Michael's New Bunks

When Michael came along we knew we'd still need a place for guests to sleep so we kept our old queen bed in his room. We put a crib in there too and I bought a denim comforter for the big bed to go with his sports themed nursery. When I was feeding him in the middle of the night when he was an infant I'd hang out on the bed, watch TV and nurse away. Some of our sweetest bonding was during those times. 

We eventually got rid of the crib. He never really slept in it anyway. And when we moved to Missouri the queen bed moved to Michael's room too. Again, he never really slept in it here either but it has always been where Oma and Opa and other guests have stayed. My sweet Daddy stayed in there on his last visit here over two years ago. I would bring him coffee in the mornings and check on him before we headed off to school. It was November of 2012. I remember going in to see him on the last morning of his stay. Paul was to take him to the airport that day and I teared up saying goodbye that morning. He said, "thank you for taking such good care of me Princess."  It was very sweet. I tear up now thinking about it. I would see my dad again before he passed away in March of 2013 but that was the last time I saw him in our home. 

Michael had expressed interest in bunk beds for a few years and we had been looking for a good long time but hadn't found anything. A couple of months ago I was talking to a friend who happen to mention that our neighbor across the street made furniture. We know the Ferrells and have been blessed by them in many ways since we moved to East Prairie. They will keep an eye on our house when we're away, they brought us some really nice goodies and a ham at Christmas and this past summer they let us enjoy the use of their in ground swimming pool at any time. Such an awesome thing for two little kids who love to swim and a momma who appreciated being able to just walk across the street and not even have to get in the car to take the kids swimming! However I never knew that Randy made furniture. What an art and skill. 

I sent Connie a text and asked her if he might be willing to make Michael a set of bunk beds. We wanted the kind with the stairs built in and drawers in the stairs. (Along with not having much of a bed Michael also didn't have a dresser! We're terrible aren't we?! Ha ha. We've always kept his clothes in his closet in those plastic drawer type bins. It works just fine!)

Connie said she'd talk to him and asked me to send a picture of what we had in mind. 

Later Paul and I walked across the street to see some of the furniture Randy had made and talked about the beds. He graciously agreed to make them and said he'd order the wood that week. He was planning to use pecan which was what he liked to work with. He said it was a very hard wood and would hold up nicely. 

Fast forward to yesterday afternoon. Michael's custom made solid as a rock bunk beds made were delivered and set up in his room by Randy and Connie with some help from Paul. Randy said just the stair portion probably weighs 300 lbs!

They are absolutely gorgeous and will last many lifetimes. We joked with Michael saying he'd be able to give them to his son and grandson. Randy did such a beautiful job and just made them from the picture we had sent. What a gift. We are so thankful to the Ferrells and to the Lord for blessing us through them. 

Michael and Mallory slept in there last night, Michael on top, Mal on bottom. Reports are they are very comfy:)

They went in Michaels room right when we got home from school and have been in there ever since. 

It's become their new hangout. I love hearing them chatting with each other and can imagine many a late night talk in the years to come. Sweet sounds to a mother's ear and it all started with a little boy's dream of a bunk bed and the man sent from God to fulfill that dream. 

Hard Workin' Hubby

Paul is in the Dominican Republic on a missions trip. Nine from the church here joined several others for a week there to work on a Christian school building. The school is an outreach ministry of the Church of God in La Romana. Paul was there about a year ago working on the church building itself. A few of the team members have been sending me pictures. Apparently Paul is on concrete mixing duty. 

Paul has a real heart for missions. We hope our kids can start going on mission trips when they hit about 12. So good for them to see what's happening in God's church in countries other than our own. Mal said this morning she wanted to go. I'm hoping maybe Paul will drop the age 12 thing down a little and let her go next year:)

Snowed In

A week ago today we had a big snow. Some measured 7-9 inches. That day was President's Day and we were already scheduled to be out of school. Mallory had had a friend spend the night that Sunday night so the kids and Maranda went out to play in the snow and it was all fun and games. 

We got the call that afternoon that there would be no school Tuesday. Christopher from next door came over that next day and the kids and Chris went out to build a snowman. 

Another call came that morning from the district superintendent saying no school Wednesday. Some friends of ours had taken a cruise last week and we were set to keep their son on Wed and Thurs nights after school. Evan went ahead and came over Wednesday morning. Mallory had had Tanner over Tuesday night. The kids basically stayed in Wednesday and played on iPads, the wii, etc

Thursday was cancelled also and was another day around the house. The boys got back in it outside for a while in the afternoon. 

Sure enough we got the call there would be no school Friday. The roads to town were ok so I took the kids up to the church to play in the family life center. Reagan and Will came to play and spend Friday night and Matthew came over from the parsonage to hang out a while also. 

 

When we got home Mallory wanted me to take her picture outside in the snow. 

Paul left Friday afternoon for the Dominican Republic with eight others from the church. They went to work on a Chrisitian school building next to the church where they have done work in the past. 

Evan's mom  and dad made it back from their cruise and picked him up that night. 

Saturday morning I made the kids pancakes then the Jarvis kids headed home around noon. 

