Beach Photos

Hubby planned a last minute trip this weekend. The boys put their feet into the icy Atlantic for the first time. Hubby challenged them to put their feet into the other three oceans before they die. I have touched the Pacific and the Atlantic (from both sides). So, I've got two more to go!  Here are some pics to enjoy.

3:33 AM - Feb. 24, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Boys and Girls

My 3yo and I were sitting on our swing outside and having a wonderful conversation about the differences between girls and boys.  He had some great insight, and a few misconceptions about girls.

Mom: What do boys do?

3yo: Boys play with trucks and go pee-pee.

Mom: Girls go pee-pee too.

3yo: No, they don't have no pen*s.

The 9yo then gave the 3yo a short and simple anatomy lesson. Hmmm...I'll have to make sure he leaves those type of lessons to me and hubby.

10:52 AM - Feb. 16, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Big Boy Bibs

My sister made the little boys big boy  bibs for Christmas. They are ADORABLE and  practical. Check them out!

10:30 AM - Dec. 28, 2007 - comments {2} - post comment

Thinning Hair and Grumpiness

My 9yo son has a way with words. The other day he came and sat next to me on my bed. He looked down at my head and said "Mom, I can see straight through to your scalp, even though you have hair. But its not BAD, like a chihuahua." So, my thinning hair is being noticed by others now. Eww...

Today, I was stomping around the house in a tiff because our Christmas tree has been utterly demolised by the littles and laundry is piling up again. I was barking orders at everyone right as hubby called. He later told me that the conversation between him and the 9yo went something like this:

dad: Hey bud!

JD: Hey.

dad: who's mom fussing at?

JD: (lowers his voice for dramatic effect) She's fussing at EVERYone dad, she's grumpy.

dad: The best thing to do when mom is grumpy is to do exactly what she's says.

JD:  I am. Its not helping.

5:04 PM - Dec. 17, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Christmas Tree Hunting

This weekend we went on our annual hunt for a Christmas tree.  Our caravan consisted of me and my hubby, our two older boys, a dog on a leash, and one large wagon with two babies.  We were quite the sight. We managed to get all of us, our gear, and our dog onto the hayride that would take us to the farm.  I'm not sure that the other passengers appreciated our gang.

Starting our trip on the hayride!

Look Dad! Christmas trees!

We're ready to go hunting!

Baby cuts his first tree down! What a man!

All finished!

2:12 PM - Dec. 5, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Fall Pictures

Here are some autumn pictures of my boys that we took yesterday.  I really need to learn how to use my camera.  I can't seem to get a crisp foreground to save my life.  My cous, whose great photos can be seen here, says the secret is to "know your camera".  I haven't learned this camera, and I can't seem to find the owner's manual.  So...here are some pics that only look  decent because they've been edited.

9:44 AM - Nov. 20, 2007 - comments {4} - post comment

Preaching to a Baby

Have you ever preached to a baby before?  I've been doing it lately, and I've been getting pretty good results.  My youngest son is 11 months old and a future gymnast.   The Hamm brothers have nothing on this kid.  He has a fully developed repetoir of backhand springs and aerial front walkovers that he performs every time I try to change his diaper.  He even manages to execute these amazing moves while I'm holding on to one of his chubby ankles. 

Fed up with baby poo on my hands and carpet, I decided to let the word of God speak to my budding Olympian.  I looked into his eyes, when I could catch a glimpse of them between stunts and said ...

"In the name of Jesus, I command you to obey me.  God's word says 'Children, obey your parents, for this is right.'  It also says that if you honor me, 'it will go well with you and you will have a long life'.  So, if you don't want your little life to end tonight, buddy, then you'd better honor me and stop this wiggling.  Jesus used his authority over the heavens and earth to still stormy waters, and I'm using my authority to still your stormy heiney.  So BE STILL."

And it worked.  That baby has the word of God in him now!  Hey, we're promised that it won't return void. 

9:37 PM - Nov. 7, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Quote of the Day

JD (9 years old):  Mom, its a lot easier to read a book than to copy one.

He said this after copying the first fifteen pages of the book, Billy and Blaze.  He started this venture on his own, and he hopes to copy the whole book by Friday.  Of course, after the day of inner-writer-turmoil that I've had, I'm thinking that I should edit his quote to say...

