Baby Kids Club

Hayden's Birthday Extravaganza At The Park

Tomorrow is Father's Day. I'm too emotional to write about fathers this weekend, is that okay ? It has been one year this month since Sam and I both lost our dads. It still hardly feels real. We miss them more than words can say.

my father, Stephen Charles Kopp. I miss you, Daddy.

Sam and his father, Dennis Parker Rice

I'm still behind on blogging ... but I'm forgiving myself, because I'm caught up on laundry. And I have two cheesecakes made for tomorrow, and only two more children to finish homeschooling for the year. Hip hip hooray.

As I type this, Lily is sleeping, and Hayden is too, meaning they will both be wide awake at midnight. Wonderful. If I didn't have dozens of items of clothing to iron tonight for Sunday School in the morning, I would be trying to keep them awake until their bedtime. Instead, I'm taking advantage of a quiet house (the older kids are all outside) by posting Hayden's birthday pictures here, and thinking about the ironing I need to do. I'm a multi-tasker like that !

And I just remembered, today is June 14th, flag day.

So in honor of that, I am going to post pictures of Hayden's birthday, which was May 12th.

There is absolutely no connection between the two holidays, but there you have it.

It's my blog and I can do things like that if I want. Blog author's prerogative, and all that.

I'm even going to give this post a fancy title at this point, just for fun :

HAYDEN'S BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA AT THE PARK.

I'm hoping the fancy title makes up for the simplicity of the actual event. You'll see why in three seconds.

We had Hayden's birthday at the park.

Abigail and Caleb made three dozen chocolate cupcakes, and I frosted them to look like baseballs, tennis balls, basketballs and footballs. The theme of the party was .....wait for it .... balls. Because ever since he was old enough to sit up and hold one, Hayden has been OBSESSED with balls. Ball was his first word. He falls asleep with a ping pong ball in one hand and a tennis ball in the other. He turns everything into balls - cheerios, phones, toothbrushes, the plastic iceberg lettuce toy in the nursery at church - they're all just different versions of balls to Hayden, just waiting to be thrown. Once he started crawling, his favorite thing to do was throw a ball down the hallway and chase after it ...and then turn around and throw it back down the other direction. He could be pitching (no pun intended) the world's largest tantrum known to mankind, but hand him a ball and he transforms into the happiest baby on the planet.

Hayden. Loves. Balls.

Thankfully The Dollar Tree cooperated nicely with our birthday party theme, and I think I spent a whopping $12 on this here shindig. We brought some baseballs and mitts from home, sent the kids and whoever else wanted to play out onto the big grassy field next to the picnic tables, gave Hayden a tennis ball for the night, and called it good. No pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey game for kids to fight over, no basketball shaped piñata to give all the parents a heart attack, no goody bags that would end up on the floor of the car after the party anyway ... just cupcakes and a few snacks and baseball at the park, because that's how we roll when there are eleven kids with birthdays per year.

You won't find this one on Pinterest, folks....

...but the birthday boy was pleased as punch, and that was the goal....

The weather was perfect - a warm breezy Oregon evening, with just a few hours of sunshine left at the end of the day.

Jason had to work, but Naomi brought our grandbabies. Koa (above) brought a fruit salad and a serving spoon, Norah (below) brought some charm ...

Monique and Josiah came, along with our newest blessing, Princess Macie ...

Mackenzie brought her nice new camera, and took lots of pictures of ~~hayden opening presents~~ her feet....

Lily enjoyed fifteen thousand tortilla chips, as well as the icing off three different cupcakes ...

Kenz and her Ducky

My favorite part of every first birthday is the cake smashing photos. Kenz took about seventeen of them, and it's taking EVERY OUNCE of restraint I can muster right now, not to post them all. I'm not kidding, I think I have an addiction to cake-smashing-baby pictures . I mean, just look at them ...

Swoon.

Sam and I feel so blessed to have a baby at this stage in our lives. I think about that every day. I always wanted a baby in my forties - and I got two.

Somebody pinch me.

The party was a (cake) smashing success, and even though we didn't get any pictures of Hayden and his gifts, he enjoyed opening every single one of them.

