Jonah's birthday party

I would love to take credit for this cake, but I can't. I would love to say that I am one of those moms who has the talent and patience to make something like this. I'm not, though. I'm just glad to know someone who does. Yes, it tastes as good as it looks.

Funny thing about the hat. I bought this hat years ago and it mostly stays in the den with the toys. I had not even thought about asking him to wear it. He showed up at the party with it on. I think he did it on his own, too. (I was getting ready for the party and wasn't around when he was getting ready.)

He was just a little excited about his bike. This was right before we discovered the dead battery on the van.

This weekend, Jonah had his first birthday party with friends. He will turn five years old this coming Sunday. (He will be a whole hand. Waaaaaa!!!!!!! What happened to my baby!?!)

We have had parties for him in the past, but they have always been with just family. We went to a local park (the same one where we had our pseudo-picnic) and let the kids run loose.

His theme was a Toy Story theme, of course. He received some great toys that he has barely put down since then. At the end of opening his presents, he said, "Are these all my presents?" (As in, do I get anything else?) Yes, we need to work on that boy and his materialism. Actually, I think he was looking for his bike he asked us to get. Bruce held it as the last thing. The handlebars need to be adjusted because I didn't have the right tool to tighten them.

Good thing that it poured rain for two days after his party. (Note to self, go buy the right tool tomorrow.)

Here's a few pictures from that day. He had a great day.

We had a great day. Well, that was until our battery died in the van. My brother may or may not have violated a few rules about driving across protected lands to help jump off our battery. In his defense, some park employees witnessed the incident and actually seemed impressed.

So, Bruce had to take the van about 30 minutes away on a Saturday night to get a new battery. Not exactly the way to end the day. It's all okay now, though. Thank you, Lord, that we didn't get stranded with all the deer.

Go, God!

The most exciting news around here lately is that Cara gave her heart to Jesus last week.

I went to pick the children up from AWANAs and one of Cara's leaders was telling me how proud everyone was of her. The pastor was talking to her group and the older group about Abraham and Isaac. He talked about how Abraham was about to sacrifice his son. He then asked if anyone knew anyone else who had done something similar. Cara then raised her hand and said God did when he sacrificed Jesus. She then told them why, for our sins. Her leader said she did this in front of all the children and adults. She said she was very brave.

Cara then started telling me she wanted to be baptized. I told her that she needed to give her heart to Jesus first and she said she knew that. She also said that she didn't want to go to hell when she dies. I told her it was more than that, also. I told her it was about a relationship with Jesus. She said she knew that, also. I convinced her to wait until we got home so she could talk to Bruce. He started talking to her at home and she said she was ready to pray. (They actually did the prayer while Cara was, ahem, indisposed. I asked him could it not wait a couple of minutes. He said then was as good a time as any.) We did an "official" for the memory book prayer with her kneeling beside her bed and I was beside her. I have to admit, I started crying a little.

The girl means business, too. She said she wanted to be baptized the very next Sunday, but we told her that she needed to come forward at church, first. (In our denomination, when you want to be baptized, you come to the front of the church and ask for acceptance into the church. Personally, I don't like the "voting" in of someone into the church, but that's a whole other post.) She said she would and she wanted to be baptized the following Sunday. When your dad's the pastor, you have those options. :)

She did come forward yesterday, so she will be baptized next Sunday. That is also Jonah's birthday, so we will have an exciting day all around.

A funny note, she told Bruce to tell whoever fills the baptism pool (or God's bathtub as Jonah has called it) not fill it too high because she is only 3 1/2 feet tall.

Labor Day picnic

Yeah, I know, a little late, but here goes.

I have been meaning to be so much better about keeping up with the blog, but life gets in the way sometimes. I thought I would have so much time on my hands once the kids were back in school. Boy, was I wrong. My school started back the day after Labor Day, and it has been kicking my hiney (as the children call it). Let's just say, being in school was a lot easier before adult life. I didn't appreciate that then, though.

Before my school started back, though, we had a Labor Day picnic at a local state park. We toyed around with staying at home and letting the kids play in the pool, but they wanted to do as we have for the last few years or so and go on a picnic.

The Cool House version of a picnic is to call and have a pick-up order ready on our way to the park. No packing of a picnic basket around. At least, that is the way the senior member of the family likes it. Works out pretty well, if I do say so.

So, we placed our order for hamburgers, fries and onion rings and headed to the state park. The day was a little warm, but we had a good time.

We were worried about Cara that day because her numbers had been running high all weekend. She also had a trace of ketones, which can be serious (google it if you dare). Labor Day, everything seemed to go back to normal. She was even able to enjoy some ice cream and a s'more.

When we came home from our picnic, Jonah and I did get in the pool for a little while. (Don't worry, no pics from that.)

Overall, it was an excellent day.

Jonah's first day of school

Jonah had his first day of school on Friday, August 27. He was actually supposed to start on Wednesday, August 25, but the night before he came into our room around 10 p.m. with a fever. About an hour later, his fever had gone up.

I took him to the doctor the next morning. Dr. G. said she thought Jonah had the beginning stages of strep throat, even though the rapid test came back negative. He was pretty sad about having to miss school (and his girlfriend), but he was pretty miserable for about a day. Almost exactly 24 hours after he started his amoxicillin, he was rebounding back to his old self.

He had been counting down the days until school started, but the morning he was to go, he decided he didn't want to go. We convinced him to go, and all was right with the world.