Good Mother

I did what any good mother would do after finding my kitchen floor had been fingerpainted with four different dipping sauces, sprinkled with an entire box of baking cocoa, and topped off with a bag of chocolate chips...I invited the boys who weren't involved in making the mess to finish off the chocolate chips while the offending little boy watched.

That's what you would have done, right?

4:14 PM - Jun. 11, 2009 - comments {2} - post comment

Snake-Killer

Snakes and snails

and puppy dog tailes

That's what little boys are made of.

He is the mighty snake-killer protecting the homefront from a ferocious band of baby snakes. My oldest son killed his second snake this morning. He was leading his younger brothers on an worm hunting exhibedition and uncovered a baby snake. The boys came hollering into the kitchen for me to see the slithering snake on our driveway. That's when my oldest chopped his head off...sort of.

Then he was put into service to kill the scorpion my second son found in our bedroom. It was a busy morning.

1:20 PM - Apr. 15, 2009 - comments {4} - post comment

Becoming a Man

My husband has been using simple questions and answers to teach our little boys about becoming men. For example my husband will say, "Son, what does a man do?" and the son is supposed to reply, "A man talks to God."

My little boys are really enjoying this time to learn from daddy, but my three year old doesn't always get the answers right. Here's how the conversation when this morning.

Dad: Son, what does a man do?

Son: A man talks to...?

Dad: You know who a man talks to.

Son: A man talks to...LADIES!

Looks like we have a heartbreaker on our hands.

7:37 AM - Apr. 10, 2009 - comments {2} - post comment

First Day of April

Today the boys and I spent the morning playing pranks on our family. We drove all around town and had some very playful fun. Here's what we did:

- stuck 100 plastic forks into my parents' yard (The little boys LOVED it)

-superglued three coins to my in-laws garage floor. My father-in-law would stop a car in traffic in order to pick up stray change on the side of the road. So, imagining him trying to pull those pennies off the floor is hilarious.

- went to hubby's work and wrote messages with soap on his truck windows. His company really needs to fire its corporate security!

-my son wanted to make lunch so he boiled some eggs. Before serving mine, he dipped in clear hot sauce. NOT funnY! :)

6:09 PM - Apr. 1, 2009 - comments {3} - post comment

Mama's Prayers to Fend Off Insanity

I had many opportunities to pray today. I'm sure you will too as you love and serve your family. Here are the prayers that I lifted up to Jesus as I went through my day.

When met at the front door with a pile of muddy shoes...

"Lord, thank you for providing these shoes for our boys, your provision is always sufficient. Thank you for the memories that they made while playing with their brothers and mucking around in the beautiful yard that You have given us. Yes, thank you for these precious boys, even if they are complete slobs who track mud all over my kitchen floor."

When facing a pile of clean laundry that needs to be folded...

"Lord, please be with the wearer of these clothes. I ask that your supernatural annointing would be upon this silver guitar t-shirt, so that when he wears this, he is guarded, protected, and lead by the Spirit. And Father, when he takes it off, I pray that your annointing would land IN the hamper, not beside it."

9:52 PM - Mar. 9, 2009 - comments {1} - post comment

Fun Boys

Aren't you tired of political posts? Have a look at some handsome boys.

They have their creative Aunt Sissy to thank for the rockin smocks.

8:15 PM - Jan. 27, 2009 - comments {2} - post comment

Potty Training

We are potty training the two two-year-olds today. The younger just turned two and the older will be three at the end of the month. The older has been somewhat potty-trained. It was shortly after the baby was born, and he continued having accidents for a few weeks, so I just put him back in a diaper. I'm sure his progress has been hampered to some degree.

I'm not sure if the younger two year old is ready to be potty trained. He always asks to go to the potty, like his big brothers. The four year old has been potty trained for over a year, but has been having nighttime accidents. I feel like we've been swimming in pee-pee sheets lately. Plus, when he pees all over the toilet, so I have to retrain him too. If you think of it, pray for us today.

8:07 AM - Jan. 5, 2009 - comments {3} - post comment

Hard Working Boy

There's nothing like a hard-woking boy to make a mama smile.  This is an exciting time as my oldest grows into a young man. We are trying to give him plenty of opportunity to do away with childish things and to be influenced by grown men rather than peers. He has learned woodorking, hunting, lawn maintenance, and many other manly skills from his dad and two grandpas.

Here he is working on a project for me. He is making a faux frame for the large maps in our schoolroom. He bought himself a miter box for the project, with money that he earned mowing grass. Seriously, the boy always has more cash than his mama.

