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!
0
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.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
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!
**************************************************************
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!
**************************************************************
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...
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!
**************************************************************
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!
**************************************************************
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!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Sunny Days and Tantrums always make me smile...
*These were supposed to be in order, but some how that didn't happen*
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
There is no place like Gymboree...There is no place like Gymboree...
There is no place like Gymboree...
If I click my heals while doing this do you think Lily will still be able to fit in their clothes? I know, I know, she's growing up. Last night we had a much overdue girl's night out. We had haircuts, well, I had a haircut. Somehow we had the times wrong again (this is the third or fourth time we've had the day or time wrong). This seems odd to me being that I don't have this problem anywhere else. Don't get me wrong, I love my hairdresser and so do my little people, it just seems like if I only have this issue there than maybe the issue isn't mine... Ok so I could totally screw it up, but after that first mix up I have been extra careful to listen very closely and write it all down right away. Totally off on a tangent there, sorry. Reeling it back in...
Lily and I have different tastes. This wasn't always the case. I remember beautiful days of matching dresses and hats. Wonderful little ensembles that screamed "cute little girl". Even now, we still both like Gymboree, but alas, she no longer fits. We stopped into GapKids, it is at least a good middle ground at the moment. We did Children's Place, she can do that for a few more months, maybe. We did find some Easter hopefuls there. We went into Icing and Claire's. We are talking about ear piercing. This is fine. We ventured for the first time into Aeropostle and she eyed American Eagle. The clothes here were cute, but oh My Lily, she is not built like that. She is not 7 feet tall and toothpick thin. I honestly don't even understand the sizing. I felt overwhelmed, and totally uncool. I so wanted to curl into the fetal position in the corner of Gymboree, you know where ~ under the clearance rack, where you can hear the singing on the TV, but you can't push a stroller through. The thought of sending her out with friends of mine that have older girls crossed my mind, the thought of how much I'd love to have another baby girl to dress crossed my mind too!
I'll be honest, I was relieved when we left the mall. It was then, in the car, that it hit me. She was talking, it was interesting, we were relating on a pretty grown up level. She thinks deeply, we're gonna have some good talks! She's not my baby . I can't stick a cute hat on her head and watch her do party tricks that amaze the grown ups. She's gonna wear her hair in ways that make me shake my head, she's going to like lots of things I don't. I will be out of my comfort zone in many shoe stores of the future (pumas...really? are they still around or back or what? made me laugh). I may not get spending money I don't have on accessories (ok, so if someone would accessorize me and give me a fund for this I might change my mind). I will never and I mean never respond to the following statement "Man, I wish I could find some black nail polish" (uttered last night at Claire's) with anything other than a slight gag and and "Oh, God, please no! (not that I have any prejudice against people wearing black nail polish I just think it's hideously unattractive, ok, and the idea of Lily "going goth" has been my biggest fashion fear since I put her in her first smocked, frilly, pink dress)]
Bottom line, the '80s are back, we are totally loving discussing it in depth even if she's more Cyndi Lauper and I'm more Debbie Gibson. Let's be honest, Cyndi Lauper was cooler anyway!
If I click my heals while doing this do you think Lily will still be able to fit in their clothes? I know, I know, she's growing up. Last night we had a much overdue girl's night out. We had haircuts, well, I had a haircut. Somehow we had the times wrong again (this is the third or fourth time we've had the day or time wrong). This seems odd to me being that I don't have this problem anywhere else. Don't get me wrong, I love my hairdresser and so do my little people, it just seems like if I only have this issue there than maybe the issue isn't mine... Ok so I could totally screw it up, but after that first mix up I have been extra careful to listen very closely and write it all down right away. Totally off on a tangent there, sorry. Reeling it back in...
Lily and I have different tastes. This wasn't always the case. I remember beautiful days of matching dresses and hats. Wonderful little ensembles that screamed "cute little girl". Even now, we still both like Gymboree, but alas, she no longer fits. We stopped into GapKids, it is at least a good middle ground at the moment. We did Children's Place, she can do that for a few more months, maybe. We did find some Easter hopefuls there. We went into Icing and Claire's. We are talking about ear piercing. This is fine. We ventured for the first time into Aeropostle and she eyed American Eagle. The clothes here were cute, but oh My Lily, she is not built like that. She is not 7 feet tall and toothpick thin. I honestly don't even understand the sizing. I felt overwhelmed, and totally uncool. I so wanted to curl into the fetal position in the corner of Gymboree, you know where ~ under the clearance rack, where you can hear the singing on the TV, but you can't push a stroller through. The thought of sending her out with friends of mine that have older girls crossed my mind, the thought of how much I'd love to have another baby girl to dress crossed my mind too!
