Saturday, we took gifts to a needy family in Frayser. There were two adults and six children in the home. Chris wanted to share the Christmas story with them, and he prepped our children in the car on the way over to not answer his questions until the family had the chance to answer.
Well, the family wasn't very vocal, and our girls jumped at every opportunity to speak. It actually worked out great, because it kept the whole situation from feeling too awkward.
Chris asked at one point, "What gift would you bring to baby Jesus?"
Silence.
Kora's hand went up.
"Um, a phone!" she exclaimed.
Oh, so we could call him?
We try to pass on sound biblical doctrine in our house, as you can tell.
I'm about the business of raising godly children. So far, God has blessed us with six of them! My husband owns his own business, and I'm fortunate enough to stay at home with the kiddos. If you're looking for deep philosophy on this blog, you're out of luck. If you'd prefer random tales of childhood tomfoolery, stick around!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Flat tires and all my plans
Yesterday, I had big plans.
Buy presents and groceries. Get decorations from storage. Decorate house. Get tree. Decorate tree. Decorate outside. It was a full day's worth of plans.
I managed to get all the children dressed, fed, and ready for our big day by 11 am! I buckled them all in the car. I cranked the engine and pulled away. FWAP, FWAP, FWAP, FWAP.
Great, I thought, a flat tire. So I backed into my spot again. PWAF, PWAF, PWAF, PWAF.
I went to get Chris. He graciously dropped his project and immediately changed the tire. Since the weather was nice, and we were at home, I let the kids run around the playground while I actually learned how to change the tire. There are lots of nuances in our vehicle that one can't just figure out. I guess manufacturers do that to make the writer of the owner's manual feel important.
I lay on the pavement next to Chris. He was loosening the lug nuts when I heard Saja yell, "Mom, David's playing on the playground naked!" I jumped up in a flash and whammed into the drivers' side mirror. I actually felt my neck jam. Lying on the pavement, I confirmed that by "naked" she actually meant in a diaper, and then I just whimpered for a while. It somehow makes things feel better.
Before David turned streaker, I recorded him jacking up the car with his daddy. I'll try to get it posted, because it is just too cute!
Instead of my big plans, for some reason, God wanted me to spend my day in the waiting room at Gateway Tire with four kids (at naptime). It really didn't go as badly as I expected, except for one moment when David threw a Lego block at a much older kid and nailed him in the face. The kids' mom kind of told David off. I, of course, punished him with a time-out, mostly for the mom's benefit. She yelled at him, "We don't throw things!" I thought, "The kid's two years old! He knows we throw baseballs, basketballs, tennis balls, and footballs. He knows we throw water balloons. So you can't just say, 'We don't throw things.' " But at the same time, I had just told him to stop throwing the blocks. So he spent most of the rest of our time there in time out by my side. He liked it there.
I did manage to go by Walmart for groceries and a gift card. My parents brought the decorations to me. We didn't get a tree yesterday, but when we went to Priddy Farms today, we saw they had marked all their trees down. I don't know why God changed my plans yesterday, but I'm glad He did.
I'm glad that in frustrating moments, I can relax. Remember that God orchestrates my life. There is a reason Jesus commanded that all who are weary come rest in Him. It is wonderful rest.
By the way, if we had had the flat tire the day before, it would have interrupted our 4-hour trek home from a mini-vacation. If we had had the flat tire the day after, we would have disappointed a needy family awaiting Christmas presents. Of all the days and ways to have a flat, I'll take yesterday.
I just wish David would have kept his clothes on.
Buy presents and groceries. Get decorations from storage. Decorate house. Get tree. Decorate tree. Decorate outside. It was a full day's worth of plans.
I managed to get all the children dressed, fed, and ready for our big day by 11 am! I buckled them all in the car. I cranked the engine and pulled away. FWAP, FWAP, FWAP, FWAP.
Great, I thought, a flat tire. So I backed into my spot again. PWAF, PWAF, PWAF, PWAF.
I went to get Chris. He graciously dropped his project and immediately changed the tire. Since the weather was nice, and we were at home, I let the kids run around the playground while I actually learned how to change the tire. There are lots of nuances in our vehicle that one can't just figure out. I guess manufacturers do that to make the writer of the owner's manual feel important.
I lay on the pavement next to Chris. He was loosening the lug nuts when I heard Saja yell, "Mom, David's playing on the playground naked!" I jumped up in a flash and whammed into the drivers' side mirror. I actually felt my neck jam. Lying on the pavement, I confirmed that by "naked" she actually meant in a diaper, and then I just whimpered for a while. It somehow makes things feel better.
Before David turned streaker, I recorded him jacking up the car with his daddy. I'll try to get it posted, because it is just too cute!
Instead of my big plans, for some reason, God wanted me to spend my day in the waiting room at Gateway Tire with four kids (at naptime). It really didn't go as badly as I expected, except for one moment when David threw a Lego block at a much older kid and nailed him in the face. The kids' mom kind of told David off. I, of course, punished him with a time-out, mostly for the mom's benefit. She yelled at him, "We don't throw things!" I thought, "The kid's two years old! He knows we throw baseballs, basketballs, tennis balls, and footballs. He knows we throw water balloons. So you can't just say, 'We don't throw things.' " But at the same time, I had just told him to stop throwing the blocks. So he spent most of the rest of our time there in time out by my side. He liked it there.
I did manage to go by Walmart for groceries and a gift card. My parents brought the decorations to me. We didn't get a tree yesterday, but when we went to Priddy Farms today, we saw they had marked all their trees down. I don't know why God changed my plans yesterday, but I'm glad He did.
I'm glad that in frustrating moments, I can relax. Remember that God orchestrates my life. There is a reason Jesus commanded that all who are weary come rest in Him. It is wonderful rest.
By the way, if we had had the flat tire the day before, it would have interrupted our 4-hour trek home from a mini-vacation. If we had had the flat tire the day after, we would have disappointed a needy family awaiting Christmas presents. Of all the days and ways to have a flat, I'll take yesterday.
I just wish David would have kept his clothes on.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Sharing the Gospel, by Saja
Today, we explained to our children that our neighbors, friends and cousins, the Gehmans, were moving to Pennsylvania to tell people the good news about Jesus and start a church.
Saja told us when we moved to tell people about Jesus, she wanted to do it.
Chris asked what she would say.
"I would say, 'Jesus died on the cross for our sins,'" Saja said.
I smiled the smile of a proud parent, job well done.
"And if you don't change your ways, God will kill you," she continued.
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Chris.
"And destroy your whole village," she finished.
Thank you, Jonah.
Saja told us when we moved to tell people about Jesus, she wanted to do it.
Chris asked what she would say.
"I would say, 'Jesus died on the cross for our sins,'" Saja said.
I smiled the smile of a proud parent, job well done.
"And if you don't change your ways, God will kill you," she continued.
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Chris.
"And destroy your whole village," she finished.
Thank you, Jonah.
Friday, December 12, 2008
To walk or not to walk
All of my children have been walking by age one. Kora was running by this time! But neither Tyler nor Tobias have shown any interest in walking. They are 13 months old. At their one-year check-up, the doctor asked, "When did they start walking?" Ahem... they haven't. Sad times.
Or is it?
For now, I carry them to the car. I carry them to the shopping cart. I strap them into a triple stroller. I can't lose them. What happens when they start to walk? Will it be chaos all over again?
When they were 6 months old, I spent 15 minutes everyday for one week individually teaching them what the word, "No" means by thumping their hand. Oh, it's heartbreaking all right, but effective. Both of them are fairly obedient now. I guess my next task will be to teach them the word, "Come."
I trained my golden retriever by offering doggie treats when he obeyed. You think the twins will go for doggie treats?
The whole point of this post is to announce that I've been playing a game with Tobias. I'll stand him up about four steps away from me and hold my hands out. Do you know what he does? He giggles and grins... and then falls forward (of his own accord) like a timber tree!
Moments ago, however, he got it. He took four steps before he fell down, accidentally. The time is near.
Anyone know where I can get some leashes?
Or is it?
For now, I carry them to the car. I carry them to the shopping cart. I strap them into a triple stroller. I can't lose them. What happens when they start to walk? Will it be chaos all over again?
When they were 6 months old, I spent 15 minutes everyday for one week individually teaching them what the word, "No" means by thumping their hand. Oh, it's heartbreaking all right, but effective. Both of them are fairly obedient now. I guess my next task will be to teach them the word, "Come."
I trained my golden retriever by offering doggie treats when he obeyed. You think the twins will go for doggie treats?
The whole point of this post is to announce that I've been playing a game with Tobias. I'll stand him up about four steps away from me and hold my hands out. Do you know what he does? He giggles and grins... and then falls forward (of his own accord) like a timber tree!
Moments ago, however, he got it. He took four steps before he fell down, accidentally. The time is near.
Anyone know where I can get some leashes?
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Still here... laughing
I can't believe it's been two (and a half!) months since I last posted a thing on this blog. A friend of mine recently reminded me of its existence by saying, "Given up on the blog thing already?" At least the last post gave all of you a good understanding as to why I gave up--lack of time!
Well, I like to think my kids haven't said or done anything worth posting, but the truth is, I probably have just been too tired to remember. I don't have a photographic memory. I don't have a scanner memory. I have a Photoshop memory--where you upload the pictures and kind of make what you want. I can watch movies over and over, I can read books more than once, and I can read those scrapbooks I spend half my life organizing and really enjoy them because it's like a new story every time!
