A Glimpse Into My Family

Three quick stories that may give you a better understanding of my life and my family.

Last night, we had a Sunday school get-together and we didn't pick our kids up until 9:00. On the way home, Miss A asked what time it was. She is obsessed with time. She comes by this honestly; her parents are obsessed with not being late. Mention that we're late and she begins to go into a panic attack. (Not really, but it does stress her out when she hears the word late.) My husband and I can't sleep in a room without a clock. Sad, huh? Anyhoo, I answered Miss A that it was almost 9:15. She peaks around my seat and says, "No, it's 9:13. Mommy, don't lie." AAARRRUGHGHGHGH!!! She also hates it when I try to estimate.

Then, she begins to tell a joke. We have all heard this joke numerous times before but it's easier to pretend the joke is new and funny than to say you don't want to hear it.
A: Knock, knock.
Me: Who's there?
A: Little Old Lady Who.
Me: Little Old Lady Who Who?

The punch line is "I didn't know you could yodel." Get it? Say it, and it sounds like you are yodeling. Anyway, before she can say the punchline, Mr T shouts out, "I didn't know you could struggle." We all die laughing so he says, "I mean, I didn't know you could all juggle." More laughter.

A quick update on our continuing saga to get my little boy to wear long sleeves. I force him to wear long sleeves on Sunday. The rest of the week short sleeves with a coat will do but not on Sunday. So, this morning, we get baths, we iron clothes, we get all cleaned up. My hubby puts on my son's long sleeve shirt and I turn around to see the biggest frown on Mr T's face. He sadly declares, "I knew I'd look like this." Where did this obsession with clothes come from? It keeps us all laughing.

Two Dogs, a Fish, and a ...Lizard?

My son just came into my office and asked if he could have a lizard? Do what? Where did that come from? Ick. I immediately replied that he would have to ask his daddy. That's right, make Daddy look like the bad guy.

So, we call my hubby at work, and my son begins his pitch to get a lizard. My husband asks my son what lizards eat. Mr T replies that they eat grass and lettuce, he thinks. (Sorry kid, that's bunnies and you aren't getting one of those either.) The conversation goes on for awhile then I hear Mr T ask my hubs, "Now Daddy this is serious. Are you allergic to lizards?" (My hubby is allergic to cats so it naturally makes sense that he might be allergic to lizards, right?) My son sounded so serious. I pray this phase disappears before we have to actually consider another pet for ME to take care of.


Last night at the dinner table, we were discussing a possible trip to south Georgia. My hubby has to help a friend install some cabinets in his farm house so we were thinking the rest of the family might tag along. My hubby would love for all of us go hear Jimmy Carter teach Sunday school at a church in Plains, Georgia.

Hubs asks my daughter, "Would you like to go hear Jimmy Carter teach Sunday school?"

My daughter replies, "Isn't he a race care driver?"

That's my girl. If she were older, I'd complain about what she's not learning in school, but I'll just leave that alone. :)

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

We have had the best time being "snowed in." Two times in one week is something of a miracle for Georgia. Yesterday, we made a life-size snowman, walked through the woods, went sledding down the neighbor's hill, and made snow-creme. The kids were nearly frozen by the time we got in, mainly because we don't own ANYTHING that's water proof.

My hubby cleaned out my car and found my digital camera so I can't wait to show you pictures of the pitiful birthday cake I've made for my son's birthday. Cake decorating is NOT my thing but for some reason I continue to try. I once made my daughter a Cinderella cake that make the princess look like she had been using way too much fake tanner. This year, it's a dinosaur cake. I made the cake chocolate so it'd look like dirt and frosted it green and stuck dinosaurs on the top. Truly Martha Stewart had better watch out. I am so gifted with cake decorating.

We have friends coming over to play cards this afternoon because we are all a little stir crazy. Another one of the things I am not is a wonderful hostess. We'll see what mistakes I make this time. I'd just really rather go to someone else's house and let them worry about entertaining. How selfish is that?

The Best of Friends

One of my college roomies (for almost 5 years) just called and is coming into town tomorrow. We are trying to meet up Friday, and I pray the snow won't stop that. But, even if it does, it was just so great to talk to her. I need to make a habit of calling my friends more often. I made some really awesome friends in college; those kind of people are few and far between. When you really know someone, the conversation just flows. I am so excited and giddy.

God is really teaching me to trust him and not look to friends for my comfort or worth. So when he sends a friend my way, I take that as a sign, a special blessing. I try to value times with friends as something more precious than anything.

Will it Snow?

Will it snow? That is the million dollar question. Based on the empty milk and bread shelves, it seems that everyone thinks it will. I wish we would get a few inches of snow so we could go out and play in it, really play in it. We'll see.

My son is at a friend's house and Miss A is at school so I have had a few minutes of free time. And I have absolutely nothing to show for it. But it's been great. Hope you all are having a great day.

