Camping With the Crowe's

So, last weekend we went camping.  Here are a few highlights of our trip. 


1- The kids enjoyed peeing outside.  While this is nice because I don't have to clean pee off the floor, it was a little embarrassing when Silas peed off the porch when we got home.

2- It is great to get away from TV, phones, etc.  All we have is the great outdoors to play in.  The kids get exhausted from running around all day.

3-Tom got to take the boat out, and he took the kids fishing with him.  Harry was not so thrilled to be in the boat, while Silas really liked it.  I am always amazed at how different they really are.

4- We enjoy cooking on the campfire.  We made foil packs with meat and veggies, we roasted hot dogs, and we always have dessert.  We had smores, little pies, and banana boats (my personal favorite).

5- We used our new tent.  We discovered it is larger than our bedroom at home.  It is super nice and roomy.  We could have fit Dan and Mones in there with us!

6- In the middle of the night, Tom and I heard the sound of someone walking past our tent in the leaves.  I whispered to Tom to go see what or who it was.  He looked out the tent to see only a raccoon trying to get in our trash.

7-While putting on my shoe, something felt funny so I took it off and reached my hand in to take out the culprit.  I had a large spider in my hand when I pulled it out.  Spiders do not usually bother me, but  I was a little alarmed when that was what was in my shoe.

8- So, the kids wanted to fish. No one had had any luck catching anything all day.  We went to the marina to fish.  Silas decided to leave his Cars fishing pole alone to go pet a dog.  I am holding Owen, who had just fallen asleep.  I looked at his pole and thought to myself, I bet he looses his pole in the water when a fish bites it.  Sure enough, as soon as I yelled for Silas to get his pole,  it started to bob under.  I was the closest one to the pole.  With Owen in tow, I grabbed the pole and caught the fish, illegally I might add.  I did not have my license.  That was the only catch all weekend. 

9- We took the kids on a bike ride around the campgrounds.  Tom and I did not have our bikes, so we walked and pushed Owen in the stroller.  Ellie is having a hard time getting used to riding her bike.  We were going down hill, and Tom told Ellie to use her brake.  Of course she did not listen, and instead put her feet down to try to stop.  We watched her go all the way down the hill screaming for her daddy to help.  She screamed her way right into a tree, but managed to stay on the bike.  Let's just say it was a little more than dramatic.

10- We decided that the next time we go camping, we are going to stay longer.  We have to pack up too much stuff to only stay two nights. 

We had a great time,  and we really love to do it.  It is something we hope our kids will never forget.  Next destination, Disney World with the grandparents and Seth! 

Daddy

About a week ago, while I was helping Tom with dinner (yes, I said helping Tom, he is the best cook), he told me that he had been praying with Ellie when he takes her to school in the mornings.  He asks her what she wants to pray for, and it has become their little thing.  I just love watching the relationship that he has with her.  It is so tender and nurturing.

I have to admit, I felt a little guilty.  I know I don't pray enough with our kids.  We say the bedtime prayers and the mealtime prayers, but they can become so routine, that they are just words coming from our mouths.  I have been burdened about this, and have been wanting to be a better example of how to pray. I will come back to this in a moment. 

Yesterday, when Tom took Ellie to school, he had forgotten to pray for whatever reason, and when they got to school, Ellie said, "Daddy aren't we going to pray?" I think this really moved Tom, and showed him what an impact that he has on her.  I love, love, love, how Tom leads our family.

With that story in mind, last night in our growth group at our house, we talked about calling the Spirit, "Daddy."  It is such an intimate term, and something that I don't think about too often.  He is our daddy, or Abba.  When I think of the Holy Spirit in this way, I feel safe and at peace, just like a child who cries out for "Daddy." This study of the Holy Spirit is so moving to me.  I recommend Forgotten God, by Francis Chan.  http://www.forgottengod.com/
It will open your eyes to how we grieve the spirit, and how powerful the Spirit can be in our lives if we acknowledge Him.  It talks about how especially in our country, how much we do on our own, without seeking the Spirit and allowing Him to move.  This book might make you want to move to a different part of the world, kind of like the book Radical or the Bible for that matter. (another subject for another post)

Anyways, I am trying to make prayer time more meaningful, and I really want to teach my kids how to pray.  I want them to be genuine and honest.  I want them to pray for others that don't know God. I want them to pray for the Spirit to empower them.  We pray so often to heal this person, or help ME do this or that, etc. When was the last time you selflessly prayed for the spirit to move in your life? Try it.

Cakes and Valentines

Well, we have been busy lately.  We have been making valentines.  Yes, I said making valentines.  Ellie enjoyed making her own valentines, and the kids at school really loved them as well.  She wrote My heart melts for you on the girls valentines, and You color my world on the boys valentines.