Okay, honestly I think Abbi and Noah opened his gifts, which is probably why we don't have any pictures ... if I recall, Sam was wiping layers of frosting off Hayden's outfit while the older kids frantically helped me pack up the party before the sun set ... at any rate, Hayden enjoyed playing with everything the next day.

This past year went too quickly in so many ways. My baby is one, and it feels like I just had him yesterday. He's doing so much now - standing and saying words and feeding himself and learning new things every day. I want to slow life down, but it's just impossible ... so instead I'll just enjoy the ride ...

... happy birthday, Baby Hayden !!!

New Born Baby

the big picture

Kids Club 22:34

I am so behind on blogging that I don't even know where to start catching up.

I have probably a dozen emails I need to reply to, and 200 or so that are junk mail in need of deleting.

I have a package that needs to be mailed that should have gone out last week..

I have about six loads of laundry to do - and that's just to get caught up with what's in the laundry room... there might be more hidden in closets ...

I have a few kids who are finishing up their schoolwork this month, before we call it quits for the summer... and they need a lot of encouragement to get there.

It's just one of those weeks where I feel a little behind the great eight ball of life.

On days like today I tend to overanalyze things. It should be opposite... I should probably look at what's on my plate and decide there is enough to fill me up and more... why take on the deeper questions of life like : What's my purpose here ? Am I doing a good enough job at everything ? Am I pleasing the Lord? Is there more I should be doing ?

But that's just how my brain works sometimes. I have a hard time prioritizing when I feel overwhelmed. Instead of taking a breath and conquering one molehill at a time I invite some mountains into my life just to make things fun.

End of the school year motivation levels are through the roof here. No, really.

So here I am ... blogging ... doing exactly what I just described - adding something to my load, just because.

Why ?

Because I really feel like God is wanting me to be more bold in my faith lately, especially in my areas of influence. I'm a stay-at-home mom, and as such, I don't get out much. I admit it. I mean ... I do make the normal rounds - the grocery store, the post office, the doctor's office, the playground, church, sporting events, and an occasional restaurant or two. But for the most part, the people I see on a daily basis are the ones who share my last name ...

my grand baby, Macie Blair Rice. Swoon.

And so this morning, when I was praying and asking the Lord to help me not miss the big picture - because it would be very easy to do so when there are a million little things calling my name... He put someone on my heart ....

....are you done scrolling ???

It was you.

I may not get out much, I may have a small sphere of influence right now, physically speaking... but I do have you.

The people who have been reading here for several years, or several weeks, or maybe just a day or two.

I don't pay attention all the time to page view statistics anymore... it was fun when I started blogging, but the newness wore off - and I really barely have time to get on the computer these days with six children to homeschool. But when I peek in and see the numbers, I have to stop and ask myself : what am I really saying here in this little space called A Perfect Lily ? How am I using my influence for the good ?

I mean if all I am doing is posting some cute pictures and tying some words together for a nice little package, then I'm really just taking up your time and mine .

Because there's so much more to our lives than fun birthdays and nice recipes and trips to the farmer's market.

Oh, don't get me wrong- those things have their place. Totally. I am thankful and grateful for those things. And I'm happy to post about them.

But this weekend I listened to a sermon my husband preached on eternity ... and it really made me think - again ! - about what my purpose in life is.

Because here's the thing : I really do believe there is a Heaven and a Hell. I don't believe that the end of life, as we know it, is the end. I believe with all my heart that we were created with a purpose- to know the Lord, and to live our lives for Him. When I got saved 29 years ago, I repented of my sins and gave my whole life to Jesus. That may sound like catch phrases to some of you - "repented of my sins" and "gave my life to Jesus." But they are so much more than that.

What happened at an altar in a little church in Tempe, Arizona, was that a 17 year old girl, with lots of questions - about who God was, and why she was here, and how to get rid of guilt for things she had done - she found Jesus. She heard the gospel- the good news - that Jesus died for her sins, and that He made a way for her to go to Heaven. She listened to the words straight from the Bible that said she didn't have to be "good enough" ... because none of us are good enough ... to make Heaven her home one day. She heard a preacher read the words of Jesus when He said "Come unto me all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest." And she believed them. She raised her hand when that preacher asked if there was anyone in that church who wasn't right with God, and she timidly made her way to an altar. A beautiful Christian woman met her there (who is now in eternity with Jesus !) and led her in a prayer of repentance, asking God to save her and give her hope. She wasn't made perfect after praying that prayer- but she was changed. She didn't get religion, she didn't decide to join a church - she met Jesus.