Fun Saturday

I had the most wonderful stuff I was going to write about but I'm tired, the kids are in bed and my hubby is busy for another hour in the shop. So, I think I'm going to curl up in front of the tv and watch whatever I want. (Remember, we are now down to 3 stations on our tv and the only movies we own are "Sleepless in Seattle, The Man from Snowy River part 1 and 2, Major League 2, and Monty Python.") How sad a selection is that?

My daughter and I went with another friend and her daughter to see Annie today, and it did not disappoint. I truly enjoyed it as much as my daughter. Things are so much more fun when you do them with friends. We did sit in the 2nd to the last row of the theatre, which didn't seem like an issue until my daughter told my mother in law that the dog Sandy was a chihuahua. When I laughed and disagreed, my daughter began to cried. I should not have laughed but come on, it was a labrador retriever--not a chihuahua.

Let me just pause to say that my daughter was so fun to hang out with today. I get so busy that I forget to just stop and enjoy her company. She is becoming quite a little lady.

Cabin Fever and It's 65 Degrees Outside

These past 2 weeks have been so tough around here. There have been so many things that have gone wrong and even though they have almost all been resolved, they have left their mark. I feel almost physically bruised from all that has been happening. I know I am emotionally bruised. It's exhausting.

I really just want to stomp my foot and say, "I will have things my way. I will. So deal with it and do it my way." I look around me at my life and I think things like, "How did I get here? How do I stop feeling so stuck? How do I go on? Why not my way? I had no idea life would be so hard."

I recently read this article, and I am trying to take it to heart. It is from my MOPS magazine and it is addressing the issue of Cabin Fever by Caryn Rivaderneira. "Turns out, the cure for cabin fever is contentment - enjoying what we've been given when it's given. That's God's advice, too - learning to be content with whatever my circumstances are because he gives me the strength....I'm keeping my eyes off spring and trusting that the cure for cabin fever is in living and loving the season I'm in." It's time to dig deeper and stop trying to get my way. It's time to kindly speak my opinion and then let it go. I'm not in control..of anything. (Isn't that the scariest thing you've ever heard? It is to me.) So, I better get over it and just fall into my Savior's arm and rest there. Let the rest happen and stay in His arms. Mind you, I still want to be mad and make others pay for not listening, but I'll try to let it go. That's something, right? I better trust God because he's the only who can really do it right. He can and He will.

Big Birthday

I only have a moment, but I really want to write this. Today is my little guy's 5th birthday and I never want to forget this moment. I am so thankful that I get to stay home with my kids so I get to share more than enough wonderful moments with them. Even today at lunch as he ate his peanut butter sandwich, I was thinking, "These are the moments I'll remember."

I was remembering the day Mr T was born and thinking about how I had no idea how much joy he was going to bring into our lives. He continually keeps us laughing and on our toes. He has such a sweet, sensitive spirit that makes me right now want to run into his room, wake him up and spend some sweet time lovin' on him. He melts my heart.

I want to remember that he had to wear his overalls to preschool this morning because that's what his dad wears when he works in the shop. Never mind that they are about 2" too short and make him look like he has grown a foot overnight.

I want to remember that he wore his Cars short sleeve t-shirt underneath because Mr T hates long sleeves and jackets. And it's 60 degrees outside, which to Mr T means short sleeves and shorts. (I am the same way about long sleeves and coats, but I refuse to admit it.)

I want to remember that his cupcakes had smiley faces and Tweety birds on them and he chose a Tweety bird.

I want to remember that he hugged and kissed me when I dropped him off at preschool and as I walked away, he stood at the door smiling blowing me kisses.

You are my heart little man. I pray you continue to grow and become more like God and your daddy each day. Be who you are meant to be and don't settle for anything else.

Howdy Strangers

Well, here I am. We have been so so so busy, especially now that Christmas is over and Mr T is feeling all better. I wake up each morning promising myself that I'll spend all morning just playing with the kids, only to realize at lunchtime that I haven't seen them all morning because they have been upstairs playing by themselves. My hubby finished a cute little attic room for the kids to play in. It's a wonderful room just begging the kids to imagine they are in their own little world. Pictures wouldn't do it justice. I love it; I know they do too.

So, this morning, once again I let the hours get away. Around 10, I called Miss A into my room and we just cuddled and talked about what we wanted to be when we "grew up." It lasted about 5 minutes, but it was the best 5 minutes of my holiday vacation. We then sat around and played games together while Mr T played Legos. I feel like now she can go back to school knowing her mama loves her deeply.

I wish I had something profound to write about this coming year or last year. I haven't had time really to stop and reflect. I am planning to write out 4 things that I want God and I to work on this year in the front of my prayer journal so I can see how we progress. I think I'll start with patience...or maybe time mangement. The others I won't tell you. :)

Anyways, we are great, just running out of time. I could just cry when I think of school starting. Wonder where my daughter gets her dread of school from? :) We'll just get through it together...again. I'm ready for summer.