Waiting

I haven't been writing much at all lately. I miss it. I have found myself substituting status on FB as a quickly way to update, however fear how much I'm forgetting to jot down the fun things in life in a permanent place.

We have 16 days from today for our official "due date" for this little man. And honestly I wouldn't be offended if he decided to make his appearance a little sooner. I have always loved being pregnant, however have found myself sick, hurting to the point of barely walking or struggling with migraines for the past 8 1/2 months. It has been discouraging and exhausting all in one. Thank goodness we moms tend to forget all that when we hold that precious little baby and kiss and smell their warm little heads and chubby fingers and rock their tiny bodies against us as they sleep so contently. We look forward to the gift of a new baby and selfishly I'm looking forward to walking normally again:)

I don't want to forget

I have not been good at keeping up with my journaling. Life has gotten busy, but those little precious moments and comments still come and I so want to remember them verses letting them be lost.

---------------

After going to see a friend's 5 day old baby, on the way home, I asked Gabby if it made her excited about our little one coming in just 8 weeks. She said, "Well, I'd be more excited if it was a girl, but ya get what ya get."

---------------

Each of the kids have a prayer journal and once every week or so we go back thru and cross off anything we have received an answer on or changed our minds about. This morning after Brian and I's time together and marking off several requests, he commented, "It's so cool. It's like almost anything I add to the prayer list and pray about gets an answer. I should totally pray more."

Which allowed me to mark off a little request for Brian to understand the power of prayer off my list.

---------------

Wyatt has turned a corner on his communication. While once a very quiet little man, he now is talking non stop. He is also said quite a few very cute, (only because it is coming from a 3 year olds mouth), little comments.

"No way Jose!"
"Oh, that's just GREAT!" (in a sarcastic tone)
"Hey woman!" (referring to me)
"That is absolutely amazing."
And tattling on me to dad...."mom poked my eye out and won't give it back."

God Smacks

God Smacks is what we call it when someone does something they shouldn't have and appears to get away with it, only it ends up having a negative outcome in the end. Some would call this karma. Some God Smacks this week:

*Made a cake and butter cream frosting. Left the room and explicit instructions for no one to taste the frosting. Come by to find someone had taken a finger full of what they thought was white frosting in a little bowl on the counter. I'm sure they were surprised to taste Crisco.

*Every time I make Chicken Enchiladas I hear, "They are really good, but not as good as Aunt Gina's". So tonight I added her secret touch of running the chicken thru the blender. We do smoothies often, so at the sound of the blender, kids came running begging for just a spoonful. When I turned my back, Wyatt had taken off with the entire bowl of chicken filling with green chilies. I'm guessing definitely not the smoothie he was hoping for.

Thank you Lord for keeping my back with these kiddos.

My Own Secret Garden

We went and watched the play "The Secret Garden" although it made into a musical and with heavy British accents, overall I would have to say it was...long and not at all like the movie we rented. Not to mention we sat in the balcony. In an old building. We lots of other people. And you all know how little I like that sort of setting. The kids did great to sit thru the 90 minutes. However, it was a play and an experience to enjoy. Plus it was free:)

You would think that I would learn to check all the pockets when I have 3 boys to wash laundry for in this house. But I haven't. Here is a picture of my own private secret garden of goodies in my washer tonight.

14 Crayons, 14 water balloons, 12 screws, 54 cents, 2 ponytail holders (my fault), 2 ink pens, 1 marble, 1 nail, 1 key and yes, 1 razor blade.

Little Escapee

How can a 2 year old get in the front yard when we have a chain on the front door?

Those are the cushions off the couch.

Things I don't like to hear...

For your listening pleasure: Click Here.

Mom! Wook et me!


Hey, I'm up at the ER......


Hey, I'm up at the Washington County Sheriff's office.....


Mom, the cat pooped on the trampoline.


Mom, here's your hairbrush back, I used it on the cat.


SPIDER!


I went pee without using my hands (so said the boy).

