The truck: a coffee table with a toy steering wheel
The fire "gun" (hose): a glue gun
The fire: a gas fireplace
Recipe for big time boy fun!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
My Fireman
The clothes: $2 after halloween
The truck: a coffee table with a toy steering wheel
The fire "gun" (hose): a glue gun
The fire: a gas fireplace
Recipe for big time boy fun!
The truck: a coffee table with a toy steering wheel
The fire "gun" (hose): a glue gun
The fire: a gas fireplace
Recipe for big time boy fun!
Great Post!
I just read a wonderful post. It's just what I have been thinking about recently. It's easy for us to be critical, it just comes naturally, doesn't it? It takes work to be a blessing to someone else, especially someone who is not like you, or doesn't do things your way. We're all different, with different strengths and weaknesses and different homes and house rules. Our children will scuffle with one another, but our goal is the same, to raise children who love and fear the Lord.
The Lord has been working in my life to take more opportunities to encourage others. Do you love your kiddos? Do you love husband? Do you stay home each and every day with your munchkins? I do to. That's a wonderful thing and is worthy of commendation not criticism. We're all different, but our end goal is the same and encouragement is a necessary part of the recipe for success at home. Read the excellent article by Amy here.
The Lord has been working in my life to take more opportunities to encourage others. Do you love your kiddos? Do you love husband? Do you stay home each and every day with your munchkins? I do to. That's a wonderful thing and is worthy of commendation not criticism. We're all different, but our end goal is the same and encouragement is a necessary part of the recipe for success at home. Read the excellent article by Amy here.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Pint Sized Driver
This is my first time using video on blogger. It took forever to upload the video, not sure why, I guess it was just a big file. He loves all things, "caa" (car). He has a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe which he adores. He likes to just sit inside of it and be in control of the wheel. He has also taken to entering and exiting the car "Dukes of Hazard" style, through the window. It's interesting to watch, especially when the car falls on its side. :) Enjoy our little sweetheart in all his glory!
Uniforms?
Well, we all shop the same stores, at the same time, for the same bunch of kids. It's a blast to go outlet shopping with my good bud Alison, to buy clothes for her sweet girlies, my cuties, and my sister's darling trio! They look at us funny when we buy 5 of the same dress and just can't understand when we leave with three of the same boy shirts. :) Good, good times, with five of the little darlin's in tow...soon to be six come June.
The pinkish Quintet...Abby and Leah's baby sister already has her own matching dress. :)
The Three Amigos. Elijah wants to pray for Joey every night and now when we ask Noah who he wants to pray for he says, "Doey". He's a popular guy.
The pinkish Quintet...Abby and Leah's baby sister already has her own matching dress. :)
The Three Amigos. Elijah wants to pray for Joey every night and now when we ask Noah who he wants to pray for he says, "Doey". He's a popular guy.
Noah: Okay, I'm ready to go now.
Noah: Let me GO!!!!
Noah: Hey cutie, I'll snuggle with you anytime. :)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Ladybugs
Our kids and bugs are a happy combination. They love the outdoors and animals of all kinds. Last year we "hatched" butterflies so this year we tried ladybugs....
Elijah inspecting the larvae. They arrived in this little tube with folded paper scraps and they were sooo small. BTW, I didn't even know/remember that ladybugs started as larvae. I learned something too!
Their home, "Ladybug Land". It was nice and enclosed with no way for them to get out, that is, until I dropped the whole thing on the floor and separated the bottom from the top, but I am happy to report that no one wandered from their safe abode.
Elijah inspecting the larvae. They arrived in this little tube with folded paper scraps and they were sooo small. BTW, I didn't even know/remember that ladybugs started as larvae. I learned something too!
Their home, "Ladybug Land". It was nice and enclosed with no way for them to get out, that is, until I dropped the whole thing on the floor and separated the bottom from the top, but I am happy to report that no one wandered from their safe abode.
They grew REALLY fast as you can see from this picture.
Sophia, our A-number-1 bug lover, posing with her "pets". They looked like tiny specks when they arrived, but she immediately started naming them. it was funny.
