For the Love of Airplanes...

A couple weekends ago we went up to the city to see the Blue Angels during Fleet Week. It was the first time I have seen them and I have to admit that it was quite amazing! We viewed them from Treasure Island and they were just flying over our heads, it was the perfect spot to see the show.

Now, normally when Ezra draws or colors, there isn't much that is recognizable on the paper. He does know how to draw a really good cross (or a "t" or an "x") though! So, the other day when I made him draw his own airplane, this is what he came up with:

It was pretty funny. All of a sudden he started shouting, "I did it! I did it!" I was so proud that later on I taped it up on the door. When he saw it up there during dinner, he asked Matt who put that up there. Matt told him I had done it and asked if it was okay. Ezra said, "No, I want to take it down." Matt asked him why and was told, "The wings aren't right." Oh well, it's still up on the door and I think it is great!

(Is it me, or is it hard to write a conversation???)

Belated Pictures from Yosemite

Tending the Heart of Virtue

Our book club last read this book, Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination, by Vigen Guroian. I HIGHLY recommend it! One of my first thoughts is that I have been lied to for much of my childhood. Stories such as Pinocchio and The Little Mermaid aren't just movies by Disney, but really amazing and redemptive stories that have been altered by the entertainment mogul. I was a reader growing up, but definitely not so much of the classics as Guroian writes about (think Babysitter's Club and Choose Your Own Adventure). We still have a ways to go with the boys. They were almost able to sit through a reading of The Velveteen Rabbit the other night. Guroian uses this story to discuss its themes of love and immortality (the rabbit becomes "real" in the nursery because of the boy's love and then becomes Real, like a real rabbit, by a Greater Love). He contrasts the idea of "teaching" morals to that of allowing the child to discover or realize how morals are essential for building a life of character and value. There does seem to be a fine line between the two sides, especially as we are living and raising our children for Christ. We have much to learn! I am looking forward to the reading and educating of my children, so my own education will have a chance to be redeemed!

The Chariot of all Chariots

Boy, would I attract A LOT of attention with this contraption!

It's the Valco Trimode Twin. First, it's a double jog stroller. Then, you attach the toddler seat at the front, so you've got a place for 3 children to sit. Theoretically, it looks like you could then attach the Hitch Hiker Ride-on Board, so an older child can stand and be pushed around as well. However, I'm guessing this might be pretty heavy. 4 children, 1 stroller, might be asking a lot. Speaking of A LOT, did I mention how much this chariot costs? With the toddler seat, a whopping $799!! Yikes!

So, way to go stroller inventors! Keep 'em coming!

Fun in the Mud

Luxury Item

Here is a great contest to enter for all you baby wearers out there! I've seen this baby carrier on the internet and am very curious to see how it works and WHY it is so expensive!!! It's cute, but wow, definitely a luxury item. Simple is having another great contest, hosted by babySNAZZ, where you can win one of these carriers! I've had fun browsing that site, isn't this onesie a super gift idea? Anyway, check it out when you've got a moment!

YAY!

We got our gift card in the mail the other day, since our camera was not repairable. I HIGHLY recommend getting the insurance on an item like this! Unfortunately, we didn't get it in time to take on our Yosemite camping trip. I'll have to get pictures from my dad to post later. It is always great to vacation with family. My dad and his girlfriend cooked and brought most of the camping supplies for us. Matt's dad was there to provide the occasional comedic relief. They all also babysat for Matt and I to go out to breakfast at the Ahwahnee one morning. We celebrated our 5th anniversary a few days early. Matt had steak and eggs and I had eggs benedict, which was awesome!

The whole family hiked up to Half Dome! Just kidding. We just looked at it from our campsite. This was the first time we went camping with all of the kids, with any of the kids, actually. They had a great time! It is just so nice for them to be dirty, dirty, dirty, and not have to clean up! Okay, I did use a baby wipe to wipe their faces sometimes. They played in the Merced River, rode their bikes around, played with their tractors and watched the garbage man pick up the garbage each morning. Ezra's favorite part of the trip was seeing an F-18 fly around for a while. It was probably Matt's favorite part as well!

Here are some other miscellaneous photos, including some from the fateful day that our camera was dropped in the pool.

Justus loves Matt's motorcycle! He is potty trained! He loves his cowboy boots!

This is Ezra's big boy bike he got for his 4th birthday. He is totally a big boy, weird!