Christmas 2009

A whole season, builds to this one day. The day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love Christmastime. I love focussing on God's immense love and sacrifice for us. The more I dwell on it, the more it boggles my mind.
"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14-15) I believe Trent and Grant were awake a little after 5:00am but they stayed in bed like good boys pretending to be asleep. Around 7:00, Brooke was awake and cuddling in bed with Daddy begging to go downstairs. As soon as Mom and Dad gave them the go-ahead, they raced down the stairs and to their stockings.

Stanley got her first stocking too. She didn't know quite what to think. But she liked her new toy and all the attention.

Our family tradition is to read the account of Christ's birth from Luke 2 and the visit from the Magi in Matthew 2. It has been my joy to hand over the Scriptures to the children and listen to them read from God's Word. THen each of us says a prayer of thanksgiving for God's gift of His Son to us.

This was the #1 item on Grant's wishlist: a rock polisher. I'm not sure what he is going to do with all the rocks he polishes, but he enjoys the process! Trent recieved an MP3 player and Brooke got the Roller Skating Barbie she had been asking for.

But, the big "don-ta-da" came after the kids thought all the gifts had been opened. Daddy brought out a few final item from Grandma and Grandpa Rose. It was a gift for the whole family, but we let the kids open it.

"A Wii! It's a Wii! I can't believe it! Its amazing! We have a Wii! Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!" As you can see, Brooke is holding her ears because the boys are screaming like little school girls with excitement!

( THANKS GRANDMA AND GRANDPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE LOVE IT!!!!!

Christmas is so much more than a day for me. It is an entire season. It is everything that points to Jesus: the lights,

the trees and children in jammies,

the music and programs,

and all the blessings we have been given. Thank you Lord, for Christmas.

"Oliver!" November 09

Well, to say I am behind on blogging would be an understatement - so tonight, I will attempt to catch up a bit!
In early November, both Trent and Grant were in Christian Youth Theater's production of "Oliver!" It was Grant's very first show and he loved experiencing his debut along side his brother, Trent. Here are the leads "Oliver" and "Dodger".

Trent played a sad little orphan in the workhouse where Oliver was born. Trent named his character Freddie. Trent also played a London Street Child in the town scenes.

Grant enjoyed performing and was glad for his part in the London Chorus. Here he is at the very last pose of the song "Consider Yourself". Trent is knealing below him.

This was a smaller role for Trent but he didn't mind. He loves being with his CYT friends and misses them greatly when it is over.

This is the cast photo. It is incredible to see so many very talented kids on stage. The show was awesome. All the leads were very strong and it is such an amazing story. We love the music and still can't stop singing songs from it. Trent is currently reading Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Their next theater venture will be Les Miserables in the spring.

Halloween 2009

Yes, I must admit, this is indeed my son. What a fantasticly fun Halloween! The weather was way too cold, but we had a blast coming up with these crazy NERD costumes! Grant truly embraced his "inner nerd". As soon as he put the whole costume on he really got into the character and had a great time.

Trent went over the top with the whole "cool-nerd" look. Look closely, that IS the Goodwill $2.99 price tag on his left shoulder!

He said that when he entered his fourth-grade class, ready for the school parade, his classmates all busted up laughing and thought he looked awesome! I am so glad that both boys have enough self-confidence and fun-loving-spirit to pull this off.

It wasn't all stupidity. Brooke was precious as Tinkerbell. She was so lovely. Of course, for Beggar's Night she had on several layers and eventually had to put her wings on over her coat.

Yes, Grant's shirt tail is sticking out of his fly, on purpose!

And lastly - Brooke convinced Daddy to carve the Black Cat in the pumpkin. It was so awesome!

We capped off the night with dinner at Steak & Shake. It has become a tradition for several years now to take the kids out to dinner in their costumes. We got alot of strange looks and snickers but it was fun. Grant, Brooke and I shared a mint-chip shake and Daddy and Trent shared the carmel-apple shake. Yummy.

