I've always liked roller coasters

So Praise God, we had an all around good day today! We all needed it. Not that it went entirely smoothly. At one point I had to stop Abigail's math lesson to check on the littles, and I found Josiah in the bathroom with the sink plugged and overflowing with water. He was soaked, the counter was flooded and the floor was totally wet too! But he was having fun. The good news is that I kept my cool (patience, patience, patience). I got Josiah cleaned up and all the water cleaned up and went back to schooling. We took a break from 11 am to 2 pm and ended up playing with friends at the playground and having them over for lunch...it was so nice to have an adult to talk to while the kids played! Then I had everyone but Abigail go down for quiet rest time. Abigail and I had a lovely afternoon finishing her school work. It was fun and we both enjoyed it so much. At dinner when I asked the kids what was the best part of their day Abigail said, "School, all of it!" I know the rough days won't disappear but if we have days like this mixed in I think we can make it. It's gonna be a roller coaster for sure...I just hope I don't puke!

I need grace to make it

Hebrews 4:16
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This is definitely my "time of need". Friday afternoon was not good for me...
I was wishing we hadn't chosen to homeschool and I was ready to start calling around, checking for openings in K4 and 1st grade....Abigail and I were both in tears. Not fun...
By Saturday I was feeling a little better about things in general but it's still been a difficult weekend. I just want my husband back! The good news on that front it is that I'll get to see him in a week and a half. He's headed back to the states for some training and I'm going to see him. Some wonderful friends from church are going to stay with the kids while I go. Now that's an example of "grace to help in time of need."

You guys ROCK!

Thanks everyone for giving me so many movie recommendations! I'm totally excited to fill up my Net Flix Queue! So feel free to keep the suggestions coming...I still have have over 6 months to go!

A field trip to the dentist

On Wednesday we made our semi-annual trip to our friendly pediatric dentist. The kids all think he's cool because he shoots his rubber gloves across the room trying to make baskets in the trash. He's very nice and his office is pretty fun for the kids so going to the dentist is a treat. It was funny because Joshua insisted on wearing his cowboy boots with his athletic shorts and the dentist remembered him because he had worn the same thing the last time we had a cleaning. It made him seriously chuckle! I think if we come back in 6 months and Joshua isn't wearing his boots with shorts the doc will be disappointed!
This time Josiah was supposed to have a cleaning too, except he wasn't into it. I tried sitting in the chair with him...until one of the hygienists came and said that they don't let parents sit in the kid sized chairs. So he didn't get a cleaning but the doc did look at his teeth and told me that I needed to get him to stop sucking his thumb as soon as possible. Yeah right! He has already told me that both Chloe and Josiah will need "work" so why should we all be miserable trying to keep him from sucking his thumb? I'm just not up for that right now.
The good news was that all the kids are still members of the "No cavity club"! I love that! I guess I'm doing alright so far with the kid's teeth...even though my own dental hygiene is questionable.

Movie Mania

Alright friends, it's time to comment! You let me down a little bit when I asked about flossing (except Jill!)...so here's your chance to redeem yourselves. I just joined NetFlix and since Bob and I aren't too big into the movie scene (too busy watching Tigers baseball) I need your help with suggestions of good movies for me to see. I'm counting on you! Oh and if you want, you can throw in something about your flossing habits for good measure. :)
Ready, Set, COMMENT!

It seemed like such a good idea...

This morning I was going to change the sheets on all the beds. Well let me tell you how difficult it is to change sheets on beds that are so tight in the space you can't move them away from the wall....it's VERY HARD. So at the thought of the struggle I was in for I decided to separate the boys and girls again, getting rid of the play room. I thought this also made daily clean up easier, girls pick up the girls room and boys clean the boys room. I didn't think about it much, I just started doing it. Well, the morning didn't go very well. The kiddos were all over the place, the littles getting into things and such, the big kids picking on each other and the mama just wanted to get the job done. In the midst of the change I also decided that Josiah would move to the toddler bed and out of the crib. The crib he was sleeping in was kind of falling apart. I'd find screws on the floor beneath it and have to search where it came from. I didn't think that was so good. I was just waiting for the day he jumped a little too much and it came crashing down. He has also learned how to climb out...so what's the point anyway. So the move involved taking down the crib and putting together the toddler bed. I also got rid of some toys and went through some clothes. It really was quite productive but as I said, the kids were not handling my involvement in the project very well. I had the job mostly done by lunch time. Over all I was quite pleased with my work. After lunch the moment of truth arrived...would Josiah stay in the bed for nap time or would it be a battle all afternoon. I decided to lay it all out there for him. I explained in simple terms that "out" got him a spank but "staying in" would be no spank. When I asked him if he understood he nodded and said yes in his sweet little voice. I closed the door and waited...and much to my surprise HE WENT TO SLEEP! Didn't get out once. YIPPIE YAHOO!!!
Of course we had to do school this afternoon because I was re-arranging furniture all morning and it did dawn on me that now I have littles sleeping in both bedrooms all afternoon and all the toys are in the bedrooms so Joshua and Abigail will have to get anything they might want to play with out of the bedrooms BEFORE the littles go to nap. And of course now I remember that this was one reason I wanted the toys in a separate room...so there would be access while the others were sleeping. OOPS. Oh well, I still think I can make it work. If not I'll have another really bad morning moving it all back. Except this time it might not be so bad because I wouldn't have the crib to deal with. I'll keep you updated on how this works out. :)

How could I ask for more?

Yesterday as I was getting Josiah dressed he was standing on the changing table and he leaned over and hugged me and said, "I wuv you." I about broke down crying because I've never heard him say that on his own...without prompting. It was one of those precious moments I will always remember. Amidst the difficult moments and days God gives me special times like this that prompt me to say, "Thank you Lord. How could I ask for more?"

Gotta love those Hymns

Here's one that runs through my head and brings tears to my eyes these days. I'm so thankful for the "Tie that Binds" me together with fellow believers.

Blest Be the Tie That Binds
by John Fawcett

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one
Our comforts and our cares.

We share each other’s woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way;
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free,
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.

---

Being the mother of boys

Being the mother of boys always keeps you on your toes! I know I only have two boys and there are many mothers out there who have more (bless you ladies), but they sure do keep me hopping. In recent days I have found Josiah in the refrigerator eating the sticks of butter, more than once! This has prompted me to buy a fridge lock. Then I caught him on the stool pulling the books off the higher shelves. Those ones MUST have looked more interesting than the ones on the lower shelves. And I do believe it was just yesterday that I found him on the top bunk with several of Abigail's flavored lip glosses, he was eating those too. Not to mention the countless times each day that I find him on the kitchen and bathroom counters playing in the sinks. Oh and in the bathroom he likes to eat toothpaste too. I definitely see an eating pattern here! I guess he's still in the "oral stage".

Then there's Joshua...if he's not climbing on me like I'm a tree, he's actually in a tree. Two weeks ago at church one of the kids came and got me and told me that he was stuck in a tree. Was he ever! He was ALL the way up the tree and could not get down. An older boy started helping and I asked for the help of one of the dads who came just in time because Joshua lost his footing and was hanging. The dad caught him and all was well but I've fully prepared myself for the day when he falls and we have to head to the ER for a broken bone. Joshua is also very much into building forts, popping wheelies on his bike and scooter, climbing fences, and today he came up with the bicycle trailer/wagon idea. He tied the wagon to his bike and was pulling the girls behind him. The only major drawback of this idea was stopping. He would stop fast and the girls would get whipped around. It was enough to make the mama's heart beat faster but no one was hurt. I should just make them all wear helmets at all times. Maybe body armor wouldn't hurt either. I know that it's all been done before...and most kids do make it to adulthood. Some days I just wonder where do they come up with this stuff?