Its a lot easier to read a book than to write one. :) 

2:52 PM - Sep. 5, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Tusday Pictures

I'm posting these for a friend who has moved out of state.  I thought she might miss our smiling faces :)

 Here we all are at my 3yo son's birthday party.  It was a fun little family party at a pizza place.

Okay, I know what you are thinking...that woman looks nothing like the woman in the avatar picture.  Well, the avatar picture was taken while pregnant with #3, so I was about 30 lbs smaller and had that pregnant "glow".  Plus it has been photo-shopped to death.  You'll notice that my avatar pic has been cropped close, so that you can't see my double chin! :)

This is Baby Ack!  His two older brothers have aptly named him.

Here's my 18mo, nicknamed Gator.  I thought y'all would appreciate this adorable half-awake picture.

This is "The Man", he's 3yo.  This picture was taken after he and his older brother came in with these strange playdough creations on their heads.  They promptly said "Look mom!  We're FRENCH!"

My oldest and his dog, JD & Ginger.  She licks my feet and follows me everywhere.  Its kinda annoying.

8:45 AM - Aug. 21, 2007 - comments {1} - post comment

Peek-A-Boo

Its awfully hard to get a good picture of a wiggly 7 month old who really wants to grab the camera.

  Here's proof...

11:27 AM - Aug. 13, 2007 - comments {2} - post comment

A Good Day of Fishing

A few weekends ago the men in my life boarded a deep sea fishing boat and head into the ocean.  I was a bit nervous that they would all be on a boat together, but they had fun and came home safely. 

These are my guys...brother-in-law, nephew, father-in-law, dad, son, and gorgeous hubby!

Here's my dad with a great catch!  I always wanted dimples like my dads.

Here's my son and nephew, aren't they just too cute?

4:04 PM - Aug. 8, 2007 - comments {2} - post comment

Pootin' and Tootin'

Living with five men (or men in training) is beautiful symphony of noises that all seem to relate to gas.  Even the two year old loves to yell "Daddy pooted!  Mommy pooted!  I pooted!".  The 1yo has taken to making poot  noises with his mouth after anyone passes gas in his presence.  

I tried to inform the men at dinner that it just wasn't appropriate to burp or poot at the table.  After I said that, my hubby let out a poot that shook his chair and was met with a chorus of "Who rocks? Daddy rocks!"   He then did some macho-muscle-flexing, that was definately more than mildly sexy.  Like a good little flirt, I gave him a look that started out with a smirk and ended with "bedroom" eyes.  So, he won...again!

8:09 PM - Apr. 25, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Wounded Toddler

My active 2yo has his first head-wound.  He fell from our two story fort and cut his forehead on the plastic chair that he landed on.   The cut was about an inch long, and 1/4 inch deep.  It gaped open about 1/8th of an inch.   We could've gone to the hospital for stitches, but we had a better plan. 

Liquid band-aid or Nu Skin.  We used Nu-Skin.  We cleaned  the cut, and held it closed.  Then we applied the Nu-Skin.  It looks and smells exactly like clear nail polish (I'm not so sure that it isn't clear nail polish with a new label!)  It took several tries and about an hour of holding the cut closed.  Then we put a tiny bandage on and taped over the whole thing to keep his little fingers from pulling off the band-aid.  This morning, when he woke up, the gaping cut was a neat, straight line.  IT WORKED, and it only cost $2.39, rather than the $50 ER co-pay!

10:44 AM - Mar. 19, 2007 - comments {1} - post comment

Spontaneity

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.

1:34 PM - Feb. 21, 2007 - comments {2} - post comment

Four Boys

Wow...I've been the mother of four boys for one week now.  I am beyond outnumbered here, there is so much testerone floating around that I'm expecting my little ones to start smashing soda cans against their foreheads any day now.  They already expel enough flatulence to power Lithuania.  In our house, girls don't poot!  Of course, its easy to convince them of this when I'm the only girl!

We are all slowly adjusting to having a newborn around, of course, it wasn't that long ago since we had one (January of this year!)  This morning I have the boys all to myself, as hubby is helping some friends pack and move.  I hope that I'm still in a joking mood in about four hours...we'll see.

