Dennie Kids: September 12, 2010

Growing up ... 5 years old today!

Highlights from today: (click here for pictures)

• Reagan was the last one up and she rolled over and grinned when Mom sang her Happy Birthday!
• Eating Pop’s cinna-biggies for breakfast and not running by Burger King.  Mom was going to put a candle on Reagan’s cinnamon roll but she opted for a banana instead!
• Graham walked into his room today (both times) without fussing.  We might be finally turning the corner on his fit throwing-if we could only turn the corner at home. 
• Reagan’s Sunday school class giving her a birthday hat, birthday sticker and singing Happy Birthday to her.
• Dad heard that Campbell’s teachers had a good laugh at her since when her feet hit the floor she immediately brings them up!  Walking or even standing is not in her immediate future
• Mom and Dad working in Anderson’s class-they were pretty impressed with Anderson.  He had used some lego type things and made a long t-shaped stick.  He pretended that it was an ax, sword, golf club, crutches, cane, and jack hammer.
• Lunch at Grannymom and Grandpa’s house.  Graham was so excited about playing the elephant game that he could hardly eat.  Lilly, Cash, Graham, Reagan and Anderson played the elephant game over and over.  Campbell enjoyed watching them but she would get very, very upset when we took the butterflies from the game away from her.
• Running home for afternoon naps.  Just as everyone fell asleep it was time to wake up and go to church for Reagan’s first night of choir and Mom’s Bible study.  The boys and Campbell hung out with Dad in Pops office.
• Reagan enjoyed choir tonight-they sang Happy Birthday to her there too!  And they fed her pizza-what could be better!
• A party at church-it was the perfect end to Reagan’s birthday-celebrating with the whole church family.  Ms. Laryn might have celebrated a little too much though (see pictures)
• We added some videos from yesterday’s birthday celebrations-check yesterday’s post

Dennie Kids: September 11, 2010

Celebrating #5 with family and friends!

Highlights from today: (click here for pictures)
(click here for video #1: Shipley's Donuts)
(click here for video #2: Wonderplace)
(click here for video #3: Birthday party)
(click here for video #4: Birthday party)
(click here for video #5: Birthday party)

• Robby spent the early morning sleeping in Anderson’s bed with him and Campbell spent the early morning sleeping in Mom’s bed with her
• Everyone getting their clothes on quickly-even Graham was trying hard to help with his clothes.  He was trying hard while shouting “donuts, donuts”  We went to Shipleys for donuts-the boys like the donut holes but Reagan wasn’t too crazy about her icing (probably not sweet enough).  Mom and Dad loved their chocolate filled donuts though
• Singing Happy Birthday to Reagan at Shipley's-she is getting quite used to us serenading her!  The donut man even shouted Happy Birthday as he worked making donuts
• Being the first people at the Wonderplace this morning.  Reagan has been so excited about going there.  They all loved it-Campbell even got in on the act playing.  Graham didn’t love it when Mom’s puppet (a shark) kissed him during her puppet show.  He screamed and jumped-let’s just say it was a good thing he had on a diaper!  Anderson enjoyed wearing a fireman costume and then putting a cat up in the tree house.  He was the brave hero who rescued the cat every time.
• Coming home for lunch in the tent.  Then Dad told us we all had to go to sleep so we could go to Reagan’s party-and we all went to sleep fairly quickly.  Campbell had her hair washed (scrubbed would probably be more accurate)
• Getting to church early enough to set things up and play before the party.  Anderson and Graham enjoyed helping Pops push the cart and Reagan was all about helping decorate and put the balloons where she though they should go.  Campbell played on the floor with bean bags.
• Reagan celebrating her 5th birthday with Camryn, Kennedy, Laney, Ethan, Kaleigh, Lilly, Cash, Anderson, Graham and Campbell.  They made a butterfly craft and then we ate pizza, fruit, chicken, party mix and sandwiches.  The kids pizza was even in the shape of butterflies. 
• After supper, we played a bean bag game, opened presents and then had some butterfly cupcakes and ice cream.  Finally, we topped it all off with the butterfly pinata (everyone’s favorite).  After scooping up the loot, it was time to pass out the party favors. 
• Anderson was then able to go and play outside on the playground.  Reagan and Graham followed while the rest of us helped clean up.  Grannymom and Grandpa helped bring everything home. 
• We played a new game from Grannymom, then played with the parachute from Jason and Reagan is wearing the gown from Nonna.  It was a good, good birthday celebration.

