Best Response of the Day

It was one of those days. a day of dumping toys, climbing on tables, computer keys missing, makeup dumped on the floor, 2 year olds sitting on dressers and cabinets, time outs, fit throwing, hitting, yelling of words like "stupid", and whining, oh Lord, the incessant whining!

Let me just say, thank God for nap time, "God Time", and the sweet innocence of sleeping children!

Finn climbed up the book shelf next to the couch (don't panic, it's about 2.5 feet tall, we use it as an end table and a book shelf). Mike in an exasperated, totally annoyed voice looks at him and says, "what are you, a monkey?"

Finn in all his almost two year old wisdom smiles and replies "ooo ooo ahhahha".

If you're a MckMama reader...

and even if you're not, this would be a good time to jump over there and say a prayer for baby Stellan.

Results are in...

To be honest I'm a little bummed by the number of votes! According to my ite meter I have a whopping 20ish visitors a day and only 9 of you voted. tsk tsk. Look as though most of you agreed with me on both counts. Lily will really enjoy hearing the results! =)

Praises after the venting!

There were praises before but do to rantings of a Mama and several dramatic weeping episodes of a preteen (I do apologize if you live close enough to me that you had the privilege of hearing one of these fits flow from our open windows.) These praises were put on the back burner till all little people went to bed!

It was a glorious day outside again! This little boy finally understood why wearing green today was a good thing and short sleeves even better after his little old man out burst before preschool this morning. It went a little something like this, "I hate green shirts! And I hate short sleeves! I can't wear short sleeves, I'll freeze, I'll just freeze!" How old is he, 98? In the end it was all good and my little preschool cowboy came home and had a wonderful afternoon!

We had a picnic on the side porch for lunch. It wasn't too exciting, a little peanut butter, some water, and messy orange chips (doritos, nutritious, I know) but it played to raves reviews. I can't get enough of "Thank you for this picnic, Mommy. Thank you for letting us have messy orange chips, Mommy. I just love our picnic, Mommy" Yeah, so I I'm a sucker for little boys who kiss up, what can I say?

After lunch their were moments of brotherly love writing names in the dirt.

We discovered our noon day shadows!

Then we introduced them to each other! It's amazing how such little things can be so much fun!

We decided we should put play time on hold until after a good rest! (we did take him inside, I promise!)

Everyone was bathed, fed, and done whining by the time American Idol started! Made for the perfect cuddle up evening!

Ahh...sweet spring!

Momentary Venting!

I'm stopping in the middle of the most gorgeous day, which I will return to blog about later, to vent a major frustration. I'm sure when I read back over this years from now I will laugh, since I'm sure at that point, these particular devices will in fact be somehow implanted in all children at birth. I know this, because after deep conversation with Mike we have decided that these devices are indeed the Mark of the Beast and no one is having to force anyone to be marked because we are going willingly from a very young age, far, far too young an age!

What am I talking about, you ask? Oh, you may think it's silly, mundane really, but watch, it's sucking out the brains of our youth, and our adults for that matter, I'm watching them go down at a maddening rate. I know, you're growing impatient.

Cell Phones

I hate them. Yes, you can boo, you can hiss. It's not the concept. I like them for their original purpose, emergency use. Great thought. Like most things in this world it just sort of blew up after that. I won't deny that I have one. I do, but guess what? I use it for emergencies and quick questions, simple convenience. In all honesty, I don't even give the number out very often. Why? Why you ask? Because I like to go to Walmart and walk around without talking to people. I like to not have the world be able to track me down for stuff that doesn't really matter. If it really is important, please, don't hesitate to call. Important though, is not a meeting reminder. I will admit that I am enamoured with those cool touch screen phones that do everything under the sun. Also with the idea of being cool enough to actually text, and not be totally out of the loop all the time, feeling like the "outcast" because I did not receive that mass text. Oh yes, it's tempting. Although I'm sure like Facebook, it would just suck you in, draw you to it with it's little camera, music, and net surfing ability. I could be easily taken.