Chris, on the other hand, has a great memory. When I tell a story to my friends, I tend to Photoshop. When Chris is in the room, I just let him tell it. He remembers fine details that make no difference in the outcome of the story, but it seems to be pretty important to him. He's so gracious not to correct me in the middle of the story, but his story ALWAYS sounds a little different than mine (much like the Gospels. =) We've decided that I'm a headline teller, and he's a "the-rest-of-the-story" kind of guy.
So, the one thing that made me embarrassed happened last week. Kora was having a bath. I left the room to get a towel out of the dryer (I'm such a cool mom), and when I returned, David had stripped and hopped in. I prefer for them not to bathe together, but I decided not to make a big deal about it. Within the minute, Kora pointed to David's manhood and said, "Look, Mom! David's got a belly button on his bottom!"
To his credit, David has an outie belly-button.
I snickered inwardly and calmly agreed with her. Then I whisked her out of the bath, out of the room, and closed the door behind me. I excused myself from her presence and HOWLED. A belly button. Poor David.
Well, I like to think my kids haven't said or done anything worth posting, but the truth is, I probably have just been too tired to remember. I don't have a photographic memory. I don't have a scanner memory. I have a Photoshop memory--where you upload the pictures and kind of make what you want. I can watch movies over and over, I can read books more than once, and I can read those scrapbooks I spend half my life organizing and really enjoy them because it's like a new story every time!
Chris, on the other hand, has a great memory. When I tell a story to my friends, I tend to Photoshop. When Chris is in the room, I just let him tell it. He remembers fine details that make no difference in the outcome of the story, but it seems to be pretty important to him. He's so gracious not to correct me in the middle of the story, but his story ALWAYS sounds a little different than mine (much like the Gospels. =) We've decided that I'm a headline teller, and he's a "the-rest-of-the-story" kind of guy.
So, the one thing that made me embarrassed happened last week. Kora was having a bath. I left the room to get a towel out of the dryer (I'm such a cool mom), and when I returned, David had stripped and hopped in. I prefer for them not to bathe together, but I decided not to make a big deal about it. Within the minute, Kora pointed to David's manhood and said, "Look, Mom! David's got a belly button on his bottom!"
To his credit, David has an outie belly-button.
I snickered inwardly and calmly agreed with her. Then I whisked her out of the bath, out of the room, and closed the door behind me. I excused myself from her presence and HOWLED. A belly button. Poor David.
Monday, September 22, 2008
24 hours
There's simply not enough time in the day to do everything I would love to do everyday. Here's a quick rundown of my ideal day:
Get up at 6am to do everything that needs to be done without distraction from children. This includes getting ready, completing any type of correspondence, and doing Bible studies, as well as any undone chores. (1.5 hours).
Make a healthy and hearty breakfast, and awaken the kids at 7:30 when the automatic coffee maker begins to grind the beans. (1 hour)
Guide the children to enjoy learning while playing with reading lessons, worksheets, art, science, snack, etc. (2.5 hours)
Make, eat, and clean up lunch. Prepare for nap, to which the children look forward and in which they eagerly participate. (1 hour)
Cook dinner during nap, so that when they awaken at 4, we can go outside to play with our friends until dinnertime.
Clean up after dinner. Bathe, read a story, pray with the kids, go to bed (which, again, involves no resistance of any kind.) (1.5 hours--it's a lot of kids!)
While the kids are in bed, complete the chores: fold and put away a load of laundry, do a load of dishes, spray the table, sweep the dining room and kitchen floors, vacuum the carpet, and take out the trash. (1 hour)
After the chores, prepare for the next day of school, which includes choosing worksheets, choosing lapbook activities (and cutting them out), and preparing storybook, art, or science projects. (30 minutes)
Exercise to a 45 minute video, then make sure to stretch to avoid back pain, which is another 15 minutes.
Shower.
Prepare automatic coffee maker to actually work the next day. (5 min, but an important 5 min!)
Sew a bit, to justify the "Cadillac" sewing machine and mounds of fabric I've collected over the years. Make new clothes and repair old ones. (2 hours)
Study a foreign language. Options: Chinese via CD or Spanish via textbook. I'd also love to be able to read the original Greek and Hebrew of the Bible. (1 hour)
Check Facebook again. (oh, 10 minutes or so--right!)
Holy cow, it's no wonder I'm so tired! I'm trying to smush 26 hours of doing into 16 waking hours!
Here's my actual day:
Wake up at 7:30 to screaming children.
Wrestle with the kids to get them all dressed and ready.
Cereal for breakfast. (not the hearty, healthy meal I'm always intending to make!)
Bottles for babies. Change diapers, change clothes, change bedsheets because diapers leaked, get them into the high chair.
Go get ready. Lean ear out the door once every 3 minutes to check for choking or provoking.
Wipe up three spills with bath towel from last night's load of laundry still laying on floor.
Throw dishes in sink.
Make coffee, because I forgot to do it the night before.
While waiting for coffee, hold eyes open with fingers and try to avoid conversation at all cost.
Fix coffee. Try to remember to drink it.
Corral kids for school. Remind David 15 times to sit still and quiet for the story. Finally let him go play.
Make snack. Field questions from kids like, "Why couldn't we have sprinkles? I don't like this. I wanted hyper-juice instead!"
Call kids back to the table 10 times each. Promise to spank them if they do it again.
Throw snack out after kids leave table again. Put crying babies in beds. Push kids out of babies' bedroom.
Crush 17 Cheerios into the carpet on the way out of the bedroom. Yell at kids for breaking the rule. Vacuum Cheerios... then decide to vacuum the rest of the cluttered floor while you have out the vacuum, but don't bother picking up the clutter. Vacuum sucks up a whole shirt (yes, it happens), and burns out the belt. Go dig up some air-freshener from behind the child-lock under the sink. Spray it liberally and high away from kids, who are attached to my kneecaps. Remember to put it back or the kids will spray it in each others' faces.
Beg kids to sit at the table, avoiding the sticky milky spots, to do worksheets or art while I do the dishes.
Check the clock. (Please be naptime!)
Fish out a movie all the kids agree to watch, preferably educational, but anything will do! Tell them 3 times to sit on their bottoms and watch the movie. Leave each other alone!
Announce naptime. Deal with whining, crying, temper tantrums, splitting them up into separate bedrooms, spanking, cuddling, storying, ignoring, breathing. Go outside to get my sanity back.
Finally get the last kid asleep. Sit down to sip coffee I forgot to drink this morning. Get right back up to collect the babies, who have just awakened. Bottles, change diaper, change bedsheets again if necessary, put them in high chairs, and pray they'll be quiet enough to let Saja keep sleeping on the couch.
Get Saja a snack when she wakes up. Tell her, no, she can't go outside without me, and I can't go outside without the others who are sleeping.
Hold Kora for 15 minutes when she wakes up. Meanwhile, get David a snack.
Potty, brush hair, strap babies into stroller, go outside to play. Keep a sharp eye on David, who tends to run in the street. Spank David for playing unkindly with neighbor kids. Take Cheerios to keep babies happy.
Call kids inside. Put on another movie to make dinner. Saute, boil, bake, broil, steam, eat, clean up.
Start bedtime. 2.5 hours later, push through the fatigue and finish bedtime.
Do the chores, prepare for school, set the coffee maker, check the calendar for tomorrow's activities, think about working out, but decide to sit at the computer instead. Stare at the screen blankly with a cloud of weariness covering my brain.
Move Kora out of my bed. Make the bed. Climb in the bed.
Get out of the bed to turn on the fan, set the alarm, brush teeth. Say goodnight to hubby.
Climb into bed, wishing there was more time to sew, learn a language, pray, exercise, shop, meal-plan, spa days, etc. Fall asleep before head hits pillow.
It's the sad truth, but I'm willing to accept the idea that this is merely a season in my life. I'm raising children, not computers who conform to my every whim and wish (and sometimes, computers don't even do that!) I try to find laughter in every day. I try to prioritize my husband and my children, and when I remind myself that God's purpose for our family means much sacrifice, I willingly and even happily put myself to work. It's hard work. It's thankless work. It's endless work. But it's God's purpose for me right now. To shirk God's purpose would mean despair and heartache, even if I thought I were pursuing happiness. My I have the mind of Christ in my role!
P.S. This explains why I've not posted in a while! (I've skipped the dishes to write this. You should feel so lucky!)
Get up at 6am to do everything that needs to be done without distraction from children. This includes getting ready, completing any type of correspondence, and doing Bible studies, as well as any undone chores. (1.5 hours).
Make a healthy and hearty breakfast, and awaken the kids at 7:30 when the automatic coffee maker begins to grind the beans. (1 hour)
Guide the children to enjoy learning while playing with reading lessons, worksheets, art, science, snack, etc. (2.5 hours)
Make, eat, and clean up lunch. Prepare for nap, to which the children look forward and in which they eagerly participate. (1 hour)
Cook dinner during nap, so that when they awaken at 4, we can go outside to play with our friends until dinnertime.
Clean up after dinner. Bathe, read a story, pray with the kids, go to bed (which, again, involves no resistance of any kind.) (1.5 hours--it's a lot of kids!)
While the kids are in bed, complete the chores: fold and put away a load of laundry, do a load of dishes, spray the table, sweep the dining room and kitchen floors, vacuum the carpet, and take out the trash. (1 hour)
After the chores, prepare for the next day of school, which includes choosing worksheets, choosing lapbook activities (and cutting them out), and preparing storybook, art, or science projects. (30 minutes)
Exercise to a 45 minute video, then make sure to stretch to avoid back pain, which is another 15 minutes.
Shower.
Prepare automatic coffee maker to actually work the next day. (5 min, but an important 5 min!)