Easy on the Eyes

Our "bug man" is a friend ours. He is very nice, does a great job and rather easy on the eyes. He was here to spray the house this morning and I knew the girls had took notice of Mr. Eye Candy previously after I told them that Ken would be here in 2 hours, and when it had been exactly two hours, Gabby announced that he was officially late. When he did show up, on the way to the door, I turned and said to the girls, "Make sure to be..." and Gabby interrupted with, "Cute." I said, "No. Polite." And then I did a double take and laughed as I watched her adjust her headband and smooth her hair. Oh, brother.


As Ken sprayed around the house he was joined by two chatty little girls following his every step. Gabby even came in and got the keys to unlock the back gates for him so it would be easier than going around the house. Makensie tried to pull her stackable storage unit away from the wall to help out and at every turn there were 2 little girls assisting. Brian was completely unaffected by this exciting event and continued on with his cars.


Even as Mr. EC was leaving, Makensie was following him out the front door offering him candy. I thought to myself. "Gee, I wonder if my girls have some little crushes."


Makensie and Gabby joined me in the kitchen and Gabby said, "He's very nice, huh?"

I answered, "Yes he is."

Then she said, "He's very cute too, huh?"

hmmm. "Yes, he is a nice looking man."

Makensie then asks, "Is his wife still alive?"

I had to stop and decided whether to continue the conversation or laugh. I told her that yes, his wife was still alive, and asked her, "why? Were you hoping to marry him?"

She started stumbling all over and said, "oh, no. Nothing like that. Just wondering."

Then Gabby wanted to know, "How old will he be will I turn 18?"

"He'll probably be 45 years old." I answered.

"Oh GROSS!" was Gabby's reply

This was the end of the conversation.

3 Birds with 1 Stone

I asked the kids what their favorite thing about the new house was and while their reasons were all different the item of favor was the same...

Makensie: The tree in the backyard to climb on and it's pretty pink flowers.

Gabby: The tree in the backyard to climb on so I can see the neighbors horse.

Brian: The tree in the backyard to climb up so I can pee way up high.

Sweet Makensie

I have so many things that I have written down that I want to journal about that are swimming through my head that I'm having a difficult time seperating all my thoughts.

Makensie has given me several reasons to smile recently.

*As I'm swatting what seems like hundred's of flies that have invaded our home from leaving the back door open for a couple of hours...Makensie says, "Ahhh, how sweet. One of the flies is giving the other a ride on his back." SPLAT!

*I got a single Always Pad sample in the mail. Brian opened it and asked what it was, Makensie explained, "It is a diaper for grown ups. They have to wear it so they don't pee the bed at night." He seemed fine with that answer, so I let well enough alone.

*Gabby asks me how it is possible that a baby starts to grow in your tummy. Makensie explained, "Boys have seeds and when they kiss their wife it goes up through their mouth and into the mouth of the momma and then plants in their bellies. That's why you don't kiss until you are married." They both seemed fine with that answer, as was I, so I'll leave well enough alone until further notice.

*I was talking with friend A and she mentioned that a volunteer, let's call her friend B, had lost her husband. I went over to friend C's house later to pick something up. I explained that friend C would not be joining us that night because of her husband. (He had to work late). Makensie felt so sorry for them and explained to Gabby in a panic, "Landon's daddy died!" (This would be friend C's husband). I did have to explain this entire situation and previous conversation over about 5 times before we were all on the same page.

*And finally, while trying to get out the door, I'm brushing Makensie's hair, Wyatt was up on the countertop trying to catch Jennifer, the hampster, or "hennifur" as he calls her. Brian is yelling at him to, "Close it!" Wyatt is yelling back in some kind of gibberish translated as "leave me alone!" I say, "Brian, do not talk to him like that, be gentle." Makensie who has her back to scene and has no idea why Brian is saying "close it" thinks he is upset with Wyatt's yelling, and tells Brian, "We don't say 'close it', we say, 'put a sock in it!' ". Absolutely. That sounds much more polite. :)

