The Fox Bed & Breakfast

The Fox Bed & Breakfast is now reporting vacancies in the spring and summer calendar.  A simple double bed in a basement office with a bathroom just 26 stair-steps away is waiting for your presence.  Here we provide towels, hot water, iron and ironing board, laundry facilities, television with basic cable, high-speed internet, and a local playground.  Oh, there's also a treadmill that's currently collecting dust.  (Can that be called an exercise room?)

The rates are next to nothing (a night of babysitting erases any fees) and the breakfasts are simple, but the company is sweet.  Most of the time.

Disclaimer:  There is no refund for loss of appetite or splitting headache after being in the vicinity of our small children.  You may be awoken at the crack of dawn (or earlier).  You also may be required to smell awful smells and see awful sights.  You will not be reimbursed for reading the same book 43 times to a child, unless hugs and kisses count as reimbursement.  During daylight hours, three small children will hound you for love and smother you with attention, but may injure your back, arms, neck, and head.  Earplugs are available upon request.

The world is awfully noisy.

Seriously, you have never known how very loud the world is until you have spent just a few minutes with our Natalie. 

At 27 months old, the question she asks approximately 62 times each day is, "Whatsat noise?"

And then you have to figure out what nearly imperceptible sound she heard and identify it. 

Motorcycles, trucks, lawn mowers, birds, planes, people, babies, music...

The world is awfully noisy.

To Heaven We Go...

The other day Ally and I were working on a craft project at the coffee table.  Christopher was peacefully playing nearby.  We were so engrossed in our project that when Chris dropped a plastic puzzle to the laminate floor, we both jumped.

I said, "Woa, Christopher!  You scared me to death!"

Ally quickly responded, "Yeah, Chris!  You scared us to heaven!"

She's Six...plus one day

(Note:  I wrote this post last night, on her birthday, but our internet was having an emotional breakdown and wouldn't cooperate until I was ready for sweet sleep.)

At 12:09 PM today, our Allyson officially turned 6-years-old. 

6 years ago tonight, I was snuggling our newborn in a Mankato, MN hospital, amazed that a child that big (9 lbs, 13 ounces) was within my body just a few hours prior.  David was thrilled that our firstborn was female (he really wanted a girl!), but overwhelmed by the previous 24 hours with the c-section, hospital stay, and parenthood in general.  I was on pain meds.  (Need I say more?)

I honestly don’t remember much about my first 24 hours as a mom.  One thing that I do remember, however, is the nurse giggling at me in the middle of the night when she brought my screaming infant to me to nurse.  You see, when she opened the door of my hospital room, I was already sitting up in bed, ready to console my little girl.  The nurse was laughing because she couldn’t believe that I knew it was my child filling the hallway with that ear-piercing newborn scream.  I had known my Ally-girl for less than a day, but I knew that shriek belonged to me. 

We were telling Ally about her distinctive cry last night.  She grinned, knowing that we were wrapped around her finger from those first moments. 

Today we hosted a “Hello Kitty” birthday party.  It was such a sweet group of girls.  They donned the customary Hello Kitty bow on their heads and made bracelets, searched for mice (the fake kind), and compared their best meows.  While my little ones slept, my sweet friend Meranda and I managed the group of giggling girlies.  Here are few shots of the kitties.

Later, after David came home from work, Ally opened her gifts from us and her grandparents.  The highlight was her scooter, which everyone tried.  (Even me, but you won’t see a picture of it!) 

Then, since she had already eaten cake at her party, we went out for birthday ice cream at DQ.  (Really, any excuse to go out for ice cream is a good one.)

So, she’s 6.  That’s just crazy. 

And she still has a powerful cry.

Wordless Wednesday

Bon Apetit

Christopher has discovered his favorite delicacy.

Frog legs.

Happy Easter!

May this day be a poignant reminder of the horror of His death, the magnificence of His resurrection, and your powerful need for a Savior.