Ahh... I love my kids.
I know we all love our kids and think they are the best kids in the world, though.... It's such a great privilege as a parent to see each child grow and learn, to get to know them as individuals.. help guide them through life, their strengths and weaknesses.
I wish all parents knew what an honor and blessing it is, a true privilege - not a right, that God has given us when he gave us our children.
It's easy to just think, "oh they are just a kid.... go play" Sometimes in the mix of things you do forget they have real feelings, you assume they don't think about much on a deep level, that it's all about baby dolls and mud pies and when's the next snack? I do, anyway.
Then I have to repent, most of the time I don't really admit it to anyone, I just vow to God and myself that I will take that extra moment or two to really get to know my children. I do admit I know some of my kids better than others, due possibly to age (how long I've had them in my life), personality conflicts (some might get the "go play" comment a little more than others), or just simply how open they are to me. A couple of them need me to reach out to them more while others seek me to talk.
I just love them.
I love when they have ah-ha moments. When something just clicks. I love it. Those moments are especially great because the growth in them is suddenly obvious, instead of slow and steady. That's like getting a Christmas bonus. Being able to see the fruits of the hard parenting work all at once like that... you just can't put a price on it.
Danielle had one of those yesterday.
She has been asking to homeschool lately. While I am not against homeschool, I think it's wondeful... I just don't think it's the right time for our family to take that plunge. In the future I might end up doing it, but for now the church school has been such a blessing and it's working for us. If she was in immediate danger, or I couldn't trust the environment she was in, it would be a no brainer... I'd take them out instantly. I know she's safe, she's among teachers and students that love her, she's learning about Jesus and the "issues" she is having are minor. Mostly just a few things that make her uncomfortable. Like the fact that Juliette is moving out of the elementary room and she'll be left behind with three 2nd graders and five kindergarteners. She feels jealous. Well, instead of pulling her out I'd rather her build character and work through it.
We've been talking to her about being a leader and how she'll be the BIG KID of the elementary room... how it's a responsibility to help guide the younger ones, it will be hard work at times but it also has many benefits. It really didn't sound that appealing to her. Steven talked to her, said the same things I have been saying... but Daddy has her heart and it just clicked.
She went to school and one of the younger girls (a first grader) gave her a letter, she has gotten similar letters in the past from the same girl, telling her how much she liked her etc etc and Danielle just knew that it was important to stick around. That to these little ones she is the one they look up to, like she looks up to a couple of the high school girls. It made her feel special and important and that maybe there is a purpose for her to be there afterall...
It just made my day. To see her grow like that. Just overnight. She stepped out of herself and what she wants and what is comfortable for her and thought about the other kids. She looked at the big picture.
I am sure there will be struggles in the future. Homework will be 'too hard' and she'll want to escape it, but I feel that her heart is in the right place now so it will be easier to get her back on track.
I just wanted to jot this milestone down, because if you know Danielle... it really is a milestone.
What a great girl I have.
They are all so wonderful. Each and every one. This is just a small example of many. I just can't thank God enough that He chose me to be their Mommy. Wow. It really is such an honor and privilege.
Psalm 127:4-5
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Mundane Monday: Solving problems
I am reading this book by Joyce Meyer called Living Beyond Your Feelings. It's been good. Most of it I "know" (but don't apply), some of it is enlightening (still not really applying), but a couple things have really stood out. Hoping to apply those things.
This part stood out to me, from the book:
"One thing that helps me deal properly with anger is to realize that sometimes God permits people to irritate me in order to help me grow in patience and unconditional love. None of the fruit of the Spirit develops without something to make us exercise them...... The offending person's bad behavior is not right, but God often uses them as sandpaper in our lives, to polish our rough edges. He is more concerned about changing our characters than He is about changing our circumstances to make them all comfortable for us." (Joyce Meyer)
One of my biggest issues are irritants in my life. Well, I shouldn't say the irritants are the biggest issues, how I handle them are.... Then I wonder, will these irritants continue to irritate until I change my attitude, develop patience... self control? Unfortunately... they probably will.
The reason is, because until I can learn to "deal with it and not let it bother me" new things will constantly begin to bother me. The problem is with me, not with those around me.
The next question I always have is, "well, then what do I do?" Do I just continue to let people treat me wrong, or make wrong decisions that affect me and my kids, do I just become a doormat?
If I am supposed to "give it to God", how do I do that? Sometimes I just feel like I am talking into thin air. Just stepping back and letting God deal with it doesn't really work does it? Honestly.... I don't know from personal experience. I don't think I've ever given God a fair chance. What I do know, is that trying to "fix it"... or "force others to change" DOES NOT work... so why not try something new? Besides, giving issues to God has worked for other people that I know.
Still don't know how though...
The next part that stood out to me in the book was when Joyce says, "How can you know when you express anger and when to just let it go?"
Well, she goes through a process.
First she gives it to God. That's the part I usually mess up. Still not sure how to do that exactly... I think it means to pray about it and then just wait on God to change the heart of the person that mistreated you. Just let it go. Keep quiet for the moment.
Second if it's still bothering her after a couple days (a couple days!?...eek, not sure if I can keep my mouth shut that long!), then she talks to someone about it... hoping that just getting it out in the open will help.
Third, if that doesn't help she seeks God on whether or not she should confront the person. I've never gotten this far so I don't know how one knows if God gives the permission to bring it up to the person. I would assume that if I was still bothered by this situation after step one and two that it would probably be necessary to confront them in order to not build resentment on my part.
Last you confront them. Important: I always want to make sure that I am doing it for their good and not my own need to "tell them off" or try and change them. Yikes. So, bottom line, I've learned a lot, just from that. I might try it.
If it's someone outside my family that has "hurt" me, steps one, two, and three are easy because I don't want to confront them... if it's Steven then I don't even make it to step one normally. I am going to try that today. Yes, today. I'll let you know how it goes.
This part stood out to me, from the book:
"One thing that helps me deal properly with anger is to realize that sometimes God permits people to irritate me in order to help me grow in patience and unconditional love. None of the fruit of the Spirit develops without something to make us exercise them...... The offending person's bad behavior is not right, but God often uses them as sandpaper in our lives, to polish our rough edges. He is more concerned about changing our characters than He is about changing our circumstances to make them all comfortable for us." (Joyce Meyer)
One of my biggest issues are irritants in my life. Well, I shouldn't say the irritants are the biggest issues, how I handle them are.... Then I wonder, will these irritants continue to irritate until I change my attitude, develop patience... self control? Unfortunately... they probably will.
The reason is, because until I can learn to "deal with it and not let it bother me" new things will constantly begin to bother me. The problem is with me, not with those around me.
The next question I always have is, "well, then what do I do?" Do I just continue to let people treat me wrong, or make wrong decisions that affect me and my kids, do I just become a doormat?
If I am supposed to "give it to God", how do I do that? Sometimes I just feel like I am talking into thin air. Just stepping back and letting God deal with it doesn't really work does it? Honestly.... I don't know from personal experience. I don't think I've ever given God a fair chance. What I do know, is that trying to "fix it"... or "force others to change" DOES NOT work... so why not try something new? Besides, giving issues to God has worked for other people that I know.
Still don't know how though...
The next part that stood out to me in the book was when Joyce says, "How can you know when you express anger and when to just let it go?"
Well, she goes through a process.
First she gives it to God. That's the part I usually mess up. Still not sure how to do that exactly... I think it means to pray about it and then just wait on God to change the heart of the person that mistreated you. Just let it go. Keep quiet for the moment.
Second if it's still bothering her after a couple days (a couple days!?...eek, not sure if I can keep my mouth shut that long!), then she talks to someone about it... hoping that just getting it out in the open will help.
Third, if that doesn't help she seeks God on whether or not she should confront the person. I've never gotten this far so I don't know how one knows if God gives the permission to bring it up to the person. I would assume that if I was still bothered by this situation after step one and two that it would probably be necessary to confront them in order to not build resentment on my part.
Last you confront them. Important: I always want to make sure that I am doing it for their good and not my own need to "tell them off" or try and change them. Yikes. So, bottom line, I've learned a lot, just from that. I might try it.
If it's someone outside my family that has "hurt" me, steps one, two, and three are easy because I don't want to confront them... if it's Steven then I don't even make it to step one normally. I am going to try that today. Yes, today. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Thursday's Thoughts: Enjoying the little years
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| Little Johanna and Alaina (Aug 2008) |
Then I realized... one day.
