Doughnuts, Dust and MLK

Here's a little story from Saturday for you.
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While in the shower this morning, Josh decided to make a pit stop on his way home from church softball practice.
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Gracie comes running into the bathroom excitedly saying "look mama!" while holding up a chocolate frosted doughnut.
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me - "Oh wow. A doughnut. Is that God's perfect food? (remember my previous post?)
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She sweetly grins and shakes her head no but then follows it with a very exaggerated nod yes and says with a big smile and sing songy voice "but still, PRAISE THE LORD!"
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Oh that sweet, sweet girl of mine.
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A few minutes later, here comes Fletch prancing in the bathroom as I am rinsing out my shampoo and says "mama, see what I have?" while proudly (almost deceitfully) holding up two chocolate munchkins.
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me - "Oh, where did you get those from?"
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fletch - "the table"
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me - "But who got them for you?"
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fletch - "Santa"
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me - "Nice job covering up for daddy Fletch. Now go eat those doughnuts."
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Oh honey, how I love you. Thanks for always being a team player!
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Are you all geared up and ready for the cold? I know we are. Here's my girly in a pair of pants I made her out of a thick, cozy woman's sweater. It was so... very easy. I've been making skirts and pants out of men's and women's used shirts and sweaters quite a bit lately. I never ever spend more than $1 per top and even get them at one store for 3 for $1. Love... it! These pants remind me of something Dutch or Swedish. Gracie mostly loves them because they are so very comfy and warm and I hear she's going to be needing them in the next few days! Brr..!
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Speaking of brr..., did I tell you that it didn't rain on our camping trip? Instead I nearly froze to death. And to think Josh laughed at me for taking all... those blankets. I could of used about 30 more to be honest. I sat there all night shivering as I continued to tuck my little ones tighter, and tighter again, while trying to make sure hypothermia didn't become an issue.
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But besides that, we had an awesome night sitting under the gorgeous nightlight moon while watching all the children run and play until their heart's were content. Well, Colton's heart had to be dragged into the tent for bed but that's just so typical of him. If it were any other way, then it wouldn't have felt like home.
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In the morning most of us (I contained the little ones) cleared the path for a nature trail that's in the works.
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And if you can't tell by these pictures, we have the coolest, most fun and amazing teens at our church. When they see the Smith family coming, they immediately pick up my slack and take over for a bit giving this worn out mama a much needed break. I will forever, and ever be grateful to them for this.
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Okay, let's change the subject completely and talk about dust. I got a little overly excited on Sunday afternoon. While visiting my Pop Pop (whose now living at my Dad's) I took a moment to go up into my dad's attic (which by the way turned into a very long moment and a pile of junk treasures).
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Oh boy was I excited at what I found. Boxes and boxes of my old "valuables" or so it said in marker on the cardboard boxes. "JENNA'S TREASURES. DON'T THROW OUT!!!" So after blowing off layers of dust, my oldest and I sat up there with our flashlights taking a peak into my past. Colton must of said 20 times over again, "Man mom, you really had an awesome life!". Especially so after finding my Nintendo Entertainment System and Duck Hunt gun. Man did I have a good life and he was seeing bits and pieces of it. To him (whom I lovingly call my little junk collector) my junk = good life.
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Let's just say so... many lost memories came back into my mind. Like these things for instance...
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I know I'm not the only one who had one of these bad boys. A 90210 whopper of a button. Oh how much time I spent gazing into the eyes of these men. Sinful I was!
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And I was especially surprised to find my old sticker book. How I dearly loved and cherished this book. It certainly contained my treasures at the time. And can you believe some of the scratch and sniff stickers still had their scent. I couldn't believe it. I made Josh and the kids come smell it just so they'd believe me. It was great and it somehow made me feel not so old. My cabbage patch bubble stickers still smelled like soap just like they did in the 80's and I was excited!
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And remember these bubble stickers...
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Oh yea, they were some of my favorites.

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I can't remember what these were called but I found several of them in my box of treasures. I know that at the time, these little fold up dolls made me so very happy. Ahh... the simplicity of childhood.
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You should have seen me doing my happy dance when I put batteries in my ever so loved Speak and Spell and heard the familiar sound of the start up tune. Do, do do doot. Do do do do. Or something like that. Or maybe you should be glad you weren't there. But anyway, I was so happy to find this long lost "tool" to use for spelling practice with the kids. This game rocks! The kids and I have to use the timer to take turns on it. When I lose the game on my last turn I beg with them "oh pretty please, just one more try. I want to end my turn on a win." Somethings never change. Just blow off the dust and things settle right back in place.
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But anyway, I guess the experience of finding my favorite things from childhood which I had thought now resided in the landfill, made me more excited than I could have ever imagined. I know it certainly made me think twice when cleaning out the boys' closet today. Just please don't tell Josh that I stashed away their favorite toys which they have outgrown in the attic. Oh no, he's sure to read this.
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Oh well, moving on to MLK day. After dropping Colton off at PE this morning, I took G and F for a bike ride around the park and then to play at the playground for a bit. It wasn't until the park became invaded by a bus filled with children that I remembered there was no school today because of the special day. It's a good thing that Weekly Reader has me covered. The kids always love doing Weekly Readers, and now that Gracie's reading has nearly caught up to Colton's level, they take turns reading each section and doing the activities. What the Weekly Reader didn't tell us is what happened after his dream came true. As I told the story of his assassination as gently and briefly as I could, I looked up to find my little guy staring at me in disbelief with tear filled eyes. "But why mom? Why did a man have to do that?" He's learning that there are a lot of things in life that we may never truly understand, but I am glad that he's able to feel compassion and not be afraid to show it. And I let him know that I'm proud of him for that too. And Gracie's response, "Well, he didn't have to do that. He could have made a better choice." Yes he could have. He certainly could have.
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Also, an update on sweet Claire. She had a blood test on Friday and so far so good. They are still waiting to see if her bone marrow is working properly but her blood count was good. And as Gracie would say it, "But still, praise the Lord!"

Now go and snuggle up with those you love most. This is our brief window of opportunity to have an excuse for snuggle time. Quick, before it warms up again! Go!