I'll be honest, I was relieved when we left the mall. It was then, in the car, that it hit me. She was talking, it was interesting, we were relating on a pretty grown up level. She thinks deeply, we're gonna have some good talks! She's not my baby . I can't stick a cute hat on her head and watch her do party tricks that amaze the grown ups. She's gonna wear her hair in ways that make me shake my head, she's going to like lots of things I don't. I will be out of my comfort zone in many shoe stores of the future (pumas...really? are they still around or back or what? made me laugh). I may not get spending money I don't have on accessories (ok, so if someone would accessorize me and give me a fund for this I might change my mind). I will never and I mean never respond to the following statement "Man, I wish I could find some black nail polish" (uttered last night at Claire's) with anything other than a slight gag and and "Oh, God, please no! (not that I have any prejudice against people wearing black nail polish I just think it's hideously unattractive, ok, and the idea of Lily "going goth" has been my biggest fashion fear since I put her in her first smocked, frilly, pink dress)]
Bottom line, the '80s are back, we are totally loving discussing it in depth even if she's more Cyndi Lauper and I'm more Debbie Gibson. Let's be honest, Cyndi Lauper was cooler anyway!
While we're talking about growing up...
This may be a little too much information (for my txt readers TMI), let me set the stage for Dax's usually #2 potty routine.
- Jump wildly around the house
- after several minutes of this start yelling "I have to poop!!"
- find nearest older person, demand they come with you because "I can't poop by myself!!"
- Have said older person, while lecturing about you being almost 4, attach potty seat and lift you onto it.
- Have deep conversation for a good 15 minutes with older family member that you've imprisoned in the bathroom.
- Insist on help dismounting, stand teepee style with hands and feet on ground, booty in air so potty slave can wipe your cute little behind.
- Wash hands after questioning "why, when I didn't touch my bottom?"
- Go back to playing
Today I was having "God time" (this tends to be when pooping is best) when the jumping and yelling began. I simply asked (like I do every day) if he could go put the potty seat on. He said yes... I asked if he could use the stool to get himself up. He said he'd try it... He sat in there, alone!! When the yell came that he was done I greatly praised him. I asked to try to wipe himself. He said ok! He took the seat off and put it away. He then washed his hands with a smile on his face after only one prompting that he did, in fact, touch his bottom.
Miraculous!! It's amazing how the things that excite you change when you have small people! I was so proud of my guy! First thing he said to Lily when she walked in the door was "I pooped all by myself! Are you proud of me??" She clapped, she gave hi-5s, she was genuinely proud, well, that and totally relieved that she may get a reprieve from her prison time in stinko penitentiary!
***********************************************************************************
In another room(aren't you glad?), later this same day, another kind of growing up occurred.
I bumped Dax in the kitchen, I apologized. He didn't say anything at that moment, but when I left the room he followed.
"Mom, I really didn't like you when you bumped me. It made me not like you. I wanted to say mean words like hate, stupid, or blah blah blah."
He didn't. He didn't say mean words, he didn't yell. He processed that that was how he wanted to react but instead shared his thoughts with me in a very grown up way. I smiled. I told him it was ok to feel that way but the fact that he knew not to act that way made me feel very proud. He grinned from ear to ear and told me "I just really love you, Mom".
I may be missing my babies, but boy I'm loving the big people they are getting to be!
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Just so you don't get carried away, thinking my house is now some sort of utopia, Dax did pour honey all over Finn's head this morning...
Friday, February 27, 2009
"The Strange Guys are stupid!"
And other inappropriate words and actions from playgroup!
Our church has started a Friday morning open gym playtime. We have been a few times. The crowd has usually been rather small and calm with my boys knowing at least 75% of the other kids. They have greatly enjoyed this free running, large motor playtime. Thy have gotten along well with others and overall had a grand time. Today, wow, today was a bit different. Today was crowded! Today was loud! There were lots of boys! This was the kind of group that when I just had a daughter I might have turned around and left, because those boys are just nothing but loud, rough, trouble makers! And now, I am their mom. I am the mom that I'm sure at one point I wanted to tsk and shake my head at. This doesn't happen when you have girls, or even 1 boy. It happens when you have your second. I'm guessing it amplifies with each additional boy. Begone the days of sweet princess dress up, temper tantrums that involved weeping at the unfairness of the world, and adorable hats. Now it's all "booty", throwing things, lego guns, and "fire hands" (hands that shoot fire). Granted, they are brimming over with comedy and their messy little faces and sweet "I love yous" melt any momma's heart, that doesn't change the fact that they are still loud and rowdy.