 

Tom has decided to change his diet and eat healthier, which has motivated me to do the same.  I know I should, just to help and encourage him.  We both want to loose a few pounds before our family trip to Disney World in May.  I am so proud of him.  He really loves to cook, and even though it is more expensive to buy the healthier options, in the long run it is worth it.  The whole wheat pasta, bread, and tortillas really aren't that bad.  Our kids are turning their noses up to most of the food, but we know if we keep introducing the new foods, they will try them.  We do not give them other options.  They eat what is on their plate, or they don't.  Simple really.  
This eating healthy thing, does not mix well with all the baking I love to do.  I am trying to perfect my cake recipe.  I made a football cake for the superbowl, which turned out really yummy.

I also made red velvet whoopie pies for the first time.  They were fun to make.

So between Tom cooking, and me baking, we have joked about opening a restaurant.  We also think it would be fun to run a bed and breakfast somewhere.  Probably will never happen, but we would be great hosts I think.  It would have to be later in life, when all our little kiddos are out of the house.  Who knows where we will be then.  God will probably move us to another country.  

Speaking of food, we went out on Valentine's Day to Chili's.  We had gift cards to use, so it was a free date.  We try to save money whenever we can.  It is always good to go out alone.  We ended up talking about all of the valentine's days we have spent together.  Some we couldn't remember exactly what we did, and others stood out, like our White Castle date in 2005.  One thing is for sure, we both love each other more each day. So thank you Dan for watching our 4 children for an hour and half.  It was an hour and a half well spent. 

Ellie painting her valentine box.  We made a valentine backpack out of a cereal box.

Ellie opening her valentines at her party at school.

Ellie enjoying fun dip at her party.  She has some really sweet kids in her class.  The girl with the pink bow in the background also has twin brothers that are 3.  They were born in October 2007. I talked with her mom for a while.  She asked if I had problems potty training.  One of her twins does not want anything to do with potty training.   I think I gave her some hope, after talking about how hard it was for Harry.  If we hold the boys back, they will all be in the same grade.  I think that is super neat!

Snow Much Fun!

So, Ellie had 4 snow days this week, which called for some creative ideas to have some fun.  Here are some pics from our snow week. 

We brought snow inside to play with. 

We made snow ice cream.

It was very yummy.  We used mexican vanilla in it!

Puzzle time

Owen with his giraffe named Sophie

Sledding

Abby came too.

Starting to build the snow fort.

 We didn't quite finish it, but luckily there is more snow on the way!

Harry loves playing in the snow.

Snow Day!

Here are a few pics from our snow day!  It's never too cold to play in the snow.  Tom worked hard plowing sidewalks at 5 area Wal-Marts.  He does so much to support our family.  I love you Tom! Enjoy our day in pictures.

I Have A Dream...

So, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., I would like to share an Ellie story.  We are trying to instill in our kids that "stuff" is not important.  The most important things in life are God and loving others like Jesus did.  This often seems like an impossible task, since kids are constantly bombarded with the idea that the more stuff, the happier the person.  Even adults feel they need to keep up with the next person with their stuff.  This could not be more far from the truth.  In most cases this leads to more unhappiness because you then have money problems because you cannot afford "stuff."

With that being said, Ellie came home one day last week and said she had learned about Martin Luther King, Jr. at school.  They had to write their own "I Have a Dream Speech."  This is how the conversation went down.  

Ellie:   Mom, today we had to write about our dream.  

Me:  Oh, like Martin Luther King?

 

Ellie: Yeah.  I wrote about Mexico.

Me: What is your dream about Mexico?

Ellie: I want people in Mexico to have more money for stuff they need.  

Me: That sounds like a great dream.  What did others in your class write about?

Ellie: Everyone else wrote a dream about themselves like being president and getting stuff for themselves.

  

Note, she said NEED not want. Now, most of you are wondering why Mexico?  Well she went with us on a mission trip this past summer to build a house in Mexico for a family in need.  She saw first hand the need of those there. What a priceless trip.  Most would say she's too young to go, or that is not safe.  I could go off on a tangent here but I won't.  She may never have an American Girl doll like her friends do, but I just hope she keeps thinking of others like Jesus did. Even though she is my complete opposite, and sometimes way too girlie for my own liking, I love her so much. I look forward to taking all my kids to different places around the world to show God's love so they can create their own world view.

 

Last Week's Happenings

Well, it has been an eventful week around here.  I guess it usually is that way. Just wanted to share a few pictures.

Busted! If you are wondering what they put in the toilet, it is play foam.  They are little tiny foam balls that stick together.  Luckily I caught them before they flushed. 

 

 I thought this was cute of Owen.  Ellie took this picture. He is just about to sit up alone.  He can do it for a while without falling all the way forward.

 

                                 Ellie and her friend Taylor before their upward cheerleading game.
Hope this week will be as eventful as the last.