Dirt and Strings

   "What are girls made of, Mommy?" Caroline asked.

   I'd heard this before, so I replied with the standard, "Sugar and spice and everything nice, of course!"

   "No, no, no!" she reprimanded.  "God made boys from the dirt, and He made girls from strings."

   HUH??  I couldn't help but laugh in response, and so did she.

   "Where in the world did you learn that, Caroline?"

   "Daddy taught me," she said.

   Later on that day, I asked Shawn about his Biblical teachings, and apparently Caroline got her story a little mixed up. . . she understood God making Adam from the dirt, but I guess she didn't quite comprehend Eve being made from Adam's rib - ribs. . .strings. . . no difference, right?  

   Out of the mouths of babes. . .

Easter

We had a wonderful time celebrating Easter this year at home.  My mom, grandmother, sister, brother-in-law, and nieces came over to share in the celebration by going to church with us and coming to our house for lunch afterward.

The children hunted Easter eggs filled with coins, and probably collected enough money to completely fill up their entire piggy banks!

It was definitely a memorable day, and such a special time to be thankful for the life we've been given by Christ our Savior.

My Little Helper

John Michael loves to help me clean.  Whenever I pull out the Swiffer, he insists on using it himself to sweep the entire house, including all the hard-to-reach places, like under the couch and tables.  He'll bring me even the tiniest pieces of trash that he finds on the floor and says, "Bye bye," which is his cue for me to throw it in the garbage.  There was a huge mess of his toys on the floor the other night and I asked him if he was going to clean it all up, and he walked over to the pile of toys and nodded his head...okay, so he didn't really clean it up, but at least he had good intentions.

So yesterday, while I was conducting a little Arbonne business on the phone, JM decided he was going to take it upon himself to do some cleaning in the bathroom...of the toilets...with his bottle brush.  I first discovered him in the half bath before he actually touched the water.  He was highly upset with me for putting a halt to his effort.  So, I returned to my conversation on the telephone, and he sought out another vulnerable toilet.  This time, he was successful...and thorough.  I think that half of the toilet water ended up on my bathroom floor.  But JM seem satisfied that he'd completed the job.

I suppose it's time to childproof the toilet lids.

Too Pooped to Play

This was Caroline's definition of "playing outside" the other day... and it's coming from a little girl who virtually never takes a nap!  I guess the daylight savings time change is affecting all of us.  Plus, check out how long and grown up she looks!  She's not my little baby anymore... :(

Ahoy Thar, Matey!

John Michael got this pirate hat while he was spending the weekend with his MawMaw and PawPaw in Richton.  He loves wearing it around the house, and I think he looks adorable... makes me want to say, "Aaaarrgh!!"

A Season for Change

Notice her face is covered with pollen - she'd been sticking her nose in the flowers all afternoon!

JM was talking to the geese through the fence

Caroline and JM flying their kites

Me and my baby girl

Change is in the air in the Oliphant household... Thankfully, we did find out that Shawn survived another company lay-off, but his territory changed quite dramatically.  He's been in transition with that for the last several weeks, and he's also been training on the new medicines that he'll be promoting.

I've also decided to start a business from home selling Arbonne.  This has been a long and thoughtful process for me that actually started over a year ago when I began using the skin care products.  Over the last month or so, several opportunities have presented themselves to me, and Shawn and I have decided that this might be a nice fit for me, seeing that I can still be at home with my kids while earning money for some of the "extras" that we can't really afford with one income alone. 

Last weekend, we went to the reservoir for a picnic and to enjoy the brief glimpse of spring weather.  Caroline and John Michael each flew their own kite, we threw a frisbee, and ate KFC. Bring on the spring... change and all!!  

John Michael's Baby Dedication

Last night was very special for our family because we presented John Michael to God and our church, and Shawn and I pledged ourselves, as parents to raise him according to God's Word.  It was such a sweet ceremony.  The babies were presented alphabetically, so it took a little while to reach the "O's."  Thankfully, a sippy cup and some nilla wafers kept JM occupied, while Caroline was entertained by Grandma, Papa, Bee, and Aunt Tracy in a separate seating section.  

When it came time for our turn, Caroline joined Shawn, John Michael, and myself, and the Oliphant family of four walked to the front of the congregation.  The image above appeared on both big screens - JM's picture, along with our chosen Bible verse for him, (Psalm 73:24-26). We had our picture taken with our Pastor Chip Henderson, then he spoke a private prayer over our family.  (Before he prayed, he joked about how big of a boy JM is!)
After the ceremony, there was a short reception, where my kids thoroughly enjoyed the cake and punch, and they had fun opening some dedication gifts.  We also received a gift from the church, which included John Michael's first Bible, a special letter from Pastor Chip for JM, and the book, "The Five Love Languages of Children," which I've been really wanting to read!  What a blessed time in our lives!

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and 

my portion forever.  Psalm 73 : 24-26