One sad day in a few years from now, no one will come into my room for anything. I know I will miss it so much. I know there will be nights I will cry when I think about seeing a little someone come in my room for the upteenth time, knowing it will never happen again. :(
Then I thought about it some more. How often do Johanna and Alaina get to experience a Mommy that is NOT cranky? Katie and Danielle get the Mommy that has had some time to relax after a long day because they stay up later than the younger children. Matthew and Elise get the most hugs and kisses, because well, they are babies still and do less things to try my patience. Alaina does get to have a little bit of 'daytime' Mommy who is not as cranky as 'evening' Mommy, but what about Johanna?
I need to change this.
Each and every one needs to know how very special they are, how much they are loved more than I can even begin to express. They need to know how much I appreciate their individual strengths... and yes, their weaknesses. *I* need to change, not them. Yes, they need to obey at nighttime, but I need to go about it in a different way. This IS my life and I love my life and wouldn't change it. One day they will grow up and all I will have are memories. Do I really want to remember these years as difficult and unenjoyable years and feel the guilt that my children had to deal with nothing but crankiness? Definitely not.
I need to enjoy these little years, right here, right now because before I know it they will be over.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Words on Wednesday: A heart for worship
Johanna loves God with all her heart. She may be a little rough around the edges... she's a little stubborn and has her own ideas on how things should be done, and she will fight for it! She might not listen the first time or do her chores with out complaining, but when it comes down to it... her heart is turning to God and that is the very most important first step.
She loves to worship. In church, she will go up to the front and just sing her heart out. She doesn't care what anyone thinks, she wouldn't know if anyone was watching her, because she is very focused on worship. It's like she steps out of this world and into God's presence. It's beautiful.
The other day she came to me and told me that she was playing outside by herself and felt a little scared. She started singing worship songs at the top of her lungs. She said other people were out there, but she didn't care.... After awhile she wasn't afraid anymore and her heart felt good. She said she got on her scooter and just went as fast as she could. The wind blowing on her face was like God right there next to her. I believe she has the right idea!
I love that she loves God and I love that she doesnt' care what anyone else thinks! I know that strong will is an asset for her... once her heart is turned to God, nothing will stand in the way. I love my sweet and passionate seven year old.
She loves to worship. In church, she will go up to the front and just sing her heart out. She doesn't care what anyone thinks, she wouldn't know if anyone was watching her, because she is very focused on worship. It's like she steps out of this world and into God's presence. It's beautiful.
The other day she came to me and told me that she was playing outside by herself and felt a little scared. She started singing worship songs at the top of her lungs. She said other people were out there, but she didn't care.... After awhile she wasn't afraid anymore and her heart felt good. She said she got on her scooter and just went as fast as she could. The wind blowing on her face was like God right there next to her. I believe she has the right idea!
I love that she loves God and I love that she doesnt' care what anyone else thinks! I know that strong will is an asset for her... once her heart is turned to God, nothing will stand in the way. I love my sweet and passionate seven year old.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Mundane Monday: Nail polish in hair & diapers in drawers
Oh Elise Josephine Claire!
Katie left out her nail polish and somehow Elise was able to open it. It got on her hands, her jammies, the chair.... and yes, her bangs and forehead. Stinker! It was so thick and already dried I had no idea what I was going to do.... Luckily it's cheap nail polish (the kind that peels right off your nails) and her hair is very fine and silky. For the most part it just slid right off. It did hurt her a little and she did not like me messing with it, but once I got the worst of it out I was able to just comb it and it was coming off in chunks.
The whole time she remained to appear sweet and innocent. Sweet... yes. Innocent? Not so much. The little stinker! Thankfully there was no damage done, none on the carpet. The chair was an easy clean up with some nail polish remover (Katie got that job) and although her jammies will probably never get clean, they are only jammies and not Sunday clothes! :) What a stinker!!!Then this morning we find out Elise was up to no good again! The first sign something was odd, was Danielle asked if she could take a shower. That is odd because I am LUCKY if that girl will shower once a week! If I don't MAKE her get in there she just won't do it! Well... then I went to brush her hair and smelled pee. So I sniffed her... not her hair, not her shirt... Well, then she told me it was her pants and to smell them. I did and they did smell like pee and a perfumy smell. Not exactly like cat pee although that was my first thought, especially since it hasn't been that long since Benny peed and pooped on the potatoes and rice in the pantry.
So I sent them upstairs to check out Danielle's drawer. What they found was one of Elise's wet diapers, opened up and mixed in with all her pants! Eww!!! So Danielle had to find a pair from the dirty clothes because those are more clean than her CLEAN clothes, lol.....