Even if I could be convinced to mark myself with this evil mark, what I will never be convinced of is that my 5th grader should! For the love of all things holy, people stop! Stop giving your elementary school kids, and God forbid, younger children cell phones. It would make my life oh so much easier!! They are immediate gratification oriented enough. Now there seems to be no such thing as a plan. They call you after school from their friend's phones and ask if they can go here or there. They get irate when you are the one and only mom who says no. What is wrong with deciding on Tuesday that on Friday there is going to be a sleepover? Why is it Friday after school that someone calls on their cell phone on the way home? Am I that old? Do I really have to make decisions at that moment with no consult with the other parents? With my spouse? Why is this? Why if I let my child go to a friend's house does she insist on calling from their cell phone and and asking if she can stay longer, or telling me she's running late? Whatever happened to just being home within a minute or two of when I said to be home? Yes, I know I'm rambling...venting, let's call it the venting of an uncool mom!

I'm posting a couple of polls on parenting a 5th grader. I may not listen to you, because really, according to Lily I only do what I want anyway (like mother like daughter, I guess), but I would be very interested to see your opinions! So even if you read and never comment, vote!

Praises on a beautiful day!

Lily finally mad it home on time from a friend's house! It was close, but she booked it into the driveway just in time!


It was warm and sunny, the light was perfect for warm, sun kissed, hair glowing picture taking! (and I finally remembered to charge my battery!)

Finn has decided this new hair cut not only makes him look grown up but feel grown up too! He thought for the first time he could tackle his brother's tricycle.

Daddy came home in time to play! Or at least pull little people out of bushes!

It was so nice, two little boys couldn't help but do the happy dance! They even got so excited they were getting a little air with those jumps for joy!

Some of us felt like it was warm enough to kick off our shoes!

There were birdies flying all over, and airplanes in the sky too! What a beautiful blue sky!

We found that a volley ball will fit nicely through the Little Tikes basketball hoop. This made one almost 2 year old very happy.

He's actually a pretty good shot...although it looks like it's more of a shoot and pray technique...don't hit me don't hit me....can I open my eyes yet?

Perfect day for scooter tricks by a 3 year old Super Dax waiting to rescue his next victim!

It was wonderful just to feel the warmth! It seems like it's been too long! Today brought the feel of spring with birds singing and babies being born!

Favorite conversation of the day...

I need to preface this by stating for the record that Mike is not overly hairy and Dax is as unhairy as they come. Just didn't want anyone to think Mike was hiding some deep secret under his shirt! =)

Tonight at dinner, Dax pulled up his shirt and started talking about how his belly was getting bigger. Finn then pulled up his shirt and yelled, "bigger!". Dax then said that Daddy's was really big, and hairy! He told us his was getting hairy too, just like his Dad's! Mike then pretended to find hair on Dax's belly and tell him just how amazingly hairy he was. Dax then turned around and said "look at my back daddy!! It's really hairy too!! " He then reached for his waist line and started pulling down his pants. Yeah, we were scared as he said... "look at my really hairy Knees! Whew. Let's just say we giggled about that one for a while! That boy, he's just a gorilla! =)

Fun & Praise

A quiet Friday morning where no one got into anything, spilled anything, or broke anything (well, at least that I'm aware of...)

My kids are still healthy. I need to go find some wood to knock on! They've been exposed to some sickies in the last few days and with the water in the basement I'm holding on to healthy prayers right now! Let's just say this is a big praise!

New faces. Seems since we've changed buildings there have been a lot of new faces at church. It's nice to have an influx of new voices now and then, makes life more interesting!

A certain three year old boy who has a way with saying "thank you" and "I love you" at all the right times.

Mike getting to have a big boys night out, even if it was a bad movie. He said he would have rather stayed home and watched "Spectacular" with us. Love this guy, and I know he loves us, but it must have been a really bad movie!

Finn breaking into some very familiar looking dance moves during our movie night. Let's just say Dan Page would have been proud. It's amazing to me that this is the one child my dad did not teach to dance. Are dance moves genetic?

Finding a husband and wife who blog through American Idol with such humor that I just wanted to roll on the floor! If you are a fan of the show, they are well worth the read! If you're not a fan of the show, it probably wouldn't do you much good to visit them, although from what I see thus far, their blogs look like they might be fun! Still His Girl and Honey, I fed the kids!