The kids and I were going to head over to Sikeston to see the SpongeBob movie but heard the roads were bad. A lot of freezing rain had come in Friday night. We decided to not risk it so I made popcorn and we watched National Velvet starring Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney at home. It's a great old movie and the kids really enjoyed it. 

After hearing from a friend the road to Sikeston was fine we went on over to Wal Mart and Aldi and stocked up for the week and decided to see the movie Sunday. 

Sunday morning we had Sunday school and worship then went on up to Cape. We ate lunch at Steak n Shake. 

We made the 1:20 movie and all liked it a lot. I don't watch the tv show but still enjoyed the movie. After that I got a coffee at Starbucks and we picked up a couple more movies at a redbox. The kids picked Gods Not Dead and Heaven is for Real which really blessed this momma. We headed back to EP thinking we'd have to get to bed early for school the next day. 

Around 6:00 the call came..."due to road conditions there will be no school Monday". So here we are...home again. 

It's not that I mind being home. It's the make up days that are gonna be tough. We already bought our plane tickets for our west coast trip and are set to leave the Sunday after we get out of school in May. I'm sure that date will change but we can't change our trip so I'll have to miss work and the kids miss the last days of school. We're on our 5th day today and it's currently 16 outside so I don't see the snow melting and the roads getting better today. 

I'm working on the yearbook from home and trying to make the best of it. I started back up on my low carb diet yesterday. I'd been eating pretty bad while home for a week so I need to get back to my routine. I'm kind of used to the low carb thing and would like to lose about 5 more pounds. 

Happy snow week number two:)

Michael's Ninjago Valentine Box

Michael asked for a special valentine box this year. He has only had simple paper covered ones in the past and I know that when he gets to the 3-6 grades school they won't get to do as many fun kiddie things so of course I wanted to make him something a bit fancier than usual. 

At first he wanted a gum ball machine one. We looked but couldn't find the clear bowl for the top. He saw a pic on line of a box designed to look like Loyd the green ninja from Ninjago. He liked it and wanted to go with that one. We got the stuff at Wal Mart and I made it for him when we got home. It turned out really cute I thought. 

 

Mallory's class doesn't get to bring boxes in. They will be decorating paper bags. She really wanted to make one bless her heart. We might whip something up just to have a little fun:)

A Girl's Best Date

Mallory and Paul went to their first Father/Daughter Dance a week ago at Melissa's Dance Studio in Sikeston. I had seen it mentioned on Facebook and called to to find out if it was only for dance students or if anyone could go. I asked Paul if he'd like to take Mallory and he said he would so he got the tickets and told Mallory he was going to take her to a dance. She was a litt apprehensive at first but got on board when I told her we'd get her a new party dress!

We found her a sweet little dress at Penney's and went about finding accessories to match. I got her little silver shoes in Frankfort for $7.00 and found a tiara, bracelet, purse and necklace at Wal Mart. I ordered a little wrist corsage for her daddy to give her and we were set. 

The day of the dance we were in Wal Mart again and I had them wash and blow dry her hair in the hair place in there. I don't know if they don't get asked to do that often or not because the gal just charged me $3 bucks! Totally worth it as Mal isn't the best at getting her hair clean and I often end up trying to wash it from outside the shower which is a mess. 

She didn't want her daddy to see her until she was all ready. She came out and he was waiting with her flower. She was so surprised as I'm sure she never would've thought of receiving a corsage. 

One last pic outside and they were off. 

They went to Applebbe's for dinner and then on to the dance. Paul took a few pictures while there on his phone. 

They had refreshments...

And crafts...

The decorations were sweet and the chair ties even matched Mallory's dress!

They played games like musical snowflakes (like musical chairs) which Mallory won and got a prize and other fun daddy/daughter games. They also showed them how to do a few different  dance steps. Paul said there were only about 20 people there but that it was a decent amount for the size of the studio. Sounds to me like they put a lot of work into hosting this special event. All afternoon that day there had been dances for the different  age groups of girls leading up to the 10 and up dance which they attended. I'm sure they'll go again as it was such a special, fun night for the two of them. 

Mallory came home so happy just telling us all about it. I'm so glad they went. I think it's so important for a girl to have a secure, loving relationship with her daddy. Paul is so good with Mallory.  I'm so thankful for that. He's a good dad. 

And I'm thankful and for having had a good relationship with my sweet daddy. 

Christmas Eve 2014

Christmas was nearly a month ago but I want to post these pictures so I'll have them to look back on one day. 

My dad recorded 'Twas the Night Before Christmas for the kids during his last Christmas on Earth. He had always read it to children in the family and of course to Mallory and Michael. I'm so thankful to have this special keepsake. The kids listened to him read it to them on Chrisas Eve then Paul read the Christmas story from Luke. 

Then the kids each opened a few gifts.

Next Mallory set up the snacks for Santa and his reindeer. 

After that the kids went outside to sprinkle reindeer food in the yard. These are our wonderful family traditions and make Christmas with kids so wonderful. 

Then the kids used the binoculars to look for Santa's sleigh. 

They said good night and good bye to our elves who would be heading out that night and then they went to sleep in great anticipation of the morning ahead.