And how do I know that what I got was the real thing ?

Because He changed me.

I am no longer that timid, guilt-ridden teenager who walked to that altar 29 years ago. I have peace in Jesus. Am I perfect ? Far from it. (Ask my kids. In fact, anyone who knows me. I have problems.) I'm far from perfect - but I am forgiven.

And that's the simple message I hope you get out of this post today.

There will be lots of posts in the future about holidays and Down syndrome and product endorsements and trials and triumphs at the Rice Ranch. In fact, I have a whole batch of beautiful photos from our anniversary trip last week to upload and share.

I just wanted to make sure today that I obeyed that still small voice this morning, telling me to make sure I don't miss any opportunity to share the greatest truth of all in this particular sphere of influence.

Do you know where you're going to spend eternity ? It's really so simple.

We're all sinners.. we've all got problems.

As the Scriptures say, "There is no one righteous, not even one." Romans 3:10

We will all face death one day. Nobody gets out of here alive.

It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this, the judgment. Hebrews 9:27

There is a price to pay for sin... and a way out.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

God made it so simple for us.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

We can know peace - the true peace of forgiveness.

Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1

If you've made it this far and read through my words - thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read, and for letting me share my heart with you. I'll be back soon with more pictures like the one above from our sweet anniversary getaway...

xo

New Born Baby

Half price !!

Kids Club 11:42

For all you mocc lovers....

... Hello Moccs is hosting a special Memorial Weekend sale at noon PST today ... 50% off all moccs !!! (*except florals)

After a month of wear - on the playground, at church, at the store - Lily's moccs have held up fabulously. And she LOVES wearing them - every time I go to put them on her she grins and yells, "MOCCS !"

All styles except florals will be available for this special sale... don't miss out, as the discount will only be available for an hour or so.

Happy shopping !!

New Born Baby

just a mom

Kids Club 15:01

This post is going to go a little deep.

If you're not into "deep" this weekend, feel free to scroll through the photos and ignore my ramblings :)

Actually, I'll keep the ramblings short, but the sentiment strong.

I am blessed... and proud ... to be "just a mom."

This past week gave me an opportunity to consider - make that reconsider - my vocation in life. A casual comment made to one of my children in conversation provoked some soul searching on my part. I'm not going to go into details, lest the person who made the comment some day stumble upon my blog. I really don't think the comment they made was out of malice. I really believe that the thinking behind their comment was perhaps just an indication of how society views the role of being a stay-at-home mom, and not their personal bias against my occupation. I think the mentality that "choosing to be a mom is not a worthy or honorable life goal" comes from just a few short decades of women in the work force, versus thousands of years of women viewing this profession as just that : a profession. Perhaps underpaid and short on vacation time, but a profession nonetheless.

And whatever others may say about my life... I do get to enjoy this :

... she stayed in her jammies for half the day. She curled up on my lap for an hour after breakfast because she felt like it. There was no job for me to rush off to - she was my job. She wasn't feeling well for the better part of last week, and so I put off laundry and housework and every other thing I could, and I focused on the need : being her mom.

And I also get to be there for this :

... he decided that the night before he turned a year old would be a great time to learn how to stand alone, without pulling himself up on anything. And then he decided to perfect this milestone by repeating it a hundred times a day for the past five days. He throws his tiny hands in the air and gazes around the room with the proudest little look on his face to see if anyone is there and noticing - and I am.

I am there for his first tooth breaking through, and for those first wobbly steps. I'm there to put him down for his nap and there when he wakes up. I am there to clap my hands wildly when he performs the simplest little feat, and I'm there for the big ones too.

I don't have initials after my name that I've earned with a college degree, but I do wear my title proudly ... and with twenty six years spent learning in the classroom of life ... I'm a mom.