Sew a bit, to justify the "Cadillac" sewing machine and mounds of fabric I've collected over the years. Make new clothes and repair old ones. (2 hours)
Study a foreign language. Options: Chinese via CD or Spanish via textbook. I'd also love to be able to read the original Greek and Hebrew of the Bible. (1 hour)
Check Facebook again. (oh, 10 minutes or so--right!)
Holy cow, it's no wonder I'm so tired! I'm trying to smush 26 hours of doing into 16 waking hours!
Here's my actual day:
Wake up at 7:30 to screaming children.
Wrestle with the kids to get them all dressed and ready.
Cereal for breakfast. (not the hearty, healthy meal I'm always intending to make!)
Bottles for babies. Change diapers, change clothes, change bedsheets because diapers leaked, get them into the high chair.
Go get ready. Lean ear out the door once every 3 minutes to check for choking or provoking.
Wipe up three spills with bath towel from last night's load of laundry still laying on floor.
Throw dishes in sink.
Make coffee, because I forgot to do it the night before.
While waiting for coffee, hold eyes open with fingers and try to avoid conversation at all cost.
Fix coffee. Try to remember to drink it.
Corral kids for school. Remind David 15 times to sit still and quiet for the story. Finally let him go play.
Make snack. Field questions from kids like, "Why couldn't we have sprinkles? I don't like this. I wanted hyper-juice instead!"
Call kids back to the table 10 times each. Promise to spank them if they do it again.
Throw snack out after kids leave table again. Put crying babies in beds. Push kids out of babies' bedroom.
Crush 17 Cheerios into the carpet on the way out of the bedroom. Yell at kids for breaking the rule. Vacuum Cheerios... then decide to vacuum the rest of the cluttered floor while you have out the vacuum, but don't bother picking up the clutter. Vacuum sucks up a whole shirt (yes, it happens), and burns out the belt. Go dig up some air-freshener from behind the child-lock under the sink. Spray it liberally and high away from kids, who are attached to my kneecaps. Remember to put it back or the kids will spray it in each others' faces.
Beg kids to sit at the table, avoiding the sticky milky spots, to do worksheets or art while I do the dishes.
Check the clock. (Please be naptime!)
Fish out a movie all the kids agree to watch, preferably educational, but anything will do! Tell them 3 times to sit on their bottoms and watch the movie. Leave each other alone!
Announce naptime. Deal with whining, crying, temper tantrums, splitting them up into separate bedrooms, spanking, cuddling, storying, ignoring, breathing. Go outside to get my sanity back.
Finally get the last kid asleep. Sit down to sip coffee I forgot to drink this morning. Get right back up to collect the babies, who have just awakened. Bottles, change diaper, change bedsheets again if necessary, put them in high chairs, and pray they'll be quiet enough to let Saja keep sleeping on the couch.
Get Saja a snack when she wakes up. Tell her, no, she can't go outside without me, and I can't go outside without the others who are sleeping.
Hold Kora for 15 minutes when she wakes up. Meanwhile, get David a snack.
Potty, brush hair, strap babies into stroller, go outside to play. Keep a sharp eye on David, who tends to run in the street. Spank David for playing unkindly with neighbor kids. Take Cheerios to keep babies happy.
Call kids inside. Put on another movie to make dinner. Saute, boil, bake, broil, steam, eat, clean up.
Start bedtime. 2.5 hours later, push through the fatigue and finish bedtime.
Do the chores, prepare for school, set the coffee maker, check the calendar for tomorrow's activities, think about working out, but decide to sit at the computer instead. Stare at the screen blankly with a cloud of weariness covering my brain.
Move Kora out of my bed. Make the bed. Climb in the bed.
Get out of the bed to turn on the fan, set the alarm, brush teeth. Say goodnight to hubby.
Climb into bed, wishing there was more time to sew, learn a language, pray, exercise, shop, meal-plan, spa days, etc. Fall asleep before head hits pillow.
It's the sad truth, but I'm willing to accept the idea that this is merely a season in my life. I'm raising children, not computers who conform to my every whim and wish (and sometimes, computers don't even do that!) I try to find laughter in every day. I try to prioritize my husband and my children, and when I remind myself that God's purpose for our family means much sacrifice, I willingly and even happily put myself to work. It's hard work. It's thankless work. It's endless work. But it's God's purpose for me right now. To shirk God's purpose would mean despair and heartache, even if I thought I were pursuing happiness. My I have the mind of Christ in my role!
P.S. This explains why I've not posted in a while! (I've skipped the dishes to write this. You should feel so lucky!)
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Where's my denim jumper?
Homeschool, here we come. Saja's officially registered with HomeLife Academy now as a kindergartener, even though the public schools wouldn't accept her until next year because of those stinking 30 days past the deadline that she doesn't turn 5. My hope is that if we decide to send her to school next year, we can show them the transcript from HomeLife Academy for kindergarten and at least have her tested for placement. A friend of mine who teaches kindergarten in the public school said it sounds like she'd be bored this year... let alone waiting a year! However, kindergarten is not mandatory in Tennessee, so the school system might just shrug their shoulders and place her in an age-appropriate (instead of skill-appropriate) class. I'm not fretting yet. I'm just plugging away at the homeschooling.
It's a bit intimidating to be held accountable for my child's education. I have been teaching them unofficially for quite some time now, simply because in our house, we have to have a schedule, so why not make it educational? So, I thought I'd post our routine for any other mommies of multiple young kiddos wondering how to make it work. It works well for us!
I started doing preschool-type education with my girls because they seemed interested. David is a different story--he hates sitting still to read or color or do worksheets. He does like flashcards and computer games. I guess you just have to figure out what's best for each child, but I'll show you what I've done for my kids. That will give you a starting point, at least.
I started teaching Saja to read when she was almost three. She already knew the sounds letters made because she picks up on things fast, so I used a book called Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I LOVE this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Child-Read-Lessons/dp/0671631985/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219252131&sr=8-1
I started out thinking we could do a lesson each day, but her brain tired easily, and we decided to just go for 15 minutes--whether or not we finished the lesson. This book will teach your child the sounds of letters and letter blends, as well as the proper way to sound them out. We made it through lesson 70 by the time she turned 4. The last 30 lessons are headed toward a second grade level and are too advanced for her level of interest. I've started using this book for Kora now. She's 3 and a half.
Now I use the Sonlight Curriculum for grade 1 in reading lessons. They have story books, and ideally, you read one story each day with your child. I read the story first, then Saja reads it. We've done 40 lessons, and they've all been short vowel words (and a few sight words). She likes the stories, and they're significantly easier than the later lessons in the other book, so she doesn't get so discouraged. Some people wrote negative reviews for these books, but they've been exactly what Saja needs.
http://sonlight.com/1R161.html
http://sonlight.com/1R162.html
http://sonlight.com/1R163.html
http://sonlight.com/1R164.html
We also use Explode the Code workbooks for reading. They have preschool workbooks, which introduce the letters and the sounds they make, which Kora does, and Kindergarten workbooks, which introduce the short vowel words, which Saja does. I bought them on Ebay, but the links below will show you the Sonlight pages.
http://www.sonlight.com/KL031.html (First book--get ready for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/KL032.html (Second book-get set for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/KL033.html (third book-- Go for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/1L02.html (Explode the Code--short vowels)
For Math, we just use the Comprehensive Curriculum workbooks you can find at Sam's Club or Walmart. We started out with Preschool, then K, and now we're in grade 1 with Saja. I don't know how accurate those labels are, but we're just moving on to the next one when we finish one.
http://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Curriculum-Skills-Preschool-Curriculum%C3%A0/dp/1561893749/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219253197&sr=8-1
Finally, I started using a program called Five in a Row for the science/social studies/miscellaneous lessons. It's super-easy (and cheap) and works well in our family, because it's based on story books that you can find in the library. I go online to memphislibrary.org, order the books for the next three weeks on hold at the Cordova library, and then pick them up the next day. Saves me time and effort. You read the same story to your child five days in a row, and you apply a different area of education to the story each day. For example, today, we're reading a true story about the first man to fly over the English Channel. We're going to talk about onomatopoeia. You'd be amazed at how much young kids can pick up! Yesterday, we talked about France and England, and we colored their flags (thus, the obsession with the flags). They also give you leeway to emphasize art, which my kids adore. They also have a preschool program called Before Five in a Row. The book is less than $40, and all the storybooks are available through the library. And it's really easy and fun. My kids love storybooks.
www.fiveinarow.com
Finally, I read a Bible story to them and work on memorizing a verse and a hymn everyday. The Bible I use is Ergermeir's Bible Story Book. I bought it at Overstock.com, but here's Sonlight's description.
http://www.sonlight.com/KB01.html
We memorize with songs from Scripture Memory Fellowship. Sometimes I make up my own songs and motions.
http://scripturememoryfellowship.org/preschool.htm
I just choose hymns from a hymnal.
All in all, the schooling time takes about an hour (although it sure seems more overwhelming when you read this novel I wrote!). My ideal day goes like this: Bible time, Reading lesson (while David watches his Letter Factory movie), snack, worksheets: math and reading, storybook project (art, science, applied math, geography, social studies, etc.) RECESS!
I'm really an advocate of finding what works best for you and doing it. Don't pressure yourself or compare your kid to others. Just give him what he needs to be challenged, and keep it light and fun. Kids pick up so much from just having fun! Good luck, by the way.
It's a bit intimidating to be held accountable for my child's education. I have been teaching them unofficially for quite some time now, simply because in our house, we have to have a schedule, so why not make it educational? So, I thought I'd post our routine for any other mommies of multiple young kiddos wondering how to make it work. It works well for us!
