Project 5000

With the onset of the Lenten Season, our church began its 26th year of a program named Project 5000, the purpose of which is to feed needy families in this area.

Project 5000 is named for Jesus' miracle feeding of 5,000 from a boy’s five small barley loaves and two small fish as told in the Gospels of Matthew and John.

The goal is to fill boxes with a pre-determined assortment of food products estimated to feed a family of four for two days. The filled boxes will be taken to local food pantries for distribution the week before Easter.

We participate every year, but this year the boys could understand and help. We put in in terms that a 3 year old could understand -- we were going to help people who were hungry and sad by giving them food. They got it, and we were off to Krogers!
They all helped pick out the food from the list to go in the box.


Then, we figured out how to pack the box so that all the food could fit inside.


The boys really enjoyed this project, and we are looking forward to more opportunities to share more acts of kindness and service experiences with the boys.
Not because we get a free day at Disney for doing it ... but because it helps our boys gain an understanding about others and a sense of human compassion. I want to teach our boys to help others and be compassionate without looking for a reward or praise.

I never want my boys to feel that community service is an obligation. Serving our neighbors is an opportunity that leads to the dawning realization of to the greater understanding our humanity, our fragility, and a greater appreciation of the great lives that so many of us lead and deem to be “normal”.

My Buttons Cannot Handle Much More Pushing

I did it again.

I got all cocky about how the "Terrible Twos" really weren't that bad, blah, blah, blah ...

And now the "Tryin' Threes" are kicking my butt.

The boys have taken to screeching NO! at the drop of a hat. No rhyme, no reason ... just NO!

Lovely.

I don't know if this was something they picked up somewhere or an inherent phase that every toddler goes through, but dear God, make it stop soon.

In efforts to tire them out and not give them a chance to say NO!, we had a jam packed weekend.

We went to Target and celebrated the Read Across America Dr. Seuss's birthday event.

We visited Lowe's Build and Grow event. (Note to self: Hammers and three year olds are not a good combination.)


We baked bread ... Tanner kept sneaking into the kitchen and stealing the crusty top.


We went to Recreation Outlet -- twice.




We made chocolate covered pretzels.

Last night when tucking them into bed, I asked if they had fun with Mommy and Daddy.

Their answer?

NO!

When it Snows ...

... make snow forts!


The boys are hooked on hot tea. They love to have a cup of fruit-flavored tea when someone is having a cup of coffee. It's interesting because they don't like hot chocolate -- they only want "hot tea, please"!

Hayden and Noel helped cook up a fun lunch the other day when Tanner was in preschool. They worked very hard on their "Pigs in a Blanket", and Tanner was very thankful for the yummy lunch!



We think we may have budding veterinarians in the house. All the boys love to play "doctor" with the animals at Otterville. Noel always sings and rocks his animals to sleep each night.



Tanner is definitely loving preschool! His personality has been really shining through these last months. He's even explored the ballet area at Otterville, and he loves to check himself out in the mirror before getting on the bus each morning.


Noel is a great playmate. He makes friends everywhere we go -- such a little joiner.

Noel has also enjoyed watching the Olympics, especially the ice skaters and skiers. He has taken to putting on a hat -- any hat -- and pretending to skate or ski around the house.

Hayden is about halfway there for potty training. He loves to wear his big boy pants, and will happily show you whenever you mention them. Makes for some interesting moments. :-)

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Darn you, Punxsutawney Phil!

Ugh! Make the snow stop!

Goodness ... this is getting a little ridiculous. And I'm running out of ideas of things to do when we are snowed in. Three year old triplet boys couped up in a house day after day can get precarious very quickly.

So far we have gone sledding ...




Yes, even Mommy went down the hill, but Hayden won the prize by catching major air on the jump!

Painted ceramic dolphins ...



We wore Daddy's undershirts and covered the table in white butcher paper. Good thing, too, because they got a little adventurous with the paint brushes.

Watched the Muppet's version of 'Ode to Joy' many, many, many times ...
The boys are OBSESSED with 'Ode to Joy' right now. While searching for the new GE Healthyimagination commercial that has 'Ode to Joy', I stumbled across this -- and have regretted it ever since:


Made "snow ice cream" ...
This stuff is FABULOUS. It's just snow, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla, but it seriously looks and tastes just like ice cream.

So what do you do to keep your toddlers occupied when you are snowed in?

Ooops ... got to run. We are busy turning our family room into a fort, and the cookies are ready to come out of the oven!

So ... What have you been up to?

Ugh ... Work. Work. Work. And more work.

Dan and I have been slammed at work. There is nothing like a 16 hour work day, every day to make you appreciate the small stuff.

Like enjoying a hot cup of tea:


Or sampling from our nightly fresh vegetable tray:

Or enjoying gushers (sorry Neena!):




Or getting big boy race car beds and having quiet time in our sleeping bags:




Or having lunch at the museum center:

Or helping our neighbor snow blow our driveway and climb over the mountains of snow:



Or waking up with Neena:

Or playing together with an old toy:

Or learning how to trace letters:




Or practicing our yoga stance while having snack: