The Middle Son

This last week he turned 6.

He was always on the chubby side.  Then he was just big.

He was born with a birth defect that we were told was a miracle.  A miracle that he had no lasting effects.  A less than 1% chance that he is now perfectly normal.

He likes to laugh.  He really really likes to make you laugh.

He is particular and passionate, equally.  When things are not in his particular order he passionately lets you know.

He still hates to give kisses.  He says he is allergic to girls, except me.

His imagination will wow and frustrate you all at the same time.

He would rather be funny than right.

He looks the most like his father.  He acts the most like his father.  He is shy and sensitive, easily hurt but unable to tell me why.  Just like his father.

I pray I do what God will have me do for him.  I am humbled by the gift that is my middle son.  Six years seem to have flown by while I was busy being a mom.

I would like to say I wish I could have cherished them more.  But it is their brevity that makes them precious to me.  How they are all squished between diaper changes, laughter, and laundry makes them more amazing.

Happy Birthday Alex!

Thankful for Little Boys

I am thankful this week for their ability to change anything, ANYTHING into a weapon.

How they can have a running conversation on their favorite Super Car throughout the entire day.

I am thankful for a boy’s ability to memorize the features of 20+ dinosaurs and make their brothers guess at breakfast every morning for weeks on end which one they are thinking about.

I am thankful they never care if they match but if they have on a super hero shirt or truck/car/motorcycle shirt holes or not.

I am thankful for running hugs that knock the breath out of you and squished up faces that hate kisses but take them anyway.

Thank you God for these boys.  They are more than I deserve and teach me something new everyday.

Cookies and Milk for Dinner

Yup, I did it.

I made cookies and let them all eat it for dinner.

Why?  Well because it was Sunday and it was dinner time and I wanted cookies and I was tired and they wanted the cookies and they had a big lunch and I am THAT mom and any other excuse I could come up with .

I want them to remember making cookies and having fun together as brothers.  I want to also enjoy that time and not turn into Monster Mommy trying to clean and cook at the same time.  I want Sundays to be about God and rest and family and joy.  So I gave them cookies and milk for dinner.

Don’t worry it won’t happen every Sunday.  Usually we have cheesecake .

Linked up to Works For Me Wednesday over at We Are That Family

Mondays - The Jumble Of Life

There are days, weeks, months even that pass when life moves so fast you lose track of time. 

You rush the kids out the door with lunch sacks in their hands.  They need to eat in the car.  You are late.

But if you give them just a few extra minutes you will find they made those extra 5 minutes into something special.

I hope and pray they remember this today and not their crazy mommy.

Works For Me Wednesday–Pine Shelves

I love these shelves.  Currently they hold toys in one of the boy’s rooms.  They are 10 years old and show no sign of wearing out.

I purchased them at Williams & Sonoma in 2001 for storage in my home office.  When we moved they were used for a makeshift pantry in our new apartment.  Next they were used for garage storage.  After that they were used in the playroom for the same thing they are doing now. 

The shelves are adjustable too.  I can’t find them anywhere else and I would highly recommend them even though they might be more expensive.  They will certainly last.

When we put them in the playroom we bolted them to the wall.  There are 3 L-brackets on each shelf weighted at 75 lbs each.  Most full grown adults could climb one of these things.  Did I mention I have busy boys?

3 boys, 3 moves, and countless bumps & bruises but still hangin’ on beautifully.  They SO work for me!

For more WFMW thoughts and ideas go to We Are That Family at the link below.

Monday Musings

I speak often of my enthusiasm for Mondays.  I adore the potential the week holds.

I write diligently in my planner on Mondays, detailing activities and goals.

I thought sharing on the blog might hold me more accountable to my schedules and plans.

There is already one setback already lurking in the shadows.  I am still struggling to break free from this super bug.  A sinus infection has set in and I feel short of breath still.  And frankly I am exhausted from normal chores.  There are a few cases of pneumonia floating around our church that have me concerned.  I wonder if I am ignoring the obvious and should make the trip to the clinic.

So this week’s goals

#1 – more Vitamin C and lots more water

#2 – go to bed early (at least by 10 pm)

#3 – no eating out (happens a lot when I am too sick to cook)

#4 – work at least one hour/day on organizing biz

#5 – make table cloth for school room table

#6 – make a triple chocolate cheesecake!