A month ago we had a strong wind storm that knocked down the top of a pine tree and laid it out over our driveway. All I had to do was ask my sons to take care of the problem, and they did.  The oldest hacked the twelve foot tree section into smaller lengths, my four year old loaded the wheelbarrow, and the little ones carried the itsiest branches to the burn pile.

Moms have to give boys a chance to be men. Give them real jobs with real tools. Give them plenty of chances to fail or chop their fingers off. It will make them stronger.

Here's a great post that discusses how to grow young men. Another great resource for moms is the audio sermon by SM Davis titled "What to Expect from a Twelve Year Old".

2:09 PM - Jan. 2, 2009 - comments {5} - post comment

That's What Little Boys are Made Of

Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails,

that's what little boys ae made of.

(Oh, and mud...too!)

4:37 PM - Oct. 10, 2008 - comments {5} - post comment

Kids on a Mountain

Hubby is still on paternity leave, so yesterday we took the kids to a nearby mountain to play and explore. We had a bit of a photo shoot while up there. Clearly, everyone involved was ecstatic.

11:03 AM - Oct. 2, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Just for Fun

Here are my boys. Aren't they adorable. I love this old swing. Its about to fall apart, and everytime I sit on it, I wonder if it will be my last. My dad put this swing in when the house still belonged to them. When my husband and I were dourting (dating/courting), we would sit on it and talk. (we kissed too!)

4:18 PM - Aug. 5, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment

Kid Quotes

10yo: "Mom, I really wish I lived in Roman times."

Mom: "Oh yeah. Why?" (I'm thinking he will say something deep about living during the times of Jesus or enjoying the Roman culture.

10yo: "The Roman calendar was only 10 months long. My birthday would come around a lot faster!"

3:07 PM - Jul. 31, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Spontaneity - Repost

I posted this originally in February of 2007. I am not up for any original or humorous writing at this time, so I went searching for something that I could repost for my huge internet audience. (haha) At the time that I wrote this my 20 mos old was a newborn and my 4 yo was 2 1/2. Oh wow...it seems like forever.

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Spontaneity was once a friend of mine.  We hung out often and always had fun.  Then the babies started coming, and coming quickly, and she slowly stepped out of my life.  This morning, it was dreary and cold outside,  and the low, grey clouds were threatening rain.  I thought I saw of glimpse of Spontaneity as she sashayed through the house.  Yep, it was her! She came right up to me and asked me if I could play.  I realized that it had been awhile since our last playdate, and said “Sure!  Just let me get ready.”

Poor Spontaneity, she stood in the doorway tapping her foot as I changed three diapers, dressed three bodies, and called out a continuous stream of instructions to the oldest.  We worked our hardest to pack diapers, and bottles, and snacks, and even suckers in case bribery was needed.  Just as Spontaneity started huffing and puffing, we were done. Record time too, only took forty five minutes to get four kids, three diaper bags, two strollers and myself into the truck.

Our destination was the library.  There were some homeschool books that I wanted and even some Once-A-Month-Cooking books that looked useful.  Spontaneity did not approve of the latter, but was willing to go along for the ride.  Before the library we had two stops to make.  The first was to a used children’s store in search of an over-the-shoulder-baby-harness.  Even though I could easily put the baby and the 1yo in the double stroller, and let the 2yo walk, I knew that he could not, in any manner, be trusted to walk beside me in the midst of a rows upon rows of books.  My first stop paid off and I got a baby harness for $7. 

My second stop was the bank.  I needed to get cash out to pay the fine at the library.  The fines are inevitable.  Mainly because after each trip to the library with all of the children, I realize that I don’t want to do that again any time soon.  Spontaneity was getting quite impatient and started yapping loudly in my ear.  Because of her incessant talking, I forgot about the bank and went straight to the library.

I was so excited to use my newly acquired baby harness.  I unloaded the double stroller, stuck the diaper bag in the bottom, put my cell phone in the top, strapped in the 2yo, went around to the other side of the truck, strapped in the one year old, made sure my wallet and keys were in the diaper bag, situated the top straps of the baby harness, buckled the bottom straps, told the oldest to unbuckle baby, waited while the oldest unbuckled the baby, grabbed the baby, stuck his fat legs into the holes, tugged and tugged until he fit, fiddled with all the buckles and velcros and snaps until he was just right and WE WERE OFF!!

