Praises...

Finding the big roll of clear tape!

Getting the boys dressed, bag packed, me showered & dressed and ready to leave my house by 9 so that I still had time to call my Dad before Bible Study and still be there on time! ...you don't know how big of a praise that is!

Talking to dad and understanding.

Bible Study....not sure how much studying gets done, but I'm glad they invited me in!

Long peaceful naps!

Emails with great news about one sweet little niece!

Afterwork bedroom parties...the whole clan (minus the sicky) hanging out on our bed when Mike gets home recapping the day.

The way God nudges people, without human input.

Husbands who fill up the gas tank, shovel a path, and clear the snow off your van.

Same husband who only grumbles a little when you leave him with the kids at bedtime.

Friends in seedy places =)

Girls to laugh and cry with.

Unexpected gifts given with love.

Thursdays.

Ok...So I'm changing this section to Today's Highlights which will include Quotes and Memorable moments but will give me a place to share things that are neither quotes or memorable moments as well!

Finding a baby spoon in my wallet...you know, there will come a day when it would be impossible to find such goodies!

Listening to Lily tell me her throat hurts at least 35 times.

Dax saying "Ok" to 95% of my requests in his cute little voice.

Finn giggling everytime you call his name...I just wonder what that little guy is thinking! Theory "Man, I hope she doesn't notice what tasty floor morsel I just put in my mouth!"

Dax and Finn sharing a bag of Apple chips watching the Garfield movie...totally Dax's idea, apple chips ended up in a toy basket void of all toys and then shared with the dog. Nothing like some good brother bonding.

Dax reading three easy reader books to me...ok, I know it was from memory, but I'm his mom, I can think he's brilliant.

Dax sneaking unnoticed off during above mentioned bedroom party with Mommy's deodorant and the can of hairspray. A distinct spraying sound followed by a cloud of fruity smelling mist coming from the kitchen tipped us off to the mayhem that was happening. Yeah, so my project for tomorrow is getting my deodorant off the cabinets...

Dax now has hairspray in his hair, deodorant on various parts of his body, several shades of markers high jacked from Lil's marker case all over his extremeties, and is still stained slightly blue from the painting with food coloring he and Lily did a couple days ago. After the deodorant comes off the cabinets, I should probably bathe him...

Doesn't he almost look like an angel in his American Girl halo? Just so you know...the T shirt he is wearing clearly states "EVERY GREAT IDEA I HAVE GETS ME IN TROUBLE!"

And then, that laundry is still in my living room.

Looks like a busy day tomorrow!

Quick Note about Comments...

I opened the comments section so that anyone could comment even without a google account...sorry I hadn't thought of that before!

Love you all, glad you're here and I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Praises...

Double naps

A two year old that loves church with his whole heart and would move in if allowed...we're considering making an offer if the church goes up for sale, I know there are some other families going in with us!

Church...being able to just go and feel blessed in every sense of the word. Laughter, tears, hugs, long talks with friends, support.

God knowing just who to put in your life at just the right moments...his plan is amazing.

Women who are always there waiting in the nursery for that two year old who wants to move in!

Daughters who know when to step up and not complain.

Little boys who just know.

A husband who understands and is always ready for what I might throw at him.

Family that is so strong.

A mom who still gives me a warning...

Doctors who not only care, but feel.

Love, Laughter, knowing his grace is so present.

Quotes & Memorable moments...

"When we go to church" "I want go to church" "I go church now?" repeat this half a billion times and you too can reinact my day from 8am to 4pm

My Dad called me today, it was emotional. I knew it was coming, mom had called to make sure it didn't catch me off guard. I asked Lily to please keep the boys occupied and quiet, herself too! She did, but she lost track of Dax. As I said "Hello" Dax tiptoed into the quiet living room and climbed up beside me sliding right up against me under my left arm. Of course he had his binky in his mouth which is contraband if he's out of bed, but I didn't acknowledge that. He sat quietly against me until I hung up, he then looked right into my eyes with a big smile and said "I love you!" which, if you know Dax is not his most common expression. It's funny how he always ust knows. Lily discoved where he was at that point, carried Finn into the room and said "There is your crazy brother, Finn." Dax looks at him and in this growly gravely voice says "I am your crazy brother!" I just started to laugh, we all did, even Finn. God sends those little joys at just the perfect time!

Music that makes me feel...

I thought I wouldn't do this again for awhile, but I've decided I'm going to do it whenever somethimg triggers the feeling that I should..hope you don't mind!

I guess maybe it's tribute to my dad to want to share with music...the real tribute though would be if I only played the first 2 seconds of each song and made you name that tune & artist!

The first is a song that jumped into my head out of obscurity when Dax was crying out "wait, wait..." in a somewhat desperate voice on his way to bed. Took me back to singing this with My friend Wendy in front of the living room windows sometime in 8th or 9th grade, loaded with all the desperation we could muster!



Next, is about as polar opposite as I could get. This is a song that brought little tingles tonight hearing it performed at a church banquet. This was from Phantom of the Opera which Mike and I saw together while dating. It was one of the piano pieces we had played during that pre-wedding music while people are coming in and being seated. The melody is so beautiful..haunting..not performed by a hairband. (I can't find a good version with lyrics, so this is just the piano, which I actually like better!)

Praises...

Everyone woke up happy!

My boys were incredibly well behaved while I opened my blog. (this made me nervous...see below)

Dax & I built a cool Geotrax track this morning after I felt guilty for neglecting him with blog world.

Babies who love splashing in the shower

Daughters who come home from school feeling cooperative!

Two year olds who almost always say please & thank you

Free babysitting.

Grown up evenings

Old memories brought on by music...just wait, I'll share!

Grown up time with American Idol after everyone went to sleep (ok, so we had it recorded)

American Idol...a great way to think about silly things.