I started doing preschool-type education with my girls because they seemed interested. David is a different story--he hates sitting still to read or color or do worksheets. He does like flashcards and computer games. I guess you just have to figure out what's best for each child, but I'll show you what I've done for my kids. That will give you a starting point, at least.
I started teaching Saja to read when she was almost three. She already knew the sounds letters made because she picks up on things fast, so I used a book called Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I LOVE this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Child-Read-Lessons/dp/0671631985/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219252131&sr=8-1
I started out thinking we could do a lesson each day, but her brain tired easily, and we decided to just go for 15 minutes--whether or not we finished the lesson. This book will teach your child the sounds of letters and letter blends, as well as the proper way to sound them out. We made it through lesson 70 by the time she turned 4. The last 30 lessons are headed toward a second grade level and are too advanced for her level of interest. I've started using this book for Kora now. She's 3 and a half.
Now I use the Sonlight Curriculum for grade 1 in reading lessons. They have story books, and ideally, you read one story each day with your child. I read the story first, then Saja reads it. We've done 40 lessons, and they've all been short vowel words (and a few sight words). She likes the stories, and they're significantly easier than the later lessons in the other book, so she doesn't get so discouraged. Some people wrote negative reviews for these books, but they've been exactly what Saja needs.
http://sonlight.com/1R161.html
http://sonlight.com/1R162.html
http://sonlight.com/1R163.html
http://sonlight.com/1R164.html
We also use Explode the Code workbooks for reading. They have preschool workbooks, which introduce the letters and the sounds they make, which Kora does, and Kindergarten workbooks, which introduce the short vowel words, which Saja does. I bought them on Ebay, but the links below will show you the Sonlight pages.
http://www.sonlight.com/KL031.html (First book--get ready for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/KL032.html (Second book-get set for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/KL033.html (third book-- Go for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/1L02.html (Explode the Code--short vowels)
For Math, we just use the Comprehensive Curriculum workbooks you can find at Sam's Club or Walmart. We started out with Preschool, then K, and now we're in grade 1 with Saja. I don't know how accurate those labels are, but we're just moving on to the next one when we finish one.
http://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Curriculum-Skills-Preschool-Curriculum%C3%A0/dp/1561893749/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219253197&sr=8-1
Finally, I started using a program called Five in a Row for the science/social studies/miscellaneous lessons. It's super-easy (and cheap) and works well in our family, because it's based on story books that you can find in the library. I go online to memphislibrary.org, order the books for the next three weeks on hold at the Cordova library, and then pick them up the next day. Saves me time and effort. You read the same story to your child five days in a row, and you apply a different area of education to the story each day. For example, today, we're reading a true story about the first man to fly over the English Channel. We're going to talk about onomatopoeia. You'd be amazed at how much young kids can pick up! Yesterday, we talked about France and England, and we colored their flags (thus, the obsession with the flags). They also give you leeway to emphasize art, which my kids adore. They also have a preschool program called Before Five in a Row. The book is less than $40, and all the storybooks are available through the library. And it's really easy and fun. My kids love storybooks.
www.fiveinarow.com
Finally, I read a Bible story to them and work on memorizing a verse and a hymn everyday. The Bible I use is Ergermeir's Bible Story Book. I bought it at Overstock.com, but here's Sonlight's description.
http://www.sonlight.com/KB01.html
We memorize with songs from Scripture Memory Fellowship. Sometimes I make up my own songs and motions.
http://scripturememoryfellowship.org/preschool.htm
I just choose hymns from a hymnal.
All in all, the schooling time takes about an hour (although it sure seems more overwhelming when you read this novel I wrote!). My ideal day goes like this: Bible time, Reading lesson (while David watches his Letter Factory movie), snack, worksheets: math and reading, storybook project (art, science, applied math, geography, social studies, etc.) RECESS!
I'm really an advocate of finding what works best for you and doing it. Don't pressure yourself or compare your kid to others. Just give him what he needs to be challenged, and keep it light and fun. Kids pick up so much from just having fun! Good luck, by the way.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Did you make the coffee yet?
This week, we're blessed with the opportunity to attend a prayer conference at church. Chris would not have this opportunity had his classes fallen into place the way we had hoped, and I would not have this opportunity if our church did not prioritize childcare. As it is, we can both attend. Unfortunately, the start time this morning was 8:30 am. Tough to do when you have five kids to get ready.
Last night, I laid out all the kids' clothes and diapers for the morning. I stacked diapers in two diaper bags. I made five lunches and put them in the refrigerator. I crawled in bed about 11 pm. I woke up about 6:45 am, concerned that I wouldn't have quite enough time to meet my 8am departure time. I showered, got dressed, and even applied mascara. I thought about touching up my toenail polish, but it slipped my mind between the brushing of the teeth and the scrunching of the hair. I stepped out of my bedroom, savoring the quiet that is too often overrun by the chaos of my kids, and I heard rustling in the kitchen.
David.
Sigh. Please let it be a phase.
David had come out of his room (against the rules), opened the fridge (against the rules), and began eating his lunch for breakfast (I don't really have a rule about that.) His cookies were gone, and he had started on his raisins. He looked up at me and grinned the sweetest smile--no hint of mischievousness in it.
I fixed three bowls of cereal, two bottles, woke up everyone, changed their diapers, changed their clothes, brushed their hair, brushed their teeth, put on their shoes, put the babies in their carseats, made four more bottles (because they'd be at church for 6 hours), added two changes of clothes to the diaper bag, saddled myself with purses and backpacks and lunches and diaper bags. I picked up one 30-pound carseat child in one hand, one 30-pound carseat child in the other, turned sideways to shimmy out the hallway.
Chris walked out of the bedroom, showered and dressed in his scrubs. It was 7:45 am.
He said, "Did you make the coffee yet?"
??!!!!!!
I know Chris well enough to know that he wasn't asking me to make the coffee. He just wanted to know if he needed to make it (which he did.)
I'm proud to say the kids and I made it to the conference on time. Chris made the coffee and his lunch, drove his own car, and brought me a cup of coffee at 8:35 am.
We sat together in the back of the packed-out fellowship hall and heard a remarkable man of God speak about talking to God. I was exhausted, but satisfied.
I learned last year that I choose my attitude. I can have a happy day doing the same thing I did on a terrible day. When I view my role as mom and wife as a joy instead of a job, something I get to do rather than something I have to do, then I can enjoy myself.
Instead of being angry that I had to get everyone ready by myself this morning, I'm proud and thankful that God allowed me to have the patience, foresight, and organization to pull it off. We'll see how tomorrow goes!
Last night, I laid out all the kids' clothes and diapers for the morning. I stacked diapers in two diaper bags. I made five lunches and put them in the refrigerator. I crawled in bed about 11 pm. I woke up about 6:45 am, concerned that I wouldn't have quite enough time to meet my 8am departure time. I showered, got dressed, and even applied mascara. I thought about touching up my toenail polish, but it slipped my mind between the brushing of the teeth and the scrunching of the hair. I stepped out of my bedroom, savoring the quiet that is too often overrun by the chaos of my kids, and I heard rustling in the kitchen.
David.
Sigh. Please let it be a phase.
David had come out of his room (against the rules), opened the fridge (against the rules), and began eating his lunch for breakfast (I don't really have a rule about that.) His cookies were gone, and he had started on his raisins. He looked up at me and grinned the sweetest smile--no hint of mischievousness in it.
I fixed three bowls of cereal, two bottles, woke up everyone, changed their diapers, changed their clothes, brushed their hair, brushed their teeth, put on their shoes, put the babies in their carseats, made four more bottles (because they'd be at church for 6 hours), added two changes of clothes to the diaper bag, saddled myself with purses and backpacks and lunches and diaper bags. I picked up one 30-pound carseat child in one hand, one 30-pound carseat child in the other, turned sideways to shimmy out the hallway.
Chris walked out of the bedroom, showered and dressed in his scrubs. It was 7:45 am.
He said, "Did you make the coffee yet?"
??!!!!!!
I know Chris well enough to know that he wasn't asking me to make the coffee. He just wanted to know if he needed to make it (which he did.)
I'm proud to say the kids and I made it to the conference on time. Chris made the coffee and his lunch, drove his own car, and brought me a cup of coffee at 8:35 am.
We sat together in the back of the packed-out fellowship hall and heard a remarkable man of God speak about talking to God. I was exhausted, but satisfied.
I learned last year that I choose my attitude. I can have a happy day doing the same thing I did on a terrible day. When I view my role as mom and wife as a joy instead of a job, something I get to do rather than something I have to do, then I can enjoy myself.
Instead of being angry that I had to get everyone ready by myself this morning, I'm proud and thankful that God allowed me to have the patience, foresight, and organization to pull it off. We'll see how tomorrow goes!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Deliver us from evil
"Deliver us from evil." I pray a variation of this section of the Lord's Prayer everyday for each of my children. I believe God answers it everyday, and we may never know what might have been. Sometimes, however, we can get caught up in the imaginings of the land of "What if" until we torment ourselves.
We recently went to Mountain View, AR with Chris' family to enjoy a cabin in the mountains. Chris had an extra day off work, so our immediate family went up early. We found a one-room guest house in which the seven of us crammed. The babies were in separate playpens set up between the wall and the queen bed. There was just enough room between the bed and the playpens to shimmy through. Saja and Kora slept on the bed in normal fashion, while David lay crosswise at the foot of the bed. They loved it. I, of course, sat in the corner for an hour at bedtime to berate anyone who moved or spoke.
