to have and to hold

My heart swells as I look at these.  I couldn't be any more grateful that these precious ones call me Mommy.  They are little rascals, yes.  Active, restless, sometimes overtired, sometimes argumentative.  But brilliant too, each in their own ways.  Emily Rose loves to call her favorite foods "delectible".  Daniel wants me to read out of non-fiction animal science books endlessly.  Timothy spent half of his short birthday party last night having Uncle David quiz him on square roots and multiplication.  Square roots at six years old?

But when I look at them on the screen right this minute (it's 10:00 p.m.), do you know what I'm mostly feeling?  Regret. Regret that I didn't slow down enough to take each of them in my arms today, and love on them and whisper softly to them about how much they mean to me.  I did this only with Anna, my nursling.  She gets the best of me these days.  Our nursing relationship keeps us bonded.  Thank the Lord for that!

When you've looked at your sweet children in photos at the end of a long day, isn't that what you most wish you had done?  I know a yearning to slow down is universal among moms.  And I think most moms feel they fail at slowing down, on most days.  For truly, when we slow down, we get behind on something.  And being behind raises everyone's stress level.  No one wants to dig through large laundry baskets for socks and underwear.  Or have lunch without bread.  Or take a bath without a fresh towel.  Everyone appreciates our diligence, but not our hastiness, or our lack of patience.  Even in our haste, we rarely get even halfway through our to-do lists.

It was a busy day--a homeschooling playdate, for which I made cupcakes this morning.  Followed by a trip to the bank, to the dollar store, and then home to make more cupcakes for AWANA.  I was running all day to meet deadlines.  The homeschooling and AWANA events themselves, I didn't attend, due to Anna's naps and some late afternoon fussiness.  Daddy gladly stepped in, rather than being left with the job of soothing Anna.

Mostly, today's busyness was brought on by myself, by offering last week to bring birthday cupcakes to the playdate and to AWANA.  My children were very excited, and so happy that I did it, but it cost me.

I was not the gentle, quiet-spirited mom I wanted to be.  I was not patient with diaper after diaper, changed at the most inconvenient times.  Or with Timothy, who wanted me to play his new Pay Day board game, even though it was an hour before AWANA and I still had more baking to do.  Or with Daniel, my non-medicated ADHD child, who climbs the walls and buzzes around in his frenzied, highly-strung, me-first way.  He is the most helpful, which seems a contradiction, I know.  He loves to help in the kitchen and with special projects--a quality which on less busy days I find endearing.  But not today.  Today, I let it annoy.

I guess I'm most patient with Anna, even though she's into every cupboard and drawer, distributing the contents for me to pick up, in my spare time.  She needs to explore so she can learn; I try not to confine her unless absolutely necessary.  At eleven months, her exploring hands and her curiosity are her best teachers. Yes, that is an electrical device in her hands.  The mixer, to be exact.  She was really happy to find that baby in my cupboard.

I have no answers for this conundrum of slowing down, while still meeting everyone's physical needs.  I only know that when I look at these photos, I want to hold my babies forever, just as they are right now.  Every day with them is perfect...blessed.

Oh, Lord, how I want to convey that to them!  For them to know the depths of my love for them.  For them to know how much I dearly love having them in my midst.

I fear I'm too imperfect to change.  I'm counting on you, Father, to convey it supernaturally.  Cover this conundrum with your grace, and help each mother to end her days satisfied.  Not only with her kids, but with herself.

Saturday fun

My advice?  If you've just mopped your floor, and the kids are out playing in the backyard, lock all the doors!  For if you step away from your door-guarding duty, you know what will happen.

Okay, sister.  I'll show you how it's done.  To get the maximum-decibel impact, just watch me.

Birthday post - Timmy at 6!

Here is Timothy at a homeschooling party, enjoying the lawn toys.

Playing in the leaves. Timothy on right, Daniel on left

Here you see Timothy and his block tower.

A birthday post for Timothy, who turned 6 last week--based on The Important Book, by Margaret Wise Brown.  All my kids have birthdays between November and January, so you'll be seeing this pattern three more times in the upcoming weeks.
____________________________________________
The Important Thing about Timothy

The important thing about Timothy is that he loves God.
It's true that he is good with numbers
And that he is Daniel's best friend
And that he loves to sort things
But the important thing about Timothy is that he loves God.