Friends who have come to visit me in blogland today!

Quotes & Memorable moments...

Here I sat this morning so excited to be sending out invites...I'd been here for a bit before I thought it's odd that I haven't heard a peep from my boys. I went to check things out and I documented what I found in the pictures above. Behind Dax's Gigi (in his hand) is his binky, which he is only allowed to have in his bed...you can see he is clearly not in his bed. He was all snuggled in the back corner of the chair watching the Doodlebops. Maybe I should teach a parenting class?

"Good night, Finny, I love you" "Take his bink out, I want to kiss him!" "Night Night Mommy, I love you!" "give me hugs!" "Night night Finn, I love you" "Night night, Mom, I loe you" "Give me kisses""Night night Lil, I need hugs" etc... Dax, on how postpone bedtime.

This blog is officially open...

I began sending out invites this morning to family and close friends. Welcome! Make yourselves at home! Some of you will find little treasures waiting for you, some of you will get completely lost in the mess. I'm glad you're here, but I'm probably not going to change how I've been doing things too much. So if you feel like you've just entered my mom's kindergarten classroom (those of you who have been there know what I mean!) please take a deep breath and realize that the overstimulation will fade when you get used to all the things hanging from the ceiling!

I don't actually feel like this place is ready for visitors, but I figured in my mind it never will be..so it is what it is! Enjoy!

Praises...

hhmmm...I vacuumed today?

My kids made it most of the day without fighting!

I cooked, Mike did dishes.

My brother being there

Bouncy Balls..big enough Finn can't swallow...occupy children for hours, those crazy things!

unexpected, old fashioned snuggles

Quotes & Memorable moments...

Laying in bed this morning when Lily brings Finn in shrieking (Lily, not Finn) because he has snot all over his face. Dax following close behind with a baby wipe in hand "I help clean up him, I help wipe upmy baby Finny" Followed by a wet wipe covering poor Finn's face. I just wonder what Finn thinks of his siblings...

Lily, can't reach the glasses in the cabinet managed to get food coloring from the highest shelf in my utility closet and thought it would be a great idea to mix it with water and use it for painting on the good table. Luckily the table is ok, however Dax's mouth, face, and lefr hand may be permanently blue.

The kids all playing in the clean laundry in the living room (where it is in baskets waiting for a flood...think it can go back down yet??) They got lost in the baskets, took me some time to find them this morning!

Praises...

Words of love from little boys before your eyes even open in the morning.

Getting to church before the sermon.

People who know where your kids are even when you don't.

Sunday afternoon snuggles.

Good returns.

No sleet..yet.

Dinner out with everyone...mostly behaving.

Sunday night phone calls with my mom & brother at once...still not sure I understood any of the conversation, but it always make me laugh.

Getting all the stuff out of the basement before the flooding really started....maybe the rain is done?

Quotes & Memorable moments....

Dax searching for his "baby bubber" this morning. Wanting to hold him and give him kisses.

Dax & Daddy hiding under the covers this afternoon, lots of giggles.

Giggles...I wish I could have a soundtrack filled with the kids giggling!

Dax flirting with every adult woman he could find between dinner and the mall. the waitress returning to our table way too many times simply to flirt with Finn.

Dax refusing to face our table because the table behind him was filled with tiny bedazzled cheerleaders.

Dax's love for Disney Princess fruit snacks, which he calls his barbie fruit snacks. I hope he was checking out the cute mini cheerleaders and not just admiring their outfits...

Praises...

Finding fun on Youtube and sharing it with my blog who no one has been invited to yet...but I'm getting there!

Staying up till 3 am playing!

A husband who just laughs at the fact that I was up until 3 am and lets me sleep in!

Lazy Saturdays!

God's Grace!

Wisdom and understand that come with age.

Family phone calls.

Reading books with Mini Men.

A day with no expectations.

A Husband who will read my blog and check the spelling since the silly spell check button has been broken for two weeks...if I'm inviting others in I have to have spell check!

Quotes & memorable moments...

"Oh Man!" or "Dang it!" Over used phrases by Dax anytime he doesn't want to do something.

"You don't love me, nobody loves me!" or "You just had me to be your slave" Over used phrases by Lily anytime she doesn't want to do something.

"Whhhhaaaaa" Overused phrase by Finn everytime something doesn't go his way.

"I love you, Mommy, night night" best phrase by Dax
"I love you, Mom, night." best phrase by Lily
"Mamamama" followed by deep breathing and snooring sounds. best phrase by Finn

Music that makes me feel...

Ok, so I was going to try to do this some cool way so I could collect songs on here, but as of yet I have no idea what I'm doing so every now and then when the mood strikes me I'll add some music and you can skip it or listen, doesn't make any difference...remember these are my joys!

Music is a praise, everyday. Music has been a part of so many "memorable" moments and there were periods in my life where those mixed tapes and lyric quotes made the world go round. The memories that come flooding back when you hear something you haven't heard in years is amazing, and I love how if you knew the words then, you never forget! In so many ways music has been a bridge for me.

This is a song I heard in Walmart today. It took me back years and years and made me smile! I have this tape you know..the whole tape..Boy meets Girl, they never were really cool, but I liked them, and I think they liked me, cause I bought their album and I wore my hair like the chick. (I might have even had those earrings)



Wow! I figured out how to do it!! Now I need to share more! Here is Dax's favorite youtube video and Lily's least favorite! This is actually a Laurie Berkner Song which would play on Jack's Big Music Show, but this is the only online version we could find and it makes us happy!



Just so you know....any music posted before this post was actually posted at the same time. I took a bit of my free time, you know, the hours between midnights & 3am and had so much fun playing on Youtube that I had to add some music to old posts...don't worry, there will be more in the future!