Then I slipped into the bathroom/kitchen/living room (yes, those are slashes) to visit with Chris for an hour or so before we went to sleep on the sofa bed. I had forgotten how terrible sofa beds are for the back. I felt a bar in my body no matter how I turned! Sleeping lightly, I jumped out of bed the moment I heard a cry from the crammed kiddie room. David had fallen off the bed. I anticipated the fall and had placed pillows and blankets on the floor to soften the blow, but he fell away from the padding and hit the floor anyway. So much for anticipation. "The best laid plans..."
This little cabin was located directly across the street from a recreational area that included a playground and a public pool. We took the kids swimming the next day and opted not to pay for the babies. While they do love the water, it just hurts to pay full price for what really is a burden in the pool. Our older children love to swim and do so very well with floaties (although the warning printed in bright blue on the orange armbands very clearly states, "These are not lifesaving devices.") I have very few reservations when swimming with their floaties. However, water wings of any type were prohibited at this public pool in favor of lifejackets, which are, of course, "lifesaving devices." I took the girls into the ladies' changing room to get ready, and Chris took the boys. When we entered the pool area, Chris was sitting under a pavillion with the babies. I beamed at him and rushed over. We had mounds and mound of swimming stuff for the seven of us piled three feet high on the picnic table! Chris first words to me were, "Hey. Um, have you seen David?" As I turned to scan the area, an older woman began to run in a panic from the other side of the pool.
A man next to us saw her and said, "What's wrong?"
All she could answer was, "Baby! Baby! Baby!"
She flung herself onto the ground at the edge of the pool directly at our feet, fishing in the water with her hands. The lifeguard still had not noticed. Chris and I stood frozen in observance, knowing that the "baby" they were rescuing was ours. We couldn't see him because he was right up against the edge of the pool, having eagerly jumped in sans lifejacket, grasping at the ledge just out of his reach, kicking his little feet, eyes wide with effort, managing a breath with every tip-toe push out of the water. I'm pleased I didn't see him. The images might plague me for years.
Happily, the man and the woman, who were strangers to us and strangers to each other, rescued my son. He didn't pass out, gag, or even actually realize he was ever in trouble. I hugged the stranger. We then spoke to David in very terse terms about the importance of wearing a lifejacket or floaties before ever jumping into the water, as well as asking permission to do so. We have had this conversation with him many times. Once, under my close supervision, I even let him spend some time underwater to teach a lesson (which apparently didn't work).
People say you can't take your eyes off of them for a minute. Even if you only have one child, that's impossible. What a burden you, mom, or you, dad, are carrying around to think that your child's life depends upon your watchful eye bearing down on them at every moment, keeping them within arm's reach at all times. What a wearisome motto.
I praise God for the freedom he allows us parents through His sovereign will. The Bible says, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Did you know that I am not perfect? Neither is Chris, but I won't expound. We cannot change the plans God has for David, no matter how watchful or worrisome we are. David cannot die because of our neglect outside of God's permission. Is that difficult to accept? Yes, it is. Is it hard to think that God allowed your innocent child to perish? Yes, it is. But hear this: you cannot live the rest of your life under an umbrella of shame and guilt if your mistake led to the demise of your child or one under your care. God ordains your days. Rest in that. Experience forgiveness, love, and grace from the Author of goodness.
David has been around for 28 months, and has given us more than one scare in the land of "What if?" (I try not to visit too frequently, or worry will overtake me and defeat my joy.) Kora broke her skull last year falling off a waterslide onto the concrete. And I WAS watching! I just couldn't reach her in the short second it took to mishandle the step and slip off onto her back six feet below on the hard concrete. That image still haunts me. But in God's grace, he spared her life and her physical well-being.
I don't know what God plans for my life and for the lives of my children. I have made it my job to enjoy them everyday and to teach them godliness. I pray they will learn to love God and to love others, and I do pray for their protection from mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual evil all their lives. "Deliver us from evil." I'm glad it's not my job.
We recently went to Mountain View, AR with Chris' family to enjoy a cabin in the mountains. Chris had an extra day off work, so our immediate family went up early. We found a one-room guest house in which the seven of us crammed. The babies were in separate playpens set up between the wall and the queen bed. There was just enough room between the bed and the playpens to shimmy through. Saja and Kora slept on the bed in normal fashion, while David lay crosswise at the foot of the bed. They loved it. I, of course, sat in the corner for an hour at bedtime to berate anyone who moved or spoke.
Then I slipped into the bathroom/kitchen/living room (yes, those are slashes) to visit with Chris for an hour or so before we went to sleep on the sofa bed. I had forgotten how terrible sofa beds are for the back. I felt a bar in my body no matter how I turned! Sleeping lightly, I jumped out of bed the moment I heard a cry from the crammed kiddie room. David had fallen off the bed. I anticipated the fall and had placed pillows and blankets on the floor to soften the blow, but he fell away from the padding and hit the floor anyway. So much for anticipation. "The best laid plans..."
This little cabin was located directly across the street from a recreational area that included a playground and a public pool. We took the kids swimming the next day and opted not to pay for the babies. While they do love the water, it just hurts to pay full price for what really is a burden in the pool. Our older children love to swim and do so very well with floaties (although the warning printed in bright blue on the orange armbands very clearly states, "These are not lifesaving devices.") I have very few reservations when swimming with their floaties. However, water wings of any type were prohibited at this public pool in favor of lifejackets, which are, of course, "lifesaving devices." I took the girls into the ladies' changing room to get ready, and Chris took the boys. When we entered the pool area, Chris was sitting under a pavillion with the babies. I beamed at him and rushed over. We had mounds and mound of swimming stuff for the seven of us piled three feet high on the picnic table! Chris first words to me were, "Hey. Um, have you seen David?" As I turned to scan the area, an older woman began to run in a panic from the other side of the pool.
A man next to us saw her and said, "What's wrong?"
All she could answer was, "Baby! Baby! Baby!"
She flung herself onto the ground at the edge of the pool directly at our feet, fishing in the water with her hands. The lifeguard still had not noticed. Chris and I stood frozen in observance, knowing that the "baby" they were rescuing was ours. We couldn't see him because he was right up against the edge of the pool, having eagerly jumped in sans lifejacket, grasping at the ledge just out of his reach, kicking his little feet, eyes wide with effort, managing a breath with every tip-toe push out of the water. I'm pleased I didn't see him. The images might plague me for years.
Happily, the man and the woman, who were strangers to us and strangers to each other, rescued my son. He didn't pass out, gag, or even actually realize he was ever in trouble. I hugged the stranger. We then spoke to David in very terse terms about the importance of wearing a lifejacket or floaties before ever jumping into the water, as well as asking permission to do so. We have had this conversation with him many times. Once, under my close supervision, I even let him spend some time underwater to teach a lesson (which apparently didn't work).
People say you can't take your eyes off of them for a minute. Even if you only have one child, that's impossible. What a burden you, mom, or you, dad, are carrying around to think that your child's life depends upon your watchful eye bearing down on them at every moment, keeping them within arm's reach at all times. What a wearisome motto.
I praise God for the freedom he allows us parents through His sovereign will. The Bible says, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Did you know that I am not perfect? Neither is Chris, but I won't expound. We cannot change the plans God has for David, no matter how watchful or worrisome we are. David cannot die because of our neglect outside of God's permission. Is that difficult to accept? Yes, it is. Is it hard to think that God allowed your innocent child to perish? Yes, it is. But hear this: you cannot live the rest of your life under an umbrella of shame and guilt if your mistake led to the demise of your child or one under your care. God ordains your days. Rest in that. Experience forgiveness, love, and grace from the Author of goodness.
David has been around for 28 months, and has given us more than one scare in the land of "What if?" (I try not to visit too frequently, or worry will overtake me and defeat my joy.) Kora broke her skull last year falling off a waterslide onto the concrete. And I WAS watching! I just couldn't reach her in the short second it took to mishandle the step and slip off onto her back six feet below on the hard concrete. That image still haunts me. But in God's grace, he spared her life and her physical well-being.
I don't know what God plans for my life and for the lives of my children. I have made it my job to enjoy them everyday and to teach them godliness. I pray they will learn to love God and to love others, and I do pray for their protection from mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual evil all their lives. "Deliver us from evil." I'm glad it's not my job.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Technologically Obsolete
My babysitter taught my 4-year-old how to text. So, D-daddy, that explains the message you got tonight: "Saja. Mama. Dad. David." She even knew how to type a period, and it's not even marked!
She said, "Mom, guess why your phone writes smaller than [the babysitter's] phone?"
I said, "Why?"
She said, in her best 'Duh' voice, "Because her phone is bigger!" What a cutie pie.
Do you know that I'm approaching 30, and I never once texted anyone anything until my babysitter got the feature? It's the only way to keep up with her, and she's pretty vital to my existence. But Saja, once she learned she could type messages to anyone in the world, wanted me to actually run down the entire list of contacts in my phone to decide to whom she could send her oh-so-informative-and-educational message. We are IN TROUBLE!!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Why I'm not Hindu
I'm not a fan of bugs. Some people are. Kora cried real tears last night because David accused her of playing with a fake bug instead of a real bug. Believe me, it was fake. Tonight, on my way to put Saja to bed, I killed two crickets with one stomp each, then two LARGE spiders with several stomps each (they're resilient!), and then I discovered ants crawling on Saja's bed. Actual ants. Where she sleeps. *Gasp*
I folded up the sheets and told her to take them to the washer. I grabbed the ant spray and returned to her bedroom. Then I heard a massive shrill scream. Certain that Saja had been bitten by ants on the sheet, I ran out to help, but she cried, "There's a huge bug in the kitchen!" (Does it ever end, God?!) Sure enough, a gargantuan cockroach had found its way into our apartment and scared the britches off my little girl. Fortunately, I actually had in my hand at that moment "Ant and ROACH killer." I sprayed the little bugger til he scurried behind the fridge. Maybe, one day, someone will be fortunate enough to move the fridge and find the carcass of the Incredible Hulkroach behind it. But not I. Not tonight. Not with an ant colony setting up shop in my daughter's bed.
