Birthday candy cakes

The month of May begins a busy birthday season around our families. I am always looking for the perfect gift for each person and a fun way to present it! I wracked my brain for ideas for pre-teen boys...money seemed the most logical...but how to wrap it!? Styrofoam disks and hot glue on paper plates...covered in candybars with curly ribbon. I hollowed out the bottom styro disk and covered up the styro with foil...now there is a resting place for the cold hard cash. I was excited by how they turned out...and knowing the boys...they will enjoy the outside as well as the inside! Two down...

Tuesday...the other Monday

I came down to switch laundry and check my email...and WW III just broke out upstairs. How it is that children can be playing nicely outside and the minute a mommy tries to squeak in a job...kaBOOM! It is a lovely sound to hear them screaming at each other...I need to go beg the neighbor's pardon...excuse me.

NOT FOR THE FAINT AT HEART...

Go ahead have a good scream...the kids did...I had to be the brave mommy since super daddy was at work! I am still feeling a little shaky...every time I look at the pic or think about it...and it has been a few hours! This pic makes it look big...but I am looking down into the barrel and zoomed in so you could enjoy the little fellow that caused such a ruckus this morning. (Pausing to shiver.) Grandma watched as Chevy started playing with it and Teddy started running and screaming. I ran for the ice chopper, Grandma grabbed Chevy, and the girls huddled on the chair (standing of course). For some reason (I would like to think God caused it!), the snake didn't slither away...it stayed coiled in the spot long enough for me to...take care of it! I didn't hack it to pieces like I have done in the past...it is not good for children to see such aggression in their parents...is it? I guess I get the title of super mommy now! (Pausing to shiver again and look down at my feet...). Sorry to our neighbor who loves to play with the snakes he finds in the other neighbor's backyard...reptiles that cross the fence line...will meet the ice chopper...no questions asked!

Enjoying the simple things of warmer weather

Ashlynn wanted to know if the mosquitoes were out yet. Teddy replied that "they are still inside having supper!" Well...where else would they be on a beautiful evening like this?

All in a day's work

It is nice to do something and see visible results rather quickly...not always so in my life! As a means of spiritual, physical, emotional, and yes, mental therapy...I did yard work yesterday afternoon! The first time in two years that I was physically able to handle it and still function the next day! (Praise the Lord for leading us to the right physical therapist! No pain or even soreness today!!!) I mowed the lawn and finished the picking of weeds in the perennial garden...everything is coming up and has spread!!! Ash helped me pick up sticks and all the kids helped rake and sweep. We finished the day with a campfire and roasted hot dogs and marshyo-yos...mmmm...we all went to bed smelling like the fire. What a beautiful night...we were sorry Daddy wasn't there to enjoy it too!

Dare I post again? I am afraid of what might come next!

I am sorry to say that I didn't take the moment to snap a picture to prove the insanity that continues to pervade my little space of "heaven on earth" . Please accept my humble apology as I was in no frame of mind to enjoy the little scene that greeted me as I rounded the corner of the kitchen...Chevy, on the table, voraciously devouring the remnants of pancakes and sausage off Teddy's plate. (He has never done that...that I know of...here before...lakehouse, yes, but not here at home.) I stepped out of the kitchen for a moment to help with a clothing issue...leaving the partially cleared breakfast table unsupervised...not thinking about possible problems as the children were occupied. I tell you...I cannot keep up! If it is not children, it is the dog...and I am supposed to maintain a sweet Godly spirit through all of this ya-ya!? To be perfectly frank and genuine...it is not always happening at the point of impact!!! I remember one of the points from a message on communication...ACT DON'T REACT...there was no corrupt communication that proceeded out of my mouth, I acted in haste to get the dog off the table (and promptly finished clearing it!), but there was no thankfulness in my heart! In hindsight, I guess there was some Spirit control...I wasn't screaming and crying!!! I honestly didn't think I would be tested over and over and over on the subject of thankfulness after yesterday's post...it has gone downhill since...I am beginning to question how "subconsciouly unthankful" I have been! OK Lord, I am aware of the lack thereof...I'd be thankful for a reprieve!

These are the times that try mother's souls

This afternoon was no match for a vaccuum or mop!!! All four... little people and pooch were covered with dirt...this is what remained! My afternoon was filled with baths and then whilst the disobedient group took a nap...two loads of laundry! Now....what was I being so thankful for earlier...? Soap, running water, modern conveniences, beautiful weather...I think I forgot for a moment!