The important thing about Timothy is that he loves to cuddle
It's true that he loves to play games
And that he loves AWANA
And that he's picky about food
But the important thing about Timothy is that he loves to cuddle

The important thing about Timothy is that he dwells on complicated things
It's true that he can be silly
And that he can be stubborn
And that he loves chocolate cake
But the important thing about Timothy is that he dwells on complicated things

The important thing about Timothy is that he loves a good joke
It's true that he loves math and science shows
And that he's not prone to wordiness
And that he loves pools in the summer
But the important thing about Timothy is that he loves a good joke

The important thing about Timothy is that he loves the game Mouse Trap
It's true that he loves Uno
And that he loves all puzzles
And that he has a wonderful baby face
But the important thing about Timothy is that he loves the game Mouse Trap

The important thing about Timothy is that his eyes are sky blue
It's true that he loves pizza
And that he eats a lot of raisins
And that he won't have milk with his cereal
But the important thing about Timothy is that his eyes are sky blue

The important thing about Timothy is that he loved to nurse as a baby and toddler
It's true that he didn't talk until two
And that he knew letter sounds before he uttered a sentence
And that he prefers to teach himself
But the important thing about Timothy is that he loved to nurse as a baby and toddler

The important thing about Timothy is that he just turned 6!
It's true that he loves his alone time like Momma does
And that his love language is physical touch
And that his hugs are tight and long
But the important thing about Timothy is that he just turned 6!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR TIMMY
YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY CUDDLE BUG
MOMMA LOVES YOU!

homeschooling after baby walks

Wondering how to manage homeschooling after baby learns to walk (or crawl)?  Here is our solution.  We are blessed to have a family room and a large living room, so we decided to create, in the living room, an inviting and safe place for Anna Grace to play.  It is close to the dining room, where most of the schooling takes place.  From a certain chair at the dining room table, I can see what Anna is doing, and sing to her or play with her when I don't need to be directly involved with the schooling.

I should add that Anna's love language is physical touch, rather than quality time.  This may not work so well for a quality time baby, who is only happy when Momma or Daddy is with her.  Emily Rose and Daniel and Don are quality time people, and they rarely desire to be alone.  Timothy and Anna take after me more.

The older children play in the family room, which we made into a playroom as soon as we moved to this house.  We bought a jean couch, which has proven to be a good buy for a playroom (dark colored, easy to clean).

Anyhow, back to Anna's area.  We arranged storage boxes to keep her out of dangerous corners, and out of the rest of the house.  Furniture is arranged in a circle, so that there are only two exits--on either side of the couch.

I have always found, as a parent and earlier as a teacher, that toys and books need to be displayed in order to be utilized heavily.  Tucking them away in crowded toy boxes doesn't entice kids.  Likewise, books crowded into a bookshelf don't get used as often as those put in tubs and arranged around the room.

These storage boxes are the perfect height for Anna to manipulate the displayed toys and books.  We change the toys and books every week to keep interest level high.

The floor quickly becomes a mess, over which baby can trip.  We often jump in here and rearrange or pick up.

Putting noise-maker or push-button toys up on a couch or chair makes it easier for baby to use them.

This area is behind the couch, and not accessible to baby.  I try to arrange books in tubs in every room, to entice Emily Rose and the boys to pick one up frequently.  The magazine rack on the right-hand side has nature magazines in it.  The bulk of the children's books are in shelves in the playroom, due to lack of space.  I've been buying books--lately at thrift stores, earlier through Scholastic--for many years!

I didn't become an avid reader until the fourth grade, when I got hooked on Nancy Drew books.  Don't despair if your elementary reader still loves being read to more than reading alone.  It just might happen in upper elementary, when a certain chapter book series begins to float his boat.  Start reading chapter books when they'll sit for them.  This gives them a sampling of what's out there.

Momma's inner Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

Daniel and Timothy adore that Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.  It's their mother, however, who giggles the most at Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and her clever, endearing, naughty-behavior fixes.

Take the answer-backer cure, for example.  Momma Pam found herself quite unable to get through a paragraph of that chapter without frequently erupting in uncontrollable giggling.  Her boys, amused at their mother at first, soon became quite annoyed at these delays in the storytelling.

Penelope, a parrot, is Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's cure for answer-backer children.  The premise is that once the child hears how horrid he sounds, he will want to be pleasant and polite again.  Penelope is very rude indeed, and repeats every answer-backer thing she's heard the children say.

Here are her favorite answer-backs:

"I'll do it because I want to but not because you tell me to."

"Say are you the boss around here?  Are you the boss around here?  Are you the boss around here?  Who's the boss, anyway?"

"Oh, yeah?  Oh yeah?  Oh yeah?"

"What am I, a servant?  Work!  Work!  Work!  What am I, a servant?  Say who's the boss around here?"

"Oh, hurry, hurry, hurry.  Hurry yourself!"

Now Momma Pam's boys don't usually sass their parents, but they do their fair share of objecting and arguing.  So the morning after reading this chapter, Momma Pam decided to get in touch with her inner Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

When the boys objected to the morning directions--"Brush your teeth, make your beds, and then get dressed"--Momma Pam hopped up and down like Penelope, and squawked, "Say who's the boss around here?  Who's the boss around here?  Who's the boss around here?"

The boys giggled and giggled.  And then they happily followed the directions.  They thought their Momma was sooo cool.  Very cool, indeed.

Until the afternoon, at which time Timothy could no longer take it.

Momma Pam:  "After Cyber Chase you need to clear the construction paper, glue sticks, scissors and scraps off the table.  We need to set it for dinner."

Boys:  "But we can't!  We're not done with our creations!"

