More of Life in April

After a fun lunch on Friday with Kellie

We ate at Rock n' Taco on McKinney Avenue

It was really close to Scottish Rite Hospital, and it worked out as a nice meeting place after Simon's appointment.

This week Simon gave the best description of someone,

"Of all the friends I have found, he is the best. Because he is just so kind."

Simon took this picture.

Simon took A LOT of pictures, but some are a little invasive of other people's privacy.

Ya'll might enjoy this conversation I just had with Simon as I prepared his shower:

Me: Simon, that's too much toilet paper.

Simon: Mom, stop worrying about toilet paper and think about God.

Me: What are you talking about?

Simon: I know that verse about not making anything your idol, and it's like toilet paper is your idol because you are thinking about it more than God.

While Scottish Rite Children's Hospital is amazing, and it feels like they should charge admission for all of the displays ..... it was such a long morning waiting to see both doctors and getting all of the lab work done.

Kids and I were going a little stir crazy behind closed doors.

The park for Scottish Rite.

We might be going there for a picnic in a couple of weeks.

The arthritic team thinks Simon's arthritis is definitely viral-onset arthritis. Which is good news because it will eventually go away. It was probably brought on by mono. From what we understand, if it was juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, it would probably be something he has forever.

This week I had to break down and take both kids to dr, since their coughs (mostly Evies) sound like pneumonia. Their other 'main' symptom was sick breath, and it was what put me in motion for the dr's visit.

Simon has strep, and Evie has an ear infection so they are both on meds this week.

Simon and Evie - Sweet Sayings

Simon is one of the sweetest and kindest children I know, especially to his sister and mother!

Simon recently requested to take me out on a date and we had such a nice time together. He held the door open for me (and then all the other ladies .... but then there were none so I had to tell him it would be polite to shut the door).

We've been on a couple of other dates before, now that I think about it. Once we played checkers at Borders and once we played Rummikub at Starbucks. We've also done Chuck E. Cheese for the games. But this time was different because Simon initiated it, tried to pay for it from his bank (I had to slip in a card to help pay for it), and he also initiated a lot of conversation. For the first time, it felt like quality time with me vs. playing games was the priority. He was so pleasant and full of conversation. We'll have to do that more often!

He is planning to sell some water bottles in our front yard to the exercise enthusiasts to make money for another date! Quite the entrepreneur.

He was very thoughtful when I mentioned that his dad would like the maple scone that Simon chose as his treat; he made sure to save part of it for Matt.

We were driving to school the other day, and Simon pointed out some knockout roses in someone's yard. I'm sure his Nana had previously informed him of the type of roses that they were, and as he told me, that they were called knockout roses because they were so beautiful they knocked you over.

He said some people are so pretty that they are 'knock outs,' too.

I asked if he knew any knock-out beauties.

At first he didn't.

After pointedly asking again, while batting my eyes, Simon gushed,

"Well, mom, of course you are very beautiful, but I don't think people actually fall over.

Maybe if you hit them a little ... :) "

Evie is often heard with sweet delight,

"Simon loves me. He loves me. Simon loves me. He loves me."

Over and over and over

I asked yesterday if Simon was her brother.

She said, "No, he is my friend."

One day last week I disciplined her, and her response was,

"Where's Simon? He loves me. Simon loves me. He loves me."

I told her I love her, too, and that if I didn't love her I wouldn't discipline her.

That was over her sweet curly head.

She is so affectionate and loves to crawl over people, nuzzle/cuddle, depending ...

nuzzle (she often pretends to be a dog or cat) cuddle (she sometimes forgets to role-play and is actually a little girl)

Early April 2011

Snaggle-Tooth Pirate

....Arrrrr!

Apologies for the delay in a new post.

These new pictures are from Matt's parents recent visit.

Pirate Princess

Runaway Pirates

Joyful Pirates

Scott and Tania

Pops and Papa

Walking into church this Sunday

(It used to be a grocery store.)

Evie after church.

Watching race cars at the Texas Motor Speedway on Fan (free) day

We're not really fans, but it was interesting to peek into a subculture.

Simon LOVED watching the cars FLY by, and it was quite a sight.

Fort Worth after dinner

We ate at Riscky's per Kellie's suggestion .... thanks, Kellie!

Patiently awaiting barbeque

Arrr!

Nana and Simon

Matt's parents with David Platt and his wife Heather

David shared an encouraging message with the staff at Gospel for Asia last week.

The week before we were also encouraged by Francis Chan sharing at GFA.

Matt's parents home in Ringgold

(I am stealing all pictures from their camera)

Simon is losing teeth weekly it seems