Three and a Half Decades

(age 11 months)

It is my age as of today! At 10:16 am if we are going to get technical. The big three five! 

Why am I struggling with turning 35?  Maybe because many of my friends here are quite a big younger than I am - most haven't even hit 30 yet.  Maybe it's because now 40 doesn't seem so far away.  Maybe it's because my thirties seem to be going by in just a blur.  

But my birthday is here. There is no slowing down time or turning back the clock. I need to embrace this year and make it a great one. 

In honor of my birthday I am going to do my first giveaway! To qualify for the giveaway you need to leave a comment telling me about your best birthday or favorite birthday memory.  I will do a random drawing  for the giveaway on Friday July 11 after 6 pm MT (my mom's birthday)!

So what am I giving away???

- $35 gift card to Barnes and Noble because I love to read

- $35 gift card to Target because who doesn't love Target

- $35 gift card to Starbucks because my (four or five) faithful readers enjoy Starbucks (I am not a coffee drinker)

Good luck and I can't wait to hear about your best/favorite birthdays!

Spirited

I would have never imagined, almost twenty months ago that the tiny sweet baby girl placed in my arms would be such a ball of energy and emotion.

As a newborn and even throughout most of her first year, Mauryn was a very laid back and easy baby. She rarely cried or fussed. She slept through the night by 7 weeks of age. She put herself to sleep and was on a great schedule by 3 months of age. She would play by herself on the floor or be content in the bouncy seat or bumbo watching what was happening around her. Easy. Content. Mild mannered. That was my babe until she became a toddler.

Somewhere between fifteen and eighteen months, Mauryn started to show a strong independent streak.  She knew exactly what she wanted but had a small vocabulary to use in expressing herself.  The tantrums would come and they were (and still are) fairly intense with squeals, stamping of feet, and flailing of her body.  

Mauryn is petite for her age but her spirit and personality can fill a room.  Her emotions run strong.  When she is happy she is so delightful. Funny. Silly. Charming. Pure joy.   When she is sad or mad, well it it not so fun.  She seems to not have a middle ground to her emotions. It is one extreme or another.  

I am trying understand this independent and spirited girl. I am watching her closely to learn more about her personality.  I am learning what methods work best in disciplining her.  I am learning to enjoy her joyful moments and be patient and understanding in the more challenging times.  

I can't imagine our family without her.  She has grown and changed so much from the content and quiet baby we brought home.  We are seeing glimpse of the person God created her to be.  I need to help her learn to channel her emotion and energy for the greater good.  It isn't always going to be easy or enjoyable but taking this journey with her is so worth it.  

Celebrating Independence Day

Lance had to work yesterday (cows don't take the day off), so the kids and I packed up in the morning to head to the local water park.  We arrived at the water park shortly before it opened and proceeded into the park.  There were families were lined up waiting for the rope to be removed to head into the kiddie pool area. You would have thought there was a great sale at a large department store the way people were pushing and holding "their position" in line. As soon as the rope went down, people went running for chairs and a bit of shade. Now I understand shade is important but YIKES! It was quite the scene. We were able to find some chairs, with a bit of shade, and enjoy some time playing and swimming.

Morgan sunning herself

Landon on his favorite slide

Mauryn just checking things out

Later in the day, we all headed over to our friends house for a BBQ. It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon and evening!. My friend Kara made star shaped cupcakes for the kids to decorate. I am not sure they decorated very many but I think they had their fair share of frosting, especially Mauryn.  

The fourth of July wouldn't be complete without fireworks to end the evening.  What a fun day!

Each time Mauryn's sparkler went out she would stamp her feet and yell "mo, mo". I think she liked the sparklers!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! I hope your day is filled with food, fun, and fireworks!

VBS Program

This week our church has been conducting vacation bible school.  The theme this year was Power Lab, based around different science experiments to enhance the bible points for each day.  My kids had a great week!  I was impressed with how much Landon could tell me about the story each day.  It helped that Miss Barbie was teaching the story for the preschoolers and made it very hands on and real for the kids.  

As a finale for the week, there was a program this evening.  The kids performed some of their songs, watched the last Chadder video segment, and learned how much money they earned for the weekly mission project.  My kids have been busy collecting as many coins as possible to turn in each day for missions offerings. The more money the kids raised the more pastors that would get slimed after the program.  Of course, the kids were motivated to bring in their coins because they all wanted to see the pastors get slimed and to be part of the sliming process.

one of the experiments with dry ice and soap - we should be bubbling with thankfulness

Landon looks more like he got slimed than helping to slime our early childhood pastor

our teen pastor after he got slimed!

VBS #2 from Kristen Cheney on Vimeo.

Mauryn: The Dancer

When the music starts, it doesn't matter where she is, her little body goes into motion.  The bounce, the sway of the hips, the arms waving, her toddler body moving to the beat.  She loves to sing "songs" made of toddler babble and words that are unrecognizable except to her. Even as she sings, she is bouncing and dancing.  She doesn't even realize that when there is music she moves. It is just a natural outflow of her little being, part of what defines her ever developing personality.

Goofy Dancing Mauryn from Kristen Cheney on Vimeo.

Accomplishment

On Sunday night, Lance, Morgan, and Landon went with our friend Todd to do a little boating on the lake.  About ten minutes after they left, I noticed Lance pulling back in the driveway.  The boat was in the water but wouldn't start.  After trying for some time, they couldn't get the boat to start.  They returned home disappointed but with hopes of boating on Monday night.  

All through dinner, Morgan and Landon couldn't stop talking about how excited they were to go out on Todd's boat.  As they were talking, Morgan declared she was going to try to knee board. Lance and I just looked at each other with the "oh yeah right" look.  Morgan tends to be very safe and conservative when trying new things. (This is a girl who wouldn't even go tubing three years ago.)   I thought for sure she was all talk -especially once she got in the water which is FREEZING cold. 

I sent Lance with our little digital camera to take pictures and get any video clips if Morgan was truly brave enough to try knee boarding.  Sure enough, she did it! She even got up the first time on the knee board.  She was so SO excited when she got home.  I think it took her an hour to fall asleep!  

I was shocked and amazed that she was so willing to try something new.  It was exciting to see her set her mind to something and accomplish it.  To see her self confidence grow with trying something new was just priceless.

Morgan Kneeboarding #1 from Kristen Cheney on Vimeo.

Morgan Kneeboarding #2 from Kristen Cheney on Vimeo.