They shed their skin several times. We did have to give them drops of water, but that was it. It was really easy to "grow" them! Most of them have hatched into full grown ladybugs now. I'll have to get a picture of them when we release them into the wild habitat of our backyard soon...if I don't accidentally kill them before that. :)
Busy, busy, busy
We've been soooo busy as is the custom with the month of May. Every May seems to be just the same, crazy busy! So far we have hosted friends a time or 4, had Mother's day at our house, are hosting a baby shower tomorrow night and a 30th birthday for my sis next week (love ya Abs, but I'll always be younger, ha! :)). We've weeded, planted, preened, ebayed, finished school, went to a HS convention to name a few others with even more activities for the second half of the month than the first. I love people and I love parties so it's all good!
I think it's easy on blogs to talk about all the nice rosy thing that are happening so just to keep it real I'd like to take this opportunity to list the other things that we have been doing lately. I do this to be authentic but also as a record to my children so that someday when they are parents they will see that they were just as needy as their own kids are. ;) I also want to remember what it was really like when my kids were little. I think it could be an easy thing to forget and I want to remember.
A Sample day:
Wake up
Read Bible/pray to the tune of the screaming 1 year old. It seems that I just can't beat him in the morning. The earlier I wake up the earlier he does, it's like he has a radar system or something.
5 yr old wakes up and interrupts. Isn't it hard to "be spiritual" while saying, "puleese be quiet, I'm trying to spend time with God"? It just seems funny after saying it a time or 10. Your concentration is totally lost and it's just funny.
Send the 5 yr old slave to play with screaming one year old b/c he's starting to sound a little desperate.
Finish getting ready which does not include showering. I used to think it was gross to not shower daily and maybe it is, but that was B.C. (before children). It's just a waste of time, not to mention a gold mine for mischievous kids. :)
Check on 1 yr old and 5 yr old to be greeted with the most horrendous stench of your life. Pick up one year old and realize something is desperately wrong. Change diaper. See poop. See poop on clothes, onesie, changing pad and your fingers and soon to be flung onto floor. Gag and almost toss the breakfast you haven't had yet. :) Scrape off child and rush him to bathtub.
Oh, I forgot to mention, the day started with 5 yr old waking up at 6 a.m. b/c of a nightime accident.
Put all children in tub as 3 yr old has awakened.
Bathe children.
Put in second load of laundry. I had already put Sophia's in the laundry earlier. Almost barf yet again.
Have breakfast which is a very messy feat in and of itself.
Read to children. While reading hear clanging sound in kitchen. Look over to see one year old sitting at table. See salt. See salt on table, chair, floor, and child. Clean salt. Forget what you are doing. Walk around house in stupor while someone is yelling for help in the restroom and someone else is getting into something else and calling your name. Insert line, "there's only one Mommy" or "just a minute" or "I'll be right there, I have to help so and so first". :)
Eat lunch somewhere in there. Revel in the filth that covers the floor. And we thought the house was left dirty by the forclosed homeowners. That was CLEAN compared to now. Wonder why you don't care about floor and why everything is sooo messy. Remind self that "cooking and cleaning can wait, but children don't".
Go to park and watch as children mercilessly try to step on bugs and butterflies and chase a poor baby bird away from his mother so they can "catch him". Slide down slides and have fun. Enjoy the fact that one year old can easily manuver the playground. Him being active has its perks. :)
Walk children home as two older ones start to cry and fuss all the way home because one was up way.too.early and the other is ready for a nap.
Corral and get everyone into their beds. Dress baby in t shirt and diaper because it's hot. Sit down to rest for a minute and hear said baby crying. 5 yr old is up. Spend time with her doing a craft project for baby shower. Baby cries louder and louder. Time to check on baby.
Go into baby's room see diaper. See diaper on floor. See peepee everywhere including sheet, crib, bumper, blankets, all over baby who is very unhappy about his state. Give baby another bath.
Make dinner, etc., etc., etc. The rest is a blur. There was a lot more in there, but I can't remember it all.
