Enjoyed reading these 19 things to say to your children. Number 7 really got me because I always get frustrated when my oldest changes her mind. I have to remind myself that she’s learning to make decisions and learning to changer her mind as well. I can’t expect her to have that whole process figured out by age 6.

#7 You can change your mind. It’s good to decide, but it is also fine to change.

via Nineteen things to say to your children….

My 6-year-old amazes me every day. Yet, some days she amazes me more than expected. A couple of Sunday’s ago after church she told us she wanted to put together things for sick children in the hospital. Obviously she picked up on a lesson being taught that day.

She was very sure that she wanted to do something and with some encouragement from us she decided she wanted to make up craft kits to give to children in the hospital.

So a few weeks of thinking, talking, saving and buying we put the plan in to action. Vienne used some of her savings to buy some craft items and also donated items she already had. Then we she and Tanya put the bags together.

Each kit contained things such as pipe cleaners, foam stickers, markers and beads. Basically things Vienne likes to get creative with.

Once the items were bagged we boxed everything up for delivery.

We prayed that the bags would be a comfort to those who used them. That the bags would bring distraction from any problems or pain they might be having that day. And we prayed that those who used them would find joy in creating.

Tanya and Vienne dropped the bags off on Tuesday at the University of Missouri Children’s Hospital. We’ve already started planning on doing more in the future.

Glad that another story was done on the WatchDOG program. It’s still really strange for me to be the subject of a story though.

Gerik Parmele is a WatchDOG at Parkade Elementary school, where his daughter goes to Kindergarten. WatchDOGS, which stands for dads of great students, is a volunteer program that gets fathers and father figures involved in their children’s schools. Parkade Elementary is the first school in Columbia to implement this program. Volunteers sign up for an entire school day at a time. They start by monitor the school entrance during the drop off time. Later, they can monitor lunch rooms and help teachers with various tasks.

via KBIA: Columbia School Uses Parents As Watchdogs (2009-12-23).

Great tips from Mark Driscoll on what Dads need to do during the holidays. I liked #16, because it was most convicting to me. Sometimes I tend to dump the holidays on my wife.

#16 – Dad needs to repent of being lazy, selfish, grumpy, or just dumping the holidays on Mom. Dad, are you a servant like Jesus to your family?

via The Mars Hill Blog | Blog Archive » 16 Daddy Christmas Tips.

Why footie jammies are so awesome! on Vimeo on Vimeo

via Why footie jammies are so awesome! on Vimeo.

COLUMBIA — Andrew Belcher, Gerik Parmele and Greg Blakemore are fathers of Parkade Elementary School students. But when they enter Parkade in their yellow and purple T-shirts, they are no longer just fathers, but WATCH D.O.G.S (Dads of Great Students).

via Parkade dads take on role as WATCH D.O.G.S. at school – Columbia Missourian.

Finally caught Riis rolling over on video. And if you listen carefully you can hear his secret trick to propel him on to his tummy.

I feel that through imagination and creative thinking, essentially coloring outside the lines, we can instill a sense of inner peace in a growing brain. This condition will serve to help navigate the noise of life as a child grows and becomes independent.

caspar babypants is chris ballew (the presidents of the united states of america) making kid music – blog.

First Day of School from Gerik Parmele on Vimeo.

We had a new milestone in our family. Vienne started Kindergarten. It was little of no surprise that she handled the day way better than mom and dad, who had teary eyes but kept it together, mostly. What helped with the transition was that she seems to really like her new teacher and she has a friend she’s known for years sitting next to her.

Before

After