Like Father Like Son

I had gone upstairs to do our monthly thorough cleaning of the playroom and kids rooms. They have been responsible for doing this themselves and I have to admit I had slacked greatly in doing complete room checks. Thinking they were old enough, they knew what was expected. Just quickly looking around for major problems when we were headed to bed, and would "get it clean tomorrow". So as mess attracts mess, it soon grew out of control and I just couldn't take it any longer. So 3 hours later we had completed the playroom and 1/2 of Makensie's room. The play room wasn't that bad, just some play kitchen food and a couple of books left on the floor...except for 3 large trash bags I found stashed in the closet. What do we have here? Oh wonderful. It's everything that had been on the floor when Gabby had to clean her room last week. This child of mine is a bigger pack rat than me. She has the same, "but I might be able to use that somewhere someday" syndrome. And since she was at Grandma's this week, I was able to purge some items I've seen her digging out of the trash in times before. There were those plastic Easter Eggs you fill, broken crayons (because we don't have enough already?), empty lip gloss containers, every single picture she has colored out of coloring books, about 100 fashion plate dolls on dozen of now crumpled up papers, clean clothes, dirty clothes, shoes, Polly pockets, shells, rocks, her hanging light, part of her wall shelf, (were you redecorating?) empty cups, 3 pair of scissors (and yet you never know where my scissors have gone), notebooks, barbies, some of Brian's Hot Wheels, and about 20 hangers. I love this artistic little thing so much. She would much rather be coloring or creating than cleaning, and who wouldn't?

Makensie's room wasn't so great. In in the words of Brian, "This place is a dump!" Makensie obviously offended says, "That's not very nice." Brian explains, "Well, I have to act like daddy for 7 days so I can get my Griffin Glass stuff back." Nice, and yet I have hopes that my kids will grow to be civil with Allen as their dad? (Prov 10:5-he was lazy with something and was stripped of something that he was proud of). Makensie's vanity was covered in "special things", drawers full of outgrown clothes (am I the only one impressed with the tote in each closet to put clothes and toys in that you no longer want? I thought it was a great idea!) But this like quiet creature had been using underneath her bed as a 5th drawer and the alcoves and bottoms of her closets to acquire her dirty laundry. (Don't worry, we can use that hamper as a vase! Don't we all gather ALL our dirty clothes and All our hangers EVERYDAY?) It's on the room chores schedule and I remind them all and see them all bringing armfuls to the laundry room. Why bring some and not all? Why take a shirt off the hanger and leave it hanging? To get to know the other lonely hangers already left behind?

I just don't understand how they can make as big of messes as they do with the little amount of time they spend upstairs. Our next home will be all one level. From the time they get up they come downstairs. They drag some toys with them and they want to be in the kitchen at the counter, or table...close range of momma. While tiring at times and I've heard myself saying many times over..."Why don't you go play in your rooms? Don't you like your toys? Do you know how lucky you are to have your own room and a playroom?" And off they head for, 20 minutes? Then quilt sinks in for me scurrying them off. We have a nice schedule going so they don't have free time all day long and we have quiet time for them to be alone.

I just have to be more disciplined to check daily as to whether the clean laundry was put away, or dropped on the floor at the foot of the bed, if the clothes were hung up or just put in the closet. I don't like discipline, but enjoy new consequences. I have long said that proverbs has most the answers in the Bible for ways to discipline that are rememberable. So...Pro 13:4, we have a "Buy Back Box". For each chore the kids complete they earn 1-3 rocks. Empty Dishwasher: 3, take out the recycling: 1, etc. Each time I pick up something of theirs, if it is damaged from lack of care, I charge them a rock and toss it. If it is still in good condition, I fine them a rock for me picking it up and they have to buy it from me (with a rock). Know what I found? Most of the items that go into the BBB never leave. They just are worth the rock to get them back, so once the box is full it moves to the yard sale corner. I need to be better at rewarding good character rather than just correcting the poor. So my goal is to take better notes and make sure that our Family Feast is one full of rewards and recognition for what good did come. Also Prov 13:4.

I am so thankful that in spite of all my mistakes, my kids would rather sit playing at my feet to be close than choose to hide out in their rooms by themselves.

Smile!

