Stitching and Being Unique

My latest stitching project was just one simple word cut out of old t-shirts and stitched onto a white t-shirt.  This one is for me.  I have seen a lot of t-shirts in magazines or around town that have one single word on them.  I think it makes quite a statement, not to mention a sense of style, to have a certain word worn.  Personally, I love the word unique.  I have talked with my kids a lot about this word and truly desire them to consider themselves extraordinary.   As I have hit the big 3-0, I have come to the point of realizing that I should be proud of who I am. There is no other person just like me.  God made us all different.  Being different is a good thing.  I don't really want to be normal or strive for that.  You can't be rare if you are always following the pack.  Not only do I want to wear this word, I want to know and live it.  

As, I was working on the final stitches of my shirt, Maddie was dreaming up her own shirt.  She ran her plan by me and then asked if she could do it beside me while I was working on my shirt.  I told her, "Maybe," (we all know what that usually means) and she cheerfully went somewhere else.  I thought that she had found something else to do.  However, she came skipping back to me with all the supplies needed for her design.  I was impressed.  I put down my shirt, that was moments away from being completed, and picked up hers.  She told me just what she wanted to do and she began.  I helped a little with the stitching when she had problems.  An hour later, she was done.  I am very proud of her.  I like her style and creativity.  I hope she holds on to her uniqueness.  



This post reminds me of a fabulous children's book called If Only I Had a Green Nose by Max Lucado.  

I read this book to my kids a few weeks ago.  Here is what Julian wrote about it in his narration:

Punchinello got his nose painted green to be like everyone else.  Others kept changing the color of their nose, so he just couldn't keep up and be the same.  Soon, he realized he should be how God made him, unique.  -Julian

Our Weekend

This weekend, it was nice to be home and be together as a family.  We did a little this and that.   We went grocery shopping, did some gardening, played soccer, had some friends over, went to church, and some other stuff.  We went out looking for deals and found some.  Our library in Durham was having their Friends of the Library Sale.  We let the kids take their wallets and get a book or two.  There were so many books to look through.  I was happy to see my little thrifty shoppers thumbing through the books.  We all left with something.  We also went to a thrift store in Chapel Hill.  We spent under $10 and got quite a few things.  That was fun.  We had fun with NCAA basketball this weekend.  The kids are getting into it more than ever before.  They got out boxes and played in them as they watched the game.  So cute.

Friends of the library indeed.

Here are our treasures from our time shopping at the thrift store.  We found some unique and beautiful dishes and cups, handmade stationary, and a Gap shirt for Jules.  Maddie found some beads and a photo album she paid for.

Here are our cardboard box Tarheel fans.  

"Come on Hansborough, you can do it!"

Knights of the Black Flag

Yesterday, we met up with some friends at the NC Museum of History in Raleigh.  We were there to see a special exhibit about pirates called Knights of the Black Flag.  We enjoyed it.  We learned quite a bit about the history of pirates.  There was a section that was very hands-on and playful.  The kids enjoyed that part the best.  

Here's a little bit about the exhibit from the museum's website:

Marauders. Plunderers. Bloodthirsty sea-thieves. Whatever their name, pirates have wreaked havoc on the high seas since waterway travel began. These seafaring scoundrels command attention in a major exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh. Knights of the Black Flag explores the legacy of pirates, from ancient times to the present, through intriguing artifacts, legends and history that bring their ruthless adventures to life. The interactive exhibit is an exciting experience for all ages.

This is a real cannon recovered from a pirate shipwreck.

The kids were able to press a button on these kid-friendly cannons and they aimed at ships on the screen.

There's Captain K and his trusty ship.

Julian enjoying the crow's nest.

Maddie was having a go at steering the ship.

Arr . . . that Blackbeard is super scary and fierce.

"Turn Your Head Around"

I was sitting here checking my email and checking out an exhibit on-line that I might take the kids to tomorrow and I hear my littlest one, Brady, say, "Mom, turn your head around."  His language has gotten quite good.  He was on my bed jumping up and down with his super powers ring on his finger (another post) and his kid's K'NEX Elmo in his other hand.  I had been saying, "uh-huh" to everything he was telling me.  He needed my full attention.  He didn't want me to just pretend.  He wanted to show how he could plop backwards during his super hero play.  

Turn your head around.  Be present.  Connect.  Powerful message.  Thanks, Brady.

Just a few pictures of my kids this week.

Brayden and Kalen at the park on Sunday.

Here is Julian with one of his birthday meals he choose for Sunday lunch.  We had sushi with sweet potatoes, tofu, avocado and rice.

This is super silly Maddie.  She can be quite funny.  Yes, that is a diaper on her head.  

A Little Glimpse Into A Sweet Moment

"Teacher . . . teacher," Brayden called out from downstairs. "Yes," Maddie calmly said from her room upstairs. Brady asked, "Teacher, could you help me put my ballet shoes on?" "Sure, I can," Madelyn seemed to sing.  Then she gracefully went downstairs to attend to her little one.  All the while, Mom is putting laundry away.

Happy 9th Birthday, Julian!

Nine years ago, today, our lives changed for the better.  Julian Jeremiah was born.  We are so thankful for his life.  It is hard to believe this little guy is halfway to 18.  Oh my!

Here are 9 things about Julian you should know and that I love . . .

Julian enjoys the ocean and all the life within it.

He is very witty and creative.

He loves to read.

He enjoys veggies and is a healthy eater.

Julian enjoys nature and creatures.

He has beautiful blue eyes and such a sweet nose with freckles on top.

Julian is a hard worker. 

He loves to create things with LEGOS.

He is curious and adventurous. 

Celebrating Julian

Jan, Jerry and Shanda came to visit today.  We celebrated Julian's 9th birthday.  His birthday is tomorrow.  We enjoyed some sweet family time.  Here are a few photos from our time together.

Aunt Shanda gave Julian this LEGO Creator set.  She knows her nephew well.  

Maddie gave Julian a card and a LEGO dinosaur that she had made for him.  She loves her brother so much!

Brady hanging out with Grandpa

Nana fixed Julian a cherry pie.  What a perfect gift for her grandson that is crazy about cherries.  It was so yummy!

We decided to take a long walk to our neighborhood park.

Madelyn's Ostrich

Madelyn submitted this picture she drew of an ostrich to the magazine Zoobooks.  Within the magazine there is an area that displays children's artwork of the animal that that particular issue is about.  They ask for children to send in their artwork or poems about animals for the next few issues ahead of time.  They use childrens' work to present on their website or within their magazine.  They selected Madelyn's artwork, along with several others, out of 800 kids for the ostrich issue.  They only printed a handful to put on that one page within the magazine.  Maddie didn't make that cut, but they put her ostrich on their website and gave her a year's subscription for Zoobooks.  

Way to go, Maddie!  We think this is really cool!

Crazy About Daddy

All my kids love their Daddy.  It is obvious when they run towards him when he enters the front door or when they cuddle up with him to read books.  Kalen is just plain crazy about his Daddy.  He is constantly mentioning Daddy throughout the day.  For example, I made biscuits this morning.  I asked Kalen what he wanted on his.  He told me that he wanted whatever Daddy was having.  

This morning as Kalen was getting himself ready for his day, he laid out Scott's clothes for his day.  It was so cute to see Kalen's thoughtfulness displayed so neatly on our bedroom floor.  

As I was typing up this post, Kalen came to me with some flowers from the yard.  "Here Mom, these are for you," he said.  As I squeezed him tight, I was reminded that he loves his Mommy a lot as well.  He has a lot of love to give.  I learn a lot from Kalen.