Dennie Kids: September 10, 2010

Any excuse to visit Orange Leaf!

Highlights from today: (click here for pictures)

• Graham was ready to go downstairs early this morning and find his choo choos.  He did venture downstairs by himself to find them and bring them back up.  He was so proud of himself (Anderson would never go downstairs alone in the morning-not unless the lights were already on)
• Everyone begging Mom to sit up the tent.  Since she had a few things to do she thought that would be a good idea.  But after the tent, she had to get out the sleeping bags which led to everyone needing pillows, then needing Campbell in the tent, then they wanted breakfast…..
• Finally Mom just decided to join everyone in the tent for breakfast and a few stories.  We read and read until it was too hot in the tent for Mom and Campbell had decided that she was ready for her oatmeal
• Working on some of Reagan’s party favors for her birthday.  Everyone helped and when we were finished, we worked on a dot to dot followed by painting our letter Js. 
• Anderson bringing all of his tools down to the garage to do some repair work.  He, Graham and Reagan worked and worked on Dad’s tractor.  When they would report that it was fixed, Mom would mention something else that needed to be fixed (like the carburetor-she’s not even sure if a tractor has a CARburetor!  But it did buy her some quiet time!)
• Dad coming home for lunch and everyone eating and eating lunch.  They were very hungry!  Dad brought home a box and then it was played with for a long, long time-it was ice skates, a stool, a chair, skis, a bucket and even a turtle.  And when no one was looking, Mom put it in the trash bin!  (it was nap time!)
• Mom getting a phone call and the noise level in the house went up to unbearable.  So she ended up outside to finish her call which mean that Reagan and Anderson were in much, much trouble.  There were many, many tears at bedtime
• Everyone waking up in a better mood.  They enjoyed a snack and movie while Campbell sat on the floor watching everyone.  Campbell seems to be feeling fine.  Still coughing but not a crazy amount.  She had started reaching so far for a toy and will even put one foot behind her like she just might take off crawling.
• Dad coming home and us heading out for supper at Cheeburger Cheeburger.  Reagan wanted to start her birthday celebration early with Orange Leaf.  Ethan and Avery were there and enjoyed singing happy birthday to her!  Reagan couldn’t believe that we could put a candle in her ice cream
• After ice cream, we ran to Sam’s to pick up cupcakes for Reagan’s party.  Mom ordered the butterfly cupcakes-and only 5 of the 30 have butterflies!  Mom did speak with a bakery lady and she gave us 3 more butterflies.  A little disappointing but it will work out just fine!
• Everyone going straight to bed-except Anderson who is now going to the bathroom for the 3rd time since he has been in bed

Dennie Kids: September 9, 2010

Celebrating BIG a few days early!

Highlights from today: (click here for pictures) (click here for video)