I sent her to the couch while I did something about it and finally traced the ants into the closet, which I have chained in order to keep the kids from destroying it. Upon opening the closet, I discovered a billion packing peanuts covering the floor. (Chris keeps packing peanuts in the house for shipping. The kids had in fact at some point discovered a way to enter the closet with the chain still attached, empty 13 gallons of packing peanuts on the floor, and leave undetected. Except I detected it. I just chose not to do anything about Chris' kids destroying Chris' closet with Chris' packing peanuts.) Try tracing an ant trail through a billion packing peanuts. Not fun at 10 pm. Not fun at all. Vacuum them? Great idea! Except they get stuck in the vacuum. You know what I did? I gently lay my hand near the peanuts and waved vigorously until they displaced and I could see the floor. Ants everywhere. I finally found a trail leading under the bookshelf (yes, we have bookshelves in our closets) and outside.
To be honest, who has the energy this late at night, or ever, really, to clean up packing peanuts and spray down ants? I left it. Saja's on the couch. Tomorrow, I'll ask the manager to find the anthill outside and demolish it. I hope she's not Hindu, either.
I folded up the sheets and told her to take them to the washer. I grabbed the ant spray and returned to her bedroom. Then I heard a massive shrill scream. Certain that Saja had been bitten by ants on the sheet, I ran out to help, but she cried, "There's a huge bug in the kitchen!" (Does it ever end, God?!) Sure enough, a gargantuan cockroach had found its way into our apartment and scared the britches off my little girl. Fortunately, I actually had in my hand at that moment "Ant and ROACH killer." I sprayed the little bugger til he scurried behind the fridge. Maybe, one day, someone will be fortunate enough to move the fridge and find the carcass of the Incredible Hulkroach behind it. But not I. Not tonight. Not with an ant colony setting up shop in my daughter's bed.
I sent her to the couch while I did something about it and finally traced the ants into the closet, which I have chained in order to keep the kids from destroying it. Upon opening the closet, I discovered a billion packing peanuts covering the floor. (Chris keeps packing peanuts in the house for shipping. The kids had in fact at some point discovered a way to enter the closet with the chain still attached, empty 13 gallons of packing peanuts on the floor, and leave undetected. Except I detected it. I just chose not to do anything about Chris' kids destroying Chris' closet with Chris' packing peanuts.) Try tracing an ant trail through a billion packing peanuts. Not fun at 10 pm. Not fun at all. Vacuum them? Great idea! Except they get stuck in the vacuum. You know what I did? I gently lay my hand near the peanuts and waved vigorously until they displaced and I could see the floor. Ants everywhere. I finally found a trail leading under the bookshelf (yes, we have bookshelves in our closets) and outside.
To be honest, who has the energy this late at night, or ever, really, to clean up packing peanuts and spray down ants? I left it. Saja's on the couch. Tomorrow, I'll ask the manager to find the anthill outside and demolish it. I hope she's not Hindu, either.
Monday, August 4, 2008
New photos
First, let me say this: I love photos. I love digital photos. But I hate posting them in fifteen different places! I do have a few pictures I'd like to share on this blog, but to see the whole album, just look at Facebook, would you? It'll save me a lot of hassle! Or, you could get a CEIVA photo frame, and I could upload my pictures straight to your album. Or, you could view them at Snapfish.com. Or, you could view them at Samsclub.com. See my point? I've spent all afternoon uploading! (Thank God for Broadband!)
I have a friend whose house was destroyed by fire, and I kept her two girls last week. We also invited my niece to play. I love this picture with all 8 kids in my dining room--and Chris in the background on the computer! What a life!
My Facebook profile picture used to show me holding Tobias, and old friends thought I only had one baby. I worked hard for those twins, so I set up this shot to show off TWO babies on my Facebook profile.
Chris and I prettied up for our anniversary date to Chez Phillippe. I have to admit, the dress, although labeled two sizes bigger than what I normally wear, was a bit too small in the waist. I actually had to excuse myself to unzip it and take a deep breath. Was it worth it? Yes. Why have a pretty dress hang in your closet your whole life long?
How cute! Tobias and Tyler discovered that they could hold hands at breakfast. It just thrilled my soul.
I love this picture of Tobias and Tyler. The patriotic colors and stark contrast of the white blanket and blue playpen combine with the natural light to highlight my 8-month-old babies. I used this shot of Tyler to make the composite header (during which process, I saved over the original, changing the resolution to a measly 72 dpi! Noooooooo!)
I have a friend whose house was destroyed by fire, and I kept her two girls last week. We also invited my niece to play. I love this picture with all 8 kids in my dining room--and Chris in the background on the computer! What a life!
My Facebook profile picture used to show me holding Tobias, and old friends thought I only had one baby. I worked hard for those twins, so I set up this shot to show off TWO babies on my Facebook profile.
Chris and I prettied up for our anniversary date to Chez Phillippe. I have to admit, the dress, although labeled two sizes bigger than what I normally wear, was a bit too small in the waist. I actually had to excuse myself to unzip it and take a deep breath. Was it worth it? Yes. Why have a pretty dress hang in your closet your whole life long?
How cute! Tobias and Tyler discovered that they could hold hands at breakfast. It just thrilled my soul.
I love this picture of Tobias and Tyler. The patriotic colors and stark contrast of the white blanket and blue playpen combine with the natural light to highlight my 8-month-old babies. I used this shot of Tyler to make the composite header (during which process, I saved over the original, changing the resolution to a measly 72 dpi! Noooooooo!)
Friday, August 1, 2008
When God is silent
I had an experience today that taught me about my Lord. Someone asked me what I ate on my exquisite 7th Anniversary Date at Chez Phillippe. I began, "I started with an appetizer of escargot in a red wine sauce." After the shock of snail set in and passed, I continued, "Then I had a roasted corn bisque with shaved truffles and truffle oil. The third course was day scallops." As I began to describe the asian-style dish, my audience became distracted (by my children--what else?!). I started again, only to be met with deaf ears. I tried a third time, a little more loudly, but when I again received no attention, I stopped talking. I thought, "What's the point?"
God works that way. Listen to the Lord when He speaks to your heart through the Holy Spirit, every time, no matter how insignificant or outlandish it may seem. When you stop listening, He stops speaking. How can you have a relationship with God if you never hear from Him?
I read today parts of Jeremiah and Nahum that highlighted God's judgment on nations that anger Him by disobeying His commands. I pray God delivers us as a nation from His judgment. Read about King Josiah! Wouldn't it be great if the United States had a president who could implement the same kind of things that King Josiah did?! I pray that God sees a family devoted to Him and His ways when He sees my family.
By the way, I finished my five-course meal with the day scallops in a soybean puree, chives, and vegetable pearls, followed by a medium-rare beef fillet with a sweet potato gratin. For dessert, I ate a lemon tart with blueberry coulis and cardamom ice cream. Cardamom! Who'd have thought it made a wonderful combination. The delightful experience was a melange of taste adventure and visual enjoyment. Chez Phillippe does not serve dinner--they serve an adventure in fine dining. You don't just eat, you indulge.
God works that way. Listen to the Lord when He speaks to your heart through the Holy Spirit, every time, no matter how insignificant or outlandish it may seem. When you stop listening, He stops speaking. How can you have a relationship with God if you never hear from Him?
I read today parts of Jeremiah and Nahum that highlighted God's judgment on nations that anger Him by disobeying His commands. I pray God delivers us as a nation from His judgment. Read about King Josiah! Wouldn't it be great if the United States had a president who could implement the same kind of things that King Josiah did?! I pray that God sees a family devoted to Him and His ways when He sees my family.
By the way, I finished my five-course meal with the day scallops in a soybean puree, chives, and vegetable pearls, followed by a medium-rare beef fillet with a sweet potato gratin. For dessert, I ate a lemon tart with blueberry coulis and cardamom ice cream. Cardamom! Who'd have thought it made a wonderful combination. The delightful experience was a melange of taste adventure and visual enjoyment. Chez Phillippe does not serve dinner--they serve an adventure in fine dining. You don't just eat, you indulge.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
God's love for kids
I recently prayed that God would give me a love for kids that are not my own. I have always wanted our home to be the hang-out home, where kids could feel comfortable coming and going at any time. I've realized two things I need to change in order for this to happen:
1. Love the opportunity to have more kids in the home... meaning, don't get so aggravated with messes, strange questions repeated a billion times until you acknowledge it, requests for help times eight (or ten, as may be the case).
2. Keep snacks on hand. I much prefer healthy foods, but to be the hangout home, I might have to, um, buy chips (gasp) and cookies (run-away, run-away!) It's a sacrifice I might be willing to make. Too bad kids don't swarm for coffee. We'd have them all day, every day! One concession I won't make (I don't think), though, is soda. It has no redeeming characteristics. Sugar plus caffeine equals hyper kiddos and one angry momma. And that is the one thing that will kill the dream of the hangout home faster than anything else!
1. Love the opportunity to have more kids in the home... meaning, don't get so aggravated with messes, strange questions repeated a billion times until you acknowledge it, requests for help times eight (or ten, as may be the case).