Finn told me he had to "poopy" today (sorry for the graphic nature of this praise! =)
Nothing happened, but he sat on the potty for a long while. He seems to have the tearing of the toilet paper, wiping of the booty, and reading of the book parts down. Maybe this means he won't reinstitute our jail sentences once the time comes that something does happen on the potty! We did get some grand picture! I bee these would be showstoppers at his rehearsal dinner! Confirmation slide show? Maybe year book baby picture...priceless!

Praises...

American Idol. I know, I know, it's a TV show. We've been through this before, it brings me joy, I like joy! I really really like Danny. There are others I like, but right now he's totally my fav.

*I guess AI has decided to get harsh this year with the youtubing of these videos! They pulled the good one I orginally had, so I am adding one that is still up, but not nearly as good! Sorry about that!
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and for the record, I think my Dad would have liked him too.

8th graders. Ok, well maybe not all of them, but the ones I know. Our confirmation class is winding up in the next couple of months. I feel so blessed to have been able to share this with some great people!

5th grade science experiments. I'll have to post a few pictures when Lily finishes her data collection. It's funny watching her put it all together!

Healthy children at this moment. Even with lots of water in the basement this week Finn is holding his own. Thank you Lord! And thank you for Flovent! We've been doctor free for 2 months! That's the best we've done since September!

Babies. This week seems to be chock full of new births and seems talk of new babies abounds. I am grateful to God for each of these beautiful little people. It is hard sometimes, thinking of little ones lost. I think I struggle the most with those for who it all comes so easy or those who take for granted the ease at which it comes. I always appreciate when someone recognizes their gift of easily becoming pregnant, and staying pregnant! I know that each life is part of God's plan and the are exactly where they are supposed to be at the time they are supposed to be there!

God's whispers to me. His not so slight nudges that kept me up till the weee hours of the morning this morning working on a devotion for a women's meeting this morning which led to me mildly overhauling my sadly neglected other blog.

Hearing just the right song at just the right time.



Making it through that women's meeting rather smoothly even if I was shaking through the whole thing and never made eye contact with anyone.

Those amazing little ladies who didn't mind!

Kids that help pick up.

Boys who went to be after giving hugs and kisses to moms, dads, and visitors.

A husband who loves me and my friends enough to not only let them come hang out on occasion but will make them appetizers and serve them. This is why I keep this guy! =)

Thursday nights. A little George Clooney, a little snacks, a little drinks, a little chat.

Friends who will kiss my kids good night.

My warm fuzzy blankie that is waiting for me next to my warm fuzzy husband.

On being Transparent and Thank Yous

So, you know how some moms are one way in public and another way at home? Some have their "church faces"? That was one thing I appreciated about my mom. Authenticity. I don't ever remember her being two different people. Now there are others in the family, I won't mention names, but there are others that I learned had great Sunday game face. A smile that said "we're a perfect family" but the truth was when the doors closed it was far from perfection.

I think when I had Lily I had a bit more of a "game face". I was so worried that people would think she was anything other than the perfect princess she was and I was anything other than the perfect doting mother. I bought books like Teach your baby to Read, Teach Your Baby Math. I had read Charlotte's Web and Little Women to her by the time she was 2 1/2. We read all the time. She knew all of her relatives full names before she was two. By that age, she could tell you her phone number and address, the capitol of most of the 50 states, and could hear a song on the radio, name the song and the singer, and if we had the flash cards made(which we had about fifty 2000ish popular country singers) she could hear a song, tell you the song name, find the singers picture, then find their name on a separate card and bring them to me. Yes, I worked hard with that one. She was reading at three, she was quite amazing!

What I didn't know then that I know now is that no matter how hard I worked and how much I read, I could not create a child God did not create. She had those capabilities because He gave them to her. She was not perfect. I was not even close to perfect. For some reason though, I felt that I must show the world that I was, in fact, the perfect mother.

Fast forward 8 or so years to a spring ahead rainy Sunday morning. That mother I was 8 years ago, oh, that poor girl would have been horrified! Dax, he has an addiction. Candy. Any kind really will do. This is why we don't keep it in the house. Today, I'm sure everyone inside the church building heard the wrath of this addiction. His friend, who he calls , "Little Sarah" had some candy hearts, a baggie full. He, being the great detective that he is, figured out they must have come from her Sunday School class. I told him I would ask, but that if they did he could not have any because she is in a different class than he is. His sweet teacher from last year offered him a handful that she had left over. He began to thrash, to turn red, to scream that "I want the whole bag!!!!". Quickly, horribly embarrassed at his rudeness we tried to duck out.

