Praises...

Getting to church on time without major meltdowns!!

Smiles on the face of a certain daughter while she sang in the choir
(dressed in a very pretty dress, even if she says otherwise).

Being in church together as a family, all of us wanting to be there.

Teenage girls who love my kids.

A class full of kids I know God has put on our journey for great purpose...and I love them too!

Feeling welcome in our church community.

Sunday afternoon naps!

Heat!

Quotes & memorable moments....

Finn dancing to any & all music played in church today. It was getting hard to hold him he was dancing so much!

Dax, "moommmmm, mommmmmy" in a very quiet voice with a big grin from the front of the church during children's moments.

Girls wanting to wake up Finn. Finn waving at everyone who would talk with him. Dax playing with big girls doing cat scratch mania to a carpeted wall at church...

4 am wakeup calls....when your lights flip on and a little voice yells "hey! It's time to play with GEROTRAX!!"

Praises...

Lazy Saturday mornings snuggled up in bed.

A daughter willing to "babysit" so her parents can spend that lazy Saturday morning in bed(we stayed in bed till 9!)

Watching the littlest guy grow and change and do amazing things!

Everyone pitching to pick up without complaining.

Long naps with giggling, face making boys at the end of a 2 + hour stretch...this is becoming habit, I am singing praises for this one bigtime!

Clean, smelly good, snuggly baby boys!

Early dinners where kids eat free and are all well behaved!

Fun filled time in Toys R Us with Christmas money to spend and no tears!!

Talking to Mom & Dad being dad in the backround.

A quiet evening playing with new toys and just enjoying being a family.

Perfect days. So many times today I thought this was a great day! Thank you Lord for days that may not be much of anything to the outside world but couldn't be more perfect to me!

Quotes & Memorable moments...

"I wish they'd never bought you that stinkin camera" Lily after I have successfully blinded her with the flash.

"I go bye bye! I see Gerotrax?? I buy my chopping haul saaaaaawww mill? " Dax as he ran to retreive his geotrax wishlist after being told we were going to Toys R Us"

"there it is!! My saaaaw mill! put it in the cart, I want take that home. There my Sheffield and Jenkins, put that in cart too" Dax in Toys R Us

Dax slipping several other pieces into the cart just for fun.

"Would it be ok if I spent some of my Christmas money on Geotrax too? I'll buy this track pack and split the dump truck with you" Mike to Dax in the aisle at Toys R Us

The few minutes we all spent bright and early this morning watching Tigger & Pooh in Mommy & Daddy's room.

Finn learning to climb stairs! Sophie, my babygate just standing by and watching! Finn heading straight for the dog food bowls...sigh, I'm in trouble now!

Dax vacuuming the floors. The way he had to wrestle the vacuum and how many dings he probably put in walls and furniture....but that smile on his face! It was worth it. I'm training him to be a great husband someday! I know there is a little girl out there somewhere that will be happy about this!

Dax & Finn's after naptime fun...I know my excitement about this won't last forever, but it's so cute!

Finn dancing & Dax singing "Alleluia" in LoneStar

The boys building Geotrax land & Lily building Polly Pockets land and everyone just happy for an hour before bedtime. Do I have to buy them all new things for this to happen??

Everyone getting along, having patience. I wish I could have just documented this whole day!

Praises...

Enjoying trips to the pediatrician's office

Nurses who come out into the waiting room to visit with your kids even before it's your turn.

Little boys who seem to have come a long way on the listening when in public scale in the last couple of months.

Bright children, who are willing to be tested with smiles on their little faces.

Healthy Ears!!!

Napping at the same time!

Little brothers who are building a relationship that I pray will grow and grow.

Being their only mommy.

A special little niece making her way home from the hospital.

Snuggling with my monkeys during Friday night movies.

Hearing my dad sound like my dad.

Discussions on finding left socks.

Good news, even just little bits of bright spots.

My brother's insanity, life would not be the same without him pretending to be a woman on the phone!

Late night chats with Mom.

Quotes & Memorable moments....

Hearing giggling after 2 1/2 hours of nap. Peeking in to find my boys making funny faces at each other and laughing. Dax was still laying in bed, Finn was holding on to the side of his bed jumping up and down. They made me laugh and wish I could hold those giggles forever!

Lily giving Finn his nighttime bottle and watching him fall asleep all cuddled up next to his sister.

Praises...

I am posting tonight after skipping last night, getting quickly back on the band wagon!

Quick time in waiting rooms without being stuck forever...just enough time waiting to read the chapter in my Bible Study book I was supposed to have read for the morning!

Husbands who stay home from work in the mornings when they need to and never complain or make you feel bad.

Teachers who work hard and make a difference in kids lives.

Friends waiting for you in bars. (hhmmm....eating establishments!)

Late night chick flicks on school nights.

Friends who go with you to above mentioned events, because going alone would be no fun!

6 gallon cups of soda that cost $20, and make you have to pee 12 times.

Girls who can giggle in movie theater bathrooms like we did when we were 16.

Those little butterflies in your stomach you feel when you watch a chick flick and they finally kiss.