2. Keep snacks on hand. I much prefer healthy foods, but to be the hangout home, I might have to, um, buy chips (gasp) and cookies (run-away, run-away!) It's a sacrifice I might be willing to make. Too bad kids don't swarm for coffee. We'd have them all day, every day! One concession I won't make (I don't think), though, is soda. It has no redeeming characteristics. Sugar plus caffeine equals hyper kiddos and one angry momma. And that is the one thing that will kill the dream of the hangout home faster than anything else!
Yuck yuck kisses
David cracks me up. He's a handful sometimes, but he is quite a character! Yesterday, we had a friend over, a little girl who's almost 2. Her name is Melayna, and she's the cutest, most petite, quietest little thing I've ever seen. I was actually a bit concerned David might bowl her over like a bulldozer. But at one point, David mooed like a cow, to which Melayna responded with a moo of her own. While they both had their lips puckered, he leaned in and touched her lips. He kissed her! Then he made a sour face, wiped his lips with the back of his hand, and said, "Yuck! Yuck!" Melayna giggled and responded in kind. He's quite a clever boy, because Melayna made a game out of it, and David found himself kissing her over and over and over. I can't wait to see who else falls for it over the course of his lifetime. When he's older, still tricking girls into kissing him, I hope I'll still crack up.
Monday, July 28, 2008
8 kids under age 6--Happy Anniversary!
Chris and I have been married 7 years today, July 28. We're falling more and more in love everyday. He, of course, got scheduled to work today from 11a-11p, which in reality means 10:15am to midnight. My feelings aren't hurt. I've planned a very romantic (and very expensive) night out on our next free night. It doesn't matter to me that we celebrate on the day of the anniversary. I'm just glad to have one to celebrate.
I find it funny, though, that today is the day I volunteered to have a sleepover with three other friends. I've had them all day, and it hasn't been a bad day. I can't say we did anything productive, and I did have help for 3 hours, but not only did we survive--we thrived. I've had fun. I certainly haven't had time to mope about my husband being gone all day.
I find it funny, though, that today is the day I volunteered to have a sleepover with three other friends. I've had them all day, and it hasn't been a bad day. I can't say we did anything productive, and I did have help for 3 hours, but not only did we survive--we thrived. I've had fun. I certainly haven't had time to mope about my husband being gone all day.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
I love Guardian Angels
We have bunk cribs for the twins. It's a wonderful space-saver. It's smaller than a normal crib--I think they call it a mini-crib. The mattress is about the size of a playpen. The crib rails slide up and then over the top of the bed, so that when I'm getting a baby out or putting one in, there's no rail between me and the bed... which also means there is no rail between the bed and the open air!!
It concerned me at first because the older kids can open it, but we taught them not to touch the cribs. Well, today, I woke up to a shrill, sharp cry that could only be one of pain coming from the babies. I jumped out of bed anticipating the worst. (Actually, I was kind of in the morning blur I live in until I have coffee.) I must admit, in the morning, my brain doesn't process well, and while I might have felt that I rushed into their room, I probably really dragged into their room struggling to keep my eyes half open. Kora was carrying Tobias. This is a bad sign, since he's on the top bunk, sleeping about 4.5 feet off the ground. David climbed over the top (which is more than 6 feet tall!), at which time Saja suggested he get out. So he did, leaving the crib open.
He stopped crying almost as soon as I took him. I saw one tear on his eye. No injuries. Not a bloody nose, not a carpet burn, nothing.
The boy probably crawled face-first over the edge. I'm so glad I didn't see it, but I can only imagine how much worse it could have been.
I love Guardian Angels. I believe Tobias' protected him this morning. I hope God assigns us many Guardian Angels, because believe me, they'll be working overtime in our family. We manage to get hurt even in bed.
It concerned me at first because the older kids can open it, but we taught them not to touch the cribs. Well, today, I woke up to a shrill, sharp cry that could only be one of pain coming from the babies. I jumped out of bed anticipating the worst. (Actually, I was kind of in the morning blur I live in until I have coffee.) I must admit, in the morning, my brain doesn't process well, and while I might have felt that I rushed into their room, I probably really dragged into their room struggling to keep my eyes half open. Kora was carrying Tobias. This is a bad sign, since he's on the top bunk, sleeping about 4.5 feet off the ground. David climbed over the top (which is more than 6 feet tall!), at which time Saja suggested he get out. So he did, leaving the crib open.
He stopped crying almost as soon as I took him. I saw one tear on his eye. No injuries. Not a bloody nose, not a carpet burn, nothing.
The boy probably crawled face-first over the edge. I'm so glad I didn't see it, but I can only imagine how much worse it could have been.
I love Guardian Angels. I believe Tobias' protected him this morning. I hope God assigns us many Guardian Angels, because believe me, they'll be working overtime in our family. We manage to get hurt even in bed.
The Three Little Pigs, by Saja
Once upon a time, there were three little pigs, and they all built their houses out of brick, except the last little pig, who used straw AND brick. Then, the fat, fat, fat, superbig elephant came and said, "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house down!" But he couldn't, except for the last house, because they were brick. He just blew the straw off the last house. Then, the three little pigs chased the elephant and cut him in half into three pieces {we'll work on math}, and put him in a superbig oven, because he was so fat. His eyes weren't blinking, and they weren't closed, they were open. The three little pigs ate his eyes, and they LOVED it. The end.
Can't beat a good bedtime story... especially if it includes eating elephant eyeballs.
Can't beat a good bedtime story... especially if it includes eating elephant eyeballs.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Shopping Fatigue
In January of this year, I tried to squeeze in a shopping trip before naptime, but Kora didn't quite make it. Good thing toilet paper was on the list!
What is a geoduck?
This is our trivia question of the day.
I asked Chris, "What is a geo-duck?" We didn't know, so we looked at the answer. It's a type of clam.
Saja said, "Ooh, a clam!"
I said, "You don't even know what a clam is!" She insisted she did.
I said, "No, you don't! Where does a clam live?"
She said, "In the water!" And then she burst into laughter when she saw my shocked face. I guess she learned that from Spongebob. She IS a sponge!
Fact is, it's called a {gooey-duck} and it has a neck that can stretch several feet (which looked pretty funny to Saja--feet coming out of its neck?!)
It's funny how kids think. It makes me smile. And I like to smile.
I asked Chris, "What is a geo-duck?" We didn't know, so we looked at the answer. It's a type of clam.
Saja said, "Ooh, a clam!"
I said, "You don't even know what a clam is!" She insisted she did.
I said, "No, you don't! Where does a clam live?"
She said, "In the water!" And then she burst into laughter when she saw my shocked face. I guess she learned that from Spongebob. She IS a sponge!
Fact is, it's called a {gooey-duck} and it has a neck that can stretch several feet (which looked pretty funny to Saja--feet coming out of its neck?!)
It's funny how kids think. It makes me smile. And I like to smile.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Reconciliation
I spent two hours today trying to make my children nap. They respond so much better to life when they are well-rested. They aren't yet old enough to understand that, though, so I fight with them to close their eyes and be still and quiet. I spanked Kora several times for disobeying the rules. She began to cry. I honestly thought the crying would wear her out, so I let her continue. And continue. And continue. I believe the child cried for an hour in the recliner. Every time she made a move, I eyed her from my post directly across from her with a look that said, "Don't even think about it." Oh, how she would wail. Finally, I let her slink off the recliner until she stood next to me. She looked up at me, stopped crying, and held up her arms. She only wanted to know I still loved her. I hugged her so tight that no one could snatch her away!
Aren't we the same with God?
God loves us. In fact, the Bible says, "God is love." Yet He is just. When we disobey, He lets us suffer for it, sometimes. How glad I am that God reaches down to me and scoops me up in His arms as the One who loves me when I turn to Him in repentance. He never stopped loving me. May I be quick to repent and end the estrangement from the One who loves me when I disobey. No one can snatch us away.
Aren't we the same with God?
God loves us. In fact, the Bible says, "God is love." Yet He is just. When we disobey, He lets us suffer for it, sometimes. How glad I am that God reaches down to me and scoops me up in His arms as the One who loves me when I turn to Him in repentance. He never stopped loving me. May I be quick to repent and end the estrangement from the One who loves me when I disobey. No one can snatch us away.
Naptime and valium
Why do we spend half of our lives fighting naptime and the other half fighting to GET a nap?
Why do my kids resist naptime like I'm asking them to eat puree of beet mixed with fish oil?
Why do I have to spank all of my children every minute until they peter out about 2 hours after naptime started?
Why can't I just have some valium???
Why do my kids resist naptime like I'm asking them to eat puree of beet mixed with fish oil?
Why do I have to spank all of my children every minute until they peter out about 2 hours after naptime started?
Why can't I just have some valium???
Friday, July 18, 2008
Life lessons: the simile
Me: "A comparison between two things using the word 'like' or 'as' is a simile. Can you say, 'simile'?"
Saja and Kora: "Simile."
Me: "Very good. See this sentence: 'I am like the sun.' That's a simile. 'Saja is like a kitten.' That's a simile. 'Kora is like a puppy.' That's a simile. Do you want to try?
Kora: "No, Kora is like a bird."
Me: "Good job, Kora."
Saja: "Mommy is like, um, a cow."
Me: Big laugh.
Saja: "That was a simile, wasn't it?"
Sigh.
Saja and Kora: "Simile."
Me: "Very good. See this sentence: 'I am like the sun.' That's a simile. 'Saja is like a kitten.' That's a simile. 'Kora is like a puppy.' That's a simile. Do you want to try?
Kora: "No, Kora is like a bird."
Me: "Good job, Kora."
Saja: "Mommy is like, um, a cow."