Who knows what Elise was thinking...she's usually good about throwing her diapers in the trash, so idk.. lol.. it was pretty funny and now hopefully we will actually be able to get Danielle to take a shower willingly, which later I found out she wanted one because she kept smelling pee and wasn't sure where it was coming from! haha!!
Adventures at the Maestas home!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Words on Wednesday: Danielle-isms
I previously wrote a post about the funny things the kids say. At the time I couldn't think of Danielle's funniest moments... well I thought of some and few things have happened since then....
A lot of these are my facebook status updates. So glad I jot things down on there so I will always remember them!
While stuck doing a lot of homework, she looks up and says, "don't you think they are taking our lives away?" I ask, who? She says, "the teachers, we have to go to school allllll day and then we have to come home and practice piano and do lots and lots of homework and then it's time for bed.... we get no time to play.... and then we wake up and do it all over again!" Katie overhears, who has much more homework than Danielle on a regular basis and says... "your life is so rough, Danielle!"
Funny thing is, they did get to play at "evergreen valley" for a long time after school, WITH their friend Juliette! Silly girl.
Another time Danielle was ironing Steven's shirt. I recently taught katie and Danielle to do this. Helps me out.. gives them a life skill that is necessary... helps Steven out... and if they mess up, no biggie! So, I went to go and check on her and everything was going all wrong... she tells me that she accidentally ironed it inside out! She tells me, "I was doing it right, too... but then I realized it was inside out and that is NOT right!" Haha!! It's so cute coming from her cute little voice. So I helped her figure it out and we got a good giggle.
The way she describes things is awesome. She was telling our friend Charity Long about sliding down the stairs on her belly... the little kids call it "Wah" because they say "waaaaahhh" as they go down. Anyways she was saying that it was hard for her to do because it squishes her organs, lol!
The other morning she was looking everywhere for her backpack... she was saying, "it's so weird, I just had it!" Johanna pointed out, she had it on her back all along!!!!
I love hearing her laugh. The younger kids do things that just get her cracking up. She just loves them so much it's so cute to hear her delight in them. The first night Elise was in her pack-n-play in their room, Danielle went to go and lie down on the floor next to her... all I could hear was giggling through the monitor. Not long after Danielle comes to tell us what happened, laughing so hard she could hardly talk... I seriously love it, the giggle is so cute.. but apparently what happened was she was lying there and looked up to check on Lisey because it had been quiet and when s he looked, elise had her face smushed against the mesh siding on the pack-n-play and said, "Dah-yaw? Sweeping?" She did not expect to see her there and it cracked her up!
Then last night she was spying on Matthew through the crack of his door and he was singing by himself and getting higher and higher til his voice squeeked and unzipping his jammies and she just laughed and laughed... It was really cute.
After my ultrasound I asked her how she liked the part where they showed us baby was a boy (I was teasing because she got 'grossed out' at the picture of that part from the first u/s)... she said, "It was so gross! I don't know why they had to name all the parts, why couldn't they just say, look it's a boy and move on!" Hehe... I got a kick out of that.
Last night we were watching American Idol... and she really likes guys with deep voices. She told me if a guy sings too high it sends shivers up her spine and she can't stand it. I am noticing a trend here... if a guy wears pink or purple it really bothers her. She does not like girly men... haha! It's funny seeing such a preference from her at such a young age.
A lot of these are my facebook status updates. So glad I jot things down on there so I will always remember them!
While stuck doing a lot of homework, she looks up and says, "don't you think they are taking our lives away?" I ask, who? She says, "the teachers, we have to go to school allllll day and then we have to come home and practice piano and do lots and lots of homework and then it's time for bed.... we get no time to play.... and then we wake up and do it all over again!" Katie overhears, who has much more homework than Danielle on a regular basis and says... "your life is so rough, Danielle!"
Funny thing is, they did get to play at "evergreen valley" for a long time after school, WITH their friend Juliette! Silly girl.
Another time Danielle was ironing Steven's shirt. I recently taught katie and Danielle to do this. Helps me out.. gives them a life skill that is necessary... helps Steven out... and if they mess up, no biggie! So, I went to go and check on her and everything was going all wrong... she tells me that she accidentally ironed it inside out! She tells me, "I was doing it right, too... but then I realized it was inside out and that is NOT right!" Haha!! It's so cute coming from her cute little voice. So I helped her figure it out and we got a good giggle.