Happy 8th Birthday Grant!

We celebrated Grant's 8th birthday at home on October 25th. He had eight friends join him for a Star Wars Clone Wars party. It was so much fun! I am delighted that my kids still love "theme" parties. I enjoy decorating the house in their chosen theme and doing the cake. Grant was really thrilled with his Yoda Cake and wished we could keep it instead of cutting into it!

We served cheese pizza and I made "Yoda Punch" (green Koolaid with Sprite).

The weather held off and the rain stayed away. It was just right for a few games before the sun set. We had "Pod Races" (marshmallow on the spoon), "Asteriod Showers" (played like "clean the yard"), musical chairs, freeze dance and "Light Saber Duels". I made 12 Light Sabers out of pipe insulation foam and colored duct tape. It was team "Yoda" vs team "Darth". When the duels were over I released them to just chase each other around the yard with their Light Sabers which they loved of course!

The boys got to take their Sabers home. Many boys said that it was the "coolest party favor ever!"-

Happy Birthday Baby Boy! Every year I tell you that I am not going to allow you to have another birthday because I want you to stay little forever. But, every year you grow a little older, a little sweeter, a little smarter and I love you a whole lot more than I ever dreamed possible. You will always be my "Mr. Sunshine".

XOXOXO,

Mom

Love It While It Lasts

Brooke and I went for a long walk today. We looked at all the different trees, collected leaves, stopped at the park to swing and came home to rake and swing some more. I fear this is one of our last gorgeous fall days. Tomorrow is supposed to be blustery and rainy so HOW could we stay inside today???

I LOVE our little Sugar Maple in the back yard. It is my favorite part of our lawn in the fall. It just produces an amazing variety of color. I love how it changes from the inside out. God is incredible. What creativity and blessings He provides for us.

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfullness, mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfullness

Great is Thy faithfullness

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfullness

Lord, unto me.

On Saturday, September 26 we went to Cherry Lane Farm in Marengo, IL. Our church family held their annual Fall Harvest Party at the farm this year. It is a beautiful place. The kids allowed me to snap a few photos before running off to play with their friends.

The farm is approximately 80 acres. Of course, we didn't explore the whole farm. The kids enjoyed the huge playground area. We toured the glass shop where one of the farm's owners makes beautiful fused glass creations. The "greenhouse room" is a warm, glass enclosure to sit and visit with friends. And perhaps the most unique building was the littlest of all: the bath house. It was decorated like a tiny antique guest room, complete with daybed and desk, not to mention the "necessities".

We ate chili and desserts in the finished barn. After dark we gathered around the bon-fire to sing praises to our Lord and give testimonies of thanksgiving. We completed the evening by making smores over the fire. What a wonderful time we all had together!

Family Photo Fall 2009

First Day of School 2009

I'm a little late on this post, but better late than never. The weather was absolutely gorgeous for the boys' first day of school. Both Trent and Grant were VERY ready for the new school year to begin. Trent was also GREATLY looking forward to his new teacher, Mrs. Gregory....

Can you see why? Look at that grin on his face! Looks like the cat who got the canary! He even said, "Mom, Mrs. Gregory is young, blonde, fun and cute! Plus, she wears really cool glasses!" Okay then, that settle that!

Trent joined the Neubert Elementary Drama Club. Mrs. Gregory is in charge of it. Trent will be playing the role of "Tiny Tim" in the school production of "A Christmas Carol". Trent is also glad to finally be able to join the Neubert Choir. He has been waiting to join since Kindergarten!

Grant was ready to be back in school and with his friends in 2nd grade. His teacher is Mrs. Burke. She has 25 years of experience and she is really great. Grant was very excited to learn that his seat was next to "Steven" and "Alyssa". For Grant, its all about the socializing!

Grant joined the Neubert Garden Club. They do lots of hands-on projects with nature related items as well as plant and do grounds work around the school yard. He loves to get dirty and help in the yard so this is right up his ally.