Gabby had her kindergarten graduation last week and she got a Barbie digital camera as her gift. She is always asking me to take a picture of something, so felt this was a good responsible gift for her. Me taking a picture for her, wouldn't be a burden if....we had a camera. Yes folks, we had the disposable camera. I love having one in the diaper bag and my purse, but for good pictures, sorry, it just got frustrating. Plus I would pay $8 to develop a roll only to discover that Allen took 5 pictures of the exact same thing to make sure 1 turned out good, or that one of the kids tried to take a picture of the floor or the teeth of the other kids, or I took 3 pictures of really nothing just so I could take the film in to get developed. Ugh. So this past week, we invested in a camera ourselves. Now hopefully, Wyatt being the 4th won't grow up to think he was adopted when he was 2 from a lack of pictures proving otherwise. So...of course we've heard a lot of "Smile" lately. Gabby said yesterday, "mom, smile. I want to take a picture of you." As I was waiting for the click she adds, "that way when you die, I'll remember you."

Seperation of Church and State

The older kids are memorizing the books of the Old Testament. Brian was reciting them yesterday:

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

California

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Makensie's party went really well. The girls were all so cute. They came in PJ's and played on the trampoline for a bit then they dressed up and danced to a couple of Hannah Montana videos (actually the same video a couple of times as I couldn't find the DVD remote which leads me to question if the baby helped pick up and threw them away). Then we had pizza from Eureka Pizza (little promo here...if you haven't you need to visit their website. You can enter to win free pizzas. Also, you can enter each of your family members on the month of their birthday you get a free pizza. Plus you get points with each purchase that can add towards free pizza. Now we live about 3 houses behind Eureka and while it is a blessing to walk up and pick up supper, it can also be a curse to constantly have to smell pizza each night...especially those nights when I'm really tired and don't feel like cooking and those days when we're having something like tuna cassarole...tuna/pizza/tuna/pizza...pizza is just always better!) Then the girls made sugar scrubs. Then we moved onto our little slumber party again and painted each others fingernails and toenails and fingers and toes and floor. Then we have the cake and opened presents. The cake turned out really cute and it was way too sweet. As Makensie wanted brownies layered with ice cream in the middle, topped with frosting. Oh well. It was still good and we all had fun. The whole event from planning to working on the thank yous has been a lot of fun. So I might just become one of those moms that have parties for each of her kids...or at least more often than I've had them in the past.

Cat Scratch Fever

Brian ran in the house out of breath, huffing with excitement and in his not so inside voice yells, "mom! I need your fingernail sharpeners!" (aka fingernail file) I gave him the file and asked, "so, why are you "sharpening" your nails?" He tells me, "I need to climb a tree!"

It's A Miracle

Brian has never liked Mayonnaise. He would rather eat his sandwiches dry than have to eat it. So a couple of weeks ago when he was at Grandma's, she mentioned that she had taken him to Subway and he ate the entire sandwich and then told her that he guessed he did like mayonnaise after all. So yesterday I went to fix sandwiches for lunch and he insisted on NO mayonnaise.

I said, "I thought grandma said you liked it at her house."

He tells me, "I do like mayonnaise, just not the Super mayonnaise."

"What? Awww, you mean Miracle Whip."

Hooked on Phonics

So far this week we have had several interesting conversations over our phonics lessons.

Brian has started, as he turned 5 and thinks he is now ready to start school. I'll take him while he's interested. He's actually doing really well with all 4 lessons he has under his belt and is sounding out a couple of 3 letter words.

Gabby taught me the importance of phonics accuracy when sounding out such words as "shot".

Makensie taught me that our redneckism is ingrained into her very being. After sounding out the word "shot" correctly, I asked her to use it in a sentence.
"I shot the deer!"
"Ok, that is one form of shot, good job." Then I asked her, "Can you think of another type of shot?"
She says, "Here kitty, kitty, boom! Now I shot the cat!"
Ok. Moving on.

How to win an argument.

Brian and Gabby were getting a little heated with each other as they debated over who got to be Captain Jack Sparrow.
Gabby: It was my idea to play in the 1st place.
Brian: But I have the sword.
Gabby: But we are playing in MY room.
Brian: But captains are usually boys.
Gabby: OK. But we have to poke out your eye then, because Captains usually only have one eye.
Brian: fine. You can be the Captain.

Finally some stories about Makensie

Usually all the funny and silly little things that happen around here are thanks to Gabby smarting off or Brian exercising his boyish tendencies, while Makensie is my sugar and spice. She is either quietly stirring up strife or being the other momma and caring for Wyatt and her babies, helping me cook and just chatting along with me.

