Jackson hasn't had an accident for weeks now and is not wearing diapers (or pull-ups) at all to my knowledge. YAY!!

Nola finished her soccer season and immediately asked what was next. "Can I be in ballet?" I know she wants to do this because there's another little girl in her Bible class who takes lessons. I'm not letting Nola take ballet, but what have you used as a good response to your children when they see other Christians' families doing things you don't allow?

We are house- and dog-sitting for Josh and Christa while they are in the Grand Canyon. Hoping to have a garage sale next weekend while I'm there since their neighborhood is a better selling market than mine.

What exciting traditions do have for 4th of July during the day? I need fun things for adults and tiny kids. Grilling, corn hole, glow sticks, parade...

Brent and I have been doing Dave Ramsey classes on Saturdays. We have about 3 weeks left and I already feel so much better. And at the same time I'm slapping myself for years of foolish spending...

Nola and I have been meeting with a local homeschool group on Monday afternoons. She is having fun with her new friends, and I am fortunate to be around moral women. The families vary in religious beliefs: 2 families are Mormon (no, they have tried to proselytize yet...), two are community church-ers, and one woman is the daughter of a Lutheran missionary whose husband fixes pipe organs for a living.

Nola made the front page of a new local news daily after a reporter interviewed me at the library's weekly story hour.

I am still fighting with emotions after losing the baby in December. Some sadness, some guilt, some regret, some trying-to-move-on, some disappointment about not being pregnant yet... I want to be happy. And I want to be happy for other who're holding their perfect little ones. I really do. But it's really tough.

Jackson is back. I've had him almost everyday (excluding Sundays) for about 3 weeks. Because of a sewer problem in their house Wednesday, he has even spent two nights here. I can tell he misses his parents and it breaks my heart when he cries as Tracy drops him off. Poor kid.

Brent is working through Memorial Day weekend, but has next weekend off for my birthday (I'll be 31). I'm hoping for a sushi date (with NO children) and a trip to the gourmet cheese shop. :)

Since my mom's dad worked for DelMonte when he was alive, Grandma stills gets to order from their wholesale warehouse every so often. I was able to get a year's worth of diced tomatoes, tomatoes with green chilies, green beans, dog treats, pizza sauce, chicken broth, sliced new potatoes, pineapple, and cherry fruit-cicles for less than $40. Hot dog!! Dave Ramsey would be proud!

At the end of June, Mom, sisters, Nola, and I are going on a girls' weekend to St. Louis. I think we're going to hit up the City Museum, Grant's Farm, and a place called Crown Candy (a friend from FC, not to be confused with an FC Friend, recommended it to us for their BLTs).

I thought I had some pretty spectacular guidelines for potty-training, but I was proven WAY wrong today. Until now I have been a strict "no-pull-ups" believer. If it looks like a diaper, feels like a diaper, and soaks up your business like a diaper, it's a diaper, right?! The child thinks, "It's okay to pee in this." He doesn't feel wet and the parent (or in this case, babysitter) doesn't know the child has gone in his pants.

I've had Jackson every day for a week now. He is consistent about going when on the toilet, but not consistent about ONLY going on the toilet. I've changed lots of clothes thinking if he feels wet he'll get the picture. He doesn't. Being wet doesn't bother him at. all. SO, since we were out of the house today I put him in the good ol' pull-up to save myself the headache. He didn't have one accident. I don't get it. *shaking head*

Q from Dawn: How long have you been a Christian? Did you grow up "in the church?"
A: I grew up going to Methodist church and Sunday school until I was about 12ish. I occasionally visited Wed night Bible classes with my aunt (who was, at the time, the only Christian in my family). After hearing enough of the truth and asking enough questions (and waiting too long, as most do), I finally obeyed the gospel and was baptized Aug. 1, 1998. I was 16.


Q from Laura: If you could have any talent, but had to give up one of your existing talents in order to get the new talent, what new talent would you choose and what would you give up?
A: 1. I'm not sure I have any talents too valuable to give them up... Ha! 2. I would love to do stand up comedy. For a living. If I could be creative enough to make people laugh night after night then I'd give up cake decorating or...whatever...forever. Bah. Any creativity would be nice... :)


Q from Irlene: How's the cake business going?
A: Not busy at all. I've had two orders so far this year. One was for baby shower cupcakes and the other is two sheet cakes for Memorial Day (Mary Kate's graduation). :( Certainly nothing to earn an income from...


Q from Lauren: What does a day in the life of Kendra, Nola & Jackson look like?
A: We're usually up between 7-8 (earlier lately since Nola's new curtains let more light in...). We shower and dress and eat breakfast. Then the rest depends on what day it is. Today was Bible study day so we left around 8:45 and were back by 11. Brent was home so we cleaned out the shed while Nola played outside and rode her bike. When it started raining we came in and vegged while Nola took a nap. Tomorrow will be boring. It's supposed to rain and there's nothing planned til our 7PM devotion at the Fountains'. Other days we go to story time at the library, home school group, soccer, the park, grocery shopping... (Side note: I haven't had Jackson too much this year either. Don't know what's going on with that...)


Q from Lauren: What is Brent's new career plan?
A: Really? The same thing he's doing now. He dispatches police and fire departments for Champaign County and most of its individual villages, and he LOVES his job. BUT, if he has a degree in Safety Communications (?), he has a lot more opportunities: training, mgmt, secret service... Just kidding on that last one, but he probably would have to kill us if he told us. ;)


Q from Jessie: What color icing stains the teeth/tongue the quickest?
A: Anything dark. Blue, black... Black, as it turns out, is usually a really dark green or dark purple. It's different with each brand/product. I.e. Black sugar sprinkles melt when it's really hot and run an ugly green down buttercream icing. Your tongue usually shows it too...

Go!