I have a few appointments and events as well.  And still lots to blog about waiting on the back burner.  Time has been the issue as usual and cute little boys who distract me from everything.  For now I will focus on this lurking sickness.  It seems to be the biggest threat to my week.

Happy Monday!

Valentine’s Day–A Cookie Party

 

180 heart shaped sugar cookies +

8 batches of icing +

Sprinkles, sprinkles, & sprinkles +

18 boys and girls from 3 weeks old to 10 years old (and 5 moms)

= a fun & delicious afternoon

and a little clean up…

Happy Valentine’s Day!

FOTO FRIDAY–Scenes from an airplane

 

This is what 3 boys excited to see their cousins and grandparents after 18 months looks like at 6 am.

On every airplane they read the emergency procedures THOROUGHLY.  I think it was the dramatic pictures.

USO in DFW Airport.  Free food and no fear of kids running off, at least not too far.  Leather Chairs and the freedom to change the channel to Disney or Nick Jr., so amazing.

Second plane.

After a week of cousins, 2 more plane rides without DH, at 10:30 pm they all 3 insisted I take a picture of them in front of this new Jeep by baggage claim.  BOYS!

Today is new day.....

says Chicken Little and so do I. I love Mondays. It is a do-over on last week. It holds potential that your week can be great, life-changing, or productive. On Monday my entire to-do list is possible and nothing has messed it up yet.

So far today we are behind on school because we were behind from last week and I got a cold. Now I am catching up with house chores and the monkeys are restless. For some reason manners and common courtesy got left on the airplane. It takes a lot of extra time and energy to hand out punishments.

But I think we are all caught up on colds, sleep, and laundry. So my to-do list is entirely possible and my hope for Monday continues.

What is your favorite day of the week?

Decisions, decisions

Okay, while I have many other things to do it is time for my weekly quilt "class". I really don't know why we still call it a class. We try to meet every week, but often reschedule, and just keep going. There is no end which is fabulous.

I adore my classmates and our teacher is a wealth of information. The problem is my ability to stay on task, to stay focused on one project and to stay OUT of the fabric store.

Well today I have approximately 2 hours before they arrive. I must make a decision before they get here so I can accomplish something in class today.

Here is my dilemma:
I am making 3 baby quilts (eventually) for 3 nieces. I just had the pleasure of visiting 2 of them.



The 3rd niece is one the way, due in May. Aren't they precious? They are so kissable too! Perfect and precious, which is what I get to say being the aunt who lives so far away. Nana says it too but she says that about all the grandkids.

Here are my choices. Each is easy to do and I have 1 fat quarter bundle of 40's fabric and 2 jelly rolls (see Moda Bakeshop for jelly roll explanation) to choose from. So easily I can make 3 small quilts (not crib more like 60x60) from all that. Yes, backing fabric and sashing will need to be purchased but when does it not?




These are all courtesy of Moda BakeShop Blog (www.modaebakeshop.com). They feature some fabulous quilters and crafters using Moda fabric. I love to look at it all.

So opinions? advice? Tell me I am crazy, why would I attempt 3 quilts when I have 5 ongoing projects? It is a sickness I think. The quilting disease that all quilters get. It is wonderful.

Zach-Zach

He got the name after the fun character in "The Incredibles", Jack-Jack. He is my youngest of 3 boys. He was unexpected, only 15 months behind our middle son, but I knew he was exactly what God had planned. He is the one I understand least, even at the age of 3 (almost 4), I don't have a line on his soul and spirit.


My first son I connected with immediately. I KNEW him. He reflects me in many ways. My second son I immediately KNEW I was looking at his father. Zach appeared and I was confused.


I know you are thinking I am crazy. How can you possibly KNOW who a newborn is? How can you understand them and what they are thinking? Well I don't know but I did with those two. I DIDN'T with the third. He is definitely this amazing combination of both of us, a combination neither of us understand.

My love for him is unchanged, but my patience with him is regularly questioned. He refuses something he loved the day before. He screams when he can't get his pants on but refuses help. His recent assertion of independence is welcomed with the exception of the constant screaming (little girl ear piercing screams BTW). But then he climbs into bed with us EVERY night and refuses to fall asleep without me present. (Tried putting him back many times and I tell ya 3 am screaming is worse than day time screaming)

I pray I can be the Mom God needs me to be to him. I pray I can let him be the man God wants him to be. I pray that I don't ground him until he is 5 for all the screaming.