"Daddy doesn't have to go to work today?"

"Ah sweet weekend ~ you are so elusive, teasing us with short visits at the end of a workweek. You may not last long, but we promise to savor you while you are here..."

Each morning when Ian leaves for work the kids (unless one is still snoozing) and I sit at the table eating breakfast and wave at Ian as he drives away. Caleb yells, "Bie, bie, bie" until he is out of sight and Kylie typically waves her little arm wildly. As the Saturn disappears from view, Kylie almost always asks, "Why Daddy have to go to work?" Then I usually ask her why she thinks he goes to work and 9 times out of 10 she answers, "To make money to pay for our houses?" (Though one of my favorites was, "So we can go shoppin'?" ~ which we NEVER do unless you count picking up diapers along with our groceries at the Super Target fun shopping...)

**At any rate, I guess those little ears are always listening, we've been talking about money a lot these days as we've entered our fifth month of paying the mortgage on our old house and rent on this one. We're praying that the house sells soon!**

Anyway, Friday night Kylie volunteered to assist with getting dinner ready. And of course what one does, the other must do also!

She is becoming quite the little helper these days! Caleb on the other hand didn't quite get the concept. Sure he managed to get the husk off, but instead of diligently picking silk like his sister, he decided going ahead and taking a bite was more appealing...

Then we had movie night. Happy Feet was the choice of the week and we snuggled together on the couch and ate popcorn in our pajamas. The best part was that for the first night in over a week, everyone slept through the night without a peep and woke up around 8:30 in their own beds ~ we typically hear at least one set of scuffling feet around 6:30 or 7...

As soon as we started making the apple cinnamon muffins for breakfast, Kylie started asking, "Do you have to go to work today Daddy? Hey Mommy, does Daddy have to go to work today? You going to stay with us all day Daddy? That's really cool! I like it when you don't have to go!"

It was cold, but the sun was shining, so off to the park we headed. Both Kylie and Caleb enjoyed the slides, but Saturday the swings were the biggest hit!

The three people (and one dog) that make my world a happier place to live in!

Caleb crashed in his stroller halfway through our walk around the lake and managed to sleep through getting pulled out of the stroller; put into his car seat; pulled out of his car seat at home; shoes, mittens, hat and jacket pulled off; a diaper change and then getting put into bed. Man, I wish I could sleep like that! Kylie, Ian and I enjoyed a sandwich and then I headed to the grocery store ~ by myself! It was so strange to concentrate on my list instead of breaking up the latest, "He/she's touching my side of the cart" issues. I think that I liked it, but I'm not sure...

Sunday afternoon after church we ate sandwiches and then during nap time Ian and I attacked the clutter/mess that is our house. I just have to take a minute to brag on my sweet hubby ~ so often he is an unsung hero around here. I was working on the Tupperware cabinet and when I walked back to the bedroom I found my part of three loads of laundry neatly folded on our bed (he had already put his and the kids clothes away...) And laundry was just a small part of his contribution to "conquer clutter day," he also organized the storage shed, carried tubs of toys into and back out of the house after I'd switched toys out for the kids, swept the hardwoods, vacuumed the bedrooms (after the kids woke up), and straightened up the laundry/utility room. It will be a few days until he gets caught up on reading, but I just wanted to publicly thank him (and brag on him)!

Then it was time for a little fun. Kylie and Caleb ask frequently to ride their Radio Flyer tricycles, but I can't push them both myself, so it is a "when Daddy's home" special treat. It was a balmy 65 and sunny yesterday afternoon, so we went for a walk/ride around the block. I think their faces say it all...

Pure joy!

And when we got back to the house it was just too nice to go inside, so Kylie continued to practice pedaling on her own
and Caleb got a game of tag going with Ian.
We would have stayed outside until dark, but our adoption fellowship group was having a Super Bowl party. And my girl declared, "We play football Mama!"

Kylie and Lottie, playing football together at Lottie's house, 2 years to the day after their parents met on a flight from Chicago to Beijing (four days before two girls from different orphanages would meet their parents in the same crowded civil affairs office room in Guangzhou and therefore be destined to become lifetime friends)... Us having friends here when we moved was such a God thing!