Momma Pam:  "Work!  Work!  Work!  What am I, a servant?  Who's the boss around here?"

The boys--or Timothy at least--no longer thought this new game was funny.

Timothy:  "That's really starting to annoy me!"

Momma Pam:  "Oh, you don't say.  Is Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's cure working, then?"

Timothy:  "Yes!  I can't take it anymore!"

Now you moms out there be sure and practice your answer-backs in front of the mirror.  And don't forget the hopping around part.  You never know when you'll need to start channeling Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

Oatmeal = comfort

By late afternoon yesterday, it seemed we were over the tummy ailment.  I decided it was time to bake some cookies.  My children, already pretty lean, were now looking way too skinny.  Besides, Momma was stressed out and looking for some comfort food.  Oatmeal cookies = comfort.

Please forgive any mess you see in the background.  My excuse?  I was busy loving on the kiddos.

They were too sick for school most of these days (or so they said), but they managed to do the reading and fraction work involved in a batch of cookies.

Emily Rose helps with the measuring, and with ensuring that a royal mess is made--everywhere.  She tastes the flour, the sugar, the butter, the salt, and then later, the cookie dough.  While she's tasting, she's dancing around as happy as a lark, spreading the ingredients along with her.

She is such a sunny little girl.  I kept telling her how sorry I was that she was sick, especially when I would see her in obvious discomfort.  She would respond, with her hoarse, sore throat,  "I'm not sick, Mommy.  I'm happy!"  Somehow, the word sick seemed to convey unhappiness to her, as well as discomfort--no doubt due to her brothers' severely decreased activity these last several days.  She wants nothing to do with the unhappiness part.

Don, Anna and I have a cold.  So I guess we did catch three viruses.  Daniel hasn't gotten the mouth sores yet, so he might escape the Hand, Foot and Mouth thing.

I'll always remember the fall I took my children to the doctor for a flu shot--only to leave his office with three viruses.  LOL

A Hefalump

Earlier I checked out the Pooh Hefalump movie from the library, to enhance Timothy's stuck-on-the-couch experience.  He still hasn't perked up this afternoon, although he seemed to thoroughly enjoy the movie.  Pooh never fails to entertain us.

A couple hours later I came into my bedroom to hang up some clothes, and I saw Daniel doing something in here in the dark.  He jumped when I came in, and immediately said, "I'm sorry!  I got string stuck everywhere!"

Yes, indeed.  There was white string all over my bedroom, wrapped around the crib, the computer desk, etc.

Just another mess.  When life is crazy and stressful anyway, I tend to underreact to such things.  I merely said, "What in the world were you trying to do?"

What was his answer?  Can you guess?

"I was trying to trap a hefalump!"

new photos

I've got the camera working.  This first photo is Daniel's beloved salamander.

Here is my Emily, hanging out.

Here is Anna Grace--10 months old today--playing with the big girl toys.  She is walking very well--losing that drunken-sailor, new-walker stride.

Here is my Timothy, down for the count.  He was sick as a dog yesterday, feverish and listless. He was glad he didn't have to pay any of his token-behavior-system, play-money dollars for any of the TV he watched.  TV is free for sickos around here; it's the only way to get them to rest.  Today he is throwing up and still feverish.  I think we're in for it around here.

I cuddled with Timothy while he watched Charlotte's Web--stroking his face and hair.  As much as I could, I spent special time with him all day.  Then last night as I was tucking him in, he grabbed my neck to give me another hug.  He whispered in his sick-boy, hoarse voice, that he loved me taking care of him.  That made me feel like a million bucks!  I do love being a nurse to my sweeties.

They all got their regular flu shots last Thursday.  He either picked this virus up at church, or in the doctor's office. How catch 22 is that?  Go to the doctor's office for a shot to stay well, and then get sick from your well visit.  That works for me.  NOT!

We wash our hands in the van with gel, and then with soap and water when we get home.  I explained numerous times that they probably won't get sick if they keep their hands off their face.  Then suddenly, they have an insatiable desire to touch their face.  Gotta love kids!

A couple good consignment-shop finds--both warm corduroy fabrics

blessings

Time to count some blessings:

1. Another awesome homeschooling playdate today.  Weather was again perfect for hiking--at a new park this time.  The children all waded in a lovely stream, looked for wildlife and thoroughly enjoyed each other's fellowship.  A new child, Elizabeth, age 7 (and her dad) joined us.  Elizabeth is another tomboy--a child after my Daniel's heart, much like Faith, the four-year-old who joins us every time.  Only Elizabeth is Daniel's same age and she's more verbal and outgoing.  Possibly the perfect friend for him.  She collects as many creatures as Daniel and loves nature with the same intensity.

Her dad owns a toy shop; please say a quick prayer for him.  Business is poor right now, due to the economy.  He is struggling to stay open and had to recently apply for a credit card to get his car transmission fixed.  Ouch.  We can so relate to his struggles right now.  God brought our two families together right now for a purpose, perhaps?  Absolutely, I think.  We can lend a listening ear, help take Elizabeth to activities, and have her over for playdates.  It's a divorce situation, and dad is trying to homeschool her while continuing to run the business.  She doesn't get as much social interaction as dad would like to provide.