And as such, I get to enjoy a thousand little moments every day, ones that don't cost a penny but pay immeasurably in dividends of joy...

I'm a mom.

I don't earn a paycheck and I probably never will. Consequently we don't :

*own a custom home
* drive a luxury car
* go on umpteen vacations a year
* shop at expensive department stores
* dine out on a regular basis

... and the list goes on.

Do we go without many times, because of the choices I've made to be "just a mom" ? Without a doubt. But the benefits far outweigh the sacrifices, in my mind... and I know my husband and children would agree. I know, because they tell me all the time.

I do not judge the choices others have made to do something different than what I've done. Pursue a career, work part time, work from home, or even choose not to have children at all - your life is not my business, and it isn't my place to decide what's best for you.

And I know there are those who have no choice to make - life and circumstances prevent them from being a mom at home, and honestly, my hat is off to those who juggle it all. If I spend the better part of my day trying to fit it all in and I never leave the house- I can't imagine what a load they bear.

This post isn't about a right or wrong way to live, or a judgment on those whose paths are different than mine.

If anything, this is a post for those of you just setting out in life, who might be considering becoming "just a mom."

And what I really want to say is this ... you have so much to look forward to.

There will be times of soul searching and introspection for sure. Times when others question your seemingly careless decision to pursue your dreams ... to stay at home. Sometimes you'll glance across the road at someone else's castle and realize that there is often a price to pay for choosing to live on one income. But remember this too ...

And also this ... a friend (thank you, Allison) sent this to me right before Mother's Day, and it fits so nicely with this post that I'm including it here .

And now, if you'll excuse me, I have a job to do...

... happy weekend ! xo

New Born Baby

celebrating noah

Kids Club 11:55

Can you believe we are halfway through May already ? And at the end of next month we'll be halfway through the year ? Time needs to slow down already.

Because how is it that my eighth baby just turned double digits ???

It just doesn't seem possible. In my mind, Noah should have just turned five. Six at most. But ten ???

I don't know how that happened. I just blinked and a decade slipped by.

I remember when I was ten... I was still young enough to lie awake every night the week before my birthday, dreaming of the presents I would get. Each day leading up to my birthday seemed to craaawwwwlll by, and as the big day approached my excitement levels were through the roof.

That's pretty much how things felt around here during the last week of April. I think Noah reminded us every day for two weeks how close his tenth birthday was. "NINE more days, Mama !" he would proudly proclaim, and then , "EIGHT AND A HALF more days!!" and so on until May 5th finally got here. He told me for weeks that all he wanted for his birthday was a bike and a nerf gun.

He told me that probably a hundred times a day for at least 30 days.

And then sometime between the day before his birthday and the evening of his tenth birthday, he forgot that he asked for a bike.

He opened sour skittles and new basketball shoes and an airplane book and a nerf gun and an action figure and some gummy worms ... and he was as happy as could be.

He squeezed his nerf gun and thanked us profusely, he hugged Grammi and thanked her for the cool book, and while he was doing so, Jonathan quietly wheeled the birthday bike in.

Noah turned around and ...

... so yeah, he was pretty happy.

He kept saying, "I totally forgot I asked for a bike !" over and over, and that mile wide grin never left his face.

Yay for Craigslist and yay for a daddy who drove to Vancouver to make it all happen. (And yay for big sissy Kenzie who needed to be dropped off at the airport, totally validating the two hour drive ;))

The next set of pictures was actually taken the day before Noah's birthday. When we asked him what kind of party he wanted, he said he just wanted ALL of his family there - meaning Jason and Naomi and the kids, and Josiah and Monique and Macie, and Mackenzie and Grammi and the rest of us. It took a small miracle to make that happen ... but between work schedules and sick kids and pre-planned trips, we somehow managed to all get together on Sunday after church.

Noah's requested birthday meal was stir-fry and wontons ... and a gummy worm cake.

I'm so proud of this boy. So blessed that at ten years old, his idea of the ultimate birthday party is being surrounded by his family, enjoying an afternoon together, and calling it good.

And if he gets a bike thrown in with all of that, it's the icing on the cake.