• Since everyone stayed up late last night, they were all still exhausted this morning.  Mom and Dad had to wake everyone up…and that is no easy task!
• Anderson told Mom that she never lets him keep his pajamas on (she is going to make him wear them all day long tomorrow).  Graham wanted to keep his “race shirt” on (Run with the Son 5K shirt) and not put on his shirt.  Reagan just wanted to crumple into a heap in the floor she was so tired.  Campbell kicked, cooed, smiled and played with her milk!
• Everyone getting a late start this morning but making up a few minutes with little traffic problems.  Anderson had a sub again this morning but he also had to bring his teddy bear to class-so he had an extra friend (his teddy is the one that Sarah Ashley won for him at a pizza place)
• Graham forgetting to say “bye bye Daddy” as they had practiced but remembering his scream!  He was standing by Ruthie when Mom picked him up and seemed happy.  Poor Campbell had to go to principal today-well, Ms. Mauri was holding her.  She had been fussing and had those huge heartbreaking tear drops falling down her face-don’t worry, she was happy as soon as Mom picked her up.  And she was thrilled when she saw Graham
• Nonna and Pops picking up Reagan and Anderson.  They had a huge lunch and many, many more snacks.  They ran an errand and then came back to stay with Nonna and Pops all afternoon.  Anderson had said that he wasn’t going home!
• Campbell taking a nap most of the afternoon.  Graham and Mom painting something for Reagan’s party and then spending some time sitting outside watching the rain and waiting for Dad to come home
• Everyone having supper at Nonna and Pop’s house.  Nonna had made a pink strawberry cupcake for Reagan to celebrate her birthday a little bit early.  The kids had fun playing until it was time to put on pajamas and come home for bed

Dennie Kids: September 8, 2010

Highlights from today: (click here for pictures) (click here for video)

• Reagan was the first one up this morning-she was probably nervous about the day
• Nonna showing up and the boys were very excited to see her.  They were really excited about getting to stay home and play with their trains and not having to go where Reagan was going
• Mom taking Dad to work and then her and Reagan running into McDonalds to grab a bite to eat before making our way to the Nutrition Center visit. 
• Reagan was a pro-she didn’t fuss at all-even during brain lab.  She answered all of the questions for the psych exam.  When she didn’t know something, she would look in the direction of where Mom was sitting behind the mirrored window.  She laid completely still during the bone scan and was great during brain lab (she might have whimpered at bit).  She was thrilled when Mom gave her another Little Pet Shop toy to play with! 
• Mom and Reagan coming home for a few minutes then Mom loaded up Campbell for her doctor’s appointment.  Nonna was kind enough to stay for this too and ended up staying all day long!
  
• Campbell grinned and cooed at her appointment.  No fever, her lungs were clear, the first ear was good but the second ear was infected.  Poor thing-she hasn’t even acted fussy or sickly!  Such a good baby. 
• Mom going home to relieve Nonna and load everyone else up to go to Sam’s to pick up Campbell’s medicine.  After walking around while waiting on the medicine and then standing in line to pick it up-we ran a few minutes late for church.  But Nonna had saved us seats and we were still there in plenty of time
• Graham was very upset at supper when Reagan put on her cubbie vest and he didn’t have one.  Mom may have to buy him one a year early.  Graham walking right into his class because he was so excited about going to puppets!  Mom heard him when he walked out of puppets and he said “bye cubbie”
• Anderson having a blast at game time-he has been waiting to go to games since Reagan started cubbies. Reagan of course had a blast and fell back into the swing of things
• Coming home for a snack, medicine for Campbell, milk for everyone and then Anderson quickly disappeared. He reappeared in his pajamas (race t-shirt and shorts) plus he had on his Sketchers tennis shoes. He said, “I’ve got my running clothes on.”  Dad asked if he was going out for a jog?  After a few grunts, he headed on upstairs to brush teeth and soon all little Dennies were in bed.

New Orleans (coming home): September 7, 2010

(click here for pictures) (click here for a video) Graham again ended up in our bed last night.  He was starting to stir around again and as we were trying to hush him and get him back to sleep.  I sat up and looked at the clock and it said “8:30.”  Robby said that breakfast ended at 9, so we had to move quickly to get our breakfast loving kids down the hall to breakfast before it closed.


We made it and they ate and ate until the breakfast lady came and turned off the lights on us.  After loading up, we were on the road.  Robby had hoped that we would be home at a very decent time, but getting started an hour and a half after when he thought we would did make us later.  Oh well, I guess our 4 alarm clocks needed their rest.