Coming safely home to a quiet house knowing in the morning there will be no quiet, but a buzz of activities and giggles that make you glad this is where you live.

Quotes & memorable moments...

Dax hanging various size spoons from his nose..I tried to take a picture but he wouldn't let me!

Finn "Hi, Dadada" everytime Mike walked into his bedroom this evening.

Lily's open house excitment. How much she wanted to share everything with us.

Praises...

Carly! Today is Aunt Carly's birthday. I really hope my brother has taken her out somewhere nice and they are enjoying their time! I am grateful that my little brother, Ryan, married such an amazing person. My kids are blessed to have her for their aunt. It took twenty some years, but I knew someday I get a sister!

Ok, I should save this for Ryan & Carly's anniversary but it's too good! This is not them but sooo could have been! You guys should have thought of this...it's is so you! It's a late birthday gift, but I think you'll enjoy!



Friends! IT's amazing how even a two year old lights up when he sees friends. God knew just what he was doing when he created other people for us to love who aren't family..we get to choose them!

The ability to vote. We are so blessed to live in this country, where even if you don't know who the best choice is, you still get a choice!

Everyone sitting down at the table and eating a real cooked dinner together without any complaints!

Boys who nap together at the same time for two hours! whooo hoooo!

School projects getting done without the night ending in a total emotional breakdown (it started with one!)

Evenings that end with a really good hug that seems to come with an unspoken thank you for school project help.

A daughter that for just a few moments accepted my help without feeling like I was trying to tell her she was doing it wrong.

Baby boys who light up when their Mama walks into a room and immediately starts waving and smiling.. That makes a heart melt!


Quotes & memorable moments...

Mike and Dax sitting on the floor at bedtime reading books. Trying to limit Dax to just two books, Mike asked "which wil be our last book?" Dax tossed a book out of the way. Mike says "Apparently not that book." Dax continues looking, picks up a book and says "Apparently not Cat book" and lays it down to continue looking. I just about fell off my chair laughing.

Dax waking up from nap, seeing his friends in the living room...
"Are those my friends? Are those my friends, Noah & Chloe??" Picture it in a low gravelly just woke up voice with building excitment! I wish it was on tape.

And yet another Dax...."When Noah & Chloe coming back? When my friends coming back home?" After his friends departed..he was so sad he even needed a binky fix.

Finn army crawling his way as fast as he could to keep up with the big kids!

DSC_0274
Originally uploaded by Mama2LilyDaxFinn

Praises...

My baby brother Doshy is 22! Ok, Happy Birthday, Dosh, you old man! I'm very thankful that you where a late in the game addition to our family, I can't imagine life without you!

Songs for Dosh...there are so many that I could connect to you, but these two always make me think of you and smile. (and maybe get a little teary too!)





Wow..I'm having a hard time with this today, bare with me...Dosh is the biggy, is he big enough for one whole day? Give me a minute...I'll think of some more!

Husbands who do dishes!

Kids who still take naps!

Long lost cousins who drop in on their aunt and uncle and spend good quality time. (even if said cousins feel this writer/cousin sucks because she didn't come home to see them!)

Long late night talks with Mom.

Moms who don't go to bed early!

Being able to trust that even when you feel like there are a lot of things spinning out of control there is faith enough to know that they don't have to be in control, because that is not your job.

Let go, Let God....

I let go and just stumbled onto one of my girlfriend's blogs and just so happened it was enough to make me giggle so for that I'm adding....

Funny things that happen in other peoples houses that they throw out into blog land to amuse those of us in need of a little end of the day laughter. Maybe one day when I figure out how, I'll connect that story right here...

Quotes & video moments...

"He my baby brother? He my baby Finny? He my baby!"
"He gonna run with me, he gonna chase me! He gonna ride my bike and my scooter! He gonna ride my motorcycle too!"
"Ok, my Finny, let go play wif my gerotracks" Dax, early morning ramble...

Listening to my children discuss future plans....

Lily with her high hopes of living in a one bedroom house in Peoria with her 10 animals teaching 1st grade. (She did later say that really wasn't her goal, but she had to write something down so that was it...oh Lord!)

Dax who has now changed his goal of doing "God's work" to living a life "carrying GiGi (his giraffe) and sucking binky all day" Wow...

I did have hope for a moment when Lily said "Well then Finn will be president" until she added "of a Garbage truck company". Sigh...I guess that'll save me the Harvard tuition!

Praises...

Teenagers that are not your own that add fun to your world that you're not responsible for!

A church where your kids are so content and feel so loved that they don't want to leave.

Watching a daddy building GeoTrax with his munchkins.

Sunday afternoon naps where everyone is quiet at the same time!!

Big girls who think of little girls on Snowy Sunday afternoons and invite them to play in the snow.

Power outages that let you laugh at how little your children understand what life would have been like long ago!

Dancing in the dark instead of watching the Superbowl.

Power outages being a rare occurance instead of a way of life.

TV coming on just in time to see the baby investor commercials.