Today Finn stood in the middle of the room and held a ball. Seems he just wondered around with his ball and watched people. He knocked down his brother's block tower once, but mostly he just played the observer. Dax on the other hand had some real issues with all these "strange guys'. Strange guys included anyone he didn't know or anyone he might know but doesn't usually go to our church. At first they were just intimidating. Then he started to play "Super Dax" (his new favorite past time). I did have to intervene when I noticed another child beating him with a folded jump rope. It's hard for a mom to know what is truly in the spirit of the play and when her kid is going to get welts. I guess I should have taken the rope away because I turned around seconds later and someone was trying to capture "Super Dax" by roping him around the neck. This time the rope was taken.
I guess all the rope play got him wound up, or maybe it was the lack of oxygen to his brain from the noose...I'm not sure...but the next time I turned around he was shoving a little boy to the ground because he knocked down his tower. He refused to apologize. He spent the rest of his time at the "mommy table". I thought we were safe. Clean up time came, he volunteered to help clean up. I then see him standing in front of a little boy he doesn't know. I hear his sweet little voice "These strange guys are Stupid, Mama! They just keep breaking my toys!!"
Sigh...what happened to hats, tights, dresses, and coordinating shoes? What about that little three year old girl too timid to peek out from behind my legs?
Just for extra measure at that moment, Finn came over and knocked down the whole stack of "cleaned up" blocks.
Tsk Tsk, what is that mom doing? Hasn't she taught those kids anything about sharing? respect for the church? kindness? The word stupid? Maybe she should stop spending so much time at the mom table chatting and harness those heathens! Tsk...
***pictures below are from a calmer, more successful play gym day***
Our church has started a Friday morning open gym playtime. We have been a few times. The crowd has usually been rather small and calm with my boys knowing at least 75% of the other kids. They have greatly enjoyed this free running, large motor playtime. Thy have gotten along well with others and overall had a grand time. Today, wow, today was a bit different. Today was crowded! Today was loud! There were lots of boys! This was the kind of group that when I just had a daughter I might have turned around and left, because those boys are just nothing but loud, rough, trouble makers! And now, I am their mom. I am the mom that I'm sure at one point I wanted to tsk and shake my head at. This doesn't happen when you have girls, or even 1 boy. It happens when you have your second. I'm guessing it amplifies with each additional boy. Begone the days of sweet princess dress up, temper tantrums that involved weeping at the unfairness of the world, and adorable hats. Now it's all "booty", throwing things, lego guns, and "fire hands" (hands that shoot fire). Granted, they are brimming over with comedy and their messy little faces and sweet "I love yous" melt any momma's heart, that doesn't change the fact that they are still loud and rowdy.
Today Finn stood in the middle of the room and held a ball. Seems he just wondered around with his ball and watched people. He knocked down his brother's block tower once, but mostly he just played the observer. Dax on the other hand had some real issues with all these "strange guys'. Strange guys included anyone he didn't know or anyone he might know but doesn't usually go to our church. At first they were just intimidating. Then he started to play "Super Dax" (his new favorite past time). I did have to intervene when I noticed another child beating him with a folded jump rope. It's hard for a mom to know what is truly in the spirit of the play and when her kid is going to get welts. I guess I should have taken the rope away because I turned around seconds later and someone was trying to capture "Super Dax" by roping him around the neck. This time the rope was taken.
I guess all the rope play got him wound up, or maybe it was the lack of oxygen to his brain from the noose...I'm not sure...but the next time I turned around he was shoving a little boy to the ground because he knocked down his tower. He refused to apologize. He spent the rest of his time at the "mommy table". I thought we were safe. Clean up time came, he volunteered to help clean up. I then see him standing in front of a little boy he doesn't know. I hear his sweet little voice "These strange guys are Stupid, Mama! They just keep breaking my toys!!"
Sigh...what happened to hats, tights, dresses, and coordinating shoes? What about that little three year old girl too timid to peek out from behind my legs?
Just for extra measure at that moment, Finn came over and knocked down the whole stack of "cleaned up" blocks.
Tsk Tsk, what is that mom doing? Hasn't she taught those kids anything about sharing? respect for the church? kindness? The word stupid? Maybe she should stop spending so much time at the mom table chatting and harness those heathens! Tsk...
***pictures below are from a calmer, more successful play gym day***
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Where oh where did my baby boy go?
Praises
An amazing service Sunday at church with a sermon from our Bishop. Let's just say he was not what I was expecting a Methodist Bishop to be. I was incredibly impressed and so thrilled I didn't miss his message!
A fun trip to a local paint your own pottery place with 11 8th graders. We missed our other confirmation 'Mamas' but I think everyone did a great job putting themselves into their work!
Feeling better! Well, this sneezing, sniffling cold thing stinks, but compared to the last 6 weeks, I'll take it! I have actually been vacuuming and tossing boys around! I'm loving heading in the direction of normal!