2.  I've mentioned that my husband probably has ADHD or ADD?  He loses things frequently and needs help getting out the door with glasses, keys and wallet in hand.  His inattentiveness means that he leaves knives within the kids' reach, forgets to lock the door at night, leaves the kids outside too long without supervision, leaves our two-year-old on the potty and forgets her....etc.  He helps a lot, but I always have to be paying attention.  I have to do a lot of checking.   ADHD/ADD sufferers (kids AND adults) are commonly deemed lazy and irresponsible, by unknowing outsiders.  Yes, an adult should know to put wallet/keys/glasses in the same place every time.  It shouldn't be an issue before every outing, but it is.  It's easy for me to get extremely irritated at all the ways this brain disorder makes my husband seem childlike.  But God doesn't allow that.  Don's dad couldn't take it (didn't understand it) and the two of them had a horrible relationship.  God doesn't want that unhealthy pattern repeated between Don and me. So he gave me a son who struggles in related areas (less inattentive but more impulsive).  Thus, I have an understanding of my husband's struggles.  Most of the time I see these two not as the rest of the world sees them, but as God sees them.  I can look for the glasses or keys for the millionth time and hand them over with a smile, knowing that my husband is doing his best.  I look at him and I don't see lazy or irresponsible.  I see unique, godly qualities.  It's a privilege to extend grace toward my husband.   It's a blessing that he extends it to me, everyday.  My marriage is a blessing--such a rock in these troubled times.

3.  I helped in AWANA at church the last two weeks.  Timothy is in my class this year (Sparks K-2), along with Daniel.  It's the first time I've seen Timothy in a classroom situation.  He's a very good boy!  I wanted to scoop him up tonight and squeeze the stuffing out of him--I was so proud!  Daniel has his wiggle, tapping, and voice-volume issues, and needs to remember not to sit next to someone he'll talk to, but he is mostly good as well.  They enjoy the lessons and activities, which are very well thought out.

Tonight the main teacher held up a piece of paper with a magnet behind it and a paper clip in front of it.  The paper clip was being moved around by the magnet.  The lesson was that we can't see God--like the paper clip can't see the magnet--but we can still be (must be) subject to his lead.  Such visual demonstrations are valuable for kids like Timothy, who need to see, see, see to comprehend.  AWANA is a blessing!

4.  Another blessing that's come out of this bad economy has to do with my increased ability to extend grace toward strangers.  Before, I was quicker to judge things I just didn't understand.  The school I taught in for nine years comes to mind a lot now.  It was a low-income area, with 90% of the student body receiving free lunch/breakfast.  The teachers--me included--had a tendency to look down on the parents for failing to do any homework with their students, come to conferences, remember needed items, get rid of lice quickly, etc.  We were easily irritated by what seemed to be blatant irresponsibility.  Many of them didn't even work, or they were among the working poor (working part-time or full-time for a low wage).

Now that we are doing creative math with our checking account--juggling two part-time job paydays with partial unemployment disbursements--to get the mortgage and utilities paid and keep the meals coming, my eyes have been opened to how hard daily life is for the economically disadvantaged.  Routine things take a lot longer to accomplish.  You can't mail a bill because you don't have money for stamps...or you need groceries but you can only get a few things, until payday.  You live on a day-to-day basis, spending more time shopping, bill paying, checkbook watching, etc.  Nothing is simple or routine.  There is a steady stream of financial issues, partially because you can't afford to do things well, or ahead of time, like fix that car properly, deal with that roof issue, buy clothes that last, buy resume paper, have enough gas to get to the interview, etc.  I could go on and on.

We have God to lift us up and give us hope, but those families I worked with as a teacher didn't.  Reading to their kids once a day was the last thing on their minds.  They were just trying to survive.  They couldn't get rid of lice quickly because buying the lice-removal equipment and having the quarters for all the extra loads of laundry was just too much of a burden.  (No, my kids don't have lice...just an example.)

I'm deeply, deeply ashamed for every minute I spent judging them.  No, I was never rude or even short with them; I behaved professionally.  But my heart wasn't soft. There was no there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I sentiments.  They should be trying harder, I thought.  We all thought it, at that school.  Shame on us!  We had no idea!  They were in a state of constant stress, with no hope of improvement.  It wasn't temporary hardship due to a bad economy--it was a way of life.  Some of them had never known anything different.

Passing judgement is folly.  Always.

scavenger hunts

Sometimes kids need to be bored so that imaginations come alive. With the TV as an option, they too easily skip the search for an activity and just turn on the tube.  But if we limit the viewing to one or two valuable shows or videos--that supplement their curriculum--they will still have a lot of hours to fill. Imaginations then have to be engaged.