A week later, Brooke started the "Junior 5's Program" at St. Barnabas Christian PreSchool. Both boys went to pre-school there and had a great experience. She was very glad to go and really likes her teachers and new friends.

She does very well, even in spite of her vision deficit. Her teachers are amazed at what she CAN do. Her teachers have been very accomodating already. They labeled a set of markers and crayons with bold words so she can learn to read the colors. They also made a set of alphabet letters for her with hot glue and sand so she can trace the letters with her finger and feel them before she tries to write them. The teacher allows her to use markers instead of pencil on her papers because they are easier to see.

I am so thankful that all my children enjoy and look forward to school each day.

Welcome to Our Hearts and Home, Stanley

This summer we visited the Henry Doorley Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. The favorite exhibit, by far, was the "Budgie Experience" - an outdoor aviary filled with Parakeets. The kids fell in love.

For the remainder of the summer we discussed the possibility of a parakeet. We read, we priced birds and cages, and we talked about it. Finally I got a recommendation from a friend for a pet store nearby that hand-raises their birds. So, we went to look. Of course, whenever you take your three kids to "just look" you know there is a very real possibility that you are coming home with an animal!

The store only had two birds ready to go home. The other four were still too tiny. The little green and yellow, "spirited" bird caught our eye. It was love at first sight!

Stanley adjusted very quickly to our family. He had already been trained to perch on our fingers. We are still working on getting him to let us "pet" him, he's doing better everyday. I have also trained him to sit on my shoulder so I can have him with me while I do dishes or housework. We have been repeating phrases over and over again in the hopes that someday he will "talk".

Stanley was 7 weeks old when we brought him home. Why "Stanley", you ask? I don't know...that's just what the kids came up with! We still aren't certain if he is a boy or girl, but the name "Stanley" will stay regardless! I dearly hope he is a boy as the males are supposed to be better talkers.

He reminds me of my "Skipper" I had when I was a girl. I loved Skipper so much and I hope my children find the same joy and affection from Stanley.

10 Years Ago

On August 18, 1999 Trent Alexander Bauman was born. But nothing could have prepared us for this: After a beautiful pregnancy, I became toxic and Trent was delievered by emergecy C-section. He did not breathe, he could not cry and he was purple. Trent suffered from A-genesis of the Left-Hemi-Diaphragm. The left side of his diaphragm never developed, causing all his abdominal organs to grow into his left chest cavity, push his heart and stomach to the right side, wrap his right lung around his back and crush his left lung to the size of a raisin.

48 hours after birth, Trent underwent his first surgery to construct a diaphragm out of Gortex and place all the abdominal organs back in the abdomen. But that was the easy part. The next two years would be filled with hospitalizations, life-threatening complications, mechanical ventilators, oxygen, feeding ports, countless sleepless nights, ambulance rides and more surgeries.

The night before Trent was born, I was in a Bible study with a friend. During that study, Psalm 18:30 seemed to leap off the page: "As for God, His way is perfect;The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him." Little did I know how much I would have to trust Him and His way.

This is how I spent the first two months of Trent's life - camping at the NICU, holding a baby so wrapped in tubes that neither of us could move. With each complication, each new low, God kept reminding me: My way is perfect. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." I cannot say that I was never anxious. I was. But I can say that I have never known a peace like I did then. It was a supernatural peace that words cannot describe.

God did not take us out of the trial. He held our hand, and led us through. He was faithful, even when I doubted.

The song writer, Don Moen, penned this song. I clung to it through those dark days. Even today I cannot sing it without tears running down my cheeks. And on Trent's birthday, my soul sings it as a sweet offering of praise to Him alone.

God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me.

He will be my guide.

Hold me closely to His side.

With love and strength for each new day

He will make a way.

God will make a way

Happy 10th Birthday Trent. You are a miracle. God has a purpose for you and He will use you in ways we can only dream about. I love you. XOXO, Mommy