The way she describes things is awesome. She was telling our friend Charity Long about sliding down the stairs on her belly... the little kids call it "Wah" because they say "waaaaahhh" as they go down. Anyways she was saying that it was hard for her to do because it squishes her organs, lol!
The other morning she was looking everywhere for her backpack... she was saying, "it's so weird, I just had it!" Johanna pointed out, she had it on her back all along!!!!
I love hearing her laugh. The younger kids do things that just get her cracking up. She just loves them so much it's so cute to hear her delight in them. The first night Elise was in her pack-n-play in their room, Danielle went to go and lie down on the floor next to her... all I could hear was giggling through the monitor. Not long after Danielle comes to tell us what happened, laughing so hard she could hardly talk... I seriously love it, the giggle is so cute.. but apparently what happened was she was lying there and looked up to check on Lisey because it had been quiet and when s he looked, elise had her face smushed against the mesh siding on the pack-n-play and said, "Dah-yaw? Sweeping?" She did not expect to see her there and it cracked her up!
Then last night she was spying on Matthew through the crack of his door and he was singing by himself and getting higher and higher til his voice squeeked and unzipping his jammies and she just laughed and laughed... It was really cute.
After my ultrasound I asked her how she liked the part where they showed us baby was a boy (I was teasing because she got 'grossed out' at the picture of that part from the first u/s)... she said, "It was so gross! I don't know why they had to name all the parts, why couldn't they just say, look it's a boy and move on!" Hehe... I got a kick out of that.
Last night we were watching American Idol... and she really likes guys with deep voices. She told me if a guy sings too high it sends shivers up her spine and she can't stand it. I am noticing a trend here... if a guy wears pink or purple it really bothers her. She does not like girly men... haha! It's funny seeing such a preference from her at such a young age.
February Status Updates
Feb 1, 2012
Matthew: Soon I'll be big like Daddy! I am growing up! Then I'll say (and he deepens his voice) CLEAN THE ROOM, KIDS! There will be no more Matthews....
It was so cute.. but I told him, we'll still have a Matthew, just a BIG Matthew... :) Makes me kinda sad thinking about him growing up and being a big Matthew... :(
poor neglected fat Benny... he's over here harassing me for attention, lol
I think it's time for some more pickles, onions and turkey....
Feb 3
So today we had a piano tuner come over to work on our piano. This man is blind. As I am rushing the kids around to clean the house before he gets here, Katie stops and says, "why are we cleaning? He can't see the mess anyway..." True... but his wife was with him and she can! LOL! Besides, the "mess" is a tripping hazard even when you CAN see! Stinker
Feb 4
Good snow day today! We had a "party".... just celebrating good behavior. We had cake and blew up balloons and melted crayons in the oven. I thought those could have turned out better, but Elise LOVES them... :)"
Feb 5
Darn cold I have. :( I do not feel well. Ugh.
Feb 6
Crayon vs. laundry... Add heat from the dryer and the crayon always wins. :( Casualty: Steven's favorite khaki pants among many other things.
Feb 7
I have a dentist appt later... so unfortunately no garlic or onions on ANYthing today... ;)
Feb 8
Matthew: bandaids make me brave... :)
Is listening to Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids With the Love of Jesus on audible. So far it's really good! I've learned a lot and only 2 chapters into it!
Feb 9
"Yes give them God's law. Teach it to them and tell them that God demands obedience. But before you are done, give them grace and explain again the beautiful story of Christ's perfect keeping of it for them. Jesus Christ was the only one that deserved to hear, "You are good" but he relinquished his right relationship with the law and his Father, and suffered as a lawbreaker. This is the message we all need to hear, and it is the only message that will transform our hearts." Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace: Dazzling your Kids with the Love of Jesus.
Feb 11
Matthew: "Look I am SO strong!" (as he carries a bucket full of books)... "because I ate a broccoli yesterday. A big fat one!"
Feb 13
Recently I taught the older girls to iron shirts.. saves me time and gives them a necessary life skill... :) So I went to check on Danielle (10) who was ironing Steven's shirt... things were going way wrong, lol... and she began to explain... "well things were going really good until I realized I ironed it inside out! I was doing it right, too... only it was all wrong" Haha... Silly girl!
If there is no one getting rid of/selling a pack-n-play in the Omaha area.. does someone have one they'd be willing to let me borrow.. long term? LOL We are getting the room set up for baby already and we are moving Elise with the older girls, instead of moving her crib I'd rather just stick her in a pack-n-play until she's ready for a toddler bed.. or until *I* am ready for her to be in a toddler bed.. haha..
