days. All good things, really. But sometimes we just need to take a minute or two and really listen to each other. Somehow it puts us back on track....


It's the same with our Father.

Posted in: , , , on Monday, January 21, 2008 at at 1:41 PM 5 comments  

Babel On...

EJ and I read and discussed the Tower of Babel today. I read my version, then he read his. Then he drew a picture about it in his Notebook. After that we were instructed to build one.
Here are the instructions. Give child (who happens to be 5 years old!!!) toothpicks, clay and a firm piece of cardboard. Have child make small balls with the clay and build the Tower of Babel.
Friends, Mama was having as much of a problem with Babel, as EJ was. This was our pitiful final product.

Only three stories high (in toothpick world) and leaning a bit to the left. Hmm...
You try it!

Posted in: , , on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at at 11:15 AM 3 comments  

The Preacher Kid


My EJ. Oh, do I adore my little EJ. He is such a neat kid. At five years old he amazes me, constantly. EJ is outgoing, smart, funny, and desperately wants to please his family and God.


Last week, it was our family's turn to teach the kids in the Ninos Ministry. We were teaching on the Lord's Prayer, specifically about the two verses, "Gives us this day our daily bread. Forgive us for our debts as we forgive our debtors."

As I was putting together the lesson, I was looking for a way to really capture the kids attention. It occurred to me, that EJ has almost his entire kids bible memorized!!! He could recite the Lords prayer and the story behind it.

EJ has no fear of getting up in crowds. As soon as I asked him, he began to tell me how he would like to do it.

EJ: Can I have one of those stands mama, you know where you put your bible on?

Me: Do you mean a podium?

EJ: Yea. And can I please use one of those things that you talk into?

Me: A microphone?

EJ: Yea, that's what I am talking about.

So, complete with costume, my son stood up in front of about 30 people and told them the story of Jesus teaching his disciples the Lords Prayer. He slapped me five, when he was done and sat down on the chair.

I then taught the rest of the lesson, with joy in my heart! EJ and I had just done a duo lesson together!

Posted in: , on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at at 10:00 AM 9 comments  

My Morning

(As part of homeschooling, I have been having EJ dictate to me in a journal once or twice a week. I purposefully ask questions and draw things out of him so that he can "write" his story, letter, etc. This is his story of our events this morning.)

When I woke up, mommy told me that I was going to get a check up and a shot. She did not know that I would get FIVE shots. It was not a fun morning.

We went to the doctors office. First they weighed me and checked how tall I was. I was 40 lbs and 42 1/2 inches tall. I was like, "WOW!" I was amazed at how tall I am and how much I weigh. Then they took me into the room. It had pictures of stuffed animals. Next they checked my ears by doing a "beep, beep" contest. They checked my eyes by me looking at the shapes. I got them all right.

Then the doctor came, when the nurse was all done. The doctor was a girl. There were two doctors. When they came in I was amazed, "why were there two doctors?" The doctor made me do a couple of hard things. But I was okay doing them.

She listened to my heart. She looked at my ears, my mouth, and my eyes. And she asked me a couple of questions. Like, "Can you tell me what shape or letter this is? Can you walk on your tippy toes?"

The last thing that happened at the doctors was a different nurse came into my room. First she checked my blood by pricking my finger. Then she gave my FIVE shots.
I did not like getting the shots. It made me cry a lot, kinda. I don't think I was very brave.

At the end of the doctors visit I got a lollipop and a sticker. That made me feel really super duper happy! Z got the same thing I got, too! Z liked his lollipop.

And that was my trip to the doctors office.

Posted in: , on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 at at 11:49 AM 5 comments  

Little Kisses


Today I captured CJ from school and made him skip his last class, to spend some quality time with the kids and me. He got in the car and we traveled to the new church that officially hired him last night. They were having a pork bbq and we thought it would be fun to try a little.

We said hellos, grabbed the grub, and then headed to "The Green" in Charlotte. Basking in the sun (and some really, really soft grass), CJ, the kids, and I all enjoyed some quality time together.

Afterwards we walked through the city, just the four of us, talking and wandering, and soaking in the sights. Charlotte really is a beautiful city. As we were enjoying our time, we would notice the occasional smile of another adult as they watched our children. We even received a comments about them.

CJ turned to me and he asked, "What does it make you feel like inside when you know people are smiling and even commenting on our boys?"

It took me a few minutes to think it through, because there is so much going on inside my heart when I see how God uses my children (who literally are just being themselves) to make another smile. But then the answer came....

I feel as though it is small kisses from God, showing me that my children are precious to Him. I feel as though He is opening my eyes up, past all the things that they need to improve in, past all the work that it takes to raise them, past all the sacrifices I give up on in order to train them properly, past all the exhaustion and effort.... and I can see for just a minute just how beautiful and wonderful they really are. Call it whatever you want... but just for that moment I feel as though God is giving me a kiss on the cheek as if He is saying, "We are doing a good job, aren't we?"

The moment is fleeting.... but satisfying.

Posted in: , on Friday, September 28, 2007 at at 4:17 PM 2 comments  

Favored By God


Here's a story about EJ and God, both of whom wanted EJ to play soccer....

One day a little while ago, EJ's mama had been thinking, praying, and planning on entering EJ into a soccer program. She thought she had researched all the possibilities out there. Before she knew it, the last day to sign up for soccer had arrived and in the pit of her stomach, she knew that he was supposed to play soccer, just not on a league. Between the already demanding weekly schedule of church, school, and ministries it was becoming tougher and tougher to find just the right soccer opportunity for him.

At the last minute, she found out that her local YMCA had a great program. She piled the kids in the car, raced over to the Y and signed him up for half the cost! A bonus in her mind. When she had called they told her that the teams were overbooked but to come in anyways and put him on the "list." Of course, God had other plans and when she arrived there was a perfect opening for him.

Or so she thought...

Soon after she was contacted by EJ's new coach, who informed her of the practice days. One night a week and Saturday mornings. But, wait... the evening practice was on the night of church. Oh no, could he switch to another team, please???

10 days of going back and forth with coaches, with no solution it finally appeared as though it would be either church or soccer, but not both.

So, EJ's mom, felt that God wanted her to talk with EJ and give him the choice of what he wanted to do. She sat down with him, told him the problem and prayed with him about it.

Confidently, EJ said, "Mom, I won't play soccer. I want to be at church. I feel as though this is what God wants me to do."

EJ's mama, was sad to see that he wasn't going to be able to play soccer. She knew deep down in her heart that he really wanted to. But she trusted God and she trusted that EJ was listening to Him.

Several hours later, a wonderful note was found in the family email. The first line said this, "You are a favored by the Lord Jesus today." It was followed with a note that someone could not be on the Monday night team after all and EJ was invited to replace them!

A shriek of happiness erupted in the house. EJ took it in stride, while his mama jumped for joy, because God cared so much, even about EJ's soccer team!

Posted in: , , on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at at 3:13 PM 8 comments  

The Last Question of the Day

EJ: "Mom, how big is God's tongue?"

Me: "I just don't know, hon. I just don't know."

Posted in: on Friday, August 17, 2007 at at 8:08 PM 7 comments  

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