I don't mean to preach.  It's mostly to myself if I am preaching.  Often if I'm behind on chores, I fail to keep a close eye on their viewing minutes. Daniel and Emily Rose are auditory learners who tend to self-regulate their viewing.  Timothy, however, is a strong visual learner who needs daily monitoring of TV/computer time.  If we don't train him to self-regulate now, he'll suffer later when he has to manage his own time.

Bringing up what the Bible says about laziness seems to penetrate their hearts more than anything else.  In fact, I need to post relevant Scriptures in the playroom.

Sometimes they need a little help inventing a pastime.  Scavenger hunts or homemade Playdoh are great jump starters.  I started a scavenger hunt this morning involving simple tally marks.  Since then the boys have done five more of their own, that they've given to each other.  Scavenger hunts are neat because all the senses are utilized, increasing a child's appreciation of what God has provided for our entertainment.

Some ideas we've used:

-3 dandelions gone to seed
-2 yellow dandelions
-2 flying vultures
-3 worms
-1 caterpillar
-1 squirrel
-3 pieces of bark
-4 twigs
-1 soft nature find
-1 rough nature find
-1 heavy nature find
-1 wet nature find
- four bird feeders
- 2 chirping birds
- 2 flying sparrows
-1 crunchy leaf
-1 fall-colored leaf
-4 ants
-1 daddy long leg
-1 bird nest
-2 spiders

best hike ever

Oh!  I'm giddy today.  We went on another awesome homeschooling playdate, this time to a beautiful park with a lake trail.  Three families hiked it together, and we all had such a wonderful time taking in the fellowship, and the delightful scenes of nature.   How pleasant.  How perfect.  Lord, you're awesome.

Daniel caught his first salamander.  His face all lit up, and his body doing a happy dance, he rushed over to me, exclaiming,"I caught a salamander!  I've been waiting my whole life!  Jesus blessed me so much!  It's my luckiest day ever!  I can't believe it!"

The salamander was the subject of several afternoon Internet searches.  We now know to feed it cut up, live worms.  Oh, gee.  How lovely.

That yucky part aside, let me just say that I've never loved my Daniel more than I did at that moment. That boy loves life.  His passion is contagious.  Yes, his ADHD makes him hard to handle, but it also makes him rich.  To possess a burning passion, to go after something with such unmatched determination....that is precious.  He is a mere seven years old, and he already knows what he is about.  His purpose is set--the study and enjoyment of nature.  In a few weeks, fall leaves will stir up this same passion, on this same lake trail. I know my Daniel.  We will check out leaf books from the library, peruse every park within an hour's drive, and my house will once again be taken over by fall leaves.  That's my boy!  Live, my Daniel.  Live.  And continue to thank God.  Continue to worship him, through his creations.

There's more on the playdate, but time is short tonight.

The weather, by the way?  Fully sunny, 74 degrees, no mosquitoes, no humidity, with a light, delightful breeze.  It was the best hike ever.

We made it!

Yeah, we made it to the fair! What a blast!

That money my mom sent? It ended up going to medical bills, so we were praying and thinking about how we would pay for our annual, non-negotiable fair visit--the one that the children talk about and look forward to ALL year. Short of robbing a bank, we were committed to going.

You'll never guess how it all went down....my husband's aluminum cans! Yes, that nasty, ant-drawing habit of his, which has driven me nuts for ten years. He collects them on our family walks, at his workplace, and here at home when he indulges in Mt. Dew. When we lived in California, aluminum-can proceeds paid for his annual trips to see UCLA football games. Here in Ohio, very little money comes from a year of collecting. Nevertheless, he took them in this week, hoping to obtain enough money for entrance fees and a few fair rides, and the non-negotiable funnel cakes.

Incidentally, I don't understand why Northeastern Ohio doesn't put strawberries on their funnel cakes! Plain powered sugar doesn't provide the same mouth-watering, much-anticipated treat.....but oh well. Ohio does have abundant frogs and insects for my Daniel, so I'll forgive them for their funnel-cake ignorance.

Grandpa came with us and paid for the entrance fee ($8) before we could stop him. He then, not knowing anything about Don's aluminum-can money, bought the children two funnel cakes to share. Now my Dad--though very generous--has no money sense. Unchecked, he would spend his own grocery money on others' perceived needs. We managed to keep him in check after this and Don paid for the fair rides, and for some fried chicken. I would never in a million years make fried chicken at home--too unhealthy. Not that funnel cakes are healthy either, but this is the fair, for goodness sakes! Time to eat and be merry!

What was your favorite thing about the fair?

Daddy - FOOD! (We get the same answer for virtually every food-involved event! LOL)
Daniel - Farm animals
Emily Rose - Grandpa
Timothy - The rides!
Grandpa - Being generous (My answer for him)
Momma - Walking around while holding my sweet, sleeping Anna Grace.
Anna Grace - New things to see! (My answer for her)

Outings

Peaches didn't do well in Ohio this year. However, in our county, they did better. We went to this nearby peach and apple farm, which features a yearly, gorgeous community garden. So much feast for the eye. Lots of insects to catch too. You can't tell here, but this garden is huge.




