Age of Electronics

A few weeks ago, we borrowed my parents digital camcorder to record Kalie's preschool graduation. As we were driving home from their house in Mahtomedi, Brian and I were discussing how we had to plug it in to charge it for the next day. The next morning, graduation day, Kalie was sitting in my room while I was putting on my makeup. I had the television on to the Today Show and they were talking about Cord Blood Stem Cell banking (the process of saving the umbilical cord after a baby is born to use the blood for other life saving purposes). Remembering a conversation she had with Brian not too long ago, Kalie said, "remember when dad cut Caleb's umbilical cord after he was born, mom? (that was a pretty interesting conversation for her) Well, mom, did dad do that because Caleb was done charging?"

We just live in the age where everything has to be charged, phones, cameras, ipods etc. But what an interesting concept of people being charged. I could really use a plug-in right about now. I feel like my battery is completely drained at this point. It has been many hard weeks of waiting on the Lord to provide a job for Brian. My kids are starting to feel it. We all have a heavy weight about us. We have grown weary. But a verse in Isaiah says "...those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31 NLT). So today, I need to plug myself in to God, He will give me the "charge" I need to keep myself from growing weary.

Please see this link http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/06/11/devotion.aspx?year=2008. I read this this morning (it was actually yesterdays devo) after I wrote this blog.

God's Protection

I thought this cartoon was great. And exactly what I need to always remember: God is protecting me from the big stones.

I am not sure where this cartoon originated but it was sent to me in an email. One I surely needed to see. I had already been through the "why?" Now I just need to remember that God is in control of the outcome.

(if it's too small to see, click on the image, I think it will enlarge)

Congratulations!

Kalie had her preschool graduation yesterday. I can't believe she is off to Kindergarten in the Fall. And I also can't believe that after four years of Tues/Thurs. morning drop-offs, I will no longer be driving to Joyful Heart Preschool.

It seems like just yesterday we were dropping Caleb off at Preschool and Kalie was still in the baby car seat and everyone oh-ed & ah-ed over her massive curly hair (which is completely gone). We will miss Mrs. Carlson and Mrs. Kuka and are thankful for the love and patience they have given our kids!

She is going to be huge the next time we take graduation pictures!

Hats off to you Kalie dear...we love you and thank God for you everyday!

Stewart Update

Well, it's been awhile since I blogged but it's not for a lack of trying that's for sure. For the past three weeks, life has been crazy at the Stewart House. The last thing I blogged was Brian's Birthday on May 3rd. The weekend after that was Mother's day. We went to my brother's house in Wyoming Minnesota and he cooked an amazing dinner for us. It was really a wonderful treat. He works at Donatelli's in White Bear Lake, Minnesota (they are going to be featured on the Food Networks' "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives". They start taping this Sunday.) He also entertained us all by driving my kids around on his dirt bike.

The following Monday, Brian's mom flew in from California to stay with us. Which was wonderful.

On Wednesday, Amy and I left the U.S. and flew to Switzerland to see Kim for the Ultimate Mom's night out! It was wonderful. Sooooo good to see Kim and the rest of the Weed's. To live their life for a few days and make some memories was so awesome. We even got to go to Paris for the weekend. How many people get to say "I'm going to Paris for the weekend"? I felt lucky to have Kim and Amy to share the experience with.

Then this past weekend, we went to my mom and dad's in Mahtomedi and got caught in a storm. Monday morning was the Memorial Day Parade which goes right by my parents house and lasts for all of 15 minutes, But it's a tradition and the kids love it.

So there you have it. Three weeks in a nutshell!

Wonderful weekend!

Happy 32nd Birthday Brian!

This weekend we celebrated Brian's Birthday. It was wonderful! My mom and dad took the kids for us and we got to sleep in and we went shopping, to a movie and to a fabulous dinner at our favorite restaurant, Bellenotte! I was so fun to finally spend some much needed "us" time together.

So, Happy Birthday my love! Here's to another year of growing older together!

Hooray, I finally found some blog fodder

So, it was a beautiful day out (it had rained the previous day/night) and the kids were playing in the backyard while I "sunned" myself. Before I knew it, Kalie and Noah were up on the deck and they were fussing around in the cooler that had been left open during said rain. Wondering what they were doing, I went to inspect. Apparently, while I "sunned" they had collected worms that were still water logged from the rain. Not a couple, mind you. They had one of those kid IKEA cups about 1/3 full of worms. And they were "giving them a bath" in the ice cold water from the dousing the night before. I can imagine their little worm hearts giving their last beat as they were plunged (repeatedly) into the chilly water. Well, at least they were clean worms, didn't need to worry about germs now did I?

Later, after being in and out of the house several times, for lunch and diaper changes and squabbles, (not to mention extreme hand washing after the worm incident), we were back outside. Having just stepped through the door onto the deck and seeing a 3 foot stick laid out on the rail of the porch, two thoughts struck me: 1) Where did the kids get the rope? and 2) How on earth did they wrap it around the stick so nicely?

Upon closer examination I realized it wasn't a rope but worms, quite a few of them I might add, carefully laid out to "dry" (bake???). Sadly, some of them were quite crispy by the time I got there. And I think all of them had gone to the big dirt pit in the sky, if not from the overabundant swimming experience they had just enjoyed but the horrific sun bathing accident. Not a pretty sight but blog fodder nonetheless.

Seasonally Confused

Yes. After much bike riding and "spring coat wearing" this weekend/past week, my children are riding bikes...outside...with snow pants, winter coats, hats, mittens, and boots on. Mind you...it's snowing...AGAIN. It's really quite amusing...the seasonal confusion, not the snow. As you know it's my worst enemy. Just when we started to see grass, not necessarily GREEN grass, but grass none-the-less, it SNOWS...AGAIN! I am stuck in my own personal hell. Pray for me.

Do bicycles even come with snow tires?

Because I think we need them today!