Families that Stick: DO: Engage, don't entertain

Hey, you know I always say "Joy shared is twice as nice." Well, some wonder FULL folks I know are doing a blog right over at Families that Stick! Check it out at the link below & tell Kristen I sent you!

Families that Stick: DO: Engage, don't entertain
THIS I just had to share, borrowing it right from fresh pages over at Families that Stick:

For a few ideas on simple play, the ABC's by Jill Rigby:
(hint: these are ideas for YOU to do with your kids)
A - Always smile
B - Blow bubbles
C - Color in a coloring book
D - Draw a self-portrait
E - Eat a PB & J
F - Finger paint
G - Goofy faces
H - Hide and seek (surprise your kids by asking them first!)
I - Ice cream cones
J - Jump rope
K- Kick the can (down the street)
L - Look up and watch the stars or the clouds
M - Musical chairs after supper
N - NO TV - please.
O - Old-fashioned hopscotch
P - Paper airplanes
Q - Questions - ask silly, silly ones
R - Race around the block
S - Scissors, paper, rock
T - Take your family for a walk (no phones allowed!)
U - Uncontrollable laughter
V - Ventriloquism
W - Walk barefoot in the grass
X - Xylophone
Y - Yodel
Z - Zoo animal sounds

Enjoy some play time...it'll do YOU good too!
Kristen

Speaking of DOING, we've been busy this summer even though my blogging doesn't show it. Here are a few pics from our Grace FULL Days this summer:

Super Sleuths, Grace & Haddon, at the STL Science Center

Gracie putting out fires for CPD at Chicago Children's Museum

Mac & Cheese climbing at Navy Pier

Loving her Mac & Cheese

BBQ sweet treat we took to the big BBQ at Annie's house

BBQ friends: Annie, Grace & more Grace

Summer Shine

Ice cream anyone??

Gracie making her own whale song at the Children's Museum

Pecans & Croutons

Life is moving forward & we are thoroughly enjoying these Grace FULL days of summer with lots of swimming & friend play with a bit of travel. Boy, I have thought about blogging here & there. Sigh~ But I'm here now with a moment I want to remember.

Grace & I were enjoying a tasty Cone Cottage treat this week. With her participation in the summer reading program at the library, Grace scored a free ice cream cone. Not that we need a coupon to lure us into that sinfully delicious place, but....free is nice. =) Grace ordered up a lemon-lime twisty cone, while I savored a pecan pie blaster. Scrumptious doesn't EVEN capture it. Seriously.

After about 5 bites or so of my pecan laden delight, Grace asked "Why do I always want what you order?" Order envy. She comes by it honestly. Good thing we don't mind sharing. That's what good friends do in my book. A couple more bites of just the pecans & she declared while rolling her eyes heavenward, "I just love croutons." hee hee - "No, honey, those are pecans." She stumbled over it a few more times, landing somewhere between the two words before she finally got it. Hilarious. I was laughing out LOUD. Thankfully, she was as well. She can be a bit sensitive about the laughing...especially if it's at her or WITH her, rather. I wish I had a picture of that sweet face as she grappled with her expanding expressive lexicon. She's heard both words, croutons & pecans; the stumbling came in using them. =)

Then, of course, we talked about how folks say it differently; but the correct way is with the emphasis on the "can" (sounds like "don" rather than "Dan") part of pecan instead of an emphasized "pe" with a long, drawn out peeeeeeeeeeecan. It's kind of like the pop/soda thing. :o)

She's laying on couch at present - it's 2:36 AM - sick with an upset tummy. We emptied out dinner & then some. Bless her heart. We've got a system down though as we've slept with the little purple & pink bucket this week...far more than her share. Sigh~ I keep her hair pulled back & a washcloth on her neck. Poor baby. She has enjoyed more 7-UP than a six year old should. In Jesus' name. Ssssssomebody!

Trusting God

The Mom Standard posted a perfect pair of songs from Twyla Paris - The Warrior is a Child & Do I Trust You, Lord. Wow! Takes me back to a time of broken pieces, trusting a faithful God to mend & make whole. He did & He continues to renew; to restore me each and every day. I'm thankful. We battle, mustering every ounce of strength. Yet inside, we are but wee ones wielding the sword of King. How heavy the armor seems at times, though it protects our heart...our head. The warrior is a child. We may not see the road ahead or what lies around the next bend; but this we do know, He holds us. He guides us as we lean on His everlasting arms. We just have to look with our eyes of faith. We can trust Him.