Feb 14
Elise pulled a Johanna this morning. In case you don't know what that is... well, to put it simply, she pooped then opened her diaper and it got all over her bed! Why am I always pregnant when these things happen... wait... yeah, I know... I am pregnant a lot. :) Total grossness and Happy Valentine's Day!
Feb 16
uh-oh... Lisey's being a total snuggle bug and just wants her ny-nite and paci... and has been acting ready for a nap all morning... better not be getting sick!
Feb 17
So... today Elise was trying to pull something apart and couldn't do it, so she said, "uuuhhhh..... I can't. Dang it." :( It doesn't sound bad coming from Steven's or my mouth, but from those sweet little lips it was just not right! I have never had a kid mimic so much stuff... the little stinker! We still got a laugh out of it when she wasn't in earshot though... ;)
Feb 18
Elise says, "bap-you" for Matthew. It's really funny to hear her yelling at the top of her lungs for him, lol."
Feb 21
Katie finished the Bible last night! She read the whole thing in 3 months... :) She really enjoyed it and I am proud of her for sticking with it!
Feb 22
Danielle... wandering around aimlessly this morning, "I can't find my backpack. It was just here. So weird! What in the world did I do with it?"
Johanna... "it's on your back, Danielle"
((Lots of giggling))
They're so cute. ♥ them!
Matthew: "Dear God, please help my Grandma's that live far far away have her house......... on my sidewalk...." ♥!!
Feb 23
Today has been kind of off to a rough start, but things are a little better now. Trying to get the housework done early because a nap is definitely needed by all today. Especially me."
I am 20 weeks today!!! Tomorrow I have another u/s! :) We'll see if this baby is still a boy..... :) Better be!
Feb 24
Baby is still a boy!! :)
Danielle, after the ultrasound... "why couldn't they just say, 'it's a boy'... did they really have to go into all the details and name all the parts? They could have just done with out all that stuff... it was gross!" LOL!!!
Feb 26
Baby is active tonight, my tummy is bouncing all over the place!! Love him!!
Benny is grounded tonight. He pooped in the potatoes. Too bad I am pregnant and couldn't clean up that mess!
Feb 27
Our van is paid off.... such a great feeling, took us less than a year and a half, but feels so much longer! What a relief!
Feb 28
Me: Matthew, do you want to have a matching shirt with your baby brother?
Matthew: Yes! I have a 'handsome like daddy' shirt (his favorite), my baby brother can wear a 'handsome like Matthew' shirt!
Me: ((lots of hugs and kisses and squeezes for my cute and sweet little boy..))
So, Matthew lifted up my shirt to look at my stomach and he very seriously said, "there's no ball in there...." ;)
Feb 29
Hopefully Matthew will be this sweet forever... so, he has this "magic 8 ball" type thing, only it's a Sponge Bob... but he brought it to me and told me to shake it. So I did. Then he "read" it.... and said, "it says, 'I love Mommy and Daddy..'" Aww! ♥ him!! :)
Matthew: Soon I'll be big like Daddy! I am growing up! Then I'll say (and he deepens his voice) CLEAN THE ROOM, KIDS! There will be no more Matthews....
It was so cute.. but I told him, we'll still have a Matthew, just a BIG Matthew... :) Makes me kinda sad thinking about him growing up and being a big Matthew... :(
poor neglected fat Benny... he's over here harassing me for attention, lol
I think it's time for some more pickles, onions and turkey....
Feb 3
So today we had a piano tuner come over to work on our piano. This man is blind. As I am rushing the kids around to clean the house before he gets here, Katie stops and says, "why are we cleaning? He can't see the mess anyway..." True... but his wife was with him and she can! LOL! Besides, the "mess" is a tripping hazard even when you CAN see! Stinker
Feb 4
Good snow day today! We had a "party".... just celebrating good behavior. We had cake and blew up balloons and melted crayons in the oven. I thought those could have turned out better, but Elise LOVES them... :)"
Feb 5
Darn cold I have. :( I do not feel well. Ugh.
Feb 6
Crayon vs. laundry... Add heat from the dryer and the crayon always wins. :( Casualty: Steven's favorite khaki pants among many other things.
