Tonight was hero night at AWANA. It was a blast, and I got a peek at the perspective of all our kids.
I've been worried about our oldest lately, with the mood swings, attitude shifts, etc, but tonight gave me renewed hope for his heart and future. He chose to be King David, complete w/ foil crown and harp, and a wrapping paper roll sword. He was puzzled and pleased that one of the older boys had picked Shepard David. I took a lot more comfort in this mind synch than the one at Halloween where he was Anakin Skywalker and his best bud was Darth Vader. Man, there was a conversation on choices and how they affect us......
Bob reused his Optimus Prime costume...totally masculine, moving, and well adorable. Hard core on the outside, sweet guy in the middle. It was a great fit.
Chip also recycled his Halloween costume. Although who doesn't want to be a knight in shining armor, or at least rescued by one?
The littles didn't get to participate, except for the pampered princess D, because well, the knight had to rescue someone!
I'm just hoping they realize that in the end there's only ONE hero. Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Let freedom ring~
Today was the last game for both soccer and football, and both Mr. M & I sighed in relief. We love our kids. We love the sports they play. We love the discipline and physical activity, teamwork,etc.
We do not love what it does to our schedule.
Yes folks, we now have two nights and Saturday totally free for chores, family fun, or just breathing. And our kids get a break too, before they get burnt out. Chips last words today were, "When is my next football game?"
"In March."
"Why?"
"It's too cold in the winter."
"Aw man, okay."
NOBODY tell him about indoor football, please.
#1 was just happy to have his pizza party, pictures, and medal for a job well done. He finally has realized he CAN be athletic, if he works at it.
So we're glad they did it. But we're also glad we don't have to set an alarm on Saturday morning, that our cold winter days can be spent w/ hot apple cider and books, and our evenings can be toy and bubble filled baths instead of quick showers and straight to bed.
Sometimes it's nice to have the freedom to just be.
We do not love what it does to our schedule.
Yes folks, we now have two nights and Saturday totally free for chores, family fun, or just breathing. And our kids get a break too, before they get burnt out. Chips last words today were, "When is my next football game?"
"In March."
"Why?"
"It's too cold in the winter."
"Aw man, okay."
NOBODY tell him about indoor football, please.
#1 was just happy to have his pizza party, pictures, and medal for a job well done. He finally has realized he CAN be athletic, if he works at it.
So we're glad they did it. But we're also glad we don't have to set an alarm on Saturday morning, that our cold winter days can be spent w/ hot apple cider and books, and our evenings can be toy and bubble filled baths instead of quick showers and straight to bed.
Sometimes it's nice to have the freedom to just be.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
How do you have time to blog?
A childless blogger friend of mine asked me this recently. Really, I don't, but just like a quiet time, if it's important enough to me, I'll find time to do it....but there are definitely consequences.
This morning, Princess P is still asleep, and Princess D and Baby Guy are stuffing their faces....so I can be here. Most of the time, t.v., food, and/or naps are involved.
Yesterday's epic took me too long to write that way, so I paid the price. Yes, while I was sitting here pegging away, thinking my kids were watching DragonTales and Word World, Princess P decided she needed a new career in carpet styling, and Princess D was so excited to tell me about it.
"Mom, mom, P got into the hair gel!"
We recently had a "crazy hair night" at AWANA, so we had this monstrously huge $1 bottle of hair gel for the occasion. We had it and the orange hair coloring up on a high shelf for Halloween. Apparently, the shelf wasn't high enough.
Fortunately, it was the slimy, goopy, fun she was after, as opposed to expressing her artisitic side, so the carpet was only slimed, not colored. I blotted up what I could with towels, and am totally open to ideas on how to get the rest of the dried crunchy spot out.
When I went back after lunch to finish the post, I thought all was well. They were eating after all. Uh, no, apparently I left the ground cloves too close to the edge of the counter. My kitchen had a great spicy smell from the floor for the rest of the day. At least I knew how to clean that up!
And so for today, I am out time. The oatmeal is gone. Baby Guy is climbing me, and Princess P is awake.
This morning, Princess P is still asleep, and Princess D and Baby Guy are stuffing their faces....so I can be here. Most of the time, t.v., food, and/or naps are involved.
Yesterday's epic took me too long to write that way, so I paid the price. Yes, while I was sitting here pegging away, thinking my kids were watching DragonTales and Word World, Princess P decided she needed a new career in carpet styling, and Princess D was so excited to tell me about it.
"Mom, mom, P got into the hair gel!"
We recently had a "crazy hair night" at AWANA, so we had this monstrously huge $1 bottle of hair gel for the occasion. We had it and the orange hair coloring up on a high shelf for Halloween. Apparently, the shelf wasn't high enough.
Fortunately, it was the slimy, goopy, fun she was after, as opposed to expressing her artisitic side, so the carpet was only slimed, not colored. I blotted up what I could with towels, and am totally open to ideas on how to get the rest of the dried crunchy spot out.
When I went back after lunch to finish the post, I thought all was well. They were eating after all. Uh, no, apparently I left the ground cloves too close to the edge of the counter. My kitchen had a great spicy smell from the floor for the rest of the day. At least I knew how to clean that up!
And so for today, I am out time. The oatmeal is gone. Baby Guy is climbing me, and Princess P is awake.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Our first "project"
Yesterday afternoon, after our ten year old went through the usual routine of throwing his lunchbox, backpack, and coat on the floor, being told they did not belong on the floor, rolling his eyes and moving them,, and begging for food, he had some big news to share.
"Mom, I need to make an election poster!"
"Okaaaay, when is it due?"
"Tomorrow."
"Did you really just find out about this today?"
"Uh-huh."
All rightie then. As soon as Dad gets home from work, we need to go to WalMart. Our previous round of markers is long gone, either as mistaken toddler edibles, caps left off, or as murals next to Princess D's bed. At least they gave him the paper for it.
At Walmart, we found a blinking, light up, patriotic pin, glitter star stickers, markers, and candy.
"Mom, pop rocks! They're so cool! They explode in your mouth."
"UH, yeah. I know."
" How? "
" Well, pop rocks have been around a long time, even when I was a kid."
"Whoaaa. That's some vintage candy then, can I buy some, please?!"
We all know the pop rocks ended up in the cart, along w/ a bag of hersheys bars and twix . I have such a love/hate relationship with Walmart in October.
Rocks popping in his mouth, we run into Price Chopper to get bread and salad to go with dinner, and head home.
After dinner..."weren't we going to carve pumpkins tonight?"
"It's okay. You have to do your poster. We'll do pumpkins on Thursday."
"Oh, it wasn't something I have to do. It was only if we wanted to."
Internally, mom goes "WHAT! We have to eat dad's cooking for something you didn't HAVE to do?!" Externally, responsible parent mode is still in order.
"I don't think so. We've already gone out to buy the stuff, and you said after school you had to do it."
"But MOM."
"The pumpkins will still be here, really. Have you cleared the table?"
Uh-no. So he goes and comes back. "Done"
"Is it clean where you want to make your poster? You don't want to get food on it."
Of course not. A few minutes later, we finally have a clean table.
"Okay, now where's you're rough draft?"
"Huh?"
"Take the skinny markers, and a different piece of paper, and draw a sketch of what you want to write, where you want the stickers,etc."
"I wanna picture of the candidates on there too."
"Okay, I'll go get a magazine w/ their pics while you're working on your rough draft."
Back to Walmart, only to find out they don't carry Newsweek or Time. So we try the QT across the street, no dice. Then back to CVS. Ah, victory. Time has the perfect pics.
I get home, and he's ready. We get the official poster out, along w/ a ruler and pencil. I show him how to center it and make "cheater lines" for writing straight. He does the rest, except for erasing the pencil marks. Mom gets that job. Overall, he did a great job. Dad even got the light on the pin to work. Senators McCain and Obama overlook his slogan " Your vote COUNTS". Great job #1.
"Mom, I need to make an election poster!"
"Okaaaay, when is it due?"
"Tomorrow."
"Did you really just find out about this today?"
"Uh-huh."
All rightie then. As soon as Dad gets home from work, we need to go to WalMart. Our previous round of markers is long gone, either as mistaken toddler edibles, caps left off, or as murals next to Princess D's bed. At least they gave him the paper for it.
At Walmart, we found a blinking, light up, patriotic pin, glitter star stickers, markers, and candy.
"Mom, pop rocks! They're so cool! They explode in your mouth."
"UH, yeah. I know."
" How? "
" Well, pop rocks have been around a long time, even when I was a kid."
"Whoaaa. That's some vintage candy then, can I buy some, please?!"
We all know the pop rocks ended up in the cart, along w/ a bag of hersheys bars and twix . I have such a love/hate relationship with Walmart in October.
Rocks popping in his mouth, we run into Price Chopper to get bread and salad to go with dinner, and head home.
After dinner..."weren't we going to carve pumpkins tonight?"
"It's okay. You have to do your poster. We'll do pumpkins on Thursday."
"Oh, it wasn't something I have to do. It was only if we wanted to."
Internally, mom goes "WHAT! We have to eat dad's cooking for something you didn't HAVE to do?!" Externally, responsible parent mode is still in order.
"I don't think so. We've already gone out to buy the stuff, and you said after school you had to do it."
"But MOM."
"The pumpkins will still be here, really. Have you cleared the table?"
Uh-no. So he goes and comes back. "Done"
"Is it clean where you want to make your poster? You don't want to get food on it."
Of course not. A few minutes later, we finally have a clean table.
"Okay, now where's you're rough draft?"
"Huh?"
"Take the skinny markers, and a different piece of paper, and draw a sketch of what you want to write, where you want the stickers,etc."
"I wanna picture of the candidates on there too."
"Okay, I'll go get a magazine w/ their pics while you're working on your rough draft."
Back to Walmart, only to find out they don't carry Newsweek or Time. So we try the QT across the street, no dice. Then back to CVS. Ah, victory. Time has the perfect pics.
I get home, and he's ready. We get the official poster out, along w/ a ruler and pencil. I show him how to center it and make "cheater lines" for writing straight. He does the rest, except for erasing the pencil marks. Mom gets that job. Overall, he did a great job. Dad even got the light on the pin to work. Senators McCain and Obama overlook his slogan " Your vote COUNTS". Great job #1.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Kid snips....
This is not just because all of my kids need haircuts right now, although the girls shouldn't...but their last round I went to the wrong kiddie cutting place. Always, Always, go to the one up North Mom. The difference between North and South is truly a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type of thing, same name, totally different attitudes. No, it's because I can't string together enough thoughts on the same kid today to make a fun entry, I'm MAD....mom attention deficit. So...
#1) Where is my sweet ten year old, and who is this sleepy, grumpy, indifferent being that's taking over his body? Fortunately, the alien always leaves after a few hours, but it's unpredictable when he'll show up.
#2) The sign on his door cracks me up. Stay out no girl with the picture of the smiling skull. So does his name for his bank, big baseball cute piggy. He's in the golden days of middle childhood. Enjoy.
#3) Football was FREEZING last night. He was crying at the end of practice, but immediately turned off the faucet when the letters QT came into play. There is no problem too big for food .
#4)Princess D is counting down to Halloween. Only 2 more days! She's also discovered the joy of flashlights, and searches out dark places to explore. Now if she'd just explore her closet....
#5)Princess P. She's well, a two year old. Full of vim vigor, and finally adjusting to her new diet. I think we're on day three of not raiding forbidden food, but the apples and corn chips are an entirely different matter. Nothing like reaching into a bag of apples to find a bite taken out of each one.
#6) Baby guy, otherwise known as JAWS. He was in a biting mood yesterday. Shoulders seemed to be especially tasty. Food, not so much. There are reasons I sweep under the dining room table with a broom before I vacuum.
They're all mine....mine...MINE! Whooohahaha. And for the most part, I love it that way.
#1) Where is my sweet ten year old, and who is this sleepy, grumpy, indifferent being that's taking over his body? Fortunately, the alien always leaves after a few hours, but it's unpredictable when he'll show up.