Speaking of feeling good, I felt so good tonight I turned down a friend bringing a meal. I think I'd feel guilty taking one now, but I did catch some flack for it! Lily overheard me on the phone and lectured me about how could I turn down someone who cooks like Nicole. "Everything she makes is so good, Mom! I can't believe you didn't say yes!" I know, that thought went through my mind too! =)
My friend, Traci, is feeling a bit better. Little Tess made it home for a great week of birthday fun with her family and friends. Kim and Shaun are recovering with humor (and too much time on Facebook!) They all still need prayers as they continue on their journeys, but boy it's nice to hear good things!
New friends on Facebook. Congrats, Leslie, you've been sucked in now! Sarah and Amy, I am waiting for you!
Evening chats with Mom. Even better when the munchkins are actually all asleep and the phone doesn't die!
A Husband who is pretty good at putting little kids to bed, at least most nights!
A three year old that may not nap, but falls to sleep the minute he stops moving!
That same three year old that is loving going to school, his mama, being a big brother, and being a "Mighty Helper".
My husband's humor. He's dictating to me what I should praise about him, but this is a family friendly site, so lets just say I love his humor!
Lily being in a good mood this week. She may not love the blatant laughter and "no" she received when putting in her 50th request, this one in writing, for a cell phone for her 11th birthday, but she seems to not be holding a grudge. I have, however, heard what type of phone every other 5th grader has. She doesn't totally get the whole, "i don't care what everyone else has, I'm not their mama" lecture. Oh how I loved that lecture at her age!! She also does not appreciate my "when you get a cell phone it'll be one of those four button things that let you dial, mom, dad, home, and 911". I'm so totally not a "cool" mom. And the older I get the more I'm totally ok with that! I love her no matter what, and I think she feels the same way. (isn't that what the eye rolling means?)
Dax telling Carrie, our hairdresser, that Finn is part of our family and we couldn't lose him. Finn decided he should go flirt with some of th other girls after his haircut, while Dax was having his done. Dax was very concerned that Finn was out of his site!
Little brothers walking hand in hand down the sidewalk. Oh how I wish I had my camera card in for that, well, that and the haircut!
Finn. Oh his orneriness grows every day, but so does his cuteness, and his vocab. Today we added "copter", "jammies', and "haircut". I think the guy aged a good 6 months to a year with a snip snip of the scissors! I did get the camera out once we got home. I had taken some pictures on Sunday so I had before and after. Dax got his haircut too, but you can't really tell! We offered to cut his like Finn's. He made a funny face and said, "no, you can't shake that!". With this new do it seems this little guy is looking the most like his "daayee".
A blog where I can post a million (or 15) gratuitous pictures of my children if I want to! =) Yes, Dax is painted like a kitten. There was a big litter of little people kittens playing at preschool today! He said only the girls could get their ears to stay on, though! Good thing, would have been hard for Carrie to cut the hair around the kitty ears!
An amazing service Sunday at church with a sermon from our Bishop. Let's just say he was not what I was expecting a Methodist Bishop to be. I was incredibly impressed and so thrilled I didn't miss his message!
A fun trip to a local paint your own pottery place with 11 8th graders. We missed our other confirmation 'Mamas' but I think everyone did a great job putting themselves into their work!
Feeling better! Well, this sneezing, sniffling cold thing stinks, but compared to the last 6 weeks, I'll take it! I have actually been vacuuming and tossing boys around! I'm loving heading in the direction of normal!
Speaking of feeling good, I felt so good tonight I turned down a friend bringing a meal. I think I'd feel guilty taking one now, but I did catch some flack for it! Lily overheard me on the phone and lectured me about how could I turn down someone who cooks like Nicole. "Everything she makes is so good, Mom! I can't believe you didn't say yes!" I know, that thought went through my mind too! =)
My friend, Traci, is feeling a bit better. Little Tess made it home for a great week of birthday fun with her family and friends. Kim and Shaun are recovering with humor (and too much time on Facebook!) They all still need prayers as they continue on their journeys, but boy it's nice to hear good things!
New friends on Facebook. Congrats, Leslie, you've been sucked in now! Sarah and Amy, I am waiting for you!
Evening chats with Mom. Even better when the munchkins are actually all asleep and the phone doesn't die!
A Husband who is pretty good at putting little kids to bed, at least most nights!
A three year old that may not nap, but falls to sleep the minute he stops moving!
That same three year old that is loving going to school, his mama, being a big brother, and being a "Mighty Helper".
My husband's humor. He's dictating to me what I should praise about him, but this is a family friendly site, so lets just say I love his humor!
Lily being in a good mood this week. She may not love the blatant laughter and "no" she received when putting in her 50th request, this one in writing, for a cell phone for her 11th birthday, but she seems to not be holding a grudge. I have, however, heard what type of phone every other 5th grader has. She doesn't totally get the whole, "i don't care what everyone else has, I'm not their mama" lecture. Oh how I loved that lecture at her age!! She also does not appreciate my "when you get a cell phone it'll be one of those four button things that let you dial, mom, dad, home, and 911". I'm so totally not a "cool" mom. And the older I get the more I'm totally ok with that! I love her no matter what, and I think she feels the same way. (isn't that what the eye rolling means?)