Tuesday night we had a girls night out just her and I. We went to a mom and daughter Mary Kay facial and then afterwards we shared a coke float at A&W. I enjoyed asking her question after question about what she enjoys, her dreams, her wants. She is so precious, while the other kids would list a page of toys she hopes to go to Africa to work with the poor someday. She is so sweet. How can she be the same one who drives me to the edge of madness sometimes with her talking back and rebellion?

Yesterday we handed out candy to the kids walking downtown and have plenty left over, guess what everyone's getting for Christmas? So before we started we had a little talk to just give 1 bar or peice to each kid walking by to make sure everyone got one. So our 1st visitors were some friends of ours. Makensie put one piece in her bag and then the little girl asked for a different kind that she liked better and took one. Makensie very politely said, "That is fine, but can I get that other peice back then?" I made sure to step in and let her know that was fine.

When we were all sitting outside handing out and greeting the trick-or-treaters, Makensie had went in the shop to use the restroom, and after several minutes comes running out dripping of water. "Somethings happened in the bathroom, I just barely touched it." I took off running as fast as a heavy girl can and looked in to see water spraying up to the ceiling. After turning off the water valve I realized that she had tried to use the squirt hose beside the sink and the sprayer part came off. So the bathroom was flooded. Poor baby, she is always the one things like this happen to.

Finally as we took the kids for their turn to trick or treat, a friend of mine gave them each a homemade sugar cookie cut and decorated like pumpkins, very cute. Makensie had eaten half of hers and then when we got in the van offered the remainder to Allen. I thought...Ok....Thanks! He said, "Thank you Makensie, that was really yummy." I told her, "And very thoughtful to share with daddy." She said sweetly, "Yeah, I dropped it on the way to the car and it landed icing side down and didn't want it." I burst out laughing of course and was quite grateful she didn't offer it to me.

I have the Perfect Child

Last night after our devotions we started prayer time and we've been talking about the ACTS of prayer. Adoration (I love you Lord because...) Confession (I'm sorry Lord for...) Thankgiving (Thank you Lord for...) Supplication/stuff (Please Lord...((others 1st then, then selves)).

They are really catching on but still ask sometime which order they are in. Gabby was praying and then asked, "What comes next?" I told her, "I'm sorry Lord for..." She starting shaking her head and waiving me on. "What comes after that? I was perfect today."

Just Silly Random Sayings

In my earlier days when I worked at a night club, I had a pin on advertising "Tequilla Rose" liquor. Some guy says, "Tequilla Rose. I like your name." I decided right then that if I ever ended up needing a porn star name (let's pray not) that this will be my name.


While eating outside at Braums in the picnic area. I glanced over to see Gabby was on top of the table dancing like some girl on Soul Train...when did she see that?! and Makensie was taking pictures with her camera. Let's pray also that none of my children ever need a tag name.


Conversation with Gabby over last set of shots:
her: Why do I have to have them?
me: to keep you from getting really sick and die or end up paralyzed.
her: What is paralyzed?
Me: when you can’t walk ever again and have to be in a wheel chair.
her: (silent thinking)
me: (silent pat on the back for the ultimate scare method approach)
her: ok, but will you push me in the wheel chair?


Brian didn't want to eat supper the other night because he thought it was "yucky". Allen tells him, "Son, I'm sorry, I have to eat yucky things all the time."


Makensie tells me last night, "mom, even though there are better moms out there, you're the best mom for me." Ahhh thanks...wait...thanks, I think?


Brian asked me, "What will happen if I escape from Jail?" Why? What do you have planned for today my precious son?


Wyatt was sleeping peacefully in the swing for a nap, however his head was slumped over to the side. I started towards him and Brian came up and says, "ooooh" in the sweetest little concerned brother voice and walked towards the swing. I decided to let Brian set Wyatt's head up because I thought that was his intention. However, Brian walks up and then screams, "RRRRRRaaahh" as loud as any 4 year old can, then starts hysterically laughing at how much Wyatt jumped. Now I'm understanding the jail question.