Praises...

Mom's Day out!

Taking only one child to the doctor at a time!

Being able to hear what the doctor says!

One tough little guy who didn't even flinch when lead tested!

Smiling faces

Doctors who care & listen

Cooperative children!

Knowing that somewhere several hours from my house my family sits eating really good popcorn watching a really stupid movie...knowing life just keeps moving...

Sentences dropped here or there that may not be much, but they warm your heart and make you feel loved.

Friday night snuggles with the little D man.

Learning that both my husband and my daughter have been secretly reading my blog behind my back...although they really were just making sure I hadn't posted pictures of them bending over with their behinds hanging out...I may have to post those pictures yet!

Top 20 country countdown on GAC..it's been a part of our Friday nights off and on for so long now it just kind of makes me smile, and it's great backround for writing.

Writing...maybe one day it will flow freely again.

Quotes & memorable moments...

Reading with Dax, realizing how much he actually knows. He knows all his colors. He's not color blind afterall...I was sure he was! He counts to 13, and actually understands the concepts behind the numbers. He can tell me there are 8 dark blue fish on a page...I haven't been giving that boy enough credit. He actually told me everyone in the families long names today...yeah, you know, this family "long names" is an understatement!

Room spinning. Dax and Lily being out of time outs long enough to spin around and around the room together. For a few moments it actually looked like hugging!

Dax serving up cheerios to Finn by the handful and after carefully placing each handful saying "there you go Finny, thank you, thank you so much"

Dax talking about his friends. I love that at two he is sure who his friends are! "Chloe & Noah are MY friends! MAX is my friend! And Maggie is my friend. Chloe is not your friend, she is MY friend! I see Mrs. Aaaadiiiissss tomorrow? I want go church tomorrow, see my friends!"

You'd think Dax was the only child in my house who could speak as much as he's quoted...but you know a two year old is about the best quote material there is. Finn's quotes are very limited, although I will find someway to catch his giggle, because that is priceless! Lily's quotes...well, I'm not sure I want to remember them forever at this point. She was incredibly quotable as a 2 & 3 year old. I'll keep listening, maybe I'll find some treasures!

Praises...

Pulling things off by the seat of your pants!

Having amazing people around me that make the aforementioned possible!

Babysitters who are consistent and so well loved!

A roof over my head and all the things I need right here.

65 kids with recorders who really are enjoying themselves. Recorder program is over!!!

Knowing my daughter will be able to recite all 50 states in alphabetical order.

Good teachers.

Being able to head off trouble at the beginning.

Valentines date with whole family for ice cream after the show.

Quotes & Memorable moments....

Tonight I'm calling this section...Mom the slacker forgot her camera!

Lily's show ~ Everyone wore red, white, & blue and sang & played patriotic songs. Lily looked so happy, she didn't even mind when her brothers yelled. Although I think I heard her "shush" them from the stage. We sat in the second row, really only feet from where Lily was standing. There was a staircase leading to the stage in front of us. Throughout the show Dax repeatedly wispered "I'm gonna go up those steps" "I'm gonna walk to Lily" Hhhmmmm...not sure if he totally wanted us to hear his plotting, but he was wearing that devilish grin. Lets just say we trapped him between us and when he looked as if he might have figured out he could fit under the chair in front of him and make a break for the stairs, we redirected his attention to Finn, whom he thought he should hold. They were quite cute sitting in a chair together. (wish I had some pictures to post) Finn had a quote of his own tonight, when we saw Lily come in he started to dance, held out both arms, started waving his hands frantically, yelling something that sounded remarkably in the neighborhood of Lily or "iiiyyyyyyeeee" as the case may be. Impressive for his ten months. Although it would be good since he can say both "bubba" and "Daaa" for Dax, which is very far from "Dada" After the show we headed out for Ice cream, everyone shared each others desserts and no one spilled anything (well, of course I ended up with caramel on my shirt, but what kind of treat would it be if it didn't end with a spray and wash treatment for me!). Overall a good Valentines Day, even if it wasn't exactly romantic! Still wishing I had my camera!

For Mike...

This is a back post..now that I know you're reading this and have figured out the youtube thing I thought I'd leave you a gift for Valentine's Day (I can just say I posted it Feb. 14th! The magic of Blogging!)

Feb. 14th, 2008 marks our 18th Valentines Day..is that amazing or what??

I am blessed to have a husband who laughs with me even on the bad days. Funny when this song became "our song" 18ish years ago we thought the words had deep meaning, and they did. We danced to it at our wedding and we thought it had great meaning, and it did. And now all these years later, I haven't heard the song in soooo long but the deep meaning in a '80's hairband song that most of the world has forgotten, still rings true. 18 years ago we'd barely begun to scratch the surface, but through the good and bad times you have always been there. How many times over the years did we write these lyrics back and forth to each other? Too bad we haven't listened to this for years. I'm adding it here so that it won't be so long before I hear it again!

Praises....

Michael

Still being with my first love after my second, third, and fourth loves have come into my life!

Youtube...for being able to dig up a bad video from 1989!

Bad English for singing a song that will forever touch my heart and bring back a million memories!

Aquanet for making the 1980's a decade to remember! Man those guys were hot! hehehe

Praises...

Happy Boys.

Forgiveness.

Hugs from teenagers who like you even when you've had a bad day.

Friends who care.

A husband who gets it...mostly.

Feeling needed.

Hearing Lily sing in the shower the song we just watched in a pretty touching video...knowing some of it sunk in.

Quotes & Memories....

Dax counting his Valentine's money from Nana "$20, $20, $20, $20, $20" Yeah, Nana's nice but not that nice! (They were all $1s)

Praises...

I'm back, after again skipping another night!

Kind people. The kind that are kind to people who aren't "friends".

Good test results.

Peace of mind.

Sisters in law...I only have two and have been blessed to have both. They are good people, with good hearts, wish I could spend more time with them.

Family

Silly coupons that come in the mail from a certain family member, it always makes us giggle just a little.

Brothers...yeah, they're kind of the same as family but they've been on my mind lately.

Watching my children grow.

Snowflakes that look just lke snowflakes should, lacey & glittery.

Cards & Prayers from so many to my parents, what an amazing thing.

Quotes & Memorable moments I wish I had on tape...

Dax's visit to Preschool. He did so well. He just jumped quietly into the group and started to play. I thought he might protest when we left, but he was totally happy.

Lily & Bayley coming home after the field trip....wow they have grown up! I haven't seen them together outside of school for a while. I like seeing Lily with a friend, she seems so much more grown up!

Finn ~ 22.5 lbs 27 inches...I'm writing this here mainly so if I forget to put it in the baby book at least it's somewhere! What a slacker mom am I!

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!