Snuggle sweet sleepy baby before bed and wonder what you would ever do without him. Tuck in big sister and wonder how she got to be such a big girl. Go downstairs and be thankful for some quiet time...oh wait, did someone want a drink of water? Haha, no one really asked me for water, they asked Daddy. :)
Mommyhood can be craziness, but it's good. Like we learned tonight, it's the WORK God has for me and it's a great job. To all the Mommy's reading, you're doing a great job. It's hard work, and it seems pointless and is demanding sometimes, but it is important. My last secret pal was such an encouragement to me. She would often write and say, "you're doing a great job". Sometimes a Momma just needs a little encouragement. You aren't the only one with rammy kids, a messy house, and shriveled up peas under your kitchen table. Just caring for your children and teaching them by your life about loving God is so important. They see an example through our everyday care of them even if you aren't doing anything but the daily tasks that make up life. This is life and life is good because this is what He wants me to do and it is important.
I think it's easy on blogs to talk about all the nice rosy thing that are happening so just to keep it real I'd like to take this opportunity to list the other things that we have been doing lately. I do this to be authentic but also as a record to my children so that someday when they are parents they will see that they were just as needy as their own kids are. ;) I also want to remember what it was really like when my kids were little. I think it could be an easy thing to forget and I want to remember.
A Sample day:
Wake up
Read Bible/pray to the tune of the screaming 1 year old. It seems that I just can't beat him in the morning. The earlier I wake up the earlier he does, it's like he has a radar system or something.
5 yr old wakes up and interrupts. Isn't it hard to "be spiritual" while saying, "puleese be quiet, I'm trying to spend time with God"? It just seems funny after saying it a time or 10. Your concentration is totally lost and it's just funny.
Send the 5 yr old slave to play with screaming one year old b/c he's starting to sound a little desperate.
Finish getting ready which does not include showering. I used to think it was gross to not shower daily and maybe it is, but that was B.C. (before children). It's just a waste of time, not to mention a gold mine for mischievous kids. :)
Check on 1 yr old and 5 yr old to be greeted with the most horrendous stench of your life. Pick up one year old and realize something is desperately wrong. Change diaper. See poop. See poop on clothes, onesie, changing pad and your fingers and soon to be flung onto floor. Gag and almost toss the breakfast you haven't had yet. :) Scrape off child and rush him to bathtub.
Oh, I forgot to mention, the day started with 5 yr old waking up at 6 a.m. b/c of a nightime accident.
Put all children in tub as 3 yr old has awakened.
Bathe children.
Put in second load of laundry. I had already put Sophia's in the laundry earlier. Almost barf yet again.
Have breakfast which is a very messy feat in and of itself.
Read to children. While reading hear clanging sound in kitchen. Look over to see one year old sitting at table. See salt. See salt on table, chair, floor, and child. Clean salt. Forget what you are doing. Walk around house in stupor while someone is yelling for help in the restroom and someone else is getting into something else and calling your name. Insert line, "there's only one Mommy" or "just a minute" or "I'll be right there, I have to help so and so first". :)
Eat lunch somewhere in there. Revel in the filth that covers the floor. And we thought the house was left dirty by the forclosed homeowners. That was CLEAN compared to now. Wonder why you don't care about floor and why everything is sooo messy. Remind self that "cooking and cleaning can wait, but children don't".
Go to park and watch as children mercilessly try to step on bugs and butterflies and chase a poor baby bird away from his mother so they can "catch him". Slide down slides and have fun. Enjoy the fact that one year old can easily manuver the playground. Him being active has its perks. :)
Walk children home as two older ones start to cry and fuss all the way home because one was up way.too.early and the other is ready for a nap.
Corral and get everyone into their beds. Dress baby in t shirt and diaper because it's hot. Sit down to rest for a minute and hear said baby crying. 5 yr old is up. Spend time with her doing a craft project for baby shower. Baby cries louder and louder. Time to check on baby.
Go into baby's room see diaper. See diaper on floor. See peepee everywhere including sheet, crib, bumper, blankets, all over baby who is very unhappy about his state. Give baby another bath.
Make dinner, etc., etc., etc. The rest is a blur. There was a lot more in there, but I can't remember it all.