8:42 AM - Dec. 16, 2006 - comments {4} - post comment

Its a BOY!!!

The c-section went well, though the doctor had to use the vacuum extractor pretty heavily to remove him from my pelvis.  He has a huge "hickey" on his forehead that is slowly fading.  I wasn't afraid after hubby left the room like I normally am.  God was there with me and it was very peaceful.  I didn't have the same anxiety over not breathing like I had in the past. 

This recovery has been the hardest, by far.  Especially compared to my first c-section two and half years ago.   But, I guess my body deserves to be a little tender after three c-sections in two and half years.  OUCH!  Please pray for continued healing.  Also, for our family to keep adjusting to another little one.  Hubby and I both feel a little "pulled in all directions". 

12:20 PM - Dec. 13, 2006 - comments {12} - post comment

Kiddos

My two year old is learning to color.  I don't mean scribble, I mean actually put the marker on a spot and intentionally move it in a certain direction.  He even tries to write an "S" for his name.  How cool?  Hubby is getting down the preschool/kindergarten box that's up in the attic tonight.  We'll be working on colors and shapes (I have some cool BIG flashcards). 

 I'll probably teach this one to read early.  I'm going back and forth, but I won't be waiting as long as I did (or go as slow as I did) with my oldest.  I do believe that "better late than never" can be a good philosophy.  But, it would have been so nice to have an 8 year old who can take any book off of our shelf and read it independantly, without having a major breakdown.  I'll try to post some articles that cover both sides of the fence on reading (early vs late).  Its such a hard and personal decision to make.

Another positive, I've been wrangling up my rowdy boys and reading to them in my bed for awhile before naptime.  It works out nicely.  Its amazing what a big comfy bed, lots of pillows, and a book about a dog can do to a pack of wild boys. 

My eight year old is raking leaves as I type.  They are coming down with a vengenance, and every time he thinks he is done he looks around and sees more.  He called daddy and asked permission to use the electric blower.  Daddy said yes SURPRISE!  SO, shortly, I'll be hearing an annoying whirring sound as my son takes his first leap into the world of manly power tools.  Grunt grunt!

3:26 PM - Oct. 23, 2006 - comments {2} - post comment

Macaroni and Pee-Pee

My toddler is almost 2 and is most definately ready to potty train.  I have been putting it off with the last few packs of diapers.  "This will be the LAST pack of diapers."  "Okay, THIS will be the last pack of diapers..."

Anyway, I let my little man run around naked a lot.  Its hot and I'm lazy...so if he takes his 10 pound pee soaked diaper off, I don't bother putting another on.  I figure that we'll just follow the no-diaper philosophy sometimes and not others. 

So, he's naked and I'm trying to relay a grocery list to my hubby over the phone, feed the kid some mac n'cheese and hold the bottle for the baby. Rather than explode amid the chaos, I put my naked kid on a blanket next to me with his mac n'cheese.  I figured he could feed his ownself while I was talking to hubby and feeding baby.  I forgot to mention that the mac n'cheese was very hot and he hasn't completely mastered fork usage.

The mac n'cheese had barely left the bowl and was travelling precariously on the fork up to his mouth, when gravity took over and it landed right on his Mr.Winkie.  The sudden heat from the mac caused toddler to simultaneously scream and urinate.  Since the bowl of mac was right in front of him, the pee formed a beautiful arch that nailed the bowl directly in the center.  Here's where it gets funny...

I instantly yell "NO" and the pee stops.  Fearing that I've damaged his psyche and he will never be able to pee again, I start saying "Tsssssss..."  This is what I normally say when he's peeing to reinforce the action (one day it should become sort of a stimulous for him.) So, I continue to "Tssss..." and he continues to pee into his mac.  It didn't occur to me to move the bowl...

In the rush to get off the phone, put the baby to bed, and get a diaper on the kid, I almost fed him the mac n' pee.  Then I remembered that it probably wasn't too healthy and got him some more. One day he will be potty trained.

2:41 PM - Jul. 5, 2006 - comments {2} - post comment

A Funny Take on Sacrifice from a 7yo

7:33 PM - Jan. 21, 2006 - comments {3} - post comment