Enjoyed blueberry picking at this spot. July was unusually cool. August is sweltering.

A nice view at the peach and apple farm. They also grow some sweet corn, but not our favorite. Our favorite spot for sweet corn is four minutes from our home. Best corn you'll ever sink your teeth into! You always smile after biting--it's such a delight!

More of the community garden. And my insect-loving Daniel.


Daniel snapped this the other day. It features my dad's 27-year-old wife, a bit of my dad, and Timothy. Yeah, she's young. Yeah, he's 70. What's a daughter to do? I can only go with the flow.

I'm off to make some applesauce with the kiddos. Looks like my teething-torn baby has finally fallen asleep. Her first nap was only 20 minutes--hoping for a normal one this time.

Teeth and Playdates

Good Saturday morning to you.

My sweet Anna Grace birthed her first tooth this week. The other day Emily Rose came to me, holding up her finger.

Emily: "The baby bit me, Mommy."

Momma: "Did she get you with her gums? She doesn't actually have teeth yet." (I had checked that morning--nothing)

Emily: "No, Mommy. Baby bit me."

I told her I was sorry and that Anna didn't mean to hurt her. I still didn't think it was an actual bite, but I wasn't going to argue with a two-year-old.

Later that evening Grandpa and his wife came over for a barbecue. While holding the baby, my Dad said, laughing: "She's got some pretty sharp teeth."

Momma: "I checked this morning and didn't feel anything. Are you sure it was a tooth?"

Grandpa: "She's got teeth now."

Lo and behold, Anna had birthed her first tooth, after 2.5 months of hard labor.

Momma: "Yippee! Maybe she'll sleep tonight!"



Wishful thinking.

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In other news, we went on another park playdate with the homeschoolers. It wasn't naptime for Anna, and since she cries when alone with Daddy, he elected to come with us rather than watch Anna by himself. It would have been impossible to manage the four of them on my own at a large park, so once again I was thanking the Lord for the help.

In some ways I know we would be on a tighter routine without him home, but the extra hands help with the nearly constant diaper changes, potty trips, laundry, and meal-making. Some days this is ALL we manage to get done. People who see our yard (weeds,toys) probably think we're lazy. With two adults home it should be neater, they surmise; I know my Dad thinks that. However, my husband never rests. Helping to care for the children, going to his part-time jobs, looking for full-time jobs, and doing his computer-tech schoolwork, makes for more than a full day. Without the experience of having four children close together, no one can fathom how busy we are.

When evaluating how you're "doing" in your life, always remember to avoid comparing yourself to others. Everyone has a different set of blessings and a different set of challenges. And no one is truly privy to the baggage we might have from our upbringing. Indeed, even when the baggage is old news and completely forgiven, it still affects our skill set as adults. Such baggage is part of the human condition; imperfect parents make for imperfect kids.

Now back to that play date I began writing about. It was awesome! Just two other ladies were there this time. One was the original organizer of the event, Dawn, and a new mom, Kim. Both have rather soft-spoken, gentle personalities--much like mine. My writing isn't always gentle, I know. But if you were to meet me, you would only see soft-spokenness, mixed with an openness and joy and a bit of nervousness. It's a funny thing how writing brings out different aspects of our personality.

It was so nice to feel completely at ease with these ladies! The whole time I was thanking the Lord for the experience, even though I was cognizant that one of the ladies was probably nearly half my age, and the other around thirty. Don thinks I could be way off, but oh well. The point is I'm old. No way around that.

Dawn, the young Michigan-transplant mom who organized it, has two daughters, ages 2 and 4.5. Her husband was transferred here for a year to work in a General Motors plant. They are half expecting a layoff soon though. If not, they'll go back to Michigan to resume work in his other plant, presumably--in a year.

The other mom, an unschooler (meaning the entire curriculum is interest-driven only) has three children--ages around 7, 4, and 1. She suspects that her four-year-old son needs more structure than unschooling provides. He's a live wire, it seems. I can share some tips on dealing with live wires, if she ever asks. LOL

My boys made fast friends with Faith, Dawn's older daughter; she's a tomboy who loves insects. Don took these three out into a field, looking for butterflies. As the Lord would have it, he caught a praying mantis for Faith, who had brought her net and insect container to the park. Faith and her Mom were thrilled! Daniel and Daddy proceeded to find three small insects for it to eat.

Later, the three kids found a tiny toad at the base of a tree. We all admired his cuteness, as though he were a newborn baby just home from the hospital. Homeschoolers are a bit weird, as people go. I find that we are amazingly similar in some subtle ways. For example, the outdoor classroom--or any classroom away from home--holds a special place in our hearts. Stumbling upon learning is a thrill up our spines!

Daniel was initially sad that Daddy hadn't caught HIM a mantis, but it was a good lesson in putting others above one's self. Daniel had already had the experience of caring for a praying mantis AND its egg sac, in 2008. We'll find another this year, I'm sure.