At breakfast, Reagan was telling the boys that on our next trip, we would stay in a hotel for 10 nights.  She then said “our Daddy is the greatest.”  Anderson agreed with “yeah, because he takes us everywhere we want.”


We chugged along and stopped in Lake Village at McDonalds for lunch.  The kids were playing on the climbing thing and Robby was buying our hamburgers to eat back in the car.  Things were going nicely, until Graham’s shoe came off at the top of the slide.  Anderson ran over to help catch it and then he fell flat on his little face.  Well, not really his face, but his knees.  He was dripping blood and crying, Reagan was walking around screaming “I don’t want to see this” with her hands over her ears, Graham was on top of the slide without a shoe, Robby was inside without a clue to our troubles and I didn’t have the diaper bag or anything else to stop his profuse bleeding (exaggeration).  We must have caused a scene because when the screaming had stopped, I went inside to get napkins and a man handed me some as I entered the door.  The same nice man caught us at the car and gave us some band aids.  He looked like a good old boy and Anderson really wanted to wear the “worker man band aids” over my Scooby Doo ones.


Everyone was in need of a drink by McGhee-yes, just a few miles down the road.  We pulled into Sonic and ordered 3 grape slushies.  The server asked Robby if he had triplets.  He didn’t hear the question and said “yes” before he realized what she asked.  We had a very good laugh about it and our triplets enjoyed their slushies.  Surprisingly, none of it was spilled in the van!


Graham talked most of the way home.  He wanted someone to draw him on the etch a sketch “you draw me rea rea” “anderson you draw me” and then he wanted to make sure that we were going to his house “my house?” “go my house.”  Finally he took a nap about the time we were in Sheridan!  After a few quick stops on the way home, we dropped the kids off at Grannymom and Grandpa’s house.  They are leaving for Texas and needed their grandkid dose and we needed a few minutes to unpack the car.


We worked for an hour, running around unloading and putting things away.  The house was pretty straight by the time we went back to Grannymoms for supper.  The kids had played outside, swang and made a mess of her house though.  After supper, we brought everyone home so they could play with their toys for a few minutes before bedtime. 
I had taken a few New Orleans storybooks and read them before bed on our trip, so they sure wanted to hear a book or two before bed tonight.  After our stories, pajamas and brushing teeth they all went to bed.  And everyone must have fallen asleep quickly because we haven’t heard anything from them (yet).  When Dad asked Graham where he was going to sleep tonight, he did say “Daddy’s bed”-maybe we will see him later tonight!

Book Review: Permission to Speak Freely by Anne Jackson

It's been awhile, or maybe never, that I've started a book and finished it on the same day but Anne Jackson's Permission to Speak Freely arrived in the mail today and it was one I didn't want to put down until I finished it and I did so tonight.


Having followed Anne's blog for the past year, I had looked forward to the release of the book that originated with a question she posted on her blog:  "What is one thing you feel you can't say in the church?"   Having grown up church and as a Christ follower, the question certainly piqued my interest.  The book showcases several of the responses she received while at the same time Anne shares personal stories of her struggles and tendency to want to hide - even from a place where we should be most free to share and feel a part of -- the church.  


The book is in no means a condemnation of the church. In fact, Anne points out in her introduction that the "confessions that are shared aren't directed at the church."  Instead, by reading them you see real people who are hurting but are wanting a place to find hope - exactly what we as individuals and churches should be offering to each other. 


The book is a fairly easy read even when sharing some very personal struggles. It will make you think and maybe even question how you look upon people you sit by in church or at work and even a stranger.  Everyone hurts, no one is perfect and sometimes we need to let our guard down and share that with others.  It's okay to have to questions, to confess the good and bad areas of life -- that we aren't perfect and by doing so we will have opportunities to share the grace and hope only Christ can provide.


So if you are ready to be challenged in your personal life, I would definitely recommend this book. - R. Dennie


Click here to learn more - Thomas Nelson product page.
Click here to read a sample - Amazon.com


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”