Dax telling Carrie, our hairdresser, that Finn is part of our family and we couldn't lose him. Finn decided he should go flirt with some of th other girls after his haircut, while Dax was having his done. Dax was very concerned that Finn was out of his site!
Little brothers walking hand in hand down the sidewalk. Oh how I wish I had my camera card in for that, well, that and the haircut!
Finn. Oh his orneriness grows every day, but so does his cuteness, and his vocab. Today we added "copter", "jammies', and "haircut". I think the guy aged a good 6 months to a year with a snip snip of the scissors! I did get the camera out once we got home. I had taken some pictures on Sunday so I had before and after. Dax got his haircut too, but you can't really tell! We offered to cut his like Finn's. He made a funny face and said, "no, you can't shake that!". With this new do it seems this little guy is looking the most like his "daayee".
A blog where I can post a million (or 15) gratuitous pictures of my children if I want to! =) Yes, Dax is painted like a kitten. There was a big litter of little people kittens playing at preschool today! He said only the girls could get their ears to stay on, though! Good thing, would have been hard for Carrie to cut the hair around the kitty ears!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Praises and Mamma ooze
Praises
Getting everyone up, fed, dressed, and out the door on time (even a few minutes early!) without anything catstrophic happening!
Having a great friend I can call to come chaufer Dax to school and us to church yesterday morning when I got everyone ready early and my van wouldn't start!
Let's just add, my van starting this morning!
The fact that I can make myself a chai tea latte at home, which helps ease the blow that the local drive through coffee place that provided me with my bi weekly one and only self splurge is now out of business!! I must say, this totally bummed me out this morning!
Getting to spend an hour in Lily's classroom doing Picture Person (parent led art lessons). The discussion of De Vinci was great, the art project so so, but I don't think they could tell that I hadn't decided on the project until midnight last night. Was nice to spend that time in her room, it's been too long!
Feeling good enough this week to be able to get showered and my boys organized and out of the house by 9 am the last two mornings. Lets just say, this hasn't been accomplished for a good 6 weeks.
Feeling better, doing more, starting to feel more "normal" again.
A daughter who used her library time and check out privileges to find books that her little brothers would like.
Finding all of the keys that a certain little person popped off my keyboard. Now if I could only get the last 3 to reattach!
A very interesting Bible study. It's getting deep in there.
Being able to pray for those that I love. I hate watching people hurt. I hate reading through caring bridge sites of little children who I will never meet and feeling their pain. I am so grateful for the words and the faith that let me speak their names and pray for their healing, peace, and comfort. I am grateful for the God that I know is standing beside them.
Fun family Friday nights filled with music, movies, dancing in the kitchen, Mexican take out, giggling, snuggling, and love. I can't imaging a better way to spend an evening.
3 beautiful healthy children filled with life, love, and laughter!
and the words that come out of their mouths...
*warning the following contains gratuitous mommy blogging, it's my blog, I can do what I want, besides, it may be the only place this stuff gets recorded!*
Last night Dax grabbed Mike and said "I love you daddy!" Finn jumped right up and wrapped his arms around Mike too and said "love you". First time he's ever said those words. Those are my favorite first words!
Finn started to finally put two words together, "there's Lily" "don't know" "where Dax?" "Dayee (daddy) work". He's also all of the sudden picking up adjectives. Tonight he brought me a stack of legos and handed them to me one at a time saying "ewooow (yellow)" and "gween". He picked up a big blanket and said "heavy". He is impressing me with his knowledge of colors and the fact that I now understand some of the words he's saying when he puts shapes in his shape sorter and they are blowing me away, "oval", "star", "circle", "scare", "ryangle", simmi circle". He's my latest to talk. He has had words for a bit, mixed in with a lot of signs, but it's good to hear the words really starting to flow. His favorite words all sound similar, "birry" (birdy), "booey" (booty as in shake yours), "booogy" (boogie, as in "let's boogie" when he is ready to leave). I know soon I'll wish he'd give it a rest!
After the little love fest last night Lily asked Finn if he loved her. He promptly said "no" and ran off giggling. Dax barrelled Lily over with a huge hug and an "But I love you, Lil!"
I am so grateful whatever crazy monster had taken control of my three year old seems to be leaving! His words and actions over the past week or two have been such a huge improvement. Maybe it's life getting back to normal, maybe it's his heading towards four, but what ever it is, I am truly grateful! I love these kind words and actions!
Most amazing moment on a school pick up - Dax got a hand stamp for being the best cleaner upper in the class on Thursday. Now let me tell you, if there is one thing this boy hates, it's transitions and clean up time is a killer. Silly how proud was of a hand stamp!