Making Tracks

Since Ted and I have been married, we have had to buy three vaccuums...and I am afraid this one is going to give up soon too! Little girls with long hair make a mess out of the brush and burn belts up quickly! (I had never changed a belt before...since fall, I have changed it four times!) We added a remnant of carpet by the back door to save the floor and carpet...every time I turn around there is a trail of dirt! I only wish the pic showed it better! About the time we have everyone outside and playing, in comes one for the bathroom...(thank you to my son, who lately has been staying outside...only to use the backyard trees...that is material for another post!) Then they forget to take their shoes off...now we take the shoes off outside and walk in with muddy barefeet. Laminate flooring shows off the intricate details of mud smears and toe prints very nicely...especially in the sunlight! Forget the vaccuum...now it is an all out mop fest!
I am trying to work on being thankful for all the opportunities I have as a stay-at-home-mother. How thankful I am for those little feet! There are some parents who never get to see their children walk or play or grow! The little feet that once wouldn't touch the grass, now run across the yard all afternoon long without shoes on! What else do I have to do? Really...nothing that won't wait a little, while we make tracks through the backyard enjoying the beautiful weather. And then bringing it all in the house with us...thus we do our part to support the factories in the USA that make vaccuums!

A Peaceful Sunday Afternoon Shattered...

by the screams of a five year old girl running for her life...from a "wiggly snake with orange(?) and white stripes that was this long (the above picture). It moved very fast like this...(acted out)." "It's ok, Daddy is here!" (as Mommy was laughing hysterically from the back door INSIDE the house...because Daddy is a big chicken when it comes to snakes!) We remember the time when Ash was a baby and we got one in the house...under the fridge it hid...and when it came out "SuperDaddy" chopped it into a million pieces with the icechopper in the backroom...and hence the new addition (not really the reason for the building project, but we don't get snakes in the kitchen now!) Oh, just in the basement last year...a baby one, but none the less...a snake! With the redo of the front wall of the house and front porch, Daddy says we shouldn't have any more surprise visitors inside...I don't know, would you believe the guy who didn't give the full details of what they found in the front wall of the house during demolition...yep, snake skins..."pretty good size for garter snakes" (said in a casual tone around the table of adults one fine evening...after keeping it hush hush for four months!) HMMM!? Well, we didn't see the snake today...saw some sticks that may have given her a start...but the way her heart was thumping and the history of our yard, we are pretty sure Ash saw one, "a mommy one". "Daddy, I just don't understand snakes!" Well, baby, Daddy doesn't either!

Rainy Days = Messy Rooms

How many legos does it take to make a grown woman cry? One...if she doesn't watch where she steps!
How many clothes are actually in the dressers? I don't know...does the top count too?
All play and no work makes for a very messy room and beautiful girls! Hmmm, I wonder if this is how Cinderella must feel?!
Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day...this poor Mommy wants her children to go out and play.
I propose to have a contest...whose house is the messiest! We always see whose house is clean and neat and picked up! But how bad can it really get at your house...when you are at your worst?!

Where has the week gone?

All of a sudden it is Friday again and I stand here wondering where the week went and what did I accomplish. Then the comment this morning from the backseat, "Mommy, do we have to go to any stores today?" I realized we did an awful lot of running...how do I know?

1. When the riders have passed the bickering stage to the quiet stage.

2. When my passengers give a running commentary on everything they see outside.

3. When we can't wait to get to Daddy's shop for a bathroom break.

4. When the backseat drivers are telling me when to go or stop...and not cheat (?).

5. When my passengers begin singing the next song on the cd before it begins playing.

6. When lunch/snack orders are being given everytime we pass a fast food place...

yep, it is time to spend some time at home and get the land legs back!

Lakehouse Moments

Haircut by Grandma..."brain-sucking" by Daddy! Opening weekend at the lakehouse. It was gorgeous weather! We all relaxed and enjoyed one another's company...our favorite time is in the morning with a cup of coffee sitting around the table together...eating a donut that Papa went out to get just for his grandkids! We are so thankful for the family that we have!!! This past weekend we were surrounded by them...God is good in giving us the time with our parents and family! We love them!