"Just talk to my face, because I'm not home!"

Teddy was getting very aggravated with his sisters because they weren't listening to him and he was finished listening to them! Imagine his irritation when they tried to correct his statement...sometimes...the van is just too small for our little family...

It was a nice Mother's Day!

Dad made his wonderful chicken and gravy with mashed potatoes! Mom had the table set with all her beautiful china and goblets...and cloth napkins that Teddy asked, "What are these for?" He looked at me funny when he was told it was his napkin...a look that said, "You mean it is ok to wipe my face and hands on this fancy looking cloth!?"

The kids sang "A Mother's Gentle Love" in the morning service. Our two girls are on the ends on the left side of the picture. Alisa had a little line that said something about "Moms help you learn how to put on make-up."

My three goofy kids...they have taught me much about what being a Mother is all about...somethings I am handling correctly...and somethings...I still need to work on each day!

Another Mother's Day craft...made just for me! I received a neat bookmark, a colorful magnet, and a little basket with chocolates! Those little, wiggly, sticky fingers now create such sweet gifts and write their own messages in cards!

When they brought me my cup of coffee in bed, I looked at the three of them standing there and thought...when did they get big enough to carry a hot cup of coffee to me? It used to be me...standing by their cribs with their morning bottle...helping them get up and out of bed to start the day...now...their Daddy has trained them to help me! Thank you, lovely family, for making my day special! You reminded me in many ways...that being a Mom...is the best, hard part of my life!

Alisa's Perception

"You and Daddy love Teddy more than me. You let him go with Daddy all the time to get pizza and you never let me. You...just...like him more." whined Alisa as we drove home from a fun time of swimming at the YMCA. Teddy rode with Dad to help him pick up the pizza. I know what you are thinking..."Yeah, you're right, we do!" But no, I didn't say it...instead I said, "We love you all! Quit being so silly." Even though she was being selfish, I decided to "re-route" her thinking and try humor. It got quiet...so I don't know if it worked or not.
NOT!
"Everything about my life is just so...boring. Teddy gets to be at the shop. Ashlynn gets to go to a birthday party. And I never get to do anything...well...nothing special today...and everyone else gets to." lamented Alisa. "Dear...nobody in your class had a birthday to invite you to today." What am I chopped liver? She got to be with Mom all by herself. She didn't deserve it, but we went to Subway and shared a sandwich and a drink. It was a good opportunity to chat...just the two of us...about having a thankful spirit and not a selfish one! She is very good at changing the subject when things get uncomfortable!
GOD'S WORD IS SO HELPFUL..."IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS." "CHARITY SUFFERETH LONG AND IS KIND...SEEKETH NOT HER OWN, DOTH NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY..."
Yep, right now, her perception of life only includes...herself! She is very vocal right now about it...me? I'm more proper and keep it on the inside! Wow...if I said out loud what I was thinking sometimes... sighing loudly right about now
Children...and their perceptions...
Do I want to know what their perception of my focus is?

Taking time to be thankful...

We "did something different" today for our family devotion time. Before 6:30 a.m., we had a bad case of the "uglies" (yes, inside and out...as some of us hadn't brushed our hair yet!).
Daddy asked for song favorites and then asked for each of us to give two things we were thankful for this morning. Teddy was "thankful for my teachers who learn us how to do things." I smiled...cuz I our two!
Happy Friday! And take time to be thankful...it changed the whole attitude of our day...it can change yours too!

He is the only one...

who has had time to even pick up a magazine! (It makes me laugh...he uses his feet...for toys, his bottle, whatever he can get his hands on...just like a little monkey!) We have been busy this week...dropped the K5 graduation announcement/invite in the mail this morning, cleaned up some messy rooms, spent lots of time swinging, eating lunch at the picnic table, sent summer birthday treats to school yesterday, started de-junking, started working on Mother's Day, and...oh...the normal daily stuff too!
When my little buddy is not napping...he is on the move and getting into mischief! Um, the word "NO" just makes him grin and keep going for it! yikes! The baby stages change so quickly!
I forgot how much I didn't get done at this age! sigh

We have the official word...

on the swine flu from an incredibly skilled gentleman in the First Grade! A little girl kissed a pig. Then she kissed her Dad. Her Dad hugged the rest of the family. Now we all can get it!
My second daughter's eyes snapped with fire and flair as she relayed this important information to me...almost daring me to discredit her reliable source! I love to hear their stories and adventures of the day...well, most of them!
It reminds me of how innocent our children are...and how quickly they latch onto information that is put before them!
I didn't argue or disagree...it could be true...sounds perfectly logical in this crazy mixed up scary pandemic news story of late...it didn't matter...not this time anyway...it's the official word in First Grade!

Waddle I do without you?

When we arrived home from church Sunday night, we had company! It took some harsh commands to keep the children in check...why do all children feel the need to run at birds, ducks, or geese screaming at the top of their lungs? Those "pretty birds" can turn on you and peck you! The mother bird, who has built a nest in our eaves again this year, likes to dive bomb us when we are tending the front yard...maybe next time...I will just let whatever happens...happen! But it was Sunday...neighbors were out...I didn't want them to think we aren't animal lovers...we go to church and learn about God our Creator, about being kind, about being loving, and gentle! What you can't see in this picture...is the other male duck who was chased away by the ever-attentive male you see here! So much for kind, loving, and gentle when you are trying to capture the heart of another! Ah...spring...I wonder if they found their love nest...or if the lover's quarrel ended tragically...because we haven't seen them since! Come to think of it...I haven't seen the neighbor's cat either!

A work in progress...

The desk made it home on Saturday! Thank you to two strong men!

Thank you to a bottle of Clorox CleanUp with bleach...looks brand new!Its new home...and the light works!!! Still going through boxes and baskets...I have too much stuff...but I just might could use it...someday!

Fruit is dessert when it is dipped in the chocolate fountain!

A fun way to end our ladies meetings...till fall! Maybe even a good way to start...!

Here, There, and Everywhere

Off again...fill you in later on the happenings during the month of May...sometime!

Torn...

want to be outside, want to work in the basement, need to clean the cobwebs and dustbunnies away, need to post some pics...but mostly want to be outside sitting in the sun...on the swing...with my little buddies...sipping iced tea...Ah...it is beautiful!

April showers have brought May flowers!

For the first time...that I noticed...I have little purple buds on a tree in our backyard! This was the same tree that had heart-shaped leaves that the neighborhood groundhog liked to eat. I don't know what it is...yet. The trees are budding, grass is growing, flowers blooming...itching eyes and sneezing has begun...just a few wonderful signs of spring!

My bleeding heart is growing so nice in the backyard...it has tripled in size! And so starts the need for yardwork...just as soon as it stops raining for an extended period of time! The river is now up which means the lake is up which could make for another interesting season!

I am thankful for all the color today! Green grass, pink,yellow, red, purple, and white flowers, brown mud, and even the dark, gray-blue clouds...spring is such a refreshing season!