Speaking of Dax, he spilled out some of my favorite words of the week today...
Tonight the boys had finished eating but the rest of us weren't quite finished. Finn kept bringing a book and asking us to read. We kept telling him that we could not read while we were eating. Dax climbed up on the couch and said "come here Finny, I'll read it to you".
This morning I was walking toward the door, telling Finn that Mommy and Dax were leaving church, he was running the opposite way pouting because he didn't want to go. Dax stopped and said, "but Finn is part of our family". He then ran back to the gym took Finn by the hand and said "Finny you are part of our family and we are gonna keep you forever!". Talk about melting a mamma's heart!
Getting everyone up, fed, dressed, and out the door on time (even a few minutes early!) without anything catstrophic happening!
Having a great friend I can call to come chaufer Dax to school and us to church yesterday morning when I got everyone ready early and my van wouldn't start!
Let's just add, my van starting this morning!
The fact that I can make myself a chai tea latte at home, which helps ease the blow that the local drive through coffee place that provided me with my bi weekly one and only self splurge is now out of business!! I must say, this totally bummed me out this morning!
Getting to spend an hour in Lily's classroom doing Picture Person (parent led art lessons). The discussion of De Vinci was great, the art project so so, but I don't think they could tell that I hadn't decided on the project until midnight last night. Was nice to spend that time in her room, it's been too long!
Feeling good enough this week to be able to get showered and my boys organized and out of the house by 9 am the last two mornings. Lets just say, this hasn't been accomplished for a good 6 weeks.
Feeling better, doing more, starting to feel more "normal" again.
A daughter who used her library time and check out privileges to find books that her little brothers would like.
Finding all of the keys that a certain little person popped off my keyboard. Now if I could only get the last 3 to reattach!
A very interesting Bible study. It's getting deep in there.
Being able to pray for those that I love. I hate watching people hurt. I hate reading through caring bridge sites of little children who I will never meet and feeling their pain. I am so grateful for the words and the faith that let me speak their names and pray for their healing, peace, and comfort. I am grateful for the God that I know is standing beside them.
Fun family Friday nights filled with music, movies, dancing in the kitchen, Mexican take out, giggling, snuggling, and love. I can't imaging a better way to spend an evening.
3 beautiful healthy children filled with life, love, and laughter!
and the words that come out of their mouths...
*warning the following contains gratuitous mommy blogging, it's my blog, I can do what I want, besides, it may be the only place this stuff gets recorded!*
Last night Dax grabbed Mike and said "I love you daddy!" Finn jumped right up and wrapped his arms around Mike too and said "love you". First time he's ever said those words. Those are my favorite first words!
Finn started to finally put two words together, "there's Lily" "don't know" "where Dax?" "Dayee (daddy) work". He's also all of the sudden picking up adjectives. Tonight he brought me a stack of legos and handed them to me one at a time saying "ewooow (yellow)" and "gween". He picked up a big blanket and said "heavy". He is impressing me with his knowledge of colors and the fact that I now understand some of the words he's saying when he puts shapes in his shape sorter and they are blowing me away, "oval", "star", "circle", "scare", "ryangle", simmi circle". He's my latest to talk. He has had words for a bit, mixed in with a lot of signs, but it's good to hear the words really starting to flow. His favorite words all sound similar, "birry" (birdy), "booey" (booty as in shake yours), "booogy" (boogie, as in "let's boogie" when he is ready to leave). I know soon I'll wish he'd give it a rest!
After the little love fest last night Lily asked Finn if he loved her. He promptly said "no" and ran off giggling. Dax barrelled Lily over with a huge hug and an "But I love you, Lil!"
I am so grateful whatever crazy monster had taken control of my three year old seems to be leaving! His words and actions over the past week or two have been such a huge improvement. Maybe it's life getting back to normal, maybe it's his heading towards four, but what ever it is, I am truly grateful! I love these kind words and actions!
Most amazing moment on a school pick up - Dax got a hand stamp for being the best cleaner upper in the class on Thursday. Now let me tell you, if there is one thing this boy hates, it's transitions and clean up time is a killer. Silly how proud was of a hand stamp!
Speaking of Dax, he spilled out some of my favorite words of the week today...
Tonight the boys had finished eating but the rest of us weren't quite finished. Finn kept bringing a book and asking us to read. We kept telling him that we could not read while we were eating. Dax climbed up on the couch and said "come here Finny, I'll read it to you".
This morning I was walking toward the door, telling Finn that Mommy and Dax were leaving church, he was running the opposite way pouting because he didn't want to go. Dax stopped and said, "but Finn is part of our family". He then ran back to the gym took Finn by the hand and said "Finny you are part of our family and we are gonna keep you forever!". Talk about melting a mamma's heart!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
22 months
22 months is the age difference between my two boys. This was a drastic change from the 7 years separating Lily and Dax, or the almost 6 years dividing my brother, Ryan and I, and then he and our baby brother, Dosh.