Laughing at the thought of your Dad being pushed through Walmart in a wheel chair by your Mom while she's on the cell phone. (this one should also be in the video moments) Just because it's on my praise list doesn't mean it couldn't have been torture for others...mean, I know.

A husband who can talk politics with you..an adult conversation! Wow!

Quotes & video moments...

"Hehehehehehe that baby spit up!" Dax commentary on Superbowl commercial
"I got 4 Snooffies" Dax, on his prized collection of Burger King Snoopys

Lily, Dax, and Finn dancing to the battery powered radio in the candle light!

Finn, how social is he! Waving "hello", "bye bye" and even "come here". Saying "Bubba" to Dax, giving Lily big slobbery kisses.

Finn Dancing...this has got to get on tape! Any sign of music and the boy is going!

Praises...

Snow to play in!

Warm gear so my kids can enjoy the snow to play in! (even if the warm gear takes an hour to get into!)

Another great day with Lily, she was helpful and positive most of the day!

Hot chocolate & leftover pizza.

Husbands who take hints and clean things even when they think it's stupid.

Places to go!

A great church family.

Babysitters who love my kids and are loved in return!

Quotes & video moments...

"Does a snowman have a penis?" "How 'bout a booty?" Dax
"No, snowmen do not have privates!" Lily
"Snowmen have privates!!" Dax
On the placement of the carrot...

Praises...

Hope...sometimes seems when you're about to give up a fresh breath blows in. Even when it doesn't go just your way, that little rush of hope is a great feeling!

Snow Days! When the ground is covered with nine inches of white glittery powder and all the days activities get cancelled! It's great when it just shows up out of the blue every great once in a while!

Having a daughter who will step up and be a great help when I am feeling a little bit icky. Playing with her little brothers with no fighting or yelling...what a gift!

Today was one of those days I am so thankful to have my daughter around. Sometimes I think I get so easily frustrated and well, she is nine...that I forget how kind she can be, how much help she can offer, and really what a great kid she is. Thank you Lord for those moments where I get to remember!

Silly kids TV shows that are so over the top that it's kind of like a train wreck, no one can help but watch..which provides me with 20 minutes of quiet!

Husbands that get up at 8 and shovel the driveway.

Friends who think of you and love you enough to try to work out your babysitting dilemas for you!

Brothers who call you for no reason and make you laugh. Even when they do harrass you later!

Quiet Friday nights with my kids, watching movies, reading books.

Quotes & scenarios I wish I had on video...

"Baby Ben is Sick" Dax
"Baby Ben must go to the doctor, I will take him in my car" Dax
"Dress me up pretty" Lily's doll carseat
"Ben says he so pretty...heheheheh" Dax
"I love you so much" doll seat
"Ben says he loves me so much, Mom!" Dax
"I'm so hungry" Doll Seat
"He sooooo hungry mom, I need feed Ben!" Dax

Then he proceeds to drop the seat and Ben on his head and go get himself some Nemo fruit snacks...screw Ben...well, he was nurturing for a while!

Yogurt in both the dog's fur and Finn's hair..Dax was decorating them.

All three of my children watching Yo Gabba Gabba as if it had some sort of hold on them...all of them dancing, just a tad as they watch..who created this weirdness and how'd they get the guy from Good Times to host it?

27 kisses and hug routine from bedtime Dax.

Finn chasing trains and dancing. Too bad he's not overly quotable yet.

Lily's cat poop Valentines card...what creativity. sigh...

Praises...

Friends who help you get your kids and all their crap to the car!

Having a roof over my head and warmth around me. Sometimes in my quest for a newer or better, bigger roof, I forget to stop and be greatful that my family is snuggled in their beds in a home that is comfortable and warm as the winter snow falls around us.

Taking the time to stop and look for the path God is trying to lead me on.

Having friends who are looking for their own path and helping me to brush off mine on their way.

A dog who acts as a baby gate...gotta love the dual action vacuum & gate!

A husband who starts the van, wipes off the windows and shovels a path to my door so I can leave him with the kids to do church stuff.

A husband who doesn't consider me leaving him with the kids "babysitting".

The beauty of the winter snow sparkling in the starlight, that is God all around us!

Quotes...

"You are My Mommy! That is My baby brother Finny!" Dax, seeming to just get that we in someway belong to him.

Lily, "Let me give my little baby brother a kiss, you know, the one I actually like"
Dax, "No! That not your baby brother, that My baby brother!!"
Ok, so he's not exactly getting that we're not just his!

"Max, Please come here, Max!" Ok, so it's not out of this world but the voice was so sweet, and hey look, he has manners...gotta love that in a two year old!

Memories I wish I had on tape...(maybe this will one day at least conjure up the mental tape!)

Dax Growling the words to "I love you as much" "grrrr Said the Mother bear to her child" etc....

Standing alone in the church parking lot as the snow falls in the dark, love that snow globe feeling!

Sitting on the floor reading books with a two year old and having him ask me to sing to him...that probably won't last long, he still thinks I sing well!

Finn and his "kisses for the Mama" Oh, baby kisses are definitely the best!