The ladies and I enjoyed each other's children, and shared ideas on what educational field trips were available in our area of Ohio. And the new mom invited us to her mini-farm next Wednesday for a lunch play date. She has 30 apples trees in her orchard, and a ton of blackberry bushes in the woods behind her home. We'll be picking blackberries! We're all as excited as a group of kindergartners taking their first field trip! LOL

Dear Lord, you are good! What a blessing!



As an aside, if you are praying for a close relative, and have been for awhile--sometimes losing faith--this is for you.

Just the thing

Something really good happened yesterday. And it was NOT Don's dentist appointment. No, not that dreaded event. Due to a bicycle fall, his front top teeth were crowned when he was a teen and the crowns finally wore out. He lost one of his front teeth last week--necessitating a $1300 partial procedure, for which we've had to obtain a loan. Doing so--especially now--made us both sick to our stomachs. However, job hunting without one's front teeth didn't seem like a viable option. Thank God our credit was good enough to qualify; I guess that's a blessing? Hard to find the blessing in this, really.

And the good thing was NOT the boys' decision to let their fireflies go the other night--all over their bedroom. No, it wasn't that ill-conceived event. Daddy and Daniel are STILL trying to catch the twenty or so fireflies that have taken over our home.

Now for that really good thing. Emily, the boys, and I went on a homeschooling park playdate. The playground equipment was new and simply awesome, so the kids stayed engaged and I was able to connect with some very nice mothers. They are all relatively new to Ohio. Having a baby and being a slave to naps has kept me isolated these seven months. I really needed these connections. We will meet again in two weeks--a. really. good. thing.

Thanks Lord, for knowing what I need, and for providing it in so timely a way. Can I just say:

My God is an awesome God!
He reigns from Heaven above,
With wisdom, power and love,
My God is an awesome God!

Anna Banana's Antics

Anna Grace is sometimes affectionately called "Anna Banana". As I write Anna Banana is pulling up in her crib, and has now rested her chin on top of the rail. Her big, toothless smile says, "I'm just SO proud of myself! Look how long I can stand! Can you even BELIEVE it!"

She started pulling up in her crib about ten days ago. It was touch and go the first two days, with her frequently getting herself into trouble. We would hear her wailing on the baby monitor, when she was supposed to be napping. It was a distinctive wail, with definite, get-in-here-quick desperation. She had pulled up, but panicked because she couldn't get down. Or she was up, but her feet were too far away from the side, creating a leaning-forward angle that crushed her sweet little nose into the rail.

Today in the living room she pulled up using a laundry basket that was strategically placed to block her way out of the living room. She ended up head first in the basket with her legs up in the air, while trying to reach for a sock. She loves socks!. LOL Daniel laughed as he shouted, "Hurry! Anna fell in the basket!" Again, Anna's desperate cries were enough to let me know I'd better run--not walk--to her rescue.

And earlier today, she was getting a bit fussy while Daniel was reading me this oh-so-fascinating book about bugs--assassin bugs, and other interesting types. (We're still doing school.) It was quite fun if you're seven and you regularly hyperfocus on insects. For mom, though? Not so fun. Hearing about the insides of insects turning to soup as a result of a poisonous bite--to be sucked out by the assailant--IS my idea of fascinating, but NOT my idea of fun. But hey, I can pretend to love just about any book--as long as it fosters a child's love for reading. Whatever strikes his literary fancy!

While he read, I gave Anna a magazine that was still wrapped in the rain-protecting plastic cover. She thought that a fascinating toy, and spent fifteen minutes playing with it--allowing Daniel to finish his book. Successfully, she pulled a small strip of plastic off of it and then played with that for another five minutes. She rubbed it across her face, and was fascinated that it tickled her. She then rubbed it on her arm, and got the same affect. Discovering also that it could be pulled and stretched, she was mesmerized. When you're 7.5 months, nearly EVERYTHING is a toy--as long as Momma is close by to supervise.

I love watching their minds work! Now THAT'S fascinating!

Photos

Anna didn't sleep through the night last night. But I did exercise self-discipline and go to bed around 11:30 p.m. I awoke with Anna at 7:15 and went to the living room to enjoy her before anyone else woke up.

The boys, very tired from VBS, slept until 8:00. Are they getting to an age where they can finally sleep in? Just maybe.

Emily awoke at 7:30 so I was again up before her, averting any safety problems. She loves the outdoors so much I fear she'll use her dresser to climb out the window in the morning. So far, God is keeping her safe by waking me first. He seems to have this figured out.

After our tenth anniversary lunch date we went to a family birthday party. I asked my aunt to take this photo of us to mark this special day. Anna is wiggling out of my arms as usual. What a blessing to have those memories of rocking my colicky baby for five months. She sure doesn't want to be held much now. Thank the Lord for colic! My honey is much better looking than shown--bad picture.

Timothy at the church picnic.

Daniel and Timothy at cousin Elena's (she's in center with the curls) 10th birthday party. She is my second cousin.