I have many friends who have siblings very close in age and many of them did everything they could to have a close gap between their kids. I wanted 2 years between all of my kids. I didn't want them to be spaced so far apart like my brothers and I. Now as a parent, I totally see the perks! Every time my mom sent someone to kindergarten, she got a baby. We each felt like only children for bits of time. We were great helpers by the time the next one came along. Mom, like me, loves babies and all their stuff. This way she got to spread her baby time over about 14 years. I though, can also see why people who have siblings that close would want to replicate that. Watching my boys learn and play together, the way they love each other, it's amazing. I love my brothers, I even enjoy spending time with them, late night games & movies are some of my favorite things in the world, but I do think in some ways we missed out on silly secrets and sharing friends. I love watching my guys together. At the end of the day though, whoa...22 months creates a far bigger disaster than 7 years!
By the time I decided to photograph it all I had mopped up the entire bottle of cinnamon that had been carefully sprinkled over the kitchen and hallway floor while I was in the shower.
Can't you hear the giggling?
Did I mention he's learned to turn on the faucet and has an obsession with brushing his teeth?
The praise is that about 98% of this mess is now picked up thanks mostly to Lily and the threat of withholding dinner from my children till it was picked up. I know, mothering at it's best!!
I think you'll be hearing of him soon! He is totally my favorite so far.
I have many friends who have siblings very close in age and many of them did everything they could to have a close gap between their kids. I wanted 2 years between all of my kids. I didn't want them to be spaced so far apart like my brothers and I. Now as a parent, I totally see the perks! Every time my mom sent someone to kindergarten, she got a baby. We each felt like only children for bits of time. We were great helpers by the time the next one came along. Mom, like me, loves babies and all their stuff. This way she got to spread her baby time over about 14 years. I though, can also see why people who have siblings that close would want to replicate that. Watching my boys learn and play together, the way they love each other, it's amazing. I love my brothers, I even enjoy spending time with them, late night games & movies are some of my favorite things in the world, but I do think in some ways we missed out on silly secrets and sharing friends. I love watching my guys together. At the end of the day though, whoa...22 months creates a far bigger disaster than 7 years!
Speaking of 22 months and disasters, Finn is now 22 months. He is the exact age Dax was when he came home from the hospital. He has been the most social, snugly, sweet little guy. There have not been many signs of him following down the road of destruction his brother paved, well, unless directly provoked. That was, until he reached 22 months. I'd have to say, what no one warned me about having kids this close together is that as soon as one of them reaches the end of the "can't trust you alone in a room" stage or the "bull in china shop could tear down the house in a moment's notice" stage the other one is ready and waiting. Just giggling in the corner waiting for you to totally buy into their sweet as sugar act long enough that they can do this to your house...
By the time I decided to photograph it all I had mopped up the entire bottle of cinnamon that had been carefully sprinkled over the kitchen and hallway floor while I was in the shower. I feel like I should mention, in my defense, that the one thing I really am not back up to yet is bending up and down over and over...this being the reason all of these things remained on the floor all day.
As for those three lovely, well meaning people who purchased the very educational, very fun card games in tins for my children for Christmas, I still love you, but I have learned to truly loathe those cards!
You might think that this guy might have been the mastermind behind all of it...
but no, he was either at school or snuggled up on the couch for rest time.
but no, he was either at school or snuggled up on the couch for rest time. It was all this guy, yeah, I know, so sweet and innocent...
Can't you hear the giggling?Did I mention he's learned to turn on the faucet and has an obsession with brushing his teeth?Can you see that second birthday looming in the near future? I can feel it! I think this ride is about to get even more exciting!
On a totally different note...
My good friend Kim's husband, Shaun is headed in for a below the knee amputation tomorrow. Their family needs good thoughts. If you know them and want to do something, Kim has suggested sending Shaun a fun card (doesn't have to be a get well card), something to make him laugh over the next few weeks. She said she would love it if people would put a penny or two in the card since the first thing he does when he gets one is shakes it for money. She said what they need most is prayers for a positive outlook and some good laughter! If you don't know them, but think sending some random guy a goofy card with pennies in it sounds like fun, leave me a comment, I'll send you their address!
If you thought you might be making it through this season without my commentary on American Idol, you are sadly mistaken. Please please, someone get rid of Tatiana! For those of you not from Ohio, Brent Keith is from a town neighboring my hometown and we actually were in high school at the same time and have a lot of cross over friends. His wife is a friend of my sister in laws. He was on Nashville Star several seasons ago and finished #6. We'll see how his run on American Idol goes! He's a good guy, and I'm totally voting for him just for that, well, and he can, in fact, sing.