Snuggle sweet sleepy baby before bed and wonder what you would ever do without him. Tuck in big sister and wonder how she got to be such a big girl. Go downstairs and be thankful for some quiet time...oh wait, did someone want a drink of water? Haha, no one really asked me for water, they asked Daddy. :)
Mommyhood can be craziness, but it's good. Like we learned tonight, it's the WORK God has for me and it's a great job. To all the Mommy's reading, you're doing a great job. It's hard work, and it seems pointless and is demanding sometimes, but it is important. My last secret pal was such an encouragement to me. She would often write and say, "you're doing a great job". Sometimes a Momma just needs a little encouragement. You aren't the only one with rammy kids, a messy house, and shriveled up peas under your kitchen table. Just caring for your children and teaching them by your life about loving God is so important. They see an example through our everyday care of them even if you aren't doing anything but the daily tasks that make up life. This is life and life is good because this is what He wants me to do and it is important.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Visitation Wounds
Graeme took the kids on visitation the other week and they both fell and hurt themselves within minutes of starting on their assignment. I think he's a brave hero for taking two small children. ;) They had a great time with Daddy, and Graeme took these pictures to document their experience.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Little Men
Friday night Graeme came home late and had to had to mow the lawn. We were starting to get multiple flyers left on our door from lawn companies. You know it's bad when the only part of your lawn that is green are the clovers. :)
Elijah woke up and needed some potty help. His potty help necessitated a bath, so I started the water while I assisted him. As I was just finishing with him and my hands were in need of washing, Noah sauntered in the room in his cute little blue polo outift. He loves water and went over to the tub to put his hands under the faucet. I looked over, and watched as he started to lean over the tub. I started to panic as I saw his legs lift off the floor as he started to slide himself over the edge of the bathtub. There was nothing I could do to stop him from getting into the bath tub but say, "no, no" as my hands were a little dirty shall we say. It was such a unique moment to have one happily playing in the bathtub fully clothed. :) Sophia came in and saw Noah and said, "Mom, can I do that too?". They all had a nice bath and were all nice and clean for bedtime. I wish I could tell you that the story stops here.
Later that night when Graeme finally got inside from mowing the beast that is our lawn, he needed dinner. We got him some gourmet frozen pizza *wink* and all sat down for a little relaxin'. But wait, what's that I hear? The powder room door was left open? 2.3 seconds later Mommy is in the powder room and what should meet her eyes? It's nothing more than Noah, trying out his aquatic skills again, standing INSIDE the toilet bowl with his hands clutching the toilet seat! So much for cleanliness, clean babies, and clean clothes!
Ps. Dear Son, as I have tried to type this blog post you have headed again for the toilet (I can run faster), drank water from a vase of flowers, and pinched your fingers in the pantry door. It's only 8:30 a.m. Naptime is coming soon.
Elijah woke up and needed some potty help. His potty help necessitated a bath, so I started the water while I assisted him. As I was just finishing with him and my hands were in need of washing, Noah sauntered in the room in his cute little blue polo outift. He loves water and went over to the tub to put his hands under the faucet. I looked over, and watched as he started to lean over the tub. I started to panic as I saw his legs lift off the floor as he started to slide himself over the edge of the bathtub. There was nothing I could do to stop him from getting into the bath tub but say, "no, no" as my hands were a little dirty shall we say. It was such a unique moment to have one happily playing in the bathtub fully clothed. :) Sophia came in and saw Noah and said, "Mom, can I do that too?". They all had a nice bath and were all nice and clean for bedtime. I wish I could tell you that the story stops here.
Later that night when Graeme finally got inside from mowing the beast that is our lawn, he needed dinner. We got him some gourmet frozen pizza *wink* and all sat down for a little relaxin'. But wait, what's that I hear? The powder room door was left open? 2.3 seconds later Mommy is in the powder room and what should meet her eyes? It's nothing more than Noah, trying out his aquatic skills again, standing INSIDE the toilet bowl with his hands clutching the toilet seat! So much for cleanliness, clean babies, and clean clothes!
Ps. Dear Son, as I have tried to type this blog post you have headed again for the toilet (I can run faster), drank water from a vase of flowers, and pinched your fingers in the pantry door. It's only 8:30 a.m. Naptime is coming soon.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
First Sentences
Fitting in with his persona was Noah's first sentence last night. While sitting in his car seat getting ready to leave for church he uttered, "I wanna get out"! That's my boy! His second sentence came later in the evening when we sat down for a snack before bed. This time, "I want more"! Food and freedom. Noah personified. :)
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