He screamed loud enough that I'm sure he disrupted the service going on right outside the classroom door.

So, for transparencies sake, those of you in the church building, I apologize for interrupting your service. My son is not perfect and his deep addiction to candy causes him to be rude and uncaring to all those around him. We are trying to find a 12 step program for this....

Maybe if I made him some flash cards with pictures of candy and the the candymakers names. Hmmm...really, I'm kidding. I have lost all enthusiam for flashcards these days.

Moving on to the parking lot scene. For those of you who were leaving after Sunday School or entering the building for the third service I would like, to note that I was not beating or torturing my youngest son. I was however, extremely annoyed with him for continuously going limp as I was trying to walk him to the car holding his hand while my other hand was very full. I used words like "stop it, quit, you're going to hurt yourself, Finn Patrick" in a very stern, raised tone. I even dropped my Bible and picked him up under one arm to escort him the rest of the way (this was when I noticed other people around). I was not patient. I was up too early. I was flustered that Dax was acting like a heathen and I was annoyed. And there you have it people, I snap at my kids. I do this at home, and just as often in public, sometimes even at church. I wish I was better at this but truth be told, that's me, still far from perfect, but not really caring anymore if the world knows it.

God knew it with Lily. God knows it with my boys, and well so does everyone in or around our church at 10:45 this morning. Oh yes, that girl, the one from 8 or so years ago, she would have been horrified!

I'm so glad He loved her then and He loves me now. I have to be confident in th fact that He has a sense of humor, and even on our bad days he gets a little amusment!

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Thank Yous & blessings!

Mike and I went out last night. Really out! We have not been out alone together since sometime early in November. It was so nice to see a movie, have some dinner, just be. The night may not have gone according to plan exactly but it was so nice to have it!

Last night would not have been possible without two of my favorite girls stepping in and taking care of my kids! Abbey and Hayley, thank you. All three of my kids were asleep when I returned. What a nice way to come home. I've never before walked out of my house after kissing all three of my children and my two babysitters goodbye. I love you guys. I hope you'll come back soon. I'm going to have to open a savings account for you . =) PS Super Dax says you can come back and play anytime!

A special thank you to their Mamas for not killing us for being a tad later than planned and for letting us borrow these girls!

We actually made it to church almost on time and saw both of Lily's performances! This hasn't happened in a while. I was afraid that Lily might call DCFS if we missed another early morning performance. 8 is early, especially when it was really 7. But there we were, all four of us (Lily was there at 7:20), fully dressed, sitting in church by 8:05. Thank God for little miracles!

Thank you to my husband for hanging in there with me over the last couple of month. I couldn't have made it without you!

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The Story of the "Grabber Nabber"

My aunt and uncle are some of the best people you might meet. They'd do just about anything for those they love. One day they read this girl's blog about how she could not get up and down to pick up her floors after her surgery. They saw horrific pictures of messes made by boys who might just take over the house. They felt bad. They had a solution. It came in the mail this week...

Dax immediately deemed it the grabber nabber. He has a million uses for it. Reaching high things, pinching his siblings from a distance, and driving the dog nuts. Lily was mesmerized when she came home and laid eyes upon the grabber nabber. She found she could use it to empty the dishwasher. Putting away high glasses did make me a bit nervous, but for some things, it works. She used it to pick up dirty laundry, dirty diapers, and of course to pinch her siblings. Finn has learned to pick up legos, it's great for hand eye coordination. He can't quite get the pinching thing down, but it does give him a good poking range. He can get them and have a good start before they chase him down and take it from him. The grabber nabber has had several "time outs" and I did have to refuse the request to take it in the bathtub. I must admit though, I do wish I had had this a few weeks ago. Even though I now can reach the floor over and over this thing lets me get behind and under without gymnastics moves and twister positions. I can reach higher, I can throw farther, I can pinch my children! =)

Thanks Aunt Lynda & Uncle Steve. We are finding oh so many things to do with one grabber nabber! Who knew it could be so much fun!

Sunny Days and Tantrums always make me smile...

*These were supposed to be in order, but some how that didn't happen*