Jack of all trades

A day in the life of Jack...actually just a couple of hours' worth! I realize I have tons of pictures of him and not so many of the big kids because he's with me almost all the time and they're gone SO much of the time at school. I really miss them and those precious (though sometimes neverending and exhausting) days I had them home with me! In a perfect world, they would go to school for a couple of hours, learn what they need, and come home for the rest. But (A) that's not an option in our school system, and (B) I'm not sure I REALLY have the patience, as much as I WANT to have the patience, to teach them all they need to learn! Anyway, back to Jack...


He found this piece of fabric of Maddy's (she has pieces in 3 shades of pink...her mom and Dani like to buy random fabric) and insists it is his cape. This was yesterday (Friday) and he decided he wanted it tied over his head. I'm not sure what kind of pirate or superhero he was envisioning, but it looked more like Mary to me!

For his next act, Jack found a piece of Noah's uneaten healthy breakfast (yes, it's a pop-tart) on the kitchen table, paired it with a snowman candle plate he found, and voila! Well, of course, he's serving communion! He came up to me with his sweet voice, tiptoeing, and said, "Mom, this is Jesus' body, we have to be very careful." I LOVE it! Then he of course proceeded to pinch tiny pieces off of it, offering it to me or eating it himself. This is one of his new favorite things. He asks for crackers just so he can put them on these little plates he found. PRE-CIOUS!!

And finally, Lord Licorice...from the Candyland movie. He's the villain, but Jack's favorite character. He has enjoyed using Maddy's "scepter". I think it's hilarious that he thinks he's a bad guy wearing a shiny pink cape with a shiny pink scepter. At least he's got Captain Hook on his hat to lend him some credibility as a villain!

Mom's surgery recovery

I'm such a bad daughter! My mom had surgery a week ago yesterday and I didn't even mention it on here! I talked to her in real life and even went to visit the next day, but I can't believe I forgot to blog a prayer request...Anyway, she's doing great and you can see her post on it here. Some of you GWP folks may have known, so I thank you for your prayers. Also, please keep the Whites in your prayers as Dad prepares to return to Honduras for the start of another academic year at Baxter. I haven't heard dates yet, but I think he will go back next week and mom will wait and go a week or so after that. And of course prayers for Baxter, the clinic, and everyone involved and touched by that ministry are always appreciated! It is a great work. You can find out more from Mom's Honduras blog or the Association Amicus (Baxter Institute/JMA Clinic) website.

Pink Princess

The great Maddy's room makeover is finally complete...well, until we have to move the crib in there in a few months, once he outgrows the bassinet/pack-n-play/carseat/boppy (our babies have slept in lots of things--WHATEVER works!). But here are the pictures. I took the first two, she took the rest. She also took lots of other hilarious close-ups of random things in her room...and of herself sneezing, coughing, and some nostril shots...she cracks me up! But she wouldn't let me post those...

Dani made the bedding and curtains...

*"Over the Moon" pink toile coverlet, toile pillow sham trimmed in pink/green stripe, pink/green stripe bedskirt, plus throw pillows sewn by Maddy; curtains in white w/green polkadots, trimmed with toile, cording in pink/green stripe* The wardrobe in the 2nd picture was Jared's grandmother's. His parents had it stripped and refinished a few years ago for us.

Maddy's "Ba.rbie" house...we already had this but cleaned it up and found cute wooden dollhouse furniture at Ta.rget...cheaper than a Ba.rbie Dream House...and hopefully will last longer!

Madeline's doll corner...Sam.antha meets Kathleen McKenzie...they get along well!
The boys did not get a makeover (maybe when baby brother moves in eventually!), but for now they were excited about the pirate sheets I found at Ros.s Dres.s for Less for $7.99! (yes, for FULL size sheets!)Jack got Mag.tastiks for Christmas (thanks, Willow!) and he made this "Minja Wight Saver" (ninja light saber). He can't pick it up or it falls apart (because he won't settle for it being 4 sticks long, which would hold together; he wants it exactly this height), but he will build it and then stand holding it as long as someone else is in the room to talk to. He looks like a little old man with his cane...especially with the slightly nutty (ok, REALLY nutty) grin he's sporting...
Noah was proud of the "weights" he built out of the Mag.tastiks...not sure how he even knows what weights are, since he's certainly never heard his parents mention them, much less use them! Probably from Tom & Jerry...the kid is a walking cartoon! And proud of how strong he is. I asked how much they weighed and he said, "TEN pounds!" like that was unbelievably heavy. He also said he could do, "like, one hundred and five" curls, which he proceeded to demonstrate...until he got bored counting. Anyone else with a kindergartener...does yours make everything "one hundred" and something? Noah does and I remember Madeline doing it too. That's just still the largest number he can think of, I guess, but it's amusing to me. Of course, I'm easily amused...
Madeline documented almost everything in her room...for insurance purposes, I'm sure! :-)