If you haven't been watching yet this season or you've been in a cave and haven't seen or heard this guy...
I think you'll be hearing of him soon! He is totally my favorite so far.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Trying to say something...anything...
I haven't been writing much lately, I'm sure you've taken note. Well, at least those of you who still stop by from time to time! It's not that I have nothing to say, it's simply that I'm feeling like I'm in this period of waiting. Waiting for what, I'm not really sure, but I just haven't felt like writing. I'm sure I could toss some blame at the immediate gratification found on facebook, however it's not totally their fault. It could be that the computer chair has not been the most comfortable place to sit over the last weeks or that I've wanted to spend more time with my little people (big people too). Whatever the reason, I'm going to try to toss something in the blank space tonight.
I wanted to stop in to say thank you for the good thoughts and prayers for us and for those who I have asked you to pray for lately. Finn is doing really well. We are keeping him out of the basement. He has only had one day of using the nebulizer since his hospital stay, that was after the basement door was left open and the boys ventured down. I have finally, after many complications, heard the words I was waiting to hear, "you are healing, really healing!" at my doctor's appt. last week. Little Tess is on her way home after a couple of weeks at St. Jude and is doing as well as she possibly can be. Her family will be heading back down in about a week, they will need prayers for a very long time to come! My sweet friend, Traci, is making it through her tests with courage, and a positive spirit. Keep she and her family in your prayers too! One of my Thursday buddies will be standing beside her husband through some major surgery on Wednesday and my heart is with Kim and her clan! Through Tess's website we found a little boy named Dax from our area also at St. Judes, who is struggling with leukemia and because of his sweet little name he has jumped right onto our list.
There are so many out there struggling, so many sweet little faces walking through so much. Sometimes it's almost overwhelming! But in all this, joy. On days like this I watch my older son stand between his little brother and a bully at the McDonald's play land with a stern look and a raised fist and the words 'he is my little brother!!" and my heart melts. I pour over my bible study material, getting ready to jump in with a prayer and that same little boy comes, holds my hands and we pray together. He asked his dad to pray with him tonight. He asked to pray for "My friend, Tess, and that other Dax, and Miss Traci's back because it's hurting her."
I am feeling so grateful to be healing. I am feeling so grateful to be able to watch my children grow in strength, beauty, and maybe for one sweet little almost two year old, orneriness, every day. I am grateful for a husband who is present in this home. I am grateful for the love of family close by and far away. I am grateful for the love and respect of those who may not agree with me on issues and politics. I am grateful for moments where I glimpse a tiny piece of the big picture. I am grateful for puppies who help heal. I am grateful for 8th graders full of drama. I am grateful it is American Idol time again. I am grateful for joy and laughter built into everyday to show us that through the struggles there is greatness!
I wanted to stop in to say thank you for the good thoughts and prayers for us and for those who I have asked you to pray for lately. Finn is doing really well. We are keeping him out of the basement. He has only had one day of using the nebulizer since his hospital stay, that was after the basement door was left open and the boys ventured down. I have finally, after many complications, heard the words I was waiting to hear, "you are healing, really healing!" at my doctor's appt. last week. Little Tess is on her way home after a couple of weeks at St. Jude and is doing as well as she possibly can be. Her family will be heading back down in about a week, they will need prayers for a very long time to come! My sweet friend, Traci, is making it through her tests with courage, and a positive spirit. Keep she and her family in your prayers too! One of my Thursday buddies will be standing beside her husband through some major surgery on Wednesday and my heart is with Kim and her clan! Through Tess's website we found a little boy named Dax from our area also at St. Judes, who is struggling with leukemia and because of his sweet little name he has jumped right onto our list.
There are so many out there struggling, so many sweet little faces walking through so much. Sometimes it's almost overwhelming! But in all this, joy. On days like this I watch my older son stand between his little brother and a bully at the McDonald's play land with a stern look and a raised fist and the words 'he is my little brother!!" and my heart melts. I pour over my bible study material, getting ready to jump in with a prayer and that same little boy comes, holds my hands and we pray together. He asked his dad to pray with him tonight. He asked to pray for "My friend, Tess, and that other Dax, and Miss Traci's back because it's hurting her."
I am feeling so grateful to be healing. I am feeling so grateful to be able to watch my children grow in strength, beauty, and maybe for one sweet little almost two year old, orneriness, every day. I am grateful for a husband who is present in this home. I am grateful for the love of family close by and far away. I am grateful for the love and respect of those who may not agree with me on issues and politics. I am grateful for moments where I glimpse a tiny piece of the big picture. I am grateful for puppies who help heal. I am grateful for 8th graders full of drama. I am grateful it is American Idol time again. I am grateful for joy and laughter built into everyday to show us that through the struggles there is greatness!
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