Of course, by this time, my dear friend Spontaneity was giving me ugly looks, but I just ignored her.  After all, this was fun!  It was exciting!  It was a break from the norm!  It was raining.  Ahh.  We rush across the huge parking lot, the baby is dangerously swaying back and forth in the maladjusted harness.  Finally we reach our destination.  As I pull open the doors, I see the checkout stand and remember that I forgot to go to the bank.  I almost start to cry.  Our little trip is ruined.  They won’t let me check out more book when we have a $20 fine.  They don’t take cards, I don’t carry checks, and I don’t have any cash.  Oh no!

I decide to be strong.  Instead of giving up, I head back to the truck, baby bobbing about bouncily, and reload everything that I unloaded only moments ago.  Still joyously, we drive to the bank and make a pit-stop at a fast food joint.  I figure some food will calm the kids down, and give me and Spontaneity a chance to chat.

We finally get back to the library, and I unload everything that I previously unloaded then reloaded, and we head into the door.  Our library trip was perfect.  I happily sped about picking up books on cooking and homeschooling while expertly negotiating the double-stroller and the jiggly bulge attached to my front.  Being the great mother that I was, I even let my 8yo pick out some books for himself.  All the while people were staring and some even smiled as our strange little caravan of boy, double stroller, bouncy baby harnessed to a strangely giddy mom walked past them.  I don’t think they’ve ever seen a “largish” family, especially one led by a stir-crazy-happy-to-have-escaped-the-asylum type mom.

Spontaneity was awfully proud of me as we started loading everything back into the truck.  I was still smiling, which is clear proof of an awesome trip.  The 1yo needed a diaper change, so I grabbed him out of the stroller and laid in the back of the Expedition.  As I laid him down, I felt something warm and slimy on my arm.  Then the smell began attacking my nose.  He had poopied, but not any ordinary poop.  Slimy green mucous poop that traveled up his back and onto my arm.  Ewww.  I stripped him naked, even though it was 40 degrees outside, and began to wipe poop from every little part of his body.  Fortunately the poop only got on the truck’s carpet, seat, his jacket, pants, and shirt, and me. 

By the time I cleaned him up and buckled him up, my winsome ways were gone.  My giddiness had flown out the window and Spontaneity had quietly taken her leave of me.  Oh well, I’ll see her again someday, only this time I’ll be sure to plan my playdate with her beforehand.

4:14 PM - Jul. 30, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Car Wash Day

What does a mom of four boys do on a hot day, when she has an hour to kill? She puts them to work, of course. Even a 1yo can is capable of manual labor.

Notice the detailed undercarriage work.

What a team!

4:27 PM - Jul. 9, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment

No Need for a Pacifier

This is how you get your kids to not suck on a pacifier.

8:19 PM - Jun. 23, 2008 - comments {5} - post comment

The Disaster Twins Strike Again

Thanks, Mom for the chocolate syrup. The kids love it!

5:39 PM - Jun. 3, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Another Mess

Just another example of why the disaster twins need serious tomato-staking.

10:30 AM - May. 13, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

A Boy and a Ball

Tonight my 9yo pitched his first baseball game. He loves baseball, but can be a bit awkward at times. This has been a tough season for him, as he hasn't had a single hit. He wanted to try out for pitcher at the first of the season, but the coach didn't let him. I think he thought my son was just too clumsy to be a good pitcher.

Son and hubby have been practicing at home, and my son finally got the courage to ask his coach for a chance to show him his pitching skills before the game. Well, it started out as one coach watching him, and then the coach went and got another coach. They both stood there, knodding their heads.

Later in the game, our son told us that if they scored a few more runs (ie, if the lead was big enough to take a chance on my son) the coach would  let him pitch. Before we even had the chance to blink, he was on the mound.

The smile on his face was amazing. He did so well. He struck out two batters and walked several, but he was so awesome to watch. At the end of the inning, as he left the field I could tell that he felt like a superstar. I thought to myself, that the smile on his face and the pride that he felt was better than having any of my own accomplishments.

10:27 PM - May. 8, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Tidbits

I've got pukey little ones today. Technically, I had pukey little ones last night. Today, they haven't been pukey, just not very hungry. I think I saw more than my share of vomit in the past 24 hours. I'm glad its almost over :)

This morning my 2yo refused his diaper. He said he wanted underwear. We stole a pair of his brother's and he proudly showed off his spiderman underpants. He stayed dry ALL morning. We had several trips to the potty, but nothing to show for it. Finally, before naptime I took him to the bathroom and he peed 6 inches from the toilet. Huh!

9:51 PM - May. 1, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

One Day to Go

10:16 PM - Mar. 11, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment