Thursday, May 16, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Words Worth Remembering
Cai:"Oohh, mommy, it's raining outside!"
Me:"No, it's just the breeze on a pretty day."
Cai:"Well, sometimes when I eat a big popsicle I get a bweeshe in my tummy."
(ie-brain freeze)
~~~~~
Cai:"Mommy, can I spwit dis bwownie up in my bowl so it makes more to eat?"
~~~~~
Cai:"Mom, I'm fwee."
Me:"Yes, you are three."
Cai:"No, I'm FWEE!"
Me:"Yes baby, you're THREE."
Cai:"No, 'FWEE' means I'm alive!"
Me:"Oooooh. OK. You're FRee. And who made you free?"
Cai:"Alethia! Because I want her to."
~~~~~
Cai:"Dad, me and Alethia are having a bad day."
Josh:"Why?"
Cai:"Because Alehia's been hurting my life!"
Alethia:"But I said I was sorry!"
~~~~~
Cai:"Mom, where is that boo-boo I got last year on my foot? Because it hurts."
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
So What If It Doesn't Happen
Sometimes my to-do list seems unbearable. I find myself scurrying around, with a frantic air about me, as I snap at my children, oblivious to the sunshine and blessings all around me, all for the simple fact that I HAVE to get all these things done.
But why?
Is my completed to-do list really so important that it must define my day?
I mean really, so what if I don't finish Alethia's hair before rehearsal. She is still alive and breathing, and everyone will get a kick out of the MC Hammer doo she gets to sport for an evening.
What if I don't get to the grocery store today. What's one more night of a simple dinner made up of crescents, bacon and cheese that I still have in my refrigerator:) (One of my favorites now, Kelly!)
What if the house doesn't get dusted. Nobody is going to die in my house today just because I ran out of time to de-dustify my house.
What if we run a little late to the appointment. It just means we are a little late, try not to make a habit out of it, and start the process of getting out the door a little earlier next time.
What if the kitchen dishes don't get cleaned or the laundry goes another day without washing. It doesn't change a thing about the health or well-being of my family. It doesn't mean I had an unproductive day. It doesn't define me as a mom who just can't get it together. And it most certainly doesn't mean that I can't just pick up a sponge and chip away at the never ending dishes piled up in the sink or swap a load of laundry, even though I still can't figure out how to get it to fold itself, ha!
What if I can't get that one kid out of pull-ups. It means nothing except that we continue to encourage her progress and keep working at it.
This whole "get-it-done" concept even bleeds into other areas of my life.
For instance...Jude was happy and content in his new big boy bed. For several weeks. Enough that I felt confident enough to disinfect his pack-n-play and store it away until I can sell it at the consignment sale. Only to be bombarded with a new fear of going to bed and separation anxiety by my sweet little ankle biter, resulting in a constant battle at bedtime, which brought the pack-n-play back down from the attic and into his room. I can either get annoyed that my plan had been foiled and disrupted, and write it down as "another failure" in my mom book, or simply look at it in the view of eternity. So what if he is back in his baby bed. It doesn't mean that I failed as a mom. It doesn't mean that he will be in a pack-n-play until he goes to college. It doesn't mean anything, except that he is in a new season and needs something else right now.
If you view everything in the scope of eternity, and quietly whisper to yourself, "so what if _____ doesn't get done today", I promise you will feel the burden lifted and a new freedom to just rest in GOD's plan for your day, and not the mental list that makes you feel like you have worth and accomplishment for that day.
PS-I do NOT suggest adopting this mentality when it comes to paying bills or changing diapers;)
But why?
Is my completed to-do list really so important that it must define my day?
I mean really, so what if I don't finish Alethia's hair before rehearsal. She is still alive and breathing, and everyone will get a kick out of the MC Hammer doo she gets to sport for an evening.
What if I don't get to the grocery store today. What's one more night of a simple dinner made up of crescents, bacon and cheese that I still have in my refrigerator:) (One of my favorites now, Kelly!)
What if the house doesn't get dusted. Nobody is going to die in my house today just because I ran out of time to de-dustify my house.
What if we run a little late to the appointment. It just means we are a little late, try not to make a habit out of it, and start the process of getting out the door a little earlier next time.
What if the kitchen dishes don't get cleaned or the laundry goes another day without washing. It doesn't change a thing about the health or well-being of my family. It doesn't mean I had an unproductive day. It doesn't define me as a mom who just can't get it together. And it most certainly doesn't mean that I can't just pick up a sponge and chip away at the never ending dishes piled up in the sink or swap a load of laundry, even though I still can't figure out how to get it to fold itself, ha!
What if I can't get that one kid out of pull-ups. It means nothing except that we continue to encourage her progress and keep working at it.
This whole "get-it-done" concept even bleeds into other areas of my life.
For instance...Jude was happy and content in his new big boy bed. For several weeks. Enough that I felt confident enough to disinfect his pack-n-play and store it away until I can sell it at the consignment sale. Only to be bombarded with a new fear of going to bed and separation anxiety by my sweet little ankle biter, resulting in a constant battle at bedtime, which brought the pack-n-play back down from the attic and into his room. I can either get annoyed that my plan had been foiled and disrupted, and write it down as "another failure" in my mom book, or simply look at it in the view of eternity. So what if he is back in his baby bed. It doesn't mean that I failed as a mom. It doesn't mean that he will be in a pack-n-play until he goes to college. It doesn't mean anything, except that he is in a new season and needs something else right now.
If you view everything in the scope of eternity, and quietly whisper to yourself, "so what if _____ doesn't get done today", I promise you will feel the burden lifted and a new freedom to just rest in GOD's plan for your day, and not the mental list that makes you feel like you have worth and accomplishment for that day.
PS-I do NOT suggest adopting this mentality when it comes to paying bills or changing diapers;)
Friday, May 10, 2013
Happenings And Words Of Wisdom From Cai-bo
I'm sitting here with all the windows open and a warm breeze blowing through the house. It is a wonderful day.
It is so nice to have some sunshine!
It is so nice to have a day with no agenda, free from all the demands of a typical week.
Jude is sleeping soundly in his big boy bed, which all of a sudden is more fun to climb out of this week than to sleep in:)
We finally finished Alethia's hair (my hands are VERY thankful for a break from twisting and turning). We had to get done so she could go on a lunch date with her daddy.
I'm sitting with Cai on the floor while he makes car and train noises with spurts of intermittent superhero theme music while his shape puzzle carries on conversations with themselves. I guess you just have to be here, ha!
He just told me that he no longer wants to stay yittle, but he wants "to stay big, like Rainy. Because he loves Rainy. But sometimes she is grumpy."
I am taking Areyna away for the night for a weekend of conversation about sex, periods, boys, peer pressure, and who knows what else. Prayers are appreciated! We are heading to a friend's farm and staying in a little trailer on their properties where we can enjoy the goats, pond and outdoors. We are both super excited!
Cai just informed me that sometimes he is a little kid, but sometimes he is a teacher that teaches me how to do things, like put puzzles together.
I finished up preschool with Alethia and Cai this week. What a great year it has been! They are really catching on. Alethia is a whiz in school and picks things up VERY quickly. We still have another year of preschool before they both enter Kindergarten. Because of their birthdays they will both be in the same grade:) They will be treated like twins when they enter school and put in separate classes. It will be good for them. But for now I will soak up the time I have with them at home. Besides, I'll be starting Jude shortly after they head out!
Apparently making lunch is what makes me a good mommy according to Cai.
Jude, oh Jude. He is walking from room to room...to room now! Not much slows that boy down anymore. He has conquered going UP stairs, down, not so much, and is FINALLY picking up his sign language during meal time. He is getting increasingly opinionated and hard-headed (oh boy). He totally laughs in my face when corrected and smiles when doing something wrong that he KNOWS he should not be doing. I was really hoping to have a child that didn't possess that sinful heart that we were all born with.
"Zekey is a good brother to me. But he is kind of grumpy too, but I take his toys and that's why he is grumpy." ~Cai
I don't have anymore updates on the progress of our house, but I did come up with a cool headboard idea. I had gotten some cool wall stickers for Christmas and was just waiting to paint our room to put them up. We finally got our room put back together and I found the perfect place for it!
"Mommy, we don't say rude words. We don't say 'I will beat you up', or 'that's not fair'. That's not nice." ~Cai
It's Friday.
It's sunny.
It's warm.
Have a GREAT weekend ya'll!
It is so nice to have some sunshine!
It is so nice to have a day with no agenda, free from all the demands of a typical week.
Jude is sleeping soundly in his big boy bed, which all of a sudden is more fun to climb out of this week than to sleep in:)
We finally finished Alethia's hair (my hands are VERY thankful for a break from twisting and turning). We had to get done so she could go on a lunch date with her daddy.
I'm sitting with Cai on the floor while he makes car and train noises with spurts of intermittent superhero theme music while his shape puzzle carries on conversations with themselves. I guess you just have to be here, ha!
He just told me that he no longer wants to stay yittle, but he wants "to stay big, like Rainy. Because he loves Rainy. But sometimes she is grumpy."
I am taking Areyna away for the night for a weekend of conversation about sex, periods, boys, peer pressure, and who knows what else. Prayers are appreciated! We are heading to a friend's farm and staying in a little trailer on their properties where we can enjoy the goats, pond and outdoors. We are both super excited!
Cai just informed me that sometimes he is a little kid, but sometimes he is a teacher that teaches me how to do things, like put puzzles together.
I finished up preschool with Alethia and Cai this week. What a great year it has been! They are really catching on. Alethia is a whiz in school and picks things up VERY quickly. We still have another year of preschool before they both enter Kindergarten. Because of their birthdays they will both be in the same grade:) They will be treated like twins when they enter school and put in separate classes. It will be good for them. But for now I will soak up the time I have with them at home. Besides, I'll be starting Jude shortly after they head out!
Apparently making lunch is what makes me a good mommy according to Cai.
Jude, oh Jude. He is walking from room to room...to room now! Not much slows that boy down anymore. He has conquered going UP stairs, down, not so much, and is FINALLY picking up his sign language during meal time. He is getting increasingly opinionated and hard-headed (oh boy). He totally laughs in my face when corrected and smiles when doing something wrong that he KNOWS he should not be doing. I was really hoping to have a child that didn't possess that sinful heart that we were all born with.
"Zekey is a good brother to me. But he is kind of grumpy too, but I take his toys and that's why he is grumpy." ~Cai
I don't have anymore updates on the progress of our house, but I did come up with a cool headboard idea. I had gotten some cool wall stickers for Christmas and was just waiting to paint our room to put them up. We finally got our room put back together and I found the perfect place for it!
"Mommy, we don't say rude words. We don't say 'I will beat you up', or 'that's not fair'. That's not nice." ~Cai
It's Friday.
It's sunny.
It's warm.
Have a GREAT weekend ya'll!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
I Don't Wanna Grow Up
Cai wants to be yittle.
Cai wants to be cute.
Cai wants his toes to be tiny.
When asked why he doesn't want to grow up he always responds the same...
"I just don't want to grow big. I want to be yittle."
But WHY?
"Because daddy say he want me to stay yittle."
That's good enough reason for me.
Cai-bo buddy,
Please stay little as long as you can.
K, thanks!
Love you oh-so-much,
Mommy
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Feeling...BLUE
Well, after our plumbing fix got postponed THREE TIMES because of rain, and the fence quote needed a surveyor before getting their astronomical quote to us, I was getting antsy to get SOMETHING done with this house we now call ours.
So, first things first...our bedroom.
It was this dark, hunter green. Not the most romantic atmosphere booster:)
And this is what we came up with...
(Kelly, this post is for you!:)
So, first things first...our bedroom.
It was this dark, hunter green. Not the most romantic atmosphere booster:)
And this is what we came up with...
...and the unedited nighttime shot with the phone:)
(Kelly, this post is for you!:)
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
From Homeschool To Public School : No Regrets
Making the choice to transfer Rainy and Zeke into Public school was one of the best decisions we could have made for them! With all of the special needs Zeke has in the classroom there simply just wasn't enough of me to go around. I would have never been able to get him to where he is today on my own! And I'm okay with that.
Because when we have nights like the other night, where Zeke asks for his extra workbook from his special resources teacher to practice his writing, the thing he most despised and feared about school at first, my heart rests assured that he is exactly where he needs to be.
Yes, he still gets many letters mixed up that look similar and he still writes many letters backwards or upside down, but he can now tell me all the letters in the alphabet, make their sounds, match the capital and lower case, sound out words, read through simple books and has numbers 1-20 down pat!
And now when asked what his favorite thing about the day is, he more often than not, replies with an enthusiastic, "WRITING!".
Yes, I have days where I pout about how long they have to be in school away from home, but then they come home and tell me about their cool field trip on the big yellow bus, or how they conquered their fear of buying a lunch all by themselves, or listen to them pray for a classmate who has been making foolish choices, and I KNOW they are at the right place in this stage of their lives.
Nope. No regrets.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Story In Pictures
a nest was made
eggs were hatched
fuzzy little birdies were brought to life
 |
| we watched and waited they got bigger they got stronger |
 |
| until one day they grew up and we witnessed their flight away from their nest |
Areyna cried because she was so proud
she was so happy
...then she was so sad...
Yes, a real Colony pet is in the very near future;)
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