Chompers

Once someone told me, "Only floss the teeth you want to keep." At the time I thought it was somewhat profound but it hasn't sunk in enough for me to floss every day. In fact I usually only pick up the floss when I know I have a cleaning coming up. Then the hygienist will tell me what a great job I'm doing and after the appt I go back to not flossing until the next cleaning shows up on my calendar. So I was just wondering, am I normal in my undisciplined flossing? Or do most people keep their gums healthy by daily flossing? And does it really take flossing every day if they always tell me what a great job I'm doing, even if I had only been flossing regularly for the past two weeks? Maybe it will all catch up to me one of these times???
Another funny thing about me and my teeth is that sometimes at night as I'm heading to bed I feel the urge to be rebellious but who can I rebel against..."AHHH, the dentist!" I think, "I'll go to bed WITHOUT BRUSHING MY TEETH!" Of course the ironic thing about this is that the dentist, although he encourages me to take good care of my teeth, gets paid when I don't take good care of my teeth. WACKY!

Bob was right...

When Bob and I first met in a Bible study through InterVarsity, 11 years ago, he didn't really like me because he thought I talked too much. Well I've really noticed recently that I do talk too much. Some friends brought dinner over on Wednesday and after the kids went to bed we were sitting around talking, but I totally talked the entire time. Then last night we did a "Girl's Night Out" and I know I was talking too much again. What's more...I'm an interrupter! I know I am. It's like I can't stop myself in the midst of the conversation. Something comes to my mind and I just can't wait for a lull. Then later I feel badly and wonder if the person I interrupted noticed that I did it and if it was upsetting to them???? So I just wanted to say to all those who have had to listen to my ramblings and to the countless who I've cut off during conversation...I'm sorry. It's something I'm going to work on. I need to be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19).

I've been tagged

I think most of us know the "rules" of this game...
Here's 10 facts about me
1. I like to sleep with the covers over my head in the winter. I just leave a little tunnel to breathe.
2. I generally don't eat fruits and veggies. I have gotten better over the years with salads but just to eat some green beans...NOPE.
3. I got run over by a car in the 4th grade and broke my left leg. I think the poor lady who hit me was more traumatized than I was and it was all my fault for not crossing the street at an intersection.
4. I was on the pom pon squad all through high school. This is totally different than cheerleading, in case you were wondering. We did routines to music during half time, no cheering involved.
5. I taught special education in Parchment, MI for 2 years.
6. My license was revoked while I was in college for having too many tickets. That was a bummer!
7. When I'm pregnant I enjoy a regular diet of ramen noodles, cheetos, swiss cake rolls and coke. Oh and root beer floats at night!
8. I went sky diving for my 18th birthday...and not tandem. I jumped all by myself! I have a video if you'd ever like to see it. :)
9. Currently I have an addiction to mini marshmellows.
10. I'm blessed beyond measure!

If it's not one thing, it's another

So today I thought I'd try doing our homeschooling in the afternoon while Josiah is napping. Then I don't have to worry about keeping him busy while we get things done. I think it was very successful as far as Josiah is concerned but Abigail's attitude just wasn't fabulous. I think she does better in the morning...just getting to it and getting it done. Maybe she would get used to it? Now I'm not sure which way to go...who do I cater to? Better for Abigail to school in the morning or better for Josiah to school in the afternoon. What's a mommy to do? We did get through everything this afternoon and I did enjoy the time we had alone together while all the other kids were having rest time. I think I'm going to try it again and see if she can get used to it. Maybe it will just end up being a hodgepodge of sometimes morning instruction and sometimes afternoon instruction and sometimes a little here and a little there. After all, "Flexibility is the key to Air Power!"
Tonight we went to Cold Stone (Thanks HJB) and the kids loved it. The littles got cake batter ice cream with gummy bears, Abigail got cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears and Joshua got cotton candy ice cream with sprinkles. It was a fun treat! I refrained...I can hardly believe I was able to resist! But I came home and had a Weight Watchers fudge bar...doesn't quite compare to Cold Stone but I'll be okay. I had enough treats over the weekend to last me a while, at least until Friday! :)