New Carpet!!!

Tomorrow is a big day in the Spence household. Tomorrow we're getting new carpet installed in the whole house. This is something we've talked about since the day we moved in -- 5 years ago -- and the time has finally come.
Since our kids have outgrown the spit-up stage, we thought it would be a safe time to invest in new carpet. Don't worry, we think we got a good quality carpet that will handle the occasional spit-up from your kids. I wouldn't be surprised if God allows one of our kids to stain it the first week, just to be sure fresh, spotless carpet isn't an idol.
Check back later in the week to see some before and after pictures!

A Big Wonderful Mess

What do you with leftover pudding and popsicles sticks? Make a great big wonderful mess.

Noelle decided even she needed a bib.

One-upmanship Prayer Requests

I'm not sure if the kids in Noelle's Sunday School class try to out-do each other with prayer requests, but I recently overheard this conversation as Noelle was playing "Sunday School."

Noelle as the teacher: "OK, raise your hand if you have a prayer request."

Noelle as child #1: "My mom can't hear very well."

Noelle as child #2: "My mom can't hear OR talk very well."

Noelle as child #3: "My mom doesn't have legs."

"Wholesome" Reading

This summer we've started reading chapter books to Noelle. I started with books I remember reading during my childhood, deeming them appropriate for a young listener. We've read the first Little House on the Praire book, a few Boxcar Children books and we just started a Betsy Tacey book (I didn't read this as a kid, but they were recommended to me and Meg Ryan recommends them in "You've Got Mail" - very credible, right?). All of these books were written several generations ago and it amazes me how much the English language has changed in the past 80 years. Here are some translations I've had to make so Noelle knows what I'm saying:

• "queer" = "strange" (I'm surprised how common this word use to be) "queer dress," "queer noise," "queer look" etc...
• "gay" = "happy"
• "Mrs. Ray was moved by the entreaty." = "Mrs. Ray was moved by the question."
• "..two starched petticoats which were buttoned to a muslin underwaist over woolen underwear." = "...two starched petticoates...over underwear." (I'm just thankful I don't have to know what this is)
• "To please the little boy named Tom she let them all speak pieces." = Uhhh.. "To please the little boy named Tom she let them all say a poem."

And the one that stumped me the most.......

• "Betsy flew to the closet, but she could not find her pussy hood." = I have NO idea.

Zoo with the Pitners

We just returned from a great day at the Cincinnati Zoo with Joy, Jett and Ella Pitner. It was hot, but it was fun!

Noelle and Sadie having a "Giraffe Encounter"

Jett and Noelle in the Rainforest Mist

Sweating Sadie and a monkey

Hanging out with some Gorillas