Anna made a friend at the church picnic.



Emily Rose and cousin Danny. Danny is my cousin's daughter's son. Does that make him Emily's third cousin? Not sure how that works. She looks as though she's feeling so in love! LOL

Daniel took this and wanted me to include it. See Anna's tired face? Her second nap is two hours late in the photo. I stay at home most of the time so that she can enjoy good naps, but one has to remind a baby occasionally that there's life outside their house and yard. She slept on a bed at their house for all of twenty minutes. She's picky like the pea-in-the-mattress fairy tale princess.

My little genius!

I recently had the pleasure of....

I recently had the pleasure of.....

...a tenth anniversary date with my Honey. It was our first date in about a year. A 95-minute lunch date, including travel time, to Olive Garden (via my birthday gift card from Dad). Too short, but very sweet. And hot food! Yeah!

...lots of snuggles with my Emily. Her interest in this ebbs and flows. I live for these snuggles.

...putting mild cortisone on Timothy's myriad of mosquito bites (from a night of camping). Playing nursemaid is one of my favorite Mommy blessings. Soothing my children makes me feel like a million bucks.

...witnessing Emily's growing independence. This morning, without waking us, she went to the kitchen and used a preschool chair to turn on the light, and then moved the chair over to the counter where her face cream was located. Her lip/mouth rash hurt and she knew exactly what to do, thank you very much. And then she helped herself to a cheese stick, because she can now open the fridge. Yikes!

...going to a campfire on the vast church grounds, where the boys and Daddy camped for a night to culminate their King David Outdoor Bible Camp experience. A young intern led music and we had the time of our lives. He had us wiggling our boodies and singing and clapping our hearts out. My children were totally uninhibited and wild with joy. I. will. remember. it. always. Priceless.

...holding Anna while she took a nap. This doesn't happen often anymore, but she is teething and falling asleep is very hard right now. She doesn't complain when it's playtime; her delight in her growing physical skills takes her mind off the pain, but sleep is just not happening much past 3 a.m., and the naps are harder to achieve. While she relaxed before this recent nap, she touched my face and hair for a long time, as if studying every inch of it. I am so in love!!!!

...snuggling with Daniel and showering him with praise. He drinks in every syllable, and I can see how desperately he needs these times with me. He's not one to snuggle, but Friday's night of camping left him seriously exhausted and willing to submit to some affection the next day.

A slice of childhood

The kids are outside with Daddy--in the rain. Emily Rose is trying out her new raincoat. I couldn't find a girl's style at the thrift store, but this one is plain bus-yellow and seems rather unisex. She totally feels like a million bucks in it, so that's all that matters. :)

Big brother Daniel has a similar-looking style. Those two are attached at the hip in some ways. Timothy is Daniel's main playmate, but Timmy only likes small segments of time outdoors, whereas Daniel could easily spend all day out there. Emily is SO outdoorsy that she's like Daniel's soul mate in this respect. Thank God!

Yesterday, while watching them from the window, I saw Daniel showing Emily how to catch insects off of plants. He takes a plastic lunch-meat container and uses its lid to gently coax the insect into the container. She was such a dutiful student--copying his every move. Precious sight indeed, seeing these two bond in this way.

This morning brought another reminder of how closely in tune with logic my Timothy is. He was getting dressed while talking to me, and accidentally started putting on his shorts before his underwear. He talks to himself a lot, so I wasn't surprised that he stopped and giggled and said, "I'm supposed to put the underwear on first." Then he paused a bit more and said, " I know why we put underwear on first. It's because pants have zippers and snaps and we could get cut and have to go to the hospital." Then he paused again, and said, "But these shorts don't have any snaps or anything, so I could wear them without the underwear."

Mommy: "No, Timothy, we wear underwear everyday. It's just what we do." I knew his logical side was going to lead to an underwear-less day, if I let it.

Timothy: "But let me try them without it."

So he tries them on and walks around in circles.

Timothy: "They feel great. So comfy."

Mommy: "But Timothy. We were underwear everyday."

Timothy: "Okay. But we really only NEED underwear because of snaps and zippers."

I sensed that he needed to have the last word on this. So I said nothing, and only laughed and gave him a good squeeze. He's my only child who lives for a cuddle! And he's also the most stubborn of the bunch.

Grandpa says he takes after me that way.

Crawling

It's official. She's crawling across rooms. Takes two or three paces, then rests a second, and then takes two or three more. Time to get down on the floor and do some serious babyproofing.

What's with this crawling at 6.5 months? She no longer wants to be held much. With your first couple babies, you get so excited when they do new things. With later babies, you feel a bit cheated when they want to grow up so fast--leaving your lap for bigger and better things.

I just caught her crawling toward the wall where we have board books propped up on the floor. I opened the book she was after (about babies and objects around the house), and showed her the pictures. She moved her hand and arm over the babies pictured inside, as if she wanted to touch their skin. Cute.

The pace at which babies learn is absolutely amazing!