Feb 7
I have a dentist appt later... so unfortunately no garlic or onions on ANYthing today... ;)
Feb 8
Matthew: bandaids make me brave... :)
Is listening to Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids With the Love of Jesus on audible. So far it's really good! I've learned a lot and only 2 chapters into it!
Feb 9
"Yes give them God's law. Teach it to them and tell them that God demands obedience. But before you are done, give them grace and explain again the beautiful story of Christ's perfect keeping of it for them. Jesus Christ was the only one that deserved to hear, "You are good" but he relinquished his right relationship with the law and his Father, and suffered as a lawbreaker. This is the message we all need to hear, and it is the only message that will transform our hearts." Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace: Dazzling your Kids with the Love of Jesus.
Feb 11
Matthew: "Look I am SO strong!" (as he carries a bucket full of books)... "because I ate a broccoli yesterday. A big fat one!"
Feb 13
Recently I taught the older girls to iron shirts.. saves me time and gives them a necessary life skill... :) So I went to check on Danielle (10) who was ironing Steven's shirt... things were going way wrong, lol... and she began to explain... "well things were going really good until I realized I ironed it inside out! I was doing it right, too... only it was all wrong" Haha... Silly girl!
If there is no one getting rid of/selling a pack-n-play in the Omaha area.. does someone have one they'd be willing to let me borrow.. long term? LOL We are getting the room set up for baby already and we are moving Elise with the older girls, instead of moving her crib I'd rather just stick her in a pack-n-play until she's ready for a toddler bed.. or until *I* am ready for her to be in a toddler bed.. haha..
Feb 14
Elise pulled a Johanna this morning. In case you don't know what that is... well, to put it simply, she pooped then opened her diaper and it got all over her bed! Why am I always pregnant when these things happen... wait... yeah, I know... I am pregnant a lot. :) Total grossness and Happy Valentine's Day!
Feb 16
uh-oh... Lisey's being a total snuggle bug and just wants her ny-nite and paci... and has been acting ready for a nap all morning... better not be getting sick!
Feb 17
So... today Elise was trying to pull something apart and couldn't do it, so she said, "uuuhhhh..... I can't. Dang it." :( It doesn't sound bad coming from Steven's or my mouth, but from those sweet little lips it was just not right! I have never had a kid mimic so much stuff... the little stinker! We still got a laugh out of it when she wasn't in earshot though... ;)
Feb 18
Elise says, "bap-you" for Matthew. It's really funny to hear her yelling at the top of her lungs for him, lol."
Feb 21
Katie finished the Bible last night! She read the whole thing in 3 months... :) She really enjoyed it and I am proud of her for sticking with it!
Feb 22
Danielle... wandering around aimlessly this morning, "I can't find my backpack. It was just here. So weird! What in the world did I do with it?"
Johanna... "it's on your back, Danielle"
((Lots of giggling))
They're so cute. ♥ them!
Matthew: "Dear God, please help my Grandma's that live far far away have her house......... on my sidewalk...." ♥!!
Feb 23
Today has been kind of off to a rough start, but things are a little better now. Trying to get the housework done early because a nap is definitely needed by all today. Especially me."
I am 20 weeks today!!! Tomorrow I have another u/s! :) We'll see if this baby is still a boy..... :) Better be!
Feb 24
Baby is still a boy!! :)
Danielle, after the ultrasound... "why couldn't they just say, 'it's a boy'... did they really have to go into all the details and name all the parts? They could have just done with out all that stuff... it was gross!" LOL!!!
Feb 26
Baby is active tonight, my tummy is bouncing all over the place!! Love him!!
Benny is grounded tonight. He pooped in the potatoes. Too bad I am pregnant and couldn't clean up that mess!
Feb 27
Our van is paid off.... such a great feeling, took us less than a year and a half, but feels so much longer! What a relief!
Feb 28
Me: Matthew, do you want to have a matching shirt with your baby brother?
Matthew: Yes! I have a 'handsome like daddy' shirt (his favorite), my baby brother can wear a 'handsome like Matthew' shirt!
Me: ((lots of hugs and kisses and squeezes for my cute and sweet little boy..))
So, Matthew lifted up my shirt to look at my stomach and he very seriously said, "there's no ball in there...." ;)
Feb 29
Hopefully Matthew will be this sweet forever... so, he has this "magic 8 ball" type thing, only it's a Sponge Bob... but he brought it to me and told me to shake it. So I did. Then he "read" it.... and said, "it says, 'I love Mommy and Daddy..'" Aww! ♥ him!! :)
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