#2) The sign on his door cracks me up. Stay out no girl with the picture of the smiling skull. So does his name for his bank, big baseball cute piggy. He's in the golden days of middle childhood. Enjoy.
#3) Football was FREEZING last night. He was crying at the end of practice, but immediately turned off the faucet when the letters QT came into play. There is no problem too big for food .
#4)Princess D is counting down to Halloween. Only 2 more days! She's also discovered the joy of flashlights, and searches out dark places to explore. Now if she'd just explore her closet....
#5)Princess P. She's well, a two year old. Full of vim vigor, and finally adjusting to her new diet. I think we're on day three of not raiding forbidden food, but the apples and corn chips are an entirely different matter. Nothing like reaching into a bag of apples to find a bite taken out of each one.
#6) Baby guy, otherwise known as JAWS. He was in a biting mood yesterday. Shoulders seemed to be especially tasty. Food, not so much. There are reasons I sweep under the dining room table with a broom before I vacuum.
They're all mine....mine...MINE! Whooohahaha. And for the most part, I love it that way.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Whatever floats our boat
Today, after Sunday School we came home to make our boat for "boats 'n floats night" at AWANA.
Our time frame, about an hour.
Our tools. An airbed, rope, brown duct tape, and a black sharpie.
Our bodies. Boys #1,2, & 3....and one perfectionistic neurotic mom.
In the end, we really did end up w/ something that looked like a log raft, from a distance with my glasses off. But hey, for 6, 8, & 10 year old boys it was great!
Come time to load it in the car, we discovered it was too long to fit in the van sideways, and too windy to tie it to the top. So the boys got to ride to church w/ a "raft" resting on their heads.
Mr. M then got the priviledge of wrestling against the wind to get it into the church gym. He won, barely.
Their real reward was a comfy, airfilled seat on the gym floor, popcorn, candy, and a movie.
Not bad pay for an hours work.
Our time frame, about an hour.
Our tools. An airbed, rope, brown duct tape, and a black sharpie.
Our bodies. Boys #1,2, & 3....and one perfectionistic neurotic mom.
In the end, we really did end up w/ something that looked like a log raft, from a distance with my glasses off. But hey, for 6, 8, & 10 year old boys it was great!
Come time to load it in the car, we discovered it was too long to fit in the van sideways, and too windy to tie it to the top. So the boys got to ride to church w/ a "raft" resting on their heads.
Mr. M then got the priviledge of wrestling against the wind to get it into the church gym. He won, barely.
Their real reward was a comfy, airfilled seat on the gym floor, popcorn, candy, and a movie.
Not bad pay for an hours work.
Friday, October 24, 2008
On your marks, get set, drive.
That pretty much describes our day tomorrow. We even recruited grandparents to help!
First drive is to the soccer game. I'm so happy it's at 11:45 instead of 8 or 9am. Then we will divide and conquer, one to football, the other home w/ said soccer player to get him ready to go to the new indoor water resort w/ a generous friend! The third car involved in this time will be taking Bob to a swimming party. That's right, it's October, and two of our kids need swimsuits and towels tomorrow.
Somewhere at football we meet up with the grandparents, drive home, eat dinner, and drive to church for a pirate party! The kids are so wired...they've been singing Veggie Pirates sing along karaoke style all morning. Those shots of apple juice are so strong in the morning.
So that's what's up tomorrow, assuming we can get them to sleep tonight.
First drive is to the soccer game. I'm so happy it's at 11:45 instead of 8 or 9am. Then we will divide and conquer, one to football, the other home w/ said soccer player to get him ready to go to the new indoor water resort w/ a generous friend! The third car involved in this time will be taking Bob to a swimming party. That's right, it's October, and two of our kids need swimsuits and towels tomorrow.
Somewhere at football we meet up with the grandparents, drive home, eat dinner, and drive to church for a pirate party! The kids are so wired...they've been singing Veggie Pirates sing along karaoke style all morning. Those shots of apple juice are so strong in the morning.
So that's what's up tomorrow, assuming we can get them to sleep tonight.
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