Me: Big laugh.
Saja: "That was a simile, wasn't it?"
Sigh.
The last five years
Chris and I were married for about a year and a half when we decided to have children. We got pregnant before we even started "really" trying, and Saja was born six days late at a hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina with a midwife. I had stadol, but no epidural, and she was 8 lb., 8 oz. We decided to be surprised with Saja, but when she was born, all the midwife said was, "Here's your baby!" I still didn't know if she was a boy or a girl!
When she was three months old, we decided to have another child right away and had no trouble getting pregnant. Kora was born two weeks early in Memphis under the care of a doctor at Baptist Women's Hospital. She was 7 lb. 3 oz., and required an epidural for the last centimeter dilation because I was at 9 cm for at least an hour. (Yes, it hurt.) We had no ultrasound for Kora, either, but the announcement came joyously, "It's a girl!"
David was born 12 months and 3 weeks later. I'm not saying we didn't decide to have another baby that soon, but I'm not saying we did, either. He weighed in at a whopping 9lb. 1 oz. on his due date. I was thrilled on the day of our ultrasound with him to see what may or may not be an umbilical cord. Turns out, it wasn't.
Then, on Valentine's Day, when David was approaching his first birthday, Chris told me he'd like to have a brother for David before he was two. I, having just dropped fifteen pounds and 4 sizes, was certainly not eager to pull out the maternity clothes again, but I did tell him I'd pray about it. No sooner had the words entered my head in my prayer to God did I specifically sense Him telling me that it was time to throw away the birth control pills. Oh, how I longingly looked at the pill pack the next morning. I sighed, and threw it in the trash. I think I didn't even tell Chris for two weeks!
Sure enough, God blessed us with another quick conception (no painful waiting). I usually don't rush to the doctor, but I had a small complication that made me think I should check for an ectopic pregnancy. So, the doctor did an ultrasound to confirm that the egg was in the right spot. While Chris and I stared at the snowy picture on the screen, he pointed. "This," he said, "is your bladder. This is your baby." (Pause for us to coo.) "And this," he continued, "is your other baby." Haha, I said, knowing his propensity for joking and knowledge that my grandmother had twins. "It's true," he said. "And now, I'm just looking for another one." Oh my gosh, stop looking!
I think I walked around in shock for a week.
The pregnancy began taking its toll early. At 8 weeks, I was in maternity clothes, at 15 weeks, I had back pain, and at 28 weeks, I felt like I was full-term! God blessed us with a full-term (38 week) pregnancy, and Tobias was 6 lb. 11 oz., and Tyler was 6 lb. 2 oz. After the doctor broke my water and gave me an epidural, Tobias nearly slid out. =) Tyler was a different story. I had to force him into the birth canal, but they both stayed head-down (key for avoiding a c-section). Plus, I didn't burst my eyeballs like I did with Saja and David.
So, Tobias was born at 11:59 pm... which makes him a full day older than Tyler, and cost an additional $1500 for his extra day in the newborn nursery. It's true. Thank God for health insurance.
My recovery was almost instant. Now the twins are 8 months old, and my life is happy, most of the time. I've lost all the baby weight, and more importantly, I feel healthy and happy.
When I was a teenager, I never saw myself content as a stay-at-home mom. But now, if I miss a day with my family, I surely do miss them.
Throughout the Bible, the way God blesses women is fertility. We are and we feel BLESSED (and happy, too.)
When she was three months old, we decided to have another child right away and had no trouble getting pregnant. Kora was born two weeks early in Memphis under the care of a doctor at Baptist Women's Hospital. She was 7 lb. 3 oz., and required an epidural for the last centimeter dilation because I was at 9 cm for at least an hour. (Yes, it hurt.) We had no ultrasound for Kora, either, but the announcement came joyously, "It's a girl!"
David was born 12 months and 3 weeks later. I'm not saying we didn't decide to have another baby that soon, but I'm not saying we did, either. He weighed in at a whopping 9lb. 1 oz. on his due date. I was thrilled on the day of our ultrasound with him to see what may or may not be an umbilical cord. Turns out, it wasn't.
Then, on Valentine's Day, when David was approaching his first birthday, Chris told me he'd like to have a brother for David before he was two. I, having just dropped fifteen pounds and 4 sizes, was certainly not eager to pull out the maternity clothes again, but I did tell him I'd pray about it. No sooner had the words entered my head in my prayer to God did I specifically sense Him telling me that it was time to throw away the birth control pills. Oh, how I longingly looked at the pill pack the next morning. I sighed, and threw it in the trash. I think I didn't even tell Chris for two weeks!
Sure enough, God blessed us with another quick conception (no painful waiting). I usually don't rush to the doctor, but I had a small complication that made me think I should check for an ectopic pregnancy. So, the doctor did an ultrasound to confirm that the egg was in the right spot. While Chris and I stared at the snowy picture on the screen, he pointed. "This," he said, "is your bladder. This is your baby." (Pause for us to coo.) "And this," he continued, "is your other baby." Haha, I said, knowing his propensity for joking and knowledge that my grandmother had twins. "It's true," he said. "And now, I'm just looking for another one." Oh my gosh, stop looking!
I think I walked around in shock for a week.
The pregnancy began taking its toll early. At 8 weeks, I was in maternity clothes, at 15 weeks, I had back pain, and at 28 weeks, I felt like I was full-term! God blessed us with a full-term (38 week) pregnancy, and Tobias was 6 lb. 11 oz., and Tyler was 6 lb. 2 oz. After the doctor broke my water and gave me an epidural, Tobias nearly slid out. =) Tyler was a different story. I had to force him into the birth canal, but they both stayed head-down (key for avoiding a c-section). Plus, I didn't burst my eyeballs like I did with Saja and David.
So, Tobias was born at 11:59 pm... which makes him a full day older than Tyler, and cost an additional $1500 for his extra day in the newborn nursery. It's true. Thank God for health insurance.
My recovery was almost instant. Now the twins are 8 months old, and my life is happy, most of the time. I've lost all the baby weight, and more importantly, I feel healthy and happy.
When I was a teenager, I never saw myself content as a stay-at-home mom. But now, if I miss a day with my family, I surely do miss them.
Throughout the Bible, the way God blesses women is fertility. We are and we feel BLESSED (and happy, too.)
I Pledge (and I Still Pledge) by Saja and Kora
We were told the girls' voices would sound different after their tonsillectomy, so we taped them saying the Pledge of Allegiance. The first thing Saja said in recovery (after, of course, "I WANT MY DADDY!!!" was "I sound different!") See if you can tell a difference.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Trouble trouble boil and bubble
Wow. I'm stepping into a whole new world--giving up my resistance to change and my aversion to new technology. I'm blogging.
I could get into trouble. Those of you who speak to me on a regular basis know my propensity to tell a little too much information. I wonder if that will transfer in writing. That's the beauty of the computer: you get to preview what you say before you press, "Publish." Ah, the modern marvel that is editing. I wish my mouth had a "Preview" button.
Why do I blog? So that when you call to chat with the woman who has five munchkins pulling at her skirt, she can simply say, "Read my blog." That's kind of rude and impersonal--I'm sorry. (See how editing works!) Seriously, though, I don't have the freedom to chat. Look away for even a second and you've got paint on the chairs, the doorways, the highchairs, and the babies' mouths. Yes, it happened today. And I was in the room, cleaning up the paint. Acrylic paint. Doesn't come clean too easily, if at all. Sigh. This is why Jesus said to sell all you have and give to the poor. If you don't have anything, you don't have to worry about messing it up. Sounds like a free life. Sign me up! (As long as I can keep my high chairs, exersaucers, cribs, bouncy seats, playpens, slings, backpacks, moby wraps, rattles, movies, bottles, disposable diapers, bed and pillows, cell phone, computer, digital camera, ice cream maker, and minivan with built-in carseats. I cannot sell my convenience.)
Well, my chosen anodyne for the month is my Mother's Day indulgence at Serenity Spa today. So I sign off and head out to a lovely hot stone massage and Le Grande Classique facial. (It's not as glamorous as it sounds--they'll be sticking very long, very thin needles into individual pores to "extract" the gunk.)
I could get into trouble. Those of you who speak to me on a regular basis know my propensity to tell a little too much information. I wonder if that will transfer in writing. That's the beauty of the computer: you get to preview what you say before you press, "Publish." Ah, the modern marvel that is editing. I wish my mouth had a "Preview" button.
Why do I blog? So that when you call to chat with the woman who has five munchkins pulling at her skirt, she can simply say, "Read my blog." That's kind of rude and impersonal--I'm sorry. (See how editing works!) Seriously, though, I don't have the freedom to chat. Look away for even a second and you've got paint on the chairs, the doorways, the highchairs, and the babies' mouths. Yes, it happened today. And I was in the room, cleaning up the paint. Acrylic paint. Doesn't come clean too easily, if at all. Sigh. This is why Jesus said to sell all you have and give to the poor. If you don't have anything, you don't have to worry about messing it up. Sounds like a free life. Sign me up! (As long as I can keep my high chairs, exersaucers, cribs, bouncy seats, playpens, slings, backpacks, moby wraps, rattles, movies, bottles, disposable diapers, bed and pillows, cell phone, computer, digital camera, ice cream maker, and minivan with built-in carseats. I cannot sell my convenience.)
Well, my chosen anodyne for the month is my Mother's Day indulgence at Serenity Spa today. So I sign off and head out to a lovely hot stone massage and Le Grande Classique facial. (It's not as glamorous as it sounds--they'll be sticking very long, very thin needles into individual pores to "extract" the gunk.)
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